*Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in it. I simply borrow them for my own musings and fantasies and do not get paid for their use in said musings or fantasies. –Nira

Chapter 28

Yuriko awoke at 0700, dressed in her training gear, ate breakfast, and knocked on Kakashi's door at 0730, asking what he would like her role to be for the day as an observer before they left to meet the team. He asked her to make clones to keep tabs on each of the Genin while Kakashi administered the exercise and report to him her observations, knowing that she specialized in reading people and knowing their intentions.

"I trust your judgment and opinion," he explained. "So I will believe whatever you have to say about each of them. Please be unbiased in your observations and judge with a mission-oriented mindset."

Yuriko nodded in understanding and they continued on. They arrived at 0800, three hours later than the time he instructed the Genin trio to be there. Kakashi explained to the team that they were to retrieve a bell from him and that they only had until noon to do it. Sakura noticed that there were only two bells, so when she asked about it, Kakashi explained that only nine of the 27 Genin graduates would actually make it to Genin and that the other 18 would be sent back to the academy. He also explained that at best it could be that only one would go back, or it could be all of them, depending on who was able to take a bell from him. As the exercise progressed, Yuriko noticed that the three of the Genin completely missed the point of it all. They each acted on their own with Naruto lacking the stealth and skill required of a trained shinobi, Sakura being more focused on Sasuke and his well being, and Sasuke thinking that he was better off on his own. When noon came around, the group regathered and Yuriko looked on, realizing that Kakashi had caught Naruto trying to eat in secret and tied him to a post in the ground. Nobody had gotten a bell and they all looked extremely disheartened as they sat around, each of their stomachs growling in hunger.

"You all seem hungry," Kakashi stated as he and Yuriko stood before the Genin trio and Yuriko stood beside him with her arms crossed and a blank expression. "By the way, about this exercise… I don't think there's any reason the three of you should go back to the Academy."

"What? Really? All I did was lay unconscious. Is that okay?" Sakura asked, but Yuriko could see the relief and sense of victory in her eyes.

Naruto's own expression lit up like a Christmas tree and a smug grin of satisfaction turned the corner of Sasuke's lips up. Seeing their sense of self-pride at their appalling failure made Yuriko's stomach turn and brought a foul taste to her mouth.

"That means that the three of us…!" Naruto exclaimed in excitement while Sakura jumped around, cheering.

"Yes. The three of you… should give up on the idea of being ninjas," Kakashi barked bringing their celebration to a grinding halt.

While Naruto threw a fit, demanding to know why they should quit Yuriko cut in, explaining what she witnessed. "The three of you don't have what it takes to be shinobi. Frankly, I'm disappointed and disgusted by how poor your performances were."

Sasuke glared, drawing a kunai and charged at Yuriko for insulting him. In a heartbeat, Kakashi caught him and pinned him to the ground with his foot on Sasuke's head and Sakura yelled at Kakashi not to step on Sasuke.

"Do you kids think that being a ninja is easy? Huh?" Kakashi demanded, his gaze darkening. "Why do you think we're doing this exercise in teams? Has it never crossed your mind to ask why there are three shinobi in a team? Has the entire point of this exercise completely eluded you?"

"I have been meaning to ask about that…" Sakura muttered.

"Who cares if there are three people to a squad?! What does that have to do with anything?!" Naruto hollered, his frustration obvious on his face as a vein popped in his forehead.

"Teamwork, baka!" Yuriko hollered back, her own frustration showing.

"Teamwork? Like… working together?" Sakura asked.

Kakashi explained, "Exactly. If the three of you had come at me for the bells, you might have succeeded. But it's too late even if you realize that now. It's too bad."

"But there are only two bells. Why use teamwork and desperately try to get them if one person was going to be left behind regardless?"

"This exercise was purposefully designed to create internal conflict. A single person's interests would have no place. The intention was to select those who could prioritize teamwork above all else. Yes, a shinobi must have exceptional individual skills, but even more important than that is how those skills are used in conjunction with others' to achieve the goal of the mission."

Yuriko unfolded her arms and shifted her weight onto one leg, cocking her hip to the side with one hand resting on it. "Naruto, all you did was run solo. You never stopped to consider either of your teammates and how you could help them, or how they could help you. Sakura, your sole focus was on Sasuke despite having absolutely no idea where he was while Naruto was right in front of you and you didn't even bother with him. And you, Sasuke. You labeled the others as hindrances and acted on your own, thinking that you could do better without them."

"Individual actions that disrupt teamwork throw the team into chaos and lead to death. For example," Kakashi explained as he reached into his pouch for a kunai and pointed it at Sasuke's throat, his gaze hard and steely. "Sakura, kill Naruto or Sasuke dies!"

The three Genin panicked and shortly afterward, Kakashi removed the weapon. "... is what will happen. Aside from having a hostage taken, you're also faced with an impossible decision and someone is killed. Every mission is a life-risking assignment."

Kakashi stood and walked over to the stone memorial in the center of the clearing and Yuriko's gaze softened, feeling the weight of Kakashi's lesson to the three and where he was going with the intention of his speech. He explained that every name engraved on the stone was considered a hero in the eyes of the village. Hearing that line, Naruto got excited and proclaimed that he wanted his name carved into it as well. When Kakashi said that every one of them had been killed in action and Sakura explained what it meant, the mood amongst the group darkened in somber understanding.

"This is a memorial. The names of my friends are also engraved here," Kakashi stated, his voice deep and heavy with emotion. After a brief pause, he continued, "I'll give you all one more chance. However, the battle will be even more challenging for you to retrieve a bell. Those willing to accept the challenge, eat your lunch but don't give any to Naruto-kun. It's punishment for trying to cheat the system. If anyone lets him eat, they'll be disqualified on the spot and get sent straight back to the academy. I make the rules here, got it?"

With that, Kakashi and Yuriko left to watch from afar. Yuriko hoped that they would understand Kakashi's reasoning and the purpose of the exercise this time. She wanted them to see past his deception, to embrace that they would need to work together and that if one of them was weak, they were all weak. She glanced at Kakashi, trying to decipher what he was thinking and for the briefest of moments, she thought she could see hope in his eyes, as well. He wanted them to pass. He wanted them to do well and understand, but he couldn't give them the answer and he knew it. Hesitantly, unsure of why she felt the need to but needing it, nonetheless, she reached out and gently touched Kakashi's hand, wrapping her fingers around his in solidarity.

Kakashi's eyes widened in shock and heart skipped as he looked down at her fingers wrapped around his before moving to take in her expression. Her cheeks were pink, and her gaze met his briefly before returning to watch the Genin trio, her hand not moving from his. The smile that pulled the corners of Kakashi's lips up warmed the silver-haired shinobi through as he wrapped his own fingers around hers and returned his attention to the children in the clearing. They had struck up a conversation, it seemed, and it wasn't long before both Sasuke and Sakura were not only offering their food to Naruto but feeding him as well since he was tied up.

Yuriko's eyes lit up and she squeezed Kakashi's hand tighter as a broad smile split her face below her mask and she turned to him, her excitement that they'd figured it out showing bright and proud on her face. Kakashi was shocked for the second time that day by the Genin being the first of many squads to have figured it out, and the third time by Yuriko's display of emotions that she normally hid away from anyone. Kakashi smiled back at her and gave her fingers a quick, firm squeeze before he poofed away to scare them a little and figure out why they had disobeyed his orders before he broke the news that they passed. When they'd finished explaining their reasoning, Kakashi smiled and Yuriko made her way over, a smile on her own face as Kakashi gave his final passing verdict.

"A ninja must see through deception. Those who break rules and codes are considered garbage, but those who don't cherish their friends are garbage lower than that," he explained and Yuriko felt her cheeks flush as she watched Kakashi's expression lift. He looked so… cool.

As the team celebrated, Yuriko untied Naruto from the post and Kakashi dismissed them for the day, saying that Team 7 would begin their first mission the following day. When the children had gone off on their own leaving Yuriko and Kakashi alone, Kakashi couldn't help that his mind returned to the feeling of Yuriko's hand in his and the adorable expression of uncertainty on her face when she'd grabbed his hand in her own. And the excitement in her eyes when they'd figured out the point of the exercise had taken his breath away.

"Yuriko-san," he called as they walked toward their apartment building.

"Hm?"

He was silent for a while, staring at her in awe. The more time he spent with her, the less he could deny that he was attracted to her to himself, and even less so to her. He had to tell her, but he knew that once he did, everything would change between them. Finally, he spoke up with a genuine smile on his face, "You held my hand…"

Yuriko's cheeks instantly burned bright red and her entire being tensed up. She'd hoped he would just let it go casually like he'd done when she woke up in his arms after the thunderstorm, but he hadn't and she wasn't sure what to say or do, so she froze up, her voice leaving her.

"And you were just as excited as I was shocked when they understood the exercise. You knew that I wanted them to pass, didn't you?"

Yuriko just nodded, her fingers twiddling with her hair and gaze focused on her feet. They'd reached their apartment building and before opening the door to his, Kakashi faced Yuriko with that adoring, attracted look in his eyes that made her uncomfortable and unsure of herself, but this time it wasn't scary. Her heart was racing in her chest and her cheeks were flushed but she couldn't hold his unwavering gaze.

"Thank you for being there today. I'd begun to second guess my methods but with you there reaffirming my resolve and reminding me of what really matters, I know that I've made the right decision."

"I haven't known you to make a bad decision yet, Senpai, and you're not one to second guess yourself. Your lesson was a powerful one and they needed to hear it. I was glad to be part of it."

Kakashi just smiled, taking a step toward her and wrapped his arms carefully and comfortably around her before he pressed his clothed lips to her forehead. Yuriko's breath caught in her throat, her heart stopped, and her entire body felt like it was on fire but concentrated in her face and ears.

"Those three are going to be a handful and will take up most of my time. I'm glad to have them, but I've grown quite fond of your presence. I'll miss spending so much time with you, Yuriko-san."

Yuriko's eyes widened in surprise and heart constricted and she felt tears form on her lower eyelids. It seemed like he was saying goodbye and she couldn't explain why the thought of him not being around made her heart feel like it was breaking. She wrapped her arms around him in turn, burying her face in his chest as she had through the storm and he held her tighter.

"It's not goodbye…" she croaked. "You'll be busy, but you're not gone."

Kakashi chuckled. "I guess you're right. You are my neighbor, after all."

With that, Yuriko pulled away and glared up at him, though the menacing that she intended to be there was devoid. "Yeah, so don't go saying stuff like that. You made it sound so final, you jerk."

Kakashi's eyes widened seeing the moisture collected in her eyes and the sadness hidden behind her glare. He felt his heart melt and expression soften from teasing to concerned, wondering what had crossed her mind for her to have such a look. The curiosity begged him to ask, wondering how much of an answer he could get out of her in doing so.

"What if it was?" he asked, his tone lowered and eyes unreadable.

The expression unnerved Yuriko and she shook her head "no," denying the concept and rejecting the thought process. "I've already lost so much… I couldn't handle losing you, too."

Kakashi smiled, accepting the small victory. She wouldn't blatantly admit it and he knew that even before he'd asked. He hadn't expected a straight answer, but the partial answer she gave revealed that she cared for him enough that it would hurt her to lose him. That was something to cherish, in and of itself and it brought a swell of pride and warmth to Kakashi's chest.

"Sorry, sorry," he laughed with his hand rubbing the back of his head in a show of nervousness, trying to lighten the mood again. "As I said earlier, I've grown quite fond of you. It would sadden me deeply if it really was goodbye. It makes me very happy that you feel the same."

Yuriko's face blazed red at the sultry, knowing look that he aimed at her and her heart felt as though it would leap out of her chest. She forced a stoic look into her eyes but couldn't hide her blush as she turned toward her apartment and opened the door in silence and Kakashi chuckled behind her, knowing that she was running from the situation. It was cute that she still tried to hide it even though he knew.

"Goodnight, Yuriko-san," he called before she clicked the door shut behind her with her back pressed to the door and her hand over her heart.

"Kakashi-senpai… you jerk."