Chapter 3: A Test Of Teamwork

Sayuri sat alone in her room and watched the sun rise, dreading the day ahead of her. She hated being bossed around all the time by the man that she was forced to call 'father'. She knew that she was not made to feel but at times she still did. She felt alone, like there was no one that truly wanted her in the world. She wanted friendship, someone that cared for her. Something that could let her break the rules.

If I broke just one rule she thought maybe I could find out how to break the rest.

"Sayuri!" she heard Raikou call from downstairs, "It's time to go,"

She sighed and forced the feeling out of the way. She was not meant to feel and it was pointless for her to do so. She was nothing but a weapon used for battle. There was no point in her feeling because she knew that no one would ever feel for her. Slowly she walked down the stairs, ready to receive her daily orders.

"There you are," Raikou said, "I have your orders for today,"

Sayuri nodded.

"Today you are going to train with Kakashi and the others. I know that you remember him but he does not remember you, nor do the others, but that is not as important. You will do nothing to jerk his memory,"

"Yes, father,"

"Also you will not show any of your…uh…unique abilities, shall we say, today. You must appear as a normal level ninja for your age. You must not raise any suspicion towards yourself, for fear of elimination. The idea is ridiculous but you, and your skills, are a secret. Hokage-sama does not even know the extent of your power. You may surpass Sakura's skills if you wish, but do not surpass the powers of the Uchiha or Naruto. We both know the extent of power that they are capable of,"

"Yes father,"

"Do nothing to badly injure anyone today unless it conflicts with the First or Second Rule. Listen to Kakashi unless it conflicts with the rules given today. Understood?"

"Understood,"

"You may go then,"

Raikou walked away. Sayuri could taste her hatred for him. How she longed to kill him. If only that second rule hadn't been created. The rule that no one knew of but Raikou and herself.

Selfish bastard she thought as she walked out the door.

"I wonder why Kakashi wanted us here so early?" Sakura asked Naruto and Sasuke.

They had all received a message from Kakashi later the night before to wake up early and meet him at the training area.

"It's gotta be important if he plans to be here early," she continued.

"It probably has something to do with that girl," Sasuke said.

"What makes you think that?" Naruto asked.

"Because," Sasuke replied, "She's not here early is she?"

Naruto had been up all night thinking about what had happened after everyone had left last night at the training area. He was debating whether he should tell Kakashi or anyone about what she said.

The power of the Nine-tails will be mine the words echoed in Naruto's head and sent shivers down his spine.

"You seem awfully quiet today Naruto," Kakashi observed.

"WHY DOES EVERYONE ALWAYS THINK I'M SUCH A LOUD MOUTH?"

"Maybe because you are?" Sakura added smartly.

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TALKING TO? WHEN I BECOME HOKAGE I'LL REMBER HOW YOU GUYS…"

"That's enough Naruto," Kakashi interrupted "I'm assuming that you guys have guessed why I wanted you here so early?"

Sasuke nodded.

"OK good, then I can get straight to the point. I want you to be careful around this girl, Sayuri, I don't know much about her and she could be dangerous, I don't know the extent of her abilities either,"

"But why Kakashi-sensei? She doesn't even appear to have high chakra levels. I couldn't sense any coming from her…" Sakura said.

"Yes, that's what worries me,"

At that point Sayuri came into view and everyone stopped talking and turned to look at her. She had her hood pulled down low again. She walked with a careless air about her as if she wasn't worried about a thing.

"Nice to see you Sayuri," Kakashi said as she approached, "I was hoping that maybe you could tell us a little about yourself, seeing as how we don't know much about you,"

Sayuri sighed, "I suppose, I am no one and everyone at the same time, my existence is pointless, there are little who know much about me, and I would prefer to keep it that way,"

"No one and everyone?" said Naruto quietly, "that doesn't make much sense how could you…?"

"Leave it Naruto," Sasuke interrupted.

"STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO! YOU DON'T CONTROL ME!" Naruto exclaimed and Sasuke smirked.

"Yes but you never seem to know when to shut up,"

Sayuri's fist clenched and she felt a jealous rage towards Naruto, who continued to yell at Sasuke. He was so free to do as he wished. What I would give…she thought to herself.

"Since we have someone new today I thought we'd go back to some basics, to test Sayuri's limits," Kakashi began, "would you like to battle with one of our team, or would you prefer to practice Jutsu techniques, or we could practice many different things. I will leave it up to you," he finished with a smile.

Sayuri stood there dazed for a moment. Had she just been asked what SHE wanted? Not ordered to do something. The idea surprised her, anything she wanted? What did she want? She didn't know.

"I don't care," was the only response that she could come up with, she was not accustomed to making decisions unless it was directly related to battle.

"Well then how about a little hand-to-hand?" Kakashi offered, "No chakra use…"

Sayuri shrugged.

"Well then. Shall we practice the bell exercise?"

"No not that Kakashi-sensei," Naruto complained.

"I will not deprive you of food this time then…" Kakashi offered and there was a sigh of relief in response.

Kakashi stepped away from them and grabbed the bells out of his pocket.

"I will explain the rules since Sayuri is new to this," Kakashi started, "the idea is to grab these bells from me before noon. Usually I would only give you lunch if you grabbed the bells but I will be lenient on this rule today,"

Sayuri took her hood down and stared at Kakashi, listening intently. She had been told about this technique of Kakashi's. He was testing her teamwork skills. That was the only skill she lacked in. She found it easier and sufficient to work by herself, but since her speed and abilities were limited by today's rules she thought that she would need the help. No chakra use either, this was good, she wouldn't want her unique abilities to slip.

"I understand," she replied.

"Well than let's begin," and everyone took a ready stance except Sayuri.

Kakashi took a book form his pouch and began to read. There was no reaction to this from the rest of the team, which told Sayuri that this was normal. Everyone took off into the surrounding forest, except for Sayuri who hadn't moved yet. Kakashi looked up from his book.

"Do you not understand the rules Sayuri?" he asked.

"Are weapons allowed?" she asked.

"Yes,"

"You would have wished you hadn't of said that if this were any other day" and she took off into the forest with a sigh.

"Hey Naruto!" Kakashi called, "you do know I can see you right?"

"OH MAN!" Naruto yelled, "WHY AM I ALWAYS THE ONE THAT HAS TO GET CAUGHT?"

Than out of nowhere, three kunai came out of the forest from behind Kakashi. He turned and knocked all three away from their path, while Naruto started at him from behind. But Kakashi's reflexes were to fast for Naruto as he turned around and caught Naruto's fist in mid-air.

"Do you really think that would have worked?" Kakashi asked. But the surprise on Naruto's face distracted Kakashi.

"I'm not sure if they did, but I didn't," he heard a voice from behind him and felt something sharp at his throat. Holding Naruto's fist in one hand, and his book with the other, Kakashi looked around and saw that Sayuri had a kunai at his throat.

He had not sensed her coming. How did she sneak up on him like that? Oh well it didn't matter anyways; this was too easy to get out of.

Well this is going to hurt, but I better not counter act it thought Sayuri, if only she could use herself a little bit more. She was the ultimate weapon after all. She sensed his disturbance from not knowing that she was coming but also sensed the plan coming from him. Do these guys actually ever succeed in this exercise? There are so many things wrong with this situation.

Just on time Kakashi took Naruto's surprise to his advantage and grabbed his wrist. Spinning around he pulled back away from the Kunai and threw Naruto at Sayuri who felt herself get thrown back with Naruto. She had minimized some of the damage by removing the kunai from Kakashi's throat just seconds before and bracing herself, but would anyone notice that? They had both landed on the ground next to each other and when they looked up to see where Kakashi was, they didn't see him.

It almost hurt more having to purposely plan such a foolish move. First of all Kakashi already had Naruto in his grip so that he could use Naruto to his own advantage. Second off all she was standing at the wrong side and poised the kunai at Kakashi in the wrong way. She had basically been asking for what had happened.

Standing Naruto gave Sayuri and uneasy look who, just smiled back at him.

"I didn't see that one coming," she lied, since she had set that up herself.

Just then Sakura and Sasuke landed next to them.

"Are you guys OK?" Sasuke asked. Sayuri felt the question more directed to herself than towards Naruto.

"OF COURSE I'M OK!" Naruto yelled, and punched the air, losing all his uneasiness.

Sayuri just smiled at Sasuke and said, "Let's try again!" and she took off into the forest.

Sasuke watched her go until he could see her no more.

"What's wrong Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked.

"She saw that coming…"

"What?!" Naruto exclaimed, "How could she see that coming?"

"She withdrew her kunai with lightning speed that I could only pick up with my Sharingon seconds before Kakashi threw you …and braced herself,"

A surprised look crossed both Naruto's and Sakura's face.

"I think that she's holding back," Sasuke added.