"I'll do it." I blurted out before Kurenai could leave.
"What?" Everyone was really surprised.
"Aoki, you have a better chance than any of us." Kiba said.
"I'll go." Hinata said. "Our missions are usually successful because of you." Her voice showed how scared she was. She didn't believe that she could help the team. It was true that she is usually hesitant, but she is strong.
"It was a group effort, and I believe in you." I looked at her. "I know you can be strong, Hinata." I tried to show her my resolve, and maybe she would believe in herself.
She looked at the ground and gave up.
"Aoki, are you sure?"
I smiled at him. "I'll be cheering you guys on."
Kurenai laughed slightly. "I knew it would be you. Now, what if I told you guys that Aoki could still participate? However, she might be against you." We were all quiet, not understanding what she was saying. "There are two people that need a third person. Their team mate had died earlier this year, but they need a third person. You have a week to get to know them and to know your new team mates."
"How long will this last?" Kiba suddenly said.
She smiled. "Only for the chunin exams. Then, you will be back to team eight again."
"Kurenai." Someone said from the distance. "Did you make a decision?" I noticed that guy. He wore a blue shirt with cut off sleves, easily showing the clan marking he had. It was the same as mine. Hibaki Torazuka, he was a member of the branch house while I was in the main house. His slit, cat-like, eyes and his short dark hair shined in the light.
"Yes." She said. "I believe you know him, Aoki."
I knew him, but I didn't like him. He was similar to my dad. Plus, he would make fun of me because I don't look like him and the rest of my clan even if I was part of the main branch. At the same time, I didn't care. He was just upset that I was in the main branch and had a direct blood link to the first head of the house.
"Good." He smiled. "We'll start training together tomorrow. I'll see you at your house." He laughed then he quickly left.
"Is there any problems with this?" Kurenai asked me.
"No, it's fine." I lied. I was comfortable with the fact of the other three being able to stay together. I wouldn't want them to deal with this. However, I wasn't comfortable with the fact that I had to be with Hibaki. He was strong, but he only wanted to be strong and nothing else.
"I'll meet the rest of you tomorrow. We're training. The chunin exams are ruthless, and some people die." Kurenai warned us. "You guys are going to work hard." Kurenai quickly left.
"Good luck, Aoki. I'm sorry you can't fight alongside us." Hinata apologized and left. Shino, leaving soon after her.
"Aoki…" KIba looked upset.
"Kiba, if I am ever put up against you, I'm going to give up."
Kiba looked around, checking if anyone was around us. He took my hand and headed to the woods. "We probably won't see each other until the chunin exams start." He started saying, but I didn't understand what he was getting at.
"Where are you taking me this time?" I asked.
He just smiled, once again not telling me where. He brought me to a store where he bought random bags of snacks. I still did not know where he was getting at. He made me follow him till we got out of sight from people. He suddenly grabbed me and carried me on his back.
"Kiba what are you doing? I can keep up!" I yelled. "I can probably out run you now, I am not tired!"
"This is just more fun." He smiled.
"I sense some ulterior motives." Even though I said that I still held on to him. It made him smile, and I didn't want him to look sad like he did earlier.
He took me to the opposite side of the same mountain we were on earlier.
"Sunset?" I asked as he let me down.
He smiled. "It's just as nice as the sunrise. I want one last night before we are pinned against each other."
"I told you, if I am put against you, then I will give up. I can't hurt you… you already know that I can't fight to my fullest when I am against a team mate."
"But we won't be team mates for the exams."
"I care about you, Kiba. I'm pretty sure that counts for something." I smiled. "I'll never hurt you."
"Same goes for me, Aoki."
I looked at the sky, there was still time before the sunset. He handed me a snack. We sat there together just waiting for the darkness to consume the land. "I don't like that guy, though. So it won't be easy."
"What's wrong with him?"
"He only thinks that being strong is the way to be great. His morals are all skewed."
"So, you think that I have good morals?" He smiled.
"Yeah, I mean you'd protect Akamaru and the team, and you would even sacrifice yourself."
"Is that why you like me?"
"Nope." I teased. "Actually… I don't know why I like you. I haven't given it any deep thought. Well, you are pretty cute when you smile." I stuck my tongue out.
He gave me a wide, goofy smile.
"And I like your messy brown hair." I smiled. Then I paused for a second, giving myself time to think. I needed to say something serious. I don't want him to think that I only like his looks. Plus, he has already told me what he likes about me. "I also feel calm hanging around you… and you make me feel something I've never felt as well as showing me things no one has ever done."
He was confused. "Like what?"
"Well this… and love. If that's what you call this." I smiled.
"I won't be the first to admit it." He teased. "I'm glad, though. I'm doing something right." He smiled.
We looked at the sky that was getting darker and darker. The sun would set soon.
I sighed, thinking about the exams again. "I probably have to do a lot of work just to stay alive during the exam." I laughed. "I'm in for a challenge, I'm glad that you won't have to deal wit-"
Kiba hugged me suddenly. "Stay alive, no matter what. You're strong, and I know that you have what it takes to be a chunin. So stay alive."
I laughed and hugged him back. "Don't worry. Now, come on. We're missing the sunset."
But he didn't let go. "We'll watch more sunsets together." He held onto me tighter. "I wish I could protect you during the exam…" he paused. "Even if we aren't team mates for this exam… I am still protecting you. No matter what." He seemed resolved, he meant every word of it.
"So... Um...Your birthday is soon… isn't?" I said trying to get rid of this serious mood.
"Oh yeah, it is. We'll be doing the exam on my birthday…" He seemed bummed out now that I pointed out his birthday.
"The day before the exam, I'll do something for you." I said. "We'll be training, but we'll meet at night and relax."
He seemed to cheer up, giving me that goofy smile again. Then his expression changed again. "What if they make you train?"
"I'll hurt them… I'll work hard to gain their trust and to act like a team, so they will let me go."
"I'm looking forward to it." He smiled.
"Please, don't. It's not going to be much, but we'll do a better celebration after the exam. I promise." Hopefully, he will be more relaxed about me being in the exam now. I don't want him to worry about me too much. I just want him to give me that goofy smile.