Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Fights, Friends, and C-Ranks:
The next day Inoichi informed Team Twelve that they were going to complete the three D-ranks needed to make them eligible for C-Ranks. The idea didn't overwhelm the genins since D-ranks were just chores no one else wanted to do, and since Tora was no longer a threat, Naru was eager to get to it.
The first mission they completed that day was to help a local farmer find his cattle; with Kakashi and Naru's superior sense of smell, the team was easily able to find the lost livestock. The total time it took them you may wonder? Only twenty-minutes, which beat Team Eight's record back in the original timeline.
The second mission was a little harder since it required the team to get their hands dirty. The mission was simple; help the village's official landscaper plant flowers and trees in the village gardens. The team enjoyed this mission a lot sense the garden would later become a tourist attraction for the village later. Although, Kurama admitted later to Naru that he had destroyed the Garden back in the previous timeline.
The third and final mission they did that day was to help a couple of merchants deliver packages around town. The team was tired from gardening but was eager to finish the mission on time; so they hustled and delivered the parcels. The finishing time, you may wonder? An hour and that was with the help of Naru's clones; however, considering the total number of packages, which was thirty, that was considered a good time.
By, the time the team was finished they were completely exhausted minus Inoichi whose only job had been to supervise them; however, he had mercy on them and as soon as they finished checking in with the Hokage; he planned on dismissing them for the day so they could rest.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked over the team's mission reports, while Team Twelve stood by waiting for his judgment. The Third Hokage looked up at them, "I must say I'm impressed. I've never seen a newly instated team work so well together," he said, smiling at the trio.
Team Twelve gave him tired smiles although they were warmed by his praises; Inoichi being the team's Jonin spoke for them, "Arigato, Hokage Sama. I too have never encountered a team of harder working genin than these three here," he said, surprising the three genin.
The Third Hokage nodded, "I agree with you, their Inoichi san, which is why I have this question for you. Jonin Sensei Inoichi Yamanaka, do you feel your team is ready for C-rank missions," he asked?
Inoichi smiled proudly as he answered, "Hai! Hokage Sama. I can safely say without a shadow of a doubt that these three are ready for the next level," he said.
Hokage nodded, "Very well then, Team Twelve come back tomorrow and I will assign you your first C-Rank," he said. Team Twelve saluted him, "Hai! Hokage Sama," they said.
The team was then dismissed for the day and Inoichi ordered them to get some rest, which the three were happy to do before the team left to go home the three genin stopped at Ichiraku's for lunch. It was here while the three genins were waited on their food, that Naru and Kakashi remembered that he was supposed to spar with Obito later today.
"Oh, brother! Why did I agree to spar with him," The masked boy moaned?
Naru shrugged, "Don't ask me," she said.
Tenzo who was silently listening in to his teammate's conversation quirked an eyebrow up at Kakashi, "What's going on? Who did you agree to spar with," he asked?
Naru looked at him and pointed a finger at Kakashi, "We ran into an old friend of are's from the academy yesterday. Obito kun, that's our friend, started babbling about how much he had improved; so Kakashi here called him on his bluff and challenged him to a spar, today," she said.
A dark rain cloud now hung over Kakashi's head as he muttered, "stupid, stupid, stupid," over and over again making his two teammates sweatdrop.
Naru, feeling sympathy for him, patted him on the shoulder. "It's not that big of a deal, Kakashi kun. You can just ask Obito if you two can spar some other day if you're not feeling up to it," she said.
Kakashi shook his head, "No, I'm going to do it. I don't want Obito thinking I'm chicken besides in the real world I might have to fight even if I'm tired, so this will be good practice for me," he said.
"He has a point there Kit," Kurama chimed in. Naru felt a pinch of annoyance towards the fox, " I'm trying to keep Kakashi from collapsing from exhaustion, here and you aren't helping," she thought to the kitsune.
The fox put his paws up, "Hey I'm just saying he had a point, no need to go in protective girlfriend mode on me," he said. Naru felt stunned by the fox's words, "Sorry Kurama san, I didn't mean to snap at you. Hey! I'm not his girlfriend, at least not yet anyway," she thought.
Kurama laughed, "You're a girl who is his friend, that makes you his girlfriend," he said.
Naru ignored him instead she returned her attention to the problem at hand, "Kakashi kun, no one is going to think you're a chicken for putting your health first," she said. Kakashi huffed, "If it was anyone else, I'd reschedule, but this is Obito and you know how he is," he said.
Naru laughed, "Yeah you have a point. Obito is just waiting for you to slip up sometimes I think he's just as bad as Gai kun," she said.
Kakashi shuddered, "I wouldn't put Obito quite in that category," he said, picturing Gai in his brand new hideous green jumpsuit.
Naru and Tenzo snickered, watching their cool and collected teammate shuddering; even though they themselves shuddered a little remembering the day Might Gai barged into their training field to show off the green atrocity, and challenge Kakashi to a Taijutsu spar.
That had been an interesting day for sure.
Naru looked at Kakashi sympathetically, " It seems poor Kakashi is one of those people who attract rivals to him," she said, making Tenzo and Kurama laugh, and another cloud of doom surround Kakashi.
The team's food arrived then and conversation ceased; once they were done eating Kakashi and Naru invited Tenzo to come watch the spar. Tenzo who was curious to see who challenged his friend agreed.
The team walked to the park where they found Obito along with Rin, Anko, Gai, and surprisingly Ibiki waiting for them. Tenzo looked in awe as he saw the large group of people. It seemed Kakashi was even more popular than he thought, "Wow! Kakashi kun, you sure attract a crowd," he said, which made Naru burst out laughing.
Kakashi looked at her annoyed but quickly shrugged it off; he was too cool to be feeling sorry for himself after all. Obito who notice the trio approaching called out, "Yo Kakashi! I see you didn't chicken out," he said.
Naru sweatdropped, "You know Kurama, the more I listen to Obito talk, the more I realize how unhealthy Kakashi sensei's grieving habits were back then," she said in her head.
Kurama rolled his eyes, "You're just now realizing that," he said. A tick mark appeared on Naru's forehead, "Shut up," she thought.
Kakashi shrugged, "I never back down from a fight, and besides it's just you," he said very nonchalantly. Obito looked annoyed, "You don't have to be rude," he said.
Kakashi shrugged again, "Whatever, let's just get this over with," he said. Obito huffed, "Fine by me," he said getting into a battle stance.
Rin intervened suddenly, "Hey guys wait! You can't just fight in the middle of the park," she said. Naru nodded, "She's right, follow me I know the perfect spot where you can spar," she said signaling for everyone to follow her. As the group walked across the park into a small abandoned field, Naru introduced Tenzo to everyone.
Once they reached the field, Kakashi and Obito jumped into the center and got into battle stances; Naru decided to be the more moderate of the fight, "Alright everyone here is the rules of the fight! No jutsu or weapons are allowed," she said, getting nods from the boys.
"Hajime!" she said, jumping out of the way.
Obito was the first to make a move and swung at Kakashi who dodged it. The masked boy countered the attack by swinging at Obito, the Uchiha couldn't dodge though and took Kakashi's fist to the mouth, busting his lip open.
Obito managed to recover though and backflipped away from Kakashi, who countered by charging at him. Kakashi on his part went in for a foot sweep and managed to knock the boy on his ass; Obito countered by trying to foot sweep Kakashi, but the masked boy jumped away before he could.
The Uchiha quickly got back on his feet and charged the boy again this time he managed to hit Kakashi on the shoulder, but Kakashi ended the fight by getting behind the boy and holding him.
Naru jumped back down, "Fight over! The winner is Kakashi, turning to Obito she winked at him, "Good Job Obito, I can see you have improved," she said.
The other children began clapping and Ibiki came over a clapped Kakashi on the back, "That was some impressive battling skills their Hatake san, he turned to Obito, you too Obito, you've gotten better," he said.
Kakashi eye smiled, "Thank you Ibiki, he turned to Obito, that was a good spar Obito," he said.
Obito wiped his mouth off on his sleeve before shaking hands with Kakashi, "You too Kakashi, Thank you for the spar," he said.
Kakashi nodded, "No problem, if you ever need some pointers I'll be happy to help out sometime," he said. Obito who was a little surprised by the generous offer just nodded, "I'll have to take you up on that sometime," he said.
Naru smiled happy to see Kakashi opening up; maybe the future would be better after all.
Author's note: Next time the team is going to get their first C-rank, so stay tuned.