26 Team Kurenai 2 (1/2)
It was barely past dawn, but Kiba was already restless.
When Hikari went over to the backyard to hang the laundry, she saw him doing push-ups on the ground.
”So rare for you to wake up at this hour.”
”Bug off. I got an important test today!” He leaped up to his feet.
”Test? Didn't you pass the graduation exam already?”
”This is a different one. Anyway, if I fail, I'll get sent back to the academy. No way I'm gonna let that happen!”
He looked at the clock in the living room. There was still an hour before the designated time. He'd promised Shino and Hinata to meet half an hour earlier, so he better get a move on.
”No time to talk, I gotta go!”
”Oh. Good luck.”
”I won't need luck, it'll be a cinch!” He laughed. ”Hey, if I pass, make me that steak from before!”
”Sure, sure,” she nonchalantly replied, focusing her attention at the laundry.
Anyway, Daji was going with him, so it should be fine.
---
The result of yesterday's observation was that each Jonin has their own way to test their team members. The easiest would be a simple display of skills, while other Jonin might employ psychological warfare to test their Genin's ability to perform under duress.
Which one was Kurenai's test?
Unfortunately, the seniors didn't want to divulge that information. They said it was necessary for them to figure out by themselves at the time of the test. Just imparting those bits of information was already considered generous.
As such, they decided to outfit themselves with standard shinobi supplies, just in case it would be a physical exercise.
”I see that you're early. That's good. Eagerness is the sign of a good pupil.”
Kurenai arrived right at the promised time.
”Alright. Line up right beside each other, then stand straight.”
The kids scrambled into position with Kiba on the left, Hinata in the middle, and Shino on the right.
When they were done, she walked forward until she was right in front of them. Suddenly, she raised her right arm, and then sent a quick jab at Kiba's neck.
”Eh?!”
Without stopping, she moved to the right, hitting Hinata on her left shoulder. Finally, her fingers moved toward Shino, hitting him on his right arm.
”T-Teacher?”
The kids quickly leaped back, wary of further attacks.
”Does it hurt?” Kurenai asked.
”Huh?”
Ah, that's right, it didn't. They rubbed the spot that Kurenai had hit them at, puzzled by what had just happened.
”Don't worry, I'm not pulling any 'you have to be wary of sudden attack' here. Although, that's also a good lesson to learn,” she smiled. ”Have you memorized the place where you got hit?”
They nodded in unison.
”The test is easy. I'll go into hiding, and you'll be given the task of chasing me. In order to pass, you have to hit me in the same spot. Any question?”
Ah, so it was indeed a physical exercise!
Shino raised his hand.
”How far do we have to search? Also, is weapon allowed?”
”W-weapon...?” Hinata shuddered. ”B-but, she's our t-teacher...”
”Against a Jonin, can we hold back?” Shino replied. ”I believe that Teacher will just shrug them off effortlessly anyway.”
”Hmm, that's good, you have the tact to analyze the situation. You should do the same for every mission, your life will depend on it,” Kurenai nodded with satisfaction. ”The limit will be this patch of woods, that means I won't go beyond the paved roads around it. You're also allowed to use any weapons or jutsu that you know. Like Shino said, I don't want you to hold back. I'll make sure that you can't.”
She flashed a dangerous smirk, making them shiver slightly.
”Any other questions? No? Alright. You have until the sun is up in the sky to catch me. Anyone who failed will have to repeat another year in the academy. Ready?”
The trio gulped, readying their stances.
”Begin!”
Kurenai's voice echoed throughout the woods, producing a chilling atmosphere.
Just as they had planned beforehand, Kiba had lunged right at Kurenai, while Hinata and Shino went around from left and right to block her escape route. However, they were one tiny step too late. When Kiba came into contact with Kurenai, she let out a cloud of smoke, leaving a wooden log behind.
”B-Body Replacement-!”
”Good teamwork!” Kurenai hollered from above. She was already hidden behind the thick foliages. ”However, you're too naive if you think a Jonin will fall to that simple plan! Well, don't disappoint me now.”
Her voice disappeared. The forest once again fell into silence.
Actually, they had also heard that the test was usually tailored for a specific team's strength. In their case, considering their lineup, there was a high chance that Kurenai would put emphasis in their tracking ability. It turned out that they were right on the money.
”Haha, interesting! Let me tell ya, there's nobody in Konoha who has a better nose than me and Akamaru! I'll definitely catch you, just you see!”
Woof!
Akamaru barked to show his agreement.
”Then, we proceed as planned,” Shino remarked. ”I'll scatter my bugs to slowly cover this area. Kiba is in charge of locating Teacher's smell and chasing her when the time comes. Hinata, use your wide-range vision to cover our perimeter and see if Teacher is coming near. Can you do it?”
”I-I'll try my best!”
She performed a set of hand seal, ending with Snake. The veins around her temple rapidly bulged out as her Byakugan was activated.
Her vision suddenly broaden up, covering everything around them in a fifty-meters distance.
”Did you find her?” Kiba asked.
Hinata shook her head.
”Let's move then. Kiba will take the lead. I'll take the rear. Teacher cannot breach our defense as long as Hinata still stands, so she most likely will target her first.”
”I get what you mean,” Kiba knocked his fists together. ”Don't worry, leave it to me! Let's move out!”
The trio leaped at once, officially starting the chase.
---
During tracking missions, the shinobi in charge shouldn't just focus on going forward. They also had to deal with enemy attacks, especially from people who wanted to prevent them from reaching their target. Not juts their offense, but their defense had to be honed as well.
For that reason, Kurenai didn't stop at just hiding. She also attempted to attack them.
She emerged from behind a bush just slightly beyond Hinata's Byakugan's range. She threw a shuriken at Hinata, while using Body Flicker Technique at the same time to appear on the other side of the trio.
However, the shuriken was stopped in mid-air by Shino's insect.
”Kiba! Left!”
”Yosh!”
Thanks to the Byakugan, Hinata could predict Kurenai's movement even before she had finished performing it. Right as she appeared at the end of Body Flicker, Kiba had already arrived at her position.
”Here I go, Teacher!”
He threw a straight punch toward Kurenai's neck, at the same spot that she had hit him earlier.
However, the sensation that came when he made contact caused him to frown. There was another cloud of smoke, and a wooden log flew out of it after getting hit by Kiba's fist.