Child of the Moon

Trial by Paint

"So... how are we gonna prove we can do the mission?" Naruto asked as he and his comrades followed the irate blonde kunoichi to a small clearing.

"We're going to play a little game," she said with a stiff smile. She held up a scroll, then opened it. Two paintbrushes appeared from inside, and she tossed one to Sasuke. "These are special brushes. They have some paint on them already, and they won't spatter. The task is simple."

She held up her brush.

"Tag me as often as you can, while I try to do the same," she said, then removed her leaf forehead protector from her waist, and tied it around her eyes. "I'll be blindfolded."

"ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF US, SIS?" Naruto demanded.

"I'm jonin, Naruto," Tsukiko said calmly. "Consider this a handicap against me, if you want."

"But don't get too cocky," Kakashi said, having been helped out to watch the proceedings. He leaned back against a tree, then slid down to sit. "Tsukiko trains a ninja who is blind, and is a master of the blind-style combat."

"So she's not really handicapping herself," Sakura said with a heavy sigh.

"You could give up now, and go home like good little genin," Tsukiko said, knowing it would rile Naruto and Sasuke. Sakura was already on the same page as Tsukiko.

"BRING IT ON!" Naruto practically screamed, lunging for her.

She gracefully stepped aside, tagging his cheek with her brush in one fluid motion.

"Each tag indicates an attack from the enemy," she said, unphased. "So make sure you're careful."

She sensed them adjust themselves, and they remained still, all of them waiting for someone to make the first move.

Naruto made the first move.

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After the half-hour mark, Tsukiko removed her blindfold. The sight that met her eyes pretty much matched her expectations.

Naruto's face was covered in black slashes, with one on his headband.

Sasuke's face was a little cleaner, but he had a few slashes on his neck and arms.

Sakura's face matched Naruto's, though her arms and legs were also painted.

But what surprised her, was the small, barely noticeable line of red paint on her hip.

"Go wash up," Tsukiko said, returning the brushes to the scroll.

"I guess we failed, huh?" Sakura said glumly.

"I didn't say that," Tsukiko said, as she helped Kakashi to his feet. 'Guess you won this round.'

"You owe me lunch," Kakashi said cheekily, as she threw his arm over her shoulders to support his weight.

Tsukiko rolled her eyes at him, though she wasn't able to stop the smile that pulled at her lips at the joy from Naruto. "Shut up."