More than a Legend
By Deathpenguin37
Summary He was more than just a legend, he was a person too.
Disclaimer Naruto is still not mine.
Arashi smiled thinking of his first day at the academy when he had yelped and ducked; well now his future as a ninja was on the line and he would not run away. He had been taught how to use his opponents' size and weight against him and now he would put it to the test.
Jiraiya stared, what was the boy thinking? Did he really expect to beat him through sheer force? He didn't want to hurt the kid. However, he abruptly remembered the reported speed and strength of this kid as he took out a stone-nin. Maybe the kids got the right ides after all he mused. Jiraiya took up a fighting stance. Alright kid, come get me!
Arashi blinked, he hadn't been expecting this, still . . . he could show Jiraiya-sensei what he was made of. Sliding into his own fighting stance the two combatants stared at each other over fifty feet of field.
Jiraiya frowned; the distance was too great to attack, as whoever did so first would be wide open to a counter attack whilst charging the distance.
Arashi could almost see the cogs turning in Jiraiya-senseis head as he tried to figure out his best next move. But he had an advantage over sensei.
Jiraiya barely had time to blink before the yellow flash was on him, raising his arm barely in time to block a punch that left his arm numb to the elbow. Gods this kid! Regaining his composure quickly however, Jiraiya soon managed to get the upper hand.
Mikoto pushed her way past a low-hanging branch; she had been barrelling through the undergrowth since waking up on something that was definitely not her bed. After a moment of panic her memories returned and she remembered Jiraiya-sensei and some kind of vision. Damn he must have used genjutsu on me. I wonder how long I was out, noon must be getting close. She raced along a small clearing just before the open field and stopped very suddenly as shock overtook her system.
Tanho sighed having long given up squirming. No matter how he wriggled he was too deeply embedded in the ground. He vividly remembered being sucked into the earth by Jiraiya-sensei and shuddered. I may have just discovered my worst fear – being buried alive! Still at least Arashi wasn't around to see this. That cowards probably dead by now anyway! Or Mikoto, that would be awful, how was he supposed to impress her when he was quite literally stuck in the mud? He was sure that she would like him if he could prove to her that he was the best. A sudden noise caused him to look up from the patch of ground he had been resolutely staring at. His cheeks flamed red as his brown eyes met black. Mikoto was staring at him.
Arashi fell back as Jiraiya's onslaught continued; although he was barely managing to block him Arashi sensed that the Sannin was not trying to hard. Damn he's good, I caught him by surprise earlier but he recovered so quickly. If I can't break out of this I'll never get a bell!
Jiraiya grinned as he deflected yet another attempt on Arashi's part to grab one of the bells dangling from his waist. He had to admit that the kid was good, strong, fast and definitely devious in his tactics, but no match for the Sannin. At least not yet.
Arashi was beginning to tire, his limbs where beginning to feel heavy and some of Jiraiya-senseis attacks where getting through his guard. Blood flowed from a punch he had taken to the nose and bruises where rapidly forming on his arms and legs. Yet still, sensei was taking it very easy on him.
Seeing an opening Arashi dived for the bells, but just as his fingers grazed the silver Jiraiya-sensei twisted and caught both his hands. He sighed as he dangled a few good feet off the ground in Jiraiya-senseis iron-grip.
Mikoto cautiously approached the head. She recognised the head as Tanho's but failed to be able to put it with the concept that her eyes where presenting to her. Tanho didn't fail at anything. Not ever. It was as though he had some kind of aversion to it, it just didn't happen. She bit back a yelp as his eyes met hers and dropped to one knee in front of the head. "Um…" oh yes brilliant Mikoto!
"Would you like a hand?" she offered hesitantly.
Tanho blinked startled as Mikoto offered help. Mikoto offered me help! He began to nod but caught himself, I do NOT need help!!! The idea was preposterous. "No! I don't need your help."
Mikoto flinched hurt, before her countenance rushed back and shielded her. "Fine," she snapped, "You deserve to stay in the ground anyway after that pathetic performance." She rather neatly side-stepped her own less than perfect run-in with Jiraiya.
Tanho's eyes flashed angrily, "Oh and you and the weakling did better did you?"
Mikoto swallowed a snarled reply, where was Arashi? She straightened up and grabbed Tanho by the small piece of collar visible above ground and yanked. For a moment he didn't move and she feared that she wasn't strong enough, but then the ground gave and he whimpered as she hauled him clear. Glaring at him, which he stonily returned, she hissed, "Where is he?" unsure if at that moment she meant Jiraiya or Arashi.
Tanho, though, obviously thought she meant Arashi. "I don't know, there have been some sounds of battle but that coward probably got surprised in the trees and died of fright."
Mikoto nodded and took off in the direction of the open field, Tanho at her heals.
Arashi only hung there for a few seconds before aiming a kick at Jiraiya's stomach and causing his grip to loosen on his wrists, twisting free Arashi spun in midair and punched the side of Jiraiya's face. When Jiraiya blocked that attack Arashi aimed his next at the Sannin's neck on his other side. Again Jiraiya blocked him with his other arm, but a swift kick to the side of the ribs sent Jiraiya sprawling. Arashi flipped and landed right side up in a runners crouch.
Mikoto gasped from her hiding place only a few metres away. Beside her Tanho crouched similarly stunned, Arashi could do that? Since when? He was always the drop-out, bad grades, never in class, how was he so powerful? Mikoto glared, Damn it, how dare he? My clan is powerful and yet he doesn't have one! Born and raised in the Uchiha clan Mikoto was well aware that everyone had high expectations of her. An Uchiha was best at everything, a genius, none could surpass. To have team mate that was this much stronger than her, and younger too, was insulting.
Tanho as well felt anger at their team mates' display. A desire to be the best raged strongly within him, he had worked hard at the academy, busted a gut every night practising, and achieved great results. Yet he had hardly been able to keep up with the Sannin, let alone land a kick.
Arashi straightened up and glanced to his right as the bushes moved. Mikoto pushed her way forwards, her mouth a thin line, with Tanho at her side. Arashi stayed where he was as they glared at him. What did I do?
Jiraiya picked himself up and faced Arashi, only to notice that the other two had emerged. If the glares where anything to judge by, some of the fight had been witnessed and jealousy was starting to take hold. It was vital that they discover the meaning of this test and soon or all would be lost.
Well that's another chapter done, hope you guys enjoyed it. Reviews are essential if you want to read further.
