"Kimina. Use your shadow clone jutsu like you did before," Rakuyo instructs me calmly.
I look at him, taken aback for only an instant. "What? But... Rakuyo?" I begin to question, not knowing what he was up to. But then I put a little faith in him, remembering what he had said on the day we had met Naria-sensei. He was good at strategy.
'Alright, Rakuyo. Hope you know what you're doing,' I contemplate with a slight sigh. "Shadow clone jutsu!" Four of my clones appear between Naria sensei and me.
"Lloyd! Use your fireball jutsu from up in the air again," Rakuyo states, with an almost determined expression towards him. I notice Rakuyo's look, and smile absently, convinced that Rakuyo knew what he was doing.
"What? That didn't work the first time... so what makes you think it's gonna' work now?" Lloyd asks him, doubted. Clearly he didn't like taking orders from him.
"Just... I... just trust me," he replies in a sincere, yet hesitant way. I urge Lloyd to do it.
"Fine. Whatever. If this doesn't work then don't blame me," Lloyd utters plainly, giving Rakuyo the same annoyed glance he had given him once before.
He jumps into the air, and shouts out, "Fire style: Fireball jutsu!" He inhales a small bit of air, and then exhales a huge amount of fire that races out downwards in the direction of Naria sensei and my shadow clones.
'Now!' I jump backwards to Rakuyo, as the fire engulfs my clones and Naria sensei.
"Did we do it this time?" I ask, mostly to myself than to anyone else.
But Rakuyo answers it anyway. "No. We didn't," Rakuyo says simply, looking up at Lloyd who was still hovering in the air. Lloyd stares down at the fire, as it slowly diminishes away. He grits his teeth slightly, from seeing no sign of Naria sensei, meaning that she had disappeared just like from the previous attempt.
'I knew that that wouldn't work,' he muses over irritably, catching Rakuyo's gaze. 'But... you probably already knew that didn't you? So, that must mean...' Lloyd ponders the thought in his head, giving Rakuyo a quick tiny smile. Lloyd then quickly turns around, blocking two punches and a kick.
"Humph. Looks like you're in the same predicament that you were in the last time. I thought that you guys were going to show me real teamwork... that's why I'm giving you three a second chance. But I guess not," Naria says to Lloyd, both of them still floating in the air, eyeing each other with solemn smirks. The way they were floating up there, looking at each other, you never would've guessed they were sensei and student.
"You know? I was kind of thinking the same thing. Like why were we using the same techniques like before? Clearly they hadn't worked then. So, why try it again? Why not something new? But you know what... you really shouldn't doubt your opponents," Lloyd justifies, glancing behind her.
"Hmm? So I see..." Naria calmly says, looking at an impassive-looking Rakuyo hovering inches behind her.
"Yeah, Rakuyo!" I exclaim.
'Alright,' Rakuyo thinks determinedly, throwing a fist at his sensei.
Naria easily blocks it by grabbing a hold of his hand before impact. Lloyd then tries to do the same, but he ends up in the same position as Rakuyo; with his fist clutched firmly in her other hand. She spins around twice and hurls them both down towards the ground in one swift motion.
"No! Lloyd... Rakuyo!" I scream, watching my two teammates hit the ground with tremendous force. My expression turns from complete worry into perplexity and relief, as I gaze at the two logs that took the place of them both.
Naria sensei lands about fifteen yards away from me, still staring at the two brown logs herself. 'So, they changed their tactics up a bit. Wasn't a bad attempt at what they pulled,' she thinks to herself surely.
"Humph. That wasn't bad you too. Now what?" I question curiously, looking back and forth at both my comrades as they appear on either side of me. ******
"So, you guys got the plan?" Rakuyo asks Lloyd and I both one last time.
"Yep! There's no way were gonna' mess this up!" Lloyd exclaims, making a hand sign.
"Right!" I agree, preparing the same hand sign as Lloyd.
"Fire style: Fireball jutsu!" we both yell out, exhaling the same amount of scorching fire directly at our sensei.
'What are they doing?' Naria contemplates amusingly, about to readily move out of the fire's path. "What?" She tries to move her legs, but she couldn't. She slowly looks down, and sees four green thorn-like roots from underground wrapped securely around her ankles. 'What? What is this?' she ponders in surprise, but gets her answer as she gazes up at Rakuyo; who was kneeled down beside me with one hand on the ground. 'So, this boy can...' Naria begins to say, but stops as the fire races out swiftly towards her, seconds away from contact. 'Have to make this quick!' She makes prompt hand movements.
BOOM! Water collides with fire, and a huge explosion sets off, canceling both jutsus out.
'So, she managed to counter the fire with a water dragon jutsu? Well, can't say that the plan was going to work. She is a jounin, after all...' Lloyd says to himself, covering his face up from the debris and smoke from the blast.
"Very nice work, you three. I have to say I'm more impressed than the last time. Very much impressed," Naria sensei states honestly.
"We're not done yet!" Lloyd proclaims boastfully.
"Hmm? Oh really?" Naria sighs out, looking behind her at Rakuyo who just appeared there moments ago. He tries landing another blow, but she merely deflects it off. She then turns back around, blocking a kick from Lloyd and also dodging a punch from me. All three of us were all over her, all fighting her at once.
Lloyd drops to the ground, attempting to trip her legs. But she jumps smoothly into the air, where I try to land a blow to her jaw. But she nimbly hinders my attack, and swings her leg around and strikes me on my right shoulder.
"Aahh!" I yell out in pain, falling to the ground on my knees, gripping the bone painfully.
"Kimina!" Lloyd calls out to me, getting struck in the chest but ignoring the pain coursing through his body. 'Kimina... come on. Do it now.' Lloyd gestures to me, clutching his chest slightly.
Without Naria sensei noticing, I make a hand sign.
"Alright, Lloyd!" Rakuyo calls out, grabbing out a kunai knife; with Lloyd doing the same. They both get some fair distance between them and Naria sensei, and at the same time, both throw their knives at her.
Naria sensei simply dodges them, as the two kunai's hit the other, virtually canceling them out. She slides back a couple feet, giving that she had to dodge the kunai knives in a hurry. "So, is this it?" she asks them all, clearly somewhat entertained.
"Not quite!" a voice says from far off in the distance.
"What?" she gasps. It was one of my shadow clones, and it was coming up fast behind her. Naria sensei turns around to a fistful punch right in her jaw, sending her flying in the opposite direction; landing roughly on the ground in front of me.
"Yes! We did it!" Lloyd declares, his fist raised in the air.
"What?" I gasp out, seeing Naria sensei's unconscious form dissipate into a puddle of water.
"It was only a water clone," Rakuyo states, his tone implying that it wasn't a surprise.
"Kind of figured something like that to happen... seemed to good to be true actually," Lloyd sighs out, slouching over in a disappointed manner. A gust of wind picks up behind him, and out of the swirling of leaves appears our sensei.
"Hey. You need help or what?" Lloyd asks, walking over and reaching his arm out to me.
"Yeah," I answer, taking his hand. When I get up, I brush my arms and legs off, dusting little amounts of dirt off from my clothes.
"So, how did we do? We did good, right?" Lloyd asks Naria sensei, hoping she would give him the answer he was looking for.
"I must say... you did much better than the last time," she replies, giving us all a sincere smile.
"Better enough to past?" I ask, looking about as hopeful as a deer about to be hunted.
"Hmm... I will think so," she states calmly.
What? I stare out in shock at her words and say almost happily, "Wait. So... does that mean that... you're passing us?" She simply nods her head.
"Woo-hoo!" Lloyd proclaims excitedly, throwing both his fists into the air.
"You guys did much better when you all worked as a team. And you Rakuyo, what an impressive jutsu. To be able to hold your opponent down using an Earth style jutsu. That's rarely seen, especially in a genin like yourself so young," she tells him warmly, giving him a kind smile. Rakuyo doesn't say anything back, just simply gives her a small smile in return.
"But you know, just because I am giving you three a good report now doesn't mean there isn't anything that you have to work at. You three have much more to learn, and I will teach you only if you want to be taught," she exclaims, her expression slightly rigorous.
"Hell yeah, whatever! Of course! Nothing is gonna' stop me from becoming chunin!" Lloyd declares, determination etched in his eyes.
"Well, alright. I will see you three tomorrow then at the Hokage's office for your first mission," she divulges quickly.
"Wait. The Hokage's office?" I ask, obviously confused.
"Yes. The Hokage will be giving the first mission's to all of the passing genin in your level," Naria replies patiently. Noticing my understanding gaze, Naria sensei lastly says, before disappearing in a gust of wind, "Well, like I said... I will see you all tomorrow." She disappears.
"So, I guess I'll go on home now and give the old pops and my mom the good news," Lloyd says aloud to no one in particular. I could've sworn that I saw Rakuyo flinch at the mention of Lloyd talking about his parents, especially at the part when Lloyd said old pops, but I shake myself of the thought.
"Yeah, I think I better go on home too. My mom will want to know everything," I pronounce elated, waving bye to the both of them and walking away.
Lloyd's P.O.V
I wave back to Kimina, as she disappears through the trees heading northeast. And now, it was just Rakuyo and I standing in the open field. I continue to stare out at where Kimina had vanished, and wish absently that she never left; or wishing that she could've taken me with her. I sigh out heavily, knowing that I had to say something.
"Um... Rakuyo? I... what?" I look over to where Rakuyo was standing just a few moments ago, but he wasn't there. I look around, quickly spotting him walking away in the opposite direction from where Kimina left. Man he could move silently… and fast!
"Hey, Rakuyo!" I yell out to him, sprinting up beside him. "Hey, I just wanted to tell you that... you did an awesome job with planning out a strategy in our last battle back there." Really wish Kimina were here to see this, she wouldn't believe her eyes. I don't even believe it I was doing this.
I hold out my hand, in an offer for a handshake. But Lord knows that I did not want to be saying or doing this, and I was hoping that my expression didn't give off that impression.
"Umm... yeah. Umm... thanks," Rakuyo replies tentatively, eyeing my hand for a brief second.
"Wee, I'll see you tomorrow then," I quickly say, trying to hold back a rude comment.
Rakuyo simply nods in reply, and begins walking in the direction of where he was headed. For the first time towards him, a wave of sympathy sweeps over me as I watch him walk away with a gloomy disposition. But it was only a small wave of sympathy, something that I could walk away from and easily forget about, which was exactly what I did.
End of Lloyd's P.O.V
Naria's P.O.V
"Good afternoon, Lord Hokage," I say with a generous smile and a low bow of my head, as I enter his office.
"Oh, good afternoon Naria. What brings you here?" the old man asks considerately.
"I am just bringing you my report on Team 9, my Lord," I answer steadfastly.
"Hmm. Oh yes. Kimina Fujimaru, Lloyd Yukohama, and Rakuyo Sesetsu. Yes, how did their assignment go?" he questions me eagerly.
"They have passed the assignment, my Lord. But it was not an easy task for them," I exclaim justly.
"Hah. I would assume not," the Hokage replies, laughing while he said it.
"On their first try, they failed miserably. And I failed them then, and I told them what their faults were and what they needed to work on. But they are a persistent bunch and they wouldn't give up. So, I gave them a second try and they did an exceptional job. They proved to me what real teamwork they had and showed me how skilled they are in the jutsus they wield," I report with a serious expression, but on the inside I was very ecstatic.
"Hmm. Iruka-sensei did tell me that those three with a very good crop of students in his class. With Kimina being up there with Sasuke Uchiha. I am very glad that they have passed their assignment. Now, they will be able to show their true potential! And I wish you luck as well, Naria. This will be your first time in teaching and mentoring a group of genin," he states profoundly. His smile was so warm and caring.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage," I retort contently, giving him another bow of my head. 'Yes... Iruka-sensei was right. These are indeed a very good and promising group of students. And I will teach them just like you Lord Hokage and also the Fourth Hokage had taught me.'
End of Naria's P.O.V *****
"Oh! I am very proud of you, Kimina!" my mother says happily, giving me a big hug. This time though, gratefully, she didn't suffocate me.
"Yeah, I am too. I never thought I would make it this far!" I exclaim, with a lopsided smile. I was too excited.
"Well... you did. And I am so proud of you!" she repeats herself, endowing me with yet another hug. This time crushing me…
"So, did Hinata pass her assignment as well?" she asks warmly, putting away some of the dishes.
"Yeah, she did! Her, Kiba, and Shino who are all on her team as well," I tell her, clearly happy that we were all going to be genin together. There was just one other team I didn't know about; Naruto's. But I couldn't say anything in front of my mom about it; she'd give me that same malice look in her eyes. And I didn't want to spoil the happy setting in the room; I would just have to wait until the morning.
"You know... your father will be real proud of you," my mom says, seeing me eye his picture
over the fireplace in the next room.
"Yeah... I know... I know he would be," I murmer, mostly to myself, still focusing on the picture with an almost sorrowful expression.
Loong chapter, I know but thanks for reading! Please let me know how I'm doing too *smiley*