A fox at war:
Chapter 2:The Test (Part Two)
Half the day passed with only a few minor encounters with Kakashi. Thankfully it seemed he was satisfied that his point had been made and hadn't shown any more brutal hostility towards her in their exchanges. It didn't keep him from knocking her around and bruising her up however. The last time she crossed paths with him was no more then half an hour ago and he still had both bells which surprised her that Sasuke had not yet acquired his. It was just a testament to Kakashi's strength and experience that even a genius Uchiha was having such a difficult time against him.
"Nnnn!" Naruko whimpered as she pulled a bandage tight with her teeth. She had wrapped her broken arm in a sling and bandaged it to her chest under her shirt protectively to keep it form interfering in battle. It had come lose in the last exchange with Kakashi so she was making sure tighten it more this time and prevent the same mistake.
The injury was beginning to wear on her giving her a shortness of breath and a throbbing headache. If Sakura had taken the time to heal her she would be in a far better condition, but she didn't blame her. Leaving her to deal with the injury on her own gave Sakura an advantage when it came to stealing her bell. There was also the possibility Sakura simply believed Naruko's position in the village was so low it was not worth the effort to heal her. What ever it might have been she had to deal with the situation as best she could.
Right now she sat upon a branch high in a tree with her back to the trunk and legs spread on either side of the branch dangling free. She sweat and panted, attempting to gather energy while resting her eyes and listening intently to the forest around her. She could not trust her eyes right now as Kakashi pointed out with a particularly gruesome and terrifying genjutsu. It had been a nightmare, while the horror of it passed quickly it still left a fear inside her that she might fall victim to it again.
Suddenly the ruffle of cloth in a strong wind alerted her and she sharply glanced up to her left to find Sasuke standing upon a branch no more then a meter away. He stood stoically looking out over the forest and Naruko wondered how long he had been there. Even now she could not sense or smell him, he was masking everything. Only the unusually strong wind that caused his shirt to flap slightly alerted her that he was there. She bit her lip behind her mask and glanced away. There was no reason for her to speak with him he probably didn't even acknowledge her existence. Likely he was only there to take advantage of the view the location gave, it had nothing to do with her…
"That sword. Is it just for show?" Sasuke demanded causing her heart to skip a beat. He was actually speaking to her… It was almost too much to understand, could this be another genjutsu? No… it couldn't have been. Naruko shook her head in answer, not trusting her voice. "Then come." He ordered and leapt away instantly and Naruko had to scramble to give chase before she lost him. He was as fast and swift as she expected and her own speed was hampered by injury and fatigue.
She watched Sasuke's back several meters ahead of her in wide eyed wonderment. What had change, why was he accepting her… Was he acknowledging her? A Uchiha… why… why would he do that. He asked about her sword did that mean he intended her to fight beside him… no that was ridicules but she could think of no other reason.
Leap after leap from tree, ground, and rock she followed panting lightly as her forehead beaded with sweat all the while wondering for the truth of the matter. Their travel continued for a time stopping and continuing randomly and Naruko concluded Sasuke was tracking Kakashi. Finally they came to a complete stop just before a clearing where Kakashi sat on a lone stone near the center idly reading his book oblivious to anything else. Turning to Sasuke she looked up at him in question and he answered with a common gesture from his hand to attack.
Naruko had no choice; this was a chance to prove herself, something she was very rarely given so there was no hesitation as she obeyed. She burst from the tree branches loudly leaves flying all around as she landed and sprinted for Kakashi at her full potential and gripped her sword pulling it free just as she reached him, slashing sharply to cleave him in two.
As she predicted he had carelessly leapt into the air from the rock avoiding the attack all together. He regarded her with boredom and made a show of turning the page in his book after he landed. No… she wasn't going to be humiliated here… she had a Uchiha watching her… she couldn't fail here!
Fuelled by blind determination she lunged forward slashing skillfully at Kakashi who effortlessly evaded and dodge. She knew he was faster, knew he was stronger, but she was the one with the weapon so she had to have an advantage. Don't let him evade the way he likes, don't let him dodge where he wants, control him, guide him… She disciplined herself as each of her attacks became more refined and controlled, aimed to make Kakashi turn and dodge specifically to slowly open his guard and allow her a chance to connect with a real attack.
However unlikely its chances of happen might have been, fate was certain to assure her it was not meant to be as a wall of flame suddenly burst from the forest edge where she had lead Kakashi to in their violent dance. Time stilled for her as she and Kakashi's eyes glanced towards the inferno seeing it slowly expand engulfing the air and promising to envelope them both to leave nothing but charred ash.
'So… that was why…' Naruko felt a pang of anguish fill her chest as her eyes hooded at the sight of it. She was simply bait… a pawn to distract Kakashi and be sacrifice for the surprise attack. She wanted to cry and felt truly defeated and broken. Time was at a stand still as her eyes looked back up to Kakashi who was slightly crouched preparing to escape to safety out of harms way, his expression exasperated and uncaring.
'No… no!' Her eyes blazed with anger and hatred, she would not be scarified in vain. Before she could fully understand her thought time remained slowed as her hand shot out like lightning and fisted in Kakashi's vest holding him there. His eyes widened in true surprise as she glared up at him. She had no hope to dodge the fire and now neither did he. 'Sasuke… will you be pleased?' She wondered bitterly, but knew the only emotion he held for her was the same he held for any other tool he concealed… nothing.
Time resumed at full speed and the wall of flame swallowed her and Kakashi who she restrained with her grip that never loosened. The flame seared across her skin and body leaving nothing but ruin and unimaginable agony behind. It took all her will power to keep her mouth shut from screaming or inhaling so it would not invade her lungs and char them to dust.
The flame's vanished quicker then she had expected, but even then it had felt like an eternity. Feeling empty and hollow she fell limply to her knees with her hand still entangled in Kakashi's vest. She looked up opening her eyes just in time to watch Kakashi's surprised form burst into vapour revealing a burning and charred log that clattered to the scorched ground. It was all in vain, why did it have to be this way? Her question went unanswered as Sasuke burst from the forest and bolted past not sparing a glance as he vanished into the opposite side of the clearing, presumable chasing the real Kakashi.
She hurt… she hurt so bad, both emotionally and physically. Without the will to even cry she fell limply forward as tears silently streamed down her cheeks. Her body was covered with burns of every degree and her cloths, the ones she had saved up for so long, utterly destroyed. She could tell she would survive, Sasuke realizing Kakashi had body switched immediately stopped his attack… if only to save his chakra.
Somehow it made her feel even worse to realize that saving his chakra would have been the only reason he would have halted the attack. It was well know Sasuke's dislike for the lower houses and she was positive had Sasuke not needed his chakra for the test he would have happily rid the village of her.
A crunch of boots on the crisped grass drew her eye and her mind away from her thoughts, it was Sakura standing over her wearing an expression of horror and disbelief. She simply stared up unspeaking at Sakura before her eyes unfocused as her mind plunged into darkness, she welcomed it happily as she passed out.
As she welcomed the darkness, it welcomed her and she found herself floating in a vast expanse of nothingness. No, not nothingness but emptiness. She could feel on the edge of her senses she was not alone but it was beyond her reach, beyond her sight. There was a rushing in her ears like water or wind and she felt weightless as if floating in a stream, her mind was to unfocused to make sense of it all.
Wait what was that? A voice? It was telling her something, whispering, but she couldn't make it out. If she listened closely maybe she could hear it. Open… Open your eyes... Was that what she was hearing? But how could she open her eyes, they where already open and all she saw was nothing, she didn't understand. Her frustration clouded her mind further and soon the emptiness became unclear until it too vanished.
Warm… she felt warm… why was that? Was it because she had been nearly burnt alive? The feeling spread throughout her and she felt comfort, her pain was still there but it was no longer so urgent. Her eyes fluttered struggling to open as reality rushed back into her but more noticeably the pain. With a hoarse gasp her body reacted instinctively as it tensed and arched reacting to the burns all over her body. But her back did not leave the ground more then a moment before a pair of hands forced her down.
"Don't move!" Sakura demanded sharply pinning her down with as the blue glow of chakra flowing into her
"What… are you?" Naruko asked weakly catching her breath looking up at Sakura with hooded exhausted eyes. She could see past Sakura's sweat coated face to the sky that was starting to dim. It was almost dusk.
"Saving your life." Sakura spoke tightly and grit her teeth. Naruko could see confusion and betrayal in Sakura's eyes and for a moment she almost though Sakura cared about her well being… No, Naruko didn't need but a moment to comprehend the true reason behind the expression.
Sakura was probably thinking the same thing might happen to her if it was convenient for the mission and the thought of her beloved Sasuke harming her hurt. It was either that or she was worried Sasuke would get in trouble for hurting a team member so badly and was trying to cover up the evidence. Those reasons were both far more likely then her actually caring…
"I won't die so easily…" Naruko protested and raised her unbroken arm to push Sakura's hands away. She didn't need her help, she didn't want it. It only vexed her she didn't wake hours earlier to stop her then, as it appeared most of the serious wounds where gone. She didn't want to feel she owed her anything she could manage on her own like she had always done…
"I told you not to move!" Sakura snapped and slapped her protesting arm away painfully. Sakura had not been gentle and it left Naruko's arm stinging sharply filling her with terror at Sakura's raw emotional voice. She was so stunned she could only stare up with fearful wide eyes as Sakura pressed her hands back down over her naked chest renewing treatment.
What was left of her body suit had been torn open to administer treatment which left not just her chest but most of her body exposed to the dimming light. She didn't dare provoke Sakura a second time and obeyed passively accepting the warmth that flowed into her.
Why was Sakura so violently insistent on healing her now that her condition was stable? She appeared very exhausted, the healing must not be easy on her yet she refused to stop. If she continued wasting her energy how was she suppose to capture a bell, there couldn't be more then an hour or two left before Kakashi called the test finished.
Sakura didn't speak again so Naruko lay there staring up at both the sky and Sakura's distraught and sometimes angry expressions. Whatever she was thinking didn't sit well with her and she didn't give any hints to the topic. By the time she felt fully healed except for a few aches and pains Sakura looked ready to collapse. Even exhausted to such an extent Sakura simply whipped her brow of sweat then stood to catch a second wind.
"Thank you." Naruko spoke quietly hoping Sakura's emotions had stabilized. Sakura gave a sharp nod and Naruko was happy it was left at that.
"I'm going on ahead." Sakura informed and ran off perhaps a last ditch effort to find Kakashi and Sasuke and capture a bell. Naruko stayed where she was looking down at her burnt torn and ruined outfit. There was little left that was salvageable so she tore her shirt off completely along with the body suit.
Her cloth wraps somehow survived the fire so she used them to bind her breasts and made a makeshift fundoshi with a patch of un-burnt cloth and the rest of her bandages. Over all the outfit was a complete loss and again she felt a pang of regret. She didn't brood long, her weapons and holsters were fairly undamaged and meant she could still fight. Deciding to trust Sakura's direction she followed and hoped she would find the others.
Half an hour later found her back at the start of the test in the clearing of training area four. She crouched on a tree branch concealing her presences as she observed Sasuke and Kakashi competing in a staring contest. Sakura was there as well behind Kakashi kuna drawn in a defensive posture. It appeared the two bells still remained on his belt which meant no one had passed the test yet and there was no time left…
There must be something she could do. She couldn't be certain but she assumed she was still undetected to Kakashi, if that where the case a surprise attack was possible. She was not very skilled at this sort of thing but she slowly and silently pulled kuna and ninja stars from her pouch pocket. This attack would cost her a lot in supplies… but if this were a real mission she wouldn't hesitate to expend them.
Taking a deep breath she attacked throwing the ninja stars directly to her side. They spun and arced though the air exploding from the dense forest into the battle field. They were like boomerangs seeking out Kakashi, timed so he could easily leaned to the sides to avoid them in turn.
They where only the distraction and testing to see if he had known she was there, he did. Next where the kunas she threw six all together purposely aimed for Kakashi's vitals knowing he would humiliate her by dodging again. The first five also decoys. The last he simply caught between to fingers and looked annoyed over to the forest as if reprimanding her for her careless waste of tools on a futile assault.
It was in that line of sight he noticed the explosive note that was igniting on the kuna he held. She had timed it to explode the moment it reached him; clearly she had miscalculated as he was able to toss it and leap back in time not to be hindered by the explosion. It created an opening that Sasuke had been waiting for and in a flash he bolted past Kakashi, the bells cut from his belt and spun free in the air. Sasuke's hand circled around them in victory as he turned to Kakashi who looked exasperated.
"Well, this is a little embarrassing I must admit." Kakashi sighed and looked over at Sasuke who held the bells. Naruko exited her concealment and walked into the opening to hear and observe what was to happen now. Sakura lowered her guard and moved towards Sasuke as everyone focused on Kakashi. "I never expected you guys to actually steal them."
"But wasn't that the test?" Sakura demanded, only to cry out as as Sasuke held out his hand and crushed the bells before dropping them broken the ground. "Sasuke?"
"Ah so you figured it out. I suspected you would." Kakashi smirked behind his mask regarding Sasuke with amusement.
"He was testing to see if we were willing to kill him for the bells. Not if we could actually steal them." Sasuke explained in monotone.
"ahh, Uchiha." Kakashi rubbed the back of his hair. "Its so hard hiding things from you guys. You're Correct."
"I don't understand… did we pass?" Sakura questioned confused.
"Well…" Kakashi glanced over Sasuke, then Sakura, then finally Naruko. "Besides Sasuke neither of you two really tried to kill me. But… you know…" His eyes sat heavily on Naruko a moment. "I guess I can count that ambush in the meadow as an attempt on my life. I might have been in a pinch had that really been me in the fire. Two out of three I suppose I have to let you pass."
"Are we finished with your games then?" Sasuke questioned.
"Aye, take a week to rest, get to know each other, train. Whatever you want. In one week from today meet at the academy for assignment of your first mission." Kakashi informed then began to walk from the training area. "Oh yes, and Sasuke." He glanced back over his shoulder at him. "Try not to kill your team mates next time if you could?"
Sasuke didn't glorify the question with a response and turned and left in his own direction giving her teammates a cold shoulder of indifference. Naruko glanced at them as they left and decided she really wanted to go home and sleep. Sakura might have done most of the work in healing her but her body was exhausted. She was too tired to even realize she had despite all odds passed the test. Maybe tomorrow she would feel some small warmth of pride but right now all she felt was defeated.
"Heading home?" Sakura stopped her with a hand on her shoulder which surprised her. She answered with a small nod. Sakura looked torn to what she wanted to ask but she found the resolve and looked Naruko hard in the eye. "Why did you do that earlier? Why didn't you try and escape Sasuke's jutsu?"
"Why should I have?" Naruko questioned. "If I kept Kakashi there then we would have won."
"But you almost died!" Sakura snapped sharply and her concern was alien. Whatever was going on with Sakura it wasn't at all like her normal self, not the Sakura Naruko knew from the academy. Naruko quickly shrugged off Sakura's hand and began to walk away.
"So what? If sacrificing myself would help complete a mission then I have no right to refuse it. You're a ninja to so you know that, why are you making a big deal out of this?" Naruko questioned spitefully and it stunned Sakura. Sakura didn't attempt to stop her and let her leave without further conversation.
Naruko was able to return home without hassle despite the attention and stares she received from her battle worn scantly clad appearance. Upon entering her apartment she striped naked and moved directly to her bathroom to wash. Each moment she stood under the shower she felt weaker but she refused to go to bed with the days sweat, grime, and ash coating her. She sponged herself clean in silence with only the steady hum of the showerhead and the muffled shouts of an arguing couple several rooms down filling the air. Finished she moved to her bed, slipped into her night ware, and collapsed limply. She was asleep before she could even pull the covers over her body.