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Chp. 3 Excitement and Surprises

Story!!!

Sora POV

"Wait, Iruka, what's so important? I've just got back from the mission a while ago, and I already reported to him, why does he need to see me again?" I asked with curiosity written across my clear hazel eyes.
"I have no idea Sora, but you'd better hurry." I let out a sigh and paused in my steps.
"Fine, I'll go... I'll meet you later for ramen?"
"Of course! Now, I need to get to the school before Konohamaru stirs up trouble again..." I laugh lightly and wave good bye to him, "Bye Iruka!"
Iruka smiled back at me and then slowly disappeared from sight.

Hokage Tower: Normal POV

"Ahh... Ohayou Sora!" The Hokage greeted Sora with great energy, and bowed slightly. She grinned and bow, "What did you call me for Hokage-sama?"
"... Well, there is a slight shortage of qualified Shinobi for the upcoming testing..." Sora's smile faltered slightly and a wave of uncertainty washed over her.
"With all due respect Hokage-sama, I truly do not think I'm qualified for testing the--"
"Nonsense Sora, I know you're ready, or perhaps... you just lack self confidence..?" A smirk creeps its way up to her lips and her attitude begins to show.
"Me? Lack self confidence?"
"I understand if you truly do not wish help with the Chuuin examination, not many shinobi are..." She let out a sigh, "Hokage-sama, it's not that I don't want to.. I just really... I wouldn't be the best suited for the job.."

The Hokage let out a chuckle and motioned for Sora to kneel down beside him. She smiled and knelt as he pointed to a painting in the corner of his room, "Do you see that painting Sora?" Sora look up and see a painting (obviously done by someone younger), nodded and allow him to continue.

"That painting was made by my grandson... I'm the utmost proud of it, now take a look at that painting over there." The Hokage pointed at a painting right beside it, and Sora had to contain herself from gasping. It was so beautiful; it had caught the very essence of a ninja, it showed the harsh rigor that a ninja must have, but also had the demure calm side... The painting was of a ninja defending it's village with a forest and lake in the background...

"Now I want you to tell me which painting suits your eyes better; one that captures the innocence of a child, or the one that catches the true nature of a ninja." Sora thought carefully for a moment, although the second picture was truly breathtaking, the first one did have a certain air to it that made her feel... obliged to stare in amazement...

What really made the second picture and better than the first? Experience maybe? No... what was experience anyway? Thoughts flew around in Sora's mind, until she finally concluded, "Although I might prefer the second one, I think that the first one holds much more talent than the second."

The Hokage smiled proudly, "I always knew I can count on you to be honest Sora. In that case..." The Hokage stood up and walked to his desk, he pulled out two scrolls and handed both of them to her, ".. You have the choice of either helping with the examination of the Chuuins, or you can help with the annual Hidden Leaf festival.."

Sora smiled gratefully at the Hokage, "Thank you!!" She hesitated at first, but jumped up and hugged him. He lets out a laugh and pats your back, "I suppose you've already made your decision?"
".. I need to think about it first, so I'll come back later with my decision alright?"
"It's your choice Sora... now I need to get some work done.."
"Ja ne Hokage-sama!"

Sora grinned and waved before turning and leaving.

Outside: Sora POV
"Ahhh..." I let out a pleased sigh and stretched my arms behind me, '... the annual festival..' I thought silently to myself, it was an honor to be asked to help with it... I pulled out the two scrolls from my pocket; one of them was labeled 'Chuuin Examination' and the next was labeled, 'Hidden Leaf Festival'.

".. oh decisions decisions.." I muttered under my breath; I really wanted to help with the Chuuin examination, but somehow deep down, I want to help with the festival. I walked over to a patch of grass and kneel down on it; this decision wasn't going to be as easy as I thought it would be.

Regular POV

The annual Hidden Leaf festival; a.k.a. the Spring Festival; was one of the greatest things Sora missed when she left. It was so much fun! All of the surplus food from winter was put into the festival, and everyone from different villages came to have a good time. Even during times of war, the spring festival was made to relieve that stress and create a good environment for all; and best of all, everyone was to wear casual attire, regardless of being a Shinobi.

"...what are you smiling about now?"
"huh?" Sora glanced up and saw Shikamaru leaning against a stone statue near her, "Oh, I'm just thinking.. that's all.. what about you! You should have training right now you lazy bum."
"Pft... I don't need training right now.. they started without me anyway.."
"I should be punishing you for not reporting to training you know.."
"... but knowing you you'd probably be too lazy to even do that.." A flare of defiance flashed across Sora's eyes and she put on a sweet smile while standing up, "Oh, but Shikamaru... I'm not."

'... shit..' Shikamaru thought silently; the only reason why Sora would ever stand in a conversation is because she needed to leave, or she intended to carry out her threats, and in this case, it was the latter.

Five minutes later, Shikamaru was wishing he hadn't tested Sora's patience like that.
"Hurry up Shikamaru, you're moving too slow! Come on, up the chakra you lazy bum!"

Shikamaru's breaths were now short and ragged, because even though Sora's nature was lazy, she could be a seriously hard trainer if needed. Currently, Shikamaru was trying to deflect her constant onslaught of attacks by using only his chakra. She had taught him quickly on how to gather all his chakra into one area and keep it stable, and even though he seemed to have a natural ability, after 50 or so of her chakra attacks, he was beginning to slow.

Sora POV

"Nope, that's too weak." I punched through his defense, and landed a hard blow to his chest, sending him flying backwards into a bush.
"...oops..?" I muttered under your breath while racing over to help him up, "What have we learned Shikamaru..?"
The teenager let out a strained cough and then replied with a raspy voice, "Al-Alright.. won't do that again..."
"Very good!" I exclaimed happily, and heaved him up from under the bush, "Sorry I hit you so hard.. You were just doing so well I thought I could up it a little... here, I can heal that.." Shikamaru's arms were all a deep purple from bruises, and his hands looked burned from the intensity of the short training. Now I wasn't exactly a professional healer like some of my friends, but I could do enough to keep others from dying.

Normal POV

Sora took his hands gently, closed her eyes, and concentrated all her chakra into her mouth; next she blew lightly across his arms, sending shivers up his spine. Her breath was like an icy winter wind, and even though it felt strange at first, Shikamaru relaxed and all the pain went away.
"There you go.. all better... I've gotta go now, but if Asuma-sensei sees you, just tell him I trained you. I believe he'll understand." Shikamaru nodded weakly and then plopped down on the ground, his eyes closed instantly and he looked extremely tired.

Sora straightened out and started heading towards the ramen store to meet Iruka; it was so much fun talking with people-- ...er... On her mission, she wasn't supposed to speak with people unless it was called for, and even when Sora did, she were supposed to treat them as an enemy, not someone that she could trust. So being back in the village was doing wonders for her trust issues.

"Hey Sora! Over here!" Sora glanced up and saw Iruka sitting at the bar with a bowl of ramen in front of him and another bowl of ramen next to him. She grinned and waved back at him, "Hey Iruka! How did it go at the academy? Konohamaru start any trouble again?" Iruka let out a chuckle and motioned for her to sit next to him.
"Well.. you know Konohamaru, he's always starting trouble, heck he's almost as bad as Naruto!"
"Almost?" They both let out a good laugh and started to eat the ramen in front of them.
"So why did the Third call for you?"
"Hm? Oh.. he wanted to know whether I'd like to help with the Chuuin examination, or with the festival.."
"So which one are you going to do?" Sora took another slurp of noodles and then answered him pleasantly, "I have absolutely no idea!"
"No idea?! But you have to choose soon, since the examination is starting in three days, and the festival is in a week!"
".. yeah I know.. but it's such a difficult decision!"
"Good point.."

Iruka POV

Sora continued eating her ramen, but I had long since finished my, so I watched her gulp down the noodles faster than anyone I had ever seen. '.. with the exception of Naruto of course..' I added as a silent thought. Sora finally finished with the noodles and pushed it aside, "So, are you going to the festival?"

My cheeks tinted at her question and I nodded slowly, causing Sora to grin, her womanly instincts kicking in. "Oh you dog.. with who?!!"
"... WHAT?! No! Wh-why do you think that?!" I stuttered out, as she raised her eyebrow elegantly at my question,
"I'm not stupid you know.. pft, all men are alike, you ask them a question and all they can do is blush..."
"Hey! You blush too!"
"Name one instance where I've blushed Iruka."

There was a good minute of silence until I finally let out a defeated sigh, "Okay, so I'll admit I've never seen you blush, but I'm sure you have.. you're just too embarrassed to admit it!"
".. you wound me deeply Iruka!" Sora grabbed her heart and put on a fake wounded look. I grinned and placed some money down on the bar before standing up and offering my arm to Sora in a joking manner, "If you're so curious about who I' going with, why don't you come along to the festival?"

Sora POV

I grinned and hooked my arm in his and put on a princess pout, with an accent to boot, "Very well then, you may accompany me back to the Third!"
"It would be my honor." Iruka bowed and allowed me to walk out first, and the second we both stepped outside, I broke out into an uncontrollable laughter.

Both Iruka and I made our way back to the Third, and of course I played jokes the entire time on the way there.
"Alright Sora, here we are. Now you go in there and tell the Third alright? I've gotta go help some of the trainees."
"Right, Ja ne Iruka!" I departed from Iruka and step into the Hokage's office.
"Ahh... Sora, you've returned already? This isn't like you.. usually you take far longer, be prudent with your decisions my child.." I nod gratefully and place the scroll labeled "Chuuin Examinations" back on his desk.

"Hokage-sama, I would appreciate it if you would allow me to assist with the festival.." The Third chuckled softly before taking the scroll and tucking it beneath his sash, "Somehow I knew you would choose that Sora.."
"Yes... arigatou.."
"Fine then, make sure you report to Kakashi later in the week, he's also been assigned to the festival."
"Yes sir."

Normal POV

Sora let out a huge sigh of relief and gaze happily into the sky; she was allowed to help with the festival.. Her!
".. Such an honor!!" She exclaim to herself, and then chuckle again. She couldn't stop herself from smiling; nothing was going to ruin her bad mood, nothing.

That's it!!!

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Ja ne!!! -Animealover