Chapter Nine

Rin and Sayaka: The Day Off

*Normal Setting

I woke that day feeling refreshed and re-energized. I had trained the day before with Kakashi and today was our day off to chill after the Jonin Exams ended the day before.

The other day, Rin had asked me if I had wanted to go with her around Konoha, you know, a day of relaxation and . . . fun? I guess I needed it.

Flashback

"Hey, Sayaka, do you want to hang out with me tomorrow?" Rin asked me.

"I would, but I can't," I responded, sighing. "I already agreed with Kakashi to train with him tomorrow, but . . . however . . . I do have a day off the day after tomorrow. Is that alright with you?"

"Yeah, sure!" Rin smiled. "I've really been wanting to get to know you more, Sayaka-chan. Well, I guess I'll see you at the park at ten in the morning in two days, right?"

"Yep," I smiled and waved as I hurried to get to the training grounds before Kakashi gave me a scolding on being late.

End of Flashback

I changed into my "Keep Calm and Ninja" pitch-black T-shirt (the same one I wore when I first met with Team Minato) and some jean shorts. It was quite hot outside today, so my sweater was suitable. What I did bring, however, was a white cap and my little portable backpack. Inside it were money, a notebook, a pen, and . . . that's it I suppose.

Soon afterwards, I ran down the stairs, out the door, and towards the park. I saw Rin waiting patiently for me and apologized for making her wait.

"It was nothing really, Sayaka-chan," Rin beamed. "You were only a minute late."

"Only," I emphasized.

"It's fine so let's leave it," Rin smiled.

"Okay," I replied quite ever so happily.

We ended up going to a dango shop to eat something light before going a little shopping.

"Oi, oi! Is that you, Rin?" we heard someone shout in a hyper voice. And guess what? It wasn't Gai . . .

"What do you want, Anko," Rin asked in a declarative tone.

"C'mon, I was just saying hi," Anko pouted.

Anko was no doubt the dango lover. Always eating and gobbling dango whenever we saw her . . . She even brought them handy during missions . . . Always having it non-stop . . . Seriously. Well, not all the time, but . . . close enough.

"Oh, okay, want to eat with us then?" Rin asked, glancing at me for permission first.

"Yepperdoodles!" Anko shouted happily before sitting in the booth with us.

"Excuse me, but would you three like anything?" asked the waiter.

"Um, I'll take the mango dango," Rin replied sweetly.

"I'll take the assorted, yep," Anko beamed.

"Um . . . green tea matcha dango, please," I responded politely to the waiter.

"I'll be with your orders as soon as possible," he smiled before walking off to the kitchen to tell the chef of our orders.

"So, what brings you here, chaps?" Anko asked to ease her impatience for the dango.

"Um, to eat?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Obviously," Rin sighed, exhaling a long breath.

"Hn, you never know, people!" Anko protested, earning a few glances from the people around us.

Rin and I both sighed at once, and Anko just pouted as usual.

"So, did you hear that the Hokage's gonna choose who's going to be selected to go on a mission to bomb the Kannabi bridge?" Anko asked excitedly, eyes sparkling with interest.

"Really?" I questioned with equal excitement.

"But, isn't that bridge the one of the most important bridges that Iwagakure needs for its supply line?" Rin asked, curious.

"Yep, so that's why the Hokage needs someone to bomb it. If we manage to do so, they're practically goners in that area," Anko replied seriously. "Also, the bridge's name means 'bridge where the gods do not help.'"

"Seriously?" I asked, shocked a bit. "Wow, that's just creepy."

"You can say that again," Rin said, but I did not oblige.

"So, when will we know who'll be selected?" I asked.

"How do I know?" Anko rolled her eyes. "I'm not the Hokage or the Elders."

"Here's your orders," the waiter smiled, placing the plates with the dango before us before taking his leave.

"Mm," I smiled. "This stuff is good."

"I know right?" Rin beamed at my response to the food.

"Yup," I smiled once again.

"This is why I love dango," Anko said, patting her belly. "I want more."

"You always want more, Anko-san," Rin sighed.

"You . . . finished already!" I said, my eyes practically bulging out.

"Duh," Anko emphasized.

"Wow," I replied, taking the information in.

After a few minutes, both Rin and I finished our three on three sticks of dango and decided to leave.

"Well, see you later, Anko?" Rin waved. "So what are you going to do now?"

"More dango," Anko replied simply.

Rin and I both sweat dropped, and I anime fell.

Seriously? This girl can sure eat non-stop. No doubt about it.

"Later, Anko," I smiled before leaving with Rin.

"What do you think we should do now?" Rin asked.

"Training?" I asked. "I never really got to spar with you yet."

"Sure, I guess," Rin smiled as we dashed towards the training grounds.

"Ready?" I asked as we took our positions.

"As I'll ever be," Rin replied.

I took my fighting stance, and Rin attacked first. She used her amazing chakra control managed to skim my vital point.

"Yikes, Rin, trying to kill me?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry!" Rin apologized, frantic.

"Rin, seriously, it's fine," I smirked before running towards her quickly.

I used my eye sense loss jutsu to blind her and it worked. And . . . I suppose that that was how I won that match.

"You're way too good, Sayaka," Rin sighed.

"You're a way better healer than I'll ever be, Rin," I pointed out.

"Nah, you're better, Sayaka," Rin sighed again.

"Nope," I replied stubbornly.

Just as I said that, a whole flock of messenger birds were sent everywhere to wherever there were chunin and jonin ninjas. Rin and I received one as the messenger hawk drooped down towards us. A scroll was fastened on its back, Carefully, Rin disconnected the scroll and read it aloud:

Dear Chunins and Jonins:

Please come to the top of the Hokage mountain for a special announcement immediately.

Signed,

The Hokage Sarutobi

"Let's hurry if it's that urgent," I motioned for Rin to follow, and we dashed there as quickly as possible.

When we got there, there were guards that surrounded the area. Only those with the chunin vest were allowed to enter. Also, the ninja ID was to be shown in order to be permitted into the disclosed sector.

"Minato-sensei! Obito! Kakashi!" Rin shouted, waving for he, Obito, and Kakashi to come over to where we were.

"Hello, Rin, Sayaka," Sensei greeted us with his casual smile of his.

"Konnichiwa, sensei," I greeted him in the same way. Practically. Just a little more formal.

"What's this announcement about?" Rin asked, curious.

"To see who gets to go bomb the bridge. That's why it's so discreet." Sensei replied.

"Oh, wow," I said, amazed slightly.

"Welcome, everyone," the Hokage spoke. "I am sorry for any inconvenience, but I have to announce who will be selected for the Kannabi Bridge bombing."

There were murmurs heard throughout the small crows of shinobi. Only about fifteen to twenty ninjas were there.

"I have selected . . ." The Hokage paused. "Namikaze Minato."

Everyone glanced at Minato-sensei and he just sweat dropped.

"Sato Sayaka," The Hokage announced my name.

People stared at my presence, freaking me out.

"Nohara Rin," The Hokage projected the girl's name.

"Hatake Kakashi . . ." the Hokage stated the boy's name. "And Uchiha Obito. These five are whom I have selected for this mission. Team Minato will leave tomorrow at three A.M. Do not be late. Also, Kakashi will be the leader of this mission."

Kakashi?! The leader?! Are you serious?!

With that he disappeared into thin air with his ANBU. Wow, nice showy leave, Hokage-sama.

"Oh, yeah!" Obito did a little victory dance. "Beat that, y'all! But . . . how on earth is Kakashi supposed to lead a mission like this?!"

"Obito . . ." Rin smacked her forehead.

"Sorry," he sweat dropped, and we all did as well.

"Be there on time for once, please, Obito," Sensei begged.

"I will, sensei. This is important. I will not miss it!" Obito performed a thumbs up.

"Are you implying that training sessions are not important, Obito?" Minato-sensei raised an eyebrow,

"N-no!" he replied frantically before running off into the crowd, disappearing.

"That Obito . . ." Kakashi muttered for the first time since the exams.

I could tell that he was glad inside. To be able to lead his first mission and an important one too. What could be better for a prodigy like him?

"I'd better go now," Rin smiled. "Later! And, congratulations, Kakashi!"

He grunted in response.

"Later!" I waved, smiling at her retreating figure.

"So, Sayaka, want to train a little bit before we leave tomorrow," I saw Kakashi blush a bit as he said this, but I did not know why.

"Sure, I guess," I replied, going along with him after saying goodbye to sensei.

"So, what do you think of this little missions, Kakashi?" I asked him.

"I don't know. It's my first mission to lead, so, I guess I'm happy," he replied truthfully.

"Just don't go overboard, Kakashi," I advised him carefully.

"I won't," Kakashi rolled his eyes in an "duh, it's obvious" manner.

"Well, then, let's train," I mentioned as we started to spar our way into the afternoon, just as the sun was starting to set deeper and deeper into the night.