"""Hai, Nara-sensei!""" The three of us sounded together.
"Eh, how many Nara's do you think there are? Call me Shikaku instead", Shikaku refuted.
"""Hai, Shikaku-sensei!"""
"Go, go." He waved us off again.
The three of us dashed off closer to the periphery of the forest.
From behind us, we caught on to Shikaku's shout, "When all of you pass this test, we'll then start taking missions as a team, alright?"
Come to think of it, the test is THAT test, huh? So subtle, Shikaku-sensei - not!
Teamwork, and so on.
I eyeballed the two people on my left and right.
Urgh. Making these two get along?
I suppose it was a good shot at trying to make is as unsubtle as possible for those two.
...
I guess I'll just wait and see how it turns out.
By the time we entered the outer forest, the trees surrounding us got denser.
Cypress, cedar, some pine ... were the trees I am able to identify.
Bushes of berries clumped together around some trees as well, and suddenly, I felt like as if I was back in the Seikatsu Forest.
Suddenly, we heard rustling towards our left, and without further ado, all of us shot up to the coverage of leaves up in the tall trees at once.
Apparently, since all of us are clan kids with elders to teach us something, we got most of the basics down, including this - tree climbing with chakra.
I stared at where the sound was coming from, and after a few more rustles, a cute snout popped out from one of the bushes.
It was a baby deer, a fawn.
It looked about and spotted a bush of berries, then it started to hop towards it.
Behind that fawn, were adult deers trailing behind.
This test is a little more than I thought it was.
Since Shikaku-sensei said that the apples were in the middle of the forest, and that the herd is mainly stationed there, they won't roam about too much looking for food.
But it just so happened that we only entered the outer layer and already met a small group.
While in thought, the small group of deers went by us, and a thump sounded as Ko came down the tree.
Naori followed, as did I.
"Ano ..." I spoke up and they both turned their heads to my direction.
"Shikaku-sensei did say we should be discrete, but he also implied that its not totally necessary to implement it, right?"
They did not respond to me, leaving me in silence, until Ko replied.
"Well, I did read somewhere before that the Nara deers do not harm people except those who harmed them first, as those walking in the forest are either Nara's, or those that the Nara's allowed in. Since their trust in them are high."
Silence ensued again when Ko finished speaking, and Naori took her turn to speak up.
"But at the same time, Shikaku-sensei did say that once we got our hands on an apple, the deers would undoubtedly chase us, didn't he?"
I then once again entered the conversation, "Then why don't we work together to get our apples?"
I felt stares on me once again.
Urk, Hyuga's and Uchiha's and their well-known poker faces that stare into your soul, especially with their ocular powers.
I tried probing them again. "Firstly, Sensei did not say no teaming up. Secondly, the last thing he said to us was that when we pass this test, we will then start taking missions as a team."
"And how did you gather from that, that we should act together?" Ko asked with a straight laced face.
"Well", I said with a chuckle. "He's a Nara after all, isn't he?"
My response shut him up, and he cringed.
...
Probably a bad experience with a Nara?
Naori looked at me. "Then what do you propose we do?"
Ko also looked towards me at Naori's words.
"Initially", I started. "Before entering the forest, I had planned on us grabbing the apples, then playing catch while dodging. Since from Sensei's words, it feels like they would chase the apple instead of us."
Their thoughts strayed to remembering what Shikaku-sensei said, about taking the apple back, or having it bitten. Which sure seemed like a reference to chasing apples.
"Which was why I had asked him if bruising the apple because of us or anything else but a deer's mouth would be okay. Indirectly, of course."
Light of recognition to my question that I had raised to Sensei came to their eyes. But before they could answer me, I quickly continued.
"When we entered the forest, I changed my mind. After looking at the current surroundings, and knowing that the herd is staying at their main food source, I thought of a better way. From Sensei's words, the two most important points were no harming of deers, and that the deers are protective of their apples."
I paused for dramatic effect, which made them stare at me harder. I coughed and continued.
"However", I continued. "What if we were given the apples instead? They wouldn't chase us if the deers gave it on their own free will, right?"
Confusion showed on their faces.
"What do you mean?", Naori questioned.
"I'm sure you already know this", I added. "The deers of the Nara forest are smarter than normal animals, but of course not as smart as ninja animals or summons. Meaning having an intention - a positive one, directed to them, would most likely be successful."
"If it isn't successful," I halted. Then continued wryly, "We won't fail, but we have to just run away from them if needed, as per recommended by Sensei."
They both thought about it internally for a while, then Ko sighed. "So? What is your plan then, let's hear it."
I grinned at them.
"We barter."