Chapter 9: The Survival Test and the Glitch in the Matrix part-3
A swarm of bugs rushed toward the paralyzed Kurenai. She was too busy staring at the spectacle of a half-naked Asuma to react in time. The bugs swarmed her, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Got her!" Kiba yelled, leaping from the water and holding a kunai to her throat.
I released the jutsu. Poof.
I was back to being Hinata. I immediately curled into a ball on the ground, covering my head with my arms. "I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home."
Kurenai blinked, shaking off the bugs as Shino called them back. She looked at me, then at Kiba, then at Shino. She took a deep breath. She rubbed her temples.
"That was..." Kurenai started, her voice shaking. "That was the most unorthodox distraction I have ever seen."
She walked over to where I was curled up in the fetal position. She crouched down.
"Hinata?"
"Please don't look at me," I whimpered.
"Hinata, look at me."
I slowly peeked out from between my fingers. Kurenai was smiling, though her cheeks were still very pink.
"You created an opening," she said. "You sacrificed your... dignity... for the sake of the team. In the ninja world, deception is a key tool. You certainly deceived me."
She stood up and addressed the boys. "You capitalized on her distraction perfectly. You worked as a unit."
She pulled out three headbands from her pouch.
"You pass," she said. "Welcome to Team Eight."
Kiba cheered. "We did it! We are awesome!"
Shino nodded. "An efficient victory. Though I have questions about the anatomical accuracy of that transformation."
"Don't ask!" I shrieked, burying my face in the grass again.
.....................…..
We walked back to the village as the sun began to set. I walked ten paces behind the boys, my head hung low.
(I can never look Asuma-sensei in the eye. If I ever meet him, I will have to move to the Hidden Sand Village.)
"Hey, Hinata," Kiba said, falling back to walk beside me. "That was actually pretty brave. Weird, but brave."
"Very effective," Shino added, falling back on my other side.
I looked at them. They weren't making fun of me. Well, not maliciously.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"So," Kiba grinned. "To celebrate, let's go get BBQ! My treat!"
"I agree," Shino said. "Food is required for energy replenishment."
BBQ. A restaurant. With people. And grills. And fire. And sauce.
[System Warning: BBQ Restaurant Detected. High probability of "Sauce Spillage," "Accidental Feeding," and "Under-table Footsie." Proceed with caution.]
I looked at my teammates. They were waiting for my answer.
"O-Okay," I said softly. "But... can I sit in a booth? By myself?"
"No way!" Kiba laughed, slinging an arm around my shoulder. "We are a team now! We sit together!"
As his arm touched my shoulder, I felt a slight wobble in my knees.
(Here we go again.)
[System Note: Enjoy the beef, Host. I'll prepare the Shy Points counter.]
..............................
Name: Hinata HyugaShy Points: 2,800 (Rich in shame, rich in points).Active Skills: Iron Skirt Jutsu (Working hard), Rito Effect (Working harder).New Trauma: The "Asuma Striptease" Incident.Relationship Status: Team Eight is bonded through shared confusion.
..............................….
The smell of roasting meat and charcoal smoke wafted through the air, normally a scent that induced hunger and happiness. For me, however, it smelled like danger. Yakiniku Q was the most popular restaurant in Konoha, which meant it was crowded, noisy, and filled with hazards like open flames, hot grills, and slippery grease.
"Come on, Hinata!" Kiba cheered, pushing the entrance curtain aside. "I am going to eat my body weight in short ribs!"
"Bark!" Akamaru agreed, poking his head out of Kiba's jacket.
I hesitated at the threshold. My heart was already racing.
(Please let it be empty. Please let us sit in a dark corner where no one can see me.)
[System Notification: Environment Scan Complete. Threat Level: High. Hazards detected: 14 open flames, 3 spilled drinks, and the entirety of Team Ten. Good luck, Host.]
I froze. Team Ten?
As we walked in, my worst fears were realized. Sitting at the largest central booth were Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi. And sitting with them was their sensei... Asuma Sarutobi.
My blood ran cold. The image of myself transformed into a hairy, underwear-clad version of Asuma flashed through my mind.
(I cannot go in there. He will know. He will sense the awkwardness on a spiritual level.)
"Yo! Asuma!" Kiba shouted, waving his arm. "Kurenai-sensei is with us! Let's combine tables!"
(Kiba, why? Why do you hate me?)
Kurenai Sensei walked up behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder. She looked at Asuma. Asuma looked at her. Then, Asuma looked at me. He frowned slightly, as if trying to recall where he had seen a terrified girl in a mesh shirt before, or perhaps sensing a disturbance in the force related to his own dignity.
"Hey, Kurenai," Asuma said, puffing on a cigarette. "Join us. Choji has already ordered the first five rounds, but there is plenty of room."
We shuffled into the booth. The seating arrangement was a logistical nightmare. It was a U-shaped booth. Team Ten took one side. Team Eight had to squeeze into the other.
Kiba slid in first. "Shotgun the middle!"
Shino slid in next to the wall.
That left the aisle seat. Next to Kiba. Directly across from Asuma.
I sat down gingerly, keeping my knees pressed together and my elbows tucked into my sides. The table was low. My legs were under the table, dangerously close to Kiba's legs on my left and Shikamaru's legs across from me.
"So," Asuma said, leaning back. "How was your survival test? Did they give you trouble, Kurenai?"
Kurenai took a sip of water. She choked slightly. "It was... memorable. We have a very... creative team."
She glanced at me. I stared at the burning coals in the center of the table, willing myself to combust.
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