Erg… arg… more action sequences. (Yes! That's right! Kara finally gets a real fight! … it kinda takes away from Sasuke, but hey he shouldn't complain. He gets to hook up with her eventually.)


Chapter 11: Something Tells Us…

"You sure you're all better?" Kara stared up at Kakashi as they stood out on the front porch waiting for Tazuna.

"Fit as a fiddle." He patted her on the head. "Ready to go, Tazuna-san?"

The old man grumbled something indiscernible from inside as he made his way out to meet the three ninja waiting for him. "Yea, yea. What about the blonde runt? Ain't he coming?"

"He's still worn out from last night." Kakashi brushed off the comment and gestured for the bridge builder to take the lead. "He can use the rest and catch up to us later."

Sasuke smirked haughtily. The two boys had both made it to the top of their trees the night before, but Naruto was still too tired to even wake up. "Why are you smiling?" Kara whispered in his ear. He whipped his head around to stare back at her, unaware she had been watching him. Instead of answering her, he just morphed his smirk into a scowl, shoved his hands into his pockets and followed Tazuna.

"Oookay." Kara followed suit and went after the old man.

The walk out to the worksite seemed to take longer than usual because it was mostly in silence. Kakashi was reading his book, Sasuke was strutting in a bout of emo and, while Kara was wide awake and eager for conversation, she didn't want to talk to Tazuna.

As the small group made it to the far end of the bridge, a strange, familiar mist descended upon them. "Stay sharp, guys." Kakashi motioned for Sasuke and Kara to take defensive positions around Tazuna. "He's here." In the next instant, a dozen water clones of Zabuza appeared out of the mist.

Kara grinned confidently. Finally! I get some action! She pulled three kunai out of her pockets; two in her left, one in her right. "Can I?" She begged.

"Have at it." Kakashi nodded and she took off.

She averaged about a sixth of a second per clone, moving too fast to be seen by normal eyes. Not a single motion was wasted. Every movement worked to both destroy the target before her and propel her forward into the next. When her brief attack was finished the mass of clones collapsed into a circular spray of water.

Damn. I didn't realize she was so fast. Sasuke had blinked and missed half of the show.

Kara stood elegantly in her place; like a performer upon completing a simple, flowing routine. Ah… almost too easy.

"My, my. Looks like you've got some competition, Haku." Zabuza patted his young apprentice on the shoulder.

"So it does." Without another moment of hesitation, the masked boy charged forward. This time, Kara didn't wait for Kakashi's permission. She threw herself forward, countering the offensive motion flawlessly. "Impressive. You managed to block me." The boy's soft voice did not match his actions.

Kakashi called over to Sasuke. "Stay in front of Tazuna and close to me. We're going to let Kara handle that boy."

Oh of course! Let Kara be the hero! Sasuke's thoughts were slathered in sarcasm. "Talk about nepotism…" He whispered under his breath as he took his position guarding the bridge builder.

"I'd really hate to kill you." Haku whispered to Kara as they stayed locked in combat. "But it doesn't seem to be in your nature to give up."

"How observant of you." Kara remarked; thoroughly enjoying the polite manner in which the young assassin spoke.

"You may have been lucky enough to have blocked my first attack, but you won't be able to keep up with my speed. Now you will only be able to run from me." The boy's free hand contorted as he made one-handed katas. "Flying Water Needles.", he completed the attack.

All of the water left on the ground from the clones Kara had destroyed, shot up into the air around them and formed into a thousand needles that all converged on the spot where she stood. Tch… amateur. You don't know the meaning of speed. Kara thought as she glided to the side.

She waited until her opponent realized his attack missed, before throwing a single shuriken at his position. Haku somersaulted backwards without losing a beat only to be caught from behind. Kara stood behind him with a kunai at the back of his throat. "Don't underestimate me."

"I don't think I am." Haku dodged as Kara swung her arm out, missing his neck by mere millimeters. He only managed to evade two punches before her left foot connected with his collarbone, knocking him several feet away. Though I must admit, you are faster than most.

"Hehe…" Kara couldn't wipe the smile off her face. "Guess I'm faster than you, eh?" She tapped her foot in the ground, mockingly.

"Haku, it looks like you're going to have to get serious if you don't want to be driven back." Zabuza's voice boomed through the mist; an unquestionable order.

Haku stood back up, completely unfazed by the attack that landed him flat on his back. "Yes, I'm afraid I'll have to show you my true speed." Kara braced herself for an impending attack, only to feel a cold breeze snap through the air around her. She watched as the water on the ground was swept up into the air and frozen into thin panels of ice. "Demonic Ice Mirrors.", Haku's voice sounded out all around her.

This isn't good. Kara quickly spun around, realizing that she was completely surrounded by panes of ice mirrors; every one of which had the image of Haku in them. "A bit narcissistic, but definitely intimidating." She nodded her head to her enemy. "But I don't think it'll be enough to stop me." Nothing melts ice faster than fire! Kara reached into her pack and in an instant was breathing a massive fireball at the first mirror in front of her.

It did nothing.

"Fire that weak cannot touch my ice." The many images of Haku raised their arms and swung, sending a shower of needles down upon Kara.

She tried to restrain herself, but the sudden shock of the assault was too much to resist and she screamed out. "AAAAHHHH!"

The shout painfully echoed in Kakashi's ears. "Kara!" He instinctively dashed forward only to make a few paces before he was face to face with Zabuza. Dammit!

"Ah, ah, ah. If you go off to save that pretty little brat, I'll kill the other two behind you." The rogue mist ninja's eyes narrowed in a cruel smirk. "Is she really worth that?"

God fucking dammit! Sasuke cursed in his head over and over again. Why does Kara have to be such an idiot?! She's gonna get herself killed! He glanced back at Tazuna. I can make a run for it. I'll pull her out of there and then I'll take on Haku myself. She can stay back here and provide protection for the old man. Yea, but first some cover. Sasuke charged forward a few steps, hurling a kunai ahead of himself, aimed at the nearest mirror.

The barrage of needles stopped momentarily as Haku, with all the grace of an eel, reached out of the mirror and caught the weapon. He caught it! Damn. Sasuke skidded to a halt and watched, somewhat confused, as an unseen attack connected with the exposed enemy. What?

Out of a giant cloud of smoke, announcing his presence to the world, jumped Naruto. "Never fear! Uzumaki Naruto is here to save the day!"

Kara smiled where she lay in the center of the ring of mirrors. Well, it's about time. He can break this jutsu from the outside and get me out of here. She crawled into a crouching position and looked up to see Naruto stooped down with her. "…" Kara stared at him silently, having to completely rethink her strategy now.

"Hey. I'm here to save you." The blonde grinned happily.

"I can see that. Nice entrance by the way." She sighed, annoyed to no extent, as she stood up straight. He stood with her, the proud smile still plastered on his face. "You do realize now both of us are trapped in here right?"

"Trapped?"

"Yea." Kara kept still, watching the many copies of Haku wearily. "Brace yourself. Here he comes again."

Another flurry of needles flew down, striking the pair, but not injuring them to the point of death. "Ack! Where is he coming from?!" Naruto shouted and scrambled back to his feet.

"No time to figure that out! Fight back with your Shadow Clones!" Kara ordered him as she forcibly removed three needles from the back of one of her arms. Blood slithered out of the wounds, staining everything it touched. "Now!"

Happy to have not remained a sitting duck, the genin shot forward, a dozen clones appearing and heading in their own directions as well. Kara waited and watched patiently for her opening. There! She dashed forward and managed to hit one of the mirrors before being knocked back. If that doesn't work, I don't know what will!

"That didn't do anything!" Naruto leaned against Kara's back.

"Maybe. Maybe not. Watch." She nodded to the mirror she had reached and counted backwards. "3…2…1… !" A colossal and sudden explosion rocked the bridge. The pair collapsed under the shaking.

"What the hell was that?!" Naruto shouted louder than was necessary in Kara's ear.

She held up a thin sheet of paper between her fingers. "About five of these." It was a highly explosive and reactive bomb. Kara returned her attention back to the target, or what should have been left of it. As the smoke cleared, her worst fears were realized. There was a slight crack in the mirror that promptly healed itself. Darn it! I've tried weapons, taijutsu, fire-breathing and bombs! That's all I had left! …unless… She looked down at her fists, trying to recall the burning, snapping feeling which was the immense amount of lightning just beneath the surface of her skin. But it was useless. As much as she wanted to draw on that power all it ever did was cause her pain. To struggle with an unperfected technique would be a waste of time and energy, two things that absolutely cannot be used up so callously in a situation like this. No… can't use it. "Hey."

"Huh?" Naruto was on his knees, wincing from the sting of the needles in his flesh.

Kara raised her eyebrows in a pleading gesture. "Got any ideas?"

The bridge shook from a large explosion, knocking Tazuna to the ground. But Sasuke held his footing. Did they do it? Did they break the jutsu? Damn it, I can't see anything from here. The Uchiha strained his eyes trying to see through the thick mist, but it was pointless. I can't even see Kakashi-sensei. He glanced briefly back at the bridge builder. This isn't good.

"What do we do now?" Tazuna stood back up, fear becoming ever more present in his eyes.

Sasuke remained silent. Just stay one step ahead. Concentrate… concentrate. He felt a disturbing presence appear behind them. "Move!" He shouted, grabbing the old man's arm and pulling the two of them out of the way just in the nick of time. Kakashi appeared at the same moment, standing where they had just been, taking the hit for them.

"Good, Sasuke. Keep Tazuna out of the way." The copy ninja clutched the wound on his chest, seemingly not as concerned about it as everyone else.

"What about Kara and Naruto?" The young boy couldn't stop himself from asking. "They need my help."

"Don't worry about them. It will only distract you. Have some faith. Kara's smart and Naruto's unpredictable. They'll be fine." I hope… Kakashi didn't let his eyes leave his opponent's for even a second. I have to stop thinking about them and focus on this fight. She'll… they'll be fine. They have to be.

"You're really pathetic you know that, Kakashi?" Zabuza's taunts knew no end. "So preoccupied with saving these precious children of yours, that you've lost your edge. No need to fret over it though. Haku's probably finishing them off as we speak and then I'll send you to hell right after them." He disappeared into the mist again. "I'll finish this quickly."

Kakashi called over his shoulder to Sasuke. "Stay on your guard and don't move." He charged forward into the mist, disappearing as abruptly as the demon before him.

Yea, fine. I'll stay put. But the second it's over, I'm going to get Kara out of there. Sasuke temporarily resigned himself.

Suddenly there was a huge surge of chakra in the air; something dark, evil even. No, what is that? Kakashi paused where he stood in the mist. Naruto? It can't be! It doesn't feel like a complete break so we'll be fine for now. He shook his head and refocused himself. Ugh… stop thinking about them. Just think of killing Zabuza. Kill Zabuza. …easy.

"Are you listening to me Zabuza? Cause allow me to explain something very simple to you." Kakashi regained his composure and continued toward the end of the battle. "I didn't get this far in life just because of my Sharingan. I've been in ANBU and I know plenty of ways to end this fight much quicker than you ever could. And to be frank, I don't feel like wasting any more time with you. So if you don't mind, I think I'll end this right here and right now."

"Hahaha…" The mist ninja's dark chuckle echoed through the dense air around them. "By all means, I too have grown tired of biding my time. The sooner you die the better."

Kakashi pulled out a small scroll and with a flash of hand signs, summoned his dogs to sniff out the enemy. It took only seconds before they erupted out of the earth and captured Zabuza with their razor sharp jaws. A shout of surprise and fury boomed in the misty void. Ah… almost too easy.

Naruto's orange jumpsuit was stained red with the blood from his injuries. He wasn't as good as Kara when it came to avoiding them. And with this last barrage, he could hardly move.

"C'mon Naruto-kun." Kara encouraged him from where she stood about six feet away. "We can't stay still. You have to keep moving." She put on a brave face, but she was feeling the effects of Haku's attacks just as much as he was. There were bloody scratches and gashes all over her arms and torso along with the occasion grouping of needles that managed to stick into her. The resemblance to a porcupine would have been her joke of choice had the pain not been so draining on her sense of humor.

Up until this point, a majority of Haku's needles had been trained on Kara. She was the one that initially kicked his ass and made him look like a useless fool in front of Zabuza; something the boy's psyche couldn't handle. You seem to be good at evading my more deadly attempts. But now, you're going to run straight into it. "With this last attack, I will finish you." His polite warning to Kara was unsolicited, but thoroughly appreciated.

Right… I may not be able to see the attack, but I can predict his movements after watching him all this time. It takes him .4 seconds to raise his arm, .3 seconds to launch and .7 to reach his target…me. Total time… 1.4 seconds. I can out run a 1.4 second attack, no problem. Kara kept a purposely overconfident grin on her face; a fitting façade that she hoped would keep the young assassin's attention on her.

Unfortunately, the boy understood her better than she had anticipated and instead shot out at the currently immobilized Naruto.

What!? No! "Naruto! Move!" Kara shouted as she sprinted to close the gap between them. She made it just in time.

"Kara-chan?" The blonde opened his eyes to see Kara standing over him. In his slow moving mind he had looked up right when she called out to him. Gradually, his field of vision expanded. What he saw was Haku lying on the ground by one of his mirrors. "You got him." He struggled to his knees and reached out to the girl that had just saved his life. Then he truly saw her.

The needles that had been intended for his chest and neck had found a home in hers.

"Kara! W-why? Why did you…?" He caught her as she fell back into his arms.

She weakly shrugged her pierced shoulders. "Had to." Kara's chest shook as she chuckled roughly at the best reasoning her dying mind could come up with. "Don't think… Kakashi would be very happy if I… let one of his students… die." Her breathing became more shallow and distant as a thin trail of blood leaked from the corner of her mouth.

"Kara? Kara, stop it. That's not funny! Kara!" Naruto wanted to shake her body back and forth, desperate to keep her talking. But the sight of her injuries kept his arms at a tremble.

"She died a noble death." Haku's words stabbed into him, draining the sorrow and leaving room for anger to manifest. "She sacrificed herself to save her dear comrade. You should be proud."

"Shut up…" Naruto leaned forward over Kara's unmoving body, an insidious red chakra swirled around him in a sudden burst of malice. "I'm gonna kill you!"

What is this? His wounds are healing! And this deadly intent… What on earth is he?! Haku remained frozen in his icy shield, in awe of the undeniable force that had revealed itself before him, poised to tear the string of his life to shreds in an instant.

This transformed Naruto bounded forward. Haku stood no chance. In less than a minute, his mirrors had all been shattered and he was defeated. All that was left was for Naruto to finish him off.

The mist is clearing… there! Sasuke's vision refocused on two figures in the distance. It was Naruto and Haku in the last moments of their fight. Naruto? Then… where's Kara? He settled for watching Naruto charge the mist assassin. It was then that he heard a strange chirping sound in the opposite direction. The sound also caught Haku's attention. In a flash, the young boy shot across the bridge and threw himself between Kakashi and Zabuza. Whoa… Hey! If Haku and Zabuza are both right there, then… Sasuke ran toward Naruto, grabbed the boy's arm and shouted to him as he ran past to where he expected to find Kara. "Go watch Tazuna!"

"… Sasuke…" Naruto whispered in a weak attempt to stop his comrade. He sighed, too tired and overwhelmed at the same time to bother with tears at the moment.

"Kara?" Sasuke slowed as he approached her motionless body. No way… why is she? …no, there's just no way. He knelt down next to her in shock at what he was looking at. "No. You can't be." His voice remained calm, collected… analytic even. "There's just no way. How could this happen?"

He could hear Naruto's shouting in the near distance. The blonde had taken up a new cause, probably to block thoughts similar to what Sasuke was facing at the moment. He shook his head back and forth once. "How could he let this happen to you?" Sasuke turned and looked at his sensei, holding back Naruto from making the day worse. "He said that you meant a lot to him. Obviously not enough. He could have saved you, could have chosen to protect you instead of me and Tazuna, but instead he let you… die. What kind of bastard would choose to save anyone above their own family?"

The Uchiha could feel his throat closing up on him. Painful memories began to resurface sending a slight vertigo to his head. Without thinking, his hand went out to stop himself from falling over. All his weight pressed down on Kara's arm.

"That hurts." A soft, breathy voice chimed like glorious bells on Easter morning in Sasuke's ears.

"Kara?" What was initially shock boiled over and quickly became rage. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Look at yourself! Do you have any idea how incredibly reckless you are? You should be dead!"

The entire time he was lecturing her, his hand was squeezing her arm tighter and tighter. "It still hurts… a lot." Her pale blue eyes blinked slowly as she continued to stare at his offending action.

"Huh? Oh…" He let her go; a small wave of relief supported the slight smile on her face.

"Where's Naruto?" Kara tried to move to look for the object of her sacrifice. "Is he okay?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes as he watched the scene of villagers scare off a mob of criminals with the aid of several blonde and silver-haired clones. "Yea. He's fine." He looked down at the brunette lying before him. "God, you're such an idiot."

Kara's head lolled to face him as best she could. The poor thing looked about ready to pass out again, her eyes barely open let alone focused. "What are you talking about? I just did what you would have done in the same situation." The girl chuckled lightly. "I threw myself in harm's way." She winked at him. "So really, who's the idiot here?"

"You are. Come on." He reached underneath her arms and steadied her onto her feet.

"Ah… careful. I'm broken right now." Kara gripped his shoulder when he accidentally pressed on one of several needles jutting out of her back.

Sasuke let his head fall a bit, hiding his eyes from Kara's view. "I'm sorry, Kara." The rare words caught the girl's full attention. "You wouldn't have gotten hurt if I had been there. I should have been there." Or at least someone should have been there.

The young girl reached up and tugged on a piece of the boy's raven hair. "Since when are you responsible for me? Or are you just upset that you weren't the one to beat me to a pulp?" Her bloodstained smile begged for a positive response.

Sasuke glared back at her for a second, perturbed that she was trying to make a joke out this nearly horrific situation before realizing just how accurate her first question was. "Definitely the later." He acted as her crutch as they walked down the bridge to reach the others. "But I'm sure I'll get my chance eventually."

-A week later-

Kara strolled behind the group, kicking a stone every few paces, as they made their way back home. They were no more than ten minutes away from the village gate and she was not in the mood to see her sensei again. I sure hope Gai-sensei doesn't hold a grudge about the whole bioterrorism stint of mine.

"Come on, Kara-chan. You need to keep up." Kakashi called to her without looking back from his book. "I'm sure your sensei is going to be real excited to see you." He chuckled, imagining the scene.

"Oh I'm sure he's gonna love to see you too." She crossed her arms and pouted.

He rolled his eye and continued his reading. "Your face is going to get stuck that way if you don't stop that."

How does he know what face I'm making?! Kara kicked her stone harder, causing it to strike him in the calf. "You're mean, sempai."

Sasuke listened to the conversation as he walked alongside his sensei. "You just launched a rock at him and he's the mean one?"

"Thank you Sasuke-kun." Kakashi patted him on the shoulder.

Well, geez. Why don't you just adopt the boy, Kakashi-san? "Oh. I see how it is." Kara skipped ahead to the front of the party where Naruto proudly lead the victory march back to Konoha. "Hi, Naruto-kun." She waved and smiled brightly.

"Hi Kara." He beamed. "What's up?"

She spun around to walk backwards and glared at Sasuke. "Nothing much. It's just that… well… Sasuke's being mean to me again." Kara reached up and scratched at her cheek innocently.

"What the hell is wrong with you Sasuke?!" Naruto whirled around and started the fight.

The Uchiha scowled and fought back. "I didn't do anything, baka! She's playing you!"

The shouting match escalated until Kakashi couldn't take it anymore. But instead of stopping them, he just quickened his pace to walk ahead of them with Kara. "You proud of yourself?"

"Heh, maybe." She grinned and gracefully kept up with his long strides, her hands deep in her pockets.

A moment of relative silence, except for the boys bickering in the background, passed before Kakashi spoke again. "Kara-chan."

"Hm?" She glanced over her shoulder briefly to catch a glimpse of Naruto pulling on a chunk of Sasuke's precious hair. Hehehe… oh gosh, they're too easy.

"I wanted to say that I was-"

"Sorry? Yea, no." Kara jumped to the correct conclusion. She returned her gaze to the road before her. "It was weird hearing it from Sasuke and it'll be even more awkward to hear it from you. So, don't… please."

Kakashi put his book away. "Sasuke said he was sorry? What for?"

The girl's attention remained on the path ahead. "Same reason you almost apologized just now. You guys have this crazy notion that you're responsible for me, but you're not. I got hurt as badly as I did, because I was reckless. I leapt before I thought and I paid the price for it. End of story."

The older man disagreed with her definite statement. "Well, as curious as it is that he feels responsible for you, I actually am responsible for you. I am the leader of this team, you know." Wow, he really said he was sorry. Honestly, there was very little he could have done. He probably would have ended up just as badly injured as Kara if he had jumped into that fight.

"I already thought of an excuse for you. Wanna hear it?" Kara scratched at some of the bandages wrapped around her arm.

Kakashi nodded his head. He could use the excuse in his mission report in order to explain her injuries. No point in him getting in more trouble over something he was already beating himself up over.

"I didn't ask for permission from you. I just started fighting with Haku. So, technically I was insubordinate to some extent. Gai-sensei will totally buy it. He thinks I'm some kind of a rebel." She started kicking another stone ahead of her. "Don't really know why though. I'm usually pretty good about doing what I'm told. Usually." Her errant laugh cleared the air a bit.

"Works for me." He absently patted her on the head. "I'm just glad everything ended well." I don't know what I would have done if you had actually died.

Waiting at the village gates was an unexpected but familiar head of pink hair. "Sasuke-kun! Oh, I'm so glad you're back!" The awkward green-eyed girl rushed forward, glomping him to the ground.

Kara watched, genuinely intrigued that the girl was not being cursed out like she often was for far lesser offenses. Guess he must really like her. She swiveled around to face Kakashi. "I guess I better go find Gai-sensei before he just shows up." Her voice was distant and devoid of any actual want to find the man.

"Good idea. See ya' later, Kara." Kakashi pushed her ahead into the village, not wanting to see Gai himself.

"Geez, don't be in such a rush to get rid of me now. I'm the best temp you've had." She laughed and took off to find her teacher.

"Where oh where can my crazy sensei be?" Kara's voice softly chimed as she turned the corner on her way to his favorite training ground where she spotted three of the most important men in her life. "Hehe, I spy with my little eye something… green." She ran out to announce her return. "Hi Gai-sensei! Hi Lee! Hi Neji!" Gai instantly tossed a sixty pound weight for her to catch. Instead she just dodged. "Oi! What's the big idea, sensei? I just got back from a big mission!"

"One must always be prepared, my little caterpillar!" Gai triumphantly landed at her side, leaving his two other students to their training. "Anywhos, how was the mission? Have fun?" He tapped his foot, seeming a bit impatient.

"Oh yea!" Kara shared his enthusiasm. "We took on one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist and won! I only got to fight the guy's apprentice but it was still pretty awesome watching Kakashi fight Zabuza. Oh and you know that lightning thing he can do?" Gai had started glaring at her from the second she mentioned Kakashi's name. "Uh, well… it was… cool." Something tells me I ought not to tell him about how I can almost do it myself.

Gai caught her by the arm and dragged her toward her fellow teammates. "That's all well and good, Kara-chan. But now you need to get back to your training. You've missed out on nearly two weeks worth and I know there's no way my rival would have taught you anything of use for the upcoming exams."

Exams? …! Kara latched onto his arm, stopping him in his tracks. "Seriously? You're seriously going to enter us into the Chunnin Exams this year, sensei?"

The jolly green giant looked down at her with one of his massive eyebrows higher than the other. "Well, of course I am. I have the utmost faith in you guys. Now back to your training, my little arthropod." He pointed her in the direction of an empty sled attached to approximately two hundred pounds in dead weight that was just calling her name.

Ugh, resistance running. 'sigh' It could be worse. Kara sprinted over to the sled just as Neji was finishing his umpteenth lap. "Hey, Neji-kun. How ya' been?" She absently greeted him with pleasantries as she hooked herself into the contraption. There was only silence. "Neji?" Kara looked over at him to catch a glare at point blank range. "W-what's that look for?"

"You know what this look is for. Who do you think had deal with those two," he nodded toward Lee and Gai as they did headstand pushups, "for the past two weeks by themselves?"

Kara scratched the back of her neck. "Hehe… oh boy, Neji-kun. I was just trying to-"

"I don't give a damn." He hissed. "But you better believe that I'm not going to forget about that anytime soon."

Oooo… something tells me it just got worse. Kara nodded her head solemnly and watched as the Hyuuga continued in his training. Man… This better get resolved before the exams. We won't stand a chance if we can't work together.

-Few weeks later-

"Kara…"

"… yea…" She panted in reply.

"Do you remember when I said I would not forget about how you sickened our bushy-browed brethren?" Neji's voice remained calm and collected.

"Ummm…" Kara struggled back to her feet. This is it, isn't it? This is his payback.

Their sensei had them sparring more and more often as the day of the exam drew ever closer. No matter what she did, no matter how much more skilled she would become, Neji always seemed to be twelve steps ahead of her. She just wasn't a match for his Juken style. She'd tried everything in her arsenal; taijutsu, tricks, traps, bombs, weaponry and even the two shadow clones she could manage if she really concentrated. Nothing worked against his all-seeing eyes and untouchable Gentle Fist; at least nothing that she had mastered as of yet.

"Come at me one more time and we'll call it even." His pompous smirk was almost too much for the young fourteen year old to take.

Best to just get it over with, eh? What's getting my rear-end kicked compared to the chance to be Chunnin? Kara steadied herself and stared back from behind a scrutinizing gaze. "Promise?"

"Of course, Kara-chan. We need to be able to work as a team in order to become Chunnin. I can put this behind us if you can swallow your pride just this once."

Hn, easier said than done. This jerk has never known the taste of pride. Too bitter in my opinion. But if it will help us advance in the exams… "Alright." Kara sighed deeply before charging forward one last time.

She dodged the first two strikes but was too worn out to evade the next sixty-two.

"Ooof." Kara collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily. Oh… oh lord. This hurts… Neji you… you jerk you!

The Hyuuga knelt down next to her and whispered in her ear. "And now we're equal. I'll see you tomorrow at the academy at four in the afternoon. Don't be late." He poked her nose with a small laugh and left to go home.

"Grr… See you at four." Kara mocked him after he was out of earshot. "Arrogant, self-righteous, egotistical, conceited… ugh!" She rolled over and stared up at the dusk sky. The reds and purples blended together beautifully. "Darn you, sky. I can't stay mad if you're gonna be so lovely."

"Are you talking to insubstantial entities again, my little bugaboo?" Gai's round and rugged face invaded Kara's panoramic view.

There was no point in denying it. "Yes, sensei." She instinctively raised her arms up like a child asking to be picked up. He readily complied allowing her to climb all the way up onto his back where she perched herself comfortably. "Where's Lee-kun?"

The rather maternal male began carrying his young student away from the training field. "Sent him home. Where's Neji?"

Kara rested her chin on the man's broad shoulder. "I sent him home too. Kid needs his rest before the exams tomorrow." Her eyes slowly drooped closed.

Gai squeezed her arm. "I'm glad you're so considerate of your teammates."

"Yup, that's me. Always considerate." She yawned deeply. "Thanks for letting us enter the exams, sensei. I promise I won't drag the boys down."

"Of course you won't." He chirped with encouragement. "I'm sure you'll shock everyone there and make it all the way to the finals. I believe in you." He could feel Kara's smile as she buried her blushing face in his shoulder. "I know you've got it in you to be one of the up incoming stars of the village, Kara." You've got good genes and had magnificent training. I have no doubt you'll surpass most of the other genin there.

Sleeping beauty's head popped back up and quickly pecked the man on the cheek. "Thanks, sensei. You're the best." She hugged him tighter and let her head fall back down against his back.

The show of affection touched him right down to the soul. Gai had to fight back tears it was almost too much. She's like my own precious daughter! And… HA! I bet Kakashi has yet to receive such generous and truthful love and admiration as I have!


Grrr… ya'll have no idea how hard it is to think of witty comebacks without cursing. I myself curse way too much. They're bad. They seriously diminish your vocabulary. I can't wait till Kara grows up a bit. Then it will be so easy for her to say, "The hell it is!" or "Screw you, jackass!" or "Son of a bitch!" …'sigh' I'm anticipating such vulgar things with exclamation points. Not a good sign.

You've read! Now review! (Remember: I care.)