DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto
AN: Thank you for reading this story, adding to favorites and alerts. It means a lot to me :)
The reason I haven't updated for such a long time is because as soon as my exams got over the next sem started without a single day off :(
:Mind Talk:
On The Verge
A few minutes later I was starting to think that maybe I was waiting in the wrong place; maybe they forgot I was in the team; maybe something horrible happened and everyone was unable to make it here; maybe
:Maybe you should stop thinking so negatively:
I swiftly took out my kunai gripping it pointing upwards prepaing for an attack.
"Who's there?" I called out trying to check who was speaking. Or maybe this was just a test to become genin.
:Calm down, child. I will not cause you any harm:
I heard the voice again. It was feminine and soft; at the same time firm and powerful.
"Who are you?" I asked trying to calm myself. "Where are you?"
:I am inside your mind. We will have to talk about whos and whys another time, I sense others approaching:
Did I have some sort of mental illness? Dear God, I can hear voices in my head that I don't know of. I wonder if this woman is one of my imaginary friends I used to create when I was younger.
:Stop thinking for I can hear everything you do:
I was able to swallow my scream; but the door slid open. I did scream then. Loudly.
"I'm sorry we didn't mean to startle you." I heard a gentle voice say from the door.
Minato and Kakashi walked inside as I tried to calm my heart down. It wasn't working in the slightest. How can anyone be calm when a kid Kakashi is standing ten feet away fron them with an equally awesome Minato ruffling his spiky blond hair sheepishly?
"It's ok." I squeaked. Kakashi was glaring at an unidentifyable object; he gave me a very unimpressed look before resuming his glaring.
"Where's our other team member?" Minato asked curiosly.
"He's usually late but will probably be here soon." I said. I hoped that was the case and he would be showing up soon.
"Sensei I told you that Uchiha was notoriously late for everything." Kakashi said.
Minato took a peice of chalk and wrote "Obito, team meeting in the grounds" on the that was nice of him. Kakashi huffed obviously not happy.
"Let's go." Minato said.
"Let's start by introducing ourselves." Minato said casuallly leaning against a huge tree while Kakashi and I sat on rocks.
"To make it easier, I'll go fisrt." He said with a chuckle at our expressions, no doubt. "I'm Minato Namikaze, I like good homemade food and this village. I dislike dishonest people and anyone who harms my comrades. My hobies are cooking and reading. My goal is to one day be the Hokage of this village and protect my precious people." Minato finished wih a smile. He looked really cool; Kakashi was pretending to be bored but his eyes were shining with admiration.
"I'm Kakashi Hatake." Kakashi started with a bored tone when Minato told him it was his turn. "I hate people who neglect the shinobi rules and are not prepared to face consequences for their actions. I hate useless people and sweet food." I wasn't be sure but I could swear Kakashi's eyes darted to me briefly when he said 'useless'. "My hobies are trainig and learning new things and my ambition is to be an extremely strong shinobi."
I suppose Kakashi had some weird notions at this point. He looked tough and cold even at the age of nine. Minato frowned a bit but looked at me to proceed.
"I'm Yumeko Sarutobi. I like sweet things and hanging out with my friends. I dslike people who judge too quickly," I glanced at Kakashi briefly, "and being helpless. My hobies are reading and gardening. My goal is to-" I paused not really knowing what to say."be a storng kunoichi, I guess." I finished lamely.
Minato simply gave a reassuring look before smiling broadly.
"It looks like the final member has decided to join us at last." Minato informed. A second later, a dishelved Obito yelled "Am I too late?"
"You did miss quite a few things about your possible new team." Minato said thoughtfully. "Although if you keep this up it will be difficult for you in the future so do try to be on time." Minato warned.
"Possible team? Missed?" Obito asked confused.
"We already introduced ourselves. It's your turn." Minato answered.
"I'm going to be Hokage." Obito declared pompously. "I'm Obito Uchiha. When my face is carved on the mountain my trademark goggles and Sharingan will be epic so that I can scare all enemies with my mega glare."
Kakashi looked exasperated but Obito wasn't done yet. "Everyone will be super scared of my sharingan stare and no one will ever dare to attack Konoha again." Obito pumped his fist in excitement.
"Save it for after you become hokage and activate your Sharingan." Kakashi said annoyed. "How can your Sharingan be carved on the mountain if you're wearing goggles, anyway?" Retorted kakashi.
"They can carve it over my goggles." Was Obito's comeback with hesitation.
"That will make it look like your eyeballs are falling off." Kakashi bit out.
I giggled imagining that. This was going to be fun. Even Minato- sensei was amused as he held back laughter at the boys' banter. Apparantly he decided to put an end to it.
"I'm glad someone else in the team shares my dream of becoming hokage." Minato- sensei said with a warm smile. "I'm Minato and I'll be your superior. Nice to meet you."
Obito gave his signature pose and I could practically feel Obito's admiration of Minato going up. We headed over to the training ground with the three posts.
"Alright. It's time for us to have our first team practise." Minato said catching all our attention. "Today we are going to test your teamwork."
That confused me. Wasn't one of the rules you had to skip breakfast and arrive ridiculously early while the sensei makes you wait for al long time? Or was it one of Kakashi's own twist to the original test? My gaze involuntarily shifted to Kakashi who was glaring at us both and I looked down blushing. How can a nine year old have such a strong glare?
Minato held out two bells. "You are supposed to take at least one of the bells from me." Kakashi's eyes widened while Obito looked clueless.
"There are only two bells." Kakashi said with understanding.
"So what?" Obito asked adorably confused, not getting the point.
"That means only two of us will be in the team." Kakashi explained with mild disbelief.
"You're already a chunin, so Yumeko and I get the bells and we're all a team." Obito said with a glint in his eyes as though he had solved all problems in the world. That was a good point. Come to think of it, wasn't Kakashi a chunin at six years, why did he take the exam again?
"I'm a chunin in rank only." Kakashi hurriedly said somewhat embarrased, so hard to tell with the mask covering his face. "Besides you never question a superior's order: Rule 3"
"In rank only?" I blurted out not understanding. Apparantly neither did Obito, so he turned to Minato who was looking at us nostalgically.
"Kakashi isn't an official chunin but he can carry out chunin rank missions if his mentor approves." Minato clarified. Kakashi gave his mentor a betrayed look.
"So yes. Only two of us are going to be in the team." Kakashi said again glaring at Obito who glared back. Just like that their infamous bond of rivalry was formed while watched them like a gromless idiot.
"Let's start." Minato said on guard. No sooner had he said that, kakashi was lunging at full speed directly aiming for the bell in Minato's had, missing it by a few inches.
Not wanting to waste any time Obito ran towards Minato with kicks and pucnhes which were easily dodged. When Obito was through Kakashi took the opening and when Kakashi was down Obito took the chance. Minato dodged them like a pro never once caught in the slightest. What was most impressive was that Minato never once lost the smile in place.
This went on for a couple of hours and I had never once moved from my place by the posts. Both boys were panting and looked tired. They were still determined running towards Minato again. They failed yet again to get the jonin. Finally Kakashi's gaze fell to me and glared.
"If you're not going to participate then tell us so we can both get the bells if you want to go back to the academy." Kakashi spat the last word as though it was a curse.
"Don't talk to her like that." Obito scolded Kakashi and turned to me. "You do want to be a genin right?" Obito asked after a moment of thought.
"Minato sensei is too strong." I stated the obvious. They both looked at me confused.
"Oh and what would you know? It's not like you're even trying." Kakashi snarled. "I don't know why little girls like you who don't even want to fight join the academy and actaully pass."
"You were younger than me when you became genin." I reminded him angrily.
"Yumeko was one of the top scorers in this year's class." Obito defended me. I didn't know he knew that but it was sweet I guess.
"With losers like you in the same class even a dog can be a top scorer." Kakashi said frustrated.
"That's just insulting to all the Inazuka." I muttered. Apparently they heard if Obito's laughter was any indication. They both looked tired with scrapes all over their body.
"Are you scared you'll be injured and have to run home crying?" Kakashi asked angrily. I knew he was angry at the situation and was taking it out on Obito and me- but it didn't hurt any less.
"Stop doing that." Obito yelled glaring at Kakashi. "Yumeko, do you have a plan to get the bells?" Obito asked with curiousity.
"Not alone, no." I sighed. Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
"Oh you were just planning on using us to tire out sensei and then get a bell, I presume." Kakashi said with a scary look.
"Of course not." I yelled furiously. How could he even think that? Even Obito was looking at me with wide eyes.
"Then how?" Obito asked slightly relieved. Minato sensei was looking at us with a frown. His clear blue eyes disappointed.
"Not one of us can match him alone." I said cautiously.
"Yes we know he's too strong. We fought him." Kakashi said impatiently.
"Together we have a better chance." I finished ignoring his remark. Kakashi's eyes widened in understanding and Obito looked hopeful.
"Alright." Kakashi said with a nod regaining his footing. "Formation A we learned at the academy." He instructed with determination.
"Will a simple formation like that even work on Minato sensei?" Obito questioned incredulously.
"Just do as I say." Ordered Kakashi.
The three of us circled around Minato leaving him no chance of escape. As we increased the speed Minato looked almost proud. Obviously he could have teleported away whenever he wanted to but he was giving us a chance to pass.
When the formation was complete, they both nodded at me to take him on at the first chance. I was surprised but I guessed it was because I was the only one with full reserves. I easily snatched both the bells from a smirking Minato; he practically gave them away.
Obito cheered loudly as I gave him one of the bells while I walked over to Kakashi to hand him the other one. They both looked surprised at my actions.
"Yumeko don't you really want to be in the team?" Obito asked worriedly even a little hurt.
Well that was awkward. Kakashi face palmed.
"Well we are supposed to be a team. Friends help each other." I told him blushing.
"Well done everyone." Minato said with happiness. He still looked like he hardly broke a sweat. "You found the meaning of teamwork; although it was very unconventional." He added sheepishly.
"Oh teamwork!" Exclaimed Obito like he was struck by lightning.
"When did you figure it out?" Kakashi asked me.
"Um when Minato sensei said 'Today we are going to test your teamwork' earlier?" I tried being haughty but failed badly when it came out as a question. I was too happy to care.
"You knew it all along?" Kakashi questioned with cold look.
"And you didn't tell us?" Obito asked with a hurt look. Somehow that was hurting me more than Kakashi's glare.
"You didn't give a chance to explain." I defended myself. To my relief they both looked away sheepishly.
"Let's go get dinner to celebrate our success as a team." Minato declared with a bright smile. "My treat."
Obito and I cheered loudly, even Kakashi looked pleased.
Somehow I had a feeling that everything was not going to be ripped apart. I was going to enjoy what little time I had in this world and protect everyone to the best of my ability.
AN: Was that too long? I kept typing and the next thing I know it was almost two hours and seven pages.
Hope you enjoyed it! Ignore any mistakes; I need to look for a beta reader!
Let me know what you think :)