thx to all of those who reviewed they are way appreciated
blossomheartxoxo: -le sigh- i know. but that is why i made sure tis chap is long!
Mayumi Crescent Moon: thk u! i simply adore your reviews! :D... and yeah. i know i should hav made the last chap longer
Chapter 7: The Present or the Past
"Everyone already left!" Sakura complained "Where is he?" They were the only ones in the classroom waiting for their sensei.
"Hn." Was her only reply. She paused, then went to glance at Naruto and saw him placing an eraser on the door. "What do you think you're doing Naruto?" she asked him.
He just snickered "That'll teach him for being late." Sakura rolled her eyes "You forgot Naruto, he's a Jounin. He wouldn't fall for that." Naruto just grinned at her "We'll never know until we try.."
Then the door opened, and the eraser landed right on the white haired man. There was silence. But then Naruto was laughing his head off, Sasuke remained impassive, and Sakura's jaw dropped.
Kakashi sighed "So far my first impression on you is that I hate you. Meet me on the roof." He told them then disappeared.
Then the four shinobi were on the roof. Kakashi faced them "Introduce yourselves. First is you blondie."
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto! My favorite food is ramen, what I like the most is pork ramen-"
"Your dream?"
"My dream is to become the greatest Hokage!"
"What about you chicken hair?" Sasuke's eye twitched at the nickname.
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke, I don't like alot of things. I dislike many. And I don't have any hobbies. I do not have a dream because I will make it a reality, I will resurrect my clan and kill a certain man."
"Aren't you a bit too young?" Sakura muttered, but they all heard. "Too you young for what, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, she just shrugged "Your twelve, and already want to kill someone... and aren't you a bit too young to think about resurrecting your clan? You do know what I mean by that right?"
Naruto burst out laughing and Kakashi smirked under his mask, and Sasuke raised an eyebrow This girl defenitly is unique.
"Your turn now pinkie." He said glancing at Sakura.
"I like... pandas, racoons-"
Nice job! Just say 'I like Gaara so much' why don't cha?!
"-music, and songs. I dislike people who are full of themselves-"
Like the loudmouth!
"-and... fire-" Insert many confused looks.
Great! 'I dislike fire' What the hell was that?!... Though I understand why...
"-One of my hobbies are writing songs, playing the guitar and...-"
And talking to animals.
"-And talking to ani- I mean talking to my friends!-"
Nice one.
"-My dream is to become the greatest Kazekage... What about you?" The three then faced Kakashi.
"My name is Hatake Kakashi. My likes and dislikes... I don't feel like telling you. My hobbies... I have alot of hobbies. My dream... I never really thought about it." The three gave him questioning looks.
"So we only learned your name." Sakura said. Kakashi just smirked under his mask "Yeah, pretty much."
"When did you become Chuunin?" Sasuke asked.
"When I was in second year, and became Jounin in third year." He told them."Tomorrow go to the training grounds at exactly five-"
"Why?" Naruto asked.
"I will give you a short training exam. And if you fail, you will be dismissed from the academy." Their eyes widened "And if you pass... well congratulations, you still stay in school. And don't eat any breakfast."
"Why?" Naruto asked again.
"You'll throw up." Then he disappeared in a puff of smoke. There was just silence.
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"He said to think under the underneath." Sasuke told them. Naruto attacked blindly at Kakashi, then Sakura pulled him out of the way right after Naruto received '1,000 years of pain' and the three were hidden in a bush away from the sight of Kakashi who was reading.
"So?" Naruto asked. Sakura sighed "Think Naruto. Why are there are only two bells? Each team is supposed to consist of three members, then they get rid of others if there are too many students. But this year all students are exact."
"You point?" Naruto asked but was joined with Sasuke in a confused look. Sakura rubbed her temples "Boys." she muttered. But then she faced them again "Look underneath under the underneath."
The two nodded, then Sakura continued "All three of are supposed to pass. I think this a test on teamwork. Got it?" They nodded again "Any plans or ideas?" Sasuke smirked "I have a simple one even the dobe could understand."
"Hey!"
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"Hey Temari?"
"What?"
"What team did Saki get?"
"Uchiha, the blonde loudmouth, and their Jounin is Kakashi-sensei." Temari answered while eating their lunch. Kankuro spit the water he was drinking out of his mouth, when he heard Kakashi's name, and it landed right on Temari's face.
A vein appeared "You have half a second to run." Then Kankuro along with Temari were out of sight. Their teammates sweat dropped, then one spoke up "What about Kakashi-sensei?"
"No team has passed his training exam. And I hear that Sakura is good, what a waste. I guess its just bad luck."
Then they heard a scream coming from Kankuro. Their teammates just sighed at their childish behavior.
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The three twelve year olds were laughing their heads off and, yes, even Sasuke was laughing. Kakashi sighed "It isn't funny."
Sakura calmed down "Yeah right! I swear Ino-pig can't scream that loud, and in that kind of girly voice!! Heck! I didn't know that was humanly possible!" Then she broke down in another fit of laughter.
Sakura and Sasuke were able to distract Kakashi long enough for Naruto to sneak up behind him and give a move originated from Kakashi himself, '10,000 years of pain'. And when he attacked... well you already know.
He sighed, then looked at the place where he placed his bells, there were none. He smiled They're good."So, how did you get the bells?" The two boys faced Sakura who was smirking, then she held up the two bells.
"You weren't paying any attention while we were laughing cause you were too embarrassed, so you didn't notice. And... I had a little help in getting it." She explained, then glanced at the squirrel on one of the branches of the tree. Kino nodded then left.
Naruto jumped up in the air in delight "We still get to stay in the academy! Believe it!"
"So, that means we're Team Kakashi... I don't get it. Why can't we pick our own team name?" Sakura asked. Kakashi shrugged "Because, you genin are lucky a Jounin will help you train and stuff like that, but you heard Shizune, you could always change the name to only a number." She nodded.
"Can we?" Naruto asked him. Kakashi nodded.
The three thought it over, by the looks of it they didn't want to be called Team Kakashi. Then the idea came to the three.
"Team 7."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow Do they really believe in lucky number 7?
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Sakura changed into her pajamas, then she glanced at the picture of her and Gaara, she smiled. Then she glanced at the picture on Hinata's bed table. It was formal, by the looks of it the whole clan. But what shocked her was that the only one smiling was Hinata, it was just a small one, barely visible.
Then Hinata came in drying her short hair "Hey Hinata-chan?"
"What?"
"Your family looks so..."
"A Hyuuga doesn't show emotion."
"Then I'm glad you're a Hyuuga who has a life." Sakura said, Hinata just sighed. "Must suck having a family that doesn't show much emotion." Sakura told her.
"Its not that bad. Its okay as long as you have their respect, if you do its pretty much nice living at home." Hinata told her looking down. Sakura got the hint "How come they don't respect you?"
"Its like what I told you at the forest. My own seven year old sister is stronger than me."
Sakura sighed Might as well be honest and blunt. "Is it that, she's super strong or you're super weak?"
"I'm super w-weak." she answered. "So, the reason you aren't living with your family is because your too weak for them?" Sakura asked. Hinata nodded. Sakura put a finger on her chin "That's good."
Hinata gave her a confused look "How is it good?"
"Since class starts at eight, I have more time with you if you live here. So by five be ready. Its five laps around Konoha, going up by five each day, until fifty." Hinata's eyes widened. "If you don't make it within the the three hours... well then you better run fast, cause you'll be very late for class."
Hinata groaned, Sakura laughed "That was one of the first things I did in training. But at least I'm not letting you wear weights like what I did, you don't exactly have the same strength."
"Is that whats under the cloth on your arms and legs?" Hinata asked, Sakura nodded opened a floorboard. Hinata gasped. Sakura smiled at her "If I just put it on the floor, the wood might break, so I had to put it here." She grabbed one and handed it to Hinata.
When she held it, her hands quickly fell to the floor. It was too heavy for her. "Saku, I can't even carry it!!" Sakura grinned then got and put it back under the floor board.
"It was hard at first, but you get used to running alot." (Its about the same mass as Lee's weights)
Yeah! We ran with those weights for just a week. And we finallygot a hang of it on the last second, of the last minute, of the last lap, of the last day! Not to mention the fact the Suna isn't nearly as big as Konoha!
... That definetly lowered my self esteem.
"I hope I can get used to it." Hinata said. Sakura nodded "Then at dismissal we start your real training."
Hinata nodded "Okay, but..."
"But?"
Hinata faced the picture on Sakura's bed table. Then she sat on her bed and faced Sakura "What happened to your brother?" Sakura sat next to her.
I know her family problem. Best I be fair.
"His name is Gaara. He died protecting me." Hinata's eyed widened. "We were at the park, and ninja came by wanting to take us as hostages. And I was too weak to do anything. That was the reason why I have to be strong."
Hinata nodded in understanding, then Sakura clenched her fist, her eyes twinkling.
"I will accomplish his dream!-" insert good guy pose "-its the promise of a lifetime! Believe it!"
A combination of Lee and Naruto-kun... oh dear. Hinata thought.
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Lucky for the two, their first period everyday was with Kakashi, in advanced chakra knowledge. So when they arrived in the classroom, exactly two seconds later he entered. Sakura and Hinata sat at the extra table in the back.
Hinata was panting hard "We made it just in time." Sakura nodded "Seems that 40 laps is the farthest we reached before we would end up late. But just ten more, then we stay at a steady pace of fifty laps."
Hinata groaned then put her head on the table. Kakashi gave them time to review for the test he'll giving tomorrow, so he just read his book waiting for the class to end, in about five minutes.
Team Zabuza were sitting in front of them, then Haku turned around to face them. "Its best you get back to your assigned seats before Kakashi-sensei notices." They nodded then Sakura and Hinata went to their tables crouched down. Kakashi of course noticed but didn't say a word.
"Its already been eight days since you and Sakura always end up late, and you barely made it now. What do you two do?" Kiba asked Hinata when she took her seat next to Kiba, who was in the middle. She smiled him "Just some morning warm ups."
"Warm ups?" Shino asked. Hinata nodded "Yeah, then at dismissal she helps me train." Kiba scoffed "If the training is harder than the warmups it must be torture."
"No pain no game. Right? Besides I think I'm getting quicker." Hinata told them Of course, I have to run as fast as I can, or I'll end up missing all of first period... Even though the sensei does too.
"What do you do in the morning?" Kiba asked.
"We just run a few laps." Yeah, cause compared to fifty, forty is lower.
"Around what?" Kiba asked "K-Konoha." Hinata answered. Two pairs of eyes widened "You're kidding?!" Kiba exclaimed, quite loudly. A few heads turned to face them, and Kakashi lowered his book.
"Is something wrong Kiba?"
"Nothing Kakashi-sensei." Kiba said, Kakashi nodded then went back to reading, and everyone else went back to what they were doing.
"How many laps?" Shino asked, Hinata put her fingers together "Don't s-shout again. O-Okay Kiba-kun?" Kiba crossed his arms "How many?"
"It goes up by five each day." Kiba was about to exclaim again but Shino put a hand over his mouth "Don't attract anymore attention." Kiba rolled his eyes, then removed Shino's hand. "Whatever."
"But Lee-san also does laps around Konoha. In fact we met him one morning running a hundred laps." Hinata told them. "Yeah, cause that's Lee, that guy has a bit too much energy, so he has to release it somehow." Kiba told her. "But, I think pinkie is just wants to tire you out-"
"Who you calling pinkie, dog breath?" Sakura asked him, their table was right in front of theirs. Hinata coughed, Sakura just let out a sigh then went back to looking at her own table.
"What was that about Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked. Sakura groaned "I tell Hinata-chan not to stutter, and she tells me me to be nice." Naruto's eyes widened "You're joking right?"
Sakura bonked him on the head "You think I can't be nice?!" Naruto just rubbed his new head injury "No, its just that you already are nice, no need to be too nice, right?" she crossed her arms "Nice save." Naruto just let out a small laugh "Thanks."
Kakashi lowered his book "I forgot I have an announcement." The class gave him their attention "At the middle of the year, there will be a exam for all of you 24. It will be like a competition to determine if you learned anything at all within that time."
Then he went back to reading, but then looked up again "We won't judge you if you win but to see how good you are, so it doesn't matter if you lose the first battle. That and the exam is half pf your grade for the year."
Sakura smiled "I can't wait!" Naruto nodded "Yeah! A battle for all of us!"
"You two had better win most of your battles." The two faced Sasuke. He smirked "You two are the ones I want to fight the most."
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"As training for you three today we'll practice dodging, blocking, or countering attacks that are thrown at you." Kakashi explained to the three. They nodded, then he sent a wave of kunai and shuriken at them.
They were all able to dodge it easily. Then came the kicks and punches, once again they were able to dodge them. But then came the jutsus that were difficult to dodge.
One of them wasn't able to dodge.
Kakashi used various jutsus, and one of them was the fire element. To be precise the fireball jutsu. Large ones headed towards Naruto and Sasuke, and they were able to dodge it easily.
A large amount of fire headed towards Sakura. She just stood there.
Then another ninja used a fire jutsu and sent a large fireball towards them, but Gaara was too injured to quickly get out of the way and Sakura was too frightened to notice the other attack. Then she got a hard hit on the head and she was knocked out. Gaara was the only one who reacted among the two.
He got in front of her.
And the scene kept on replaying in her mind. The fireball came closer and closer, but she just stood still. "Sakura-chan!!" Naruto called out to her,
But his words were a cry on deaf ears.
"I was the one that told him to take a walk! I was the one that told him not to bring his gourd! I was too weak and scared to do anything! I was the reason he died!" she said breaking down into sobs.
"I feel bad all the time!"
Tears went down her face, Sasuke then got her out of the way just in time. "Sakura, are you alright?" he asked her. "Sakura-chan! What happened?" Naruto asked appearing next to her along with Kakashi. She just got out of Sasuke's grip and ran away from them.
Sasuke and Naruto were about to chase after her but Kakashi put his hands on their shoulders "Remember what she said during your introductions. One of the things she dislikes."
"Fire. But why would she dislike that?" Naruto asked. Kakashi sighed, as Team 7's Jounin he had to know about his students, so he was well aware why Sakura obtained a phobia for the heated substance. "Let her go. She just needs some time alone."
She was sitting on one of the many rocks near the river. She hugged her knees and started crying again.
I'm so pathetic!!
Yeah, I mean you were terrified of a single fireball!
Don't rub it in! I know how stupid and weak I am!!
... Just remember: Do you think Gaara would like to hear you say that about yourself? I know he wouldn't, and you do too. So pull yourself together!!
I-It's just that-
What?! That you should act like a weak little girl because you're afraid a stupid hot ball?! Get over it!!
But-
What if Sasuke wasn't there to get you out of the way in time? Heck! What if he tried to save you but neither of you could get out of the way? He might end up with the same fate as Gaara cause you were acting like a weak baby again!
But-
Get. Over. It. If someone ends up getting hurt again because you're too damn afraid. Don't say I didn't warn you.
...
Coward.
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do not expect all chaps to be as long as tis ok?
and i sry the chap be4 was shrt ok?
so pls review!
oh! was tis chap...corny? i mean the ending. cuz 4 me its a bit cliche.