EDIT: another chapter edited on my part with fixed quotation marks and scene changes mostly.
Wow, so many reviews! I can't even tell you how much it means to me to know that you like the story. I would like to give a special 'thank you' for BlueKanji and Ruka-kun (whoes stories I also recommend you to read, because they're really good): thank you for the support.
But 'new' reviewers (as well as the 'old' ones) are always welcome, of course.
Now, because I know you didn't stopped by to read the intro, I guess I should get going with the story... and just as a reminder, there's a special note at the end of the chapter, which I promised.
Now, lets see how Naruto and the gang are doing:
Chapter #6: Gennin Exam – part V
Bad Luck Chain
Chapter Cover: Kusari is using his chain as a swing... the chain is attached to a tree branch located above him
"Where did Naruto-sensei wetn to?" thought Ibuki, while jumping from one tree to another. Suddenly she stopped and looked in front of her; there was Kusari attacking the jounin with a chain: "There you are…" she announced to herself and observed the whole battle from a distance.
Naruto was easily dodging Kusari's attacks by jumping to the sides, the boy's chain hasn't touched him even once. The preteen kept swinging his hands, thus making the weapon chase after the blond's movement, but every attack was too slow. He felt that his arms started to lose their strength.
"The chain isn't an everyday shinobi tool" announced the whisker-marks calmly. "Wanna know why? First of: the attacks launched are usually slow and can go in just one direction. Second: above it's range…" at this point the man stepped on one of the chains."When blocked, it makes its user completely defenseless…"
Surprisingly for Kai, Kusari smiled. A moment later, Naruto felt chakra flowing
"Impossible" he thought, looking at the chain.
A second later he looked back and saw the sharp end of the chain coming directly towards him. The end of the chain which part he stepped on!
-That time, elsewhere-
Takaru was finally able to stand up. As soon as he stood back on his feet, he started to move every part of his body. It was completely numbness. Suddenly he noticed somebody's presence. He pulled out a kunai and turned around. It was Kumiko.
"What do you want?" he asked coldly, retreating the knife.
"The paralyze disappeared, I hope" she responded with a smirk.
"How did you…? Never mind. I heard an explosion. Was that you?"
"Kinda…" she nodded.
"But you didn't get the bells, did you?"
"No, I didn't" confirmed Kumiko simply. "But I do have an idea how to get them, if you're willing to listen…"
-Back to the fight-
Naruto dodged the attack from behind by jumping to the left. He heard the blade going right next to him as he flew. "Unbelievable" he thought to himself. "Being able to control the chain with chakra at this age. This kid's ability to control chakra surpasses even that of Sakura-chan!"
"Didn't work" announced Kusari, dropping his face a tad. "I really thought that I'll get you this time, sensei…"
"Well, you did surprised me, I'll give you that" responded the older blond.
"Well, it's not like I have no chance of getting the bells now" noticed the boy. "Even though my secret was revealed, it still doesn't mean that my chain won't reach your bells, Naruto-sensei.'
"It won't, Kusari" interrupted Kai.
"We'll see about that, won't we?" responded the chain master and attacked the Kyuubi vessel with his weapon again.
Both ends of the chain were flying parallel to the ground, straight at the jounin. Naruto strafed right to dodged the ball end and grabbed the one ended with the blade. Before he knew it, the part with the sharp end started to twist around his right hand and went to his belt in order to get the bells.
The blond jumped forward and charged right at Kusari. The preteen just moved the fingers of his right hand and suddenly the part of the chain ended with the ball blocked Naruto's path.
"Bad move" announced Naruto with a smirk, pulling out a kunai from his holster.
Before Kusari could react in any way, the jounin stabbed the chain so that the blade of the knife went through the links of both chain parts. After that, the sharp part that until now was using Naruto's hand to get to the bells, stopped.
"No matter how good is your chakra control…" explained Naruto calmly with a straight face. "If the chain is blocked, its length can't increase. The point at which the sharp end is right now…" at this time he pointed the blade at the end of the chain, which almost reached the bells "Is its limit…"
"He used the weakness of Kusari's weapon" thought Ibuki, narrowing her eyes. "He really is good!"
"Also…" continued the Kyuubi vessel with the same voice. "With nailing both ends, the part with the ball on its end won't be able to do much either…"
Kusari got angry and ordered the sharp ended part of the chain to let go of Naruto's hand. As soon as that was done, the blade at the end of the chain attacked the man's head this time. But with no chain blocking him, the whisker-marks easily dodged the attack, by jumping back. The chain kept chasing him but after a few jumps back, he stopped; the blade froze just before his face.
"I told you, that with my kunai blocking it, your chain has its length limits…"
"I didn't used that attack to get you, Naruto-sensei" responded Kusari as he walked forward. "It was to force you to back up, so I could do this" and with those words he pulled out the kunai that was blocking his chain.
The jounin instantly dodged the sharp end, which continued the flow stopped because of the knife. Before he even had time to look around, he sensed that the other end of the chain was coming straight at him. Without thinking, the Kyuubi vessel jumped to the air. A second after, the part of the chain with the ball on its end hit the ground, lifting tons of dirt to the air.
While he was still in midair, the sharp end of the chain came at him once more. With no possibility to dodge, Naruto pulled out one of his kunai and threw it directly at the chain's blade. It worked and the attack was deflected.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, they had to leave it again, due to another attack. This time it was the part ended with the ball that made an attempt to hit him once more. The jounin landed on the ground and looked at Kusari. The chains were waving in his hands, even though the boy wasn't moving.
"Damn" the chain master thought to himself. "He's better then I anticipated. I gotta think of something…"
"Kusari, when it'll get to your little mind, that you won't be able to get those bells?" asked Kai, walking up to his teammate.
"Shut up!" his companion shoot back annoyed. "I suppose you're such a marvelous shinobi, that you'll be the one to get them?"
"No" announced the younger blond, surprising the chain master. "Neither me, you, Kumiko, Ibuki or even Takaru is able to get those bells…"
"Stop talking nonsense!" ordered Kusari, anger mixed with confusion. "If it's not possible to get the bells, then what's the point in this exam?"
"I'm not saying it's not possible to get the bells" corrected Kai matter-of-factly. "I'm just saying that no-one from the five of us will be able to get them. At least not alone…"
"What're you suggesting?"
"There are four bells" explained Kai calmly. "All of us won't be able to pass that exam, but if we won't work together, none of us will. There's two of us. By working together, we'll need to get only two bells, so why not combine forces? As a team, we have better chances to get at least one…"
"You know, this actually make sense" responded Kusari with a nod. "Fine, lets try it. After all, we've got nothing to lose" he proclaimed while Naruto just smiled under his nose.
-joining forces to achieve common goal… and the result?-
So, the 6th chapter ends here. All seems to failed, so what will team #7 do now? You'll have to keep reading in order to find out.
And now, time for the promised, special note. As I said, it's nothing, really special, but if any of you guys (and girls) were wondering what the names of my characters mean, you'll find the answer right here. Without further to do:
Naruto Uzumaki: this one you probably all know, but just in case, it won't hurt to inform you, that 'Uzumaki' means whirlpool and the biggest whirlpools in Japan are thought to be located near the Naruto straits
Kai Haisha: his last name means simply a loser, the defeated (which refers to what others call him). Kai has actually many meanings, but in this case it refers to 'low rank' (I choose it to underline his last name).
Ibuki Tanken: her clans name means dagger, which is thought to be a typical, assassin weapon (many killers use it). Her first name, Ibuki, means simply a 'mighty blow', but can also be translated as 'breath' and if you exclude the first 'I', you get 'buki', which stands for 'weapon'.
Takaru Gekido: his last name means 'rage'. That is the name chosen by Takaru himself and will be explained in the later parts of the story (though you could figure it out already). As for his first name, takaru, was created from the word 'takara', which means 'treasure'. That name was given to him and it'll also be explained in the later part of the story.
Kumiko Murasakki: her last name, written with single 'k' (murasaki) means purple and that is also the color of Kumiko's dress. Her name means simply 'forever beautiful child', which refers to her looks, as she is though to be rather attractive.
Kusari Hagane: both his first and last name have only one meaning: 'hagane' means 'steel' and 'kusari' can be translated as 'chain', which is also Kusari's primary weapon. Putting both his names together, you'll get 'Steel chain'.
Well, I guess it's nothing, really special, but I hope this makes a good add-on for the story.
And with that akcent, I want to invite you to read the next chapter. Hope to see you then.
Bye.