"All right, Shikamaru, how do you think we should take them," Naruto asked the lazy genin.
"Why are you asking me," the other boy asked in surprise.
"Because you're the strategist, idiot," Ino snapped, rolling her eyes in obvious irritation.
"Well, let's see," Shikamaru replied, his brow furrowing in though as he crouched down and observed the trio of older genin who were standing on the other side of the clearing from their team while their jounin-sensei talked. "These guys are obviously an assault type team, which means that we're overmatched in terms of raw physical power. The green monster over there is obviously a taijutsu specialist by his build and so is the Hyuuga, since they're never anything else. The girl looks to be a weapons and seal specialist. She's the weak link offensively, since if we can get someone in close we'll negate her advantage. The other two are tough…"
"Just hurry up, will you," Ino hissed. "Asuma-sensei looks like he's tired of listening to the creepy jounin and will get this started soon."
"All right," Shikamaru snapped back. "Ino, you make for the girl and use your Shintenshin no jutsu on the green guy while I distract him. Naruto, head for the Hyuuga, but go after the girl when Ino switches. I'll move to the Hyuuga when Ino attacks the green guy."
"All right, you three," Asuma called out. "Gai-san here has agreed that his students won't go all out on you, but they'll still try to push you. That's Hyuuga Neji over there, the girl's name is Tenten and the mini-Gai is named Rock Lee. Let's go ahead and get this going. Begin!"
Ino moved at a full run towards Tenten, weaving through the shuriken the girl started throwing with a speed that was surprising for a recent Academy graduate. Naruto headed for the Hyuuga and Shikamaru ran towards Rock Lee. Asuma shook his head in disbelief, trying to figure out why they were going after the worst opponents they could. He held back a sigh of relief, though, when Shikamaru threw several kunai with explosive tags to force Rock Lee to one side as Ino turned and flashed her hands through the seals for her Shintenshin no jutsu. Naruto had moved at the Hyuuga from an angle and startled everyone when he disappeared between steps and reappeared in front of Tenten. He swung his sword down and forced the girl to leap back to avoid the blow, giving up any chance of interfering with Ino's assault on Rock Lee.
As the green spandex wearing genin suddenly went still as he was hit by Ino's jutsu, Shikamaru formed the seal fro his Kagemane no jutsu and sent tendrils of shadow running at the Hyuuga. Ino's body crumpled to the ground and Rock Lee's body language suddenly shifted to that of a girl as he picked at his green bodysuit in disgust, while the Hyuuga leapt back from Shikamaru's shadow tendrils. The white eyed genin's facial veins bulged, showing that he was already using the Byakugan his clan was famous for. Shikamaru just smirked, took a deep breath and sank into his shadows. While the Hyuuga was looking around trying to spot where his opponent had gone, the possessed Lee ran at him intending to grab him in a bear hug.
Tenten had given up trying to gain range from Naruto and had pulled a sectioned staff from one of her sealing scrolls. She was giving Naruto quite a run for his money even though she couldn't keep up with the speed his shunpo allowed. Out of the corner of his eye, Naruto noticed that the Hyuuga had done something to knock Rock Lee out as Ino was groggily regaining consciousness. What he didn't notice until too late was the pool of darkness expanding from his own shadow as Shikamaru reached up and grabbed the older genin's ankle. Shadow raced up along the leg before Neji could pull away and remained even after he leapt away from where Shikamaru now stood again. He almost fell to the ground when he tried to put his weight on the still shadow-wrapped limb, glaring at his opponent angrily.
Naruto ducked a blow from Tenten's staff and used shunpo to get to a distance behind Neji, his hands forming a seal as he muttered a quiet chant and called out, "Fuuindo Number 4: Hainawa!" Ropes of blue energy snaked out of the ground and wrapped themselves around the startled Hyuuga, who struggled uselessly as the restraint kidou bound him helplessly to the ground. Tenten realized that she was the only one left standing and unleashed a volley of kunai at Shikamaru and Naruto, trying to force them away from her restrained teammate as she moved to close. Unfortunately for her, Naruto intercepted her with a heavy swing of his sword that she was forced to use her staff again to block. Instead of disengaging for another blow, Naruto instead chose to lock his blade down on the girl's weapon.
Shikamaru took the opportunity to sneak his shadow into Tenten's and freeze her in place. He made her put down the weapon she carried and mimed motions to have her take off her sealing scrolls and weapons pouches while Naruto restrained her with wire. They turned to see both of the jounin-sensei staring at them with looks of disbelief on their faces at how quickly the fight had gone.
"Well, that was a surprise," Asuma coughed into his hand as he tried to regain your composure. "I wasn't expecting the three of you to stand up too well against an assault type team, much less defeat one so handily."
"Indeed, the power of my kawaii genins' youth should have fared much better," Gai shouted as he gazed at the members of his team and Team Ten.
"It only worked out because they underestimated us," Shikamaru said as he used a seal to release the shadow holding Tenten still and Neji's leg limp. Naruto twisted his hand and released Tenten from the wire he'd wrapped her in and made a hand seal of his own to dissipate the bindings that held Neji to the ground. "They were expecting us to have no real skill and no real teamwork, like most of the new teams, Asuma-sensei."
"Plus we took advantage of their specialization," Ino added as she got to her feet and went over to check on the still unconscious Lee. "Their specialties were pretty easy to figure out and at this level, that's a big mistake."
"How did you move like that," Neji demanded of Naruto once he was free and able to stand again. "You simply disappeared between steps and reappeared in front of Tenten…"
"Oh, come on," Naruto said exasperated. "You don't really expect me to just give up my techniques just like that, did you?"
"You come from no recognized clan," Neji stated condescendingly, "therefore any techniques you might know are fair game for any shinobi that can learn them. Only clan techniques are protected by the Konoha shinobi charter."
"That may be," Naruto said mockingly, "but it doesn't say that I have to give them up to anyone either. Besides you wouldn't be able to learn how to use them anyway."
"What do you mean by that," Neji demanded, his face flushing slightly. In the background, Tenten had managed to wake up Rock Lee by tossing a bucket of water on him. The genin sputtered for a minute before realizing what had happened.
"I see we were defeated by an example of most youthful teamwork and cleverness," Lee announced, rising to his feet in a sudden motion. He pumped his fist in the air and fires seemed to ignite in his eyes. "We must strive to become a stronger team as well, or I shall do one thousand handstand pushups. If I cannot do that then I will carry a ten ton boulder for fifty laps around Konoha…"
"Lee, shut up," Tenten yelled in exasperation. Naruto began to feel a lot of sympathy for the girl if she had to put up with the green youth freak, his mini clone and the uptight Hyuuga on a daily basis. "They beat us fair and square. They're right when they said we underestimated them, which could have gotten all three of us killed if we were on a mission right now. I think that's why Gai-sensei agreed to this training exercise."
"Indeed you have caught my intention most youthfully, Tenten," Gai said loudly giving the girl a thumbs up and a smile that showed his large gleaming teeth. "Asuma-kun wanted to test his Team's combat skills, but I needed to show you that individual skills are not as important as working together as a team."
"That's right," Asuma interjected. "Shikamaru and Ino are still below where I'd like them to be in terms of chakra and physical strength, but they make up for that with their clan abilities and willingness to work together with Naruto. It's always been a truth in the shinobi world that a team of three genin can take out even the strongest jounin if they work together well."
"So does that mean you'll let us take a C-Rank mission soon," Ino asked eagerly.
"Not until we get and you and Shikamaru up to where you should have been at graduation," Asuma scowled. "You both still need to build your stamina and diversify your skills a little before I'll consider it. Shikamaru used up almost all of his chakra to trap Neji like that. Imagine if the fight had gone on for much longer. Just because Kakashi's team took one doesn't mean that you're ready for it yet."
"So, my eternal rival has taken his rookie team out on a C-Rank already," Gai mused loudly. "Yosh! In that case we must undertake one of our own. Come, Lee, Tenten, Neji. We must go to the mission office and request a new mission!"
The two green-clad shinobi blurred as they ran out of the training ground, followed by Neji who just scowled at Team Ten in passing. Tenten looked after her departing teammates with a sigh and turned back to the other three genin. "Thanks for the spar," she said graciously, turning to address Naruto. "You should come and find me sometime. There aren't many genin who go for the weapon arts anymore and it would be really nice to spar with you again sometime." She smiled at the blonde and left to follow her team to the Hokage Tower.
"Ooh, looks like Naruto has an admirer," Ino teased as he blushed.
"It's not like that," Naruto protested. "She said she just wants to spar…"
"Oh sure," Ino said with a suggestive wink, "she just said that she wants to be alone with you and get all hot and sweaty…" The blonde girl just laughed as Naruto tried to sputter out a response.
"This is troublesome," Shikamaru sighed as he sat down against a tree to try and rest long enough to regain some of his chakra. Asuma just watched his genin with a smile. These three were turning out much better together than he'd ever expected.
"I can't believe that jerk thought I would just hand my techniques to him on a silver platter," Naruto seethed as he sat in the empty clearing while the stars twinkled above him. After the spar, Asuma had the other two work on their physical stamina again, telling Naruto to chase them-without using shunpo-and smack them with a willow switch if they slowed down.
Many powerful clans breed arrogant attitudes, Tenken offered, trying to relieve Naruto's frustration. It doesn't really matter to him that he could never learn how to use your techniques since his bodies conditioning to build chakra would interfere with drawing the reiatsu necessary from his spirit.
"Yeah, well, I just don't like jerks like that," Naruto scowled. "That Lee kid was okay, although there was something weird about him that I can't pinpoint. He's different from just about every other ninja I've ever met."
That's because he probably can't use chakra, Tenken answered.
"Is that possible for a shinobi," Naruto asked in surprise. "He wouldn't be able to pass the ninjutsu portion of the exams if he can't use chakra."
It is a slim possibility that they may have let him pass as a taijutsu specialist, Tenken offered. But he had no chakra moving through his body, so I would guess it a congenital defect rather than an injury. He has plenty of stamina and a decent spiritual strength as well. I would hazard that he might benefit from some of the shinigami fighting techniques if he could be taught to harness his spiritual energy with bonding to a zanpaktou.
"But neither of us knows how to do that," Naruto pointed out. "All you told me was how you let me access my reiatsu. If I didn't have you, then I'd be using chakra like the rest of them."
True, Tenken sighed. It would be interesting to see what he would be capable of, but you're correct. Without some means of awakening his spiritual potential, there's nothing that could come out of the training. It almost makes me wish that this world had Hollows after all.
"You've mentioned those before," Naruto asked. "What are Hollows and why were you so surprised that there aren't any here."
Hollows are souls of the dead who have been consumed by an earthly desire of some sort, Tenken explained. Many spirits linger on after their death for one reason or another and one of a shinigami's duties was to perform konso, or a soul burial on any pluses or positive spirits we found. Spirits who linger too long or become obsessed with something will slowly have the fragment of their chain of fate dissolve. This chain connected the spirit and body in life and comes from a hole in the chest. If the chain dissolves completely, then a plus will become a Hollow; feeding on the spirits in the world around them and trying to grow stronger.
Hollows have their own plane of existence called Hueco Mundo, where they prey upon each other to grow stronger and evolve, Tenken continued. All Hollows will go there after a certain point, some returning to the human world for more ample hunting. The destruction of Hollows and the protection of Soul Society is the main duty of a shinigami, with Soul Society being the place where all pluses go to await their rebirth.
"What does this have to do with this world," Naruto asked in confusion. "You'd said before that your Soul Society was a far distant place from here…"
I was getting to that, Tenken said irritably. Between Soul Society, the Human world and Hueco Mundo is…a different space. It is completely chaotic and random, but sometimes new areas are formed and become stable. This is such a world. The beings that live here are not connected to other realms they way the inhabitants main three are. It was difficult for Komamura and his comrades to travel here and some were killed in the passage. What happens to the spirits here, I cannot say. You would have been able to see any pluses were they here and without pluses, Hollows cannot be created. I have wondered if the existence of the bijuu has something to do with it, but I cannot give you anything more than mere speculation.
"Well, it does no good to dwell on things that we can't answer," Naruto said with a shrug. "So you said that there were other shinigami who came with fuzzball and became bijuu. I wonder what happened to their zanpaktous…"
I am not sure, Tenken said slowly. I would assume that the bond between zanpaktou and wielder had to be broken like with Komamura in order to become a bijuu…but more than that is hard to say. Some may have been completely destroyed and some may have been sealed away like I was. If they were sealed, it would be incredibly difficult to find them. But why do you ask? It is unlikely that you will ever have to fight a bijuu as they appear only rarely.
"Well, I just thought if I could find them and find wielders for them, then I wouldn't be so alone," Naruto said softly. "I know I'm never really alone as long as I have you, but I'd like some friends that were like me. Shinobi friends are good and all, but there's still a big gap where they can't understand me or what I can do."
The desire for companionship is understandable, Tenken said, but unlikely to ever happen. You should concentrate on befriending those around you. That girl Tenten would be a good start, since you need a training partner who understands how to use weapons. And someone who cannot read your intentions through the soul link as I do.
"I don't know," Naruto said softly. "She seemed nice and all, but I've been fooled before, you know. I tried making friends at the Academy, but the other kids parents always kept them away from me. Shikamaru, Chouji and Kiba were the only one that I ever managed to hang out with and even then it's not like we're best friends or anything."
Don't let yourself get discouraged, Tenken urged. This girl has taken the first step and I think it would be foolish of you to ignore it just because your are afraid of the possible result. Yes, it may turn out badly, but it also may turn out well. Without risk, life becomes dull and stagnant. I'm not telling you to sweep her off her feet and marry her, but at least accept the hand of friendship she's proffered.
Naruto didn't reply, but Tenken could sense the direction of his wielder's thoughts and retreated.
Tenten sighed as she polished another set of kunai before packing them away and replacing them on the shelf. It was a mindless chore to her now, since she'd spent almost her entire life inside the weapons shop that her parents ran. Her parents had taken advantage of the chaos in the aftermath of the Kyuubi's attack twelve years ago to move into Konoha and set up a forge and weapon shop while real estate was still fairly cheap. She'd been determined to become a shinobi from a young age and grew up learning how to use and care for all the varied weapons that the shop produced.
Unfortunately, being a ninja was not all that she had hoped for. She'd been disgusted by most of the girls in the class, since most of them were completely obsessed with their looks or the boys around them. They completely ignored most of what the Academy was trying to teach them, failing to realize that these skills would be what could meant he difference between life and death on a mission. The kunoichi had to admit that she'd found herself slightly infatuated with Neji before they'd graduated and become teammates, but that crush had died a hard death against the walls of his indifference. This had allowed her to look at the rookies with an experienced eye when she saw the girls fluttering after Uchiha Sasuke.
Why is it always the dark, brooding ones that pull us in, Tenten wondered absently as she counted the kunai sets on the shelf. Well, at least Neji was a skilled fighter, even if he was a social eunuch. Lee wasn't much better, since he felt he had to push himself past his limits time and again in order to prove that he'd really earned the right to become a ninja.
The door chime rang, breaking the brunette from her introspection and she turned to see the blonde genin that she'd fought the day before standing in the doorway. He had an awkward smile and was scratching the back of his head nervously as he looked at her. "Can I help you with something," she asked politely.
"Ano, I was kind of wondering if that offer to train some with you was still open," the blonde, Naruto if she remembered correctly, replied sheepishly. "A friend recently pointed out that I needed to learn how to fight someone other than him and that you'd be a good choice since you're aiming to be a weapons specialist."
"Well," Tenten said hesitantly, a little surprised that the blonde had actually managed to find her home. "I guess so. Lee and Neji are primarily hand to hand fighters and Gai-sensei is good with the nunchucks, but none of them is exactly good for sparring with me."
"I can see that," Naruto replied. "I have the same problem since Ino and Shikamaru are primarily users of their family's hijutsu. Oh, they have some taijutsu and weapons skills, but they really don't stack up against what I've been learning when training with my zanpaktou."
"That's an odd name for a type of sword," Tenten said, her brow furrowed in thought as she moved closer to Naruto to examine his blade. The blonde sensed her intention and drew the blade for her to examine. "It looks like an ordinary katana to me."
"It has some special qualities," Naruto replied with a secretive smile. "So, what do you say? I usually finish training with my team around five. We could meet for dinner and train afterwards?"
Tenten blinked in surprise at the wording of his offer and wondered if her realized that he sounded like he was asking her out on a date. A quick glance at his face proved the lack of an ulterior motive, so she smiled and said, "Sure, that'd be great."