Up on the cliffside

[smallstepstopower]

Rolling out of his bedding hadn't brought him to an unanticipated level of comfort. He'd been on his way back to the village and had been in camp with his teammates after all. No, the jarring part was the mad scramble needed to avoid taking a headlong dive over a cliff that hadn't been there when he'd gone to sleep, and it was more than enough to immediately put him on the defensive, back straight as he slowly scanned his surroundings.

No teammates, no -forest-. Where the hell was he?

Comments

[smallstepstopower]

"You summon the toads, don't you." His tone was rather deadpan.

[orange_dattebayo]

He scratched his cheek:"Yep. But I don't need them to jump down." He cracked his knuckles, getting ready to enter sage mode.

[smallstepstopower]

"The toads are much more amenable to teaching Sage mode than the snakes Naruto-kun."

[orange_dattebayo]

"That's because snakes are evil and antisocial bastards," he grumbles, entering the not-move stage. Few seconds later he opens his eyes, having red marks around his eyes, with no frog parts on him. "This is a shortcut to bottom, 'tebbayo."

[smallstepstopower]

"Snakes are not evil, they're just move on a different wavelength." He paused, looking over at him. "So am I going to meet you or are you intending to leave me behind altogether?"

[orange_dattebayo]

Psssh, not evil his--. He tilted head at him and shrugged:"I can carry you down if you want." He can carry whole boulder with him, not just one skinny guy.

[smallstepstopower]

He just stared at him, then frowned and moved over to peer down toward the little village. Then, he looked back again. Crossing his arms with a scowl, he sighed. "Very well."

[orange_dattebayo]

"Wrap your hands around my neck, dattebayo. Any other way you might end up with broken legs," he said and stood on the edge of the cliff, waiting for him.

[smallstepstopower]

He studied him for a moment before padding over and draping himself against the blond's back, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. "Like this?"

[orange_dattebayo]

"Yes and hold tight. Wrap your legs around my waist when I jump so you have no contact with the ground." It would be bye-bye Oro's legs... it's weird because snakes have no legs.

"Ready? We're off!" And with that, he grinned and jumped from the edge.

[smallstepstopower]

He was quick to get his legs up and wrapped around the blond at the warning. He had no desire to end up injured because he was taller. Still, the jump gave a thrill of adrenaline, and unfamiliarity with the teen's skills had him tightening his hold.

[orange_dattebayo]

"WHOAAAAAAAA!" He loved this! There were very rare occasions where he could jump from such high cliff. He noticed one rock sticking out and he grinned, concentrating chakra in his foot and breaking through the stone with ease, continuing the free-fall.

[smallstepstopower]

He let out a little curse as the blond showed off and pressed his face against Naruto's neck.

[orange_dattebayo]

He gulped at the sudden feeling of the skin on his neck:"Um, sorry about that!" he had to yell so the other could hear him. They were almost near the ground too.

[smallstepstopower]

He didn't even -try- to reply, instead just opening an eye to look to the ground. Oh thank kami they were about to land. He tightened his hold even as he relaxed his body in case the blond had a hard jolt to his landing. He seemed better trained than that but one could never be sure.

[orange_dattebayo]

He landed perfectly- with both of his feet. The ground cracked and broke around his feet, making a small crater due to the speed of their fall. He grinned impishly:"We're here!"

[smallstepstopower]

He nodded, then slowly lifted his head, examining the ground with interest before sliding his feet to the ground. "Well, that went better than I feared."

[orange_dattebayo]

"Of course it went well! I am the great Uzumaki Naruto! Did you doubt me, dattebayo?" he crossed his arms into a pout.

[smallstepstopower]

"Eternally." He reached down with one hand to pat his arms. "But you proved you have some reliability at least."

[orange_dattebayo]

He raised eyebrow at the gesture:"Of course I am reliable! I am Konoha's ninja!" Sure still a friggin' gennin, but that wasn't his fault.

[smallstepstopower]

"There are lots of Konoha nin who aren't good at pretty much anything." He shook his head and leaned on his shoulders, pointing with the hand he'd patted him with. "We'll be heading that way?"

[orange_dattebayo]

"That's not true. Everyone can do something if they try!" He blinked, looking over the shoulder at him:"And what's that way? Do you know this village?" Why is he still leaned on him. "Are you tired so you're still leaning on me, 'tebbayo?"

[smallstepstopower]

He blinked back at him and ignored the leaning question entirely. "No, that just seemed the logical direction to go. You don't agree?"

[orange_dattebayo]

Oi, did Orochimaru's brain completely disappeared in thin air as they made free-fall? He looked into the pointed direction:"I don't know. We have nothing to lose so let's go."

[smallstepstopower]

He nodded and finally straightened, hands trailing over his shoulders before he was released. "And you intend to simply march right in I take it?"