"The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit."
-Morihei Ueshiba
Chapter 11
One Month Montage
This was it, Ranma thought to himself. He had hit rock bottom.
He was going to ask his father for advice.
"Yo pops."
Genma turned toward him with a curious look, glasses glinting in the morning sunlight. "Yes Ranma?" he asked curiously. His son rarely approached him for anything, even for the most basic advice.
"How..." Ranma struggled, trying his best to pin down his pride that still insisted he could figure out Cologne's words on his own. "How do you project your ki? You know, like the old freak does it?"
Genma's eyes widened. "Well now, that's an interesting question. Why do you wanna know, boy?" he questioned, a strange look in his eyes.
"Could ya just tell me?" Ranma replied irritably, crossing his arms, turning away.
"It's really a simple trick boy. You just focus your ki-" Genma began, but his son cut him off.
"Well how the heck do you do that!" Ranma all but snarled, eyes narrowed. "Everyone always says, just focus! How the heck am I supposed to know what to focus?"
"And that's your problem boy." Genma replied easily, shaking his head. "You're someone who's grounded in the physical. Grasping the emotions behind things is partly how one can control their ki." And how one avoids angering women, Genma added silently, knowing Ranma was also in need of being trained in that particular art as well.
"I mastered the Hiryu Shoten Ha just fine." The younger Saotome said sullenly, crossing his arms again.
"By knowing the base emotion of anger, and the lack of emotion." His father responded sagely. "Haven't you noticed," he continued in a lecturing tone, "That the master only uses his ki projection when he's truly, actually angry?"
"So you're saying," Ranma began, a look of understanding in his eyes, "That all the old freak is doing is getting pissed off, and then using that to fuel his ki?"
"And then immediately afterward, he unleashes it in the form of a massive ki version of himself." Genma finished, nodding as he pushed up his glasses with an index finger. "It's immensely draining, and for you, my boy, it'll do you no good."
"Why?" Ranma blinked in surprise, looking startled.
Genma looked at his son with a serious expression. "Foolish boy!" he snarled, looking agitated, "What is the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts founded upon?"
"Speed and aerial combat." Ranma replied automatically, before his eyes widened again.
"Oh, I get it!" he grinned, looking pleased with his own realization. "Making myself bigger would only slow me down." He nodded, satisfied, and with a sly grin, he added, "You're smarter than you look pops."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Genma said slowly, pushing up his glasses to the bridge of his nose once again. "So why did you want to know, Ranma?"
"Eh, the old ghoul said something about controlling my ki when I asked her to teach me somethin'. Said it would help me counter those techniques that Naruto and Sasuke have." Ranma replied, waving his hand in dismissal.
"Foolish boy! Do you realize what she's training you to do?" Genma said loudly, even as his eyes widened in surprise. "If you can control your ki, simple tricks like turning your ki cold or projecting it outward will by child's play!"
He settled back down into a meditative pose, closing his eyes. When they opened again, his voice was calmer. "Ranma, that sort of skill is something only true martial arts masters such as old Cologne or the master posses. It will put you on equal ground with any martial artist, and most likely, you'll surpass them."
"I don't get it. What's so great about controlling my ki?" Ranma said, dumbfounded as he began scratching the back of his head.
"Can't you see, Ranma? If you master this singular ability, it will open up hundreds upon hundreds of techniques you could create and master. Tricks like ki-blasts will become just one of the many things you can do." Genma's voice raised itself slightly, growing more excited by the moment.
Ranma's face lit up as his father continued speaking, entranced by the idea.
"If you can master this," Genma finished, "It will allow you to win the tournament, regardless of who your opponent is."
---
"You must be kidding me!"
Ryoga shook his head, leaning back against a tree in the Tendo's yard. "That's the way that old Cologne taught me to use the Bakusai Tenketsu, and it's the only way I know."
Naruto frowned, looking extremely agitated. "But... but... that's..." he stammered, waving his hands in the air frantically, "Insane!"
The perpetually lost boy merely shrugged. "Hey, I told you how to learn the technique. It's up to you to decide if you want to learn it that badly or not." Ryoga said calmly, closing his eyes. After his decision not to walk Akane home, he felt the subtle peace of distance, and he knew he had made the first step in accepting the fact that what he felt would forever remain unrequited.
"But why do I have to smash myself over and over again with rocks until I can break one using just my finger!" Naruto shouted loudly, still gesturing wildly. "It doesn't make any sense!"
"Because it builds up your stamina and strength," Ryoga replied easily, opening his eyes, "And it makes you a whole lot stronger. After that training, Ranma could kick me in the head and I would barely even felt it."
"So what, hitting yourself with rocks just made you that much tougher?" Naruto asked, curious and sounding calmer.
"Exactly." Ryoga said, nodding his head.
Naruto swallowed. The tournament was coming, and this was the only new technique he was going to learn... but if it made him as tough as Ryoga said, maybe it would be enough.
---
"Please! I need you to help me!"
"I'm sorry, Akane." Soun Tendo sighed, hating having to let down his daughter like this. "But we both know that you've learned everything I can teach you. Unlike Saotome, I haven't had the will to continue perfecting and creating techniques for the Anything Goes School. Not since your dear mother died..."
"I'm sorry daddy, but then who else can I go to?" Akane asked desperately. "Mr. Saotome's style is too different and I don't think I could handle what he put Ranma through..." she finished pleadingly, looking earnestly at her father.
Soun stroked his chin, an idea forming within his mind. "Well, you could always ask Ranma." He suggested, waiting for the inevitable explosion.
Akane did not disappoint. "What! Me? Ask that pervert!"
"Akane. Though you and Ranma have your differences, you must admit he is currently the person best suited to train you... the master aside, of course." Soun added as an uncomfortable afterthought.
"But..." she struggled, obviously trying to find another solution. When none appeared, she sighed, giving into defeat.
"Alright. I'll do it."
---
"What?" Ranma blinked, his words muffled by the amount of food jammed into his mouth.
"Please train me." Akane repeated, her head bowed low. "I don't have anyone else who can."
Ranma swallowed, still looking confused. "What about yer dad?"
"I've already learned everything I can from him. Please, Ranma. I don't have anywhere else to go to." Akane pleaded, keeping her head low and her voice at a low, earnest pitch.
"I dunno..." Ranma began, scratching the back of his head. "Why do you wanna train with someone else? You've never asked before."
"This tournament... I want... no..." Akane seemed to be struggling to admit her fear, one of her greatest of all. "I need to prove to myself that I can hold my own. That I don't need you, Ryoga, or anyone else to rescue me."
Ranma seemed to take the words to heart, a thoughtful expression on his face. When he spoke, however, his voice still carried a trace of doubt. "Well..."
Akane's lip curled upwards slightly, and she decided that one last plea might do the trick. "If you don't, then maybe grandfather Happosai would be-"
She wasn't even finished when Ranma's voice cut in loudly, "What! Oh, heck no! There's no way yer going to train with the old freak!" he snarled fiercely, and now it was Akane's turn to be surprised at the vehemence in his voice.
"I'll train you myself." He finished, grasping her wrist tightly. "We start tomorrow, at dawn. We're heading up to the mountains. Don't want any distractions."
Akane's face all but glowed as she smiled radiantly at him. "Thank you Ranma! Thank you!" without thinking, she grabbed him and embraced him fervently.
"I... uh..." Ranma stammered, feeling a bit of heat rise to his cheeks. Yes, he spent part of his time as a girl, but that didn't mean he wasn't still affected when the soft curves of a young woman were pressing against him. "You're welcome."
"I brought some dessert and-" Kasumi's eyes widened ever so slightly, and a happy smile lit up her face. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll come back in a bit."
"Nothing's happening!" Akane and Ranma shouted in unison, voices filled with mortification.
They broke apart in the blink of an eye, blushing and looking away from one another.
Kasumi chuckled, still smiling. "Of course."
---
"Thank you! Come again!" Ukyo said cheerily, waving goodbye to her last customer of the lunch hour rush. As soon as her patron was out the door, her face changed to a quiet, solemn look.
Ran-chan...
She shook her head. "Get a grip girl! You told yourself it was time to start living for yourself again. Think about other things... like the tournament." Ukyo smiled for a brief second, remembering the idea of being named champion.
"And the winner is... Ukyo Kuonji!" the announcer shouted, barely audible over the cheering of thousands upon thousands of men and women and children, all of them clapping and whooping and chanting her name.
"Thank you! Thank you everyone!" Ukyo smiled, waving her hand, holding her trusty giant spatula with her other hand. "To all of my opponents... you were worthy foes! I hope we can fight again!"
The crowd cheered again.
"And remember, when you're hungry, Ucchan's Okonomiyaki is always there for you!" Ukyo flashed a V for victory sign.
"You're so great Ukyo!" Ranma cheered-
Ukyo shook her head again, that somber look causing her brow to furrow. Ran-chan... he was the best martial artist in Nerima. How would she stand a chance when faced against him? Or Shampoo, Mousse, or-
"Ryoga?" Ukyo blinked, seeing the yellow clad boy standing outside of her restaurant, glancing around and looking utterly lost.
"Oh. Hi Ukyo." Ryoga greeted politely, nodding his head. "I was trying to find my way to the mountains to train... but I guess..."
"You got lost again." Ukyo giggled, shaking her head in amused exasperation. "Oh Ryoga. You're hopeless, you know that?"
Ryoga blushed, embarrassed but not as irritable as he usually was when someone teased him about his navigational ability, or lack thereof. Then again, it was usually Ranma, and anything Ranma said made Ryoga angry.
"So you're going to train for the tournament?" Ukyo asked curiously.
"Yeah. I'm not going to let Ranma beat me this time!" Ryoga snarled, causing her to roll her eyes and chuckle.
He'll never let go of that grudge, will he?
"Training in the mountains... that sounds like a good idea..." Ukyo said thoughtfully, and paused, an idea worming its way into her brain.
"Say Ryoga..." Ukyo began slowly, and the Lost Boy looked at her with a curious expression.
"Do you think you could train me?"
Ryoga blinked, and stammered, "Well... I... I don't know... I mean..."
"Please?" Ukyo asked pleadingly, her dark brown eyes wide and expressive. "I can help you train too... you know what they say, two heads are better than one."
Ryoga finally nodded, his lip curling upwards slightly. "Okay. I could use the company, I guess."
"Thank you!" Ukyo smiled happily, and Ryoga felt a bit of blood rush to his cheeks.
"Besides," Ukyo added slyly, not noticing Ryoga's embarrassment, "How else are you going to find your way to the mountains and back to the tournament in a month?"
"Hey! I'm not that bad!" Ryoga protested.
"Oh please. You get lost trying to find your way out of my restaurant."
---
Scurry. Sniff. Dart underneath the brush.
Simple thoughts, but after all, this is a rabbit's brain that we are currently taking a peek into.
Peek head out of bush.
Suddenly, the rabbit barely caught a glimpse of two crimson orbs with rapidly spinning dots swirling in the center-
And suddenly, a massive, growling black wolf appeared before the rabbit, eyes filled with hungry, predatory bloodlust. Fear, the primal instinct within all things, seized the rabbit's mind and filled it with the full force of absolute terror.
The rabbit bolted, acting on the pure instinct of frightened prey.
Sasuke Uchiha smiled darkly, watching the bushes shake as the animal darted away, with all the speed of the hunted. His Sharingan was gaining strength, just as he had predicted.
And as for his body...
Sasuke smirked as he struck out at a nearby tree, smashing it over and over again with speed that was nearly beyond his Sharingan- nearly, being the key word.
I can see your "Chestnut Fist" now, Ranma.
He was already gaining tremendous ground, and Sasuke smirk grew at that, knowing that the tournament was still some time away. What's more, he had enough food to last for two weeks, thanks to Kasumi, and could easily hunt for himself if it came to that.
He even had time to start investigating other techniques he'd seen... including that strange blast of chakra Ranma had unleashed upon him before.
"Moko Takabisha, was it..." Sasuke murmured. "That might be useful."
Everything was going his way this time around.
---
"This sucks." Naruto groaned, moaning as he sagged within his suspended harness, his entire body aching from another day of attempting master the Bakusai Tenketsu. The massive stone boulder in front of him seemed to be mocking him, laughing at him.
And for some reason, it used Sasuke's voice to do it.
"Can't beat me, dead last."
"Go to Hell." Naruto gritted out, grabbing the rope that controlled the movement of the boulder and yanking it with all his strength.
The massive stone soared through the air, and Naruto's eyes narrowed as he lashed out, shouting, "Bakusai Tenketsu!" his finger connected with the rock-
And crumpled, causing him to scream out in agony once again.
"Having a spot of trouble, are we?" old Cologne's voice drifted through the mountain wilderness, and Naruto turned toward her, looking surprised through his pained expression.
"What are you doing here?" he questioned weakly.
"Well, I heard that someone was attempting the Bakusai Tenketsu training. I don't want an idiot dying trying to learn this basic technique." Cologne replied easily, blowing out a few smoke rings.
"Basic technique?" Naruto demanded angrily. "You must be crazy! This technique makes no sense!"
"Obviously because Ryoga forgot to impart the key to all of this." Cologne snapped, rolling her eyes and slamming the ground with her staff.
"Clear your mind, boy, and see with the mind's eye!"
"See with the mind's eye?" Naruto blinked.
"You can't be distracted by things like ego or anger for this to work. Your mind must be blank save for pure determination and will." Cologne instructed.
"Now, try again."
---
"But Ranma-" Akane protested, her breath harsh and labored, her pale yellow gi dirty from past efforts.
"Again, Akane." Ranma repeated, still in fighting stance. "You're strong. Maybe not as strong as Shampoo, but that's fine. But you're not fast enough."
"Easy for you to say," Akane shot back. "You were trained to be fast since you were a kid. But in case you've forgotten, the Tendo School focuses mainly on strength and ground based techniques."
"Which is good. I don't need ya to be as fast as me," Ranma said, jerking his thumb at his chest. "But ya hafta be at least as fast as Shampoo or Ucchan to be good enough to get through the tournament."
Hearing her rival's names tossed out like that struck a nerve in Akane... something Ranma had intended. Though lacking in a few mental capacities (tact, for one), Ranma was an expert at the psychological aspect of combat.
"Fine then! I'll show you I'm every bit as good as Shampoo, Ukyo, or anyone else!" Akane snarled, and lunged forward once again.
Ranma smiled thoughtfully, even as he ducked a punch that, much to his satisfaction, only narrowly missed striking his shoulder.
---
"Better." Ryoga stated, his breath just a little deeper after the intense battle he had just waged. He placed his red bamboo umbrella against his shoulder, tapping it lightly.
Ukyo sagged to the floor, her giant spatula clattered upon the ground as she released it from her hands. Her breathing was harsh and ragged, her chest heaved as she sucked in as much air as she could.
"Thanks." She managed raggedly, smiling through a mask of dirt and sweat.
Ryoga inclined his head, his own lip curling upwards slightly. "Now let's go again."
---
"Can't... no more..." Naruto moaned, rotating helplessly from his suspended harness. His body ached, his head ached, hell, he was almost certain that even the Kyuubi was feeling the hits from the boulders.
"Very well then. We will start again tomorrow." Cologne said, releasing Naruto from his harness. Over the past few days, Cologne had watched Naruto grow steadily stronger with each day of effort, which compensated for the fact that he was still unable to grasp the Bakusai Tenketsu.
However... one thing troubled her old, wizened mind.
The bruises and injuries Naruto sustained each day of training disappeared after just a single night's rest, leaving the blonde ninja refreshed and ready to start again, even stronger than the day before.
Cologne had already known that Ryoga's endurance was beyond normal, and while Naruto's was certainly not on the same level, his ability to heal from injuries more than compensated.
It wasn't just strange...
It was supernatural.
Cologne frowned. Despite appearances, this young boy was carrying a secret...
And Cologne had an instinctive feeling that whatever that secret was, it was of the darkest and most powerful kind imaginable.
---
Sasuke let out a low groan as he collapsed onto the ground, unable to even hold himself up for a moment longer. His chakra reserves were burned out each and every day far sooner than he would have liked, and although they were growing, it wasn't as fast as he would have liked.
His hands looked almost as if they were burnt, unusual considering the fact that there was no fire...
Sasuke cursed his earlier optimism. These new techniques were too draining, too tiring. He needed some other technique, some other way to build up chakra so he could use these techniques more effectively...
An idea crossed his mind. A technique that he had once been forbidden from trying...
"Sasuke." Kakashi-sensei's face wore a serious expression, one that he always found a bit unnerving when compared to the smiling face their jounin teacher normally wore. "I know that sooner or later, you'll see Naruto complete his Kage Bunshin Jutsu at least once when you attain Sharingan."
Sasuke frowned. "And?"
"Don't try it." Kakashi-sensei said gravely. "The chakra required is too great for a genin like you." He raised his hand, cutting off Sasuke's predicted protest. "Naruto, as we both know, has chakra reserves that exceed even most chuunin. That's his strength, but you don't have that sort of chakra."
Sasuke scowled, obviously unhappy with the idea of Naruto surpassing him in any way.
"Sasuke. Do you understand?"
Reluctantly, he nodded, not wanting to risk trying to prove Kakashi-sensei wrong.
Well, seeing as how Kakashi wasn't technically his sensei anymore...
Sasuke smirked, and he chuckled under his breath.
The idea of Naruto's face after seeing Sasuke pull off his favorite move was just too amusing to pass up.
---
"Ranma? Ranma?" Akane called out, frowning as she tapped her foot impatiently. "Where is he? I told him dinner would be ready in half an hour." She scowled. "If he's skipping dinner so he doesn't have to try my food..."
For once, however, Ranma was far too distracted to consider the threat on his life by way of Akane's cooking.
Akane pulled free a flashlight from the packs, and, after flicking it on, stepped into the woods, all the while muttering, "I swear, if he's goofing off..."
Still, she was worried. For the past two weeks, Ranma had been constantly disappearing at odd times, returning looking exhausted and frustrated.
She walked for an indefinite amount of time, carefully watching the woods for any manner of beast or, even worse, some crazy pervert. As she went ever deeper into the darkness of the forest, she began to worry.
How far could Ranma have gone?
Just as she was beginning to seriously wonder for her fiancee's safety, she heard his voice, quiet and frustrated.
"Damn it! I can't hold it for very long..." as he finished, Akane heard him pant slowly, his breath harsh. It sounded as though he was struggling against something that was slowly overpowering him...
A giant, slobbering beast, fangs gleaming as it lunged for Ranma's throat-
Akane ran headlong toward where Ranma's voice had originated from. "Ranma!" she shouted, plunging forward until she caught sight of a clearing, in the center of which was-
Ranma?
Unharmed, unhurt, looking winded and sweaty but otherwise unharmed. Relief flooded through Akane and she smiled, which turned to an irritated look at the worry he had inadvertently caused her.
Before she could storm in and scold him, however, Ranma's eyes closed, and the look of intense concentration on his face caused her to falter.
Suddenly, and without warning, Ranma's skin began to glow, a pure white light that was faint but covered his entire body.
"What the..." Akane breathed, eyes widening, her mouth open and slack.
Ranma's eyes snapped open and suddenly he was gone, with nothing but a small dust devil in his wake. Akane's mouth opened wider as, not more than second later a nearby tree, tall and strong, suddenly collapsed with a violent snap.
In front of the falling tree, leg raised in a position that clearly indicated it had been the cause of the destruction, was Ranma.
Ranma landed gracefully with one foot, spinning out his other leg to let the last of his immense impetus fade away. As he finished however, he let out a low groan, and collapsed.
"Ranma!" Akane rushed over, kneeling next to his prone form. She turned him over, propping him up against her knees. "Are you okay?"
"Akane..." Ranma's eyes were unfocused as he smiled like a little kid. "Didja see? I almost managed to hold it this time..." he closed his eyes, and went limp.
Akane panicked for a brief moment, but her breathing steadied when she saw Ranma's chest move up and down gently, his breath low and easy.
Almost without thinking, she stroked his raven hair gently, looking mystified. "What was that just now..."
---
"Like it?" Ryoga smiled widely, even as sweat rolled down his reddened face, cheeks flushed with blood from the exertion. "I got the idea from my Shi Shi Hokodan's heavy ki."
Ukyo nodded, clearly awed by Ryoga's display. "I'm impressed Ryoga. There's a lot more going on inside your head than trying to kill Ranma, isn't there?"
Ryoga flushed, unused to praise, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, you know... Ranma's not the only one who can think up new techniques."
Ukyo smiled. "I'll be rooting for you at the tournament, okay Ryoga? And you'll do the same, won't you?" her voice was bright and her heart felt lighter than it had been since she had decided to try and give up on Ranma.
"You... you will?" Ryoga stammered, surprised. "I mean... you're not going to root for-"
"No. You're the one who took the time to train me, after all." Ukyo replied, trying to ignore the slight sting at the thought of Ranma. "Besides, we're friends, and that's what friends do, right?"
Ryoga blinked, again surprised. But as Ukyo smiled, his mouth curled upwards into its own, smaller smile. "Okay. I'll be rooting for you too."
---
"Now, one more time. Make sure you hit it correctly." Cologne shouted, tapping her staff to the boulder she was currently situated atop of.
"I did it before, didn't I?" Naruto replied, beaming and grinning. "Just bring it on granny."
Cologne shook her head about the "impertinence of youth", and pushed off, letting the boulder swing at full speed as she leapt off of it, watching it all carefully.
Naruto's eyes were focused, bright and clear as the summer sky. "Bakusai Tenketsu!" he slammed his finger into the boulder.
Immediately, and with great effect, the boulder detonated upon itself, sending shards of debris and clouds of dust through the air, but none of that affected Naruto, who merely grinned triumphantly.
"Gotcha." Naruto murmured, satisfied.
---
It was a sight that many environmentalists would have found horrifying. The trees in the clearing were demolished from previous damage, their leaves scattered like blood, the ground broken up and charred by the training done.
The newest casualties were the animals themselves, scattered about, injured and numb from the latest technique devised by the person who had caused all the previous damage.
A few of the animals were twitching, their fur slightly singed and smoking from Sasuke's newest technique.
Or rather, an adaption of one of his techniques, made stronger and more effective for purposes other than what it had been originally intended for.
The mark of an Uchiha.
Sasuke looked about at the damage he had caused, feeling a slight pang of pity for all the animals that he had harmed by accomplishing the technique. Though he tried to make it go away, the sight of all these injured animals was just too similar to a massacre...
The once proud Uchiha clan's blood spilled across the streets, their bodies bloodied and broken-
Sasuke shook his head, scowling. Now was not the time.
The tournament was about to begin, after all.
---
"This is an unusual mission request." Tsunade murmured, eyeing the three young genin in front of her curiously, moving her eyes away from the mission proposition on her desk. "Exactly why do you want me to authorize this C-Ranked mission?"
Shino Aburame stepped forward, speaking in a clear, official tone. "You see, Tsunade-sama, this is around the time when the Bikochu, the rare insect we mentioned in our preliminary report, will start to lay its eggs. Once it does so, the newborn Bikochu can track any scent, no matter how faint or how old."
Shino pushed his sunglasses up his to the bridge of his nose. "We would like permission to use this Bikochu to locate Naruto Uzumaki and, hopefully by extension, Sasuke Uchiha."
Behind him, Hinata Hyuuga nodded weakly, and Kiba Inuzuka said loudly, "That's right!" Akamaru barked his own affirmation.
Tsunade's eyes widened. For the past month she had been fighting with the council over the whereabouts of those two particular genin, supported mostly by stalwarts of the Sandaime's administration as well as, surprisingly enough, the Hyuuga Clan's Hiashi Hyuuga.
Team Gai's mission to Rice Field, while having brought some excellent reconaissance and new allies in the form of the Fuma Clan, hadn't found a single trace of either Naruto or Sasuke.
This could be the break in the case she had been hoping for.
However...
"Permission granted, but on one condition." The Godaime said slowly, a thoughtful look crossing her face.
Shino's face, as always, betrayed nothing. "Yes, Tsunade-sama?"
Tsunade smiled, and called out loudly, "Shizune! Get my apprentice in here! She should be in my library!"
"Alright Tsunade-sama!" Shizune's voice called out, and her hurried steps were audible through the door.
All three members of Team Eight shot the Hokage a puzzled look, but Tsunade merely continued to smile thoughtfully.
The door opened, and the members of Team Eight turned around to catch a glimpse of the third and only remaining member of the infamous Team Seven.
"I'm here, Tsunade-sama." Sakura Haruno said, looking just as puzzled as Team Eight. "Why did you summon me?"
"Sakura, these three have informed me of a special type of insect that can help us find out where Naruto is, and hopefully Sasuke as well." Tsunade explained, folding her hands just beneath her chin. "I would like for you to accompany them."
Sakura's eyes widened and, without hesitation, she shouted, "Thank you Tsunade-sama! I won't let you down!"
"Aw, why her? Wouldn't a jounin like Kurenai-sensei or Asuma-sensei be better?" Kiba complained loudly, tactlessly. Hinata shot him a look and tried to shush him. "Not that you're not a good kunoichi, Sakura, but..." Kiba added in quickly, but the Godaime herself cut in.
"I'll have you know that for over a month now, Sakura has been training under me. She's an excellent medical ninja and I can assure you she won't let you down." Tsunade's voice was flat and cutting as an unsheathed sword. "Besides which, she has a personal stake. These are her teammates."
Kiba bowed his head low, obviously chastised completely and throughly, his cheeks flushed from embarrassment. Shino coughed, and Hinata's cheeks were also red as a result of the embarrassing, tactless words of her teammate.
"I promise I won't be a burden." Sakura said solemnly, before she glanced at Kiba with a humored look. "Besides, didn't Naruto teach you a lesson about underestimating people?"
That prompted a chuckle out of everyone except Kiba.
"If that's all, then I hereby authorize this C-Ranked mission, which I will pay for out of my own account." Tsunade smiled as the genin's eyes widened, even Sakura's. "Naruto is like my little brother. I want him back just as badly as any of you, and if you can do that, I would gladly pay for it."
---
"On behalf of all of us here at the Tokyo International Airport, I'd like to welcome all of you to Japan." The official said through the speakers of the airport, her voice musical and warm.
The crowds bustled out of the plane, each of them handing their passports to various officials who were going about checking and identifying each of them.
One official, an rheumatic old man by the name of Shinji Higurashi eyed the young man in front of him curiously as he opened the young man's passport. "Your name is Pa-"
"Say it and I'll break your arms old man." The dark haired boy snarled. "Just clear me and I'll be on my way. I don't have time to deal with you."
Swallowing, Shinji stamped the passport. The boy's arms had tensed with whipcord muscles, and he had the air of a fierce, vicious fighter.
The young man grabbed his passport violently, and proceed to stalk off silently, moving through the crowd easily, as though the other arrivals felt the dangerous nature of this young man.
That old bastard better keep his promise, just like he said he would in the letter... he thought darkly, fist clenching. After a moment, he relaxed his fist.
What could go wrong? All he needed to do was defeat everyone in this "Grand Tokyo Martial Arts Tournament" and then the old man would change his name once and for all. And with his "ability", that was no issue at all.
Plus, if what the old man said was true, that cross-dressing freak Saotome would be there.
Two for the price of one, Pantyhose Taro thought to himself, grinning viciously.
