Chapter 22: Bell Test
~~~
Naruto felt the two others disappear to the trees that surrounded them all. Kakashi noticed this and looked at Naruto with his usual and signature eye-smile.
"Oh? You haven't ran away into the trees?" Naruto narrowed his eyes at Kakashi.
"I don't like running away, I guess." Naruto got into his stance right after, eyes no longer narrowing down. Kakashi kept up his eye-smile, pulling something up from his pouch from behind.
The damn Icha-Icha novel book.
"Plus, I want to test something out." Naruto pulled out a kunai from his holster, holding it very tightly in-between his hand. He launched himself forward towards Kakashi.
Test something out? Could that mean that he has figured out the test? Kakashi thought, dodging a kunai that was centered to puncture his eye. He raised an eyebrow at Naruto.
Is he trying to damage my eye so I have to reveal my Sharingan? Kakashi mused, analyzing Naruto's hidden intention. It seemed like Naruto was not very hesitant on trying to destroy his eye.
Does this mean he has done this before? Or has experience killing someone? Kakashi thought again, maneuvering his way around Naruto and giving him a kick in the back while he continued reading his Icha-Icha.
But to his surprise, the Naruto that he had just kicked turned into a cloud of smoke.
Hm? It seems like he knows how to use shadow clones. Kakashi thought, disappearing and replacing himself with a log before the real Naruto that was behind him could even hit him.
Naruto slightly widening his eyes and creating a shadow clone right next to him while in mid-air.
The said clone threw the real Naruto away before he could be hit with another kick to the stomach. Naruto was internally relieved at this, considering on how an injury could jeopardize him.
There is a clear difference in strength between Kakashi and I. He's a very strong jonin of Konoha — one of the best in Konoha actually. Naruto thought, backing away from Kakashi.
"Lesson 1: Taijutsu."
Naruto heard Kakashi say this as he approached Naruto with the small orange book in his hand. Naruto now knew the exact level he was now on. Naruto steadily narrowed his eyes.
I should be around high-chunin, but at least low-jonin level when I use my Sharingan. Naruto thought, rushing towards Kakashi at high speeds. Kakashi raised an eyebrow, noticing the increase in speed that Naruto had just undergone through.
He went for a jab to Kakashi's stomach, but was blocked by Kakashi's foot. He redirected Naruto's arm and kicked him right to the side to back him away.
"You're quite fast, Naruto." He narrowed his eyes at him, observing the place around him. Now was the perfect time to execute his plan that should perfectly in action.
"Yesterday, all I could think about was this survival exercise." This made Kakashi slightly narrow down his lone and open eye. Where was he getting at right now?
"And?"
"And it seems I was correct; there is a potential hidden motive behind all of this." Naruto internally knew that Kakashi was now interested in what he had to say.
Kakashi looked up from his look, giving him a questioning gaze.
"Oh? How so?"
"The way this was planned out. The way you were said the things about this survival exercise made me quite uneasy. . . at first." Naruto jumped towards Kakashi, creating two shadow clones right beside him.
Naruto threw one clone.
Naruto threw the other clone as well.
The two clones were aimed right towards Kakashi, aiming themselves right towards the bells that was near Kakashi's pocket. But Kakashi countered by using his foot to also kick the two clones away.
"So I started to think about the possibilities of hidden motives behind this current survival exercise." Naruto rushed near Kakashi, running right around Kakashi.
"And the way that you worded this exercise, it made no logical sense that it would work out in the end." Naruto dodged a kick that was aimed right at his face. Though, narrowly he did.
"Oh? How so?"
"Earlier you said that the person who does not have the bells will be sent back to the academy. That made sense, but at the same time it did not make sense." Naruto jumped right over Kakashi, just barely preventing himself from being caught by Kakashi's hand.
"The way it worked made sense, but the potential backlash and consequences of it will cost the team as a whole." Naruto twisted his body so he would be facing Kakashi.
"There's is no way a team with only 2 genin and a sensei could work. That is unless the two genin are strong." Naruto shot his leg right towards Kakashi's face. But he was immediately countered with duck to the ground.
Kakashi then threw his leg right up towards Naruto's stomach. But Naruto maneuvered his way around this and crated a shadow clone right next to him while in mid-air.
The clone threw him up even higher to the air. Naruto started to move his hands closer to one another. Kakashi slightly widened his eyes, impressed at what Naruto was about to do.
Naruto started to weave a set of hand seals at a rapid rate.
Snake → Ram → Monkey → Boar → Horse → Tiger
Naruto inhaled as he got ready to do his jutsu. "Fire Release: Great FireBall Jutsu" Naruto exhaled a large fireball that was aimed right towards Kakashi's face at a quick speed.
An elemental ninjutsu? Kakashi thought, jumping away to dodge the fireball. But Naruto wasn't done — his large chakra reserves were practically infinite.
Snake → Ram → Monkey → Boar → Horse → Tiger
Snake → Ram → Monkey → Boar → Horse → Tiger
"Fire Release: Great FireBall Jutsu" Another round shout down from Naruto's mouth. But the only difference this time around was that there were 2 fireballs this time.
Kakashi was in a daze, impressed at Naruto's ability to wield elemental ninjutsu. Though, this ability does raise a bit of suspicion right towards Naruto as a whole.
It seems he doesn't look winded at all. He has used multiple amounts of shadow clones and used a signature jutsu of the Uchiha Clan. This doesn't look good on Naruto. But. . . this could probably prove that you are sensei's son. But if you are, how are you an Uchiha? Kushina-san and Minato aren't Uchihas. Though you aren't actually guaranteed to be sensei's son. I'll keep an eye on you. Kakashi thought, just barely dodging the 2 fireballs that were aimed directly at him.
Kakashi suddenly started to lower his orange book full of porn and tucked it back in his pouch. "It seems like I will at least have to be more serious when fighting you." Kakashi slowly started to walk towards Naruto as he landed on the ground.
Kakashi threw a pair of shuriken that he had pulled out from his holster right on his leg. Naruto huffed slightly, a tiny bit nervous on fighting someone of such high caliber like Kakashi.
There is no reason for me to be nervous. Shit. I'll get to that level of power in no time. Naruto thought, jumping slightly and twirling his body to a horizontal view to dodge the two shuriken that was aimed at his head and stomach.
He felt the wind rush, Kakashi appearing right behind him as he was falling to the ground. "Lesson 1 had ended," said Kakashi, maneuvering and turning his hand into a tight fist.
His fist roamed through the air and almost made contact with Naruto's stomach to incapacitate Naruto to stop fighting. "It's over for now, Narutto." But he wasn't down for the count.
The other two have been watching the two of us fight it out. They should have heard what I said about a possible motive behind this whole survival exercise. This was my plan since the beginning. I wanted them to have second thoughts about this survival exercise and not charge in blindly. Naruto thought, replacing himself with a log.
Kakashi slightly raised an eyebrow, impressed with the time that Naruto managed to pull of the substitution jutsu. He suddenly heard something start to clang right beside him.
Kakashi looked down and saw Naruto reaching out towards the bells. His fingertips touched the clanging bells, but failed to get them due to Kakashi jumping up to dodge.
He pushed his hands into his holster and pulled out a kunai. Naruto twisted his head and saw this in an instant. He placed his hand on the ground and rolled right on the ground to dodge the kunai from hitting his back.
He's taking this battle more seriously now. Though it seems he is not using his full power. That's fine, though. There is absolutely no way I would even stand a chance at Kakashi-sensei's full power. Naruto thought, soon being pressure by more shuriken and kunai.
He soon found himself right next to a pond of water. Naruto slightly gritted his teeth, tightening his jaws very tightly. Kakashi noticed that he was nearing the water also.
Does he know how to walk on water? Kakashi thought, expecting another trick up on Naruto's sleeve. He narrowed his eyes at Naruto, wondering what he will do next.
Naruto summoned a clone right behind himself. The said clone observed the surroundings of the pond and saw that there was land hat surrounded the large pond of water. The real Naruto huffed slightly.
The clone dispersed and gave Naruto his memories on what he had just saw. Naruto nodded to himself, knowing what to do now. Kakashi noticed this and a thought roamed through his head at a fast rate.
Does he know about the trick to the shadow clone? Kakashi questioned, pulling out another kunai just in advance. But moving that to the side, what was Naruto's next plan of action?
Naruto summoned another clone right behind himself. The said clone threw Naruto in the air, flying right over the pond that his previous clone had observed for a moment or two.
Naruto created another clone that threw him on the edge of land that his clone also saw while observing their surroundings. Naruto landed right on the thin piece of land and looked right back at Kakashi.
He followed suit by applying a constant change in chakra to his feet. Kakashi started to float right on top of the pond of water that they were now battling right on.
It's all according to my plan. Naruto thought, seeing the water that Kakashi was standing right on top of. He looked down, following Naruto's eyes and saw something.
The water. . . it's bubbling. Kakashi noticed too late and his foot was caught by numerous other shadow clones that were hiding under the layers of the pond of water.
Naruto took this time as an opportunity for him to jump right towards Kakashi and outstretch his hand for the bells that kept on clanging and clanging as Kakashi moved.
But unfortunately for Naruto, Kakashi replaced himself with a log get himself out of this situation. Naruto then felt a sharp pain arose from the left-side of his stomach.
He looked back and saw that Kakashi had kicked him in the stomach. This caused Naruto to be thrown way back towards the land that they were both on a minute or two ago.
Naruto gritted his teeth, feeling the pain rising up and down every second that past.
But Naruto persevered and thought of a new plan to do while Kakashi was out walking on the water while steadily approaching Naruto at a slow pace. Naruto looked from both sides and saw that no one was there and that it was clear.
Abort mission. Though accomplished. Naruto thought, jumping up and regaining his balance. He bursted away and soon entered the vast and empty forest that surrounded the clear area.
~~~
Satsuki and Sakura watched from different parts of the place and were very impressed by the fight that had been shown right towards the two of them.
Naruto. . . you have been hiding your power from me. Satsuki thought, huffing and giving out a light pout with displeasure laced inside of her head. But that wasn't important. . . for now that is.
A hidden motive? What could this hidden motive be? Satsuki thought, jumping away from the aftermath of the fight to distance herself from Kakashi.
Satsuki gritted her teeth as he thought about what Naruto just had said.
God, can't believe that idiot just engraved that thought in my brain. Was that his plan the whole time? For Sakura and I to think about the deeper possibilities in this survival exercise? Satsuki thought, maneuvering herself around the trees.
"Satsuki!" She heard someone hiss. Satsuki turned around and saw Naruto, hanging himself off a tree. She narrowed her eyes at him, wondering if this was actually Naruto or not.
"Are you the real Naruto?" Asked Satsuki, pulling a kunai just incase this wasn't actually Naruto. He nodded and jumped down to the ground.
"Then tell me this if you are the real Naruto. What did you give me on Christmas when we were 8-years old?" Satsuki had her eyes narrowed, readying herself to fight just incase this wasn't the real Naruto.
"I gave you a tanto and a jutsu that contained a fire jutsu that I let you use and learn." Naruto went closer to Satsuki, pointing towards the direction that she had came from.
"Now, we need to move quickly. Kakashi is making his way towards each of us one at a time. We need to group up together and work as a team." Satsuki scoffed, shaking her head vigorously as she followed Naruto.
"There is no way I am working with pinky, Naruto. If I'm going to work with someone, I'm going to work with someone that has my back at all times. Like you." Satsuki pointed at Naruto; whom had a face of blank amusement.
"I'm flattered. But I don't care about your opinion at all. We're going to work with Sakura even if you don't like it." Satsuki growled at him, displeased at his attitude at her.
"Then why the hell did you even ask me such a question?"
"To notify you."
"Wow, such a great job at notifying me."
"Well, I do try."
Naruto sighed, suddenly stopping and picking up Satsuki. She widened her eyes as she tried covering herself. "What the hell is wrong with you? Fucking closet pervert! Put me down!" She hissed at him as Naruto jumped on a tree.
"Shhh. Your language is highly vulgar. Don't make too much sound, it'll notify Kakashi-sensei." Satsuki glared at him with such intensity that it could kill a regular person.
"Put me down!" Satsuki hissed loudly once again. He shook his head, not letting her to go back down.
"I can't Satsuki. We were making too much noise when we walked through the bushes. This is much more efficient and faster." Satsuki slowly calmed down, glaring at Naruto during the process.
"Tch, just make sure you don't try peeking at my breast or something." Narutp raised an eyebrow at her, gaining a puzzled look as he maneuvered themselves around the trees.
"Umm. . . you don't have much to show anyway. It doesn't really matter." Satsuki glared at him, feeling the insecurity sky-rocket at a tremendous rate.
"I'm still growing, idiot." The two soon heard a piercing scream that was quite far away from them.
Oh, they definitely knew who that person was. Their voice was very familiar to the two of them. Naruto continued to carry Satsuki on their way to the epicenter of the scream.
Once they had finally made it to the core of the scream, they saw Sakura passed out on the ground. Naruto landed on the ground and had Satsuki get off from his grip.
Naruto had expected Satsuki to space herself away from Naruto, but instead, Satsuki just stayed right there, next to Naruto as they looked at the sleeping Sakura.
"I'll wake her up," said Naruto, crouching down and putting his hand right next to Sakura's face. Satsuki raised an eyebrow as she wondered what Naruto was going to do.
"This should be enough to wake her up," added Naruto, creating momentum with his hands.
SLAP!
Satsuki winced slightly as she saw Naruto slap Sakura's cheek. This caused Sakura to wake up immediately and shoot up from her passed out state.
"Huh? What happened?" Asked the confused Sakura. She looked around, wondering where she was now at. Sakura met eyes with both Naruto and Satsuki.
"You were probably caught in a genjutsu. You have no wounds or bruises, but you seemed to have been passed out. Then I came up with the conclusion that you had psychological damage done by a genjutsu. Simple." Satsuki scoffed lightly at those words.
Simple he says. Showoff. Satsuki thought, feeling the inferiority that she felt. But her focus went back to Sakura.
"Alright, we all need to work together and get those bells from Kakashi-sensei." Sakura gained a confused, wondering why they had to work together as a team.
"But there is only 2 bells." Satsuki grunted at those words.
"It doesn't matter if there is only 2 bells. If we don't work together to get them, we won't get those bells at all." Naruto could sense the annoyed tone in Satsuki's voice.
Sakura nodded, knowing that they should probably work together.
"Alright, since everyone is now acquainted with one another, I'll tell you all the plan."
~~~
Kakashi stood in the same field that he and Naruto had fought almost an hour ago. He looked at the 3 stumps that had the clock right on top of it.
It's nearing noon now. It seems like they are going to fail. I'll do that food trick on them right after if they fail. Kakashi thought as he kept on reading his Icha-Icha novel.
He kept on reading the Icha-Icha novel with delight. There was only 10 minutes left until noon was delivered to them all. Kakashi suddenly gained an eye-smile.
"Oh? Are you all working together now? Remember, there are only 2 bells." Kakashi replaced himself with a log as 3 people simultaneously attacked him from behind.
Kakashi appeared a few meters away from them, still reading the Icha-Icha novel.
"Tch, what else are we supposed to do? Work alone and feel humiliated? I rather not." Satsuki glared at Kakashi, pulling out a kunai from her holster.
Kakashi looked up and continued to eye-smile.
"It seems to me like I won't be able to read for the time being," shared Kakashi, putting the orange book right back at where it belonged — his pouch.
The 3 genin also readied themselves, getting into their stances. Though Sakura was the only one using the regular academy-style stance like the usual. Satsuki and Naruto used a style of their own.
"Give me your best shot."
The 3 rushed right towards Kakashi — The Copycat Ninja.
~~~