The Path A Ninja Walks...

Chapter Seven

United We Stand

A/N: WARNING-The character known as Sage Amesawa uses a lot of profanity and colorful language as part of his "colorful" personality. Be prepared if you are sensitive to that. Please note it is not because I condone such manner of speech, and also the character does not mean to use it as a way to be harmful, it is just his personality.

Sage panted heavily as he remained hidden in the shadows trying to replenish his chakra.

Damn...time is running out...

He huffed as he watched the sun move across the sky to point out specific times of day.

We have maybe 3 hours left...

If we don't do somthing...we'll fail completely...

He huffed as he threw his fist into the ground.

What can I do!?

I can't fail here!

"...Sage."

"Ah!" he gasped as he found SasemeStanding upside down to look at him...From the limb of a tree.

"Hey..." he blinked,"How the hell are you doing that?"

` "Hm? This?" she blinked as she looked at her stance,"Honestly I..." she blinked,"Picked up on this technique when I was little...I...can't explain exactly...at least not very well, right now."

"Woah..." Sage blinked and grinned," Man...you are such a bad bitch!"

Saseme gave a slight blush and an awkward smile. She was beginning to pick up on her team mate's manner of speech and figure out what was meant as a compliment or as an insult.

"Listen..." she aid softly,"I need your help."

"...Say what now?" he blinked.

xxxxx

"...Are you serious?" Sage huffed out a sigh and slapped his hand to his forehead,"That's so basic!"

"That's why it will work." stated Saseme.

"Maybe so..." he sighed,"Good luck trying to get Hana to come on board though."

"Then perhaps we can work with that too..."

Sage blinked.

Holy shit...

This girl has a plan with a back up plan...

And a back up for the back up plan!

His eyes shimmered as he took her in.

Damn...she is such a bad bitch~!

He grinned.

"All right~ Let's go find her then!" said Sage,"And maybe she won't have her head so far up her ass~." he winked.

xxx

"NO." it didn't take Hana long to reject them.

"Now hold on, think before you say that!" Sage huffed,"We don't have a lot of time left in the day, and neither one of us wants to fail!" he stated, "And according to Koko Sensei, if one of us fails...we all do." he leered.

Hana blinked with a stubborn pout.

"We have 3 hours left...our opponent is a Jonin, an elite ninja." Saseme stated,"Individually, we as Genin don't have a hope's chance in hell...but if we all come at her together...even she would struggle."

"Hmm..." Hana hummed as she pondered.

I hate to admit it...but she's right.

She thought to herself.

As much as I hate her...she raises a valid point...

And...I don't want to fail either...

"Tic Toc, Hana!" Sage huffed,"We don't have a lot of time left!"

"Fine!" she pouted as she folded her arms,"So then...what do you propose we do?"

xxx

"Hmmm...seems the day is almost over~" Koko hummed victoriously,"Shame too...I was actually starting to like those guys...hm?"

Her surroundings faded into blooming flowers that animated in a gentle sway.

"What's this? Again?" she blinked and soon found herself surrounded by 7 different colored Sage Amesawa clones,"Ahh...I'm surrounded."

"Not only that..." Saseme's voice sounded from above causing Kokoua to look up where Saseme stood waiting, hanging from a tree branch,"...You're trapped!" she huffed and released her self bringing a flaming fist down to the earth beneath Kokoua's feet. The explosion caused her to lose her footing and the scrolls were sent up where Saseme and Sage leapt together to grab one.

"We did it!" Saseme beamed as he celebrated their victory. Saseme smirked as she tossed the other scroll into Hana's hands.

"Huh...?" she blinked as she caught it,"What gives?" she huffed.

"Couldn't have succeeded without your collaberation." said Saseme.

"Hmph, it's not like I did it to help you!" huffed Hana,"I just didn't want to fail!"

Saseme shrugged.

"Even still, This victory is yours too. Which makes it ours."

"...Well...I'll be damned." Kokoua chuckled,"You all came at me together...and beat me fair and square." she stated,"That was the whole point of this exercise...and it seems you figured that out all on your own."

"Well...not exactly." said Sage,"It was actually Saseme that brought us to work together...so..." he smiled and tossed his scroll to her."This victory is yours...because without you...it wouldn't have been ours." he grinned.

"Hmph." Hana huffed.

"I see..."Kokoua chuckled,"Saseme you thought about the situation and banded your team together." she stated,"You have the natural abilities of a leader." she stated,"With a indset like that...you could be Chunin."

Saseme blinked and blushed awkwardly. She wasn't used to being complimented.

"Well I consider this squad passed." grinned Kokoua,"Squad 15 will begin its training together, and our first mission will come tomorrow!"

To be Continued