Shikaku Nara POV
I was walking calmly through the pine forest. Can't say those three have worked together yet, I pondered. Even when they joined forces, it was just Shisui and Amaya. They teamed up to rescue Takafumi.
That wasn't teamwork, I let out a heavy sigh. Mendokuse... Why did I listen to Minato and agree to such a tiresome test? I could have just done something less boring...
"Teamwork is essential. And this will also show you that you can keep Amaya on your team." Those were the words from that spiky-haired blond idiot, I complained silently. But I'm not sure it's going to work out in the end.
I had already seen a bit of what that girl was capable of, both at the genin graduation test and in her Academy classes. Her group taijutsu test showed she's not just good with ninjutsu, but also with hand-to-hand and strategizing with little planning time.
It's just her genjutsu skills I haven't observed, I thought. But if I consider her brother's abilities, as well as Kagami's, there's a good chance she might develop well in that area too, thanks to her bloodline.
Amaya definitely isn't your typical fresh-out-of-the-Academy student, not even a standard genin, I admitted to myself. She has an interesting demeanor... and a mindset that sparks my interest a bit. If she passes today's test, I'll make sure to follow her development as a ninja.
I felt a strong chakra up ahead and stopped for a moment. I'm not familiar with this chakra... It must be Amaya's. She kept it strong like that so I would find her. I gave a weak smile. Let's see what happens next.
I moved to a more open part of the training field. The girl was standing with her arms crossed, her back to me. I approached calmly, looking around.
I don't feel Shisui's or Takafumi's chakra nearby, I kept a wary eye out. Is she really alone? Or is her chakra so strong it's helping to hide their positions?
I noticed that, unlike before, the girl's hair was partly tied up. Two strands were pulled back and held by a light-colored ribbon. When she turned to face me, I saw she also had a lock of dark hair tied up.
A lock of hair the same color as the Uchiha clan members, I noted. Interesting. What other clan traits might she have inherited? Like her brother, does she have, or could she develop, the Sharingan?
Hard to say... It's a high-stakes gamble, considering even pure-blooded clan members might never awaken it, I thought.
– I was waiting for you, Shikaku-sensei – the Uzumaki announced calmly.
– I thought you'd try to team up with your potential teammates – I commented casually, but stayed guarded against any sudden moves from her.
– It seems Shisui and Takafumi-san prefer to work together, since they have a better "chance of success" – She made air quotes with her hands.
– Were those Shisui's words or Takafumi's? – I asked.
– Of course, from the bigger idiot – I couldn't help but give a weak laugh at her bluntness.
That really is something Takafumi would say, after all, he'd already shown an aversion to Amaya when they met earlier.
– So you decided to try your luck alone? – I questioned the girl – Shisui and Takafumi couldn't do it. You think you can?
– They might have had a hard time with you, but I'm not like them – She spoke with a completely impassive expression, and I had to suppress a faint smile.
She knows how to keep her expressions unreadable, I assessed silently. I can't tell if she's bluffing or being serious. But from what I've seen of her fighting, I know she has skill. I can't let my guard down.
– Say something like that after you get the bells, Amaya – I said, putting my hands in my pockets.
She uncrossed her arms and threw some shuriken at me. I jumped to the side, dodging without much effort.
– Attacks that obvious are useless! – I warned her, stopping after dodging her initial attack.
In a quick motion, the girl threw two kunai to my right and left, cutting two ropes that were there. A trap set precisely where I'd evade her first attack...
I tried to stop my momentum to escape the trap and pushed myself away from the cloud of kunai coming my way. As I finished dodging the trap's attack, I looked for the redhead.
She wasn't in front of me anymore, and there was no sign of her to the sides. From behind, I realized, turning just in time to block the leg aiming for my head. Pretty heavy for a girl, I noted.
Before she could land, I grabbed her ankle, holding her trapped and suspended in the air. Without missing a second, she tried to throw a punch at my face, but I caught her fist with my free hand.
She pulled her hand back to try and break free and tried to hit me with her free leg. I blocked her kick and grabbed that other leg, leaving her upside down. It was then I saw a faint smile on her lips. This is...!
Amaya reached her right hand near the bells on my waist and lightly touched one as I pulled my body back. I let go of her legs at the same moment and quickly moved away from her.
The redhead fell to the ground again. This girl... I did exactly what she wanted. She stood up without apparent hurry, and I did the same, my attention on her doubled.
I saw I had stopped near some trees, and thanks to the weak sun in the sky, there were enough shadows between us. It's time to start putting my own plans into action too..., I thought.
I took a few steps to the shadow of the first tree near me. If I use my jutsu from here, she won't see it, I considered. Luckily for me, she doesn't know how Shadow Imitation works. And even if she notices, it'll be too late.
– Well, I must confess you're different from those two – I said calmly, making my shadows advance towards her – But that alone isn't enough to defeat me.
– I'm aware of that, sensei – the Uzumaki replied just as calmly – Just as I know you're already putting some plan into action.
Right then, a kunai hit the exact spot where my shadow was advancing towards Amaya. Where did that attack come from? I immediately turned my attention to the center. Amaya quickly moved away from my shadow.
– Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu! – The next second, I heard Shisui's voice close to me.
A direct attack from him is dangerous. I dispelled my shadow jutsu and brought my hands together, forming the seals for a water-style jutsu.
– Water Style: Water Projectile! – I said.
My jutsu collided with Shisui's, creating a dense cloud of steam. He's still young, but his skill with Fire Style is worthy of an adult Uchiha clan member.
I looked around, trying to figure where the next attack would come from. They've blocked my long-range vision. This could get problematic, especially with these two siblings fighting together.
I ran away from the center of the mist formed by the clash of our jutsus, but as I reached the edge, some smoke bombs were thrown at my feet.
I retreated and my vision was obstructed once more. They're cornering me in the mist curtain, I thought, giving a faint smile. Good strategy.
I then heard hurried footsteps coming my way, from within the smoke bomb curtain. Seems like I'll have to take this even more seriously, I considered.
I brought my hands together to use my Shadow Imitation Jutsu, but noticed it didn't work. What... I started to think, then quickly understood what was happening.
Since not enough light was coming through the smoke and mist to form my shadow, I was unable to use Shadow Imitation.
I drew a kunai just in time to block the strike from Shisui's tantō. His expression was serious, and his eyes already had the Sharingan activated. So he used it to locate himself within the smoke screen.
These brats... I complained. The smoke and mist curtains aren't just to limit my vision, they're also to stop me from using my shadows and give them the advantage.
Third Person POV
Unlike what the jounin imagined, he wasn't facing a trap set by two genin, but by all three students who had teamed up to fight him.
After defending against Shisui's Fire Style jutsu and trying to escape the area with the steam from the clashing jutsus, the smoke bombs were the first move made by Takafumi.
As the jounin thought, the Uzumaki's chakra was very strong and kept the other two teammates' chakra more hidden than before. But this also served to make Shikaku think only Amaya and Shisui had teamed up to get the bells.
Given Takafumi's earlier behavior towards the redhead, the idea that all three had agreed to unite in such a short time was almost unthinkable.
Shisui and Shikaku exchanged more blows while shrouded in the clouds of smoke and mist. At the same time, Amaya and Takafumi positioned themselves at opposite ends of the curtain where Shikaku and Shisui were fighting.
Both crouched down and slammed their hands on the ground, using Earth Style: Earth Wave in the direction of where the Nara and Uchiha were. The entire ground began to lose its regular surface and became unstable.
Both the jounin and the genin were caught in the jutsu from outside the curtain, starting to sink into the earth. Shikaku tried to jump to free himself from the technique, but as it was infused with the users' chakra, Takafumi kept holding the jounin there.
Amaya drew a kunai and focused chakra on her feet to avoid being caught by the earth jutsu. She also concealed her chakra to approach Shikaku without drawing his attention prematurely.
Takafumi, who stayed outside the main battlefield, also drew some kunai and shuriken, activated his Sharingan, and threw them towards his sensei. Because he could see the Nara's chakra flow, he didn't risk hitting Shisui.
Those weapons would serve as a distraction for the older man, so Amaya would have a better chance of taking the bells for herself.
Shikaku began to realize the situation was slipping from his control. He briefly lost his balance dodging the ninja weapons thrown his way. Seizing the opportunity, Shisui tried to strike him with his tantō again.
The jounin bent his torso backward to avoid the Uchiha's strike from the front. But without him noticing beforehand, Amaya had closed in on him while he was dodging Shisui's attack.
The Nara shifted his gaze to the red hair approaching his left, a kunai in hand. So all three really were working together, he concluded, understanding the distraction they had created earlier with the kunai and shuriken.
At that moment, faint rays of light began piercing the now thinning mist cloud. The jounin used his Shadow Imitation Technique, trapping the Uchiha in front of him.
His shadow also moved towards Takafumi, who was still maintaining the earth style. With no chance to escape the jutsu in time, the boy was caught and lost control over his technique.
When he tried to capture Amaya, the girl noticed the ground beneath her feet had returned to normal. With that, she jumped towards the Nara just as his technique was about to reach her.
She passed within inches of it, still holding the kunai, and lightly cut his flak jacket at the waist. The girl tumbled to the ground, and the jounin captured her with his Shadow Imitation.
At that moment, the clock the jounin had set at the start of the test rang, indicating noon. The mist cloud dissipated, making everyone's vision of each other clearer.
– The test is over – Shikaku announced.
He released the three genin from his Shadow Imitation control. They were all panting and exhausted. It had been an intense battle that demanded a lot of perseverance and chakra from everyone.
– It seems you managed to work as a team, even if you didn't complete the entire survival test – the jounin commented a short while later.
– We did finish it – Takafumi said, smiling confidently. The Nara stared at him, not understanding.
– Amaya...? – Shisui called out breathlessly for his sister.
Shikaku turned his eyes to the redhead, who was sitting on the ground. She smiled and held up the two small bells. The older man looked at his waist, seeing the string holding the bells had been cut.
At that moment... he thought, remembering when the girl had thrown herself and passed close to him. Shikaku smiled and started to laugh.
– You really are a bunch of brats! – The three genin smiled victoriously.