Welcome to chapter 3! I hope that you like it so far, I've been working really hard to bring you quality work! I don't have much else to say except that I hope you enjoy the chapter!
I take my seat in the classroom…the written portion of the chunin exams is about to begin. I glance around the room and my eyes meet with intense blue eyes. This kid looks like he wants to kill me. A sand shinobi…that makes me a bit nervous. I turn my gaze away and quickly spot Izanagi and Junichi. Izanagi is on the side closest to the windows and Junichi is closest to the door. I'm in the middle. I spot Sasuke and he's staring at me. He must have sensed my nervousness. I smile at him.
"Whoa, you look just like a kid I saw earlier." The guy sitting next to me says and I smile at him.
"That was probably my twin brother." I say and he looks dumbfounded…How do some people make it this far? "Good luck on the exam."
"Hey, you too." He says and I smile before I go back to finding my friends. I see Sakura and Naruto….Ino and Choji. Where's Shikamaru? There's a tap on my shoulder and I turn around.
"Isn't this a drag? I didn't know there'd be a written portion." Shikamaru says and I smirk.
"What good is a strong body if your brain doesn't work right as well?" I ask and he offers the fair enough look. "Good luck…not like you'll need it."
"Same to you." He says and I turn around. I spot Kiba looking around and I offer an encouraging smile.
"Alright! Quiet down!" Ibiki Morino says and then he gets a sinister look on his face. Honestly…I space out. Essentially, don't get caught cheating or you and the rest of your team gets disqualified. I smirk at the idea of the sentinels having sharp eyes…mine are sharper. "Begin!" I flip over the paper and begin reading over the questions. As it goes on, they get progressively more difficult. I feel Sasuke's nervousness and I try to promote calm…if that's even how the twin emotion thing works. I decipher the code easily…it was always a strong suit of mine. I am aware of things…like the kid next to me trying to look at my paper. Holy shit the second question is impossible…I'm terrible with math. I don't calculate, I just throw the damn thing. I'll definitely have to come back to that one. Wait a minute…progressively more difficult…complex questions that not many people actually get….sharp-eyed sentinels….Ibiki wants us to cheat. After all, what's a ninja who can't gather at least basic intelligence? I glance up at the clock and a sentinel catches my eye. I smile brightly at him before I return to my test. If I need to cheat, it'll have to be from someone in front of me. I can use the Sharingan to copy movements…I can also use it to keep an eye out for the sentinels. I activate it. A kunai sticking into the paper of the boy next to me causes me to jump. He and his team leave quietly. I take a deep breath before I get back at it. The girl two rows ahead diagonal from me knows what's going on. She's already on the fifth question though. Okay…I start copying her movements. It looks to be right and how confidently she is moving makes me more comfortable with this. Okay…she's finished. I need to figure out two through four now. Suddenly, my body stops responding to my commands. Is this….no way, why is he helping me? My hand moves of its own accord over the second problem. Math…that's why. He knows how bad I am at it. A sentinel is about to look over. I clear my throat and I regain control of my body. Number two is finished….so the rest I don't need to worry about. I fill in three and four easily enough and I set my pencil down and nod to myself. The rest is up to Iza and Jun. One of the sentinels is going on about how superior his vision is and I can't help the slight chuckle.
"You there, number twenty-four, do you have a problem?" He asks and I glance to see that it is my number.
"No sir, I had a tickle in my throat. I'm sorry." I say, my voice dripping with sugary innocence. It's the voice I use to creep Sasuke out. He sniffs before he goes back to his seat…the boy he'd slammed against the wall leaves. Ibiki catches my eye, he looks skeptical. Okay…I've got to prove myself. Hold his gaze…do it…he's not scary. He's just using a lot of psychological torture devices. I will not be the first to look away. He smirks before he looks away. How much longer do we have left? I look at the clock. There's still half an hour. I sigh and lay my head down.
My body sits up of its own accord and I lazily blink. I must have fallen asleep…between Sasuke and that weird dream last night, I slept like crap. I smile sheepishly at Ibiki who is looking right at me. Shikamaru must have gotten me up.
"The rules for the final question are simple. If you wish to skip it, then you are free to go." He says and a girl freaks out. I turn to look at her….sand shinobi….I think I recognize her from somewhere. "If you skip it, then you fail the test and you'll just have to come back next year to try again. If you elect to take the question and you get it wrong, you fail and you remain a genin forever." Bull. Izanagi and Junichi look at me and I give a confident nod. We'll be okay. They return my nod before turning their gaze back to the front of the room. Several people quit….and I can see Naruto shaking like a leaf. Come on…you can do it, Naruto…he's not going to make you stay a genin. My gaze flits to Sakura and I see her getting ready to raise her hand. Self-sacrifice? Naruto's hand shoots up. I let out my breath as he gives an encouraging speech about not giving up. "Alright then…I guess the only thing that I can say to you now is that….you have passed the first part of the exam." I sit back and cross my legs with a smirk. I knew he was bluffing. "Number twenty-four serves as a good example of what I was testing you over for this tenth question. The solidarity as a team. I saw her teammates look back at her as soon as I told you all the rules of the final question and she had the unwavering trust in them as they have in her."
"And they're all rookies." The guy who I'd laughed at earlier mutters and there are whispers. I feel self-conscious. Why'd he have to point that out? Oh yeah…I laughed at him.
"You were faced with a no-win situation and based on that you had to make the decision best suited for your team. Have confidence in each other or give up to play it safe. So for those of you who remain, you have indeed passed this portion of the chunin selection exam." Ibiki says and then something breaks through the window. Instinct commands my body and I'm standing on my seat, kunai in either hand prepared to fight. It's just a single woman though…and she is my idol.
"Oh brother." I hear Sasuke say and I sit down, earnestly listening. She dismisses us and I eagerly hop over the tables until I'm next to Junichi. Izanagi joins us and we hug, me in the middle.
"Our crazy little shit…I thought that guy was going to string you from the ceiling." Izanagi says and I laugh.
"But you impressed the proctor, so I guess your insanity is good for something." Junichi says as he pats me on the head.
"Uchiha!" Someone barks and I turn around. It's not at me though. A guy with obscenely large eyebrows is marching up to my brother. I march over.
"Yes?" Sasuke and I answer together. He jumps. He must not have realized that I'd walked up.
"Ah…I meant Sasuke Uchiha. I didn't realize that…" The boy says as he observes me. "Ah…" I feel Sasuke's irritation. "My name is Rock Lee."
"Minako Uchiha, it's a pleasure. As it so happens, I handle all social affairs as my brother is a bit socially challenged, so I'm sure whatever problem you have with him you can take up with me." I say with a bright smile. "So what's the problem?"
"Ah….nothing." He says, deflating. I smile up at him as I adjust my arm bands. No one is going to hassle my brother.
"I'm so happy that this was handled in a positive manner! It was a pleasure speaking with you, Rock Lee." I say as I throw an arm around my brother. He walks away. I hook my arm around Sasuke's neck and leap. He catches my legs, regarding me dryly. "I have found my idol….whom I aspire to be in life."
"I was afraid of that." He says and I grin. He turns around and deposits me into Junichi's arms. "We'd better find out teachers."
"Good thinking, Brother." I say as I stand up on my own. We file out and I hum. "If I were a wild Kenta-sensei, where would I be?" I stretch in the sunlight.
"I've got three guesses. He's either drinking coffee, at the training fields thinking about coffee….or right behind us." Izanagi says and the three of us quickly turn around. He's not there. There's a tap on my shoulder.
"You're going to have to be faster than that, kids." Kenta-sensei says as he smiles down at us. "I assume you passed, very good. Now go home and prepare yourselves separately. We will meet at our usual training ground at six in the morning. Understood?"
"Yes, Sensei!" We chorus and we receive high fives. He poofs and I stretch again. I really didn't get my nap out.
"Ah…Minako Uchiha?" Rock Lee's voice alerts me to his presence and I turn around to face him. I take a couple of steps back.
"Rock Lee?" I ask…going with the theme of using both names. He stares at me for a moment before he gets a look of determination.
"Minako Uchiha! Your bravery and overall youthfulness has not failed to catch my eye!" He proclaims and my eyebrows shoot up. "I am in love with you!"
"Ah…well you see…I'm flattered…but…uh…." I stall as I look around. My eyes land on Shikamaru. "I am currently seeing someone!" It isn't a lie…I am looking at someone else right now.
"I will not give up! Someday I will defeat the man who holds your affections and I will gain them!" He proclaims grandly and then he runs off…promising to train.
"What…just happened?" I ask, turning to my boys. They both shrug. "No one's ever…been so….direct? What?"
"Who are you seeing, Minako?" Shikamaru asks as he walks over with his team. He's wearing a shit eating grin that pisses me off.
"You see...that information is on a need to know basis and you…don't need to know." I say, putting my hands on my hips. "Why'd you wanna know? Jealous?"
"Jealous?" He asks, his eyebrows shooting up. "Why would I be jealous?" I wag my eyebrows. "I'm not secretly in love with you."
"I know you're not secretly in love with me, it's blatantly obvious." I say, tossing my hair over my shoulder. "Well, I'd better get home. Kenta-sensei wants me bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at five-thirty tomorrow morning."
"She's so cute!" A group of male voices choruses and I look around. I don't see anyone. I shake my head. I thought the club would dissolve after graduation. I guess I was wrong.
"Anyway, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, so I'm off to have a nice dinner probably by myself and then I will prepare my things for tomorrow. Ta!" I say and then I use the body flicker technique. Not bad for a first attempt.
I check over my pouches again. I've added three new ones to make up for the fact that I'm not carrying a backpack. The first new addition is on my right thigh. It's level with the one of my left thigh which holds kunai and shuriken. It holds medical supplies in small, basic storage scrolls. I have two pouches situated at my lower back. The one on the right has storage scrolls filled with enough food to last my team three full weeks and my canteen. The pouch on the left holds more weapons…a lot in storage scrolls and some loose ones that are ready for immediate use. My tanto rests in its sheath above them, ready to be used. Rock Lee tries to catch my attention but I smile at Junichi who is checking his own pouches. We are extremely uneasy about this forest…and we don't even know what we're going to be doing in it yet.
"Minako! You look so cute!" Ino exclaims as she runs over. Choji and Shikamaru aren't far behind her. "But of course you never have to try to look glamorous!"
"Oh, don't be dramatic. I always go for practical." I say and she grins at me. "Oh come on, you know I grew out my hair because I look too much like Sasuke when it's short. I'm ninety-eight percent certain you accidentally groped me once instead of him."
"Now who's being dramatic?" She asks and I laugh. "What do you think's going to go on in there?"
"It's probably to test survival skills. I remember someone telling me about the battle training fields once and how it's certainly the best place to test survival." I say and then I notice the look on Shikamaru's face. "What is that shit eating grin, Nara?"
"Oh nothing…just a theory I have." He says, the smirk still heavily tainting his features. My hands ball into fists, my knuckles cracking. "Who are you seeing?"
"I know you're my best friend Shikamaru, but I honestly think it's for the best if you don't know." I say, turning away from him…hiding in my hair. "I fear you won't approve."
"I'm calling bull crap." Ino says, putting her hands on her hips. "You tell me who it is this instant, missy!"
"Oh alright…if you insist!" I say dramatically and then I use the body flicker technique. I stop beside my brother. "Hey guys, what's up?"
"What did you do?" Sasuke asks, stooping a bit to make himself more useful as the leaning post I was trying to make him into.
"Oh, Shikamaru's stuck on this weird idea that I'm dating someone and so I came over here to hide. I imagine Junichi and Izanagi will join me momentarily." I say and then they appear beside me. "Just in time!"
"I wonder when they'll figure out that you really aren't seeing anyone." Izanagi says and I shush him, looking around to make sure Rock Lee isn't nearby. "It's only a matter of time."
"Don't remind me." I say with a sigh. "I just need enough time to come up with another excuse."
"If you didn't look so much like Sasuke, I'd offer to be your fake boyfriend Minako." Naruto says and I snicker.
"I appreciate the sentiment, Naruto." I say and he grins at me. "I'll figure something out." Boys are annoying. Anko Mitarashi calls everyone to attention then and explains this portion of the exam. It is exactly what I said. Survival. We have the added objective of obtaining an object though. We will be given a scroll, heaven or earth, and we will be required to obtain the one that we are not given at the beginning. And of course we have to sign a release form. Naruto is being his usual loud self and so Anko throws a kunai and slices his cheek. This woman is amazing….she really takes no shit from anyone. My blood runs like ice as I feel the presence of someone truly evil. I turn around, my hand going for my tanto…just to see a grass shinobi giving Anko back her kunai….with his tongue. He looks like….the shinobi from my dream. Nausea takes over my stomach and I feel a hand take mine…Sasuke. Everything is back to normal and we are given our release forms.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke asks, making me turn to look at him. I try to neutralize my fear, but it isn't working…seeing as though I'm afraid for my brother.
"Just stay as far away from that Grass guy as possible, okay? He gives me the creeps." I say and he regards me with skepticism. "You trust me, don't you?"
"Yeah…alright." He says and then he pats me on top of my head. "You're prepared enough to survive in there for six years, aren't you?" I take out one of my food scrolls and give it to him. "Mina, no. I didn't prepare for it…"
"But that's why you've got a sister. Take it. There's enough food to last a few days at least." I say and then I kiss his cheek. "We'll get through this."
"I know." He says, smiling. "Be smart." I grin and head over to Junichi and Izanagi who have already signed their slips.
"You ready, fearless leader?" Junichi asks and I smile up at him as I bend to use my leg as a solid writing surface and sign my name.
"Let's raise hell." I say and we get into line. We reach the table, give our slips and they give us a heaven scroll. Izanagi tucks it into the inside pocket of his jacket and we head back out. "Let's see if my lucky number is taken."
"Sounds good to me." Izanagi says and we take off for gate number twenty-six. The guy I had laughed at yesterday is standing there. I pretend not to recognize him. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I packed some rations too."
"Great work." I say with a smile. "I gave Sasuke one of my food scrolls, but we've still got enough for two and a half weeks. Five days will be cake."
"There's no way you could have known." The guy says and I turn to look at him. "How did you know it would be survival." His tone is accusatory.
"Dude, chill. Minako Uchiha over-prepares for everything. Once we had a mission where we only expected to be out for a day. She still brought three weeks worth of food. We ended up being out for like a week with two extra mouths to feed." Junichi says, jumping to my defense readily. "She's probably even got spare clothes for us somewhere in there." For comedic effect I check and low and behold... I crack up.
"I didn't realize I'd grabbed that scroll." I say and Izanagi starts laughing too. I tuck it away. "You're right about there being no way I could have known, so I prepared for anything."
"Alright." He says begrudgingly. "It's almost time. Good luck out there." I smile…at least he doesn't actually hate me. When it is time, he dispels the seal closing the gate and we take off. I take pointe, checking for traps and enemies. We keep moving because stopping could be deadly. We need to put as much distance between the gate and us as possible because we will be targeted as easy pickings due to our age. I sense hostile chakra and so I throw up the half tiger seal, our signal to hide. Iza and Jun's chakra signatures disappear so fast it almost alarms me, but I know that they're fine. I press myself to the ground, concealing myself in the bush.
"I could've sworn I detected someone this way." A male voice carries from the treetops above down to my hiding spot. "Let's keep searching…the babies probably hung close to the gate."
"I didn't think of that." Another voice says and then they're gone. We stay still until their chakra signatures are gone. I activate my Sharingan and search the area for any signs of humans. There are none. I come out of hiding first and motion for them that it's alright.
"We can't rest here. So we'll go for a little while longer and then figure out our game plan." I say and Izanagi nods. I deactivate my Sharingan and we start running again. I detect Kiba as soon as the kunai are flying at me. I use the substitution jutsu before I land, Sharingan spinning ready to track movements. "Wait. Before we fight. What scroll do you have?"
"What scroll do you have!?" Kiba barks and Akamaru growls, ready to attack us. I don't relax my posture, but I give him a look. "Heaven."
"Us too." I say and Hinata relaxes her posture. I wait for Kiba to stand down before I relax as well. "Okay…let's go on our ways then."
"That is a good plan." Shino says with an affirmative nod. "Take care of yourselves…I'd hate it if something happened to my friends."
"Thanks, Shino." I say with a smile. "You guys take care also. I expect to see you at that temple."
"You just worry about getting your scroll." Kiba says with a cocky smile. "Alright! Let's go!" Then they're gone. I shake my head and start running again. What are the chances of two encounters this early on? Shikamaru would know the math real fast. I finally spot a place that is easily defendable and land lightly on my feet.
"It looks like the sun is going to be setting soon. Should we make camp here for the night?" Izanagi asks and I look up…what isn't covered by the canopy is a cat puke pink.
"That's a good plan. For now we won't set up traps just in case we need to move quickly. We'll have a rest and then set up camp." I say and they nod, sitting down with their backs against the tree. I can't sit though…I'm too antsy right now. "So tomorrow we'll start at first light and start looking for teams. We'll observe to make sure they have the opposite scroll before we attack. From that point, we will move only with the intentions of reaching the temple. I'd like to get it done before day three."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Junichi says, looking around. "I don't like this place one bit." I hum my agreement. I spot something then. A movement that no normal eyes would catch. It darts out for a second. I throw my hands up, casting a genjutsu as I do it. Three people walk forward. Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino. Choji and Ino seem concerned Shikamaru doesn't appear bothered.
"They were here literally one second ago." Ino says, her eyes darting around. "She looked like she was going to do something and then." Junichi and Izanagi are on their feet then, moving around behind.
"Uh oh." Shikamaru says and then he makes a seal. My boys immobilize Choji and Ino. "What was that?"
"Honestly? I don't know what you were seeing. I just thought, 'oh shit, someone came to attack us. Hide'." I say, putting my hands on my hips. "What's the bright idea?"
"We didn't know if we'd find someone else." Ino says and I smile, amused. "What's that look?" A pout.
"Team Eight attacked us. You guys attacked us. What's next? My own brother?" I shake my head. "Which scroll do you have?"
"Heaven." Shikamaru says and I know that my relief shows. "So it was a wasted effort. How did you even…never mind."
"Your shadow was a little too anxious." I say with a smirk. "We were about to set up camp, would you guys want to join us?"
"That sounds great." Ino says, relaxing. "Shikamaru, you should go hunting." I shake my head and hold up a scroll.
"No need to hunt. I've got enough ration bars for everyone. But we should replenish our water. I hear a creek nearby." I say, focusing chakra to my ears to enhance what's already there. "About thirty meters due north."
"The ears a blood hound that one." Junichi says, patting me on top of my head. "I'll go and set up some traps."
"I can help with that." Ino says with a smile. "Choji, you go with Izanagi and refill the canteens." I finish off my canteen before I hand it over to my teammate.
"Alright. Then I'll build a small fire. It's going to get chilly." I say and we all go about doing our jobs. I begin collecting sticks to build the fire. As I stand up to my full height, I see that Shikamaru has already dug the pit. "Thanks." I say as I arrange the sticks. "Now step back." I make the seals and spit out a small fireball. It ignites and so I add more sticks to keep it going.
"That's pretty handy." He says with a shake of his head. "But you would be lazy enough to not actually make a fire. Do you even know how?"
"Of course I know how. And you're really going to call me lazy, sloth boy?" I ask, sitting down and letting out a breath. "I've slept like crap the past two nights."
"And knowing you, this is the first time you've sat down since this started." He says and I hum. "You should probably take better care of yourself…this is actual danger."
"I'm sure that Sasuke has given both Junichi and Izanagi the talk." I say and he hums. "I'm nervous because of a dream that I had."
"What happened?" He asks and I hug my knees to my chest. Talking about it will just fuel my fear. I'm giving it power.
"I was in a forest…just like this…I'm not certain that it wasn't this place…but there was a man who attacked Sasuke. He put a seal on him and then he turned on me…he was surprised that I was there. That there were two Uchiha…He said I would be useful someday." I say, staring at the flames. "Then the scene changed and we were in another forest. I was fighting Sasuke for some reason…and then he went to use this weird move on me. I don't remember what it was, but I know that he doesn't actually know it…but you pushed me out of the way. The weirdest part is that when I shouted, everything froze. Sasuke was frozen mid-air and you were prepared to take the blow. But then my mom was there…she told me something ridiculous…." I shake my head. "That there are eight people in my life who I am destined to save. She said that I could prevent your death in that moment…"
"But it was just a dream." He says and I look at him. "Why would Sasuke ever attack you? You're the most important person in the world to him."
"But what if I try to get in the way of him accomplishing his goal?" I ask and he has a solemn look.
"I wouldn't let him hurt you." He says and my heart clenches. "If a time ever comes where you feel like you need to stop him, I will help you."
"Thanks." I say with a small smile. Everyone returns then. Ino gasps and I'm on my feet, tanto drawn.
"No! I just realized who you're seeing!" She exclaims in a whisper yell. I roll my eyes, sliding my blade back into it's sheathe. "You were lying. You're not actually seeing anyone."
"Technically I wasn't lying. I was looking at someone else when I said it." I say and she snickers.
"So I'm your fake boyfriend, huh?" Shikamaru asks, that shit-eating grin returning to his face.
"You know, for a second there I thought that it was possible for you to not be annoying…" I say, glaring at him. "But if it got Lee to leave me alone, then I don't mind having you as a fake boyfriend. You already asked me to marry you anyway." Ino's soul leaves her body for a moment. "To, quote 'Keep me out of trouble', un-quote."
"You're taking that way out of context." He says dryly. "I only said that after you wished me luck in finding someone who'd actually be a…"
"Yes…rethink your sentence." I say menacingly. "I said that I hoped that you could find someone who would be alright with dying before you…in which case that doesn't really make sense because I'll be damned before I allow for you to die before me."
"According to your dream it is your purpose in life to keep me alive." He says and I know the betrayal flashes across my face.
"And so the truth comes out!" Izanagi proclaims grandly. "You guys are secretly in love with each other."
"Yeah right. It's no secret that Shikamaru is in love with me." I say, taking out my food scroll. "Now shut up and eat food." I unseal the bars and give one to everyone. "I can take first watch."
"Actually, I'll take first watch." Izanagi says and I give him a look. "You used more chakra than I did today. You sleep first."
"I'll take second watch." Shikamaru offers and I open my mouth to offer up third but he looks at me. "We shouldn't need a third."
"One of these days you guys are going to try and boss me around the wrong time and I'm going to rip your head off." I say in a low voice.
"I hope it's a day when you've actually gotten a sufficient amount of sleep." He says and I set my jaw. "I'd better stop pushing it."
"You'd be amazed at what I can do when I'm tired." I say and then I yawn before I open up my ration bar. "Oh, I make them myself…so I'm sorry if you guys don't like them."
"Are you kidding me? This is probably the best ration bar I've ever tasted." Ino says, her eyes wide. "I had no idea that you could make stuff like this."
"Sasuke hogged all the tall genes, I took all of the genes that allowed for finesse in culinary arts. That idiot can't even boil water without almost destroying my kitchen." I say, glowering at the memory of the last time he tried to cook.
"So do you do most of the housework?" Ino asks, genuine curiosity…not the creepy fan girl curiosity.
"It's pretty equal. Basically the only set thing is the cooking. I banned him from doing it unless I am dying on the floor and the last resort for saving me is if he cooks something. Since graduation it's pretty much, if you're not busy with training or a mission you do something. Though the fucker needs to learn how to do his own laundry right. I'm sick of teaching him how to get blood out of clothes." I say with a shake of my head.
"You sound like a more vulgar version of my mother." Junichi says and I laugh. "My dad tries to do the thing where he does something bad so that Mom won't ask him to do it again."
"I'd just show him how to do it again and make him do it over until he got it right." I say and then I snicker. "I feel sorry for the moron who marries me."
"Oh shut up." Izanagi says with a roll of his eyes. "And besides, it's already been decided. We'll give you to Shikamaru for a cow and a goat."
"Asshole. I'm worth at least two cows, a good sized pig, two goats, and a chicken." I say with a shake of my head.
"My mistake. I guess that's what I get for letting a Nara barter with me." He shakes his head sadly. "The price has gone up."
"Thanks, but no thanks." Shikamaru says and I laugh. "Alright, if we're done eating we should probably try to get some sleep."
"Alright. Don't you guys worry one bit. I've got the second best eyes on Team Kenta." Izanagi says and I smile before I lay down, using my arms as a pillow. I let my body relax…but I know I'm not going to sleep all the way. It's more like…my body will be resting, but my mind will be alert…waiting for something to come along and try to kill me.
When I open my eyes it is still pretty dark. I feel an arm around my center and I raise an eyebrow. I turn my head and see Shikamaru, sleeping peacefully….Wait a minute. I sit up and see Junichi sitting on a few meters away. I'm going to stab them all. Shikamaru stirs and his cheeks turn pink as he opens his eyes and realizes that he's so close to me.
"I didn't know you were a cuddler." I say dryly and he offers a light glower before he moves. I stand up and stretch. I nudge Izanagi's knee with my toe and he sits straight up. "It's time to wake up."
"Oh, okay." He says, rubbing his eyes. I take out a scroll and toss a ration bar to everyone before I go over to Junichi.
"You guys are assholes." I say, putting a hand on my hip. He regards me sheepishly. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
"Because you didn't even stir when Shikamaru came over. That's how I can tell when you're really tired." He says and I sigh before I give him a bar. "Thanks."
"Sorry for making you worry, but I am okay." I promise and he smiles. "Give me your canteen and I'll refill it." He hands it over and I smile before I go over and snake Izanagi's canteen from his backpack. "I'll be back. If I'm not back in hmm…ten minutes send help. Make it look like we were never here."
"We'll disappear." He says, making weird hand motions to suggest our disappearance. I smile before I start walking towards the creek. I sense Shikamaru following. I drop to my knees by the creek and begin filling.
"You fill, I'll put the drops in?" He asks, sitting down beside me. I shrug and toss him my bottle of iodine. "You okay?"
"Enough. I slept too heavily and so I feel like crap." I say and I feel the force of his eye roll. "I feel personally responsible for getting Izanagi and Junichi out of here. They've got families to go home to, so I've got to watch…." I frown when I get a sharp pain in my neck. "I've got to watch their backs." I won't bring attention to it….but he's regarding me with question. I screw the lids back onto the canteens. "It's fine. Sasuke's just probably in a fight right now."
"Do me a favor a try not to run to him…even if it feels bad. Because as much as I know you want to protect him, you've got to let him take the test just like you are…" He says and I glower at him. "I'm just saying…"
"I know." I say and then I tuck my canteen away. "Well, we'd better get back." I stand up with Iza and Jun's canteens before I start walking. Everyone is ready to move out when we return, which is good.
"Be careful." Junichi says to Team Asuma. "I'd hate to have to come back to save your guys' asses."
"Minako's corrupted them. They can't help it." Shikamaru says and I offer an innocent smile. "See ya guys at the temple."
"Bye." I say with a wave and then we're on our way. I push my sense out, trying to find another team. This is a really big place though…and it is reasonable to assume that at least a couple of teams have made it so far. We're moving at a good, sustainable pace. We won't get worn out from running for this long and we'll be able to evade easily if someone attacks us. I should be able to sense people close by, though. Suddenly a kunai whips through the air right in front of me. I drop and swing from the branch to evade it. I land on a lower branch, already working through my seals. "Fire style! Great fireball jutsu!" I breath a large fireball and three shinobi jump out to avoid incineration. They are a lot bigger than I am.
"Give us your Heaven scroll." The guy says and then he grins. "Rookies. The stupid looking one can't even keep it a secret which scroll they have. It's our lucky day, boys."
"The only stupid one here is you." I say, activating my Sharingan. "You're not going to walk away with that Earth scroll."
"We'll deal with you in a minute." The leader says and I glare at him. I nod and Izanagi throws a smoke bomb. I launch forward, attacking the leader while the other two take on his team mates. We exchange blows before he elbows me in the temple. It hurts, but it's nothing that I can't handle. I launch myself across the gap in between us and catch him in the chin with my knee. He bites his tongue. I don't relent. As we're falling, I use chakra to push off of the tree. We land on the ground and there is a dent. He's out like a light. I quickly check him over and find his scroll. I tuck it away before I work through my seals. My boys knock the other two guys into my line of sight and I cast the genjutsu. They both land and look around before the screaming begins.
"Come on!" I shout and we book it out of there. Once we can no longer hear the screaming we stop, but I still feel like something's wrong. I'm too anxious…but it isn't my own anxiety. "Something's wrong with Sasuke."
"What are we waiting for then?" Izanagi asks and I feel my eyebrows draw together. "We've got what we need, it won't hurt to run by and check…just in case."
"He's right." Junichi says, giving me a reassuring look. "And besides, you work better when you're not too worried."
"Thanks." I say with a smile and then we're off. I follow my bad feeling until finally we come upon then…both Team Kakashi and Team Asuma….along with a team from the hidden sound village. One member is down and I see Sasuke standing across from another one with a smirk on his face. His aura is terrifying. "Sasuke." I say and he looks at me. I jump down from the tree and approach him. Iza and Jun are covering us. "What's going on? Are you hurt? I felt something…" But before I can finish he grabs my arm and yanks me towards him, punching me so hard I know that a least two of my ribs are broken. He's on the sound ninja again. I'm on my knees, gasping at the sudden pain.
"You're so fond of these arms, aren't you?" The monster possessing my brother asks as he pulls the sound ninja's arms back. I hear the snap. He turns to go after the third when Sakura lurches after him.
"Sasuke! No!" She cries, tears flowing down her face. "You have to stop! Please! Think about Minako!" She hugs him from behind. His eyes are wide as the black mark recedes back to the mark on his neck. The mark I saw in my dream. The sound ninja leaves his Earth scroll before he takes his team and they get the hell out of here.
"What the hell is your problem!?" Shikamaru shouts in a way that I don't think I've ever heard him sound… Sasuke looks at me and his eyes widen. He takes a step towards me. I push myself back, fear carrying me away. I see Itachi. Blood everywhere. Everyone dead.
"Stay the fuck away from me." I say, my voice trembling. Ino quickly moves to my side. "They're broken. I don't know how to fix bones." I see Izanagi put a restraining hand on Junichi's shoulder.
"It's okay." She says in what's supposed to be a comforting voice. "I'll help you wrap them up and we'll get help. Okay?" I'm shaking as she helps me stand. "We'll go somewhere a little more private." She leads me away and I sit on the ground on my knees before I lift my shirt. The angry black bruise causes me to cringe. She doesn't say anything as she winds the pressure bandage around my middle.
"I'm scared." My voice is a whisper. She secures the bandage and I hear as her hand squeezes into a fist.
"I know…but it's going to be okay. We aren't going to let him hurt you again. No matter what." She says and then she pushes my hair back and tucks it behind my ears. Then she shakes her head. "Sorry, that's something my mom does when I'm upset." She doesn't mean anything by it, but it makes my heart hurt. "Junichi, Izanagi. She's ready." She calls and I shake my head.
"No. I…I need to make sure he's okay." I say, pushing myself to my feet. She looks uncertain. "Ino. It's fine. I had my guard down." I walk back towards the group.
"You shouldn't have to have your guard up with him." Junichi mutters and I shoot him a look. "You don't go fucking ape shit and break your sister's ribs. I may not be an expert on being a twin, but I'm pretty sure that's a thing."
"That's enough." I say, my voice strong. I look to Sasuke. "Did a man attack you and leave a mark on your neck?" His hand goes to his neck as he looks at me. "Shit." I go over and carefully lower myself to my knees beside him. I tilt his head and look at it….exactly like in my dream. "As soon as we are out of here, we're finding someone who is a seal master and we're getting this off of you.
"Minako." He looks at me, his eyes are wide. He's afraid. "What's going on? I didn't even…I didn't even see you."
"I don't know, but I'm going to make it okay." I say and that seems to reassure him. "Now, you need to get your shit together and pull through for your team." The confusion leaves his face and I feel better. "I'll see you at the temple."
"I'm sorry." He says and I shake my head. "No, how bad is it?" I make the seals and check over the injured portion of my torso.
"Two are broken and one is cracked. I'll be able to make it, I just need to be careful." I say and he briefly looks sick. "Hey. None of that. You're not yourself." He helps me stand up…even though I don't need it. I look over and see that Ino is now helping Sakura. She cut her hair. "Damn, Sakura. Short hair really suits you." I see her eyes widen. "If I were interested in women…"
"Shut up." Ino says with a laugh. "You're embarrassing her." I smile, walking over. "Shikamaru says that you have a weird appreciation for women."
"There is nothing wrong with girls appreciating the beauty of other girls. It doesn't have to be in a romantic sense. I think everyone is beautiful in their own way. Except for Creepy Snake Guy. I'd like to light him on fire." I notice Sakura's swollen eye then. "That I can fix." I carefully drop to my knees in front of her and heal that.
"Thanks…that feels a lot better." She says, smiling a little. I see the lack of confidence and I hate the stupid jerks in our class that always made her feel that way.
"Okay. Now let's get you to that temple where someone can take a look at those ribs of yours." Junichi says and Izanagi hums his agreement.
"Oh no…" Sakura says and then I follow her line of sight. "Lee…he came and helped me when Naruto and Sasuke were unconscious. They beat him up pretty bad." His team comes into view then. The girl goes over and begins shaking him violently. The other guy stands back…looking pretentious. Lee begins to wake up.
"Lee…what were you thinking going in alone like that?" She asks, concern filling her tone in spite of her rather rough treatment just a moment ago. I gingerly stand up, taking a step back
"Sakura was in trouble! It would not have been right to leave her to defend her fallen team mates alone!" He proclaims and then he looks around. I take another step back and bump into someone. I hiss in pain. "Minako Uchiha!"
"Rock Lee." I greet, attempting to stand upright fully. I'm starting to feel weak though. That's not good. Someone is helping me stay upright.
"So the man who holds your affections is Shikamaru Nara." He says and a fire burns in his eyes. "Very well. Shikamaru Nara, I will not lose to you! From this point on we are rivals!"
"What a drag." My best friend groans. "Stand up straight. Don't think I forgot about that guy you killed by breaking his ribs."
"There are hardly even any pokey bits." I say, doing my best to straighten out. Junichi walks over then.
"Come on. I'm carrying you." He says and I know that I'm not winning this argument. Shikamaru helps me climb onto his back.
"What happened to you!?" Lee exclaims, outrage and concern filling his loud voice. I can imagine his expression. "Who injured you!?"
"It's a secret." I say, holding a finger to my lips. "Onward, Silver!" I offer a two finger wave over my shoulder. "See you guys at the temple!" We travel in silence. I give Junichi's shoulder a reassuring rub. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah. Just do me a favor and focus on staying alert." He says, sounding more like himself which is a relief.
"You've got it! I'm more alert than I've ever been!" I say and then I hum. "We're getting close. Stop here for a second. I have an idea."
"What's up?" Izanagi asks, helping me climb off of Junichi's back. "You really should just relax until we can get there…"
"That's what I'm trying to do. If we get into another fight I won't be very useful. So let's use transformation jutsu to disguise ourselves as chunin until we reach the temple. Anybody camping out around the temple wouldn't dare attack the people they are trying to deliver their mission objective to." I say and Junichi grins.
"Great idea." He says and then he forms the seals and turns into his brother. I laugh and form my own seals. The first chunin I think of is one of Shikamaru's cousins.
"Uh…." Izanagi says and then he snaps. He forms the seals before turning into Iruka-sensei. I chuckle. "You guys ready to go?"
"I can make the rest of the way on my own." I say with a nod and then the three of us take off. Either no one was camping or our disguises worked because we reach the temple without a hitch. We go inside and on the wall there's an inscription. "Oh okay…so we have to open the scrolls now. Maintain your transformation…just in case" I take out the Earth scroll. "You ready, Iza?"
"Sure thing." He says, taking out the Heaven scroll. We open them and I recognize the symbols on the paper. "Oh neat! A summoning jutsu!" We toss them onto the ground just as someone appears in a puff of smoke.
"Well, well." Iruka-sensei says, appearing amused. "What do we have hear? A few chunin who wanted to play along?"
"Very funny, Sensei." I say as I release my transformation. I maintain the appearance of someone who is uninjured.
"Very clever." He says with a chuckle. Iza and Jun release their jutsu as well. "I'm happy to report that the three of you have passed the second exam! Excellent work!" I gasp then, unable to breathe.
"Minako!" Junichi exclaims, supporting my full weight. "She has three broken ribs!" I squeeze his hand and he picks me up.
"Follow me." Iruka-sensei is all business now. I'm gasping for breath, tears in my eyes. What if they don't let me continue on to the third portion? We reach the medical set up and someone is immediately working on me. As suddenly as I lost the ability to breathe, it is back and I take in careful breaths.
"I don't see any signs of further injury." The medic says and my former sensei nods. "She should be alright to continue on." He looks at me then. "But I do recommend taking it easy. You've got a few days to relax until the next part."
"Alright. Thanks." I say, sitting up on the table. Junichi looks like he's aged six years. I offer a lazy grin, but then I'm serious. "Sensei, can I talk to you about something?"
"Come with me." He says and my team follows him. He leads the way to a room before he closes the door. "What seems to be the problem?"
"I need to get into contact with Kakashi-sensei. Something happened to Sasuke…They're all alright…but…" I start and then I look down at the floor. "He's the one who broke my ribs. It wasn't in actual combat. You of all people know that he would never do that in his right mind."
"I see…Alright. I've got to get back, but I'll let him know." He says gravely but then he puts a hand on my shoulder. "I am proud to be able to call you three my former students. Congratulations on passing."
"Thanks, Sensei." I say with a smile. He forms the seal and then he's gone. "Alright, now let's find a place to rest." We head out of the room.
"You guys can bunk with us." Kiba says, leaning against a wall…trying to look like a cool guy.
"Awesome. I could use a six thousand year nap." I say as I duck under his arm and into the bunk room. There are several sets of bunk beds.
"Yeah, we got here early to claim a room for the rookies." He says…still trying to sound cool.
"That's nice. Somebody help me with this pressure bandage?" I ask, trying to reach the pins holding it in place. Hinata quietly moves to my side and unpins it. She carefully unravels it.
"What happened to you?" Shino asks and I eye the already faded bruises before I smooth my clothes back into place.
"I broke two ribs and cracked one. A pokey bit punctured my lung just as we got here. I'm okay now. I saw a medic." I say and Hinata looks terribly worried.
"How'd you manage that?" Kiba asks and I see Junichi's lip curl back in a sort of angry sneer….not unlike I've seen on my brother.
"That charming brother of hers lost his mind." He says and I glare at him. My muscles tense…I wanna hit him…
"Look, Junichi." I say, my voice is very sharp. "He may be an insufferable bastard from time to time, but he is the only family I have left. He is sick. He was not in his right mind. If I have forgiven him, then you have no place to be angry with him. I'm about sick of your testosterone filled macho tough guy act. I'd lay your ass flat in under fifteen seconds and I barely weigh a hundred pounds soaking wet. I'm in a bad mood. So just shut up."
"Damn." Izanagi says after a second. "Retribution was swift on that one, am I right?" I put my face in my hands, but laugh.
"Wow, we suck under stress." I say, shaking my head. "I know you're just worried, but really you need to drop it otherwise I may forget to put my violent feelings into verbal actions instead of physical and I really don't want to do that."
"There's that secret dark side I've heard of." Kiba says and I laugh again before I sit down on the bottom bunk. I remove my tanto and lay it by the pillow. "But we all know that Minako is the only person Sasuke likes. Something has to be wrong if he hurt her of all people."
"Shino…can I ask you for a favor and I'll owe you big time?" I ask, looking to him. He nods once. "Do you think that your beetles could detect someone else's chakra within another person? So…say I flood some of my chakra into Izanagi's system without doing it like a transfusion, could they pick that out?"
"I believe so." He says and I nod. If Sasuke has a seal on him...would the other person's chakra be able to be detected when it isn't activated? "Why do you ask?"
"When my brother gets here, I need you to find out if someone else's chakra is in his system…because I have a theory. Keep this only amongst us. I trust all of you." I say and he regards me…or at least I think he is because I can't really see behind those sun glasses. "Someone is trying to take him away from me by promising him unimaginable power. He plans on giving that to him through a seal on his neck. I plan on talking with Kakashi-sensei, but I want to formulate a plan on my own….just in case."
"I will keep you updated." He says and I feel just a little bit relieved. "Over the years, I've noticed that you're only truly happy when you aren't concerned for his wellbeing." I'm truly shocked at that. "As my friend, I wish to help you in any way that I can."
"Shino…" I say softly. Kiba is looking at him, confusion clear on his face. "Thank you…that really means a lot to me."
"We will help in any way that we can." Hinata says, sitting down beside me…shyly. "You have always worked hard to make sure that everyone else around you was doing alright…Whether it be me being teased for being shy or Sakura…you've always helped us."
"She's right! You can count on us!" Kiba exclaims and Akamaru yips his agreement. "I've always respected you because I knew that you could kick my butt if you really wanted to."
"Oh that's not totally true." I say and then I laugh. "Man…you guys really know how to cheer someone up."
"You're too pretty not to smile." Junichi says and I shake my head. "What? It's true. That Lee kid is in love with you because you've got such a great smile."
"No. He is infatuated with me due to…I don't even know, man." I shake my head. "I don't know what to do…"
"Eh, the fake boyfriend schtick seems to be working. The way I see it, he's Shikamaru's problem now." Izanagi says and I laugh.
"Poor guy. How does he even stand being my friend?" I hold my stomach as it hurts from my laughter.
"You're not that bad." Shikamaru says as he and his team walk in. Ino's eyes scan over me. "Ribs?"
"Healed nicely, thanks." I say, patting the formerly afflicted area. "I'm glad you missed the party though. Junichi nearly wet his pants."
"I'm sorry. When your team mate and sister for all intents and purposes stops breathing, that's a bit concerning." He says sarcastically and I smile, glad that all is forgiven.
"Eh." I say, waving it off. "We were two feet from the medics." More like thirty feet, but who's counting?
"Now he's really going to want to marry you, Minako." Ino says with an almost sinister grin. "To make sure he can keep an eye on you."
"But Ino…you're the one who holds my true affections." I say, clasping my hands and staring at her with 'fan girl' eyes. "I'm the twin who likes long hair." A joking wink. Kiba looks between the two of us, flabbergasted. Oh yeah, he's never seen me like that. Hinata giggles and I grin. "What Kiba? Girls can think other girls are hot without it being romantic. We need to empower each other, not tear each other down. Like Hinata is one of the fucking cutest people I've ever met." The girl's face burns with embarrassment.
"Minako Uchiha….unapologetically herself." Izanagi says and I laugh, throwing my head back. I really do feel a lot better.
"Minako Uchiha, secret sadist." Shikamaru says and I give him a look. "It takes you less than a second to make someone come undone. I'd hate to see you in action when you get older."
"Did you just call me hot?" I ask, tilting my head to the side. I look to Ino and she's covering her mouth, laughing. "Ha! What did I tell you?" He rolls his eyes, agitated. "It's alright if you think I'm cute. You aren't bad looking. Give it a few years and up your strength training and dare I say you may even be a stud."
"Now you're just trying to embarrass me." He says with another roll of his eyes. It's amused though, not agitated.
"Do they always flirt like this?" Kiba asks Choji who just shrugs. Is this flirting? I never really thought of it that way.
"Itachi did always accuse him of liking me. Since I was the only person he ever bothered to tease." I say and nobody looks it, but I feel the discomfort at the mention of my older brother. "There was this one time, my dad smacked the shit out of me…split my lip and everything, so Itachi and I were going off to train somewhere together. Pineapple head was walking the opposite way with his dad and as per usual he had to make a comment. So I made up a lame excuse about it being a training accident and he gave me some salve to help it heal. From that moment until…well yeah, he teased me mercilessly daily. He took his big brother job very seriously." Shikamaru looks shocked. "What? I thought you knew…It was my own fault. I yelled at him and told him that I'd happily die for my brothers and he didn't like that I wasn't a submissive daughter."
"I didn't think that any of the main shinobi clans were actually like that." Kiba says, looking disconcerted.
"There's no need to worry now. For all intents and purposes, I am the head of the Uchiha clan and what I say is do whatever you want as long as you aren't a dick." I say and then I smirk. "You four should consider yourselves lucky." I look between Shikamaru, Shino, Kiba, and Choji. "Had your parents' will been weaker, you could've ended up stuck with me for life." Then I stroke my chin. "Another kid was briefly considered…what was his name…he was a Hyuuga."
"Neji?" Hinata asks softly and I snap, nodding. "Oh dear…" She looks amused. "I fear that the two of you would clash a great deal."
"That's why Kiba got kicked out of the running right away." I say and the boy actually pouts. "Father always tried to play my strong personality to his advantage which is why….never mind." I clam up.
"He had someone actually picked out, didn't he?" Izanagi asks. "Now I'm really curious."
"Eh, nobody really cares about it." I say, waving a hand in dismissal. He looks at me for a moment before he tackles me and starts tickling me. A high pitched squeal followed by laughter escapes from my mouth before I throw a well-placed punch and kick him off of me.
"Who was it?" He asks, standing up and wiggling his fingers at me menacingly. I glower at him. This could be a good chance to embarrass Shikamaru. The question is, do I want to save my material?
"It would be interesting to see which one of us would have been stuck with you." Shino says and I snicker.
"The Nara men are notorious for marrying women who are very abrasive." I say and then I hum. "I believe Shikaku declined."
"That makes sense now." Shikamaru says and I raise an eyebrow in question. "He told me to look out for you."
"So THAT'S why you're my friend…because your dad told you to." I say with a smirk and he rolls his eyes.
"Eh, it's not so much that. It's more that you make it easy for people to care about you. Even if you are an asshole eighty-six percent of the time." He says and I force tears to my eyes as I put a hand over my heart.
"Shikamaru…I can't even begin to explain how incredibly sweet that was." I say and he rolls his eyes. Of course he wouldn't fall for it.
When I wake up, I'm really warm. I almost decide to go back to sleep…almost. But then I hear my name.
"He totally likes her." Kiba says and I keep my breathing even and deep. "It's so obvious. And I thought the fan boys were bad."
"Kiba…" Hinata says softly. "It isn't v-very nice to make assumptions like that." I am loving how much more confident she is…
"In case you hadn't noticed, Hinata, he slept right beside her. Also, his scent was all over her when they first got here." He says and Ino chuckles. It's a thoughtful and devious noise.
"Ino, that's the sound you make when you want to meddle. Minako has warned us of this." Izanagi says and I smile to myself…my back is facing them anyhow. Apparently my back is also to Shikamaru's…That's why I'm so warm.
"I don't WANT to meddle, but they're both so insanely stupid when it comes to their feelings that it's cruel not to intervene." She says and Shikamaru makes an agitated noise.
"If you don't shut up, you're going to wake her up." He sounds agitated. "A guy goes to sleep and all of a sudden he's being talked about."
"You're the one who laid right beside her." Ino says and I can just see her putting her hands on her hips. I don't sense Junichi, Choji, or Shino…they must be getting food or something.
"I shouldn't have to explain this." He grumbles, sitting up. "When she was staying with my family I discovered that she has nightmares. I asked Sasuke about it later and he said that she sleeps better when someone is close by."
"Oh." Ino sounds concerned now. I sigh and sit up. Izanagi looks sheepish and I give him a look.
"I'm not the only shinobi ever to have nightmares. Don't make it out to be a big deal." I say and then I rub my eyes. "Speaking of shinobi, the five of you really need to work on your quiet voices. Well, not you Hinata. You do just fine. It's that loud-mouth you're teamed up with."
"Hey." Kiba says, glowering at me. I smile sweetly and his cheeks turn pink. "How do you do that?"
"Kunoichi." I gesture to myself with my thumbs. "It's my job to exploit the stupidity of man."
"Isn't she lovely when she first wakes up?" Junichi asks as he walks in. He's got three plates. Izanagi stands up and takes two from him before he hands one to me. "Low blood pressure. A little demon, that one is."
"A little demon that'll feed you your intestines like spaghetti if you don't shut up." I mutter and Kiba laughs.
"Here Hinata." Shino says as he gives his teammate a plate. Kiba looks at him expectantly. He holds up a finger before he pulls a treat out of his pocket for Akamaru. I laugh.
"You win my favorite person of the day award, Shino." I say with a laugh. "Here Kiba, Jun got me too much." I sit cross-legged and set the plate down on the bed in front of me. He sighs before he walks over and sits down on the edge. I pick up the apple and take a bite. "Take the bacon, I hate bacon."
"Nobody's perfect, I guess." He says wistfully as he takes the bacon. I laugh. Where did anyone get the idea that I was perfect?
"You feeling alright?" Izanagi asks, concern filling his features. "You normally eat like a boy."
"I'm ninety-nine percent sure I've got more manners than an adolescent boy, Izanagi. You'll have to be more specific in your meaning." I say, raising an eyebrow at him.
"You're right, sorry." He says and then he clears his throat. "Minako, your appetite is usually more voracious than that of an adolescent boy experiencing a growth spurt. Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm alright. I eat considerably less when I'm still sleepy." I say and then I chuckle. "Itachi used to say the same thing. Well not exactly the same. But he claimed that I could eat three times my weight in my mother's curry. In my defense, though, it was damn good curry."
"Eating three times your own weight when you were that little would have been a normal amount of curry." Shikamaru says and I glare at him.
"I'll have you know that I'm naturally a little person! I have a theory on that if you ever care to hear it." I say and he shrugs.
"Why not? It's not like we've got anything to do." He says and I then understand that he's just bored.
"I'm going to make you a pocket set of shoji. You tend to annoy me more when you're bored." I say but then I shake my head. "Settle in, children, it's time for a lesson. Twins are rare for shinobi because usually one of them dies because the other is the one receiving most of the chakra. You lot are very lucky I'm as scrappy as I am, because I could have not existed. Sasuke hogged the chakra like he does all the freaking hot water."
"You sound like my sister." Kiba says and I shake my head. "There was also that look of intense rage like she gets sometimes."
"He's a fine shinobi, but he doesn't have any normal person common sense. You remove the shirt and place it in the basket. I'm not sure how someone who can pin a guy to a tree from sixty feet away without cutting him can miss a basket." I say and Hinata offers a shy laugh.
"I think I would be afraid of you if you were my sister." Choji says and I offer an innocent grin. "Don't get me wrong, I think you're great…but…."
"I'm only tough on him because he's an asshole. If I were your sister, I'd probably be the doting type." I say and then I chuckle. "Can you imagine me doting?"
"Creepy." Shikamaru says and I glare at him, but make a mental note to use that against him later.
"Yeah whatever." I say and then I decide I'm done eating. I hand the plate to Kiba. His cheeks turn pink again as our fingers brush. "Alright. I'm going to take a walk before I turn into a sloth." I hop up, reattaching my tanto before I head out. I really don't pay much attention to where I'm walking…but I find myself by the entrance to the temple. I wonder how Sasuke is feeling…if they've gotten their scroll yet… Suddenly the door bursts open.
"Help!" A shinobi from the hidden grass village shouts. He's supporting the weight of someone who is bleeding heavily. I rush over.
"Keep moving! I'll try to control the bleeding until we get to the hospital wing!" I'm speaking loudly, but my tone is calm and I am in control of the situation.
"Hang in there, Shu! Stay awake!" He shouts at his teammate who isn't even coherent. He's lost so much blood. We reach the hospital wing finally, but his heart stops.
"He's going into cardiac arrest." I say calmly to the medic who nods before he takes over. I back away…completely forgotten as they fight to save his life. I back into someone and battle instincts bring the kunai to my hand. A feminine hand catches my wrist.
"Hey, it's alright." It's the girl who woke Rock Lee up earlier. "What happened?" She looks concerned. I see her team approaching.
"Not a clue. These two came in, one was bleeding heavily and so I did what I could to help." I say and I hear a pained sob from the next room over. I look down at myself and sigh. I'm covered in blood. "I'd better go and get changed before my mother hens birth very large cows."
"Alright. I'll see you around." She says with a bright smile. "I'm Tenten by the way. It's nice to officially meet you."
"Same. Except I'm Minako, not Tenten." I say, offering a wave before I head off towards the bunk room we'd been inhabiting. Hinata gasps as I enter. "I don't want to talk about it." I say as I go over to where I'd dropped off my extra supplies. I locate the scroll with my change of clothes.
"Nice try, but you don't walk into a room full of friends covered in blood without answering questions." Junichi says and I give him a look.
"A kid just died, Jun. I really don't want to talk about it." I say and his demeanor changes. "But I guess I have to." I sit down and go to rest my head in my hands, but think better of it. "I was walking by the entrance when two shinobi burst in. One was bleeding heavily and so I tried to control the bleeding until we could get to the hospital wing. We made it…but as we got there he went into cardiac arrest and I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure he died. So I'm going to go and change now and try not think about it." I stand back up and head out of the room. I reach the girl's bathroom and strip down to my sports bra and shorts. I grab a paper towel and run hot water in the sink. I fold the towel over once before applying soap from the dispenser and dipping it into the water. I scrub at my skin. Don't think of that night. Don't think of Yoshino carefully removing the bloody clothes. How red the water was. I grip the edge of the sink. I take deep, measured breaths. Get it together, Minako. You can't go in there this freaked out. People die. That's my line of work. I wanted this. No matter how hard you try, sometimes the human body just cannot withstand some levels of stress. I grab a new paper towel and scrub the rest of the blood from my skin. I'm very careful to clean my hands….none left under my nails. I made that mistake that night. I lean against the sink. The porcelain is cool against my stomach. Focus on that.
"Minako?" Hinata asks and I look over. She has a towel. "I….I'm sorry. I just thought that…maybe you might…need some help washing your hair out." Her face is red.
"That'd be great. Thanks, Hinata." I say, cursing my shaking voice. I smile, trying to be reassuring. I go over to my scroll and unseal its contents. "Looks like I score preparedness points. I have a little bottle of shampoo. No conditioner, but at least there's a comb."
"I think it's really impressive how you are able to carry so much supplies." She says as she approaches, pushing up the sleeves of her jacket. I flip my hair over and we get to work. Once it's clean, I scrub it dry with the towel. "Good as new." I say with a grin. "Thanks for helping. It would have taken so much longer by myself." I dry off my shoulders and back before I pull on my fresh dress.
"No problem." She says and I can tell that she wants to ask a question, so I smile reassuringly. "Are you…alright?"
"I'll be honest…but only because it's you." I say and then I look around and sigh. "I've been thinking about my family a lot lately. And of course I'm always worried about Sasuke…but I'll be okay."
"I'm glad." She says shyly. I seal away my clothes before I give her a hug. She gasps a little in surprise.
"Sorry, needed one." I say and she gently hugs me back before I let go. "Alright, let's get back." We walk out of the bathroom together and go back to the bunk room. I sit down on the edge of the bed and flip my hair over, whipping Junichi with it before I comb through it. Once that side is done, I flip it back over and comb the top part before I put the comb into my pouch.
"That's all you do!?" Ino exclaims and I jump. "You have perfect hair all the time and you do absolutely nothing to it!?"
"Well I brush it." I say, blinking at her blankly. "And besides it's just hair. It's annoying more than anything. I just keep it long so that you don't confuse me for Sasuke."
"I don't think that's gonna happen." Kiba says and I raise an eyebrow. He shrugs and I return the gesture.
"Anyway, if it'll make you feel better Ino, I'll style it." I say and then I sit cross-legged on the bed. I think for a moment before I put my elastic on my wrist and gather part of my hair. I braid it and secure the end. "There, that's all you'll get out of me."
"You're incredible." She says, rolling her eyes. "I mean that in a good way, but I'm still mad."
"Shut up, Ino." I say, shaking my head. "You don't have to do half the shit you do to try and be beautiful. My secret is I give literally zero fucks about what I look like and I let people deal with that."
"Well, that's how ya do it." Izanagi says and then he reaches around and detaches my tanto. "You're grumpy, so Sasuke's list of things to do when Minako is grumpy dictates that you should get some sleep."
"I'm being perfectly clear. I'm only going to sleep because I want to." I say, giving him a deadly look as I lay down. "Got that?"
"Yeah, yeah. Shut up and go to sleep." He says, laying my tanto by the pillow. I smile and close my eyes.
Sasuke puts his hand on my shoulder as he returns. Whatever he did with Kakashi-sensei has left him extremely weakened….I'm concerned. Shino has just finished his fight with the boy Sasuke nearly killed in the forest. I need to ask Kakashi-sensei about it…because he obviously knows something. The knock-out preliminary rounds are hardly the time to do it...but it will happen. I will have my answers.
"It looks like they wanted to get the Uchiha out of the way." He says and I look up at the board. At least I'm not fighting someone from Konoha. I vault over the railing and land in the ring. My opponent is the guy I beat up in the forest.
"Oh hey, I remember you." I say pleasantly. He looks really mad…though I think I would be too. "I think it's really cool that you guys came back even though we got your scroll. Good luck."
"I won't underestimate you this time." He says and I slowly smile. I fall into my usual stance.
"Begin!" The proctor says and the guy runs at me. He holds senbon needles between his fingers as he thrusts his fist towards my face. I bend backwards, falling into a handstand where I kick his wrist. He drops the needles and we begin exchanging blows. He's fighting really hard now. He must have really underestimated me in the forest. He punches me in the face and I stumble backwards. He tries to get on top of me, but I duck around behind him.
"Now I'm mad." I say, activating my Sharingan. I use the side of my hand to hit him in the kidney. He hisses in pain and turns on me. I block his punch with my right forearm. He goes to punch with his other hand, but I grab his wrist and actually manage to throw him. He doesn't go very far, but it's pretty impressive none the less. He's up and on me. I back flip away, catching him in the chin with my foot as I go. I duck as he swings and land a hard blow in his stomach. I jump back as he slashes at me with a kunai. He throws it and I deflect it with my own, but it was a distraction. He punches me in the stomach. I breathe in. Here goes. I form the tiger seal, hold it to my lips and exhale. Several fireballs cause him to jump back. I burn his right arm, which appears to be his dominant. The smell of burned flesh assaults my nose, but I keep going. He swings wildly at me with his left fist. I duck, landing in a crouch as I form the hand seals. To him, it appears as though I disappear in a flurry of flower petals. I get around behind him and kick him down. I flip into the air and aim a kick at his stomach. He rolls last second and there are some little pebbles where my heel dug in. I continue my motion and sweep his feet. On his way down he throws senbon. I block with my right arm. I barely register the sting. He's back on his feet. I tear the needles out and throw them away. "Poison? Oh come now." As I take a few steps backwards I draw the poison out of my wounds using the medical technique I learned literally a week ago. The purple liquid comes out of the wounds and I flick it on the ground in between us. "I can tell you're getting tired, so let's get this over with. You've done really well." I hear Sasuke snicker. I draw my tanto. Due to my patronizing speech, he's angry and irrational. He's slashing wildly with kunai and I'm deflecting easily. This won't end unless he's unconscious. I know what I need to do. I let him knock my tanto away. I grab his wrists and head butt him as hard as I can. His eyes roll back as they fall closed and he falls to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
"Winner, Minako Uchiha." The proctor says and I collect my tanto before I go back to my friends. Medics carry my opponent out of the room.
"Most youthful, Minako!" Rock Lee exclaims and I offer a polite smile. "The way that you showed him who was the boss was most admirable!"
"It's his own fault for trying to treat her like light work in the forest." Junichi says with a smirk. "She kicked his ass then too."
"Yup! Then she scrambled the eggs of his buddies!" Izanagi chirps and I shake my head at their bragging. "I should clarify, she used some sort of genjutsu that really scared them."
"I may aim low, but I'm not heartless." I say and Ino laughs. Kenta-sensei pats me on top of my head affectionately and I smile.
"What was that technique you used to get the poison out of your system?" He asks and I feel embarrassed.
"It was medical. I only got that far in my book. You know what pisses me off? I think the next section I was about to start working on was mending bones." I say and Junichi pats my arm. Kenta-sensei looks surprised. "We can talk later?" It's a hopeful statement.
"Fine." He agrees with a nod. "I'm impressed with you." I feel my cheeks heat up. No one has ever said that before…no one who I actually held as an authority figure.
"Eh, you know. There's nothing that makes someone successful quite like hard work and a lot of coffee." I say and he chuckles.
"Corrupting the youth of the Hidden Leaf." Asuma-sensei mutters with a shake of his head. "At least you finally taught her how to properly head butt someone." A guy from the sand is fighting now. He's from the team with the kid who looked like he wanted to kill me during the first part of the exam. I lean against the rail, leaning my head over just as Sasuke takes up residence right next to me. Perfect timing. Puppet Boy wins and I look to the screen. Ino and Sakura…I look at the two girls and they look stunned. I have no idea who to encourage.
"Come on you guys…compete for my love." I say, deciding on being weird. Ino looks at me for a moment.
"Works for me, I guess. Get ready to lose, Sakura!" She exclaims and then they're in the ring. I look to the sky.
"You have a sick sense of humor, you know that?" I say before I grip the railing. Their fight begins and I clench my jaw. I feel a hand next to mine and I glance over. Shikamaru. Sasuke is on my other side.
"The three of you were pretty close, weren't you?" He asks and I shrug. Before the massacre, I was pretty involved with the girls in my kunoichi class. Ino had always had that commanding air about her that I liked and I thought that Sakura had pretty hair. Things just got weird as we got older because of their feelings for Sasuke. "I just wish it hadn't been those two. This is gonna take a while."
"They're not really going for it." I say and he hums. This will either be the kind of thing where it goes until they tire each other out…or they're going to have to actually start fighting. I hear Neji Hyuuga make a comment and my knuckles turn white as my grip on the rail tightens. Wanna say that a little louder? Ino goes to punch her, but then she slaps her. "Come on Ino!? A bitch slap?! Get serious! You guys are better than this!" I'm not going to have a snooty bitch like Neji judge all women based on a fight between friends. I glance at Sasuke. "Don't you say anything either."
"I wasn't going to." He says and I hum. The fight takes a turn then…growing more serious. They move their headbands from their usual places to their foreheads….fighting as Hidden Leaf kunoichi now…not just as Sakura and Ino. As the fight goes on….and on…and on, I lean against Sasuke's arm more heavily. I'm exhausted…I don't know how, but I definitely am. "Why don't you sit down?"
"Because two of my very best friends are down there and they both need my support." I say stubbornly. I am a little sore too, but they're more important to me. I flow chakra to the worst of it and it's a little better.
"How are you even with me!?" Ino yells, clearly getting more and more pissed with each passing blow.
"Well Ino, while you've been worrying about your hair I've been training." Sakura says and I see the cord snap within Ino. She pulls the kunai and cuts her hair.
"I don't need this!" She yells, throwing it on the ground in front of her. I stare, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
"She's lost her damn mind…" I say, my hand going to my own hair. I almost feel like I should cut it as a show of support…not right now of course. Nah…I'd look like Sasuke. Ino goes to use the mind transfer technique. "Okay, now I'm convinced." Shikamaru is having an internal spaz attack next to me and I put a hand overtop his. Wait a minute….Ino isn't stupid, even if she is crazy. Sakura starts running and Ino goes for it. Her body goes limp and she falls to her knees. Sakura stops.
"How very unfortunate." Sakura says with a smirk but then she tries to move and she can't.
"That's genius." I say, looking at Shikamaru. "She's not a dummy, you dummy. She knew that she couldn't hit Sakura without immobilizing her!"
"You're trapped with a special rope made from my hair with chakra running through it!" Ino exclaims snottily. They don't have to be brats. Sakura tries to move but she can't. "Those seals earlier? It was all an act." She makes them again. "Now this time for real. Mind transfer jutsu!" She gets her…
"That's not going to last long." I say and Sasuke hums beside me. "Sakura's too much like me in the aspect of having a super sassy mind." Naruto starts hooting and hollering. Ino starts struggling to keep hold of the jutsu.
"Come on Sasuke!? What are you waiting for!? Sakura's part of our team!" Naruto yells at him and he looks irritated but he glances at me. I shrug. Who am I to knock supporting your own team?
"Sakura, take back control." His voice is even, but it carries. That does it and Ino releases the jutsu. It's actually kind of neat to see her spirit return to her body. "Now finish it, you've fought long enough." She either doesn't register the fact that Sasuke is cheering her on in his own way, or she's too in the zone to react. Both of them are panting…this isn't going to last that much longer. They're up and running at each other now. They both throw a punch and catch each other in the cheek…Sakura is down, but Ino isn't.
"Winner, Ino Yamanaka." The proctor says and Ino sways. Kakashi and Asuma-sensei go and collect their genin. Ino's out…but she'll be okay.
"Now you'll sit down." Sasuke says, authority in his tone and I raise both of my eyebrows at him. "Please." I jump on his back and he sighs. "Fine."
"I've gotta scope the competition. I did win, ya know." I say and he huffs. I lick his cheek.
"Weirdo." He says and I pout even though I know that he can't see it. By this point, he should know me well enough.
"Ah yes, but you're stuck with me forever. I'm sure that someone else would be willing to do the job." I say and I can sense Rock Lee's piqued interest at the notion. "I guess I'll have to get the twin brother applications out again."
"Still not how it works." He says and I snicker. The next fight is about to begin…what is the competition like?