Naruto ran across the rooftops, listening to that sense of his. Jump here not there. Duck here, step there. Pay attention to the areas that felt "wrong" or "off" and avoid those.
It was a new ability, and since that was the case, he wanted to exploit it to the fullest.
Sneaking out to the edge of the Forest of Death to put a bowl out for Ramen-kun. The bowl was always empty when he came back. It was better if he could wait around and have a bowl himself while Ramen-kun ate off in the bushes - but that was rare as he became aware of masked ANBU watching him.
Not that he was doing anything WRONG though.
Two girls had been saved by the actions of Naruto Uzumaki on that one night when the Forest Of Death had been breached. Tenten had recovered enough to run alongside the boy after the initial rescue. The other girl rescued now looked around and noticed the lack of one boy in the class.
"Naruto-kun isn't here?" asked Ino Yamanaka.
"No, he elected to take an early placement test again this year," explained Iruka as he prepared to lecture on the Second Hokage. "This year he passed and has been placed on a genin team."
"What? That loser?!" exclaimed Sakura.
"Hmph," indicated Sasuke, also not pleased by this development. If the dead last of the class was already a genin, why was HE still here?
"Yosh! I will demonstrate the power of youth!"
"Yes, Gai-sensei!"
"Why 'youth'? I mean, we're genin and we're all young, I get that part. It's just..."
"Young Naruto. You must not underestimate the power of youth - the vitality and drive that defines it. The hope for the future, the strength of will necessary to reach one's goals, the drive to enforce that strength."
"Ah. I suppose."
"Naruto. Stop. Stop there. We want to get to training. Not sit through a lecture on 'youth' - okay?"
"Right Tenten-chan. I see your point."
"Team Gai has passed their genin test."
Kurenai considered the board while toying idly with the stem of a cherry in her drink. "Heavy Assault team?"
Asuma nodded slightly. "The girl is a weapons specialist. Very accurate with thrown weapons. There's one boy who can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu - some kind of problem with his chakra system I think. Should be able to use basic techniques that don't require hand-signs though. It's the complicated stuff he can't manage. Then there's Uzumaki."
Kurenai moved a rook, then settled back onto her chair. "The container? I heard he has some sensor ability."
"Yeah, but that's secret. Or supposed to be," said Asuma. "The girl heard about the Uzumaki talent set and has been getting him books on fuuinjutsu and special techniques. Gai's been working all three of them heavily on taijutsu so - yeah. Expect them to be Heavy Assault primarily."
"Hmmm. Might be interesting to see if they survive some of Gai's eccentricities."
Neji Hyuga wondered if this was his fate. Somehow, he'd never expected this to be the case. Rookie of the year but never truly able to spread his wings and fly to the heights he was able to attain.
Now back in the Academy to graduate next year, having failed the genin test because he had been assigned to a team with two utter and complete losers. He had been sure to point out their various shortcomings and detail their lack of readiness. It had apparently not helped.
Ah, fate was truly a cruel mistress.
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(Posted Sat, 21 Mar 2015 15:49)
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