QUICK CREDITS: Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha and Tsunade, along with the series, belong to Masashi Kishimoto. Hana Uchiha is MY character, along with Hikaru and Niigata. Aibara and "Songbird" belong to midnight6606. Ringo Hyuga belongs to Sunsetfire of Shinobi Way.
Don't Wither, Don't Wilt ... chapter 3 - Shut Up, Songbird.
A/N: Enjoy the predictable conclusion to their first assignment.
----on with the story. xxxxx3!
"It's easy, Ringo-kun!" Hana whispered to him excitedly. These girls were so silly, and he knew just how to disappoint them. He glanced his pale eyes to the Uchiha brat, and saw how excited she was. Her amazing silver eyes were sparkling, and she was smiling.
Aibara giggled to the other side of him. He hated the way she always giggled, it was so annoying, "And we'll all pass!" White Hair Wonder finished, and the two girls stood back, looking pleased with themselves. Well, he'd take no part in this. Ringo stood up and instantly began walking away.
"Yeah right, no deal," He said simply, and immediately headed for the training grounds. It was nearly noon, and he didn't want to be late. Why was he not surprised to see little miss Uchiha stop him? Her hand grabbed him by the shoulder, and stopped him with a force he didn't think could come from the shrimp. He let his pale eyes linger down to the Uchiha. She looked pissed - joy.
"Excuse me? You think I'll let you just walk off?" Hana growled, her silver eyes held a wild anger. If she hadn't been so tiny, he might have been afraid. Ringo shrugged her off and took a few more steps.
"You're excused, and no, I didn't think that," Ringo spoke. Hana Uchiha did the unpredictable. If Ringo had known that she would resort to violence, he would have chosen his words more carefully. A leg was brought forcefully against the back of his knees, and he found himself flipped backward, in the dirt. Hana slammed a foot down on his chest, and glared at him.
"Do you know what the three of us are?" Hana spat at him angrily. Ringo had returned the unkind glare, but did not speak. She went on, "We're a team, and we're going to stick together, whether you give a rat's ass or not." Ringo tried to heave himself back up, but she just forced her foot down more, "You've made Aibara cry too, you bastard. Do you know how much effort she's put in here, just to stay in Konoha!" Hana yelled. They were talking about a sleepover earlier, Ringo remembered, they must've talked alot, and he guessed this had been one of the topics, "The second she fails, she goes back to her country as a failure! Do you really want to let that happen!?" Hana fell quiet after that. She was breathing heavily after all the yelling, stupid girl. The sound of sobbing filled the air, Ringo felt a pang of guilt, but kept his cool.
Hana took a deep breath, and stepped back. Ringo stared at her for a moment, and blinked in confusion when the girl held a hand out suddenly. The Hyuga took it, and got himself up into a sitting position easily. His chest hurt, and he guessed he'd have a bruise their later. He sighed, "You remember what she said, only one person passes, the other fails," Ringo muttered in a low voice, "If I help you, that means we all fail."
Hana shrugged, "Or it means we all pass," Her voice was soft now, Ringo noted. He was surprised to see Hana kneel down next to him, and place a hand on his shoulder sheepishly, "Come on Ringo-kun, all you have to do is help us, and we might all pass," Ringo stared at her as she spoke, but shook his head.
"Might," He echoed, "Or I could just do my share, finish, and pass on my own, for sure," Ringo spoke. Hana laughed at this, and sat back on her bottom.
"After yesterday, you really think you have the same amount of energy? It'll be harder today, for all of us. The only way we could possibly get three across is if we worked together," Hana spoke quietly. Aibara had finished her sob-fest, and had walked over to join them on the ground.
Ringo growled to himself, she was right. His muscles throbbed whenever he moved them the wrong way, "Well then just come over and help me on my station," He hissed through his teeth. Hana shook her head.
"Nope, I need you to come over to mine and Aibara's station," Hana spoke calmly.
"Why?"
"Well my theory is," Hana began. Ringo rolled his eyes, "That we're being judged on teamwork. It's not hard to tell that you really don't want to work with us - but if you went out of your way to work with us, well there'd be no question about it," The raven-haired girl explained with a smile.
Ringo glanced between the two girls once, and sighed, "So how are we going to do this again?"
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His crimson gaze washed over his surroundings. About fifty people lay around him, all covered in wounds, and moaning with pain. He sheathed his blade cautiously, as he checked once again for anyone who could still fight. Sharingon faded from his eyes slowly before he turned. The boy stepped off of the training field and to his teacher.
"They're all still alive Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru said with a touch of disappointment scraping his voice, "You're to soft," Sasuke ignored him as he stepped past him. He had no time for the lecture on merciless, it was starting to get old.
Sasuke stopped as he neared the institute where future test subjects were kept. He tilted his head one way, as if he were trying to hear something. Sure enough, that girl was singing again:
"Above the clouds where dusk approaches
The hawk that is always flying by itself
Is certainly sad, right?
Within the wind where voices ceased
Its wings that grasp the sky
Cannot rest
What will I compare my heart to?
This heart that is like the hawk
What will I compare my heart to?
The sorrow that seems to dance in the sky
In the rocks shade where rain drizzles
The flowers that are always blooming so small
Are certainly in pain, right?
Within the rain where their colors grew hazy
There isn't a hand that adores
The light-pink petals
What will I compare my heart to?
This heart that is like the flowers
What will I compare my heart to?
The pain beaten upon by the rain
On the wilderness trail where not a soul exists
You who are walking along side me
Are certainly sad, right?
We are people who go together
Through the prairie where insects drone
But we ceased to talk
What will I compare my heart to?
This heart of going by myself
What will I compare my heart to?
The loneliness of being all by myself."
Sasuke waited until she had stopped, and sighed. For the past five days, since she had been brought in, she wouldn't stop singing. He had listened for her, waiting to hear her sing. It seemed that every time the sun reached the tiny windows atop the cement building, that she would sing. Sasuke clenched his fists, it was annoying.
The Uchiha veered from his regular path, and toward the institute. He had never been in here, and if the girl hadn't still been singing, he would have gotten lost. The door leading to the cells was made out of cement, and difficult to open, but he managed it anyways.
There was a rush of whispers running through the near-pitch black hallway. The sound of dripping water echoed off the walls, and the air smelled stale. Still, this girl sang, while the others stayed quiet. He walked to her cell slowly, and turned toward the girl.
The sun that showed through only once a day lit up her cell completely. He could see the blood on the walls around her, though he doubted it was her's. The girl looked young, and he thought of his sister immediately. He thought briefly of how she might look now, after nearly two years, but did not stay on this thought for to long. Her body didn't match the age her face suggested, so he guessed that she'd be around his age. Her hair was messy, but a firm and warm brown color, along with her eyes.
She had stopped singing, and stared at him now. The girl made no signs that she would speak, but he saw her shift, as if to get a better view. The corner of his lips twitched with an idea, and he moved his hand to the hilt of his sword. She stopped moving, but showed no fear. Sasuke tilted his head.
"What do you think of your own voice, Songbird?" Sasuke asked with a cold voice.
"Her voice heals!" One man spoke suddenly. He seemed more confident then a normal test subject should sound.
Another person, this time a scratchy-voiced kid spoke, "It brings my hope that I'll go home one day!" Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the girl. What would Orochimaru think of this?
"Well?" Sasuke asked again.
The girl smiled, and leaned forward, "It's my escape from this hell," She whispered quietly, though the whole cell could hear it echo.
Sasuke unsheathed his blade, and brought it to the girls neck suddenly. She did not move as the blade brushed her fair skin, but merely stared at him, "Well it's making my ears bleed," Sasuke hissed through his teeth, "So if you could kindly realize that there is no escape from hell, I would very much appreciate that." There was absolute silence after he spoke, and he sheathed his blade once more.
He stepped back, turned, and made his way for the door, closing it behind him. Sasuke walked out of the institute, and back toward his quarters. But he stopped again, and heard her repeating an earlier verse:
"...On the wilderness trail where not a soul exists
You who are walking along side me
Are certainly sad, right?
We are people who go together
Through the prairie where insects drone
But we ceased to talk..."
Sasuke clenched his fists, and continued to walk.
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"That's it!" Aibara cried victoriously, and collapsed at the base of the large boulder. Hana plopped herself down right next to her. Ringo just fell backwards, and lied on his back with a big sigh. Hana laughed slightly. They had managed to bring three boulders across the finish line, together.
The team looked up at their sensei, who had walked up to them swiftly. Her face was emotionless, and her arms were crossed around her chest. She didn't look to happy, and Hana found her heart miss a beat. What if they didn't pass?
"Just tell us!" Ringo barked with as much volume as he could muster up. Hana couldn't blame him for being impatient.
She smiled thoughtfully, after a moment, and spoke, "You all fail," Niigata spoke. Aibara grabbed Hana's hand at that moment, along with Ringo's. The Hyuga looked shocked, and then shot a glare at Hana.
"Why?" Hana choked out. Her voice was barely audible. The jounin turned her cold gaze on Hana, and stared at her without speaking, "Niigata-sensei, why!?"
Niigata shook her head, "Hana Uchiha, you gave up on the first day, you failed there and then," She snapped. Hana winced at this, because she knew it was true, "Yes, you're theory was correct. Maybe if you had thought of it earlier, I would have passed all of you. Shinobi must think on your feet, you won't always have another twenty-four hours to change your strategy," Hana felt her throat tighten. What a failure she had turned out to be.
"Ringo Hyuga, you hesitated to much," Niigata turned on the boy, who wouldn't meet her gaze, "The only reason you worked with the girls today was because it was the only possible way you could pass. I know how much you dislike the Uchiha. How can I trust you'd go out of your way to help her, even if it didn't benefit yourself?" Ringo opened his mouth to say something, but sensei was already speaking to Aibara.
"Stop your balling!" Niigata yelled, making the girl flinch, "You were one of the brightest and strongest kids of your class, it's your fault you didn't speak up earlier! I could tell you had some plans, but you didn't voice them," Aibara shuddered at these words. Hana and Ringo glanced at each other, and then at Aibara.
"What do you have to say for yourselves?"
Aibara was the one to speak, which surprised Hana, "We know now, Sensei!" Niigata shook her head as the girl spoke, "We know we need to work together now! We won't make the mistake again! Just please pass us!"
"Okinawa, Aibara, you've failed. It's been decided-"
"No, it hasn't been decided, Niigata, Akeko," The voice sounded familiar, in some ways, though Hana couldn't put a finger on it. But it was obvious when a big-chested blond had stepped out from the nearby brush.
"Mi'Lady!" Niigata said with surprise. The three genin glanced at each other with a look of confusion touching their face. Why was the Hokage here?
"Niigata-san, this is very cruel of you," Tsunade glanced around, "You give them two days for this assignment, and they do what you ask them to do," She put her hands on her hip, and shot a questioning gaze at the jounin, "Why didn't you pass them?"
"They should have accomplished them on the first day-"
"Then why didn't you fail them then?"
Niigata was silent on this. Tsunade turned to the three genin and smiled.
"Congratulations, Squad 5, you've passed!"
Hana found Aibara's arms around her. The Uchiha girl laughed, and hugged back excitedly. Ringo reared up behind him, and wrapped his arms around both of them, "You're just lucky this is worth a group hug!" Ringo laughed. Hana smiled, and took note to enjoy this moment with her team.
A/N: The lyrics above belong to Aoi Teshima.
QUICK BIO: Ringo Hyuga
Birthday: December 8
Element: Wind
Family: Honestly, to many to count.
Appearance: Shoulder-length shaggy dark brown hair and Hyuga eyes. He's got some very sexy muscles on him, and has a slight tan.
Clothing: A dark gray - black tank, with a fishnet t-shirt wears regular shinobi pants, that you see most Chuunin wearing.
Guess What?: Ringo isn't my character, he's actually my friend Sunset's character. His name doesn't actually mean "apple", according to Sunnyboo, it can also mean "peace be with you" - and since he originally was an Akatsuki member, she thought it was a pretty funny name. In the original plot, Hana had the five-tailed demon in her, and these two actually met when Ringo captured Hana. Aibara, Hana, and Ringo were never teammates, until the original owner of the forum we role-played all of this on decided to start the plot over, and we got to change some things. This is when Aibara, "Songbird" and Hikaru came into the picture. Hana's original teammates used to be Akira ( mentioned in chapter 1 ) and a handsome boy named Kagamori ( who was RPed by our forum's original owner, but she left ages ago... so... ).