You know when starting this fic I set the minimum length of each chapter to 2.5k, but that last five chapters have been over 5k. I'm sure you guys don't mind. Lol.
Disclaimer: I wish. Unfortunately, I'm not that lucky.
"I thought we were meeting at noon. Did something change?"
Kakashi scratched the back of his head as dark eyes stared at him critically. He never knew how to deal with the Uchiha's. He didn't interact with really anyone positively before that mission and after he was treated with hostility and fear by the clan as a whole. Not that he blamed them. Another person carrying your clans prized kekkei genkai was a terrifying thought for any clan. He could, in retrospect, understand why they demanded he relinquish it then cut all ties with him when he didn't.
"We need to talk." He finally spoke. He knew that the boy must have been trying to wrap his mind around his sensei having the sharingan and he needed to correct any misconceptions or suspicions before they became dangerous.
Sasuke frowned, but stepped aside and allowed him into his apartment. Kakashi glanced around briefly, noting how bare the place was. The entrance led directing into the living room which had a couch and two chairs. As he settling on leaning against the far window instead of sitting on the couch Sasuke gestured towards, he noticed an immaculate kitchen off to his right. He was sure if the door to the boy's bedroom was open he'd seen the same neat organization that belonged more in a magazine than in a lived-in home.
Sasuke was standing by the couch scowling, but Kakashi could tell by the way his arms were folded over his chest that he was nervous. He wondered if that uncertainty was what prevent the boy from talking to him despite Kakashi giving him plenty of opportunities since they completed their mission in Wave. He scratched the back of his head again. He probably should have come here knowing what he was going to say.
"You probably have some questions. About the sharingan and why I have it." He started.
The boy nodded jerkily, but he didn't say anything. Kakashi sighed and wondered vaguely if Fugaku had scared his youngest son with stories of kekkei genkai thieves specifically because of him or it was a common warning for any of the Uchiha children.
"I didn't steal it. If that's what you're worried about." He started. He really didn't want to talk about this, but if it would ease his genin's fears he supposed he had too as his jounin instructor. "I was on a team with an Uchiha, Uchiha Obito. We had a mission during that last war that I was in charge of since our sensei was called to the front lines. During that mission, our other teammate was kidnapped…"
He tilted his head to look out the window as he sighed. "'Those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash! If I'm going to be called trash either way, I'd rather break the rules! And if that somehow makes me anything less than a real shinobi, then I'll crush all of the so-called "real" shinobi!'. The words I told your team that day were told to me by him as he tried to convince me to abandon our mission in order to save our teammate. I rejected his words out right since I was a little shit at that time in my life, but eventually, they got to me and I joined him in his rescue attempt. During our fight I got slashed across my eye, losing my sight instantly. Despite that, we managed to get to our teammate, but her captors collapse the cave she was being held in retaliation. Obito…he shoved me out of the way of the falling rocks and was pinned himself. As he was dying he told our teammate, a medic, to transfer his eye to mine."
He stopped and glanced at the boy as he processed the story.
"But," Sasuke started slowly. "Why would he give you his sharingan? That's…its the Uchiha's birthright."
"Obito didn't care much for birthrights, he was a bit estranged from the clan. He was a late bloomer when it came to the sharingan. In fact, he didn't actually activate it until that mission and from what I saw the clan looked down on him for it."
Sasuke continued to frown, but he didn't ask any more questions so Kakashi took that as his cue to leave. He pushed himself away from the window.
"It just wanted to tell you the truth, Sasuke. What you take from that story is up to you." He walked over to the door. "We're still meeting at noon. Take the next several hours to think it over."
He stopped just short of opening the door when the boy's hesitant voice caught his attention.
"That's why you make us focus so much on teamwork…because of what happened during that mission…"
Kakashi gave a little half-shrug, but he didn't deny it. "When I got you guys as my genin team I swore that I wouldn't let you end up like mine did."
He went straight to the memorial afterward.
"I'm about to… die… but I'll become your eye… and see the future with you."
He sighed. "I hope that was okay. I don't know what I'm doing, Obito. But, they seemed to have turned out fine, so far."
He stayed there for the remained hours, his mind going over his genin's strengths and weaknesses and trying to predict how well they'd do with the chunin exam coming up. As it got closer to their meeting time eyes roved over familiar names one last time before he left to meet with his genin.
Hours later Kakashi found himself watching his student struggle, making sure to show up just long enough to give them hope before disappearing again and leaving them to trying and track where he could have gone. He had learned the limits of Natsuki's empathy and chakra sensing range through repeated testing since they had passed the bell test and used that knowledge to its fullest, by driving the boy up the wall by flaring his chakra just on the edge of his range before suppressing it again.
It would be a deadly skill once the boy managed to work through the holes he mussed as he watched them run through a crowded street chasing a clone of himself that was strolling nonchalantly down the road. However, Kakashi noticed that the boy was easily overwhelmed by large groups of people and the intensity of emotions. His range was much better when they had been traveling and could usually tell when he was looking at a clone versus the real thing.
He'd have to run them through similar activities to help him learn how to track one person in a group of people once the chunin exams were over.
However, despite the flaws in Natsuki's sensory ability he couldn't find fault with the team overall. They stayed together and worked together. When his clone disappeared, they combined their knowledge of nonverbal communication, as feeble as it was, to communicate their situation to passing shinobi.
He felt a grim satisfaction wash over him at the sight. Even if he didn't know what he was doing half the time he seemed to have gotten teamwork through to them.
They're not going to turn out like us, Obito. I'll make sure of it.
(He decidedly ignored the uncomfortable feeling of suspicion welling up inside him every time he looked into dark purple eyes. He was able to ignore and push it to the back of his mind for the most part, but every time he caught sight of those eyes his mind spun through his disjointed observations once more. An aversion to the sharingan made sense on the surface, but he had long since learned to look beneath calm waters to the storm brewing beneath.)
He shook his mind free of those thoughts and turned his attention back to his students.
He watched as Raidō tried to hold back his laughter at Naruto's impression of him. The man glanced around and spotted his perched on top of a building. Kakashi gave a little salute before leaving the area with a swirl of leaves as soon as his little genin tried to turn to see where Raidō was looking.
He glanced up at the sky. He was fashionably late to the meeting with the Hokage, so he changed course and made his way to the tower. He entered through a hallway window before slipping into the larger debriefing room and into his designated spot as a jounin instructor as the Hokage was finishing his spiel about the village's defense and warning against provoking an attack with other village's shinobi, regardless of personal history or perceived slights. His eyes focused on several of the more hot-headed jounin and chunin in the room.
He glanced over and saw the academy instructors and administrators lined up to the side. Although it was ultimately the jounin instructor's choice, the academy instructors were allowed to speak up if they disagreed with the jounin instructor's decision to allow their team to participate in the chunin exams or not. Jounin and chunin not on patrol or on medical leave were lined up behind them.
It was amusing to think about how he used to be back there reading one of his novels as he listened with half an ear to which jounin instructor nominated their genin.
Now it was his turn.
Kurenai shot him a look when he slid next to her but didn't say anything. Everyone was used to his perpetual tardiness by now and only a few still seriously complain. After all, he still showed up on time for important things; mostly.
"Now to move onto what we've all be waiting for, the jounin instructor's decision for our genin representatives this chunin exam. As many of us know our first chunin exam often defines us and our future as shinobi. I'm sure all of you have thought critically about this decision and have reached a decision based on your team's skill level. Kakashi, you begin."
His lips twisted into a small smile.
"I, Hatake Kakashi, leader of Team Seven which includes Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Uzumaki Natsuki have decided that my students will participate in the chunin exams."
After waiting the allotted few seconds for any protest from the academy teachers, the Hokage nodded with a satisfied look. "May your team succeed, Sensei Hatake. Kurenai?"
Kakashi smirked as the woman muttered a soft "show off" under her breath before she too gave permission for her students to take the exam. He lifted an eyebrow as everyone else also gave permission for their genin teams to participate as well. Kurenai saw his look and rolled her eyes.
"If it was out of the village I wouldn't let them anywhere near the exams at their level, but since it's being held here I figured I'd give them a taste of what's expected." She murmured softly as Hayate gave his permission. "I'm sure everyone else thinks the same."
He hummed in response.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Umino frowning slightly, but he didn't interrupt Hayate, nor did any of the academy administrators. Kakashi wasn't very surprised at the administrators, after the stunt they tried to pull with the youngest Uzumaki twin he was certain the Hokage gave them hell, but he was surprised that Umino hadn't spoken up yet. Judging solely by the amount of time spent as genin and number of missions completed, none of their teams should be even considered for the chunin exams. While he was assured that his team was prepared regardless, especially after their success and teamwork in during their C-rank turned A-rank mission, he was actually surprised that his peers decided to allow their teams to participate even after Kurenai's explanation. He could understand why Umino might be worried.
He watched as the man took a step forward and the Hokage signaled him to speak.
"Since all of these genin were my students I merely wanted to ask if all of you're certain your students are prepared for this step. They only just graduated and don't have the regular amount of experience that genin of our village typically had in the past and what other villages genin will have in this exam. It took a full year before my sensei allowed my team to participate."
There was a brief silence as they considered his position. Hayate spoke up first.
"I understand where you are coming from, Umino-san." He started slowly. "Honestly, I have the same worries. However, I believe that this will be a learning experience for my students. Konoha has the lowest death rate for the chunin exams. It, of course, doesn't make it less difficult, however. Realistically speaking our students won't get very far, but I think it would be better for them to experience their first exam it in a familiar and more importantly safer environment."
Kakashi couldn't help but add, "Don't speak for my students Hayate. I know my kids are going to do spectacularly. They'll give everyone a good show."
Asuma sent him an amused look while Kurenai rolled her eyes and Hayate sighed heavily. However, the tension melted out of Umino's shoulders as he nodded with a faint smile tugging at his lips.
With everything seemingly decided, the Hokage wrapped up the meeting with a summary of the rules and expectations of the jounin instructors, what villages were participating and handing out a packet of paperwork for each of their students. Kakashi grimaced at the three in his hand as he meandered out of the room with Asuma, Hayate, and Kurenai by his side.
"I was told that the paperwork was extensive for the chunin exam, but this is ridiculous," Hayate muttered.
Asuma chuckled. "At least it's being held here and we don't have to fill out the forms for leaving the village. Heard those were even worse."
"By the way, Kakashi." Kurenai started. "Why do you have apartment catalogs under your arm? Are you finally moving out that tiny room you call an apartment?"
"No, Naruto and Natsuki are considering moving. So, I picked up some catalogs for them while I was tor-training them this afternoon."
She narrowed her eyes. He could see the exact moment she decided not to even both touching on his obvious correction. "You're not just going to fling those at them and let them loose, are you? You're going to explain how it's done properly, right? They're only twelve so they probably don't know-"
"Oh look at that there's my genin now!"
He waved at his genin as they stormed up to him a flurrying of angry glares and quick hand signs. Asuma nearly choked one his cigarettes when he saw some of the signs while Kurenai's glare drilled into the side of his head for his lack of an answer.
"Oh, dear, who taught you those?" He ignored her and put on his best-shocked voice.
There was a flurry of several interesting combinations of signs that included general shinobi signs, a couple anbu signs and several rude gestures sprinkled in to convey their displeasure and threaten him.
(He couldn't help but noticed a tinge of red in purple eyes that had previously been filed under an odd quirk but now help a more sinister quality to them.)
"Well, it looks like you've learned how valuable nonverbal communication is! Wonderful!" He snatched the tags from their mouths with ease and dodging several punches and shoved the catalogs in Naruto's hands. "Good job today. Meet at the same spot at seven sharp tomorrow!"
With a swirl of leaves that he fled the scene just far enough to be out of Natsuki's sensory range, but still able to see them. Kurenai shot him a look, while Asuma looked thoroughly amused by the whole situation. He watched Naruto and Sasuke pout and bicker with one another for a few moments as Natsuki apologized to the jounin for the scene they caused. He followed them as they walked away from the tower and towards their homes.
He could tell Naruto was needling Sasuke again by the way the dark haired boy's shoulders hitched as he snapped out what was probably a sarcastic retort to whatever Naruto was saying. Apparently, he was dealing with their earlier conversation well enough to Kakashi's relief. He chuckled as the bickering turned into a small tussle. If he didn't know them better and hadn't seen the three train and fight, he probably wouldn't consider the team very cohesive. In fact, he was sure that the genin from other villages would probably underestimate their teamwork. Which was very good. He had learned that underestimation could be valuable in a fight, not that he got to use that to his advantage anymore since his name had become so well known.
They had a week until the exams started and he needed to consider what he should to focus on and what could be left until a later date, as well as fill out the paperwork to officially recognize them as participants. His eyes drifted towards orange hair. Kakashi watched the boy silently for a moment. His eyes were that familiar dark purple with no hints of that demonic red. They were crinkled slightly at the edges as he smiled at his brother's and teammates antics. He looked so much like a normal child. But...
He shook his head.
No.
He was being ridiculous.
(Yet, ever since the battle at the bridge, his gut was telling him that there was something off. Something was wrong. And his gut had never been wrong before.)
He sighed.
It was going to be a long night.
Shukaku's chakra felt like a heavy weight hovering over him even when he wasn't close enough to actually feel it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on his teammate's bickering and the steady flicker of his sensei's chakra in the trees on the other side of the bridge. He had been struggling to keep a neutral expression on his face all morning.
He knew Naruto noticed, but the boy hadn't said anything yet. Most likely still uncertain after Kurama's rejection last night.
"Kakashi-sensei, we know you're there! Natsu told us!" Naruto finally broke away from Sasuke and shouted, in the opposite direction from where Kakashi was hiding. Kurama was mildly surprised Naruto hadn't immediately started shouting when he told them about half an hour ago.
Kurama felt his sensei's amusement flair before the man moved towards the bridge landing on the railing next to Kurama.
"You're no fun Natsuki."
"After yesterday, I don't feel so friendly towards you sensei," Kurama replied immediately.
"Aw, so cruel raccoon eyes." Kakashi dodged Kurama's half-heart swipe and pulled out three small pieces of paper.
They were immediately on their guard leaping towards one another in a triangular defense formation with Naruto in the front hands in position to make some clones, while Kurama and Sasuke stood slightly behind him with their own hands up and ready to pull out some fire jutsus. They had decided firmly, that they wouldn't let their sensei get the drop on him like that again with those silencing seals. Naruto would create clones while Sasuke and Kurama would burn any seals that came close.
Kakashi rolling his eye at them, but there was a faint trace of pride that flickered through him.
"My, you three are paranoid this morning. Come now, use your eyes these are even remotely similar to those seals. These are your admission tickets to the chunin exam, not another silencing seal."
Kurama was the first to recover. "The chunin exams? Is that why there are so many shinobi from other villages?"
Is that why Shukaku was here? But that didn't make much sense either, why would a village risk their jinchuuriki by sending them to another village? Was that common practice? He didn't know, he only had vague memories of Kushina's chunin exam and he couldn't remember whether it was in this village or another. His seal had been so tight that he hardly knew what went on in her life enough to recall what could be important information now.
"What? There are other shinobi here? Since when?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"I notice a few Sunagakure and Kusagakure shinobi on my way here today," Sasuke replied. "As for the chunin exams, I thought that we had to be genin at least a year?"
"Hm, that's not a rule per say. More like a trend. Typically genin are given permission by their sensei's to participate after a year of training or a certain amount of D and C missions completed. However, there is no set rule on neither time nor missions completed and a sensei can give permission at any time."
He held out the three pieces of paper. They glanced at each other before taking their forms. Kurama glanced over the sheet. His full name had been written in the middle of the page with Kakashi's formal recommendation and signature below it.
"Now at this point, I'm sure a sensei is supposed to say that the choice to participate is ultimately up to you and you should take your time to decide on whether you want to take this next step in your career. They would also probably mention that this test is dangerous and warn their genin not to make light of this decision. But I know you guys and there isn't anything I could say that'll prevent you three from participating now that I've given you permission, so all I have to say is put on a good show for me okay?"
Naruto cheered. "Thanks, sensei! We will!"
He rolled his eyes at his sensei. "Thank you for your confidence in us. When is the exam?"
With a couple of weeks, they could probably come up with several plans and can get some solid train-
"A week from yesterday." Replied cheerfully, unknowingly forcing Kurama's plans to a stuttering stop.
"What," Sasuke spoke up this time looking as annoyed as Kurama felt. "Why did you tell us this now? We could have been training for this…"
"You have been." Kakashi interrupted. "The Hokage has been planning this exam for months, well before you three graduate. Everything you've done up to this point has been training not just to become stronger shinobi, but to also be prepared to participate in this exam. However, don't worry we'll be cramming during this week on a few important skills I think will benefit you guys."
"But still," Naruto whined. "Why didn't you tell us it was coming up so soon, sensei?"
Kakashi shrugged. "I hadn't decided whether I'd let you participate or not. If I ended up deciding on waiting, then there was no point in telling you about an exam you wouldn't even be taking. Besides we didn't have the official meeting till yesterday."
Sasuke scowled, looking as those he took offense to the idea that Kakashi wouldn't allow them to participate. Kurama held back a smirk as he imaged the Uchiha fighting over his right to take the exam. He was sure the other boy would be looking for a different sensei had that occurred.
"Huh. So, what are we going to do today?" Naruto continued. Out of the three of them, he was the most accepting of the situation. Kurama sent him a fond smile.
Kakashi's eye twinkled. "We'll run through what I'm allowed to tell about the exam today along with getting any supplied you guys want, before doing basic practice. As Sasuke kindly pointed out, a week isn't a lot of time to prepare and you'll want to be in good physical health before you begin."
The meandered away from the bridge and towards the marketplace as Kakashi began to explain.
"The exam is broken into three parts. Typically there is a section on stealth, teamwork or survival, and tournament style one on one fights, however, they can vary from exam to exam and village to village. The one on one fights is always the third part of the exam and the most consistent of the three parts, though different villages have different types of arenas. The other two parts of the exam can vary in activities and places."
Kurama listened with half an ear as his sensei began to explain. He tried to concentrate on the man's words, but he found himself distracted. Shukaku's chakra was getting closer. He glanced around the crowded street. Even the civilians looked slightly on edge, though they probably didn't know why they were feeling that way. Shukaku's chakra was dripping in malice as it spread out from whoever his jinchuuriki was like a cloud or more fittingly particles of sand saturated in an unseen pressure. Not quite strong enough to be considered killing intent, but enough to make the heart skip a beat and muscles to tense.
He glanced at his team.
Both Naruto and Sasuke were glancing around more often while Kakashi gave no physical signs of discomfort, though there was a hint of unease in his emotions. He turned his gaze towards the crowd around them again.
"The best strategy is to be observant and think about each instruction given before you act. Many people fail because they think that the exam is testing something that it isn't. They take the instructions at face value and aren't prepared for deviations or the unexpected. I won't lie to you, most genin who take the exam fail their first time. So, you'll be going up against, not only shinobi from other villages but shinobi from Konoha who failed their first, second or even third exam."
A flash of red caught his eye between the crowd of people. He tuned out his sensei and looked towards the slowly forming gap in the crowd. The people moving away looked even more disturbed than everyone else on the street. A woman walked by him swiftly nearly bumping into his shoulder in her haste. He paid her no mind as he focused on pale blue/green eyes.
For someone who exuded malice as thick as syrup, his eyes were strangely blank, almost glassy. Then again, it was likely that it was Shukaku's anger bleeding into his own chakra due to a weak or miss-drawn seal. He reached out, wondering if he could get past Shukaku's leaking malice to get a read on the human's emotional state but recoiled almost immediately. Pale eyes glanced over him briefly as the boy looked over the crowd, dismissing him immediately. He let out a silent breath of relief. Shukaku's and the human's emotions were tightly entwined in a way he knew his former seal would have never allowed. No wonder Shukaku's chakra was leaking and the boy looked out of it, the seal had to be faulty. A normal seal was already painful, this one had to be agonizing for the both of them.
He grimaced. He wouldn't deny the throb of pain at the thought of Shukaku hurting, but at the same time, he couldn't do anything to help him without revealing his own secrets. And he couldn't help anyone if he was captured and resealed properly.
(Excuses, excuses, excuses. Selfish, selfish, selfish.)
"Natsu? Natsu, whatcha lookin' at?" Naruto learned over his shoulder and glanced towards the redhead startling him.
"I-I just saw some Suna shinobi-" He started feeling a bit unsteady.
Naruto burst out laughing before he could finish. Kurama frown at him. The blond was pointing at Shukaku's jinchuuriki as he cackled catching the attention of not only him but his other two companions. Kurama nearly groaned. Sasuke thankfully took pity on him and smacked Naruto over the head.
"What are you laughing at random people for, dobe?" He snapped irritably.
"He-snort-eyes!" Naruto choked out before taking a deep breath to calm down.
Blue eyes turned to Kurama. Kurama leaned away as Naruto leaned closer to inspect his face a grin growing wider and wider. Naruto turned away from him and towards the group of three, who had meandered closer after noticing Naruto laughing, and inspected Shukaku's jinchuuriki just as closely.
"What's your deal brat?" The shinobi with purple face paint scowled at them fiercely, though Kurama detected a hint of nervousness as he stayed several feet away from the red head despite the crowded street. "You got a death sentence?"
"Kankuro. We are guests here you can't just go threatening people, even if they are rude." The blond snapped, though her eyes were on the red haired jinchuuriki.
Naruto ignored them both and turned to Kurama with a mock solemn look on his face.
"I never thought I'd say this, but I'm sorry little brother…" He trailed off as he struggled to maintain the look, but ultimately failed and allowed a goofy grin to spread. "He's definitely got you beat in the raccoon eyes department."
Kurama sighed. Sasuke let out a reluctant snort and the two Suna shinobi on either side of the jinchuuriki looked both confused and disturbed. The boy for his part had tilted his head to the side as he observed them silently through glassy eyes. Naruto turned to him with a bright grin.
"Hi! My names Naruto and this is my twin Natsuki and my teammate Sasuke! You're here for the chunin exams, aren't you? We're going to participate too! What're your names?"
"You…" The blond started slowly before shaking her head and continuing. "I'm Temari and these are my brothers Kankuro and…"
"Gaara." The redhead supplied blandly, his eyes focused on Naruto losing a bit of their glass look. His voice was a low and rough, as though he wasn't used to talking much.
Kurama frown. He wasn't sure which was worse, a blank look or a look of budding interest. If this jinchuuriki was as unstable as his emotional state suggested...well Kurama didn't want him anywhere near his brother.
(He especially didn't want an angry, hurt Shukaku near his brother, unstable jinchuuriki or not.)
"It's nice to meet you!" Naruto exclaimed. "Especially you, Gaara, I never thought I'd meet someone with worse bags under their eyes than my brother. You must not sleep at all!"
Gaara's siblings looked distinctly uncomfortable as Gaara himself blinked slowly. Kurama narrow his eyes. Was Shukaku trying to break free in the boys sleep? The seal must truly be bad, Kurama's seal had always been too restrictive to allow him anywhere near his host's mind unless they were truly lost in their rage.
He should cut this conversation short.
"I'm sorry." He began drawing the attention away from his brother. "We were just given permission today to participate and my brother is a little excited. I'm sorry if we bothered you. Good luck with the exams."
Gaara turned his gaze to him and nodded. "We will see one another again."
With that said he turned and walked away. Both of his siblings looked a bit sick to their stomachs as they hastily bowed politely before chasing after him, making Kurama wonder just how far gone this human was to make his supposed team fear him to such an extent. He tried not to grimace. If his emotional state was an indicator Suna probably had an issue with supposedly friendly fire. It made him wonder even more why they would send him here. Were they just trying to get him out of the village for a while to prevent more of their own shinobi's deaths? Or was it something more sinister. He knew that the human's treated jinchuuriki as a preventative measure for war and then weapons when said wars started anyway. He was lucky Shukaku wasn't as sensitive to chakra as some of his other
He sighed and shook his head. He didn't know enough to make a feasible guess and couldn't do anything about it even if he could. He was just lucky Shukaku wasn't as sensitive to chakra as some of his other biju siblings. He was sure even sealed away Matatabi or even Gyūki would have been able to recognize him or at the very least his chakra even if he wasn't using it actively. They would have tried to open up their shared mental link as biju immediately to try and converse with him if their seals allowed it.
He held back a grimace. This exam was going to be interesting. Even Shukaku would recognize his chakra once he started using it and out of all his biju siblings, he had no idea how he'd react to it. Considering they didn't part on good terms...
(You abandoned them like you're doing now.)
"What was that about?" Sasuke muttered bringing Kurama back to earth.
"They were kind of weird, weren't they?" Naruto folded his arms over his chest as he watched them disappeared in the crowd.
"Says the guy who laughed at them then introduced yourself and us in the most obnoxious way possible." Sasuke shot back. "Next time, you're not allowed to introduce the team. You make us all look bad."
"Hey!"
"Come now kiddies." Kakashi appeared. Kurama raised an eyebrow at him, wondering when exactly the man had disappeared. Keeping track of him seemed to be a test of constant vigilance. "Now that you've met another participating team. The Kazekage's kids, no less, let's break down what you observed as we get some supplies, shall we?"
As they walked home that evening, pleasantly sore from training Kurama happened to glance up at the roof tops when they separate from Sasuke. In the distance, he could see a speck of red on top of a building, a pale face tilted towards the sliver of moon hanging low in the sky. From where they stood the twisted malice of Shukaku's chakra was distant or maybe it was muted by the beauty of the night. Though Kurama wasn't sure if Shukaku shared the same fascination he did with the night sky.
He never took the time to ask or really talk to any of them after Hagoromo died. He just left them, certain of his own superiority and power.
"What is Natsu?" Naruto asked quietly.
Kurama shook his head and remained silent. He couldn't really explain the sudden sadness that seemed to overtake him. Like with most human emotions it came suddenly and overwhelmed him in its potency. He leaned over and bumped his shoulder with Naruto. He couldn't. No. He wouldn't make the same mistakes as before.
(He should have kept them together. He should have kept the safe. Now, look at them. Kurama was a mere half of himself stuck in a human body while Shukaku was going mad in a faulty seal.)
I won't leave you like I did them. I'll be the brother I was supposed to be, Naruto, and I'll protect you.
(Even from myself.)
Was that a Harry Potter, specifically a Mad-eye Moody reference? Why yes, yes it was. Lol
As you can see, Kurama learned the subtle art of avoidance of one's problems from Kakashi. Anyway, I had a difficult time with this chapter. I kept having to rewrite portions because I wasn't happy with the wording. I also re-watched the episodes dealing with this and was…less than pleased with the organization. I found it hard to believe that a shinobi village only told their jounin instructors about the chunin exam a week before it started. That seemed like something that is planned months in advance especially considering the fact that it involves other villages and undoubtedly all of the politics that goes along with foreign powers cooperating even for a small period of time. I was also a little disturbed by the lack of information the instructors provided their genin on this exam. I dunno if they weren't allowed or what, but this a big test to just shove them into blind especially as rookies.
Also, while I understand why Iruka freaked out in canon I think he has more confidence in the Uzumaki twins to not put up too much of a fuss. (Hayate also being there to explain his opinion instead of sassy canon Kakashi being a bit of a prick helped.)
Thank you guys for all of the reviews! Y'all are amazing as usual. Next chapter is the first task! Buckle up folks it gets crazy from here on out. Next chapter should also be up sometime next week. Prob, either Thursday or Friday.
Next time:
"ENOUGH!" Ibiki shouted. "WHEN I FIND OUT WHO DID THIS YOU'LL BE BANNED FROM THE CHUNIN EXAM COMPLETELY! YOU'LL HAVE NO DAMN CHANCE TO EVER BE A CHUNIN, YOU HERE ME!"
P.s. I do know how apartments and buying houses work, but they're twelve so I figured they wouldn't and wrote it as such. My attempt at the unreliable narrator. It's a little plot point so there won't be much time spent on it with the chunin exam and all, so don't worry. Had enough of that nonsense in real life. lol