Chapter VIII: Eat the rude
That idiotic piece of Uchiha. I kept rushing through the tree branches until I decided that either running high above the ground or just simply walking made no difference. Kakashi was a jounin. End of discussion. If he wanted to find me, he would no matter what. So, I was walking serenely in broad daylight. At least it's not in my face. I wondered how the others were doing. Naruto was probably still dangling in the tree, Sasuke must have encountered Kakashi. Or Sakura. But I was pretty sure I'd known if Sakura encountered him. He'll find me too. I was tempted to try my luck and talk Naruto into working as a team, but I doubted that I would succeed. That idiot was rather dense.
And even if he wasn't, should I? This was their test. But since I got involved shouldn't I… do something? This was now our test now. But what if I make Kakashi suspicious? Out of the three Naruto was the safest to ask to team up. Well, Sakura too. The way I saw it that was the only way to succeed getting the bells. I cursed myself for making up my mind just now and started running in the direction I just came from. I must get there. And fast. This time I shot through the branches like a rabbit chased by dogs. Earning some more scratches, of course.
I really, really, really hoped my plan would work and that the idiot was still there. Suddenly I heard something. I stopped dead in my tracks. Was that a scream? It was possible, but so was that I was imagining things. It's been too faint. I waited patiently for other strange sounds but when none came I continued with my mad run. I've started hearing things. That's bad.
When I arrived back to the clearing near the river, Naruto was still fidgeting in the rope. I stepped out of the cool shadows I got closer while the idiot didn't even notice me, too engrossed into cursing and trying to cut the rope. I snickered.
"Still bothering with that rope?" I asked earning the blonde's attention.
"KAYA-CHAN!" He exclaimed and I grimaced at the loud shriek. "No, this is the second trap! I thought you all flee before Kakashi-sensei got you!"
"Second trap. You fell for the same trick. Twice. In a row." I looked at him perplexed as he responded with yet another loud 'Hey!' I cut the rope and the blond had the sense to not fall flat on his face.
"Oi, thank you Kaya-chan." Naruto started grinning. "You know, you're not soo bad. Hehehe. I'll tell you a secret: behind the wood logs there's a rock on which are our lunches. I saw them while I was hanging on the tree."
"Naruto, no." I cut it. "That's cheating. We'll fail. Immediately."
"But Kaya-chan! 'Ninjas need to think beyond the normal'" He cited Kakashi proudly. Is this the lie he justifies his actions upon? I couldn't bring myself to be harsh to him. Not while he grinned like a sly fox with yet innocent cerulean eyes. So much about hating children.
"Um, Naruto, Kakashi didn't mean for us to cheat based on what he said." I pointed out. "But I know a way to get a bell"
"Uh? What way?! Tell me!"
So excitable. I studied him and before opening my mouth to talk, I already knew I failed.
"Teamwork. That's how we get the bell. You, I, Sasuke and Sakura against Kakashi. We are bound to get at least one bell."
There. I did it. Guilt was weighting on my shoulders like an invisible huge rock. This is exactly what everyone would do if they seriously wanted to get a bell. The hard part came afterwards,when we would decide who takes the bells and who doesn't. And even if I counted myself out, I knew Sakura and Sasuke wouldn't agree to give Naruto a bell. I don't really have anything to bargain with. But we had to get the bells first and worry about that later.
"What do you mean?! I'm not going to help that bastard! And Kaya-chan there are only two bells, and you pass anyway."
Ah, so he's not as stupid as he lets on. I was in the middle of a sigh when he said the last part. Did he just…? I glared at him. He watched me with a confused and innocent expression of a person who has no idea they said something wrong. I might have misheard that. No, I haven't. I turned on my heels and walked towards the bushes.
"I see. Do what you want. It's not my business."
I didn't wait for his eventual reply to what I said and began my search for Sakura. I knew by now Kakashi must have caught up to her or Sasuke. I wasted time. Yeah, but at least I tried. So, back to planning. Sasuke wasn't an option. But maybe… if I had Sakura agreeing to my plan, he would see sense in it. On the principle that an idea makes more sense when more people agree upon it. I should pay extra attention to my surroundings. Because there was a huge chance that Kakashi would find me, before finding the other two.
It wasn't until minutes later that I stopped and turned trying to make no sound. I swear I've just heard something. It might have been like earlier,nothing. But since now I was a genin, shouldn't I be relying on my intuition? And my intuition is telling me that there is a grey haired jounin somewhere to my right, spying. Yeah, intuition was good, just not mine.
"To your right, Kaya-chan"
Close enough. I threw the dust I had gathered in my right palm in his dirrection and pulled out a kunai, putting distance between us. I looked at the Jounin and took three more steps backwards. My priority was to find the others. Shit. And he's still reading, god damn it. I looked at him waiting for genjutsu, ninjutsu, something, but nothing came. He just read his damn book. Hip hip hurrah for not being worth his time.
"Where are Sakura and Sasuke?" I asked getting into a stance in case he came at me.
"Concerned about the others?" he asked without looking up from his book. "You have your own test, Kaya-chan. I'd be more concerned about yourself."
"I am." I tried to gulp down anxiety but my mouth was dry as fuck. "But I have a plan."
"Oh?" he turned a page. "One is most likely still under my genjutsu and the other is underground. No far from here. So… what now."
I stared at him. Was he lying…? But, did I even have a choice? I could try to dispel his genjutsu. He couldn't have done anything too crazy, we were kids. But I didn't have any experience with any kind of genjutsu, as lame as that was coming from an Uchiha. However, I didn't know what being underground meant for Kakashi. Just before he looked up from his book, I threw a smoke bomb and 'dissapeared'.
I might have lied to Naruto about the Shunshin no Jutsu.
Ҩ
I was able to tell that we were approaching noon by the intensity with which the sun was burning the back of my neck. I would say this is a lame skill, but meh. I cursed myself for leaving Kakashi. I could have followed his tracks back to either Sasuke or Sakura. That would have been the smart move to make. But of course, being the coward, I was, I just stormed off like that. Very intelligent indeed.
I was beginning to remember the paths around the training grounds as well,now that the oanic of being hunted by a jouning throw the woods seemed to subside. Also, that's how much I've been walking in circles. At least I was burning down the adrenaline of this test. And wasting my energy, of course. People like me should never try to become shinobi, honestly.
To be sincere walking in circles around the place was rather enjoyable. I was able to admire the rich vegetation and birds. Because that's why I got up early every morning. To admire nature. Well, not that early, after all I was late. I wasn't later than Kakashi. No indeed because that was impossible. My monologue was rudely interrupted.
"Kaya."
That's… I forced myself to not look in the direction of the voice. Instead I looked up as if I was expecting the birds to talk. Serves him right. I walked without any hesitation and stopped when the voice urged.
"Kaya."
"God?" I asked still looking up, before glancing down under my foot frozen in mid-air. "Ah, Sasuke. Geez What are you doing there? I could have squished you like a cockroach. You do know the difference between a human and a plant, don't you? I don't think that's an effective way of gaining power. You know, from the soil."
"Shut up."
"No, really" I said getting at the same level with the ground inserted Uchiha. This looks just wrong. I've seen people burying themselves in sand at the beach. How did Kakashi even managed this? "It's very dangerous, Sasuke."
If looks could kill. Sasuke's expression had 'you don't say?' plastered all over it. I couldn't help but break into laughter which did not helped much.
"Stop laughing."
"Sorry, I just can't!" I said with no regret into it. "I really thought you were the most likely to get a bell from Kakashi. And now to see you like this." his patience was wearing very thin, I could tell. "Ok, how do we get you out of there?"
A rustle in the leaves made both of us look towards the bushes in anticipation. That's when Sakura came out running, determination sparkling in her eyes. And stopped. Oh. Her face was pure horror. I don't think I've ever seen someone so horrified before. Is this because of the genjutsu or she simply is like this? It almost made me fear ever to be caught in a genjutsu. I have to learn how to recognize one and to release it. Well, if I put it like that, I had a lot of things to learn. The list was growing longer and longer every day.
"Sakura." Sasuke called somehow thinking that would things make better. Of course, she just gave out a loud shriek worthy of a banshee and collapsed on the ground. What the f…?
"You had to make things better, didn't you?" I sighed just as dumbfounded as the Uchiha.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Genjutsu, I suspect."
It took us ten solid minutes of digging and pulling to get the duck out of the ground. It still sounds so wrong. I went beside Sakura checking up on her. Yeah, she just fainted. I could hear Sasuke trying to get the dirt out of his clothes as I was waiting for Sakura to get around. I frowned at the pale face of the did I always seem to miss the important events? Shisui's death, Naruto's fight with the guy who tried to steal that scroll, the naming of the members of the teams, Sakura falling under Kakashi's genjutsu, Sasuke's fight with Kakashi. This has to stop. But does it really matter if I'm present or not, if things don't get out of control and go just as they should? The worse of them was Shisui's death. I mean, I never knew the guy, but I'm supposedly part of the clan and never took notice of any of the members, even less so of their deaths. Well, with the exception of the Massacre. Kinda hard to miss that one.
Sasuke looked down to the pink haired girl, until he decided she wasn't in a critical enough state to be worth his attention and switched to me. I watched him amused, fixed on the rather thick layer of dirt from his hair.
"What?" He asked vexed by my insistent stare. I snickered and ruffled his hair a little harder than neccesary. "Stop it." That did not make me less amused. Aw, they are just cute kids.
"She'll be fine. She just experienced a rather solid dose of Kakashi's genjutsu. I think she wasn't overjoyed when she saw only your head." I explained.
"Hn. Did Kakashi get to you?" He asked not really interested in Sakura's state. Ass.
"Yeah. And no. No bell on me." I stated the obvious and he shot me a suspicious look his eyes wandering on my rather unscratched person. Well, except of the superficial ones which I gained from my unflattering skills at dealing with Mother Nature. "This isn't surprising. By ourselves, we are no match for him. Not one bit."
"Then what's the point of this test?" Sasuke growled at my insinuation that we were all weaklings… which we actually were.
"I can't know for sure." I began carefully, storming my brains for a way to persuade him, or at least make him understand. He was not Naruto. Sasuke was sharp but too stubborn and proud for his own good. If Sakura was awake this would be easier. If there was one thing Sasuke listened to, it was reason. And I'm not the best person to provide it. At all.
"Think of it like this, Kakashi is a jounin. We have just graduated from the Academy – we're barely genin. We can't possibly get a bell each on our own." I finished cursing myself for not being more persuasive.
" 'Each on our own'. Hn. You think he means us to come at him as a team." the duck stated and frowned. "There are only two bells. And besides," he said with a cold determination in his black eyes "you will only slow me down."
I figured as much. I sighed and got up giggling, earning a rather confused look.
"Well, there's always Naruto for lunch. But you know, it's better to eat the rude. I always like having an old friend… for lunch." I smiled at him with all my heart. I creeped the seven hells out of him. "Oh, come on. You can't honestly expect me to go through the freaking massacre of the whole clan without being mentally deranged."
His eyes widen for a fraction of exactly one second but a moan made both of us look down. Crude green eyes slowly opened with visible difficulty to focus.
"Sasuke-kun?" Of course her first word after regaining conscious would be the dickhead's name. "You are alright!"
She launched herself in a hug, but Sasuke caught her arms and was trying to fend her off, rather unsuccessfully. I stifled a laugh but got the pinkie's attention.
"Kaya-chan!" she exclaimed and blushed a faint shade of her own hair. She's still a little too pale, perhaps still dizzy?
"Hello, Sakura. Nice to see you've come around, fine and all." I sent a sly look at her and Sasuke, and she blushed a deeper shade of red while the duck got up. "Ok, listen both of you. I have a plan. Traps. We set traps on this part of the training grounds and lure Kakashi in, engage in taijutsu, all three of us together and –"
"It's almost noon. I'm going." Sasuke said already passing me.
"Sasuke-kun are you still after the bell?" Sakura asked urgently trying to keep him around a little longer.
"I touched one. I can get it next time." he shot me a determined look and I rolled my eyes. Ignorant brat.
"Is that so? You're amazing, Sasuke-kun!"
"Um, I was talking…?" I narrowed my eyes as the other two seemed to ignore me completely.
"Um… since we have little time left, why don't we try harder next time and give up for now." Sakura offered and I instantly wanted to plant her in the ground in Sasuke's place. But head first.
One glare from Sasuke was enough to quiet Sakura down. I sighed. Note to self: spending time with both Sakura and Sasuke might result in premature dementia. I opened my mouth to explain to Sakura how an Uchiha works, when the object of research decided to speak.
"Only I can kill that man."
I watched Sasuke getting caught in his tirade. The kid suffered from major PTSD, just as anyone would expect. But to develop such a fixed idea. What if… what if he found out his fixed idea is based on an utter lie? He would discover the truth either way, just much, much later with a very destructive effect. What would happen… if someone planted some seeds of doubt in his mind? At this stage, while he is still susceptible to other's opinions.
"I'm an avenger. I must become stronger than him. I can't stumble here."
Um, sorry, who invited you? Me and the Tony Stark in my head agreed that Sasuke would make a terrible team with Thor. But seriously, his vehemence scared me. It's soo toxic. Suddenly the sound of the alarm went off in the distance.
"Time's up." I said happily, getting up. "Good thing that we listen to all of my three plans of getting the bells as a TEAM."
"Damn, I've wasted my time talking."
I sighed while passing the pissed off duck.
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I tried as hard as to stifle my laugh. The situation was rather dry, but seeing the dismayed blonde tied to the wood log seemed funnier to me than it was. My stomach growled with fury making me cringe. Of course, that only determined an entire choir of other three hungry stomachs. Damn Kakashi.
" Uh, oh. Stomachs are growling, eh?" asked the grey haired jounin with his arms crossed.
"No at all. They are synchronizing in ode to the Hokages." I said rather annoyed by my stomach. It didn't help that Kakashi only seemed even more amused by my comment.
"By the way, about the results of the exercise … I have decided I won't sent any of you back at the Academy."
I pff-ed, while the others received the news quite enthusiastic. Wait for it… Because it sounded too good to be true.
"What I passed?" Sakura said genuinely surprised encouraged by Kakashi's smile. "All I did was faint and fall over. Do you get points for that?"
At least one is skeptical about this unexpected results. But… then both Sakura and Naruto started celebrating very laudly.
"Yes, all four of you … are being dropped from the program permanently."
"That's… kinda extreme." I commented with the beginning of a headache. Kakashi's conclusion put an end to their ecstatic happiness.
"But realistic." Kakashi added.
"Dropped from the program? But that means we'll never become shinobi! You said if we can't take the bells we'll be sent back to the Academy!" Naruto shouted moving his legs back and forth. He's going to injure himself if he continues like that. Or at least get rope burn. "You can't just change your mind and kick us out! Why would you do that?!"
" Because you don't think like ninja." Kakshi said coolly. "You think like little kids. Like brats. You think being a shinobi is a game? You put your life in danger and more importantly you put other's lives in danger."
The next minutes were filled with complaints and other harsh reality slaps from Kakashi. Oh, how I wish this day would be over already. My head was splitting with pain. I closed my eyes and I pretended I was listening. I opened my eyes when I heard the shifting of material and fast movement. Of course, it was Sasuke who failed to attack Kakashi. Such Naruto-like move on his part. That position though. Kakashi was literally sitting on the Uchiha, with his foot on the inky haired head.
"See? You think it's all about you." Kakashi said and it almost resonated with what I told the dickhead earlier.
"Don't step on Sasuke-kun! You can't step on him like he's some bug!"
Ooo, Sakura rage!
"Nope, you can sit on the duckling. Just don't damage him too much. They're rare. I mean, three Uchiha in the whole world." I yawned and received a cold glare from the duck in question and a rather uncertain one from Sakura, as she was deciding if I was joking or not.
"You don't know what it means to be a ninja." Kakashi looked at each of us with a hardened expression. "Have you wondered why we put you on squads? Have you considered that question for one moment?"
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked rather confused.
"I mean, you haven't realized what this exercise is all about. That which determines if you can pass or fail." Kakashi stated flatly.
"I've been meaning to ask you from the very beginning…"
"Geez, are your brains empty? Three people in a squad. Why would we do that?"
"TEAMWORK!"
Four pairs of eyes stared at me rather confused. Where did that come from? Why?
"It's teamwork." I clarified quietly.
"What? Like working together?"
I'm going to murder her. Last time I checked Sakura was the smartest in the team, what happened with that intellect? Had it been eaten all up by the idiocy of the blonde? Maybe Naruto is an intellect sucking vampire. Not acquiring intelligence obviously, but rather eating it away.
"That's right. The saddest part is that the answer came from the one person that's not in a squad. But it's too late now. If all four of you might have been able to take them. But it's over now."
There was a long silence. My eyes met onyx and I smirked. I told you, you fucking moron. Caught in the moment, I felt no regret if we were actually dropped from the program. Because what Kakashi said was 100% true. It made perfect sense and if Konoha was the kind of place where people gave a shit about the people they appointed as genin, they would drop people like us.
"Aw, man! Kaya-chan wanted something like that, but I didn't listen!" Naruto erupted and I narrowed my eyes at him. You don't say, buddy.
"But you set it up with four people but only two bells! If we worked together and we got the bells only two people would be able to keep them. That would lead to group conflict and the squad would break up! Sakura pointed out with consternation.
"Conflict among you three only." I corrected her smirking at Naruto. "I'd pass no matter what."
"HEY!"
"But seeing as neither of us got the bells, I don't get to pass either." I turned from the blonde. "Because Kakashi isn't obligated to keep me around if he has no squad. Actually, it's easier to either send me back at the Academy or drop me from the program along you. Although… I did caught on with the teamwork idea."
"That is correct. I pinned you against each other and you also dismissed the one person who had every interest to work as a team to get the bells and keep none. All because you were so blinded by your desire to get one bell" Kakashi mocked us."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."
"Sakura! You obsessed over Sasuke who was gone, even though Naruto was right in front of you and you didn't lift a finger to help him!. Naruto! You did everything on your own. Everything. And you" Kakashi stepped harder on Sasuke ignoring my silent protests "Thought the others were soo beneath you, they were worthless. Kaya was the only one to propose teamwork but had to give up when both of you refused."
"Arrogance. Ninja missions are carried out in squads. Of course you need individual skills, but teamwork is the most essential element" Kakashi continued to explain so it would get into our skulls. "Every shinobi understands this. When individuals put themselves above the squad, it can lead to failure and death."
"For example: Sakura, kill Naruto now or Sasuke dies." Kakshi held a very sharp, very real kunay to Sasukes throat. His grip was firm, but still. "That's what happens on a mission. You can be put face to face with an impossible choice and someone ends up dead. On every mission your life is on the line." the grey joinin stepped away from the Uchiha and turned towards the 'rock' Naruto mentioned men I freed him from the tree.
"If you look at this stone, the names engraved on it, they are all shinobi who are honored as heroes in our village."
Oh boy. It's that stone.
"I like that! That's it! I've decided that I'm going to have my name engraved into that! I'mgonna be a hero!" Naruto exclaimed and I swear he could draw out of the ground the log if he shook like that.
Oh, kid…
"Continue like that and you might just end up there." I growled.
"What? You support me in this Kaya-chan?"
"Yes, I guarantee you I'll help,if you continue talking."
"I'm going to be a hero! I'm not going to die a useless death!"
"They are… a special kind of hero. They're all K.I.A" Kakashi's voice became sober.
"K.I.A? That sounds really cool!"
"It means killed in action. They all died, Naruto." Sakura explained to the blonde idiot. He finally understood and his enthusiastic expression changed. Ha. And then he figured out. He glanced at me and I returned it with a smile. Oh, the poor little scared fox.
"…this is a memorial stone. The names of my closest friends are engraved here."
We all remained silent processing what Kakashi said. I've suddenly remembered that indeed, all his friends are dead. His family is dead. Everyone he ever loved is dead. And that was a scary thought for a person who actually died. I thought about my mother. And cat. And friends, all gone. I mean, I'll never see them again, but at least I know they were all alive when I… wasn't anymore.
"Alright, I'll give you one more chance. But I'mgoing to make it much harder on you. You have 3 hours to get a bell. Eat lunch now to build up strength. But Naruto doesn't get any. As punishment for breaking the rules and trying eating by yourself. And if anyone tries to feed him, that person will immediately fail. I make the rules, you follow them. Got it?"
Next thing, we were sitting around the log enjoying our lunches. Well, all except Naruto of course. Keh. How peaceful. The black duckling and the pinkie were eating slowly which only made Naruto's stomach growl louder. How can they eat with someone staring hungrily at them? With every ite I felt more and more guilty.
"This is no big deal! I can go without eating for days, for weeks! Dattebayo!" the blonde assured us without believing those word himself .
That stomach is really upset and hungry. Keeping a kid hungry was mean. Keeping a kid hungry while he tried to convince you and himself that he's not hungry, wasjust plainly evil. Mainly because kids don't have that same self-control and power to put off basic needs. Not as adults could, because they are still growing. I'll be ashamed with myself if I don't do something. But I didn't get to do anything until Sasuke held up his lunch in front of Naruto.
"Here."
"B-but, Sasuke-kun you can't. You heard what sensei said…" Sakura started and I rolled my eyes.
"Kakashi is gone. We need to get those bells as a team." Bullshit. You're not a sensor, Uchiha. "If Naruto is hungry, he'll be weak and ineffective. That hurts the team and jeopardizes the mission " You don't have to say it so forcefully, tho.
I smiled. It was good to see these friendly-Sasuke moments. Sakura offered her lunch to Naruto, after considering it carefully. This, of course, touched the blonde far more that Sasuke's benevolence.
"You don't need to thank me, just hurry up and eat." she smiled, not understanding yet the problem that came with offering him food.
"But um…"
"I'm on a diet anyway."
"Actually," I started with a mouth full of rice "have you noticed that we could split up the food equally in four portions?"
"What do you mean 'split it up'?
"I mean," I explained mashing up my lunch box together " like this."
"… ."
"What? It's effective."
"That is disgusting."
"It ends up in the same place! The stomach doesn't care!"
"Kaya-chan that's amazing!" Naruto said smiling.
"Nah, it's just practical thinking. But yeah, I have my moments. Rare." I sat down facing the three of them. "By the way Sakura… Naruto is tied; he can't possibly eat on his own."
"What?!" Poor pinkie.
"Hurry up, he could be back any moment." the duck said keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding.
"I'm going to do this just once. Understood? Is that clear?"
"Clear as a bell, Sakura-chan!"
Watching Sakura trying to feed a hungry tied up Naruto was more entertaining than I could have possibly imagined. And then Kakashi made his apparition. All cloudy and dark, trying to frighten us.
"You four broke the rules. Are you prepared for the punishment?"
"But…but…but!" Naruto started.
"We're all on this squad. All three, so we're all eating together." Sasuke asked trying to make the others snap out of it. Then he sneaked a quick glance around. "… with an additional member."
Oh, geez Sasuke, thank you. I feel so important. Oh my gods. I have been acknowledged. Now I can die peacefully.
"You suck at giving motivational speeches."
"Yeah! We gave our lunch to him because we four are one!" Sakura added finding her courage. This was all getting a little too sappy for my tastes. But I had to give her points for saying it from the heart. Nope.
"Yeah! YEAH! That's right!"
"You'll have a bad time trying to get over four best genin of the year. And united at that." I smirked.
"You four are one, huh? That's your excuse?" Kakashi said approaching with determination only to break into a smile and giving us thumbs up. "You passed."
I let out a breath I didn't know I kept until then. Just according to the plan.
"…what do you mean? Why?" Sakura said not convinced yet. I braced myself for the wise words that were about to spill from Hatake Kakashi.
"All the other squads did all I said and fell into every trap. You are the only ones who ever succeeded. They couldn't think for themselves. A ninja must see through deception. In the world of shinobi, those who break the rules are scum. But those who abandon their friends are even worse scum."
"He's um… he's kinda cool, you know." Naruto started weeping instantly. Because those words really mean something for him. I smiled.
"The training ends here. Everyone passes. Team 7 starts its first mission tomorrow! Let's go home."
Yassssssssssss.
"That's the sweetest thing you said all day, sensei." I sighed walking away with the others, the longing for my bed back at my apartment rekindled in my heart once more." 'Home' " I mused happily. "Wait, shouldn't we untie the idiot?"
Somewhere in the distance a furious blonde fox-boy was screaming for freedom.
Looong chapter, loooong edit. Enjoy!