Chapter 8
Chapter 8
When the kids all banished into the surrounding trees and shrubbery, he was satisfied. Not that he hadn’t expected it, especially after listening in on the whispered plan between the twins. Heightened senses came in handy.
He decided to play along, though, facing the bunch of clones arranged around the blonde in the middle of the clearing.
It wasn’t hard to feign being put off by the middle clone’s loud challenge. Inside, he was already planning how to go about testing their skill without letting them gleam any of his, which he knew was the whole purpose of this charade.
‘Akira is definitely smarter than any of his previous teachers realised.’
“You know, compared to the others, you’re strange.”
“Oh, really? The only strange thing here is your haircut!”
Kakashi raised an eyebrow as the clones charged at him. If he believed he’d annoy him with those comments… well, he’d show him. There was no one better than Hatake Kakashi at annoying people.
Still half-turned, he reached into his pouch.
The blonds all stopped and jumped back, watching him warily.
‘So he does have some self-preservation, after all. Still, not enough.’
“First Shinobi Battle Skill: Taijutsu.”
When he whipped out his copy of Icha Icha Paradise, the blonde stared, blushing.
“What’s the matter? Why don’t you come at me?”
“What’s with the book?”
“Well, I was curious about what happens next, so… Don’t worry. With you guys as opponents it makes no difference if I’m reading it or not.” He goaded.
The embarrassed blush turned into a flush of anger.
“I’m going to rip you apart if you bring that near my brother, pervert!” the clones all shouted at once, charging ahead.
With barely any effort and without taking his eyes off his book, he stopped a swing from Middle Clone, dodged another two ―which sent them flying over his head― and kicked another two strong enough to dispel them. He was actually a bit impressed to discover they were actually solid clones.
‘Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, eh? The forbidden jutsu that did in Mizuki… Not bad.”
As the remaining three clones kept swinging at him, he grabbed two and knocked their heads together, dispelling them and probably giving the real Naruto a headache in the process. It would only be temporary.
Sidestepping the last one ―the so dubbed by him Middle Clone― he crouched behind him and brought his hands together into the Tiger Seal.
“Ninja shouldn’t let the enemy catch them from behind multiple times, fool. And by the way, you’ll have to do better than a bunch of clones whilst you hide away in the forest if you want to pass this test, Naruto.”
“Naruto, get out of there quick!” shouted Sakura’s voice from the forest. “You’ll die!”
Kakashi almost laughed aloud at her words. Maybe there was some hope for this group. It was a big maybe, though: she had warned her teammate, but she hadn’t done anything to help him.
“Too late.” Muttered the man. “Leaf Village Secret! Ultimate Taijutsu! One Thousand Years of Death!″
Instead of the orange-clad child flying through the air, as it would’ve happened if it had been the real Naruto, the clone vanished in a cloud of smoke, followed by a yelp coming from the forest. Giving away the twins’ position.
It was a good opportunity to confront them; too good to pass it up. Pinpointing their exact location once he’d an idea of where they were was easy. Using the Kawarimi Jutsu ―an easy E-rank ninjutsu taught at the Academy― on a log, he vanished into the forest.
HPNHPNHPNHPN
Naruto watched the fight between his decoy clones and Kakashi-sensei from their hiding place perched on top of a tree, the dense foliage hding them and providing a vantage point to observe.
Akira was frowning, watching everything carefully.
“He’s not taking this seriously.” Protested Naruto when they saw the man take a book out of his pouch.
“He is a jōnin, Naruto.” Whispered Akira, his expression troubled. “It’s to be expected.”
Something was bothering his brother and that was bad. It meant he’d noticed something.
“Do you have a plan yet?”
“Maybe. The beginnings of one?”
“You don’t sound too confide- that bastard!” growled Naruto, getting ready to jump into the clearing after two of his shadow clones vanished after a couple kicks.
Akira barely managed to hold him back.
“Naruto, not yet!” whispered the redhead urgently. “What’s got into you?”
He blushed as he recalled what had got him so mad.
“Sensei is reading one of the books you’re not allowed.”
Akira blinked up at him, knowing the only books that fit that category where what Naruto deemed ‘perverted books’.
The blond recalled the first time he’d seen one of those books, when he’d been much younger. He’d recognised the characters on the front page as the name of the author of his brother’s favourite book. He’d quiet happily taken the book and bounded up to the cashier, ready to pay whatever inflated price the owner came up with this time if it’d bring a smile to his brother’s face. However, he’d tripped and the book had fallen from his hands, opening at a random page. He’d blushed to the roots of his hair at the content and swore right then and there not to let his little brother get his hands on one of those ever, lest he be scarred for life.
“Right… you still can’t jump in there, Naruto.”
“What do I do, then?” asked the blond, rubbing his head at the sudden headache he got.
“Create another four shadow clones and send them into the forest. Have them find a small clearing and start filling it with traps.”
Naruto nodded, doing just that.
“Now what?”
“Now-”
Whatever Akira had been about to say was cut off by a pained yelp from Naruto, the blond rubbing his butt. The clearing where his clones had been fighting Kakawshi-sensei was suddenly empty.
Akira, eyes wide, grabbed his arm.
“Naruto,” he urged. “we have to-”
“Going somewhere, boys?”
Naruto’s eyes widened as he tensed and spun around, almost falling off from the tree, his brother’s hold on his arm steadying him. Kakashi-sensei was crouched down on a tree branch not two meters from them, book in hand and expression pleasant.
‘How did he get there so fast? I didn’t even hear him sneak up on us!”
“You all remember you won’t be getting any lunch unless you get a bell, right?” he reminded them, his voice carrying through the forest, obviously directed at all four children.
Naruto growled at the reminder. If not for his brother bringing something that morning, he’d be faring much worse. As it was, he was starting to grow hungry again.
But before he could act on his anger, he felt his brother jump back and he still had enough sense to follow him. Naruto and Akira jumped back…
…and into the empty field.