8 DAYS TO CHUNIN EXAMS
Hikari bowed her head to the guard with a smile. "Good afternoon, Nara-san." The other guard came closer. "Nara-san," she greeted him. He nodded back to her.
"Hikari-chan," the young woman greeted, leaping down to stand in front of her. "My name is Satomi," she said.
Hikari grinned. Intelligent beauty, beautiful intelligence. It was a gorgeous name for a Nara.
"And this is my boyfriend, Maen. We're both chunin."
"It is a pleasure to meet you both."
"Thank you, Hikari-chan. It was our pleasure to see you yesterday."
"And ours to host you," Hikari returned.
Satomi let out a brief laugh and gestured for her to follow her up to join Maen. "We were wondering... just how good is your balance?"
She cocked her head. "In what sense?" There were many moves and disciplines that required balancing. Some techniques differed. Walking the tight rope wasn't the same as slacklining even if both looked similar.
"The one you did with your partner."
"I'm pretty good, but more than half of the difficulty is carried out by the base."
"How come?" Maen asked.
"Arata is steady enough for me to do the pose and strong enough to hold it. Once I'm settled in a pose, he ups the level by moving." That didn't mean it wasn't hard on her to keep steady as he shifted positions. However, Arata had to be both strong and flexible, his strength both explosive and steady.
"It can't be that hard, can it? You're the one upside down and doing the bendy stuff."
Hikari wasn't surprised by Satomi's impression. The eye tended to be drawn to the flyer, but the whole performance was dependent on the base. A good base could do a semi-decent number with an amateur flyer. A superb flyer could do nothing with a bad base, or one who didn't hold their trust.
"Would you like to try it?"
"I... yeah, sure. Go easy on me, Hikari-chan?"
"Of course. A static hold, no more. Like this, please," She put her hands in front of her shoulders, arms folded to the sides, and palms facing the sky. She then took off her gloves and tugged her shirt off the thumb-holes and down to her wrist.
Hikari jumped on a raised section to gain height and asked Satomi to stand with her back to her. She bent her torso down and put her hands on Satomi's. Startled brown eyes met hers. Hikari waited for her to grow used to the hold and most of her weight.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
Hikari kicked off and into the handstand. Satomi wavered. Maen came closer, ready to steady them, but there was no need. Hikari shifted her body in the opposite direction, acting as a counterbalance. Satomi regained her center. Hikari moved with her. If she had been a new flyer, they'd have lost the hold twice by now. New bases forgot their correction disrupted the equilibrium again.
Satomi huffed out a laugh.
"Take a step," Hikari invited her.
Even before Satomi's foot left the ground, Hikari had twisted to land on the ground. Satomi's had glanced down before taking the step. Her hand had followed downwards, forcing Hikari to bend her opposite arm awkwardly to keep their palms together. Satomi had tried to correct, disturbing Hikari's balance even more in a one-sided tug of war.
"My turn," Maen declared, ignoring Satomi's disappointed frown.
"Of course," Hikari agreed, standing in the raised ledge again.
She grasped his hands, waited for his signal, and kicked off. As he had watched his girlfriend's attempts, his hold was more confident.
"Try to remain steady," Hikari said as she started to arch. She went slowly, torso first and then moving both legs behind her head. Thinking he had to act as counterweight, Maen leaned back. But Hikari hadn't shifted her weight towards her legs and didn't need the hold adjusted. Her feet came down on the ground, and she gave a sharp tug so Maen didn't crash into the raised section at his back.
He thanked her as he regained his footing and let go of her hands. "It feels weirder than I thought."
Satomi nodded.
Hikari laughed, amused at the couple. It was a common misconception, thinking Arata only had to bear her weight. She had acted as base a couple of times, with kids much younger and lighter than her. She had no interest in doing it again. The sensation of holding something both heavy and unsteady was indeed strange.
"Would you like to try again?"
They glanced at each other before grimacing.
"We would, Hikari-chan," Satomi said, eyes half-lidded and disappointed. "However, Shikamaru-kun is already in."
"Yoshino-sama should have your meal ready," Maen remarked.
She nodded. Shika's mom was strict and liked things done her way and on her time. She was also terrifying when you weren't up to her standards. Hikari had once regretted she wasn't a jonin. Any genin under her would be whipped into shape in the fastest and most effective manner.
"I get to escort you there," Satomi continued, giving her a lazy smile. "Come on, kid."
She reached over to put an arm around her shoulders, telegraphing the move. Hikari let her but didn't reach out to mirror her.
Instead of letting her go at the front door, Satomi led her to the backyard. There was a very long table set up, with people already seated.
"Our elders wanted to meet you properly."
Hikari jerked to a halt, but Satomi cheerfully pushed her forwards.
"I haven't even showered yet, I should -,"
"No can do, kid. You're already here." Seeing she remained unconvinced, Satomi turned to her. "Hikari-chan, we don't care. Your performance... everything was a thing of wonder. But the last piece moved all of us. Especially the elders. Most of them have fought two wars. Seeing our techniques retaken to show something so beautiful, to represent a new beginning, was... an entire experience. They want to thank you. Kei-kun is my second cousin. I want to thank you, Hikari-chan, for including him. He's been bursting with pride."
Hikari smiled. Kei was a wonderful addition to Ami's group of friends. He had also gone to every lesson he was invited to, determined to catch up quickly. "And so he should. He worked hard."
Satomi huffed out a laugh. Shikamaru ambled over to them. She rubbed her back before letting her go with a small push. "Enjoy your meal, Hikari-chan, and come by again when I'm not on guard duty, yeah?"
Hikari nodded and waved before turning to her best friend.
Shikamaru gave her a hug, leaning all his weight on her. "They were already here when I got back. There was no time for a nap," he complained.
Hikari burst out laughing.
Shikamaru stole Hikari's bowl of broccoli and spinach gomaae, leaving his onsen tamago in its place. Elder Enchu glared at him. Shikamaru ignored him in favor of Hikari's grateful smile. The elder's glare abated, his dark eyes assessing the situation. He'd been one of the few who had wanted to make the meal as fancy as possible. His mother had shot down the idea of serving natto, fugu, and other plates found in the daimyo's court. Hikari would have eaten everything, but she was a very picky eater if she wasn't a guest. She enjoyed exotic spices and teas, but she preferred simple dishes. Dishes even a toddler would eat. Broccoli didn't make the cut.
It had taken Chouji five weeks to realize Hikari didn't like chips and she was taking them because she thought it meant something to him. Which it did, since Chouji only shared his food with his friends. His friend had made sure he had some sort of fruit in his bentos ever since.
"Hikari-chan," Elder Enchu started his interrogation. "Are you interested in politics?"
Shikamaru groaned quietly. What a drag. Across from him, Shikaku hung his head in defeat. When Elder Enchu got going about the need to improve the reputation of the clan via politics, there was no deterrent. They waited for Hikari's answer. Their alliance to the kyokuba-dan had quieted most grumblings. They were a powerhouse who held the daimyo's ear, so this shouldn't be too bad.
"I doubt my team will ever be considered first for diplomatic missions." A brush of Hikari's shoulder against his told him she knew this wasn't what Enchu was asking.
Shikamaru's lip curled to one side. He'd complained to Hikari about the troublesome elder once or twice.
"According to the team sent, Kakashi did a good job in Waves," his father informed her, a small smile in his lips at her antics.
Hikari smiled, pleased.
Enchu's lips formed a thin line.
"The kyokuba-dan knows enough to be able to direct the tides if we wish to," Hikari pacified the elder, "but we're not a regular party in the capital's decision-making."
"Why not?" Enchu pressed.
"Because of what we deal with. Generally, a secret spent is worth less than one gone untold." His best friend held the Elder's gaze as she continued. "We're trusted and respected as secret-keepers. The value of secrets can be ephemeral. The value of having kept them is not so easy to disregard."
"But you can shift the tides," Enchu was unwilling to let this go.
"If we wish to," she repeated, "and if it doesn't involve internal shinobi business."
Enchu gestured with his hand for her to keep talking. Hikari's eyebrow arched, but she indulged him.
"Fire's kyokuba-dan is the strongest," she stated bluntly. "That and its isolation have allowed civilians and shinobi alike to remain ignorant of our role. We hold the balance between shinobi and the daimyo. Konoha has issues to deal with, but it has never had to battle or struggle against its own daimyo. We have upheld our part of the deal. As long as the Hokage doesn't break the terms he and his predecessors have set, we will continue to do so."
Across from them, his dad shifted in his slouch. "He and his predecessors?"
"Yes. The kyokuba-dan's deal is re-negotiated each time the hat is passed. We can choose to renew it as is, we can negotiate new terms, or we can refuse to sign."
That sounded bad to him. Shikamaru poked her in the shoulder. "What happens if you refuse to renegotiate? What is a breach of terms?"
Hikari shifted. The table had gone silent. Shikamaru poked her again. He wasn't letting this go.
Finally, his friend turned to him and explained. "The first deal was based on giving us a safe place to raise our children." Shikamaru nodded. Hikari's mom had said as much. "If shinobi ever willfully endanger or harm the kyokuba-dan through their actions or inactions, then they have breached the contract. It's not the only way, but it's the most obvious."
Without looking away from shifting brown and green, he poked her again insistently. She had answered half.
"If we refuse to renegotiate," Hikari continued and Shikamaru stopped bothering her so he could listen, "then the kyokuba-dan leaves Konoha and considers we owe no debts towards the village."
Shiakamru's breath caught. That was more than bad. He'd never considered Hikari could leave Konoha. Ever since she'd enrolled in the Academy, her time away from the village had dwindled down. He moved his knee so it touched hers and forced himself to think it through. Hikari couldn't leave Konoha. Not easily. When someone enrolled in the Academy, they swore allegiance to the village. She'd risk being labeled a missing nin. Shikamaru tensed even more. Staying if the kyokuba-dan ever left would break his best friend.
Yesterday, Hikari and Arata had made it clear to everyone how much they loved the kyokuba-dan. Shikamaru knew it wasn't the message they had meant to give out to the Naras. They had certainly received the intended one.
The shadow dance had amazed his clan. Kotone had let them know it had taken months. Shikamaru thought the idea and the forming of shapes had taken far longer. It was a masterpiece, mixing dance and shadows, and ending up with something that was not quite either. They'd made sure the last image was their symbols, side by side, to signify an alliance between equals. It displayed their willingness to mix each party's talents and emerge with something new and unique. That had been more than any Nara, including him, could have thought to hope for.
They had also asked a Nara child to show what he'd learned from them in a number that showcased potential. From what Kei had told them, they had been ready to trade for it. Kei had been bemused by the fact that they thought he was doing them a favor. They were giving him an honor, asking him to participate in the coming of age performance of the kyokuba-dan heirs. They had trusted Kei to not give away the surprise to his ninja family. Kei was five. A smart five-year-old, and a Nara smart five-year-old at that. But still... Hikari and Arata would have lost nothing by not including him. Kei would have been disappointed, but he'd have understood. Instead, they had taken a big risk to send out the message: this alliance needed no formal contract, no clauses. It was made in good spirit and even better faith. It was wanted and would be treasured. He and everyone in the table had received the message, loud and clear.
But just like in shoji, the players revealed things about themselves with their moves. Hikari and Arata had made every move about honoring the kyokuba-dan. Kotone had declared it wasn't a scaled down product, and he believed her. He did, but he had also seen her surprise. Arata and Hikari had done something unexpected. Shikamaru had been entranced by the stage, but he'd also made careful note of the other's reactions. It wasn't only those he recognized as of Movement who'd stood up in respect. Every choice had displayed the performing arts at their fullest. Not just their own.
He was grateful when his father asked the question in his mind. "Hikari-chan, has the Fire kyokuba-dan ever considered leaving the village?"
There was more forest green mixed in with the brown than warm amber in Hikari's eyes as she turned. "The kyokuba-dan didn't enforce their isolation for no reason, Shikaku-dono." A double negative. The kyokuba-dan enforced their isolation for a reason. She let the words settle before turning to his mother. "Yoshino-sama, Shika said something about mango pudding?"
Everyone allowed the change of topic, understanding Hikari was done with this line of questioning.
"Yes, Hikari-chan," his mother smiled. "I made both mango and strawberry."
"Thank you," Hikari's eyes lit up.
"You're very welcome," Yoshino replied while shooting a smug look at the elders, who all looked a bit put out. Shikamaru smirked. Even he could soak the gelatin sheets, blend the fruit and sugar, add cream and milk, mix it all together and then place it in the fridge. It was not, by any means of imagination, a sophisticated dessert. Still, they should know better than doubting his mom.
"You can take it with you and walk the forest for a bit," Shikaku suggested, excusing them both from the table.
They said their goodbyes and then Hikari entwined their fingers and pulled him towards the kitchen. Shikamaru rolled his eyes but dutifully picked out one of the yellow desserts. Hikari grabbed one of the strawberry ones, and Shikamaru guided them to a beautiful clearing.
His best friend's eyebrow arched in question. Shikamaru nodded. Hikari's spoon dipped into the mango pudding, needing no more invitation.
"Hikari," he started.
"Yes?"
"I don't think most of the kyokuba-dan know the elemental cycle. What was the story for them?"
"Shika!" She laughed while pushing the pink pudding closer to him, encouraging him to taste it. "Are you asking what they most likely understood, or what Arata and I wanted to transmit?"
"You and Arata-san," he admitted.
Hikari frowned. "Shika, art isn't... there's no one single meaning. Every spectator takes something different from it," He nodded. He'd known her since they were four; he knew that. He also knew a lot of artists chose to never explain their craft. "I have no issue in answering any of your questions. It's just," she hesitated. "I don't want to ruin it for you."
Shikamaru did a double take. "Troublesome. Nothing could ruin it," he said firmly when he realized she was serious.
"We don't think the same way," she pointed out.
"That's never been an issue," he shot back. They agreed on the important things.
"Speaking of, I forgot to thank you," she interrupted. "Ino told me of your C-ranks. You promised me you'd think on what I said, about gender and sex being irrelevant when talking about art and skill. About them being a characteristic that didn't define a personality. About the danger of dismissing someone because of it." He nodded, seeing where she was going. "And you did. You offered something big, Shika, and you made good on it. Thank you."
"I don't think exactly like you about it," he warned. He'd caught himself a couple of times doing gestures that he'd previously excused as chivalrous or polite but had patronizing undercurrents. He also hadn't done the C-rank that way for Hikari's benefit. It had been the one that required the least amount of effort.
"As long as you look at someone and see a human being instead of a person chained down by their sex," she shrugged.
Shikamaru swallowed, thinking his friend overestimated him. He'd prove her right, he decided. Because Hikari, too, had rethought truths. Shikamaru still remembered the first time Hikari had come to him, excited about showing him something - and he now realized she must have traded to be allowed to do so - and his response had been 'What a drag'. He could still remember her eyes filling with hurt and her stiff and polite goodbye. He'd gone back the next day, and she'd come out to check if he was there. The next time she offered, he'd made sure he was already standing up and ready to follow her before expressing how troublesome it all was. They had both put in effort to both explain and understand without changing the other.
"So...?"
"Fine! I don't think it'll be a perfect fit for what you saw, but I can walk you through our thought process, if you want me to?"
"Yes."
"When you look at the sky hoping to be guided by the stars, what's the first thing you see?"
Shikamaru thought about it. They had learned about Navigation using the night skies in the Academy. "Tsuzumi boshi. An instrument! For Music?"
"Not really. Percussion is an instrument of Earth, not Fire. It looks like an hourglass, and we started the story talking about time, so it's not a wrong answer. We're nearing the peak of summer. What's the first thing you see?"
"The Summer Triangle?" It was called the Navigator's Triangle for a reason, and it was as noticeable in the summer sky as Orion in the winter.
His friend smiled. "The three brightest stars of three different constellations, forming a triangle and guiding home those that look up."
"The Daimyo, the Hokage, and your mom."
Hikari nodded. "The story was also about a bargain, both how we do things and how we've done them in the past. And then a journey. You saw seven metamorphosis of being, right?"
"Yeah. The elements and then yang and yin."
"I thought you'd see it that way, and we changed some details to make it easy to be seen that way."
Shikamaru's eyes narrowed. "But it wasn't how you meant it?"
"We were nomads, Shika. We thought it as the kyokuba-dan's literal journey," Hikari smiled and shuffled to lean on the same tree as him. "Seeing all corners of the world and ending in Fire. And then the last two numbers. For you, yang and yin."
"And for you?"
She knocked his shoulder with hers. "Do you want to guess? It's easy."
Shikamaru paused. Kotone had informed them of the parallels between the deal between the star and the human and the kyokuba-dan and shinobi. A piece of history unknown now to the latter. Hikari was telling him the narration continued from there and until they settled at Fire. Yang and yin. Dynamism and passivity, body and spirit, sun and moon, chaos and creation. Potential and realization. "Do they signify the kyokuba-dan by alluding to art?"
His friend groaned dramatically, letting herself fall sideways and tipping so she laid on his legs, glaring up at him. "The last number is yours. I know I did an awful job at explaining, but I thought I'd managed to make that much clear."
He frowned at the thought of the blank piece of paper.
"The sixth piece did refer to art and to us, showcasing one of the five performing arts in all levels of skill and realization," Hikari explained when the silence stretched. "The last one signified your family and our alliance through our eyes."
From a nomadic lifestyle to sedentary, then the kyokuba-dan's achievements within Fire, and finally their hopes and reasons for reaching out. It was different from what Shikamaru had guessed, but not really. He'd had the pieces but not the exact sequence. There was one that stuck out.
"It didn't go back to the beginning in all aspects." The alliance further tethered them to Konoha, pulling them away from returning to a nomadic lifestyle.
"It was never meant as a circle."
"But the story..."
"At the end, were you the same as at the beginning? Did the performance give nothing to you?"
"No!"
"I think cycles are more like a spiral than a perfect circle. You have to at least gain consciousness with each loop, right?"
Shikamaru's lips quirked up. That was such a Hikari thing to say - nothing stayed the same, even if you somehow managed to stand in the same place as before.
"So?" Hikari nudged him.
"The opposite of ruined. Am I still missing some pieces?"
"I don't know. Maybe? There were specific details to show our appreciation and respect for other arts, but they won't hold meaning to you."
"Troublesome. Have I said thank you?" He thought he'd done so, but he couldn't be sure how much he'd said when he'd reached her after the shadow dance. At that point, it had been pure word-vomit.
"Many times," she reassured him.
"Can I make a request?"
"Of course. Are you going to finish your dessert?"
"Yes. Hands off," he warned her, taking a spoonful of the mango treat and moving it away from her. They could always go back for seconds. He was pretty sure even if they didn't, his dad would sneak Hikari some. After yesterday, Shikaku would agree to buy Hikari her weight in chocolate if she asked. She deserved extra dessert, if only for taking the elder's ambush so gracefully. "No more blank pages." Even with Kotone's reassurances, it had felt awful. It had thrown him off balance. Hikari was thoughtful, taking the time to leave him and Ino a message before going to Waves. He'd gotten used to it. He didn't want to get un-used to it.
"No more empty notes," she promised before interlacing their fingers. "Sorry. I couldn't find the words, and I needed to start warming up."
Shikamaru nodded, accepting the apology before noticing something in the periphery. He kept his body loose and relaxed as he squeezed Hikari's hand, a finger stretched to the far-off trees. She took the hint, moving only her eyes. Her breath caught, her hand squeezing his tighter. Both of them admired the young stag, its antlers still coated in velvet.
Shikamaru smiled. It was the first time a Nara deer had ventured this close to Hikari. He'd seen them before when they'd ventured through the forest, but still too far, too wary to let themselves be seen easily. This one didn't seem to want to come any closer, but neither were its ears flattened. No signs of unease.
Shikamaru smiled wider.
7 DAYS TO CHUNIN EXAMS
Nara Shikaku surveyed the table's occupants. Flanking him were Inoichi and Choza. In front of them were Inuzuka Tsume and her partner Kuromaru, followed by Hyuga Hiashi, and Aburame Shibi. Konoha's clan heads.
"Thank you for arriving promptly," the Hokage told them from the head of the table. "We have some troubling news to discuss."
"Does this have anything to do with the Nara pulling their people into the village?" Hiashi asked, voice as stiff as his posture.
Shikaku sighed. Dealing with Hiashi was tiring. Dealing with Hiashi when he thought his clan was being slighted in favor of another was troublesome.
"No, Hiashi. Shikaku's request was separate," the Hokage gestured for him to speak up.
"Separate, but not independent," Shikaku declared without preamble. "The Nara celebrated an alliance." The Hokage hadn't been pleased when he announced it, but he was within his rights.
The kyokuba-dan was civilian. He wasn't required to inform anyone of his decision. It was just less troublesome to not have to tip-toe around it. Perhaps he should have clarified once he realized the Sandaime didn't know the depth of Shikamaru and Hikari's relationship, but Shikaku was displeased too. The Hokage hadn't called him or Inoichi to discuss the situation in Waves in full. If not for Hikari telling him, he'd have remained ignorant of the hole in their network. How did the Sandaime expect him to allocate Konoha's resources effectively with faulty information?
As soon as he had a free day, he was slated to discuss with Kotone the reasons for their isolation. Knowing it had to do with the Sandaime made him wary. His clan and Hikari's family so far had shared or understood what the other party valued.
Measuring glances were exchanged along the table.
"Not with a shinobi clan. Why? Because it wasn't with any of us."
"With Fire's kyokuba-dan," he clarified.
Hiashi straightened and pinned him with his white eyes. Tsume and Shibi frowned.
"This is unexpected. Why? Because Shino did not realize your son and the kyokuba-dan hime were this close."
That wasn't surprising. Shikamaru tended to skip classes and Hikari had never accompanied him.
Tsume wolf whistled. "Hime?"
"Shibi is talking about Sakasu Hikari. She graduated with our children and is now under Kakashi," Hiashi informed her. "Don't tell me you didn't realize who shared your son's class, Tsume."
"Hikari-chan? She's their heiress?"
Shikaku nodded. He'd asked Kotone about the disparity of knowledge about the kyokuba-dan between clans. She'd told him it had to do with contracts. The Aburame and Hyuga signed clauses that prohibited them from using their family's techniques to gain information from the kyokuba-dan or breaching their privacy. The Inuzuka and Ino-Shika-Cho didn't.
"Well, according to Kiba, she's polite and likes Akamaru. Thank you for informing us, Shikaku, but I say we move on." Tsume cut to the chase.
The other Clan Heads nodded their agreement.
"We have at least one spy," Inoichi informed them plainly. "We need to operate under the assumption that none of our information about other countries is complete, perhaps not even correct."
"There is no time for infiltration and information gathering missions. Why? Because teams will start to arrive as soon as tomorrow for the chunin exams."
They all nodded in agreement.
"None of the small nations under the Alliance would attack us. They'd have no hopes of winning even if they banded together," Hiashi intervened.
"Which leaves Suna," Tsume almost growled. Inuzuka never looked kindly on a traitor. A traitor working for another village even less so.
"Our kyokuba-dan has intel from a couple of months ago, shared to them by Wind's own kyokuba-dan." Shikaku proceeded to bring them up to date.
By the time he finished, everyone was wary. Suna's economy was stretched thin, their rocky relationship with their daimyo showed no signs of respite despite the Wind kyokuba-dan's attempts at mediation, and their jobs were being outsourced to Konoha. It was not a pretty picture.
"Suna has nominated thirty genin. One of the ten teams contains his three children," the Hokage informed them.
"Rasa's Gold Dust is not to be underestimated. Did any of them inherit his kekkai genkai?" Hiashi asked.
"Unknown," Inoichi replied.
They all traded grim looks.
"Cancelling the exams at his point is unadvisable. Why? Because it would be an insult and could ignite conflict."
"Correct, Shibi," the Hokage said. "Let's talk precaution measures and the exam's dynamics."
By the end of the day, Shikaku wanted a glass of sake. Calling back Jiraiya, establishing curfew for the foreign teams, and reworking the barrier's teams to have either a sensor, tracker, or Hyuga were stopgaps. Making sure the teams had no chance of causing trouble between the first and second task by giving them no rest period was a little better. What they really needed was to comb through their own ranks, unveiling the spy. However, that would take too much time and resources that couldn't be taken away from the exams. They would have to content themselves with clearing select tokubetsu jonin. Then, they'd start on clearing the jonin-senseis who nominated their teams this year. If the spy was working with Suna, they'd want to be close to the action.
6 DAYS TO CHUNIN EXAMS
Hatake Kakashi's eyes narrowed on two of his genin while they waited for the third to come back. For two days, Sasuke had been trying to get Hikari alone without success. The first one, Hikari had excused herself from their habitual practice in the river, explaining she was expected for dinner. The second, Kakashi had taken them on a one-day C-rank.
"You're a hime," Sasuke declared in a low voice.
"I am," Hikari agreed easily.
"Why didn't you say so?"
She shrugged. "It changes nothing between us."
Sasuke frowned, but Hikari didn't add anything else. He didn't press. "Are we going to the river after the dobe is done delivering the last message?"
"Sure."
"Hikari, Sasuke," he gestured them over.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei?"
"You are not to do anymore today. We trained, and you both expended a considerable amount of your chakra. We also took a messenger D-rank to increase your stamina. You're done."
"Hn," Sasuke glared and crossed his arms.
Kakashi refrained from rolling his eye. He decided to continue treating them like puppies: repetition and some sort of positive reinforcement. Thankfully, the natural reinforcement seemed to be enough for his cute little genin most of the time. Do your best and you'll get better. Simple. After a particular grueling training, he made an effort to remember to tell them they'd done good. So far, it had worked. Looking at Sasuke's glare, it was time for some more.
"You've gotten better."
His two genin didn't look very impressed. Kakashi wracked his brain for what Minato had done with his own team. Right. Personal reviews.
"Sasuke, your Dragon Fire is coming along, the edges clearer." The kid still needed ninja wire to guide it, but it was good progress. "Hikari, your ribbon-cocoon is almost ready." It was perfect while static, but could still use some work if she traveled. "Your efforts in water walking," and jumping, and dodging, and fighting and everything else they could think of - and Hikari was creative-, "help you not waste chakra in these techniques. But you need rest, too."
He didn't want them to burn out. Having Naruto on the team made scheduling breaks difficult because his sensei's son just didn't tire. But these two didn't have the chakra to keep practicing ninjutsu all day long, even though they wanted to.
He'd restricted Sasuke to one new C-ranked Fire jutsu and to perfecting the Uchiha's trademark Fireball technique. The rest of his time was spent in shuriken-jutsu and taijutsu with and without a partner.
Hikari's ribbon had such a thin surface that it didn't require a lot of chakra. In theory. In practice, it was six meters long and had a half meter metal handle. Asuma's trench knives were maybe twenty centimeters long and made with a special material. Kakashi didn't want to teach Hikari anything but D-ranks for now. By virtue of their parentage, her teammates had deep chakra wells. Hikari held up well under training, but he didn't want to push her towards chakra exhaustion or damaging her pathways. The trouble was that, for all the techniques he'd copied, he couldn't think of a water D-rank that wasn't Hiding in the Mist. The Kiri trademark needed a large body of water, and it would blind her and her team along with her enemies. Kakashi was sure Hikari had a Water affinity, but he was struggling to pinpoint her next easiest element. He'd thought Earth, but watching her learn the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique had killed that idea. She'd managed it, but it hadn't come easily to her. At her performance, Kakashi had realized that nothing was static to her, which made the element unsuited to her.
Oh, well. Kakashi would figure it out, or he'd eventually recall D-ranked techniques for every element and observe. There was no rush. She could continue working on the ribbon, which had the advantage of requiring precise chakra control.
"Do you understand?" Kakashi eye-smiled at his students.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei," Hikari nodded.
Sasuke's arms uncrossed. Good.
Naruto came back, bouncing. "The last message has been delivered, dattebayo!" He peered at them, curious. "What are you talking about?"
"Kakashi-sensei wants us to rest," Hikari replied without missing a beat.
For whatever reason, and perhaps Sasuke just didn't want to deal with Naruto's complaints, when the blond was present, neither mentioned their time practicing water-walking. The silver-haired jonin was sad Hikari hadn't invited Naruto to her performance, but she hadn't been cruel about it. Kakashi thought Minato's son deserved to see dreams and impossible shapes displayed on stage. Naruto would have enjoyed and marveled at the sheer explosion of aliveness that had been Hikari's coming of age, but Kakashi couldn't force something that wasn't there. His genin, all three of them, were reluctantly willing to work together. Friendship would or wouldn't come later. For now, this was enough.
"Rest? No! Kakashi-sensei, we can do more!"
"Maa, maa, Naruto. Leave that for another day, yes?" He put a gloved hand on top of Naruto's head and ruffled spiky blond hair. His eyes narrowed on the bird flying above him. He was being summoned. Kakashi turned to his students. "You're dismissed. I'll deliver this mission's report. Make sure you're ready and rested for tomorrow."
"Are we going to do something awesome?!"
"You could say that."
"What? What?"
"You've been mostly working in pairs." He'd had them developing three things: Naruto and Sasuke's front-line attacks, Sasuke and Hikari's taijutsu, and Hikari and Naruto's throws. "Tomorrow, you're going to put it all together, creating maneuvers the three of you can use against opponents."
"Like what?"
"That's for you three to figure out. Yes?"
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei," Hikari smiled before waving at her teammates and turning towards her compound.
"Hn." Sasuke put his hands on his packets and left, too.
"We'll do it, dattebayo!" Naruto exclaimed.
Kakashi nodded before using the Body Flicker Technique to get to the Hokage's office.
"I've gathered you here to discuss the upcoming Chunin Exams," the Sandaime informed them, as if they didn't already know. Jonin and chunin had steadily been called back to act as extra security.
"When do they start?" a jonin in the back asked.
"In a week." The Hokage spoke around his pipe. "New jonin-senseis, step forward, please."
Kakashi did, along with Kurenai and Asuma.
"Do you recommend your teams despite their inexperience? All three have completed the minimum number of missions, so they can qualify. Kakashi?"
"I lead Team 7: Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Sakasu Hikari. I, Hatake Kakashi, recommend these three genin for the chunin exams."
Kurenai and Azuma followed him, recommending their teams.
Murmurs broke out behind them, getting louder by the second.
"Wait a minute!" Iruka called out. "Hokage-sama, with all due respect, the nine genin were my students. I know their abilities. Each has potential, but it's too soon. They need more experience. Right now, they'll all fail."
"When I became chunin, I was six years younger than them." Kakashi pointed out.
He took his hands off his pockets but retained his slouch, ready to defend his choice but unwilling to explain himself to an Academy teacher, even if he was a respected one. Kakashi was appalled at the Academy's standard. Even taking out of the equation Naruto, who had a brawler's taijutsu and no theoretical knowledge, he was supposed to have two of the best students. Neither had known how to tree walk. Iruka had had six clan heirs in his class. It seemed to Kakashi he had become reliant on their clan's teachings. None of his genin had that advantage. Still, Kakashi was confident they would be able to pass anything that let them work together. On individual combat, it would depend on their adversaries, but all three could give a good fight.
"Even if they fail, it will teach them something." It would allow them to see their progress and measure themselves against their peers. Even if one of them passed all three tasks, Kakashi wouldn't recommend them for a promotion. But this was a good time to take the exams without too many risks, since they were on village. It'd had been more dangerous to leave them out of it now that they were taking C-ranks. Better to have them in the thick of Konoha's security rather than running missions outside of it.
"They are not like you! Are you trying to destroy them?"
Kakashi rolled his eyes. He was pacing them, focusing more on their basics and teamwork than an arsenal of impressive ninjutsu. "They're not your students anymore," he told Iruka plainly. They're mine."
"Iruka," the Hokage interrupted. "You've made your point."
"Hokage-sama," Iruka pleaded. "Let me make sure they're ready."
"What do you propose, Iruka?"
"Let me conduct a preliminary individual test."
Kakashi narrow his eye at the insult. He'd thought Iruka would ask each jonin sensei to submit an assessment, at most that he'd ask to see their training.
"And it'd involve what?" The Hokage prompted around his pipe.
When he got to Team 7, Kakashi stiffened. Iruka suggested henging into a foreign ninja and attacking Sasuke, pretending to kidnap an Academy student Naruto was fond of, and making Hikari believe Sasuke had gotten fatally wounded by a foreign ninja. He almost growled at the last one. He had no right to use what Naruto had told him of their first C-rank against his students. Sasuke's brush with death wasn't something Kakashi took lightly. Using it against Hikari was cruel, even if he was certain she'd see through the genjutsu.
"Iruka," The Hokage interrupted, taking his pipe out of his mouth. "Have you forgotten yourself? Kidnapping an Academy student while henged? Your own student? Do you want to incite war?"
"They wouldn't be in any danger!" The chunin protested, but a blush crawled up his face. He couldn't deny the accusation. The last time they had almost kidnapped a child, the Hyuga first born, war had almost broken out.
"Denied. I chose each jonin-sensei with great care, and I have faith in their ability to assess their students. Kurenai, Asuma, and Kakashi say their students are ready. That's it. Now, let the other jonin state if they recommend their own teams."
5 DAYS TO CHUNIN EXAMS
Hatake Kakashi arrived at their usual meeting place by the bridge and wasted no time.
"I know this is a little sudden," most genin prepared for a couple of months, "but I recommended you three for the chunin exams. Here are your registration forms."
Sasuke took a step forwards, accepting his sheet.
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei," Hikari smiled as she took her own, starting to read it.
He nodded to her and proceeded to inform them. "Your participation is voluntary. Should one of you decide you aren't ready, you can wait for next year's."
"Kakashi-sensei! You're the best! I'll do it, dattebayo!" Naruto launched himself at him. Kakashi allowed him to cling to his neck for half a beat before depositing him back on the ground and handing him his form.
"If you decide to take the exams, sign your sheet and go to the Academy's room 301 at one o' clock in the date stipulated on the sheet to hand it in. That's it. Now, have you warmed up?"
The three of them nodded.
"Go ahead and plan joint tactics, then."
"Kakashi-sensei?" Hikari approached him, nudging the other two to join her.
"Yes, Hikari?"
"Yesterday, Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun met a team from Sand. One of them threatened an Academy Student."
"You weren't there?" Kakashi asked her, alert.
She shook her head.
Kakashi's eye narrowed. It would have been ideal for Hikari to have been present. She was the best at diplomacy, and he had a feeling she knew Konoha's laws better than a lawyer. He turned to Naruto and Sasuke. "Did you two tell her about it?" That was good, making sure everyone in the team was aware of a potential threat.
"Yes," Sasuke replied, hands in his pockets. "I didn't think it was a big deal, but Hikari says they have toed the line of an alliance."
"He threatened Konohamaru, dattebayo!"
"Hikari, report." Her style was more concise than Naruto's and more informative than Sasuke's. "Then you two will add anything she missed or that you didn't tell her."
"Naruto was chasing three Academy students while playing ninja. Konohamaru-san bumped into a Sand ninja who proceeded to lift him up by his shirt. From Naruto-kun's description, he was wearing a black one-piece, a black hood with cat ears, and face paint. He had something big on his back, wrapped in bandages, with what looked like hair on one end," she hesitated before adding, "I think he's a puppeteer. His costume matches the ones used in bunraku theater, and Suna is known for their use of the art."
"It sounds like a reasonable argument. Continue."
"His teammate had a giant fan on her back. She neither stopped nor helped him. Sasuke-kun threw a rock at his hand from a nearby tree, forcing him to release his grip. Their third teammate arrived and offered apologies for his team, but not reparations. From their descriptions, he had red hair, the kanji for "love" on his forehead, and a gourd on his back."
Kakashi nodded at the young kunoichi before addressing the figure at her left. "Naruto, did Konohamaru-kun threaten them or insult them in any way?"
"No! He just bumped into the guy, Kakashi-sensei."
"Is he injured?" He didn't think so. If the Hokage's grandson was injured, someone - Ebisu most probably - would have noticed.
Naruto shook his head.
"Sasuke. Describe them."
"The first one: black clothes like Hikari said. His suit had a red and yellow circle in the torso. He wore gloves and his face-markings were purple. The second: blonde hair in four ponytails, light-colored dress with a red sash. I'd say her fan reached shoulder-level. The last one introduced himself as Gaara of the Sand. His eyes were light teal and had no pupil. His teammates were afraid of him, and I didn't hear him arrive."
"And why did neither of you think to report this?"
Naruto shuffled his feet. Sasuke didn't answer.
"Hikari, explain."
"Konoha and Suna have an alliance. If granted entry into the other's village, the foreign shinobi will be treated with courtesy. Their safety is guaranteed as long as they follow guest etiquette. Unprovoked attacks against anyone is a serious breach. On top of that, Academy students are legally civilians. Underage civilians, in Konohamaru-san's case." Hikari's tone was controlled, but she was clearly angry as she concluded. "A Sand shinobi threatened a child of Konoha."
He fixed the other two with his eye. "Did you ask for their identification or entry permit?"
They both shook their heads. Kakashi forced himself not to get angry. They should have found a chunin or higher. They should have made a report as soon as it happened. But they were genin and at least they'd told Hikari, who did know better.
"Any threat to Konoha's citizens by foreign shinobi needs to immediately reported to a superior," he explained something that should have been obvious. What were they teaching at the Academy? "Even if they exhibit no suspicious or aggressive behavior, you have the right to ask them to show you their permits and state their business within Konoha."
He waited until the two boys nodded before continuing.
"When the chunin exams start, the rules shift. Among its participants, anything goes. Attacks outside of the proctor's instructions are highly discouraged. Even with their permission, fatal force is to be avoided if at all possible." He pinned them with one eye, trying to get this through their thick heads. Konoha wasn't Kiri, but it was a Hidden Village. "In theory. In practice, foreign villages send their strongest genin. Those who can pass the test and handle sabotage and anything the other teams throw at them. Understood?"
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei."
"Yes," Sasuke took his hands off his pockets.
Naruto nodded with fervor, blue eyes open wide.
"I'll go report this incident. The three of you are to work on what we'd talked about. You are not to discuss the exams." They needed to decide individually if they wanted to participate. He thought they would, but he'd give them a couple of days. "I'll come back to check on you."
The three of them acquiesced, two of them already turning but one of them hesitating.
"Kakashi-sensei?"
He nodded to indicate he was listening and shooed the other two with an eye-smile.
"If the genin is a puppeteer and he was trained by a member of the Wind kyokuba-dan, we can demand steep reparation."
"Why, Hikari?"
"Because puppets are of the Theater Arts. Wind and Fire's kyokuba-dans have their own alliance, partially independent from the shinobi one. He should know better that to threaten a child in our village. He offered no reparation and let someone else apologize for him. If word gets out, he risks his standing and his teacher's regard of him."
"Thank you for telling me," he hesitated before deciding to just ask. "Will they recognize you?"
"It'd depend on the puppeteer and who the rest of the team is."
"They match the description of the Kazekage's children."
Hikari's eyes widened. "Oh. Yes. They'd recognize my last name."
Kakashi thought it over, but it wasn't a true concern. If they held their own alliance, the Sand team wouldn't seek to harm her. It could even work on her favor.
He pointed to her teammates. She rejoined them without complaints.
He sighed and went to explain to the Hokage how his grandson had been manhandled and two of his genin had thought nothing of it.
4 DAYS TO CHUNIN EXAMS
"Hikari!" Ino exclaimed, walking over to her. "Come eat at my house?"
She considered it. Her parents were going over last-minute details for the troupe that was set to depart tomorrow to Tea. It would most likely run over, or her parents would be invited to dine at someone's house.
"Yes, thank you, Ino."
They started heading towards her friend's family's house.
"Guess what!"
"You had a very interesting C-rank?"
"No, it was boring as always." her blonde her rolled her eyes in mock disappointment. Hikari laughed. They both knew she wouldn't trade Chouji and Shikamaru for anything. "Asuma-sensei nominated us for the chunin exams!"
"Congratulations!" Hikari smiled wide.
"Did Kakashi-sensei...?"
"Yes, he did," she made no attempt to keep the excitement from her voice. The chunin exams were more than a promotion milestone. They showcased each country's young talent and might. Kakashi-sensei's recommendation meant he trusted them to represent him and the village.
It meant a lot to her.
3 DAYS TO CHUNIN EXAMS
It was early morning, earlier than training time even, and Hikari was at Konoha's gates, seeing the troupe off. Masaru slid next to her when the goodbyes were finished and the performers left with three chunin teams escorting them. She smiled at him in greeting. Masaru had done such a great job at narrating their performance that her mom had decided to take it as his own coming of age performance for Language. He'd already performed on stage for Music in the last tour he'd accompanied her mom on, which meant he was set for both of his arts.
"Hikari-chan," his lips quirked up. "May I walk you to the training grounds?"
"Of course, Masaru-senpai. I have to be there in half an hour, so we can take our time if you wish to talk."
He nodded his head and gestured for her to lead them. She did, keeping the pace unhurried.
When they got to a bench, he stopped her with a hand on her forearm. They sat. Hikari crossed and uncrossed her legs, trying to figure out what he wanted.
"Can we speak plainly? I seek to share some truths, without judgement or accusations."
"Yes. I'll answer any questions you have, and I'll listen as best I can."
"Thank you," he still hesitated before plunging on. "When we got back from the show, we had to deal with Tanaka-san." He spoke his name with disgust.
Hikari nodded, knowing Masaru had been in the meeting. He hadn't been asked to speak up, but any apprentices could shadow their teacher.
"I also caught up with some of my friends."
That could mean a number of things: Arata, his friends from the kyokuba-dan, the trade favor, the civilians connected to the kyokuba-dan...
"I am angry at what I found out."
"May I help?" she asked tentatively. Should anything be wrong, Masaru was more than competent enough to fix it. If he wasn't, it was something so big it had to be taken up to an expert or her mom.
To her surprise, he nodded. "You can listen."
"Of course," she agreed, puzzled.
"The situation with Tanaka-san was tricky, and you focused on minimizing the damage and calling back the ones who could deal with it. We are - I am - grateful to the Naras for assisting."
Hikari blinked, startled. Masaru was one of the most vocal voices in their generation who protested their alliance. He saw nothing wrong with their isolation, and he didn't think the benefits the Nara brought to the table were enough to break it. Still, her mom and the majority of the heads and experts had decided for it, which meant Masaru would honor it, knowing his voice had been heard and his concerns addressed.
"But you were wronged twice over. We could take care of one of them, even if we couldn't take back the time you spent on those lessons. We can do nothing about your teammate."
"My teammate?" Hikari echoed, puzzled. What did Sasuke have to do with this? He hadn't offended anyone in her performance, and some had even heard his praise. It was elegant. One single adjective. A powerful one. She had told Sasuke how much of a compliment it was. So, it wasn't Sasuke. That left Naruto, but Hikari had been careful to never have him interact with her family. No one would take kindly to his pointing habit or his careless remarks.
"He called you a liar," Masaru sneered the pronoun and snarled the last noun.
Hikari stiffened and swallowed hard. Of course. Of course Masaru would find out. The establishment Asuma had taken them to hadn't been a kyokuba-dan one, but any of the employers or customer at the time could be Masaru's friend or a friend of a friend of his. For all that he vouched for their isolation from shinobi, Masaru kept careful track of everyone even remotely associated with the kyokuba-dan. He cultivated relationships with the families of those who married into the kyokuba-dan and went to visit the members who chose to pursue a career or live outside of the compound. While Arata and she knew everyone and their debts, Masaru kept track of everyone through relationships instead of trade.
"He did." She couldn't refute it, and she couldn't say his opinion had changed. Hikari didn't know what Naruto thought about her. He was tricky to read, and she hadn't made too much effort to find out. She was a coward. She didn't really want to find out.
Hands clasped around hers, warmth seeping into the bare skin of her fingers. I'm here. Allegiance. Trust. Respect. I value you. Her throat tightened, and she raised her gaze to meet grey eyes. Masaru tightened his hold for a moment before releasing her.
"Sometimes I step outside our compound and see the beauty you want us to see. I see it becoming entwined with our own each time the Nara come into the compound to accompany their own. I see it in their respect, kindness, and in their gratitude for letting Kei-kun learn. I see it in the relationships that are being forged. I witnessed it when their kid stepped into our stage."
A tremulous and self-depreciating smile stretched on her mouth, knowing there was a but coming.
"Sometimes, I step outside and see no beauty. Sometimes, I think our ways are different and better. I believe we are right to choose our partners, our teams, our teachers."
"I choose my team every day," Hikari declared. Every single day, she made the choice to work together to the best of her abilities.
He nodded. "And I am furious that at least one of them doesn't do the same."
She stayed silent, not knowing what to say. Shinobi didn't choose their teams. Naruto wasn't required to like her or to think she was the best choice for the team. He wasn't even required to believe her sincerity. He just had to work with her, which he did.
"You deserve better."
She jerked back at his statement. She didn't expect this from him. Anger at one of them being disrespected, at a gift being denied, even at someone using words to hurt her specifically as the kyokuba-dan heiress... yes. Anger for her, no. It wasn't that she thought Masaru couldn't be kind. He was. He cared. With all of his heart and every fiber of his being. He may not love spending time with their youngest, but he made sure to leave music sheets and poems and novels for each kid in his arts. Hikari herself had found some scrolls in her living room. They were passages written by their predecessors, detailing their dealings with Konoha's shinobi. She had understood the message. Despite my opinions, I will support you in your choices.
But they had never gotten along. Sometimes, she even though he disapproved of her not following Arata into aerial arts. Arata had been brimming with excitement when she was of age to be introduced to the arts. Hikari had struggled not to leave the gymnasium after trying bungee. Even months later and with the gentlest of their arts, she had bitten her lip to not to burst out crying at the silks' unforgiving hold. Finally, they had settled on a style that leaned towards hand-to-hand instead of her being on the apparatus. She could still see Arata's certainty that she'd love his art. She had dashed those hopes by choosing rhythmic. She had destroyed them further by choosing to enter the Academy and giving up the stage.
"You do, Hikari-chan." Masaru's eyes were as hard as steel. "You do a lot for us. As a whole and for each individual. You protected Jiro-kun. You trusted me to tell your story. You use your free-time to spend time with us. None of us doubt your love for us. If, for any reason, you don't wish to talk about this to those you regularly rely on, know you have other options. If I can help you in any way, even just by listening, I'm available to you."
"Thank you," she whispered.
2 DAYS TO CHUNIN EXAMS
Hatake Kakashi regarded his three panting students with a small smile hidden behind his mask.
"Before I let you go, each of you will tell me if you're going to present the exam or not. It is a personal decision. It will not be contested by anyone, even if the other two disagree with you."
The three of them nodded.
"Hikari?"
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei."
"Sasuke?"
"Yes."
"Naruto?"
"Yes, dattebayo!"
"Good. Tomorrow, meet here at the same time. Don't wait for me and don't do anything strenuous."
"What? You're not training us? What are we supposed to do, then?"
He quirked his eyebrows up, volleying the question back to them without a word.
"We're supposed to plan, aren't we, Kakashi-sensei?" Hikari asked.
"Yes. The three of you have done well. Keep it up."
1 DAY TO CHUNIN EXAMS
Hikari and her teammates sat in a triangle.
"How are we supposed to plan if we don't know what the exam will be like?" Naruto asked, looking a bit worried.
"I know what the last part of it is," Hikari reassured them. They both turned to her. "It's a tournament that consists of individual matches. People from the capital, both ours and foreign, will come see them. It's a bit more than a month away."
"Combat?" Sasuke asked, sounding smug.
"Yes. That's good news for us. But... do you think the exams will last a month?"
The three of them shared concerned glances between them.
"Can it be like Iruka-sensei's survival training trips?" Naruto asked hesitantly.
"Maybe," Hikari agreed even if she thought a month was a lot of time. "It will need to be something general, but that allows every team to be tested for some of their own skill set."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you remember when we competed against Team 10 and Team 8, Naruto-kun?"
"Yes, dattebayo! It was months ago."
"The test was made for them. We need to think like the planners to figure this out. If the chunin exams only tested reconnaissance teams, a good test would be to not even give them the right location and let them figure it out. A rescue team would have to get a hostage out without alerting their captors. Maybe have them negotiate a bit. An infiltration team would be tested differently than a team of field medics or one like ours. But there is one sole exam, meant to test every nominated team, regardless of their intended purpose and village."
"We're going in blind," Sasuke remarked, annoyed.
"Yes, but so is everyone else who's taking them for the first time."
They all considered this for a minute.
Hikari made herself think about it. Chunin were supposed to be versatile enough to be able to shuffle into different teams to complete missions. What was common to every chunin? They were trusted to lead, so they had to be able to make tactical decisions. They could go on missions without jonin. Respected ones could even teach. Chunin mostly took C and B-ranked missions. So, skills necessary for escort, infiltration, and tracking missions with the chance of encountering enemy shinobi.
"If the last part tests combat skills, then the others probably test something else. Intelligence, teamwork, strategy, survival skills, leadership."
"Intelligence? You mean like Iruka-sensei's tests?"
"I don't know, Naruto-kun, but we're being cited at an Academy classroom. Perhaps it's just for registration, perhaps it's not. I think we should assume the tests start tomorrow, even before we make it to the destination."
"We should head over together," Sasuke declared.
"Yes. Do you agree to meet here early enough that, if it's a test, we manage to complete it in time?"
They both nodded and Hikari relaxed.
"We need to have sufficient supplies," she said, moving on to the next point.
"We can't carry packs. If it's anything but a survival test, they will hinder us," Sasuke pointed out.
She nodded. "But we should all carry certain things, like a medical kit."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, "I've never needed it."
"That's why you should carry one, too."
Naruto stared at her, confused.
She sighed and clarified. "If anything manages to take all of us out," at Sasuke's offended look she added, "like an explosive tag we didn't see, then you'll be the first to recover, Naruto-kun. You'll have to make sure Sasuke-kun and I are alright. Maybe patch us up. Do you remember the Academy's first aid classes?"
"A little? Make sure they're breathing, don't move them if they hit their neck or spine, sterilize wounds? But I don't have a pack."
Hikari smiled. "Brush up on it today if you can, but that's a good basis. Tomorrow, I'll hand you a medical kit, and I'll give the two of you an antidote for my neko-te poison. And some ribbons. They don't take much space and, if nothing else, you can use them as bandages or to build traps." She turned to Sasuke. "I'll carry ninja wire, so we can pull off your dragon. What else?"
"Sharpen your weapons today," Sasuke ordered them.
She nodded to him before addressing her other teammate. "Naruto-kun."
"Yeah?"
"Your clones could clear up most of our problems, if you are willing. They can scout, act as decoys, find out adversaries' fighting style... those sorts of things."
"Yes, dattebayo! But what if it's a written test?"
He was clearly worried about it. Sasuke grimaced. Hikari wanted to do the same. Naruto's scores had been awful, and he hadn't studied theory since they graduated. Hikari's own scores weren't the best, but she was good at logic, history, and geography. It was advanced chakra theory, the hundreds of shinobi rules, and anatomy that tripped her up. She'd been studying Haruno's notes, so she wasn't too worried about the last one. Sasuke had the top scores in most tests. It was Naruto who'd need help if they were expected to pass a written exam.
"Do you remember when you made the hairpin for me in Waves?"
He nodded.
"I know it alerted you to the emergency. Was it because it dispelled or could your clone hear and understand while henged?"
"I don't remember?"
Sasuke scoffed.
Naruto glared at him.
Hikari ignored them. "Let's try it, then. Give me one. I'll go far enough that you can't hear me before saying and showing your clone something. Auditory relay will be enough to cheat if we need to, but it'd be ideal to also have visual input."
"Yes!" Naruto brightened up and made the appropriate hand signs.
FIRST TASK
Hatake Kakashi knew he was going to be teased for it, but he waited for his three students outside the Academy. Minato had done the same for him when he took the exam, and he hadn't seen his cute little genin yesterday.
A small smile tugged the corner of his lip when he made them out, heading over. They were early and they'd come together. Sasuke's eyes tracked everyone's movements. Hikari carried her ribbon handle at her back. Naruto's weapon pouch looked fuller than normal.
"Good, you're all here. I forgot to tell you only three-genin cells can register."
Sasuke rolled his eyes and stuffed his hands in his pockets. Hikari offered him an amused smile. Naruto exclaimed loudly, "Of course we're all here!"
He eye-smiled.
"Good luck," he told them. "Do your best and remember what you've learned."
"We won't disappoint you, Kakashi-sensei! We've got it all planned, dattebayo!"
So, the three of them had actually stopped to think what could be asked of them. Good.
"We won't, Kakashi-sensei," Hikari told him solemnly.
His eyebrow quirked up. "Won't what, Hikari?" Won't do their best? That didn't sound right.
"We won't disappoint you."
Hazel eyes locked on his. He smiled, letting his eyes crinkle up, and put a hand on top of her head. Cute little genin. He regarded the three of them. "Maa, maa, I know. Work together and work smart, alright?"
The three of them nodded. Kakashi shunshined to the jonin lounge, where he could watch the first task with Asuma and Kurenai. They had divided the jonin-senseis by graduating class. His was the easiest to clear of suspicion, which meant they had prime access to the cameras. On top of it, a member of Intelligence would sit with each group, assessing the jonin's own reactions and behavior. Looking for the mole. Their records were screwed up enough that the spy or spies needed to be high up in the ranks.
When he'd gone to report the Sand team's actions, the Hokage had informed him of the situation. He was one of the few who knew just how bad the breach was. Yesterday, he, Gai, and other trusted jonin had put up surveillance throughout the Academy and on some key locations in the Forest of Death: at each gate, in the tower, and on some of the outskirts, where the wildlife was less likely to mess with the cameras.
Their job now was to watch over their genin while looking for a traitor and keeping an eye on the other village's teams.
Kakashi sat down and nodded his head to Asuma, Kurenai, and... Inoichi. His eyebrow rose at seeing the head of T&I. The proctors of today's tasks were members of his task-force. The entire subdivision was here.
The Hokage wasn't messing around, then.
Good.