Chapter 5-You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision
****Sasuke's POV***
"Okay that..." Ren starts so I glance at him to see he's looking at me and pointing in the direction of Kakashi and Naruto causing him to finish "Was a little too hostile Sasuke. I feel pain just by looking at it." We were supposed to go after him with the intent to kill and what I did is too hostile?! I think glaring at him before there's a poof so I quickly look back at Kakashi's body to see that it was actually a log instead. "Okay…That just happened." Ren mutters before I turn and escape, not bothering with him anymore, thinking It was another Substitution Jutsu and now he knows where I am hiding. Gotta move fast! I thought he lowered his guard. But he did that on purpose. And I fell for it.
****Ren's POV***
"Okay bye." I mutter watching Sasuke disappear thinking Forgot to ask him…but he should probably be my last resort now that I think about it. He doesn't seem to like me very much. before looking at a dangling Naruto just before he cuts himself loose. He lands only to trip off another trap causing him to exclaim "I fell for it again!" as I laugh out "You sure did." And go to help him. "Oh thanks Ren." Naruto says as I cut him down before he exclaims "See you after I get a bell!" and runs off. Shot me down before I even got a word in. Oh well. Guess it'll have to be one of the others. I think before there's a feminine scream. That's not good. I think blinking in the direction it came from.
****Sasuke's POV****
Hmm? Sounded like Sakura? I know that's not Ren's or Naruto's voice. I think before Kakashi appears behind me, the bells ringing a little, saying "Shinobi Battle Tactic Number Two: The illusion jutsu. Sakura studied this in class yet she still couldn't see it coming." Genjutsu…It's just simple mind control. I'm not surprised he caught Sakura in it but…I think turning around before saying "I'm not like Sakura, Naruto, or Ren." "Say that after you get one of these bells…my Sasuke." Kakashi taunts as he steps forward. We have a little stare down as everything went quiet. I then launched shuriken at Kakashi causing him to dodge it saying "There's no point in using normal attacks." I throw a kunai and Kakashi dodged it allowing it to hit the rope of my trap, springing it. He dodge's the barrage of shurikens and kunais as I appear behind him while they hit the tree instead. I swing my leg towards him but he blocks so I throw a punch. He blocks that with his other hand so I twist and launch a kick over his head. I smirk and reach out for the bells when he lets go to stop the kick. My finger grazed one before Kakashi backed away.
****Ren's POV****
I keep running till I find Sakura collapsed on the ground. What happened to her? I wonder before kneeling down and started shaking her saying "Sakura it's time to wake up." She slowly woke up with a groan asking "What happened?" "Don't know. I-" I start to tell her but she cuts me off yelling "Sasuke! I saw him! He was on the verge of…No!" and jumping up with fear on her face. "Sakura why don't-" I start to say only for her to ignore me exclaiming "Sasuke no! You've got to survive please! Where are you?!" before running off. "Okay bye." I mutter watching Sakura disappear before a frown comes over my face as I think This…could be going better. With a sigh I stand up and try and find one of the others to see if they'll at least hear me out this time.
****Sasuke's POV****
"Well you are different from the other two I'll grant you that." Kakashi says causing me to think He hasn't found Ren yet? Why am I thinking about him? Horse! Tiger! Firestyle Fireball jutsu! As I did the hand signs before unleashing the jutsu on a surprised Kakashi. But when it was done Kakashi wasn't there causing me to look around thinking Where did he go? Behind me? Above? That's when his voice sounds from under me questioning "Where?" while a hand grabs my leg. I look back surprised as he says "I'm where you least expect me." I'm then pulled into the ground until only my head is sticking out.
"Right under your feet. Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu." Kakashi tells me crouching down in front of me as I struggle to get free. "Can't move huh? That was Ninjutsu the third shinobi battle skill. You have talent and you were right. You are…different from the others but different isn't always better. They say that the nail that sticks up is the one that gets hammered down." Kakashi says standing, pulling his book back out, and start reading as he walks away causing me to growl "Oh great." Thinking He's stronger than I am. I can't get around that. That was when Sakura runs out of a bush in front of me and notices me causing her to freeze with a 'oh god.' Look on her face. "Sakura?" I question causing her to instantly start screaming "Sasuke's just a head without a body! And he's talking!" before passing out. "And that's my partner." I mutter before I hear Ren's voice questions "Again?" while laughing a little. "Ren." I say when he steps out of the bush looking at Sakura with an 'okay?' look causing him to look at me and go wide eyed before quickly covering his mouth and looking away as a small "pfft" escapes. "R-Ren you're the only one here so…" I whisper feeling the heat rise to my cheeks at the embarrassment of having to ask him for help me out of this situation that was clearly funny. "Eh?" He questions, recovering, stepping closer, and crouching down in front of me so I look away saying "Please help me." "Huh? Uh...Okay." He says in an 'I can't believe it' tone before I feel small hands make their way under my arms. "Wha-" I start to ask looking at him only for him to give an innocent smile, again, and say "I don't think you want me to use a Jutsu I might end up accidently crushing you so I need to pull you out physically. Ready?" I just glare at me again annoyed with how close his face was to mine and his stupid questions. "I'm just gonna take that as a yes." He says pulling me up and out of the ground but then he exclaims "Crap!"
Just before I'm taken to the ground, I have to stop myself from falling on him by placing my hands on either side of his head. "Ow...how I can succeed but fail is still a mystery." He mutters with his eyes closed as he frowns and rubs the back of his head, seemingly unaware of the fact I was over him in an embarrassing position. I quickly get off him wondering Why do I feel so embarrassed? We're both guys...right? While watching as he says "Oh right." Before standing up and walking over to Sakura. Is it because his hands are small like a girl's? I wonder walking over to them as he grabs her shoulders and starts shaking her saying "It's time to wake up again Sakura." But now that I'm looking at him closely... I think looking at his face closely observing how his features look delicate and possibly almost pretty before Sakura wakes up and hugged me exclaiming "You're okay!" "Hey cut it out! Let go!" I yell at her as Ren starts laughing "You should see your face!" "Hey! Don't laugh!" Sakura yells letting me go and looking at Ren who chuckles "But it's funny." Causing some heat to rise to my cheeks in embarrassment again as Sakura growls at him so I stand up and look away from them saying "I've got to get a bell before lunch. That doesn't leave much time." "Why don't-" Ren starts to ask only for Sakura to cut him off, as if he wasn't even talking, asking "Sasuke you're still trying to get one of those bells?" "A while ago I touched one. Next time I'll get one." I answer her as Ren sighs causing Ren start to question again "That's good. Why don't the-" only to get cut off by Sakura again as she says "That is really great. I can't believe you did that. You're amazing!" I start to walk away ignoring them causing Sakura to chase after me while Ren says another "Okay...bye?"
****Ren's POV****
"So much for my idea." I mutter shrugging before sitting down on the ground watching Sakura and Sasuke disappear thinking Naruto wants to do things himself to prove that he's going to be Hokage. Sakura just cares about Sasuke and completely ignores everyone else. And Sasuke just cares about himself. At least I know Naruto would help me if I was in serious danger. Don't know about the other two…Probably not. before Kakashi-Sensei's voice says "You seem troubled." From behind me. I turn around, still sitting, saying "Maybe." "Oh? Wouldn't it go away if you can get a bell from me?" He questions turning a page from his book so I say "Honestly, probably not. I wanted to get all the bells and give them to the others so technically we would have all gotten them and pass. But I knew I couldn't do it alone so I wanted to team up but Naruto shot me down before I could ask, Sakura shot me down twice without even letting me finish, and Sasuke just ignored me. I'm also starting to think it's always going to be like this for me. Being ignored like I don't even exist. It'd probably be better if I give up and let the other three take my place as ninja." He closes his book then and looks at me completely as he questions "Is that what you want?" "No but what other choice do I have? I'm not that strong, that fast, that smart, or that good at Justus, I can't help but laugh when I find something funny, and I somehow end up succeeding but failing things at the same time. Even if I did somehow manage to get the bells from you on my own I'd still fail because I'm on my own and will end up doing something wrong and lose them. The others have a better chance than I do. I mean Sasuke did touch one didn't he? I'll go back to the academy so let the other's become ninja." I answer looking down at the ground before muttering "And at this point I just want lunch." As my stomach growled. I feel a hand on my head then so I look up to see Kakashi-Sensei kneeling down in front of me with a gentle look as he ruffles my hair. I blink surprised before the timer went off. Huh? Oh well. It's lunch time! I think shrugging, standing up, and heading to the posts with Kakashi-Sensei chuckling behind me.
"Uh…What did you do this time, Naruto?" I question noticing that my blonde friend was tied to the post between the other two as Kakashi-Sensei says "Uh oh stomachs growling huh? That's too bad." while the three's stomachs growls. "Nothing." Naruto answers causing me to sigh as Kakashi-Sensei adds "Oh, by the way…about this exercise…Well, I've decided I won't send anyone back to the academy." "Huh?" I question looking at Kakashi-Sensei as Naruto gets happy, Sakura questions "What? I passed? All I did was faint and fall over. Do you get points for that?" before shouting in happiness while jumping up and down, and Sasuke "Humphs." "Then! Then! Then! That means all four of us…I mean all four of us-!" Naruto starts celebrating before getting cut off by Kakashi-Sensei saying "Yes. All of you, but Ren, are being dropped from the program. Permanently." In a strict tone. "I don't understand." I say feeling confusion flood my face as Naruto exclaims "Drop us from the program?! That means we can never become ninja! You said if we couldn't take the bells we'd be sent back to the academy! You can't just change your mind and kick us out! Why would you do that?!" and Sakura angrily questions "Why him? He didn't get a bell. He didn't do anything." I stop myself from yelling at her by clenching my fists and looking down while Kakashi-Sensei explains "Because the three of you don't think like ninja. You think like little kids and Ren doesn't…when it counts."
It was then that Sasuke went after Kakashi-Sensei who quickly takes him down to the ground with Sasuke's stomach on the ground and arm being held behind his back while Kakashi-Sensei had his leg pressed against his head. "You think it's all about you." Kakashi-Sensei says causing me to go wide eyed thinking This is getting insane. I have no idea what I did to pass.as Sakura exclaims "Let go of Sasuke! You can't step on him like he's some bug!" "You don't know what it means to be a ninja. You think it's a game huh?" Kakashi-Sensei tells them causing Naruto and Sakura to gasp. "Why do you think we put you on squads? Did you consider that question for one moment?" Kakashi-Sensei questions causing Sakura to say "I-I don't know what you mean." In a confused tone. "I mean…You never realized what this exercise is all about. Not even close." Kakashi-Sensei says causing Naruto to ask "What it's about?" "Yes. That's what determines whether you pass or fail." Kakashi-Sensei answers so Sakura says "But that's…I mean I wanted to ask you that from the beginning." "Use your head." Kakashi-Sensei scoffs before asking "Three or four people on a squad. Why do you think we would do that?" "Ah! How are we supposed to know why you picked four people?! We didn't make the rules!" Naruto exclaims so Kakashi-Sensei sighs "It's so basic…" before exclaiming "Teamwork!" "Just working together? Is that what you mean?" Sakura questions so Kakashi-Sensei says "That's what I mean. It's too late now. But if all four of you had come at me you might have been able to take them." "You set it up with four people but only three bells. Even if we did work together, only three of us could get a bell. The last one wouldn't have one which would lead to group conflict and the squad would break up." Sakura says causing Kakashi-Sensei to sigh out "Exactly." before explaining "I purposely pitted you against each other…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…But you…It never even crossed your mind. Sakura! You obsessed about Sasuke who was gone while Naruto was in front of you and you wouldn't life a finger to help him and wouldn't even listen to Ren's offer to team up even after she woke you up…twice. Naruto! You do everything on your own, everything, and didn't even give Ren a chance to offer to team up. And you…Sasuke, thought the others were so far beneath you they were worthless. Going so far as to abandon Ren after you blew where you both were hiding and doing the same as Sakura when Ren tried offering to team up. Though Ren's logic is a little odd she wanted you to work together so she could get the bells and give them to you three so technically you would have all gotten them and pass. And when that didn't work she instead offered to go back to the academy so you could all pass. You should be grateful you have a teammate who cares for you like that. But no! You act like she doesn't exist. Arrogance! Ninja missions are carried out in squads. Of course you need individual skills, but teamwork is the most essential element. Every shinobi understand this. When individuals put themselves above the squad this could lead to failure and death. For example…" He trails off and takes a kunai out and places the sharp end against Sasuke's throat ordering "Sakura! Kill Naruto now or Sasuke dies!"
****3rd Person's POV****
"How about I kill you instead?" Ren suddenly growls attempting to hit Kakashi's arm that held the kunai with her own kunai causing the others to gasp as it hits the kunai previously against Sasuke's throat. Ren then swings her leg at Kakashi forcing him to let Sasuke's arm go to block it. In a second Ren's bringing her other leg up to knee Kakashi in the face but he leans back to dodge it while pushing her away and letting up on Sasuke causing her to land on the ground while Sasuke escapes and the other two just stare at her in shock. "Despite everything she still puts you above herself. What about you three? Would you have done the same for her?" Kakashi sighs putting the kunai away thinking She aimed for the arm the held the kunai and not to kill. She may be his daughter but she is her's as well. When the time comes could she kill? as Ren sits up looking at Kakashi with a frown thinking Pervy Sensei. While rubbing her sore chest causing Naruto to angrily exclaim "Of course I would!" while the other two looked at the ground guilty. "Oh really? If this was a mission she would have died then and there because you thought of yourself and got tied up." Kakashi snaps before telling them "That's what happens on a mission. The enemy takes a hostage, and you have an impossible choice. And someone ends up dead. On every mission, your life is on the line." As he gets up and walks towards the memorial stone. He then continues "Did you look at this stone? The names engraved on it? They're all ninjas who are honored as heroes in our village."
"That's it! That's it! That's it! Now I know! I've decided that I'm going to have my name engraved on that stone! I'm not going to live and die for nothing like a dog! I'm going to be a hero! A hero!" Naruto shouts as Ren stands and joins the others causing Kakashi to look back at them saying "They are all…a special kind of hero." "Huh? What kind of heroes are they? Come on! Tell us!" Naruto questions happily so Kakashi looks towards the rock again, silent. "Well! Well!" Naruto questions so Kakashi answers "They are all…K.I.A." "Ooh. That's sounds real cool." Naruto says excited but quickly looks a mix between guilty and depressed when Sakura, in a solemn tone, explains "It means killed in action…They all died." As the other two look at Kakashi with understanding at why he did what he did. "This is a memorial stone. The names of my closest friends are engraved here." Kakashi says before back at them and adding "All right. I'm going to give you one more chance…But I'm going to make it much harder on you. You'll have three hours to get a bell. Eat lunch now to build up strength. But…Naruto doesn't get any." Naruto gets a little angry so Kakashi walks towards them saying "It's your punishment for breaking the rules and trying to eat by yourself. And if any of you feed him that person will immediately fail. I make the rules. You follow them. Got it?" With one last glance at Ren Kakashi disappears, because, unknown to her, written on the stone was the reason why her mother had gotten permission to leave the village so she could try and save others attacked by rouge ninja. The name Renjiro Kuroko, Toru's little brother and Kakashi's friend from the Academy that didn't treat him any different despite their age difference and his prodigy status, who was killed during a mission when rouge ninja attacked his team. His death along with the deaths of Obito and Rin were the main reason Kakashi was so strict when it came to teamwork.
****Ren's POV****
But doesn't that defeat the purpose of teamwork? I ask myself placing a bite of rice in my mouth before Naruto's stomach growls causing the three of us to look at him. "This is no big deal! I can go without eating for days! For weeks! Believe it! This is no big deal!" Naruto shouts his stomach growling the whole time so I take another bite before holding the lunch out to him, surprisingly at the same time as Sasuke held his own lunch out to him each of us saying "Here." "What? No, you can't do that Sasuke, Ren. You heard what the sensei said." Sakura says looking around so I question "So?" as Sasuke says "Kakashi's gone. We need to get those bells as a team. If Naruto's hungry he'll be weak and ineffective. That hurts the team and jeopardizes the mission." This causes Sakura to hold her lunch out as well which in turn causes Naruto to get teary eyed and say "Okay. Thanks." "Don't thank me. Just hurry up and eat." She tells him causing him to ask "But isn't that your lunch?" "I-I'm on a diet. I-I mean…I don't eat as much as Sasuke or Ren. So…Just take it Naruto!" She says so he says "I can't take it. Because I can't move my hands. You've gotta feed me." "Hurry up. He could come back any minute." Sasuke says so I shove a bite in Naruto's mouth smiling as Sakura shouts "This is one time only! That's it! I'll never do this again!" before realizing I did it and adding "Oh…Ren did it instead."
****3rd Persons POV****
Sasuke ignored the feeling he got as he glanced at the two then as Naruto smiled back at Ren who looked at Sakura and questioned "Did you want to?" Suddenly, smoke appeared as the breeze picked up. "You!" Kakashi yells angrily popping out of the smoke causing Sakura and Naruto to start screaming in panic as Ren just places another bite of rice in her mouth, more concerned with eating the lunch than anything else like a child, while Sasuke glared at Kakashi. "You four broke the rules. I hope you're ready for the punishment." Kakashi says before doing some hand signs causing thunderclouds to begin to appear as he questions "Any last words?" Sasuke braced himself, Sakura put her hands on her head quivering in fear, Ren muttered "He seems mad.", and Naruto quivers in fear while beginning "B-but y-you said…" "Yes?" Kakashi questions urging him to continue so Naruto exclaims "You said that there were four of us for a reason! That's what you said! And that's why…Ren…Sakura…and Sasuke…" "We're all on this squad! And we're all in it together!" Sasuke says with confidence as Ren says "We're a team." So Sakura stops quivering and also with confidence says "Yeah! That's right! We gave our lunches to him because the four of us are one!" "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Believe it! That's right!" Naruto exclaims causing Kakashi to approach menacingly questioning "The four of you are one? That's your excuse?" before getting a happy look as he adds "Hmm, you pass."
"Huh?" The four Genin question confused so Kakashi repeats "You…pass…" slowly. "Okay?" Ren questions while Sakura questions "What do you mean? How'd we pass?" "You're the first squad that's ever succeeded. The others did exactly what I said and fell into every trap. They couldn't think for themselves. A ninja must see through deception. In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum. That's true. But…those who abandon their friends…are worse than scum." Sakura grins happily, Sasuke hums with a smirk on his face, Ren thinks So I was wrong and right about today. How does this keep happening to me?, and Naruto starts tearing up saying "He's uh…You know…He's kind of cool." "The exercise is over. Everyone passes! Squad Seven starts its first mission tomorrow!" Kakashi announces giving a thumbs up to the group causing Sakura to exclaim "Yes!", Naruto to exclaim "I did it! I did it! Believe it! I did it! I'm a ninja! A ninja! Ninja!", Sasuke to give a small smile, and Ren to mutter "That's…not cool." "Let's go home." Kakashi says before he turns to start walking away. Sakura and Sasuke follow for a few steps before Sakura asks "Oh yeah. Why did you keep referring to Ren as a girl?" "Huh? Because she is one." Kakashi answers pausing and looking at Sakura who gets an 'oh god' look on her face as she and Sasuke, with a 'seriously?' look slowly turns to look at Ren, currently trying to shove a slice of carrot in Naruto's mouth muttering "Eat the carrot." since he was tied up and he hated vegetables. "Are you sure?" Sakura questions as the three now stared at the scene with wide eyes each of them thinking Torture? "Yes." Kakashi answers as Ren is finally successful and exclaims "Ha!" "That's just mean!" Naruto cries having swallowed it so Ren laughs saying "But vegetables are good for you." "Though…now I understand why you didn't think she was." Kakashi says sighing before coughing when Naruto exclaims "That's not the point! You did that as pay back for this morning!" "Well it hurt." Ren states crossing her arms over her chest causing the three observers to start to blush as their minds creating an imaginary image of what they thought happened. That is until Naruto exclaims "I just pulled you out of bed!" and they each got a look of 'I forgot' as they thought This is them we're talking about.