"He's late!" Naruto exclaimed, looking out of the door.
Understandably, he had gotten fed up. Out of all the graduating genin, only Team 7 had been stuck waiting around for their leader to appear. The other jounin had collected their teams hours ago. Mayu had no idea it had taken so long for Hatake Kakashi to arrive. She had expected a wait because she knew the man had a thing about tardiness, but she was almost positive the day was ending for school. What could possibly have his attention for so long? Honestly, Mayu had gotten frustrated, too.
"Naruto, maybe you should just sit down," she suggested, bored out of her mind. Immediately after lunch had been over, the elite ninja had come into the classroom. She had had no time to speak with Ino or Hinata. And she had really wanted to. She hadn't been able to find them during the lunch hour, probably because they had spent it getting to know their teams. She probably wouldn't get the chance to speak with them at all for quite some time. Or maybe she would get lucky in between missions.
"I don't want to! How come our teacher is the only one that's late? I'm ready to rumble!" Naruto said. "The other groups have already met their new teachers and took off on some adventure or something. Iruka-sensei isn't here either."
"Yeah, yeah..." Mayu mumbled, closing her eyes. No one was here at the moment, other than the team. Honestly, she couldn't hear much of anything except Naruto's loud complaining. Was there anyone left in the entire school right now? She rested her head on the desk. She, too, had been ready to rumble. Now, it felt like all the energy had drained away. Maybe she should have eaten lunch after all. Naruto suddenly began making more noise that didn't come from his mouth. Mayu lifted her head and focused on the blond. "What are you doing?" she asked, watching him stand on a stool, stretching up high to place an eraser full of chalk dust in between the door and wall. Naruto merely laughed.
"That's what he gets for being late!" he said, hopping off the stool. He scooted the stool to an innocent place so that the unsuspecting jounin wouldn't notice a thing until it was too late. "Surprise!"
"Naruto, a prank on our sensei is a great first impression," Mayu grinned, giving a thumbs up. "That'll show him for making us wait around!"
I would have used a bucket of water!
"You are both idiots," Sasuke finally spoke up, only to scold them. Hours had gone by, and only an insult had roused him to speak. Sad. "Our teacher's a jounin—an elite ninja," he continued as though the two of them had forgotten. Mayu rolled her eyes. "Do you honestly think he will fall for that?"
"Heck yeah, he will!" Mayu said, turning to face the Uchiha. "If he does fall for it, you have to do me a favor!" A grin stretched across her face. Her teammate flinched, but said nothing. "If he doesn't fall for it, tell Naruto what he could have done better."
"That's stupid," Sasuke said, flatly. "And I'm not dating you."
"You really need to get over yourself, bird brain!" Mayu retorted, scowling at the very notion. She made a show of shuddering like it had repulsed her. Sasuke glared, but it was staunchly ignored. A smirk fell into place. "So how about it? Deal or no deal?"
"Fine—it's not like he'd fall for it anyway," Sasuke muttered.
Suddenly, the door started opening. Seemingly, the three genin held their breaths as a hand slid to open the door further. Kakashi's head popped in only to have the eraser drop unceremoniously onto his head, releasing a burst of chalk dust into his dark silver hair and white powder around his shoulders. Naruto let out a victorious laugh, pointing and jeering "I got him! He totally fell for it!" he shouted in glee.
"Looks like someone owes Ino-chan a kiss!" Mayu crooned, absolutely pleased with the outcome. Sasuke grumbled to himself, not pleased at all. Most likely, he wasn't impressed with their sensei. The three stared at Kakashi, expectedly, as he picked up the eraser.
"Hmm... How can I put this?" he asked himself. The man rubbed at his chin, appearing serious about the question. "My first impression of this group... I hate you all."
"I don't think an adult, who's supposed to train children, should be saying that out loud, sensei," Mayu told him, still grinning. "Surely you must realize that pranks come with the territory?" His visible eye didn't exactly glare, but it appeared both stern and bored at the same time. "Whoa, you're scary," she commented playfully.
"Meet me on the roof in five minutes," he ordered before leaving the room.
0-0
"All right, why don't you guys introduce yourselves?" Kakashi asked. "One at a time..." The four had finally made it to the roof. Their sensei leaned against the railing, arms crossed over his chest and chalk free. He appeared quite bored despite most of his face being covered by a mask and his forehead protector. The three genin sat opposite of him. Naruto sat on the right. Sasuke sat on the left. Mayu was in between the two boys. None of them chose to respond to his suggestion. "Come on, now. Don't be shy. Tell me some things you like, things you hate… dreams for the future? Hobbies—things like that," the man elaborated.
"You first," Mayu said. Her legs were crossed at the ankles in front of her while her hands were tucked in her lap. She leaned forward. Honestly, Kakashi didn't appear like he cared what they had to say. "Just so we have a guideline."
"Me? I'm Hatake Kakashi... things I like and things I hate... I don't feel like telling you that," he said. Mayu pressed her lips together, trying not to smile. "My dreams for the future... never really thought about it. As for my hobbies... I have lots of hobbies."
"Well, that was a waste," Naruto muttered. "All we got was your name!"
"Okay, your turn..." Kakashi said, shrugging. "You, on the right!"
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I like instant Ramen in a cup and I like the Ramen Iruka-sensei got me at the noodle shop. But I hate the three minutes you have to wait after you pour the water in the ramen cup!" Naruto rambled. "My hobby is eating different kinds of ramen and comparing them. And my future dream is to be the greatest Hokage, then the village will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like I'm somebody—somebody important!"
"Alright, next…?" Kakashi said, uncaringly. His uncovered eye took a glance in Mayu's direction, so she chose now to speak.
"My name is Haruno Sakura," she lied, smiling. "I like… singing randomly, sparring, and messing with people's heads. I tend to be inside my own head, so don't bother talking to me when I have a dazed expression on my face. Hobbies… Hm… I guess reading would be a hobby. Reading about all sorts of things. My dream... Well, it's not a dream because I will make it a reality..." She lost her smile and narrowed her eyes. "If I survive long enough in this world, I will kill a man." Mayu noticed the looks she received for such a confession, but she did not care. "By poison, by blades, by my bare hands, by burning—it doesn't matter the method I use… As long as he dies and is no longer of this world. I don't have a dream. I have goal."
SHAZAAM! Orochimaru must die!
It was quiet for a good while, three pairs of eyes on their female teammate. She seemed to break out of her murderous thoughts after a few moments. She pointedly cleared her throat, continuing on through her introduction. The smile came back. "And things I hate... I guess its ignorant people—people who choose to remain ignorant and stagnant throughout their lives, so unwilling to accept change and grow," Mayu finished. "Oh, and I'm not really a bug fan either!"
"Okay... last one," Kakashi said, warily, before looking towards Sasuke.
"My name is... Uchiha Sasuke. I hate a lot of things and I don't practically like anything," he replied. His eyes were focused on an unknown object. Mayu rolled her eyes, once again wondering how anyone could like such a boring person. "What I have is not a dream because I will make it a reality. I'm going to restore my clan and destroy a certain... someone," he finished.
"Wow, way to be a copycat, ne?" Naruto chuckled at the comment, causing Mayu to grin. Sasuke ignored it.
"Good, you're each unique and have your own ideas… except for you, Sasuke," Kakashi said. Mayu's grin widened, thinking she was going to like the jounin, after all. "We'll have our first mission tomorrow."
"What kinda mission are we going to have?" Naruto asked.
"It's a task the four of us will do together," he answered.
"What? What? What? What?" Naruto repeated, clearly excited.
"Survival training," Kakashi stated.
"Survival training...?"
"This isn't like your previous training, though," Kakashi warned.
"What kinda training is it then?" Naruto asked.
The older ninja actually started laughing. "Well, if I tell you the answer, you're not going to like it," Kakashi said, and then laughed again. "Of the 27 graduates that came here, only nine will actually be accepted as genin, the other 18 will be weeded out and sent back to the academy."
"So in other words... if we fail this, we have to start all over again?" Mayu clarified.
"Yes, Sakura, that is correct. The chance of failing is at least 66 percent," Kakashi explained. Naruto freaked out. "See, didn't I tell you that you wouldn't like it?"
"That's crazy! We worked hard to get here!" Naruto shouted. "What was that graduation test for anyway?"
"Oh that? That was just to select candidates who might become genin," Kakashi said. "Or not!"
"Whaaat?" Naruto shouted.
"That's how it is," Kakashi continued. "I decide whether you pass or fail. Be at the designated training spot at 5 A.M. and bring your ninja gear."
Mayu narrowed her eyes, thinking critically. Admittedly, she knew the parameters of this survival training. She knew exactly what the jounin were looking for in the graduating class. The only difference this time around was her presence. She wondered how things would end up now that she had been placed on this team instead of the real Sakura. Her mindset, instead of Sakura's, might even be the reason the whole team could fail. She clenched her jaw. That could not happen. How else would she continue this bizarre adventure? How else would be continue to meet ninja she admired? Rock Lee. Gaara. She had to meet them. And also… Her eyes glanced at Uchiha Sasuke. She wanted to shake his world.
"That's it. You're dismissed... Oh, you might want to skip breakfast tomorrow or else... you'll puke," Kakashi said. Perhaps she should heed his advice. He sounded so serious and sure they would be emptying their stomachs. Still, she hadn't recalled something like that happening.
NAH! No way am I missing out on a meal!
0-0
It was the earliest Mayu had ever gotten up. She yawned loudly as she walked towards the designated area. Fortunately, Sakura's mother had been nice enough to cook a meal for her. A big meal. The woman had seemed surprised that she had asked for it. She had commented on some strange diet Sakura had been on. From Mayu's understanding, it hadn't been completely healthy. It was a wonder why this body hadn't collapsed in a fit of fatigue yet. Supposedly, Academy training kept the body stable just enough so that it wouldn't. To cover up the sudden shift from dieting, Mayu had told Sakura's mother that the breakfast would be packed up and distributed to her teammates. The woman had bought that story. Well, technically, it was the truth.
So with a bag full of food, Mayu made her way through the forest until she reached the clearing. She spotted Sasuke first, coming in the opposite direction. Then she saw Naruto walking towards them as well, covering up a yawn. Shame Kakashi wasn't going to be here on time. The boys looked as though they had dragged themselves out of bed. Surely, Mayu didn't look any better. She had barely showered. Luckily, Sakura's mom had everything thing ready to go for her. But maybe she should have slept in just for another hour.
Mayu halted, as did the other two. Naruto greeted them without his usual exuberance. Sasuke didn't say anything at all. Three stomachs growled in near unison. It would seem that they had taken Kakashi's advice, after all. Stifling a smile, Mayu sat down and opened her bag. She felt the curious stares of her teammates as she removed a large blanket, and then began unloading the packed breakfast. "Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan!" Naruto was the first to question out loud. "How come you've got all that food?"
"I'm going to eat it," Mayu replied with a shrug. She held out chopsticks. "Want some…?"
"I-I… But-" His answer came from his stomach. The blond immediately plopped down and took the offered chopsticks. He grinned widely, fully prepared to chow down. "Thanks, Sakura-chan!" Mayu nodded her head and pulled out some fruit—oranges.
"He told us not to eat," Sasuke pointed out, watching them. Mayu looked up, noticing the slight envy in his eyes. He also wore a frown. Mayu merely lifted her hand, holding up an orange. Sasuke's frown deepened. "You're going against an order."
"No, he advised us not to eat," Mayu corrected. "And said that we might puke if we do. But tell me something, Sasuke. If what we're going to do is strenuous enough that there's a chance of throwing up, shouldn't we have the energy to actual do whatever activity?" Sasuke said nothing, but she could tell the gears were turning. "I mean, I would rather be full of energy to burn for this training than weak and starving. Vulnerable. How about you?"
"I…" Clearly, he was still hesitant. "I don't like sweets."
"That explains a lot. Is there no joy in any aspect of your life?" Mayu rolled her eyes. Sasuke scowled, but his stomach growled. He pursed his lips together, embarrassed. "Just say thank you and eat the damn fruit."
"Yeah, Sasuke! Eat the damn fruit!" Naruto cajoled.
"Don't worry. These are the easy to peel ones," Mayu teased.
The Uchiha huffed lightly, taking the offered orange and grumpily sitting down. He provided no thanks, but he ate, and that was the most important thing. Perhaps they would all fair better with full bellies against the elite ninja. And so the genin ate, mostly in silence with the occasional compliment from Naruto. Mayu told him that she hadn't made the meal, but it hadn't seemed to matter. There were a few instances where she had caught both boys looking at her as though she had grown another head, though. Perhaps they were in awe. Ichiro, her friend from home, often commented that she could eat like a Saiyan. She, of course, took it as a compliment. Who didn't want to be compared to the Saiyan race?
Eventually, they finished the large meal. Mayu packed up the discarded items and shoved them back in her bag. Her ninja gear had already been equipped, so no problem there. Now, she was resting alongside Naruto, waiting for their tardy sensei. Sasuke had returned to a standing position. The sun had rose by now. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too much longer before Kakashi arrived.
It was only after another hour did the jounin appear before them. Mayu and Naruto both stood as the man casually waved at them. "Morning, everyone…!" he greeted, having the nerve to sound cheerful. "Ready for your day?"
"Hey, you're late!" Naruto shouted, point a finger.
"Well, a black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way," Kakashi explained. Mayu did not have to fake her glower. Naruto and Sasuke matched her expression perfectly. The jounin seemed to ignore the heated stares. "Well, let's get started," he continued, leading the three over to perfectly leveled stumps. "Here we go." He pulled out a timer. "It's set for noon. Your assignment is very simple. You have to take these bells from me... That's all there is to it." He set the timer down and showed off the targets of the test. "If you can't get them by noon you go without lunch." Mayu betted the man was confused by the lack of reaction from the three. He stumbled over his next words. "I'll tie you to the stump and eat right in front of you!" Kakashi warned.
"Whatever. What are the rules?" Sasuke questioned.
"And how come there are only two bells when they're three of us?" Naruto asked.
"You only need one bell and since there are two bells only, one of you will definitely fail," Kakashi explained, chuckling a bit as he spoke. "That one will go back to the Academy. But then again, all three of you could fail, too. You can use your shuriken. If you don't come at me with the intent to kill me, you won't get the bells."
Mayu frowned. She had watched this episode maybe twice in all the time she had been a fan of the show. As far as action, it had been a little lackluster to her, especially compared to later episodes. Still, actually being in the middle of the test got her thinking. Why the use of two bells? Could it also be a part of the test? For instance, one of the genin could actually managed to gain a bell for themselves, which could result in the other two going for an easier target. A way to weed out those willing to betray their own comrades at the drop of a coin… It was… smart. And also hadn't been seen. Mayu probably shouldn't want to test her theory, but…
"Yeah, but won't you be in danger, sensei?!" Naruto's loud voice halted her thoughts. "Especially since you couldn't dodge an eraser!"
"Class clowns are usually the ones with no skills. You can safely ignore them," Kakashi retorted. Mayu felt the twitch of her eyebrow. He didn't have to say that. Judging by Naruto's agitated face, he didn't approve of it either.
"Excuse me, Kakashi-san!" Mayu shouted, drawing his attention. He looked surprised by the outburst. "Your last comment was not called for, especially since it's true."
"Sakura-chan…?"
"Yes, class clowns are usually the ones with no skill," Mayu continued, ignoring Naruto's voice. He sounded hurt. "But one of the main reasons for that is because they feel as though they're ignored. So they strive for any attention they can get, thus making people try to ignore them more than normal. Of course someone who has not been shown any attention will have no skill because they haven't been taught anything! But you don't have to use this fact as an insult!" Her eyes narrowed further, probably glaring by now. "Instead of insulting my teammate, why don't you take a minute to understand his behavior since you have the potential of being our sensei?! This might be the next step in the interview process, but let me assure you that you're being interviewed as well. Got it?"
For a moment or two, no one spoke. She supposed her words came as quite the shock to them. Honestly, Mayu hadn't been able to help herself. Maybe it had been because of knowledge of the mistreatment Naruto had gone through. Or maybe the situation reminded her of her own shortcomings. Who she was… had often been ignored for the simple fact that she looked different from her peers. So, yes, she had told Kakashi to his face. Mayu sharply averted her eyes. This man had a long way to go before she would start respecting him again. What he had said had been low. After another minute of silence, Kakashi cleared his throat.
"Well… it seems you are ready to come at me with an intent to kill. Perhaps I'll start liking you guys." His voice was soft. He briefly closed his eye. Out of the corner of Mayu's eye, she noticed that Naruto wore a small smile in her direction. It was an unusual smile—one she hadn't seen since she had been dropped into Haruno Sakura's body. It was nice to look at. "You may begin when I say start."
Mayu shifted her foot, mind already made up. She would try her best to aid Naruto and Sasuke. Perhaps they would get the bells. Perhaps not. The point was to impress Kakashi with teamwork. For now, she would stick to that aspect of the survival training. Maybe she would personally ask Kakashi about the use of two bells at a later time.
Suddenly, the jounin signaled the go ahead. Before Naruto could jumped at Kakashi, Mayu grabbed onto his jacket and practically dragged him away. Sasuke went to hide, probably intending to wait it out and strategize. He had had the right idea. Under normal circumstances, Mayu wouldn't need the safety of the foliage to plan something. The opponents she had faced before were sparring partners, and the occasional jerk—not elite ninja. She needed support, just as much as Naruto. Speaking of the blond, he had been startled by the sudden change, and had almost began shouting in protest once they were hidden away. Mayu quickly silenced him by placing a palm over his mouth and a finger to her lips.
"Hush, Naruto…!" she hissed in a whisper, nearly glaring at him. "We can't just rush at a jounin without a plan!" That seemed to mollify him somewhat. Mayu took her palm from him and focused on the clearing. She could see Kakashi merely standing about, unconcerned, from her vantage point. "You'll have your chance to attack, but… lend me your ear for a second first, alright?" Reluctantly, Naruto nodded his head.
0-0
Kakashi stood in the middle of the clearing, mildly impressed that all three genin had jetted off somewhere. He had believed that the loud one would come charging in with an equally loud attack. He would be the easiest to fend off, Kakashi was certain. But the blond kid had disappeared as quickly as the other two. Speaking of the other two… Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura. The boy behaved in a way that was expected of him. The last of the Uchiha. His aloof nature wasn't all that surprising, considering the reason for his status. He would be the most difficult to deal with.
Then there was the girl. Something was… off with her. He had personally read all three files of his genin team. She hadn't stood out. Uzumaki Naruto—the demon's container. Uchiha Sasuke—the last of his kind. The girl had been placed on a team with notable individuals. Yes, her intellect was above par, but she lacked in other things—crucial things when it came to actually living the lifestyle of a ninja. Very little stamina. Very little strength. Her mindset had been nothing to smile about either. Commentary on her record indicated her infatuation with the Uchiha boy, like so many other girls her age. A one-track mind was dangerous.
However, introducing herself had led Kakashi to believe the commentary had been wrong. She had been inquisitive in nature. Outspoken when she felt something was wrong. Teasing towards the supposed object of her affections. She was honest, almost brutally so. Not only that, but she seemed to have a bloodthirsty desire beneath the surface. That bit was worrying… and baffling, but he would file that away for later. All in all, Kakashi realized that she did not have a one-track mind. He wondered what else her records had been wrong about. He hummed thoughtfully to himself. In the end, it wouldn't matter. She had been the unfortunate one to land on a team doomed to fail.
Doubtful these three would be any different from the previous graduates he had tested.
"Okay, it's you and me right now!" Naruto yelled, abruptly snapping Kakashi attention. Two of the genin had appeared before him, done with hiding.
"Naruto, we could have used sneaking tactics!" Sakura shouted, clearly miffed. The blond looked slightly apologetic. "Too late now…"
"Sakura, you're actually going to fight me?" Kakashi questioned, turning his attention towards her.
"What can I say? You went ahead and made me angry!" she replied. "Besides, I am not getting sent back to the Academy!" Her eyes glanced towards her comrade. "Naruto and I will get those bells! Right, Naruto?"
"Right!" he agreed, nodding.
Kakashi almost smiled underneath his mask.
Abruptly, Naruto rushed at Kakashi. In response, the man went to grab something out of his back weapon's pouch. The boy noticed and halted in his tracks. Hm. At least he could recognize the sudden change. "Ninja battle techniques part one," Kakashi's aloof voice said. "Taijutsu—the physical part."
"What the...?" Naruto murmured. He was rightly confused. Not every day that someone pulled out reading material during a fight.
"What are you waiting for?" Kakashi asked him. Briefly, his eyes looked up from the orange book. "Make your move."
"But... Why are you reading that book?" Naruto asked.
"Why...? To find out what happens next in the story, of course," Kakashi stated. His eyes returned to the words. He made a show of flipping a page. "Don't worry about it. With your weak attacks I could read or do whatever..." The words had been meant to provoke.
"I'M GOING TO CRUSH YOU!" Naruto yelled, charging at Kakashi. Apparently, it had worked. Mentally, the jounin shook his head. The boy was quick to anger. That, he could use to his advantage.
"No, Naruto…!" Sakura called out to him.
It was too late for him to hear the warning. Naruto tried to punch him, but Kakashi ducked. The young ninja tried to kick him. However, Kakashi had evaded that as well. He was practically dancing around Naruto's attempt at attacks. Kakashi frowned, not at all liking the display. Not only did Naruto have a weak stance, but he basically had no reflexes either. He really must have not been taught. The girl had been right. Slight guilt tugged within him for making that earlier comment. He had used it as a taunt to rile up the blond. Make him sloppy. Naruto was definitely sloppy. It was a bit disappointing.
Kakashi mentally sighed, and then dodged another kick by moving behind the boy. He clasped his hands together, extending his middle and index fingers. A sharp gasp came from the girl. "Naruto, get outta the way!" Sakura shouted, noticing the hand sign from the jounin.
"Too late!" Kakashi crooned in amusement. "Hidden Leaf Ancient Taijutsu Supreme Technique-" His fingers met their mark. "A Thousand Years of Death!" Naruto flew in the air, screaming. He then splashed into the nearby pond. The girl was heard laughing near hysterics. The deed had been hilarious enough that she had fallen to the ground, clutching her belly and waving her legs in the air. Only after Kakashi cleared his throat did Sakura compose herself enough so that she stood upright. However, giggles still slipped through. "You really shouldn't laugh at a teammate, Sakura," the jounin scolded. The grin didn't disappear from the girl's face.
"No, no, Kakashi-san… Laughing and poking fun at a teammate is quite healthy. It builds character," Sakura explained. Then she appeared thoughtful. "At least, that's what my mother tells me." She lowered her hand from her belly. "Could you do that to Sasuke one day? And make sure I can witness it, of course." Kakashi said nothing, but he did shake his head, seemingly in disapproval. But really, he was quite surprised that she wanted that prank done to her heartthrob. A few more giggles slipped through before she turned serious. "Now, are you ready?"
"So you would like to test your luck?" Kakashi asked.
"No, I don't intend to test my luck!" Mayu said. "I intend to test my skill against a capable ninja. Impress me, Kakashi-san."
She came at him quicker than anticipated. Kakashi barely had time to block a kick with his arm. She was quick, agile, and strong. A newly graduated genin should not have this level of skill. And her taijutsu… Kakashi narrowly dodged a punch. The girl was clearly attempting to hit his vital points. That wasn't standard in the Academy. In fact, he had never experienced this form of taijutsu before. Not only that, but each block had result in his limbs feeling the ache. Sakura was stronger than she looked, and must have been using her chakra for enhancement. If this continued, his blocking her attacks would cost him in the long run. But if he let the attacks through…
There. A slight stumble, and Kakashi took advantage. He swiped at her, and Sakura brought her arms up in an 'X' formation. The strength behind the backswing, though, was enough to send her hurtling backwards. She rolled and rolled, coming to a stop right at the edge of the pond. Truthfully, he hadn't meant to strike against her, or any of them. But… It hadn't felt like he had been going against a child fresh out. It had felt like fighting a foe. Not a child, but a warrior.
The girl slowly stood up, all traces of amusement gone. Her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. Green steely eyes stared back at him as her fingers curled into fists. Then she came at him again, faster than before, and to Kakashi's surprise, her sprint was equipped with shuriken. The two projectiles shot out from the pond, whizzing through the air straight at him. He lifted his hand, intending to casual catch the weapons. However, to his surprise, the shuriken seemed to explode. Out of the large cloud of smoke, two copies of Naruto came out, exclaiming in sync battle cries.
0-0
Mayu stopped herself from grinning. The plan had worked. Clearly, Kakashi had not been expecting clones. She boosted her speed just as Kakashi lowered his body to duck from the dual flying kicks. It cost him. Mayu slid forward, dropping low only to spring up with a left uppercut. Kakashi, of course, caught her fist before it could make contact. However, with his other hand preoccupied by holding his book, it left him vulnerable. Mayu wretched her arm free and bent backwards in the same motion. Her right leg lifted and the top of her foot smacked hard against the underside of the man's chin.
Shazaam!
Mayu slid to a stop, and then opened her mouth. "Now, Naruto!" On cue, ten clones jumped out of the water. All of them raced for the jounin, who had quickly recovered from the kick. Hidden amongst the crowd, Mayu also moved towards Kakashi. Preoccupied by fighting off the clones, the man couldn't focus on her actions. Not enough, anyway. Crouching, the girl snuck a little ways off behind Kakashi. Waiting for a chance, she narrowed her eyes. Seeing it, she shot forward on her hands and knees. Close enough, she lunged forward and tackled the unsuspecting jounin from behind. Well, she would have if he hadn't dodged to the right.
Face forward, Mayu crashed against the ground. Her body rolled until she deemed herself a safe distance away. She panted lightly through clenched teeth. She felt the ache in her head, but most of the collision had been cushioned by the headband. "Sakura-chan…!" Naruto shouted, concerned. "Are you okay?" He, or one of his clones, helped her stand. She really couldn't tell the difference between the real thing and a shadow clone. It was awesome.
"Sakura," Kakashi called out. She shifted her attention to the jounin. The clones around him had been dispersed. Huh. So maybe the real Naruto had stood beside her. "Did you really think you could tackle me? We're ninja. As ninja, childish attempts don't work." Patronizing. Mayu couldn't say she liked that.
She covered her mouth and spit the item into her hand. "Actually, Kakashi-san..." Mayu began, showing off her prize. String held between her thumb and index finger, the silver bell dangled and chimed innocently in the slight wind shift. The jounin's eye widened, clearly stunned by the feat. "I wasn't aiming for you." She grinned, unable to keep her eyes from appearing haughty. Kakashi looked down, noticing that he only had one bell attached to him now.
"Sakura-chan! You got a bell?! How?!"
Mayu glanced at the blond from the corner of her eye. "You, Naruto," she replied. "You allowed me to get the bell. And he allowed me to get the bell by underestimating us." Her focus returned to the jounin. "Mock us, if you will, but in the end, you'll be the one that's disappointed." Mayu slipped the bell inside her weapon's pouch for safe keeping. "So how about it…? Ready to put that book away, Kakashi-san?"
"Well…" he muttered. "It looks like I might have to."
"Yeah…! We'll get that other bell!" Naruto shouted, enthused. However, before he could make another move, a barrage of shuriken struck Kakashi down. Mayu felt her mouth drop open. "What the hell? Are you out of your mind, Sasuke?!"
"Not my fault he left his guard down," Sasuke said, appearing beside the two. He looked unconcerned that he had maybe killed a man. Mayu, however, was having a hard time with it. Surely, this happened too soon, right? Hadn't Naruto been supposed to be strung up by rope before Sasuke had made his move? Could the jounin really have been unwary of an aerial attack? She continued staring at the blade-ridden body in horrified wonder.
"Too big of a change! Too big of a change!" The sudden shout startled both boys, but she ignored them in favor of freaking out. Her hands reached up, clutching the sides of her head. Maybe her actions might have just gotten Kakashi impaled for real. "He's dead! He's dead! We've killed him!"
