Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This story is purely a work of fanfiction.

Nina- is my original character (I do own her)


Chapter 85


"You're a damn idiot, Genma!"

"I know. It was an accident. She mentioned a bet and I assumed he'd told her."

Asuma didn't need to be there to imagine how his sister had reacted when she'd discovered the details about the bet. It wouldn't have mattered that Kakashi and she hadn't hooked up on the mission, nor would she care that it was made in order to teach the fool that had run his mouth in the end, a lesson.

"Have you told Kakashi?"

"Told me what?"

"Go on Genma. Tell him."

Genma pulled the senbon out of his mouth but not soon enough, as Nina entered the room too. Asuma studied her body language which gave off an icy chill. To be expected.

Nina sat on a chair and fidgeted with her kunai pouch on her thigh that was slightly askew, ignoring everyone in the room.

Genma, Asuma and Kakashi were all passing around glances at each other. Asuma motioning with his head for Genma to confess.

Shit.What was going on? Kakashi had his guesses but he needed someone, any of the three that were in the room, to tell him. Nina looked like she could kill someone, Asuma was … Fuck. Surely, Genma hadn't? Kakashi shot Asuma a questioning look which Asuma just shook his head. His eyes then returned to the back of Nina's head, her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, her hair flowing down the back of the chair.

Kakashi took two steps down towards where Nina was sitting but was interrupted when the room was gate crashed by the rambunctious rookie 9. His hands balled into fists within his pants pockets.

"Alright! This is going to be so awesome. Believe it!"

"Shut up idiot!"

"Such a drag."

The group were silenced when the Fifth Hokage made her entrance, accompanied by Jiraiya and Shikaku. Guy and Raido slipped in behind her and took up a spot next to Kakashi who was still focussed on Nina.

"You all know why you're here. You've been paired according to your skill set to provide the best training display for these guys. As you can see it's not as many as I would have liked but we are rather short staffed currently. So make the most of it."

Kakashi was hoping he'd be paired against Genma. He needed a hard and fast lesson for his stupidity.

"Rookie 9 follow myself and Jiraiya to training grounds three and Shikaku will inform the Jonin of their matches."

The clattering group left promptly; Naruto running out the room without hearing all of the instructions.

"Right. Matches are as follows. First is Raido and Genma"

Damn. Both Asuma and Kakashi were disappointed however, Genma emitted an audible sigh of relief.

"Second match, Guy and Asuma."

Kakashi's jaw clenched hard.

Shit. This wasn't the best time for his sister to be put against Kakashi. She was going to eat him alive.

"Third and final match, Kakashi vs Nina." Shikaku sighed, not wanting to add the last detail but it was necessary. "First two matches are standard protocol and limits. Third there is only but one limit: no killing."

He watched as Nina stood and followed Shikaku out of the academy classroom.

"Do you think Nina had anything to do with lifting the limits of your match?"

Kakashi ignored Asuma before spinning on the spot to grab hold of Genma.

"You couldn't just take the loss."

"I didn't mean…"

"Kakashi, let him go. It's not worth it."

Kakashi shot both Asuma and Genma daggers and shoved Genma backwards, who stumbled back a few steps.

"You lot, save it for your match."

Shikaku had stuck his head back inside the room to usher the straggling Jonin along.


So, Jiraiya was here for the match. Figures. Probably another bet. Kakashi came to stand at her side an in a display of bravado and stubbornness, Nina kept her place.

"Nina we need to…"

"I'm all talked out."

"At least let me explain."

"I don't know what to believe Kakashi."

"The bet it wasn't what you think."

"I was just a pity fuck to add to your little black book."

"Is that what you think?"

"Why make the bet?"

"Because…"

"Let the match begin!"

Shikaku's voice resounded over the grounds and Raido and Genma began their match.

"Nina, just hear him out."

Asuma came to stand at her other side.

"You're just as guilty."

"What's it matter, if nothing happened?"

"Because you're my brother Asuma!"

She kept her irritation in check so that it wasn't heard by everyone.

"Nina, we wanted to teach Genma a lesson."

"Pfft. I don't believe either of you."

Kakashi was mindful that Asuma was on the other side of Nina but at this point he didn't care and he may as well hear what he had to say.

"I never lied."

Nina heard the words and they cut through her clouded judgement. She knew, at least, a part of her did, that Kakashi had been honest. She crossed her arms and squirmed as she felt her anger soften. Not wanting to allow her resolve to dissipate she left the confines of the body sandwich between her brother and Kakashi and joined the rambling rookie 9.

Kakashi sighed heavily, and shook his head.

"I warned you she's a lot of work."

"Mhmm."


Jiraiya wasn't watching the mediocre match that was occurring in front of them, instead he had been watching the interaction between the three shinobi, particularly Nina. She'd now distanced herself from Asuma and Kakashi and already he could see a change in her demeanour. He noticed her pulling out a familiar sized book; his manuscript. So she hadn't finished it yet? She and Kakashi often used it as a means of social distancing. Although, she had been heavily invested in the book, Jiraiya hadn't missed the multiple times Nina's eyes had glanced in Kakashi's direction. Her face pulling in an anguished expression. Yep, he'd seen that before.


Genma felt his hip click out and his fell to the ground, withdrawing from the match early.

Nina snickered. "Serves him right."

"Huh?"

"Nothing Shikamaru."

"Weren't you the one who gave him a medical?"

"Yep. But some lessons need brute force."

"I see."

Women were scary. He made a mental note to not get on the wrong side of the likes of Nina.

"It would seem Nina exacted her own revenge."

Kakashi and Asuma turned to look at Shikaku who had taken up the vacant spot left by Nina.

"Seems she wasn't as thorough as she normally would be for his medical."

He walked out into the field to call the match and begin the next one.

The pair both scrutinised Nina who had a wily smirk.

"Best be on your guard, Hatake."

"Yeah."

She'd willingly, no, blatantly bent the rulebook to ensure this outcome for Genma. However, she'd been discreet enough that her transgression would fly under the radar. It was moderately relieving that she had enough sense to vent some of her anger out on the real perpetrator. She hadn't been the only one; it hadn't escaped Kakashi, which Shikaku had delayed intervening to cease the match; allowing Raido to take a few decent swipes at Genma with his katana.

"Asuma let's go! Let's show these youths the true power of youth!"

Asuma groaned and squished out his cigarette to face his exuberant opponent Guy.


So that was her play? Females and their tests. They all did it; Tsunade included. Though, her tests, well, bets, had lessoned and softened as of late. Case and point, was their most recent one. Perhaps, if Kakashi could decipher her tactic, he would stand half a chance too?


"Nina could you give us a hand?"

Nina eyed Genma who was lying down on a stretcher with several deep wounds.

"No sorry. My match is next. Take him to the clinic."

She waved her hand dismissively and continued reading her book.

"Nina, is that… are you reading…"

"Tell anyone Shikamaru and Genma's injury will look like child's play."

"Uh… understood."

Shikamaru put some distance between him and the kunoichi. That revelation was definitely one he'd take to the grave.

"Asuma or Guy?"

"Huh?"

"Who do you think will win?"

"Hard to say. Asuma's tactical but, Guy-Sensei's taijutsu is pretty hard to beat."

"Ought to be close."

"But Bushier-brow-Sensei only knows taijutsu. He doesn't stand a chance."

Nina stuck her finger in the book and laid it in her lap.

"Not necessarily. Guy's taijutsu prowess has him evenly matched with the likes of Kakashi."

"You're lying."

Sasuke's eyes were wide in disbelief as were several of the other rookie 9, all except Guy's student, Lee.

"You ought all pay close attention to this match. A lot to be learnt from both parties."

Nina observed how they all grasped the seriousness of her advice and redirected their undivided attention to the match. Even she, herself was interested to see this match play out. Although, part of her wished that all the matches had been given the same treatment with limits being lifted. This group were fast and able learners and would have definitely benefited from it. But it wasn't her call. She'd been lucky to have wrangled her demand.

That was not without its consequences either; bed pan duty or split shifts were highly probable for her future.


"I hope you said the same about my match."

Ugh!

Raido attempted to settle in close to Nina.

"Genma didn't stand a chance."

"They were cheap shots. He'd already resigned when you made your last swings."

"Meh. Ninja."

Yep, the man was a pig, an arrogant, despicable pig. Nina's eyes cast sideways and were met with Kakashi's single eye momentarily before she pretended to be occupied by the current match. She slyly returned her eyes, noticing his were no looking in her direction.

"So, how about it?"

Removing the arm that he'd swung over her. "About what?"

"Weren't you listening? I just asked you out on a date tonight. "

"Ah, no. And no. I've got an investigation."

"It's just a date. Come on Nina."

She wasn't coming anywhere, least of all with him. How had she thought to put him in the same basket as Raido? One gave her goose bumps and the other, well he'd made her skin crawl and her stomach lurch.

"My answer is no."

Nina stood and went to ready herself for her match. She'd need to get her headspace together to face Kakashi without limits.


He'd been relieved to see Nina walk away from Raido. A strong mix of jealousy and protectiveness almost had Kakashi intervening, regardless of what he may have had to endure from Nina for doing so.