Chapter 70 – Battle Royale
"Talk"
'Think'
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei.
Training Ground 3
"You know Noriko, we haven't had all-out sparring for ages" said Naruto.
Noriko cocked her head, looked at Naruto and grinned "Ready to get your butt kicked?"
"You can try"
"All out?"
"No holding back" grinned Naruto.
"Zanzō Bunshin!/Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
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"I SENSE A YOUTHFUL MATCH GOING ON! ALLOW ME TO JOIN, NARUTO-KUN! NORIKO-SAN!" shouted Lee as he catapulted himself into the midst of yellow- and black-hair.
"Gatsūga!" jumped in Kiba and Akamaru "Us too"
"Noriko-san, please spar with me" said Neji.
"So, this is where you are Naruto" said Sasuke "Ready to spar?"
XXX
"What the-" Tenzō lost his words as he arrived at the scene.
"Looks fun, isn't it" commented a voice, causing Tenzō to turn-
"Hokage-sama!"
"Relax" said Shisui while watching the fights in front of him "You know, this gives me an idea. I need to train anyway and they would serve well … … …" Shisui wandered off while muttering to himself.
Tenzō was looking at the back of Hokage when he heard a loud crash and turned his head. He saw Tenten appeared with-
"Hey! Isn't that Akatsuki's scythe?!" asked Naruto.
"Yup" answered Tenten proudly "I asked Hokage-sama, Hamaki-sensei and Kurenai-sensei if I can have it. They said yes. Now I've got to practice" her eyes gleamed as she said that.
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…
"You know, we should join in" said a new voice. Tenzō turned and saw Sai smiling at him "I have an idea" said Sai and Tenzō grinned as he listened to Sai's idea.
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"Mokuton! Ninpō: Chōjū Giga!"
Woods appeared from the ground and black snakes slithered into the fighting area and bound some of newly-appointed chūnin.
"TENZŌ!"
"SAI!"
"I guess that's our invitation" said Sai when-
"Shannnaaarooooo !" yelled Sakura as she hit the ground "Sasuke-kun! Kiba! How dare you kept me waiting for hours!" she tightened her fists as she faced Sasuke and Kiba (and Akamaru).
…and the fights resumed.
"That was fun" said Naruto with a wide grin. All of them looked worse for wear with bruises and cuts everywhere.
"This is the most youthful spar I've ever had!" cried Lee "We should do it often!"
"Yeah, when we are not doing mission" said Kiba.
"Wonder what kind mission we'll be getting" asked Noriko.
"Where's our sensei anyway?" asked Sakura.
Hokage Office
"Now that you've known the existence of Akatsuki, I guess it's important that I brought you all up to speed" said Shisui to Gai, Hamaki and Kurenai (Kakashi was there too) "I first heard about Akatsuki after I was appointed as Hokage Apprentice. At that time, they were just operating in Amegakure no Sato, trying to overthrow Hanzō of the Salamander. Recently we've found out that they are recruiting S-rank missing-nin and they are targeting jinchūriki"
"That's why Kakashi knew" said Gai.
"I figured it is something related to jinchūriki" said Hamaki.
"Me too" chimed in Kurenai.
"Unfortunately, your captive did not provide us any new information regarding Akatsuki, although Inoichi managed to learn how he managed to stay alive despite being hit at a critical spot. Also, Kurenai, remember the mission I gave you a year ago?" asked Shisui.
"Hait, it was to investigate mass-murder in Yugakure-" Kurenai's voice trailed away as realization hit her "That was all him?"
"Yes" answered Shisui soberly "I guess now we can tell the families of the deceased"
"Please, Hokage-sama, let me be the one to tell them" asked Kurenai.
"I was about to ask the same thing" said Shisui as he handed her the scroll before continued talking "Anyway, on my way here, I saw a something interesting which gives me an idea…" he grinned.
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"EH?!"
Next day, Hokage Office
"Your sensei is slotted for another mission so for your first mission as chūnin, Uchiha Sasuke will join team Kakashi for their mission in Takigakure no Sato" said Shishu.
"How about Kiba and Sakura?" asked Sasuke.
"Inuzuka Kiba will join Team Kurenai for their mission while Haruno Sakura is attached to the hospital for the time being" explained Shisui.
"Yeay! We've got to go to a new place!" shouted Naruto.
"I heard it's a beautiful place" said Noriko.
"I wonder what Kakashi-sensei is doing?" pondered Tenzō.
Shisui just grinned at Tenzō's question.
A Different Training Ground in Konoha
"All right! Fight me like you fight the Akatsuki!" " ordered Shisui with his sharingan activated to Gai, Hamaki and Kakashi (who unveiled his sharingan).
End Chapter 70
Amegakure no Sato – Hidden Village of Rain
Bijū – Tailed Beasts
Gatsūga – Fang Passing Fang
Hakkeshō Kaiten – Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu – Shadow Clone
Ninpō: Chōjū Giga – Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll
Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu – Mass Shadow Clone
Takigakure no Sato – Hidden Village of Waterfall
Yugakure no Sato – Hidden Village of Hot Water
Zanzō Bunshin – Afterimage Clone