The Dragon Dilemma
I don't own Naruto and Zoids
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"Talking"
'Thoughts'
/-- Scene change
)-()-( Different point of view
?-? Flash back
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Chapter 8
He just stares at the white armoured Zoid that looks like some kind of tiger. "What kind of Zoid is this?" He asks Shadow. "I think it's a Liger type." His mind translates his partner's growl. "You think it'll do? I mean, considering you had pretty bad encounters with Liger types before." He says. "It's the pilot that uses the Zoid to do battle so it isn't the Zoid itself that I hate." Shadow growls. "Besides, I think this one will serve well enough." Shadow adds and he nods.
Once he is by one of the fore limbs, he begins to climb up the leg and then move towards the cockpit of the Zoid. This takes him some time though. Soon he opens the cockpit and climbs in. He looks at all of the buttons and grins. He finds the right button and once the Zoid comes to life, the cockpit closes and the Zoid roars. 'Liger Zero.' The thought echoes in his mind. "Liger Zero? Neat." He says softly. He then concentrates on what he knows on how to get the Zoid to move.
He then grips these two handles and slowly moving them, the Zoid begins to move as well. He screws his face as he begins to test out how to turn and to back peddle. He smiles brightly as he turns the Zoid around and begins to walk through the trees, towards some plains located in that direction. He wants to see just how fast this Zoid is and an image appears showing Shadow pacing him. He nods and then focuses in on where he's going as well as getting familiar with where everything is within the cockpit.
Once he reaches the outskirts of the plains, he brings up the image of Shadow and says, "I'm going to test the speed. Anything advice you want to depart before I take off?" "Don't ram into anything too big." Shadow roars out. He nods and soon he get the Liger Zero into a trot and then within two minutes, he begins to pick up speed as he leaves Shadow behind to go for a joy ride with his Zoid.
)-(Sasuke)-(
He growls as he glares at his teacher. "And we can't go after this guy, why?" He asks once more. It's been about two days since his chat with Naruto and they have just received news that a large white cat has been seen some days from here. "For one thing, it's raining, though I must admit, I'm surprise we had such nice weather until now. Second, we also don't have a Zoid to pilot if we run into him. Also, lastly, who ever was piloting that Zoid would be long gone by now, so there isn't any point of heading in that direction." Kakashi says calmly as he reads his dirty novel.
He growls and looks out the window. It's Naruto's turn in guarding the sword, not that there's any real point right now. They're not leaving the inn with this storm occurring, he for one didn't want to get a cold or fever from training out in the storm. It also seems that for the next few days, it'll be raining as well. 'I guess this is why they call this River Country.' He thinks as he watches one of the many puddles that are being created from the storm.
Sakura is busy reading in her room and Naruto was in their room with the sword, thus leaving him alone with Kakashi. He wonders if he'd have a better chance at a meaningful conversation with Naruto then with Kakashi. He sighs at that particular thought. 'So maybe I'm approaching him the wrong way, so just what's the right way? Considering how most people act around me, it's frustrating and comforting at the way Naruto treats me.' He frowns slightly as he tries to think of ways to approach the other boy. It was then did he realise that he really wasn't use to being the one to approach anyone, for most people usually approach him. He closes his eyes and tries to think of a way to get Naruto to approach him, but, sadly, he doesn't see that happening.
He frowns and Kakashi asks, "Something on your mind?" He sighs and says, "Naruto." "Ah. You need advice, I take it." Kakashi says. He shifts his weight and presses his lips together. "It's not like its important or anything." He says after three minutes of silences between them. "Sasuke, you remind me of a cat." Kakashi says in amusement. He stiffens and growls out, "How so?" "You ignore everyone that gives you attention to go after someone who isn't. You also are secretive and you have this aura around you that says you're superior to everyone." Kakashi tells him in an amused tone. He glares at his teacher's book, almost wishing that he could set it on fire with a single glare.
He looks away and tries to find grounds to counter Kakashi's accusation, but can't really think of anything. Then he grins as a thought crosses his mind. "I'm a cat, am I?" He says in amused tone, he then gets up and walks away. At the bottom of the stairs, he looks around to make sure he's alone, before he does the hand seals for Henge. As the smoke clears, a black cat is standing where he had once stood as a human. He glances around once last time and then walks up the stairs in the form of a cat. Though it seems impossible, some how, as a cat, he's smirking as he climbs the stairs in the form of a cat. 'I wonder just what I can't blackmail you with, Dobe.' He thinks as he makes it the second level and begins to stalk towards the room that he shares with Naruto.
)-(Naruto)-(
He hears the door open slightly and lowers the scroll he's read to see a black cat stalking into the room. He raises an eyebrow at the cat, then shakes his head slightly and begins to read the scroll once more. He brought some of the scrolls that Shadow and he have been 'borrowing' from some people of Hidden Leaf.
This one is shows how to create a house, it's called Four Pillar Home Technique. Shikamaru helped him learn one similar to this one, only it creates a prison, that one is called Four Pillar Prison Technique. He didn't see any real use for the jutsu, but if he can alter it, he could create a place to hide Liger Zero from view, like a hanger made out of wood. He just needs to figure out how to have the inside hollow so that his Zoid could fit inside. He just doesn't know how to do that; he'll have to get help from Shikamaru to make the alteration he wants.
He looks at his shoulder and notices that the black cat is perched on it. He also sighs as the cat seems too busy studying the scroll to notice that he's staring at it. He turns back and skims through it slowly this time, comparing the prison jutsu to this one. He nods thoughtfully as he figures out the differences between the two. He grins as he can't wait to try this out; he just needs to think carefully as to where he's going to set up this house. He rolls the scroll up, he notices that the cat isn't on his shoulder anymore, but eyeing his pack. He snorts and opens the smaller pocket of the pack and after doing a simple jutsu, the scroll he had been reading shrinks down the size of a battery. He then puts the mini scroll into the pocket and zips it closed.
He gets up and stretches, for he's been sitting down for about two hours already. His stomach growls and he glances over at the sword. He creates a water clone and watches as the clone goes down stairs to get him something to eat. He turns and notices that the cat has curled up and seems to be resting. He shakes his head and hopes that Sasuke isn't allergic to cats as he waits for his clone to bring him something to eat.
)-(Sasuke)-(
Though he's curled up on the bed, his mind was racing at what he read and what he's seen Naruto do. He didn't know that jutsu could be used to create houses before he read that scroll, but he did admit that it was a really odd jutsu for a ninja to know, let alone want to know. He also pondered that jutsu that Naruto used to make the scroll small. He also didn't know just what to think about that one, for it seems to be a useful jutsu and wonders just where Naruto learnt it. And if the blond didn't learn it, then get the blond to teach him how to do it, for it would help him pack up scrolls he want to read during a mission.
'It would have been so much easier if I had the Sharingan, then I wouldn't have to ask.' He thinks as the clone comes back with a plate of food. The clone doesn't disappear as Naruto takes the plate from the water clone. "You can do whatever." Naruto tells his clone. The clone grins and moves towards the window, soon the clone is gone and Naruto puts down the plate to close the window. He rises his head and looks first at the window and then at the blond. The blond notices and looks thoughtful. "Just because he's a water clone doesn't mean he deserves to dissipate once he finishes the task I give him. I found that clones do seem to have some kind of consciences, not much but it's there. I wonder if there's a jutsu that creates solid clones that are capable of using charka. I wouldn't mind learning that jutsu." Naruto says, once the blond says that he then begins to eat.
He moves into a different position as he thinks about that curve ball. He already has been thrown for a loop first with the scroll, then watching Naruto shrink the scroll, and now with how Naruto treated his water clone. He can't believe he had been ambushed by someone that can't seem to harden their heart towards others. Though he did have to admit that he might be stronger when it comes to hand to hand fighting with Naruto, he isn't so sure he'd win if they're allowed to use any jutsu they know, for Naruto seems to know more Ninjutsu then he does. Though he does wonder just where Naruto found that scroll with the house jutsu.
"Naruto, have you seen Sasuke? Kakashi says that he came up here." Sakura asks from the door way. "Other then this cat, nobody's come into the room." Naruto says simply to Sakura. Sakura blinks and then looks down at him. He feels dread as Sakura walks up to the bed and bends down to look at him. "Cute cat! Mind if I take him?" Sakura asks. He gets up and tries to bolt, but Sakura catches him before he leaps off the bed. "I don't see why not. It's not like I'm his owner." Naruto says distractedly. He meows as Sakura leaves the room with him in her arms. He doesn't want to leave the room! He wants to stay and watch Naruto make a scroll normal size! Not that anyone seems to care about him meowing, they just seems to ignore that as the door closes and Sakura takes him into her room.
)-(Naruto)-(
He has a book about Hidden Leaf's laws open and is currently reading it in hopes of finding a way to retire from being a ninja without anyone kicking up too much of a fuss. The door opens and he looks up to find Sasuke glaring at him with vengeance shining in his eyes. He looks puzzled at this, not liking the smirk that promises pain and suffering. "Err, what's up Sasuke?" He asks as he closes the book. Sasuke takes a few steps into the room before turn around to close the door behind him also locking it.
Soon Sasuke turns towards him and he just feels like he's not about to like what Sasuke's going to do next. He automatically goes through the hand seals for a water shield. Water stands before him and Sasuke and though Sasuke seems surprised, he soon is doing some other hand seals. Then Sasuke rushes and before he can pull back away from the hand that passes through the shield, it grabs him and he feels something cover him. He loses focus on maintaining the shield and the water knocks him and Sasuke off their feet. He blacks out after hitting his head on the metal frame for the window.
To be continued …