Chapter 8
One Year Later
Nami's POV
"I need to talk to you both about an event that is coming up."
"Event?"
"Yes it is called the Chunnin Exams. You couldn't enter last year because they happened to be while you were in the hospital Nami."
"Oh."
"I have nominated both of you to enter it."
"But Sensei. For the Chunnin Exams, you have to have a group of three don't you?"
"And we reach the dilemma. Yes you do have to have a team of three. I have arranged for a third teammate to join."
"Who is he?"
"She is a year younger than you but has shown that she would be able to equal your skills in all categories. Her name is Takara. She is going to meet up with us tomorrow for practice."
"Sensei?" I lowered my head, dreading the answer to my question.
"Will Yoshiro come?"
"There is a slight possibility that he will appear there but judging by the fact that he turned in his forehead protector, it is a very small chance."
"But there is still a possibility?"
"Yes." I raised my head and looked straight at him.
"He's so dead."
Yosh's POV
"You wanted to see me Uncle?"
"Yes. You know that the Chunnin Exams are approaching?"
"Yes."
"I've decided to enter you in them."
"But that would mean…"
"Returning to Konoha. Yes."
"But I can't I…" I paused before responding. "Yes sir."
"Better. You're dismissed."
"May I ask you one question before I leave?"
"Yes."
"Why have you let me stay so long?"
"Because you did not want to leave."
"That's it?"
"Yes." I bowed my head slightly before exiting the office.
Nami's POV
One day later
"So you're Takara."
"And you must be Nami. And that must be Ayame."
"Yes. And you are, Ino sensei's daughter aren't you?"
"Yep."
"Enough introductions," I turned to face our Sensei, although my thought were elsewhere. If Yosh does come back, what am I going to do? "Nanami?" I snapped back to reality to see three pairs of eyes staring at me.
"Huh? What?"
"You okay?"
"Yes. Why?"
"We were worried cause you spaced out for a while."
"I'm fine Takara, just thinking."
"Girls, you two go start target practice, I need to talk to Nanami." I lowered my head and waited in silence until the other two were gone. "It's about Yoshiro isn't it?"
"Sensei, I…I just don't know what I am going to do if he does show up."
"What happened to all that confidence that you had yesterday. I believe 'He's so dead' were your exact words."
"I know and he still will be I just don't know if I can take him and the Chunnin Exams at the same time."
"Nanami look at me." I raised my head and looked directly at him. "You're ready, everyone here is. I have faith in you. Your team is the team that took on a Sanin with me. You can do it."
"Yes but that team was when Yosh was here and…"
"It doesn't change anything. You all have your strengths and your weaknesses."
"But what if we can't get teamwork right or…"
"Can I let you in on a secret?"
"Yes."
"When I was about your age, I abandoned my team for my own personal reasons." My eyes widened slightly at this new information. He was just like Yosh. "You want to know what happened to my team?"
"We got a knew member." I looked slightly to the left and saw a head of pink hair sitting on the railing on the bridge, looking at the water. "Takara's father as a matter of fact."
"Didn't that mess up your team?"
"Not at all. Sure we had some bumps and fights in the beginning but we got it together. And we managed to track down your rebel of a sensei here. Granted he got away but you know he had help."
"I think what Sakura is trying to say is that…"
"Is that a new team member isn't always a bad thing at that it can sometimes work to your advantage and you can be better off than before. Thanks Sensei."
Sasuke's POV
"Was that really what you were trying to say?" She turned and climbed of the railing before walking over to me.
"Yes and No."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The first two things yes that last part not at all. But hey if she finds it useful that's exactly what I was trying to tell her." I laughed slightly before turning back to my team. "Do you really think they're ready?"
"Yes I do."