I turn towards Sasuke and he looks thrilled. I can tell he'd rather be anywhere but here and it makes me wonder if Sakura and Naruto are really that bad.

"What are you doing here Sasuke? I mean do you want some company." Sakura blushes. Obviously she hasn't seen me. She can't even say complete sentences.

I overhear Naruto mumble "Oh brother" and Sakura immediately glares at him. Although I admire Sakura's effort I can't help but agree with Naruto. Sasuke isn't someone who shows affection often and he doesn't like spending a lot of time with people. Sakura is kidding herself if she thinks that she can win Sasuke's heart by blushing and bothering him.

I decide it's time I say something. "Hello, Sasuke is actually with me tonight." I smile. Sakura and Naruto both show shock as they turn toward my voice.

"No way! Sasuke's here with a girl! I don't believe it" Naruto says obnoxiously loud. It seems he's as loud as Sasuke said he was. Sakura whacks him in the head.

"You idiot! This must be Sasuke's sister Nami. Right Sasuke. I mean who else would it be?" Saukra's smile twitches.

Naruto's eyes widen "Sasuke has a sister!" He starts getting closer and closer. He's suddenly only an inch away from my face and staring at me face. Sasuke quickly puts his arm out blocking Naruto from looking at me.

"Back off Naruto. Why would I want my sister around a loser like you?" Naruto's face becomes red.

I decide I should probably say something to ease the tension. "Yep, I'm Nami and it's nice to finally meet you two. Sasuke has told me a few things."

"Hah!" Naruto says "has he told you how amazingly awesome I am on our missions. I'm going to be the next Hokage. Believe it!" At least he's confident. From what Sasuke has told me he needs it.

Sasuke tsks, he seems to be at his limit. I think I should end this meeting before things get worse "I see. I'm really happy that I got to meet you two but, you see today is kind of special. I graduated from the academy yesterday." Sakura and Naruto are quick to congratulate me but I quickly start talking again before they can say anything else. "I don't want to seem rude but this is the first time I've seen Sasuke in a while. I was hoping that I could catch up with him alone.

"Oh I understand" Sakura's face seems to fall.

I feel bad "Maybe we can train together when we meet again Sakura."

That makes Sakura's face light up. She leaves dragging Naruto behind her.

"Thanks" Sasuke says "but you didn't need to offer to train with Sakura. She's not at your level."

I shrug "You need to work on your people skills big brother."

The next morning I head out to training ground 3 for the genin certification assessment. Hiro and Isamu are already there. "Hey, are you guys ready?" I ask.

"Yeah" Hiro says as Isamu nods. There's no time to say anything because Emiko sensei suddenly appears.

"It seems that everyone from squad 5 is on time. I hope you all got some rest," Emiko says. I wonder what the first trial will be. I look over at Hiro and he still looks a little nervous. Isamu looks his way to reassure him. Isamu is without a doubt ready to go.

I turn my attention back to Emiko sensei as she starts doing a series of hand signs "Summoning Jutsu" a small golden dog appears.

"Hello everyone." The dog waves. What! The dog talked. It can't be an illusion can it? Maybe it's part of the first trial. I look to see if Hiro or Isamu know what's going on but they also look confused and a little shocked. I guess the only thing I can do is wait and find out.

"This is Haruna on of my ninja dogs" Emiko explains. "Your first trial is simple." She pulls out a red ribbon and proceeds to tie it around Haruna's neck. "Retrieve the ribbon in the allotted time of three hours. Haruna jumps running in the direction of the woods. "Oh and your time starts. . . now!"

I want to jump up and go after Haruna but I also think that making a plan could be beneficial. I notice Isamu runs after Haruna and he's out of sight quickly. Hiro however remains with me. "So" I ask "do you have any ideas to get the ribbon." He shakes his head. "Well let's go catch up with Isamu I guess."

We run after Isamu. I forgot how fast he was. It takes some time but we eventually catch up with him. We find him on the ground after falling from a tree. "She's fast," Isamu mumbles.

"Ok" I say, "first we need to figure out what obstacles we need to overcome."

"She fast" Isamu says again.

"And she can detect where we are with her nose" says Hiro.

"If the dog is cornered it won't matter how fast she is" Isamu suggests.

"But how will we corner her when she always knows where we are?" I ask.

We think for a few minutes and Hiro's face suddenly lights up. "I know an herb that can interfere with a dogs senses. It's called Dogbane. I think I saw some when we were catching up with Isamu." I smile. This is perfect.

"Take us there" I demand.

It's in an open area filled with the Dogbane. A crop of trees surrounds it. Its perfect and we start to make a plan. Isamu is going to force Haruna into the opening where Hiro and I will wait and ambush her where she can't sense us.

I anxiously wait hidden behind the copse of trees. Before hiding Hiro opened the spores of Dogbane with his chakra and I threw my shuriken to distribute it across the field. I hear Isamu shout the signal and I know that Haruna is in position. I leap out blocking Haruna's escape while Hiro goes for the ribbon. Haruna evades Hiro by biting him giving me no choice but to attempt to grab her. Isamu has the same idea however and we both fall to the ground with Haruna between us. Haruna starts to wiggle away but not before Isamu takes a small blade and pins the ribbon to the ground. Before she can escape Hiro grabs Haruna and I remove the ribbon. The time elapsed has been 2 hours and 45 minutes. That was a close one.

We proudly presented the ribbon to Emiko sensei. She smiles only slightly while handing each of us a piece of paper.

"Your next task is similar to the first. I have just given each of you a map. Each map indicates the placement of a different kunai. You will each be looking for your own kunai. The kunai will have the name of the student who's responsible for handing it in at the end of this trial. You will have three hours to complete this trial. Your time begins now."

I start out slightly flustered. This trail is so similar to what we did at the academy. We aren't even working as a team. There isn't much time to think much about it though because we have so little time to complete the task. I focus my attention on my map determining where I need to go.

I finally reach the designated spot and I'm met with a raging river. I walk towards its bank and realize the current is extremely fast. I throw a stick into the river counting how many seconds go by before I can't see it.

"Yep" I say. There is no way I'm going in there. I would be swept away in an instant. But the map indicates the kunai is in the river. I sit down to think. I bet Isamu would be strong enough to power through the current. I immediately understand what I need to do. Emiko sensei never said that we had to retrieve our own kunai only that we had to hand in the one with our name.

I know time is ticking but I need to contact Hiro and Isamu quickly. I have to find where they are. I could climb a tree but without chakra control it would take too much time. I built up chakra to create clones but before I complete the hand signs both Hiro and Isamu are in front of me. It looks like they had the same idea.

"Hey" Hiro says "we finally found you."

"Hiro was much easier to find" Isamu explains.

I nod "so Isamu I bet you could get my kunai at the bottom of this river." Isamu look at the river and nods.

"My kunai is in a field covered in poisonous plants," Isamu explains. I know Hiro can handle that.

"Great, I'll see you soon" I shout grabbing Hiro's map and leaving mine. His is the only left and I know that I'll need to get it. Time is running out and there isn't time to talk.

Hiro's map leads me to a very large grassy field. The grass towers over me and it's so thick I can't even walk through it. There is no way I can get at the kunai. I have to think fast. Although I know it will take a lot out of me I start forming the hand signs for a fireball jutsu. I let out a steady stream of fire burning all the grass but not the surrounding forest. When I finally burn the grass down I stumble around and finally find the kunai. Hiro's name is wrapped around the stem.

I start heading towards Emiko sensei and I start getting dizzy. I was never as good as Sasuke at making a fireball. Genin aren't even supposed to be able to preform the jutsu so I shouldn't be surprised. I sit down. I don't think I'm going to make it to Emiko sensei in time.

I struggle to get up. I am determined but fall back down anyway. I about to give up but then I hear something in the distance. I can't see well but suddenly a soaking wet Isamu takes my hand. I feel another hand and I look to see Hiro also helping me up. I am basically carried to Emiko sensei as we hold onto each other for balance.

Hiro, Isamu, and I quickly exchange kunai and we each hand in the one with our name on it. There is thirty seconds left on the clock. I fall to my knees we made it.

Emiko smiles "Great job, are you ready for your final and most challenging trial?"

I breathe heavily. I'm tired. Hiro places a hand on my shoulder. I don't know if I can do another trial. I close my eyes. I open them when I feel another hand on my shoulder. Hiro and Isamu are both looking at me as if to say it will be ok. Their eyes tell me that we will pass this third trial because we will be together. I am overwhelmed with their strength and I get a second wind of energy. We all nod at Emiko sensei.

"Well that's good" Emiko smiles "But that won't be necessary, you all pass."

"What?" all three of us exclaim.

"The first two trials were meant to test your endurance, skill, and teamwork. They were extremely difficult and meant to push you to the absolute limit." I take another look and Hiro and Isamu. I only just start to notice how tired they both are. I'm so used to being with Sasuke that I underestimated how much energy they had. "This final trial was meant to see if you were willing to push your limits to complete a mission, no matter what the cost. You were all very willing and as a result you all passed. I am proud of each of you" Emiko beams. Hiro and Isamu both fall to their knees.

After some rest and with a little bit of help we all head home. Tomorrow will be our first mission. I am so excited to tell Sasuke.

Authors Note: Yay! Chapter two is finally done. If any of you are wondering how long this story will be the answer is I don't know. As long as there is interest I will keep writing. But no matter what I will make an ending. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and as always please share you comments.