The first time around I submitted the wrong chapter! Thank you Eyes of Lunacy for poitning that out, and for the wonderful review!
Part three (correctly submitted this time) of my story!
Chapter III: The Test
At 5:00 the next morning, Yumi's alarm clock rang shrilly, the sound cutting through the air. A hand smashed the off button, and Yumi sleepily sat up, rubbing her tired sky-blue eyes. Groggily, she began her usual morning routine, brushing her raven hair up into a tight bun, placing a cloth over it, and securing it with a dark-blue ribbon. She pulled on her ninja fishnet, and slipped into her kimono-like, buckling a blue belt over it, and tucking a triangular cloth with her clan's symbol around the edges. She tugged on her capris and gloves, lastly slipping into her ninja sandals and tying her forehead protector on. After making sure all of her weapons and tools were in place, she trudged out the door and into the kitchen.
Her footsteps echoed across the empty apartment as she made her usual breakfast of toast and eggs, and, because she had a feeling that her teammates didn't take her advice, she toasted several extra pieces of bread and tossed it into a bag. Yumi walked out the door, barely stopping to close it behind her as she headed towards the training grounds.
It was around 6:00 by the time she got there, and her team greeted her—with growling stomachs. Yumi laughed, the melodious sound drifting across the field.
"You didn't eat breakfast did you?" she gasped out through her laughter, already knowing the obvious answer.
They stared up at her defiantly, and sent Yumi into another fit of laughter as they glared at her.
"Don't worry!" she assured them cheerfully, "I, being the great teammate that I am, brought toast for all of you!"
"Yay!" Naruto yelled happily, his stomach grumbling.
Yumi smiled, reached into her bag and pulled out several pieces of toast, which Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto eyed hungrily. She tossed them out to her teammates, and watched, amused, as they gobbled down the food. "Hey, hey!" she chuckled, "There's plenty more in the bag, if you're still hungry! No need to eat so fast!"
Smiling, she brought out some dango from the bottom of the bag, and bit into the sweet food as she sighed contentedly and looked up at the blue sky.
Several minutes later, Yumi peered inside the empty bag.
"Geez guys," she said, shaking her head, "When I said you could eat all you want, I didn't really think you would finish all thirty pieces of toast! God, you must have been hungry!"
After about an hour of waiting, Naruto yelled, "WHERE IS OUR STUPID SENSEI!?"
"He's over an hour late!" Sakura agreed angrily.
"I think he's sleeping…" Yumi answered uncaringly.
"Huh?' Naruto and Sakura looked at her in surprise, "How do you know?"
Yumi shrugged. "Dunno, it just seems kinda obvious, doesn't it?" Sasuke smirked again upon hearing Yumi's response. "Well, I think I'll follow his example and do the same," Yumi continued, yawning. "'Night, team," and with that she promptly fell asleep.
Sasuke almost laughed out loud, but, regaining his cool composure, swallowed it and the laugh died in his stomach. He looked at her calm face, a stray raven hair gently blowing across it. She was beautiful... then, upon realizing what he had just thought, he mentally smacked himself, and resumed his angry staring into space, although occasionally sparing Yumi a glance now and then…just to make sure she was OK, he assured himself.
At around 11:00, when the sun was almost overhead, Kakashi appeared, abruptly waking up Yumi from her peaceful slumber, as he said cheerfully, "Good morning team!"
"YOU'RE LATE!" Sakura and Naruto yelled furiously at their sensei.
"I've set the alarm to go off at noon." He continued, ignoring them "I have here two small bells. Your challenge is to steal these from me before the timer sounds. Anyone who fails...doesn't get lunch! Instead, you will be tied to that tree stump, so I can eat your lunch in front of you." As if on cue, Naruto's, Sakura's, and Sasuke's stomachs all growled simultaneously, as if they hadn't eaten in days. Yumi just sighed exasperatedly. They just had about 10 pieces of toast apiece! She thought, frustrated, You would think that would hold them over for more than a few hours! "All you need is just one bell...apiece." Kakashi said, "But since there aren't enough to go around, two of you are definitely headed for the stump. And whoever those two are will be the first to fail! Two of you are on your way back to school...and disgrace. You may, if you choose, use weapons. Attack as though you mean to kill or you'll never stand a chance."
"But...but sensei you'll be in danger!" Sakura protested in panic.
"You couldn't even dodge an eraser!" Naruto accused. "You're gonna get yourself killed!"
"Only the weak speak loudly." Kakashi stated. "Now, let's forget the dunce, and we'll start on my signal!" The word "dunce" rang loudly in Naruto's head. Furious with their sensei, he grabbed a kunai and got ready to attack. Quick as a flash, so quick they didn't even see him move, Kakashi appeared behind Naruto, grabbed his kunai hand, and placed it behind Naruto's neck, the pointed surface almost touching the exposed skin. "No so fast. I didn't say 'go'...but at least you struck to kill…so, it seems you've begun to respect me. Heh-heh-heh..." he chuckled, "Maybe...just maybe...I'm starting to like you four. And now...ready...get set... GO!"
Yumi, Sasuke, and Sakura concealed themselves behind the forest, staring at the immobile Kakashi, and each trying to think up of a battle plan.
The basis of all shinobi arts is to become invisible…eradicate yourself…Kakashi thought. All four of them are well hidden…
"It's time for the match to begin!" Naruto announced confidently, facing Kakashi and pointing at him. "Let's make it a real match, worthy of the greatest warrior!"
"You may be thinking of the wrong kind of match…" Kakashi muttered.
Sasuke looked at Naruto, and muttered, "Idiot,"
"Come now, is he really as bad as that?" Yumi whispered, suddenly appearing behind him. Sasuke jumped in surprise.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke hissed.
"Shouldn't we help, Naruto?" Yumi asked, ignoring Sasuke's question, and watching as Kakashi pulled out his book, Make-Out Paradise.
"Why should we help him?" Sasuke asked stubbornly, "He got himself into this mess."
"So, you're not going to help him?" Yumi looked at Sasuke in disgust. "You disappoint me. I can't believe you wouldn't even help a teammate. Well…" she sighed, "I can't say I expected more for someone who only cares about himself. I bet you don't even care If Naruto gets hurt or not! Your own comrade!" Yumi stood up, still staring at Sasuke in cold disappointment, and he felt shivers go up his spine as he looked into her icy eyes. "One question," she whispered, so softly he had to strain to hear it, "you don't have to answer it though. Would you help me if I needed it?" With that, she sprinted off, racing through the trees at an incredible speed.
Sasuke watched Yumi leave until he could no longer sense her chakra. He silently turned back to watching Kakashi and Naruto.
"Would you help me if I needed it?" That question was still ringing in his head as Sasuke tried to answer it. Of course I would! Wait! Why did I think that!? he mused. Well, now that I think about it, she's the closest thing to a friend that I've ever had…
Sasuke's thoughts were interrupted as he spotted eight distinct bodies of Naruto leap out of the water. His eyes widened as another Naruto came from behind Kakashi and grabbed him. As one of the clones came at Kakashi, fists clenched and ready to punch, he saw a blur appear before Kakashi. As he looked closer, he realized that Yumi had blocked Naruto's punch with a metal-plated fan.
"Nice tactic Naruto," Yumi complimented, "But look," she gestured to where Kakashi previously was, and where Naruto's clone was now. "He used the art of substitution! If I hadn't blocked your punch, you would have only punched yourself!"
Naruto looked at her, dumbstruck, and then pointed at her accusingly, "You're Kakashi-sensei aren't you!"
Yumi looked at him in disbelief. "No I'm not, Naruto! Kakashi fled and he's in the forest somewhere!"
Suddenly, one of the clones came at Yumi, ready to punch. She blocked him once again with her fan, and screamed, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING! I'M NOT KAKASHI SO DON'T GO ATTACKING ME!" but to no avail. All of the clones came at her, ready to attack, "OH I GIVE UP!" she yelled exasperatedly as she blocked more flying hands and sprinted off, leaving all of the clones behind.
Sasuke shook his head, That baka.
Yumi sprinted through the trees, fuming, and trying to get as far away from Naruto as possible, when a shrill scream broke the silence.
Sakura! Yumi rushed through the forest, and after a few seconds, sensed Sakura's presence. She pulled back some branches to find Sakura, who had fainted with foam coming out of her mouth. Yumi almost laughed at Sakura's ridiculous position, but stifled it just in time; she didn't want Kakashi to hear. She bent over Sakura and lifted her up, grunting a bit at how heavy she was
How does such a skinny girl weigh so much!? She asked herself, before lugging Sakura away to a clearing. Suddenly, she felt a great explosion of chakra just in front of her. She peered through the brush to find Sasuke using an incredible fire jutsu. Yumi stared in admiration at the huge flames, but spotted Kakashi's hands slip out of the ground and latch onto Sasuke's ankles before yanking him down. Concealing her chakra, she silently listed to what Kakashi was telling Sasuke.
"Shinobi battle technique, lesson number three—ninjutsu…but at least, as you predicted, your performance was head and shoulders above that of your companions, except maybe for Yumi. Oh, well! You know what they say! The nail that sticks up is the one that gets hammered down, right? Heh-heh-heh…" Kakashi snickered and vanished in a poof of smoke.
"CRAP!" Sasuke muttered angrily.
After no longer sensing Kakashi's presence, Yumi stepped through the bushes and walked in front of Sasuke.
"Need help?" she smirked at him as she set Sakura down.
He looked up at her more in surprise then annoyance. Sakura stirred, and both of their attentions were brought on her. She drowsily opened her eyes, but upon seeing Sasuke, she quickly sat up and screamed, "EEEYAAGH! IT'S SASUKE'S HEAD…IT'S BEEN SEVERED!"
Yumi started laughing as Sakura fainted once again.
"Stupid girl," Sasuke muttered. Upon hearing him, Yumi just laughed harder.
After listening to her laugh for several more seconds, he said loudly, "Um…little help here maybe?"
"Ah, sumimasen!" she apologized through chuckles. Yumi reached down and yanked hard on Sasuke's head, pulling him out of the ground
"AUGH!" he yelled in pain.
"Gomen Sasuke, but it's your fault for getting trapped!"
Sakura moaned, and Yumi and Sasuke both glanced over at her. Sakura opened her eyes, and upon seeing Sasuke, his head firmly on his shoulders, hugged him in a flash, her arms crushing his ribs in a vice-like grip. Yumi tried her best to stifle her laughter as Sasuke glared at her, but to no avail. She just laughed harder as Sasuke attempted to push off Sakura, saying loudly, "Yeah…fine…ok…YOU CAN LET GO NOW!" Sakura reluctantly released her hold on Sasuke, as he massaged his aching ribs and stood up. "Time's running out. It's almost noon. I'm off."
"Sasuke—" Sakura began tentatively, "do you honestly believe you can get one of those bells?"
"I got close enough to touch them…this time I'll take them." He replied calmly, shrugging his shoulders.
"WHAT! Really! Wow…you're so amazing…" Sakura smiled in awe. "Uh…I mean…there's no more time and…even if we couldn't manage it this time…I'm sure next time, if we give it our all…" Sakura trailed off as Sasuke glared at her.
"Only I can kill him," Sasuke said softly, lost in a memory.
"Who?" Sakura asked cluelessly, "You mean…Kakashi-sensei?"
"He made me… cry…"
"You cried…? What… What are you talking about…?"
Sakura, Yumi fumed, Get a clue and SHUT UP!
"My only goal is to have my revenge. I have to become stronger than he is…now." A ring was heard in the distance. "Oh…crap! I should have saved my breath."
Three boxed lunches were set in front of the group ten minutes later. Sakura, Sasuke, and Yumi all sitting around the stump where Naruto was tied up. Everyone's stomach growled, except for Yumi. Yumi really didn't need to eat much, and her big breakfast would hold her off until dark.
"Oh my. Listen to all the little stomachs growl!" Kakashi teased, "By the way, you four…I have an announcement about this exercise. None of you need to worry any more about being sent back to the ninja academy," Kakashi said looking at Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura.
"YEAH!" Naruto said excitedly.
"Even me? After the way I fainted! We all passed?" Sakura asked in wonder.
Even Sasuke smirked, if only just a little. "Hmm…"
"THIS ROCKS! IT MEANS ALL FOUR OF US…" Naruto bounced up and down in excitement and Sakura squealed, while Sasuke just sat there smirking.
"…are hopeless." Kakashi finished. "More schooling would be pointless. NONE OF YOU WILL EVER BE SHINOBI!"
Naruto stopped mid-bounce, and his and Sakura's and Sasuke's faces looked crushed.
Yumi stared Kakashi suspiciously; Something does not feel right…
So, once again, reveiw please! Ask me any questions you want, and give me LOTS AND LOTS OF CONTRUCTIVE CRTISIM! Or just a comment. I don't care. Just...REVIEW!