Chapter 2
A/N: Thank you to anyone that read chapter one I am amazed that you would read it. Also, this story mainly focuses on team seven so yeah. Thanks to Kamikashi and Novrier for reviewing. I am sorry that the first chapter was a bit short, I promise to try my best from now on to make them longer, thanks for pointing that out. Thanks to anyone who faved this, followed, or read!
Sasuke walked along one of the many sidewalks in Konoha, heading towards the registration building for the chunin exams. It's probably going to rain soon, I should hurry. Then using his superhuman speed, he sped towards the registration building.
The good news was, Sasuke got their before he got soaked in the cold rain, the bad news was, neither of his teammates had arrived yet. Naruto made sense, he wasn't the most punctual person ever, but Sakura? Sure, she wasn't always super early or anything, but she was usually on time.
But Kakashi sensei did say that the decision to take the chunin exams was up to the individual right? So even if one teammate doesn't arrive on time, we can still take it right? Stop, Sasuke mentally chided himself, overthinking the situation won't do you any good.
"Sasuke!" Naruto's loud voice reverberated throughout the large room. Idiot, does he always have to make his entrances so loud? Naruto confidently strode towards Sasuke, mentally scoping the other teams that came to register. "Hey Sasuke, the chunin exams are gonna be so easy! We'll breeze right through it! Wait," Naruto looked around as if searching for a lost penny, "Where's Sakura?" He asked.
Sasuke shrugged. "Well, it's ok, I'm sure she'll be here any minute!" Naruto said enthusiastically. Naruto glanced at the clock, there was only five more minutes until they would have to start with or without Sakura. Naruto, I can tell you're worried it's as clear as it would be if someone scribbled "worried" on your forehead!
After five minutes, a jonin instructor instructed them to go to the registration room to register, then go to the first exam room. Reluctantly, they both started to walk to the registration room only to be stopped by Kakashi in the hallway.
"Naruto and Sasuke, I'm sorry, but this is the end of the line for you two." Kakashi said. "What? Why!?" Naruto demanded. "To put it simply, you need three-man squads to enter the chunin exams. You only have two." Kakashi explained. We're not stupid, you don't need to point out the obvious! "We can't take the exams?" Naruto asked, his face sad. "No, you can't" Kakashi agreed.
Kakashi watched his students trudge back through the hallway they just walked through, looking crestfallen. He didn't want them to be disappointed, but more importantly he hoped that they wouldn't focus their anger on Sakura. When she didn't show up, he wasn't too surprised, while he told them about the chunin exams he could see the worry perfectly on her features.
He also didn't blame Sakura for not doing it yet. This wasn't on disregard of her skills, many people wait until they are physically and mentally ready for the horrors the chunin exams can bring. He expected something like this to occur but it still didn't make it any easier for him to crush their hopes of the chunin exams.
He started to walk to his apartment, taking in the cold weather, it was still raining.
When Naruto found out that they couldn't take the exams, he was caught between several emotions, sadness, anger, shock, disappointment, and perhaps the most puzzling one, confusion. Why didn't she want to take the chunin exams? It just didn't make sense. One thing was for sure though, he couldn't feel mad at Sakura. It was just impossible for him.
But some part of him felt like she should have warned them, by saying something like, "Guys, I'm not planning on taking the chunin exams this time around sorry," Naruto would have appreciated something like that. Naruto trudged through the mud to Ichiraku. Nothing was better for drowning your sorrows than ramen! And while he felt a bit better now, the nagging feeling of disappointment didn't leave his chest.
After sitting down on the comfortable barstool, he ordered an extra-large bowl of Miso Chasu ramen and waited for it to come, for once not being impatient. It caught the owner's daughter Ayame's attention. "Hey, you okay? Usually you're whining about how long we take to get your ramen ready." She asked.
"Yeah sure." Naruto grumbled. "Okay, what's wrong? Spill it in all the time I've known you you've never been quiet." She stated. "Fine, Sakura decided not to take the chunin exams so me and Sasuke couldn't take it and it's just not fair! It's also because of Kakashi sensei! He didn't tell us that it was all of us or none of us! I'm not mad at Sakura really, I just, well, now I have to wait even longer to become the Hokage!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Naruto, listen, I'm sorry that you can't take the chunin exams but I know especially that a girl's feelings are a tricky thing. Imagine how she feels. She probably feels a lot worse than you do. She knows you and Sasuke have goals. If she didn't know it was probably just because she thought you and Sasuke could handle yourselves. Besides, if you let one little thing like this stop you on the path to becoming Hokage, that's almost the same thing as saying you give up! And the Naruto I know would never give up! Also as you've said before, the path to becoming the Hokage is never easy!" Ayame encouraged.
"You're right, I'm still kinda upset though." Naruto stated. "Well there's nothing better for drowning sorrows than our ramen!" Ayame said. Teuchi gave Naruto his ramen with an encouraging nod. "She's right. Don't let this get you down!" Teuchi agreed. Then Naruto started to eat his ramen. He still looks sad but I hope that helped a little at least. Ayame thought.
Sakura was in her room thinking. About an hour before her mom told her the news that stated that Sasuke and Naruto didn't take the chunin exams. She was utterly shocked. Now, she didn't even want to imagine how awkward their next mission would be.
It's your fault it's gonna be awkward, after all I'm the one that's the reason for it. Sakura wished she had known. It would have made things a lot smoother down the road. Naruto and Sasuke are gonna be so mad! Well, probably not Naruto. Probably Sasuke though.
Apologies are definitely going to be due, my apology to Naruto will be easy. But Sasuke? He'll be a lot harder. Sasuke can't be mad! Well he is most likely. Since when was the voice in my head so unoptimistic? Sakura wondered.Sakura looked out her window, and saw a signal sent by Kakashi. Well, I guess I'll never find out how they feel until I go. And with that, she jumped out her window and headed towards the signal.
Awkward was the first word that floated into Kakashi's head as the three teammates assembled. Naruto was trying not to look bummed out but was failing miserably, Sasuke was pointedly ignoring his teammates, and Sakura was staring at the grass as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.
Today is going to go great I'm sure. Kakashi thought sarcastically."Okay, so our mission today is to apprehend a gang of thieves that've been terrorizing small villages along the border of the land of fire." Kakashi explained casually.
"Awesome! We're gonna get to fight gangs?" Naruto exclaimed excitedly. Well, it doesn't take much to drag him out of a bad mood. "Yes." Kakashi confirmed. "Yes! This'll be so cool!" Naruto happily stated.
Sasuke was still ignoring Sakura, Sakura lifted her head and her eyes shone with some excitement. "Ok, assemble at the main gate of Konoha in two hours!" Kakashi instructed, then left.
After Kakashi left, Sasuke followed suit, leaving Sakura and Naruto left. I might as well get my first apology over with. "Naruto, sorry" She finally said. "For what?" He replied dubiously. "What do you think? For stopping you guys from taking the chunin exams!" Sakura exclaimed frustratedly. Does he just want me to drag out this whole apology? "It's fine!" Naruto grumbled. Sakura wasn't stupid, she could still tell that he was upset. But this had helped clear the air between them a little at least.With that they both left to prepare for the oncoming mission. Naruto never changes. Sakura thought.
Two hours later they met at the main gate. Kakashi assessed his students. Naruto seemed somewhat placated by the promise of a new mission. Sasuke had completely retreated into himself, speaking only when absolutely necessary, and in the rare event that he did it was only one or two syllables, and Sakura for her part, only seemed to be interested in the floor, only stealing glances at her teammates occasionally.
Kakashi didn't blame Sakura for her decision. But it was clear enough to him that Sasuke did. This mission will be interesting. Kakashi thought. "Okay you guys, let's go!" Kakashi instructed. Then they all started to head towards the most recent sighting of the gang.
Sasuke's mind still couldn't drag him off one word, why? Why had Sakura ruined this opportunity for him? Doesn't she realize how important this is? Sasuke's thoughts were interrupted when Naruto asked, "Are we there yet?" Sasuke silently groaned. That was the fourth or fifth time he had asked that exact question this hour.
"Almost, about five minutes." Kakashi replied calmly. It shows you're a good jonin if you can endure the exact same question several times, scratch that, you're a good jonin if you can handle Naruto for an hour. Sasuke thought. "Yes! Now we'll get to fight bandits and save damsels and-" Naruto's prattling was cut off when Kakashi interrupted him.
"Woah, calm down, if you get overwhelmed with excitement you could potentially miss something important." Kakashi said. "Could you just be quiet for once?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto looked startled, Sasuke hadn't spoken this whole time and he chose to now? Sasuke rolled his eyes. You would think I was mute from the looks he's giving me right now! Naruto finally recovered from his shock a minute or two later. Sakura, Sasuke couldn't tell too well because her eyes were looking anywhere where her teammates were not, and Kakashi? Sasuke couldn't really tell, probably due to his mask.
Naruto was about to retort to another insult to set them of on another one of their arguments when suddenly Kakashi announced, "we're here."
"Boss, what should we do, Konoha sent a team of ninja to apprehend us." A gang member asked. "Easy, we just need to hire some ninja of our own to deal with this." Their leader replied cockily. "Also, we just need them to be held off in order for us to complete our project for our leader. The boss added.
A/N: I hope you all like this chapter! It might take me a few days to upload the next chapter, I'm just busy. Thanks for reading and reviewing and all that stuff!