Meeting again, Naruto kept staring at Tenzo with a focused expression. Sensing Naruto's scrutiny, Tenzo felt a bit awkward.
"Is there something on my face?"
Naruto suddenly exclaiming "I recognize that voice! You're the Anbu guy!"
Tenzo, with a Sheepish smile "Got it in one."
"So, what's your deal? Why did kakashi-sensei trust you to replace him ?"
"Temporarily only. Kakashi was my senpai in Anbu. we go way back me and him, so I'll be filling in for him during his recovery."
Sasuke, his eyes gleaming with interest "Anbu, huh? Interesting."
Tenzo smirking at him "Before we jump into missions, how about a little introduction? But not the usual kind you did with Kakashi. I've got a better idea."
"What should we do if not the same thing we did with Kakashi-sensei?"
"let's spice it up a bit. How about a little sparring session first ?"
Sasuke, eyes flashing with fighting intent, immediately agreed "I'm up for it."
Naruto, totally excited added "Finally, some action!"
Sakura looking slightly panicked "Wait, isn't that a bit much for a greeting?"
"Trust me, with these two, actions should speak louder than words. It's the only way to earn their respect."
Sakura, sighing, couldn't help but agreeing with him, "Fine, let's do it then."
"Great. you up to it ? "
"Yes ! " "Hell yeah ! " "Let just do it "
"are you sure ? " Looking serious, Tenzo unleashed his elite jounin chakra, an menacing heavy aura appearing, causing the trio to sweat under the pressure. However, they were able to resist, each displaying their emerging chakra. Naruto, in particular, showcased the most chakra, taking the brunt of Tenzo's aura for his teammate
"Oh ? Nice " Tenzo, looking slightly impressed, voiced his appreciation
"Looks like you absorbed the lesson quicker than I expected."
Restraining his aura, Tenzo revealed a bell and informed them of their task.
"Your objective is simple. Just try to take this bell from me. Give it your best shot. and dont forget"
"Come at me with the intention to kill! "
The challenge was set, and Team 7 faced the daunting task of trying to seize the bell from the seasoned jounin.
"Now go ! "
The trio assumed ready positions as Tenzo signaled the start. They all lunged at him, initiating a dynamic taijutsu battle. Tenzo skillfully avoided their hits, parrying Naruto's punches and, with a sweeping low kick, throw him rotating toward Sakura, the latter catching him grimacing at his panicked yell. He then swiftly dodged Sasuke's kick by dropping down, trying to swip at Sasuke's legs, the latter jumping, crossing his arms seeing Tenzo attempting to follow his with a front kick. with Sasuke was able to guard in time. Despite being thrown away, Sasuke managed to maintain his balance,doing a backflip and falling on his feet
Annoyed, Sasuke brought out some shuriken, initiating a serie of quick throws. He then began moving around rapidly, throwing shuriken in an attempt to confuse Tenzo and create openings for his teammates. The training ground echoed with the sounds of his intense throwing meeting tenzo blade.
Sakura jumping at Tenzo, she started a taijutsu battle, her fist slightly glowing with chakra. Tenzo wincing after receiving the full blunt of one of her hits, he started dodging her hits
"Such strengh..Is that chakra amplification ? " In the midst of the intense taijutsu battle, Sakura kept charging in with determination, launching a series of strikes. However, Tenzo's agile movements allowed him to effortlessly evade her attacks. Sasuke, strategically supporting her with well-aimed shuriken throws, observed Tenzo's style keenly, analyzing for potential weaknesses.
Amidst the skirmish, Naruto seized the opportunity to engage Tenzo with his own unique fighting style. He unleashed the shadow clone jutsu, surrounding Tenzo with multiple Narutos. With Sakura's interference, it became challenging for Tenzo to predict the real one, adding an element of unpredictability to Naruto's strategy. The training ground buzzed with the yell of the clones and sakura war cry
However, Tenzo skillfully observed Naruto's movements, and quickly identifying the true Naruto among the clones. With a swift movement, he appeared before the real Naruto, delivering a precise hit to the stomach that sent him flying while his clones exploded in dispersal. Swiftly turning his attention, Tenzo moved his blade, skillfully deflecting Sasuke's throwing weapons.
"Is this all ? "
With a confident smirk, Sasuke pulled his arm, revealing concealed wires that suddenly tightened around Tenzo, immobilizing him. Tenzo, caught off guard, yelled in surprise as he found himself bound in place.
"Invisible wires– ? "
Sasuke, observing Tenzo's bound state, couldn't resist a smug remark
"Looks like those weapons had a purpose after all. Wouldn't want you to keep dodging everything."
Tenzo, while bound, maintained a calm demeanor.
"Impressive strategy. but remember, predicting your opponent's moves is just as crucial."
Naruto and Sakura reappearing, Naruto holding his hurt stomach. Taking advantage of the situation, Naruto couldn't resist teasing Tenzo.
"Looks like you're not as strong as you thought, huh?"
"Kakashi never told you that you speak too much ? why dont you check your feet ? "
"What do you mean ? " Tenzo, seemingly unfazed, warned Naruto to be cautious, flashing a mysterious grin.
Sakura, recognizing the danger, jumped away, yelling at Naruto to do the same. "Naruto, move ! " However, Tenzo's hand emerged from the ground, pulling Naruto down until only his head was visible.
His bound body melting into mud, Tenzo reappeared from the ground, grinning.
Smirking at Naruto's predicament, Tenzo echoed the same words "You dont look as strong right ? "
Naruto, initially pouting, suddenly switched to a mischievous smirk. Sensing an impending attack, Tenzo tensed just as Sasuke unleashed a fireball toward them. Surprised by Sasuke's unexpected technique, Tenzo swiftly raised a stone wall, protecting both of them.
"Katon ! Goukakyou ! "
"What the hell ! Doton : Earth wall ! "
As the smoke settled, Tenzo, visibly angry, questioned Sasuke's apparent disregard for his teammate's safety.
"I would never expect this from kakashi students "
"Expect what ? all that effort for a clone ? " Sasuke, wearing a smirk, casually revealed the naruto behind him to be a clone, leading to the latter exploding in a smoke.
"You.."
"Sometimes you need something unexpected to create an opening."
Tenzo, looking at him with approbation asked "How did you know it was a clone? I didn't see him telling you "
"he gave me a secret signal telling me he was a clone, something we learned just in case "
Tenzo, acknowledging the strategy, sighed.
"Fair enough. Let's see if you can keep it up "
Tenzo moved just as Naruto burst from the ground, reaching for the bell, only to be kicked away by the former, using him as a platform to gracefully retreat.
"Such scary kids " Acknowledging their abilities, Tenzo commented that they were indeed formidable.
"When did you use that genjutsu on me ? " turning to another direction, seeing a shepish Sakura smiling at him
Giving a smirking expression, Sasuke answered "So you noticed "
"I didn't notice you making the seals, nor did sakura facing me. " Curious about how they managed to conceal Naruto's movement under the ground, Tenzo inquired. Naruto, grinning, revealed the clever strategy.
"Well, you see, even the Sakura you are seeing isn't Sakura."
The Sakura clone, playfully sticking her tongue out, exploded in smoke, revealing the real Sakura emerging from behind a tree near Sasuke.
Naruto explained that Sakura used a genjutsu on him while Sasuke was talking to him, subtly influencing his perception to focus on Sasuke's voice and forget about other presence near him
"Amazing chakra control. It can only make a man envious " Impressed, Tenzo commended Sakura for her exquisite manipulation, acknowledging the advantage of having such remarkable chakra control.
"But it's still not enough "
Tenzo, adopting a more serious demeanor, swiftly performed seals, initiating a localized earthquake. Stone hands emerged from the ground, attempting to catch the trio off guard. Despite the challenging terrain, the Team 7 members regained their balance, skillfully leaping around to avoid the stone hands.
"Sakura-chan ! Be careful! "
In a moment of danger, Naruto acted quickly, using a shadow clone to substitute with Sakura, narrowly saving her from being caught. The trio regrouped over a tree and started running away, Naruto throwing a comical expression towards Tenzo, who responded with a visible vein popping on his forehead.
"Catch me if you can, idiot ! Nuuh ! "
"Why you little—"
Tenzo, jumping after them, began dismantling clones that continuously appeared from various directions. Their strategic use of clones made it challenging for him to keep up.
Eventually, Tenzo found them near the lake, all three ready to face him in a renewed confrontation.
Jumping from his tree,and seemingly unfazed by the intense battle with naruto clones,Tenzo asked Team 7 if they had enough running around, only to barely move his head, narrowly dodging one of Sasuke's shuriken that stuck to the tree behind him. Giving a meaningfull glance, he added
"Such bloodthirsty kids "
"I'll show you bloodthirsty, Sasuke ! "
"I know "
Naruto and Sasuke, sharing a nod, initiated a coordinated attack on Tenzo. They ran towards him from opposite sides, colliding with him in a clash of kicks and punches. Tenzo adeptly handled their onslaught, engaging in a vigorous taijutsu dance—parrying, avoiding, and counter attacking.
Their fight led them into the water, where Tenzo showcased his ability, jumping to avoid Naruto's clones explosively appearing from the water. With swift hand seals, he created a rotating water wall who then destroyed the clones. As the water receded, Tenzo crossed his arms to guard against Sasuke's kick glowing red, strongly throwing him back to the ground, his feet sliding in the dirt.
"Did you use fire chakra to add power to your kick ? " Able to stop himself from sliding, he made more seals, unleashing water balls at the trio, who evaded with nimble jumps all over the water.
Tenzo swiftly turning to the side, he handled Sakura's sudden attack, parrying her strikes.
"So you were the one transformed into the shuriken ! " sweeping her off her feet,continuing with grabbing her mid-air and rotating with her, he threw her strongly toward a stone, where she strongly collided, almost fainting.
"SAKURA-CHAN ! "
Quickly dodging Sasuke's abrupt kick, he seized his leg, and with a yell and immense strength, threw him toward Naruto, who caught him mid-air with his clones.
Naruto clones hearing sasuke saying something, grinned and tossed him back toward tenzo just as strong. Sasuke eyes flashing, he made hand seals, and balancing himself in the air, he unleashed a fiery fireball at close range towards Tenzo
"Katon ; goukakyuu no Jutsu "
"What a crazy kid,at such closed range—-- "
Tenzo, surprised by Sasuke's bold move, swiftly formed hand seals with determination, ready to respond to the fiery challenge. However, as the fiery breath approached, something emerged from the ground—a round wooden protection aimed to shield him from Sasuke's technique.
"Mokuton ! "
The collision resulted in a powerful explosion, throwing Sasuke away. His hand crossed his face to shield from the impact, only to be caught by Naruto's clones. As the smoke settled, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, standing together
Naruto asked if they got him. " Did we got him ? "
With an annoyed expression, Tenzo emerged from behind the dissipating smoke, admitting that he had indeed underestimated them.
"What did kakashi feed you ? i know chuunin not as good at fighting "
The round wooden protection slowly disappeared, revealing the trio's surprised expressions. Sasuke curious, he inquired about the technique Tenzo had used.
"What is this ? "
Tenzo, scratching his face , awkwardly confessed that he intended to keep that particular trick a secret.
"Here i thought i could have kept this a secret "
"Hide what ? "
"Im a user of the Mokuton " He went on to reveal that he possessed the Mokuton ability, leading to both Sakura and Sasuke's shocked expressions
"Huh ? the hell is that ? "
"REALLY NARUTO ?! " reacted Sakura
"Hey ! what the big deal ? "Naruto, still puzzled, questioned why they were reacting so strongly. Sasuke, deadpan, explained that Mokuton was believed to be a lost ability. Naruto, with widened eyes, asked what the big deal was, earning him three deadpan stares, silently questioning if he was serious. Sakura sighed, informing Naruto that Mokuton was the legendary ability of the first Hokage. Naruto's eyes widened even further in realization.
"Ehhh ?! "
All eyes turned back to Tenzo. Sasuke, with a hint of skepticism, asked if Tenzo was a Senju, to which Tenzo responded whimsically "Well..technically you could say something like that "
Clapping his hand into a snake seal, he used another mokuton technique, with trees roots appearing from the ground, capturing the surprised trio
"Wha–what is this ! Sasuke-kun !"
"Aaaaaaa what the hell ! Where did they come from "
"Shit "
Tenzo, sighing, dusting his hands, signaling the end of the test.
"Its done now "
"Ehhhh ? We still didnt get the bell ! "
Tenzo,looking sceptical at naruto answer, told him "Its not like you can move. My roots can absorbe your chakra, can't you feel the drain ? "
"What drain ? "
"...I guess you will in some moment, But your friend probably feeling it " Looking at Sakura and Sasuke weakening face
"Hey ! Sasuke, Sakura ! whats wrong with you ?! "
"Shit...my chakra getting absorbed..! "
"Sa..suke...kun.."
"Hey ! release them ! "
"I will, after all, the test is over. There is no need for you to take the bell anymore "