nineteen crows (朱) action

[yourhatred]

[There's a figure clothed all in black and deep feathers of the same color sitting on the edge of the fountain. He's wearing a rather distinctive headdress, the fact that his outfit isn't more native american than it is possibly attributed to his struggles against the full transformation.

The blind man says nothing, nor spares attention to anyone that passes him by unless they address him first.

Dark birds of all shapes and sizes have gathered around his feet and all around the edges of the fountain as well. They are also eerily silent, scattering as anyone approaches on to return to the same spot at the first opportunity.]

((Itachi will be playing the role of Raven, the trickster.))

Comments

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

No need to say it like that! I'll complete all three of them with ease! [One of the Narutos just pumps his fist into the air.] What do you want done?

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Do you see my birds here?

[He gestures to all the ones sitting around him.]

They've become a bit overprotective. If you can scatter all of them so that none are alighted nearby, you will have completed the first task. It needs to be done in or under thirty seconds.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

This couldn't get any easier! Tell me when you're gonna start counting and I'll get on it!

[The other Naruto, that totally isn't a clone, disappears. The real Naruto decides to stretch for a moment, trying to consider how to go about this goal.]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

I will begin the count as of... now.

[The birds will attempt to return after flapping away from whatever Naruto tries, but enough effort should eventually get all the ones on the fountain up into the air together.]

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Naruto's version of effort involves many things with shadow clones, which is why he's creating a bunch the moment that Itachi begins count. From there... it kind of mostly falls to him trying to scare them away with yelling and his stick.]

Shoo! Shoo! Get flyin'!

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

...I must say I find your show of power astounding.

...

Ten seconds.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[This is the ultimate show of power!] How fast are you counting!? [NO MATTER. He must step up his game. Which means throwing clones around by his stick like projectiles and yelling some more.]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[The birds should all be off the fountain before Itachi's count is finished.]

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[That fact allows Naruto to dispel his clones all at once, and tap his staff on the ground. While panting.] A... Aha!

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Very impressive, Uzumaki Naruto.

It would seem you were almost successful.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Booyah--

Wait.] A... Almost?

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[He unfolds his arms to reveal a single blackbird sitting in his lap.]

This one has yet to take flight.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[............................]

Th-That's cheating!

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

On the contrary. Had you asked if I had any birds on my person, I would have responded honestly. You simply didn't think to do so.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

That's keeping information! Totally cheating! [He's a wizard, not a quiz show host!] Can't you give me another chance?

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

I did say you had three opportunities, didn't I?

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

Did you? [Naruto only remembers saying he only needed one shot. Nothing else because attention didn't get a paycheck today. Oh, well. THREE CHANCES BABY.] Right! Okay, I'll get it!

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Then I will set out your next task for you. I wouldn't worry, of course. It shouldn't be difficult and you came so close with this one.

Though if you decided to give up now, I'd understand.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

I'm not givin' up anytime soon! You might as well come up with a million more challenges! [In other words, bring it on.]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

The number was three. Coming up with a million challenges would just be too much of a bother.

So here's challenge number two.

You must capture one of my birds. Not just any bird, mind you. It must be one of mine. There's no time limit for this, but if you take too long I might get bored.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

Okay, that's easy enough! Point a bird out and I'll snatch that thing right out of the sky!

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Now, now. If I told you which one to get, that would be too easy.

You saw the ones sitting around, didn't you?

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

Yeah. [...] You mean I gotta find 'em!?

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Look around. They haven't gone far.

[He allows the one in his lap to go flapping off into the sky.]

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Naruto was about to, until he sees the one that Itachi just let go. That counts, right? He'll go for that one.] Here I go!

[He's still a ninja, and quite the young bearded wizard. Certainly it will be easy to jump into the air, like a ninja, and try to catch that bird.

WAIT HE STILL HAS HIS STAFF. HE HAS TO DROP IT WHAT DO.]