A/N: It's me again! I felt good today, so here's another chapter for your viewing pleasure, courtesy of my co-author, Number Two
NT: Thank you, thank you. I try.
KN: Anyway, we'd like to thank Celiatsu for being our first reviewer, and for the kind words. So, thanks!
NT: It really means a lot to us to have someone who likes this story. And for those of you who also like it, tell us by reviewing this story
KN: Or write it on our forum that Number Two created.
NT: Please do. We really would like to know more people like our story. Anyway, this is the first chapter that is solely my work, so please tell me how it is
KN: Fot those of you who want to know, I wrote the first chapter, and we both wrote parts of the second.
NT: Neither myself nor Kibanara37 own Naruto.
KN: Though that would be awesome.
NT: Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto.
KN: Who is awesome.
NT: We do own Ash, Teru, Sato, Korikata, and all the other OC's we mentioned in the foreword.
KN: Who are all awesome.
NT: Anyway, read and enjoy!
Key:
"talking"
"talking to dogs"
Shiromaru/Akamaru/Kuromaru talking
Thoughts
Chapter Three - Black Market Village:
It turned out that Korikata felt like taking them to a large out of the way village a few miles south east of Konoha. As soon as it was in sight he stopped jogging and a twinkle came to his eye.
"This, my young students, is one of last places left where a ninja can truly test himself. This village is known as Black Market Village. It got its name because originally that was the entire purpose of this place, a black market for goods and services that the law frowns upon. In this place there is no law. Your safety depends on your ability to frighten off most and kill the rest. If you get hurt here no one is coming to help you, and if you hurt someone else no one is going to condemn you. If you can go through this place and come out unharmed then you will know you have what it takes to survive."
Teru's left eyebrow rose "So you're saying that if the three of us can survive against a bunch of untrained thugs then we will be able to survive in a job where we will have to face actual ninjas?"
The brown clad Jounin chuckled softly to himself before responding. "No. I am saying that if you can survive in this village you can probably survive against ninjas. Because what you will be facing are far from untrained thugs. At first they were of course. But the amount of money that became available through the Black Market village's "special industries" soon lured wealthy merchants and other opportunity seekers to come investigate. Of course the thugs gave the new arrivals a hard time. So they brought some guards with them in order to give the thugs a hard time. And then they decided to give each other a hard time. This resulted in a sort of arms race for power, and now the hired muscle in there is at least on par with ninja. And because it often is ninja, or shinobi, if you get into a fight inside expect a challenge. And you'll run into additional amounts of high-level competition due to our destination."
Sato left off chasing butterflies to start running laps around Ashi, screaming at the top of his lungs at high speeds. "WE'RE-GONNA-KILL-GONNA-KILL-GONNA-KIIIIIIIL-WHEEEEEE!!!!!" Teru had seemed excited at the prospect as well but was now reduced to heavy breathing and facial twitches. Finally his hands flashed out to fasten around Sato's shoulders as he spoke.
"Listen carefully Sato, either you are going to stop that or I am going to remove your intestines and strangle you with them."
"OK! What if I do THIS instead? LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA-"
Teru's face contorted strangely and then drew his hands back with the fingers splayed. He let forth an animalistic snarl and red twisting lines shot forth from his fingertips and latched onto Sato's head. Sato smiled and tilted his head to the side.
"Whatcha dooooooooing?" He asked in a higher voice then normal.
The red lines dried up and Teru took a step backward, his expression clearly portraying his surprise. "Why are you not screaming in pain you goo-brained infant?"
Sato then mirrored Teru's confusion, "Pain? What are you talking about? I don't feel pain."
Teru spasmed again, "Of course you do! Everyone feels pain!"
"NUH UH! Not me cuz' I got a lucky turtle." Sato then reached under his shirt to produce a small jade turtle strung on a necklace. Ashi who had been thus far stunned into silence felt compelled to comment.
"Wait. You can't feel pain because of a TURTLE?" Sato giggled and nodded.
"Can't feel pain OR fear. I'm invincible!"
Teru's eyes took on a mischievous gleam as he turned to face his juvenile teammate.
"Than you won't mind if I do THIS!" He said as he broke Sato's nose with his palm.
Sato giggled again and reset it. "NOPE".
Teru stood stock still blinking, Ashi stepped backward staring at the blood leaking from Sato's nose all across his face. At this point Korikata stepped forward. "Well that was very interesting but now we need to head to the arena. Sato took a deep breath but was silenced when his sensei drove a hand into his windpipe.
"Shut it"
Teru sighed deeply and smiled as they headed to the village gates.
The gates were ornamental, Ashi assumed, as they inside looked far more threatening than anything outside. His sensei hadn't been exaggerating when describing the dangers here; everyone he saw was either packed with muscle and weapons or guarded by someone who was. Sato seemed unimpressed as he wandered the stalls with his characteristic cherubic grin plastered across his face. Teru's behavior was also unaltered but strangely looked much more natural in this seedy village. His grim cocky visage meshed perfectly with the arrogance of all the warriors striding the byways. Ashi himself felt a bit on edge but he didn't let it show. He was confident in his abilities and was completely ready to defend himself if it came down to a fight. But of course that was unlikely in his present company.
Korikata's presence was almost a solid thing in these streets. People covered in knives and scars hurried to get out of his path and hardened fighters nodded to him in respect. Both Ashi and Teru were instilled with an additional measure of respect for him themselves after observing his influence in such a dangerous environment. Sato seemed not to notice it, or anything else, often getting yelled at for absent-mindedly bumping into someone. Each time, however, the shouting ceased as quickly as it had started after one quick glance at the man behind him. Indeed, Korikata was a battle-hardened warrior who people did not care to mess with.
Then, almost as soon as Ashi had gotten used to the narrow paths they were following, the road widened into a large open ring surrounding a giant domed structure. It was covered in signs and lights but the biggest sign of all bore but two simple words: "THE ARENA".
And that concludes the third chapter. Please review! Reviewers will get cookies.
