Bonds of friendship tested
Haruto always wanted to be a Black Ops ninja. She took the test and passed with the highest grade in the village history. She quickly flew through the lessons; soon she would be ready to take the final exam. Gaara had a mixed reaction to this; he was glad that she was excelling in her class, but he was starting to get lonely. She rarely came to see him at all.
"Hey, Gaara! Long time, no see!" said Haruto cheerfully.
"Hey Haru, how's it going?" he replied.
"It's okay. So what's be going on?"
"Not much. What've you been doing?"
"Been bored out of my mind with all the idiots around."
"Name one," joked Gaara. (Please note that one of their favorite jokes is the next line!)
"Your older brother Kankuro." Haruto said; they both burst out laughing.
The two talked for hours, catching up with what had happened. They went home, in better moods than usual. A week later, Haruto got some news that left her thrilled! She would be allowed to take the final exam a year early; which meant that she could become a Black Ops ninja. She would be the youngest member in the village history.
"Well, little Kazehana, it seems you're about to receive your first mission as a Black Ops," said her teacher.
"I can't wait!" said Haruto.
"Miss Kazehana?"
"That's me," said Haruto.
"Are you prepared to receive your first official mission?"
"As prepared as I'll ever be," replied Haruto.
"Very well. Your mission is to assassinate a dangerous monster."
"What's the name?" asked Haruto, serious.
"His name is Gaara; he has the Shukaku sealed within him. You must eliminate him at all costs," said the Black Ops Leader.
"Gaara?! You've got to be kidding!" said Haruto in horror.
"This is no joke, Ms. Kazehana. Your target is the boy named Gaara, and he must be killed at all costs."
"I-I can't!"
"What is the problem, Ms. Kazehana?"
"Gaara is my friend! I can't kill my friend!" protested Haruto in anger.
"You refuse to accept your mission? Doing so will result in failure of the final exam," said the captain.
"I don't care!"
"You may leave," he said coldly.
Haruto left the room, furious and upset. She walked randomly, barely even registering the presence of her fellow villagers. She bumped into someone, and mumbled an emotionless apology.
"Watch where you're going next time!" said the girl. Haruto looked up and realized it was Gaara's older sister, Temari.
"I'm really sorry about that, Temari."
"Its okay, Haru. Just watch where you're walking."
"I guess I spaced out for a minute there," Haruto said with a laugh.
"What happened?"
"I had a chance to do the Black Ops exam early and failed."
"How come?"
"The final exam is where you go on your first official mission as a Black Ops. The thing is, the mission they gave me was something I could never do," said Haruto.
"What?"
"They said I'd have to kill Gaara."
"No wonder you flunked."
"Who assigns the missions anyway?! Everyone knows Gaara is my best friend!"
"Apparently the Black Ops haven't. Why don't you come over to my house tonight? I could use some help dealing with Kankuro."
"Are you offering to let me take out my frustration on your brother?" asked Haruto evilly.
"Maybe I am…" laughed Temari.
"I'm in!"
"Temari! Why'd ya bring HER here?!" whined Kankuro. (Haruto has a nasty habit or tormenting him whenever she gets the chance!)
"She had a bad day," replied Temari.
"How bad?"
"I failed the final exam for the Black Ops."
"How the hell did you fail?! You skipped nearly half the courses!"
"The final exam is where you had to complete an official Black Ops mission."
"I repeat, how the hell did you fail?!"
"My mission was to kill Gaara."
"I don't think I need to repeat my last question."
"Gaara is her friend, moron," said Temari irritably.
"I still don't get why she's even his friend!" retorted Kankuro.
"Temari, can I borrow your fan?" asked Haruto coldly. She handed her fan over; Haruto promptly whacks Kankuro hard on the head!
"OWW!!"
"Serves you right," snorted Haruto. Kankuro leaves the room and mumbles swear words as he walks. The two girls laugh evilly at his annoyance. Haruto stayed for dinner and the night before she went back to her training. Her teacher was surprised to see her; he thought she'd be a Black Ops member by now!
"What happened?"
"I flunked. The mission they wanted me to do was impossible."
"What was it?"
"They wanted me to kill my best friend, which is something I could never do, even if it meant I would fail the test."
"You do know that this means you'll have to wait a year before you'll get another chance."
"I don't care. Gaara is my friend, and I'll never betray him like that!"
"Gaara?! You mean the boy with the Shukaku inside him?!" said her teacher in shock.
"Why does everyone act like that whenever I tell them Gaara is my best friend?!" grumbled Haruto.
"Sorry, it's just that I didn't expect to hear that," her sensei apologized.
"Out of curiosity, who assigns the missions anyway?"
"The Kazekage of course. Who else did you think it was?"
"The Kazekage?! That fool just gave me another reason to hate him!" said Haruto angrily.
A man approached them as Haruto and her teacher talked. He said, "Ms. Kazehana?"
"What now?"
"You're ordered to come with me. It seems there was a mix-up with your final exam."
"I wasn't aware that someone else was taking it yesterday…"
"Another Black Ops member was supposed to receive that mission. Your mission is awaiting you with the captain."
"I'll see you later, Haruto."
"Goodbye, sensei. I enjoyed all of your classes immensely."
"I apologize for the mix-up, Ms. Kazehana. Your real mission is infiltrating."
"What is the target?"
"The Hidden Mist village. Your mission is to enter the ninja academy and report back. Can you handle this?"
"Hai."
"You are to stay there until the Chuunin Exam. Under no circumstances are you to reveal your mission objective. Is this understood?"
"Hai. I have only one question. Which Chuunin Exam are you referring to? It's held in a different village every year."
"You are to await further orders until it is held in two years."
"In other words, I have to stay there for 2 years."
"Correct. Can you handle this mission?"
"Hai."
"Very well. I shall speak with you in four years. Follow the ninja outside for your gear."
"Hey Haruto! Are you going somewhere?" asked Gaara.
"The village Hidden in the Mist. I'm to stay there until the Chuunin Exams are held 2 years from now."
"What! Why?!"
"It was either that or I do the mission I was assigned by accident."
"What was the other?"
"I had to…kill you. I refused it so they flunked me. Then they come back and say it was a mix-up!"
"I see… so how will I get ahold of you?" asked Gaara finally.
"You won't. If you try to contact me, my mission may be compromised. Don't worry Gaara! This will be a cinch! I'll be back before you know it!"
"Good luck, Haru…" said Gaara as she left the village. She heard him and turned with a grin; she waved and that was the last Gaara saw of her for two years.
Two years came and went. When the genin who left for the Exams returned, a certain blond-haired, blue-eyed girl was among them. Her eyes lit up when she entered the village.
"Man, it's good to be home!" she said happily. She immediately headed to the Black Ops station; when she went in, the captain looked at her and said, "Well done, Kazehana-san. You are now an official Black Ops shinobi.""Thank you," replied Haruto.
"If you come with me, I'll take you to receive your mask."
A masked figure hid in the shadows; Gaara's Sand sensed their presence and prepared to attack. But the figure didn't strike; he just sat there, waiting for Gaara to acknowledge his presence. Finally, Gaara growled, "Show yourself!"
"Took ya long enough."
"Who's there?!"
"Take a wild guess," retorted the figure. He was working Gaara's patience. The Sand rose up and struck at the figure who evaded the attack easily. Gaara felt the smirk behind the mask and that annoyed him to no end. The Sand struck at the figure countless times, never hitting the mark. Gaara was surprised; since when do assassins hide but not strike, even in defense?! Something wasn't right…
"You haven't changed Gaara," laughed the figure.
"Who are you?"
"You know who I am. Quit acting already!"
"Haru?"
The figure stayed still and removed his mask, revealing a grinning Haruto! She laughed at his shock.
"I was wondering when ya would figure it out!"
"Why didn't you just come out and say something?!" grumbled Gaara. The Sand stopped attacking, but it didn't return to the gourd.
"And spoil the fun? You know me better than that!" she laughed. Gaara smiled for the first time in two years.
"So how've you been?" she asked.
"Lonely."
"You missed me, didn't you?"
"You have no idea."
"Come on, dinner's on me!" she grinned. They caught up with what had happened since she left. She wasn't surprised that Gaara was a Genin. She was surprised to find out that he and his older siblings were together on the same team! She stayed the night with him, happy to be around him again.
"Haruto Kazehana?" said the shinobi.
"Speaking."
"The Captain wishes to speak with you."
"I'm coming," said Haruto. She went with him and met up with the captain.
"Kazehana, it appears that even though you passed the Black Ops exam, you need to pass the official exam. You will not receive any more missions until you become a Genin and participate in the Chuunin Exams at least once."
"Will I get to choose which team I'll be on?"
"We'll discuss that after you pass the exam."
"Hai."
She passed the exam with ease, and went back to the captain. After a quick discussion, she was put on the same team as Gaara, Temari and (much too both their dismay) Kankuro. She went on missions with Gaara and the others, and waited until the Chuunin Exams approached yet again. What would happen next would change her life forever.