Chapter 17: Kakashi vs. Tenten
"One last thing, Kakashi-sensei." Tenten begun.
"What is it?"
"Is it established that you are not allowed to use your Sharingan?"
"There is no such rule." Kakashi stated with finality.
Tenten exhaled slowly. So there was a chance that he would use it at any point in time, ey?
"Any more questions?" Kakashi stated with his eyebrows raised.
Tenten shook her head in response.
"Then we begin."
Kakashi began to charge but in the blink of an eye, she was gone.
She's fast!
Sensing a presence behind him, Kakashi turned around just in time to block Tenten's kick aimed right at his face. As he moved to grab her ankle, she disappeared again almost instantly, landing behind him with yet another kick aimed at his torso.
"Damn! When did Tenten get so fast?" Naruto said in disbelief.
Sakura nodded in surprise.
Sasuke, Sai and Neji continued to watch the fight unfazed while Lee on the other hand was quite surprised. She was as fast as he was.
Kakashi turned around and got hit in the face.
Tenten allowed herself a satisfied smirk that fell just as soon as Kakashi exploded into smoke.
POOF!
On the floor where Kakashi landed was a log.
Tenten sighed. Replacement technique, how could she have missed that? Surveying her surroundings, Tenten fought back a smirk. Of all the places he could hide he just had to choose that?
Smirking, Tenten joined both hands for a seal. "Kagebunshin no jutsu!"
"She can do that technique?" Sakura said wide eyed. That technique was of Jounin level. Even she couldn't do it yet.
Soon, there were ten other clones on the clearing.
"You know what to do."
"Yeah…"
"Gotcha!"
"No sweat…"
Soon, there was only one left in the middle of the clearing. All nine went out to the trees to look for Kakashi.
Kakashi glanced at form in the middle of the clearing. There was no doubt. That was the real Tenten.
"Where is he?" Naruto narrowed his eyes.
As if on cue, a hand came out from under the ground where Tenten was standing. Simultaneously, Tenten threw ten exploding notes on the ground. Two notes managed to stick to the copy ninja's hand.
BOOM!
The spectators watched as the smoke slowly cleared. Tenten and Kakashi were standing in the middle of the clearing unhurt.
"Since when did she get so good?" Naruto asked in disbelief.
Gai began to cry as he mentioned 'youth' and how the 'bud' has grown into a 'beautiful youthful flower'.
Lee looked on impressed her growth.
Sai, Neji and Sasuke remained unfazed.
Neji couldn't help but scoff. If this was all she can do after three years, it wasn't much to be proud of.
Tenten looked at the slightly exasperated figure of Kakashi in front of her in amusement. With a snap of her finger, Kakashi looked on wide-eyed. He was surrounded by her bunshins.
"Soshoryu!"
Kakashi's eyes widened a bit as he watched hundreds of weapons head towards him.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto and Sakura shouted in chorus.
They watched in horror as the weapons pierced their sensei's body.
After the bombard of weapons had ceased and the smoke had cleared, they saw Kakashi standing in the middle of a pile of weapons. His body reduced to that of a pincushion.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "Kakashi-sensei!"
POOF!
It was another bunshin.
"I can't believe you thought that he'd die that easily Naruto!" Sakura scolded.
"But didn't you also get worried about him too?" Sai stated causing Sakura to blush in embarrassment.
"Now where are you Kakashi-sensei?" Tenten called out.
"It's over." Sasuke and Neji stated simultaneously, glaring at each other for the speaking in synch.
"Come on out. I have-" Tenten was cut off by balls of fire heading her way.
"Katon attack by Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto yelled as he jumped in the air.
Tenten jumped out of the way only to be met by one large one.
"Tenten!" Gai yelled as he watched his student being engulfed by the giant fire ball.
"He got her!" Naruto yelled.
Kakashi landed on the floor of the clearing looking for any signs of the weapons mistress.
"Replacement technique." Sai stated as he looked at the cinders on the floor surrounded by pieces of wood.
"You really were trying to kill me, Kakashi-sensei!"
Kakashi looked on in disbelief to see Tenten appear right in front of him.
"Tenten! What are you doing?" Gai scolded.
"Huh?" Tenten was confused. "But I-" Tenten was cut off by kick aimed right to her gut. Tenten avoided the kick as she tried her best to make the Jounin listen but to no avail.
"You can't tell your opponents to wait, Tenten." Kakashi preached much to Tenten's annoyance. If he still wanted to play, then fine, she'll play along.
The match was turned into a battle in taijutsu. Neither was showing signs of defeat. But before Tenten knew it, the trees were fading away, her surroundings became black and Kakashi disappeared. She snorted in annoyance. She was trapped in a genjutsu. She wanted to feel insulted by the sheer simplicity of the trap Kakashi sent her in. Did he really think she was that weak?
KAI!
Tenten looked at Kakashi with a veiled glance. "I feel oddly insulted."
Kakashi simply grinned as he threw a few weapons at her. "I don't know if you're skilled to handle genjutsu. This is just a spar after all. No need to go all out."
Tenten sighed. She decided she didn't want to spar any longer. That genjutsu offense had her blood boiling. If she didn't stop now, she wouldn't be able to tell what would happen next.
Kakashi watched in mortification as Tenten fished out two small bells from her pocket.
Ring… Ring…
"I've been trying to tell you since after my bunshins bombarded you with weapons."
"What?" Naruto and Sakura yelled in unison.
"When did she?" Lee gasped.
"I didn't see her get it." Sai whispered as he narrowed his eyes.
Sasuke and Neji weren't surprised.
"Did you see Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked with poorly veiled sweetness in her tone.
"Neji? Did you see?" Lee asked.
Both prodigies nodded in unison.
Tenten held out a senbon needle. It was shorter and thinner than the usual senbon. "This little guy helped me out."
Kakashi's sighed in understanding. The bunshins, the explosive notes and the Soshoryu attacks weren't made to attempt to take the bells. They were made to distract him.
Tenten walked towards Kakashi and handed him the bells.
"I apologize for underestimating you." Kakashi sighed.
Tenten felt an odd swell of pride in her chest. "That definitely makes up for the genjutsu insult." She smiled.
"Tenten! You beat my eternal rival! I am so proud!" Gai yelled as tears flowed down his face.
"T-Thank you, Gai-sensei." She felt like she was engulfed by a bubble of happiness.
Not soon after Naruto, Sakura and Sai approached her in congratulations. In the corner of her eyes she could see Lee and Neji begin their training. It seems she has yet to impress them.
As the other members of the team began to practice, Tenten sensed a pair of eyes on her. She turned her head only to be met by two intense onyx eyes glaring at her.
Tenten failed to conceal the surprise in her eyes. Clearing her throat, Tenten gave the Uchiha prodigy a polite smile. "Is there something you need, Uchiha-san?"
He gave no answer. The gaze he was giving her was unnerving.
Tenten sighed. "If there isn't anything then, I'll be taking my leave."
With that Tenten bid her goodbyes to the rest of the teams and made her way out of the training grounds. The piercing stare never leaving her back.