AN: Sorry it's been so long. Real life decided to make itself known by drop kicking this story from my mind. Luckily it found its way back. R&R and you get digital cookies.
I'm surprised no one said anything about the horrible pun I made last chapter. Even I cringed. I just didn't care at the time because I was annoyed.
0o0o0
I watch boredly as everyone takes turns making a bunshin. Finally Iruka calls Naruto, and I pay more attention. Hesitantly walking to the front of the class Naruto tries to concentrate. All his previous attempts were total failures and he's determined to get it right.
What I don't understand is how no one seems to notice the massive chakra swirling around him as he does the jutsu. I mean, hell, I can practically smell it. Deciding to have Naruto stay after class so I can talk to Iruka about it I sprawl out on the desk for a nap.
Someone's shaking me. "Go away," I growl and hear Duck butt snort. Cracking an eye open I glare at him. "Class is over," he says, and I look around to see him, Naruto, Iruka, and I are the only ones left. Well that's convenient.
I stretch before looking at the front where Iruka is going through some papers. "Hey Sensei, I have a question."
"What is it Hotaru-chan?" He stands from his desk and walks over to us.
"I noticed Naruto uses way more chakra for jutsus than everyone else. Could that be why his bunshin is so pathetic?" I ask this with an innocent look of curiosity on my face. In reality I was extremely annoyed because by the look on his face it hadn't occurred to him.
He quickly turns his attention to my brother, "Naruto can you try making a bunshin again?"
"Sure," Naruto concentrates and like before there was a surge of chakra. A grayish, sickly Naruto appeared in a puddle on the floor. I carefully jump off the desk to sniff it. That's… odd.. I reach out a paw to touch it not actually expecting to make contact. But I did. I let out an embarrassing squeal as it jiggled. Quickly jerking back I swear it made a noise before disappearing in a poof of smoke.
I slowly turn to the others in horror to see them having a similar reaction. "Aren't those supposed to be illusions? Because that felt solid. I-it was squishy," I choke out.
"They are," Iruka says, bewildered.
He cleared his throat before giving Naruto a serious look, "I don't think you should do that anymore. Next time you see the Hokage ask him about an alternative." Naruto nodded, just as serious, before shuddering obviously remembering when I poked the bunshin.
0o0o0
We saw Jiji a few days later. Naruto barreled into his office while I followed at a slightly more sedate pace. Sasuke grumpily walked next to me. According to Naruto, 'he just had to come.'
As soon as he had Jiji's attention Naruto started babbling about how he needs a jutsu to use instead of the bunshin. Sasuke and I just sat on the couch in the corner. Jiji was nice enough to add it to his office just for us.
When the Hokage looked hesitant to teach a more powerful jutsu to someone so young, I speak up, "He used so much chakra that he turned an illusion semi-solid Jiji. I had nightmares! If he can do that, I think he can handle whatever jutsu you're thinking of."
He sighed but I could tell he agreed with the logic. "All right Naruto, I'll teach you something called the Kage bunshin. Unlike the normal bunshin it is solid, and you gain their memories when they are dismissed. However they can only sustain minimal damage. If I teach you this, I want you to be careful of how many you make. It is an extremely chakra intensive jutsu."
Naruto quickly nodded with a wide grin.
As Jiji started explaining how to make a kage bunshin I kind of tuned out. I was trying really hard not to say the thought that had immediately popped into my head. I mean why doesn't he use the jutsu for paperwork? You'd think it would go a lot quicker with more than one of him working on it.
I managed to contain myself till the end of the impromptu lesson. I didn't want to interrupt, but as soon as soon as Jiji told him to come back tomorrow the words escaped my mouth. Jiji froze staring at me in shock for a moment. Then his face went blank as he started banging his head against the desk. A few pages fell on the floor, and we carefully started inching our way out of the room. I think I broke him.
Omake:
"Naruto," I say gravely.
"Yees?" There is suspicion written all over his face as he looks up from his homework. From his perspective this is completely out of nowhere, but I've had this nagging at my thoughts for awhile now.
"Why did you choose bubble gum pink for that prank last week?"
He relaxed, "I found it in a dumpster."
Oh, I forgot he sometimes dumpster dives. He always leaves me behind when he does. There is no way I will go rummaging through nasty trash. I don't mind if he does though, as long as he properly cleans what he gets.
"So it has nothing to do with Sakura?"
"Why would it? She's one of Sasuke's biggest fangirls, and she creeps me out."
I sigh in relief, "I just wanted to make sure. It was the exact shade of her hair after all. Also, you do realize it's looking like she'll be on our team when we graduate right?"
Naruto is clearly horrified to realize this. "I'm gonna pretend you never said that," and he goes back to his homework.
Maybe I should go remind Sasuke of that little detail. The faces he makes are always funny.