Helloooo! Ok, I know I said I'd have days for updating and everything, but that's obviously not working! LOL. Ok so this is how I'll be doing it - One week this story and the next whatever other story I'll be writing (next week is The Philosopher's Stone last chapter!). Deal? \o So basically that means this would be updated every 2 weeks. Of course, if I end up writing earlier than I'll post it earlier.. So... Sorry for the delay! ^^
Thank you ILOVEANIME123 for your review... Here's more! ^^
So yeah, I really have nothing else to say so... Enjoy! ^^
p.s - I did warn you all about time skips right? In case I haven't... You are warned! kk aand.. yeah... I'm also doing flashbacks every now and then, like it sometimes is in the anime! ^^
Chapter Four
"Back here again?" Shikamaru lazily asked, as he let his body drop onto the grass.
"You never said it bothered you." Ami replied, equally as lazy.
"And I'm not saying that now." The Nara boy sighed. "Troublesome child."
"I'm not a child." Ami stated, as nonchalantly as she possibly could.
"Whatever."
The boy with the pineapple style hair stared silently up at the sky as the girl with long, dark hair played with the grass. Both were as silent as the wind that blew. They had been that same way for the past week.
-Flashback-
Ami bolted awake. Kakashi noticed her chakra slowly increasing and stared down at her worriedly. She'd used a simple jutsu, only it was stronger and obviously took quite a toll. He had to understand what was going on and why.
"How are you feeling?" He eventually asked.
"A little light headed, but I'm sure I'll be fine." She replied slowly.
"I'll help you with your Chakra control... But for now you must rest." Kakashi sighed.
-End Flashback-
"So what have you been up to lately?" Shikamaru asked.
Ami turned to him suddenly. She was quite used to him being totally silent and not at all curious about her personal life. Quite frankly, she didn't mind that about him at all. After a few seconds of pondering on her answer, she finally replied:
"Nothing." Shikamaru rolled his eyes at her answer. "Well... Hayate has been helping me since Kakashi's not here."
"Oh yeah... My Sensei mentioned that you'd be training with your brother's Sensei... Except you're not exactly on his team. The Hokage must see some serious potential in you if he's willing to bend the rules. Although I might feel slightly offended about not exactly being part of the team, if I were you." Ami stared at the grass. She wasn't sure if she was surprised because of his answer or because he'd said so much, in so little time. "What?" He asked eventually. "It's not like I'm saying it to be rude or anything."
"No... I know." She said quietly. "I better get going... There are a few things I need to practice before Kakashi gets back."
Shikamaru silently waved the young girl goodbye and went back to staring up at the blue and cloudy sky.
x.x
Naruto rushed towards the village as soon as he spotted the gates. Kakashi didn't really care that he was shouting at the top of his voice and had all eyes on him. Every Chakra surrounding them came from comrades, so naturally there was nothing to worry about. Naruto happily handed his entrance pass to Izumo and Kotetsu as soon as he reached the gates.
"You're late, Kakashi!" Kotetsu shouted. Kakashi was still a tad bit far from them, so he simply pretended he could hear a thing.
"Can I go ahead too? I promised my mother I'd let her know I was safe as soon as I got back." Sakura said happily. Kakashi simply waved her off. "Do you want to come with me Sasuke-kun?"
"No." He replied grumpily.
"Oh... Well I'll see you later!" She grinned, before running off.
Sasuke took a few faster steps and suddenly stopped before Kakashi and stared up at him. Part of him silently wondered what the man kept hidden behind his mask. But he focused on the main issue on his mind.
"Why did you take my sister out of school if she's not going to join us?" He asked frustrated.
"I was asked to."
"By who?" He insisted.
"That seems to be an illogical question. Who do you think organises all the teams?" Kakashi smiled.
"The Hokage but-"
"Exactly. I'm not the one making the rules Sasuke, but Sarutobi Hokage-sama wants me to continue this for a while."
Kakashi continued his journey before Sasuke could say anything else, leaving the Uchiha frowning on the spot.
Kakashi eventually made his way towards the training grounds, where he'd hoped to find Ami focusing on her assignments. She was indeed at the training grounds, but instead of training, she was lying with her stomach on the ground and fiddling around with something.
"You call this training?" Kakashi said, as he approached her.
"I'm taking a break." She said calmly. "I managed to place a rat under genjutsu not too long ago."
"A rat?" Kakashi asked, feeling slightly disgusted. "Where did you find a rat?"
"In the bushes. They're actually quite hard to find." She replied. "But that's not important. Want to see?"
He could sense her sudden excitement and decided to go along with it. He'd already left one of them gloomy so he couldn't do the same again. After looking through the dozens of bushes nearby, Ami returned with a small brown rabbit.
"This will have to do."
Kakashi watched as she held the small creature in front of her. Her eyes spiralled into a full Sharingan. He had to admit that he was surprised to discover that she had its full form at such a young age. The rabbit's eyes went wide and its head tilted to the side slightly. It maintained that exact position for around three seconds before it started fidgeting again. Ami smiled slightly and allowed the creature to run free.
"Can't you hold it longer?" Kakashi asked.
"Of course I can... But I was afraid I'd hurt the animals if I held on longer." She replied. "I could always test it on you."
"Not a chance." Kakashi laughed. "You can save it for your next enemy."
"So... I might just get a chance to go on a real mission?" She asked hopefully.
"You will go... When you're ready."
-Flashback-
Kakashi walked into the Hokage's office after he assured his team they could all go rest. He'd much rather hand in a report without Naruto yelling in his ear.
"It seems they've managed to handle themselves reasonably well." Sarutobi said, after reading through Kakashi's three-page report. "Is there anything else you need?"
"Gekkou Hayate has been keeping an eye on Uchiha Ami and he's reported that she's improved already. She's just about as good as my genin. Perhaps she's ready for a mission."
"I have no doubt about her preparation in strength, Kakashi." Hokage sighed. "But I cannot say the same about the psychological. The past still haunts those two children. The difference between them is that Sasuke uses his anger towards his brother to gain strength. Ami's own anger drains her."
"Which explains-"
"It explains many things, Kakashi." Sarutobi interrupted. "But not all things need to be said out loud. Take your time with her. You'll know when she's truly ready."
"Yes Hokage-sama." Kakashi bowed.
-End Flashback-
x.x
Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura eagerly handed their Chunnin Exams application forms before heading into town. Ami spotted the three as she left the clothes store and decided to follow. Sakura suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned around frowning.
"Go stalk someone else!" She yelled.
"That's my sister." Sasuke said, rolling his eyes.
"Oh!" Sakura laughed. "I didn't recognize you... Why don't you come along with-"
"Yeah! Come along with us!" Naruto shouted happily. Ami focused on not blushing at that very moment before nodding.
Sasuke sighed and continued his way across the village.
"So what have you been up too?" Naruto asked quietly. Sakura had run ahead, attempting to gain Sasuke's attention, leaving Naruto to accompany Ami on their walk.
"Just training... Chakra control mostly. How was the mission?"
"Easy!" Naruto grinned. "Can't wait to have something more challenging."
"As long as you don't get hurt." Ami stated. Naruto blushed slightly and laughed in response. "Are you hungry?"
"I'm always hungry." Naruto grinned. "Do you like ramen?"
"Hn."
"Oh no... You do that too?" Naruto whined, throwing his hands in the air. "It must be an Uchiha curse or something."
"I think I've picked it up along the years." Ami smirked. "Come... I'm starving. Ichiraku will have to do."
Naruto felt his face heat up when Ami grabbed his hand and pulled him towards Ichiraku's Ramen. This was definitely an unnatural feeling for him. He'd seen her before... So why was he like this now?
Naruto ate three whole bowls in the time it took Ami to eat one. She curiously watched the blond boy swallow his favourite meal.
"Want to go down to the park?" Ami asked, before Naruto could order something else.
"Which one?" He asked wide-eyed.
"I'm sure you remember the one by the lake."
-Flashback-
Naruto managed to out run the angry villagers and climb up a tree before they could spot him. He definitely found it amusing that a three year old could manage such a thing. He was certain he'd become a strong Shinobi one day. And then no villager would chase him or call him a monster. His attention turned towards the small park below him when he heard loud child-like laughs.
Fugaku and Mikoto had agreed to take their three children to the park and the lake on that hot summer's day. Itachi quickly jumped into the lake and swam around. Sasuke stomped his feet because he wanted to learn how to swim and wanted Itachi to be his teacher. After a stern look from Fugaku, the eldest Uchiha sibling complied and grabbed his younger brother. Ami had opted for searching for ladybugs in the grass and began crawling around the park.
Naruto slowly climbed down when he realised the young girl approaching. Surely she was too young to know who he was and perhaps he could finally have a secret friend. He would've gotten closer if he hadn't heard rustling from behind the bushes. He jumped back when he saw two Shuriken fly his way. Two more headed towards the young girl and she screamed. On pure instinct, he jumped and covered her body with his. He paled when he saw the man, who was possibly the girl's father, approaching them.
"Get off her you monster." He growled.
"I-I was h-helping." Naruto said quietly.
The man turned his attention towards the rustling bushes and threw a kunai towards it. Seconds later a masked body fell limp.
"It seems you were telling the truth. You're name is Naruto, right?" Fukagu asked.
"Y-yes... And I'm sorry sir! I won't bother you or your family ever again."
Ami tugged on her father's sleeve as the young boy turned to leave. Fugaku understood immediately but wasn't sure it was the best of ideas.
"Why don't you join us, Naruto? We have enough food and drinks. And I'm sure those villagers are still looking for you." Fugaku sighed.
Ami grinned, grabbed the blond boy by the hand and dragged him towards the lake.
-End Flashback-
Ami let go of Naruto's hand as soon as she sat on the edge of the lake. Naruto could help but think about the first time he'd ever been there.
"It's really peaceful over here, isn't it?" Ami said quietly. "This has always been my favourite place to come."
"Do you come here often?" Naruto wondered.
"As often as I can... Especially when I feel like being alone."
"You don't smile anymore." Naruto said suddenly. He realised he spoke his mind out loud and instantly regretted it. He noticed Ami's confused look. "I-I mean-"
"I know what you mean." Ami sighed. "Many things have happened along the years, Naruto."
"I know... Many people in the village talk about it." Naruto said quietly.
"They're all a bunch of nosey know-it-all's." Ami rolled her eyes. "And they're cruel."
"I'll say." Naruto grinned.
"I have no idea how you put up with them." Ami sighed.
"I'm slowly letting go." Naruto's grin still hadn't faded. "You can't let the events of life bring you down. Smile as much as you can."
Ami managed to convince Naruto that searching for ladybugs in the grass was a good time killer. And so they did. Neither remembered to check the time or think that perhaps there would be someone back in the village wondering where they were.
x.x
"Which is the quickest route to Konoha?" A hooded man asked.
"Head north, sir. You'll be there in around five days."
The man bowed and headed in the direction he was indicated. He grabbed a book from his pocket and read through it as he walked. He began laughing to himself as he read.
"This will have to do... Who would've known this is all it takes to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan."
Whoever guesses who the mysterious man is... Will win a virtual cookie. KK here's a sneak peak: ( : : ) ~ Cute isn't it? ^^ Anyway... The next chapter will most likely be done after I finish HP. So... Until next time! ^^
xoxo