Jumping off the top of the wall, I snatched out at the dangling key, but fell short. My finger barely brushed the tip. I fell back towards the floor. After crashing painfully into it, I pushed myself up and growled. Slade stood off to the side, watching me fail for the last ten minutes. He hadn't even tried to stop me. Maybe I was that boring.
The key was actually just a button on a metal wristband; the same one from Slade's wrist. It wasn't connected to a chain or wire, so I assumed it could levitate or something invisible was holding it up there. It stayed in the same place, which was good for me. All I knew was that there was thirty minutes left to get it. I stood up and readjusted my headband.
'Maybe I'm too weighted down,' I thought.
Well my shoes had been off for the last few hours and that helped me run faster. I may not be as well muscle-toned as some kids my age, but being skinny had its advantages. Reaching back towards my neck, I gripped my T-shirt and pulled it up over my head. I tossed it aside, feeling lighter already. Luckily I had put my knee-length gym shorts on this morning instead of my jeans. After flexing my fingers and aching arms, I ran towards the wall, jumped, and grabbed a hold of it with Chakra. I ran up the wall, got to the top, and started running as fast as I could around the perimeter of the square space. After running around it five times, I ran to the middle of one and jumped off as hard as I could. I snatched at the key, but I felt something wrap around my ankle. I was suddenly yanked away from the dangling key. Within seconds I crashed into the floor.
"Grr…"
"Watching you repeat yourself is boring me." I slowly sat up and growled at Slade. Looking at my ankle, I saw black wire wrapped tightly around it. I grabbed it with both hands and started tugging at it. "Its very simple really; manage to punch or kick me and the key will descend."
I managed to pull the wire loose and off my ankle. Standing up, I glared at Slade.
'Why didn't he tell me before we started?'
So all I needed to do was hit Slade at least seven to ten times for the key to reach the top of the wall. Plus, I had a good Ninja technique to use on Slade. All I had to do was get the man's permission…
"Hey, think you could let me use my special Ninja technique after I run out of clones?" I asked.
"And which one would that be?"
"You know which one," I replied.
Slade stared silently at me momentarily before snorting in amusement.
"I will allow it."
A small smirk graced my lips.
"Then get ready for the biggest ass kicking of your life," I said cockily. I quickly performed hand signs. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Two clones appeared behind me. They swiftly leaped over my head and ran at Slade. He raised his arms up in defense as the clones aimed punches for his face. I quickly made another one as Slade spun around in a roundhouse kick. He caught the first two clones in the chest, causing them to fly back and disappear in clouds of smoke. My third clone appeared out of it and aimed a punch at his face. Using the Substitution technique, I reappeared behind Slade, made my last two clones, and got ready for one of my strongest techniques; one that had been remade twice already.
My clones managed to hit Slade a total of twelve times before two were destroyed. My final clone aimed an uppercut to the villain's jaw. Jumping back, I landed on the wall and pushed off right when my clone sent Slade high into the air. As it zoomed past him, he spun around to face me. Back flipping, I caught Slade in the chin. He was at least over halfway up from the floor now. Falling back down, I landed on the floor and pushed off. I appeared on Slade's left, spun around, and aimed my foot at his stomach.
"DRAGON'S BARRAGE!" My foot connected with Slade's stomach. Standing up straight, I pushed off as hard as I could and aimed my hand for the key, which was now within reach. "Ha!"
My fingers wrapped around the cool, metal wristband. I soon started descending at a fast speed. Keeping my legs down and out, I fell towards the edge of the wall. My foot touched down. Back flipping away from it, I fell back towards the floor. My ankle was suddenly caught with one hand. My body was pulled back and I fell flat on my face. My hand unclenched the key and my entire body relaxed. My foot was dropped to the floor.
"You have ten seconds to stand up with the key in hand."
My fingers twitched. I could feel my Chakra spreading through me rapidly as anger started setting in. The key was still underneath my hand. I felt Chakra cover my feet, travel up my legs, past my torso, and up my chest. Gritting my teeth, I growled.
"You…son of a…b-"
Slade kicked me in the side, causing me to roll over onto my back.
"Time is up, apprentice." My Chakra had vanished. Sliding my arms back, I pushed myself up and growled. "You may have failed your test, apprentice, but I'm feeling generous today." I slowly got to my feet, looked up, and glared at Slade. I gritted my teeth. "You will have tomorrow off and I will move your extra hours the day after." Lifting up the key, he pushed the button. The room shook as the walls went back into the floor. "I hope you can find your way back to your room. Get some rest; you will need it in the next few days."
With that said, Slade turned around and walked away. I glared after him.
"That's it? I failed both tests miserably and you're not even going to attack me or anything?" Slade really was crazy, I could tell that. How did someone like that change their mind so easily? I snorted. "Fine; this gives me time to come up with a plan to get rid of the bomb and escape from this Hell hole."
A few feet away I saw my T-shirt. I walked over and picked it up. My shoes and socks were near the exit. I picked those up and I headed out to search for my temporary room. Entering, I threw everything aside and then went to the bathroom. I had ignored Robin, who was sitting on the bed, staring off into space. The door slid shut behind me. Feeling gross, I turned on the shower, finished undressing, and got in.
I looked up at the jets as they rained down over my eyes. My hair fell flat over my head. The second I closed my eyes, the second I saw the Ninjas from my past; two that had been jerks. Manúke, Cora and my team mate who had been accidentally killed during a Chuunin fight between him and Cora, and Kuráyami, a cocky Ninja who specialized in darkness (hence his name), seemed pissed at me in my head.
Kuráyami was out there, somewhere. We soon became friends after Orochimaru attacked Konoha. I wonder how pissed he'd be at me knowing that I was working with the enemy, much like he had?
There's a huge difference between you and Kuráyami, albino. I was now standing in darkness. Looking up, I saw Manúke standing a few feet away. He snorted. No matter what, you won't give in to Slade, like Kuráyami did with Orochimaru. Not to mention you're not out of control like Cora when she killed me.
Opening my eyes, I knew Manúke was right. My Nindo was keeping me sane, keeping me from fully obeying Slade. I wasn't going to give in to him.