A/N: It's been a while, but I have finally returned to this fic! Hail and rejoice. Ladies and gentlemen, let me clearly state this: I will never abandon something that I have put an effort in creating, so stop it with the worrisome private messages and whatnot. It gets annoying after quite some time. If I had a 'complete' sign tacked on this fic, or if I changed the summary to 'abandoned,' then those would have been strong indicators for a chucked idea.
With that said, I would like for you folks to look more at my profile to see the progression of my chapters from hereafter. That should help resolve the issue and soothe your worry.
Anyhow, I give greetings to all that are still with me from the last set of chapters, while waiting 'patiently' to boot. The rant needed to be stated from the last installment. Even authors know when to put down their feet on certain issues, especially to the close-minded that don't take the time to enjoy a story.
In the words of my friend and fellow author, pudgypudge, you should treat each story as "a new experience," instead of comparing one to the other or even your own…that or use canon as a measuring stick. In his other words, "leave all your preconceptions of canon at the door." Here is more of his thought on the issue:
"…if you go in with a blank slate of expectations, then the story will instantly be better."
In short, I had to take my stand on the issues-at-hand by willing my brief diatribe on "suspension of disbelief." And like I said in last chapter, those cases are closed, with the last chapter correcting what has been up to this point (along with rolling revisions). Oh, and another thing…Do NOT rush me to update.
In regards to the harem/complex romance issue, beside the claim I stated earlier, I have made no implications on the matter; however, it has been set in stone. I've been practically throwing curve balls of mystery at you. Only a few know where I'm going with the romance issue, but I'll leave the rest of you in the dark and keep things—what some call it—"on the hush" for now.
Reviews: I'm at 470+ and growing and I have gained over 140,000 hits. Readers, reviewers, those that take a partial glance, I would like to take this opportunity to thank those that made it possible.
In regards to Sakura's Youjutsu Magen: Oniyuri no Doki (Dark Art Demonic Illusion: Wrath of Tiger Lilies), it is a pun, meaning that it's a play on words. It is not to be taken at face value…or literally. She also will have another Dark Art Demonic Illusion regarding the same issue. These types of Youjutsu Magen will be puns on animalistic flower names.
From last chapter, the "sleeping companion" was, in fact, Doshaburi. Apologies for not making it clear enough.
Things don't appear what they may seem from last chapter, as well as this one coming up. I'll leave you guessing with what I mean. When you are reading, you also have to take into account of what's not written as well, even though the majority of you want it spelled out to you. For my fic, you have to 'think' your way through, for once, especially what's behind the text.
When you are reading (or rereading) this fic, be very wary of what you are interpreting. I have stressed and laid out hidden meanings within the hidden meanings. Look "underneath the underneath," as Kakashi would say (and from the omake, of which will be placed at the end of this fic, per request of welltossedsalad), and you will find my true metaphors. The clues are there. Only a few of you may know…or I've told it to you, already…
But I digress from the current situation (along with trying to educate the public). Let us march onward to the next chapter to ease the impatient minority…
Saishuukai… (Last time…) on Birth of a Legend: The Fox Druid…
From the myriad of trees, three bodies impacted the earth while a fourth and fifth hopped down from their run through the forest to catch up with their respective adversaries.
Kin and Sakura were tussling with one another by rolling on the ground and pulling on each other's hair. They were close to out of chakra, so their brawl devolved into a hair-pulling catfight.
Zaku was clutching his chest. The force behind that drilling torrent was phenomenal. He knew that the fox-eared twerp had a lot of chakra on account of that red flare from earlier in the morning, but he did not take into account into how much he possessed.
Dosu looked a bit haggard and Naruto looked a bit winded from pursuing his soaring opponent. Aside from his chakra control issue, Naruto was otherwise fine, save for a cut here and there, along with a little bit of dirt and grime. The cuts were slightly hissing on account of the regenerative abilities from Kyuubi-sama.
"All of these Leaf cockroaches just keep on appearing," Dosu said. "You're starting to bug me."
"Don't you get it?" Zaku asked between breaths as he staggered to his feet. "We're only here for this Sasuke guy, and nothing is going to stop us. I don't see why all of you are going out of your way just to protect one person…"
"Hn…It looks like you pieces of trash are getting dealt with by these low-life, second-rate ninja…"
Everyone turned to look at the new arrivals perched on a high branch. It was none other than Lee's two teammates, Tenten, with a concerned look on her tanned face, and Hyuuga Neji, with a cold, withering glare at the scene before him.
"You made a grave mistake by picking the wrong one to mess with," Neji remarked with a frown and pointed at an unconscious Lee. "That knocked-out weirdo is from our team, and…" The veins around his eyes bulged to unreal proportions as the chakra channeled into his eyes, activating his intimidating Byakugan. "You're going to pay for that!"
From Neji's doujutsu activation, it slightly frightened those who have not witnessed the stare from the White Evil Eye.
'What's this?' Dosu remarked to himself. He was alarmed. 'It's like his eyes see through everything…'
"It appears that you are far outnumbered for the moment…" Neji paused when he noticed a dark aura around the vicinity. What was that kind of chakra? "…In fact, I don't have to worry about stepping in."
Dosu sneered. "Quit acting smug and face me here and now."
Neji still held that confident smirk as he released the chakra from his eyes and closed them.
"I believe that would be unnecessary," the Hyuuga prodigy responded with a fixed grin that screamed arrogance. "Besides, I wouldn't want to get my hands dirty."
All parties that were in attendance felt a tremendous spike of energy and turned toward the source…
"Sasuke-kun, you're awake…" Sakura's voice tapered off as she released a stunned Kin from her clutches. With her focus lost, her boomerangs reverted back to normal. Something was amiss with her dark-haired crush….
Shikamaru's eyes went unnaturally wide when he looked at what he had seen…
Chouji dropped his bag of chips to take in the sight of the arising shinobi…
Ino was stunned to the core as well. 'Is that…Sasuke-kun…?'
Naruto did not know what to think….
Time stood still in the brink of the silence, save for the dark, whirling tendrils of rampant energy. The dark-haired avenger spoke to break the stillness as he opened his eyes…
"Naruto…Sakura…Who did that to you?"
Chapter Fourteen: Awakening on the Horizon
(Day Three, 10:05 am)
The clouds in the sky have exhausted their moisture. The storm has ended, but a new one was under way…where the eye was focalized into the body of one particular individual…
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When Sasuke opened his eyes, his doujutsu was already activated, whirling about in a dangerous manner. But when he spoke, it sounded as if his voice was strained, almost as if he were of two minds. There were jagged lines that were starting to creep around his neck region.
Naruto and Sakura could tell one thing, even though he had nothing to combat the influence…
He was forcing back that odd mark with a lot of self-control and self-imposed will…even while awakening from it…
In short, he was fighting it on his own, with no aid whatsoever.
'That's it,' Naruto thought. 'Fight it…Shake it off, Sasuke…You know that we did it…Remember that natural strength comes from within…not from borrowed power…'
He corrected his thought when his tenant displayed a slighted look. '…Outside of what has been given to you. Uh…I'm a hypocrite, aren't I, Kyuubi-sama?'
'Well, my power is natural to an extent, and you were unwillingly accepted in the matter,' Kyuubi reasoned. 'I would assume you mean the cursed mark, right?' Naruto mentally nodded while the fox spirit displayed a cheeky grin. 'I thought so. Then, I can live with it.'
"Fight it back, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura shouted, hoping that her voice carried itself to his ears.
"We roughed up your little clique, so what of it!?" Zaku haughtily retorted. His brashness was on par with Naruto; however, Zaku did not know when to quit.
Sasuke could feel the hidden intent to kill and bloodlust manifesting within him.
"This power…it feels…" He held up his hands and looked at them as if they were new appendages. He could feel the power trying to surge through him. He was hearing the words, "Kill…kill the spiky-haired dope…" chanted in the recesses of his mind, and he tried his best to tune out the silky sound.
Dosu caught on. "His chakra is too large. It feels like two reserves, instead of one," he murmured under his breath.
He was inwardly terrified. 'I see…As I thought…The marks on their necks were in fact cursed seals…And yet, two shattered them and Sasuke woke up from it…and is still fighting back, somehow forging his own immunity…' His visible eye widened. 'Just who in the hell are these kids?'
Sasuke was neither smiling nor frowning. "…Indescribable…"
'Dammit…This doesn't look good,' Kin pondered to herself with a worried frown on her face. She was slowly crawling away, so as to not make conspicuous movements. 'Let's just back away…and try not to set off this ticking time-bomb. That energy…it's unreal…' She was gravely mortified. She harmed Sasuke's teammate and she was low on chakra from fighting with the pink-haired girl.
…Not a good thing.
Maybe if she tried to reason with him so she would not provoke his current state…
"I don't see why you're standing around, guys," Zaku foolhardily said as he clapped together his palms. "There's no need to be afraid of this half-dead freak."
…But unfortunately, Zaku's outburst sealed the deal, and his actions were about to set off a grim chain of events.
'Kuso…' Naruto mentally cursed as he scooped up a shaking Doshaburi. He knew the jutsu in the making coming from a mile away, since he felt the after-burst a while ago during his bout with the one known as Zaku.
It may have sculpted more of his six-pack abs in the process.
"Ino, Shikamaru, Chouji, Sakura," Naruto spoke in a low tone within their earshot. "We need to stand back and get down. This will get ugly." He hoped to the many kami that Sasuke had shaken off the warped influence as he dashed away from the potential blast radius.
By listening to the blond's hushed voice, Tenten and Neji were positioned for either a counterattack or moving behind the tree for momentary refuge.
'Since when did he out of all people assume command as leader?' Ino thought as she followed suit, with an awkward scowl engraved on her face. 'I thought that he couldn't lead his way out of a paper bag…'
It was official. The boy had changed…drastically. She was most certain of it. He was no longer "that" Naruto in her eyes…for the moment. He would be bound to screw up, sooner or later. She was hoping for that slim chance.
Chouji was wondering something similar. It seemed as though his friend either hid his talents from the likes of everyone at the Academy or Naruto learned very quickly immediately after being promoted to a shinobi. If that were case, then Naruto must have had an ungodly learning curve. His gut instinct leaned more toward his latter thought.
Said blond turned around to look down at the dark-haired kunoichi that was scared out of her wits. He did not want to see another damsel in distress, but the one known as Kin had to receive what was coming to her, even though it may kill her.
"I offer you my apologies, Kin-san…" His words were barely above a murmur.
'You reap what you sow,' he mentally added as his upper body shifted forward to run away as fast as possible.
Squad Ten dashed in the opposite direction that Sakura and Naruto were heading, with foxy comrade cradled in the blond's arms.
"Zaku, don't you realize…?" Dosu's words fell on deaf ears when Zaku launched into brave foolishness.
"Zankuukyokuha!!"
From both of his hands Zaku fired a massive blast of air to the space that Sasuke occupied. The backlash of the giant wave moved Dosu a bit off his feet while Kin, the lightest of the group, was carried around another tree and landed on Sakura, who, like everyone hidden behind the copious shrubbery, was holding down her head with her arms.
The pinkette managed to utter out, "Oof" when she felt a human-sized mass land on top of her. As a result of the slight nudge into the earth, Sakura's head hit and bounced off slightly, promptly rendering her unable to continue.
Naruto turned to the side to see what had occurred, and he sweat-dropped. Sakura, who suddenly had a new alteration to her hairstyle, was face-down and knocked out while a disoriented Kin looked close to passing out as well from being flung at a high velocity.
"Glad of you to drop in," Naruto remarked with a smirk to the long-haired brunette who was spared Sasuke's retribution for the moment. "But can I ask you to get off my teammate, please? You're kind of smothering her for the moment."
Doshaburi was yipping in slight laughter. "Shishou, is Sakura okay?" he asked between his vulpine sniggering.
Naruto stroked his companion's coat in a soothing manner to becalm his worry. He glanced at the two incapacitated girls before shifting back his attention. "She'll be okay for now, Dosha-chan. How are you holding up?"
"I'll be o-okay for now…It's just…Th-that power…" The furry fox's eyes were darting every which way. The amount of suffocating energy potential was unnerving him.
"I know, I know," Naruto whispered in a hushed tone. 'I just hope he pulls through…But just in case…'
The blond-haired shinobi sat down Doshaburi and formed a few clones to assess the situation.
The fox's innocent face looked up at his master with wonder. His eyes sparkled with brilliant…confusion…as his head tilted to one side. "What happened to your ears, shishou?" The little fox kit blinked owlishly.
In her semi-conscious daze, a bewildered Kin thought that she heard a voice coming from that tawny-colored canine, but it could have just been her imagination. The dizziness overwhelmed her and she subsequently fell into unconsciousness.
XXXXXXXXXX
(Tower, same time)
Shino, Akamaru and Kiba were panting heavily from their brief training session to hone their skills a bit more. They were winded and no longer able to continue, but their other teammate was another issue, in and of itself…
The two boys really wondered and worried about Hinata. They wondered about the Hyuuga heiress because of her newfound drive for change, along with the alien look of determination on her sweaty face. They were also preoccupied about her state of mind and well-being. She just should not try to force herself beyond her natural limits.
She had also foregone her light, white jacket, which was lying in a distant corner three meters to their northeast. For some apparent reason, Kiba just could not help but look what was protruding from that black T-shirt…
"Wow…" Kiba muttered under his breath as he took a sip from his water bottle.
"You were staring at Hinata's well-endowed assets again, weren't you, Kiba?" Shino asked with a small grin hidden by his high-brimmed collar. He was amused; to say the least, knowing that her heart was evidently somewhere else and Kiba wanted to ogle…
That and the dog-user sputtered and choked on his water.
"I was not!" he barked in a low growl, in between coughs. "I was only admiring her form and nothing more!" He pounded his chest a bit before his windpipe was cleared.
"You're lying, Kiba. Why do I know this?" the bug-host asked as he turned to Kiba and adjusted his glasses with his right hand. "It was because my bugs picked up on your heightened testosterone when she started to…bounce, for lack of a better term…"
"Oh, screw you, Shino," Kiba grumbled as he walked away to get some food. There was no need to cover up the lie any longer.
He was busted.
"C'mon Akamaru. Let's get some grub."
Said white pup yipped in compliance and followed his owner at a steady gait.
For the first time in his young life, Aburame Shino's patient and uncomplaining demeanor cracked a bit. He had chuckled slightly, out of earshot of his teammates, and shook his head on account of Kiba's antics.
Aforementioned indigo-haired kunoichi of interest was moving with fluid grace in one of the training foyers. Her canteen of water was nestled well under right arm, courtesy of the tight-fitting leather strap across her left shoulder. Under her arms were hovering, crescent waves of water that were pushed and pulled by her chakra. Her hips twisted along with her limbs and that caused the aerial trails of liquid to follow along with her movements.
'Must…work…harder…' Hinata thought to herself between huffing and puffing between her kata styles. With a swift motion, her arms were raised above her head as the water mimicked the arcing angles.
From the viewpoint of a typical bystander, as well as Shino's, Hinata looked like she was wielding blades of water as they "slashed" upward before they retracted and whipped around due to her sudden rhythm change.
"Hinata," Shino spoke up as he walked to the Hyuuga heiress.
Her opalescent irises panned on the bug-user's sunglasses. Losing focus, the suspended fluid splashed onto the ground, causing her to squeak in shock.
Yeah…that was the Hyuuga Hinata underneath that façade of meditation, all right.
"I think that you should not overexert yourself," he continued. "You've done well, and you have already come far. It's best to not burn yourself out for what's ahead."
Hinata mumbled a weak "okay" before flashing through four handseals, ending on Inu.
"Suiton: Kyuusuido no Jutsu," Hinata called out in a meek tone. The liquid elevated from the floor in globules and funneled back into her black-hued flask in a splashing vortex. It seemed as though the ground was not drenched at all from the mishap a moment ago.
Shino raised an eyebrow as Hinata screwed the hanging cap on the fluid-holding gourd and wiped the beads of sweat from her brow. He knew that she could work with water, but he had no idea that she had other ninjutsu in her arsenal. The kikaichu-user thought that all combat-trained Hyuuga primarily used Jyuuken taijutsu. He had yet to see a Hyuuga perform a ninja technique aside from basic Academy ones.
The Hyuuga heiress seemed to be a possible enigma on par with Uzumaki Naruto…
And what was the issue with their jounin instructor? Kurenai-sensei was wearing something rather…odd when they greeted them. The tight-fitting green jumpsuit almost made Kiba die from a massive nosebleed…
He pinched the bridge of his nose. He was thinking too hard for the moment about the mazes of mystery and unanswered questions.
'One problem at a time, Shino,' he chanted to himself. 'One problem at a time…'
XXXXXXXXXX
(Forest of Death, 10:20 am)
When Zaku canceled his ace-in-the-hole technique, a parabolic trench was engraved into the ground, and there had been no one in sight.
Zaku panted with his arms still held out. He could only perform roughly two of the Extreme Decapitating Air Waves in the same day. That just happened to be his last burst on account of wasting his first blast against a certain fox-eared wonder.
"Heh," Zaku snickered to himself with a triumphant look etched upon his visage. "I've blown him away…"
"Blown who away?"
Zaku's blood ran cold when he heard something akin to crackling lightning behind him. How could a kid like that move so quickly?
Sure enough, it was Sasuke, with arms partially crossed over one another with his hands enveloped in the wild, arcing static.
"Relay this to your little Snake Boss," Sasuke said with a sly smirk that could have been on par with his blond enigma of a teammate. He prepared his hands, stretching out the miniature chains of lightning emanating from his palms. "…I have the power that I need…although I thank him for the bonus…Seidenki Houden!"
The dark-haired avenger grabbed the back of Zaku's shirt and the strong voltage was unleashed in commanding rings of electricity. The high-powered current ran through the now-convulsing Oto-nin's body, who was screaming bloody murder, before collapsing onto the ground in a smoldering heap. A portion of Zaku's muscles jumped about in spasms as a few zaps still raced across his body.
"One down," Sasuke replied with a slightly sinister smirk. He loved this newly found power, and he wanted to revel in it. "Now,who's next?"
Suddenly, Sasuke blanked out in thought before clutching his head in agony. He knelt down on his haunches and gnashed together his teeth due to the splitting headache and the searing corporeal pain. The dark energy circulated around his body as the marks grew more prominent.
'Kill…' the voice smoothly chanted. 'Kill everyone in sight to gain more power…'
'No!' Sasuke mentally roared, attempting to force back the mark with closed eyes. 'Must…contain it…Ugh…Need restraint…This isn't me…"
Out of his inner conflict, he felt a familiar presence…in multiples, for that matter. He strained open one of his eyes and saw the dobe and his clones standing in front of his knelt-down form. One of his bunshin (or the original, for he could not tell) turned to glare down at him like some sick dog waiting to be put down. The icy look promised death if he let the mark on his nape rule over him.
That got him to calm down a little, for his orbs reverted back to his normal, charcoal-gray. After he deactivated his doujutsu, the marks lining his body receded to the triple-tomoe seal on his nape. The voice in his head was nowhere to be heard.
The Sharingan user, while panting heavily, quickly surmised that the blasted mark was linked to his eye activation.
Meanwhile, a haggard Naruto and his clones stood their ground, taking up a defensive position in front of his downed teammate, kunai and shuriken poised for launch.
Dosu picked up the Earth scroll near a fallen Zaku and presented it to the team, clenched in his extended arm.
"You all are strong; stronger than what I could have imagined. We can't defeat you at this current time," Dosu remarked as he placed the parchment onto the ground. "Here is a gift for you. With this out of our hands, let us take our leave."
The small squad of the blue-eyed shinobi kept up their defenses on account of a possible ploy to let down their guard. One of the Naruto-bunshin gave a subtle signal for the furry fox to slowly emerge from the surrounding shrubbery, with both girls on his back.
'…Now exactly w-why did I v-volunteer for this?' Doshaburi asked himself between huffs as he was close to being crushed by the weight of the two females. His wobbly legs were indicators of the evident strain.
Another bite to his master's ankle was at hand…
The real Naruto gave one of his replications a quick look to do what was necessary. Said duplicate picked up the lightweight female of the Hidden Sound and walked up to Dosu.
The handoff went off without a hitch as the Naruto clone picked up the necessary scroll and tossed it to the original. The duplicate dissipated in a wisp of smoke after his task was completed.
"This may seem a bit convenient in circumstance, but there is something that I need to look more into," the bandaged shinobi said as he picked up his other unconscious teammate, who groaned in pain.
He leveled a stare toward Sasuke and the fox-eared kid. "However, I will promise you this. If another situation arises with our teams clashing again in this exam, then we will neither run nor hide." He turned away from the squad and jumped off to parts unknown.
'Telling us to kill Sasuke and yet he went ahead of us and marked the entire team,' Dosu pondered as he was dashing off as fast as he could. 'You didn't kill Sasuke-kun and the others but applied the Ten no Juin…' His visible eye narrowed. 'What the hell is your reasoning, Orochimaru-sama…?'
XXXXXXXXXX
Naruto lowered his guard as the sweat drenched his face, with some of the profuse saline stinging his cerulean-blue orbs.
"I think…it's safe…to come out now," Naruto said between pants as he slumped by one of the numerous trees. As he relaxed, the last bit of replications vanished in wispy puffs of smoke.
Team Ten appeared from their hiding spot in a local patch of shrubbery and bushes.
"Are you alright, guys?" Shikamaru asked. He turned to his female teammate. "This may be troublesome, but Ino, you take care of Lee." The blonde-haired kunoichi nodded in compliance and hurried over to the downed shinobi. Shikamaru had then turned to the other blond. "You look a bit worse for wear." He lightly slugged the Naruto's left shoulder.
Naruto winced a bit. "Oi, oi!" he shouted as his eyes narrowed. "That's my tender arm, damn it!"
"Yep," Shikamaru concluded. "That's the Naruto that I've come to know…whiny as ever…" Naruto's eyes cut sharply at the lazy shinobi. "Anyway, are you alright? You seem a bit winded."
"I'll be fine," Naruto answered as his eyes relaxed, half-lidded. "I just need rest, is all."
"I'll take watch of the team from here on out," Sasuke mentioned as he lifted himself from off the terrain. He was in a bit of pain as well. "Be careful out there." He leaned on a local tree to support his full weight.
"Hold on," Tenten said as she landed near Ino from their hiding spot. "I'll take him off your hands."
The weapons mistress grabbed the taijutsu expert by the shoulders and violently shook him from out of his dazed stupor. "Snap out of it, Lee! Get a grip!"
Eventually, Lee gained his bearings. "Ugh…" He groaned due to his skull-splitting headache. "Tenten, why are you here?"
"At first, we came to help out," the bun-haired girl said with a small smile gracing her lips. "But…" She trailed off.
"Huh?" Lee's head darted around to see no form of hostility. "To where did the Oto-nin disappear?"
"From what I could tell, that Sasuke guy drove him off, along with that blond-headed kid," Tenten answered while thumbing in their direction, behind her back.
'Impressive,' Neji thought as he scoped out the competition with his scrutinizing eyes from the trees. 'That team is…mildly formidable as a whole. And to think that I called them pathetic and worthless…''
Neji's eyes narrowed in resolution. 'However, if they face me, then they will succumb to their demise…Fate is certain in its views…'
Shikamaru nodded. "Well, you heard the guy. Things are covered here. Ino, Chouji, let's move out." He turned to Naruto before departing. "We'll somehow get our hands on some scrolls and meet you at the tower before the deadline. Don't get too reckless…"
'I'll ask him later about that Wood Release spectacle,' the shougi-player deduced in afterthought.
The blond shinobi nodded and closed his eyes while his furry comrade climbed onto his lap and dozed off as well.
XXXXXXXXXX
(Forest of Death, 1:23 pm)
Roughly three hours elapsed after the Konoha shinobi parted ways, while Naruto rested due to partial chakra exhaustion in the meantime. He was in the midst of dreams and ramen heaven when water was splashed onto his face.
He coughed and sputtered, trying to rid the foreign liquid from his airways. Said motion disturbed Doshaburi, causing him to stir as well. His eyes shot wide open to catch the person responsible for disturbing him…
"What the hell did you do that for, hiretsukan!?" Naruto barked.
"We shouldn't stay in one place for so long," Sasuke said as he held out the incriminating, empty water bottle, angled to the point where the remnants dripped out. "There could be other shinobi that could take both scrolls from us."
"Ugh…Could you have found another way to get me awake?" Naruto flatly asked as he blew out excess fluid from his nostrils.
A smirk danced about on Sasuke's face. "Nope," he replied.
"Well, other than that rude awakening, how're you holding up?"
"A bit weak in the knees, and my chakra gets messed up if I try to use my Sharingan…" He knelt down beside one of the numerous trees, next to the unconscious pinkette.
"Serves you right, bastard," Naruto muttered under his breath.
That jab was not lost on Sasuke when his ears perked up. "Care to repeat that again?" he asked with caution. He added with clenched teeth, "I didn't quite catch that."
"I said, 'Serves you right, bastard,'" Naruto curtly chided in even tones, just to get across the clear message. "Like my clones mentioned before the spars, the Sharingan isn't that great…"
That immediately caused Sasuke to glare daggers at the buffoon who started it all.
"I wouldn't be in this mishap if it weren't for a certain dobe and his Mokuton display," the Sharingan-user rebuked with arms crossed over his chest.
A tick mark made its way onto Naruto's brow, indicating his frustration. "Hey, don't go pointing proverbial fingers!" Naruto roared. "That creepy snake bastard wanted your body…Not mine! I just saved your ass from getting bitten…" The whisker-marked kid eased up a little in his glare. "…Or at least tried to…"
"I don't buy that tall tale, dobe. And besides, it happened anyway, Sakura and you included," Sasuke retorted as he rubbed the aforementioned mark. He pointed at the ocher fuzz in Naruto's lap with his other arm. "I still don't believe the spiel about that talking fox, either."
"That's a different ability. It's something only unique to me."
"Well, isn't that the same as a bloodline limit, smart-ass?"
"No," Naruto hastily said. "I don't know. There could be others, but I just don't know. Just please let my other ability slide, Sasuke. You're infringing on uncomfortable territory that shouldn't be lightly brought up."
"Hn," Sasuke snorted. "I can pry all I want, since you're my teammate, after all."
Naruto assumed a downhearted look. "There are some things that are just better left unspoken, even among the group."
"Ano…" Doshaburi interrupted, which caused the two boys to look down at the kit. Since Sakura was out of commission, he decided to play temporary mediator. "I don't think that we are getting anywhere fast with this bickering…" His eyes shifted from right to left, noting his nervousness.
"Right," Naruto said. Then a flash of realization came to mind. "Oi, where's Sakura?"
'This chat isn't over, Naruto…'
"Over here, next to me," Sasuke responded, holding up her limp arm. It felt soft...
He lightly shook his head. Now was not the time for those kinds of thoughts…
Business first…
"She has a minor concussion from a few hours prior. She should be up within a few minutes to the next hour."
"Well, in that case," Naruto said as he moved Doshaburi from his lap and shakily stood up. "I'll try to find some help…"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Are you insane? We shouldn't be making friends here in the Forest of Death, dobe…"
"I'm not talking about shinobi help," the whisker-marked genin responded. "I'm going to somehow call out to the wild without diverting attention to us…"
A flummoxed look made its way onto Sasuke's face as he watched the dobe ascend to the forest canopy in graceful leaps.
He sometimes envied and hated his "on the fly" thinking habits at the same time…
Sasuke just would not know what had been going on in that brain of his.
Thinking of which, about what was he referring to?
XXXXXXXXXX
Naruto scaled up the copious foliage in the treetops, taking in the view of the sea of trees. As he ascended, he perched on one of the highest branches in the surrounding area. The whisker-marked shinobi turned a bit northward and noticed the staggering distance between where they were positioned and the tower…
To put it in simple terms, they had a good bit to go. However, at the rate his team was progressing, they were never going to make it under the five-day deadline.
His thinking was put on hold when he heard a triplet of burly growls emanating a bit in the southwestern direction.
'I ought to check it out…'
Naruto's eyes narrowed to block out most of the sunlight. From what he could tell, as he approached the source of the subtle roaring, was that there was an unknown, lone woman with a purple ponytail…and a triad of husky beasts with orange and black stripes…
The blond's eyes widened considerably by the size of those animals, and only one thought perforated his mind.
'Whoa…big kitties…'
XXXXXXXXXX
(Meanwhile…)
Mitarashi Anko was stuck.
On her way to the Forest of Death Tower, she was surrounded by a pack of bloodthirsty tigers that were craving for a fresh meal. She tried to outmaneuver and outrun the furry felines, but it was to no avail. Through trickery and clever tactics, the trio managed to corner her in a pincer-like formation.
'Seriously, I don't have the damn time to do this…' The lady snake-charmer remarked to herself in frustration. 'Weren't so many hours enough playtime already?'
She was about to hurl some of her concealed kunai right between each of the felines' eyes when a slightly familiar presence alerted her to look up. Her eyes narrowed dangerously into slits. Anko gnashed together her teeth in further exasperation.
The sun-kissed locks…the jumpsuit etched with orange, along with its complementary hitai-ate…
It was the blond gaki that made a fool out of her before the second exam's commencement…with a new pair of altered ears.
Now what the hell was he doing in this part of the forest? He was veering off in the opposite direction from the tower.
Her look of frustration turned immediately to a sickeningly sweet smirk as he made a hard landing onto the earth. Just like the tigers were doing to her, she would do to the blond brat.
It was time for a little 'fun.'
"Well, hello there, little boy," Anko smoothly said, her grin never leaving her face. "What made you come my way?"
Naruto, however, did not notice the hidden playfulness as he approached the second examiner. Once again, his eyes almost came to bulging out of his sockets. "Y-You…" Naruto pointed at the lady, now identified in the clearing. "You're that crazy proctor!"
'Why couldn't I tell who it was with that bushy ponytail?'
Anko's grin threatened to split her face as she walked over while swaying her hips. In a way, that slightly unnerved the blond enigma.
Unfortunately, her 'playtime' was prematurely disrupted by the tigers' overarching game of cat and mouse. The group bellowing proved evidence of the fact.
Anko took the opportunity to play down the situation as being the damsel of distress, even though she could handle it with ease. "Oh, Naru-chan, I didn't know that you came to save little ol' me…" She tried to look sweetly innocent with sparkling eyes but failed miserably.
Naruto wondered what was with the eccentric woman. Her mood seemed to flip-flop, just like his spiritual occupant. "Now is not the time, Anko-san…"
The second examiner's grin ebbed away a bit. "Ah, so you're a man of business first and pleasantries later?" she asked as she placed a hand on her hip. "How about we do both at the same time, ne? How about playing with four kitties instead?"
Naruto's patience was wearing thin. "…I'm not here for you," he grumbled. He pointed behind her. "They were what grabbed my attention. I need to commandeer them for my team. You see, we had a run-in with Orochimaru…"
"I know that already, Naruto," Anko intervened, smile completely foregone. "That vile fiend told me personally before he got away…again. I was on my way until…" She trailed off while looking at the swollen blemish on Naruto's left shoulder and her eyes widened a substantial margin. "You got marked with the Ten no Juin and managed to overcome it!? How in the gods' names did you do that!?"
The blond genin softly patted his stomach. "A little help," he answered quietly while Anko took on a shocked look. Was he relying on the Kyuubi for guidance?
He had then pointed behind the lady snake-charmer. "And it's the same help that's going to get these walking fur rugs to relax."
The insult made the fur on the beasts ruffle up slightly. They were beyond pissed that some runt belittled them like that.
As they tried to move in, they were halted by a sudden pressure that quickly surrounded the area.
The leader of the feline group, one with a slash over his left eye, shakily looked up at the large-eared whelp that was now consumed in a reddish flame.
'Ease up a bit, Kyuubi-sama. I think they got the hint…' Naruto mentally channeled to the beast behind his belly.
'Okay,' the fox said as he powered down the youki. 'But I was having fun, you know.'
'You'll get your fun later on…maybe…'
"Alright you overfed beasts, I need your aid for a moment," Naruto spoke as the tigers remained in place. "You scratch my back and I will scratch yours. I offer you this if you will help me get my squad to the tower."
Naruto whipped out a scroll from his inner pockets and unfurled the elongated parchment along the ground. A sealing circle lined with kanji was the only image etched onto it.
The blond boy took a seat on the hard earth, clasped together his hands into the Hitsuji seal and shut his eyes in the process. "…Kai!"
With a poof of iridescent smoke, the enlarged insect came into existence as it had lain on the piece of paper.
"I know that it may not be much," Naruto spoke up, eyes still closed shut. "But I hope that this will be enough to hold you all over until you find much tastier morsels out here in the forest, with the exception of other humans." He opened his cerulean orbs and leveled a quasi-pleading look with the scar-faced 'leader.' "So, do we have a deal…or not?"
Anko's face displayed her overall confusion. Just who was that kid? He blew off something that could never be removed from the skin and 'tamed' wild animals through negotiations as well.
'The kid sure is an odd fellow…but doesn't he know that he's basically revealing himself every time he uses that…?'
The lady snake-charmer frowned. He was his own personal homing beacon. Did he crave for that much attention, especially drawing the attention of hostiles as well?
XXXXXXXXXX
Yakushi Kabuto was looking upon the scene before him with a keen eye, while holding onto a couple of dead Root agents that were covertly tailing the Kyuubi jinchuuriki.
To the bespectacled 'genin,' the operatives were amateurs in a sea of sharks. Why were the ANBU Root following that genin, he had absolutely no clue regarding the matter, but he took them out due to the fact that they were in the way.
To him, the boy had raw potential but lacked any talents that stood out, aside from harnessing the power of the Kyuubi no Youko.
Kabuto stuffed the pair of bodies into a scroll for later medical scrutiny while he watched as the trio of hefty felines dashed off, with Naruto-kun on the back of the one presumably designated as the leader. What he had witnessed slightly piqued his interest.
'I wonder if this would appeal to Orochimaru-sama,' he mused as he adjusted his corrective eyewear. The afternoon sunlight reflected off the glasses, obscuring his dark orbs from view.
He could stand to update his data on his 'ninja info cards.'
XXXXXXXXXX
(Incomplete Team Seven, 4:45 pm)
Sakura had been awake for the past hour, grooming Doshaburi with a packed brush while adjusting her uneven locks. She was also recovering from a throbbing headache due to what had occurred earlier.
The dark-eyed Uchiha was considerate enough to wet a cloth and place it over her forehead for the time being. Sasuke thought it was nothing major; Sakura, on the other hand, was inwardly beaming from ear to ear that her Sasuke-kun had been so kind and caring.
The pinkette then wondered as to where did their blond teammate had gone.
Sasuke twisted the dobe's words and passed it off as Naruto answering the 'call of the wild,' meaning that he probably had to go to the bathroom.
If that were the case, then he should have been back by now…
Either that or he must have had a weak bladder or something…
Both Sasuke and Sakura started to receive some hazy feedback from their telecommunication radios.
"Com…fo…ding…guys…"
The voice belonged to their teammate, but they could not interpret what was said.
"What did he say?" Sakura asked while she adjusted the frequency. "Did you understand that?"
"I think he said, 'comforting, guys,' but it could be something else," the raven-haired Uchiha answered as he, too, turned the dial on his radio.
"He…o…Hello…Foxy Storm to Red-Eyes and Pinky…Can anyone hear me?" Naruto's voice was clearly heard through the receiver.
Sakura grumbled and rolled her eyes. Why did she have to get such a lame codename? Did she not get called that by her pain of an Inner Will?
'Oi! I heard that…Shannaro!'
'Gomen…'
"We can hear you, Naruto. Where the hell have you been? It's near the late afternoon."
'It took you long enough, senpai!' Inner Sakura retorted in her mindscape. She held her arms akimbo as her foot pounded on the void.
"Sorry," Naruto apologized. "I got held up, but I found some help along the way. Like I said before, I'm coming in for a landing shortly. Over and out." A click was heard over their ends before the feedback died out into vacuity.
The lone Uchiha really wondered about that blond. It was not like he was trying to fly or anything…
That thought died when the sun was blocked out by three large images. They were swiftly descending and closing in on their location.
Sasuke quickly got up and reached for a kunai in his holster. As soon as the balanced blade was clutched firmly in his palm, the three figures crash-landed with tremendous power.
The coal-eyed avenger covered his eyes to shield his precious orbs from the dust clouds.
"Hey guys," Naruto said through the now-settling debris with a wide grin. "Welcome to Uzumaki Naruto's Tiger Taxi Service and I'll be your guide for today…"
Sakura, Sasuke and Doshaburi owlishly blinked with wide eyes.
"…That guy…" Sasuke swiftly muttered under his breath before he asked the question on everyone's mind. "Now how on earth did you do that, dobe?"
"Trade secret," Naruto remarked. "And a bargain for a bargain. Anyway, don't just stand there. Hop on! We don't have all day."
Each of the other Team Seven members gave one another a slightly cautious look, laced with a hint of worry, before they approached their respective rides. Doshaburi, on the other hand, quickly ascended to Naruto's scalp region.
Sakura warily approached the slightly smaller feline (but not by much) and held out her hand to rub her wet, pink nose. "Are you sure that these things won't bite me, Naruto?"
Her answer was received by a tongue-licking to her open palm.
The smallest of the tiger trio noted to herself that the pink-haired one tasted delicious; however, she could not eat the blue-eyed kid's teammate. That was a promise made unto them when they ate the blond's crunchy bug. The tigress also did not want to experience that unrivaled killer intent again.
She reclined her back for the pink-haired one to get on.
Sasuke's temporary lift proved to be a bit apathetic, almost similar in personality. That made things easier for the dark-haired Uchiha as he hopped onto the behemoth feline.
He was the follower and did not care as to which way to go. As long as he would get its meal, then it would be content.
Conversely, there was a slight twinge of taint that the tiger had felt subtly pouring forth from that coal-eyed kid.
He shook his head, thinking that he and his companions were going to be liberated of those three kids when they get to their appropriate destination, so why ponder about it. It was the kids' business, and not theirs.
"Yosh," Naruto began. "Do any of you know the quickest route to that big-ass tower without being spotted?"
A quick snarling session was being shared by the three large beasts, with Team Seven out of the linguistic loop.
'Can you understand them, Kyuubi-sama?' Naruto asked but was answered by a shrug from his tenant.
'No clue,' the Kyuubi answered with a mildly bored look. 'I don't speak feline. It's like they're speaking in a foreign tongue or something.'
'…Figures…'
Three consecutive nods later, the orange-colored trio hastily took off, jolting their riders a bit, and dashed along the preplanned path that they had hashed out amongst them.
Naruto was smiling from ear to ear, taking in the rushing winds through his golden locks and cerulean orbs.
'Now this is riding in style…'
He could get use to the aid from the animal kingdom.
The furry cloudburst had his tongue hanging out of his muzzle, licking the cooling breeze.
'Relaxation…at last…' Doshaburi let out a wistful sigh. It felt as if he were back at home…back with his family in Wave Country…
Several thoughts filtered through the kit's mind, one in which turned very melancholy and grim…
It was the night where he was separated from his parents by the hunters.
A lone tear pooled in one of his gray eyes and cascaded without anyone noticing.
He would have to further thank his new owner from saving him from that hell of loneliness.
Sakura was quietly yelping from the recurrent bumps when her 'taxi' leaped from branch to branch with delicate grace.
'…Whoa…I need to hold on tight…' The pinkette pressed her legs more into the sides of the tigress without making matters difficult on her part. However, that earned a snort of discomfort from the heavily built feline.
"Oops," Sakura said while donning a sheepish look. "Sorry."
Sasuke remained emotionless and silent for the duration of their temporary travel guide as he gripped on a thick patch of fur to maintain his posture. He could not make it out correctly, but, riding on the back of this tiger felt…right, to a varying degree. It was almost like that he was predestined to wield something of this caliber of power. He had been most certain of it.
Maybe he could gain something like this and use it against his despicable brother…
Aside from that, he made a few quick glances over to his blond teammate. Something was just not adding up. What was the deal with that red chakra? That surely could not be a bloodline limit, even though it was special to him. He could tell that the dobe was hiding something. The other kekkei genkai were plausible, but the initial 'bloodline' that Kakashi and the dobe chalked up was a bit out there and farfetched.
'On the other hand,' Sasuke pondered as they soared through the canopy. A miniature smirk graced his lips but for a second. 'The dobe would make for an excellent opponent…'
It was not like that he would admit it to Naruto, though, but he would make a praiseworthy challenge to test the Uchiha's mettle.
XXXXXXXXXX
(Team Ten, Day Four 12:56 am)
Ino's breathing was labored as she sat on her bottom in front of a tree.
The mind-walking kunoichi had been in that state for the past three minutes. She had been working on her family's hijutsu scroll for a considerable amount of time. The techniques that she had been working on appeared to be on an entirely different level from what her father, Inoichi, normally displayed when out on fieldwork for the interrogation unit.
She wondered as to how come she never had seen them flaunted. They were offensive skills that could be utilized as pretty solid alternates if the Yamanaka in question did not want to move his or her mind into a target's body.
On the other hand, she received her answer, and it was in regard to the chakra requirement. The rest of the jutsu had a taxing amount of chakra necessary to execute them, so she settled on trying to learn two of them. It appeared that she was not making any sort of commendable progress at all. The large oak tree that remained practically unharmed by her very efforts verified that claim. Evidently, she was frustrated beyond all form of reasoning.
'Damn it!' she mentally swore as she slammed her fist into the ground. 'I've been at it for hours and still no progress…What's wrong with this jutsu!?'
She was wondering if the handseal sequence was off until she heard a rustle in the bushes.
Not wanting to be caught with her guard down, she immediately got up and assumed a loose taijutsu stance.
"Who…who's there?" she waveringly asked.
By chance, it had been her thinner teammate. The reason why she knew was that he was muttering something along the lines of 'troublesome shrubbery' as he cleared through the small thicket. Hearing her teammate's words had put her mind at ease.
"Oi, Ino," Shikamaru said as he approached the up-in-arms kunoichi. He had an object in his hand, but the blonde could not tell the identity of it. "Chouji and I just got the scroll that we needed. We can head for the tower now."
Ino sighed in defeat as she dusted off the sand and grit from her purple skirt. "Alright," she muttered in a dejected manner.
Ino walked over to where Shikamaru was standing but stopped. The young mind-walker thought that she heard something similar to the consistency of wood grinding against itself. As she turned around, her eyes shot wide open. The tree in which had been her practice target for the past several hours started to topple over. There had been an apparent slice three feet from the foot of the tall oak.
Ino's look of shock turned immediately into one of joy as she started to prance around. "Yes! Yes! I did it! I did it!" she shrieked as she pointed up at the stars. "Take that, Forehead! I'm nipping at your heels! Just you wait!"
"What's with all the ruckus, Shikamaru?" Chouji asked as he appeared from the same path that his comrade had taken. The hefty brunet had been covering tracks to keep their defeated opponents off their trail.
"It may be a pain to explain," Shikamaru began as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "But I think Ino learned and mastered a new jutsu."
"Could it be on account of Sakura's doing?" the portly boy queried as he fished into his bag for some beef jerky.
"More or less…" The shougi-player sighed. "Either way, just when you think people can change, things get even more troublesome."
Their friend was still in her dance of euphoria.
'She's going to be a headache and a half…Do girls really have to be this troublesome?'
"Ino, now is not the time to gloat," Shikamaru lazily drawled. "Let's get going."
"Huh?" the mind-walking blonde asked, foregoing her silly foxtrot. "Oh, sorry…" Her cheeks gained a twinge of pink.
XXXXXXXXXX
(Team Seven, meanwhile…)
It had taken close to eight hours via 'wild transport' to arrive at the tower, unscathed. It appeared as if the tiger trio knew how to veer and dodge around numerous obstacles without being discerned.
Sasuke learned a thing or two by just seeing their movement, sans Sharingan.
Sakura, however, was just getting over her partial fear of them when the ride was over.
"Thanks again for the ride," Naruto said as he gave the leader a strong petting around the neck region.
His answer was a throaty grunt.
"Mou," Sakura whined. "I was just getting used to you…"
The solitary tigress purred as she licked the kunoichi's face, signaling that she was going to miss her, too…as a potential main course.
Sasuke gave his momentary companion a brief nod, acknowledging his thanks.
The leader of the furry squad bellowed subtly which signaled the others to leave as well. They have done enough and held out on their bargain with the one known as Naruto by some, 'dobe' by others.
After they left, the team heaved an unconsciously held sigh. The tower was right in front of them. After about eighty-five hours or so, Squad Seven arrived at the Forest of Death Tower, indicating that they would move on to the next round, whatever it may be.
"Let's just go through this door and put an end to our worries," Sasuke spoke up as they walked through one of the main doorways. "I've had it with the outdoors…"
"Me, too!" Sakura yelled, adding her input emphatically.
'Hell yeah…Let's kick some ass and take some names…Shannaro!'
"Are you ready for what's ahead, Dosha-chan?" Naruto asked as he looked up on his head.
Doshaburi was leaning down with a vulpine smile etched onto his muzzle. "Maybe…But I do need some more rest, shishou."
XXXXXXXXXX
(Tower, unknown location, same time…)
"So," a shady figure spoke in one of the vacant corridors as his assistant walked up to him from the Forest of Death. "How was the harvest, Kabuto?"
"It was better…than…expected…" Kabuto's eyes perceptibly enlarged as his speech died in his throat. "Orochimaru-sama, what happened to you?"
"Oh, I'll tell you what had occurred," the Snake Wizard icily remarked as his face came into view of the dim lighting. His eyes were as white as the sclera in each orb and his left arm was favoring the stub that used to be his right. "Team Seven was what happened to me…"
The Densetsu no Nin vanished from sight and appeared from out of nowhere, clutching Kabuto by the neck. "And you misinformed me, hence the reason why I am in a foul mood."
"O-Orochim-maru-sama," Kabuto tried to say between gasps of air. "The information was not com-complete. Please forgive me…"
"Done," Orochimaru haughtily articulated as he dropped Kabuto from his clutch. "You're forgiven…for now. Don't disappoint me again, Kabuto."
"H-Hai, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto shakily replied as he inhaled gulps of air to his formerly constricted windpipe.
The white-haired teen adjusted his glasses when something came to mind. "I take it that you're really interested with this…Team Seven? Or is it just Sasuke-kun?"
"I just wanted your opinion as our spy," the Great Snake answered.
"You know that's unnecessary," the 'genin' said with an eerie pleasantness in his voice. "The decision is ultimately up to you."
"Heh," Orochimaru snickered slightly. "It's no wonder why I like that intelligence of yours. To answer your query, yes, they have intrigued me, more so than what I could find."
A contemplative look passed over the glasses-wearing shinobi. "Did you mark them all with the Cursed Seal of Heaven, Orochimaru-sama?"
The Hebi-Sennin hummed amusedly. "Your conjectures are so approximate that it's a bit creepy, Kabuto." He 'looked' over to his sleeper agent in Konoha, even though he could barely see him. "As a matter of fact, yes, I marked them but with a lesser formula. I half-expected two of them to shatter what was in place."
An eyebrow perked up on Kabuto's face. "…A lesser formula?"
"You did not hear me wrong, Kabuto. Instead of branding the team directly from me, since it would have been a one-time effort, my snakes implanted the trial blueprint which had accomplished the task."
"I see," Kabuto responded as he knelt down to fish out medical supplies from his pack. "Would you…like for me to heal the damage done to you?"
"It matters not that my arm is gone, and I haven't a clue as to reverse this…affliction unto my eyes." Orochimaru waved his viable hand in front of his vacuous orbs. "I can clearly deduce that this is not a genjutsu, since I tried to break it initially.
"In any case, even if I am at a disadvantage, I will still win in the end when I crush Konoha under my foot."
"You like playing with handicaps, don't you, Orochimaru-sama?"
The wayward shinobi grinned maliciously before disappearing. "Indeed I do, when the pieces fall into place…"
That smirk slightly unnerved Kabuto as he vanished to meet up with his teammates within the tower.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A/N: Once again, there is another chapter down. It may not be much, seeing that this is supposedly a cool-down chapter after all the fight progressions. Shinobi need to relax as well, right? (That's rhetorical; don't answer that).
I will say sorry for painting ANBU in such a bad lighting, even though they were stated to be the best of the best. I still find that questionable, especially from canon standpoints.
I won't apologize for the 'late' update, however, for I had things to do, like work and other important matters. If you haven't (already) done so, then check out the pilot for my next potential fic in the making, entitled Limit Breaker: Fūjin no Ōdachi.
Remember ladies and gentlemen: real life takes priority; writing fan fiction does not pay my way through school, nor does it put food on the table. With that said, my update speed will be slowing down a bit. That is a guarantee, since I don't really have a schedule for it, to boot.
The Chuunin Exams are on the horizon. What lies in store for the genin that made it to the next round?
Jikai… (Next time…) on Birth of a Legend: The Fox Druid…
Winging It! Order from Chaos
Naruto: …What the hell did he just say?
DHO: I think that you heard him quite clearly Naruto.
Naruto: Oh, good grief…
Romaji/Jutsu Guide
Zankuukyokuha (Extreme Decapitating Air Wave): C-rank offensive close- to mid-range ninjutsu; a more powerful version of Zankuuha (Decapitating Air Wave), the user creates a massive gust of cutting wind capable of totaling the surrounding area, wiping out anything in its path (Naruto HQ)
Suiton: Kyuusuido no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Absorbency Technique): Low C-rank supplementary ninjutsu; user drains fresh groundwater from the earth; useful for prolonged trips; this technique can also be used for other purposes, such as drying a wet floor (created)
Kikaichu: Destruction Bugs
Raiton: Seidenki Houden (Lightning Release: Electrostatic Discharge): C-rank offensive/defensive close- to mid-range ninjutsu; user dispels strong electric-natured chakra to repel targets; the static discharge can travel through media such as bodies, earth and water (created)
Hiretsukan: mean bastard, sneak, heel or despicable person