In the dozen or so weeks that they’ve been classmates, Tetsuki has observed the following about Naruto Uzumaki:
He has sloppy taijutsu form.
He can never sit still during class.
Whenever teachers have to speak, look, or even think about him, they get the same flat expression on their faces like someone trying not to admit they have a stab wound and might need to go to the hospital.
He gets bored very easily.
He gets bored very loudly.
He is craftier than people expect.
“What do you want?” he asks, straightforward, which is another thing she’s noticed about him, never mind that it ought to conflict with that last one.
“What do you need?” she shoots back; information more powerful than any number of kunai.
“How about, I give you my token and you help me with my objective,” he says, the back and forth they have not quite like experienced merchants–nothing like what Hikari-san and TenTen’s boss do–but a childish mimicry of it. They way all children who spend more time out on the streets than in a home learn to do.
“How about you give me your token and tell me what your objective is and maybe I’ll help you with yours.”
“No way! How do I know you won’t just take it and leave?”
“I could just fight you for it. We both know I would win.”
“You’d have to catch me first. I can outrun ANBU.”
At this, Tetsuki hesitates. She’s not sure about the ANBU part–that’s a bit of a stretch–and outrunning isn’t the term she would use, but the only thing she knew about Naruto Uzumaki before he joined her class is that every so often he’ll pull an obnoxious, public prank and not even chuunin can track him down.
She’s already shown her hand by asking for the token. He’d know who, specifically, to avoid for the next three days–she might be faster than him in a flat out sprint or even have quicker reflexes in a fight, but if he loses her in these woods she probably won’t find him until after the exam is up.
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out the card with her objective on it. “I have a two parter,” she says, “You give me that token and help me with the other part of mine, and I’ll help you with yours.”
She doesn’t know yet if she can trust Naruto Uzumaki, but if she never gives it a try then she’ll never find out.
And plus, how bad could it be?
JackSGreyson Says 