The Test Finale: Nanako the Dragon of Konoha, and her Minions.
Tsunade came down from the tree with a thud. "Okay we should be okay for a few minutes...so Ayako, you've got a plan?"
You nodded. "Nope."
Tsunade's face paled. "What… but you always seem to have something to say when things get tough."
Nanako looked at Tsunade and scowled. "Don't pressure her like that."
You frowned. "That was when we were on the road, with plenty of time to think about what to say."
Tsunade looked puzzled, and if you had to guess, a little scared. "Okay…" She looked at Nanako. "What about you? Do you have a plan?"
Nanako looked at you and then at Tsunade before a smirk rose on her face. "I have an idea about how to get the roots… but you won't like it."
You frowned. That smirk was not welcoming… no, it was not welcoming at all.
It was then, Aka, your past life spoke for the first time in a while. "I know that look… She's got an insane plan."
You gulped. "Okay, Nanako… What's the Plan?"
Nanako's Plan Quality:
1D100 => 62+10=72
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One Hour Later
(No POV)
Danzo looked up at the sun and sighed. "And I thought they would have been the ones who would have done it."
It was disappointing to him. When he was assigned this team, he had such high hopes for them. With such a diverse skill set, they could have been anything the village needs them to be. And the village would accept what he had been trying to warn them about for years.
Their complacency was breeding weakness. The Will of Fire was something that could drive a village far, but they needed to accept the realities of the world that they lived in. Hiruzen needed to accept that they needed to be building stronger children who could stand against the world and not be destroyed by it when it broke them.
He could not shield them from the inevitable realities like an overbearing mother. He would rather be hated by them for being harsh, for being cruel,for being harsh, for being unfair to them, than to be soft, to not train them, allowing them to shut down and cling their emotions in duress, to break down and cry, begging for mercy, before a blade slit their throat.
He was only a child when the warring states ended, but he was not blind to its horrors.
It had nearly broken him when he had survived the ambush that killed his parents when they were so close to the village that would spell safety.
It had taken him meeting Hiruzen to make him smile, and Tobirama giving him a purpose to become the person he was today.
He was harsh… but he wanted his team to survive.
It was his duty to make sure they had the skills to survive this world.
Tsunade was such a driven girl, and having the Senju heiress under his command would have netted considerable influence within the village politics, especially if she was as promising of a medic as the reports stated. The medical corps needed new blood, and someone to inspire the next generation to join it. It could not survive on just old crippled nin in its ranks.
He had a feeling that expanding her skills in that area would make her the most valuable member of his team.
That did not mean he saw nothing in the other two, just less potential. Oda clearly had a keen mind that she relied on very heavily to compensate for her weak body. Her ability to make strategies on the fly and retain information made her very useful within the war room, on a scout team or even in a support roll on an assault team. Allowing her to plan attacks, set up ambushes and other strategic level thinking would be where she would best be served right now.
She was wasted anywhere where she would need to fight, at least in her current state.
Her physical health would be a worry, but he would pay for her meals and force feed her if he had to get her back into the weight of a growing girl.
He would also scout her home for any signs of abuse… no girl should be that underweight for her age, not even those obsessive fangirls that pop up every now and then who fawn over some clan member, being ready to throw themselves at them on their parent's orders in order to gain a place in high society.
And then there was Ayako Kuruma… the wonder girl herself. While not nearly as talented as Tsunade, barely even being in the middle of her class… she was interesting and seems to have a knack for making friends with every important person she comes across. Her magnetic charm… if he could call a mute girls smile charming, seemed to gravitate people towards her.
The so-called 'Crusaders' whatever the hell that meant, were close, having formed a bond that he only saw genin teams or clan members form, and that was over a lifetime of knowing each other.
They formed it in over two months. Now relying on each other on the road was necessary… but the level of trust that they displayed wasn't even something you and Hiruzen shared.
They viewed each other as a second family.
And it was all because of her.
That alone interested him greatly.
But then there was the fact that fate played her lovely hand, and made Mako Kuruma her mother.
Danzo dreaded meeting her again. He understood her anger, and rightfully so, but she was in no position to continue to believe that it was entirely his fault. She accepted the missions from him and she chose to continue doing them until she asked for the truth and he gave it to her in the form of one of his agents.
He then heard a stick crack.
A smirk rose on his face. "Finally." He said to himself.
Maybe they might prove themselves worthy after all.
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(Back to Ayako)
You really hated this plan… really really hated it.
But you didn't have much of a choice now did you, you had spent an hour preparing yourself for a battle that might last less than thirty seconds if everything goes to hell.
Nanako's plan was crazy… but you had committed to this plan.
"Kagami, release restraint level one, two… Follow the plan that has been given." you said.
Kagami started to chuckle. "My pleasure."
Your shadow bubbled.
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The Dragon's surprise:
1D100 => 24 vs Danzo's Unflappable Attitude:
1D100 => 71+20=91
(No one's POV)
Danzo saw the small black creature that made its way towards him and was pleasantly surprised by its size and shape. It had two wings like a bird, with claws attached to them and two hind legs.
A strange creature to be sure, but something he could handle with his teeth if he had to.
And the pitiful ambush from Tsunade was pitiful, however. Was she trying to sneak up to you when her feet were so damn loud or did she really expect?
Danzo ducked underneath the ax kick, flipping her down in front of the dragon, making it fly upward towards the sky. "Really?" You stated, setting one of the roots under your shoulder. "You thought a dragon could distract me enough to drop my guard?"
Then the smoke appeared and Nanako smiled. "No… but this would."
The Dragon vanished in smoke, being replaced again by a large hawk.
So Ayako made contact with the Hawks? Unexpected but not surprising… but that was not going to help them.
But then the hawk disappeared and Tsunade started to fall from the sky.
And Ayako summoned another hawk to fly towards him.
"BANZI!" Tsunade shouted from above.
Ayako had a blade in hand, a kunai aimed directly at his chest. He would need to drop both of the roots to defend himself properly.
He might actually have to work to keep his roots out of their hands. If they manage to touch them, he would be severely disappointed in himself, and start training his ass off like that Maito kid he's been hearing horror stories.
But this plan was impressive. If it were anyone else, they might have had a chance.
Team 6 vs Danzo:
1D100 => 57+ 30 (Plan Quality)=87 vs
1D100 => 100
But they were facing Danzo Shimura, Jounin of the Leaf, and he was not going to let them have it.
He threw the roots onto the ground at his feet and grabbed Ayako's armed hand throwing her to the side and leaped up.
He caught Tsunade and threw her to the ground with his other hand, not letting go of Ayako as he did so.
He landed onto his feet, setting them firmly on the ground and swept his foot upward, smacking the hawk with his foot with ease, forcing it to reverse summon back to where ever it came from.
Then he threw Ayako and Tsunade at Nanako, allowing them to crash in her.
Danzo was pretty sure they would only have bruises and cuts from their attack.
He looked up and then down at his shadow. "Times up."
That made the entire group sit up. "You gambled everything on a sneak attack against a jounin, who is taller than you, stronger than you, and even has more than a decade of experience on you, to the point where you only made me drop, the objectives that you were tasked to take from me."
There was a pause, and the three students looked like they were about to lose themselves.
Is Danzo Impressed?:
1D100 => 97+10(Teamwork)+10(A good Plan)+10 (Solid misdirection)+10 (Forcing him to let go of his roots)=137
"But… you almost succeeded, when everyone else would have failed horrifically, and given up." Danzo paused. "Team 6… you have impressed me."
"Did we pass?" Tsunade asked.
"No," Danzo stated. "But you have shown enough skill and cleverness to warrant my attention and be my be my genin team."
The Genin all celebrated in their own ways. Nanako raised her arms in triumph. Tsunade gave Ayako a hug and Ayako just accepted it.
"We passed." The two children shouted while the mute child could only smile at Danzo's… glare of affection.
"We will meet here again in two days time, I must submit a report." Danzo stated.
And with that, the Jounin flickered out of sight.
Reward: Team 6 Met, Oda Nanako, and Danzo Shimura. Team 6 is now on the active duty roster. New Actions are available.
AN: Enjoy.