A Trickster's Alternative – Chapter two: Never Underestimate a Fox
Summary: Naruto and Sheikka, have a plan. Kakashi doesn't know what he is getting himself into when he shows up to give his latest team his infamous bell test
Author: Adameia Kirantro
Rated k+: no cussing, or innuendos or pairings, has minor violence
Disclaimer: I did not create, and do not own the characters from Naruto, They are owned by Masashi Kishimoto, and I may borrow them for your possible and hopeful enjoyment. But I DO own Sheikka, she is mine so do not steal (note: I also own any other OC's I may post, and trust me, I'll hunt you down WHEN I find out you stole one of my ideas so don't even try it, I am vicious, and have many sharp objects at my disposal).
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Author's Note: Hello fans, or newcomers. This is my branch story from Apprentice of the Trickster, a new perspective to my original story but it lacks the leading chapters, I recommend you read at least the first five chapters of my other story, because the sixth is what the first chapter of this one branches off on. I write them differently, so if you read both… lucky you, you will probably get more clues about my hidden facts and stories than someone who only reads one. I will write a similar note in my other story… on the eighth chapter… I think that's the next one I am writing… well anyway, the story is unfolding and I may eventually reach that inevitable time where it draws to a close. Though I have no prediction of how long it will take me to cross the galaxy worth of info I have got to share about this world. So sit back and …. Enjoy the …show?
Chapter two: Never Underestimate a Fox
I sat, on the bough of a tree, looking on at the repelling sight before me. A few trees down sat the ever brooding Uchiha and his frighteningly oblivious banshee of a fan girl who I am surprised managed to pass the ninja exam at all, let alone fool people into thinking that the sounds she makes can be those of a human. I can feel Sheikka wincing slightly every time that the Haruno girl opens her mouth the shriek in what she would call 'conversation' with the ever ignoring object of her worship. I try not to shudder when she screeches in a particular way probably letting the village know that the chronically tardy Jounin finally made it to his team and exactly what girl he was unfortunately stuck with.
I almost laughed at how totally stupid this girl is, I already knew that she was an overly obsessive fan girl but now I know there is no point in trying to get her to see reason, and same goes for the Uchiha. – So long for teamwork. - I thought to Sheikka who was looking utterly bored as we sat invisible shadows. –time for our other plan? – I asked over the link. I got all the answer I needed from her grinning viscously and hiding herself while remaining on my shoulders, something I still have no idea how she did. I calmly stepped out into the open, right in front of Kakashi… who was unsurprisingly reading that book while leaning on a training post, obviously trying to irritate someone into foolishly attacking him. He had no idea what was in store for him.
I walked calmly to the middle of the clearing and stopped, completely aware that Kakashi was keeping an eye on my movements imperceptibly with his only visible eye. I smirked, and just stood there, as clam and as relaxed as the breeze that lazily flowed between us, and just kept my eyes locked on him.
Time went by like this, and I could tell he had no idea what I was planning; I smirked briefly at the thought. I was so consumed in my silent psyching out of Kakashi I almost didn't notice Sheikka Disappear from my shoulder, not that anyone else would notice. Time for the plan to start. I walked slowly toward Kakashi, and after a few steps paused and stretched, yawning, my arms coming down and one remained partially raised as I scratched the back of my head lazily, secretly keeping track of Kakashi's reactions, I knew my approach put him on alert, though his pose probably deceived the two poorly hidden Gennin, that were my supposed Teammates.
A few small silver flashes caught my attentive eye, I knew her part of the plan was a success, so I grinned slyly and fluidly dropped down into the opening stance of the KitsuneBuyou, the main 'Taijutsu' style that Sheikka-Sensei taught me. I wasn't good enough in the other ones yet to really use them efficiently… yet.
Kakashi immediately tensed at this, making my grin spread wider, and also making it more feral as my sharper than normal canines got presented by the motion. And that was the moment I attacked.
I wasn't yet using my full spread, so obviously Kakashi was easily dodging most of my attacks, though not as gracefully as he might because he had never encountered my style before, since it is unique to the changelings and they haven't graced the Shinobi world with their true presence since the time of the Rikkudo Sennin, and all records of them were lost after that. I knew I had him fully underestimating me so, after a barely recognized pause in movement; I released my gravity/resistance seals and went at him at full speed. Catching him completely off guard, I grinned, this was a lot more fun than I had thought it would be.
It didn't take long for Kakashi to completely come out of his shock, and I could tell he would be taking this fight seriously. I grinned at the thought, and as I jumped over one of his kicks I made it a rapid spin flipping a little bit away from Kakashi, landing perfectly back into my starting pose. A silent queue to my hidden partner.
Sheikka, in all her medium, foxy glory, appeared behind Kakashi and latched her teeth onto his arm, in a grip that could rival the Shinigami's. Kakashi flinched, and then turned his attention to the silver colored fox on his arm, and at that moment she let go and disappeared in a small flicker of flame and reappeared sitting calmly on my shoulder, looking distinctly smug. As that happened I felt a little extra weight appear in one of my pouches and knew that she had retrieved the items we had planned on, there was no way we weren't coming with a back up plan to this, we did do our research on him after all. And having the journals of Kakashi's own sensei probably helped too. But that's beside the point. I slightly loosened my stance and stood straight, a silent signal that I was done, and smugly smirked at Kakashi's weary face, he seemed unsure what I might be up to.
"So, do I pass?" I said calmly, my expression devoid of any emotion. He looked at me, obviously confused.
"Why do you think you deserver to pass?" I gave him a significant look as he asked me this, he reached to the spot he had the bells, only to be stunned, I knew both of them were gone. "So, you may have the bells, but what is stopping me from just retrieving them again?"
"This" I stated, holding my hand, in front of me, palm up, fire chakra licking around my hand lazily, not affecting me in the slightest, he raised a lazy eyebrow at me, not impressed. I smirked, and my other hand reached into my pouch, pulling out a familiar orange object and held it loosely just out of reach of the flames, my smirk growing by the second as his single visible eye widened by the second as he realized that I indeed held his precious book, and that he hadn't noticed me taking it or the bells.
As he continued to stare pointedly at the book and it's all to closeness to the fire in my hand, I decided, like Sheikka and I planned, explained to him how I got to this point, and see what happens. "You see, it goes like this. I did my research on you Kakashi, I figured out the true meaning of this test. But there was one problem; I had some shadow clones follow them as well as doing research on my teammates, only to find a serious problem. Sasuke, is a brooding avenger, with a superiority Uchiha complex to rival Madara's, according to the history books anyway, and according to the academy records, and what I gleaned from my sources, I knew I had as much chance of getting him to work with me as I would if I tried to get Gai to wear normal clothes… Permanently. (Insert Kakashi shuddering here). As for Haruno, from what I found, she is a pure fangirl through and through, she wouldn't do anything unless the Uchiha was involved somehow, and has a habit of hitting any guy who talks to her who isn't the object of her affection, who wouldn't ever talk to her anyway. So as you see, I had nowhere to turn, and no way to become a Shinobi in that regards." Kakashi, having processed most of the information I fed him in the few minute pause I provided, nodded. So I continued, " With that in mind, me and my fox partner here, Shikumori (death shadow), came up with our own solution," at this Kakashi looked curious, " me and my her could pass, using teamwork together, and, if we explained the circumstances, there was a chance that you'd take us on, but there was no way to get you to listen so we used our research on you to our advantage, I would keep your eyes on me, and Shikumori would, with her stealth skills that even I have no idea how she does it, would steal the bells and your precious book, and I after getting the signal from her that she did, would fight you, as soon as that was done so you wouldn't notice and then hold the book hostage like so once I gave her the signal to return to me." I finished, pleased by his shocked face, obviously picking up the underlying tone that I was holding back a few things, I know I am not on Kakashi's level if he were serious, but that doesn't mean I can't use him underestimating me to my advantage, like the sly fox-type I am… thanks to Sheikka, always thanks to Sheikka, I shudder to think what this test would have been like without her… it wasn't a pretty thought.
I grinned as I got his reply; I knew things were finally going well.
The aging Hokage signed as he continued with the never ending paper work, he set his latest finished product aside and leaned back as the Jounin who were assigned teams filed in to give their results.
Surprisingly Kakashi was on time, shocking the entire room into silence when he filed in only a few minutes after the last of them. Hiruzen coughed, bringing their attention to rest on him. –I'm getting too old for this- he thought, as he called off for each one to step forward and give their results. Out of the eight teams, surprisingly six so far had passed, now he motioned Kakashi forward, him being the last Jounin to report. "Team 7 failed…" –as expected- everyone thought, but was shocked once again when he continued, "but I would like to request to take Naruto Uzumaki as my apprentice, he was the only one to show promise." The room was silent as everyone looked at the lazy Copy-Nin in shock and at the Hokage's prompting he explained his encounter with Naruto, his testing the other two after Naruto's explanation and that they still failed. So after contemplating, Hiruzen Sarutobi, The third Hokage, granted Kakashi's request with a smile on his face, proud of how far Naruto has gotten, and glad that he trusted that changeling girl to train Naruto, She kept her word in stating that the one assigned Naruto would regret it if he/she underestimated him after she was done training him. He let out a chuckle, and dismissed the Shinobi, contemplating what future this turn of events would lead to.