Hey peeps! Thanks again, NoCareChakra, for reviewing! I told you the chappie would be up soon…

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs exclusively to Masashi Kishimoto. I have absolutely no affiliation to him or Shonen Jump Manga. If I did, I'd be jumping for joy or terminally embarrassed because of my terrible drawing skills. The names of a few characters, but not the personalities, belong to Girl Got Game and Fruits Basket. I'm sorry for this confusion.

(Muhahahaha, I love sounding formal…)

Hm…I really don't know what else to write in this author's note, so on with the show!

Chapter 4: Teamwork!

Setting: Same as last chapter, Konoha

Time: One week after Kabuto's introduction to Team 10 and Team Koenma.

Orochimaru slowly made his way over to Kabuto, who lay on the ground, bleeding from his stomach. As Kabuto struggled to heal himself, Orochimaru kicked him, causing more blood to spurt out as Kabuto lost concentration from the pain. His cries could be heard miles away, and Orochimaru laughed. "You stupid subordinate. Did you really think I'd let you leave?"

At that, Orochimaru seemed to stretch and shift, and suddenly Kabuto saw blond hair instead of black. Naruto stood above him, glaring at the dying Kabuto. "Don't you dare attack Konoha again! If you do, I swear I'll hunt you down!"

Kabuto rolled over and fell, and fell, and fell into the darkness-

Kabuto slammed into the ground. As he looked frantically around the room, he realized that it was all a dream. Kabuto levered himself off the floor, sighing softly at his paranoia. (A/N He fell out of bed, which contributed to the falling in his dream) As he leaned against his bed, pushing his sweat-soaked hair of his forehead, Kabuto pondered over the dream. Why did Orochimaru seem so…different in the dream? Why was Orochimaru hurting him? And why did Naruto seem so much stronger, so much abler to follow through with his threats? Kabuto hadn't forgotten the Rasengan attack that Naruto used.

Kabuto's trail of thought ended there. He stood up, pulling the sweaty sheets off the bed to be washed and dumping them on the floor. He wandered through the doorway into the bathroom, where he splashed cold water on his face. After drying, he slowly walked back through the bedroom into the kitchen. In his head he thanked Tsunade-sama for providing the small apartment. Pulling food out of the cabinets, he began to put together a semblance of breakfast for himself.

Slowly slurping his ramen (A/N I couldn't help it. Ramen rocks and it's what Naruto eats. Maybe that's what gave Kabuto the dream…), Kabuto thought about the teamwork training that he, Imai, and Uotani had been doing. So far, Kabuto and Imai worked great together. Uotani liked to do solo work, but because he worked well with Imai, he was trying harder to do the same with Kabuto. All together, the group was great. Not only did they work well together, they hung out together as well. Kabuto could remember the meals they'd had together, the strolls around Konoha as Kabuto became accustomed again to life in the village, and the times when they met with Team Koenma to hang out. Kabuto wasn't completely comfortable with Team Koenma, simply because he couldn't see anything special about them. He didn't understand how they were so powerful when the only techniques he'd seen them use were simple henge and the art of substitution.

As Kabuto finished putting away his bowl, he heard knocking at the door. "Coming!" he shouted as he pulled his hair back. When Kabuto opened the door, he was surprised to see Kira standing there. "Um…hi?" Kabuto started as Toboe dropped from the ceiling and landed next to her.

"Heeeey! What's up?" Toboe said happily. "Kira here said we should pick you up for training today. Shigure asked Koenma-sensei if he could allow us to train with you. So…can we come in?"

Kabuto paused and said, "Sure. Just wait in the kitchen. I wasn't exactly expecting company."

Toboe literally bounced inside, with Kira strolling quietly behind him. Kabuto showed them the kitchen, said "Wait here" and walked back into his room. He quickly pulled off his pajamas (A/N I just had to have him wearing a shirt-pants set. Can anyone see Kabuto wearing a nightshirt like Naruto?) and pulled on a pair of pants and a shirt. After grabbing his glasses from the bed stand, he brushed his teeth (A/N had to do that…) and walked back out to the kitchen. When he got there, he found Toboe singing softly to himself as he walked around the table, and Kira standing by the window.

When Toboe noticed that Kabuto was there he grinned and said, "Let's go!" Toboe waltzed out the door, still singing to himself, and Kabuto waited for Kira. She turned, stated raspily "Nice view" very quietly, and walked out. Kabuto paused, thought, "Damn…that's the first thing I have EVER heard her say…" and followed.

Once Kabuto reached the training grounds with Kira and Toboe, he saw that Shigure, Imai, Uotani, Jin, and another Jonin were waiting. The heat of the sun was nearly unbearable, and Kabuto noticed that everyone except Kira wore short sleeves. She still had on her long-sleeve shirt and long pants. (A/N Is she cold-blooded?) Just as Kabuto was about to apologize for taking so long, Kira whispered softly, "Sorry about that. I took awhile today, being a girl and all that." The Jonin, who Kabuto assumed was Koenma, grinned and said, "Haha! That's my girl. Now, since everyone is hear now, I'm going to explain the mission today." Turning to Shigure, Koenma said, "Unless, of course, Fearless Leader here would like to!"

Shigure laughed and replied, "By all means, Koenma-san, please do the honor yourself. I find it much easier to understand that way." Kabuto realized that Koenma and Shigure must be friends. Now that he thought of it, he remembered Imai telling him that Shigure and Koenma had been best buddies from birth, and were practically brothers.

Koenma began his explanation. From what Kabuto could understand, Shigure had asked Koenma exactly how his team worked so gracefully together. Koenma had told him it was all about their personalities. Shigure had argued that his team, personality-wise, worked great together. In response to Shigure's defense, Koenma also let it slip that his team had done a training-type mission to bring them together. He had dubbed it "Survival Training." Shigure had demanded that Koenma show him the exercise.

Koenma sighed and said, "I wasn't sure if this was the best approach, so I figured that first watching Team Koenma work together might help improve Team 10's cooperation. At least, it might enlighten Shigure-baka here as to why my team works so well together."

Jin, Toboe, and Imai collapsed into giggles at the look on Shigure's face while Kira and Uotani just waited for instruction. Meanwhile, Kabuto was prepping himself to "collect data" for the future when he got his cards back. (A/N If you remember, one of Tsunade's rules was that Kabuto couldn't have his cards for the exam.) That way, he would know how to beat any of the three genin in Team Koenma.

Shigure continued the explanation. "Team Koenma must complete the following tasks: one, you must gather the bell attached to Koenma-san's belt; two, you must cross the river over there using only the boards we provide for you and none of you may touch the water, as well as any of the boards you use must always have someone touching them. If not, we will take away the board; and three; you must use this hoop (A/N and he magically pulls one out of his pocket…) and using chakra, lift it evenly above your heads, hold it, and then slowly let it down. With the last task, the chakra may only be attached in one spot the size of your finger point. Any questions?"

Team 10 just stared as Team Koenma shook their heads, indicating they understood. Koenma walked to the middle of the clearing, attaching one bell to his belt. Team 10 backed away to around the edges of the clearing, while Team Koenma prepared to begin.

Okays, this is the end of this chappie. However, I'm putting the next one up after I write it. Which should be in about an hour or so. So stay tuned!

Review!

Thanks for beta-ing TamX2!