Chapter #4: Genin Exam – part II

The Girl That Never Fails

"Re-think my strategy?" thought Haruto, while getting back on his feet. "What's to re-think? It was bad from the start. I don't need to re-think it; I need to think of a new one…"

"He walked into the forest" whispered Takeru with a smirk. "This is my chance" and with those words, he left his hideout.

"Well…taijutsu isn't gonna work" noticed Daisuke with his eyes narrowed. "Good thing I have a backup plan…"

-That time, in the forest-

Naruto was walking through the forest. He turned slightly as he sensed something coming. He noticed a giant fireball coming his way and he jumped to the nearest branch to avoid it.

It was only then that he spotted Emi squatting on the branch of the nearby tree.

"Oh, it's you" he said simply. "That was clever. Usually I would be able to counter an attack like that, but I didn't notice it until the last minute. But out the five of you, you're the one who is the most skillful. After all, you are an heir of Tomoko clan…"

Emi smirked as she quickly wove hand seals and jumped off the tree and shouted: "Water Style: Water Bomb Jutsu!"

Naruto jumped back to avoid the attack but before he knew it, Emi was already passing him from his left with the intent to attack from behind.

She prepared more hand seals and as soon as she found herself looking at the blond's back, but right before her eyes, the image of her sensei just sort of disappeared in the air, but the girl was able the sense that he was behind her.

"You're really versatile for a shinobi fresh out of the Academy" she heard a voice coming from behind. "It's amazing that you've mastered two types of jutsu, but it's a shame you've only relied on ninjutsu…"

In an instant Emi turned around, picked out a katana that she was carrying on her back and attacked the jonin. She was swinging her sword with incredible speed, but Naruto was able to dodge the blade every time. The kunoichi didn't even notice that he stole katana from her hand shortly after.

"Well there goes that…" announced the Nine-Tails vessel with a tiny smile, "What now?"

Emi threw two smoke bombs from her pouch down and quickly retreated.

-Same time, elsewhere-

"Where could Naruto-sensei have gone?" thought Kumiko, while jumping from one tree to another. "He was able to defeat Haruto so easily. Typical techniques are no use…" she concluded as she kept searching the forest.

-Back to Naruto-

"I gotta get him on top of that tree…" Emi thought from behind bushes, frantically trying to think of something. Her eyes widened as she thought of an idea.

Emi made one hand seal and she shot multiple bullets of air at Naruto, which Naruto jumped up to avoid the attack. He grabbed a branch of the tree but at the very same moment he saw paper bombs attached to it. Before he knew it, there was an explosion.

Emi sighed in relief, but she quickly realized her sensei survived the explosion and hid. Naruto then appeared where Emi was standing: "Figures" he thought calmly.

Naruto observed the area. The bushes moved only because of the wind and no leaves were falling down. The girl had hidden well.

"I suggest you come out," Naruto said finally. "After all you're the one who needs those bells. And I don't think your clan would like that you failed…"

"There's no way I'm gonna fail…" he heard Emi's voice coming from behind, "I have to live up to their expectation so I will pass!" she yelled, charging at Naruto. She stepped on a scroll and was

"You won't be able to escape for a while announced Naruto calmly, "Looks like you were blinded by your anger and became too hasty. You probably would've gotten a bell if you would've thought before you acted. Plus, versatility is good, but you'll probably never be able to defeat a higher rank shinobi if you don't perfect one or two types of jutsu…"

"And what do you care?" yelled Emi.

"Look, I know that you come from a prominent clan, but…"

"And that's why I have to win here!"

Naruto stopped talking after hearing this. Emi just lower her sight:

"I am of the Tomoko clan that means losing is not an option. So, I will get out of prison and get one of those bells. I cannot fail!"

At this the jonin sighed, "I see you are not ready to talk, so I'll just leave you to your endeavor…"

Emi looked confused at him as he continued: "If I'm right about how you truly feel, you and Haruto are very alike" announced Naruto thoughtfully. "I have faith that this team will pass my test. But you'll only be ready to listen when you truly fail and on that day…you'll be better than anyone in you clan.

And with that, he was gone.

-A little later, another part of the forest-

Naruto kept walking between the trees. Many bushes were a perfect hiding place for the opponents. Suddenly he stopped and without turning around, he spoke up: "Come out. Seems like stealth isn't your strongest suit…"

"You're right…" announced Takeru, while stepping from behind the tree with a tiny smirk on his face, "Guess I'll just have to take those bells by killing you…"

-a new danger-

Anyhow, hope you'll like this one. I would really appreciate any reviews, because I really want to know what you think.