~Chapter 6~
Yoru had his head down and turned away, his temper near breaking point now. Kakashi had tied him to the stump, but so was Naruto. He didn't understand, he got a bell and handed it off to Sakura. Isn't that teamwork? Naruto and Sasuke distracted for him as he snatched a bell and gave it to Sakura to carry away to safety...? He gritted his teeth and snarled, fighting against the restraints.
"The reason why you're tied there, Yoru, is because you still don't understand what I had spoken to you earlier yesterday morning... as for Naruto, he tried to sneak everyone's lunch for himself." Kakashi stated.
Yoru shot a glare at Naruto, who flinched and tried to shrink away. Impossible to do against their restraints. Kakashi cleared his throat and got their attention again. He made an announcement that they don't need to worry any more about going back to the Ninja Academy. Sakura and Naruto cheered, but Yoru looked down. He knew where Kakashi was going with this and he was starting to feel bad for the three of them.
"...Are hopeless. More schooling would be pointless. None of you will ever be shinobi!" Kakashi stuffed his hands in his pockets and glared at the three genin, even at Yoru.
Naruto and Sakura were shocked in hearing this, Sasuke tsked and glared at Kakashi. Yoru relaxed some, but his intense crimson gaze remained on Kakashi. Both white-haired shinobi kept their gaze even with each other, until Yoru looked away tsking. Kakashi continued, telling them to give up, but Naruto didn't want to hear any of it. He struggled against the ropes, yelling at Kakashi why should they give up. As Naruto kept on yelling and Kakashi pointing out that they didn't have what it took to be a ninja, Sasuke charged forward. Kakashi effortlessly spun Sasuke around and pinned him to the ground.
"Don't step on Sasuke! GET OFF OF HIM!" Sakura yelled.
Yoru cringed, "... this exercise had a point... didn't it..."
Kakashi looked up at Yoru, "Yes, it did... It's teamwork!"
Three genin flinched, Yoru scoffed and tried to free himself from the ropes again. Kakashi continued, "Of course this task was designed to cause dissension in your ranks. This situation was set up to reveal which of you... would set aside your individual interests... and propose to the others that you work together for the good of all." Kakashi lifted his head, "Instead of which... you, Sakura, ignored Naruto, who was right in front of you... while you focused your attention on Sasuke, though you didn't know where he was. Yoru snapped you out of my illusion and handed you one of the bells he snatched from me..." Kakashi turned his attention to Naruto next. "Naruto tried to do single-handedly what should have been the work of all four! And Sasuke had already decided that the other three just got in his way... and he was better off playing solo."
Kakashi looked at Yoru, his good eye narrowed. "Just like you tried to do after cutting Naruto down... you don't play solo in what needs to be done as a team. You get yourselves killed that way!" Kakashi got off of Sasuke. "You are a team! Learn to act as one! Yes, it's necessary for ninja to have individual skills, but... what is even more important now is teamwork!"
Sasuke sat up, looking away and Yoru sneered at him. The Uchiha boy caught this and glared back at the white-haired Hatake youth. Kakashi sighed and shook his head. "Enough, you two..."
Kakashi walked over to the memorial stone. Yoru stilled once he recognized it and looked down at the ground, old grief twisted in his chest. Kakashi spoke about the names of the Heros of Konohagakure being placed on that very stone. Naruto started to talk all excited again, but he didn't know the real meaning of the stone like Kakashi and Yoru.
"The dead kind. They died in the line of duty." Naruto flinched, looking away now. "This is a memorial. It includes the name of my best friend..."
"And my parents..." Yoru spoke up, but his voice was low.
Sakura looked up at Yoru then away when she saw his sad crimson eyes. Naruto and Sasuke were quiet as while about the matter. Kakashi looked over his shoulder, "Pay attention! I'm giving you all one last chance."
All four genin looked up, hope rising in them again. Kakashi continued, "If you're prepared to continue, you may eat on of the bento boxes. But no sharing with Naruto and Yoru. They go hungry."
Ten minutes had gone by since Kakashi left the four of them. Both Naruto's and Yoru's stomachs growled, but Yoru attempted a meditative state long enough for the other two to finish their lunch and that the smell wouldn't bother him anymore.
"You forgot to tell us that affects of the medicine pills wear off... Yoru? ... Y~O~R~U~!" Naruto called his name, but the white-haired boy didn't stir.
He can hear him, but was ignoring him just for right now. Naruto continued on singing Yoru's name, thinking if he did so he'll get something out of Yoru. Sasuke gritted his teeth and ignored Naruto as best as he could, but Sakura was the first to snap.
"Will you shut up, Naruto?!" Yoru's eyes snapped open and both Naruto and Yoru looked at her. Sakura blushed when Yoru's crimson gaze met her green ones and she looked away. "I-I mean, you're being annoying..."
Yoru blinked, looking away. Naruto hung his head and sighed, his stomach growling again. "But I'm hungry... and I was wondering if Yoru had anymore of those hungry-pang-go-away pills..."
"I don't have any more... I had only four..." Yoru said.
"Aw ma~n..." Naruto whined.
Sasuke held out his lunch to Naruto and Sakura began to panic. Sasuke told her that they couldn't work together if Naruto didn't have enough strength to fight on. He didn't even mention Yoru and the white-haired boy didn't care if he did. Sakura glanced about nervously, then held out her lunch to Yoru. He blushed and blinked, staring at the bento box. Yes, he was hungry, but he didn't want to have to take off his mask. Naruto already knows what he looks like without it. He wasn't about to let Sakura or Sasuke see... he was more afraid of Sakura being afraid of him than Sasuke...
"I-It's okay... go ahead an eat. I can manage..." his stomach growled, betraying his words.
Sakura huffed, standing up and went to reach for Yoru's mask. "You need your strength, ya know! Now hold still so I can feed you!"
Yoru kept ducking his head or shaking it to keep her from grabbing hold. Naruto started to panic as well since he knew what was under that mask. He tried to distract Sakura, but Sasuke got into it now. Yoru made snapping motions at Sasuke's hand, his anger flaring that the Uchiha boy actually attempted to take off his mask.
"Hands off!" Yoru snapped. "KAKASHI! WILL YOU COME OUT ALREADY AND PASS US?!" Your cried out, struggling at his restraints. Kicking and snapping at Sasuke.
This time, Naruto thought it was funny and Sakura tried not to giggle. Kakashi stepped out behind the tree and sighed.
"Alright, alright! Enough teasing Ru-Ru." Kakashi said, lifting his hands up in defense once Yoru turned his fury upon him.
"RU-RU?! DAMN IT, NARUTO! I'LL GET YOU FOR THAT NAME!"
Naruto flinched and started to sweat, nervously laughing. "S-Sorry, I didn't expect it to stick..."
A few days later, Yoru was still grumbling about being called Ru-Ru. He went about the house, doing his chores and ignored Kakashi behind him.
"Calm down, Yoru. Before you sweep us clean of a house..." Kakashi bent down and picked up an overly polished chair leg. He scratched the back of his head in confusion. "How did you do this? And where's the rest of the chair?"
Yoru turned around, saw the chair leg and straightened up. He gave a small apologetic smile and set the broom done. "Sorry..."
"It's all right... we'll get a new chair." Kakashi set the leg down on the table and ruffled Yoru's hair. "Now, go get dressed so we can be off with your team's first C-rank mission."
"Oh yes, swell." Yoru feigned interest, "You mean the drunken old fool who called us wet-nosed brats and Naruto threatened to kill him blah blah blah... ugh, why can't Naruto keep his mouth shut?"
Kakashi chuckled and started to push the young teen towards the stairs. "Go."
Yoru batted his legal guardian's hands and started up the steps. "Fine, fine! But I make no promises that Naruto will survive this mission unscathed by me!"
Kakashi shook his head and chuckled again, heading back into the kitchen to examine the chair leg again.
How odd... I still don't know how he accomplished this... Kakashi thought.
A knock came at the door and Kakashi turned his head. His brow forward in confusion, wondering who would be at their door. Unless it was Iruka...? Kakashi pulled on his mask and went to answer the door. Who he found outside the door surprised him.
"Goodmorning, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura greeted with a smile. She held up a plate of cookies, "My mom made these for you and Yoru once she realized that we were neighbors. I didn't even know until this morning."
"Ah, goodmorning, Sakura. And thank you." Kakashi allowed her in and set the plate of cookies down on the table. "Yoru is upstairs-"
"Ah!" Yoru missed the last couple steps and fell, catching himself swiftly on the stair railing the last second. "S-Sakura?!"
Sakura blinked, then smiled to Yoru as she waved. "Hi."
Kakashi poked his head out of the kitchen doorway and grinned. "Oh, there you are, Yoru. Finished packing everything?"
Yoru straightened up and stepped down from the stairs, smoothing out his crop jacket and shirt. "Y-Yeah..." he blushed, having a hard time looking her in the eye.
He was glad that he pulled on his mask while upstairs, but wished Kakashi called up and let him know that she was there. He cleared his throat and attempted to look at her.
"S-so, what're you doing here? I thought we'd be meeting up at the gate..."
"I know, but I wanted to walk up there with you. You know, since - um... since Sasuke," Yoru cut her off.
"Yeah... Sasuke. All right, let's go then." His usual calm tone returned and he walked past Sakura.
She was confused on the sudden change of his mood. He's been having them a lot since the other day after he gave her the flowers. Sakura wondered if he was okay, but wondered why she even agreed with her mom to bring the cookies here and offer to walk with him to the gate. Once they left the house, Kakashi hung back a little from them to catch up on some reading. Both Yoru and Sakura walked about a foot apart in silence. Sakura fiddled with the strap of her messenger back and glanced up at Yoru.
"You've been staring at me for five minutes..." Yoru spoke up.
Sakura jumped and looked forward, her green eyes wide in shock and her cheeks flushed. "Oh! I-It's nothing! I-I mean... with the mask and your white hair, you sort of look like Kakashi-sensei..." she mentally slapped her self.
"I... okay then..." Yoru cocked an eyebrow as he tilted his head to get a better look at her. He looked on ahead again and put his hands in his jacket pockets.
Five more minutes of awkward silence went by and Sakura sighed, looking down. Boy, did she screw up. All she wanted to do was get to know him a little better. It wasn't a bad thing really, he's just another boy. Nothing like Sasuke, right? But why was she feeling guilty every time she thought of Yoru differently compared to the Ace of her Class?
"You're both late!" Naruto huffed, then saw Sakura walking beside Yoru. A sly grin split his face.
Once Yoru stopped, both he and Sasuke glared at each other and turned away. Yoru went to stand by Naruto and Sakura looked between him and Sasuke. She felt torn and didn't know which one to go to now. Kakashi patted her shoulder and went to speak to their village's client. Both older men talked, then Kakashi called for them to start moving out.
