A/N: I sure took a while getting this chappie out, didn't I? So sorry for that! It wasn't that I lost interest - far from that actually, it was more that I got caught up in Korean dramas again, and I was watching Naruto for a bit. Hahah but I did manage to finish this chapter. I haven't started the next one but I will soon. After dinner... or more like after work tomorrow because I won't be able to start writing later tonight. I'm going to see the new X Men movie with my brother, wooo!

Anyways, enjoy this chapter and please, review and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Inuyasha, whatsoever.

As Kikyo walked back into the clearing, she was surprised to still see her new students stuck on their respective trees. Narrowing her eyes, she noticed that the chakra flow was still the same as well as their chakra signatures.

'And here I thought that they would have released the genjutsu,' Kikyo thought as she approached the group. "Pity, I was really looking forward to this team."

Kikyo walked to where Kagome was placed and sighed. "Alright Sleeping Beauty, time to wake up."

Right when Kikyo placed her hand on the first sealing arrow, immediately she felt something was wrong. Just as she tensed up, the chakra from the arrow flared up. Looking up into the younger girl's face, Kikyo was surprised to see stormy blue eyes staring back at her with a smirk to accompany it. Kagome's hands moved from her side and latched onto Kikyo's arm. Leaning down, Kagome moved her mouth to her sensei's ear. "Got you."

Kikyo reared back and tugged her arm free just as 'Kagome' poofed away. The sound was echoed twice more as 'Hakudoshi' and 'Bankotsu' disappeared. "Looks like I underestimated you three," Kikyo said with a chuckle.

A kunai whistled through the air and Kikyo jumped at the last second though - while she will never admit it - she did not see the other kunai flying in the first one's shadow. Just as she whipped out her own kunai and deflected the others, all three students attacked from all sides before cornering her into a tree.

They stood a ways away with identical smirks on their faces. Kikyo matched the smirks before looking to where the timer was placed. Smiling, she pointed it out to them without saying a word and just before the timer went off, chains appeared from behind the tree catching Kikyo completely off guard. Looking up at the three, she watched as they poofed away before her real students students jumped out and held weapons to her person just as the timer's shrill sound filled the air.

"Do we pass Kikyo-sensei?" Hakudoshi whispered to her.

Closing her eyes with a smile, Kikyo sighed out loud. "You guys are good, exceptional actually. However," Her eyes opened before she poofed away leaving a log in her place, "you underestimate me," Kiko called out from beside the timer.

She watched as all three of her students turned to her, their eyes not showing any signs of surprise. "Thing is, you three were able to do something that no other team has done before," Kikyo said as she started her walk towards them.

Kagome looked up in curiosity. "Oh? And what's that?"

Kikyo stopped her walking and looked at them seriously, all signs of a playful sensei gone. "I underestimated you. I knew what you were capable of when I first got assigned to this team" - Hakudoshi and Bankotsu shared secret looks not going unnoticed by Kikyo - "but I still wondered whether or not you had what it takes to be a team."

Smiling Kikyo placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder as she faced the other two as well. "Hakudoshi and Bankotsu, you two know each other, quite well if I'm not mistaken. Thing is, you also know Kagome here to the same extent despite her missing memories."

All three stiffened under her words though Kagome for a whole different reason. Feeling the tension rising, Kikyo was quick to dispel any unwarranted feelings. "I was not sure whether or not you would continue acting as a team like you three once were or if you would have allowed the years and new memories to cloud your instincts. Thing is, once you worked together as a team, you will always be a team. That is one thing shinobi will never forget, even with memory lost."

Kagome looked at Hakudoshi and Bankotsu and felt bad for not having any sort of emotion towards them like she does for her friends here in Konoha. Do they feel hurt because she doesn't remember them? Relieved to be free of any unwanted past or memory? Wary of what she might think of them once her memories were to return? Either way, Kagome did not want them to have any ill-will towards her.

Kiko let go of Kagome's shoulder as she watched the three 'genin' stare at each other, lost in their own thoughts and memories. She knew she has a lot on her plate with this team but she could only hope that with her guidance and training, they will grow to forget their horrid past and look forward to a new future. Whatever Danzo had instilled in them was already cracking under years of being apart and with Kagome having a new slate, she will have new feelings towards what Danzo had assigned to her once she regains her memories.

It was all only a matter of time.

"So," Bankotsu said out loud catching the attention of his new team, "what now?"

Kikyo chuckled a bit "Now, I tell you about what you three just went through. Come, let's get you some dinner first."

"Asuma-sensei, what do you know of Kagome?"

The question was asked in a lazy drawl from his new student. Looking to Shikamaru, he noticed that he was quite serious in his questioning. "What do you mean, Shikamaru?"

"I mean," Shikamaru said, adding emphasis, "why was she placed in a different team? From when she was placed in the academy to now, she wasn't as smart, strong, or talented as that of Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha or even that of Neji Hyuuga who I know was the rookie to beat last year. So, when Iruka said that her results were off the charts, what did he mean?"

Asuma sighed as he realized that Shikamaru really was much too smart. Looking into his student's eyes, Asuma wondered just how he could go about answering the question. However, before he had a chance to answer, his name was called out.

"Asuma-nii!"

Turning away from his three attention-wrapped students, he watched as a black blur tackled into his side. Blinking in surprise, he looked down to see Kagome nuzzling into his side. Smiling, he wrapped his arms around her. "Kagome, how did your test go?"

"It was awesome," Kagome exclaimed as she looked up at him before her eyes widened. "Oh!" Turning around, he watched as her eyes skimmed the restaurant before falling on the small group that walked into Akimichi's BBQ.

He looked on as Kagome waveed the team over and his eyes caught onto Kikyo's unwavering gaze. He knew she wasn't happy as she does not want Kagome to be too attached to another team's sensei. He narrowed his eyes into a glare in hopes of telling Kikyo to leave the matter alone.

"Kikyo-sensei, we can just sit here and eat their food instead of paying for our own," Kagome snickered before she was distracted by her friends shouting their outrage.

"Oi! I am not sharing my food," Choji said, his tone angry but with a hint of amusement as he played along.

"Yeah," Ino jumped in with a grin, "Your sensei can buy you food for yourselves!"

Kagome laughed. "But what better way than to steal food from my best friends and my older brother?"

Kikyo said nothing though she settled her harsh gaze onto Asuma. "Come along, Kagome. We have things to discuss as a team." With that, Kikyo turned to walk away from Team 10.

Kagome watched her sensei walk off with an odd expression before turning to her pseudo brother. "Ah, sorry Asuma-nii. I have an important meeting to get to," Kagome joked with a wink and while Asuma nodded his head, his attention was on what transpired.

After Kagome had run off to catch up to her team, Shikamaru opened his eyes with a yawn. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say Kagome's new sensei isn't too happy with her student's attachment to us."

Asuma just exhaled the smoke from his cigarette, his mind deep in thought. 'You have no idea how right you are, Shikamaru.'

Kagome had immediately caught up to her team just as they were walking out of the restaurant. Kagome slightly frowned when she saw that they were walking further away from her favorite place. "Kikyo-sensei, I thought we were going to be eating at Akimichi BBQ..." Kagome quietly said before trailing off completely.

"I have decided it would be in our best interests to find a place where another team is not stationed," Kikyo simply said.

Kagome reared back in slight shock at the drastic change in her sensei's tone. 'What did I do wrong?'

Hakudoshi watched the interactions between the two females and was able to deduce one thing from his past experience with his other team. 'It must be that time of the month...'

Bankotsu, on the other hand, stayed clear of his new sensei as he felt the same vibes he felt from Pakura when she was angry. Instead, he stuck himself close to Kagome as he knew she was more inclined to being confused than angry.

As they finally reached a small, quiet restaurant and sat down at one of the many empty tables, Kikyo stared at her three students. "Let us get one thing straight here, from this point on you are Team Kikyo. Meaning? Quite simple really, you cut off all other ties to the other rookies. While I'm not too worried about Hakudoshi and Bankotsu, I am worried for you, Kagome."

Kagome gaped at her new instructor with slight offense and surprise. "What could you possibly be talking about? I am loyal! To Konoha, to my team, to my fellow shinobi. You cannot expect me to cut all ties off from my fellow ninja, I refuse it. To ignore them would be a dishonor on myself." Kagome paused as she rose her gaze to level it with her sensei's, her eyes flashing with defiance. "I would never allow myself to ignore them, now or ever for that is my nindo, my ninja way."

Kikyo stayed silent for a bit as she stared at her female student from where she sat. After a moment has passed, Kikyo smiled. "And that is why I am very proud to say, you passed."

Kagome, Hakudoshi, and Bankotsu all gave the jounin an odd look. Hakudoshi decided to be blunt and ask the question that was in each of their minds. "I thought we already passed your test, sensei."

"I never said it outwardly. I simply mentioned that you have underestimated me. Thing is, I wasn't too sure if you had what it takes to truly become Genin. While the two of you," Kikyo had looked straight at Bankotsu and Hakudoshi, "weren't truly part of it, the reactions you had and the fact that you were willing to jump in and defend your honor and loyalty should I turn on you was more than enough."

Turning to Kagome, Kikyo's gaze softened with pride and respect. "And you, young lady, have truly surprised me. Most students listen to me and would do anything they can to move on up, even if it means abandoning their fellow ninja. So," Kikyo clapped her hands slowly, "congratulations to my very first Genin team." Kikyo closed her eyes in an eye smile.