Chapter Fourteen:
Kakashi's decision
"Well, there's no need for all of you guys to go back to the academy," Kakashi started, focusing his gaze on Sasuke. Specifically, on the little orange book the Uchiha had in his hands. "But I will let you guys decide that for yourself." He walked towards Sasuke, holding out his hand.
Silently, the Uchiha gave him his book. He hoped that his book wasn't too badly damaged by all it went through today. In return, he dropped a single bell in Sasuke's awaiting hand.
"What is this?" Sasuke immediately asked.
"What do you mean?"
The Uchiha glared. "Why only one bell?"
"One book for one bell. You were expecting two for one? That is a bit greedy, isn't it?" Kakashi delighted in the eye-smile he awarded the glaring boys. It was too bad that Sakura now looked completely disinterested. Maybe he should lay off on using genjutsu on newly graduated brats.
"That's unfair!" Naruto yelled. "That book weighs more than both bells combined!"
"Hmmm, maybe you are right Naruto..." Kakashi mused, pausing just enough to keep the two boys on the edge. "But that's only physically. I admit, your strategy is good and could even be applied in real life."
"Then what's the problem?" Sakura asked, seeming annoyed. "Just give the two idiots their bells. I don't fucking care anymore."
Kakashi immediately answered before the boys could properly register the girl's words. "The problem is value. Yes, this book is important to me. But is a book that I can literally buy at any bookstore in Konoha as valuable as even one of the only two bells that can change your lives forever? You guys should be happy I don't feel bothered to buy another copy of my book, otherwise I would have let you keep it. Seems like all of you need help in the love department anyway."
Kakashi practically beamed at the glares he was receiving. It seems like somewhere along his speech he caught back Sakura's interest. Half of it at least.
"Now, why don't you guys decide who gets the bell? I don't have all day."
In a way, Kakashi was just being petty. The three had surprisingly all already met the criteria to pass the exam. But the sheer amount of recklessness in their plan caused him more stress than he would like to admit.
"Frankly," Kakashi continued, "All of you are just punks who don't deserve to be ninja. But I'm feeling nice today."
"Like I give a fuck."
He turned his attention to Sakura. "Oh? Realized you're better suited to picking flowers than keeping up with the ninja lifestyle?"
Sakura chuckled. "What do you take me for? A fucking pansy? I don't give a fuck about this shit show." Her eyes glanced back towards Naruto's worried orbs and Sasuke's dark ones. "But these two..." she raised her scythe. "I will fuck you up for them."
She started walking towards him.
It was weird. She didn't even flinch when Naruto was screaming earlier. She seemed like the one who cared the least about her teammates which reminded him of him. It was surprising, he expected Sasuke to be more like him. But now it seems Sakura wasn't even like him either.
"They work hard every day. I have no fucking clue why, but both really like this village. Fuck, they're the only ones who make Konoha alright. To become Hokage and to avenge...compared to my fucked up dreams." Chakra was pouring into the scythe. "If that bell is needed so they can continue-"
"Me too!" Naruto yelled. "Sakura-chan and even the Teme... if I become a ninja and you don't...then it's all pointless! What's the point if I can't get you to ac-"
Sasuke scoffed. "I am also done. These two idiots need the bells more than me. I am the last Uchiha. I don't need you to become a shinobi."
It was a bizarre whiplash of camaraderie. Despite how he previously crushed them, they all seemed determined.
In fact, it was so bizarre that it made him chuckle. "You guys pass."
That stopped Sakura in her tracks. Sasuke also froze. Naruto jumped up and yelled hoorah, no questions asked.
"What the fuck?"
He'd have to work on Sakura's potty mouth.
"I'm wondering that too," Kakashi admitted. "Especially since you brats probably don't even know why you passed, yet you did it twice already."
Kakashi could practically see question marks dancing around their heads. This made him sigh. "Why do you think you guys are divided in teams?"
"To go on missions together." Naruto answered.
"So that was the answer then? Teamwork?" Sasuke added.
"Sounds like some b-"
"Exactly," Kakashi nodded in approval. "The purpose of this test was to see whether you can forget about your own interest and successfully work together in these designed circumstances."
"Who was the dumbass that came up with it?" Sakura wondered out loud.
"And somehow, surprisingly, you guys did." Kakashi continued, ignoring Sakura. "Sakura, while you didn't struggle too much against the idea of teaming up you did seem to disregard the others. Until just now, when you all but said you consider their goals more important than your perverted fantasy."
Kakashi almost smiled in satisfaction when Sakura twitched.
"Naruto, you were the first to suggest working together. Good job."
Naruto beamed, practically preening at the praise.
"Finally, Sasuke. While Naruto was the first to suggest it, you actually came up with a plan. You could have selfishly tried to hog the spotlight...like your other teammates did, but you didn't. Though you were too cocky to include Naruto at first, once Sakura dragged him in you accepted it and went with it. Tolerance is important in missions. Though, I would like you grow fond of instead of just being tolerant."
"Hn."
Good enough.
Kakashi gave them a genuine smile. "You idiots pass. You guys are the first. Everyone else just did what I told them. They were all just morons."
"So...you want us to not listen to you?" Naruto genuinely asked.
"I appreciate obedience, but a ninja must see underneath the underneath. In the ninja world, those who break the rules are trash. But you know what? Those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash."
For the first time that day, his words finally seemed to struck a cord with them. They all seemed pensive. In a way, Kakashi was glad that his words had resonated with them. He'd tell them about the Memorial Stone another day. He wouldn't wanna push his luck and ruin the progress by throwing in another life lesson.
As if to agree, Naruto and Sasuke's stomachs growled.
"Lunch?"
Sakura nodded. "Yeah, I'm starved!"
For some reason, this earned the girl a glare from Sasuke.
"Let's go get ramen!" Naruto excitedly yelled.
He was looking at Kakashi with such an earnest look that Kakashi withheld from pointing out he already brought lunch. He'd let his ninken have them. It seemed like even the standoffish Uchiha was agreeable to the idea. The wonders of being starved, perhaps he should tell them to skip breakfast more often. Though that wouldn't be good for anyone's pockets.
He neverminded that then.
It was no surprise that Naruto ended up leading them to Ichiraku. It was a widely known fact that the blond ninja was Ichiraku ramen's number one supporter. He made a mental note to address Naruto's eating habits. Though what did surprise Kakashi was that there was already another team there.
"Huh? What are you guys doing here?" Naruto asked in annoyance. "This is our team's spot!"
Kakashi shot Asuma an apologetic nod, though the man didn't seem the slightest bit bothered. "Maa, maa Naruto...it's good to foster bonds," Kakashi pointed out as he sat down next to Asuma.
"Hey guys!" The Akimichi greeted with a smile. "Shika wanted to see how your first day went. C'mon order something to eat."
At the mention of eating, Naruto immediately took a seat next to Shikamaru with a wide grin.
Shikamaru Nara's cheeks coloured a bit. It looked like the Nara was a bit embarrassed at being outed like that. Though Kakashi had to wonder why the Yamanaka was glaring at his kunoichi. Was there a rivalry going on there? Though Sakura didn't even bother to give the other girl a glance as she sat next to Naruto. That seemed to irk Sasuke since the only vacant spot left was between the Yamanaka and the Akimichi.
Upon noticing this exact fact, the Yamanaka abandoned her one-sided glaring contest to shoot Sasuke a very flirty look. "Sasuke-kun! We both have so mucb in common don't you think? I mean, we both have lame teammates."
Kakashi felt bad for Sasuke. Not because the older ninja had anything against the Yamanaka or anything like that. No, it was because Sasuke looked truly uncomfortable at the idea of sitting next to Ino.
Just as Kakashi was thinking whether or not he should intervene to help his poor student, Choji wordlessly moved to his left.
"What the hell Choji!" Ino immediately yelled, trying to shove Choji back next to Shikamaru.
It was futile since Sasuke had already taken the vacant seat between Choji and Shikamaru. Kakashi had to fight a smile as Sasuke nodded to Choji in thanks. It seemed like his student did have some manners. Now it seemed like Sasuke and Shikamaru were a bit annoyed at being next to each other, though it seemed like both would just put up with it for the sake of peace.
There was a moment of silence.
Then the owner grinned at them all. "Now that everyone's here, ready to order?"
Everyone shouted/stated their orders at the same time.
Kakashi was impressed when the owner simply nodded and instructed his daughter on what to do.
"The bell test was so rad, right guys?" Naruto started asking.
This earned him a confused look from Team Ten. Asuma simply chuckled and shot Kakashi a knowing look. It seemed like he was wordlessly saying that old habits die hard.
"Huh? Bell test? What are you talking about? Sounds like a drag."
Naruto frowned. "To become actual gennin. Kakashi-sensei would have sent us back to the academy if we had failed."
"That's not allowed, right?" Ino asked.
Asuma shrugged. "Yes, but every Jonin gives out their own tests."
"But you didn't test us," Choji pointed out.
"What can I say? It was pity at first sight," Asuma grinned at the annoyed looks he received from his students.
Though it was a bit unfair, it was status quo for teams consisting of one Yamanaka, one Akimichi, and one Nara to get an instant pass. It was in part tradition and another part because there was no need to test if they are compatible since their clans had already done it.
"Wait, so what did you guys do the whole time?" Sasuke piped in.
"Probably sat around picking flowers," Sakura answered.
"It was more troublesome," Shikamaru answered without any annoyance. It seemed like both he and the Akimichi were already used to his kunoichi, while the opposite rang true for the once again irked looking Yamanaka. "We started taking missions."
"What? That's unfair!" Naruto whined, shooting Kakashi a comically annoyed look. "We can't let them beat us!"
Even Sasuke and Sakura looking at him in annoyance.
He shot them all an eye-smile.
Shikamaru yawned. "Trust me knucklehead, those missions will make you wish for training instead."
Before anyone could protest, their ramen were done.
Kakashi had to admit, his day had gone far differently than he was expecting. In a mostly good sense. It had been quite a while since he had eaten together with so many people...it felt oddly nice.
It was just day one, but he was already getting attached to his team.
They were different.
(He used an argument between Naruto and Ino to eat his food without anyone noticing. When Sasuke and Sakura had realized, they both looked disappointed.)
Chapter End.
A/N: so hahah weekly updates as promised o3o Next week I will be changing my username so don't be surprised to see another name. I hope you all are having a nice year so far :3
Questions (a.k.a let me hear your thoughts):
1. What did you think of my version of the bell test? (hopefully it was original)
2. Should I watch Boruto? Why yes? WHy no?