I do not own Naruto.
Next Day…Morning
Birds were singing a happy tune, breakfast was being cooked downstairs, and team 8 was enjoying a little R and R. The key word being "was." Shikamaru jumped out of bed as cold water was poured all over him. Shino's face met cold wood as Asuma flipped the bed over and Naruto…let's just say that Naruto wasn't a happy camper this morning either.
That's how we found Team 8 that morning. Cold, tired, and definitely full of life. Okay, so maybe not that last one, but hey. Asuma did warn them. The sun was out this morning, and Tazuna again went to meet with the workers about working on the bridge.
In the past few days, many of the workers had refused and outright quit when they had heard Zabuza was in the area. Tazuna had told them it was all right, but on the inside, he was regretting that decision. He only had less than thirty people, out of the thousand or so who started with him.
"Tazuna? How about the boys help speed up the process on the bridge as a warm-up?" Despite their small statue, Tazuna now knew better than to underestimate the boy's potential. Nodding, Naruto began to help some of the men lift the weights, while Shikamaru and Shino helped the others lift and set the weights in place.
Two hours later-Morning…
The weather was still nice out as brunch rolled around. The boys had sped up construction by a day and a half, and Tazuna was more than grateful. However, that still didn't mean that he was going to let them drink let alone touch his beer.
Just like yesterday, Asuma had led the boys into the surrounding forest. Most of the trees were old, but still sturdy, and that's what Asuma exactly had in mind. He gave the boys three minutes in order for them to come up with a strategy, before he began to lay out the rules.
"Rule one: no fatal strikes. Rule two: no one touches my cigarette unless they want to be sleep out in the forest tonight. Finally, rule three: do your best. Everyone ready? Set. Go!"
Unlike the bell challenge, Team 8 didn't immediately spilt up. Shino and Naruto ran on the opposite sides of Asuma as Shikamaru threw kunai. Asuma kept a blank face as he easily blocked Shino's punch, and he flipped over, sending him into Naruto. Both boys fell to the floor, popping when a hand gripped Asuma's shoulder.
Shino's equally blank stare met Asuma's as he tried locking his feet around Asuma's neck. Key word: tried. This time, Asuma flipped the real Shino on his stomach as Naruto popped out of nowhere and tried punching Asuma as his back was turned.
Asuma kept one hand on Shino holding him down, and used the other to grab Naruto, stopping him cold. Shikamaru kicked Asuma in the gut, knocking him back, while getting him off his teammates. Helping Shino up, the team stared down Asuma who had regained his bearings.
Shikamaru and Shino threw Naruto in the air as Asuma charged at them. Shino and Shikamaru moved to the side, grabbing one of Asuma's legs. They quickly tied a rope to his legs, nailing it to the ground, moving again as Naruto called out his jutsu.
"Crystal Release: Dragon claws jutsu!"
Twin blue crystal like claws appeared on Naruto's arms as he came crashing down in a dive. Since Asuma still had control of his hands, he blocked the first claw with his kunai, but stopped when his vision was covered with insects. Shikamaru stood off into the shadows using his shadow's possession jutsu. Gripping Naruto's other arm; Asuma threw the boy into Shikamaru, who wasn't able to dodge in time as Shino attacked him with another punch as his bugs continued attacking Asuma.
