I coughed and tried to sit up. But I couldn't because there was a weight on me. Slowly the dust cleared, and I recognized the fallen tree, which was only two meters away from me. My legs trembled; it was clear to me at the moment what I had just escaped. There certainly no small incomplete shield would have helped, against this immense force.
But how had I come from the place. My legs had not moved from the spot. How could that be?
The weight on my legs moved away and I looked in the direction. There, sitting right on the floor next to me, was none other than Kiba Inuzuka. It didn't take me long to realize it. He had just saved my life.
I continued to stare at Kiba. He sat up and looked at me, breathing heavily. He seemed to be just as exhausted as I was. His hair was sticking out in all directions. Dried clay hung in them and on his arms.
Still this small, yet so grave realization was buzzing around in my head. Never would I have expected this from him when I thought he would dislike me. Shakily, I braced my hands on the floor and rose to a sitting position.
„Kiba," I began in a shaky voice. „Why?"
„We're a team, as you said yourself earlier. Mutual support, loyalty, and faithfulness are the basic requirements."
Surprised, I looked at him. I would never have expected such words from him in my life.
Akamaru, who was lying exhausted on the ground next to Kiba, raised his head and growled softly. I looked around, but only recognized Kurenai, who had appeared next to us. Her look was serious. Shock flooded my limbs, and I froze. We had not passed. It had to be that way, because otherwise she would never put on such a look.
A ninja landed next to her, but not just any ninja. It was Kakashi Hatake.
„An entertaining and exciting fight that once again highlighted the importance of performance and cohesion. The idea with the traps Tora, was very good and also how you coordinated yourself Hinata," said the Jonin turned to us.
What was that about? I thought Kurenai was our instructor, so why was Kakashi here now? But before I could get started with the question, the black-haired girl continued with her analysis.
„Shino and Kiba. At the beginning, you two had difficulties to communicate and agree with each other, which led to the fact that Kiba and Akamaru fell into the clay pit. But after that you got together and discussed the possible further course, in which your cooperation worked really well. Letting the tree fall down was certainly not planned by you Tora, but nevertheless also very reckless. Someone could have seriously gotten hurt."
I nodded slightly and quietly apologized, after which Kurenai began to smile and turned to Kakashi a little. „Since Kurenai has only recently been appointed Jonin, I should give her a bit of a hand with the exam and help with the scoring. And I'm definitely surprised in a positive way by your skills."
His gaze drifted to me, and something flitted in his eyes that I couldn't put my finger on directly. But it pleased me that our abilities had surprised him.
„That means you passed," Kurenai said, her smile widening with each word.
My features slipped. We had made it. Indeed. Hastily I picked myself up, ignoring my aching limbs, and rushed toward Hinata to hug her. The black-haired girl was much too surprised by my attack so that she was not able to return my embrace at first. Slowly I detached myself from her again and looked at her, beaming. I still couldn't believe it. We were one of the three teams that could remain genin and continue their training.
Just before we left the square and headed back to Konohagakure, Kakashi stopped me by the arm. I instructed the others to go ahead. Only a suspicious look of Kiba crossed mine. He was apparently again completely normal.
„I'm proud of you Tora," Kakashi said when the others were out of earshot.
"You've learned more in the past weeks, months, than many of the genin, despite the things you've been through, and I give you credit for that." My blood literally rushed to my face. I had not expected such high compliments. Especially not from Kakashi, who rather held back with something like that, while Genma took over.
Embarrassed, I ran my hand through my short hair. „Thank you, sensei," I said.
„You'll be going on missions soon enough. Do me a favour and don't let that young Inuzuka get to you so much. I'm sure it wouldn't do the team any good. You know what I'm talking about."
I winced. So, he knew about what was happening in the schoolyard. Why wouldn't he? A short time ago he had been my sensei and therefore responsible for me. Tentatively I nodded and Kakashi seemed satisfied.
„Do me one more favour Tora. Please remind Naruto that he really shouldn't eat anything tomorrow morning, because otherwise the exam will be very uncomfortable for him."
Then he was gone, and I stood there for some time before the realization seeped into my brain that Kakashi was possibly Naruto's new sensei. This was going to get interesting. Because even if the gray-haired man seemed at first glance to be quite crazy, he could be really strict and relentless. I didn't even want to know what his test would be like.
When I arrived in front of Naruto's apartment, the door was slightly open. I carefully nudged it and entered the hallway, immediately holding my nose. Phew, it stank in here. Naruto had never really thought much of cleanliness, but that it would degenerate so much, I would not have expected from even the blond mess.
The smell of decayed, sour milk, coupled with the old socks, penetrated my nose. Interesting mixture, which did not really correspond to my taste. The Uzumaki lay curled up on the bed, holding his stomach. Aha, the stomach-ache he had apparently from the expired milk.
Still, he had not noticed me. Only when I went straight to the window and wanted to open it, he had jumped up swaying and stood in my way. Confused, I paused.
„L-let the window be closed."
Dumbfounded, I stared at him. Was he completely crazy now? Certainly not. But the Uzumaki didn't budge, standing rock solid on the spot and refusing to step aside. Frustrated, I heaved a sigh of relief.
„Naruto. I'm really not in the mood for that right now. You'll get lung poisoning in there with the stench here. That's even worse than smoking. Now move aside. I don't feel like using my remaining chakra for this."
Petulant as a toddler, my counterpart crossed his arms and plopped down on his bed, causing him to hold his aching stomach again due to the concussion.
„I assume that was the milk," I asked as a cool breeze drove some of the stench from the room.
„Sakura hates me," Naruto mumbled into his non-existent beard without answering my question.
„She doesn't. Maybe she doesn't like you very much. But hate you? No."
Naruto remained silent, pressed his hand to his stomach and was about to get up, but his foot, stepped on a sock lying on the floor and before I knew it, it flung him backwards back onto the bed. Groaning, he remained lying there.
„Oh boy that sucks, for real now. And tomorrow is that damn test where we're not supposed to eat. If I even think about eating now, I'm going to be sick, believe it."
I allowed myself a wry grin. By tomorrow morning at the latest, when the stomach-ache was over, the Uzumaki would feel an insatiable hunger again. My stomach clenched as I thought of the test that still lay ahead for the blond and his team.
Slowly, I turned my gaze back to Naruto, who lay sprawled on the bed, trying not to show his stomach-ache.
„Stay put Naruto. I'll make you some tea for the stomach-ache."
„NOOOOO! Anything but tea! I don't need it, I'm fine. Really now." Jerkily, Naruto sat up, but once again a pained expression crossed his face and he slumped back into the pillows, exhausted.
With three steps I had arrived in the kitchen. And pure chaos awaited me. I sighed and began to roll up my sleeves. There would still be some work ahead of me.