Raven's pov

A cave.

It's in a cave.

I guess now I know why I was asked if I was afraid of the dark. I can't see jack-shit at the moment, and based on the sounds echoing out of the chilly cavern, I really don't think I want to. I know Ibiki doesn't like me, but damn. He probably assumes I'm going to die making my way through this stony tunnel. And he's right: I probably will. That being said, Ibiki doesn't know I hold two demons. Well... nobody does, save for granny, but that's besides the point.

I took a few steps forward, staring into the cave. I have a solid five minutes to get to wherever this training area is before I'm officially late. Assuming I don't run into anything too terribly dangerous, five minutes should be a perfectly good amount of time for me to sprint through the darkness like my life depends on it. Knowing him, there's bound to be some obstacle in there somewhere. 

I sighed, shaking out my hands. I heard Kuro chortle. I bet he and Igneous are secretly betting on how I'll go down again. I hope they're aware that when I die, they die. Whatever. This is fine. It's all fine. I won't die.

I considered turning my body to metal. It has its major disadvantages. Like the fact that I'm slow as fuck when I try to turn my entire body. I could also speed through if I so chose to. That seems like a better option. Like running across hot coals! Just uh... get 'er done! 

Taking a deep breath, I raced in, tempted to clench my eyes shut in a futile attempt to make this way less worse than it actually is. I refrained, because I'm a fucking genius, of course. I don't think I've ever run so fast. It's like when you turn the light off in the basement and then race up the stairs out of sheer, clearly-irrational fear. That's what's happening right now.

Something brushed against my arm, and I almost screamed. Key word being 'almost.' Yeah, I've actually got self-control for once in my sorry life. I surprise even myself sometimes. However, if I find out whatever I just touched is chasing me, it's game over. I will let out the shrillest, most ear-piercing shriek anyone has ever heard with absolutely zero hesitation. This may be a game to some, but it isn't one I'm playing.

A light appeared at the end of the tunnel, and I heard a grunt behind me, causing me to pale. Hah, okay, so let's see. No, no, and third of all, just to finish off, no. I don't know what's following me or why it is, but Ibiki better be ready to be used as a meat shield when I get to... wherever it is I'm going. What if this is all a trick and he doesn't show up? I'll set the forest on fire and let myself burn along with it if that's the case.

I skidded into what looked like a giant, underground clearing. It was in a dome-like shape, with several stalactites varying in size hanging above me. I whirled around to see if the thing following me had dared challenge me now that I could see, but there was nothing there. That's even worse! It's like when you lose sight of the spider you were hunting with a shoe.

"I'm surprised you made it past him." I whirled around to see Ibiki. Him? What the fuck? "And you're on time."

"No thanks to you." I grumbled back, folding my arms over my chest with a huff. Got to keep that teenager-persona in play. I don't want to be tarnishing my name or anything now.

"Let's begin." Ibiki decided before I could insult him or his bulbous head. Seriously, who were his parents? His skull is like, nearly twice as big as my tiny-Raven one. Should I be taking notes? Maybe it's a part of his diet. "First, Taijutsu."

"Wait, wha-" I sputtered, barely managing to turn my leg to metal before his foot slammed into it. I didn't move an inch, feeling rather paralyzed and extremely taken aback. I watched as the force of the kick seemed to travel back up and through his body, and in an instant he was on the ground, his hands moving to massage his foot on reflex. I winced a little bit.

"Great job keeping your cover." Kuro said, though his voice sounded muffled. I heard a crunch come from Igneous, and had the sudden urge to bash my head in with my own iron fist. They're seriously eating popcorn while Ibiki is trying to kill me. After I just got chased through a cave by whoever or whatever 'he' is. Why is this a thing? 

"What the..." Ibiki grunted, narrowing his eyes at me. I quickly let my leg return to normal when his hand shot out, wrapping around it. Yeah, he gets to manhandle my calve for about five seconds before it's considered rape and I scream. I narrowed my eyes back at him, and he retracted his hand, his eye twitching. "I don't understand. Your body is... normal."

"That's literally the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me." I said blandly. Yeah, I have absolutely no intention of telling him anything, but you know what, we're going to let him dream. I won't give him a refusal, but I won't give him an admission either. Is this a power play on my part? Quite possibly. Will it result in my death? Without a doubt, one day. "Let's learn, jumbo."

He stood up, brushing himself off with a twitching eye. Now he knows how I felt when I saw I had to run through a cave to get here. He let out a heavy sight. "Okay, do you know what chakra is, at least?" He would have ran his hand through his hair if he had any. Burn. Was that also a pun, because I breath fire? I think I just moved up to god-tier. 

"Nope." I have a thumbs up, which earned me another sigh. He shook his head at me while mumbling something along the lines of 'I really wish he'd eaten her' which is really concerning, but I'm not going to comment on it. He might realize I have enhanced hearing if I do. Look at me, being smart and observant. Slay, queen.

"Are you giving yourself a pep-talk?" Kuro asked.

"Yeah, that's really sad." Igneous noted.

'Okay, well are you guys hyping me up? No. You're not. I have to do everything around here, I swear!' I complained, earning a grunt and a snort. Not sure what that means, but I'm pretty sure it translates roughly to 'fuck you'. It's really hard to tell with them, though, so I'm going to pretend it was actually them giving me love and support.

"It wasn't." Igneous whispered. I strategically ignored him.

"Chakra is essential to even the most basic technique. Through various methods, the most common being hand seals, chakra can be controlled and manipulated to create an effect that would not be possible otherwise. A few examples of these effects would be things like walking on water, exhaling fire, and creating illusions. Chakra is not ordinarily visible to the unaided eye unless it happens to be highly concentrated, or it's manifested in large amounts." Ibiki said, and for once in my life, I listened attentively. 

"Is it possible for someone the breath fire without chakra?" I asked.

"Absolutely not." He said. I felt smug, to which he shot me an accusing glare.

"What's with the look, brat?" Shit, he's onto me. Abort. Poker face, initiate! 

"Oh, it's nothing. Nothing at all." I said as innocently as I could. Igneous was cackling within my mind along with me, and Kuro was just mulling over the difference between red and green bell peppers, along with their nutritional values. I don't know how he has all this information on peppers, but it's better than him talking about soap or something. That would terrify me.

Ibiki sighed, but didn't push. Instead he cracked his knuckles. I wanted to laugh. Yeah, I'm fucking dead.

"Well, let's begin, brat."

-Time skip because it's half til for in the morning and I'll be damned if I attempt a fight scene-

Ibiki's pov

I glanced down at the sleeping kid next to me. Assuming she's asleep and didn't just pass out from exhaustion. For legal purposes, I'll pretend it's the first. Besides, the brat has sort of grown on me. A little. She's also obnoxious and rude as shit. I'm pretty sure she called me cancer on legs at some point. She's lucky I don't snap her neck now.

She managed to learn the single jutsu that they'd be having their exam on in one night. The other shit, such as chakra control, and the other basic jutsu, we ignored. We just didn't have the damn time to even attempt touching base on that shit. Besides, this kid may have more chakra than your average academy brat, but even she's exhausted after just learning one.

Sun began to filter through the gaps in the top of the dome, and I grunted a little, my gaze shifting back to Raven. She was curled up in a tight ball, occasionally twitching and mumbling to herself. I haven't caught any of what she's said so far, but I'm a little... curious. I have no fucking clue where this kid came from, and neither does the Hokage. That, and I still haven't let that whole leg-thing go. She didn't even flinch.

I grimaced a little. Sending her home to clean up probably would have been smart. She looked like she stepped straight out of some horror movie. Her hair is matted with dirt, sweat, and blood. Her face is no better, but she's not the only one who's got bruises forming. The kid's got a punch solid punch.

I sighed again and nudged her with my foot. In an instant, she was up, twisting my arm behind her back and holding a stray rock to my neck as though it were actually sharp enough to cut into it. I grimaced again. What happened to this kid to make her react like that when she's woken up?

"Oh, it's you." She noted before she winced, dropping me. Her fists are pretty banged up, and I doubt she'd be able to sit up properly for weeks. Poor kid. I'd probably feel more guilty if she hadn't kneed me in the balls. Twice. The kid sure can be deadly when she wants to be.

Raven's pov

"Well kid, let's go into town real quick and get you some bandages." Ibiki grumbled. I eyed him suspiciously. He and I got off on the wrong, but I suppose he isn't that bad. Sort of. I kind of hate his guts just a little because he made me walk through that dumbass cave when there's actually a door that leads directly into this dome-thing. A door.

"Sounds great." I gave a thumbs up. He rolled his eyes at me, and we started out.

"You know, I wonder how you didn't go flying when I first kicked you. It's almost as though you turned to solid iron." He narrowed his eyes at me. I kept my face as straight as I could manage, though mentally, I was losing my shit with Kuro and Igneous like the dumbasses we are. Oh the irony. That was a pun too. I know, I'm reaching higher than god tier. Thank you, thank you. I try.

We got a lot of looks going into town. Some people asked if I was okay while eyeing Ibiki like he was the devil incarnate. Which I'd agree with if I didn't already hold that title. Others asked if he was my dad, which made me all but keel over with laughter each time. We don't resemble each other unless you want to count the blood and dirt we're covered in.

Ibiki bought bandages like the responsible adult he is and sat me down on a bench. He started on my arm, which I'd used to block a kunai because I'm an idiot. I didn't risk turning my body to metal again. It would slow me down and make him even more suspicious. Besides, I need to learn how to fight without these demonic abilities, right? Though I... did turn my fist to iron everything I hit him. And my knee the two times I-

"Have fun at the exam, kid." Ibiki stood up. I hastily followed in suit.

"I'm gonna crush it." I promised, giving another thumbs up. Where did I pick this habit up from? Why am I doing it? 

"Hundred ryo says you fail." Ibiki glared.

"Hundred says I pass. You're on." I'm broke. We shook on it anyway.