Mid-Childa Naruto
aka: Mischief Fragment - Mjolnir
a possibility raised by Greylle
Archived by Solitare and reposted by TheBeardedOne.
The plan was to drop this. Time restrictions and there are a few magic-Naruto stories already out there. i haven't run into one quite like this though, and plot details just keep fitting themselves into place. Which is why it's been separated out from the Omake and put here.
Various characters from various series. Mainly Nanoha and Naruto.
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Chapter 11: Exam, first test
Naruto walked past the Sakura inside his doorway, pausing to consider her briefly, then just shrugged and started a pan of water heating on the stove.
"Did you know?" asked Naruto. "About Kurochan not being a familiar? Hinata's sister? Was Hinata spying on me? I mean the Hyuga do that stuff with their eyes, but well-"
Sakura continued to kneel by the doorway without comment.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to contact Yuuno tomorrow before the start of exams," said Naruto, his attention not on the apparently shut-down Sakura. "They'll have to look over Kuro, I mean Hanabi, since whoever hit her with a cat transformation was the one who hit you with the doll transformation."
WHAT? silently screeched Inner Sakura. Do we have a name? I'll murdalize them!
Naruto thought a moment as the pan of water heated up. "I dunno. Only one I can think of who could do something like that would be Yzma. Not only is she dead, she has that whole villain-gloating thing going on. I suppose it could be what they were speculating at the TSAB when I brought you to them - Yzma had an apprentice studying under her who's out to avenge her. I don't know about that though - she seemed a loner. Well, except for Kronk."
So we don't know yet? Kurochan's a girl? Waitaminute, that cat followed you everywhere. Including in the restroom and when you were out. And she seemed to get along with Sasuke! THAT TRAMP! She was trying to get close to Sasuke!
Why doesn't he just rewind me?
Naruto poured hot water into a cup noodle container, then put a pair of chopsticks on the lid to hold it down. "You know, Sakura, I asked you out nearly every day for three years."
Yeah, that was really annoying.
"I guess I was in love," said Naruto.
Okay, this is getting creepy.
"See, when you joined the Academy, you were alone, everyone made fun of you," said Naruto, adding the next in a much lower voice. "Like me."
Huh? What?
"That's why I wanted to be your friend. Except then Ino made friends with you while you were studying that flower stuff and us guys were spending time learning knots and some stuff about fishing and sailing ships. I thought we had something in common. And there was something else. Something about you just seemed... comforting I guess. Familiar in an odd way. Anyway. It wasn't until later I found out why everyone hated me," continued Naruto, back to a normal conversational volume. "They shunned me, ignored me, but I could feel their hostility - their hate. I could hear the comments as they talked to each other. I did lots of things to get attention, any attention."
Well, yeah, I kinda knew that. Sort of.
"You said something about reading my file, so you know about the fox don't you?" asked Naruto, indicating her with his chopsticks. "Everything changed of course when I ended up with the TSAB. They knew about a lot of that stuff right away. We got into some fights, I worked with 'em. Somehow I had Mjolnir when I showed up, and we became a team."
Yeah. We saw the Kyubi No Kitsune noted in your file. We also saw the damage it was doing to you.
Why doesn't he just rewind me? I don't want to hear this!
"So much of my life alone, hated, and it was something I couldn't do anything about," said Naruto.
Why not? He's obviously just getting things off his chest. We're shut down with only a click or two left of energy before shutting down to that damn rest state.
Because I don't want to KNOW this. I want to treat him like before.
Inner Sakura sighed in their private connection. I'm supposed to be the emotional kickass you, remember? You're supposed to be the rational one. When did we switch?
Arrrghhhh! I'm in an argument with myself and I'm losing! Naruto! This is your fault!
"So I ended up engaged to Hinata, except that I'm not really sure about that," continued Naruto, shaking his head and looking into his ramen as if trying to find answers there. "SHE doesn't know about my little secret. I don't think so at least. When her family finds out, they'll break it off - believe it!"
I... suppose that's possible.
.
"So we need to fix that before the Belkan cartridge system can be used. I heard he was going to be going on an exam of some kind."
"Well, he'll just have to do without his Intelligent Device for a week. Without reinforcing this section, it'll break sooner or later."
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"The TSAB was great, ya know?" said Naruto. "I was only there a little over a year, but I got to fight monsters and criminals and all sorts of bad guys. I did some of that 'search and rescue' stuff. I got training and made friends. Then I came back here and it was... It was bad. I was back to being shunned and hated. Everything about ME had changed but nothing HERE had changed. So, you know me, old dumb friendly Naruto, had to keep up the mask. Friendly goofy Naruto, who's gonna be Hokage and get everyone's respect."
You might have been trying to act the way you used to be, Naruto. You didn't manage to pull it off.
"Anyway, I'll wind you up now," said Naruto as he got up. "We got the Chunin Exams tomorrow so Sasuke will have to rewind you before whatever test they've got."
Yeah, yeah. Let's... why did it feel different when he pulled out the key? His hands feel different from Sasuke's.
You know why. He just said why. Sasuke regards winding us up as a chore. Naruto doesn't. It's magic - intent matters.
Oh. Damn. That feels GOOD.
Stop it, Naruto! That's...
Ooooooooooooooooh yeah.
"There we go," said Naruto, apparently cheerful, as he finished winding. "See you tomorrow Sakura, we're going to kick major behind on that exam!"
"Y-yeah," said Sakura, turning away from Naruto quickly. "Later."
Naruto watched her leave and shook his head, turning his attention back to dinner.
.
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Naruto exited the Hokage tower but stopped on seeing both Kurochan and her father standing there.
"Uzumaki," said Hiashi.
"Lord Hyuga," responded Naruto. "Ku... Hanabi."
There was a moment of awkwardness before Hiashi broke it. "You contacted these Mid-Childans?"
"Yes, tomorrow morning they'll come by to take Hanabi with them," said Naruto. "They can investigate what was done to her, and because they've already scanned Sakura they'll be able to compare the two and look for common stuff. Can't say whether they'll get further than that or not at this point, but that might give 'em enough info to figure out how it was done and how to fix it."
"I see," said Hiashi.
"I'm sorry, Lord Hyuga, but I must hurry to join my team at the exam center."
"Both my nephew and my other daughter are competing in this Chunin Exam, so I won't wish you luck - as you most likely will be competing directly against both."
"I understand," said Naruto, inclining his head towards the clan head. There were still a lot of questions he had, but he didn't think he'd get answers anyway.
Hiashi watched the boy run off, then glanced down at his youngest daughter as she reverted to cat-form.
"This is going to be troublesome," said Hanabi, her tail lashing the air behind her.
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There was a certain inertia involved in changing a timeline. Normally, something would remain in place until forces changed it. In this world, Naruto had sent ripples along by his time in the Time Space Administration Bureau.
One of those ripples had altered Sakura so that she was now a clockwork golem with a blaster in one arm and the other arm could be extended out. Among other things.
Others had shifted. Hinata, Hanabi, the people of Wave, Haku, Zabuza.
However, none of those ripples had affected the test itself.
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"Eh, too crowded," said Naruto, looking up the building.
Sasuke looked at the crowded doorway of the exam center, then up the building. He smirked.
"Oh come on, it's too early for..." Sakura stopped as she realized both Naruto and Sasuke were walking up the side of the building. She shrugged and followed them, wondering if this would give them demerits on the test or points for style.
When she reached them, she lightly bopped both in the heads. "Don't forget. Secrets. We're in competition here."
"Right," said Sasuke, eyeing the girl who'd just bopped him on the head.
"Troublesome," summed up Shikamaru as Team 7 came in through the window.
"Sakura?" squeaked Ino, for once her attention on Sasuke being slightly derailed. "Sakura, what happened to you?"
"Oh, Ino, long story," said Sakura, realizing she was now taller and better built than Ino. "It's like..."
"SASUKE!" declared Ino, launching herself at Sasuke now that the initial shock over Sakura's appearance was over.
Sasuke grumbled and mostly looked uncomfortable.
"So your sensei decided you guys were ready to be beaten?" said Kiba as he approached. Then he looked at Sakura and frowned and then looked really puzzled. "Eh?"
"Na-Naruto-kun," managed Hinata, beginning to play with her fingers.
"Hinata-chan," said Naruto in reply, smiling at her but really uncertain how to respond. Not only was his familiar apparently her sister, but were they competing now?
"Get off," demanded Sasuke.
"Not a chaaance," said Ino before she was abruptly pried off by Sakura and held at arm's length.
"Hello Ino, yes, I've changed a little, and no - I'm not giving details until after my team has beaten your team," said Sakura with no hint of effort coming out in her voice.
"Troublesome," repeated Shikamaru, drawing a nod from Choji.
"Hey, you guys ought to not draw so much attention to yourselves," said an unfamiliar Leaf genin.
"Our team can't help drawing attention," said Naruto. "Cause we're simply that awesome."
Sasuke cocked his head at that and smirked.
Then Team Gai was arriving and Tenten gave him a brief nod.
"That's exactly the sort of attitude you need to curb," advised the genin. "See - most of these people have taken the exam more than once."
"Oh?" asked Kiba. "How many times have you taken it?"
"Seven actually," admitted the boy.
"Seven? Wow, you must suck," said Kiba, tactful as always.
"It's not as easy a test as you seem to think," responded Kabuto. "People do die taking the exam."
"So you've been through the test before, you know what to expect?" asked Ino, who then looked towards Sakura. "You can let me go now. You're cutting off circulation."
"Oh right," said Sakura, giving off the impression she'd completely forgotten about Ino. She let go of the other kunoichi's shirt, causing gravity to have its way with the blonde.
Ino landed with a thump.
"Oh yes, and I have these," said the genin, holding up a deck of cards.
"What are those?" asked Sakura, eyeing the cards as if expecting them to turn out to be throwing weapons. Which wouldn't be completely unexpected from a ninja actually.
"Ninja Info Cards," said the boy.
"That kinda like one of those trading card games?" asked Naruto. "I seen those, never got into them."
"What the heck are those? Some sort of fuuinjutsu?" asked Sakura.
"Ninja Info Cards," repeated the boy, kneeling to spread them out on a section of floor. "I have information on the test and most of the participants stored here, that I can unlock with chakra."
"So it is a sort of fuuinjutsu," said Sakura. "What have you got on me there?"
"Looking yourself up? Kind of vain, isn't that?" asked Kabuto.
"How best to find out how accurate you are?" responded Sakura. "Accurate info can determine whether you live or die out in the field, right Hinata?"
"Ah, y-y-yes," said Hinata, surprised she was being drawn into this. Then she saw Sakura wink at her and tried to figure out what was going on.
[This guy is WAY suspicious,] said Inner Sakura. [If we're competing on the test, why would he help us?]
"What's your name, anyway, unusually helpful rival?" asked Sakura, her Inner Sakura's comment prompting her to dig for information herself.
"Kabuto," answered the genin, rotating his finger around on the card and channeling chakra. Data began appearing on the card.
"Ninjutsu 1.5, Taijutsu 1, Genjutsu 3, Intelligence 3.5, Strength 0.5, Speed 1, Hand Seals 4?" said Ino. "She was able to hold me up at arm's length for ten minutes!"
"More like five," said Sakura. "Haven't updated for awhile, have you?"
"Well," said Kabuto, comparing the picture with the girl in front of him. Many differences were noted. "That's..."
"Oh, hey kid," said a guy dressed in black. "This your puppet?"
"Excuse me?" asked Sakura.
"'Puppet'?" asked Ino, Kabuto, Naruto, and Shikamaru.
"Yeah, I want to find out who made her," said the newcomer.
"Kankuro, give it up, those are prosthetics," said a blonde genin from Sand.
"Can't be," said Kankuro. "Unless she's..."
Sakura had just grabbed Kankuro's forearm before he could finish the gesture. "Don't even start."
"ALL RIGHT YOU LOSERS, SETTLE DOWN!" said someone in the front. "I'm Ibiki Morino and I'm the proctor for this test."
"A written test?" asked Naruto, following with a groan and dropping his forehead to impact the desk he was seated at.
"I-It's okay, Naruto-kun," murmurred Hinata from her seat next to him.
"Don't do so good on those, eh?" asked Tenten from the other side of Naruto.
"I did horrible on those last time I took classes," admitted Naruto. "I can't remember half the crap they were teaching then either."
"Knock off the chit chat!" said Ibiki from the front of the room. "Proctors, continue passing out the tests. You genin will only turn over the tests when I give the command to start. Remember the point scoring system I have just outlined."
[Master.]
Naruto blinked as he felt the mental communication from Mjolnir. What?
[Extrapolation from scoring system and repeated reference to ninja methodology suggests that inobvious methods of gathering information is goal of test.]
Oh, thought Naruto in reply. His eyes widened slightly as he noticed the mirrors on the ceiling that Tenten had managed to plant with a few careful throws.
His MAIN information retrieval method was useless here. Wide Area Search put out yellow crackling balls of Lightning chakra. If they wanted 'sneaky' and not 'flashy' - he was a little less capable in that regard.
"You may begin, and take the test in the manner of excellent shinobi," said Ibiki.
Yup. You called it.
[First question. Simple alphanumeric encryption. Text reads as follows.]
Hinata blinked as she heard Naruto's pencil skritching away and allowed a smile to fit onto her face. Naruto was so nervous when the problem was something to anticipate, but then when he was facing the problem - he just went ahead and handled it.
These problems were HARD. There was no way she could get all of them herself.
Would Naruto mind if she copied his test?
Dead last my dimpled butt, thought Tenten as Naruto went to scribbling out answers. Keeping your abilities secret behind a facade, Naruto? Or is this some magic trick you learned in that other world?
She'd kept quiet, for the most part, about that other world and that mission. She'd gotten a couple of kunai and some tools there, but nothing major as her funds hadn't been particularly great and the exchange rate hadn't been favorable. She'd had to explain the odd metal of the kunai when Neji had seen them as having come from that mission and then retreated behind the declaration of secret.
Tenten smirked but didn't let her eyes linger on anything in particular. Whatever it is he's doing - LUCKY! Him being next to me makes it that much easier to get his answers and put them on MY paper. Then I can adjust the mirrors so Lee can get my answers. Neji's too far away, but with his Byakugan - I don't expect he'll have any trouble at all on this test.
Sakura winced as she looked at the questions on her test. There's no way Naruto can get these... oh right. He probably has a spell/jutsu that can get him those answers.
[Shannarou! Our team is gonna kick butt and take names!]
Ugh. That creepy perv-in-black is looking this way again.
[Ignore him. He's probably wondering why the chakra line he snuck onto us didn't get past my Firewall.]
Well, yeah.
[Besides, we can kick his butt in a more literal fashion later. Believe it!]
Don't pick up Naruto's bad habits.
[Sorry.]
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"Hokage-sama, two more visitors from... That Place. Yuuno Scrya and Winry Rockbell."
The Third Hokage set his pipe to the side. "Show them in. I'm just hoping they're not looking to engage anyone else to that boy now."
"If they are," asked the chunin, "should I relay that to Jiraiya?"
"No, I would reserve that pleasure myself," said the Hokage.
.
"Proctor? I have to use the restroom," said the Sand-nin, holding one hand up.
Ibiki gave permission, not fooled by the puppet the Sand ninja was using as a proctor. The point of the test was not to be caught, but they had to put the caveat on the procedure that it had to be fairly obvious. If the chunin watching had to use special abilities or was uncertain, then it didn't count.
That was why the yapping dog, floating eye made of sand, mirrors being remotely operated, mouse crawling along the wall, and the Yamanaka girl trying to hide her handsigns were all ignored. In a more normal environment, such things would or could pass without notice. Unlike the idiots who tried dropping a pencil or just craning their neck to look at a neighbor's sheet.
Oh, that was interesting. The Yamanaka girl had just tried their clan's possession technique and had just found a target that was apparently not so easy. She'd just shot backwards in her chair with a nosebleed beginning.
Well, that new guy, Haku, was scribbling down some demerits. Apparently she hadn't reached the limit though. Good enough.
Give her points for commitment though - as soon as she'd shaken off the effects she was trying another target.
Ibiki's eyes went along the rows, trying to figure out who the girl had tried to possess who'd thrown her out. Someone to keep an eye on, as there were few genin who could manage to resist that technique.
Ah. The girl with pink hair had half-turned to glare at Yamanaka. She intrigued him anyway, and it would be interesting to see how the puppet-girl managed the next part of the exam.
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"So you're here to pull Naruto's device for an upgrade," said the Hokage to Yuuno. "Unfortunately, he's in a series of difficult tests to determine if he's capable of making the next rank among ninja."
"I understand that," said Yuuno. "However, as I understand it, it is the THIRD part of the exam that is the individual combat portion. It will take about a week for the Belkan Cartridge System to be fully installed and tested."
"You understand much of a secret test," mused the Hokage aloud.
Yuuno shrugged. "I'm primarily a researcher. The third part of your exams is always a set of individual duels, usually a month after you've done the other two sections."
"And you? Will Sakura likewise be unable to compete in the Exams?" asked Sarutobi of his other visitor.
"No sir," said Winry, keeping in mind she was basically talking to a foreign head-of-state. "I can be done in about two hours. I've already assembled and brought along the parts. It's just a matter of exchanging them and then fine-tuning them."
.
"That was tough," said Sakura as they walked home from meeting the next proctor at Training Ground 44.
"Should we show up a little early tomorrow?" asked Naruto.
"You only think it was difficult because you're the only one in there who didn't cheat to get the answers," said Sasuke. "And no, Naruto."
"Naruto!" said a voice from the sky.
"Yuuno?" asked Naruto, recognizing the voice as he straightened up.
Sakura blinked as she recognized the other figure. "Winry?"
Sasuke quirked an eyebrow. He didn't recognize either of them, the boy was flying and apparently towing the girl and her luggage along so... "Hnn."
"Naruto," said Yuuno as he landed. "I have something to discuss with you."
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Yzma sat back in her palanquin and considered the possibilities. Kronk was gathering information by talking to some squirrels, so he was not being an annoyance at the moment.
Everyone in Wave was talking about an Uzumaki, but she was not at all certain that THIS Uzumaki was the one she was seeking vengeance on.
"Problem, Yzma," said Kronk as he approached.
"Not surprising," said Yzma. "Has anything gone as I expected on this trip? Is it too much to ask that the situation simply proceed in a logical manner that I can take advantage of?"
"Uhm," said Kronk as he scratched his head.
"Rhetorical question, Kronk," said Yzma. "What wrench has fate decided to throw into my quest for vengeance?"
"I don't think Fate was involved," said Kronk.
"Just... get to the point Kronk," said Yzma, rolling her eyes. "What have the squirrels told you?"
"Oh, they spotted the kid and his companions, they're heading towards a forest," said Kronk, pausing. "A really dangerous forest."
"So?" asked Yzma. "He's going to be out of town for a little while?"
"They're heading for the Forest Of Death," said Kronk.
"Which one?" asked Yzma, pulling out a map of Fire Country. "What is it with these ninja and their names? 'Forest Of Death' and 'Mountain of Despair' and 'Swamp of Desolation' and so on."
"Don't forget 'Rock Candy Mountain'," said Kronk, nodding.
"Don't be silly, there's no... oh. There actually is." Yzma frowned at the map, looked up and into the distance, then back to the map. "Halfway between the 'Valley Of The End' and 'Misery Peak' there's a 'Rock Candy Mountain' - how odd."
"Yeah, I noticed," said Kronk. "But anyway, the squirrels tell me the 'Forest Of Death' is really dangerous and got a lot more so just in the past few months."
"Perhaps we should investigate further," mused Yzma. "Perhaps it will give us a further advantage we can use."
"Or we'll all die in a horrible and painful manner," said Kronk, shrugging.
"Let's try to avoid that one," said Yzma drily.
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Sasuke had been amused by the way the blonde girl had berated Sakura for the various nicks and dings in her body.
"WHAT? You're kidding me?" yelped Naruto from where he'd been discussing something with Yuuno.
Sasuke's attention returned to the blonde and Sakura as the blonde had Sakura lay on a table and began taking out torture implements.
Oh, wait, those were actually tools of some kind.
"What exactly are you doing?" asked Sasuke as the girl opened up panels on one of Sakura's legs.
"Hmmm? Oh hi, I'm Winry Rockbell," said the blonde. "Sorry if I was ignoring you. Just have a tendency to get wrapped up in my work. I'm upgrading her systems."
"Do you have anything for a survival mission? We're going to be stuck for a week in a place called the 'Forest Of Death'," explained Sakura.
"Forest eh?" asked Winry, who then whirled and started opening cases. "Yeah. I think I might have something here."
.
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It was a lovely morning. A bird landed on a tree branch, began to sing its bright cheery song, and was promptly eaten by something that looked just like a treebranch except for the mouth that split into three parts and had all sorts of nasty teeth.
"That's the third one," pointed out one of the waiting genin.
"And THAT is why it's called the 'Forest Of Death' instead of the 'Forest Of Fun'," said Anko with a nod.
"Any chance we can move the test?" asked a genin from Waterfall.
"No," said Anko. "Good try though. Aw come on, the forest is just all sorts of fun!"
"Trees trying to eat me is not my definition of fun," stated Choji.
"It's kill or be killed, survival of the fittest, every moment could be your last!" exclaimed Anko, pointing at the forest. "In the past year, things have shown up in there so horribly monstrous you'd think some mad scientist was using it as a dumping ground!"
One of the Grass nin opened his mouth to protest, then closed it.
"There are things in there which can suck all your blood out of your body in seconds, other things which will burrow into your body and eat you from the inside out." Anko again indicated the forest. "And not only are you going to face danger from the plants and animals trying to kill you - there's the other genin who will be trying to kill you every step of the way! How can this not be good clean ninja fun?"
"Uhm, don't take this the wrong way," said the Waterfall nin. "You Konoha nin have this reputation as soft treehuggers who make nicey-nice with rainbows and team-effort, but I have to wonder if you're not really psychotic torture-loving sadists or its just your proctors."
"Oh?" asked Anko. "Thanks. I'll be keeping an eye on you."
The Waterfall genin went quiet and still.
"It's just some of us who are psychotic or sadists or some such," said a random Konoha nin.
"I'll be keeping an eye on you too. Okay," said Anko, rolling to her feet and then pulling out two scrolls. "There are these scrolls. One's a Heaven scroll. One's an Earth scroll. You will be given one at random. You will then have a week to get your hands on the other and then take BOTH scrolls to the tower at the center of the forest. Izumo is handing out the release forms, bring the three COMPLETED forms to the tent behind me where they will set you up with a scroll. You will then be led to one of the gates by a proctor. In a little over an hour, a bell will ring and everyone can go into the forest and start this test."
"What's in the scrolls?" asked another genin.
"If you open a scroll before getting to the tower, you fail the test," answered Anko, noting that the random Konoha genin from earlier had just vanished in a puff of smoke. So it was someone's shadow clone under a henge to look like someone else? "If you die - you fail and your team fails. If you fail to get inside the forest five minutes after the bell rings - you fail. If you leave the forest before getting to the tower - you fail."
"What do we eat in there?" asked Choji.
"Anything you can find, you can eat," said Anko. "Keep in mind that some of the things in there will be looking to eat YOU. Oh, and don't eat the carnivorous plants or giant beetles. They're poisonous and taste pretty nasty too. You really don't want to die because you crapped yourself to death, just think how embarrassing that would be..."
One of the other Waterfall genin turned to the one who'd spoken earlier. "I think she's just one of those jonin that's been a little too often out on the S-Rank missions. You know they tend to come back a little loopy from those."
Which caused Anko to throw a kunai to cut that speaker's cheek, followed by her using a shunshin to get behind her and then lick the blood off that cheek. Which pretty much cemented everyone's opinion of her as That Crazy Proctor Woman.
Some of the foreign nin, the younger crowd at least, actually began to have some sympathy for the Konoha genin. Not much to be sure, but it WAS there.
"You gonna be able to do anything without your hammer?" asked Sasuke.
"Sasuke, you're concerned about me? I'm touched," said Naruto, acting surprised. "Not to mention surprised as hell."
"Pfeh, I don't want you holding us all back," said Sasuke, commencing eyeroll.
"Oh, should have known," muttered Naruto. "Thought you were developing a heart there. I can still use a number of spells. The problem is that Mjolnir filters my chakra and allows me to use some higher level techniques. Unless there are dragons, sandworms, vampires, or something like that - we should be good."
"I've got a Belkan Cartridge System now," said Sakura, tapping one arm with the hand from the other. "I can cover for Naruto's weakness." She didn't mention the limited number of shells she had to use in it or Winry's repeated statements of not using more than a maximum of two at a time.
Naruto, predictably, started sulking.
Sasuke, on the other hand, smirked.