"Special circumstances as I understand it," said Naruto.
Sasuke nodded.
"Ugh," said Sakura stretching. She didn't even notice how her back extended another four feet and her arms went out another five. "Wish he'd just get here."
"You know, that hurts to look at it," commented Naruto.
"What does?" asked Sakura, her arms snapping back to normal.
"Never mind," said Naruto. "Want to spar while we wait?"
"Should we be doing that without our sensei?" asked Sakura.
"Productive use of time," said Naruto. "Besides, if we're a team we can all three use weapons. Sort of a team motif."
"I dunno," said Sakura, eyeing Sasuke.
Sasuke nodded. "Kunai?"
"No," said Naruto. "Yeah it's a weapon and in a pinch you can use it as a parry knife, but that's not what it's designed for."
"So what kind of weapons are we talking about?" asked Sakura.
"I was thinking tonfa or sai for you," said Naruto. "You've got the reach with that 'gomuton' thing but you're vulnerable to being cut with that. A weapon for blocking blades would be good for you."
"Hmm," hmmed Sakura thoughtfully.
"Either that or a chain weapon. Sasuke either a sword or maybe two shorter ones," said Naruto. "You're ambidextrous, right?"
"No," said Sasuke. "I've trained for it, but still favor one side."
"Maybe a tachi then," mused Naruto.
Kakashi always hid and watched from the shadows in order to make an appropriately dramatic appearance.
He watched as Naruto and Sasuke sparred with bokken, the bokuto with the ghostly mist placed off to the side.
The bamboo slats of the practice swords clacked and clashed repeatedly as thrusts were parried, strikes were dodged, and counters were blocked.
That they were using the wait time in order to get stronger was actually a pretty hopeful sign.
Well, just wait till they got the first D-Rank mission.
Excited tension dropped away into something less anticipation and more consternation.
"You're kidding me," said Sakura. "A monster hunting swordsman, Sasuke, and I was medically experimented on - and our first mission is BABYSITTING?"
"At least it isn't an assassination or seduction mission or something," philosophically decided Naruto.
"This is a typical D-Rank mission," said Iruka Umino. "You're new genin, that's the kind of mission you would normally get. And no, priest-san, twelve year olds on a seduction mission would NOT be normal for Konohagakure. Kiri or Kumo - yes. Not us. That would be against the guidelines established by the Second Hokage."
"Ah, good," said Naruto. Even ninja have some standards.
"They do?" asked Sakura, suddenly very glad that she wasn't in either of the two villages named.
"Indeed," said the Hokage, still mainly amused at their reactions. Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno had both been severely disappointed. Naruto Uzumaki had been relieved. Most interesting.
"Still, 'babysitting'?" asked Sakura. "Wouldn't it be better to make stuff like that homework assignments for Academy students?"
"Only in times of war," said Iruka, shuddering at some horrible memory.
"Mah. Whatever," said Kakashi.
"Ah-ano." A white mist formed in mid-air.
"Yeah, Hinata?" asked Naruto.
The Hokage raised an eyebrow, not having seen this manifestation before. Iruka openly stared.
"Uhm. You said it this is normal. So does that mean there's a minimum number of these missions before we can take missions that are, ah, more specialized?"
"She's got a point," said Naruto. "I'm technically on my journeyman wander - supposed to hone my skills. I'm not sure what babysitting will do for that."
"You have to have at least six D-Ranks before you are considered for higher ranked missions," answered Iruka after considering the mist for a few seconds. "More likely it would be three months and then a C-Rank."
"So maybe this is to work on patience and enduring emotional suffering?" guessed Naruto.
"So, real weapons?" asked Sakura as they approached the shop.
"Weighted wood for two reasons," said Naruto. "One - it's better to practice with. Two - we ain't got that much money."
"Hmf," hmfed Sasuke.
"Well I don't have much money and neither does Sakura," countered Naruto. "If that's typical D-Rank pay, it'll be months before either of us can afford anything other than crappy quality on real weapons. Eventually I'll be making a metal sword and see if Hinata wants to inhabit that."
"You can't just make us all weapons?" asked Sakura.
"I know a lot about making swords but it is kinda specialized," said Naruto. "Probably have to make two or three as practice before I make the final version."
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(Posted Sat, 28 Mar 2015 05:29)
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