Chapter 184: Bell test (part 2)

Homura and Naruto dashed through the forest, their hearts pounding with anticipation. They had discussed their plan, and now the moment to execute it was fast approaching. Naruto was the first to come to a halt, and Homura followed suit as Naruto suggested they had put enough distance between themselves and Kakashi.

Naruto: (breathless) This should be enough.

Homura: (vague) Perhaps.

Naruto: What? This was your idea!

Homura: I Know but I kind of winging it? *sigh* to be honest, I was kind of expecting a jonin to put more effort into trying to catch up to us, he should definitely be able... but maybe not…(This doesn't seem right…If he had caught up to us, I could somewhat run scenarios that would make me look good, but now I actually have to go through my with my sh*tty plans in order to try to win...and I've changed the exam too much already, how long is he willing to give us in order to pass? And Sasuke's range is now too far away for C to properly locate him…this isn't good.)

Homura thoughts were currently a jumbled mess, he thought he could do better since he knew the goal of the exam but Naruto and Sasuke's personalities made it almost impossible for him to fully judge.

Perhaps, in some ironic way…they were too close.

Every word and interaction he had with Sasuke and Naruto came with metaphorical loads of baggage, it was up in the air if they could truly trust him or be willing to follow his advice.

Naruto: Tch! What's with you always giving me weird answers this time around…do you know something I don't about this exam?

Homura:… I don't. I just don't like our odds. If that's done, let's just hurry up. ( He's really sharp in dangerous situations…His Minato's son alright.)

Internally, Homura suspected that Kakashi might be allowing them to maintain some distance. Nonetheless, Naruto looked up and spotted a high tree branch. Without hesitation, he instructed Homura to lift him up.

Naruto: Homura, give me a boost.

Homura: Hm?…sure.

Homura complied, clasping his hands together to create a makeshift step for Naruto to climb onto. With a swift motion, he threw Naruto towards the branch Naruto had indicated.

As Naruto landed on the branch, he assumed a focused posture to gather chakra, signaling his intent to use the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Due to Homura having fought Naruto so many times in his simulations, he was vividly aware of most of Naruto's habits, and the fact that Naruto only had one jutsu under his belt that could be useful in combat did help as well.

Homura:…(There's no doubt about it, he's going to use-! There's no time to waste!)

Homura, observing closely, recognized the familiar stance. Closing his left eye, he activated his bloodline limit which was apparent with his right eye, the red glow hidden beneath his bangs shone intensively, almost ominous.

Naruto: Shadow clone jutsu!

As Naruto performed the jutsu, multiple clones materialized beside him.

Homura experienced a strange sensation, feeling his mind and body tried to mirror Naruto's movements, without him even moving a muscle. It was akin to the sensation he felt when using the Sharingan to spy on skilled workers that Homura observed while they were performing their everyday tasks, as if imaginary muscles were being stretched; his mind was like processing faster as every detail became more or and more explicit to the point that he could somewhat imagine what they would be doing next.

Homura: Hm...(...I think I get it...but..)

Homura watched Naruto's chakra level being split so evenly and was somewhat put off, he never had seen someone use so much chakra for a jutsu before, and the fact that Naruto was not exhausted after spitting his chakra off in so many parts was a testament to the boy's physical fitness. 

It was no wonder that the shadow clone jutsu, especially the multi-shadow clone jutsu, was deemed a forbidden jutsu. 

Naruto: Alright, you all know what to do now go!

Naruto ordered several clones to disperse in different directions, leaving only two behind.

Before long, Homura joined Naruto on the same branch, propelled upward by a thin rope tied to a kunai. As he landed, he caught his breath and waited for Naruto to speak.

As soon as Homura landed, the clones that were left behind descended to the end of Homura and Naruto's tracks, seemingly landing precisely on the spot where they had stopped.

Homura remarked on the cleverness of the move, but internally acknowledged that only Naruto could pull off such a tactic with his unique cloning jutsu that allowed clones to move over long distances. Naruto, appearing pleased with himself, praised the effectiveness of his plan to throw Kakashi off their trail.

Homura: (commenting) Smart move. To be honest I wasn't expecting you to agree at all…

Naruto: Well…I just felt like it, hmph!

Homura:…(Must be because of the defeat he just suffered at the hands of Kakashi…He must have realized that he has no real way to defeat him..)

Homura thought to himself that only Naruto could conceive such a plan, given his ability to utilize a cloning jutsu capable of moving clones far from their original position. However, he couldn't help but find it shady that the clones had landed exactly where their tracks ended, as the tracks were denser there than elsewhere.

Naruto, seeming flustered by Homura's observation, swiftly changed the topic, suggesting they reconvene at the designated meeting spot in 13 minutes to finalize their plan. Since Naruto couldn't communicate with his clones over long distances, it was the most efficient way to relay the message. Homura agreed that the timeframe should be sufficient.

Naruto: (assertive) We'll meet in 13 minutes. Got it?

Homura: (nodding) Understood.

However, Naruto then mentioned that if Homura's plan didn't succeed, their cooperation would cease. Homura simply nodded in response, and the two boys parted ways, leaping towards nearby tree branches.

......…

...

…

Later, at the designated time frame, both boys returned to the training grounds, seemingly being chased. As they emerged from the forest with a leap, the blurry shadowy figures transformed into Homura and Naruto upon landing on solid ground. They appeared tired, their clothes dirtied from their exertions.

Naruto: (exasperated) You took way too long!

Homura: (defensive) I thought I had more time. Tried to convince that bastard but it took way too long!

Naruto: What?! What do you mean by "tried"! We're already in deep s*it as it is here.

Homura: Sh*t up! We don't need cowards! It should be ready by now anyway!

Naruto: Tch!…Darn it! Then let-!

Before Homura could respond, Kakashi interrupted, commenting or rather asking if the two boys were ready to stop running, considering they had attacked him first.

Kakashi: Are you two ready to stop running? You did attack me first, after all; and I can't say that I enjoy running after you guys all day.

Naruto:…

Homura:…

The two boys clearly tensed up as soon as they heard Kakashi, they were far from surprised but the fear they had experienced from being chased for more than an hour.

They now new they were no match for Kakashi in hand to hand combat, the latter wasn't even being serious, that much they could tell.

Naruto's frustration boiled over as he directed an angry and stressed question at Homura, demanding to know if "that guy" would show up.

Naruto: "Do you think he'll show up?"

Homura, shaking his head, replied that he had no idea, but he didn't outright deny the possibility. He added that the guy was difficult to talk to, implying uncertainty about his reliability.

Homura: "I can't say for sure. He's a pain to deal with."

Naruto, despite his reluctance to work with the individual in question, recognized the importance of seizing any opportunity that presented itself. He acknowledged that even if they didn't want to collaborate, they should still be open to utilizing the opportunity, as the person was intelligent enough to exploit it as a distraction.

Naruto: "We can't ignore any chance we get. He's smart enough to use it against us."

Observing this interaction, Kakashi couldn't help but comment to himself that he was being ignored, feeling somewhat sidelined.

Kakashi: "Guess I'm being overlooked."

Undeterred by the uncertainty surrounding their potential ally, Homura raised his voice, emphasizing that it didn't matter. He pumped his fists together, declaring that they had no use for cowards in their midst.

Homura: "It doesn't matter. We don't need cowards here!"

Naruto, understanding the gravity of their situation, remarked that they would need all the help they could get to face a Jonin like Kakashi.

Naruto could not help but wonder if only it could be that simple

Naruto: We're going to need all the help we can get to take on a Jonin.

Kakashi: …Weird, I didn't think you were that smart… Am I missing something?

Naruto: What the!? Sh*p up, you creepy old man! I will have you know that I am…I am the man who will one day be the hokage.

Naruto declared with a semi-intense look in his eyes.

Homura: Urgh! (So bad…to think he criticizes me all the time…but)

Though Homura watching that performance was far from impressed.

Nonetheless, it was somewhat according to their plan.

If they could waste some more time, it would be even better.

Kakashi: (casually) Are you two done talking? I've got better things to do than watch over you brats.

Homura and Naruto: (Says the guy who showed up several hours late.)

With each step Kakashi took, the tension between the two boys heightened. Almost an hour had passed since Kakashi began chasing them. While he could easily catch up, capturing shinobi at their top speeds, even genin, was no easy feat. About to take another step, Kakashi abruptly stopped, sensing something suspicious.

Kakashi: (more serious) It's strange. Why aren't you doing anything? Especially you, the less bright one. No attempts to attack?

Naruto, impatient, declared that he didn't care anymore. He was determined to wipe the floor with Kakashi's face. With that, he charged towards Kakashi, ignoring Homura's attempts to stop him.

Naruto: Tch! I don't care anymore! I'm gonna wipe the floor with your face!

Homura (frustrated, trying to stop Naruto): Wait, Naruto!

Naruto paid no heed to the warning, and Kakashi, observing the charge, couldn't believe the audacity of these genins.

Kakashi: (sarcastically) Genins are getting dumber by the year.

Kakashi, observing Naruto's reckless charge, couldn't help but comment on the apparent decline in genin intelligence over the years.

Naruto: what the?!

As Naruto rushed towards Kakashi, the ground he stepped on suddenly started to crumble, a hole soon formed as the fake ground gave away the subterfuge.

Naruto, fell into the trap they had prepared.

Kakashi: (incredulously) What are you even doing?

But to his surprised Naruto's face changed from a sad look to confident once more.

Naruto: (grinning) Now!

Suddenly, smoke bombs exploded, enveloping the area. A multitude of Naruto clones emerged from behind Homura, at least a dozen in number, simultaneously throwing kunais laced with smoke bombs toward Kakashi.