Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Kai knew that it would take more than just shurikens to take down Kakashi. Especially when he never lets his guard down around anyone. Even with her or at home. And just as she had predicted, his body poofed and where his body now lay a log with shurikens and kunai's that Sasuke had pierced him with.

Hearing the sound of rustling leaves and light pounding feet on tree branches, Kai knew that if she could hear and locate Sasuke that easily, then she knew that Kakashi had also already located him as well. There was no need for both of them to try and locate Sakura at all. The girl was crazy for the Uchiha boy, so wherever the boy goes, she follows. Which made Kai internally sigh in disappointment.

"So, do you think they'll pass?"

Looking over her shoulder, Kai knew that this Kakashi was only a clone. Shrugging, she answered, "Who knows. Those three are so different and yet, I know that they can work together. But seeing how you pit them against each other, I doubt they'll even think about working together to accomplish the goal of this exercise."

Kakashi hummed, "True. Especially since these three have their own dreams to accomplish. Well, Naruto and Sasuke anyways. Sakura… not so much."

"Who knows. Maybe these three might pass in the end and will be your very first squad to take under your wing," Kai chuckled.

Hearing a poof of smoke, Kai knew that Kakashi's clone has left her. Closing her eyes, she broadens her senses and was able to sense where everyone was at. Naruto, who was still dangling where he was at, was not too far from her. Sasuke seemed to be moving yet, still staying within the perimeter from where he was at. This tells her that he was setting up a trap. Though what kind, she doesn't know. Then last but not least, there was Sakura.

It was just as Kai had thought, the girl had followed the Uchiha boy. But was stopped short because of Kakashi's intervene.

Wondering what he was going to do to her next since he had used taijutsu on Naruto, Kai got up from her perch on the branch and was about to body flickered herself to where she could feel the older Jounin's chakra. Until she heard Sakura's scream. Wondering what happened, she body flickered to appear next to him. Kai saw him look at her before focusing his attention back at the girl below. Continuing on what he was doing, Kakashi finished making his genjutsu.

Sitting on the branch, Kai asked, "So, what genjutsu did you use on her?"

Taking out his book from his pouch, Kakashi rose a brow at her, "Shouldn't it be obvious?"

Looking back down at the young kunoichi, they watched as Sakura looked around her in confusion. It would seem that the girl knew that she was put into a genjutsu but it seems that her brain wasn't catching up to her until she looked somewhere to her left and shouted Sasuke's name… screamed and fainted.

Now understanding, what he had done, Kai raised a brow at the silver-haired Jounin's way. Seeing her face, Kakashi brought his book up closer to try to hide his face.

"I think I overdid it a bit."

"You think?" Kai retorted, hoping that the girl didn't get too traumatized by what she was shown.

Bringing his book down a bit, Kakashi smiles at her, "In my defense, she got to learn to see through these things."

Sighing, she shook her head at him and watch him stand up and body flickered to where Sasuke was. Deciding to do the same thing also, Kai body flickered to a tree near them and watched the two to start their session.

"Shinobi Battle Skill Number 2, the Illusion Jutsu. Sakura studied it in class, but she still couldn't see it coming," said Kakashi, standing under a tree with his book in hand just behind Sasuke.

Sasuke turned to him, narrowing his eyes at him, "I'm not like Sakura and Naruto."

"Say that after you get one of these bells, my Sasuke," mocked Kakashi, chuckling while he pushed himself from the tree.

Facing each other, Sasuke glared at the man. Just because he is his Sensei, didn't mean that he was going to let slide what had happened between both the older male and the girl that he liked two years ago. And seeing how the man doesn't care if they end up hurting him or not, Sasuke decided to take this chance to try and get back at him. So getting into a stance, his hand hovered over his kunai pouch.

Putting her elbow on her leg, Kai leaned her head into her hand and watched the two standing, assessing each other in a staredown. A minute passed between the two until Sasuke finally made a move. Making a grab for his pouch behind him, he ended up throwing shurikens at the older male. Kakashi had predicted his move and dodged the throwing stars.

"There's no point using normal attacks," said Kakashi.

Until Sasuke ends up throwing a kunai at a hidden rope. Both Kakashi and Kai were quite impressed at his quick set up with so little time. With quick speed, Kakashi dodged the trap and skid to a halt.

Kai smiled, impressed by how quick the young Uchiha got behind the older Jounin. And without any hesitation, the boy threw a kick at Kakashi's head.

Sasuke clicked his tongue when he saw that he had blocked his kick. He was so hoping to be able to hurt him, but he should've known that it wouldn't be that easy. This was a Jounin, a very experienced ninja, that he was up against after all. Maneuvering his body, Sasuke tried to punch him next.

He inwardly smirked when he got Kakashi's hands occupied. With his free leg, he tried to kick him from above. But it was blocked by the older Jounin's arm. Chuckling at where he got him, Sasuke quickly reached for the bells.

Kakashi's eyes widened, finally understanding what the boy was trying to do. Seeing him touch one of the bells, Kakashi quickly pushed the boy away as he jumped away to put some distance between them.

~Meanwhile with Naruto~

Still dangling on the same tree, Naruto growled at himself for falling into the same trap twice. He had free himself the first time, but he accidentally set off the second trap. So now instead of both of his feet tied, now it's just his left that is roped.

Crossing his arms in front of his chest, he grumbled mockingly, "A ninja must see through deception. If I wasn't so hungry, I would've been able to beat him and pay him back for what he did to Kai."

Contemplating how he was going to get payback at the male Jounin, Naruto's eyes strayed to the poles to see something on the huge rock.

"Hey, what are those things down there?"

Squinting his eyes, they widen when he noticed what they are.

"I know what those things are. Those things are boxed lunches. And not just any boxed lunches. Those are Kai's homemade boxed lunches! I can recognize those design of boxed lunches anywhere!"

Finally understanding what the silver-haired male meant, Naruto started giggling, "Oh, A ninja must see through deception."

~Back to Kakashi and the two~

Staring each other down again, Kakashi was the first to break the silence, "Well, you are different from the other two. I'll grant you that. Then again, you probably wouldn't be as good as you are today if Kai wasn't training you, right?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the last sentence. He didn't know if it was supposed to be a compliment or an insult. Deciding to ignore his words instead, he ended up gathering chakra and started to hand sign.

Kai's eyes widen at what the Uchiha was about to do, "So, he's going to go for desperate measures I see."

This action seemed to have caught Kakashi off guard, "What? Genins can't do a fire jutsu. Takes too much chakra. There's no way." His eyes then glanced over to the sunset blonde that was still sitting in the tree watching their fight.

'Then again, he has been training with Kai. So who knows what she has been teaching both him and Naruto.'

His attention quickly went back to his student in front of him when he felt the heat and chakra in the air.

Releasing his jutsu, Sasuke did a fireball at his Jounin sensei. He kept the fire going for a while until he thought for sure that he had gotten him. But when he stopped, all he saw was a huge burnt crater. No burnt corpse or anything. Surprised at this outcome, he started to look everywhere around him.

Kai shook her head, "If you can't see your enemy around you, then you should always expect the unexpected."

And just as she had said, Kakashi said the exact same thing when his hand burst out of the ground to grab at Sasuke's ankle, "Where? I'm where you least expect me-" And with one hard tug, he pulled the boy into the ground as he replaced himself in his spot back on the surface.

"-right under your feet. Earth-Style Headhunter Jutsu."

Grunting, Sasuke tried to move his body but it was just too stuck into the ground.

Kakashi chuckled, "Can't move, huh? That was ninjutsu, the third shinobi battle skill."

Angry that he got caught and now unable to move to get his payback, Sasuke turned his face away from him.

However, Kakashi didn't care for his attitude to him as he continues, "You have talent, and you are right. You are different from the others. But different isn't always better. They say 'the nail that sticks up is the one that gets hammered down.'"

With that, he left the boy stuck underground. Of course, not without body flickering himself next to Kai, who glanced his way when he appeared next to her. Kakashi smiled down at her, "Shall we get going? I think a certain someone is about to eat our lunch."

She chuckled, "You mean the boxed lunch that I made."

Getting up from her perch, Kai put a hand out to him, "Well then, shall we get going before they're eaten?"

Chuckling, Kakashi put his hand in hers as she activated the seal on Naruto and teleported just above him on the memorial stone when he shouted, "It's chow time!"

Deciding to make their presence known, Kakashi spoke, "Hi, there!"

Naruto froze, sweatdropping at being caught. Looking up at them, he laughed nervously, "Uh… I was just joking, Sensei. Kai…"

Kai smiled menacing at him, "You weren't going to eat that ahead of everyone. Were you, Naruto?"

Kakashi smiles down at him, "Nice try."

With a rope out of nowhere, he wrapped it around the blond boy and tied him to the middle pole. And just like that, the timer goes off. Looking over to the trees where Kai knew that both she and Kakashi had left Sasuke at, and knowing Sakura she would be with the boy too, come walking out of the trees and into the clearing where they're at.

Watching the two come over to them, Kai raised a brow at the moody Uchiha when he came and walked over to sit on the ground to the right of Naruto at where he was tied. Sakura didn't look any better than the raven-haired boy. She was quite gloomy that you could feel the tension rolling off of her. Tilting her head, Kai wonders what had happened to the girl to become this way. It couldn't have been from Kakashi's genjutsu.

Sure the girl would be shaken up a bit, but she should have been relieved once she notices that the Uchiha was alright. Looking over to Sasuke, Kai remembered that the two had come back to the clearing together, which then tells her that something must've happened between the two for the girl to become this way. Just then, all three of the Genin's stomach's growled, cutting the silence in the air.

Kakashi looks down at all of them, "Uh-oh, stomach's growling, huh? That's too bad."

His words made the boys glare at him while Kai sweatdropped at the man's easy-going words.

Ignoring them, he continues, "Oh, by the way, about this exercise? Well, I've decided I won't send any of you back to the academy."

Hearing the news, the three Genins were surprised and started cheering out loud. Well, besides Sasuke who merely smirks at the news. However, Kai inwardly sighed and shook her head at the three's celebration.

'If only they knew' thought Kai, wondering why Kakashi love to be dramatic before telling the actual news.

"Then, then that means all three of us- I mean, all three of us?" Naruto started excitedly.

Kakashi smiles at them, "Yes, all three of you are being dropped from the program. Permanently."

And just like that, all three of their smiling faces and cheering were stopped immediately and were replaced with shock. Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Kai leans herself on a nearby tree and looked down at the ground as she kept her attention at the group.

"Drop us from the program? That means we can never become ninja. You said if we couldn't take the bells, we'd be sent back to the academy. You can't just change your mind and kick us out! Why would you do that?" shouted Naruto, not understanding why. He then turns his attention to Kai, "Kai, he can't do that. You're his assistant right? He can't do that, right?"

Closing her eyes, she answers, "Actually, he can."

Her words made all of the Genin's eyes widen, "What?"

Pushing herself off from the tree, Kai looked at them with a frown, "He's a Jounin and your Sensei. He makes the choice of whether you pass or fail. In this case, dropping you all from the program. And you want to know why you're being dropped?"

The three stayed silent. The two boys knew that when Kai was stern at them, that they knew that they messed up and she was very disappointed in them. So, when none of them spoke to answer her question, Kakashi took that liberty to answer their confusion.

"It's because you don't think like ninja. You think like little kids- like brats."

It would seem the insult was not welcomed by the Uchiha, because he quickly got up from where he sat and started running right up to the older male. Kai was about to intervene until she saw a small hand gesture from Kakashi to leave it be. Doing as he says, she stayed where she's at and watch as the silver-haired flipped Sasuke down onto his front, holding one of his arms behind his back as he sits on the boy with a foot holding his head down.

"Sasuke!"

Grunting, Sasuke growled in frustration as he tried to get out of the man's grasp. However, that only made Kakashi's grip on his arm only harder. Kai could only sigh at Sasuke's attempt.

"You think it's all about you," said Kakashi, narrowing his eyes down at the ravenette under him.

"Let go of Sasuke! You can't step on him like he's a bug!" shouted Sakura, glaring at their Sensei.

Turning his gaze to his other two students, Kakashi glares at them, "You don't know what it means to be a ninja. You think it's a game, huh?"

His words made the Genin's eyes widen. Kai couldn't help but shake her head. She couldn't believe that they weren't taking this seriously this entire time. If this had been a real mission and not an exercise, they would've been dead from the very beginning. She was surprised that Naruto hadn't taken it seriously considering how many times she had to save him in the past when his life was in danger. Sasuke was a different story. The boy was never in danger compare to the blond, besides his traumatic past of Itachi slaughtering the entire Uchiha Clan. Then there was Sakura, who never once got kidnapped, hurt, or taken her training during the academy seriously.

"Why do you think we put you on squads? Did you consider that question for one moment?" continued Kakashi, his glare never once leaving.

It was quiet for a bit until Sakura nervously spoke up, "Uh, I don't know what you mean?"

Heavily sighing at the girl's question, Kai shook her head, 'For someone who got good grades and is book-smart, she sure doesn't get much when it comes to actual battles and missions it seems.'

"I mean, you never realized what this exercise is all about. Not even close."

"What it's about?" asked Naruto, still not getting the point that their Sensei was slowly pointing out.

"Yes, that's what determines whether you pass or fail."

"But that's- I mean, I wanted to ask you about that from the beginning," said Sakura, now being nervous under the silver-haired male's glare and Kai's disappointed look.

Kakashi mentally rolled his eyes, wondering how he got a smart and yet dumb student who can't even figure out what he has been hinting at this entire time. So reigning in his anger, he slowly tried to hint it to them again.

"Tch, use your head. Three people on a squad. Why do you think we would do that?"

Just wanting him to get to the point already, Naruto shouted, "How are we suppose to know why you picked three people? We didn't make the rules."

Having enough of this, Kai decided to make her irritation known, "It's so basic and easy to understand that I can't believe even you three hadn't caught on to it yet."

This brought everyone's attention to her. Narrowing her eyes at the three Genins when none of them spoke up, she looked at each and every one of them in disappointment, "It's teamwork."

Their eyes widen at this revelation.

"Just working together… Is that what you mean?" asked Sakura, still shocked that the answer to this whole exercise was teamwork. She couldn't believe it because this entire time they have been doing quite the opposite.

Kakashi took over the conversation again, "That's what I mean. It's too late now. But if all three of you would come at me, you might have been able to take them. Well, anyway, it's over."

"Wait a minute, you set it up with three people but only two bells. If we worked together and got the bells, only two of us could keep them. And that would lead to group conflict. And the squad would break up."

"Exactly. I purposely pitted you against each other."

They gasped out in confusion, now wondering why he had done that.

Seeing their confusion, Kakashi explained, "I wanted to see if you could overcome that and put the squad ahead of yourselves, a Genin should have a natural feel for teamwork. But you- it never even crossed your mind."

Looking to his female student, Kakashi started with her mistake first, "Sakura, you obsessed about Sasuke who was gone; while Naruto was right in front of you and you wouldn't lift a finger to help him."

His words made the girl feel guilty because she knew that he was right. She could've helped Naruto when Sasuke had rushed off. She could've taken that chance to free the blond while Sasuke had kept the older Jounin busy. But instead, she was still so happy to be on the same team as Sasuke that she pretty much didn't care about anyone else but the Uchiha. Looking over to the young lord, she could still see the disappointment gaze he held to all of them, which only made Sakura feel even worse than ever since Naruto was like a little brother to him.

Fixing his gaze to the tied up blond next, Kakashi continues, "Naruto, you do everything on your own. Everything."

Turning his gaze away, Naruto knew that the man was right. Thinking back on the exercise, all he pretty much did was charged at the man head-on. He didn't even make a plan or even try to converse with his other two teammates. He pretty much did everything alone. Then again, it was pretty much the only thing he knew. And of course, there was definitely no way that he was going to team up with Sasuke since the guy pretty much think that he's better than everyone else. Well, everyone besides Kai since the girl forced the two to sometimes participate and team up when they trained against her. And this time, he was so hoping to actually impress the sunset blonde with his skills and prove that he didn't need Sasuke's help. Unfortunately, that had backfired at him.

Finally, Kakashi looks down at the boy underneath him. Putting a bit of pressure on his foot that was still on Sasuke's head, he pushed the boy's face down a bit more into the ground for discipline and getting his words across, "And you Sasuke thought that the others were so far beneath you, they were worthless. Arrogance."

Gritting his teeth, Sasuke tried to wriggle out of the man's grasp again but he stopped when he felt the pressure pushed onto him even more. He knew. He knew that what Kakashi had said was the truth about him. However, Sasuke didn't care about this exercise much in the first place because it was just that. An exercise. And he knew that the two would only slow him down on his progress on getting stronger. Sakura, one of his many fangirls barely took her training seriously. And then there was Naruto. Sure he may have trained with the blond with Kai from time to time. But the boy could barely even keep up with him. Which made Sasuke saw him as someone who is weak.

Gaining their attention, Kakashi continues, "Ninja missions are carried out in squads. Of course, you need individual skills. But teamwork is the most essential element. Every shinobi understands this. When individuals put themselves above the squad, this can lead to failure and death."

Looking at each and every one of them to see if they are still paying attention to him, Kakashi reached into his pouch, "For example-" Pulling out a kunai from it, he pointed the weapon to Sasuke's neck, "Sakura, kill Naruto now or Sasuke dies."

Hearing his words and seeing the situation suddenly turning dangerous, both Sakura and Naruto started freaking out, not knowing if their Sensei actually want them to kill each other. Seeing that he finally got his point across, Kakashi continued, "That's what happens on a mission."

Taking his weapon away from the boy's neck, Kakashi felt him gave in, finally understanding the point of them being in a team. It didn't make the boy like it any better though. However, Kakashi didn't care about his opinion. As long as he understood the importance of teamwork and them being in a squad really meant, then it was all he cared about.

Sakura sighed in relief, "Oh boy, that was really scary."

"The enemy takes a hostage, and you've got an impossible choice. And someone ends up dead," said Kakashi, spinning his kunai with a finger before putting it away and finally getting off the ravenette. "On every mission, your life is on the line."

Kai watched as Kakashi walked away from the Genins and towards the stone. The very stone that she knew has two very most important people's name that was dear to her. The very people who sacrificed their lives to keep the village safe thirteen years ago. Her eyes downcast to the ground in front of her.

A certain black-haired with deep onyx eyes with his always smiling face appeared the front of Kai's mind. A certain Uchiha, who has also been close to her. His name would have been carved on that stone as well if the elder's and most of the villagers hadn't seen him as a traitor for his "disappearance." Then again, Shisui wouldn't have cared about that as long as those who are close and dear to him knew the truth. Then it was all he pretty much cared about. That thought made her smile before she focused her attention back to the silver-haired man who she has known pretty much her entire life.

"Did you look at this stone, the names engraved on it? They are all ninja who are honored as heroes in our village."

Hearing the word hero, Naruto started shouting excitedly, "That's it, that's it, that's it! Now, I know. I've decided I'm going to have my name engraved on that stone. I'm not going to live and die for nothing like a dog. I'm going to be a hero. A hero!"

Kai's eyes widen at her little brother's words before sadly looking at him, "Naruto."

Naruto turned his head to her when he heard her call his name. He was still smiling but when he saw the sadness on her face, his excitement died a bit.

"Yeah?"

"Do you… even now what this stone represents?"

When she saw him shake his head to her question, she knew then, that she probably should've brought him here a long time ago. So he knew what the meaning of having your name engraved on this stone truly meant.

Seeing her dejected look, Kakashi decided to answer for her, "They are a special kind of hero."

Still confused, Naruto asked, "Huh? What kind of heroes are they? Come on, tell us."

When both Jounins still haven't answered, the tied up blond pestered, "Well?"

"They're all KIA."

Not understanding what the big deal was, Naruto smiled, "Ooh, that sounds real cool."

Sasuke fisted his hand by his side, annoyed how the blond wasn't taking the situation seriously and still thinking that the stone represented something much cooler than it actually does. Sakura, seeing the tension that was growing, had opened her mouth to tell Naruto what it meant.

"It means, "killed-in-action." They all died."

That seemed to have brought the boy down from his excitement. Looking over to Kai, he now knew why the girl looked so sad just by looking at the stone now. It probably had her parent's names on there. The very parents who saved the village from the Nine-Tailed Fox that now lies and sealed within him. Looking at the ground, Naruto started mentally kicking himself for being so dumb at being excited.

"This is a memorial stone," said Kakashi, continuing after a while of silence and remembrance of the people he had lost whose names are now on the stone. "The names of my closest friends are engraved here. As well as Kai's parents."

Hearing him mention her parents, Kai looked away and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Sasuke looked to her and remembered the words that she had said to him of knowing the feeling of losing your parents. Your family. It makes him wonder what is going through her mind right now from seeing the memorial stone with her parent's names on it.

Wanting to get back on track and to finish this exercise, Kakashi turns back around to face them, "All right, I'm going to give you one more chance. But I'm going to make it much harder on you. You'll have three hours to get a bell. Eat lunch now to build up strength. But Naruto doesn't get any."

Naruto grunted at his order. Looking at him, Kakashi sternly looks at him, "It's your punishment for breaking the rules and trying to eat by yourself." He then narrows his eyes at his other students who have been quiet this entire time, "And if anyone tries to feed him, that person will immediately fail."

They all nervously look at him. Both Naruto and Sakura more so than Sasuke who only narrowed his eyes back.

Before leaving them, he sternly spoke, "I make the rules. You follow them. Got it?"

Seeing them nod their heads to his warning, Kakashi nodded back before turning to the quiet sunset blonde. "Well than Kai, shall we get going?"

Lifting her head up to look at him, she nodded, "Yeah." Looking over to the three, she smiles, "We'll be back. Eat up and rest until we return. Okay?"

Both Jounins started walking off together until Naruto's loud voice stopped them, "Hey! Wait a minute? You mean you're both leaving together?"

Turning around to him, Kai raised a brow, "Yeah. I mean, I am his assistant after all."

"Well, why can't you stay here and keep us company? I mean… well, you know…" pouted Naruto, not wanting Kai to know that he just wanted her to not be anywhere alone with the silver-haired male because he will definitely never forget what the man had done to her two years ago.

Seeing what he meant, Sasuke decided to back him up, "He's right. You're always with us to make sure that we finish every of our food and besides…" He looked away, a small blush dusting his cheeks, "It's always more… fun… with you here."

Sakura, not understanding the two's plans on wanting Kai to stay away from their Sensei, wanted to put her opinion in as well, "They're right, Lord Namikaze. You always tend to make things happier when you're around. So please stay and eat lunch with us?"

Narrowing his eyes at his students, Kakashi knew instantly what the boys were up to. Though he doubted that Sakura even knew what she was even helping with. He should've figured that they didn't want him alone with her. It makes him wonder why they didn't use this teamwork together during their exercise. Yet, when it came to Kai, they worked together flawlessly. Sighing, Kakashi shook his head at already knowing the answer. It was because Kai was precious to them. In many forms within their minds.

Frowning at them, Kai rubbed the back of her neck, now debating on what she should do now. Sure she doesn't mind being with the Genins. However, she knew that the exercise was still ongoing whether the three knew it or not. Looking to Kakashi by the corner of her eyes, she saw him shake his head and gestured it forward, telling her to leave them be.

Nodding, she apologized with a small smile, "Sorry you three, but Kakashi and I have some stuff to go over. We'll be back before you know it."

With a wave, the two Jounins left them.

Naruto clicked his tongue, surprising the pink-haired girl at the sudden action.

"Damn it, looks like it's going to be a bit harder to get her away from Kakashi since she's his assistant now."

Sasuke nodded, "Yeah. We'll just have to make sure the two aren't ever alone together."

Looking at each other, they mentally agreed with each other. While Sakura frowned in confusion at what the two were talking about now. She didn't understand why the boys didn't want Kai to be alone with their Sensei. Sure he's a male, and Kakashi is also a male, but she doesn't think that the two are like that with each other. Were they?

Imagining the two being in a secret relationship without anyone knowing, Sakura started blushing really red. She didn't know whether to support their relationship because it was adorable or to be jealous because she also really liked the sunset blonde. Just as much as she really liked Sasuke.

"So, why exactly are we hiding?" asked Kai, crossing her arms in front of her as she watched Sakura and Sasuke eat the lunch that she made while Naruto looked miserable as the two ate.

Leaning his back on a trunk of a tree, Kakashi smiles, "It's to see if they'll pass or fail."

Confused by what he meant, Kai thought about what he said for a bit until her eyes widen, "This is their second chance."

"Knew you would catch on."

Looking back to the Genins, she frowns, "What would happen if they don't pass?"

Kakashi shrugs, "Then they fail."

Humming, the two decided to stay silent as they watched and listened to the three interact.

It would seem that Naruto's stomach kept growling and tried to play it tough. However, Sasuke decided to give his food as well as Sakura. Smiling at this interaction, Kai looked over to Kakashi, "Well, it seems they are willing to share and finished the mission. What is your answer going to be?"

Smiling, Kakashi did a hand sign and poofed away from her just to appear in front of the three Genins after Sakura had fed Naruto. Kai sweatdropped at the older male's dramatic entrance.

"That…. That was a bit over the top. Is he trying to scare them?"

Shaking her head from the thought, she sighed before chuckling slightly and made her way towards them slowly. Whatever it was Kakashi was saying, he was putting up a good act of being angry with them. That is until he did some hand signs to bring some dark clouds for dramatic effect.

She deadpanned at this, "Okay, now he's just outright scaring them."

And she was right too because she had just arrived close enough to hear Naruto's frightened voice, "But you said-"

"Yes?" said Kakashi, tilting his head for the boy to continue.

"You said that there were three of us. That's what you said! And that's why Sakura and-"

Not knowing if the two felt the same way he did, Naruto trailed off. Seeing his slight confusion, Sasuke decided to reassure him that he wasn't the only one feeling the emotion, "We're all on this squad. And we're all in it together."

Wanting to back the two up, Sakura took a deep breath to reign in her fear and spoke up next, "Yeah, that's gave our lunch to him because the three of us are one!"

Seeing and hearing the two back him up, Naruto started shouting in agreement.

Narrowing his eyes down at them, Kakashi walked closer to them before putting his hands on his hips, "'The three of you are one' that's your excuse?"

When none of them answered him but with only determination and unwavering bravery, he smiled, "You pass."

His words caught all three of them off guard as they looked all looked confused. Repeating himself so they can hear it clearly, Kakashi said it slowly, "You pass."

Behind the three, Kai shook her head. Yup, she was definitely glad that she didn't have the guy as her squad sensei because even she too would be just as confused as his students are right now. Heck, the way how he had done the exercise was much too dramatic that she wonders if the guy had been getting his ideas from reading too much of Yaya's books.

"What do you mean? How'd we pass?" asked Sakura, not understanding what had just happened.

The dark clouds started clear away for the blue sky and bright sun as it beamed its sunrays down upon them once more.

"You're the first squad that ever succeeded. The others did exactly what I said and fell into every trap. They couldn't think for themselves. "A ninja must see through deception." In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum. That's true. But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."

Smiling at his praised words, all three of the Genins smiled while Naruto started tearing up, "He's a- you know, he's kind of cool."

Kai sighed and smiled at all of them, happy that they all passed and Naruto coming closer to his dream even if it was one step at a time.

"The exercise is over. Everyone passes. Squad seven starts its first mission tomorrow!" said Kakashi, giving them a thumbs up.

Deadpanning at him, Kai walked up to him and put a hand over his still outstretched hand with his thumb still out, "Don't do that. You look weird doing that."

Chuckling, Kakashi ruffled her hair while the two loud ones cheered behind them.

"I did it! I'm a ninja! Kai! I actually did it!" shouted Naruto, excitedly.

Chuckling, she smiles at him, "That you did, Naruto. And it would seem that we will be going on missions together from now on."

Her words made the boys elated even more.

No more waiting for her to come back to the village from her missions. No more worrying if she would be alright when she came back from them. Now that they are on the same squad, they could finally see her in action and be together with her from now on. Smiling, Naruto started shouting excitedly even more while Sasuke smirked.

Sakura smiled excitedly and couldn't wait to start their first mission together tomorrow. Oh, how she totally can't wait to rub this in Ino's face. She got both hotties's on her squad and couldn't wait to finally see Kai in action. She had heard so many stories about him from so many people who got to see him in action that she couldn't wait to witness it for herself.

Smiling at their excitement, Kakashi started to head back to the village, "Let's go home."

With that, he, Sasuke, and Sakura started walking away while leaving behind a still tied up boisterous blond behind. Grunting, Naruto started struggling angrily, "I knew they'd do this. It happens every time. Believe it!"

When he saw that none of them were going to turn around and help him, he shouted, "You guys forgot to untie me!"

He stopped shouting when he felt the ropes around him loosened. Confused, he looks behind him to see Kai, smiling down at him with the rope in hand.

"Shall we catch up to them, Naruto?"

Seeing as she hadn't left him behind, Naruto shouted gleefully and jumped to wrap his arms around her neck as he positions himself on her back so she could piggyback him.

"With you, always!"

Chuckling, Kai secured him so he wouldn't fall by wrapping her hand under his legs that were by her waist. It didn't take her long to catch up to the three since they had stopped and waited for them.

Once they were with them, they all started walking back to the village together. It was a nice silence between them until Kai broke it when something came up, "By the way, why did you two end up doing things alone? I have always taught you two to work together when the three of us end up training together?"

Both Naruto and Sasuke were quiet for a bit until the former answer, "Well, I just wanted to prove to you that I could get the bells by myself. That I'm strong. But… it didn't go as well as I had hoped."

Looking ahead of him, Sasuke answered, "It was the same for me too. I saw the exercise as training. To see how well I have improved against a well-experienced ninja."

She sighs, "Yet, I have taught you both so much about teamwork and always having each other's back."

Frowning, Naruto scoots up her back to peer at her face, "What about you, Kai? Every time when you go on missions, I always see you leaving the village by yourself. You're never in a squad. And seeing how you always came back home okay, I thought being a ninja was pretty much like you. Get missions, go out of the village, finish your mission, and come back home without a scratch."

Sasuke decided to put his opinion in as well, "He's right. Even when he was here. You two have always gone on missions by yourselves without getting hurt."

Stopping in her track, Kai started sweating with a nervous smile, "So… you're both saying that it's my fault. Just because I always go on missions and leave the village by myself."

The two nodded.

Kakashi, who had his book back out in hand, lowered it to look at Kai in the eyes and pointed at her, "So technically, you are the bad role model here, Kai."

Lowering her head in defeat, Kai sighs and looks at the three Genins, looking at Naruto however, was a bit difficult, "Look, I don't really go on missions alone. The Hokage ends up giving me out of the blue missions sometimes where I have to go and meet up with the squad that is already out on the same mission. I'm sorry if I have been giving the impression that I have been doing the given missions to me alone, those are rare, but most of them I do end up doing it in squads."

They were all quiet for a while until Kakashi spoke, "Well then, how about we go over to Kai's place and eat? Since I wasn't able to eat the lunch that she had made."

Looking at him, her eye twitched, "Is that why you made me buy extras, just so that I could cook for you at home?"

Without answering her, Kakashi merely walked away with his book back up to his face.

The boys were quiet, their brains still processing on what she said until it finally clicked.

Glaring at the silver-haired male, Naruto shouted, "You guys went shopping? Together?!"

Chuckling nervously, Kakashi looked to the sunset blonde, "I'll see you once you get back to your place, Kai. See you."

And with a hand sign, he poofed away. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to find his new Sensei, Naruto just merely grumbled and laid his head on her shoulder as he tightens his arms around her. While Sasuke glared ahead of him, taking the girl's hand in his.

Sakura, still confused as ever, decided not to dwell on it and asked, "Um, Lord Namikaze. You know how to cook?"

Looking down at her, Kai smiles, "Just call me Kai, Sakura. And yes, I do. Especially when one lives alone."

Sakura blushed that the Jounin allowed her to call him by his first name and smiled, "W-Well, do you - do you think it'll be okay if I can come over too? I-I mean, it's okay if you don't me to..."

Chuckling at how she was being, Kai put a hand on her head, "Of course. You're also a part of this squad, Sakura. No one in our team will ever get left out."

Smiling, she squealed and took that chance to latch herself on her arm, almost making the older girl stumble in her step.