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Here it is, the Genin exam and some slight introspection on Kaida's part, though Kaida cant be gloomy long. He doesn't have time for that!

Next time: sensei's are revealed, as well as teammates!

lisa-francis.96780: Yup! That loose end is all tied up and Kakashi is a certified badass. (I figured out a way to stop it from cutting off your username lol)

Chapter Eleven

Kaida was sitting at the small table in his and Kakashi's apartment, mulling over a conversation he had at the academy earlier, Niko-Niko pressed against his leg, when Kakashi walked in the door, looking a little scuffed up but otherwise unharmed.

Kaida jumped up and hugged him before he even got fully through the door, burying his face in his Jonin vest.

"what's wrong?" Kakashi asked, smoothing Kaida's wild hair when he looked up from his hug.

Kaida's arched brows drew together "Am I a frivolous airhead who never takes things seriously and will ultimately get my team killed because of it?"

Kakashi blinked "what?"

Kaida walked back to the table and plonked down on the chair he'd been in before, shoulders dropping "Neji told me that." he looked back up "that's not true, right 'Kashi?"

"Of course not." Kakashi said, sitting down in the opposite chair and giving Kaida a serious look "If that were true, I wouldn't let you sit the exam."

Kaida sighed in relief and shook his head "I don't ever wanna be like that."

"good." Kakashi said, patting Niko, who had stuck his head in 'Kashi's lap "now, what brought that up?"

Kaida shrugged "I have a hard time paying attention in class…" Kaida trailed off a big "but its because I already know it all!" He looked up at 'Kashi again "and me'n Hina and Natsu were playing around with the tree walking exercise, seeing who could do it the longest and he said that we were immature, turning everything into a game."

Kaida didn't tell the angry Hyuga that that was how they had been taught, it didn't seem worth it; like talking to a wall who was very sure they were right.

"Neji-kun has a…" Kakashi hummed and cocked his head a bit "a lot of pressure and a lot of restrictions in his life. To him, it might seem like you're not as 'serious' as him." Kakashi air quoted "but he's seeing you through a fogged lens and you shouldn't take it to heart."

"Okay." Kaida said, still frowning.

Kakashi slapped the table hard enough to rattle it, startling both Kaida and Niko, and stood up "I'm going to go clean up and then we're going eat barbeque."

Kaida instantly perked up and threw his fists in the air "yay, barbeque!" Niko boofed at the prospect of food.

It didn't take long until they were walking through the streets of Konoha, the sky already fading into the pale purples and blues of twilight when they walked into the heavenly smelling Yakiniku Q, Kaida telling Niko to be on his best behavior.

He promised.

Choji Akimichi waved from where he sat behind the main counter, keeping one of his many older cousins company and they both waved back, taking a seat at one of the green upholstered booths, Niko crawling behind Kaida's legs underneath the table.

Choji was the one to set up the grill between Kaida and Kakashi, smiling gently at the two of them before addressing Kaida "are you ready for the exam tomorrow?"

Kaida froze.

His worry over Neji's words had shoved the test right out of his head.

"uhh, ye-ah." Kaida hedged, glancing at an amused Kakashi "totally ready."

Choji smiled again, his eyes crinkling "Lets both do our best." and kaida nodded back "definitely."

Choji took their order and Kaida leaned back with a soft groan.

Now he was nervous, for both him and Natsu.

Kakashi seemed to follow his train of thought "don't worry about Natsu, Iruka's got her covered." he smiled mysteriously as Kaida tried to get it out of him, right up until their food arrived and Kakashi quickly placed meat onto the grill.

The smell of it cooking made Kaida's mouth water and once again drove all thoughts from him mind.

He could worry about the test tomorrow.

Kakashi cooked it all up just the way they liked it, more on the rare side then most were comfortable with.

Tsume said it was because the Hatake were closer to dogs then humans, then cackled at Kakashi's smug look.

The night went well, Niko food mongering for the rare treat, and Kakashi mentioned a friend had returned from a long term mission, their first time back in nearly a year but he wouldn't tell Kaida who it was, just muttering a vague 'you'll see' in response.

Kaida went to sleep much happier then when he'd come home from the Academy, Niko's head resting on his stomach.

Kaida really wished those who entered the test room came back out into the classroom. His nerves were singing for his friends, especially Natsu.

He hoped her test anxiety didn't strike her down again.

When his own name was, Hina hugged him and Kaida slapped him on the back and said "you better not fail."

"I should say the same." Kaida gained a bit of his confidence pack with the familiar banter, running his fingers through the long fur at the scruff of Niko's neck as he walked into the testing room.

It wasn't the same as the one he had his birthday in but it was the same design, empty with a long table behind which sat the proctors, Iruka in the middle.

Iruka was the one who addressed him "to pass, you must present a realistic Henge of your choice."

Kaida blinked.

That was it?

"it can be anything?" he asked, just to be sure.

Iruka nodded and Kaida grinned, fingers going into the proper form "Henge."

the puff of smoke cleared and Iruka looked back at himself, though Iruka would never be caught snickering like Kaida was.

Kaida pointed his finger "Hatake-kun! Pay attention!" his voice was a perfect imitation of the older mans and Iruka looked resign, writing on a paper while the two others, a Yamanaka he'd never met and someone from the administrative division, hid smiles.

Iruka handed him his hitae-ate wordlessly.

Or rather, two.

Kaida knelt and tied the Hitae-ate around Niko-Niko's neck; He'd see if Tsume would attach it to his scarf later.

from this moment, they were both Shinobi of Konoha.

The responsibility tightened his chest for just a moment before he strengthened his resolve.

He'd protect Konoha.

He'd protect his family.

Kakashi wouldn't have to kill anymore snakes for him.

Natsu greeted him with a crushing hug when out the doors, her Hitae-ate catching the light from where it sat proudly over her forehead.

Kaida hugged her back enthusiastically "you did it!"

"It's all thanks to Iruka! He went to old man Hokage and got special permission for me to learn a different kind of clone technique!" She said, her cheeks flushed and eyes shining.

Kaida hugged her together, joined by Hina when she skipped out of the testing room herself, hitae-ate in hand, Adzuki wearing a too-big one around his neck like Niko-Niko's.

Niko-Niko ran up to the other pup and danced around him, as if regaling a story and congratulating the pup himself.

Kaida had no doubt they had their own language.

In fact, he was determined to learn it.

He grinned at Kakashi, waiting in a tree not far away, ignoring the rule that guardians must wait in front.

Kakashi grinned back, shown in the way his eye crinkled and mask tightened, gesturing to where Ino and Hinata stood together, both holding their hitae-ate.

Kiba tackled them all and the four of them tumbled right under Kakashi's tree, Kaida laughing out all his stress over the test and letting the mystery of the future fade for the moment.

All his friends passed.

They were all Genin, all on their way to making Konoha proud.

"I wonder who our sensei's are gonna be." Natsu muttered into their dog-pile.

There was a collective groan.

Was Natsu incapable of being nervous?

Kaida loved her anyway.