It had been a month now sence Gaara's move. Sasuke laid on the couch of his living room and stared at the ceiling. His thoughts traveled from place to place stopping on the test that had been announced earlier that week.
I wonder what we're doing. Sasuke thought as he sat up stretching.
Nazu pawed at his legs requesting permission to go outside.
"Alright." Sasuke opened the door and walked out to the street, pulling his hat over his eyes to keep the dust clouds at bay.
Out of the corner of his eye he watched as a shock of red hair made its way over to him.
"Hn." He greeted Gaara.
Gaara let out a breath of air and leaned against the wall of the ally.
"My brothers idiotic." He stated simply.
Sasuke resisted the urge to roll his eyes. This was not the first time Gaara had declared his family to be stupider than all belief, the difference was in the reason each declaration was brought forth.
"Hn." A noncommittal sound felt best to answer.
Gaara sat down and played with the sand in his fingers, twirling it around in the air.
Uh-oh, Sasuke thought to himself.
"What happened?"
Gaara looked up and the sand fell with the lack of concentration.
"I just wanted to see how Kankuro makes his useless toys when he slammed his door and left the house. Out his window!" Gaara looked upset. "I wasn't going to kill him." He added as an ironic joke.
"Maybe he just really wanted to see his new girl friend." Sasuke joked, making fun of Kankuros inability to keep a girlfriend.
Gaara's face lightened some and he began to pet Nazu.
"Whatever." He replied.
Sasuke sat down beside him and pulled out a kunia to sharpen.
"So, whats this test the teacher keeps talking about?"
"Nothing." Gaara rolled his eyes. "You just have to go across a field and a ninja tries to stop you. I don't have to take the test."
"Really?" Sasuke looked at him.
"Yep. I'm the demon." Gaara said carelessly.
Sasuke didn't think twice about it. Instead he began to worry about the test.
If a ninja was going to be stopping him, how would he get across?
They sat in the ally talking until Gaara stood up to leave.
"The kazecage house rules." Gaara said, referring to the rule of the house stating that all resident were to be in the house by ten p.m.
Sasuke woke up and laid in bed for an hour before preparing for his doom.
Nazu followed him until he walked into the classroom, deciding that a school was no place for him.
Sasuke however was forced to watch as the fox trotted away in delight and resigned himself for his day of torture.
It was test day.
He sat down next to Gaara and pulled out a book.
Almost imeadietly after he had sat down the teacher walked in.
"Pack your things and come with me class. We'll be taking our tests outside for today."
Sasuke felt himself stiffen in response to he's words and he put his book away following the sensai.
Sasukes fear of the test doubled with each step he took towards the schoolyard.
Gaara had slipped away and was sitting by the base of a tree with an expression of extreme boredom.
"Alright class! Now today we will be doing something a little different than usual."
He pulled out a basket and produced a scroll.
"Now each of you will be given a scroll to take to the other side of the field. Each of you will have a ninja stopping you from getting to the other side. You may attack them to get to the other side."
Sasuke picked up his scroll.
"Now don't worry if you can't do it. This is just a practice test so that we know how strong you are, okay? So don't hurt yourselves."
The teacher called on three students and told them all the rules.
"Now we are testing you guys by yourself, so no teams, alright? Maybe next time though."
The test began. For almost an hour all the kids were tested leaving Sasuke, the last one, a wreck of nerves.
He walked to the edge of the field and scanned the ground. All he saw was sand, large boulders, and a dead branch.
He walked forwards in a crouch ready to jump in an instance. He pulled his hat down slightly as a cold breeze of sand flew near his face and he hid behind a boulder. He checked the perimeter. It was clear. He began again when a flash of dark cloth whipped behind another boulder.
Sasuke held still. Suddenly he was off his feet and looking at the sky. He coughed and sat back up.
The attacker was hidden again. He picked up the scroll and began to walk when he found himself on the ground again. He shot up this time and looked around. All of his earlier nervous tension was quickly turning into anger and frustration. He saw the next attack but not in time to stop it. He pulled himself up into a defensive position and started to walk slowly away from the boulders so that his attacker couldn't hide. He was on the ground before he saw it coming this time.
"Where are you?!" He whispered angrily.
He saw a flash before he felt contact.
There! Sasuke thought to himself in a split second of triumph. He stood back up and watched for the blur of black that signaled the shove. As he was watching an outsider would have noticed a red gleam to his eyes. This time the blur wasn't so much of a blur. Instead he saw the hand before he realized what was happening. He stepped out of the way and watched the ninja stumble before darting back behind a boulder. The next time Sasuke tripped him and ran towards the finish line. The ninja caught up with him quickly and took him scroll.
"Sorry kid, not going to let you out that easy." He said teasingly. "I'd be a laughing-stock."
Sasuke grabbed for the scroll.
"Okay, times up." The teacher called out. "Now stop teasing the second grader."
Sasuke resisted smirking as the ninja handed him back his scroll sheepishly.
"Whatever, that was a good job kid." He said with sincerity placed on the last words.
The teacher rounded up the kids.
"So?" Gaara asked bored.
"It was okay." Sasuke answered.
Me: I know I said earlier that I didn't like it when they get their powers to early, but technically Sasuke won't really be using it for much and it's not as though he gets his sharigan and then becomes all-powerful. Anyway, whats done is done, and I am not a hypocrite because I only meant I don't like it when it's over done. Some people can fit it in rather well others completely destroy the who character, plot, and even moral of story. Besides, it's just a story. There, point made. Now aside from my rant, I hope you enjoy the chapter.
13 : As you can possibly tell, she couldn't decide on whether or not to place this scene in so soon. This is not why it took so long.
Me: =? Well, school comes first. Sorry, can't fall behind.
13 : Not like anyones actually upset, but it's still nice to hear right?
Me: Yeah, hey, no comments in two months. I don't know what to work on with no criticism (nice, light, constructive criticism). I also don't know what you enjoy reading and what to put more of in the story. So, just a poke in the proper direction here and there is appreciated. Thanks!
