Chapter 6

Once more, thank you all! I never would have imagined that I would have gained so many readers. You all make this worthwhile. I would also like to say a very special thank you to my boyfriend, who has recently become a Naruto addict in order to help me write this. I love you3 (:

Logically, I knew that the echo of the clapping could have only lasted seconds. But it felt like it echoed for an hours, as I waited for this mystery to reveal itself. With the first sound of the two hands smacking together I had a throwing star in each palm. I strained both my eyes and ears trying to find whoever dared to startle me so.

A man stepped out from behind a tree. At first glance his appearance did not calm me, if anything it made me want to attack him more. I remembered Naruto's warning though, and despite the warning bells screeching in my head, I looked closer at him and relaxed.

It was obvious at first glance that he is was an adult. It was equally as obvious that he is a jonin because of the way he dressed. What set off the warning bells was his face. It was a secret, he kept it mostly covered. The only thing showing was one eye. What disarmed me was the lazy way he approached us. He walked slowly, hands in pockets, kind of slouchy.

But no, he wasn't lazy. His showing eye was curious assessing me from the distance that he was slowly closing.

"I was going to scold these guys on acting so foolishly in front of a lady, but it seems you can straighten them out on your own."

This had to be the Sensi, Kakashi. I bowed respectfully before him. I can't explain how I knew, but deep down I could feel that he was good man. I wondered why he chose to hide his face.

"A visitor from the Village of Sound?"

I stand up straight again and glance at the forehead protector I keep wrapped around my wrist, stars in my palms, and frown. "No, I'm…I'm not from anywhere." I met his stare, "I like it here though, and this is a good place." I look at Naruto, "Good people too."

Naruto smiles up at me too.

Kakashi's eye looks suspicious. "You've obviously had previous training. Reflexes like that just don't happen. It takes years of training."

"You would be correct, but my trainings been less than ideal." I try not to visibly wince as I hold his eye and explain.

With a nod, he turns to the boys. "Sakura will not be joining us for a few weeks."

Saskue seemed unaffected by this news. He simply shrugged, "We can manage without her, not like she does much anyway."

Kakashi ignored the boy's insult against his teammate. "What about you? Why don't you fill in for now?"

Naruto jumped to his feet, grabbing both my hands. "Yeah Red! You're on my team now!"

Kakashi's mask showed hints of a smile underneath. "Well Red?"

I was so shocked, all I could do is nod. He handed me my new forehead protector, with the Hidden Leaf symbol on it. I quickly ripped off the old one, tying this new, beloved one around my wrist. Kakashi's congratulations broke through my euphoria. "Welcome to the team, Red."

While my eyes are welling with tears, Kakashi was busy moving on to other topics. "Some of the other teams are getting together for a challenge. Nothing too serious. We're gonna hide a flag in the woods, and one person has to bring it back. Only one winner," he emphasizes holding up one finger. "A good chance to compare your skills to the other ninja. Also a good opportunity to see how you three work together, and against each other." A mischievous light was in his eye.

I was instantly taken with the idea. I imagined the look on Saskue's face as I triumphantly escape he woods with a flag clutched in my hands, victorious.

I looked at my teammates, they looked equally as excited as I felt. Saskue had a quiet, confident smile, while Naruto was practically jumping up and down in his excitement.

"Are you interested?"

"YES!" We cheered.

"Meet me at the entrance of the woods tomorrow, same time." Without any more ceremony than that, he turned and bounded away and was soon gone.

Saskue turned to walk away, "You better not get in my way, Red. I will not hesitate to run you over."

I was sick of his crass manner. "You can't run over what you can't catch, boy." I reply condescendingly.

He glanced at me over his shoulder, and for a moment I could swear he grinned at me. But quickly the moment was over, and he walked away.

"What is his problem?" I mumble.

"Forget him," Naruto slung his arm over my shoulder, "let's train!"

We spent most of the day training for the challenge tomorrow. I would be lying if I said that he did not impress me. He never seemed to get tired, or want to give up.

The next day dawned beautiful and bright. I slept easily and woke up pumped and ready to kick ass. Naruto met up with me and we walked together to the meeting spot. I was surprised at the scene that greeted us. There were three Sensi's and lots of young ninjas. Besides Kakashi, there was a man smoking, a pretty red eyed female, and some…creepy guy.

Kiba spotted us, and ran towards us waving. "Why, if it isn't my favorite guy in the whole wide world," I greet, opening my arms and running towards him. His face lights up in delight until I pass him and scoop up Akamaru. "Hello handsome," I coo at him, snuggling him close to my face while he peppers it with puppy kisses. I held Akamaru while Kiba and Naruto half playfully squabbled. I spotted Shikamaru and waved at him. He nodded in my direction, he seems…bored.

While we waited for the contest to start, Naruto and I joined Saskue who was standing off from the crowd. He seemed to be doing the same thing I was, sizing up the others trying to decide who the real competition was. My eyes wandered, landing on Kiba who gave me a wink. He certainly does that a lot, I think. Am I special or is that just normal for him? Maybe he's got something caught in his eye? I let both my eyes and thoughts wander this time til they land on this interesting character. He was dressed the same was the weird looking Sensi. Same haircut, same outfit, the whole nine yards. His thick brows were pulled down in serious concentration. His intense eyes blazing as they met mine. I smile, what a funny little guy. Uh oh, it seems he's mistaken my smile as interest, wait? Is he? No.

As he blew a kiss to me, I quickly side stepped away, hoping I was out of the line of fire.

Kakashi's voiced boomed out over the clearing, "Alright everyone, before we start, I want to lay down a few ground rules. There is only one flag, therefore, one winner. You can use any means necessary to get the flag, and try not to kill each other." He sighs.

The smoking Sensi begins the countdown, "Three…..two….one…GO!"

I'm sure that the clearing looked like a huge blur as we all leaped away into the woods, rocketing in a thousand different directions. I feel the wind whipping around me as I jump from branch to branch, planning in my head when I feel extra weight jumping on the branches next to me. I stop and turn to find this girl with a blonde ponytail standing next to me. Before I can ask her what she wants she starts her lecture. "My name is Ino, and I don't know you are, I don't even care. I'm just going to warn you once, and once only, Saskue is mine! So stay away from him!"

For a second, I'm confused. What does Saskue have to do with anything? And then I realise what she means. Who is she? Some possessive, obsessive girlfriend? "You must have bad taste then, because a rock will show you more love and affection than that boy," I laugh and finish frostily, "Now stop being so silly and focus on the things that really matter." I dismiss her from my attention as I prepare to leap to another branch and let this crazy girl stew in her misplaces affections and assumptions. As I take off, I feel something drag me painfully back by my hair. I look up, and Ino has a death grip on my hair and looks pissed off. "Don't you dare insult my Saskue!" She says glaring at me.

"I don't give a fuck about your Saskue," I snarl grabbing her throat and squeezing. "Now let go of my hair." I know for a fact that I have a pretty tight grip on her throat, but she refuses to loosen her grasp even a little. She starts to turn a little blue as Kakashi's instructions echo through my mind, "Try not to kill each other." I reign myself in, take a deep breath, and smash her nose with my fist.

With a hurt yelp her hands leave my hair to cover her hurt nose. I then drop her off my branch. I peer down at her, she's in one piece. Angry, bruised, and a little battered, but alive. I quickly move on.

I find a quiet tree to sit, think, and strategize. How could she be so in love with a guy like Saskue? He's so dull and colourless. I hear a sound in the distance, and listen in, hearing an animalistic edge to the thoughts. I frown, I don't like how easy it is getting to hear him. I barely had to try that time. Suddenly, someone drops out of my tree and lands before me. It's that kid dressed like the weird Sensi.

"Hello beautiful! My name is Rock Lee, I am the strongest ninja in these parts, expect of course, for the honourable Guy Sensi." He smiles what I am sure he thinks is a very sexy smile. "Join me! Together we can hunt for the flag, with your beauty and my strength, we can't fail!"

"Uh,…no thank-you?"

"I see you need some more convincing, please allow me!" With that he closes his eyes and leans towards me. I try and take a step back and feel the tree press against me. Poor guy, I don't want smash his face in like I did to Ino, but I definitely do NOT want this.

Something flashes before my eyes, and an irritated Naruto is now standing in Rock Lee's place. "Maybe I could kill him, and make it look like some wild animal did it." He mutters.

It's all too much for me, I start to laugh hysterically. I laugh until tears stream down my cheeks and my stomach pains. When I finally get a hold of myself, I say, "Can you imagine, having the live the rest of my life knowing that that was my first kiss? Thank you Naruto, for saving me from a fate worse than death."

He grins at me, "No way, Rock Lee wouldn't have been your first kiss?"

"Where I grew up wasn't really conductive for romance," I joke. "You seem shocked though, you must have already had yours?"

He looks embarrassed, and looks way, trying to ignore the question. "Where are you going to look for the flag first?"

"Come on, Naruto! I tell you everything, at least tell me that story!"

After much begging, he finally, begrudgingly, gives up the story of the accidental kiss with Saskue. This time, he has to hold me so I don't fall out of the tree, I laugh so hard. He looks pained for a while, be eventually gives in and laughs along with me. After this fit of hysterics has passed, I realise my head is laying in his lap. I have a very good view of those warm, bright eyes. I smile softly as they look down at me, blue as any sky. I haven't really admired them since I thought he was going to kill me. I allow myself to do so now, watching them as they watch me. I watch as they fall on my lips, and feel my cheeks grow warm. I can hear his breath suddenly hitch in a strange way that makes my own change. His heartbeat thunders in my ears and without bidding it, his thoughts are screaming in my ears. My own heartbeat quickly races after his because I can hear that he's thinking about kissing me. I surprise myself because without really consciously meaning to, I push a command into his mind.

Do it!

What a strange feeling, I think. I'm sure it's my last coherent thought as he closes the distances between our faces.