"You know," she began. "You guys don't always have to come so early. Even Kakashi-sensei's not here this early."
"Well, what if he was here and we screwed up?" Naruto asked an irritated tone in his voice though he tried to conceal it. Hikari shrugged.
"He's not here, though, is he," she said with a wink. Naruto let out an exasperated sigh and sat down. "Did you guys eat?"
"Of course we didn't," Sakura snapped. "You heard what Kakashi-sensei said. No eating unless we want to throw up."
Hikari thought for a moment.
"Mmm..." she said. "He doesn't really mean that...at least, I hope not. I've eaten breakfast and I figured you guys wouldn't eat so...want any?" Hikari dug her hand into her backpack and pulled out a small bento box. She opened the lid to reveal five small rice cakes inside of it.
"I reinforced it with special herbs to give you extra energy and stamina. Completely homemade", she held out the food with a grin. Naruto, Sakura, and even Sasuke eyed it as if they were about to take her offer, but Hikari then concealed the food quickly. A strange feeling filled the air
"Morning, everyone," Kakashi greeted. Hikari turned and looked up, finding Kakashi perched on the red gate. Naruto and Sakura immediately sprang up and pointed an accusing finger at him.
"YOU'RE LATE!" they screamed. Hikari smiled with a sweatdrop.
Today will be an interesting day...
Kakashi had led them to a place that had three wooden stakes in the ground, a timer on the middle one. He placed his hand on the top and a ping emitted from the clock.
"I've set this alarm to go off at noon," he began. "I have in my hand, two small bells. Your mission is to get it from me before the timer sounds."
Kakashi indeed had two small silver bells that hung on red strings in his hand, and placed them on his belt.
"Anyone who fails to do so doesn't get any lunch," he continued. "Instead, you will be tied to that tree stump so I can eat your lunch in front of you."
Everyone's mouths dropped, except for Hikari who had taken care to eat her breakfast. She laughed as their stomachs growled.
"So, that's why you wanted us to go without breakfast!" Naruto complained. Hikari gave them all an I-told-you-so look.
"All you need is just one bell a piece," he said. "But since only two bells exist and there are four of you, two of you are definitely going to be tied to the stump. And whoever that is...will be the first of you guys to fail. Two of you are already headed back to school...and to disgrace.
"You may, if you choose, to use any weapon that you've got. And you must attack as though you mean to kill me or you won't stand a chance."
"But...that's so dangerous!" Sakura exclaimed.
"You couldn't even dodge an eraser," Naruto laughed, immediately at ease. "You're gonna get killed!"
"Only the weak speak loudly, idiot," Kakashi said with a sigh.
Idiot echoed in Naruto's head, causing anger to rise within him. He suddenly took out a kunai, twirled it on his finger, and ran at Kakashi. Hikari heard Sakura gasp and saw Sasuke tense up but she just shook her head.
That won't work, Naruto-kun...she thought.
In the blink of an eye, Kakashi was behind Naruto with Naruto's own arm holding the weapon pointed at the back of his own throat.
Kakashi seemed to smile judging by the look in his visible eye and the movement underneath his mask.
"Wait a minute...I didn't even say go yet," Kakashi said, still smiling. "But at least you struck as if you were going to kill. It seems that you all have begun to respect me. Maybe...just maybe, I'm beginning to like you four. Time for the test to start. Ready...set...GO!"
All genin disappeared, jumping into four different directions. Kakashi counted to five before he began turning around and around, searching for his students.
In a shinobi's life, you must eradicate anything you've left behind, he thought as he finally stopped turning and looked straight ahead where Hikari was hiding. Hikari gulped and quietly moved back, deeper into the forest and stood, sweat beginning to form on her forehead. Fortunately, the teacher didn't seem to notice his student.
All of them hid well...
"It's time to fight me, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto yelled from behind him. Kakashi spun around and looked at Naruto strangely. Hikari took the chance and chose a different hiding spot.
You baka...she thought as she hid in a tree, using the leaves to conceal her figure.
"Let's make this a fair match and let the best, blond-haired boy win!" Naruto continued loudly.
"You may be thinking of the wrong match, Naruto," Kakashi sighed.
Naruto ran at Kakashi with full force with a kunai in his hand, his eyes full of contempt.
That fool, Sasuke thought.
"The only wrong thing here is your hair!" Naruto yelled then skidded to a stop just a few feet from Kakashi as he watched his sensei dig in his pouch for something.
"I'm going to teach you your first skill," Kakashi began, still digging in his pouch for something. "Taijutsu, the art of hand-to-hand combat."
Hikari blinked; a questioning look upon her face. Realization hit her and she sighed.
Wait, Naruto thought. Taijutsu...hand-to-hand combat...then why is he...?
He gasped as he saw his teacher pull out an orange book that read Ichi Ichi Paradise on the front. Hikari smacked her forehead.
I knew it, I knew it, I knew it, she thought. I knew he brought that book! That cursed, perverted book!
Naruto drew a blank face and just stared at Kakashi. Kakashi noticed and spoke.
"...what's wrong? I thought you were about to attack."
"But..." Naruto began. "That...I-I mean...why are you...but that's a book!"
"Of course it's a book. I've known that for quite some time. Besides, I've been dying to find out how this story would end...so...go on. This shouldn't make a difference of the outcome, considering who I'm up against."
Naruto became even angrier than before and started running at his sensei again, his sleeved pulled up.
"I'm going to pulverize you!" Naruto exclaimed, then jumped and aimed a punch at Kakashi, who blocked the punch without even looking away from that book. Naruto then shifted his position and aimed a kick for his teacher's head, who ducked, still reading the book. Naruto landed on the ground with one foot and stepped forward.
"This is it! I'm going to punch-" but he was cut off as his teacher was suddenly behind him.
"Stop showing your back to your enemy, idiot," Kakashi explained as he made the kata of tiger. Hikari's eyes widened slightly as she took in the scene. He wouldn't, she thought. He's too soft to do that.
He's making the sign of the tiger, Sasuke thought. Impossible. That's a sign to use the flames known mostly to the Uchiha clan. That teacher wasn't just fooling around.
That's impossible! He can't! It's too advanced a technique to use against Naruto! He has no chance! Sakura thought frantically.
"Naruto! Get away from Kakashi-sensei! You're going to be killed!" yelled Sakura. Hikari almost fell off the branch she rested on and quickly jumped to a different one.
Naruto's head swiveled around to see where the voice came from only to miss Sakura as she hid back under the foliage. A clueless look apparent on his face.
"Too late," Kakashi said and proceeded to shove his fingers up Naruto's butt. "Konohagakure's secret jutsu! Sennen Goroshi*!"
Naruto went flying and landed into the river. Hikari smacked her forehead again.
You still have all of your stupid tricks, Kakashi, she said silently. Sakura sweatdropped and made a face.
That's a secret jutsu? It looks more like shoving your fingers up Naruto's butt, she thought. Sasuke sweat dropped and sighed.
They're both idiots...he thought. Underneath the water, Naruto took out two shuriken and through them towards his sensei, who caught it on his fingers, chuckling at his book.
"Nooooooo!" yelled Naruto from underneath the water. He then performed the hands of his jutsu.
I will not go back! he thought and created clones under the water. Then he jumped up and landed on the grounded, gasping for air and coughing. Kakashi noticed him and spoke.
"Well? Is that it? You know that if you don't get these bells by lunch, you'll have nothing to eat!"
"I know that!" Naruto retorted, still on the ground.
"You say that you want to surpass all of the hokage that came before you but you're already out of energy," Kakashi pressed, still reading his book.
"I know, dammit! I can fight no matter how hungry I am!"
Hikari heard a strange gurgling noise from somewhere around her and chuckled. She quietly jumped onto the branch Sasuke stood on and took out her bento box, opened it and took out a rice ball, then prodded Sasuke's back with the other hand holding the box. Sasuke jumped and swiveled his head around, glaring at Hikari. He blinked as he saw Hikari offering him some food.
"Here," she whispered. "Take it. Like I said earlier. You won't throw up. Trust me. And it's really good."
Sasuke took the food and hesitantly bit into it. He immediately felt energy coursing through him as he swallowed and ate the whole thing. Hikari smiled as she watched him.
"Good?" she asked. He nodded.
"Well, I'm going to go feed Sakura. Knowing her...she probably didn't eat anything last night either." Hikari jumped down and ran off to where Sakura was hiding. Indeed, she heard a strange noise and crouched down below the foliage and offered Sakura one.
"Don't worry," Hikari said in a reassuring voice. "It won't make you fat and it'll give you energy." Sakura ate the rice ball, flashing a smile of gratitude at Hikari and turned her attention to the battle. Hikari ate one herself and resolved to give one to Naruto and Kakashi later. She watched the match and saw something stir in the river behind Naruto.
So that's what he's got in mind, she thought. Pretty ingenious.
"I just wasn't ready, that's all!" Naruto roared.
"So...? Learn to be ready at all times, Naruto!" Kakashi replied, walking away from Naruto.
Crap, Naruto thought as he glared at his sensei's back. I'm so hungry...and completely out of energy. But...I have to get a bell...no matter what! I have to earn his respect! NO MATTER WHAT!
Suddenly, eight clones of Naruto appeared out of the water and charged at Kakashi. "Ha!" yelled Naruto. "Get ready! Now you're going to have to face more than one of me all thanks to my special jutsu!"
One...two...three...eight real flesh-and-blood bodies, Sasuke thought in amazement. What jutsu is Naruto using?
They're not just illusions, Sakura thought. All of them are solid!
Hikari eyed her teammates and watched their expressions. Even Sasuke-san is impressed… she pondered, a light smile playing at her lips. She slid her gaze to her teacher and her smile disappeared, replaced with a slight scowl. He knows what Naruto-kun is up to.
"Not illusions but actual bodies," Kakashi confirmed. This is a jutsu from the forbidden scroll...it's the jutsu he used to send Mizuki to jail. Interesting.
"But...at your current level, you can't be strong enough to hold them up for more than a minute!" Kakashi said, still looking at his book. "You're all bark and no bite, Naruto. You're a one-trick animal who doesn't have what it takes to win."
Then suddenly, Kakashi felt something on his back and widened his eyes. "W-What?" he exclaimed. Hikari heard Sakura gasp beside her, and she sighed. "Heh-heh," Naruto laughed. "Nice to see your back...sensei! I isolated one of my clones and sent it out of the water posing as me. That's when the real me circled around, behind you! So...here's my revenge for what you did to my ass! Just one good hit! That's all I want!"
Naruto aimed a punch for Kakashi.
Hikari saw how impressed her teammates were and sighed lightly.
"Relax, Kakashi-sensei! I'm only going to hit you once!" Naruto aimed his punch...and swung as hard as he could...and gasped as he punched himself.
Huh? he thought, utterly confused. Sasuke blinked, Hikari sighed, and Sakura drew a blank face as the clone that got punched began yelling in pain.
"You're Kakashi-sensei! You just transformed into me so you could fool us!" yelled one Naruto.
"Am not! You're Kakashi-sensei! You even smell like him...like an old man!"
"I do not!"
"Hey! Why don't we just drop the illusion? If we do, the only other one left is Kakashi."
"Hey! Why didn't you think of that sooner?"
"Because I'm you, idiot!"
Naruto dropped the jutsu...and just stood there as he was the only person left standing around.
Poor Naruto-kun, Hikari thought. Naruto then spotted something beside a tree and began walking to it.
"A bell!" he exclaimed. Hikari's eyes widened and she stood.
"Naruto-kun! It's a trap!"
But too late. Naruto reached for the bell and screamed as something caught his foot and pulled him up. Hikari quickly ran to a different place to hide and stood in a tree.
"Gah! No!" Naruto screamed.
What's so troubling is...Kakashi didn't even let his guard down once, Sasuke pondered as he watched the scene in front of him. He was just playing around even during the fight with Naruto. Kakashi then appeared and picked up the bell.
"You had a good plan...but I had a better one," Kakashi said. "By the way, being caught in an obvious trap is stupid!"
Naruto glared.
"Shinobi read the hidden meaning within the hidden meanings!" Kakashi added with a note of happiness in his voice.
"I know, I know, I know!" Naruto yelled.
"Um...no, you don't. Why do you think that I'm telling you this? Just for my benefit?" Kakashi answered. Hikari heard the clinking of weapons and saw Sasuke take out many kunai and shuriken then threw them all at Kakashi. She gasped as every one of them hit their target, then sighed as Kakashi performed the substitution jutsu and disappeared. She had an eerie feeling of being watched and quickly ran away, going the opposite direction of Sasuke as Kakashi finally figured out where she and Sasuke were.
Sakura ran from her hiding place, looking for Sasuke. When Hikari thought Kakashi was gone, she walked out of her hiding place and over to Naruto. She smiled and he scowled.
"Need some help?" she asked. He nodded. Then she quickly took out a kunai and cut the rope. Naruto fell and screamed as he was immediately pulled back up. Hikari sighed and cut the rope again. She took out her bento box and held out a rice ball.
"Naruto-" she began.
"No time, Hikari-chan," Naruto cut her off, looking into the distance. "I've got to go get something."
"But Naruto-"
"See ya, Hikari-chan!" And he ran off. Hikari shrugged and put the rice ball back in her bento box.
I'll give it to him later, she thought. Then she froze as she heard a scream somewhere within the forest. Sakura! She frantically and ran towards the source of the noise. Kakashi's gotten to Sakura and now heading for Sasuke-san. I'd better help Sakura first and see if she's okay.
Hikari ran and stopped as she saw Sakura, lying on the ground, her mouth foaming.
"Sakura-chan?" she called. Sakura made no movement. Hikari walked over to the unconscious Sakura and gently shook her. "Sakura-chan?" she called again. "Are you at all conscious? Can you hear me at all?"
Again, Sakura made no movement or sound. Hikari pulled out a white rag from her pouch and wiped the foam off of Sakura's mouth.
Kakashi must've scared her really badly...Hikari thought. She placed two fingers on Sakura's wrist to check her pulse and laughed. Ah, poor thing.
"Sakura-chan! Wake up! There's no time for a nap!" Hikari yelled. Sakura's eyes fluttered and Hikari let her go. "Sakura-chan...make a sound or a movement if you can hear me," Hikari commanded. Sakura moaned and then quickly sat up.
"Sasuke-kun!" she said.
"Sakura-chan, Sasuke is fine-" Hikari began, but was cut off as Sakura stood and ran off, saying, "Sasuke-kun's in trouble! I've got to help him!"
Hikari sighed as she was left alone again and stood, looking around her as she suddenly felt as if someone was watching her. She turned around and saw Kakashi standing there, holding his book.
"Miko, Hikari," he greeted. "You know, Iruka boasts about you a lot. You're every bit like your mother. She used to tend to plants a lot and she loves to do the things you do now. She was always gentle and kind to anything and anyone."
Hikari blushed slightly as she was praised.
"Kakashi-sensei?" she called softly. He glanced from his book to her as she smiled. "Teamwork's the answer, isn't it?"
Kakashi gave his student a strange look, regarding her in a different light. No one ever knew the answer. So, why this student? After a long pause he spoke.
"Yes, Hikari. It is."
Hikari chuckled. He never changes.
"How long have you known?"
"Ever since you told us about this exercise."
"And the others don't know?"
Hikari shook her head. "Not at all. They're all focused on getting those bells for themselves. Sakura-chan focuses mainly on Sasuke-san. She wants a bell for him and herself so she can stay together with him. Naruto-kun wants it to continue his path. Of course…you're going to fail them, aren't you?"
"…perhaps. But enough talk, Hikari. Teamwork is the key factor in many teams, yes. But what use is it if a member doesn't know how to use his skills?"
"I suggest you put your book away, then," Hikari remarked as she quickly lunged towards Kakashi, who paid attention to his book. He raised his hand, an uninterested look upon his face.
"Blindly charging at me like Naruto will not help y—" he glanced in Hikari's direction with mild surprise. She wasn't there.
"Up here, Kakashi-sensei!"
Kakashi looked up in time to block a kick coming down from above from his student. Hikari quickly bent down to elbow him in the face and smiled when it was blocked.
"Not bad, Hikari."
"Thank you, sensei."
She then twisted her body around and aimed a kick to the side of Kakashi's head, who prepared his free arm to block it. Her leg did not connect with his arm, however, as Hikari once against disappeared.
Fast…Kakashi contemplated, smiling a little. Strange girl.
"Please pay attention!" Hikari yelled. Kakashi looked down at the source of the voice. He jumped in time to avoid a sweep at his legs and landed a little ways away from his student. His bored gaze weighed his opponent carefully.
"It's clear I underestimated you, Hikari."
"Yes, you did." Hikari again ran with full force towards her opponent. Before she reached her destination she jumped up, ready to swing her leg down on her teacher. Kakashi stood in a ready stance to block it. He felt the weight of his student as the leg connected with his arms.
Powerful.
Then the weight disappeared. He turned around to find Hikari running away from him in the direction of her teammate.
I see…no wonder Iruka boasts about her.
Hikari ran towards one of her teammates. She knew before she encountered her teacher that Sasuke had gotten to Kakashi first.
He should be around here… she thought, looking around. She arrived to a clearing and sure enough was her teammate.
Sasuke's whole body had been buried, save for his head, underground and he didn't look too happy. His ears perked up as he heard the noise and sighed.
"Need help?" Hikari asked as she walked in front of Sasuke and sat on her knees in front of him. He gave a stiff nod and Hikari placed her hands around the dirt around Sasuke's head. But just before she could dig, Sakura came out of the woods and froze right in place as she saw Sasuke.
"Sakura..." Sasuke said, and Sakura screamed.
"Ah! The decapitated head is talking!" she screamed, then fainted. Hikari laughed slightly and turned to Sasuke who had a confused look in his eyes.
"She's okay...just scared...again," Hikari said, then began digging, carefully avoiding his throat. When she dug down to his waist, he began helping her. The hole became deep as they both dug deeper, trying to get him out. When they were down to his ankles, they both bent down and hit head. Hikari blushed, and quickly mumbled an apology before she continued her task to set her teammate free from the earth. In no time at all, Sasuke was free and he climbed out. Then he leaned over the edge and held out his hands to Hikari.
Hikari grasped his hands and gasped as Sasuke pulled her out as if she was a feather. Sasuke was surprised at how light she was and pulled her out with too much strength, causing her to almost fly out of his grip. However, he caught her and fell back, bringing his childhood friend with him.
Hikari picked her head up off of his chest and blushed as she came in eye contact with Sasuke. He looked at her face. There were smudges of dirt everywhere and she looked so dirty. But he didn't care, all he could think about was the warm body on him that he held by the waist. He felt as if he was eight again and wiped the dirt off of Hikari's face, but because his fingers were dirty, he just smudged more dirt around. He stopped and just continued staring into her strange colored eyes.
Hikari's kunzite began to glow a red color and it warmed her body. She quickly scrambled off, saying sorry and blushed. Sasuke sat up, a little pink on his cheeks, and looked at Sakura. Hikari followed his gaze and nodded. She watched as Sasuke walked over to their teammate and lightly shake her shoulder.
"Hey..." he said. Sakura's eyes fluttered open and gasped as she saw Sasuke's face. She quickly sat up and hugged him around the neck. Hikari took out a different rag from when she cleaned off the foam on Sakura's face and started cleaning her own face.
When she saw that it was futile, she stopped and sighed.
"You're alive!" Sakura screamed, still hugging Sasuke.
"Yeah...okay, Sakura...get off!" he yelled. Then got up as Sakura immediately let go.
"Time's running out," he said. "I'm off."
Sakura got an anxious look on her face.
"You can't be serious Sasuke. Do you really think that you can get one of those bells?"
"I got close enough to touch one," he replied. "This time, I'll take it and I won't hesitate."
"What!" Sakura exclaimed. "Wow...you're so amazing, Sasuke..."
This is awful! I'll never get a bell! And if I don't...then I'll be separated from Sasuke! Sakura through franctically.
"Um...I mean...there's no more time and...even if we couldn't manage to get it this time...I'm sure next time...if we give it our very best..."
But then she trailed off as Sasuke glared at her. Sakura gulped as she realized that failure wasn't ever going to make Sasuke happy and sighed.
"Only I can kill him..." Sasuke began.
"Who? Sasuke-kun...you mean Kakashi-sensei, right?" Sakura asked, completely confused on what Sasuke was talking about. Hikari, however, knew exactly what Sasuke was talking about and turned her head away.
"He...made me...cry..." Sasuke added reluctantly.
"You cried?" Sakura asked in disbelief.
I remember that night clearly, Hikari thought.
"My..." Sasuke began.
"What?" Sakura asked. "What...what are you talking about?"
"My only goal...is to have my revenge. I have to become stronger than he is...now."
Sakura remembered what Sasuke had said when they all introduced themselves. Then suddenly, a sharp ring cut through the tense air, bringing everyone back to reality.
"Damn," Sasuke cursed. "I should've held my breath."
Everyone was back at the stumps ten minutes later. Naruto was tied to the middle stump, Sakura on Naruto's left, and Sasuke on Naruto's right. Beside Sasuke, was Hikari, who had her knees drawn up to her chest. Kakashi stood in front of them as he heard Naruto's, Sasuke's, and Sakura's stomach growl.
"Oh...listen to all those stomach's growl," he said in a cheerful voice. He was greeted with glares from everyone but Hikari, who ignored her sensei. "By the way...you four...I have an announcement about the exercise. None of you need to worry about being sent back to the academy," he said.
Sakura and Naruto smiled while Sasuke smirked. Hikari sighed and looked off towards the pond beside them.
Naruto screamed for joy, Sakura jumped, and an annoyed look briefly passed over Hikari's face before becoming passive. Sasuke managed to catch Hikari at the moment and blinked. Judging by the movement underneath the mask, everyone guessed that Kakashi was happy for them. Hikari guessed something else.
"This means that all four of us..." Naruto began but was cut off by Kakashi.
"...fail. More schooling would be pointless. None of you will ever be shinobi...save for Hikari," Kakashi finished. Hikari scoffed lightly, still looking away.
Asshat, was the only thought that came to Hikari's mind.
Kakashi now glared at Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke.
"Give it up. None of you will ever be a ninja!"
Hikari pulled at the kunzite at her neck that alerted her of her teammates' contrasting emotions.
~*With Iruka and the Hokage...*~
"You invited me to lunch because you had questions about Kakashi, am I correct?" the Hokage asked Iruka.
"Hai," Iruka answered. "Team 7...Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Hikari...what kind of teacher did they get? Is he strict or...?"
"It worries you?" the Hokage asked and handed Iruka a small handbook that had the kanji characters that spelled out 'The Ninja Way' on the front.
"This is a roster of all of Kakashi's previous students among the lowest level shinobi, who passed and who failed." Iruka flipped through the pages and gasped.
"It...It says...It can't be!"
~*Back With Team 7...*~
"What do you mean just 'give up,'" Naruto yelled angrily. "Give me a break! Okay, so maybe none of us got our hands on one of your damn bells...so what? But why the hell should we quit over that?"
"Because none of you got what it takes...save for Hikari," Kakashi added quickly. Suddenly, Sasuke stood and charged at Kakashi, who quickly flattened Sasuke onto his stomach with his left arm twisted behind his back, with Kakashi sitting on him. Hikari's attention was finally caught and she watched with mild amusement.
"What you are...is a bunch of spoiled brats..." Kakashi said venomously.
"Stop! You can't step on Sasuke as if he were just a bug!" Sakura yelled.
"On the contrary, Sakura. I can," Kakashi answered calmly. "Are you trying to make fun of the shinobi ways with your behavior? Did you even think, for one second, why you were divided into teams?"
"Uh...excuse me?" Sakura asked. Kakashi sighed.
"Guess not," he said under his breath, then closed his eyes. "So you missed the entire point of the exercise..."
"It had a point?" Naruto asked, completely confused.
"Of course," Kakashi answered. "If you actually got it, like Hikari, then you would have passed."
"But...you haven't even told us what it was!" Sakura exclaimed. Kakashi sighed heavily.
"Dear god..." he muttered. Then looked at Hikari.
"Tell us already!" Naruto exclaimed. Hikari sighed and said in a quiet but firm voice, "Teamwork."
Realization hit the other three like a wave.
"If all of you had come at me together, then you might have been able to take the bells," Kakashi explained. Sakura stood with her arms out.
"If we were expected to act as a team, then why did you have only two bells? Even if we worked together, two of us would still have to go without lunch. You keep preaching about teamwork, but you played us against each other!"
"Of course, this exercise was designed to cause tension and suspicion in your team...and the situation was set up to reveal which of you would set aside your differences and ask others that you work together for the good of all of you. Instead...you Sakura, ignored Naruto and Hikari who were right in front of you while you focused on Sasuke, though you didn't even know where he was. Plus, Sakura, I do believe that Hikari gave you energy, and woke you up after fainting once then made Sasuke wake you up again after you fainted...again.
"And Naruto tried to do something that all of you should have done together. Plus, I think Hikari was going to offer you some food and teamwork, Naruto. And she also got you out of both traps. But you ran off without giving her a chance to say anything.
"And you..." Kakashi pushed Sasuke's head into the dirt with his foot. "You have already decided that the other three just got in your way and that you were better off playing solo. Hikari gave you food to keep your energy up and you still refused to do anything together with anyone. And, correct me if I'm wrong, she also helped you out of the earth.
"Hikari knew the answer all along and she tried to ask you all but you either ignored her or ran off without listening to what she had to say. Yes, it is important for ninja to have individual skills, but what is even more important now is teamwork! Making a solo mission out of a mission that uses teamwork exposes your team into unnecessary danger. You might as well kill them yourself. Here's an example..."
Kakashi quickly took out a kunai and held it to Sasuke's throat. "Sakura! Kill Naruto now or Sasuke will die!"
Hikari heard Sakura gasp and saw Naruto turn his head from Kakashi to Sakura, actually believing that Sakura might kill him, but then let out a sigh of relief as Kakashi put up his kunai and got up off of Sasuke.
"That day will come...when one of you may be taken as a hostage and you're forced to make such a choice. When you are on a mission, your life is always on the line." Kakashi walked behind the four and touched a marble rock in front of a large sun dial.
"Look at the marker," Kakashi said. "The names carved in the stone...are the heroes of Konohagakure. Ninja."
"Wow!" Naruto exclaimed. "I've made up my mind and I want to be just like them!"
Kakashi cleared his throat. "But...the ones listed here aren't just ordinary heroes..."
"REALLY?" Naruto asked, thoroughly impressed. "Then what kind are they? Come on! Tell me!"
"Naruto-kun..." Hikari called softly. "There...K.I.A..." Hikari watched as Naruto's smile faded.
"This is a memorial," Kakashi continued. "It includes the names of my best friends...pay attention...! I'm giving you one last chance. One that will be far more difficult than out last little game with the bells. Sasuke, Sakura, and Hikari, will be able to eat the bento boxes. But no sharing with Naruto. He goes hungry."
"Why?" Sakura questioned.
"He brought it on himself when he thought he could eat the lunch for himself. If any of you feed him, you fail the test right there. Including you Hikari," Kakashi said. "My word is law. Understand?"
Everyone nodded, including Hikari who thought of a plan as they did so.
"Hey!" Naruto said optimistically. "This'll be easy! I can go without lunch...no problem!" But then...his stomach growled. Five minutes later, everyone was eating, all except Hikari, who picked at her food as Naruto's stomach grumbled again. Hikari sighed and stood and walked to the river, going with her plan. Everyone watched her as she jumped in, washing all the dirt off of her, then came back up. She trudged to where the others were, and spoke.
"Give me your rice, you two," Hikari demanded, and smiled as Sasuke and Sakura both gave up what was left of their rice to her. The two just blinked as they watched her make the rice into rice cakes. Everyone just stared, then blinked again as she had five small ones made.
"Okay, Naruto," she said. "I want you to open your mouth as wide as you can. I'm going to throw these in your mouth.
"They're small enough that they'll fit and if you catch them in your mouth, it touches your lip before you swallow it so technically, you're feeding yourself. Plus, these are small enough that you will go slightly hungry. Kakashi-sensei said nothing about slightly hungry, he just said hungry. Ready?"
"But...Hikari!" Sakura protested loudly. "Didn't you hear what Kakashi-sensei-"
"Didn't you just hear what I said?" Hikari retorted in a soft voice. "Just make sure it touches your lip, Naruto-kun."
Hikari threw the rice cakes neatly into his mouth and smiled as each one hit his lip. She took her own, herb modified rice cake and threw it into his mouth, and he caught it. But as soon as he swallowed it, a big explosion of smoke took place and Hikari quickly got up and got into fighting stance.
You wouldn't, Kakashi, she thought. You soft little liar.
~*Back With Iruka and Hokage...*~
"This...this is..." Iruka stuttered.
"Yes...there's no denying that Kakashi is extremely strict...and when his students come to him, they are utterly naive. I can see that but..." the hokage was cut off by Iruka.
"No one? No one at all?" he asked.
"Yes...Kakashi never passes anyone...ever."
~*Back to Team 7...*~
Sakura covered her face and Sasuke got into fighting stance while Naruto screamed.
"YOU!" bellowed Kakashi as he came out. "...Pass," he said pleasantly, the smoke immediately clearing. He winked and smiled. Hikari smiled too, happy with her plan.
"Eh...?" Sakura said. "What?" Naruto asked.
"We pass?" Sakura exclaimed. "But...how?"
"Every one of you have just taken a gigantic step forward."
"How?" Sakura repeated, falling to her knees.
"Up until now, you three have done nothing except listen to me like little robots. A true shinobi seek the hidden meanings within the hidden meaning. In a ninja's world, those who violate the rules and fail to follow orders are scum. But those who do not care for and support their teammates...are worse than scum!"
Sakura jumped for joy, Sasuke had his smirk back, and Naruto's face broke into a smile, causing Hikari to smile. "This exercise is now finished!" Kakashi said with a thumbs up.
"You all pass. That's all for today. Your duties will start again tomorrow!"
"I...I did it! I'm a ninja, ninja, ninja!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Let's go home," Kakashi said. Sasuke and Sakura gathered up their stuff and walked with their sensei, completely proud of themselves. Hikari, however, walked to Naruto, untied him, and hugged him, jumping up and down in joy.
"You did it, Naruto! You passed! You're on your way of becoming the best hokage ever!" she exclaimed. Naruto hugged back.
"No, Hikari-chan," he said. "We did it. We passed. And we are on our way to our dreams!"
-*Author's Notes*-
Sennen Goroshi* = A thousand years of death/pain.