Chapter VII: Don't be hasty
"What the h-Mikasa? What are you doing there? Where's my alarm clock? Uh? OH SHIT!"
I jumped out of my bed, the fast and sudden movement bringing dizziness and pressure in my ears. Genius. I crawled to the bathroom walking pass the meowing cat on the small pile of books. She better not start eating the covers, for her own sake. She had the bad habit of eating paper. And just as I was expecting, when I got out of the bathroom she was enjoying the not so hard cover of one of the books, now scattered on the floor.
"You are so lucky I don't have time to deal with you right now. Argh!" I looked down on the soft thing I stepped on. That's vomit. No, that's cat-fur vomit. I sighed, grabbing my backpack from the kitchen. At least I had enough sense to pack everything last night. Before I exited the kitchen I looked longingly at the fridge. I knew I was going to regret not eating. Well, now no one can say I cheated or wasn't fair. I still wasn't extraordinary fond of the idea of being in team 7 … kind of.
I left the house, rushing in the streets. What a chilly morning. Compared to the usual warm and soft feeling the mornings in Konoha brought, this one was damn cold. Well, not freezing, but cool enough that the wind was slipping on my skin making me shiver.I better not get a cold from this. I hated rushing. I loved taking my time in the mornings and I hated this feeling of being on the run. Not to mention that it was the precise hour in which the village was coming to life. I love my timing. I finally passed the inhabited area and entered the training grounds. Please, please tell me Kakashi is still late. My pride would be seriously wounded if I arrived even later than the grey haired shinobi.
Ah, there they are. At the sound of my paces two heads, a blond and a pinkish one, resting of the ground, turned in my direction in synchronized motion. T-That's creepy.
"YOU'RE LATE!"
"Um, good morning." I said coming closer as the two looked at me surprised.
"Ohayo, Kaya-chan!"
"KAYA-CHAN! WE THOUGHT YOU WERE KAKASHI-SENSEI!"
If he keeps shouting like that… he can definitely save the word without a tongue and vocal chords, right? No, he must be able to use the power of talk-no-jutsu with literally everyone. Oh, that's right I forgot. I sighed.
"He hasn't shown up yet, huh? Vala, he really is a clotpole."
Sakura giggled unsure of what I meant, but guessing it wasn't a good thing. Yeah, she hasn't watched Lord of the Rings or Merlin. And she'll never watch either of them ever. None of them will. That was sad. Truly sad. I peeked at the Uchiha as he was standing with his arms crossed and turned from us. All I could see was that chicken butt black hair and the clan crests on his back. Keh. He really is arrogant. I sighed and put my backpack on the ground next to Naruto.
"If I knew he was late I would have fed Mikasa." I mumbled realizing that my books will suffer from my inability to wake up on time to feed the blasted cat.
"Kaya-chan, who is Mikasa?" Sakura glanced at me curious. I sighed dramatically, kicking the dirt on the ground.
"My cat."
"Oh, you have a cat!"
"YES! Omg, she is the cutest thing in the world! When she was just a furball…" Say what you want, but once someone asked about my cat I would talk about her cuteness until my jaw dropped to the ground out of exhaustion. And then curse her mentally for misbehaving around my books.
Why, everybody is so talkative in the morning? Including myself. Well, it wouldn't be morning anymore in an hour or so. I was debating whether or not to redress my braid. Will it be a nuisance when moving around? Of course, it always was. I looked at the black hair bringing it up in my visual field. So what should I do? Should I take part in this test and prove that I actually deserved that genin title or just observe and enjoy the beautiful day? The air already changed and the weather promised to be a sunny and rather warm if not hot. This was absolutely brilliant. I suddenly turned my head at the same time as Sasuke. Keh. Sensible duck. I locked eyes with the Uchiha in a mocking gaze as he narrowed his in annoyance. I was beginning to enjoy my time here.
"Ohayo."
"YOU'RE LATE!"
"Keh. So loud." I mumbled to myself hoping that at least Sakura would get the point.
"A black cat crossed my path, so…" Kakashi explained, but didn't finish when he figured none of us truly cared about or believed his excuse. Well, at least that got them on their feet. The sleepiness from earlier now vanished.
"… Hm, never mind. Moving on." Kakashi moved to a clock on a log. "The alarm is set at 12 P.M. Today's topic is to get one of these bells from me." he held up two bells ringing softly. Good. That stayed the same. "However, who fails to get them, won't eat lunch. I'm going to tie you there, on the wood log and eat lunch in front of you,"
"So that's why he said…."
"…'don't eat breakfast'."
"That is incredibly cruel and ….wrong." I agreed. But not a reason to whine like a little bitch. I shook my head. What will I do? Take the test, stay out of it…..?
"But wait," Sakura started "why are there only two bells?"
"Since there's only two, at least one of you will have to be tied to the log." the grey shinobi smiled to his student content. He's soooo enjoying this. "That person will fail since he would have not completed the mission. That person will go back to the Academy. It might be one person or all three. You can use your shuriken. You won't be able to get this unless you have the will to kill me."
He really looks like he means it. I tilted my head. He actually did. Because neither of us were a real threat to him. When I watched this back home, I was so annoyed at their naiveté and not being able to see beyond Kakashi's real test, but now, face to face with the actual Copy ninja I could easily see why. Provided that you were a twelve years old kid who aspired to be a shinobi and faced with a highly skilled jounin who tells you that you must try to kill him in order to get one bell and stay a genin, you did tend to freak out.
"But that's too dangerous, sensei!"
No shit Sakura, I thought that being a ninja meant taking care of bunnies and tending to the flowers around the village.
"Yeah, you couldn't even dodge that chalk eraser!" Naruto exclaimed snickering at the thought.
"In society, those who don't have many abilities tend to complain more." Kakashi retorted and I frowned at his statement feeling it bitter in my mind. That's just plainly wrong. "Just ignore the guy with the lowest score. We're going to start after I say 'Ready. Start.'"
Immediately after he finished talking, the blonde took a kunai and launched forward toward Kakashi, taking by sEveryone by surprise. I doubt anyone managed to see Kakashi getting behind Naruto's back – I certainly didn't – and forced the blond's hand to the back of his own head. The idiot is immobilized.
"Don't get so hasty." Kakashi spoke calmly as if nothing happened. "I didn't say 'start' yet. But I see you have the will to kill me now" I snickered, in my mind another voice deeper and older as the roots of the mountains spoke. 'Now, don't be hasty, master Meriadoc.' With that, however, I caught Kakashi's attention.
"Will you partake in the test Kaya-chan?" he asked needling me with an almost mocking look. I frowned at that, and smirked.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei."
"I see."
He let go of an annoyed Naruto and we prepared to flee at Kakashi's signal. Not out of fear, mind you, but to hide since that was the first instinct of a ninja. To hide and observe before was elementary knowledge taught since the first year of Academy.
"Ready, start!"
Wonderful. If there was something I've learnt since being reborn in this world, it was hiding. I tried all this time to keep a low profile and not get too close to anyone. Passing unnoticed through Academy has been impossible since Iruka had the habit of getting close – to certain extend – to each of his students, and watch them grow with such warmth that could rival a mother's. But I did managed to make myself rather invisible socially speaking. And not only. Many times Nekobaa wouldn't be sure if I was in the house or not. I could move unnoticed and sneak around with almost no sound. That partly because I enjoyed silence, to the point of spending time alone doing nothing but enjoying the peace and silence of the day, or sometimes reading, until late at night.
I smiled from my spot. It's a relief that these two are actually pretty decent at hiding. I looked at Sasuke then at Sakura. I sat on the branch sighing. The only one who stood inplain sight was… unsurprisingly Naruto. No need to stay alert while the blond idiot was exactly how moronic he was to Kakashi. I studied Naruto from that distance. So weird that this blonde ball of loud shrieks and ADHD will turn into the hero of this village. And the Hokage. If I didn't know better I would have given him zero changes of living beyond the age of thirteen but I did know better. Like the whole future-of-the-world better. I was glad that I chose the tree as it provided me the much needed shadow this way too hot day demanded. I had a profound love for climbing trees. Even if I earn thousands of scratches, even worse than giving Mikasa the annual bath. Loving to climb trees sadly did not made me good at it.
"Let's have a match fair and square!"
I watched the blond with his arms crossed in front of Kakashi, oblivious to the fact that … well, actually oblivious to any fact at all except of his ardent wish to prove himself to his sensei and teammates.
"Aren't you a little weird compared to the rest?" Kakashi inquired taken aback by the non-conventional ways of the Uzumaki Naruto.
"What's weird is your hair!"
True. Naruto started forward just like before but stopped abruptly when Kakashi's hand went into his tool holder. The blond watched him in expectation, alert.
"The first basic form of shinobi techniques is taijutsu. I'll teach you that first." the grey haired jounin said pulling out a… Icha Icha Paradise book. I snorted before remembering that I was supposed to be keeping my position unknown, but no one seemed to notice. They were too vexed by Kakashi's choice of weapon.
"What's the matter? Hurry up and get me."
"But… But… um… why did you take out a book?" Naruto fixed the book perplexed.
"I got to a quite interesting part of the plot. Don't worry it about it, it makes no difference if I'm reading or not."
Ohhh. Ooooh, the buuuurn. Needling the impulsive kid. I hadn't been sure if Kakashi was trying to get on our nerves on purpose or was mean simply because that's just who he is. I took notice of his relaxed stance. But not really. He was attentive to Naruto's response through his peripheral vision. Of course, Naruto being the impulsive imbecile he was tried to hit the jounin. Several times, chaotically and predicable, missing and not worrying that he was exposing himself. That immense idiot. In a real fight he would be dead already…several times, actually.
"A ninja should not let the enemy get behind him multiple times."
Kakashi appeared behind Naruto his hands set in an all too familiar seal. Oh no, it's THAT time! I stifled my laughter waiting with great eagerness. This is going to be so good.
"Naruto, run! You're going to die!"
A little too dramatic, Sakura. I watched the pink haired girl as she was looking terrified at the non-responsive Naruto. Was she actually thinking that Kakashi would kill any of us? She must have really taken this test seriously. It was good that she was aware of the potential danger of a fight but…
"Too late. Hidden Village of Konoha's secret taijutsu master art…! One Thousand Years of Death!"
Naruto's yelling was the only sound that interrupted the silence that followed full of our perplexity.
"Those two…are just idiots."
"That is so wrong." I whispered as Naruto was thrown at some distance yelling. "Are you allowed to do that to a minor?"
"What are you doing here?!"
Sasuke stared at me with indignation and annoyance. He didn't notice me approaching. Hm. Weird. I sighed at his distraught expression as if Satan just popped up from the earth to perform Cha Cha in the bushes.
"Oh shush, Uchiha." I said cutting him off. "Your shinobi senses are really dulled if you couldn't sense me. I couldn't hear from up there and your spot is quite good."
"Find your own spot!"
"Shh. He will find us."
He looked at me incredulously. I waved him off before he said anything else pointing to Kakashi. Forced by the circumstances to put up with my intrusion of his space, he conceded. We watched Naruto landing in the river. Ha. This is the same river. What a time to remember Shisui. I noticed Sasuke's hand going lower to grab his shuriken . But Naruto was faster. Two star knives sprang from the water and Kakashi caught them in two fingers. I 'pff'-ed. It was painfully obvious that we were nowhere close to Kakashi's level. Our mission was impossible.
"What's wrong? You won't get any lunch if you don't get a bell by noon." Kakashi spoke in a monotone voice. "You said you're going to exceed the Hokages but your actions say otherwise."
Naruto's stomach gave a painful sound that could be heard by all of us.
"Damn it! I can still fight even if I'm hungry!"
Even you don't believe yourself, Naruto. His stomach rumbling was only the beginning of a symphony, accompanied by our own hungry stomachs. I snorted as Sasuke almost looked embarrassed and my presence did nothing to atone his hateful glare..
"You too, huh?" I asked amused understanding all too well. If Kakashi wants, our stomachs are a good give away. What a way of hunting us down that would be.
"Hn."
I shook my head at the stubborn Uchiha. He'll come around. Kind of. Eventually. In the far future. At end of all things. Yeah…. After he tries to kill his best friend, take over the world, kill every tailed beast and lose his hand. I looked at Sasuke. I almost felt, well, not bad or pity for him, but sadness. The worst was just about to happen. The duck noticed me staring and shot me a confused look. I shook my head just as Naruto's Kage Bunshins exploded from the river.
This is… amazing. Apparently the Uchiha agreed as he fixed the seven Naruto in astonishment. We were taught replications at the Academy but this wasn't the case now. These were solid clones attacking Kakashi and even surprising him. Yes, it was stupid for me be surprised as it was general knowledge that Kage Bunshin no jutsu was Naruto's signature jutsu along side Rasengan, but damn! This was epic. As a person who isn't from – at least not originally – this world, this was so unusual and unnatural but amazing.
"A ninja shouldn't let the enemy get behind him, right, sensei?" the blond shadow clone said clinging to Kakashi's back keeping him in place as the others came towards the jounin with a set purpose to get a damn bell. I snickered at his slyness.
… but Naruto only managed to hit his own clone. Kakashi disappeared and in his place was only one of the clones which received a pretty hard punch right in the face. Havoc erupted between the seven trying to identify the supposed Kakashi transformed one. All that… must seriously hurt. Naruto was beaten to a pulp by his own clones. I sighed equally disappointed as Sasuke to my right.
To make things worse, Naruto got into Kakashi's very obvious trap, trying to pick up a fallen bell from the ground. Why? Just why would he think that it could be that easy? The blonde dangled from the tree, upside down, fidgeting and yelling.
"Think before you use a jutsu. Your opponent might use it against you." Kakashi picked the bell from the ground nonchalantly. "Oh, and… if the bait is obvious, don't take it."
As the two debated just how a ninja should think, Sasuke made his move. His shuriken seemed to cut right through the jounin. That's… what the hell?!
"WHAT. WHAT did he just say, Sasuke-kun." I vocalized the thought earning a very annoyed glare from the duckling. "You fu – idiot."
"HE GOT HIT! Sasuke overdid it!" Naruto started fidgeting again.
" 'If the bait is obvious, don't take it.' Are you deaf, or just stupid?" I said through clenched teeth as the Uchiha seemed pretty proud of his apparent achievement.
"Speak for yourself."
"You arrogant fool."
He frowned at me and looked at where Kakashi supposedly fell only to see a chunk of wood. The expression of the self proclaimed avenger was PRICELESS. I shook my head and dashed from that spot. He did that without caring that he would give my hiding place away as well. I knew Sasuke didn't exactly exceed on team work but this was ridiculous.
"You. Are. An. Idiot!" I said loud enough hoping that he would hear it while still running and searching a safe hiding place. "DUCKLING!"
No response came but somehow, I had the same feeling from the other day that Uchiha Sasuke wanted to skin me alive. This is going to be a long day.
I'll pat myself of the shoulder for re-touching this chapter, because holy crap, there was a lot to change. But I did it. Yay. Funny enough, reading my old author's note, New Year's eve is also approaching now. Just… 3 years apart, haha
Old author's note:
Happy new year everyone! My Christmas was awesome, hope yours was too! Sorry, this chapter is rushed. My schedule is fucked. My exams are here. I'm slowly dying on the inside. I have no idea when I will post the next chapter and I still have to update my other story (Because I have re-read the first and only chapter posted and... yeah. But chapter 2 is almost done). Chapter 8 is ready, but I have to change some things.