A Kitsune's Power

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight – Equipment and Deployment

The next day, Naruto woke up early and went out to meet with Anko and Ibiki. But more Anko though. Naruto contacted via one of his Tigers and told Anko to move in the night before. Anko came over with all of her things sealed in scrolls. Naruto showed her to her room.

At Tenten's Weapons Shop

"Welcome to Higarashi's Weapons... Naruto!" Tenten exclaimed.

"Hi, Tenten!" Naruto called. "Anko-sensei, this is Tenten, she's one of Guy-sensei's students. Ten-chan, this is Mitarashi Anko, one of my Jonin-senseis."

Anko nodded, and then looked round.

"This will take a while." Naruto said.

"What will?" Tenten asked.

"Anko wants me to have a close-range weapon." Naruto said. "I want a naginata!"

"No." Tenten said firmly. "A naginata wouldn't work for you; you'd probably snap it in the middle of battle."

Anko laughed as Naruto sulked.

"You've probably got a better chance of finding something for Gaki here, so I'll leave you two to it. I hear dango calling me. Gaki, find me after you've got a weapon that works for you." Anko said as she left to get her dango.

Tenten and Naruto watched her leave, and then swapped glances.

"Let me get my dad in, and then we go to the storehouse and see what might work." Tenten said.

Naruto gazed round at the vast collection with a sense of mounting awe. Looking round he moved towards a rack of swords, only for Tenten to grab him by the shoulder.

"No." Tenten said.

"But I want a sword! Swords are cool!" Naruto exclaimed.

"No." Tenten said firmly. "A sword wouldn't work for you, you're too strong for a sword, and you'd break them. Any sword strong enough to withstand being used by you would have to be custom-made... and very heavy... and... I need to talk to Anko. Let's go!"

Naruto couldn't understand how, despite his awesome strength, Tenten was able to tow him out of the shop without any apparent effort.

Back at the Shop

"Welcome back! Come in! It's ready! Sorry it took so long to make." Tenten said.

Naruto almost bounced through the door with Anko following at a slower pace as she finished her dango.

"This way! Dad made it specially; he used thunderbolt iron to make it for extra strength and chakra metal so that you could use your elemental wind chakra. It's perfect for you!"

"Did the payment cover it all?" Anko asked and Tenten nodded.

"Yep, just. Anyway, it's through here, we made a sheath for it with a reinforced strap but you'll have to practice drawing it. What do you think?" Tenten said as she explained what it was.

Anko stared in shock at the weapon in front of her. It was metal, it had a handle, but it was... it was...

"What is that?" Anko asked.

Tenten grinned at Anko's shocked question.

"This is the strongest sword in the world! The handle is reinforced with ninja-wire along it for grip and to stop it breaking in combat. The blade is thicker than a normal sword with a modified-wedge cross-section and a reinforced tip, allowing you to hit harder with it and if you place it against something and hit the back, it'll allow you to break through almost anything. The blade isn't very sharp under normal circumstances, but if you channel wind chakra through, the result is an edge that can cut anything except another chakra blade." Tenten said.