Hmm...not sure how I feel about this chapter. Its not the content, its just the way I wrote it. Eh, maybe its just me *ahem*! Anyways, theres some fluff here guys so enjoy it! And thank you all for reading! Its nice to have the support ^_^
AwesomeNinja101: So you have wished it, and so it shall be! Haha thanks for the review :)
BagelTiger: Nice username! Its unique haha, and thank you for the reviews! And as for the rasengan, I will not answer that yet muhaha :)
TheBeauty: You know a character is bad when the writer even says someone would make a better heroine *cough*Hinata*cough*. Though, I'll admit Sakura gets...kinda better through the series. I guess, maybe I'm being too nice. Anyways, thanks for the review!
Naruko-ナルコ-
Chapter 10
Survival Test
As Kakashi had asked for, everyone showed up not a minuet late to the training grounds. While Sakura and Naruto were still yawning, the other two members seemed to be unfazed, and wide awake. Naruko was used to getting up whereas Sasuke had already been up for over an hour. After greeting each other good morning they all stood in place, waiting for the silver-haired sensei to show up...
Hes still mad? Naruko wondered. After saying good morning to the stubborn Uchiha, he just replied with a turn to the head. As if he hadn't of heard her. She was beginning to grow tired of the silent treatment. Never in their friendship have they fought, and Naruko was unsure of how to go about this. She refused to apologize, yet she found her patience slipping. Eventually she decided to worry about it later, after wondering where in the world Kakashi was. It wasn't until two hours pass did he show up wide awake and ready to go.
"Good morning guys."
"Hey your late!" Sakura and Naruto shouted in unison.
"Well a black cat crossed my path so I had to take the long way," as clever as his excuse sounded it was an obvious lie.
"In some cultures black cats are considered good luck," Naruko stated.
"Well," Kakashi began as the others growled at him. "Lets get started."
Walking up to one of the wooden posts, Kakashi reaches into his bag and lays an alarm clock on one of the posts that he had set for twelve o' clock noon.
"Your assignment is simple," Kakashi spoke lazily as he held up three bells. "You just have to take these bells from me. If you can't get one of them by noon you'll get tied to one of those posts and watch me eat my lunch."
How cunning...Naruko latched onto her stomach as it growled with everyone else's. Had she known Kakashi would be late she would've ate breakfast.
"Wait a minuet, there is four of us. How come there is only three bells?" Sakura asked.
Kakashi smiled from underneath his mask "Simple. Since there are one too many of you guys, whoever doesn't get a bell will be disqualified for failing. Along with getting tied to the posts of course. Then again, you all could fail."
Wait a minuet...Naruko glanced at her comrades. She wondered if any of the others had noticed the contradiction.
"You can use any jutsu or weapon to your liking, even shuriken. If your not prepared to kill me, you won't have a chance to take a bell from me." Kakashi added on.
"But thats too dangerous sensei!" Sakura was worried, she never had killed anyone in her life, let alone actually hurt anyone on purpose.
"Oh come on, your overthinking it Sakura!" Naruto laughed.
"Coming from the student with the lowest scores," Kakashi said. Immediately Naruto's temper flew out the window. The comment drove him mad. He had worked so hard to get to where is he, and he wasn't about to let someone insult him. Digging into his weapon pouch, Naruto charged at the jonin with a kunai knife at full speed.
In less than a second, he found himself easily countered and had his own weapon just an inch from the back of his neck.
"Don't be in such a rush," Kakashi warned him. "I didn't say start yet. But you came at me with the intention to kill so...how do I put this, I think I'm beginning to like you guys."
After letting Naruto out of his grasp, Kakashi then threw the signal. Jumping away from the opening area, everyone excluding Naruto went into hiding.
"You and me! Right now, fair and square!" Naruto declared, challenging Kakashi. Everyone had the same thought. Why wasn't he hiding? Why was he acting dumb? Naruko was amused and yet at the same time she wanted to slap herself on the forehead. Even the weakest of genin knew to never underestimate your opponent. She almost couldn't watch as Kakashi toyed with Naruto.
Then, her attention was caught. Not by the fight, but what Kakashi had in his hand. She immediately recognized the orange covered book with the neat, yet sloppy red font. Make Out Paradise. It seemed she had something in common with him.
"Hey! Why are you reading that?!" Naruto shouted. He felt insulted that Kakashi would rather read than fight.
"Why?" Kakashi repeated "To find out what happens of course. Besides, your attacks are so weak that it won't even do much."
Naruko turned her head and closed her eyes. As much as she wanted her brother to learn she almost felt inclined to help. After giving Naruto five more minuets, Naruko decided to jump in. She couldn't stand watching him get tossed around like a hacky-sack.
"Naruto!" she shouted as she ran out into the open.
"Ah! Naruko!" he grinned "Look over here! The sensei dropped one of his bells!"
"No he didn't," Naruko quickly grabbed Naruto's arm before he could reach down for it. "Its a trap."
"Huh? How do you know?" he blinked.
"Its obvious," she began. "Step back and watch."
Taking out a kunai knife she threw it at the bell and set off the trap. Immediately the bell made a pop noise and disappeared causing a rope to swing down. Only to find itself empty-handed with no victim to latch onto.
"Whoa!" Naruto gasped "He almost had me fooled!"
"Don't!" she spoke cautiously, seeing as Naruto took a step toward the trap. Throwing another kunai knife she set off the second trap Kakashi had left. Like before, another rope came swooping down. "Now listen. The only way for us to get a bell is to work together and...Naruto?"
Turning her head, she finds herself left with imprints of her twin's shoes next to her. Naruto had ran off.
When will he learn? Naruko wondered. Then, a scream echoed from the forest. Causing all the birds to flock away. Naruko recognized the voice, it belonged to Sakura. Running to the scene she found her teammate out cold without a scratch. Kakashi had used genjutsu. She wasn't surprised, Sakura was physically the weakest out of the four of them. Still, Naruko expected a bit more. She knew Sakura had brains. Again she found herself expecting too much from her teammates. Picking up her unconscious body, Naruko walked out of the forest with Sakura on her back in search for Kakashi or Sasuke. Whoever came first. Judging from how high the sun had risen, Naruko guessed it was nearly noon.
"...Different isn't always better," Naruko heard a voice from the distance. Moving her head to the right she saw her sensei looking down at the ground at what looked to be a head without a body.
"Oh look who it is," Kakashi said as Naruko walked up to the two guys. Before she got any closer, she set Sakura's body down against a tree at a safe distance. "So are you going to charge blindly at me like your brother?"
Naruko eyed down at Sasuke, who had his head sticking out of the ground and then back at Kakashi. Just as Naruko expected, Kakashi still had all three bells on him.
"Those bells," Naruko began. "You used them to set us against each other."
"Interesting," Kakashi replied amusingly. "How did you come to that conclusion?"
"You slipped up Kakashi. As you were explaining the rules of the assignment earlier you said that only three of us could pass. But if I recall you said something different yesterday."
"Truth is, out of all the students that passed only nine will actually become genin. The others will be weeded out and sent back to the academy. Of course, if you guys pass it would raise the number to ten."
"I'll admit, your reasoning was clever. Since it is odd to have a group of four to a team...But enough talk. Lets make this quick shall we? It is almost noon after all."
"Alright then..." Kakashi's stare turned cold and calculating. He was intrigued that she was able to deduce the truth from such a minuscule error.
This one is different. He could tell by her body language that she was experienced. Like Sasuke, he knew he couldn't underestimate her. Kakashi had to put his novel away for his one.
"Well, ladies first." Kakashi offered.
"Kakashi...Give me a bell...or else..." Naruko's cheeks began to turn red. She wanted to avoid physical force if possible.
"Or else...?" Kakashi became curious at her sudden chance in speech. She sounded like she wanted to say more.
"...I'll spoil the ending of Make Out Paradise for you," she spoke seriously as she blushed.
Kakashi looked at her like she was crazy "Aren't you a bit too young to be reading that?"
Naruko nodded her head in embarrassment. Though the story had adult themes, Naruko found the story line to be one of her favorites. "Yeah...but I'm serious...Don't you want to know what happens to Kirei?"
...Well this is unfortunate...Kakashi was in an awkward dilemma. He didn't want to be spoiled, but he knew his wasn't the place or time to he persuaded by a teenager.
What the heck are these two talking about? Sasuke wondered. Were they going to fight, or just stand around talking?
"Its a good thing I've come prepared," Kakashi sighed with relief. After digging around in his pocket he quickly found ear plugs for him to put in his ears. Though it would block on of his sense of hearing, it would save him the trouble later when he returned to reading.
"...Fine," Naruko murmured as she realized she would have to take action. Disappearing from his peripheral view, Naruko sprung a surprise attack on him from behind "Fire Style: Inferno Waltz!"
Kakashi barley missed, just dodging the attack a brief millisecond. Sasuke gasped from the speed the two were going at, he could barley keep an eye on either of them. As Kakashi went to counter Naruko's attack he found himself a second late. He instead hit a wooden log.
Now! Naruko's eyes fixated on the bells. Just as she was about to wrap her hand on one of them, Kakashi threw a kunai knife that missed her. She became curious when she saw the distance between her and the kunai knife. It was way too far, and Kakashi was close enough for him not to miss. Thats when she realized he wasn't aiming for her. He was aiming for Sasuke.
"Sasuke!" she gasped, turning around she sprinted to the Uchiha who only managed to get only his upper body out of the ground. He was in no condition to dodge any movements. Before Sasuke could even process what was happening, Naruko threw herself at the Uchiha and wrapped her arms around him, blocking the kunai knife.
"Are you okay?" she asked as pain struck the back of her right shoulder.
"Naruko..." his voice then faded out.
"Hey," she began as she caught her breathe. "You finally stopped ignoring me."
"...Idiot! You're hurt and all you can think about is that?" he growled. He wondered if Kakashi manged to hit her on the head too.
"Its not that bad," she spoke honestly. Though it did hurt, the wound was far from fatal.
"Not that bad?" Sasuke repeated "You're bleeding!"
"Sasuke-"
"You had the perfect chance to take a bell and-!" before Sasuke could finish his cheek began stinging with pain.
"Idiot..." Naruko started as she pulled her hand back. "I'd rather take a kunai to the back than see you hurt!" It was rare to hear Naruko insult anyone. Even though she didn't say it with force or complete anger, Sasuke knew she meant every word. He didn't feel guilty. He felt like failure for not protecting his friend. Yet at the same time he had this unsettling feeling in his stomach. Sasuke wasn't sure if it was because he hadn't eaten yet or not.
"For so long I wondered if you were dead or alive. I haven't seen you in years, and literary the second day I'm back we get into a stupid argument...I missed you." Naruko wanted to say more, but she could feel her throat dry up.
"...Are you done?" Sasuke asked while trying to ignore his physical symptoms.
"Weren't you listening-?" she frowned, before she could say anything else Sasuke jabbed her in the forehead.
"...I forgive you." Naruko crossed her arms in disbelief. Even when he is wrong, he never admits it. Stubborn Uchiha.
"Shouldn't it be the other way around?" she asked him in a you-know-I'm-right tone.
"Hn," he smirked. Acting oblivious.
"...Alright, Fine." Naruko sighed as she fought the urge to smile. As long as they could put this behind them she'd let him win...for now anyways. "I guess since I "lost" I have to get you out of there?"
"No," he immediately replied. "Just rest."
"But you're stuck."
"Did you forget about the kunai in your back?" he asked in a serious tone "I don't want you to get hurt anymore!"
"...Right." Naruko didn't want to argue, especially since they had just made up. Still, it made her happy that he cared. Even if he had a different way of showing it.
Well, well...Kakashi found himself entertained by the little scene.
"Impressive, you almost had me." the jonin stated as he took his ear plugs out. Had she went in for the kill she would've had a bell for sure.
"I never expected you to be the type to pull a cheap shot like that," Naruko admitted. Though a part of her was impressed that he managed to catch her off guard. She was only upset that she didn't get to see Kakashi use the sharingan, which is he most famous for.
"Ah right...Sorry about that," Kakashi scratched the back of his head. He never did intend to put any of his students in harm. He even had a shadow clone lurking in the shadows, for the event if she didn't come to the Uchiha's aid.
"Anyways," Kakashi continued. Just as he was about to speak the alarm went off. "Times up. Everyone head to the posts."
"Tch!" Sasuke murmured, as he got onto his feet. He felt angry that he had failed. This was not part of his plan.
"Yes," Naruko nodded as she did her best to remove the kunai lodged in her back (in the least painful way). Looking at her comrade in the near distance, Naruko noticed Sakura beginning to wake up. Talk about perfect timing too.
"Uh oh," Kakashi began as he heard the sound of empty stomachs. "That doesn't sound good. And by the way, I've decided that I'm not going to send any of you back to the academy."
"What-?!" Naruto grinned.
"Really? All I did was faint and fall over, do you get points for that?" Sakura asked in disbelief. Her insides were practically screaming in joy.
"Alright! We did it!" Naruto cheered as he wiggled behind the ropes that tied him prisoner to the wooden post.
"Yes," Kakashi smiled as he dropped the bomb of truth. "All of you...are being dropped from the program! Permanently...except for Naruko."
Immediately everyone's face fell. They had misinterpreted the sensei's words. Naruko looked at her comrades with shock, she didn't want to leave her brother or Sasuke behind.
"Drop us from the program?! That means we'll never be able to graduate!" Naruto exclaimed "You said if we didn't get a bell we would be sent back to the academy! Why would you change the rules?!"
"Because you don't act like ninja you act like complete brats."
"Tch!" Sasuke became ticked off. Charging blindly at the jonin he immediately found himself pinned to the ground, helpless.
"Hey let go of Sasuke! You can't step on him like hes a bug!" Sakura exclaimed.
"You don't know what it mean to be a ninja! Do you think being a ninja is a game? Did you even consider why we put you into squads in the first place?"
"You said squads only have groups of three not four. So I thought..." Sakura started as her voice died down
Kakashi started getting aggravated. As if he wasn't being clear and blunt. "Use your head! Why do you think we put you into squads in the first place?"
"Arrrg!" Naruto whined "How are we supposed to know we didn't make the rules!"
"Its so simple. Teamwork! If you had all come at me at once, you might have been able to take a bell."
"But wait... If we had to get a bell in order to pass, how does Naruko pass? From what I can see you still have all three bells sensei," spoke Sakura.
"Just take a good look at her shoulder." Kakashi began to wonder when it would get through their skulls.
"What?" Naruto gasped at the dried blood stain on her coat "Naruko what happened?!"
Naruko looked down at the grass. She was unsure of whether to say anything or just let Kakashi continue with his lecture.
"She did what any ninja would do. Protect her comrades, unlike you guys." Kakashi told the rest of the genin. "Naruto! You do everything on your own. Everything. Sakura! You obsessed about Sasuke to the point where you wouldn't lift a finger to help the others. And you Sasuke thought everyone else was so far below you that they were helpless."
Everyone remained speechless as Kakashi continued.
"That is why you guys fail and she passes. A genin should have a natural feel for teamwork. I wanted to see if you could over come that and put the team before yourselves. But it never even crossed your mind. When a ninja puts their needs before others it can lead to conflict and death. For example..." before he continued Kakashi grabbed a kunai knife and held it to Sasuke's neck.
"Sakura! Kill Naruto now or Sasuke dies!" Though it was only an example, his voice sounded cold and evil. Like he almost meant it.
"And thats what happens on a mission," Kakashi continued as he lets Sasuke go. "An enemy takes a hostage and then you're left with an impossible decision. And someone ends up dead. On every mission your life is on the line..."
"Have you ever looked at this stone?" the silver-hair jonin asked as he walked up to the K.I.A stone "And the names that are engraved on it? They are all ninja, honored as heroes in our village."
"What? Cool! I want my name engraved on there! I'm going to be a hero too! Just like them, believe it!" Naruto mentally added this onto his bucket list.
"They are, a special kind of hero..." Kakashi replied "K.I.A..."
"That sounds really awesome!" Naruto shouted, amazed by the idea.
"Killed in action..." Naruko whispered. Loud enough for everyone to hear her.
"Its a memorial stone. The names of my closest friends are on here..." A somber silence swept everyone. Leaving everyone speechless until Kakashi spoke up again.
"...Alright, I'm going to give you one more chance. But I'm going to make it much harder on you. You'll have three hours to get a bell. Eat lunch now to build up strength, but under no circumstances are you allowed to feed Naruto."
"Err," Naruto growled in annoyance.
"Its your punishment for breaking the rules and trying to eat by yourself," Kakashi continued. "And if anyone tries to feed him. The will automatically fail. Including you, Naruko."
Naruko looked up and caught her sensei giving her a cold, stern stare. She couldn't tell if he was bluffing or being serious, but she could sense how threatening he was from his words.
"I make the rules. Got it?" In unison, everyone nodded their heads and was given lunch. It wasn't until Kakashi did someone bother to open up their bento box.
"This is no big deal," Naruto murmured. "I can go days without eating, believe it!"
Right on cue, Naruto's stomach roared. Naruko felt conflicted, she wanted to feed Naruto but Kakashi's threat still stood. She thought about it for a moment. Naruto's dream was to be the Hokage. He lived and breath for the life of being a ninja, whereas Naruko yearned for the peaceful, quiet live. She only wanted to be a ninja so she could be with Naruto and Sasuke.
"Her-"
"Here," someone had beaten Naruko to it. Picking up her head, she sees Sasuke's arm extended to Naruto.
"What? Sasuke you heard what Kakashi-sensei said," Sakura was just as surprised as Naruko.
"Kakashi is gone, and we need to get those bells as a team." Sasuke stated "If he is hungry he'll be weak and useless. And that'll hurt the team."
"He's right," Naruko added on. She then extended her lunch out to Naruto. Seconds later, Sakura followed behind and held her lunch up.
"Thanks," Naruto was on the verge of tears.
"Don't thank us, just hurry up and eat!" Sakura nearly shouted.
"I'll give him my lunch, don't worry Sakura." Naruko told her.
"No its fine, I'm on a diet anyway." Sakura then turned her head to Naruto "Come on Naruto, hurry up!"
"But uh, my hands are tied up so...So you're going to have to feed me." Sakura froze, nearly dropping her chopsticks.
"Hurry up, Kakashi could come back any minuet." Sasuke warned the kunoichi.
"Ah...fine! But this is a one time thing only! You hear me Naruto?!"
"Yep!" he smiled, as Sakura raised a bite of rice to Naruto's mouth.
As soon as the food reached his mouth, strong wind clouds appeared knocking everyone's lunch down.
"You!" Kakashi shouted as he appeared from the smoke. "You broke the rules. I hope you're ready for the punishment."
Quickly making hand signs, dark clouds appear shooting down lightening.
Those hand signs... Naruko couldn't make out what jutsu Kakashi has just used. Immediately, she quickly got on her feet and took a kunai knife out. Prepared to defend her team.
"Any last words?" Kakashi asked.
"B-b-b-but," Naruto stuttered "You said..."
"Yes?" Kakashi said. Naruko began to wonder why he was stalling.
"You said that we're a team! And thats why everyone decided to feed...me..." Naruto's voice died out.
"We're all on this squad and we're all on it together." Sasuke stated.
"Yeah! We gave our lunches to him because the four of us are one!" Sakura shouted. Naruko nodded, seeing there was no more to be said.
"Oh really? Thats your excuse?...You pass," Kakashi smiled as the clouds began to clear up.
"What?"
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"You. Pass." Kakashi repeated to the confused teenagers.
"How'd we pass?" Sakura wondered.
"You're the first squad to pass. Everyone before you did exactly what I said and couldn't think for themselves. A ninja must see through deception. In the shinobi world, those who break the rules are scum. But, those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."
"Ya know," Naruto sniffed as tears formed around his eyes. "He's kinda cool..."
"The assignment is over. Everyone passes. Squad seven starts its first mission tomorrow!" Kakashi spoke while giving the thumbs up.
"Yes!" Sakura cheered.
Using her kunai knife, Naruko cuts the ropes off of Naruto. Once he got free he started cheering as tears came running down his face. "I'm a ninja! I'm a ninja! Believe it!"
"Lets go home," Kakashi said as he began to walk off.
"We did it," Naruko smiled at her team. As of today, they were officially genin. Ninja of the Leaf Village. And the first squad with four genin.
"She has returned huh?"
"Yes. I have the document she gave to the Hokage written by Jiraiya himself. The scroll goes into detail about Naruko's time away from the Leaf."
"Interesting..."
"Shall we take action?"
"No, it is too early. Besides...I believe she could be of some use to us. Given the right circumstances."
Next Time:
Naruko-ナルコ-
Chapter 11
Tazuna the Bridge Builder