Neji's POV (Trial of Janus - Land of Iron)
Neji's group scanned the room, looking for clues they could glean. He had worried, hearing they would be split up from their usual squads. He had grown used to his teammates and found they gelled well with him. But perhaps his worry had been over nothing.
Naruto's "best friend," Shikamaru," was now part of Neji's team. (Personally, the Hyuga thought he fit this quite a bit better but digressed.) He may have been a lazy and pitiful man. But his mind, or more of his deduction, was absurd. He had quickly informed the others that the split goal was merely a way to add pressure. And assured them the room would have clues based on the short explanation provided by the samurai. Neji had wished to disprove this, but it made perfect sense. And the group had elected him their de facto leader.
Temari was another group member and seemed to have a mind near the level of the Nara. Thankfully, she didn't suffer from his laziness, and while Nara was "thinking," she was examining the room with a critical eye, much like Neji. Neji is quite irritable because the room makes his Byakugan useless. Effectively acting as a chakra smokescreen. He was used to his powerful vision, and adjusting to using the normal eyes for searching was surprisingly tricky. Making Neji grateful for Temari's assistance. Even if she spent time complaining.
Sakura was someone he had known would be helpful. She had been in his class, and while physically unremarkable, she was pretty intelligent. Knowledgeable in most tactics, she was rumored to be skilled at medical ninjutsu. She was currently brainstorming over the note containing one line of "1,1 and some sort of scribble." She had various equations and ideas scribbled on the note and seemed stumped. Neji stopped his search, feeling more than a bit frustrated, and stared at the note.
"I've tried everything I can think of," Sakura complained.
"Perhaps it's a red herring?" Neji asked.
"Doubtful, there is more than likely more than one way to pass. Gotta test us on an array of skills." Shikamaru counters.
"Have you considered longitude and latitude?" Temari proposed.
"Couldn't be; the value is way off what it would be for that." Neji shot down.
Both flinched at the crash of Kiba hitting the final wall. The Inuzuka seemingly confident the barrier would have a weak point. He panted harshly as the others, except for Sakura, stared at him incredulously. "What had to be sure," Kiba said with an awkward smile. He was greeted with silence. Before that, it was shattered by a cry from Sakura.
"It's coordinates!" She called happily.
"I thought we just shut that down," Kiba commented while scratching his head. Akamaru barked in disagreement from his master, making him frown.
"She means for a grid," Shikamaru explained. "One-One, it's our position in some sort of grid or something. Assuming the rooms are all of a similar size, we can predict our position and know where we're going. I can make a mental map with this knowledge in mind."
"Even if we did know our position, how are we sure which door we should use from that?" Temari countered. Sakura hummed at this, seemingly unsure.
"Is the scribble anything important? I figured it was just a mistake from the writer, but with how cryptic it seems now, I would assume it's a clue." Kiba chimed in Akamaru, barking loudly and in agreement.
"Hmm, Sakura, can you quickly hold it up to my lighter? I'm not trying to burn it; I just want to check something." Shikamaru asked politely.
Sakura, having no better idea, brought the paper to Shikamaru. The Nara pulled out his zippo and lit it at a distance from the paper. "Hold it over the flame so I can see through," Shikamaru explained. Sakura did so patiently. Shikamaru stared into the ink, trying to decipher the hidden message. "1,2," he read aloud.
"One and two. Scribbled out and in the same form as the other set…" Neji started.
"Perhaps this is what they meant by Shame Room?" Temari offered.
Shikamaru snapped happily at this. "Of course, it's offering us the knowledge that the door on the right leads to a failed room!"
"I see. One would be the room to our right. And since the other door is at the front and is the only other option, it must be safe." Termai finished.
They all gathered at the front door and walked through, seeing another room. They all tensed, waiting to see if they had selected wrong. But when nothing happened, they felt emboldened. They had the skills necessary to do this.
Naruto's POV (Trial of Janus - Land of Iron)
Samui watched, full of despair, as three of the teammates argued. With the rules explained, Kurtosuchi had immediately chosen a door. Claiming that right was the heavenly direction. They can do the split option if they disagree. Naruto immediately refused, stating he couldn't risk failing on a hunch. Nor would he risk another chance on one. Ino pointed out that the option was likely to pressure them and affect their teamwork. Kurotsuchi seemed assured of the logic, stating it was practically a saying from home. And cared little if the others failed. Samui had been attempting to find clues during the spout, but she was unsure what to look for. Gaara stood where they had since the start, still staring at the roof.
"I won't risk anyone's future just because you're too stubborn to reconsider," Naruto argued angrily.
"I can't take the opinion of short men seriously." Kurotsuchi countered.
"Well, I can't take pigheaded fools seriously." Ino chimed in.
"You gotta have problems, blondies? I can handle you both." Kurotsuchi said arrogantly.
"Stop being so uncool," Samui attempted. Ino and Kurotsuchi sent the woman death glares. While it seemed the reminder reigned in Naruto's temper a bit, the two Kunoichi were too irritated with the other's attitude. He walked up to Kurotsuchi, who got up in his face fearlessly. The tension in the room grew once again. But Naruto merely slowly and gently rested a hand on her shoulder.
"I understand what you're saying and respect your opinion. But please just allow us to be a team and consider our options. Ya know?" Naruto said with that genuine smile he rarely showed.
Kurotsuchi seemed stunned for a second before she nodded yes and shoved the blonde back. The group was silent as she stomped over to Ino. "I think I can see what you see in him.~" Kurotsuchi teased quietly. Ino merely growled at her.
Gaara interrupted the conversation as he silently stomped on the group. He walked to the same door Kurotsuchi had selected. "The annoying woman is correct. This door is the right one, " he explained in his gravelly voice.
"How the hell can you be so certain?!" Ino, Naruto, and Samui asked, infuriated, as Kurotsuchi smiled widely. She was glad to have someone on her side.
"I just am," Gaara answered before reaching for the handle. Kurotsuchi happily stood behind him. The three blondes looked at each other before they raced behind the redhead. Something of his odd behavior and speech convinced the group he somehow knew. None noticed the tiny bits of sand flowing from the roof to his gourd. If they had, they would've seen the sand had traveled within the lines of the pattern on the roof. The pattern was actually a maze.
Ashira's POV (Eastern Streets of the Leaf - Hidden Leaf Village)
Ashira never thought much of the newer generations of shinobi. He had witnessed the likes of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama, after all. But now, he would admit to some degree he had underestimated them. He dodged several slashes from Anko. Kicking out her legs when she overextended. Snakes flew from her sleeves and wrapped around his throat, strangling him for a moment. Even as he was strangled, he weaved signs, and his body glowed red, spreading to Anko for a mere moment and causing her to scream in pain. The snakes are missing from her lack of focus.
"Infectious Seal: Pain Overload." Ashira lectured as he deflected several thrown kunai from Mikoto. She appeared above him and slashed down with two kunai into Ashira. The blow blocked the force, cracking the concrete below. "Reinforcement Seal: Density Multiplier," Ashira added before flinging her back casually with his katana. The force sent Mikoto through a food stand. Both women stood shakily as they stared down the shockingly lethal man.
He was able to counter almost any attack in mere moments. The number of seals he used was shocking; neither had ever faced a Fuijutsu master. He was adaptive and robust. Was there anything Seals couldn't do?
"Mikoto, let's blow him away!" Anko yelled angrily as she weaved signs.
Mikoto did not waste time responding; she merely weaved her own response.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bullet!" Anko called as a quick beam of flames flew toward Ashira.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Mikoto called a large gust of wind propelling and growing the flame shot as it approached Ashira.
"Collaboration Technique: Explosive Fire Bullet!" The woman chorused as the beam slammed into Ashira. The fire immediately enveloped him and roasted anything in its narrow path into ash. "Ha! Showed that bastard!" Anko chuckled merrily. Mikoto smiled back, happy to have survived the encounter.
The two both cried out in pain as suddenly the man appeared in front of them, landing vicious body jabs on both women with one hand each. They flew back as he drew his sword again and marched on.
"Impressive for sure, but slow, it gave me plenty of time to create a defense seal. Do not despair, for you never truly stood a chance." Arashi offered as he approached the two defeated women. He raised his blade, choosing to kill Anko first. As he did so, an orange blur appeared, kicking him incredibly hard. His seal crackled against the blow before he saw kanji flow onto him. The Fuinjutsu boosted attack pierced his Fuinjutsu shield, and he felt the blow crack some of his ribs. He flew back, crashing painfully into the building.
"Another challenger. It's well worth my time. Kushina Uzumaki, my leader, has marked you for death." Arashi declared as he stood facing her. Removing himself from the building he had been kicked into.
Kushina also faced him, already in her one-tailed form, and stared at him hatefully. "You all threatened my child and destroyed some of my heritage. Can't just let that go, ya know?" She said darkly.
"I can understand; I am also not the best at letting go, " Arashi said. See, I feel the need to purge the Uzumaki that started!" He cried.
In truth, the two distant family members did not listen to each other. They merely prepared to kill the other. The time for words had long passed. Kushina roared angrily as her single tail raced forward, attempting to crush the older man. Ashira, with a roar, deflected the tail and raced forward to attack Kushina. The two met katana to katana. They tested their strength briefly before Kushina pushed back against the man, sending him skidding along the concrete. As he stopped, Kushina was attempting a vertical slash above the man. Ashira laughed as kanji flowed into the ground around him, forming a barrier. Kushina roared as her blade suddenly glowed red, quickly slashing through the barrier. Ashira gasped in pain as he received a shallow cut. It burned into his skin and made him dizzy for a moment as his vision focused back, and he saw a fist fill it. He felt his nose shatter as he flew back through a billboard. The old man slowly crawled to his feet with a smile.
"Playing with your food aye?" Ashira asked simply.
"Merely dispensing a mother's wrath," Kushina said darkly.
"Little do you know you played right into our hands," Ashira stated simply. A scroll popped out from his, releasing several syringes. "My colleague is merely here to cause damage. My goal is you." He said, his hatred in his eyes.