I own neither Naruto nor Watchmen.
Three weeks after graduation, Reika-sensei pulls out three cards of what appears to be rice paper.
"This is chakra paper. You know how there are elemental jutsu, like the fire techniques you were taught in the Academy to start fires – each ninja has an element that they will be able to use better than another. We call this a person's element. The elements are fire, wind, lightning, earth, and water. However, just because you are a fire type, for example, you will still be able to use wind or earth attacks, probably not as easily as fire jutsu, though. Chakra paper is used to discover what element you are aligned with. My element, for example is earth. I want all of you to take a piece of paper, and then channel your chakra into it. We'll do this one at a time so we can carefully observe the paper's reaction. The paper will burn for a fire type, split in two for a wind type, crumple for lightning, fall apart for an earth type like me, and become wet for a water type. Everyone have a piece? Good. Walter, you first."
Walter looks at the flimsy paper, and pushes just enough chakra into it for a decent henge.
It dampens, and, when he moves his hand slightly, tears more than splits into two soggy pieces.
"You're a two-type, Walter. They're uncommon but it does happen. Water and wind. Huh. Hiko, your turn."
The piece the long-haired boy holds grows wet, then bursts into flame. Hiko drops it to avoid burning his fingers.
"Water and fire." Reika-sensei shakes her head in disbelief. "Well, the fire type is very… appropriate. In more than one way. Michiyo now?"
"Okay." Michiyo's brow furrows for just a moment. The card crumples up, then dissolves into a soggy mess. Reika-sensei just stares.
"I've heard of two-types before," She says carefully, "But never three on one team. And three water types too. Fortunately, I'm fairly good with water, but not so well with wind, or lightning, though I know two guys who do specialize in those fields and owe me a few favors. But they already have students to teach. Ohhh… this is going to take some work." She puts her hand over her eyes, and sighs. Her hand lowers and she shakes her head as if to shake off her surprise, silver braid sent swinging. "Well! I guess our team will be one of the few to cover all the elements, then."
"So it's like, really rare?" Michiyo asks, uncharacteristically quiet.
"Yeah." Reika-sensei shrugs, seemingly just as quickly over it as she was shocked. "Well, anyway, those are your elemental affinities. I'll go to the library and check out some jutsu for your lightning and wind affinities. Expect to get these from me in a couple of days or so – might as well use that B-rank clearance for once. I know a few fire jutsu, as we do live in the country of Fire, but we'll stick with water types because everybody has a water affinity. Don't worry – I plan on teaching you all a basic jutsu from each element, and I expect you to teach each other jutsu from your element. Of course, I'm not giving you all this for free. You'll have to earn it by making enough progress – be it in stamina, sparring, or mission progress."
"Fair." Walter concedes.
"Now, to earn the first jutsu…" Reika-sensei trails off.
"Yes?" Hiko asks expectantly.
"You guys did alright with tree-climbing. Keep working on that. To earn 'Water style: Cascade Whip', you need to master water-walking."
"Dude, normal people can walk on water? Like that God guy in the ancient religion from like, before the Reckoning, with all the crosses and stuff could?" Michiyo exclaims.
"Michiyo, you're talking nonsense." Hiko grumbles, "I don't know where you come up with these things."
"No, really, Dickweed." She says sharply. "It's where we get Christmas from. He's called Jezuz or something. My clan still follows what's left of it."
"Whatever." The Hyuuga shrugs. Reika-sensei sighs.
"No Michiyo. People can't walk on water like the guy you're talking about." She says wryly. "Ninja can walk on water through the application of chakra. By projecting a precise and steady flow of chakra through your feet, you can walk on water."
"Oh. Well, that sounds cool." Michiyo concedes.
"Will require precise chakra control, Michiyo." Walter says quietly. "Not your forte."
"Egh," She grunts, "I'll get over it. You'll get it down by the first, second try, no doubt. Just think up some pointers for me, huh?"
"Enk. Fine."
Reika-sensei rolls her shoulders and leads her students to the creek that runs through Training Ground 16.
"I'll demonstrate how to do this, so pay attention." Her hands shape the tiger seal, and the blue glow of chakra briefly surrounds her feet. She lifts up one foot slowly, and, exaggerating her movements, places her foot on the surface of the stream. "When you start, just put one foot down, and then put your weight on it, testing, like so." She demonstrates. "Once you're sure you're pumping out the right amount of chakra, you step fully onto the water-" she steps out, "like this, keeping the flow steady and equal in both feet. Try to keep your balance. Once you get the hang of staying up, you can start to walk. But try to stay away from the parts of fast water over the rocks – it's more difficult to walk on a swift current – and even if you manage, you might drift downstream too quickly to maintain balance. All right. Got that?"
A chorus in the affirmative.
"Then what are you waiting for?"
I hope you liked this one, for me it was sort of meh. Still, it established what it needed to establish. This story should be done before chapter 50. Chapters 43-50ish are all my notes for what I'd planned for this story. I'm sorry, I will write no more full scenes of WWTN? It's just too much for me, and I've lost my interest.
Please review.