Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Trials of Shinobi ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2:

 

 

The three Genin's arrived at relatively the same time at the field where they had talked with Nariko earlier that day. Kazu had a small shoulder bag slung over his shoulder and two hilts were sticking up over the tops of his shoulders, one on each side. Tatsukuro had metal greaves on his forearms and shins, and extra Kunai and Shuriken stuck into the belt that was fastened across his upper body. Arika, like Kazu, had a shoulder bag hanging off one shoulder and strapped across her back - blade facing towards the ground - was a Glaive.

 

Kazu eyed the weapon and girl carrying it skeptically, “Do you even know how to use that thing, Kimura?”

 

“I wouldn't be carrying it around if I didn't.”

 

“I guess…why do you think Nariko wanted us out here so late?” He yawned and glanced around the field they had been in early that day with more interest than he had before.

 

Ari shrugged off her shoulder bag, and started pulling extra Kunai and Shuriken out of it, as well as some scrolls and exploding notes, and stuffed them into the pouch attached to her belt. She shrugged her shoulders to Kazu's question. “It's not late, you lazy ass. And I have no clue…she said she would explain at a quarter to…I think we're a little early.”

 

“Actually you three are right on time,” a swirl of smoke and Chakra and their bizarre Sensei stood before them with no extra bag or anything, just what she had been wearing before, standard Jônin gear.

 

After a few moments of silence Kazu asked, “So what are we here for?”

 

“Patience is a virtue you know, Kazu.”

 

“Well it's not one of my strong points.”

 

“Apparently…well whatever on with the mission. This will be a survival mission,” as her students were about to protest she raised her hand. “But…this will not be a normal survival mission.”

 

“How's it different, Sen…Nariko?”

 

Nari grinned at Ari's cut off `Sensei' before answering, “You usually just had to survive against other students, right?” They nodded. “Well in this you have to survive against me.” She gave them a wicked grin that told them she was enjoying herself greatly.

 

“WHAT!!”

 

Nariko laughed at their expressions. She took her time looping her waist long braid in on itself so it hung just below her shoulder blades. “It's not so bad. All you have to do is get these two red flags from me and you complete the assignment.” She reached to the pouch at her back and produced two red flags, which she then looped through her belt. “But…there's a catch…” the three Genin looked at her expectantly, worried frowns on their faces. “In order to pass to become Genin, you have to get these flags. Otherwise it's back to the academy for you.”

 

“Then what the hell was that other damned test for?” Kazu demanded, red-purple eyes glaring angrily.

 

Nariko met his eyes easily, “To see who among you and your classmates had what it takes to become Shinobi.”

 

“Well that's just fucking pointless…”

 

“You may think so, Kazu (and watch your language)…but what if we threw untrained kids up against a Chûnin, or a Jônin, the first day they stepped into the Academy? They would have been seriously injured, killed, or would have given up on being Ninja all together! Training is important; it not only builds up skills, but it also builds up your confidence in those skills. You may think it's pointless, but without it, you guys wouldn't even be here. Now is that all the questions? 'Cause if that's it, then I want to get started.”

 

The three Junior Ninja's looked at her in surprise at the abrupt change of topic. Arika decided to get in a one more question before they started, “How much time do we have to get the flags from you?”

 

“You have from eight till Midnight to get them.”

 

“Four hours? Isn't that a bit long?” Kazu asked incredulously.

 

Tatsukuro and Ari both shot him a look that told him to keep his mouth shut. Which he did, but not without sending a glare of his own back at his two teammates.

 

It was Tatsukuro who voiced the next question, “Are there any other limitations, or rules, we should know about?”

 

“You can use any Jutsu or weapon you want. Hm…I think that's it. Oh and if you don't come at me with the intent to seriously injure and/or kill me, there is no way you can beat me. That clear?”

 

They way she said it threw them off guard. Ari was the first to voice her objection. “But Nariko, that's dangerous.”

 

“Nah, you guys are just Genin, I doubt you pose any real threat to anyone, much less me. I'm just saying that if you don't, you'll have no chance whatsoever.”

 

“Okay…if you're sure.”

 

“I'm sure. So what do you say we get this started.” When she heard no objections she nodded. “On my signal…3…2” The three Genin dropped into ready stances, all eyes on Nariko waiting for her to make a move. “…1…GO!!” The four ninja disappeared in swirls of dust, leaves, and Chakra.

 

 

**Two Hours Later**

 

 

“Hibana-ame no Jutsu! (Spark Rain no Jutsu)”

 

“Fuck… Tsuchi Shiirudokouhou no Jutsu! (Earth Shield Method)”

 

Sparks rained down on the dome of earth that formed over the crouching Kazu, creating a large cloud of dust. When the dome fell away and the dust cleared Kazu could see no sign of his adversary. He cursed a blue streak as he faded back into the trees behind him. He paused in a clump of bushes to catch his breath. They had been at this for two hours now and not one of them had even come close to getting one of the flags from Nariko. A few moments after he had dropped down into the safety of the bushes, he was joined by his two teammates.

 

Arika's hair was matted with sweat, and sticks and leaves stuck out everywhere, her clothes had a few rips in them, and she had dried blood on her arms and face mingling with streaks of dirt, Kazu noted that her Glaive was missing. Tatsukuro was in a similar state, but he had more bruises and cuts than either of his teammates put together, his bottom lip was split and bleeding, and a cut above his eye was seeping blood slowly, obscuring his vision. His reddish-brown muscle-shirt seemed to be the only thing without rips in it, as his blue shorts had quite a few. How he had managed that remained a mystery.

 

“Did you have any luck?” Ari asked, wiping blood off her cheek with the back of her hand. Kazu was surprised to see that there was no cut beneath the blood, but shook it off as his exhausted mind playing tricks on him.

 

“None. You guys?” They shook their head in a negative. “Damn it all to hell. I really don't want to have to take Genin training over again. There has to be a way to get those fuckin' flags from her.” He reached down and ripped a strip out of the hem of his red pants and tied it around a vicious cut that he had received from one of Nariko's Kunai's that he had only just managed to dodge. His sleeveless gray shirt had a few rips in it, and the zipper was almost completely ripped out.

 

“There has to be more to this than just what she told us. She wouldn't give us an impossible task to complete with the stakes this high.” Tatsukuro sighed in frustration and ran a hand through his hair.

 

“Look we've all tried going at her one-on-one and haven't gotten anywhere, right?” The two boys looked at Ari and nodded. “Then why don't we try going at her all at once, a team effort. I mean we're a Cell aren't we? We're supposed to work together.”

 

“I think Arika's right…going at Nari one-on-one isn't getting us anywhere. We'd stand a much better chance if we went at her all at once. Even a Jônin should have trouble fighting off three people at once, even if we are just Genin.”

 

Kazu shook his head scowling at his fellow Genin. “No way, you Leaf-Nin's are nothing but trouble.”

 

“If you hadn't already noticed, you're a Leaf-Nin now, too.” Ari said pushing his forehead protector with a finger. Kazu just scowled at her, and smacked her hand away.

 

Tatsukuro shook his head. “I don't know why you hate the people of Konoha so much, and frankly I don't really care. I just have one thing to say, and I'm not going to repeat it, so you had better listen.” Kazu glowered at this but decided to hear the usually quiet teen out. “It is not our fault that you are in Konoha, so you shouldn't be taking out your frustration on us when it serves no logical purpose. You should make the best of the situation you are in and learn from it, not hold it at arms length like it's a paper bomb that could go off at any moment. Now the fact of the matter is we need your help in this…now are you going to work with us or not?”

 

Kazu looked at him in surprise, and felt some of the hatred he felt towards his teammates lessen. He thought about what had just been said and shook his head. “I don't know…I'm not used to working with people. I'd rather just go on my own.”

 

“What and get your ass whopped again?” Kazu shot her a glare and she sighed. “Look I'm not thrilled about working with you either Roka, but I have to become a Genin, I refuse to go back…” she shook her head to clear her thoughts and glared at Kazu again, ignoring the odd looks she was getting from her teammates. “Let's just put our differences aside and work together on this…I got a few ideas to get passed her electric Jutsu, but I'm no good at planning, and I know that you are Kazu. We need your help. Please?”

 

Kazu looked at Ari, astonishment on both their faces. After a few tense moments Kazu nodded and smirked at his teammates. “All right I'll help.”

 

Tatsukuro and Ari both grinned at him nodding their approval and accepting his offer. “So…just what did you have in mind to get passed that damned Jutsu of hers.” Ari smirked and started to explain exactly what she had in mind.

 

From high up in a tree, out of earshot, Nariko watched her three students conspiring her downfall. `I was wondering if they'd figure it out or not.' She smirked - and in a swirl of leaves - was gone.

 

**Nariko's POV***

 

I stood in the center of the clearing watching my surroundings intently, though my posture gave off the impression that I was relaxed and that my guard was down. There's only an hour and a half left for my students to get the flags from me. They haven't attacked me, or even shown any sign that they were going to, for the last 30 minutes, and I'm beginning to wonder if they've given up.

 

At least that was until a salvo of Shuriken and Kunai came flying at me from three different directions.

 

They were coming at me from the sides and from behind, and they were angled so that if I went up I would get hit as well. I had no choice but to go forward. I gather my feet beneath me and jump and then run a few feet. Soon after I'm forced to duck and come to a sliding halt as Tatsukuro, flies overhead, his foot only missing my skull by mere inches. He lands and launches himself at me again. We engaged in a few quick bouts of Taijutsu before breaking apart.

 

Tatsukuro was panting, trying to regain his breath, but was still in a fighting stance. I hadn't even broken a sweat and was standing there calmly watching my student. “You're pretty good Tatsukuro. They don't teach some of those moves to students, where'd you learn them?”

 

He smirked as he answered, “My father and my sister have been teaching me since I was six years old.” He reached behind him and pulled out a Kunai, gripping it easily in his hands. “Want to see something else they taught me?”

 

“Ha, sure. Show me what you got.” I blink as Tatsukuro charges at me. He was moving a lot faster than before, his feet seem to have melded into the shadows of the trees and grass on the ground. I jump back trying to keep some distance between us.

 

As I jumped back I notice something out of the corner of my eye, another Tatsukuro was charging at me, it/he was closer than the first. I turn to face it and caught the fist that was thrown at my face and the kick that was aimed for my stomach. As I was about to toss the second Tatsukuro away I felt something slice into the cloth of my sleeve. I toss the Tatsukuro whose attacks I had blocked away and whirled around to attack the one that was slicing at my shirt. My fist connected nothing but Chakra smoke.

 

About 20 yards away stood a smirking Tatsukuro, and when I turned to look back at the other person I'd thrown, I saw a grinning Ari sitting in a crouch. I had to grin at their plan, it had been brilliant, and I almost hadn't been able to tell the Henge Tatsukuro from the real one. “Not bad you two…but as you can see the two of you can't beat me on your own,”

 

“Hehehe…who says that they're on their own, Sensei?” Kazu appeared behind me, the blades that I had seen strapped to his back earlier were drawn, and he held the one and a half foot blades like he knew how to use them.

 

“Decide to help out your teammates after all, Kazu?”

 

“Well going at it alone was getting us nowhere…and since they practically begged for my help…I decided to be nice and play along.” His statement was greeted by laughter.

 

“I'll get you back for that comment later, Kazu. Right now lets just finish what we came here to do, ne?”

 

**Normal POV**

 

“Yeah.” With the banter out of the way Kazu charged at her. Once he was a few feet away, he jumped into the air twisting slightly so that as he landed and slashed at Nari with one sword, he would already have the momentum to swing around and slash at her with the other. Nariko dodged the first and blocked the other. She knocked his arm wide, leaving him open so she could plant her foot on his chest and kick him away from her. He flipped with the kick to land on his feet, but stumbled backwards, barely managing to keep his balance.

 

Arika and Tatsukuro leapt at her then, Ari going in low and Tatsukuro coming in high. She smirked at her students and disappeared once again. Ari and Tatsukuro redirected their attacks in the nick of time so the didn't hit each other. Then the three Genin disappeared as well to a previously chosen location.

 

 

“Did you get it Kuro?”

 

“Of course…I told you I would.”

 

“That was great, hehehe. When you said you were good at Genjutsu you weren't kidding, Kimura.”

 

“Of course, I wouldn't lie at a time like this. Now we ready?”

 

“Yeah,”

 

“Damn straight,”

 

“Heh, then lets go get those flags. Kuro?”

 

He nodded and placed the piece of black cloth on the ground in front of him. He quickly drew a circle around it in the dirt then preformed a few quick seals to focus his Chakra. “Oitsumeru no Jutsu, (Tracking Technique)” the piece of black cloth glowed for a few seconds before dying down. He picked it up and shoved it in his pocket. “Come on, she's this way,” he started off heading west and a little south, with his teammates right behind him.

 

 

The three Genin hid in the bushes on the fringes of the clearing, Nariko sat in the middle of the clearing, in the lotus position. Roka tilted his head in confusion as he regarded their Sensei. “What the hell? Why is she just sitting there?”

 

Ari shrugged, “I don't know, maybe she gathering Chakra…or sensing for ours. Should I go now, or should we wait to see what she's up to?”

 

Kazu considered the question for a second before answering. “Get this thing started, Ari. We don't know how long she's been sitting there, so you have a 50/50 chance of disrupting what ever she's doing.”

 

“Right. Here I go.” She brought her hands up in front of her and ran threw a few seals - Snake, Rabbit, and Dog. Four large tigers with an Ari on each of their shoulders surrounded Nariko.

 

Her eyes snapped open as she looked at the illusion in surprise. “Not bad Arika…so which Ari is real, I wonder.” Ari burst from the bushes and rushed up behind one of the tigers as they all charged at her, and the Ari's on the backs of the tigers all drew Kunai's.

 

Nariko brought her hands up in front of her and preformed some seals; that they all by now recognized as the seals for her Spark Rain no Jutsu. Both attacks hit at the same time, the tigers pounced on Nariko disappearing as the sparks hit them, and from behind one of the tigers Ari ran up and sliced at her Sensei with one of the Kunai that she held in each of her hands. Nari dodged the strike by stepping aside and brought her hand down on the back of Ari's neck, whom then disappeared in a puff of smoke, to be replaced by a log. The Jônin dodged again as Kazu leapt at her back trying to cut her down with one of his blades.

 

The routine of Ari and Kazu attacking and Nariko easily dodging went on for about five minutes. Both Genin leapt away finally, trying to catch their breath. They eyed their Sensei wearily waiting to see if she would attack them now.

 

“Where's Tatsukuro? You guys only have five minutes left to get the flags, I hope you realize that.”

 

“Duh! We know that, old hag. If you'd just hold still for more than half a second we would be done this by now!” Kazu shouted irritated by Nari's apparent lack of interest in whether they passed or not. Patience never has been his strongest virtue, and this “test” was starting to grate on his nerves.

 

“Well if you guys could come up with a plan that would get me to hold still you'd have gotten the flags by now.” She taunted leaning back on her heels and cracking her knuckles. “But you seem to be lacking in the planning department, as well as in the patience department.”

 

Kazu and Arika smirked, “That's what you think, Sensei…”

 

Nariko looked at her two students with confusion. They shifted suddenly and they both wore triumphant grins, almost mischievous, and when she felt a tug on her belt she whirled around.

 

Tatsukuro stood behind her one hand held one of the red flags that she had had looped through her belt, her whirling around had ripped the other one from his other hand. After realizing this she turned surprised eyes to the black and blue haired boy, and got a good look at him for the first time. Half of him was surrounded by shadows. `That's a Hunter-Nin and ANBU trick…where'd a kid this young learn something like that?' Tatsukuro back-flipped away from his recovering bewildered Sensei, putting some distance between them. Once he landed he tied the red flag around his head; it contrasted nicely with his black and blue hair.

 

“Not bad…looks like I was wrong about the strategy part. But you now just have over two minutes to get the last flag, and now I'm that I'm on guard, you three have no chance.”

 

“We'll just have to see about that, Sensei. Tsuchi Boufuu no Jutsu! (Earth Storm Technique)” a cloud of dust and rocks kicked up and the Jônin, who closed her eyes to keep the dirt out as soon as the Jutsu started, dropped into a fighting stance, ready for the three Genin to attack. They didn't keep her waiting long.

 

It was Kazu and Ari who leapt at her, jumping right into the dust cloud. Kazu went in low causing her to jump up and right into Ari's attack. Nariko grabbed Ari's arm as she tried to slice at her and tossed her away. She then landed on Kazu's back, but he disappeared and was replaced by a log. `Well one thing's for sure: they definitely know how to use Bunshin's and Kawarimi to their advantage.'

 

Out of nowhere a large wild cat leapt at her through the fading dust. She took a step back only to be tripped by Tatsukuro, who had used the dust as well as the shadows as a cover and had snuck in close enough to knock the Jônin's legs out from underneath her. As the leopard continued its jump over her it vanished, and her arms were pinned to the ground by a grinning Arika and Kazu. Tatsukuro appeared to one side grinning as well, but not as widely as his teammates. The two Genin that pinned her pumped Chakra into their arms to strengthen the hold they had on their Sensei's. Kuro reached down to grab the final flag, but before his fingers could even reach it the bell that told them that their time was up sounded in the distance.

 

Ari let go of the arm she held and stopped pushing Chakra into her arms. She stared miserably off into the air in front of her, not really seeing her surroundings at all, and only half hearing the conversation that was talking place.

 

“No way…we were so close,” Kazu moaned as he released Nariko's arm and flopped back to lie on his back.

 

“I wondered why you didn't move after they pinned you. You could have easily gotten away; they left your legs un-pinned.”

 

Nariko nodded as she sat up. “Yes that's true. But I was very impressed with the strategy that you three used. I've never seen Genin use that level of planning.”

 

“I'm guessing that's not enough for you to let us pass though, is it?” Kazu mumbled.

 

“No it's not…but the fact that you three put aside your differences to try and get the flags is.”

 

Kazu pushed himself up onto his elbows and looked at her in surprise. Ari heard the last bit and looked sharply at her Sensei, “You want to repeat that last part, please?”

 

Nariko chuckled, “I said that your planning skills aren't enough to allow me to pass you, but the fact that you three used teamwork to try and bring me down is.”

 

“You…you mean we pass?”

 

“Yup. Cell Nine, welcome to life as a Shinobi.”

 

Tatsukuro blinked and let the information sink in for a few seconds before beaming at his Sensei. Kazu whopped and threw his arms in the air, collapsing back on the dirt when his arms no longer supported him. Ari had a similar reaction to Tatsukuro but instead of just smiling she grinned and threw herself at her teacher and hugged her tightly. “Thank you!”

 

Nariko grinned and gave the girl a one armed hug. “No problem.”

 

Kazu paused in his celebrations to look suspiciously at his teacher. “Mind if I ask you a question, Nariko?”

 

“Go ahead,”

 

“The whole idea of this little exercise from hell was to see if we'd work as a team, wasn't it?”

 

“You got it.”

 

“But then why the fuck didn't you tell us that in the first place?!”

 

“Because then it wouldn't have been much of a test, now would it?! And stop swearing!” She scowled and cuffed him upside the head. “I wanted you three to work it out amongst yourselves. There will come a time when you have to work with people you don't know, don't like, or both. But you will have to, to survive. So I wanted to see if you had the necessary skills and the means to swallow your prides and ask one another for help. Do you see the object of the test now Kazu?”

 

“Yeah, it makes sense…but it still sucks,”

 

“Well you better get used to it, cause what I just told you happens about 75% of the time during a Shinobi's life.”

 

“Aw man…”

 

“Well that's all I have for you right now…go home, get some rest, `cause tomorrow we start real missions.”

 

“Yes Sensei,”

 

“And what have I told you about calling me Sensei?”

 

“Sorry Sensei,”

 

“That's it!” Ari and Tatsukuro laughed as Nariko grabbed Kazu around the neck and trapped him in a headlock, trying to ruffle his hair through his forehead protector, which was wrapped over his head bandana-style. Needless to say Cell Nine's Genin years were going to be very interesting.