Guess who's procrastinating on another round of midterm studying? Honestly, I didn't bother proofreading this chapter so do what you will with that. The next few chapters should be slightly better because I finished them months ago. I was just really stuck on this one.
Sasuke rolled his eyes as he watched Naruto soar across the field and land in the water. Only that clown would be foolish enough to attempt to go against a Jōnin without a plan.
Hinata joined him on the branch where he hid and offered him a jar. "Dip all of your kunai and shuriken in this."
"Poison?"
Hinata nodded. "He is much more experienced than us. Maybe we'll have a chance if his health isn't at its best.
Sasuke smirked as he dipped his weapons. Naruto was still arguing with the Jōnin and giving them time to prepare. At least the idiot was useful for something, he mused. "I knew doing that project on poisons with you was a good idea."
"Iruka-sensei got mad at us, though." Hinata deflated at the thought. The usually mild-mannered instructor was truly upset that day. "We messed up."
Sasuke scoffed. "It's not our fault that our classmates have weak systems. We did them a favor when we included poison resistance in our demonstration."
"We landed half of them in the hospital."
"And now they're immune to at least one of the variety of poisons we showed them. We made them harder to kill, they should be thankful."
Hinata shook her head and gave up. By now Sasuke was aware that his lack of empathy was both amusing and horrifying to her, but his words did hold some truth. In the end, they successfully met the Academy's graduation requirements and now all that was left was to meet the Jōnin instructor's requirements. The two slots of the team would be his and Hinata's; he would make sure of it.
Hinata's hands curled around the handle of a poisoned kunai and nudged Sasuke's side with her elbow. He followed her gaze to the lake where Naruto was thrown. Nothing. Perhaps she was looking in a completely different direction than the one she was facing. The veins surrounding her eyes suggested it was a possibility.
Several clones jumped out of the water and Sasuke's eyes widened. So that was what had shocked her. Naruto, who couldn't produce a single successful clone yesterday, had created a ridiculous amount of clones. Not illusions— actual clones.
Hinata's grip on the kunai tightened when the clones successfully overwhelmed the Jōnin. That was their chance. "Let's go," he hissed.
Naruto, in all his recklessness, created an opening for them and Sasuke was not one to waste an opportunity. Blades flew from the foliage and Kakashi twisted out of Naruto's grip, kicking one of the Narutos into the air.
The real Naruto (was it?) waved his arms in an attempt to break his fall. Hinata launched herself in the air and caught him bridal style, sliding a few feet on the grass. Her landing disturbed the ground and dust flew around. Sasuke waved off the dust with a smirk.
One of their kunai had managed to graze Kakashi's arm. Just barely, but it was enough.
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as he jumped to his feet. "What a gentleman, Hinata!"
She only offered a nod and a small smile though her gaze remained fixed on Kakashi. The book he mocked Naruto with earlier returned to his pocket and his visible eye gleamed with renewed interest as the three closed in on him.
"What a curious development," he murmured. "Even if you team up, there are only two bells. What do you mean to achieve?"
Naruto glanced at the other two competitors before narrowing his eyes. "I'll handle them later. First I'll beat you and take my bell."
Unimpressed, Kakashi glanced at Hinata and Sasuke.
"You two could successfully hide from a seasoned Genin," he said. Hinata's eyes widened and her shoulders jumped when he stared directly at her, but she never abandoned her defensive stance. "Perhaps a novice Chūnin as well, but keeping your Byakugan activated is the same as having a beacon on your head. You need to learn how to regulate your Chakra without sacrificing your visual advantage."
Hinata bowed her head, though not enough to create weaknesses in her stance. "Thank you for the advice."
A smile threatened to slip from Kakashi. It was rare to find such a polite person these days, especially in the middle of combat. A true Hyūga… minus the arrogance. "The base of every Hyūga tends to be taijutsu. How good is yours?"
Hinata stumbled slightly as she sidestepped a kick. She quickly regained her balance and grazed his leg with a palm before he could pull away. Kakashi ignored the electrifying tingle in his leg. She really was not pulling her punches.
Sasuke jumped between them as she took a step back and threw another barrage of blades. One came a little too close to cutting the bells from him and Kakashi was forced to move away. Naruto and his clones awaited him with an impatient gleam in their eyes.
Without missing a beat, several clones launched themselves at his feet where they held him in iron grips. Above Kakashi, another Naruto flew at him. The flying Naruto toppled the group over and another reached for the bells.
Sasuke clicked his tongue and approached the mess with Hinata close behind.
The second Naruto's fingers touched a bell, Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke. Sasuke scowled and warily lowered his stance as he scanned the clearing. Beside him Hinata's gaze sharply turned to one of the clones.
Imposter.
Hinata bolted to the false Naruto and swept a leg under him. He jumped and avoided the fall gracefully, in a move unlike Naruto. Sasuke zeroed on his new target and Naruto dispelled the rest of the clones as he joined the other boy.
Once again, Hinata pulled back and Sasuke jumped in the fray but this time she remained within fighting range. Kakashi held his forearms to his face, blocking kicks from Sasuke. Simultaneously Hinata snaked her hands to the bells. She only managed to graze them with her fingertips but that was enough for Kakashi to put distance between them.
Kakashi pensively took a look at the three children surrounding him. Sasuke was proficient at both long-range and melee. Hinata favored melee combat, as expected, but her throwing skills were not bad for a close-range fighter. Together they formed a competent duo.
Naruto, on the other hand… his taijutsu was not particularly noteworthy and he had no plan when he deployed waves of clones. Despite this, he was smart enough to join forces with Sasuke and Hinata.
It wasn't the team he was looking for… but the spirit was there.
Kakashi clicked his tongue and the clanging of metal against metal echoed in the clearing.
He kicked Hinata away from him and grabbed the back of Naruto's jumpsuit, flinging him to Sasuke and toppling both of them over.
Naruto stared at seemingly nothing as he hit the ground and Hinata felt an ache in her chest. While she wouldn't mind being sent back to the academy, Naruto was serious about a career as a shinobi. So was Sasuke. They both deserved better and nothing could erase her shame as she laid on the ground, unable to change their fates.
At last, Kakashi spoke. "That was close."
Sasuke clenched his fists and turned his head to the side. "You're mocking us."
"I'm giving you a second chance." Kakashi gave them a calculated smile that comforted no one. "You don't get those very often in the shinobi world, you know."