Author Note: Woohoo! 400+ Followers, and 16k+ Views! You guys are amazing! Thank you so much for the continued support! As a reward enjoy another outrageously long chapter! I was too distracted by the holiday to edit and post it on time. This chapter has a lot of delicious fluff, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! I was also made aware that some were not able to review Chapter Seven, if you want to make a double review for this chapter feel free! I thrive on constructive/positive feedback, and am a starving beast!
Setsuri
Chapter Eight
"Persevere with humility"
It was just before dawn when Naruto threw his alarm across the room. Exhaling in sleep-ridden irritation he rolled over, snuggling closer into his pillow. After about ten minutes the drowsy youth remembered why he was supposed to get up that early. Protesting with a grown Naruto slowly sat up rubbing the sleep from his eyes. It was still dark out, and every fiber of his being protested the asinine awakening.
Unenthusiastically the still groggy preteen struggled to start his morning routine. Digging through his kitchen cabinets, Naruto contemplated what would be considered a light breakfast. If it was assumed they'd be doing some rigorous training that day he didn't want anything too heavy. Days like this Naruto wished he knew how to cook on Hinata's level. Tamagoyaki sounded amazing in the early morning.
Mentally cursing at himself for forgetting to buy more milk the previous day, Naruto took stock of his available ingredients. Normally he'd opt for ramen, but with the promise of a potentially strenuous survival exercise the prospective genin didn't want to increase his risks of losing his breakfast. Naruto didn't want to embarrass himself. He wanted to be seen as cool, awesome, and reliable. With that thought in mind, Naruto decided to start some rice while he went off to take a shower and get dressed for the day.
Once Naruto tied his hitai-ate securely in place, the now fully awake blonde assembled the necessary ingredients for a simple breakfast. Dishing up his rice in a bowl, Naruto sat down and got to work. First, cracking an egg open over the steaming grains, next a splash of soy sauce, lastly a sprinkle of furikake, then he vigorously stirred the mixture together with his chopsticks. Tamago Kake Gohan wasn't as gloriously delicious as ramen, but fit the bill for a light and nutritious meal, which is exactly what Naruto needed that morning. Quickly downing breakfast, Naruto hurried to check over his gear one final time. Satisfied, he headed out to meet up his team, just as the faintest glimmer of dawn started to emerge over the village.
Upon reaching Training Field Three, Naruto took note that Hinata and Sasuke had already arrived. However, Kakashi was still nowhere to be seen. Letting out a yawn, the orange-clad ninja joined his companions. Unlike him, they didn't seem too perturbed to be up this sinfully early. Shrugging off his pack, Naruto set it down to rest in the still dew-covered grass.
"You're late, Usuratonkachi." Sasuke quipped before Naruto even had time to settle in, not bothering to give the blonde a passing glance. Naruto just rolled his eyes, crossing his arms behind his head as he tried to curb his smoldering temper.
"As long as I get here before Sensei I'm not late, Temē," Naruto countered with a cocky smirk. Satisfied with the murderous glare Sasuke shot his way, he then decided to focus on his more pleasant teammate, "Good morning, Hinata-Chan! I didn't keep you waiting long, did I?"
Hinata blushed in response, quickly shaking her head, "N-not at all, Sasuke-San and I had just arrived about ten minutes ago. You have nothing to be concerned about, N-Naruto-Kun." Naruto watched as she fidgeted, twirling her fingers together as she shifted her gaze apologetically between the two boys. He knew Hinata was uncomfortable with conflict and almost felt guilty for exchanging insults with Sasuke... almost.
"That's a relief. I guess since we have some time, we might as well familiarize ourselves with the territory, nē? Maybe go over some strategies- Oi! Are you going to participate, Sasuke?" Naruto asked in an annoyed tone, shifting to look over at their irritatingly obstinate squad member. Sasuke just gave a dismissive grunt in answer, turning away from the pair, making his intentions clear.
Naruto switched his attention back towards Hinata with a look of exasperation, shaking his head, at least he tried. Hinata in return gave him a sad but understanding smile. Giving up on getting Sasuke to cooperate, Naruto was never one to sit still and wait if he didn't have to, to occupy himself he decided to walk around and study their test area. It was a grassy clearing for the most part, perpendicular to a small river, surrounded by plenty of trees and thick underbrush. The only unusual thing he noticed in the area was three wooden stumps that looked to have been repurposed into training posts.
After about twenty minutes of making mental notes and observations of the immediate vicinity, Naruto returned to his team, taking a seat next to Hinata. Then the duo quietly discussed ideas and modifications to their ideas from the previous evening. Every so often Naruto caught an apprehensive side-eyed glance from Sasuke. The secret empathic sensor could feel the apprehension, frustration, and general inner turmoil rolling off the withdrawn Uchiha. If Naruto had to guess, it seemed like a small part of Sasuke wanted to become involved with his team, but was either too prideful or hesitant to even try.
It was late morning by the time Kakashi finally arrived, much to Naruto's annoyance. Something in the back of his brain told him this was most likely going to be a repeat occurrence that he'd have to learn to accept. The man didn't even seem to care or acknowledge as Naruto loudly vocalized his complaints. Naruto was starting to quickly realize that though they may be the same person, Kakashi the Jōnin Sensei was a completely different person from Inu the ANBU Operative. What annoyed Naruto the most was that the lackadaisical enigma secretly enjoyed antagonizing him.
As Kakashi explained the exercise's details to the trio, Naruto's growing frown deepened. Would one of them really be sent back to the academy no matter what? That didn't sound fair, and more like a load of crap. He was about to voice his complaints until he heard the next part of Kakashi's instructions. They were allowed to use weapons, and even expected to come at him with the intent to kill? That sounded like a fun way to blow off some steam.
"A-anou... Sensei, isn't that dangerous? W-what if you get hurt?" Hinata nervously inquired with concern. Naruto wanted to reassure her, but remembered the stern warning Kakashi had given him the previous day. Naruto was expressly forbidden from revealing Kakashi's time in ANBU or letting his teammates know about their mutually shared history. Deciding to take a gamble, the notoriously obnoxious boy decided to use his foolhardy facade to his advantage instead.
"That's right, Kakashi-Sensei! You couldn't even dodge an eraser yesterday. You're going to get yourself killed!" Naruto proclaimed with a laugh, putting his arms behind his head, he flashed his foxy smile and shifted his weight to appear nonchalantly confident.
Kakashi studied him for the briefest moments, immediately catching on to the boy's act. He might as well indulge the youth, for now, "Only the weak complain loudly. Now, let's forget the dobe. We'll begin on my signal," he continued, turning his attention away from Naruto, though the blonde could feel a resigned sort of giddiness from the man. As if silently telling him, well, if you must.
Naruto didn't miss a beat when given the hidden go-ahead. Twisting his smile into the best scowl he could manage, the orange-clad ninja swiftly pulled out a kunai, twirling it with practiced ease, before gripping it firmly and charging at Kakashi. Naruto heard Hinata give a startled gasp in the same instant he felt a firm, but gentle hold on his now twisted arm, and a large familiar hand resting in his blonde hair.
Naruto fought back a laugh, feeling the emotions rolling off his teammates made it hard to keep a straight face. Hinata was apprehensive, amazed, but also relieved. Sasuke was nervous, excited, and stunned, which Naruto considered a good change of pace compared to his usual dark mood. Kakashi's consistent balance of dull sadness mixed with nostalgia was currently emanating a minute amount of joy and pride. Even though Naruto's shoulder hurt from its forced position, he was content with the sudden change in atmosphere. Mental warfare was all well and good, but not when used on one's comrades.
"Mā...Don't be so hasty. I didn't say, go, yet." Kakashi patiently admonished as he kept Naruto firmly in place, manipulating the preteen's hand to direct his kunai at the back of his own skull. If Kakashi hadn't been pushing Naruto's head forward slightly, the blonde would most likely have suffered a serious injury.
"But, that's fine. At least you came at me with the intent to kill, and have begun to respect me." The jōnin praised, releasing Naruto from his grip and patting the boy on the head. Naruto smiled, rubbing his wrist and rotating his shoulder. He was content, now his teammates understood a glimpse of Kakashi's capabilities. Hopefully, they wouldn't underestimate him. The pair in question had taken a step back from the tall man during this display of speed and control. Just maybe they had a small sliver of a chance to succeed in this exercise.
"Alright, we're going to start now. Ready… Set… Go!"
The three genin quickly leaped away from the more experienced shinobi, concealing their presence. It didn't take Naruto long to regroup with Hinata under the cover of the nearby thicket to briefly discuss their next course of action. The freshly minted graduates were nervous but determined.
"So, I say we go with the simple bait and switch. That way you get a chance to study his movements and find an opening while I distract him. What do you think, Hinata-Chan?" Naruto whispered excitedly, finding the whole experience exhilarating. He was always one to work better under pressure. It helped him temporarily forget the stress of the situation.
"A-are you sure, Naruto-Kun? He seems very skilled. I-I don't want you to get hurt."
Naruto snorted before shaking his head, "It's fine, Hinata-Chan. Remember, I can take a hit. I'll be able to handle whatever he throws at me, -ttebayo. You just stay hidden and watch for an opening. I don't think Kakashi-Sensei will seriously injure us, at least on purpose, he's supposed to be our mentor after all."
After reassuring Hinata and receiving a confirming nod, Naruto burst into the clearing, time to put on his best performance. Standing upright with an air of well-practiced confidence, the known loudmouth took in a deep breath before shouting excitedly, "It's time for the battle to begin! Let's fight face-off fair and square! A match worthy of the greatest warriors, dattebayo!"
Kakashi was taken aback by Naruto's brazenness. This was the complete opposite of what was taught in the ninja academy. Shouldn't he be trying to conceal his presence?
"...Huh? Say, aren't you a bit off-kilter?" The silver-haired jōnin asked lamely, giving Naruto a look of disbelief, disappointment, and boredom.
"The only thing off-kilter here is your hairstyle!" Naruto countered enthusiastically, charging forward, only to skid to a stop when he noticed Kakashi digging through his back pouch.
"...Let me teach you your first shinobi battle skill, Taijutsu."
'Taijutsu? Then why is he going for a weapon?'
Much to Naruto's confusion, Kakashi pulled out a book. Further confounding the boy, the book seemed vaguely familiar. His bewilderment was slowly shifting into annoyance and amusement at the absurdity of the situation. Why did this feel so nostalgic?
"Is something wrong? Hurry up and come after me."
"Anou… But you… I mean... Why? W-what's with the book?!" Naruto struggled to articulate, unaware of the faint blush forming on his face. The flustered youth wasn't sure why, but the longer he studied the cover, the more it was becoming clear to him what the novel entailed, something very lewd, embarrassing, and beyond inappropriate for their current situation.
"Hn? Oh, this? I've been dying to find out how the story ends. Carry on. It shouldn't make any difference in the outcome, considering who I'm going up against." Kakashi answered off-handedly with an air of disinterest.
Naruto felt a twinge of irritation as he face-palmed. Recomposing himself, the short boy let out a breath before charging once more at Kakashi with renewed vigor. He punched and kicked with all his might, but it was futile. Kakashi would just block or dodge all his incoming hits effortlessly, all the while reading his depraved literature. Growling in frustration, Naruto tried to continue his onslaught, only for his target to disappear before his eyes.
"...What the?"
"A ninja shouldn't let the enemy take them so many times from behind, Baka."
"N-Naruto-Kun! Look out!" Hinata called from her hiding place within the underbrush, causing Naruto to turn his head in her direction.
"Eh?"
"Too late. Konohagakure Hiden Taijutsu Ōgi: Sennen Goroshi!"
Naruto yelped when suddenly subjected to a painful violation of his posterior. Quick to get away from the unexpected invasion, the Kanchō victim unintentionally filtered chakra through his leg muscles, propelling himself into the nearby river. The shock of the mid-spring water quickly cooled Naruto's pain and temper.
Mentally he berated himself for allowing Kakashi to turn the tables on him. The man was a master of mind games. Naruto couldn't allow himself to be further manipulated if he could help it. He needed to think clearly if he was going to be successful. So far, the flustered preteen hadn't even been able to touch the more experienced shinobi. How was he going to create an opening for Hinata?
Silently venting his frustrations, Naruto threw a pair of shuriken from where he rested just beneath the water's surface, only to see Kakashi absentmindedly catch the weapons easily around the fingers of one hand, all the while continuing to enjoy his book. Swiftly formulating his next plan, Naruto silently created a large squad of Kage Bunshin. Directing his orders with hand signals, the water-logged boy then swam downstream to regroup, simultaneously sending his doppelgängers to distract Kakashi.
Using his sensor abilities, Naruto quickly relocated Hinata, motioning for her to stay quiet as he crouched down beside her. She was feeling confused, awed, and a bit guilty. Naruto shook his head, looking to see that his lead clone was now arguing with Kakashi.
"I told ya… I'm quick to recover from taking a hit, -ttebayo. Now, time to get ready. I'm about to give you your opening, Hinata-Chan." Naruto snickered, playing off his earlier pain as no big deal to assuage the girl's misplaced remorse and his own embarrassment. Hinata gave him a determined nod, shifting her stance.
Watching his eight clones charge towards Kakashi, Naruto gave Hinata a confident wave before silently creeping up on their sensei. Deftly, the deceptively sneaky boy pounced, grappling Kakashi in a firm hold. His doppelgängers soon joined in. Grabbing any part of Kakashi they could get their hands on.
"Hehe, a ninja shouldn't let the enemy take them from behind. Nē, Kakashi-Sensei? Dattebayo..." Naruto chuckled darkly, growling out his verbal tic before turning his head to call out to his awaiting teammate, "Now! Hinata-Chan!"
Naruto felt Kakashi struggling from within his hold the moment the boy shouted aloud for his hidden companion. As Naruto fought hard to retain his hold on the older man, he could hear Hinata fast approaching. She was almost there! Their plan was going to work! They were going to get the bells!
When Hinata was about ten meters away Naruto was suddenly caught off guard when multiple plumes of smoke burst simultaneously. In one swift action, all his clones had been dispersed. Naruto was too distracted by the unexpected event to notice a different presence approaching behind him until it was too late. Naruto was completely taken by surprise as a pair of strong, large, adult-sized hands easily ripped him off of Kakashi. Confused, Naruto turned his head to look around, finding another Kakashi holding him up by the back of his jacket. In the next moment, the perplexed boy was sent flying through the air towards Hinata, causing both novices to cry out in surprise.
Just before the young preteens collided, Naruto closed his eyes on reflex. Upon impact, he felt head face slam into hers, sending them tumbling to the ground. Grunting from where they fell, Naruto tried to regain his senses. Slowly, he cracked open his eyes, noticing with dazed confusion that Hinata was far too close to him. As Naruto tried to speak, he found his lips firmly pressed against something soft, muffling his words into nothing more than a soft lazy groan.
In the next few seconds, Naruto's brain finally caught up with the situation, allowing him to quickly realize what had happened, and what he was currently doing. Now fully aware, Naruto immediately pulled himself away from the unexpected kiss, eyes wide with fear as a vermillion blush erupted over his face and down his neck. Overrun with panic and embarrassment, Naruto swiftly sat up, stumbling backward away from his prone companion.
"Sh-Shimatta! H-Hinata-Chan! It was an accident! Honest! Dattebayo! I'm sorry! I...Hinata-Chan?" Naruto paused in his anxious ramblings to crawl over and wave a hand in front of Hinata's surprise-filled eyes, receiving no response. It would seem she'd fainted. Letting out a sigh, thankful for the reprieve regarding the shameful situation, the disconcerted boy sat back hiding his still vibrant face behind his hands.
'Chikushou! I kissed Hinata-Chan! She's going to kill me when she wakes up!'
Naruto was upset, confused, ashamed, and humiliated. Angry tears welled up in his eyes as he looked the unconscious kunoichi over, carefully checking to make sure Hinata hadn't been injured from the incident. Her forehead and lips were starting to bruise, her lower lip received a small cut, probably from the impact, but overall she looked fine. Naruto licked his own lips, faintly tasting blood from a quickly healing cut.
The young shinobi felt guilty since his hitai-ate protected him, it seemed the only lasting injury he received was to his pride. Guilt and embarrassment fueled Naruto's anger as he quickly looked around but saw no trace of the at-fault party. While Naruto had been distracted, Kakashi got away. Fortunately, however, Naruto did manage to spot a bell close by. Had Kakashi dropped it in his haste to escape?
Hesitantly, Naruto stood up, walking over to the small metallic sphere. As he reached down to pick it up, the inexperienced ninja felt a pull on his ankles. Once again becoming airborne, but thankfully Naruto's momentum abruptly stopped instead of sending him flying. The now deeply embarrassed youth let out an exasperated groan as he swayed to and fro upside down, his ankles snared tightly with rope bound securely from high up in a tree. Naruto, still being preoccupied with his earlier crisis, had succeeded in falling for a stupid rope trap.
Soon after, Kakashi reappeared, pocketing the bell and looking up at the visibly irate Naruto, "Mā… No need to be so angry. You used your technique well, and even tried to attempt a joint strategy. However, you alerted your enemy, and let your guard down before securing the prize. Remember, sometimes other people will know the same jutsu as you, and can turn your own against you. Now, normally I'd call you an idiot for falling for such an obvious trap, but it's plain to see you're distracted. What? Was that your first kiss?" he asked teasingly, his only visible eye crinkling from a hidden smile.
In response, the mortified adolescent choked back an angry scream, lashing out wildly in an attempt to get at the irritating man. "Sh-shut up! Chikushô-Sensei! Kuso! Kuso! Kuso! When I get out of this I'm going to kick your ass!" Naruto snarled, trying to reach Kakashi in vain.
"Oi! Oi! Is that any way to talk to your sensei? And here I was about to-" Kakashi's next words were cut off as over a dozen shuriken embedded the left side of his body, much to Naruto's horror.
"Ch-Chikushou! Oi, Sasuke! Kusoyarô! That's overkill!" he cried out in a panic, recognizing his former classmate's shuriken abilities. After taking a moment to calm down, Naruto realized that Kakashi had used the kawarimi no jutsu to evade Sasuke's attack, but Sasuke could have accidentally hit the still defenseless Hinata if things hadn't gone as smoothly. That thought simultaneously scared and angered the blonde.
Mentally letting loose a string of curses while filing away promises to give Kakashi and Sasuke a piece of his mind, Naruto started the struggle to free himself from his bindings. On the third try, he was able to cut himself free, safely somersaulting back to the forest floor. However, after just taking a single step he was yanked painfully back up by a second rope trap. This time though, only one of his legs was snared, which put a lot more pressure painfully on his ankle. Shouting out in frustration Naruto went to work trying to free himself a second time.
"...N-Naruto-Kun?" Hinata murmured, causing Naruto to pause in his task to gaze over at her. She was awake now and starting to get to her feet, looking around in confusion. Naruto didn't blame her for being confused. She'd been out for at least ten minutes, if not more.
"I'm over here, Hinata-Chan! I'll be over in just a second, dattebayo!" Naruto called over, returning to his task. It was more difficult to pull himself up with only one of his legs tied up. After two more failed attempts Naruto was able to cut himself free and rejoin Hinata.
"S-so, are you feeling better?" Naruto asked sheepishly. Hinata nodded her face full of bewilderment. Most likely because Naruto wasn't acting like himself, but he couldn't help it! He just couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye.
"A-anou… Naruto-Kun, is something wrong? Did I do something wrong? I-I'm sorry I messed up our plan… I didn't intend to be such a burden…"
Naruto winced, feeling Hinata's anxiety heightening with each passing second. Gulping down uncomfortably, the ashamed boy reflexively grabbed at his jacket, twisting the material under his nervous grasp. Keeping his eyes downcast, the remorseful boy shuffled his feet, trying desperately to gather his nerves. After another moment of uncomfortable silence, Naruto exhaled dejectedly.
"N-no, you didn't do anything wrong. Hinata-Chan, I'm the one who's sorry. I messed up, and let my guard down around Kakashi-Sensei before you had a chance to grab the bells. If… If I hadn't then… H-Hinata-Chan… I...rry...ssed...you…"
"...Naruto-Kun, forgive me. I don't understand what you're trying to say. Could you speak a little clearer, please?"
Naruto turned away from the confused girl fidgeting with his jacket more fervently, embarrassment clear on his once again reddening face, "...I-I said, I'm sorry for accidentally kissing you! -ttebayo! ...Y-you know, when Kakashi-Sensei threw me, earlier. That's when it happened. I... I understand if you hate me now, a-and would feel uncomfortable being on a team with me!" he choked out, his voice starting to shake as a lump swelled in his throat. This was it, he was going to lose his best friend, and it was all Kakashi's fault!
"Na...Naruto-Kun…"
"...Y-yeah?" He croaked with a sniff, not daring to look up. Naruto was afraid of what he might find, would Hinata be angry, disappointed, disgusted?
"P-please, look at me."
Naruto felt his eyes stinging as he forced himself to look up and give Hinata his best foxy grin. The distressed youth hoped she didn't notice how much he was trembling. Naruto didn't want to lose his closest friend. He was caught by surprise when the usually timid and bashful girl stepped forward and gave him a gentle hug. Hinata was never this bold, let alone physically close to him in normal circumstances. Usually, she'd faint, as she had done earlier.
"...H-Hinata-Chan?"
"It's okay Naruto-Kun, I could never hate you. I want to pass this test and be on a team with you. I forgive you, it was an accident, so please don't cry. We're on a mission at the moment, remember? Shinobi aren't supposed to show their tears to the enemy, right?" Hinata asked in a calm and soothing voice. Naruto breathed in shakily trying to calm his wound-up nerves, inhaling Hinata's scent and losing himself temporarily in her familiar warmth. She was always so kind, so patient, so understanding like how a mother might be, Naruto imagined.
"Thank you, Hinata-Chan… I'm sorry for losing my cool, and acting so out of character," Naruto murmured after a pause, pulling away and slapping his cheeks to refocus himself. "Kakashi-Sensei is pretty difficult to beat, dattebayo! He's an experienced jōnin after all. We're just fresh out of the academy. I hate to admit it, but I think we're going to need Sasuke's help to bring him down."
"But, there are only two bells. R-Remember what Kakashi-Sensei said?"
"Yeah… We'll just have to figure that out later. For now, let's go find Sasuke."
"O-okay…"
Combining their sensor abilities, the pair was able to find Sasuke in no time at all. Naruto for his part struggled to keep a straight face when they came upon the usually haughty Rookie of The Year. Sasuke was buried up to his neck in the dirt, looking particularly vexed.
Stifling a snicker, Naruto approached casually, arms behind his head as he sported a smug grin, much to Sasuke's displeasure. "Hey, Temē, looks like you got a taste of Kakashi-Sensei's skills. Hinata-Chan and I think it'd benefit all of us if we teamed up to take him down. What do you say?"
Sasuke's glare hardened, "I almost got the bells on my own, Usuratonkachi! Hell would freeze over before I accepted from you and that useless girl…" he spat defiantly, turning his head away as much as he was able.
Naruto frowned, noticing that Hinata was affected by Sasuke's careless choice of words. She'd always had low self-esteem, and hearing someone confirm her flaws must be affecting her greatly. Crouching down to Sasuke's level, Naruto glared at him for a long moment before striking the dark-haired boy's head without warning, hard.
"First of all, Hinata-Chan is far from useless. Secondly, unless you want a permanent career as a lawn ornament I suggest you apologize to her. I could care less what you call me, Kisama. I'm used to it, but don't you dare disrespect Hinata-Chan like that in front of me again. Got it?" Naruto hissed, his face mere centimeters away from Sasuke's own.
The whisker-face youth was not aware of it, but during his concise reprimand his blue eyes flashed red momentarily, and his pupils shifted into slits, startling the usually arrogant Uchiha. Once Sasuke gave Naruto a hesitant nod of understanding, the orange-clad youth stood, backed a few paces away to give Hinata and Sasuke a clear view of each other. Naruto crossed his arms expectantly, sending Sasuke another disapproving frown.
Letting out a sigh in resignation Sasuke looked down as much as his current position would allow, "...I'm sorry for my careless words, Hinata-San. I let the pressure of the current situation get to my head. I didn't mean to insult you," he mumbled a very faint blush forming on his pale cheeks. The Uchiha was most likely humiliated, but Naruto could care less. No one hurt Hinata in his presence and got away with it!
Hinata was taken aback, but after being sent a reassuring smile from Naruto, she nodded hesitantly. Satisfied at the first sign of her forgiveness, Naruto summoned a handful of doppelgängers and started to dig their trapped teammate out of the ground. No sooner had Sasuke been freed did the squad hear the sound of the timer going off. Within the blink of an eye, Kakashi appeared before the trio.
"Time's up. Now let's see… Who gets to go to the post, and who gets to have lunch…" The jōnin hummed holding the trio in place with a lazy stare. Naruto saw Hinata from the corner of his eye, slumping her shoulders and squirm under the pressure. He wouldn't admit it aloud but knew out of the whole team she'd been the only one who hadn't had a chance to directly engage Kakashi. Naruto had been sorely outwitted, and easily beaten. Sasuke claimed to have been the closest of the three in obtaining a bell. There was only one logical outcome.
"I know, let's decide it this way… Your third and final lesson, Genjutsu."
Naruto blinked in confusion as Kakashi made the rat hand seal, disappearing in a flurry of leaves. Soon after Naruto stumbled from a wave of drowsiness, fully succumbing to the jutsu-induced slumber, the enthralled boy wasn't even aware when his body hit the ground.
When Naruto next awoke, he was sitting propped against a thick wooden post, and drool pooling down his chin. Sluggishly, the lethargic boy took in his surroundings, absently wiping his face with the sleeve of his jacket. They were back at the starting area of the training ground. Hinata was sitting patiently not far from Naruto, and to his surprise, a very annoyed Sasuke was tied to the center post. Hadn't Sasuke performed the best during the exercise? Why was the top trainee of their graduating class the one tied to the post?
"Welcome back, Naruto. I'd heard that you were particularly susceptible to genjutsu, but to see it in action is just plain embarrassing." Kakashi chastised from where he leaned against a square-shaped stone.
Naruto frowned, his whisker-striped cheeks gaining a tinge of pink from the critical remarks. Deciding to change the subject, the mildly humiliated blonde looked back up at the sulking Sasuke with confusion. Naruto nonchalantly pointed his thumb at Sasuke, fighting back a yawn, "Sensei, why is Sasuke tied up?"
"Hn? Did you already forget? I said at the beginning of the exercise that the one who performed the worst would be tied to the stump while I eat their lunch in front of them."
As if to emphasize his point, Naruto picked up a distinct growl coming from Sasuke's empty stomach. The young sensor almost felt bad for the prideful boy...almost. If Sasuke hadn't been so pretentious and chose to be cooperative he'd probably have opted to eat breakfast that morning as Naruto and Hinata had. Because of Naruto's gamble, and their fortune that Kakashi showed up late, not only did Naruto never throw up, but he was only slightly hungry in what was now the early afternoon.
"A-anou… Sensei, I thought Sasuke had been the closest to gaining the bells? Wasn't that the goal of the exercise?" Hinata asked nervously.
"Actually, the goal of this training was to test your skills with teamwork. Something you and Naruto greatly excelled at. There were multiple opportunities where you both had the option to abandon one another, but you chose to aid your comrade, even going so far as to help the least supportive member of your squad. Granted, for this mission to be a success you were still required to obtain the bells." Kakashi explained, causing all three genin to look apprehensive, though Sasuke seemed to be more defeated than anything.
"Tell you what... To make up for that minor accident that happened during the start of the exercise, I'll give you and Naruto a second chance, after lunch."
At being reminded of the incident both Naruto and Hinata blushed vibrantly, avoiding eye contact with each other. Naruto considered Kakashi's words as he glanced up at the frustrated Uchiha. Naruto could feel the emotions rolling off of him. Sasuke was angry, remorseful, confused, anxious, and sad. The undersized preteen might not like Sasuke under normal circumstances, but he felt pity for the other youth for being misled so badly. Coming to his decision, Naruto looked back at Kakashi.
"Nē, Kakashi-Sensei... Could you please give Sasuke another shot?"
"Oh..? Are you sure about that, Naruto? There are only two bells, and Sasuke did show more talent than you. Now that he's aware of the true rules, are you sure you want to put your faith in him? I heard you only graduated by chance, do you really want to risk being sent back to the academy?"
Naruto stared at the now-shocked Sasuke for a long pause. It was true if it weren't for Mizuki turning traitor, Iruka's good graces, and the Hokage's patient understanding, in all likelihood Naruto wouldn't have graduated under normal circumstances. However, it felt wrong to cheat, and betray his comrades just for a chance at getting ahead. Turning back to Kakashi, Naruto nodded and smiled sincerely, "Yeah, I am. What about you Hinata-Chan?"
Hinata hesitated, unprepared for the sudden attention drawn to her. Fidgeting briefly, she also nodded, "I a-also believe Sasuke-San should be allowed to have another chance. That is if you're willing to grant us one, Kakashi-Sensei. "
"Hm… Very well, I'll allow it. On the condition that you don't let him eat, spoiled brats don't deserve nice meals from Sensei. Yes, having individual skills is important as a ninja, but what's most important right now is teamwork. Going at it solo is bad for the team and exposes your comrades to unnecessary danger. You might as well kill them yourself, here's an example…"
Naruto grunted as he was pushed forcibly into the dirt unexpectedly. His body was pinned expertly to the ground, and a kunai at his throat. 'Kuso! Why is it always me?! Dattebayo…!'
"Hinata! Kill Sasuke, or Naruto dies."
Naruto couldn't see his teammate's faces given that he was currently being forced to eat dirt. The novice ninja, now turned hostage, could however sense his squad mates' fear, anger, and anxiety. What surprised Naruto were the increased feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, and regret pouring off Kakashi. Did this lesson have something to do with why he was sad all the time? Just as Naruto started to ponder that thought, the experienced shinobi got off of him, allowing the boy to sit up and dust himself off.
"The day could come when one of you is taken hostage, and you're forced to make such a choice. When you're on a mission your lives will always be on the line. Now, look at this marker." Kakashi instructed as he walked back in front of a rectangular stone that the three genin had not previously given any mind to.
"All the names carved here are heroes of the village, ninja."
Naruto listened curiously, but his attention was more on Kakashi than the stone. Shouldn't being immortalized as a hero of the village be considered cool? Something one aimed for? If so, then why was their sensei so... bereaved?
"However, the ones with names written here aren't just any regular heroes. They're the individuals who've made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty."
"...Sacrifice?" Naruto echoed in confusion, his eyes never leaving Kakashi's figure.
"...It means they were killed in action, most, losing their lives on missions for Konoha. This marker is a memorial, and it includes the names of my dearest friends."
"O-oh…" Naruto muttered awkwardly, unable to think of anything to say. He studied his mentor's back with a new appreciation. No wonder Kakashi was always so sad.
Naruto winced, hesitantly grabbing the side of his head as a strangely familiar sensation ghosted the recesses of his mind. Pain, sadness, anger, fear, remorse, guilt, the emotions swirled in his mind, but Naruto didn't quite understand why he'd be feeling such things. The twelve-year-old had no conscious memory of losing anyone, but this sensation was so painful it brought him close to tears.
"N-Naruto-Kun, are you alright?" Hinata asked nervously, bringing Naruto back into the present.
"Huh? Uh, yeah... Yeah, I'm fine. No need to worry, Hinata-Chan." Naruto assured her with a smile, refocusing on his surroundings.
"As promised, I'll give you one more chance. However, it'll be far more difficult than our last little game with the bells. We'll start after lunch. You two may have one of the bento boxes, located over here." Kakashi explained displaying two boxed lunches that rested atop the stele.
"However, as stated before, no sharing with Sasuke. He goes hungry. My word is law, understood?"
Naruto and Hinata gulped, nodding nervously under their instructor's glare as they grabbed their promised lunches. No sooner did the two receive their reward had they come to realize Kakashi left. Once he was gone, Naruto let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Turning, Naruto sat under the wooden post Sasuke was tied to, soon being joined by Hinata. Taking the lid off his bento, Naruto heard the prominent growl of Sasuke's stomach and sighed. Naruto's appetite was quickly evaporating from the thick presence of Sasuke's anger, shame, envy, and disappointment permeating the air.
"Hey, Hinata-Chan, check the perimeter for Sensei really fast." The rebellious blonde whispered with a hint of mischievous contemplation.
Hinata gave him a confused look before doing as she was instructed. Setting her food down, she activated her Byakugan, her usual soft features becoming fierce. "He's close to thirty meters away, maybe a little more. At the moment he's sitting in a tree towards the southwest. I-I think he's reading a book, but I'm not sure. S-sorry, I'm not quite as proficient as I would h-hope to be just yet."
"Don't worry about it, that's fine. Damn, to think he'd be just out of range for my abilities... It doesn't matter. The important thing is we know he's not near us, and he's currently distracted." Naruto quietly explained with glee, turning back to look up at their quietly sulking companion. "Yo, Temē! Here! I had a light breakfast this morning, so I'll be fine to keep going after our break." He hurriedly stated, offering Sasuke a mouthful of rice balanced between his chopsticks.
"I don't need your pity, Dobe. You've done enough! I can pull my weight just fine…" Sasuke scoffed, turning his nose up from the offered morsel. His pale cheeks gained a slight tinge of pink just as his stomach growled in protest.
Naruto rolled his eyes, "Look, as much as I hate to say it. Currently, you're the strongest person on our team. We're going to need you at full strength if we want to win against Kakashi-Sensei. Right, Hinata-Chan?" he insisted, offering the food once more while glancing over at his shy companion. The tentative girl nodded after a moment, holding up a pickled plum from her bento.
"Tch, whatever... ", Sasuke grumbled, accepting the provided sustenance. The sensors worked quietly and efficiently to secure Sasuke half of their meal, all the while keeping their senses extended for any sign of Kakashi. Naruto knew why he was so good at being sneaky, but he was curious to learn why Hinata was so good at it.
After Sasuke had succeeded in eating his fill he turned his gaze down in embarrassment, "Thanks… You didn't have to speak on my behalf, or share your food."
Naruto chuckled, rubbing the back of his head bashfully, "It's no problem, we're a team after all, -ttebayo. Even if you're normally a jerk, as Hinata-Chan told me, all teams have their own problems they're going to need to work through."
"Hn…" Sasuke slowly nodded in agreement, completely subdued by the charity and forgiving attitude his teammates were showing him.
The touching moment was quickly cut short as Kakashi unexpectedly appeared in a violent burst of chakra before the trio, much to Naruto and Hinata's fright. Being sensors they were not used to having people sneak upon them. Naruto in particular was floundering, his sensei seemed elated, but had such a scary look on his face.
'Chikushou! He's fast!'
"You-!" Kakashi roared angrily.
"S-Sensei! I-I mean...We...Etou…" Naruto started in a rush. It was his idea to feed Sasuke. He didn't want anyone else to get in trouble for something he'd decided.
"...Pass!" Kakashi stated simply with a smile.
"EH?!" All the genin exclaimed.
It took Naruto's brain a few seconds to catch up before he jumped to his feet, bouncing around excitedly, "Y-Yatta! I'm a ninja! Woo-hoo! We're ninja, -ttebayo! Yatta! Yatta!" He cried leaping to give both Hinata and Sasuke hugs to their surprise. Hinata merely blushed, while Sasuke grunted in irritation. After a minute of watching this, Kakashi grabbed the overly enthusiastic Naruto. Picking him up with a well-practiced hand, the tall man let the small boy hang in the air while holding the back of his jacket.
"Ah-hem… You did well. We are shinobi, not mindless drones. As such, we're expected to read between the lines, to seek for the hidden meanings within hidden meanings. To look underneath the underneath," Kakashi explained as he set the now quieted Naruto back down. The boy looked up at him completely enamored with his sensei's speech. He wasn't even bothered being manhandled at the moment.
"In a ninja's world, those who violate the rules and fail to follow orders are considered lower than garbage, that's true. However, those who do not care for and support their fellows are even worse than that! To put it another way... Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum."
'Whoa...that's kind of cool!' Naruto thought in awe. The message Kakashi was conveying resonated with seemingly every fiber of his being.
"The exercise is now concluded, you've all successfully accomplished the trial mission. That's it for today, Team Seven. Your regular duties start tomorrow. Make sure to meet up with me at the Hokage Office for a mission assignment. Dismissed!"
Naruto let out a boyish giggle, unable to contain his giddiness as it bubbled back up to the surface. Finally, there were no more hurdles! He was officially a bonafide shinobi of Konohagakure! Naruto was yet another step closer to earning the villagers' respect and acknowledgment! Vaguely hearing an annoyed grunt, the jovial boy absently spun a kunai in his hand, slicing Sasuke free from his bindings. In return, the slightly older boy just rolled his charcoal-hued eyes, grabbed his pack, and headed off for home without another word.
Naruto noticed that Hinata seemed discouraged by Sasuke's cold behavior, leaning comically behind her to watch their wayward teammate fade into the distance, "Eh, we'll work on getting him to warm up to us, Hinata-Chan. I'm not sure exactly how, but at some point, he'll have to give up, dattebayo."
The girl jumped, not expecting Naruto to be so close to her. The Hyūga quickly turned to face him, her face a deep scarlet. Standing back up straight, the whisker-faced youth gave her a beaming smile. They were alone now, and Naruto was quick to want to set the newfound awkwardness aside and return to their comfortable friendship.
"Say, Hina-Hime. How about we finish our lunch? We never got a chance because of Kakashi-Sensei suddenly showing up, and then maybe some light training? You said your clan specializes in Taijutsu right? We could have the best out of five rounds? ...If you're free that is." Naruto asked shyly, kicking a stray rock as he averted his gaze.
"...O-okay, but are you sure N-Naruto-Kun? I'm not very good, after all…"
"Meh, that's the point of training right? We can improve together! We're teammates now after all, -ttebayo! I mean, I'm not so great myself. Back in the academy, Sasuke beat me in every spar. I never won a single one when paired with him." Naruto explained plopping back down to eat what was left of his bento, Hinata following suit.
"In all honesty, being on a team with him is a bit intimidating. Don't tell him I said that though! That jerk already has enough of a chip on his shoulder. It actually felt really great to bring him down a peg or two today! Dattebayo!"
"A-anou... Th-That's not a very kind thing to say, Naruto-Kun…"
"What? It's true! You saw how he acted. Completely blowing us off and saying… Well, what he said. We're just gonna have to work twice as hard to make him acknowledge us as reliable teammates!" Naruto emphasized with determination, snapping his chopsticks in frustration. Not that he needed them anymore, having already finished his meal.
While patiently waiting for Hinata to finish her meal, Naruto went to work warming up for their spar with a series of stretches. The thought of sparring with Hinata excited Naruto. They'd never sparred against each other before. From what he remembered, back in the academy she'd been quite good at it, even if she felt otherwise. Naruto was passable but hoped that having a partner that wasn't just a copy of himself or stuffed with cotton, might improve his combat readiness.
This had been one of the many reasons the usually ostracized boy had been ecstatic when finding out that Hinata would be on the same team as him. She'd been his closest friend since the start of the academy. He could talk to her casually and usually be himself without fear of being rejected. Granted, Naruto's confidence in that fact had been tested when he'd accidentally kissed her earlier.
There were some lines when crossed, which even Naruto found hard to forgive. He knew Hinata felt uncomfortable when he invaded her personal space, so to him, the kiss was way over the line. Naruto had half expected her to react in a similar manner to one he'd experienced with Sakura or Ino. He'd been completely caught by surprise when she'd cared more about calming him down, and even going so far as to hug him!
Noticing that Hinata had finished up, Naruto got into position, allowing his mind to drift towards their other teammate. Sasuke had also been a surprise today. The orange-garbed ninja was impressed to learn that the generally conceited lone wolf retained the ability to swallow his pride. At least when pushed into a corner, with his prospective career on the line.
Naruto didn't see himself becoming friends with Sasuke anytime soon, for now though, he'd see the Uchiha as a rival to catch up to and one day surpass. Yes, the Uzumaki wasn't so prideful as to admit, at least to himself, that Sasuke was currently leagues ahead of him in skill. He was stronger, faster, smarter, better at ninjutsu, popular, good-looking, and taller. Sometimes Naruto felt envious and even jealous of Sasuke. Other times he was glad not to be the dark-haired adolescent, like when Sasuke was stuck in the middle of girls fighting over him, usually Sakura and Ino.
"Ready, Hinata-Chan? Remember, best out of five. Hm… We don't have anyone here to supervise us, so let's try our best not to land hits that could leave a mark."
Hinata nodded, taking a strange open-palmed stance as they started their spar. Naruto figured it had something to do with her family's fighting style. Mentally shrugging it off he launched himself forward, only to end up flat on his back with the breath knocked out of him.
'Ugh… Hinata-Chan's stronger than she lets on.'
"N-Naruto-Kun, are you alright?"
Naruto coughed as air refilled his lungs, sitting up and dusting himself off. Standing up, Naruto flashed a bright smile, rubbing the back of his head while letting out an awkward chuckle, "Yeah, I'm alright Hinata-Chan. But man, I wasn't expecting that! You knocked the wind right out of me!"
Their spar continued in a similar fashion, four out of five rounds proved Hinata the victor. It took being knocked down or slapped back four times before Naruto realized a straightforward approach wasn't doing him any favors. In the last round, he was finally able to win, catching Hinata by surprise when he swept her legs out from under her.
"Heh-Heh... I finally won! Yatta! You know, you're really amazing, Hinata-Chan! -ttebayo!" Naruto laughed, trying to catch his breath. Leaning down, he helped the bashful girl to her feet, removing his hitai-ate to wipe sweat from his brow.
Looking toward the horizon, Naruto became aware that it was close to early evening. Turning back to Hinata with a broad smile he spoke with a tired but happy tone, "Say, I don't know about you, but all that training made me hungry again. Wanna join me for Ichiraku's?"
Hinata fidgeted, twiddling her fingers nervously, "I… I wish I could N-Naruto-Kun. Unfortunately, I'm expected to be at home before dark." She explained sadly.
"O-oh… Well, do you mind if I walk you home then? Since we're teammates, it's important to become familiar with each other's home, yeah? Uh... I didn't mean that in a weird way, dattebayo! Just like, you know… If we wanted to meet up before missions and stuff, like going out for cinnamon rolls or ramen. Yeah! Stuff like that, -ttebayo." Naruto explained nervously.
Hinata watched him flail comically, a gentle smile forming on her face just before she gave him a small nod, "Yes, that sounds nice… Th-Thank you, N-Naruto-Kun."
"Hehe, no problem Hina-Hime," Naruto teased with another smile, running over to pick up their discarded packs from that morning, handing Hinata her equipment while shouldering his own.
Once the pair situated their gear, they headed out of the training field towards the Hyūga clan district. It was a quiet walk. Both genin lost in their private thoughts. They weren't in a rush, just enjoying the comfortable silence their partner offered during the short journey towards the other side of the village.
At the first signs of sunset, the duo arrived at their destination. Naruto stared quizzically at the large gates barring the prestigious residence from the view of onlookers. The blonde-haired boy wasn't sure why, but he felt a certain level of nostalgia standing there with Hinata as if this had happened before.
"Th-thank you for walking me home, N-Naruto-Kun," Hinata murmured with a polite bow. Naruto smiled, nodding in return.
"No problem, Hinata-Chan! Thank you for training with me, dattebayo. You showed me that I have a lot to work on with Taijutsu! So, are we still on for catching breakfast before our first mission tomorrow?"
Hinata blushed, mulling it over with an air of uncertainty before nodding. Naruto smiled one of his rare warm smiles usually reserved for only her and Iruka. He couldn't help becoming affected by her secret cheerfulness. It was a drug that fueled his joy.
"Great! I'll meet you here tomorrow morning then!"
"A-anou, are you sure N-Naruto-Kun? If I'm not mistaken, d-don't you live all the way on the other side of the village?"
"It's no big deal! That just means more training for me! No worries!"
"Oh… Well, okay then. See you tomorrow, Naruto-Kun."
The pair waved their goodbyes as one of the stoic guards allowed Hinata to pass into the secretive enclosure. Once she was out of sight Naruto sighed, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket as he turned to leave. Without Hinata's presence so close to him the reluctant sensor was starting to feel the sadness emanating from her home. How can so many people live in such a big house and be so sad? Walking away, Naruto stopped as a sudden epiphany hit him hard. The realization caused him to quickly do a double-take at the compound's hyōsatsu.
A faint memory from his childhood soon became clear within his mind. A day filled with snow, just a year before the villagers would start to show blatant contempt towards him. Naruto was barely three years old at the time. He'd been wandering around alone just after dark but forgot why. All he remembered was finding an indigo-haired girl wearing a dreary-looking kimono, crying, alone, in the middle of the street. The distraught girl was close to the same age as himself. The orphan understood, even back then, that other children were supposed to be home after dark. They had parents and guardians who worried about them, unlike him.
So, Naruto convinced the reluctant girl to give him her address, and then guided her home. When they'd arrived at her residence the isolated boy had been in awe. This girl lived in such a big house, filled with so many other people! How could she be so sad?
Naruto had always been all alone, sure strange people in masks appeared sometimes to check on him. Mostly to make sure he still had food, and basic supplies, or to verify that he didn't require care of some sort. However, these strange masked people never spoke to him or showed him any type of affection. Some would even brush past him, do their assigned task, and then leave as if he wasn't even there. Smiling ruefully, Naruto remembered what he'd said to that teary-eyed girl.
'You live in a big house like this, and you're crying? I don't have anyone, but I never cry! Never, ever! Dattebayo!'
Shaking his head as he walked down the street, Naruto let out a snort at the memory. He really lacked social skills back then, not that he was much better now. Even with all the extra training to recognize emotions and learning to understand certain mannerisms and behaviors, the ostracized boy still found himself inept with social nuances.
'I wonder if Hinata-Chan remembers that day as well… '
Continuing with his jaunt home, Naruto allowed his thoughts to drift in excitement for tomorrow's activities. They were now officially Squad Team Seven! They were recognized as apprentice shinobi! What kind of missions would they get? Naruto hoped it'd be something cool, like guarding a princess, or traveling somewhere exotic, maybe even battling some fearsome monster! Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough!
Author Note: Woohoo! Another epically long chapter finished! It was fun to write Naruto having a regular tween-sized meltdown of non-existent crises. What did you guys think of the tweaks to the bell test? I've always enjoyed how Kakashi trolls Naruto, so my version of Kakashi probably will always pick on Naruto just a bit more than canon. (I can't help myself) I promise Kurama will be returning soon, just have patience! As for why Naruto sometimes doesn't actively use his sensor ability? He's still an inexperienced tween! He can't multitask efficiently just yet! Don't ask for Hinata's PoV, it'll come at some point in a future chapter.
On that note, please stop asking me to make major edits to my published chapters! The only edits I'll make are for spelling mistakes, grammar errors, or minor character/plot inconsistencies, etc. I'm always willing to listen to advice and suggestions on how to develop Setsuri, but I'm usually five chapters ahead of what I publish, and will never confirm or deny how the story will go. I'm more willing to listen however if you remain courteous, respectful, and patient enough to give me space to work my magic.
Keywords:
Furikake - "Sprinkle", Type of savory Japanese seasoning commonly used to flavor Onigiri.
Tamago Kake Gohan - "Egg over Rice", a dish made pretty much exactly how I described it in this chapter. There are plenty of varieties, but Naruto made the bare-bones version.
Hiden (秘伝) - Secret techniques/information known only to a limited group of individuals.
Ōgi (奥義) - Secret techniques (of an art or skill), Mystery. (These two words were hard to describe the differences in English, so I included the Kanji so you can look it up yourselves.)
Sennen Goroshi - One Thousand Years of Death
Kanchō - A prank performed (Usually by children) by clasping the hands together in the shape of an imaginary gun and attempting to poke an unsuspecting victim's anus, often while exclaiming "Kan-CHO!"
Chikushô - Alternate spelling of Chukushou, since I was using it in its prefix form. Basically means you're calling the individual a shitty person, equivalents in intensity are Asshole/Son of a Bitch.
Kusoyarô - Asshole/Bastard in intensity, is a course version of Bakayarô (Which pretty much means Dumbass if you'll remember.)
Hyōsatsu - Nameplate/Doorplate, the sign you see in front of someone's residence. They can be quite fancy sometimes.