Exam
"You almost killed them." Setsuko looked up from her food to Kakashi. Yukio had woken, made breakfast, and went out. She and Kakashi were the only others awake.
"They made their choices in life. To reject each other. So I simply made my choice. To force them to except each other. Now I think the exam will be far too easy for them."
"Even so, you shouldn't have pushed them so hard."
"It was the only way." Setsuko went back to eating the food in front of her. "Besides, it was no different than being in an actual fight."
"Still, all this for the exam?"
"No, for life." Setsuko calmly replied. Silence fell over the two as they ate. Finally, Kakashi broke it.
"What's wrong?" Setsuko looked up at him.
"Pardon?"
"Something is wrong. You've given me the cold shoulder ever since you woke up." Setsuko stared at him.
"Kakashi . . . I don't mean to but . . . right now, Team 28 is the only thing that matters. They have every right to become chuunin. I want to help them and make that happen. My feelings for you can't be until they take the exam." Setsuko turned her gaze to her food. "Kakashi . . . you . . . I have put them through enough. Now it is time that they come first." Setsuko stood up. "I . . . I do care for you. However, my team has suffered enough. I won't make them suffer more. It is too much to ask of them. Please understand this." Setsuko left. Kakashi sighed and closed his eyes.
"Seung, you can come out now." Seung appeared with a sheepish grin.
"How long have you known?" Kakashi looked at her.
"After I asked what's wrong you came in." Seung smiled.
"Gomen, Kakashi-san." Seung felt the grin fall from her face as she became serious. "Ano . . . I . . . I . . ."
"It's alright." Kakashi cut her off as he stood. "I have to go wake up Naruto." He left as Janghoon and Riki came in. Seung turned to them.
"Nani?" Riki asked.
Setsuko waited in a tree branch for her team. Most of her wounds were gone but enough remained for her to avoid stressing herself. After several more minutes, the three genin appeared.
"Oy, you're late." She landed on the ground easily. "Now, I've got something to talk to you about. In three weeks-"
"We know." Seung interrupted her. "Gomen Setsuko-sensei, but I was there when you talked with Kakashi-san." Setsuko glared at them for a moment before closing her eyes and sighing.
"Kuso, I've never been any good at sensing others. Well, anyway, for the next two weeks I want you to train. Then, for the last week you can rest up." They nodded before beginning to train with Setsuko watching them, correcting mistakes.
Those three weeks passed quickly. Setsuko was able to join in the sparring after a few days. Though she had stopped using henge around her team, friends, and family, it was a different story around others. Currently, Setsuko was walking up a path to the Uzumaki family shrine.
"Setsuko-sensei!" Seung laughed as she reached the woman.
"Hai?" Setsuko smiled after she turned to the girl.
"Setsuko-sensei, it's today! It's today!!!" Setsuko laughed as Seung bubbled over with excitement.
"Hai, hai. I know Seung-chan. I was going to pray to my ancestors for you." Seung smiled brightly and hugged her sensei quickly.
"Arigatou! Demo . . ."
"Tsuzuku." ((Continue))
"Aren't you going to be there?" Setsuko smiled wishfully.
"Gomen. The only part I would be able to see you is right before the test to make sure that all three of you agreed to come and take it. I have no doubt that you all will take it." Setsuko patted her on the head. "Anything else?" Seung thought for a moment before nodding.
"Hai! Yoko-san told me that she would be gone the next few days. She was going to cleanse herself and would not be back for atleast a week. Masaru-san said that he would also be taking this time to do alittle bit of training so he will be gone for a few weeks and not to worry. Yukio-san went with him, he said that he would make sure Masaru-san didn't go off and forget to eat. Tenshi-san will be gone while this exam is taking place. She said that Akira-kun would be coming with her to keep her company. However, she did not say anything more than that." Setsuko nodded.
"Arigatou Seung-chan." Seung nodded once again and ran off to go join her team for the Exam. Setsuko smiled after her and once more began to make her way to her family shrine.
Kakashi landed quietly behind the woman. She was praying to her ancestors before she rang an old bell. She took another moment in silence before she turned around. A startled expression flew across her face but was gone before Kakashi was sure it was even there.
"Kakashi-" She was cut off by a stuffed bear being handed to her.
". . . I got that for you." She stared at the bear in puzzlement. She felt him quickly kiss her on the cheek through his mask. "Since we have some alone time, I was thinking, maybe you and I could could spend more time together." Setsuko smiled at him.
"Arigatou, Kakashi-kun." She held the bear close. "Hai. I would like to spend some time with you."
"Good." Kakashi stood in silence as Setsuko stared at him. "Umm . . . what do you want to do together?" She smiled sweetly.
"Well, it's just you and me tonight. Alone. In a big house. For atleast a week." Kakashi smiled at her.
"You're right. We should go eat out tonight." With that said, Kakashi was gone. Setsuko stood there, dumbfounded. She looked down at the bear.
"Looks like just you and me tonight." She sighed.
Robin stood with her team in a large room. She turned to Ino.
"What will happen?" Ino thought for a moment before answering.
"Well, there are three parts of the exam. Last one is tournament. However, if there are too many people after the second exam, then they'll have pre-" A familiar large man appeared and cut off Ino before she could finish.
"SHUT UP YOU BRATS!!!!!" Tenshi suddenly appeared sitting on the desk in front. She was smiling.
"Omaesan!!! ((Hey)) I'm the instructor for this part of the exam!" She giggled. "This is my first time so go easy on me!!!" Tenshi had a huge grin on her face. She was lifting her hands up as she spoke her next words. "This exam will only last 15 minutes!!!" Robin felt her eyes widen as she saw the hand seals Tenshi was forming. 'A genjutsu?!!!' Was the only thought that entered her mind before Tenshi lowered her hands. She sat patiently there, waiting for something. Robin pressed a cold hand against her forehead. 'She did something . . . but what?!' Robin looked around to see everyone else waiting patiently for Tenshi to speak again. 'I need to break it!' Robin pulled a blade from out of her boot. 'Before it's too late!!!!' Robin rammed the blade into her thigh. As blood sprayed from it, the world she saw melted away. Robin yanked the blade out of her thigh and stared at the grinning Tenshi. The other genin stood with a dazed look on their faces.
"Kai!" Sakura yelled out. She blinked a few times before turning to her teammates. A few other genin yelled out as they broke free. The Emotionless Executioner turned to Ino and Choji. She pulled her hand back and slapped Ino across the face with the back of her hand. She turned to Choji and did the same.
"What the hell did you do that for?!" Ino yelled as she rubbed her cheek.
"Tenshi-san performed a genjutsu. Pain is the only way I am capable of to break it." Ino glared at her while Choji cradled his cheek. She turned her attention back to the front. On the board was instructions to go to the Forest of Death. Tenshi smiled and winked at Robin before disappearing.
"KAI!" Janghoon yelled. He rubbed his head as he looked at his sister and Riki.
Setsuko hugged the bear as she entered her room before holding it away from her as she started to think.
"Hmmm . . . I think I'll name you . . . Scarecrow." She laughed silently at her own joke as she put the bear on her bed. Setsuko looked over at a picture by her bed. It was of her and her team. They had taken a picture together two weeks ago. Setsuko stood behind the three with her arms crossed, a gentle smile smirk tugged at her lips as she stared at the group. Riki had been giving Seung a piggy back ride and Janghoon was lifting her off. The picture was taken as she was being lifted, laughing her heart out. Janghoon and Riki were both laughing. No henge was used while it was taken. Setsuko had no disguise to hide her real appearance. She would have been using henge if she had known that the picture was being taken. Naruto and Robin had decided to take it. Setsuko pulled off her clothes as her mind wandered while she was putting on her pajamas. Setsuko sighed before falling back on her bed. She rolled over and smiled at the bear before a look of confusion spread across her face. ". . . I . . . I don't understand it . . ." She muttered to herself.
"Understand what?" Setsuko shot up and stared at Kakashi before glaring.
"PERVERT!!!!!" She yelled as she threw a punch at his head.
"I don't understand the meaning of that test." Seung muttered as she stood outside of the forest with the others that had been able to dispel the genjutsu.
"It was a simple test. To look underneath the underneath. I used a genjutsu. There were small things that you might have noticed. My hand seals for one. The test was to see if you were able to pick up on it and dispel the illusion." Tenshi answered cheerfully.
"Oy! You should stop worrying about that test and worry about this one!!!" Anko yelled as she appeared in a bright flash and explosion. "I'm the examiner for the second test!!!" Tenshi patted Robin on the head before standing beside Akira. "Nani!!!! 27 teams left!!!" Anko turned to Tenshi. "What kind of test was it?!" Tenshi smiled.
"Just a genjutsu I used. It's hard to break if you don't know it's been used. However, I did get rid of 30 teams." Anko glared at the teams.
"Hm, very well. I'll get rid of most of them anyway." Anko smirked evilly. "Now! This test will be simple. You each will be given a clue before we begin. You need 3 clues in order to find the location of the next test. When you get there, you need to show all three clues. There will be seven identical clues so it will be of no use to go after just any team. Keep in mind that this will be in the Forest of Death. Now, because we have to make sure you have the proper clues, there will be a hour break."
Setsuko sat on her bed frowning while Kakashi nursed his bruised jaw.
". . . Kakashi . . ."
"Hai?"
". . . why . . . why haven't you tried to make love to me?" Kakashi choked on the air and began to cough alittle before clearing his throat as he turned bright red.
"Nani?" Setsuko wrapped her arms around her knees as she closed her eyes.
". . . isn't that people do? When they love each other. Isn't that why men try to rape women? To try and gain a love for a moment? With no attachments because it was not agreed upon." Kakashi frowned alittle before answering.
". . . I suppose that is correct." Kakashi muttered.
"And . . . what I was told is my . . . virginity . . . should only be taken away by someone I truly love. How can that be done?" She looked up at him.
"Setsuko . . . umm . . . you know, the birds and the bees." Setsuko looked at him confused as to why he would bring up birds and bees.
"I was never taught such phrases. I do not understand the phrases that people speak of. I do not understand many things in the world with people." Setsuko looked down at the bed. "I do not understand why you have not tried to have sex with me. Don't men usually try to by now? I spoke earlier with a suggestive tone and you did not even acknowledge the thought. I am that repulsive? Or do you not wish to take part in that step?" She looked towards the embarrassed Kakashi.
". . . I, ano, I . . . I know about . . . the attempts . . . that were made." Setsuko nodded quietly.
"Hai. And I did not agree upon it so I stopped it from happening. They did not harm me." Kakashi scratched the back of his head as he sighed.
"But . . . a lot of women would be uncomfortable with men after that."
"Kakashi-kun . . . I am not like other women. I have not been since I was twelve. Even then I was different." Kakashi nodded before continuing.
"Setsuko . . . sex shouldn't be taken lightly. It . . . it says there is something important about that love they have. That it is rare and should be treasured. Why do you think they have something called marriage?" Setsuko sighed as she looked at the wall.
". . . Kakashi . . . I understand your words. But . . . after all that has happened . . . you still do not act. That is what I do not understand." Kakashi smiled at her through his mask.
"About that. I've never really acted because Naruto is a student of mine. It would be . . . difficult for us to be together and for me to teach Naruto." Setsuko nodded before speaking again.
". . . is it not trying on all of us to avoid spending more time together." Setsuko sighed and shook her head. "Kakashi, you forget that I have had limited contact with people. I do not understand things as some would. My knowledge about this world is trivial at best."
". . . Setsuko . . . I don't think you realize what you want." Setsuko nodded after a moment.
". . . no . . . I suppose I don't." She smiled sadly at him. "Arigatou, Kakashi-kun."
Robin glanced around while she and her team were resting.
". . . how did you know that it was a genjutsu." Robin turned to Choji.
"Tenshi-san is my cousin. I grew up with her acting like my elder sister. Since I am weak against genjutsu, she taught me how to recognize it with ease. I was able to recognize the hand seals. It was one of the basics she taught me. However, since I cannot perform the correct jutsu to dispel it, pain is the only way I know." Robin adjusted the naginata on her back. She returned her gaze to the forest. "Tell me, how long until the hour is up?" Ino blinked a few times before looking at her watch.
"Umm . . . in twenty minutes. Why?" Robin smiled at her.
"I was just curious."