So here is chapter 9, it's 9,095 words without author's notes!
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Start Chapter 9
Harri was surprised to see Naruto standing among the graduate students. Hadn't he failed the test the day before? He wondered what he must have done to get his headband. Though he had heard something about a scroll being stolen and the demon child which Harri still wasn't sure why people called Naruto that. Yeah, he definitely had some demon blood but it was pathetically deluded from what Harri could tell from the other boy's smell, human's could be so strange sometimes.
"Harri! Over here! Come on, sit with us!" Choji called, eagerly coming over to drag his friend to sit with he and Shikamaru. "We're going to be the best team ever! I'm sure that they'll team us all up, you and Shikamaru and me! This is going to be great!" Choji said, grinning and plopping down in his chosen seat, leaving a spot between himself and Shikamaru open for Harri.
"I hope so, ugh, it would be a drag if I got stuck with anyone else! No way do I want to be stuck with some annoying flake of a troublesome woman! You were literally the only reason I ever even showed up for class the last few years." Shikamaru grumbled, rubbing his eyes as he lifted his head from his crossed arms to properly look at Harri.
"I hope we get on the same team to! Sasuke's going to make all the kid cry and pets run away if his team gets any assignment like babysitting or finding lost pets! Who ever ends up in his group is going to be crying from frustration by the end of the week, I guarantee it! Sasuke isn't the nicest, as you know and doesn't get along with anyone. He was supposed to graduate nearly a year ago but his corporation and team skills were so bad he barely skirted by and graduated because the rest of his grades were so good for so long..." Harri said to his friend's in a quiet tone, glancing around, though he had a excited gentle smile on his face. "Normally the male with the highest grades and the female with the highest grades end up being paired with the individual with the lowest grades so I think Sasuke is at least going to end up being paired with-" Harri paused when he heard Iruka sensei begin to speak, eyes widening in disbelief when the man finally announced who his cousin would end up teamed with. Sasuke had thankfully returned from where ever he had gone right as the man began the announcement.
"Team 7 will consist of Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno-"
"Yes! This is awesome! I get to be with Sakura!" Naruto cheered.
"What? I'm doomed you can't be serious!" The girl cried, looking ready to throw a fit until the last member of the team was announced.
"And Sasuke Uchiha."
Instantly cheering, hearts practically forming in Sakura's eyes as she eyed the furious looking boy. Not even seeming to notice the dangerous aura radiating off of him.
"As long as I don't end up teamed with a jealous whiner like you I'd be happy!" Harri heard Ino smugly announce to Shikamaru who had apparently been speaking to her.
"Team 8 will consist of Hinata Hyuuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame. Team 10 will consist of Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akamichi!" Iruka announced ignoring Ino's wail of denial.
"No! I can't be with the lazy slob and the napping loser!" She whined bashing her head on the desk, sprawling over it with a look of self pity on her face.
Shikamaru smirked at her, "What were you just saying?" He mocked.
Harri hid his grin with his sleeve. He didn't really know what they had been talking about together but he was sure that the snobby self centered girl was being terribly rude for Shikamaru to act that way, which wasn't unusual for her. Harri's stomach dropped when Iruka went on to another team. Wait, he wasn't going to get to be with them?
"Aw man, what a drag, you should have definitely been with us! Hopefully you at least end up with half decent team mates. Not with this self obsessed diva!" Shikamaru said, truly looking upset.
"Yeah, you should have been with us!" Choji pouted shoveling chips into his mouth faster than he normally did while scuffing his feet.
"What! You can't be serious, I'm definitely a better Shinobi than that runt! I'm prettier to!" Ino growled, glaring Harri down.
Shikamaru snorted, "Stop or I'm going to start laughing at you, seriously, how low can you go? Picking on someone smaller and younger than you that you know won't retaliate." The boy said, a dead serious look on his face as he glared down the girl.
Iruka had a confused look on his face, looking to go back through the paper he was reading off.
"I will be right back, please be patient." Iruka told his class, glancing up at Harri with a puzzled expression before leaving the room, quite literally scratching his head in confusion.
"M-my name wasn't called." Harri suddenly spoke up, voice almost inaudible.
"What?" Shikamaru asked his attention instantly back on his friend.
"Iruka Sensei didn't call my name. I'm the only one left..." Harri said, ducking his head and nervously holding his hands in his lap as he barely spoke over a whisper.
"Figures! They probably thought you were so pathetic that they changed your mind and are planning on taking back your forehead protector!" Ino all but yelled, snickering snidely.
Harri paled as several heads turned to look at him, whispers instantly started up. Harri felt like his lungs were going to seize up, too many eyes. His own burned in a tell tale way. He forced back the tears trying to start up.
Sasuke was surprisingly the one that snapped at the girl after looking back and seeing the expression on Harri's face his fury turned into an uncontrollable boiling rage. Though he barely looked to be. Both of Harri's friends along with many other students in the class were also upset on his behalf.
"How dare you speak to Harrison that way? You are nothing in comparison! Not even worth dirt! Nothing that you do or say or achieve will ever make you worth a one hundredth of what Harri does to me. Your ugly and stupid and pathetically weak in truth you disgust me and always have! The next time you do something like this to my cousin you'll be in an unmarked grave!" Sasuke hissed. A wild look in his eyes. Sasuke flexed his fingers like he was ready to quite literally go in for the kill.
Ino instantly burst out in tears glaring at Harri like it was his fault when the moody Uchiha, she fancied herself so in love with, curled his lip as she tried simpering to him. After that she moved seats.
"Harri, come here, what are you doing up there? Stop sitting with those losers. I told you nothing ever good happens when you're around those two slackers!" Sasuke growled, quite literally jumping onto the desktop and dragging his cousin up onto it, with him.
"Sasuke don't climb on furniture!" Harri muttered, tucking his head against Sasuke's chest. He didn't want anyone to see it, he was so completely mortified by his cousin's behavior he felt faint.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. Dragging Harri with him back to his chosen seat in the next row and sat him on the outside. Now none of those stupid disgusting girls would bother his Harri. He was still fuming mad from it. How dare they show such disrespect for some one so obviously superior to them? Someone that had come from a clan practically regarded as being gods! (Though he didn't really believe they were) And besides that, Harri was supposed to be his betrothed! No one compared to Harri to Sasuke and he would never look at another and betray his most precious person. Though in his mind there really wasn't anyone to look at. The girls were gross and weren't anything like his Harri who he thought perfect.
Sasuke was still enraged over the fact that Harri hadn't been put with him. He and Harri were supposed to be together, always! They would avenge their clan and then when he and Sasuke were old enough they would get married and would begin to restore the Uchiha clan and have many children and they would be very happy together and the Uchiha clan would be known far and wide for their unbeatable strength and unrivaled beauty.
It took nearly half an hour for Iruka to come back, looking completely frazzled. "Harri please come here." He called once the students quieted down.
Harri stood, silently making his way to the front, head hanging.
"Come with me." Iruka said in a curt tone.
"Yes.. Yes sensei." Harri said hardly above a whisper.
"Okay so apparently you are going to have to be added to one of the 3 man squads. Which I am sure you were expecting anyway as there isn't enough students for you to be put on your own team. Right now there is a... disagreement going on with the council about your placement. It should be figured out soon, hopefully by after lunch. I'm really sorry that this is happening Harri. I know this has to be stressful for you. Are you feeling alright? I noticed you becoming a bit pale and Sasuke had you move to sit next to him." Iruka said, both sounding and looking concerned for the child standing before him.
"Yeah, I was just concerned is all. I feel fine today, just nervous." Harri assured the man.
"I bet, I'd be in a tizzy if this had happened to me!" Iruka said, giving Harri a small smile. "Hopefully everything will be figured out by the time lunch is done..."
Harri nodded, tugging at his sleeves, "Well we better get back in there before Sasuke throws a fit. You know how he gets if I'm not in there." Harri said in a tentative voice, looking at the wooden slats of the deck.
Iruka gave him a startled look. He wasn't expecting the heiress to say something like that at all, even if it was the truth! Sasuke was almost impossible to tolerate if Harri wasn't around to temper him. The only reason he had gotten a passable grade in his corporation was because Iruka had begun to nearly exclusively pair the two together in team exercises and Harri wasn't one to argue with his 'uncle'. He found Sasuke's gradually worsening fixation on his 'niece' to be a bit disconcerting. Giving the child a nervous laugh he led Harri back in so he could begin his lecture on proper Genin protocol and what was to be expected by them.
"So what happened?" Sasuke asked Harri, trying to look cool and disinterested but Harri could tell he was dying to know.
"The council is in the middle of deciding what team I should be put on." Harri said with a shrug, barely managing to hide his amusement at the hyper aware way his cousin tensed up. Hopefully they would decide to split them up. He really didn't want to have to deal with Sasuke for the rest of his life!
Harri wasn't sure he liked the way Sasuke rushed from the room once lunch time hit. Making an excuse that he had forgotten something at home and needed to go pick it up. Even if Harri really didn't care that he wasn't going to be able to have lunch with the Uchiha, he was actually pretty openly happy about it. What ever at least he would be able to eat with his friends now without his cousin freaking out and ruining his ability to spend time with them.
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No, no, no this couldn't be happening! Harri would have literally been happy in anyone else's squad than with team 7! Even the one with Hinata Hyuuga and he had spent his entire school career learning how to expertly avoid her, her younger sister, and the Hyuuga's all together! This was a nightmare, a total disaster! Now he would have to deal with Sasuke and his irritating possessive behavior every moment of everyday! He would also have to hide being a male from everyone but his cousin in that team unlike if he had been placed with Choji and Shikamaru! This was going to be a total pain! How was he even considered for team 7 anyway?
Shikamaru had the second worst grades in the class, though only from Harri's prodding did he get them any higher than Naruto from his pure laziness. Harri had a better written grade than even Sakura who had a better over all grade among the 'female' students because of the physical portion as Harri still wasn't physically very strong in comparison to his peers, placing 10th in those exams. Ino was also pretty physically strong out doing Sakura in the physical exam by a small margin.
Harri went ridged when his cousin nearly swaggered into the room. Most wouldn't notice it as they didn't know him like he did but Harri could see the smugness in his eyes and the hardly visible smile on his face. What had him so happy?
"You forgot that dumb stuffed dog thing, here." Sasuke said, holding Paddy out by his ear. Smirking in a teasing manner.
Harri blushed in mortification, completely forgetting about the question he was going to ask his cousin. He swore Paddy was in his bag, he never went anywhere without him! Harri snatched the stuffed animal from his cousin and quickly unzipped the messenger bag he had over his shoulder searching within, Gah! He hadn't brought Paddy but he swore he had. Hadn't he seen him before lunch? Harri quickly carefully placed his worn plush into his bag and zipped it up. He felt so embarrassed he could feel a hot blush cover his entire face, likely all the way to his neck.
"So, found out what team you are on yet?" Sasuke asked in a casual tone eying his cousin.
"She's on the best team of course because one Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage is on it of course!" Naruto boisterously announced.
Harri wilted, an indulgent forced smile on his face as he half heartedly agreed with Naruto making him almost beam. Oh gosh, this was going to be exhausting! Having to deal with his destabilizing cousin and keep him from going off the deep end while having to avoid his crazy fan girl and having to deal with Naruto's loud brash ungodly hyper personality! He may have been pretty energetic, especially compared to his friends, but Harri knew that compared to Naruto he mise well have been Shikamaru or his dad when his mother went off somewhere after weaseling a vacation out of some schmuck. Though Harri had a feeling that Naruto was going to be the easiest out of the team to get along with.
Why did he always end up in the most stressful situations? Especially when doctors often insisted with his delicate heath that he shouldn't be exposed to any stress if possible! Though he seemed to be finally beginning to become relatively heathy as he didn't get sick nearly as often anymore and his body didn't do scary things to him nearly as much if her exerted himself.
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They waited several hours for their new Jounin sensei to show up. Harri had actually decided to go home and get something to eat after the third hour, Harri had decided not to go home until he had gotten placed in a team and was starving. He was quite literally beginning to become weak from it as he hadn't eaten anything that morning either because Sasuke had so helpfully turned off the alarm and left without telling Harri, making him nearly late.
On his way to the Uchiha compound Harri had seen a familiar Jounin sitting in a tree watching through the window in what looked to be contemplation. Harri had wondered if he was assigned to be there Jounin. It would be hilarious to see his face when he realized he wasn't going to end up with 3 brats but 4. The Jounin seemed pretty settled in, a sandwich in one hand and some book in the other, Harri was sure he would be sitting there for a while, the way he was relaxing in the tree so he had taken his time. Making up himself a nice big late lunch of stir-fry and bits of chopped up nearly raw beef tossed in along with a big piece of peach and apricot cake with custard he had made to celebrate with Choji and Shikamaru later on. Harri then sat for a few minutes cooing to his Mai-Mai who he hadn't realized had decided to come home instead of being babysat by Shikaku like she often was when he wasn't busy. Harri had decided that she had most likely noticed him when he had walked by and followed him back home.
Loading up the still pristine paw print covered bento box Shikamaru had gotten him when they were younger, Harri set off. He planned to head back to the school, not wanting to risk missing the reveal of their teacher. Even though he was pretty sure it was the silver haired Jounin camped out in the tree just outside of the classroom. Harri dropped Mai back off to the Nara compound where she was likely nap to the rest of the day away or harass Shikamaru's much younger cousins and bully their new puppy out of jealousy. Harri laughed at the disgust sulking sniff she gave him before waddling to the main house bleating at the door, demanding that Shikaku baby her. After a few moments Harri could see the man walk out of the house a bowl of veggies in one hand and his box of Shogi pieces in the other. Inoichi was likely coming over then. Harri wished he could stick around to watch the two. He hadn't met the man very many times but it always ended up funny. The man's reactions were likely going to be amusing especially as Mai acted half in love with the him. Harri pouted a bit at that, hopping into a tree, he forced his mind back at the task at hand.
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When Harri finally got back to the school the silver haired Jounin was gone from the tree. Harri just managed to slip through the classroom door as the man picked up a blackboard eraser. Naruto was laughing hysterically nearly doubled over he was laughing so hard while Sakura simpered to the Jounin and Sasuke sat at one of the tables, smirked behind them. Oh this was going to be an tiring day, Harri was sure of it.
"The first impression that I get of the three of you... That... your all idiots." The man said in a matter of fact tone.
They guffed in disbelief.
"Anyway, I want the three of you to meet me up on the roof, you have 2 minutes." The Jounin said.
Harri sighed, walking back out of the room and to the outside door, unwilling to accidently spill his food by climbing out of the window. Harri easily launched himself onto a tree branch jumping from branch to branch until he was high enough to reach a pole then a flag post sticking out of a wall just above one of the window doing so repeatedly until he was able to get to the ordered roof, though all of this happened in only a few seconds. He may not have been considered very physically strong Harri was extremely fast for his age, not something he let show much in school though. He was perfectly happy being know as the wimpy bookworm.
Harri ignored the silver haired man, immediately walking over to a step and opening his lunch. He pulled out his chopsticks and forced himself to eat slowly. He needed to leave a good impression after all and eating your lunch in the middle of meeting someone probably wasn't the best one to start with.
"Wait, why are you here?" The silver haired Jounin asked pointing at Harri.
"Harri was put on our team." Sasuke said, his face scrunching up in distaste as he saw the cake in his cousin's lunch.
Both Sakura's and Naruto's mouths began to water uncontrollably at the smell of the food wafting from the box.
"Whoa, what's that?" Naruto asked eyes nearly shining as he pointed.
"Huh? Oh, this its some stir-fry I whipped up real quick and this is cake I made to celebrate with Choji and Shika. It's Choji's favorite one I make. You can have some too if you want. I don't mind!" Harri said between delicate bites.
"Yes! That would be awesome!" Naruto cheered, fidgeting as he waited for Harri to finish up his food.
The silver haired man's eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"Okay, lets start with introductions. Lets introduce ourselves. It will let us get to know each other a bit."
"Huh, what do you mean Sensei? Like how?" Sakura asked.
"Your names, likes... dislikes... hobbies... Desires for the future. Things like that." The man said, casually leaning against the roof's iron railing.
"Can you do it first so we know how to do it?" Naruto asked holding up his hand with a confused look. The others nodded excluding Harri, that darted an incredulous look at the group.
"Alright, my name is Kakashi Hatake, things I like... I'm not going to tell you that. Dislikes... Don't really feel like talking about that either. I have many hobbies... And my dreams are my own. Who's next?" The man said, Harri could tell he was smiling beneath his mask.
"What kind of introduction is that, he didn't even tell us anything about himself!" Naruto complained.
"Alright blondie your turn." Kakashi said, pointing at Naruto.
"Me?" Naruto said, pointing to himself. "Okay, my name is Naruto Uzumaki I like ramen in a cup but I like the ramen that Iruka sensei got me at Ichiraku's even more and Sakura! I hate waiting the 3 minutes for the water to cook so I can put it into the ramen cup and people that disrespect me! And my hobbies are eating different types of ramen and comparing them. My dream for the future is to be Hokage, then everyone that disrespects me would have to respect me and look up to me! Believe it!" Naruto announced.
"Okay then... And you Pinkie?" Kakashi asked, noticing the pained look Harri had on his face. He swore he had seen that kid around but he couldn't remember where.
"My name is Sakura Haruno! I like Giggle* I hate NARUTO! My hobbies are Squeal* My dreeeams SHRIEK*!" Sakura gushed, staring at Sasuke in a disturbing way.
"And the brooding one? Your up next." Kakashi said. Ignoring Naruto's pathetic whine at Sakura's blunt dislike of him.
"Hn. My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I don't really like anything... But my cousin Harri. And Tomatoes" Sasuke paused giving Harri a smoldering look which had him leaning away. "I dislike many things, most things actually but especially when Harri hangs out with those losers, Shikamaru and Choji." Sasuke grumbled with a pointed stare. "My hobbies are to get stronger My dreams are not just a dream as I will make them a reality! I will kill a certain someone and I to plan rebuild my clan after killing that someone with a person very important to me." Another creepy double meaning smoldering look was aimed at Harri even more discomforting than before. Harri grimaced and decided that he didn't want to eat anymore. Eeew! Sasuke better not have been referring to what he thought he was with all of those looks he was giving him. If so, why was he even thinking about something with the two of them still so young? Yeah, he was going to pretend that didn't just happen.
Somehow Sakura took what Sasuke had said completely the wrong way and began blushing and squealing, looking ready to faint.
"Uh... um yeah, you green eyes." Kakashi called, almost unable to speak he was so creeped out by Sasuke's looks at the petite looking kid and what he was insinuating. Eew. Thank goodness he wouldn't actually have to deal with this creepy thing he had going for his 'cousin'? Wait was that the Uchiha princess? Certainly pretty enough to be. Yeah... Maybe he should tell someone about this? He was pretty sure he had heard that green eyes was actually the daughter of Itachi Uchiha and that would mean that they weren't cousin's but actually uncle and niece and that incest to the point of completely disgusting.
Harri cleared his throat still a bit uncomfortable. His shy side trying to take over in his discomfort. He handed his lunch over to Naruto. "My name is Harrison B-Uchiha. I like lots of things. Um... My favorite things are dogs, Mai-Mai, um my friends Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akamichi along with Strawberries and learning how to preform my mom's family's jutsus. I dislike well I can't really say much of that... I guess when I have to talk with lots of people around or when I have to do stuff in front of lots of people. My hobbies... Cooking for people, reading, learning ninjutsu and Taijutsu... Playing with Mai-Mai and finding dogs to play with. My dreams... Well I don't really have any. I guess having a bunch of dogs and kids? I don't know I don't normally think on those sorts of things, I'm too busy for that." Harri said fiddling with his thumbs.
"Okay... I guess since introductions are done it's time to tell you, you aren't real ninja yet." Kakashi said.
Everyone excluding Harri looked surprise, calling out in denial and talking about how hard they worked. Yeah, he had seen this coming. Shikaku had actually told him about the fact that they would have some kind of test the day before and said no one was supposed to know about it... Oh, wait he forgot to tell Sasuke about it... Oops?
"You have one final test, a survival test against me starting tomorrow. Show up by 5am at the designated training ground... And please done eat anything, I'd hate for you all to puke. You are all dismissed!"
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Harri went to sleep early that night. Eating cake and custard with Shikamaru and Choji early that evening and returning home right away with Mai. Sasuke was so focused on the test the next day he hadn't given him more than an upset sulking glare over the fact that he wasn't one of Harri's favorite things named. He even slept in his own room that night, Harri didn't really mind as Shikaku had to give Mai a bath that day because she decided to play in the mud with Shikamaru's cousins. Harri just snuck her in and let her cuddle up with him for the night.
The morning wasn't that bad either. Harri was a little tired but he often got up a few hours early so he could practice his Taijutsu and Ninjutsu without anyone looking in on him. Letting Mai out Harri came back in and grabbed his modestly packed messenger bag, one didn't need a bunch of clothes and things for a couple days in the woods after all, if it was a survival trip. A single change of clothes, a blanket, some matches, some utility wire, a hair brush, and a small sauce pan with a folding handle that was all he had in it... well along with Paddy.
Harri walked to the kitchen. Sasuke was definitely not up yet. Harri shrugged to himself. Getting out a skillet. He was sure that he would begin to wake up one he smelled breakfast cooking. He didn't care what the Jounin said. He would rather not be starving all day if someone ended up being a terrible hunter and end up puking than be hungry especially as he had a tendency to get weak and nauseous if he didn't eat regularly.
Harri expertly cracked half a dozen eggs into the pan, whisking them as he did so. He tossed in a couple handfuls of cheese and added a bit of salt and pepper. After that Harri added some mushrooms, broccoli, little bits of onions and beef he had chopped up the night before. The smell of cooking meat made his nose wrinkle in dislike. He didn't want Sasuke to end up getting sick though. The other boy couldn't stand undercooked meat. Harri scooped some of the scrabbled omelet like mixture into a bowl for himself and began to add tomatoes to the rest of it. If that didn't wake Sasuke up, than nothing would.
Just as predicted Sasuke was stumbling down the stairs after that. "Hnn. What are you doing? Why does it smell like tomatoes?" Sasuke managed to say, still looking disoriented. He just barely managed not to stumble to his favored seat. Harri wondered how his fangirls would react at seeing their precious Sasuke stumbling around in the morning like a real human being.
"Making breakfast of course!" Harri chirped, just barely managing to hold back an eye roll. He poured the rest of the egg mixture into a bowl for his cousin and sat it in front of him. Harri then, got out a set of forks for the both of them and sat down after sitting one in Sasuke's nearly lax hand.
"No, we can't have breakfast remember? We'll puke." Sasuke stressed.
"Well do what you want but I'm not going to be any use to anyone weak from low blood sugar. We will definitely fail if I pass out or something and I have to go to the hospital." Harri pointed out.
"I wouldn't let that happen, I don't even understand why you're bringing anything other than a change of clothes really! I wouldn't make you have to do anything... I mean those losers should have to do stuff not you." Sasuke said, a pink tint forming over his nose.
"That's now how being a Shinobi works. I wouldn't make anyone do something I wouldn't do." Harri insisted.
"You should though! You're a Black, you shouldn't ever lower yourself to doing anything those idiots would do!" Sasuke almost growled. Glaring at his cousin.
"We are just going to have to agree to disagree on this Sasuke." Harri said abruptly. He shouldn't even be talking to him about things like that he knew all it would do was cause a fight.
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Everyone showed up around the same time. Naruto looked ready to pass out and eventually did fall asleep. Sakura was yawning incessantly and eying Sasuke like she was trying to get him to comment. Sasuke was pointedly ignoring the girl instead trying not to look at his cousin who was happily playing with his stupid goat on what was supposed to be the beginning of a survival mission. How could he have so much energy so early in the morning? Ugh he was so hungry!
"Who's the best girl? You are! Mai's the best dog yes she is!" Harri cooed at the preening old goat scratching at her adorable little beard. Harri took the stick the goat had retrieve for him and threw it again. "Go get it!" He said, pointing. She immediately took off, an oddly serious look on her face.
Sakura snorted, "You know that isn't a dog right?" She called.
Sasuke paled instantly, quickly turning with a deadly glare, "Shut up! What's wrong with you? Everyone knows not to say stuff like that about Mai, you idiot!" He hissed.
"But Sasuke! It's true!" Sakura whined. Shouldn't he be siding with her? He even said he wanted to revive his clan with her! He shouldn't be letting that pathetic weirdo continue on being so delusional like that!
"Be quiet if you don't want to end up sending us all to the hospital, moron! Harri gets really worked up about Mai, unlike you, I learned not to mention it a long time ago. Harri's happy with her and that's all I care about." Sasuke growled.
"What are you talking about Harri's one of the wimpiest kids in our class she couldn't do anything to us! The only reason she even managed to get in it was because she's a nerd!" Sakura insisted.
Sasuke snorted. "You really don't know anything do you?" He said in an annoyed clipped tone.
Harri thankfully was too focused on Mai to notice what they were talking about.
"Morning everyone, ready to get started for the day?" A man's voice suddenly called.
"Hey! Your late!" Naruto and Sakura both called, furious.
"Well a black cat crossed my path so I had to go the long way... Uh, what's with the goat?" The man asked, scratching his head as he watched Harri and the creature frolic around together.
"She's a dog not a goat!" Harri immediately called, patting her on the head. "Mai be a good girl and go to Choji's house! No messing with any cats!" Harri told her gushing when she rubbed her head against his hand demanding more pets. "No, Mai-Mai go visit Mochina! Shika's dad isn't home today! That's my good girl." Harri cooed when she did as she was told, trotting away after giving Kakashi the stink eye and a disgusted bleat.
"Okay then lets get started, shall we?" Kakashi said, deciding to ignore the growls the other students were giving him and the strange goat thing that he had just saw happen. Ugh these kids were weird.
"Here we go." Kakashi said, sitting a timer down onto a stump, pushing the button.
"You have until noon. Your assignment is very simple all you have to do is take these bells from me." Kakashi said, holding up a pair of bells. "If you can't get them by noon you go without lunch... You will be tied to those posts over there, and watch as I eat my lunch in front of you." Kakashi explained, pointing at 3 wooden posts.
"Wait? But there are only three bells! How is that supposed to work when there are 4 of us?" Sakura asked.
"Oh, you've noticed. Well that was so one of you... I guess two now, end up failing and get sent back to the academy." Kakashi chuckled, shaking the bells, "Then again all four of you could get sent back to the academy if you don't get them by noon. You can use any weapons you want. If you don't come at me with the intent to kill you have no chance of getting the bells." Kakashi explained tying them to his hip pack.
"What? No way that's way too dangerous!" Sakura squeaked.
"Yeah, especially since you couldn't dodge that eraser!" Naruto pointed out laughing.
"Class clowns are normally the weakest links. You can safely ignore them. They have the lowest scores and are losers. Rarely amounting to anything... Anyway... you can begin on my mark." Kakashi said in a bored tone of voice.
Naruto looked ready to kill, completely irrational. He lunged at Kakashi Kunai in hand. Most definitely willing to kill in that moment. Of course being a Jounin, Kakashi effortlessly snatched his hand and aimed the weapon at the back of the boy's head. "I didn't tell you that you could start yet..." Kakashi said letting Naruto go. Harri let out a breath. Naruto was so lucky that Kakashi had no intent to kill them. Naruto would have been dead in that very moment if he wanted to kill him, Harri was sure of that. The man was powerful. "Because you came at me with intent to kill... how do I say this... I think I am beginning to like you guys... Anyway, you can now begin!" Kakashi called. Harri immediately focused some Chakra through his legs and hopped into the nearest tree easily hiding himself in the canopy with his lighter weight. It would be difficult for Kakashi to get a hold of him up there if he were to try and go after him without alerting him with his much heavier weight.
Harri watched Naruto and his cousin go after the Jounin for a while, mildly pained as he watched. There was no way that they would be able to get those bells on their own with how pathetic their skills were compared to the Jounin. The only way would maybe be if everyone worked together! Oh gods really? Naruto got caught with a bell again? What was that the 3rd time? This was getting ridiculous! They couldn't really be that stupid could they?
Harri went ridged as the smell of ozone and dog hit his nose, the smells he had picked up from Kakashi. He forced himself to be as quiet as possible. Ugh, that stupid girl had jumped into the same tree as he was in. She was probably trying to find her darling Sasuke when she was in a perfectly safe position before. Did she really think that Kakashi wouldn't notice her crashing around?
Shikamaru and Choji would have been a way better fit for him. At least they would have tried to team up right away and would not have gone for dumb obvious trap stuff!
"Sakura!" Harri heard Kakashi whisper. He couldn't hold back an eye roll when she shrieked.
"Sasuke no you have to survive! Please!" Sakura sobbed. Beginning to run around, crashing through the underbrush trying to find the Uchiha.
Harri waited for the Jounin's smell to begin to dissipate before climbing down. Ugh, he better find them. He didn't really care if he managed to pass as then he would at least finally be able to find a valid excuse to quit and do what he actually wanted to do. But even though Harri disagreed with his cousin and what he wanted to do, Harri knew becoming a Shinobi meant a lot to Sasuke so he would try and help him.
A piercing ringing noise filled Harri with both relief and an odd disappointment. They had failed... Something Harri had never done in his life... Something that he was sure devastated Sasuke. Harri shouldn't have been just watching he should have tried convincing Sasuke to team up with him. He knew that he would never do so with anyone else but he might with him if Harri suggested it.
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Harri was still confused on how giving someone your lunch was considered having your own mind and teamwork. Working together was teamwork not generosity! And Sakura wasn't even being generous she was just copying Sasuke!
He did get a thumbs up for being able to conceal himself a lot better than the others. And apparently for not falling for stupid things? So he was now a Shinobi... Huh, he thought he would feel something when he was told that... Something but he really only felt mild exasperation. How upsetting. Though being stuck with his possessive cousin, his cousin's needy whiny fangirl, and someone that was frankly an idiot when it came to common sense wasn't really what he was hoping for. He wondered if he could get a transfer or something?
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After a couple of weeks watching babies, helping with groceries for people, weeding gardens, and finding lost pets, Harri was pretty settled into what they were doing. He thought it was fun actually pretty fun... Minus finding cats but he had a doctors note to get out of that once his eyes literally nearly swelled shut and he had trouble breathing. Oddly enough, cats were terrified of him anyway and were nearly impossible to catch if he was around so he had a feeling Kakashi would have stopped making him catch them after another time or two of try... Unless it was Tora because he had actually fainted in fear the first time he tried helping catch him, convincing Sakura that he was some demon or something.
His team was lacking when it came to nurturing skills though. Practically the moment they got anywhere near small children they would end up bawling their eyes out. Harri was apparently awesome nanny material though. Instantly calming children down, they behaved perfectly for him. He didn't even have to raise his voice when a child was misbehaving. They just listened to him acting almost mesmerized and would often shriek and throw awful tantrums when removed from him. Those were his favorite jobs outside of dog sitting.
As his team returned with the demon cat Tora, who yowled in terror at the very sight of him, Harri was looking forward to another safe, gosh inducing babysitting job where he could mother a cute little baby or toddler and take care of them and coo at them for the day. Instead they ended up getting sent to Wave country because of Naruto's big mouth. That was the last thing he wanted to do! He wanted to be a genin so he could babysit and walk dogs and stuff not so he would have to go on some dangerous mission to take some drunkard to Wave country! And what was he going to do with Mai? He hadn't been away from her a full day in his entire life! And she was old! He couldn't leave her!
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"Where's Harri?" Naruto asked, looking around.
Sasuke shrugged. "At home still... I think. Said something about Mai. I wasn't really paying attention. Kakashi's going to be late anyway. He always is."
Kakashi frowned, disappearing in a swirl of leaves before the group even noticed he was there.
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"Mai-Mai's a good girl, here's a cookie for my good girl!" Harri cooed. Giving the goat a cookie in the shape of a paw print.
"Here you are. What are you still doing here? What's up with all of this food?" Kakashi asked leaning in the doorway eyeing the mounds upon mounds of cakes and cookies and pies and mochi along with at least half a dozen casseroles. He was startled by how long the 'girls' hair was as he hadn't ever seen it completely down before.
Harri eeped and held his chest in fright, laughing nervously for a moment. "Kakashi sensei, I wasn't expecting you!" He said, tucking some hair behind an ear.
Mai excitedly bleated strutting up to the Jounin and showed him her cookie.
"So... Why aren't you ready? You're always the first one to show up. What's changed?" The man pressed, trying to ignore the weird goat trying to force him to pet her.
"I-I can't leave... Mai's getting old. I can't leave her. I've had here my whole life, what if she thinks I've abandoned her? She's all I have left." Harri said, his voice crackling.
Kakashi's eyes softened. He patted the goat on the head and pulled out a chair and sat down. "Is that what's been bothering you? Harri things get old and everything eventually dies, its how life works. I am sure she isn't going to think you abandoned her! You take very good care of her. It isn't like we are going to be away for months or something, its just a simple escort mission. There and back is all. I'm sure she will be fine and waiting for you! And you aren't all alone you have Sasuke... Even if he broods constantly." Kakashi laughed. He grabbed a cookie and pulled down his mask just enough to be able to eat it. Wow that was good, he was definitely bringing a few with! Harri's stress baking was fantastic!
Harri scuffed. "We both know that Sasuke is obsessed with his revenge. He has been since the day everyone died. I don't think he understands that he is.. Likely going to die if he goes against... Against my dad even if he did manage to somehow produce a Mangekyo Sharingan." Harri said, shoulders almost seeming to deflate. "They should have never made me become a Shinobi. My heart is too fragile. I am sure it will be broken soon." Harri suddenly laughed, covering his eyes with his hand in an attempt to prevent the hot liquid he was sure was blood, from dripping all over.
"You shouldn't talk that way." Kakashi said, feeling both sad for the child and slightly disturbed. He was startled when Mai immediately bolted across the room and frantically began to bounce around Harri acting almost panicked.
The smell of iron began to taint the air, blood. But oddly it didn't smell familiar, like human but it had to be and it was confusing and it smelled like female but not female more like male and it was weird. Kakashi abruptly stood. Panic in his gut. "Harri, turn around and move your hand, now." He said, swearing that he saw something dark red drip onto the dark wood floor.
Harri stood stiff, trying to walk out the doorway so he could get to the bathroom, Kakashi immediately blocked it.
"I said move your hand. That was a simple request. Now please do so." Kakashi demanded.
"I'm fine." Harri said. His eyes burning even worse. He brought up his other hand in an attempt to stop the droplets that were beginning over flow in his palm. As he hissed in pain. Harri couldn't help but let out a quiet whimper. The more the man pushed the less controlled his crying became.
"No your not! Your bleeding! Why are you bleeding from your face? What happened?" Kakashi asking in a panicked rapid fire manner. When Harri refused to remove his hands from his face Kakashi pried them away from it, sharply exhaling and looking completely horrified. "Your-your eyes! Their bleeding!" He nearly stuttered, ignoring the blood that was dripping all over his gloves. "Why would you hide this? How did this start, I was right here? Never mind, we need to get you to the hospital!" Kakashi insisted, confused when Harri yanked his hands away.
"I'm fine! It only happens when I get really w-worked up." Harri sniffled, rubbing at his eyes, not even seeming to notice the blood smearing.
"Stop that! You might hurt yourself! You aren't fine, people don't bleed from the eyes if their fine! Stress could be what triggers what ever you have if this has happened before!" Kakashi said, looking fearful.
"Just-just give me a minute to put myself together." Harri calmly insisted, taking a few deep breaths. He flinched in pain as his eyes throbbed. "Mai, go get Shika." Harri closed his eyes and commanded the nervously bleating goat. He couldn't remember the last time he had cried that much, his eyes were positively on fire. He was sure it would take at least a hour before they stopped flaring up so bad.
Harri grabbed a dish towel once Mai had left and leaned down to begin trying to clean up the floor, though it was difficult as everything was now a dark red color.
"What are you doing? I need to take you to the hospital!" Kakashi asked in disbelief.
"I'm perfectly fine. I've had this happen several times and I never had any side effects other than my eyes burning bad for a while and not being able to see much but red sometimes for a few hours." Harri explained, grimacing when another pearl of blood forced its way from his eye. "Anyway, I'm sure that Shika and his dad would have taken me to the doctor a long time ago if they thought that I had a real health problem."
"What? Other people know about this but haven't done anything about it? You could be bleeding internally right now!" Kakashi growled, trying to get Harri back on his feet.
"Harri! Why is Mai acting weird? Did something happen?" Shikamaru's voice called, the sound of a door crashing open could be heard and then quick foot steps.
"Kakashi Hatake? What are you doing here? Is Harri alright?" Shikaku asked, frowning when the man blocked him from coming into the room.
"No, no she's not okay! She's bleed from the eyes and says everything is fine and that you know about this!" Kakashi snarled.
"I'll get Harri some of that one stuff you got for the burning." Shikamaru said, immediately heading to the bedroom.
"What? Burning?" Kakashi barked in alarm.
"Harri's eyes hurt bad for a while after crying." Shikaku calmly explained.
"Crying? Harri is bleeding from the eyes!" Kakashi hissed.
"I know that. We think it may be something to do with a defect from Harri's Kekkei Genkai or something. It doesn't seem to really do anything else to Harri so we figured it wasn't really effecting Harri's health much." Shikaku explained.
"See? I'm okay!" Harri insisted.
"You be quiet, you are no longer allowed to make health decisions for yourself." Kakashi growled. "By the way, wouldn't it have been a good idea to actually, I don't know... taken her to the doctor to confirm she didn't have a disease that was detrimental to her health?!" Kakashi said, looking ready to kill the other man.
"I don't think that Harri has any disease. I think Harri just has some weird defect in hi-her tear ducts or something. Besides the discomfort, it never bothered Harri more than that." Shikaku explained in a bored drawl. He glanced at the table full of treats and pushed his way into the room, snatching up a muffin. "I mean it's pretty unnerving the first few times but you get use to it after a while." The man said with a shrug before taking a bite.
"Hey, found your pain meds... Whoa, you must have been really stressed out over something... The last time you baked like this was when you had convinced yourself you had gotten a bad grade on that essay about Chakra points!" Shikamaru said, getting a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. "I know you can't see well right now so here." Shikamaru said placing the pills to Harri's mouth, after Harri opened up Shikamaru tossed them in and held the cup to Harri mouth so he could take a sip to swallow the pills down. "Your going to have to take a bath or something, your literally covered in blood." Shikamaru pointed out with a grimace.
"Why were you upset anyway?" Shikaku asked.
"I-I it's embarrassing but we are supposed to leave the village this morning... I was afraid of leaving Mai." Harri explained.
Shikamaru snorted, "Your so troublesome sometimes! All you had to do is ask and we would keep Mai! I'm sure she'd like playing with the brats. Definitely going to have to keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't try and get in a fight with that old lady's cats again though. Last time she was in a full out brawl with them over a box of cheese crackers she found." Shikamaru grumbled, shaking his head.
"Yeah, I've got most of the week off so I'll be at home with her and Yoshino decided to take up a mission to lightning country so those two won't be butting heads if I watch Mai for you. She'll love it." Shikaku said.
Harri nervously nodded and left the room, showering up as quickly as he could before he changed his mind or Kakashi decided to cancel the entire mission and drag him to the hospital. His bag was thankfully already packed from the night before as his eye sight was still very red and not great because of it. Harri tied his hair up deciding to leave it in a ponytail instead of a bun like he had been doing for the last few weeks.
"Alright, I guess I'm ready to go." Harri said, stepping back into the kitchen after nearly a half an hour. Kakashi and the others were mowing down on assortment of goodies. Though Kakashi was still visibly very ridged. Shikaku was sneaking bits of blueberry muffins under the table to an excitedly bleating Mai.
"Uh... Yeah, no your not. The whites of your eyes are still red. I mean you could go but you are probably going to scare the daylights out of everyone around the village." Shikamaru said, tiredly chewing a piece of coffee cake.
Harri got out a couple Tupperware and sat one in front of Kakashi. "I guess you guys are going to have to take most of this stuff since it will go bad otherwise, please give some to Choji for me to." Harri said, attempting to load his own Tupperware up with food instead having to have Shikaku load it with a few cookies, a big piece of strawberry shortcake, some apricot streusel, and chocolate cream pie. Sealing the lid he sat tentatively sat down between Kakashi and Shikaku who automatically cut another hunk of shortcake and sat it in front of Harri.
It took about another hour for Harri's eyes to get close to normal and even then they were a little pink. They were at least 4 hours late by then.
Harri happily waved to Mai and the pair of Nara's after giving them his house keys. Once they were away from the compound Kakashi's cheery disposition changed as he instantly turned to him. "Don't think I'm going to ignore this. The moment we get back I am taking you to get looked at, got it? They may think you are alright but I don't." Kakashi said. Eying Harri, feeling oddly protective and still extremely worried. He would rather Harri be with him and monitored constantly than left all alone though. Kakashi sighed when Harri wouldn't even look at him after that. He was just doing that for Harri's own good. "By the way if anything happens you aren't allowed to engage any enemies until we have figured out why your eyes have been bleeding."
"You're late!" Both Naruto and Sakura shrieked.
"Yeah yeah, sorry about that there was a little incident that we had to take care of but everything's taken care of now. All we have to do if pick up the client and leave." Kakashi said, leading the 4 to the Hokage tower. Once they had picked the already relatively sloshed man up they set off for the gates. Naruto hopped around excitedly once they exited the gates. Harri was stiff with apprehension.
He already had the feeling that the mission wasn't going to go as planned.
End Chapter 9
Hope everyone liked the chapter! Sorry it wasn't super interesting but I had to get all of this out of the way before I could send them to do something that was actually super interesting! Next chapter will have quite a bit of action! I can't wait to finally be able to add something I have been wanting to for ever but never had the right scene to do it! I'm actually super impatient for the Chunin exams because some super major stuff is going to happen there. Neji properly meets Harri, Gaara sees Harri again and a bunch of other stuff happens! I can't wait to freak Zabuza out in the next chapter though!
By the way, should Haku figure out that Harri is a boy? Also should I make them get along?
I am posting a lot more art lately so if you want to see it you can find it on Deviantart under the name Yuvush or most of it is on my facebook page to. I do request sometimes.
Next Chapter Hint: Puddles and an Apparition of Death