A/N: Hi guys! Shins Lighter wanted another chapter this, so I saw it fitting that I make this her Christmas present since she made a chapter of her story for me! Luv u Shins, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!!!

Chapter 2: Bell Challenge Remix

We all glared trying to figure out what happened to Yoshino-san; she seemed to have disappeared into thin air. But then again, she was ANBU and they were known for their silent but deadly assassinations.

I gulped. Something told me she wasn't going to go easy on us. I heard a chuckle from my side. "Keep your guard up, guys; Emiko-chan likes to play with her prey…" warned sensei as he pulled out his orange book.

There was round of gulps this time around.

I found it out of the ordinary for an ANBU black op to mess around before she went in for the kill. Usually their assassinations were quick and to the point.

I heard clinking and quickly followed suit and pulled out a kunai of my own.

I gasped as a strand of my hair floated to the ground. My eyes widened as a kunai quickly hit sensei's book out of his hand. This would've been the perfect opportunity to find out where Yoshino-san was hiding at the moment, but I was too surprised to do so. And judging by how quiet the guys were I was guessing they were too stunned to figure it out as well.

Sensei sighed and looked longingly at the orange book stuck to the tree next to him. "Emiko, you ruin all the fun…"

A sigh was heard in response to Kakashi's retort. "What did I tell you about those books anyway?!"

We all looked around, swiftly. I couldn't distinguish where the voice was coming from. It seemed as if it was coming from…everywhere…

"Now watch and learn…"

Not long after that did Sasuke scream, "She's above us!" and there was a big "BOOM!"

I covered my eyes as dust blew everywhere, filling my lungs, and burning my nose. After a few seconds, I opened my eyes. The cloud of dust was thick, and I couldn't even see my hands in front of my face. I thought about it. Was this some kind of ninjutsu? Surely the fog would've been gone by now or at least started to clear up.

And then my eyes widened. Were the boys ok?

"Sasuke-kun!" I shouted. "Naruto!" There was no response. I began to crawl around, blindly looking for the two. "Sasuke!" I found it harder and harder to shout each time, as if my lungs weren't getting enough oxygen.

Tears formed in my eyes; an effect if the dirt flying around. "Naruto…" I whispered falling to the ground as I clutched my chest taking in deep, much needed breaths.

Maybe I should've looked for the end of the fog, but that seemed like doing just what she wanted us to do. So that if we finally found a way out, she would take us by surprise and beat us to a pulp.

I flinched. She was scary, so scary my mind got all jumbled up and I didn't know what to do. I felt completely useless. I coughed and struggled for breath.

I hated feeling useless. I hated this drill. And I hated Yoshino-san.

"Mom, were you really that afraid?" asked Satoshi.

I nodded. "Hai…I was…" I admitted calmly.

"But, Mommy, you're a ninja. You can't be afraid!" shouted Hajime, disbelief burning in his eyes.

I smiled at my son as he glanced down. "Hajime-chan…?" I called softly. I began to tickle him. "Hajime-chan, you're not going to ignore Mommy, are you?"

He laughed as he wiggled around on my lap. "But you said…"

I sighed. "A real shinobi knows it's ok to be afraid…" I whispered as I stroked his hair. "Now listen to the rest of the story…"

A frown made its way on my face. No. I would not give up. This was my time to prove myself. I shot back up on my hands and knees, and closed my eyes. I might've not been able to look around for them, but I could definitely sense their chakra.

I closed all my senses and thought, just thought about their chakra and how they felt, how different they were...There! I stuck out my hand, right as I felt a nose bump into it. "Naruto?" I questioned.

I heard a gasp. "Sakura-chan! I've been looking all over for you!" he squealed, his hand reaching out to touch mine. "Where's teme?!"

Quickly swiping my hand away, I clicked my tongue. "No need to get all "love-y" on me Naruto, and I don't know. You bumped into my hand just as I was searching for his chakra signature," I reprimanded as I grabbed the end of my yukata. "Just hold onto the end of this, and don't get any funny ideas, alright?" I grabbed his hand and forced the cloth into it.

I heard Naruto snort. "Looks like me and you have to get out of here and beat nee-chan without teme's help, ne?" chuckled Naruto loudly.

I frowned, hoping that the annoying boy would see my scowl right through the fog. "Shut-up, Naruto! I'm sure Sasuke-kun is already out there fighting with Yoshino-san right now."

I heard him sigh. "Sakura," he groaned. "Why do you always-"

Grabbing his arm, I shushed him and reached for my butt pocket, pulling out a kunai.

"But, Sakura-"

I screamed as I felt arms push me out of the way, my kunai flying out of my hand. I had landed on my back, my breath getting knocked out of me.

"Naruto!" I heard someone command, the metallic cling of kunai sounding after it. But I knew that voice anywhere; it was Sasuke-kun. "Get Sakura out of here! NOW!!!" he commanded, another cling ringing in my ears.

I fell two hands pick me up off the ground and begin to lead me out of the fog. "Right!" answered the blonde.

I stumbled a little, trying to keep up with Naruto's speed, my eyes struggling to stay open as the dense fog tore into them.

"Naruto!" I started. "Slow down. It's hard to breathe!" I coughed, a slight plead in my voice.

He gasped and then growled in determination. "Hang in there a little bit longer, Sakura-chan! We'll be out of here soon, believe it!"

I coughed a little more, my heart skipping a beat as I said this. "Thank-you, Naruto…" But I had whispered it so quietly, it was barely audible.

I began to see a ray of light shine through the smoky fog, and then another, and another; soon realizing we had finally made it out. Upon reaching the end, we ran across to the end of the clearing and watched the fog.

I grimaced as I caught my breath. I looked around the clearing a little more as I heard Naruto ask me if I was alright. I nodded to humor him and then put my hand up to my chin.

This was indeed a ninjutsu, not a genjutsu, for there was Kakashi-sensei, his book imbedded in the tree, as well. Furthermore, the fog had ended, and in most assassination genjutsu, as long as the jutsu was cast, the hallucinations would not end, and here we were watching the jutsu from the outside.

I eyed Kakashi-sensei. His eyes were stern, and his arms crossed. This was serious

I frowned. That stupid Yoshino-san, trying to kill us like that, but at the same time I understood where she was coming from. For when we had endured the bell challenge, there was one thing that stuck in my mind other than teamwork. It was when Kakashi-sensei and I quote, said. "If you wish to take these bells, you must come at me as if you were to kill me…"

Suddenly, a blur of black and blue flew out of the fog and into a tree with a grunt.

"Sasuke-kun!" I screeched as I ran over to the young Uchiha. As soon as I had gotten over there, he opened his eyes with a groan, as if he were unconscious, and then glared dagger at me.

"Sakura! Get out of the way!" he yelled as he pushed me over and then moved himself, kunai thudding into the tree he had once been leaning on.

My eyes widened. Sasuke-kun and I… we were almost...I barely had enough time to think of this when Yoshino-san walked out of the smoke, a hand on her hip as the fog began to recede.

There was a smirk on her perfect, round face and her skin looked untouched; not a scratch on her.

"So…which one of you knew it was a ninjutsu?" she asked nonchalantly.

We were all at a loss of words when we heard her speak in suck a soft, sweet voice.

After a few moments, she giggled, a pleasant smile on her face. "My guess is Sakura-chan!" she said as she looked directly at me.

I heard a growl come from Naruto as he leapt into a fighting position. "Stop smiling like it's over, nee-chan, I'm not done yet!"

Yoshino-san didn't look taken aback in the least, she just kept smiling.

"Kage Bushin no jutsu!" shouted Naruto as five clones appeared.

"Naruto-san could do Kage Bushin?" asked Hajime, his obsidian eyes filled with wonder.

"Hai, and at the age of twelve too," answered Sasuke with a smirk.

Hajime looked up at me silently for a moment and then opened his mouth to say, "Wow! Mommy, how was Naruto-san able to do that?"

Satoshi cleared his throat. "Because, Hajime, Naruto-san is the-"

Akemi abruptly silenced her brother with a pull of the hair. "Satoshi, you big mouthed dork, shut-up!"

"Akemi," Sasuke scolded. "No need to man-handle your brother."

She sighed and then glanced at her younger brother through scornful eyes. "Yes, Daddy…"

"And, Satoshi…" warned Sasuke as he gave our son a look that clearly said watch it around Hajime.

Satoshi sighed as well. "Yes, sir…"

Hajime's onyx orbs looked up to me in confusion; "Mommy?" they seemed to plead.

I sighed, my eyes closed. "Some people are just born with that much power, dear."

"Is that why Naruto-san is the Rokudaime now?"

My eyes shot open. There were so many more reasons why Naruto-kun had achieved his goal of becoming Hokage, but that was another story for another time.

I nodded. "Hai…now, where were we…"

Naruto let out a battle cry as he rushed at Yoshino-san, his blue eyes clouded over with sheer determination. No one could stop him at this point. I could tell.

As he hopped up in the air, he let out another growl as he went for a roundhouse kick on Yoshino-san. Bubbly, smiling, Yoshino-san.

I clenched my fist, inwardly rooting for Naruto to wipe that pretty little grin off her face and show her what Team 7 could do.

But my cheering went up in vain as I saw Yoshino-san's smile fade a bit, her pouty lips retreating into a thin line. What was she up to?

Her hand shot up and grabbed Naruto's ankle tightly. My heart sank as I watched the scene in slow motion, though it seemed to happen all at once.

Upon clutching Naruto's ankle, she swiftly spun him around, knocking him into all his clones, a slight poofing sound hitting my eardrums as the real Naruto went flying through the air. I gasped as Naruto hit the ground with a thud, the young, hyperactive ninja clutching his head in pain.

"Naruto!" I hissed, my throat dry and scratchy.

"Naruto-kun," slit a voice through the air. "Remember that Shadow Clones are not merely used for bait, but as an alternative team."

As soon as that had come out of Yoshino's mouth, I looked over to see my Sasuke-kun gone. My eyes widened,my lips forming a small "O" shape as I took in a sharp breath. He couldn't have…

I looked up just in time to see Sasuke flying through the air, his leg above Yoshino-san, aiming for her head. But Yoshino-san had acted as if none of this was happening for her hand shot up to block her so quietly, so quickly, so carelessly, as if it were a reflex.

Sasuke's leg seemed to hit rock as it landed on her arm, but I knew he wouldn't give up there. I was proven right when he gracefully turned around with a grunt so his shin was now facing her arm and then shot his arm forward for a punch, but he was too late.

Tears stung my eyes, but I attempted to keep them back. "No!" I shrieked. "Sasuke-kun!"

I saw Naruto look up from his spot on the ground and wince as Yoshino-san struck a sideways fist into Sasuke's stomach. Sasuke-kun's eyes widened, an excruciating yell leaving his lips as he gurgled up blood that not only splattered over his shirt, but Yoshino-san's emotionless face as well.

As Sasuke went flying through the air, just as Naruto previously had, I could only think of one thing, as crystal, blue tears streamed down my face…

"Get up!" My inner-self screamed. Sasuke flew through a tree, but not even that could break the blow. "Get up, and do something!" I tore at the grass beneath me as my eyes clenched shut. "GET UP!!!"

I quickly shot chakra to my feet and caught Sasuke before he had hit the boulder that now stood about an inch behind me.

"Sasuke…" I whispered as he sat up out of my arms.

"Thank-you, Sakura," he breathed out as he held onto his stomach and wiped the blood off the side of his mouth. He then gave me a look that said, 'you know what to do…' once he gained his composure.

I nodded and then set him down gently, grabbing two kunai from my back pouch. I held one in each hand and then stood up. "Let's go!" I shouted to myself as I ran at Yoshino-san.

As I got closer to her; I noticed the blood stains on her face, and how she wiped them off nonchalantly. I gulped. At that age I didn't know how unfazed to blood you could become once you had been around it so much. I was confused and…and scared.

But now was not the time to back down. I was going to wipe that little smile off of her face. I was going to show her that we genin on this team could do something. I was going to save Sasuke and Naruto and I was going to win

I threw both of my kunai at her, and wasn't surprised when she turned to the side, and they passed right by her. But then when I saw that infamous smirk on her face, something made me halt, made me seize what I was doing. And that was what was to the other side of her; my substitution.

"Mmm…" she moaned as she looked from side to side. "You really do have great chakra control. I seriously couldn't tell which one was the real you, Sakura."

My eyebrows furrowed; couldn't ?

She took out two shuriken, and sliced my clones in half, as they fell to the ground; merely blocks of wood.

My eyes widened as the last thing I noticed was Yoshino-san behind me, her hand jabbing my neck, powerfully. "Great job," she mumbled. "You did well, Sakura," she whispered as I fell to the ground, painlessly.

"Sakura-chan!" I heard Naruto cry in the background.

But if it was so painless, what had been that weird thing that fluttered through my chest as I floated out of consciousness for a few seconds?

Had that been fear-that I would never get better?

When I opened my eyes, Yoshino-san was walking towards the boys with slow, soft steps that echoed through my ears.

I looked at Kakashi-sensei, his eyes were stern, his arms crossed, but he had yet to move the whole time. Then, I looked at my boys through half-lidded eyes, pink strands of hair flooding my eyesight. I saw how they were already trying to stand up from their previous spots on the ground, determination running through their eyes, and how I, who had barely received a blow, was laying on the ground, unable to move a muscle, with tear-soaked cheeks.

But then I noticed as I turned my head into the ground to hide my disgraceful tears that they were strong and willed, and I was not. They were always in the front as I stared at their backs from behind, frightened of what lay beyond them, needy of their love and appreciation, yet thankful that they were there to protect me, for the Lord knew, I couldn't. I dug my fingernails in the ground. I was useless, I was helpless, I despised myself.

I did not wipe that little grin off her face. I was not able to show her what us genin could do. I was not able to protect Sasuke and Naruto. And I did not win

I couldn't move, but how would I know; I didn't even try.

And as she finally got half way to Sasuke, about where Naruto was writhing uncontrollably trying to get up, I saw him growl and reach for a kunai in his pocket. But then she stopped, and there was a pregnant pause as Yoshino-san looked back at him. Her eyes narrowed a bit, almost as if she had pity for him. "Save it, Naruto…"

And for once, Naruto listened, and did just that.

Yoshino-san then whipped her head back around, her eyes set on Sasuke-kun, who was at this moment trying to get up, but it was all in vain as Yoshino-san reached him.

…Sasuke-kun…

…

…

…

"How does your stomach feel?"

My eyes shot open and I turned my now dirt covered face to where Yoshino-san and Sasuke sat.

Sasuke was shaking on the ground, his arm still grasping at his stomach. Teeth clenched, and eyes questioning, he recoiled away from her as Yoshino-san reached out to touch him.

She sighed as she stood up. "Just as I thought…" Yoshino-san then closed her eyes, her hands in a chakra molding position. She then put two fingers to Sasuke's head. "Kai!" she hissed.

Once she was finished, Sasuke stood up, eyes still holding confusion and blinking uncontrollably.

Yoshino-san smirked. "Dumbfounded, are we?" She giggled a little and then cupped her hands around her mouth. "Your students are quick to think, Kakashi, but wouldn't know a ninjutsu if it hit them straight in the face, literally," she shouted at Kakashi, sarcastically.

Kakashi showed a look in his eye that would bring forth the thought of him actually pouting. "But Emiko-chan, that's not fair play! How do you expect three genin to know a jutsu used in interrogation, and if not that, by medic-nin on the battle field?"

"Well I assumed if they were your students…" she trailed off once she got to Naruto. "And how about your head, Naruto?" She placed her two fingers to his head as well. "Is it feeling any better?"

He stared at her through big aqua orbs.

"Nothing? Not even from you?...I see…" She began to walk towards me.

…

…

…

"Nee-chan…"

She looked at him over her shoulder, but did not say a word.

"What…what the hell was that!?"

Yoshino-san turned back around and looked at me. "I'll explain that tomorrow, 7:30 sharp. And after I help Sakura, you are dismissed. "

She did the same procedure to me and then slowly moved the rosette strands out of my face, wiping my tears. "Sorry I had to do that Sakura," she whispered sweetly, a smile on her face. "But you were definitely my biggest threat…"

I still had not moved, my eyes half-lidded, I couldn't move.

"You thought through what you were doing first, instead of rushing towards me, and I like seeing that in a young kunoichi." Her beautiful smile only grew as she looked up to see Kakashi above us. "Well, ja ne, Sakura!" And then she disappeared.

I frowned subconsciously as I looked up at my sensei, but he didn't seem to notice, as he was reading his book.

I made an annoyed groan as I felt my arm gain feeling again. How could she put us through that much pain like that? The bell training was a lot easier!

"Looks like I'll be taking you home today, Sakura…" said Kakashi-sensei as he put away his book and knelt down, scooping me up in his arms. "Up you go…" he grunted as he lifted me off the ground and began walking.

I looked up at him with a defiant glare and then hmphed with a pout, looking over at the setting sun. Kakashi-sensei glanced down at me and then his eyes crinkled in what appeared to be a smile as he looked back up.

"What's with that face? That's not the Sakura I know at all…what's wrong?" he joked in a sarcastic, stubborn voice.

It wasn't hard not to laugh. There were so many things going on in my mind, and I wasn't the happiest clam in the sea.

"Nothing…" I mumbled. Then I looked up at him. "Sensei?"

He smiled down at me to show me he was listening. "Do you…love Yoshino-san?"

Kakashi-sensei paused and then looked up thoughtfully as if he had never thought to put those words in one sentence together before. He tilted his head to the side. "She's kind of troublesome, don't you think?" he asked.

Yes…I thought. "Sensei!" I scolded.

He chuckled lightly. "Well, Emiko and I go way back…"

I sighed. "Sensei!" I whined. "You're avoiding the question; you've already told me that before!" I pouted. Sensei had a way of being annoying when people asked him of things he didn't feel like talking about.

Kakashi-sensei's eyes grew playfully stern. "My and Emiko's relationship is complicated. I'm afraid you'll have to look underneath the underneath to figure it out, Sakura."

Finally gaining full feeling in my limbs, I growled, annoyed, and crossed my arms. We had finally reached the steps of my house as Kakashi looked down at me.

"I know you're not quite ready to accept Yoshino-san yet, but believe me, she's only here to help…" I only gazed down as he continued. "She's a strict feminist and you're probably already her favorite…Emiko-chan loves children and she'll do whatever she can do to help. So please, Sakura, just give her a chance, ne?"

I sighed as he rang the doorbell to my house. I guess Yoshino-san didn't seem too bad. Maybe I was just jealous. "Fine…"

And as if on cue, my mother had opened the door with a gasp.

"Sakura- Kakashi-san what happened; come in!"

"Oh, no, it's fine! But thank-you Haruno-san," replied sensei with a smile. "Sakura was just a little tired from training today."

My mother looked at me worriedly, her turquoise eyes shimmering slightly.

"I'm fine, mom," I assured her as Kakashi-sensei let me down.

My mother hugged me tightly upon my release and then rubbed the top of my head. "Thank-you, Kakashi-san…" said my mother with a polite bow.

Sensei did the same and then smiled. "May I recommend lots of fluids and getting to bed early tonight, Sakura," suggested Kakashi as he waved. "Bye!" and then he was gone in a "poof".

I moved out of my mother's grasp and took off my shoes at the door.

"Are you hungry, Sakura?" asked my mother as she tightened her robe and walked off to the kitchen.

"No Mom. I think I'll just shower and then go to bed…" I had too much to think about. So many things were running through my head that day. I walked up the stairs as I could faintly hear an "Ok, dear!" from my Mom, and stripped myself of my clothes upon entering my bathroom.

As I washed all the dirt and grime, doubts and thoughts, from my body, one stuck around.

"Give her a chance…"

A/N: That…was a long chapter! Well hope you liked it Shins! Sure did take me a long time to write, I'll tell you that! Luv u all, and if you luv me, you'll review! Luv u and laterz!

--SAYURI--