A/N: OMG have i really left this story hanging for a whole month? I'm so sorry! I didn't realise, i haven't looked at this story in ages until i saw it on my list and saw i last posted in the beginning of April! Hey at least i got my writting groove back, now i just need my funny groove back to continue on with this story. I'll try not to leave you guys hanging again and i love all of my reviews, you guys really made my days to read all of them i really appreciate it when someone takes the time to tell me if you're enjoying the story, even if it's just a few words, they put a smile on my face. Love you all R&R 3
Chapter four
After what I estimated to be thirty-four minutes, I managed to squirm free and pulled myself out of the hole. I sat for five minutes, looking at the sun… I wonder if telling the time by the sun was a ninja thing as well as I dangled my legs in the hole for a while and contemplated waking Sakura up who was still passed out. After contemplating everything I stood up and dusted myself off, watching Sakura…
"She'll get heat stroke if she stays asleep in the sun." I sighed as I crouched down by her and shook her shoulder gently.
"Hey, Sakura wake up." I said gently as she opened her eyes and sat up like a bolt, clinging to me.
"Oh Sasuke-kun I'm so glad you're okay!" Sakura said as I tried to shake and push her off but then gave up and patted her on the back with a sigh.
"It's good to see you're okay as well." I sighed and she pulled back and looked at me with a blush and beaming green eyes… OH HELL NO I KNEW THAT LOOK! I WAS A GIRL BEFORE! "Listen Sakura, if we even have a chance in hell of being good teammates, I want to set things straight and it may hurt. I can see you have a deep crush on me and it may never go away but I don't like you the way you like me, hell I don't even like myself. You're a smart girl and I would love to be your friend but I can't have your fawning all over me especially in dangerous missions… I have other priorities right now and a relationship and stuff is something I can't allow to get in my way." I began explaining as she sat there with slight saddened understanding in her eyes but there was also thinly veiled hope behind them as I sighed again and brushed my hand through my hair… IT WAS SO SOFT… BACK ON TOPIC TASHA! I MEAN UH SASUKE! I shook my head with a sigh.
"Keep other options open Sakura, you want a guy who is going to spoil you and love you like you seem to love me and I can tell you now I don't return your feelings. I understand it'll take a while before you start to drop this crush or love or whatever but consider my words deeply… We don't have time to talk about this, I need to get that bell for you and Naruto." I said with annoyance at my words and why girls could never get it through their thick heads that the guy doesn't like them back… It seemed to be so easy as a guy right now, emotions were clear and powerful somehow.
"But there's so little time left, why don't we try harder next time and give up for now?" Sakura asked, walking next to me.
"Kakashi said to get the bells by lunch which time is running out now and he's looking for one specific thing but I need your help to get that bell… Teammates?" I asked, holding out my hand as she smiled and took it with a nod.
"Teammates." She said with determination as she let her hand linger in mine and we ran through the trees when the alarm went off and I groaned but we continued on towards the stumps.
We got there to find Naruto tied to one already as I walked to Kakashi by the other one as he tied me up as well and tightly with the strange vibrating of chakra surging through it so I couldn't escape without alerting him or escape with a jutsu that popped into my head… Rope Untying jutsu, what a dumb yet effective jutsu when being tied up be amateurs. I heard Naruto and Sakura's stomachs growling as mine was feeling a little empty as well after the amount of energy and chakra I used, it definitely was a strange force inside your body.
"You're stomachs are growling huh? By the way, about the results of your training, none of you need to be going back to the Academy." Kakashi said as I looked away, feeling quite disappointed but who could blame me, it was an odd yet thrilling experience suddenly being like this but Naruto and Sakura took it the wrong way and began jumping for joy.
"You three should just quit being ninja!" Kakashi shouted sternly as Sakura and Naruto wilted and I dropped my head to brood and clenched my fists, feeling annoyed and arrogant even if I knew what he was getting to. This was a test of teamwork and I couldn't get Naruto or Sakura to work with me long enough to portray it and so I failed Sasuke in a way as well as myself.
"Quit being ninja? What do you mean? We couldn't get the bell but why do you have to say we should quit?" Naruto shouted out in frustration as he squirmed in his ropes.
"Its because you three are just kids who don't deserve to be ninjas. Do you guys think being a ninja is easy? Why do you think we're training by breaking up into groups?" Kakashi asked with annoyance as his eye glanced to me. "Sasuke, tell them the answer." Kakashi demanded as I raised my head and glared at him before looking at Naruto and Sakura looking expectantly at me, awaiting my answer.
"We're split off into groups to work as a team as a team is more effective than working on your own sensei." I explained, staring right into his angry and disappointed eye.
"Sasuke saw right through this test once he didn't have to fight for anything like the bell. He even tried to help you two out by saying he'd work with you but you either failed him or pushed him right out. He even tried to fight me one on one so someone passed today even when he knew it was futile. He knew the answer that determined whether you pass or fail and even though Sasuke heard he was being sent back to the academy for insubordination, he still fought. He could have sat down and watched or just left straight back to the academy… The answer that Sasuke was trying to show you was TEAMWORK." Kakashi explained as Naruto and Sakura looked guilty while I actually felt sorry for them in a way. I remember now that the academy never did group work exercises so it was no wonder none of us even got close to the answer in the version of Naruto I knew.
"You mean cooperate with each other?" Sakura asked with surprise but Kakashi just continued to glare at all of us, we really seemed like worthless ninja to him right now, it was plain to see in his eye and it oddly hurt to know that, I never did like people to look down at me and it usually made me angry but now… Being who I am now is more than just fighting for myself and that was odd for even me to say, I had always fought for myself and made my own name in my old life… But I also hated when people I respected looked down on me with disappointment.
"That's right but it's too late., even if you notice now. If all three of you came at me at once, maybe you could have gotten a bell. But that's too bad." Kakashi said as he looked at us like trash and I sighed, now wasn't the time to think about my own feelings and lash out with insubordination again.
"Why do we need to use teamwork when there was only one bell? Even if we all worked hard to get it, Sasuke-kun was definitely going back and one person would have had to bite the bullet with him. There would be a group conflict." Sakura reasoned which was right but obvious at the same time… Now that I think about it this test was simple and about sacrifice. Even if we did get the bells there still would have been conflict and an opening for Kakashi to steal them back then we would of all been in a worse state… God this was so confusing once you throw your true self and feelings into the situation. I get the answer but not the work to get there.
"Of coarse. This test tries to put you three against each other. In this situation, we select those who can prioritise teamwork before themselves. That was the purpose but all of you were pathetic even if. Sasuke! You saw through it and had nothing to loose but a few bumps and bruises but you were also using deception instead of telling them the straight answer, they're your teammates and you should be able to trust them with the truth. Sakura! You cared more about Sasuke than about Naruto even though Naruto was right in front of you and you didn't know where Sasuke was. Naruto! All you did was work on your own which led to Sasuke having to use deception. Missions are done in groups. Its true that ninjas need well-developed individual abilities but its teamwork that is much more important. An individual action that disrupts the teamwork will result in danger or even death for the teammates. For example…" Kakashi explained, slipping a kunai out before he appeared in front of me with a kunai to my neck and I swallowed feeling the sharp sting of it cutting slightly into my neck.
"Sakura! Kill Naruto or Sasuke's going to die! That's what will happen." Kakashi said as Sakura gasped and Naruto looked panicked between Sakura and Kakashi as he moved the blade away and I let out a silent sigh. "After getting someone taken hostage, you will be faced with a difficult decision and someone will die. In every mission you put your life on the line." Kakashi said after spinning his kunai around and putting it back before walking over to the stone monument and we watched closely.
"Look at this… The numerous names carved into this stone all of these names are those praised as heroes in the village." Kakashi explained.
"I like that! I like that! I've decided that I'm going to have my name carved into that. A hero, I'm not going to die a useless death." Naruto said excitedly as I hn'ed and saw Kakashi turn slightly with pain in his eye and his posture.
"You don't get it idiot. Those names on there are the people who HAVE died for the village and killed in action defending it or the mission… Unless you really want to die a useless death." I snapped at him as his face fell and Kakashi's did as well but it softened slightly as he looked back at the stone.
"Sasuke's correct once again… This is a cenotaph. The names of my friends are carved in here as well… I'll give you one more chance but this time all three of you will be working equally however the battle for the bells will be a lot harsher after lunch. Eat lunch quickly if you're up to the challenge however, only Sakura can eat if you feed the other two, you three will fail immediately. I'm the rule here, got it?" Kakashi warned before he walked away for now and I sagged into the ropes as Sakura sat down between our stumps and began to eat tentatively.
I closed my eyes as I let myself relax and just feel the surroundings around me as I felt the odd tingly sensation on my back and neck and knew it was familiar being Naruto and Sakura, well now that I know how to feel presences… I scowled in concentration as I focused on spreading my range but also staying calm enough to feel it properly then…
I opened my eyes and looked to the far side, past the memorial stone and into a tree as I caught a glint in the tree… He really was one sneaky bastard as I smirked and squinted my eyes and tried to feel his presence that seemed non-existent when I wasn't concentrating on relaxing enough to search for it and I sighed. I heard Naruto's stomach growl as we all froze and Naruto laughed sheepishly.
"I'm okay even if I don't eat! I'm okay." Naruto said out with annoyance at himself and frustration as I looked around and sighed.
"If we're going to work together after lunch, your stomach is going to give us away and make you weaker… I don't sense Kakashi around right now so Sakura, can you give Naruto a little bite of your food just to quieten it down a little so we have a bit of a chance?" I asked her sweetly while they all stared at me like I was an alien… Again I'm not coming to terms with that look, almost like they know I'm not really Sasuke.
"But what about you Sasuke-kun, you must be pretty hungry as well?" Sakura asked as I saw that damn look in her eye again and I sighed, looking at Kakashi in the tree.
"I did more than not show up on time this morning but I also had something to eat, I'll be fine until later. Do it now before sensei comes back." I asked quickly with panic like he was coming towards us and Sakura hastily jumped up on her knees and held her chopsticks to his mouth as he began to eat and I smiled… Mission complete.
There was an overdramatic dust cloud as dark clouds began to roll up and Sakura jumped up with a squeak and jumped behind my stump and I sighed and looked up to see Kakashi's angry glare… Yeah right, he should be an actor.
"You three! You three broke the rule. Are you prepared for the punishment? Any last words?" Kakashi asked and Naruto stuttered while Sakura was shaking like a leaf. 'Yeah, something along the lines of FUCK YOU would have gone down well.'
"But… But… You said… That's why Sakura-chan…" Naruto stuttered and I knew I had to step in as Naruto was looking at me to explain.
"We're a team right?" I asked with annoyance.
"That's right! We three are one!" Sakura added, stepping out from behind me slightly.
"You three are one huh? You pass!" Kakashi said as both Sakura and Naruto's jaws dropped and I smirked… FINALLY DAMMIT!
"Pass? Why?" Sakura asked with caution.
"You three are the first. People I previously had were blockheads who just listened to what I said. 'Ninja need to think beyond the normal', in a world of ninja, those who break the rules are called scum. But those who don't take care of their friends are even worse than scum." Kakashi said and Sakura beamed while Naruto looked like he wanted to cry and I had to smirk, god that was a lot harder than I was hoping but it worked and I didn't even change much.
"The training ends here. Everyone passes. Team Seven will start doing missions starting tomorrow." Kakashi said as he gave us a thumbs up… I wondered if he had been hanging around Gai too much while Naruto and Sakura cheered. "Let's go home." Kakashi said while he turned to walk home and Sakura began to follow.
"Oi, at least untie us." I said, easily catching Sakura's attention as she turned around with an embarrassed blushed and took a kunai out to cut my ropes while I turned to Naruto and cut his.
"What's gotten into you recently teme?' Naruto questioned playfully as I smirked and put my kunai away as Naruto untangled himself from the rope and the stump.
"I guess you could say I've had a change of perspective on things recently… I look forwards to working with you… Dead last." I said with a smirk as Naruto smiled and then it dropped and like I predicted.
"Who the hell are you calling dead last huh! I stayed a ninja way longer than you did who didn't even make it to the training grounds before you got kicked off! Dammit, don't walk away when I'm talking to you!" Naruto shouted after me as halfway I had smirked and began to follow Kakashi and Sakura back, I was actually looking forwards to changing everything and hope it turns out okay and better than the way it ended as a manga back in my world but I needed to remember this isn't something I could do heartlessly, I'm just not that type of person… Sometimes.
I knew myself I was already warming up to my team and the old lady who lives next doors to me, even though I only met her yesterday, she spoke like she truly cared some how and had known me, 'Sasuke' me for a while.
My old life was running downhill anyway and running from the cops was the first thing as well as driving under the influence with passengers. I don't even know if I'm dead or alive… that reminds me of a song but BACK ON TOPIC… or if my friends are even still alive. Is this permanent or is there one specific thing I must change before I go back or die or get thrown into something else? Who knows but I know for one thing… This was going to be fun if today was anything to go by as I smirked to myself and Sakura was scolding Naruto for shouting at me.
I caught Kakashi's eye looking at me, studying me and I shivered as my back prickled. I just glared right back, putting my hands in my pockets and focused on walking… Where were we going anyway?
"To officially register you three for passing." Kakashi answered like he could read my mind, and see into my soul… But I knew he couldn't physically do that unless he was touching me… Or could he? I narrowed my eyes at him and pouted in contemplation slightly. Okay now I'm just being paranoid, he was my teammate and jonin sensei, he was on my side, as long as I play 'Sasuke' no one but Shikamaru will know and as long as I don't give him any reason, he'll keep quiet, it was just the person he was.
I looked up to se the Hokage's Tower… It really was like a giant mansion, nothing in the series but the giant toad Gamabunta showed you how really big this place was… IT WAS A FUCKING MANSION BORDERING PALACE! And there were lots of stairs as we went up to the fifth floor, I always through it was the third as we walked calmly behind him and through a door and I swallowed as I recognised it.
"Hokage-sama, Team Seven reporting in." Kakashi said as the chair turned around to show a smiling old man smoking a pipe and I frowned… I wasn't a fan of old people or even my own grandparents before they died.
"And?" He asked Kakashi as he eye smiled.
"They all passed sir." Kakashi said as Hiruzen nodded with a smile and pulled out three cards and holding them out. I looked at him as he looked at me and followed Naruto and Sakura at retrieving the last one and I looked at it. It looked similar to Kabuto's ninja info cards as my mind told me I had taken the picture after the genin exam three days ago… Before all of this and I looked at it slowly as if it was registering in my brain.
I was no longer a girl of age eighteen on a joy ride on a downward spiral in her life with not a care in her world. I was a twelve year old boy whose brother had killed my parents and now I'm a ninja of a village I was suppose to give my life for. I had lost my previous life and now I was to fix the life of someone else as well as change the world in the process by my decisions because of one Uzumaki Naruto, my teammate and rival.
"Sasuke-kun is everything all right?" Hiruzen asked as I looked up with surprise and noticed everyone looking at me with worry as I pocketed my ID and nodded.
"I'm fine Hokage-sama, it's been an interesting last few days sir, I think I'm just tired and can't wait for some sort of normal back in my life." I said calmly as he puffed on his pipe with a look of worry and suspicion I wasn't telling the truth… I hope that was the only suspicion.
The meeting was over quickly afterwards with mainly Kakashi and Hiruzen talking as we stood there and we walked out of the office and gathered in a small group.
"Like I said earlier, tomorrow we'll be starting missions so meet at the bridge at eight and we'll beginning our mission. Dismissed Team Seven." Kakashi said with pride in his voice, which was odd but brightened my day as he walked off with a wave over his shoulder and the other in his pocket.
"Ne Sasuke-kun, want to go and have dinner with me, you must be hungry?" Sakura asked, hanging on my arm again as I sighed, seemed like my words didn't get through to her.
"Thanks but no thanks Sakura. I'd like a quiet evening to relax and prepare for tomorrow, I suggest you do the same. Good night." I said tiredly as I pried my arm out of Sakura's grip and walked down the corridors… Now, how do I get home from here?