Stand By Me

Chapter 3 - The Test

Excitement filled Nabiki's entire being that sleeping the night prior was a hard task. She was too busy thinking about the training the next day to get any sleep. Sure, she was able to doze off for an hour or two here and there but it wasn't fulfilling. She had eventually decided to just get up in the early morning and make herself something to eat. She knew that Kakashi had mentioned something about not eating, but breakfast was one of her favorite meals of the day. It gave her all the energy she needed and the last thing she wanted was to be dozing off during training.

What excited her even more was the fact that maybe, just maybe, these other teammates of hers would be open to being friends with Naruto. It was easy to tell how lonesome he was at times, but he seemed to know a lot of people at the same time. He seemed familiar enough with Sakura and Sasuke to bicker and joke with them, so maybe he could form a bond with them. It made her happy that perhaps the blonde could finally have someone else to talk to. Not that she minded it or anything, but she could assume how tiresome or boring it could be talking to the same person.

Her mornings were usually quiet, filled with cooking her breakfast and reading one of the few books she had brought with her. At some point, she had brought her cup of tea up to the roof of the apartment along with a blanket to watch the sunrise. It was soothing and it some ways melancholy to watch.

One day, I won't be able to watch the sunrise anymore. I wonder when that day comes…

Nabiki's own mortality was a subject she hated to openly discuss with anyone. It was one of those topics that she preferred to keep to herself since it was sore for her to talk about. After losing her parents, death became a growing concept in her mind. Sure, she had just joined the ranks of genin, but soon enough when she is promoted to jounin do things really dim for her. She would be allowed to accept requests and missions for escorts for high-ranking officials and truly put her life on the line. She hated it. Her brother knew she hated it and so did her parents…and yet only her brother understood. Jin was the only one who understood that Nabiki wanted something more than to just live for another. To dedicated her strength and skills to a complete stranger when she could be one of the greatest assets in any squad.

Maybe that was why Jin had practically forced her out of Omamori and sent to live here in Konoha. At least then she wouldn't be requested from the village and forced to train the way that her clan did. But Nabiki knew that her skills would soon evolve. She knew that her kekkei genkai would activate under highly stressful situations and should she will it, would kill her.

After all, her life for another was her entire family's pride and joy.

Kenshin (devotion,dedication), as her family called their kekkei genkai, was an ability that allowed a user to tether with single or multiple targets. Of course, the Ubashi clan were known for the final level of their KG, which allowed the user to be killed in place of the target. That's why her family was so intent on breeding many children and why they were sought after as protectors and guards for officials and other important figures. Nabiki, however, currently does not have the ability to use the final level of her Kenshin. According to her clan, one must undergo immense stress and go through a traumatic experience to unlock it, something that the young girl had not gone through yet. She currently has a full grasp of the first level of her KG, known as Setsuzoku, which allows her to connect with allies through her chakra and channel a buff to them both physically and mentally. The second level, Kyushu, is something she had just recently unlocked through rigorous training back at home before she left. Kyushu allows her to use the initial chakra link with her allies to absorb damage and pain dealt. Cuts, bruises and any sort of inflictions are immediately transferred to her through the second level. Any sense of exhaustion or fatigue is also transferred to her. Should she lose conscious or run out of chakra, the tethers to her allies are immediately broken. The final level, Kirikae, allows the user to perform the first two levels with the final act of giving up her own life in place of an ally.

Regardless of her family's pride and joy that was her KG, Nabiki still couldn't unlock its full potential within her.

As the sun began to make its slow ascent, Nabiki finally got ready and headed out to the training grounds, where she was to meet her other teammates. As she walked, she heard a voice behind her, calling her name.

"Oi! Nabikiiii!"

The girl turned, seeing Naruto who was barely getting his jacket on as he rushed over to her. A laugh escaped her as she gave a small wave and stopped to wait for him.

"Good morning, Naruto."

"Why didn't you wake me up!? We could've walked together!" He exclaimed, as Nabiki let out a nervous laugh.

"To be honest, I thought you would've left before I did."

"Huh!? No way! It's still dark, well, kind of, so I was sleeping in until my alarm went off…for the third time." He grinned, as Nabiki rolled her eyes.

"Well now I know. I'll wake you up next time we have to get up this early."

The two continued to chat along the way before they saw Sasuke and Sakura both waiting on the bridge that led towards the training grounds. As they approached, Nabiki looked around and questioned out loud.

"Where's Kakashi-sensei?"

"Not here yet. Should be here soon since dawn is coming." Sakura yawned as Nabiki furrowed her brows and nodded. And here she thought they were gonna be late or something.

LINEBREAAK

Time ticked on slowly. It went from idle conversations with Sakura and Naruto, to the two of them bickering, to Nabiki sitting down and leaning up against the railing. Sasuke was quiet for the most part but did voice his frustration after the second hour. Eventually, just as she began to doze off, did a poof of smoke startle the group.

"Ah, yo! Good morning."

"….Hah?"

"Yo?!" Naruto yelled, before going on a tirade. "Where the heck were you!? We've been waiting for almost four hours! The sun has been up and you said to meet here at dawn!"

"Yes yes…well I got sidetracked. Now I'm here. I hope you all are ready for today…no breakfast this morning, right?" He asked, as everyone nodded except for Nabiki who yawned as she walked. She didn't bring her staff today and decided that she might as well just work on her hand-to-hand skills and her ninjutsu. She was still learning after all and she couldn't depend on using a weapon all the time. Besides, she realized that none of her teammates seemed to wield a weapon either. Who knew what their specialties were, after all. She supposed that this would be a great chance to see them at work…well whenever they found out what the hell they were going to be doing.

Once they reached the training area, Kakashi had turned to face his students who seemed confused as to what to do next. Nabiki decided to be the one to break the silence as she raised her hand and asked,

"So…what exactly is our training going to be, sensei?"

Kakashi smiled, or at least that's what she thought she saw him do, as he explained simply to them,

"I have here three bells," he held his hand up and out from his palm dangled three silver bells, hanging off his fingers. "Obtain a bell from me and you pass. You may use what you feel is necessary."

"Tch, that should be easy!" Naruto scoffed at the task at hand, but Nabiki seemed skeptical. It sounded easy but this was a jounin they were going up against, not another peer. Still, this gave her a chance to see what the others were capable of in terms of their own skill and strength.

"Alright, shall we begin?"

Immediately, the four now genin scattered like leaves in the wind. Nabiki distanced herself for the time being. She waited not far off in one of the densities of the trees above, watching as Kakashi stood in the center of the clearing. He wasn't going to make the first move, or at least, that's what she noticed. In fact, he waited patiently until Naruto was the first to go in. He spouted some nonsense but his skills were sloppy. There were so many openings and Kakashi merely flung him into the depths of the trees across from her. Nabiki swallowed hard. Should she go next?

"Come now, you all should have better skills than this." He mocked them, forcing Sakura to come forth. However, instead of flinging her, Kakashi moved aside and performed hand gestures quickly. Suddenly, Sakura was going on about Sasuke and acting bashful about him. On her end, however, she saw that there was no one there.

"Genjutsu?" She muttered under her breath as Sasuke darted from his hiding spot. He was doing the same as she was and decided to head for Kakashi right on. The raven held his own fairly well, and though he was close to grabbing one of the bells, Kakashi evaded him with ease. It was at one point where Sasuke was about to strike once more but not before Sakura had randomly yelled out,

"Sasuke watch out!"

Throwing Sasuke off gave Kakashi an opening to push him aside, forcing him to slam against Sakura who then was broken out of her genjutsu.

"This is bad…we aren't even that close!" Nabiki hissed, as she calmed her breathing and heard the yelling of Naruto in the distance as he rushed in again. "Now's the chance!"

Just as Naruto burst from the bushes, Nabiki had launched herself forward from the opposite side, flanking Kakashi as she performed a shadow clone that threw itself in front, attacking with Naruto.

Just in that instance, the bell rang and Nabiki managed to pull it off his belt before rolling to the side. "N-No way!" She said happily as she looked over to Naruto, eager to see his reaction.

"I got one!"

Naruto, filled with the motivation to fight harder, smiled before he attacked Kakashi once more this time with his clones, but it was still no use. Even her own clones didn't stand a chance. Nabiki looked to Sasuke and Sakura who were getting back up and shouted, "Attack him all at once! He can't defend against everyone!" The blue haired girl suggested, as she shoved the bell into her pocket and decided to lunge forward. Just because she had a bell didn't mean she couldn't help the others!

Everyone breathed heavily, laying or sitting on the grass as they had finally concluded the training. Kakashi clapped his hands together, applauding his students as he nodded before passing out small bentos.

"Congratulations to the ones who managed to get a bell. You have passed my exams and in turn, your reward is breakfast! However, before we do that…Naruto." Kakashi had went ahead and tied up the blonde against a wooden post before he explained to the rest of the team.

"Since Naruto did not get a bell, he will not get food. You all get a break so eat up. I'm going to be right back to get things for another part of your training…in the meantime…do not feed him. If any of you are caught giving food to him, you will fail as well and in turn, be sent BACK to the academy. Am I clear?"

Kakashi was not joking around as he stated his terms. Nabiki slowly nodded, as did Sasuke and Sakura who held their bentos tightly before looking over to Naruto. "Sorry Naruto…" Sakura said softly, as Kakashi nodded.

"Good. I'll be right back." He said, before he vanished in a puff of smoke.

There was an awkward silence that fell between everyone. It wasn't until Sakura chirped and said, "Well…we might as well eat. I am starving." She said as she started to eat her bento. Sasuke quietly followed and did the same while Nabiki simply stared at hers. Sure, she was hungry from working up an appetite, but she could probably hold off a little longer. Since she was right next to Naruto, she could hear his stomach growl practically in her ear.

"This isn't fair! I'm so hungry! Gah, sorry Nabi-chan! I didn't mean for my stomach to growl so loudly!" Naruto yelled, finally slumping against the stump in defeat. "Go ahead and eat, don't worry about me." The blonde said, clearly disappointed that he wasn't allowed to partake but did not want to burden Nabiki with his whining. The blue girl stared at the rice before she stood up and held out a piece for him.

"Huh?! Nabi-chan?"

"Shhh. Just eat it already. I ate earlier so I can hold off for a while longer…and I doubt you ate." She said quickly as she waited for him to take the bite.

"But you'll get in trouble—"

"I don't care about that! I'm not going to just eat while you're starving! It isn't right and if being sent back to the academy over not feeding my friend is what will happen, then fine!"

Naruto's eyes softened as he couldn't help but give her a smile and take the bite happily. "Thank you Nabi-chan!" The girl couldn't help but give smile, as she went to grab another bite for him before Sasuke offered up his bento suddenly.

"Here. You can have some of mine too so you don't eat all of hers." He was calm about it and didn't really seem to hesitate. If anything, he gave off an air of annoyance but knew that it was probably better to have the blonde with something in his stomach rather than nothing, especially if they were going to keep training.

"Uh…me too! Here, Naruto!" Sakura held her bento as well, and the blonde could practically drown them in tears as he was moved. "You guys..!" He sniffled, as Nabiki shook her head and started to feed him again but not before the booming voice loomed over.

"WHAT DID I JUST SAY!?"

The group of genin were startled, nearly dropping their food to the floor as Kakashi suddenly reappeared before them. His arms were crossed over his chest and it was clear that he was fuming.

"I specifically said for you all to NOT feed him and what did you do?!"

"I wasn't going to let him go hungry!" Nabiki defended, being the first to bark back at their sensei. "It wasn't right, training or not, to let him watch us all eat because of some dumb test! He was hungry and if we didn't do anything, he would've collapsed later or not have any strength to train!" Nabiki argued, while Sasuke simply agreed quietly. Sakura looked at Nabiki, rather taken aback by the girl's outburst but knew she was right and had a point.

"Nabiki is right, sensei! We just wanted to help him!"

"If you're going to fail someone, then it's going to be all of us." Sasuke said simply as Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

"Guys…" Naruto said softly. He didn't want any of them to fail just because they felt bad for him! But none of his teammates stepped down. If anything, Nabiki insisted,

"If you want to fail someone, then pick me. I fed Naruto first and the other two just followed." She didn't even know Naruto that well but she knew that he was a kind person.

For her, that was enough.

Kakashi sighed heavily. Knots formed in their guts as they expected the worst to happen until suddenly, their sensei smiled.

"You all passed."

A confused expression sprawled across their faces until Sakura asked, "Wait, what do you mean?"

"I mean you all passed. No one is failed or going back to the academy. See, I wanted to test you four and to gauge your skills. Not only as individuals, but if you could work as a team. You have much to improve on the latter, but this is your first step into the shinobi world." He moved around to untie Naruto before he continued.

"Those who disobey the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worst than scum."

"Huh…" Nabiki was rather shocked but still the lesson they learned today was one that she would carry with her.

"Well then, why don't we all call it a day, hm? How's ramen? My treat." Kakashi-sensei offered, quickly deafened by the excited blonde who was beyond happy. Not just for himself for getting ramen, but for his friends who did not have to lose on his behalf.