Survival Challenge
"You want me to do what?" Naruto responded. In the Hokage's office Neji, Tenten, Lee, Choji, Ino, Shino, Hinata and Kiba was in there for a request of Tsunade's. "We're short on hands for leaders for the academy survival test, and since Shikamaru agreed filled in the only spot open to help the instructors, I only have you to turn to," Tsunade said. "And you want me to lead 3 academy students?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, basically, shouldn't be to hard considering you already led some successful missions," Tsunade said, "Leading academy students shouldn't be to hard compare to that. Especially for someone who wants to become Hokage." "Okay, so what team do I have?" Naruto asked looking over the paper. "Leave it to Lady Tsunade," Tenten thought. "Oh Naruto," Hinata thought. "You'll have to act as Genin meaning no ninja vest and everything else that proves your rankings," Tsunade said. "Yeah, yeah," Naruto said.
Outside the academy with everyone else Naruto found he was team up with Konohamaru's squad. Naruto wasn't wearing his ninja vest, although they knew he was Chuunin. "Sorry for keeping you out Naruto, but there is no more positions for Chuunins," Iruka said. "At least you're teamed up with a group that looks up to you," Shikamaru said.
"This is an outside survival exercise that will last 2 days and nights. Your goal is the great stone face of mount Takarake. Now its important that all team leaders stick to the routes given to you, for the safety of the academy students," Iruka said, "Along the way you'll encounter instructors posing as enemy ninjas as well as obstacles. It won't be easy but your academy students should be fine, just as long as you obey your team leaders. You should see the stone face after 80 Kilometers. There is only one secret document there, so this test is also a competition as the first team to bring the document back wins." "And that's us," Naruto told his team.
Choji and his team headed out first. "One of the important rules of survival is living off the land. For instant, shishimi grass can be use as a meal," Choji said showing them one. They fanned out to search for it. One of them found a poisoness plant and was about to eat it until Choji stopped him and showed him the difference.
"Okay, we're all set up," Naruto said as he had their food. "Hopefully we'll pass some more places where food is abundant," Naruto said. "You mean a store?" Udon asked. "No I mean like a river or a field," Naruto said. "I hope you're right," Konohmaru said.
Neji was leading his group. One kid found that the compass wasn't working. "The geology of the area throws magnets off, makes it difficult to use a compass," Neji explained then noticed the boy had a watch, "I see you're wearing a watch." "Uh yes sir," the boy responded. "Look at it," Neji ordered. The boy did so. "Draw an imaginary line between the twelve o'clock and the hour hand," Neji said, "Now if you point that line toward the sun, then south would be 12 o'clock prominently." "Got it," they responded.
Naruto was using a compass and found it useless. "Sure wish I knew how to determine which way is north myself," Naruto thought (A/N: Don't forget that even thought Naruto is Chuunin, there are still something he's not good with like written test). They stopped at a tree. "I think we're lost," Moegi said. "And Naruto is suppose to be some Chuunin," Konohamaru said. "Hey its not me, this compass don't work in this area," Naruto responded, "Now come on."
They encounter a snake, cross a river, pass a house and still ended up back where they started. "We're back to where we started," Konohamaru said. "Fine then which way do you think is right?" Naruto asked. They each tried and ended at the same spot each time. "Oh I see, we kept making the wrong turn," Naruto said.
Everyone else encounter their obstacle and enemies and fought their way through. Lee was having the most fun out of it as he was called Lee-sensei. All of them ran into the sunset. Then it was Naruto's team's turn. "Clouds coming in, and it looks like storm clouds," Naruto said. "I don't know if we should believe you, after this," Konohamaru said. "Hey I may not be great without a compass, but I know when a storm is coming," Naruto said.
Just then they heard something and got into position. The instructors hit them but Naruto Moegi Udon and Konohamaru disappeared revealing to be Shadow Clones. "Hidden Mist Jutsu," Naruto shouted. A thick mist surround them. "Shadow Clones and Hidden mist," Iruka said. "Give them one thing, they know how play a decoy," Shikamaru said.
Later the storm pulled in. Shikamaru came in the tent Iruka was in. Shikamaru explained about the storm. Hinata's team was already camped out from the storm. Naruto's group wasn't so lucky. "Didn't I tell you a storm was coming?" Naruto asked. "Sorry we didn't believe you," Konohamaru said. They were on the route. "There should be a cave or something we can use to keep dry," Naruto said.
Naruto helped them through the terrain until they had to climb. The tent flap blown out of Udon's backpack as he was using Konohamaru to stay put as he was using Moegi. Naruto tied a rope onto one of his kunai placed on the cliff. Then he threw a kunai that cut through the tent causing them to fall. Naruto used the rope to saved them. "That was to close," Naruto said.
They finally camped out in a cave. "I think we might of gone off trail by accident, but once the storm passes we'll try and get back on it," Naruto said keeping their fire light. "Yes sir," they responded. "And don't worry about your backpacks, I pack up just incase of this," Naruto said. He pulled out some food.
Shikamaru and Iruka fallowed where they found Undon's bag. "I know Naruto, he must of got off trail trying to get them to safety," Iruka said. "I hope you're right, for all of their safety," Iruka agreed.
Naruto split the food evenly. "Before I met Tenten I was chased all over town and sometimes got lost," Naruto said, "I had to go with what I can find, and learn what was poisons and what wasn't." "Oh great," Moegi said. "That explains why you lack of directions," Konohamaru said.
"But remember teamwork is most important, we can't just depend on yourself, you have to also depend on others," Naruto said, "That's why even though I'm Chuunin I also depend on what my teammates can do." "That makes sense," Udon said.
Just then there was some rumble sound as rocks fell and block the entrance. "No way," Konohamaru said. They tried to push it but found it impossible. "Now what Naruto?" Moegi asked. "Stay back," Naruto said. They obeyed as Naruto prepared his attack. "Its to dangerous to use a water Dragon and water vortex, so I'll have to use the Rasengan," Naruto thought.
Iruka and Shikamaru made it to the sides of a cave. "It looks like a rock slide covered this cave," Iruka said. "I wander if Naruto's group is in there," Shikamaru said. "Rasengan," Naruto shouted from inside jabbing it with his jutsu. He broke through as pieces fell from bellow. "Naruto," Iruka said. "Iruka-sensei, listen I didn't mean to get everyone in danger," Naruto said. Konohamaru Moegi and Udon came out to see them its okay, at least you're okay," Iruka said. They headed down safely.
"So whose going to tell me what happen?" Tsunade asked. "Listen everything was my fault. I tried to lead them on trail but due to some difficulties we ended up off trail," Naruto said. "Hey don't put it on yourself like that, you made sure we were in a dry place," Konohamaru said. "And made sure we had food," Moegi said. "And kept us safe," Udon said.
"Is that true?" Tsunade asked. "Yeah, I did all that," Naruto said. "Well you might of not been able to stay on the path but you did show leadership and made sure everyone was safe," Tsunade said, "Just make sure that doesn't happen again." "Right," Naruto agreed.
Next Time: It started as a simple mission of catching the criminal, but nothing as simple as it seems any more. THe guy knows some deadly ninjutsu, and the bounty hunter after him won't let anyone else catch him. Can Naruto Hinata Kiba and Akamaru handle it and complete the mission? Read to find out...
