Shattered Dreams
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Naruto.
Notes: I'm so lazy right now, but that's because of my stupid job. –Silently takes a serrated blade to my job- anyways I apologize again for the wait. I'll try to get the Konoha section of Triple Whammy out of the way before the end of this week.
Chapter 21: Dining With the Aburame's
Izur and team were sitting in front of a small lake about three miles away from the Hidden Leaf's village. They had finally managed to master the water walking technique, and had been having races across the surface of the water all morning. Masaru had not told them what they could do once they had mastered it and since it was only eight in the morning and they had to train till ten they were discussing possible things.
Izur was all for some Taijutsu training, saying that it would be hard to beat them if they were both physically strong and fast. Leiko wanted to do Ninjutsu training and exchange techniques again, while Hachiro was all for doing 'concentration' training. This was apparently lying back and sleeping for two hours while concentrating on things that made you happy.
Leiko and Izur had vetoed this immediately saying it wouldn't help them with anything. "Come on Izur, just agree with me. You know you want to learn some more of the cool techniques I have." Izur growled at her as she egged him on to do as she wanted. Growling he leaned back thinking on what would be the best compromise. "Wait… Leiko I don't even know many of your other techniques. So how about we have a battle royal and see what each other is capable of."
Leiko started to protest but Izur continued on quickly, "Look think of it this way; we get to practice both Tai and Ninjutsu and then next training session we can practice your Ninjutsu thing. Plus I've been placed in charge remember? I think it's time to be decisive and pick something. We are wasting valuable time here."
Leiko and Hachiro both grumbled about something that he choose not hear, but he did know it wasn't about the same thing. Drawing a Kunai from each of the holsters he had on his legs he grinned. "All right only rules are no maiming, serious damage, or killing. Yield if you must and if you lose you have to do push ups, sit ups, and laps while water walking at the same time."
He liked being able to set these rules, he realized. It made things simpler, especially since he didn't think he'd be out early at all. He figured he could probably take either of his teammates alone and together they could beat him, but not without damage. That was, he knew, only if he removed the weights he wore.
"Let's start then." Izur launched himself towards his female teammate; she rivaled him in strength and speed so it was smart to remove her first. He also wanted to show her that he'd already mastered the Katon jutsu she'd show him. Drawing back his left arm he swung forwards, only to have her catch the kunai on her own.
Drawing back he swung his leg towards her head feeling it be caught in her free arm. Twisting he brought his other knee down towards the top of her head, forcing her to let go of his leg and duck below the kick. Landing he swung the same leg to connect with her head only to have the forgotten Hachiro connect a punch to his head.
Izur stumbled backwards his head ringing from having his ear hit, but shaking it off he charged at Hachiro taking his right hand and pushing it towards his chest to try and hit him with the kunai there. But the other boy jumped back throwing some shuriken at him. Izur dropped quickly hitting the ground before rolling to avoid more of the deadly weapons. He pushed himself back up thinking it was time to move this fight forwards.
He formed some quick hand seals around the kunai and on either side of him his clones appeared. Hachiro watched the five Izur's as they charged, unsure if any were Rai, Mizu, or regular Bunshins. He knew that the Rai Bunshins would be the most dangerous to him.
But as Izur managed to connect three solid punches activating his TarenKen technique three of his clones were killed by kunai and shuriken shocking both the boys. They turned and charged Leiko in concert seemingly forgetting that moments before they had been fighting each other.
Both Izur and Hachiro slid to a stop as Leiko finished her hand seals with the 'horse' symbol and said the simple words of Goukakyuu no Jutsu before sending a massive fireball towards them. Izur reacted faster then his teammate his own hands flashing through seals before slamming his hands into the ground. "Doton: Doro Gaeshi no jutsu." His own voice echoed out as a large wall slammed up between the two shinobi.
A moment later the fireball connected and burnt through the wall but failed to go any further. A grin spread across the young shinobi's face as his hands flashed through more seals and he drew back his head. "Katon: Housenka no Jutsu."
Hachiro snapped his head over to Izur, "You mastered both?" Nodding the other boy ducked quickly and did a sweep kick on his stunned teammate watching as it hit and he turned into a puddle of water. "Damn, Mizu Bunshin, but when?" Izur didn't have time to think of that anymore as Leiko appeared next to him swinging her Kunai at his head.
She had no burns on her but she did have three cuts where the shuriken he had hidden in the Housenka had struck her by surprise. He ducked, but not fast enough to avoid all of the slashed, a small cut appeared on his cheek before he managed to back pedal enough to avoid her. He moved out onto the water drawing her towards him, hoping to use some of his Raiton jutsus after he knocked her in.
As his hands started to flash through more jutsus, he stopped when a voice spoke. "Suiton: Daibakuryuu." Both Leiko and Izur turned to see Hachiro creating a massive whirlpool and both the Genins were sent flying into it as they lost their hold on the once calm waters before them.
Izur's hands flashed through some quick hand seals, he knew that Hachiro had mastered Rai Bunshin as he'd seen the other boy use it at least once before. And he was not going to be on the receiving end of a Rai Bunshin killing itself while being in water.
Suddenly he found himself staring at Hachiro who had sent a shuriken flying towards a clone of himself now in the water. He attacked the boy from behind now, kicking him towards the water only to watch as that too was a Rai Bunshin. Grunting from the sudden pain of being electrocuted he watched as Leiko jumped out of the water looking worse for the wear.
Grinning though he drew two kunai again and formed some hand seals. "Raiton: Raikyuu." He watched as the small electrical ball made contact with the water twenty feet away from his female teammate and she shuddered as more volts of electricity coursed through her body. But she turned using that extra bit of electricity to create ten of her own Rai Bunshins and sent them at Izur.
And they looked pissed. Dropping back away from them to get ready for a Taijutsu match Izur was grinning, this was looking to be a pretty good idea so far. Even if it did hurt a lot.
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Masaru stood watching as his genin's were running around on the water panting, doing push ups and sit ups on it as well and looking mildly confused. He hadn't thought they would get it down so quickly. But this wasn't what held all of his attention. He could see massive puddles of water far away from the lake where they shouldn't be. Burn marks, and the remains of an earth wall that looked like it had taken a massive hit from something.
Frowning he snapped his fingers getting the teams attention; apparently they had not felt him approach. Speaking, in a cool tone he started in on them, "We were supposed to meet at ten thirty why are you still here?" They blushed in realization as they looked up to see the sun indicated the time to be between eleven fifteen and eleven forty five. Frowning Izur looked back at Masaru before speak.
"Apologies Masaru-Sempai we lost track of time during our training. It will not happen again." Masaru nodded before speaking again, "And what type of training have you been doing?" He could see slight grins appear on both Izur and Leiko's face and a frown on Hachiro's face.
He also took in their rather, battered appearances. They looked wet, had burn marks, were covered in dirt in some places, and Leiko's hair seemed to be standing on end despite the fact that it was wet which suggested electricity had been coursing through her recently.
"We had a battle royal where we fought each other at the same time to test our abilities after we had finally mastered the water walking technique. Hachiro's the best strategist of us and managed to beat both me and Leiko out. So after the battle royal we started practice long term chakra control by training on the water."
Masaru nodded; at least they had been training hard, If the surrounding area and their appearances was anything to go by. He wasn't really surprised that it had turned into a match of who could strategize the best; while either Leiko or Izur could beat Hachiro alone neither could do it in a long term thing that required massive strategizing.
Tactical plans were better for both of them, though even Leiko beat Izur at that. Though her ability at strategy was a lot worse off then his was. It was a pretty evenly matched team in the end. "Fine. At least you didn't slack off. You have until four to relax, and then you will meet me at the rooms before we head off to have dinner with the Aburame's."
The three nodded and Izur waved to his two teammates as he headed back to Konoha. He needed to grab some more of his books and up his weights again; the ones he was wearing had become too simple for him to move around in. Though in fights like he had just had, they were definitely hindering, he paused in his thoughts wondering if he should leave them as they were until he left Konoha.
It would be good to be completely adjusted to them before moving up, he frowned though as he debated the pro's and con's of his new problem. A deep growl drew him from his thoughts and his head turned and eyes light up slightly as Katzinsky approached him. "So where've you been?"
The wolf just glowered at him before growling a response; Izur shrugged watching the wolves' movements. He didn't seem completely adjusted either, so Izur decided base don that he would wait. "We need to start training together again. Plus I'm going to up our weights the day before we leave for Sunagakure, Kat. I'm thinking today we should do several laps around Konoha before lunch. Do you agree?"
The wolf looked dejected at the thought of training more with the insane boy he had bonded with but yipped something at him that was at least something akin to agreement. Though it had a lot of nasty little words and undertones in it, Izur just shrugged it away. "We'll do a hundred laps then. Fifty in the trees, you still need to get used to that, and the rest on the ground."
The dog sighed looking even more worn out then before, but the boy ignored that as he set up a jog. He would read while they ran, it would be good training. This way he could get used to paying attention to his surroundings while moving at a high speed.
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It was one and both Izur and Kat were exhausted from the runs around Konoha. Izur was sporting many bruises and small cuts from the trees, but he was finally getting the hang of reading and paying attention at the same time. The wolf just looked tired as he lay at the boy's feet not really paying attention to much around him.
They had entered a small restaurant, which served tea and other small snacks. Izur figured it was too late to get a real lunch as he wouldn't be hungry for dinner then but he did need to eat something. "Watcha want Kat?" The wolf didn't even bother to lift his head as he growled something at the boy.
"I'll take two of you're daily special then." He told the waitress who nodded leaving to get the food and placed another pot of tea in front of the tired looking boy. More like the stinky boy too, every time she came near him she could smell him. Frowning Izur watched her walk away shrugging as he refilled his cup.
It would be a good ten minuets before his food arrived. He leaned back sipping the hot drink and reading the new book in front of him; it was titled weapons as he had already finished reading all the books on Konohagakure. Now he was looking up on basic information on all weapons.
His thoughts were interrupted as an annoyed and childish voice came to him. "You're in my seat." Izur turned to see who was talking only to find a black haired boy wearing a blue shirt and white pants, talking to someone at another table. Izur frowned as he looked at the fat man sitting there, of all people it had to be his client who were being messed with. Frowning the boy wondered if he should help, he knew he should but he didn't want to.
Izur stood slowly his hand dropping into his pocket as he fingered a kunai there and spoke slowly. Katzinsky had already stood and turned with him. "I suggest you leave the man alone, kid." It was degrading to speak down to someone older then you and call them that. But as a Genin Izur was officially considered an adult so he could address anyone under eighteen, or lacking a headband with that name.
The older boy turned to him and a smirk appeared on the fat man's face as he spoke. "That's right brat, this is one of my hired ninja so you'd better leave now." Izur frowned over at the man keeping a tight grip on the kunai in his pocket as he watched the taller and older male turn towards him. "No one this young could be a shinobi but in a much weaker village." Izur raised an eyebrow wondering if he should point out names of Konoha shinobi that had been younger then him.
He decided not to, a fight would not be worth it. "Do not insult my village again, or you will find yourself subject to a duel. Kumogakure style." Obviously this arrogant prick didn't know what that meant, and Izur wasn't about to explain either. Katzinsky choose this time to snarl and draw attention to him. Izur fought down the chuckle that threatened to come out.
Well it was true, this guy was even more arrogant then Izur could appear to be. "Hn. It doesn't change the fact that he is in my seat." By this time a manager had made their way over to them and the man bowed to Izur before the other boy. "Uchiha-San I apologize but you will have to sit some where else for today."
Izur felt his surprise and fought it down, this kid was an Uchiha, and then that meant he was Sasuke because he highly doubted the older brother would be in Konoha right now. While Izur had been fighting his emotions Sasuke and the manager had been having an argument. "I trust this is handled, sir?" The manager and Sasuke looked up to see Masaru standing next to Izur, the boy looked obviously annoyed.
He was seething that Masaru wouldn't let him handle the situation. "Oh, yes of course Zetsumei-Sama. Uchiha-San here will have no problem sitting some where else today and…"
Izur suddenly covered his ears as he heard a shriek of what sounded like delight. Though why anyone would shrike that way for being happy was unknown to him. Izur unplugged his ears and looked at the four females that had busted into the small restaurant and growled at them. He was angry at having been subjected to such a noise and now they interrupting an important conversation.
Masaru put a hand on the boys shoulder feeling the anger that was slowly turning into a close form of killing intent. In fact he could feel some killing intent rolling off the boy directed at the girls. Sighing he looked back at the restaurant owner who was staring at Izur and the girls who had finally shut up.
Izur snorted fighting down his anger and glaring at the girls before looking at the restaurant owner and bowing slightly. "I apologize." He was now, however subject to the scrutiny of every person in the restaurant and though he hadn't noticed it, Masaru certainly had, three Jounin level shinobi had appeared outside and were looking in on them.
"If this is all then?" Masaru spoke looking at the restaurant owner; the man nodded and started to move off, but was stopped by that stupidly arrogant voice again. "It certainly is not all." Izur growled again feeling that same anger return, but intensified as he glared at the Uchiha.
"Drop it." Izur's voice was no longer cool and collected but showed the signs of his anger. "I will if you agree to fight me." Izur suddenly grinned; he could hear Kat's low growling as a kind of background hum. "When and where Uchiha?"
The other boy looked eager suddenly too, but Masaru's eyes had sharpened as he looked at the two. He also looked up as the three shinobi outside entered to stop to eventual fight. "At four, the Academy Training grounds. I'm sure you know where they are." Izur frowned, how could this kid know that? He was about to speak when Masaru did so for him.
"He can't, he has a previous engagement planned at that time." Izur frowned, it was right he remembered, he did and there was no way Masaru would let him go long enough to fight this kid. Sasuke scoffed at that, "Fine at three." Izur grinned glancing at Masaru to receive a slight nod before looking forwards again.
"Fine, don't be late Uchiha or you'll forfeit." That was however when the girls decided to break their silence. "Oooh Sasuke you'll beat him no problem at all. He's just an ant." Izur twitched at being dismissed so easily. "Yeah, you won't have any problems at all oh and we can cheer you on."
One of them finally decided to round on him, "And you, who are you disrespecting our Sasuke-Kun like that. He'll kick your ass all the way back to your pathetic village and…" Izur cut her off as he felt anger envelop him again and he moved, faster then Masaru had expected him to.
The kunai in his pocket out and placed against the pink haired girl's throat and an odd look in his eyes. "Insult my village again. Go on do it and see what happens." The three ninja had moved when Izur hand and he noticed them now standing around him, now weapons drawn but ready to move. He snorted and looked up at the slightly taller girl.
"The same warning goes to you, as it did to the Uchiha there. Insult my village again and you will duel me, based on my villages rules." The girl paled, that was good it appeared that unlike the Uchiha she knew what that meant. He pulled the kunai away and took a step back looking at the Konoha shinobi about him and the restaurant guests.
He bowed, much lower this time and spoke. "I apologize, again for my outburst." He could see the Jounin level shinobi had sweat dropped at what he'd said, but it was common for things like this to happen in his village. And you were required to apologize for it or face the wrath of the Raikage. Izur turned picking up his food and tossing some to Katzinsky while walking out.
Masaru watched him carefully; it was definitely starting to affect the boy that was for sure. This would have to be passed up to the Raikage as soon as they got back. Until then he'd just have to deal with him.
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Izur had wandered around after the restaurant confrontation and he'd met Naruto again. The boy had showed off his ability to Henge into anyone he wanted and Izur had been relatively surprised to note the weights he wore on himself now and his slight change in clothes. He'd adopted a pair of black pants, with orange lining around the pockets and going down the side. His shoes had been changed to black as well, and he'd worn a red and orange tight shirt and gotten rid of those ridiculous goggles he'd worn.
Izur had complimented the boy and mentioned his soon to be duel with the Uchiha in hopes that Naruto knew something about the boy's abilities. All he'd learned was that Naruto hated him and his 'Fan girls' and that he was the first in their class. Izur took that to mean the boy more then likely had the basics down and maybe one or two things that they wouldn't teach.
He'd have to assume the boy was at a Kumogakure Genin's level until he knew better. He doubted that putting that standard on the boy would underestimate him; it would more likely overestimate his abilities. After that he'd helped Naruto with some of the other basics before the two had headed off, together, towards the Academy.
Once there they had been met by the surprising sight of a lot of girls and a few males who just wanted to see the Uchiha get his ass kicked. Izur felt uneasy as there were many hidden chakra signatures around, he figured it was probably Konoha's shinobi making sure no one died. Which would probably be a good thing, but still he wondered if they would interfere and help the Uchiha.
Izur though didn't get much time to consider this any further as he felt a sudden hard hit on his head that sent him into a crouch. "Damn it Izur, we can't leave you alone for ten seconds or you go picking a fight with someone." Frowning Izur looked up at his two teammates returning to his original stance.
Katzinsky gave his version of a laugh at the boy before watching the crowd again. "So why are you two here?" Hachiro decided it was time for logic to answer, rather then emotion. "Masaru-Sensei told us to make sure you didn't kill the Uchiha and that you were on time. But I don't…" Izur cut him off before he could finish it with a nod, to indicate he already knew.
No point it allowing them to know for sure that they knew Konoha shinobi were around and watching. Izur moved off checking them time and seeing that it was two minuets to three. He watched as Katzinsky moved around counting the hidden scents for him, but as the wolf barked his answer and headed towards him Izur looked up at the squeals and annoying shrieks of girls.
He turned and looked at Naruto as he spoke, "Do they always do that Uzumaki-San?" It was more a calculated form of pissing them all off, but it was also to acknowledge that he thought Naruto was better then the Uchiha. The boy just nodded looking confused. Izur turned back to face the Uchiha as he entered the small area that the crowd had left them.
"Ready Uchiha?" The boy nodded but didn't move, so Izur turned and looked at Katzinsky, "Kat, get one of those hidden shinobi out here to be a referee." The wolf just nodded bounding over towards the tree Izur had relaxed in the other day. The Uchiha started to speak and say 'what hidden shinobi' but was cut off as the one near the tree melded out of it glowering at Izur.
"Fine I'll ref for you." He said walking towards them and talking, "Rules are no killing, no maiming, and no serious injury. I reserve the right to stop the fight at any time for any reason." He continued on look at Izur pointedly, the boy just shrugged. "Since your just a genin and he's just an academy student I don't see the point in limiting you to only certain things. I doubt you know much anyways."
The mans confidence was appalling, but Izur wasn't about to contradict him. Unfortunately Naruto was and the boy scoffed saying something that Izur tuned our. "Anyways, go ahead and start." Izur nodded putting his hands into his pockets and withdrawing a kunai. He used it to deflect the eight shuriken that had been thrown at him.
Then he was blocking the flurry of kicks and punches that the Uchiha was sending at him. He really hoped that Leiko and Hachiro were watching carefully because this was the best time to get some idea of their opponent's abilities. Izur did a back bend using his kunai to slash the Uchiha's leg.
Izur could still feel how tired he was from all the training today, but figured if he could keep up what he was doing now for a few more minuets then the Uchiha wasn't strong at all. He could also see the sudden concern in the Konoha Shinobi's eyes as he watched the blood coat the other boy's pants. "It's not deep, just a knick and I purposely missed the vein."
Izur spoke in a bored tone, that angered the Uchiha and Izur grinned watching as the boy came at him again and Izur went back to dodging. He could hear the girls squealing about how strong and fast Sasuke was and how Izur couldn't find any time to attack back and how tired he was getting. Well the last part was right, he was getting tired, but at least he had a damned good reason.
Izur jumped back landing in a sitting position and yawning. "You've got to be better then this. If not then this was just a waste of my time." Izur was about to stand back up when the Uchiha suddenly rushed forwards, Izur barely managed tog et his arms up to block the kick to his face. He rolled once using his arms to do a back flip and then dug the kunai into the ground slowing his speed.
So the kid had been holding back, he wouldn't be any more, which was for sure. Izur went back to dodging getting a feel for the Uchiha's speed. He was as fast as Izur had been before the weights. Which meant he could probably almost rival Hachiro at the moment, this would mean that by the Chuunin exams he could be something to recon with.
Izur leapt backwards and yawned again, the shinobi they were using as a referee sighed and spoke. "Boy, stop toying with him and end it." Izur grinned looking at him, but the Uchiha only seemed to become angrier. Which meant his fan girls became angrier. Shrugging Izur dodged the kunai swipe to his head and brought an elbow up smashing it into his stomach.
Izur pulled at three kunai and threw them but the Uchiha dodged and came back at him. Izur was good at dodging but it seemed the Uchiha didn't do as badly either as he launched back into the fight. Izur ducked leg sweeping the older boy and then balancing all his weight into his arms smashed his feet into the Uchiha's face.
He did a twist in the air and landed heavily on his feet, it wasn't easy moving around right now. He could feel his muscles protesting with the simple maneuvers he was doing. That guy was right he should stop toying with the Uchiha. He'd already played with him for ten minuets. That was enough time to get a good idea of his skills and potential growth.
He looked at Leiko and Hachiro who nodded and Izur grinned. Yup, he could end this now and get some rest before dinner. He held up his arms and formed a couple of seals disappearing from view and landing to the right of the Uchiha. His arm snapped at only to be caught by Sasuke's. Izur spun quickly his knee connecting with the Uchiha's ear and sending him down.
But he took Izur with him and the growling boy hit arm receiving a punch to the stomach but a moment later the referee moved to the surprise of everyone but Izur and his teammates. He reappeared his arm on Izur's but a look of surprise on his face. For as the dust settled the scene showed Izur with a kunai to Sasuke's throat. Sasuke had one hand in his Kunai bag having been trying to grab one.
He'd been pinned so he couldn't get that arm out now, but the other one was pinned beneath Izur's knee. The Jounin level shinobi had his hand on Izur's arm, the one with the Kunai to the Uchiha's throat. The other arm was currently holding a Kunai to the Jounin's heart and he grinned. "Yield." Izur spoke a look of almost sadistic pleasure crossing his face.
The Jounin just nodded scowling while the Uchiha tried to wiggle away. Izur knew he wouldn't be able to move his arm closer to the Uchiha's neck; the Jounin was too strong for that. The only reason he'd gotten the Kunai there was because he'd surprised the man, that wouldn't happen again.
"He yields as well, you win kid. Good job." Izur nodded pulling the Kunai from the Jounin and moving to removed the one from the Uchiha's neck. He was allowed and as Izur stood and he moved towards his team a slight smirk playing across his face. "Ready?" Hachiro spoke, looking annoyed, but that was probably because he'd toyed around for so long. "Yea."
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Masaru looked down at his team, wondering why in the world he had even bothered to accept becoming a Genin sensei in the first place. All the little brats did was cause a load of trouble and make his life hard. He sighed, again, glaring at them before speaking. "You showed too much Izur, but at least you were smart enough to hide some of your abilities."
Izur winced at his teachers tone frowning as he thought back to the fight. He'd completely hidden his abilities with Nin and Genjutsu. Plus he had hidden the fact that he was wearing weights, but still he hadn't thought he'd shown off too much. Maybe Masaru was just mad about the thing with the Jounin. Then again even Izur knew that would be pushing the envelope.
He frowned for a moment before nodding, in agreement to what Masaru had said. "Gomen, Masaru-Sempai. I should have considered my actions more before I committed to them." The man nodded, refraining from rubbing it in even more. He was proud of the boy, but damn his tact was lacking sometimes.
"Good, you'll have to make up your punishment tonight after the dinner. One hundred laps around Konoha, Five hundred sit ups, and five hundred push ups." Izur nodded, he'd gone a deathly pale white at what his punishment would be.
"Anyways, we need to leave now. The Aburame's are expecting us soon. Know this though, they talk little and never while eating so don't attempt to make conversation once food had been placed on the table. Also don't flinch if their Bugs approach you, treat it like any normal occurrence."
The genin nodded and followed their teacher towards the Aburame's compound wondering what this dinner would be like. They had already realized that the first two dinners would be the more serious ones, and then they would be more relaxing. Izur frowned as they walked remembering what the Inuzuka's had said about having that battle.
From what he'd read up on the clans they would be dining with, he expected the Aburame's to offer a spar with their heir or someone who was a genin. Izur's mind flashed through everything he knew about the bug using clan. It wasn't much as they were incredibly secretive. But he did know that they would be a mixture of both long range and close range attacks.
Though they could become deadly to someone who couldn't use one or the other. They didn't train their people to be incredibly good at Taijutsu but their bugs could defend from a close ranged opponent and a long ranged opponent. Plus water, lightning, and earth jutsus wouldn't be very effective against them.
He looked at Leiko and nodded, the Inuzuka's wanted him to fight their competitor that meant that Leiko would be the best suited to fighting the Aburame's. At least he hoped he was right, she was the one who had taught him the fire jutsu after all.
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The team had been welcomed into the Aburame compound warily; the young man who had come to lead them to the main house had been tense the entire time. He'd looked to be some where around twenty to twenty four, maybe a bit younger or older. It was hard to tell with his face and body hidden away so well.
He was wearing a Hitae-Ate though and looked unwontedly serious even after they'd entered the main house. The clan head, Shibi, had yet to greet them yet, but Izur had chalked this up to saving his presence for last. That or he was insulting them, either way it didn't really matter in the end to the Genin. He didn't care about this dinner other then maybe at getting to see some other potential chuunins abilities and gauge Kumo's ability against Konoha's.
Izur was too busy taking in his surroundings to notice the approach of the three, but when he heard a voice clearing he moved his head towards the noise. Trying to make it look calm and collected but knowing that he'd moved too fast for that. Masaru was the first to speak and he sounded, at least, mildly respectful. "Aburame-Sama it is a pleasure to meet you again."
The genin nodded in agreement while sizing up the situation. Izur figured that the tall man would be at Masaru's level or maybe a little under it. The woman, he was unsure of her abilities as she didn't seem to be a shinobi. And the boy, well he looked like he was around Leiko and Hachiro's age but he wore no forehead protector anywhere on his body.
Which meant he was more then likely an academy student that, however, didn't tell the young shinobi anything about his abilities. "A pleasure as well Zetsumei-San. I was not formerly introduced to your students the last time we met." Izur looked at the man; his name was Shibi or something similar. Izur narrowed his eyes slightly when Masaru motioned for him to speak first.
Izur gave a slight bow to the Aburame's before speaking, "I am Himiloh Izur and this is my companion Katzinsky." He left out any special titles it would be simpler this way, and maybe even give him a bit of surprise when he fought one of them. Izur motioned for Leiko to speak next and she mirrored his actions.
"I'm called Fukazawa Leiko." Another nod to acknowledge her bow and name before all eyes turned to the tall red head. He bowed but a small smile was flitting across his face. "I am Hachiro of the Oonishi clan." Izur frowned but didn't look at Hachiro; he'd just had to change up the wording didn't he? Shibi just nodded before looking at Masaru again.
"This is my son Shino and my wife Yura. If you will follow me, I shall take you to our training area. I believe that the Inuzuka's have the right idea in wanting to see how strong Kumogakure is. Afterwards, we shall retire to the dining room to eat."
The team nodded following the Aburame's through their semi-large house until they had reached the door to the backyard. Once they were there they were lead for several minutes, in silence, through a small twisting path till they had come to a clearing large enough for two people to spar and several others to watch.
At the moment there were several Aburame's in the clearing as well, many wore headbands but several did not. They were here to see the Kumogakure shinobi's fight, and Izur was trying to figure who would fight whom. He already knew that Leiko would be the best choice, but if they picked a Chuunin or Jounin level shinobi he didn't think she stood a chance.
Not with their abilities that was. "Zetsumei-San if you would pick some one as a contender I can choose an appropriate match for them so that we may watch and observe." Masaru nodded looking at Izur, and it wasn't lost on the Kumo Nin's at how many tensed.
But before Masaru could speak, Shibi interrupted him. "So you will choose the Himiloh boy, even though he has already fought the Uchiha today?" He made it sound like they were being disrespected but before Masaru could answer Izur did. "He is not asking me to fight, Aburame-Sama."
The man raised an eyebrow behind his glasses and motioned for Izur to continue one. "I am the leader of my fellows, Masaru-Sempai is merely our instructor to make sure we become successful shinobi and not kill our clients." He heard a slight chuckle come from some of the younger Aburame's.
"So as the leader, it is my job to choose which of my people should fight." Izur turned his head looking at Leiko and she grinned, knowing what it meant. "As such, I choose Leiko." His facial expression had never changed but he could see that Masaru had a slightly smug expression on his face. Shibi just nodded as the Kumo contender was name.
"Then I apologize to you Zetsumei-San for my outburst." Masaru just nodded, not bothering to wipe the smug expression off his face. Shibi turned his attention to Leiko who had walked towards the center of the arena. "Fine, then since you are only a newly made Genin I can not have you face up against one of my long term Genin's, or the Chuunins as it would be unfair."
Leiko just looked at him boredly, but Izur's look showed that he agreed. "So I will match you up against my son who is Genin level himself. Shino?" The boy moved from his father's side heading towards the middle of the area as well. Izur couldn't help but smirk at this development, an Academy Student at the Genin level was no match for Leiko who was already at the Average level for Genins in his country.
Or so he thought. Shibi looked between the competitors watching as Leiko took her taijutsu stance and his son stood watching her impassionedly. "Hajime." Where Aburame's were contented to wait for their opponent to move first, Leiko was not. And the moment the word started to come from Shibi's mouth the girl was in motion.
Her leg came out connecting with the side of Shino's head who had not quite, been ready for that display of speed. Then she launched into the rest of her attacks only to find a multitude of bugs stopping several of her attacks. She slid on the ground avoiding a large swarm that had tried to swipe at her head, and went for a leg sweep of her own. But the bugs reacted to her aggression by blocking her kick.
She wondered briefly how many bugs he had, if she killed as many as she thought with each hit to that whip of them the other boy could be in trouble. Frowning she jumped making a few seals until three clones of her appeared on each side. The seven Leiko's assaulted the Aburame together coordinating their attacks. But when one of the clones was suddenly covered in bugs and burst into electricity killing several of the ones that had engulfed it a gasp of surprise went from the watching crowd.
Except from her teammates who had already figured she would have preferred the Rai Bunshin to Mizu for the area effect it would give her. Izur grinned; this was undoubtedly a valuable attack to use against Aburame's. Whose bugs most defiantly were not infinite.
Leiko grinned crouching down into her taijutsu stance, "What's the matter, can't expect a simple lightning attack from a Kumo shinobi?" Her grin turned into a sneer as the other boy remained on the ground, it appeared that she'd beaten him easily. She shook her head scoffing and heading back towards her teammates.
"If that's all you can offer, I look forwards to waltzing through the Chuunin Exams." Izur watched her with a blank face, and Masaru looked relatively disappointed. Hachiro was the only who had even a tad bit of emotion showing. When she looked at her teammates she expected congratulations.
The blank stares from two, and the worried look on one had her whip around suddenly, only to see a missing body. She frowned and started top reach for a kunai and drop into a defensive stance, until two hard feet smashed into her face. She tottered backwards taking the full weight and momentum of her opponent.
By that time both hands had gotten around the kunai's in her pouches and drew them. But it was to no avail as the Aburame heir moved away from her watching with cold, calculating eyes. "When did you… switch out?"
Her voice came out nasally and congested, more then likely he had managed to break her nose. Judging by the blood flow and the sound she made when she talked. The Aburame seemed surprised that she had not cried, grabbed her nose in pain, or become unrealistically angry.
That was, after all, what the female Academy Students her age would have done. "I didn't. Leiko… it means arrogance and it was given correctly." Leiko didn't even acknowledge that. It irritated her that she really could be what she despised most. "You should forfeit, else you'll pass out from blood loss."
Shino's obvious smugness wasn't helping the female genin and she snorted. "Fuck that." She turned looking at her allies before speaking. "Izur snap my nose back into place." The youngest shinobi sighed in irritation before looking at Masaru and receiving a nod. But still he didn't move he looked at Shibi and bowed to him slightly.
"Would my… fixing Leiko-San's nose be a problem Aburame-Sama?" The man just raised an eyebrow making a small motion with his hand to proceed. The boy sighed in irritation again as he approached his teammate. He extended one hand grabbing her nose painfully and jerking. A small pop and then crack could be heard as the nose was thrown back into place. And the girls wince was obvious.
"Don't get arrogant, you'll disgrace us." Izur turned with his parting words and shook his hand to rid it of his teammate's blood. Leiko frowned at his back before turning to Shino and grinning again. "All right, I won't fool around anymore." She took a step forwards hands raised and formed the ram seal.
A moment later she'd disappeared landing next to Shino her arm extended as it connected to the side of the boy's head. She turned pivoting gracefully on one foot before using the Shunshin again to land on the same side. This time her leg was extended and he went farther. She pivoted gracefully again, but before she could lower her leg and continue her attack Shino had moved.
Catching her in a vulnerable position she took his hit, allowing it to knock her into the air. She spun and her hands flashed through familiar signs until she drew back her head. "Katon: Endan." The small, yet still dangerous fire ball flashed towards the surprised bug user and just before it was about to connect, two equally small water balls smashed into it.
Shibi could be seen standing next to his son his bugs having moved to protect him and he looked at the two male Genin in surprise. Both still had their hands in the last seal of the Teppoudama. The younger of the two was bored looking, but the elder looked angry as he started into Leiko. "You said you wouldn't use any of those."
Leiko looked like she was about to argue when Izur held up his hand in a motion signaling for silence. He looked at Shibi and the two elder genin blushed remembering their audience. Leiko bowed to the Aburame leader before speaking. "Gomen Nasai, Aburame-Sama. I foolishly lost myself in the spar." The man just nodded watching the three genin and their, angry instructor.
"It was a good battle, even if it was taken too far. I believe now would be a good time to move inside. Our appetizers will be Gyoza, Rice Bowl, and Miso Soup. We can move to the main dish as soon as you, our guests are ready."
Nods were the mans only answer as they followed him inside to sample the three different appetizers that had been laid out for them. Izur silently hopes that they wouldn't have any sushi. He could eat it if need be, but he absolutely detested the taste of fish or any water based animals. It was hard not to gag when he was eating it.
After that silent prayer he prayed that the dinner wouldn't get any worse.
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Techniques
Used:
Katon: Goukakyuu: Fire Technique: Great Fireball Technique. The user blows a relatively large stream of fire at the opponent, the more chakra the larger the technique.
Raiton: Rai Bunshin: Lightning Technique: Lightning Clone. The user bends their lightning elemental chakra to their control and creates a fighting clone that can attack using the user's jutsus and abilities. It has only ¼ of the user's abilities but upon impact explodes expanding and electrical field to shock anything near it.
Doton: Doro Gaeshi: Earth Technique: Mud Overturn. A defensive technique that the chakra fuels their hands with chakra and then upon slamming them into the ground creates a wall to protect themselves. More chakra means a larger and thicker wall.
Katon: Housenka: Fire Technique: Mythical Phoenix Fire. The user spits out small balls of flame, the user can hide things within them as well.
Suiton: Mizu Bunshin: Water Technique: Water Clone. A clone that had only ¼ of the users abilities but can attack and destroy other opponents, it can not get a certain distance away from the user or it will dispel itself.
Raiton: Raikyuu: Lightning Technique: Lightning Ball. Using two types of weapons the user can channel electricity into it, to make a ball of lightning that can travel in one direction and shock an opponent.
Katon: Endan: Fire Technique: Fireball. A small jet of fire that the longer it gets the rounder it gets. Most of the time it is just small, and a strait flame.
Ninken: Shunshin: Ninja Technique: Body Flicker. The ability to use ones chakra to move from one destination to another in a short period of time.
Suiton: Teppoudama: Water Technique: Bullet. The user spits out a small or large ball of water towards a direction and soaks it in the water of the Bullet. The Bullet is shaped however the user wants it to be, generally just a round ball.
Next Chapter: Of Paleness and Fatness
Info: The team continues their training schedule and now they must dine with more clans of Konoha, but after Leiko's fight with Shino how will the other clans take to them?