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Genma the Elite Jounin

The Genin exam turned out to be laughably easy. So easy, in fact, that Naruto didn't need to switch places with his Kage Bunshin. It was wrong, he knew, but Iruka and Mizuki were none the wiser, or so he thought. If it weren't for the thick padding in the back of his jacket, his clone would've been dispelled as it left the examination room, and he'd have been in a world of trouble.

As it was, he continued his physical training atop the Hokage monument. No one ever ventured to the apex of the monstrous structure, besides the Sandaime, so he had near complete privacy. Not that he knew, but ANBU where always watching.

He'd begun seriously training his body a scant two years ago, when in Taijutsu practice, both Sasuke and Kiba had kicked his ass. To make matters worst, he then lost to Hyuuga Hinata, who at the time, had been as hard as a fresh cooked soufflé. He'd always sent Kage Bunshin to class in his stead, but he'd never done anything with his free time, aside from the various odd errand for people who didn't hate his guts. Those were few and far in between, so suffice to say, he wasted a lot of time.

That stopped though, after his humbling defeats, so every day "he" went to the academy, he also went to the top of the Hokage monument and trained his body. He did pushups and sit-ups and one-legged squats until he couldn't move, and then pushed himself to do more. His growth was a bit stunted, but his physical prowess more than made up for that set-back. After two years of physically pushing his body to the limit, he was second in his class in Taijutsu. He could've been first, but where Sasuke had his family's style to use, he had nothing.

"Hey Naruto!" his voice called out. He paused in his grueling training only to turn around and see himself climbing onto the level ground of the monument.

"What?" he asked himself, annoyed. He had such bad timing.

The clone didn't reply, instead throwing a black-clothed hitai-ite at Naruto and dispelling itself. Naruto caught the headband, tying it around his head. Great, it keeps my bangs out of my face… THAT was the exam! Pitiful! It's one thing to see it from another Bunshin's view point, but to actually do it… Jiji needs to up the graduation requirements.

Tomorrow was the day for team assignments, and since Naruto's concentration was shot by the interruption of his Bunshin, he decided to call it a day. Very carefully and skillfully, he jumped off the side of the Hokage Monument.

"Ya-hoo!" he yelled, falling rapidly through the air.

The onlookers below heard his yell, and when they realized what and who it was falling to the ground, their screams of fright turned into cheers. Some of them.

As he neared the ground, Naruto made a hand seal, and just like that, ten Bunshin's popped into life on either side of him. He pulled the one to his immediate right closer to him, climbing upon its back. The maneuver was copied by the remaining Bunshin, leaving one Bunshin alone. It waved sadly at its compatriots, resigned to its fate.

With skill borne from attempting this feat one too many times, Naruto pushed off of the Bunshin's back when they were about fifty feet from the ground, each of his clones doing the same. Ten clones slammed into the ground with a solid "poof", the remaining clones and Naruto performing the maneuver once more. It was repeated twice before Naruto was alone and only ten feet above the ground, a safe height to fall from. He landed with a flourish, creating a crater a few feet deep from his impact. The cheering onlookers booed.

"Thank you, thank you! I'll be here all morning!" He yelled, flicking off the villagers at the same time. He stopped when he heard clapping.

"That was pretty badass Naruto," Ami stated, still clapping as she walked towards him.

"Ami? The fuck are you doing?" He asked rudely. He'd never really liked her, but that was only because she was just as unpleasant as he was.

"Aw shut it, shit face. I've got a message for you."

Naruto waited for her to give her message. "Well?" he asked impatiently.

"You're an asshole, ya' know?"

"Yes, I know. Message!"

Ami laughed. She enjoyed annoying Naruto just as much as he enjoyed annoying everyone.

"We're supposed to go to the Hokage's office in exactly ten minutes."

"Why?"

"Team assignments."

"But those aren't till tomorrow…"

"For the others… for us they're now."

"Us? We're on the same team?!"

"Yep, it's you and me buddy, and whatever other sucker they got to join us." She saw the dejected look on his face. "What, hoped you'd be on your precious Sakura-chan's team?"

"No, she's pretty looking, but she's also pretty useless as a ninja." he answered truthfully.

"That sounds like blasphemy to me, Naruto."

"Take it how you want it. Why are we getting our assignments now?"

"According to my Aunt it's because the teams are rigged, or something, and the Hokage is exercising his rights to do whatever the fuck he wants to."

"Oh." Naruto said thoughtfully. "Who's you Aunt?" he asked after a moment. Maybe she was related to Kaira? Or Kosame?

"A crazy lady named Anko… pray that you never meet her."

"Why?"

"Because she's fucking crazy!"

"Oh… why do you curse so much?"

"Poor parental supervision. Why do you curse so much?"

"No parental supervision."

"… makes sense."

They started to walk together towards the Hokage Tower.

"That really sucks." Naruto said without prompting.

"What?" Ami asked, thoroughly confused.

"Falling to the ground from that height." he replied, indicating the Hokage Monument.

"You just fell from that height, fuck are you talking about!"

"I didn't fall, I fell in style. Besides, I'm talking about my clones."

"Yeah, I noticed that. They were solid... what gives?"

"It's my special super ultimate technique. Solid clones with memories."

"So you remember slamming into the ground?"

"Yep."

"... That does suck."

The walked silently for a few more moments.

"Damnit! I forgot!"

"What is it this time?"

"Mizuki-sensei owes me some new equipment." One hand sign later, and a Kage Bunshin was racing back to the academy.

"Need I ask?"

"If you want."

"... well?"

"You didn't ask."

"What the fuck was that about?" She was starting to get angry.

"I asked!"

"I didn't say I would answer." he replied cheekily.

She slapped him over the head. Hard. He punched her in the face.

"You son of a bitch! You just hit me!" Ami exclaimed.

"I know."

She made to punch him back, but he was already racing toward the tower.

"Ah, Naruto, you've arrived." The Sandaime checked the clock sitting on the corner of his desk. "And two minutes late… that's very unbecoming of an aspiring Shinobi." he added darkly.

Naruto gulped, trying to take a step back, only to be pushed forward by a pissed off Ami.

Not even sparing her a glance, Naruto surveyed the room. Everything was the same, even the hidden ANBU by the door and the window, but there was no third genin in sight… just a man in a flak jacket standing at the Hokage's desk. He was fairly tall, almost six feet, and he had a bandana tied around his head. And was that a blade of grass in his mouth?

The man, noticing Naruto's scrutiny, introduced himself. "My name is Genma. Shiranui Genma."

Naruto nodded. "Uzumaki Naruto." He must be our jounin-sensei… No one ever said Naruto wasn't perceptive.

"Mitarashi Ami." He's a jounin… Obasan told me about him.

"Hmmm," Genma frowned thoughtfully. "Anko's niece?"

"Unfortunately." she muttered darkly.

Even the Hokage chuckled at that, before waving the two Genin over to sit.

"Listen up you two, and listen closely. Every year, out of all those who graduate from the academy… how many was it this year?"

Naruto frowned at the old man. He doesn't even know the facts…

Genma replied after a moment's pause. "According to Iruka, there were 30 graduates."

"So there were ten teams this year? It's usually nine… so why are there only two genin in this room?"

"Umm…"Genma said unintelligently. He had no clue. The ANBU by the window spoke up, spooking Ami, who didn't know he was there.

"One of the prospective Genin had a death in the family. He has forgone further ninja training to join in his family's business, to support his mother and sibling. It was for the better. His ninja skills were severely lacking, and pedigree was not on his side."

The Hokage just shook his head sadly. "That's a shame… but anyway, as I was saying, out of all those who graduate, only nine of them will become ninja… that's three teams. The true Genin test, given by the various Jounin sensei's, has a thirty three percent passing rate." He paused to let that information soak in… and to his delight, Naruto gave no outward reaction, and it appeared that Ami was following his lead. Where Naruto was at home in the Hokage's presence, Ami was a little unsettled. It was to be expected… he was a legendary ninja.

"You two are here today because the three teams that pass are picked before hand… clan politics, a bore, I must say." He added haughtily.

Naruto grinned. "Still the same Urutora jiji." he said, before rolling out of his seat. Less than a second later, a paperclip was flying through the space his head had previously occupied.

"I'm surprised you remembered… you little brat." The Hokage grumbled.

Naruto climbed back in his seat, chuckling. "How could I forget? You jump started my ninja career because of that."

Ami looked on, thoroughly confused, and seconds away slapping Naruto and the Hokage to stop with all the games… well, maybe not the Hokage, but definitely Naruto!

"Before I was so rudely interrupted, again," the Hokage said, pointedly glancing at Naruto, "the three teams chosen by the council didn't include either of you, and I personally would like to see what kind of Shinobi you can become." He noticed that Ami looked like she was dying to ask a question, so he acquiesced.

"Hokage-sama sir… why do you have a personal interest in me? I wasn't particularly talented in the Academy… and I only finished third in my year."

"You are aware of the trials your aunt went through?" he asked seriously.

"Hai." she said, after a moment's hesitation.

"Think of it as an… experiment. I would like to see what a Mitarashi can do without a homicidal maniac as a sensei. I'm a professor, you see."

Now it was Naruto who looked like he was dying to speak, but the Hokage knew enough to know that whatever came out of his mouth would be some sort of insult, so without prompting, he thumped another paperclip at him… and the brat dodged it! I'm getting too old for this…

"Excuse me, Hokage-sama… so you're saying that Naruto and I will be a two-man team, with Shiranui-san as our Jounin-sensei?" Ami asked. The Hokage's antics with Naruto had emboldened her confidence, so she didn't feel so out of place in the presence of the legendary ninja.

"Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying." he replied. "You're a smart girl, Ami-chan… don't sell yourself short."

"Hai." she said, blushing.

"How did you know Genma would be your jounin-sensei?" the Hokage asked.

"It was just a guess, really."

"A good guess."

"Thank you sir." she said, blushing again.

"Ha! Crushing on an old man!" Naruto laughed. Ami turned towards him, face flaming read, and socked him a good one in the jaw. Naruto, clutching his jaw, and not one to be outdone, feinted towards Ami. She raised a hand to block, and the Kage Bunshin behind her gave her a solid foot in the back, which had the detrimental affect of sending her careening into Naruto.

"Oof!" they both exclaimed, falling to the ground in a tangle of prepubescent limbs.

"Naruto," Ami grumbled as she climbed off of him, "I'm so going to kick your ass."

"Hn." he grunted.

Ami shocked, stared at him eyes wide, before dissolving into a fit of laughter. "You… sounded… just… like…him!"

"Who are they talking about?" The Hokage whispered to Genma.

"I have no clue." the Jounin replied.

"I've been practicing. You know, to woo Sakura-chan." Naruto said to Ami, wiggling his eyebrows.

"You're alright, Naruto… but I'm still going to kick your ass."

"Sure you are."

"Ahem!"

Naruto and Ami sobered up quickly, snapping to attention. When the Hokage cleared his throat there was no time for fun and games.

"I see you two get along just fine… Genma?"

"Yeah, that's pretty solid team-dynamic… as solid as it can be at this point, anyway." He tilted his head in thought. "With just two of them, they'll grow closer a lot faster than most genin teams… but when we start going on dangerous missions, we'll be at a disadvantage."

"And?" the Hokage implored.

"Naruto," he started, looking at the afore mentioned genin, "as far as I know, is fairly advanced for a genin… Ami, on the other hand, is a typical beginner ninja, based on these reports." He finished, indicating the file sitting on the Hokage's desk.

"Typical for this year's group, you mean?"

"Well, yeah… any other year and she'd have been the top Kunoichi in her class."

"So what exactly are you saying, Genma?"

"I'm saying… I'm saying I'm her jounin-sensei, and I can pretty much mold her into the type of Kunoichi I want her to be… the responsibility is quite daunting, Hokage-sama."

Naruto and Ami had since returned to their seats, and were listening intently.

"We'll have to start advanced training sooner than the other squads, to pick up the slack of being one man down." Genma continued. "It's unorthodox."

Sarutobi frowned. "You chew on blades of grass for no reason… that's unorthodox."

Genma smiled. "I suppose you're right. Would senbon be better?"

"That's even stupider. You could cut yourself." The Hokage admonished as if he were speaking to a child.

Genma just rolled his eyes before turning towards his genin-team. "Meet me at Training Ground 13." He made to sunshin away.

"Wait!" Ami called before he could make his get away. "Where is it?" she asked.

"Find it. That's your Genin test."

Genma sunshined away, leaving the Genin relatively alone with the Hokage.

"Listen up!" The Hokage barked. "Everything I'm doing with you two goes against protocol… I'm breaking a lot of rules. However, since I also write those rules… it really doesn't matter. Just remember that I, the Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure, The Legendary Professor, a genius ninja unlike any other genius ninja before him and after him, have a personal interest in the both of you." He finished seriously. "Do not disappoint me."

"Hai!" The two genin shouted simultaneously. Even Naruto felt honored.

"Now… get out of my sight, you brats." He opened a drawer and pulled out his pipe. "It's break time."

"So… how are we supposed to find the training ground?" Ami asked Naruto as they exited the Hokage Tower.

"I could use my Kage Bunshin to search, but with no solid idea where the grounds are… it could take an hour, maybe, and I'm pretty sure we don't have an hour." He glanced at Ami out the corner of his eye. "You could just ask someone."

Ami raised her brow, surprised at the simple solution. "You're right, I could…" she trailed off, looking up and down the street for any Shinobi. There were several civilians milling about, all content in their own little worlds. They were mildly distracting, and some wore colors that greatly resembled the drab olive green of a flak jacket, making her scan that much more difficult. After two minutes of looking, she spotted a shinobi exiting a small grocery. "Come on, Naruto!" she exclaimed, dashing off.

Naruto followed at a much more sedate pace, his thoughts focused on their test… what was the point? What would they learn or gain from finding the training grounds on their own? He tried to put himself in his jounin-sensei's shoes… but he didn't know enough about the man to discern the true purpose of their test, yet. He knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that simply finding the grounds wasn't the true purpose.

When he finally joined Ami, she was turned towards him, frown on her face, the unknown Shinobi already continuing along with his business. "Why are you frowning?" he asked her.

"Huh?" she said blankly, as if just noticing him. "I-I just smelled something funny, is all."

He knew she was lying, if not from the stutter, then from the fact that he could smell as good as a dog… and he didn't smell anything funny. "You're lying." He said, only stating fact.

He noticed that she was staring at him quite intently, and after a few moments, it was starting to annoy him. "What?!"

"You aren't going to demand the truth? That's what most people do when they've been lied to."

"I'm not most people." He replied seriously.

"So I'm starting to notice…" she said softly. Naruto was sure it wasn't meant for his ears, so he didn't let on that he heard her.

"What did he say?" Naruto asked after a moment.

"… he didn't know-" she started,

"So why are we still standing here? Go ask someone else!" He exclaimed, cutting her off.

"Why don't you ask somebody?"

Naruto looked at her then, really looked at her, because he knew she wasn't annoyed at being asked to do all the work. "S'not a good idea." He said simply.

"… why?"

"You've noticed, or else we wouldn't be having this conversation… you really are pretty smart."

"The correct term is perceptive…and you're just as perceptive as I am…" she trailed off, frowning at him, "anyway, as I was saying, he didn't know the exact location, but he had an idea. Is that good enough for you?"

"Yep. Just point me in the right direction."

"On the northern side of the village, between Training Grounds 12 and 14, which are both mid-sized training grounds. Training Ground 13 is a small, enclosed area, and is apparently Genma-sensei's personal training area."

Naruto made a hand seal, and twenty Kage Bunshin's took to the roofs, sprinting towards the other side of the village.

Ami and the true Naruto followed in the clones wake, each thinking about the true purpose of the test. Ami was sure she had figured it out… but Naruto wasn't so sure.

"Finally… it took you nine minutes to get here… that's eight minutes too long." Genma said when his genin hopefuls arrived at the clearing. They had made a rather dramatic entrance, falling to the ground from the tree tops in sync.

Ami opened her mouth to speak, but Genma cut her off with a shake of his head. "I'm just playing my role," he said, sitting Indian style, instructing his genin to do the same. "This wasn't a race, per say, but we do need to get you two faster, and increase your geographical knowledge."

He let them sit in silence for a second before asking his next question. "True purpose of this test… Naruto?"

Naruto didn't speak at first, instead opting to stare at his shoes. "You… you wanted to show me that I can't always rely on myself. You didn't really have time to think of a deep and meaningful test to go with the message, so you used the most basic, crude method to get your point across. You asked us to go into a civilian infested environment so I would have to rely on Ami for information." He looked up when he finished talking.

Genma wasn't impressed, already knowing his Genin's intelectual capability from the Hokage's reports. "Correct… Ami, same question."

"You wanted me to see the animosity most of the civilians hold for Naruto… not just that though… I had to see the animosity, but not hound him for clearly personal information. We're a team, but that doesn't require us to bare our innermost secrets."

"Correct." Genma said shortly. "You two pass." Neither genin reacted to the information.

Genma focused his attention on Ami. "Naruto learned the Kage Bunshin several years ago from a current ANBU captain… he never asked or inquired to learn anything else, and actually never even asked to learn Kage Bunshin. He's had to rely on only himself for nearly his entire life, and if he continues in that vein, he won't survive on this team." He then turned to Naruto. "I'm making you team captain, and you need to understand the value of team before we even think of taking a mission."

"Wait… why me instead of Ami?" Naruto asked, glancing at the aforementioned girl. Sure, he was a most likely a much better fighter, but he felt like she'd be the better decision maker.

"Because of the thoughts running through your head right now," Genma answered with a smile. "That, and, I feel like you'd be better equipped to deal with any threats should I go down."

Ami, silent throughout the short conversation, piped up. "What could Naruto do against something or someone that could defeat you? You're a jounin... and an elite one at that." She wasn't downing Naruto's skills… but the rank spoke for itself.

"You'll notice over the next… month, maybe, that Naruto has very unique skills and abilities." Genma answered. "Who told you about my Elite Jounin status? Anko?"

"Yeah, and Naruto told me too." She answered, nodding at the aforementioned boy. Genma turned his inquisitive stare onto him.

"Kaira told me about all the Jounin who were worth there salt." Naruto supplied.

"Ohhhh, Kaira... if it weren't for her and Kosame, I'd have probably still been a Tokubetsu Jounin..."

"So!" Genma said suddenly, "describe yourselves. Where you think your skills lay, favorite foods, ummm… and whatever else you want to talk about."

"You haven't been a jounin-sensei before, have you?" Ami asked.

"Nope." Genma replied happily.

"I'll start off," Ami began, rolling her eyes. "I'm good with weapons… anything sharp, really, and according to my aunt, I have some talent for ninjutsu, because I have moderately large chakra reserves for a young Kunoichi and very good control. She hasn't actually taught me any ninjutsu, so I'm not sure how she can proclaim I have talent in it if I don't know any techniques. My favorite food is sushi, followed closely by Dango. I hope to one day be a-"

"Stop, stop." Genma cut her off. "Never mind about all that, it'll take too long, I don't particularly care, and I have to be back home in fifteen minutes." He ignored Ami's growl. "My favorite show comes on then, and I can't miss it." Ami's growling only grew louder.

He stood up. "Instead, we're going to fight for the next… ten minutes or so, and you'll show me what you know. That way, I'll be able to better think up a training regimen for you both to follow."

Naruto and Ami stood as well. "But, wouldn't it be quicker if we just told you what we were good at?" Naruto asked, confused.

"Well, yeah, but I've still got to assess your skills myself, so… if you don't want to die, come at me with the intent to kill. I won't be holding back… much."

Naruto and Ami tensed, each pulling out their preferred weapon. For Ami, it was a handful of Kunai tucked between each finger of both hands. For Naruto, it was his previously made battalion of Kage Bunshin. Nineteen, because one had been dispelled by Genma when it happened upon the clearing.

"Ready… start!"

The two genin sprung into action, Ami going right and Naruto going left. Ami whipped her wrist, sending four kunai flying at Genma with deadly precision. The jounin weaved in between the projectiles, letting Ami see how outclassed she was. Naruto took advantage of the situation, attacking his sensei as the last of the kunai whizzed by. He crouched low before launching himself at the jounin, leg outstretched in a flying side kick. He flew with considerable velocity, but Genma was ready, spinning away at the last moment.

He latched onto Naruto's ankle, and using the Genin's momentum against him, slammed the boy into the ground. There was a poof of smoke, and five more Kunai flew at Genma through the obstruction. He ducked under them, rolling forward towards Ami, letting his own kunai fly. The girl couldn't move in time, but luckily a clone dropped down in front of her, taking the hit.

"Hmph."

He dashed at the girl before she had time to move away, sending a powerful blow to her temple. A clone attached itself to his arm before he could connect, however, and the extra weight slowed him enough for Ami to slip under the fist. Her hand snapped towards his belly, a kunai gripped tightly between her fingers. He brought his knee up hastily, powering through the stab-move and kneeing the girl in the face.

Ami crumpled to the ground in obvious pain, blood running down her chin, and as Genma moved in for the finishing blow, the real Naruto tackled him to the ground from behind.

He moves so quietly…

Genma twisted so that Naruto was on the bottom instead of himself, kneeing the blond in the ribs as the landed. This blond also turned out to be a clone, and when Genma looked back, Ami was gone.

He searched the clearing, but couldn't sense his genin anywhere… he knew that Naruto was a genius at stealth, but Ami's ability surprised him.

He switched himself with a clone before we landed… he's very quick on his feet, and apparently has a lot of chakra to use. The girl is a good actor… I really thought she was out, and her accuracy with those Kunai is deadly. She is also good at following nonverbal instruction, because she couldn't possibly hide from me on her o-

Before he could complete his thought, the jounin was assaulted again. Shuriken flew at him from every direction, forcing him to use Kawarimi to escape. Replacing himself with a log some ten yards away, he used the technique again to avoid three well placed kunai.

They attack rapidly without showing themselves, attempting to force me to panic. And because Naruto still has some of those clones about... I don't know who is attacking.

He bent backwards at an almost ninety degree angle, displaying dancer-type flexibility, dodging a flying kick from Naruto.

Naruto is mostly close-range, whereas Ami prefers distance, though she isn't out of element in close range either He hadn't forgotten that move to gut him.

He followed through the maneuver, flipping backward. Pushing off with his hands, he evaded three more kunai from Ami. As he landed, he threw a hand behind him, deflecting Naruto's fist, and then ducked under a leg flying towards his face. The genin followed through with the attack, doing a full three sixty, bringing his other leg around in a backwards spin kick. Genma used his forearms to block, easily absorbing the force from the kick.

I feel almost giddy… they have such potential. Naruto's Taijutsu is superb, and he doesn't even know a true style. A chuunin would have had to dodge that kick.

He and Naruto traded blows for a few seconds, before he acted upon one of several openings in Naruto's defense. He spent towards the genin, kneeing him in the gut, hard. He felt immense satisfaction when the blonde crumpled to the ground instead of poofing away.

He tensed for a second, then whipped his hand out, sending a kunai at the oncoming Ami. She imitated his graceful move from earlier, bending backwards with more natural ease than he did. She further mimicked him, following through the move to avoid another kunai, pushing off with her hands, spinning twice in the air before landing in a split. The motion was almost unnaturally smooth. Her two kunai were deflected by two thrown from Genma, but before she could attack again, she was struck in the side of the hide by a hard boot.

"I knew there was a reason I decided to wear these today." Genma laughed, looking down at his boots. He glanced at the unconscious Ami, then looked over at the spot Naruto had previously occupied. "It's over Naruto." he called out. "I know enough."

Naruto dropped down from a tree on the edge of the forest, scowling. "We didn't stand a chance, did we?" He asked as he walked towards Genma.

"Nope."

"None at all?"

"None at all. You were about as good as I expected, but her," he said, jerking a thumb at Ami," did you see that flip and the split?"

"Yeah," Naruto replied, looking up at his jounin-sensei. The man had his respect now.

"I didn't think she was that limber. What were you planning to do after you slipped away?"

"I was going to attack you again, to keep your attention off Ami… but you moved too fast for me to stop you… how did you do that?

"… it's called speed. It's a very useful technique."

Naruto scowled.

"Anyway, meet me back here tomorrow morning at dawn. Be well rested. The next month is going to be gruesome." Genma was about to sunshin away.

"Wait!"

They keep interrupting me! "What?"

"What's going to happen over the next month?" Naruto inquired.

"Advanced genin training." Genma replied quickly, sunshin-ing away before Naruto could ask another question.

"I guess I'll find out more tomorrow." Naruto said to himself, glancing down at Ami.

How to wake her up… he wondered. He stepped over her and lightly slapped her a few times, but the girl barely stirred. He leaned down over her ear.

"BITCH! WAKE UP!"

Again nothing, so he slapped her once more, this time with more force. Ami shot up, her immediate response a fist directed towards Naruto's privates. He danced away, but caught a glancing blow to the balls, and that was more than enough to deter him for a few moments.

"What hit me? A truck?" she mumbled to herself, gingerly touching the forming bruise on the side of her head.

When they had both collected themselves; Ami shaking the cobwebs from her head, and Naruto's pain fading to nothing, the boy relayed Genma's message.

"At dawn? Fuck that's early!" Ami said after hearing their orders.

"Yep." Naruto agreed.

"So what do you think… about us, I mean." she asked, shaking herself loose.

"We'll be fine… he said he was impressed with your flexibility." he added after a moment.

"Were you?"

"Impressed? Yeah… I've never scene anything like that before. How'd you get so flexible?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "It's natural, I guess."

"Oh." Naruto said thoughtfully, nodding his head. "It looked unnatural to me."

She just shrugged. Maybe it had something to do with her family? Anko was just as flexible. "So now what?"

"Now we go about our business."

"Don't you think we should review the fight?"

"… that's a good idea, I guess."

"It is a good idea, and we'll improve more if we go over our mistakes."

"…" he through his hands up impatiently, waiting for her to begin.

"You want me to go first?"

"It was your idea."

Ami rolled her eyes before beginning. "Well…"

Thank you all who reviewed the other chapters.