Kaie looked in the mirror when she was done getting ready. It had been four years since she wore a headband and was on a team. Now it was different. She was a Leaf ninja and wasn't tied down with the responsibilities she held within the Sitoke clan. After four years of trying to fit in a village she wasn't a part of, Kaie was one of them. IF she passed this last exam.
It was still super early and Kaie could see thick fog outside her window. Her tummy growled when she walked into the kitchen. She knew Kakashi said not to eat, but she needed energy to gather and concentrate chakra. Besides, why would he care if she puked? It was her survival test, not his. Kaie grabbed two oranges on her way out to the training grounds.
The air was cold and the fog thicker than she had thought. Kaie peeled and ate her first orange, but felt a little uneasy. Almost like someone was watching her.
She turned around, half expecting to see Kakashi catch her eating food. However, in the areas of fog she could see, Kaie saw no one. Gulping, she continued walking and hoped the feeling would go away. As she walked further along, the feeling lingered and grew with every step. If Naruto was playing one his tricks again, she'd kill him. The feeling soon became too overwhelming and Kaie stopped walking to look around again.
"Hello?" Kaie called out. "Naruto? Whoever this is, this joke isn't funny anymore."
No answer. She was getting seriously nervous. It was all too real to her. Someone or something was definitely following her and it was getting closer. With a shaking hand, Kaie pulled out a kunai. Had they found out where she was hiding? They were coming to get her, just like before. This time she would be ready for them.
It crept closer, using the fog to conceal movement. Kaie stepped back, scanning the area in front of her. Closer again it came. She could almost hear footsteps. It kept coming. So close that she swore she could feel the hot air of breathing. They had her. She was going to die. Kaie stepped back in fear and bumped into something. Screaming, she turned to stab the person in hopes of getting them before they got her.
"Kaie!" her wrist was grabbed to stop her attack. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Sasuke?" she recognized his voice and dropped her kunai. Never before had she been so happy to see him and instinctively hugged him. "I'm so happy it's you. I thought I was going to die."
"I don't see how; we're the only people here," he remarked coldly. "And could you please let go of me."
"Sorry," she apologized while letting go. "I was really scared."
"I can tell," Sasuke picked up the kunai. "Let's go. I don't want to be late because of you."
"Right," her head dropped in embarrassment. "Sorry."
The two began to walk again in silence. Whatever the presence was, it was gone now. Kaie sighed in relief and looked at the boy next to her. He was remarkably influential with his presence. His suave expression was mesmerizing and almost cute. Almost. Kaie wasn't going to let herself fall to his charm, whatever it was. But she could see why he attracted all the girls. Sasuke had this sort of magnetism to him. It was practically contagious.
"Do you need something?" Sasuke asked a bit harshly. It was then that Kaie realized she had been staring at him this entire time.
"I thought I saw something," she lied while looking at the ground.
"Hn," he didn't believe her. Kaie blushed in embarrassment. That was the second time today he did that to her. Never, in the four years she has known Sasuke, has he been able to fluster her like he managed in the past ten minutes. "We're almost to the training grounds."
Kaie nodded even though she knew he wouldn't care. Trying to get her mind off of the awkward silence, Kaie remembered her other orange. She dug through her bag and found it. After peeling, she began to eat when she heard a low growl next to her. At first, Kaie thought it was the person from before, but she caught sight of Sasuke grasping his stomach. She let out a small smile for fear that a giggle would upset him even more. Her arm extended out to offer him a piece and at first he refused out of pride. The second growl contradicted his thoughts and Sasuke took a slice to swallow it in one bite.
She knew not to expect thanks in return and took back her orange. By now, the two of them reached the training grounds to find Naruto and Sakura arriving as well. They still had sleep in their eyes, but Sakura wiped hers away when she saw Sasuke.
"Sasuke!" Sakura ran up to him before eyeing the orange in Kaie's hand. "Kaie! Kakashi told us not to eat!"
"What can he do about it?" Kaie finished the orange. "Besides, he's going to be late again, so I don't think the orange will matter."
"How do you know?" Naruto asked.
"Showing up as late as he did yesterday, it has to be a habit," she answered.
The others stared at her like she was crazy. What kind of ninja makes a habit out of being late? However, Kaie was right. The sun had risen and Kakashi was still no where in sight. They waited about three hours past sunrise before Kakashi showed up. The four genin had slumped together and their stomachs growled in hunger.
"Welcome to your last test, Team Seven," Kakashi kneeled in front of them. He opened his eye to meet glares from his students.
"Why were you so late?" Naruto asked while getting up.
"Oh," Kakashi answered while pulling something out of his bag. "I had to take the long way because a black cat crossed my path."
"That's a lie," Sakura and Kaie called him out.
"Now," Kakashi placed a timer on a log. "When this timer goes off at noon, you'll need to have taken a bell from me. If you fail, you don't get lunch."
"That's why he said no breakfast," Sasuke muttered.
"To get the bells," continued Kakashi while holding up two bells, "you can use any weapon or jutsu. Those who don't have a bell at noon are tied to a post and have to watch me eat."
"Wait," Sakura said. "There's only two bells."
"Two people will get bells," added Kaie.
"So two will be tied to the post," Sasuke finished.
"That's not fair!" Naruto complained. "Only two will get lunch!"
"Then get used to being hungry," Kaie smirked. There was no way she was going to be tied to a post today.
"All four of you might not eat at all," Kakashi warned. "When I say go, try and take the bells. Ready?"
Before Kakashi could breathe, Naruto pulled out a kunai and lunged at their teacher. Kakashi moved into a defensive stance. He took Naruto's wrist, twisted his arm around, and pointed the kunai at his pupil's head. The other three stared, fascinated by Kakashi's reflexes and speed.
"We haven't started yet," Kakashi let go of Naruto. "Now then, go!"
Kaie jumped back, up in the trees. She decided that it was best to let the other three fight Kakashi first. Even at her skill level, she couldn't take on a jounin. If Kakashi could be worn down just a little, Kaie would be that much closer to a bell. She heard Naruto's voice ring throughout the grounds. Now would be a good time to move. Staying in one place would give Kakashi a better chance of finding her. There was another scream that sounded like Sakura.
Things were starting to get serious. Kaie activated her Ryukasumi, expecting Kakashi to be fighting Sasuke by now. That made her the only one left. Should she wait or go after him? Smoke rose from the trees and answered her question. She hurried to the clearing to hear Sakura's voice again, possibly in trouble. Upon arriving, Kaie found her fainted on the ground.
"Again?" Kaie asked herself.
"She's fainted before?" came a voice from the ground.
"Sasuke?" Kaie laughed when she saw him buried up to his head. She placed her hand on the ground and used her chakra to push Sasuke up and the rocks away.
"I didn't need your help," he remarked.
"Thank you would work," she complained.
"If you're going to fight Kakashi, don't take him as a joke," Sasuke warned. "He's strong, so be careful Kaie."
"Is that concern I hear?" Kaie teased. "I'll be fine. I'm a lot stronger than you think."
She left Sasuke and Sakura and began to look for Kakashi. He was back where the posts were, reading a book. Naruto was tied to a post, but it wasn't too surprising. Kaie took out a kunai and began her attack. Kakashi also took out a kunai of his own and blocked her.
"I was wondering when you would attack," Kakashi said.
"I waited for you to fight the others," she replied.
"I see you activated your Ryukasumi, Kaie," Kakashi put away his book. "I guess I don't need to explain the three different attack styles to you. Do you remember your jutsu?"
"More or less," Kaie began to weave hand signs. "I remembered a few while at the academy. Water Style: Water Whip Jutsu."
Water from the lake shot up in a thin stream and swung at Kakashi. He dodged it, but it recoiled and swung back. While he was distracted, Kaie ran at him to try and grab a bell. She dropped her jutsu and reached, but Kakashi used a substitution to get behind her. Kaie blocked his punch and tried to kick him. He pushed them away from each other and they landed on the ground.
"That's not your best," said Kakashi. "You won't get a bell that way."
"Dragon Style: Dragon Claw Jutsu!" Kaie caved to his insult. She slammed her hands on the ground and multiple claws came up to grab Kakashi from behind. To avoid it, he jumped forward and Kaie lunged for a bell. As the ringing came to her ear, she stopped.
"Kaie, you can't let your team rely on you like that," a male voice scolded.
"But I always come through," Kaie complained.
"What if you fail?" he argued. "You could run out of chakra and then what? You and the others could die. Put them first, not you. It's not teamwork if only one of you is the team."
Teamwork. That was the key. The four of them could attack Kakashi all the wanted alone, but he was too skilled. By working together, Kakashi would be sure to drop his guard long enough for a bell to be snatched. The two bells were just a distraction to discourage teamwork.
"I can't do this alone," Kaie whispered.
"Hmm...?" Kakashi heard her.
"I can't take a bell," Kaie repeated as the timer rang. "Only Team Seven can."
"Good," Kakashi smiled. "You understand."