Hello there and welcome back. This will be my first attempt at some real action, so it all goes well.

On another note. I suppose I should have said beforehand but I want to know what you guys think. Bits you like/don't like, anything you want to see in the future, don't hesitate to tell me.

And with that let the show begin.


Jiraiya leapt back and shouted "Begin!".

Kawarama and Minato immediately circled round and ran towards Jiraiya on either side. Minato leapt into the air and attempted to punch Jiraiya in the head, while Kawarama attempted to slide under him and take his legs out. It was a circumstance much like their Academy match, only this time Jiraiya was in between them. Jiraiya, being the skilled Ninja he was, easily caught Minato's hand while hopping over Kawarama. He then flung Minato into Kawarama as he recovered from his failed attack. The two young Ninja were sent flying and ended up in a sprawling heap on the ground.

"Heh, child's play"Jiraiya muttered. He then leapt to the side, just narrowly dodging a Gentle Fist strike. 'That's right, I also have a Hyuga to deal with,' he thought, as Hiashi sped towards him, palms raised, veins around his eyes enlarged, indicating to his activated Byakugan. "I can assure you that fighting me is no mere child's play" Hiashi declared, "That remains to be seen" Jiraiya retorted with a smirk. For a while the little duel between Jiraiya and Hiashi was very much the same, with Hiashi attempting to hit Jiraiya with his Gentle Fist and Jiraiya deflecting most of the hits by hitting Hiashi's forearms. 'As long as I don't touch his hands I'll be fine' was Jiraiya's conclusion.

After a while Jiraiya was getting a bit bored, so when Hiashi next tried to hit him he grabbed Hiashi's wrist and then twisted it, causing Hiashi to fall to his knees. Jiraiya then practically punted him across the clearing. It was then that Jiraiya noticed something. Both Minato and Kawarama were missing and, thanks to the setting sun behind him, he could see two shadows above him. When he looked up he saw none other than Kawarama and Minato flying towards him, each with one foot extended, no doubt trying to kick his face in. Jiraiya just sighed. He then caught both legs and smashed their owners into the ground. It was a mere two seconds before he heard: "You are in range of my attack". When he looked up, he saw Hiashi in an all too familiar stance. "Oh crap," was all he could say before "Eight-Trigrams: Sixteen Palms!" There was no time to dodge or defend himself, so all Jiraiya could do was weather the attack. Hiashi span towards Jiraiya, jabbing his index and middle fingers at his chakra points as he whirled around. "Two Palms, Four Palms, Eight palms, Sixteen Palms!" Hiashi spoke as he carried out a weaker form of the Huyga's most legendary Jutsu. With the final jab, Jiraiya was sent careening across the clearing. "Nice one...Hiashi," Kawarama said while gulping for air. "Thank you," Hiashi replied.

A few metres away Jiraiya was recovering from his ordeal. 'Thank God that wasn't the full Jutsu, If it was there's now way I'd be able to stand right now,' he thought as an idea struck him. 'I've never tried it in this kind of situation before, but that doesn't mean it won't work. Plus, I really want to see these kid's reactions'. Jiraiya then sat cross-legged on the floor and formed a cross seal. The next thing the young Ninja knew they were faced with three extra Jiraiyas. The original Jiraiya then closed his eyes and sat completely still. Then the clones ran towards the young Ninja and split them up so that there was a Jiraiya facing each of them. "How come he knows how to use the Shadow Clone Jutsu?!" Kawarama exclaimed. "Well he is one of the legendary Sannin so I guess anything is possible" Minato shouted as he went into a brawl with his Jiraiya clone.

Each would-be Genin fought with their Jiraiya clones for some time. The advantage of each fight shifted rapidly. All three were more than a little surprised when the clones suddenly puffed into smoke. Jiraiya, however, did not move a muscle and his hair was overshadowing his eyes. Seizing the advantage Minato and Kawarama dashed towards him each swing back an arm, ready to punch Jiraiya's head into the ground. When their fists were about to connect with Jiraiya's face, Jiraiya's hands shot up and caught their hands.

The pair were stopped dead in their tracks. It was then that Jiraiya looked up and the Young Ninja finally saw his eyes. They had changed drastically: a yellow iris, a horizontal rectangular pupil, his eyes were also surrounded by red pigmentation. His nose had also become slightly warty, his teeth sharper and a small beard now protruded from his chin. "What do you know, I was right," he said, a small smirk donning his face as he observed the wide eyed expressions on Minato and Kawarama's faces. Using the opening to his advantage Hiashi darted between his teammates and went to strike Jiraiya. However his attack did not hit. Because Jiraiya smashed Minato and Kawarama into him, then kicked all three of them away.

"That one is going to hurt latter," Kawarama muttered as he sat up from where he had landed. "What was that?" Minato questioned. "If I am not mistaken that is known as Sage Mode. It is an ability only available to those who have a summoning contract. It infuses natural energy with the user's chakra, increasing the power of his Jutsu and overall physical strength," Hiashi explained. "WHAT?! That's insane. Come on sensei, that is totally unfair." Kawarama shouted. "Well, I suppose using Sage Mode on Ninja fresh out of the Academy is a little harsh. Unfortunately it takes a while for Sage Mode to run out, so I'll give you some time to catch your breath" Jiraiya replied.

The three would-be Genin looked at one another before disappearing into the trees


"Man, that was intense," Kawarama said. Minato, Hiashi and he were sitting on branches quite far from the clearing. "We need to change our strategy. We keep doing the same thing. You two attack then I follow up. It is an easy tactic to counter," Hiashi said. "What do you have in mind?" Minato asked. "I recommend that we all attack at the same time, from different angles, so that Jiraiya-sensei is only able to keep an eye on one of us at a time," Hiashi replied. "Sorry to storm your parade Hiashi, but I have an idea that is way better than that," Kawarama said with a smirk. Hiashi glared at him: "I'll be the judge of that," he said.

"...So that's the plan," Kawarama said with a proud grin on his face. "I admit. That plan is indeed better than mine," Hiashi muttered. "Are you sure you'll be able to pull it off Kawarama?" Minato asked, a hint of concern in his voice. Kawarama gave Minato a confident glance. "Don't worry, I'll be fine." Minato and Hiashi were both surprised when Kawarama quickly pulled out a kunai and thrust it behind him, embedding it into...Jiraiya, whose eyes were wide with shock! They were not surprised, however, when Jiraiya disappeared into smoke. "How did you know he was there?" Hiashi asked, "I didn't hear him at all," Minato added. Kawarama looked at them both. "I don't know. I felt it I guess." Hiashi looked sceptically at his teammate. "You felt it? That seems highly unlikely." Minato butted in: "It doesn't really matter. What matters is whether or not he heard our plan." "I have a feeling that he didn't" said Kawarama, "And if he did?" Asked Hiashi. "Then we'll go with your plan," Kawarama replied.

"How did that kid know my shadow clone was there?" Jiraiya asked himself. He was still standing in the clearing, his arms folded. His Sage Mode had run out a few seconds ago. He was not waiting long before Kawarama leapt into the clearing. Jiraiya gave him a quizzical look. "Come to fight me on your own kid?" He asked. Kawarama just smirked before more figures leapt out of the trees. The next thing Jiraiya knew he was surrounded by about twenty Kawaramas. "Heh, the old 'throw a weapon and make it look like the clone threw it' tactic huh? Please. Like I'd fall for that," he muttered. One of the Kawarama's then said "Actually Jiraiya-sensei, it's not quite like that." Jiraiya immediately leapt at the Kawarama that spoke. "You gave yourself away," He declared. "Oh did I?" The Kawarama replied with a crafty smirk. When Jiraiya reached Kawarama he punched him hard in the gut.

The shock on Jiraiya's face could not be put into words when Kawarama puffed into smoke. "S-shadow clones!? How the Hell do you know the Shadow Clone Jutsu, let alone make so many?" Another Kawarama spoke: "When we beat you, you might just find out." Suddenly, all of the Shadow Clones Leapt into the air and converged on Jiraiya. Just as the they were about to impact Jiraiya heard something that filled him with dread, "Eight-Trigrams: Sixteen Palms!". "Not again," he muttered before Hiashi commenced his attack. Jiraiya was sent flying.

For a moment there was nothing, he heard no sound other than the jingle of the bells at his belt. He then impacted the ground hard.

When he looked up his eyes went wide. There, standing a few feet away was Hiashi with Minato and Kawarama either side of him, who were each holding up a bell. "We win sensei," Kawarama said victoriously.

Jiraiya chuckled as he stood up. "Nice work. So...does that mean Hiashi is going back to the Academy?" The three Ninja looked at each other and nodded. Then Minato and Kawarama threw their bells back to Jiraiya. "Actually...we all are," they said in unison. Jiraiya quirked an eyebrow. "Never before have we worked together on a team," Hiashi said. "Yet I think we worked pretty damn well together," Kawarama added. "And so we feel that it would be better to go back to the Academy and stay a team rather than split up," Minato finished.

Jiraiya blinked before he burst out laughing. "Hahaha alrighehehe." He almost couldn't speak, he was laughing so hard. "Hey what's so funny?" yelled Kawarama. "Ohoho, sorry, I just didn't expect you guys to pass with flying colours hahaha" Jiraiya replied. Three Ninja froze. Kawarama said "c-come again?" Jiraiya regained his composure. "I said you three pass". The three now Genin stared at Jiraiya, dumbfounded open-mouthed. Jiraiya looked at them. "Alright let me explain. The point of the bell test is to see if a team is really up for being...well, a team. If you were selfish and made sure you teammates couldn't get a bell but you could, or something with a similar outcome, then there would be no point in having you be a team, because you are only thinking about yourself, not your comrades, which I have come to learn are the most important things you will ever have in this Shinobi world of ours'." Jiraiya said.

"Well that certainly makes sense" said Hiashi. Jiraiya then turned to Kawarama. "Hey kid. Mind if I try something?" "Um, sure" Kawarama replied. Kawarama suddenly spun around and stabbed a kunai into yet another Jiraiya clone, who seemed to be trying to sneak up on him. The original Jiraiya chuckled. "Just as I suspected. You have sensory abilities," he said. Kawarama gave him a confused look. "Sensory-what-now?" Minato and Hiashi were now listening intently to what was being said, intrigued to hear about their teammates hidden ability. "Sensory abilities allow you to...well, sense, other chakra signatures. The more you train with those abilities, the more precise your senses will be," Jiraiya explained. A large grin began to spread over Kawarama's face. "I am so awesome," he said proudly. Jiraiya just waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't get cocky kid," he said. But in truth he was very proud of his student.

"Oh, how about now you tell me how you know the Shadow Clone Jutsu, and how you were able to make so many?" Jiraiya asked. This caused Minato and Kawarama to burst out laughing while Hiashi just chuckled. Jiraiya's brow furrowed. "What's so funny?" he asked. "Ihihihit's just thahahahat they weren't all shahahadow clones hehehe," Kawarama tried to say. Jiraiya's eyes widened. "W-what?" When Kawarama managed to regain his composure he explained. "I only made a few shadow clones and then mixed them in with regular clones. Even Minato used a transformation and mixed in too. Thinking they were all shadow clones meant you kept your attention on us. You didn't notice Hiashi until it was too late. As you flew through the air me and Minato swiped the bells. You didn't honestly think I could make two dozen shadow clones did you? The most I can make is about five or six." Jiraiya's jaw dropped. "As for how I know the Jutsu. My Dad taught me it to help me train, though he always restricted me to two or three shadow clones, due to the exhaustion as well as the experience coming back to me."

Jiraiya was absolutely astounded. He, one of the legendary Sannin, was outwitted by a trio of kids. And on top of that one of them had already been taught, and had sufficient skills in, the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

There was something that Kawarama had been more than a little curious about during the fight. "Hey sensei. There was something I wanted ask you." Jiraiya turned to him "What is it squirt?" he asked. Kawarama stared at him "I was just wondering, Hiashi said that in order to use Sage Mode you needed a summoning contract. What contract do you have?" Kawarama asked. Both Minato and Hiashi again listened intently to the answer, as they to were also quite interested. Jiraiya gave a chuckle, then proceeded to bite his thumb and perform a number of hand seals before slamming the same hand on the ground saying "Summoning Jutsu!". Jiraiya was then surrounded by a large puff of smoke.

When the smoke cleared it revealed Jiraiya sitting atop a large orange toad with blue markings and a necklace of beads, the largest of which bore the kanji for loyalty on it. "Squirts, meet Gama," Jiraiya said proudly. Hiashi sweatdropped. "Toads...Your summoning contract...is with toads". Hiashi then looked over to his teammates to see them staring at the toad with starry eyes. "So cool," they chimed. "Well what did you expect, squirts? After all, I am the Legendary Toad Sage Jiraiya of Mt. Myoboku," Jiraiya exclaimed while both he and Gama struck a pose. Hiashi facepalmed while Minato and Kawarama continued to stare in admiration at their sensei.

"That is so cool. I am totally going to try that," Kawarama stated. "Well kid it's not that easy, First you need to find one of the...what are you doing?" Jiraiya said while Kawarama bit his thumb and then went through the same hand seals he saw Jiraiya do. Jiraiya stared at Kawarama with pure horror "Wait kid, you don't have a summoning contract!" But it was too late. "Summoning Jutsu!" Kawarama shouted before he was surrounded by a puff of smoke. When the smoke dissipated Kawarama was gone. Jiraiya was in dismay. He knew there was nothing that could be done. "This must be how sensei felt."


Well that's it for this chapter folks.

In case you were wondering, yes Kawarama is getting a summons. You get a cake if you can guess the summons.

Stay tuned for the next chapter of: The Tale of Kawarama Senju.