Kakashi's POV
'If what Ibiki said is true then Akira is hurt more than I first thought. Maybe I should take him to the hospital just in case…'
I continued my walk home until I remembered that I had to buy Akira his ninja gear, he only has a kunai and I'm still not sure when he got it. I made a small detour down the next street to buy Akira his weapons. As I walked into the store I was confronted by none other than Gai.
'Great…Why did I have to run into him now, of all times?'
"Hey there, Kakashi. How's it going?"
"Hello, it's been good. If you'll excuse me I need to buy some weapons."
"For our next match eh Kakashi?" He threw his arm over my shoulder and jabbed his thumb at himself.
"No Gai. The weapons aren't even for me."
'Oh Damn. I shouldn't have said anything. What's he going to think now?'
I glanced back at him to see him with a shocked expression that seemed to scream 'The Kakashi Hatake is being nice'.
"Well then who are you buying for?" His eyes roamed over the weapons I had gathered. "Those are the genin essentials. Made for a genins small hands and light enough for training with. Why would you be buying a genin weapons? Normally the parent…"
His eyes went wide as he looked at me, even the store owner gave me a surprised look. I just sighed as I felt another headache coming on.
"Kakashi! Since when have you been a parent? How could you not tell your eternal rival." He said with tears in his eyes.
'Yeah that's something you tell your eternal rival.'
I sighed once again before explaining, "I'm not a parent. One of my genin is new to the ninja world and doesn't have the basic supplies so I said I'd buy them." I said while paying.
I walked out leaving Gai and the Store owner staring in shock after me. I could practically hear the rumors spreading.
Akira's POV
I give up! I had been wandering around the village for the past hour and still no sign of Kakashi. I mean really he couldn't have just disappeared, okay, yeah he could but still. I should really learn how to do that.
'I guess I'd better just go home and wait for him there.' I quickly ran home and stopped at the small gate to enter the front lawn.
I looked down the street to see Kakashi walking up with a bag full of weapons and other ninja gear. I walked up to him and took one of the bags from his hands.
"Is all of this really necessary?" I asked kinda surprised by how much stuff there was. In total he had been carrying three bags now he carried two while I carried one. As we walked back to the house I couldn't help but look through all the stuff. There were kunai's, shiny and sharp unlike my dull and chipped one, along with lots of shuriken. There was also some wire, weird paper with writing on it, bandages, which I will definitely need, scrolls, smoke bombs, some weird pill like things and ninja gloves.
I was so excited about learning how to use all the weapons that I didn't realize that we had already made it inside the door. Kakashi stared at me in amusement; I couldn't blame him I probably looked like such a kid. I quickly hid my emotions as best as I could which wasn't very good seeing as I was still holding back a small smile. My eyes probably gave all my excitement away. I took off my shoes and walked to the living room following Kakashi. He sat down on the couch and laid everything out on the coffee table. I emptied the contents of the bag I had been carrying beside the rest of the stuff.
"Akira, do you know about any of these?" Kakashi asked.
"The gloves, the kunai, the bandages and the shuriken. That's about it."
"Okay what do you-"
"What are the weird paper things?" I asked about the parchment with writing.
Kakashi blinked a few times before he realized what I was talking about.
"Oh those are paper bombs."
"I see. So how do they explode, does something trigger it?"
"Well, yes. It can be triggered by a person stepping on it, when it's thrown or can be used along with traps."
I nodded to show I was understanding. "Alright, and what about these scrolls?"
"Those…are scrolls." He stated bluntly.
I glared at him, "I know that. But what are they for?" He moved to reply but I stopped him by saying, "And don't just say to write things on."
He, I think, shut his mouth after that. "Fine, Fine. They are for writing messages on. Certain jutsus use scrolls and same with summoning."
"Wait, what's a summoning?"
"It's a- here I'll show you." He got up and walked to the middle of the room. I watched him carefully; he bit into his thumb drawing blood then made the hand signs: Boar-Dog-Bird-Monkey-Ram. Easy enough. He hit his palm on the ground and a puff of smoke appeared. I edged closer trying to see past all the smoke. What I saw made me smile. It was a puppy dog with a ninja headband on his head.
"Hey, Kakashi who's the kid?" The puppy asked in a really deep voice.
"Akira this is Pakkun, Pakkun meet Akira." Kakashi said.
"You speak." I said blankly staring at the dog. Partially in awe.
"Yeah what of it?"
"Pakkun be nice. Akira will be staying with me for a while and I don't want any fights."
We both ignored Kakashi. "So, how come you can speak?"
"Cause I'm a summoning dog. Although not all can talk like I can."
"Whoa, so you're a special summoning or something." I reach out and pet his ear.
"Hmm…I've never really thought about it. You really think so?"
I nod and poke his paw. This causes him to growl at me. "Don't touch my paw."
"Why not? It's really soft. I expected it to be all rough seeing as dogs don't wear shoes and you're a ninja dog."
He seemed flattered by this comment and started yapping about how hard it was to keep it nice, clean and soft. Kakashi let out a sigh and walked out of the room to get a coffee.
"Oh that's right! I'm sorry but I have to learn how to use all these," I gestured to the table. "By tomorrow. So I can't talk much. Kakashi." I got up and went to get him, Pakkun lightly jumped onto my shoulder as I walked to the kitchen.
"So I see you two are getting along well. Akira do you want to learn more now or in the morning?"
I was confused. I thought we still had hours left until the sun even set. I glanced outside and saw that it was dark out. "I can learn now." I didn't want to get up at 4am and have to learn this stuff.
"Okay," He got up and walked past me. "So do you have any other questions?"
"The wire and these." I held up a pouch of little pills.
"Well, what you have there are soldier pills. They can help restore stamina lost in battle." I nodded.
'I hope I won't be needing these. They look like they'd taste terrible and they're probably not fun to swallow.'
"As for the wire, it can be used in numerous traps and as a way to trigger the paper bombs we talked about earlier."
"Okay, that's all I needed to know. Also I'm not gonna need the gloves." I said as I packed up everything into the small pouch that will sit on my right thigh.
"You might later on. Keep them in your room. Also Akira I need to know if you're really alright to do the test tomorrow."
"Well it's still a little sore but I can manage and my hands aren't half bad. I'll be fine."
'The only thing that's really bugging me is all these bruises.'
"Okay as long as you're sure. Have a goodnight, I'll be getting you up at 4:30am"
"Night, Kakashi." I started to walk up the stairs to the second floor.
"And, Akira."
"Yeah?"
"Don't sleep with a kunai tonight."
I smirked, "Okay, Night" I called down to him from the stairs.
*Next Morning*
Kakashi's POV
I woke up to my blaring alarm clock, I shut it up quickly enough. I guess it's time to buy another one of these damned machines. I rose quickly and threw on my mask, shirt and pants. I walked past my dresser and grabbed my headband on the way into the hall. I had learned long ago that my hair never has to be styled it just stayed in its usual shape.
I slowly walked along the hall making no noise and praying that he didn't sleep with a kunai. I quietly opened the door. I expected Akira to be asleep in his bed, not tangled in the sheets hanging off the bed.
'It's a miracle he hasn't fallen yet.'
I walked over to him and shook him a bit which caused the sheets to loosen and for him to fall. I had to stifle a laugh as I heard him groan in pain.
"Oww, what happened?"He said sleepily.
"I came to wake you up."
"So you drop me on the floor." He sat up crossed legged rubbing his now sore head.
"No you were halfway there on your own. I didn't expect you to fall." I walked to his bedroom door. "Get ready. You're supposed to be at the training ground in half an hour."
"No breakfast?"
"No. Remember you'll puke."
I left his room 'These kids are in for a long day and if they pass it's just going to get harder.'
Akira's POV
'How dumb does he think I am. I'm not skipping breakfast today.'
I quickly got dressed and sorted through my weapons pouch again. I put the bandages in my cloak pocket along with a bit of wire, a few shuriken and a kunai. I paused for a minute before adding in a smoke and paper bomb.
'Just in case. I can never be too careful when it comes to Kakashi.'
"Akira! Time to go!" Kakashi yelled up the stairs.
"I'm coming!"
'God, it's way too early to be yelling like this.'
I ran downstairs and shouted bye to Kakashi. I knew he was going to be late so I might as well be quick and get some food. I ran down the streets. None of the stores were open. Luckily, I remembered that the other day I had passed by an apple orchard. I quickly switched routes and made my way towards it.
After I had picked 4 apples, I continued on towards the training grounds. Everyone was there already accept for Kakashi.
'Figures he wouldn't be here. It's already 6. Oh well this gives us a chance to eat.'
"You're Late!" Naruto yelled at me. Sasuke just turned away probably mumbling something like losers.
"No I arrived exactly when I meant to. Catch." I threw them their apples.
"Umm…Akira, Kakashi-sensei told us not to eat." Sakura said.
"So?" I took a bite out of my apple.
"I don't want to break the rules. So here." She handed me the apple back.
"Alright, if you say so but I'll save it for you in case you want it later." I tucked it into my pocket.
She nodded in thanks.
"Hn." Sasuke said while looking at the apple.
"What is it Sasuke?" I asked harshly.
He tossed the apple gently at me, "I don't need help from losers."
He said while he walked away. I quickly threw the apple directly at Sasuke's head. Naruto stared from me to Sasuke's fallen body to the apple before he burst out laughing. Meanwhile Sakura was screaming for Sasuke and running around like crazy.
"Akira! How could you do this to Sasuke? Sasuke, Sasuke! Speak to me!"
"…Sorry?" I walked towards a tree on the outskirts of the clearing.
I hoisted myself onto a large branch and quickly dozed off. My nap was interrupted by a very loud yell of "Akira, Wake up!" This of course led to my very um graceful fall out of the tree.
"What!" I yelled angrily.
Not only had he disturbed my nap but now all those bruises seemed to have gained new friends. 'Ow, my shoulder.' I slowly stood as I gently rubbed my shoulder hoping to ease the bruising.
"Get up. If you wanna pass you have to get one of the bells before the others."
"What bells?"
"Kakashi's got two bells. Whoever is able to get the bells gets to remain a genin and the ones who don't are sent back to the academy." Naruto said quickly.
"Okay so you want to team up or something?" I asked still fuzzy with sleep.
"No I'll prove that I'm not a loser." He said before running off to, I'm guessing, fight with Kakashi.
'Okay then I guess I'll team up with Sasuke…or maybe not…teaming up with him might end badly seeing as he could still be mad about the earlier apple incident. So, Sakura it is then.' I quickly moved along the sides of the clearing towards Sakura who was lying in the bushes.
"Hey, Sakura." She looked about to scream so I quickly put my hand over her mouth. "It's me. Don't scream."
"Akira? Why are you here?" She suddenly started to go a little red. "Were you worried about me?"
"No." I said firmly.
Her face fell. 'I can't believe I'm asking her this.' I thought.
"Do you want to team up?" I finally asked.
"That's a great idea! I'll team up with Sasuke!" She says excitedly before running off to find him.
'No, not what I meant. Damn, that means my only choice left is Sasuke.' I grudgingly went off to find him. I expected to find Sasuke. What I didn't expect is to find Sasuke buried up to his neck in dirt. I stood there just staring blankly at him while he looked up staring at me.
I couldn't help but snicker at his predicament, I mean really. He was the almighty great Uchiha buried in dirt. I opened my mouth to speak but all that came out was a laugh. This resulted in a glare which wasn't very threatening all things considered. I could easily step on his head and leave him there.
"Are you going to help me or not?" Sasuke barely managed to say. This was obviously very hard for him.
"Sure," I started to unbury him. "And after, we could team up to get the bells together."
Sasuke hoisted himself out of the dirt, "No. I don't need some weakling slowing me down."
"Hey, I'm not the one who got buried up to my neck in dirt. So don't call me weak."
"Whatever. I'm going to get a bell-" Before he could finish his sentence we heard the ringing of an alarm clock signaling it was noon.
"What's that?" I had previously been asleep and had no clue about what was going on.
"It means we didn't pass. Time's up." He walked towards the clearing with me following.
'Time's up. Does that mean its game over? I wonder if the others got a bell, knowing them probably not. I guess its back to the academy. This sucks.' I kicked some dirt as I followed Sasuke from a distance.
