Ever since Kakashi's talk last night and the revelation that I have wind affinity, I've been extra extra extra EXTRA eager to train today! Man, I'm gonna learn a bunch of wind ninjutsu and be a B-A-D-A-S-S!

After taking care of my morning routine I pretty much sprinted to the bridge where Team 7 always meets, and I've been waiting for the rest of the team to get here for a while now!

Why did I leave at 7:30 A.M.?

Sakura should be here by now... Maybe she's training with Tsunade? I mean, I can spar with Sasuke well enough, but I don't know if it's gonna be much fun without Sakura here too...

It's 11:00 A.M.

That's THREE AND A HALF HOURS THAT I'VE BEEN STANDING HERE LIKE AN IDIOT WAITING FOR MY TEAM.

It really is boring without Sakura here.

I don't hate Sasuke, but all he's been doing lately is hurting us emotionally. Sure, he saved me a few months ago in the Land of Waves, but that's the only 'good' thing he's done - i wasn't even really good, since he sacrificed himself for me. What kind of idiot does that? Even then, I'm pretty sure I have a right to hate him, since he did try to murder Sakura and I...

Why don't I hate Sasuke?

I suppose it's because he accepted me as his rival... Even though he always beat me - always beats me...

Does he get some sort of kick out of putting me down?

Whatever, it doesn't matter. Just move forward.

I keep waiting.

I came pretty close to leaving the bridge plenty of times, but I kept thinking, 'what if they come right after I leave?'

But finally, FINALLY, Kakashi and Sasuke arrive.

Why is Sasuke wearing a green vest?

I stare at them angrily and ask, "Where have you guys been?! And what's Sasuke wearing?!"

Kakashi says, "I told you last night, while our shadow clones were playing rock-paper-scissors?"

I shake my head, indicating that I do not recall that - I was too focused on the shadow clones!

Kakashi sighs. "Sasuke got promoted to chunin after you left yesterday. We've also had a change of plans. For now, Sakura's only training with Tsunade, I'm gonna be training Sasuke, and you'll go to Team 10's sensei, Asuma Sarutobi, for wind jutsu."

I cross my arms and reply, "You never seem to have any trouble choosing between Sasuke and me."

Kakashi responds, "My skills are better-suited to train Sasuke. I don't know enough wind jutsu to train you. Asuma does."

I love Kakashi, but how'd I end up with a teacher that doesn't teach me?

... I'm being a little bitch right now, aren't I?

"You're being a little bitch right now, dope.", Sasuke calls out.

Kakashi smacks Sasuke on the back of the head and I run off before the conversation can continue.

I've finally found Team 10 - they're having lunch.

Shikamaru has a chunin vest on!

I approach them and call out, "Hey, Asuma-sensei, Kakashi-sensei said you'd teach me some wind jutsu?"

Asuma scoffs. "I'm not very lenient when it comes to tardiness. You're four hours late."

I explain, "Sorry, sensei, but I really am eager to learn wind jutsu!"

Asuma expresses his desire in no uncertain terms, "I will not train you today."

I feel anger bubble up within me. At myself for not listening to Kakashi, at Kakashi for dumping me and training Sasuke instead again, and at Asuma for being so strict.

I turn around and tell him, "I'll just train myself, then!"

As I walk away, Asuma yells, "I meant that I'll train you tomorrow if you're on time!"

I look back at him and respond, "Don't wait up!", and leave.

I don't need him, anyways. I'll find my own way to use my wind affinity!

I know what I have to do now.

I quickly make my way over to the hokage's tower and march to Tsunade's office.

As soon as I walk in, I notice that Tsunade's talking to Sakura.

"Hey, Sakura, hey Granny!", I say.

Sakura gives me a small wave and Tsunade asks, "What do you want, Naruto?"

"Well...", I tell her, "I want as long a vacation as I can get."

Sakura and Tsunade's eyes nearly pop out of their head as soon as I said that.

Sakura, flabbergasted, manages to ask, "Why?!"

I cross my arms and explain. "I wanna train as best I can for the upcoming chunin exams, and I wanna train myself for a while."

Tsunade questions me, "What's wrong with having Kakashi or Asuma train you? Wasn't that the plan?"

I answer, "They pissed me off, Granny. I don't want their help anymore."

Tsunade claps back, "But you're a genin. You'll have to train with a sensei at some point!"

I respond, "I know. And I wanna do that later rather than sooner. Besides, I'm training for the chunin exams for a reason."

Tsunade sighs. "I can give you a month, but Kakashi will have to approve it."

I reply, "That's good enough for me."

Now, a new question's crossed my mind.

"Granny," I begin, "How come Shikamaru and Sasuke became chunin?"

Tsunade answers, "Shikamaru gave up when his chakra was running low. This was taken as evidence that he knows his limits and won't try anything he knows he can't do. Sasuke, on the other hand, was more of an appeasement... Officially, it's because he was the first person to ever manage to scratch Gaara." She rubs the bridge of her nose. "But the real reason is that the elders wanted to ensure his loyalty to Konoha, and figured that a promotion would help that. "

I know that all of that is just a load of bullshit.

How could someone who abandons the mission be worthy of chunin? And is it really smart to give Sasuke more of an ego?

I think about it a bit more...

"Granny," I ask, "Why didn't I get promoted? I'm sure you've all read the report from my battle with Gaara, and the tactics I used against Neji. What'd I do wrong?"

Tsunade looks at me and peers into my eyes. "They said that you're too impulsive, and I'm afraid that I have to agree."

I feel like exploding in anger, but I think about it for a bit; maybe she's just worried that I might die again...

I flash her a smile. "Thanks for telling me, Granny! But I made a promise, and I'm not gonna be so reckless anymore!"

I turn around to leave the office, but when I reach the door, Sakura stops me.

"Hey, Naruto...", she says, "Do you wanna go out with me for dinner tonight?"

This again? She still thinks I deserve to be loved?

Maybe I do...

Maybe if I go out with her, it'll help her sort out her feelings for me, too!

I tell her, "Yeah, sure. Just not ramen, I'm trying to eat less of it!"

Sakura looks shocked at my refusal to eat ramen, but quickly regains her wits.

"It's a date!", she says.

I hope I don't mess up tonight...

Leave a nice review! It'll help me write better!