Of Charms, Water Fights, and Kabuto
-Of Charms, Water Fights, and Kabuto-
"I should probably introduce you to my team, huh?"
Amaya looked up from her wound to the blonde crouching before her. She then glanced to the other three Genin gathered around her. "Sure... We'll probably be seeing more of each other anyways." She said before turning to the bespectacled male from before. "You're Tetsu, right?"
The ebony haired male nodded slightly and adjusted his glasses. "It's a nickname, but yes. I'm Tetsuya... Tetsuya Yamada."
Hikari huffed. "He's pretty apathetic. Don't get offended if he doesn't say much... Or if it seems like he doesn't have a sense of humor."
"Or it could be that you're just not funny." Tetsuya replied blankly, sending the blonde a dull look when she started complaining.
Hearing a pair of snickers, Amaya looked over to lock eyes with the remaining two members of the team. One of which, sent her a cocky expression. "I'm Kazuki Tanaka, and this is Eijiro Akiyama!"
"It's nice to meet you both!" Amaya replied, sending the two a small closed eye smile.
"Hell yeah! Another cute girl!" The ravenet, Eijiro Akiyama, exclaimed with a fist pump, earning himself rolled eyes from his teammates.
"Ah.. cute girl?" Amaya parroted hesitantly, making the male nod frantically.
"We're around Hikari all the time! So, it's refreshing when we meet a cutie, like you!" Eijiro replied, earning a glare from a certain annoyed blonde.
"OI!"
Eijiro payed no mind and crouched in front of Amaya. He grabbed her right hand and held it in both of his. "You're a Taijutsu user, right? We should totally train together sometime...! Maybe trade some techniques?" He said with a bright smile, waggling his eyebrows for added effect.
Hikari, who didn't enjoy being ignored under any circumstance, promptly whacked the boy in the head. "Cut it out, you perv!" She growled out.
The lighthearted banter was eventually cut off as Naruto shot up screaming, his blue eyes wide and confused.
Silence fell over the small group as they watched the blond gasp and dive to the ground. "Everybody hide! Quick, get down!" He exclaimed as he crawled around on his stomach. "That ninja... Where could she be hiding?"
"Uh... Naruto?" Amaya called, watching with a deadpanned expression as Chōji began to poke the blond's head with a stick.
Shikamaru stood to his full height and leaned over, staring down at the Uzumaki in boredom. "You really are one of a kind, that's for sure. And I mean, you're the kind that gets on my nerves."
Naruto looked up at the Nara and Akimichi before glancing around the clearing, he made brief eye intact with Amaya before letting his gaze trail to the wound in her shoulder. "Amaya!" He yelled, crawling to the brunette's side. "What happened?! Why are you bleeding! Where did that creepy ninja go?!"
Amaya smiled tiredly and waved her hand placatingly. "Mah, mah. Calm down, okay? It's a long story..."
As she trailed off, Naruto glanced over her shoulder to see Sakura and Sasuke sitting quietly, his eyes widening once more at the sight of the Haruno's newly chopped hair. "OH NO, SAKURA!" He exclaimed before standing.
Sakura looked over as he ran to her and Sasuke. "What?"
"Sakura! Sakura! Sakura! Something happened to your-- er... I mean, something's seriously happened to your hair!" Naruto informed, panicky, as he slid to a stop next to the pinkette.
Sakura looked to the side and reached up to touch her, now short, pink locks. "Oh.. that's all. I just wanted to.. change my look! I like it better long, but when I'm out in the wilderness like this, and I'm moving around all the time, it gets in the way too much." She explained with a small smile.
Naruto hummed at her response and looked over his shoulder as Chōji and Shikamaru approached him from behind. "So what's your story? Why are you guys here in the first place? What's going on around here?" He asked, making the duo groan.
"Explaining everything to you is gonna be such a pain." Shikamaru grumbled as he tucked his hands into his pockets.
Sakura shared a look with Amaya as the brunette slowly stood and walked over before looking back to Naruto. "Everyone just showed up to help." She informed, confusing the blond even more.
"What?"
"C'MON, LEE, PULL IT TOGETHER! SNAP OUT OF IT ALREADY, ALRIGHT?!" Tenten's voice yelled out, making everyone turn in her direction and watch as she shook the unconscious Taijutsu user furiously.
"Saa~ I'm glad to see he's ok..." Amaya said as Lee opened his eyes and started conversing with his teammate in an inside voice. Looking back to the group beside her, she was met with a nod from Sakura.
Naruto didn't say anything, but he did stare at Lee with a squinted look before taking off in the male's direction. 'Saa~ Here we go...' Amaya thought as Naruto interrupted the duo's conversation.
"Ah-ha!" The blond exclaimed, pointing at a confused Lee with a wide grin on his face. "I know you, Bushy-Brow!"
Sakura's face screwed up into a nasty scowl as she stood up and walked, or rather stomped, her way over. "HEY! KNOCK IT OFF! YOU BETTER NOT SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT LEE!" She screeched before punching Naruto square in the jaw, sending him tumbling across the dirt to Amaya's feet.
The Minamoto looked down and nudged the blond with the toe of her shoe. She then sent a look saying, 'What can ya do?', to the ones beside her with a sigh. "Are you ok, Naruto?" She asked, earning a small groan from the boy in return. "You should be a bit nicer to Lee... He's been a huge help today. We owe him a lot." She added before stepping over her friend to follow Sakura.
***
"Lee?" Amaya heard Sakura call out as she neared the pinkette's side.
At the sound of his name, the male looked up and away from Naruto's beaten form. "Huh?"
Sakura sent him a small, grateful smile. "Thank you... Because of you, I was able to stand up for myself. And I've become a little stronger." She said, making Lee look at her with widened eyes, which quickly filled up with tears.
"Thank you, Sakura! But..." Lee began, only stopping to rub his eyes. "I guess my efforts were not good enough."
Amaya sighed softly and shook her head, reaching out with her good arm, she ruffled his hair. "Don't say that, Lee!" She murmured as he looked up at her with flushed cheeks. "I wasn't able to do much with my shoulder this way... If it weren't for you, we'd be dead by now. We really owe ya one, ya know?" She added, causing his flush to grow darker from the attention.
***
Eijiro scowled from his spot between Sasuke and Kazuki. "Aw man! Lee always gets the girls!" He grumbled, crossing his arms as he watched the trio talk. "I'm so jealous!"
Sasuke and Naruto, who sat on the ground in front of the ravenet, turned to him deadpanning as Kazuki laughed.
"What makes you say that?" Sasuke asked with a raised brow.
Eijiro looked at the Uchiha as if he just killed a kitten. "What do you mean?! It's so obvious... He's so cool! Girls can't deny that Lee is the epitome of manliness! One way or another, they always fall for his charms!"
Kazuki snorts and turns his head, biting his lip as Tetsuya made a comment of his own. "Maybe it's the jumpsuit and the leg warmers... Or maybe the haircut..."
Eijiro looked at the bespectacled male, who obviously meant it as a joke, in awe. "I think you're on to something, Tetsu!" He exclaimed as he pounded a fist onto his palm.
Sasuke stared at the three bewildered before deciding to walk away. Opting to stand next to his female teammates as they talked to the topic of "interest".
His arrival gained Lee's attention. "Sasuke. You are as good as your reputation. Just what you would expect from the Uchiha clan. To chase off those ninja, you must be very strong. Not like me, I just got beaten to a pulp." He said, making the Uchiha eyes widen in surprise.
Amaya sighed and flicked the boy's forehead. "Enough with the self-depreciation already."
Lee flinched and glanced down shyly as he rubbed his forehead. Looking back up, he shot the two a smile. "Sakura... Amaya... The lotus of the Leaf Village blooms twice."
Amaya narrowed her eyes in confusion as Sakura hummed curiously. Seeing as the two didn't understand his meaning, Lee's smile widened. "When we meet again, I will have become a stronger ninja! I promise!" He adds determinedly, making the two laugh.
"SEE WHAT I MEAN?! CHARMS!" Eijiro's voice screeched out.
-Meanwhile-
"This is turning into a real mess. But there's no way we can cancel the test." Anko grumbled out in frustration to the two ANBU standing before her.
"What do you mean?"
Anko opened her mouth to answer but stopped as the door opened, revealing another Chunin. "Sorry to interrupt." He apologized as he entered.
Anko narrowed her eyes. "What do you want? We're talking about something important!"
"Ah-- I'm sorry, but it's this tape, you have to see it." The Chunin replied as he walked over to put the tape in.
"What is it?" Anko questioned, leaning forward to get a closer look at the screen.
"Okay, now when you watch this, pay close attention to the time." He advises, grabbing the remote to press play.
The tape began to play, revealing security footage of a large expansive room. Eventually three people enter the room at 4:07 and counting. Anko's eyes widen at the familiar faces of the Sand Ninja participating in the exam. "Wha... But that means..."
"That's right, Anko. This was recorded from inside the tower. It's unbelievable, those ninja finished only an hour and thirty-seven minutes after the test started. They completely destroyed the record for completing the test."
Anko jumped to her feet. "What?! That's impossible!"
The Chunin nodded and turned back to tv. "It took just ninety-seven minutes. Nothing like this has happened before. No ones even come close... Those ninja from the Sand Village are way above Genin level. They beat the record by four hours."
Anko scowled and walked over to the window, looking out into the darkened foliage as she pondered. "I'm afraid it's not just that."
All three males turned to her. "I don't get it, what do you mean?" One of the ANBU asked.
"Its ten kilometers from the test gates to the tower... And in between are ferocious animals, and poisonous insects... not to mention the other ninja. Could they really have avoided all those things? Especially the kid in the front."
"What's so special about him?"
Anko turns to look at them with a bemused expression. "You mean you didn't see?" She asked, motioning for the Chunin to rewind the tape to the part in which the trio enter and Gaara instantly looks up to the camera.
"Interesting. That is quite a surprise."
The Chunin looked between the proctor and the two seemingly impressed ANBU before looking back to the tv. "I still don't get it. What am I supposed to be seeing here?"
Anko sighs. "It's what you're not seeing. Look closely at his body."
A moment of silence passes as they all stare at the screen. "I see it now." The Chunin then replies with a smirk.
"Not one single scratch. And I've not been able to spot one speck of dirt on his clothing." All three males turn to her as she says this before the ANBU begin talking amongst themselves aloud.
"He must have some special ability."
"It's been a long time since we had such a promising candidate. But his eyes are pure evil."
Amaya sighs to herself as she pulls her shoes off. Sitting down on a rock, she dips her feet into the river before turning her attention back to Naruto, who was currently looking down at her and Sasuke from a cliff above.
"Breakfast time! Shadow Clone Fishing Jutsu! Bombs away!" The blond yelled as he jumped, cannonballing into the water with a large splash.
Several fish leap from the clear surface, prompting Sasuke to pull out some kunai. He throws them, pinning each one to a nearby tree.
Amaya let out a low whistle. "Nice shot, Duckbutt." She praised, earning a scowl at the nickname and a quiet "Hn." in response. Naruto then breaks the waters surface with a loud gasp of air, panting as he scowls at Sasuke.
"Well? Come on, is that it? I only got four. Now go and do it again." The Uchiha orders, crossing his arms as he stares back at the blond blankly.
Naruto's scowl morphs into a full-on glare. "What?!"
"I could eat four fish myself." Sasuke answers simply as if the blond were stupid.
"Well if you think it's so easy, why don't you get wet, and I'll stand on the shore?!" Naruto yelled out, flapping his arms around, splashing the water furiously as he done so.
"Saa~... C'mon you two, let's not argue right now, okay?" Amaya asks tiredly, making the two males look away from each other with a huff.
"Sasuke! The fire's ready to light, I could use one of your fireballs!" Sakura called out from their small campsite up the path, causing the Uchiha to sigh.
"I've gotta do everything around here." He grumbles as he makes his way towards camp earning an eye roll from Amaya in return.
Naruto's face darkens even more as his glare deepens. "Huh?... YOU DO, HUH? WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING?!" He yells out, only to be ignored as Sasuke continues on.
"Naruto...?" Amaya calls out, gaining the blond's attention. Once she's sure his focus is on her, the brunette kicks her leg out quickly, splashing the boy in the face. "If you keep making that face, it's gonna get stuck like that and you'll look like the fish you're swimming with!"
Naruto splutters as he spits out the water, the tips of his ears going pink as he hears her laughter. "Oh yeah?" He asks, making the girl freeze as he wades closer to her with a glint in his eyes.
Amaya chuckles nervously, weighing her options for a quick escape. "Naruto.. listen..." However, she didn't get to finish her sentence as Naruto splashed her in the face. "OI!"
Naruto cackles with glee and begins to make hand signs. "I'm not finished yet! Take this...! Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
At first, the Minamoto deadpanned at the sheer number of clones that appeared, but that all changed as they all began to cannonball into the water, inevitably splashing her in the process.
***
"NARUTO, STOP!" Amaya's laughter resonated through the area, prompting Sakura and Sasuke to look up and turn in their direction.
"I'M SORRY! NO... Don't. You. Dare!" Her voiced exclaimed again, followed quickly by a silence. Sasuke and Sakura shared a look, the latter jumping as Amaya let out another shriek. "SASUKE! SAKURA, HELP ME!"
A loud splash soon followed along with Naruto's hysterical laughter, earning a sigh from Sasuke as he glared in the duo's direction. "Idiots. Do they wanna lead the other teams here?!"
Sakura laughed lightly and shook her head. "Aw, let 'em have some fun, Sasuke. This is the happiest we've seen Amaya be since all this started."
Sasuke huffed, trying to ignore the loud bouts of laughter emitting from the riverbank. "Yeah."
"It's already been four days since the second exam began." Sasuke mused aloud, poking at the fire with a stick to keep it going.
"Saa~... This is such a pain..." Amaya grumbles out, wringing her sodden hair out as she stared into the fire.
"That's right..." Sakura agrees silently.
Sasuke sighs and leans back on his palms, staring at each of them closely as he speaks. "We're sure not gonna break any records. And we only have twenty-four hours left."
"I wonder how many of the other teams have already got their scrolls and finished..." Sakura mumbles out turning to watch Amaya braid her hair into a side braid.
"Kiba's team are experts in tracking. No doubt they've probably sniffed out their scrolls already." Amaya commented before continuing. "And even though those Sound guys got their asses handed to 'em, their leader, Dosu? He's probably strong enough on his own to get everything they need."
A heavy silence fell over them for a few minutes before it was broken by Sakura. "We have to face it... There may not be anymore heaven scrolls left."
Sasuke glanced up at her with a blank look. "Well that's a cheerful thought." He replied sarcastically.
Sakura looked down. "Maybe so, but it's true. Look, you said it yourself, Sasuke. This is the fourth day we've been out here. That means we've already used up eighty percent of the time we've got to complete the exam. Only thirteen teams can pass and there are only thirteen pairs of heaven and earth scrolls. And you've got twenty-six teams, seventy-eight candidates out looking for them."
Naruto looked up at the three as if now tuning into the conversation. "Huh?"
Sakura ignored the blond and continued. "And if those odds weren't bad enough, things have gotten worse. Don't forget, that creep Orochimaru burnt the heaven scroll we had."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, I remember."
"The number of complete pairs of scrolls that could be found was reduced by one right there. Not to mention all of the ones found and secured by the other teams since then."
Sasuke sighed and looked back to the fire. "Maybe we gave ourselves too much time to rest and recover from our last fight. I dunno... What I do know, is that we've got to get serious now and make up for lost time. The next enemy we face, could be our last chance." He said before standing. "I'm gonna get water. Amaya, gather the others and come on."
Amaya looked up at her name. "Eh? Oh.. uh.. right." She stammered, sending the other two a confused look as she took their canteens before following after him.
***
Not much was said between the two as they made their way down the path to the river, though the silence wasn't uncomfortable.
"You've been picking at it again." Sasuke comments, side-eyeing the girl walking beside him. And at her confused look, he chose to elaborate. "Your bandages."
Amaya glanced down to her shoulder, the bandaging next to her neck was beginning to fray slightly. "It's uncomfortable, that's all."
By this point they had reached the bank. Sasuke kneeled next to the rivers edge and dipped two canteens into the water. "It'll only get worse if you mess with it. The last thing we need is you getting an infection."
The Minamoto huffed and rolled her eyes as she handed him the other two canteens. "I'm sure I'll be fine. Though I may be a little useless if we get into another fight."
"We'll manage." Was Sasuke's curt reply as he stood.
***
A few minutes later, they found themselves rounding a large rock facing that was next to their small campsite. Amaya stopped humming to herself as a thought crossed her mind. "Hey, since it's the fourth day, wouldn't most teams be making their way towards the towe--"
Sasuke cut her off as he abruptly shoved two of the canteens he was carrying into her chest. He then lightly pushed her back behind the boulder. "Shh!"
"What's going on? Sasuke?" Amaya whispered back, though her question was answered as she spotted an unknown guest crouching next to Naruto and Sakura.
"An enemy!" Sasuke growled, pulling out a kunai as he ran forward.
The male spun around and quickly parried Sasuke attack before jumping back and out of the way as Amaya caught up.
"Kabuto?"
-A Few Minutes Later-
"I can't believe you guys!" Sasuke snapped, crossing his arms as he stared Naruto and Sakura down.
Amaya pinched the bridge of her nose as if to relive the headache that was quickly forming. "What made you think that opening the scroll was a good idea? Honestly you two, even the proctor warned against it!" The two didn't look up at her as she spoke, too ashamed that they gave into temptation.
"If I hadn't come along when I did..." Kabuto trailed off.
"Sorry, Sasuke... Amaya..." Sakura apologized quietly as Naruto mumbled out his, his words blending together unintelligibly.
"There have been others who have broken the rules and tried to peek at the scrolls. I've seen what happens to them... They're protected by a powerful hypnosis jutsu, a kind of boobytrap for anyone unwise enough to try and read them. It'll knock you out senseless, and by the time you wake up the exam is over." Kabuto informed, causing Sakura and Naruto to blanch.
Amaya huffed and plopped herself down onto a considerable sized stone. "Well I guess we're lucky that you showed up when you did. Thanks for that."
Kabuto stared at her for a moment. "You're welcome." He said as his eyes caught sight of the bandages wrapped around her left shoulder. "You're injured?"
The brunette hummed and gently pulled down her shirt sleeve, revealing a bloodstained bandage. "We had a nasty run in with some of the other teams a day or so ago."
Kabuto kneeled next to her, causing the other three to tense at the sudden action. "I can take a look at it if you like? I dabble a little in Medical Ninjutsu, though I can't promise I'll heal it completely, I am a beginner after all." He said with a light laugh.
Amaya narrowed her eyes at the suggestion before glancing around at her teammates. Looking back to the male before her, she sighed. "Ah, I don't want to be a bother. I should be fine until the test is over. Besides, my family's Kekkei Genkai is helping it out slowly."
Kabuto smiled. "I insist. Really, it's no bother at all." He replies as he reached forward to gently untie the bandage, revealing a deep laceration surrounded by bruised skin. Grimacing at the sight, Kabuto locked eyes with the brunette once more. "A nasty run in all right. I'm surprised it's not infected... You said your Kekkei Genkai's "helping" mind sharing?"
Hundreds of thoughts ran through Amaya's head at that point, though she chose the option of remaining vague. "Saa~... Family secrets are secret for a reason, ne?" She said with a closed eye smile.
Kabuto, albeit unsatisfied with her answer, smiled tensely in return. The glint in the brunette's eyes being warning enough to drop the subject. Letting out a chuckle, he placed his hand over the wound. "Of course... Now let's see what I can do about that shoulder."
Sasuke, ever the observant, took careful note of the two's interaction, though didn't say anything aloud. 'Amaya probably has her reasons. The Minamoto always were secretive when it came to their abilities, even after joining alliance with the Leaf... But I feel like there's more to it than that, she usually goes on instinct alone.'
Although, Amaya was wary of the male in front of her, that didn't stop her fascination of watching chakra heal the wound. After a few minutes pass, Kabuto pulls his hand away with a sigh and rubs his forehead. "There, I've healed it just enough to were it won't reopen or hinder your fighting too much... The bruising is still there, and it was deep enough to scar, but I did what I could."
Amaya nodded and gently grazed a finger over the now scared flesh. "Saa~... Better than bleeding out continuously... Thanks again, although you didn't have to."
Kabuto waved her off and stood completely. "It was no problem, I'm happy to help. However, I'd still go get it checked out after this test if over, just to be safe." He advised, making the brunette nod.
Silence fills the clearing after that, leaving the five to stare at each other awkwardly. Finally, Sasuke speaks up. "Kabuto, right? We met at the registration. What are you doing wondering around all by yourself?"
Kabuto smirks in return. "Don't worry, I'm not after your earth scroll."
Sasuke keeps his face clear of any emotion, though his eyes show distrust. "I guess not. I suppose if you were, you would've just swiped it from Naruto when you had the chance. So, you're looking for a heaven scroll, too, huh?"
"Not really. You see, I already have both." Kabuto answers before reaching into one of his pouches to pull out both a heaven and earth scroll, making the four go wide eyed. Seeing their expressions, he smirks and puts them away. "I've had a run of luck. I was just on my way to the tower to wait for my teammates to show up. So, if you'll excuse me..."
They watch as Kabuto trails off and turns, beginning to make his way back into the foliage. "Hold it." Sasuke orders, making the older male come to a stop and turn back. "I'll fight you for it."
"You'll fight me for it?" Kabuto asks, becoming amused at the Uchiha's slight desperation.
"But Sasuke..." Sakura murmurs as she, Naruto and Amaya stare at the male in disbelief.
"Hold on a second, is this a joke or what?!" Naruto growled out with a scowl.
Kabuto entered a stare off with Sasuke for a moment. "Are you serious?"
Sasuke smirked at the question. "Perfectly. Sorry, but I don't have time to play nice."
Naruto stepped forward and pointed at the Uchiha angrily. "Back off, Sasuke! In case you've forgotten, this guy saved our butts! He even healed Amaya's wound, well, what little he could!"
"Naruto's got a point... We don't want to be ungrateful or anything." Sakura added, folding her hands in front of her chest.
"Shut up." Sasuke spat, surprising the pinkette even more.
"But Sasuke..."
Sasuke sighed but didn't take his eyes off of Kabuto. "It can't be helped, it's either him or us. Out here it's all about surviving and winning, nothing else matters."
Kabuto stared at him for a moment before smirking as he turned around to face them completely. "Hmm... You're lying."
Naruto was completely baffled by this point. "Eh-he is?"
Kabuto snickered. "C'mon, admit it! For all of your tough talk, your heart really isn't in it. If it was true, if winning was really the only thing that mattered to you, why openly challenge me to a fight? Why announce it and put me in my guard? Why not just jump me when my back is turned?" He asks, adjusting his glasses as he continued. "After all, that's what a ninja would do."
Naruto squinted his eyes and gave a small nod. "Hmm.. that's pretty deep..."
Kabuto gave them a small grin as he spoke. "It's okay, actually I admire you for it. So, here's what I'll do. I'll show you the path you should follow. But let's go, it's best we get out of here. That cooking fire is going to draw every wild beast in the forest. And not only animals, but the competition, too."