Chakra Wizard
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Alright, I might have to take back that side note from last chapter, at least for just this onexd I had more fun writing this chapter than I thought I would, so it ended up being longer than I expected, but the next few should still be rather short. This one focuses primarily on Team Katame and Minto’s relationship with his brother, so it should be a rather insightful chapter=D Enjoy
Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
Chapter 015: Tough Love, Brother
With her brother now heading towards their location, Inase cut off her communication with him for the time being and redirected her attention to the problem at hand. Intent as always to prove to his older brother that he had no business being a ninja, Raiden wasted no time employing the sensory abilities of his reluctant teammates in order to track Minto down…and Airon and Nakama’s temporary absence only made him that much more insistent on getting this point across to him. Hardly looking forward to fighting his own brother, Minto turned to Inase to see if she had managed to get in touch with hers.
Minto: Did you get ahold of Airon yet?
Inase: (Her eyes closed as she attempted to make contact with the other absent member of their group, she opened them for a moment to address Minto’s concerns.) He’s already on his way. I’m trying to contact Nakama right now, too. …In the meantime, try not to let things elevate any further than this.
While Inase closed her eyes to continue her attempts to get in touch with his teammate, Minto redirected his gaze back towards his little brother, who was sporting an arrogant smirk that could’ve scared the paint off a wall.
Minto: No promises.
Raiden: (Well aware of what thoughts were coursing through Minto’s mind at the moment, he responded to them in the most conceited manner he could pull off.) What’s the matter, big bro!? Waiting for your friend to come fight this battle for you, too!? Hehahaha, well, it’s not gonna happen! And your buddies behind you aren’t gonna help, either!
Of course, Raiden didn’t exactly have much room to talk in that respect. Having and wanting no part in the torment of their teammate’s brother, Kūrogane and Kemono, as well as the latter’s ninken Mukinu, sat idly by as this carried on, almost insisting on Airon’s swift return. While Kūrogane searched through her credentials for her own means of passing the time, Kemono was much more verbal in his opposition to Raiden’s actions.
Kemono: Man, come on! Just drop it already and let’s get going! They gave us five days, but that doesn’t mean I wanna be out here that long!
Raiden: (Under the notion that his teammate was attempting to ruin his fun, he quickly snapped at him in retaliation.) Can it, Kemono! …We start moving after I break this stubborn pony.
Kemono: (Turning away in a fit, he walked over to a nearby rock and sat down, mumbling sarcastic retorts under his breath as Mukinu lied down beside him.) Pffft, …yeah, and MINTO’S the stubborn one, eh, Mukinu?
His partner answered with a low growl, which Kemono interpreted as an agreement to his assertions. He smiled in appreciation for his partner’s reliability, turning to address Kūrogane just as she pulled out a pack of cigarettes and placed one between her lips before grabbing her lighter and igniting it.
Kemono: Really, Kūrogane!? Come on!
Kūrogane: (Having already lit her cigarette, she put her lighter away and took it out of her mouth before responding.) What? I’m just passing the time until Airon gets here.
Kemono: (Seeing no reason for her to have to put it out so soon after lighting it, the keen sense of smell which he and his partner shared forced him to protest, nonetheless.) Well, could you at least go stand over there or over beside them? You know me and Mukinu can’t stand that smell.
Seeing his point, Kūrogane merely shrugged her shoulders before walking past Raiden and Minto to join the latter’s group, settling next to a tree beside Kei, who quickly jumped at the opportunity to question her tolerance of her teammate.
Kei: Man, just how the heck do you guys put up with that little punk?
Kūrogane: (Taking a puff of her cigarette as she held it between her fingers, she noticed that Kei had been staring at it for a brief moment and proceeded to sort out his misconception.) Well, it isn’t this, if that’s what you were wondering. …It’s just nonchalance.
Seeing the confused expression that Kei was sporting, amusement quickly arose in her face as she proceeded to explain herself.
Kūrogane: It means that I don’t care, Kei.
Kei: Oh. Right. …Wait, so you don’t care about Minto taking this abuse from his kid brother?
Kūrogane: (Reflecting on the notion for a moment, she closed her eyes momentarily to construct a sufficient response to his question, opening them again once she had succeeded.) It’s disheartening, yes, …but at the same time, it doesn’t uphold our progress or significantly affect our overall success in this stage of the exams, so I allow it to slide. …That, and Airon is usually here to break up these disputes between them, so I never have to worry about them escalating this far.
Noticing the look in Raiden’s eyes as she said this, she quickly realized that the situation was about to become a lot worse.
Kūrogane: (I sure hope that he gets here soon.)
Having grown tired of taunting his brother with insults, Raiden decided to take a much more…physical approach.
Raiden: Well!? Whatcha gonna do now, huh!?
When Minto didn’t respond, he immediately became enraged and decided to take matters into his own hands.
Raiden: Fine! Then, I’ll start!!
Without question and without warning, Raiden pulled out six shuriken and threw them at his brother, who immediately ducked to avoid them, leaving them set to collide with the four who were standing behind him. Realizing this, as well, Inase and Taigen leaped out of the way, while Kei and Kūrogane ducked to evade those that were heading for them.
Kūrogane: Raiden, that’s enough!
Raiden: Not a chance! This piece of trash is gonna know his place!
Minto: Raiden! I’m your brother! Your OLDER brother!
Raiden: You’re a discredit to the Sarutobi clan! And you have absolutely NO business being a shinobi!
Having heard the latter remark more times than he could count, it was the former that finally pushed Minto over the edge and forced him to retaliate.
Minto: You want a fight!? Then, FINE!!
Kunai in hand, he dashed forward as Raiden pulled out one of his own, forming a clanking sound as the two metal weapons collided. A few more similar exchanges ended with Minto’s left foot connecting with Raiden’s chin, though a short series of somersaults allowed the latter to regain his footing, now enraged at having received the first blow.
Raiden: Rrrrgh!! Lucky punk! Well, let’s see how you like THIS!!
Intent on retribution, he quickly formed the four hand seals required to perform one of his clan’s signature techniques.
Raiden: Fire Style: Searing Ash Cloud!
His jutsu now activated, a shroud of thick smoke immediately began fuming from between Raiden’s lips, quickly concealing Minto from the view of his teammates, as well as concealing everything from his own.
Minto: Dang it! I can’t see a thing! …Does he actually plan to ignite the ash?
Raiden: Not a chance!
Minto: Huh!?
Before he could tell what was going on, Minto felt all the air in his lungs diminish as his brother’s fist collided with his chest. This was quickly followed by multiple blows to the back, shoulders, knees, head, and face, until finally, he was launched from the cloud, landing flat on his back as blood began to drip from the side of his mouth. Moments later, it faded away and Raiden was visible once more, a triumphant smile now present on his face.
Raiden: I can’t actually teach you anything if you’re a burning corpse, can I!? Hehehahahahaha!
Raising himself up onto one knee, Minto continued staring furiously at Raiden, anger and frustration quickly building up in both his eyes and his mind, a result of both his brother’s egotism…and the fact he had a very limited arsenal.
Minto: (…Looks like I have no choice. …Sorry, Airon.)
Intending to finish this quickly, and hopefully for good, he reached into one of the pouches hanging from his waist, …but before he could pull anything out, a familiar voice called out to him.
????: Minto, STOP!!
A hand now clasping around his wrist to prevent further movement on his part, Minto looked over his shoulder to find that his best friend had finally arrived.
Minto: Airon.
Airon: (I told you to save them, Minto, your strength, as well. …You’ll get your chance, I promise.)
Minto: (Though hesitant to listen to him, he eventually complied with Airon’s orders, knowing it was for the better.) (…Right.)
Smiling at his friend to ensure him all was well, Airon turned to Raiden, his smile vanishing almost immediately. He stepped forward in order to test his reaction, causing Raiden to take two steps back and draw a kunai from his pouch, …unaware that he had just backed into one of Airon’s clones, which quickly drew its sword and held it against his throat. Expecting the worst, Raiden froze with fear, nearly choking from his inability to breathe, something which brought a smirk to Airon’s face. It quickly disappeared, though, as he leaned forward to whisper into his ear, keeping his true feelings hidden, so as not to upset Minto. …He was still Raiden’s older brother, after all.
Airon: …Leave…now. (Only one thing’s still keeping me from running this blade across your neck right now, Raiden. …If I see you antagonizing Minto again before the third round, I can ensure you that even THAT won’t hold me back.)
He knew that he was bluffing, but it didn’t prevent Raiden from gulping all the air that was in his mouth at the time and nodding frantically to ensure Airon that he understood. Once he had received this assurance, his clone returned its sword to its sheath and vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Raiden to fall to his knees in exhaustion. After taking a moment to catch his breath, he stood back up, his composure regained, and signaled to Kūrogane and Kemono to begin moving.
Airon: Wait.
Holding up his hand to keep the three of them at bay, he turned around and began walking towards Kūrogane and the remaining members of his group, his intentions resting with the former. He didn’t make eye contact upon coming face-to-face with her, much to her confusion, but rather, through a swift motion of his right hand, took away the cigarette dangling from between her lips. After gazing at it for a short while, he turned to her with a somewhat sarcastic smirk now etched across his face.
Airon: Kūrogane, you’re one of the smartest genin here. Do I reeeaally have to remind you how bad these things are, especially at our age?
Having heard this from him at least twice before, ever since she started smoking over four months ago, she could only chuckle at the prospect of him doing so yet again.
Kūrogane: Hmhmhmhm, are you really going to lecture me on this, Airon? Maybe next time, you should pick up the pace a bit more, so I don’t have to resort to this to escape my boredom. …You can go ahead and keep that.
Not yet sure how to respond, Airon stood there in silence a brief moment before chuckling to himself and dropping the cigarette onto the ground, so that he could step on it to put it out.
Airon: Hmhmhm. (Touché.)
With that, Kūrogane walked over to fetch her teammates, though not without voicing the one question still on her mind as she passed Airon.
Kūrogane: …Something tells me that that fight might not have gone the way Raiden intended. …What is Minto hiding from him?
Airon: (…You’ll find out sooner or later. …Hmhmhm, it’ll be a shocker to more than just him, believe me.)
Kūrogane: (Seeing no reason to push the matter, since he obviously wasn’t willing to give a straight answer, she accepted this one for the time being.) (Hmhm, fair enough.)
Having cleared up all questions that she had previously, she continued along her intended path. As Kemono and Mukinu stood up to leave, Kūrogane passed along a short message to Raiden as she walked by him.
Kūrogane: Well, that didn’t end quite like you had hoped, did it? …Perhaps, that’s your sign to stop attacking your brother outside the home.
Shrugging off her words, though not daring to mutter a word while still in Airon’s presence, the two walked over to rejoin their other teammate before dashing off, in search of another team from whom to take their second scroll. Walking back over to Minto, Airon held out his hand to assist him, pulling him back onto his feet after he grabbed ahold of it.
Airon: …You alright?
Minto: (He was hesitant to answer, but eventually formed a smile to assure him that the answer was “yes”.) …Yeah. I am now.
He wasn’t quite ready to believe him, but he was given no further time to debate the matter as Nakama finally arrived at their location, prompting him to walk over and greet her.
Airon: Hmhmhmhm, fashionably late, Nakama. …I’ve gotta admit, that’s something I would expect from-
Kei: Hey hey hey, man! Come on, don’t start that again!
Nakama: (Even she couldn’t help giggling at this retort, though she quickly stopped in order to deliver a comeback of her own.) Hmhmhm, well, we can’t all be as fast as you, Airon.
Airon: Hmhm, true enough. …Did you get the scroll?
Nakama: (Nodding in response, she reached into her overcoat and pulled out a cream-colored scroll.) It’s a heaven scroll, so that means we have both of them now. …How about you?
Airon: (Having nearly forgotten about his own, his eyes widened slightly before reaching beneath his jacket and pulling out the earth scroll he had obtained earlier.) The same, …only vice-versa.
Inase: (Pleased to see that their progress was going smoothly, she quickly recalled both the time and their primary objective.) Well, if that’s the case, then we have about forty-five minutes to reach the tower if you still wanna beat the Kazekage’s record.
While true that there were still eight kilometers standing between them and their goal, this distance hardly seemed to faze Airon, as evidenced by his response to Inase’s concerns.
Airon: Hmhm, is that all?
Kei: (Eager to get going, he slammed his fist into his left hand, thrilled by the very idea of topping Gaara’s ninety-minute record.) Heha, YEAH!! We can top that, no sweat!
Airon: (Normally, he would’ve reprimanded Kei for his overconfidence, but right now, he was rapidly becoming excited, as well.) Well then, if we wanna verify that, we can’t waste another minute standing around. Let’s get moving!
Kei, Inase, Minto, Taigen, and Nakama: Right!
Their secondary objectives having now been accomplished, the two teams continued advancing towards the tower, nothing else standing in the way of their pursuit of Gaara’s record.
This small dilemma having been dealt with, the group continues moving towards the tower, …but exactly what secret is Minto saving for the third stage of the Chūnin Exams!!?
The End
Author’s Note:
Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
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Chapter 015: Tough Love, Brother
With her brother now heading towards their location, Inase cut off her communication with him for the time being and redirected her attention to the problem at hand. Intent as always to prove to his older brother that he had no business being a ninja, Raiden wasted no time employing the sensory abilities of his reluctant teammates in order to track Minto down…and Airon and Nakama’s temporary absence only made him that much more insistent on getting this point across to him. Hardly looking forward to fighting his own brother, Minto turned to Inase to see if she had managed to get in touch with hers.
Minto: Did you get ahold of Airon yet?
Inase: (Her eyes closed as she attempted to make contact with the other absent member of their group, she opened them for a moment to address Minto’s concerns.) He’s already on his way. I’m trying to contact Nakama right now, too. …In the meantime, try not to let things elevate any further than this.
While Inase closed her eyes to continue her attempts to get in touch with his teammate, Minto redirected his gaze back towards his little brother, who was sporting an arrogant smirk that could’ve scared the paint off a wall.
Minto: No promises.
Raiden: (Well aware of what thoughts were coursing through Minto’s mind at the moment, he responded to them in the most conceited manner he could pull off.) What’s the matter, big bro!? Waiting for your friend to come fight this battle for you, too!? Hehahaha, well, it’s not gonna happen! And your buddies behind you aren’t gonna help, either!
Of course, Raiden didn’t exactly have much room to talk in that respect. Having and wanting no part in the torment of their teammate’s brother, Kūrogane and Kemono, as well as the latter’s ninken Mukinu, sat idly by as this carried on, almost insisting on Airon’s swift return. While Kūrogane searched through her credentials for her own means of passing the time, Kemono was much more verbal in his opposition to Raiden’s actions.
Kemono: Man, come on! Just drop it already and let’s get going! They gave us five days, but that doesn’t mean I wanna be out here that long!
Raiden: (Under the notion that his teammate was attempting to ruin his fun, he quickly snapped at him in retaliation.) Can it, Kemono! …We start moving after I break this stubborn pony.
Kemono: (Turning away in a fit, he walked over to a nearby rock and sat down, mumbling sarcastic retorts under his breath as Mukinu lied down beside him.) Pffft, …yeah, and MINTO’S the stubborn one, eh, Mukinu?
His partner answered with a low growl, which Kemono interpreted as an agreement to his assertions. He smiled in appreciation for his partner’s reliability, turning to address Kūrogane just as she pulled out a pack of cigarettes and placed one between her lips before grabbing her lighter and igniting it.
Kemono: Really, Kūrogane!? Come on!
Kūrogane: (Having already lit her cigarette, she put her lighter away and took it out of her mouth before responding.) What? I’m just passing the time until Airon gets here.
Kemono: (Seeing no reason for her to have to put it out so soon after lighting it, the keen sense of smell which he and his partner shared forced him to protest, nonetheless.) Well, could you at least go stand over there or over beside them? You know me and Mukinu can’t stand that smell.
Seeing his point, Kūrogane merely shrugged her shoulders before walking past Raiden and Minto to join the latter’s group, settling next to a tree beside Kei, who quickly jumped at the opportunity to question her tolerance of her teammate.
Kei: Man, just how the heck do you guys put up with that little punk?
Kūrogane: (Taking a puff of her cigarette as she held it between her fingers, she noticed that Kei had been staring at it for a brief moment and proceeded to sort out his misconception.) Well, it isn’t this, if that’s what you were wondering. …It’s just nonchalance.
Seeing the confused expression that Kei was sporting, amusement quickly arose in her face as she proceeded to explain herself.
Kūrogane: It means that I don’t care, Kei.
Kei: Oh. Right. …Wait, so you don’t care about Minto taking this abuse from his kid brother?
Kūrogane: (Reflecting on the notion for a moment, she closed her eyes momentarily to construct a sufficient response to his question, opening them again once she had succeeded.) It’s disheartening, yes, …but at the same time, it doesn’t uphold our progress or significantly affect our overall success in this stage of the exams, so I allow it to slide. …That, and Airon is usually here to break up these disputes between them, so I never have to worry about them escalating this far.
Noticing the look in Raiden’s eyes as she said this, she quickly realized that the situation was about to become a lot worse.
Kūrogane: (I sure hope that he gets here soon.)
Having grown tired of taunting his brother with insults, Raiden decided to take a much more…physical approach.
Raiden: Well!? Whatcha gonna do now, huh!?
When Minto didn’t respond, he immediately became enraged and decided to take matters into his own hands.
Raiden: Fine! Then, I’ll start!!
Without question and without warning, Raiden pulled out six shuriken and threw them at his brother, who immediately ducked to avoid them, leaving them set to collide with the four who were standing behind him. Realizing this, as well, Inase and Taigen leaped out of the way, while Kei and Kūrogane ducked to evade those that were heading for them.
Kūrogane: Raiden, that’s enough!
Raiden: Not a chance! This piece of trash is gonna know his place!
Minto: Raiden! I’m your brother! Your OLDER brother!
Raiden: You’re a discredit to the Sarutobi clan! And you have absolutely NO business being a shinobi!
Having heard the latter remark more times than he could count, it was the former that finally pushed Minto over the edge and forced him to retaliate.
Minto: You want a fight!? Then, FINE!!
Kunai in hand, he dashed forward as Raiden pulled out one of his own, forming a clanking sound as the two metal weapons collided. A few more similar exchanges ended with Minto’s left foot connecting with Raiden’s chin, though a short series of somersaults allowed the latter to regain his footing, now enraged at having received the first blow.
Raiden: Rrrrgh!! Lucky punk! Well, let’s see how you like THIS!!
Intent on retribution, he quickly formed the four hand seals required to perform one of his clan’s signature techniques.
Raiden: Fire Style: Searing Ash Cloud!
His jutsu now activated, a shroud of thick smoke immediately began fuming from between Raiden’s lips, quickly concealing Minto from the view of his teammates, as well as concealing everything from his own.
Minto: Dang it! I can’t see a thing! …Does he actually plan to ignite the ash?
Raiden: Not a chance!
Minto: Huh!?
Before he could tell what was going on, Minto felt all the air in his lungs diminish as his brother’s fist collided with his chest. This was quickly followed by multiple blows to the back, shoulders, knees, head, and face, until finally, he was launched from the cloud, landing flat on his back as blood began to drip from the side of his mouth. Moments later, it faded away and Raiden was visible once more, a triumphant smile now present on his face.
Raiden: I can’t actually teach you anything if you’re a burning corpse, can I!? Hehehahahahaha!
Raising himself up onto one knee, Minto continued staring furiously at Raiden, anger and frustration quickly building up in both his eyes and his mind, a result of both his brother’s egotism…and the fact he had a very limited arsenal.
Minto: (…Looks like I have no choice. …Sorry, Airon.)
Intending to finish this quickly, and hopefully for good, he reached into one of the pouches hanging from his waist, …but before he could pull anything out, a familiar voice called out to him.
????: Minto, STOP!!
A hand now clasping around his wrist to prevent further movement on his part, Minto looked over his shoulder to find that his best friend had finally arrived.
Minto: Airon.
Airon: (I told you to save them, Minto, your strength, as well. …You’ll get your chance, I promise.)
Minto: (Though hesitant to listen to him, he eventually complied with Airon’s orders, knowing it was for the better.) (…Right.)
Smiling at his friend to ensure him all was well, Airon turned to Raiden, his smile vanishing almost immediately. He stepped forward in order to test his reaction, causing Raiden to take two steps back and draw a kunai from his pouch, …unaware that he had just backed into one of Airon’s clones, which quickly drew its sword and held it against his throat. Expecting the worst, Raiden froze with fear, nearly choking from his inability to breathe, something which brought a smirk to Airon’s face. It quickly disappeared, though, as he leaned forward to whisper into his ear, keeping his true feelings hidden, so as not to upset Minto. …He was still Raiden’s older brother, after all.
Airon: …Leave…now. (Only one thing’s still keeping me from running this blade across your neck right now, Raiden. …If I see you antagonizing Minto again before the third round, I can ensure you that even THAT won’t hold me back.)
He knew that he was bluffing, but it didn’t prevent Raiden from gulping all the air that was in his mouth at the time and nodding frantically to ensure Airon that he understood. Once he had received this assurance, his clone returned its sword to its sheath and vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Raiden to fall to his knees in exhaustion. After taking a moment to catch his breath, he stood back up, his composure regained, and signaled to Kūrogane and Kemono to begin moving.
Airon: Wait.
Holding up his hand to keep the three of them at bay, he turned around and began walking towards Kūrogane and the remaining members of his group, his intentions resting with the former. He didn’t make eye contact upon coming face-to-face with her, much to her confusion, but rather, through a swift motion of his right hand, took away the cigarette dangling from between her lips. After gazing at it for a short while, he turned to her with a somewhat sarcastic smirk now etched across his face.
Airon: Kūrogane, you’re one of the smartest genin here. Do I reeeaally have to remind you how bad these things are, especially at our age?
Having heard this from him at least twice before, ever since she started smoking over four months ago, she could only chuckle at the prospect of him doing so yet again.
Kūrogane: Hmhmhmhm, are you really going to lecture me on this, Airon? Maybe next time, you should pick up the pace a bit more, so I don’t have to resort to this to escape my boredom. …You can go ahead and keep that.
Not yet sure how to respond, Airon stood there in silence a brief moment before chuckling to himself and dropping the cigarette onto the ground, so that he could step on it to put it out.
Airon: Hmhmhm. (Touché.)
With that, Kūrogane walked over to fetch her teammates, though not without voicing the one question still on her mind as she passed Airon.
Kūrogane: …Something tells me that that fight might not have gone the way Raiden intended. …What is Minto hiding from him?
Airon: (…You’ll find out sooner or later. …Hmhmhm, it’ll be a shocker to more than just him, believe me.)
Kūrogane: (Seeing no reason to push the matter, since he obviously wasn’t willing to give a straight answer, she accepted this one for the time being.) (Hmhm, fair enough.)
Having cleared up all questions that she had previously, she continued along her intended path. As Kemono and Mukinu stood up to leave, Kūrogane passed along a short message to Raiden as she walked by him.
Kūrogane: Well, that didn’t end quite like you had hoped, did it? …Perhaps, that’s your sign to stop attacking your brother outside the home.
Shrugging off her words, though not daring to mutter a word while still in Airon’s presence, the two walked over to rejoin their other teammate before dashing off, in search of another team from whom to take their second scroll. Walking back over to Minto, Airon held out his hand to assist him, pulling him back onto his feet after he grabbed ahold of it.
Airon: …You alright?
Minto: (He was hesitant to answer, but eventually formed a smile to assure him that the answer was “yes”.) …Yeah. I am now.
He wasn’t quite ready to believe him, but he was given no further time to debate the matter as Nakama finally arrived at their location, prompting him to walk over and greet her.
Airon: Hmhmhmhm, fashionably late, Nakama. …I’ve gotta admit, that’s something I would expect from-
Kei: Hey hey hey, man! Come on, don’t start that again!
Nakama: (Even she couldn’t help giggling at this retort, though she quickly stopped in order to deliver a comeback of her own.) Hmhmhm, well, we can’t all be as fast as you, Airon.
Airon: Hmhm, true enough. …Did you get the scroll?
Nakama: (Nodding in response, she reached into her overcoat and pulled out a cream-colored scroll.) It’s a heaven scroll, so that means we have both of them now. …How about you?
Airon: (Having nearly forgotten about his own, his eyes widened slightly before reaching beneath his jacket and pulling out the earth scroll he had obtained earlier.) The same, …only vice-versa.
Inase: (Pleased to see that their progress was going smoothly, she quickly recalled both the time and their primary objective.) Well, if that’s the case, then we have about forty-five minutes to reach the tower if you still wanna beat the Kazekage’s record.
While true that there were still eight kilometers standing between them and their goal, this distance hardly seemed to faze Airon, as evidenced by his response to Inase’s concerns.
Airon: Hmhm, is that all?
Kei: (Eager to get going, he slammed his fist into his left hand, thrilled by the very idea of topping Gaara’s ninety-minute record.) Heha, YEAH!! We can top that, no sweat!
Airon: (Normally, he would’ve reprimanded Kei for his overconfidence, but right now, he was rapidly becoming excited, as well.) Well then, if we wanna verify that, we can’t waste another minute standing around. Let’s get moving!
Kei, Inase, Minto, Taigen, and Nakama: Right!
Their secondary objectives having now been accomplished, the two teams continued advancing towards the tower, nothing else standing in the way of their pursuit of Gaara’s record.
This small dilemma having been dealt with, the group continues moving towards the tower, …but exactly what secret is Minto saving for the third stage of the Chūnin Exams!!?
The End
Author’s Note:
I’m not endorsing teen smoking, just to let everyone knowxd I just thought that that would add a nice element to Kūrogane’s character and also put a touch of Asuma in her, too
and Airon being a badass was also epic .. lol i was repeating those wrds by airon to raiden in sasukes voice in ma mind.. and u know wat .. it felt more dan just epicly awesome.. 
