Note: Sorry for the late update but here it is. Hope you like this chapter.
deja entendu
: The experience of thinking that you have heard something before, which in actual fact it is being heard for the first time.
Akira's POV
Sensei turned off the alarm and looked at us, crossing his arms
Suddenly all our stomach growls
"oh, oh, your stomachs are growling... By the way about the exercise..." He takes a quick glance in my direction then he looks at the rest of the team
"Well! There's no need for you guys to go back to the Academy." He said
I and Sakura have the same confusion. Naruto looks so happy while Sasuke just smirks
"What? I... All I did was lay unconscious. Is that okay?" Sakura said but I know she's cheering inside.
(Is this some kind of joke?...) I look at him confused our eyes locking. There is it, the same look he gave me earlier, but it quickly disappear just like how it showed in his eyes.
"Then, then! That means the four of us..." Naruto asks very eagerly
"Yes, The four of you..." He said eye smiling, returning his gaze to look at all the members of the team
" must quit being Ninja!" Sensei said making my teammate's excited reaction turns to scared and more confusion
I facepalm myself (That's really disappointing)
"Quit being Ninja?! What do you mean?!" Naruto said confusion written on his face.
"Uh, well it's true, we weren't able to take the bells. But why do we have to be told to "quit"?!" He continues shouting
"That's because you're all squirts who don't have the qualifications to become a Ninja." He explains making Sasuke look at him sharply. Sasuke suddenly launches forward to attack him, a kunai in his hand.
"I'm saying you're squirts." Sensei said pinning Sasuke to the ground
"Don't step on Sasuke-kun!" Sakura shouts a tick mark on her forehead
" Are you kids thinking that being a Ninja is easy? Huh?" He said having the same look he gave me earlier, dark and angry.
"Why do you think you're doing this exercise in teams?"
"Huh?! What do you mean?" Sakura asks confused and scared
"Put simply, it's as if you guys have no understanding of the answer to this test."
"Answer?" Naruto ask confused
"Yes. The answer that determines passing or failing of this test" He answers
"That's what I've wanted to ask about for a while now." Sakura said
"Man, are you guys brainless or what? Don't you know the meaning of the three-man squad, in our case a four-man squad?!" He said looking at Sakura as if calculating Sakura's IQ, then he avert his eyes to me, our eyes locking, I just stare at him and look at Sasuke worriedly, still pinned on the ground
(Damn his not planning on breaking Sasuke's left arm, is he?)
"Ahh, mo! What are the four people to a squad?!" Naruto asks angrily
(A four or three-man squad, ha... )
"is it teamwork?..." I whisper very quietly looking at the sky
I feel Sensei's eyes dart towards me, I look in his direction his sharp look softened for a second before turning back to look at my teammates sharply.
"That's... teamwork!" he said making Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke look shocked. I just look at him and facepalm myself
"Why am I so stupid..." I mutter to myself
( What the hell with the plan, I'm thinking earlier... Ahhh, mo, I'm so stupid) I thought embarrassed at my stupidity.
"You mean, working together?" Sakura asks
"Exactly. But it's too late even if you realize that now. You might've been able to... take the bells if the four of you had come at me... Well, it's too bad." He said
I frown when I heard a grunt from Sasuke. I was about to speak when Sakura speaks first.
"Why use teamwork if there were only three bells? If the four of us were to desperately go take the bells with one having to hold back, that wouldn't be teamwork. That'd create internal discord." Sakura reasoned
"Of course! This is a test set up to purposely place you against each other. It's under just conditions where one's own interests aren't the issue. The intention was to select those who could prioritize teamwork...Despite this, you fools...Sakura! You were only concerned with Sasuke and you didn't even know where he was and you didn't care for Naruto who was right in front of your eyes, then Akira help you and you just ignore her and find Sasuke after that."
(He is watching that, damn I didn't sense him at all)
"Naruto! All you do is run solo..." He then looks at Sasuke "You labeled the other three as hindrances and acted on your own... " He said putting weight on Sasuke,
"Akira!... It seems Akira is the only one who cares for all the members of the team... She is willing to go back to the academy and give the bells to all of you " He said looking at me, my other teammates looked at me shocked. I just look away not wanting to stare back at their eyes with a hint of regret and understanding now.
"Missions are carried out in squads. There's no mistaking that ninjas need unsurpassed individual skills... But "teamwork" is considered more important than that. Individual actions that disrupt teamwork throw the team into crisis and lead to death... For example..." He said reaching for something in his pouch
"Sakura! Kill Naruto, or else Sasuke dies..." He said suddenly pointing a kunai at Sasuke's neck. I got alarmed at that, out of reflex I almost throw a kunai in Sensei's direction and almost cut Naruto's rope, but a handhold my hand holding the kunai stopping it from what I am supposed to do.
"Ma, calm down, it's just an example" The clone behind me holding my hand said a kunai also pointing at my neck. His grip on my hand tightened making my hand drop the kunai I was holding. Sakura backed away a little, her and Naruto looked shocked.
"Sensei!" Sakura said panicked and scared
"Let go of Akira-ttebayo!" Naruto said with a panicked and trying to wiggle out of the rope
"Well, that's what will happen." He said letting go of my hand. I glared at the cloned behind me and took the kunai on the ground and put it back in my weapon pouch
"Oh, I was so surprised" Sakura said, Naruto heave a sigh
"On top of having a hostage taken, you are faced with impossible choices and end up being killed" The original said putting his kunai back in his weapon pouch and letting go of Sasuke
"Look at this. The many names engraved on this stone...These are all ninjas who are called heroes in the village." He said walking toward the memorial stone. I turn my head to look at the clone beside me but quickly avert my eyes seeing the clone already looking at me.
"That, that, that, that! I like thaaat! I've decided now to get my name engraved there, too! A hero! A hero! I'm not going to die like a dog!" Naruto said very excitedly. Hearing that my eyebrows twitches
"But... they're not just an ordinary heroes." Sensei said glancing in Naruto's direction
"No kidding. Then, what kind of heroes are they?" Naruto asks
" You're an idiot Naruto..." I mutter but he heard it, he just look at me with confusion
"They are heroes who were killed in action" Sensei explained
"Killed in Action?" Naruto asks still confused
"Geez, Naruto.." I said facepalming myself
"It means they died performing a mission " Sakura explained making Naruto look scared
"This is a memorial. The names of my friends are also engraved here..." Kakashi-sensei said looking at the stone
"I'll give you guys one more chance! However, afternoon it'll be a harsher battle to take the bell." He said walking toward us
"Those who want to take on the challenge can eat lunch. However, don't let Naruto have any. It's punishment for breaking the rules and attempting to eat lunch on your own. If someone lets him eat... that person will be disqualified on the spot. I make the rules, here. Got it?!" He said before disappearing with his clone.
(I don't really care...) I said shrugging and sitting facing Naruto. Sakura and Sasuke have already started eating
"Ahhh.." I said to Naruto shoving him the rice
"A-Akira... you'll get in trouble if you feed Naruto" Sakura said
"I don't really care" I said trying to shove the food in his mouth
Suddenly Sasuke offers his lunch "Here"
"S-Sasuke-kun. Sensei Just said" Sakura said looking around
"It's okay. There's no sign of him now. The four of us are going to take the bells together. It'll be trouble for me if he becomes a hindrance, so..." Sasuke explained looking at his lunch
"I'm not really hungry..." Naruto said but his stomach suddenly growls, making him blush
"Yeah right.. say ahhh" I said again but he still refuses
Suddenly Sakura offered her own lunch
"Sakura-chann... Thank you" Naruto said having a teary eye
(Wow... I'm the one who first offers but you refuse it...) I thought my eyebrows twitching
"Don't thank me. Just hurry up and eat" Sakura said
"But...see..." Naruto said looking at his hands. Sakura also looks at it with realization.
"Hurry it up. We don't know when he'll be back..." Sasuke said looking around
"It's just this one ? You got it?!" Sakura said with a tick mark on her forehead
"I got it." Naruto said with a big smile
(Then I just got ignored...)
Naruto took the food Sakura offers. when he's about to take another bite I walk in front of him
"Naruto, ahh... " I said, Naruto was about to protest but he sees the serious look on my face
"ahh-" I shove a mouthful of food in his mouth making him cough. Naruto looked at me his eyes twitching, Sakura was about to give Naruto food again when Sensei suddenly appeared in front of us making us all jump. I shield Naruto while Sasuke and Sakura are also both on guard
"You four!" Kakashi sensei said as he lean in front of us or should I say in front of me.
(too close...) I thought squirming and backing away a little.
"You defied the rules so that means you know what's coming..." He said his eyes stop wandering to look at me. Then he stands straight and forms hand signs making the clouds look dark
(what is it this time?)
"Do you have something to say?" He said looking at us sternly
"But you see.." Naruto said
"What?!"
"But, you said Sensei... These guys..." Naruto said looking at us
"We're a four man squad right?" Sasuke continues
"That's right! The four of us are one, so!" Sakura continued explaining
Then Sensei suddenly looked at me
"Well, they all said it..." I said my eyebrows twitching, still on guard.
"The four of you are one, eh..." he said walking towards us and looked down at us still forming a sign, then his gaze stops at me
(why is it always me?)
He suddenly ruffled my hair, making me flinch and stand straight, leaning my head back a little.
"ehh?" I said confused
"You pass!" Sensei said, eye smiling
"Really?" I said surprised
"You pass!" He repeated removing his hand that ruffled my hair. We just stared at him
"Why?" Sakura asks, Sensei stand straight making me sigh
"You guys are the first. Up until now, it was always just dunces who would meekly listen to what I said. A ninja must see through deception... In the world of Ninja, those who break the rules and codes are trash...but, those who don't cherish their friends are worst than trash" He said giving us again an eye smile
(That's weird...A deja entendu?) I just shrug and also stand straight.
"He's...He's...kinda...cool..." Naruto said with tears in his eyes
"That's it for the exercise...Everyone passes! Group seven starts their mission tomorrow!" He announced making me smile.
(we actually pass... A family?) I chuckled at the thought
"Let's go home." He said walking away with Sakura and Sasuke
(wait...)
"ooopss... give it back to me" I said blocking Sensei's way, extending my hand waiting for something
"What?" He asks confused
"My CANDIES.." I said emphasizing the word
"ohhh..." He pulls something out of his pocket putting only 2 candies on my hand
"here..." I just look at my hand confused, I look back at him still waiting.
"I already ate the other candies." He said ruffling my hair then he took one lollipop of the 2 candies he gave me.
"It actually taste good" He said removing his hand from my hair then he started to walk away, leaving me dumbfounded
(only 1...) looking at my hand stunned, I blink as if the candy will multiply itself right before my eyes.
(he took like 15 candies...) My eyebrows started twitching then I looked where he is, and glared at his back, he look back and wave the 1 lollipop he take from me