"..." Normal chat.

ABC. Thought


Chapter 4


"Another D rank mission?!"

"Delivery a package to Kazuhiro from the Sunshine village?" Sakura reads out loud what is written inside the scroll we receive from Hiruzen. While I take a closer look at the package sitting neatly on the table in front of us.

A medium sized parcel box tied by green ropes. Doesn't look too heavy and I doubt that it's going to contain any high-valued item in there. After all this is only a D rank mission.

"Indeed. This is a request from Kazuhiro-san, the village leader himself." Hiruzen nods and while proceeds explaining the information further to us, Naruto cuts him of with a big yawn. "B-o-r-i-n-g."

"Don't be rude!" Kakashi hits the boy's head to fix his annoying attitude.

Unlike the other kids within the team never stop whining and complaining, I'm actually feel lucky to be ordered doing simple task. Because that means there would be no hard work and what's more, not having to fight anyone or anything.

"You knew how we did at the Land of wave, did you? So find us something better to do!" The boy yells, not hiding his irritation even a little despite standing inside Hokage's room and speaking directly to the man himself.

"Was Nina there with you?"

"Eh?"

"Let's make this simpler. Has she ever gone to a mission with team 7 yet?"

"Well, no..."

"Ever experienced the importance of team work?"

"Uhm..."

"Exactly. Not everything is always surrounding about how you feel, Naruto. Since Nina only became Genin yesterday. We can't afford sending her into potentially dangerous places. At least not until she gets used to the way we, the shinobi of Konohagakure, work on our missions."

Now that Hirzuzen is being too reasonable, Naruto has no choice but to stay silent and fulfills his D rank mission as ordered.

"I'm sorry, Naruto." Figured Naruto would be sulking over this matter, I approach the boy to apologize since I do not want to see him throwing tantrum for the rest of the day.

Although most of my worries has turned in vain as Naruto regains his positive side much faster than I thought he would be.

"What are you saying sorry for? There's always next time, right?" He grins.

As planned, Team 7 will be leaving Konoha for delivery mission in two days, following Kakashi's instructions and the reward would be around 20,000 ryo if we succeed. And as soon as everyone gets out of Hokage's room, Kakashi suggests.

"Since it's still early for us to go home packaging, let's gather at the third training ground for our usual training, shall we?"

Third training ground? Oh boy, let's just hope that it's not going to be...

Third Training Ground

"A bell test."

Kakashi smiles and show us the bells hanging between his fingers.

God dammit. Out of everything, this is the only test that I want to avoid doing as much as possible. I should just have made up some lame excuse and ran off when I had the chance to. Instead of mindlessly following everyone here like an idiot.

However he soon puts them back into his pocket and offers something else beforehand. "But that is for the latter. Now, let's start with a proper introduction between ourselves, shall we?"

"A proper introduction?" Everyone shoots him a puzzled look and he nods. "Mostly for Nina only since I've already known about you lots."

"Since we've become teammate, it's essential for us to learn and understand more about each other. Not just simply name and age..." He goes on and on explaining why it's important to speak about oneself. Because not only this is the beginning of creating bonds between teammates but also building a trusting teamwork.

"Like, for example, my name is Hatake Kakashi. My likes and dislikes are up for you to find out. Dreams for future? Hmm... Not really. I have a lot of hobbies... Here and there..."

Wow, I definitely learnt a lot about him after hearing those. Very detailed self-intro, indeed.

Since I wasn't here when they first introduced themselves, Kakashi suggests everyone to redo all over for me to learn and follow. Therefore Naruto would go first, expressing his obsession with various type of Ramen and long term wish to become the greatest Hokage in the future, bonus a tint of the love-hate relationship he shares with Sasuke.

Next is Sakura who is fond of sweet, hanging out with friends to do girl stuff and a certain black haired boy. Hate annoying and dumb people. Long term wish is to change her surname from Haruno to Uchiha and helping her husband in resurrecting his almighty clan.

Actually, the last part was my saying since Sakura didn't reveal anything to us except for constant blushing.

And finally Sasuke. Well, simply just Uchiha Sasuke from the Uchiha clan.

"That's it?" Asked Naruto but the boy ignores him and shifts his head away from us. While their teacher can only sighs and shakes his head.

"Alright, you're the only one left. Nina." Kakashi urges me to speak and the other three start pointing their attentions to my face, which is so uncalled for because those piercing, bright round eyes are now starting to make me nervous.

After spending a long moment thinking of what I should say and should not, I decide to go with...

"There is nothing much about me to share with you guys, to be honest. Though I do have favorite food. Especially treats like Mochi and Dango, or Sundae. Is that count?"

"Well... I guess?" Kakashi's head tilts and his voice starts trailing off, probably being unsatisfied with my insincere answer. Too bad he isn't allowed, or authorized to force me spilling more. "Any dream for futures?"

"Like going home and reuniting with my people?" Sasuke's face grows serious the moment I poke into the sensitive subject that mostly everyone avoid talking about, or at least not with his face around. "Sadly none of those is going to happen no matter how much I wish for it."

The atmosphere suddenly turns heavy, no one speaks a word until Kakashi breaks the ice with the instant change of subject. "A-Anyway, let's get to the main objective of the day, shall we?"

Hearing so, everyone gets up on their feet and waits for his order.

"Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and Nina. You four shall act as a team and try to take these bells away from me. I will give you two hours to finish the test. Ready?"

The team 7 members look at each other and nod.

"Here I come!" Naruto goes first to distract their teacher with Kage Bunshin no Jutsu while the rest of the team take cover behind one of the bushes nearby to come up with a plan.

"Good, he hasn't noticed us." After checking and finds no sight of clone, Sasuke reports the situation to the other two then turns to Nina. "We will go left, you go right. And once you're there, wait for my signal."

Once done leaving instructions, both Sasuke and Sakura departs to the left side near Naruto while Nina quietly makes her way to the right, toward to the empty spot behind where Kakashi is standing.

And as soon as she reaches to the destination, Sasuke gives her a hand signal to countdown from three to one.

and "Go!" Sasuke and Sakura jump into the battle to help Naruto getting a hold of Kakashi at the most unexpected moment. While Nina sneaks behind him to snatch the bells.

However she trips over a small rock lying on the ground and falls before she can reach to Kakashi's pocket. Immediately alerting their teacher about her presence and ruining their whole plan. Much to Sasuke's irritation.

With no other choice, everyone has to continue seizing Kakashi's limbs in hope that Nina will quickly recover to finish the test. Yet she takes too long to get up and Kakashi has already used Kawamiri no Jutsu to gets out of their grips. Then teleports behind Nina since she's the most vulnerable target at the moment and casts Genjutsu on her.

Different from his expectation to see Nina react by screaming, crying, or bearing any specific expression to prove that she's hit by a Genjustsu. The girl just collapses onto the ground and remains quiet.

And an hour later when the test is already over, she still lying on the same spot and having no sign of moving. Concerned, Sakura approaches Nina to wake her up. From shaking her shoulder to calling her name and even tapping, slapping her cheeks. None worked.

"Kakashi-sensei, I think Nina-chan is unconscious." Therefore Sakura reports, much to everyone's surprise.

"Really?" Kakashi scratches the back of his head awkwardly and approaches to check on the girl. Shocked to find that she is knocked out cold because of his Genjutsu. Did I somehow overdo it?

"Couldn't even stand a little Genjutsu. Was she made out of glass?" Sasuke comments, cannot believe how useless his new teammate can be. He knew from the start that she's weak, but this is just a whole new level.

"Perhaps Nina-chan hasn't recovered completely from those injuries after all." Naruto sighs, watching Nina sleeping soundly on the grass while Sakura turns speechless by the girl's recklessness.

"Training's over everyone. I'm going to take her to the hospital for a proper checkup." Kakashi speaks to his team and carries Nina into his arms. Heading toward to Konoha's hospital direction with his team members following closely behind.

Hours later in the afternoon.

Nina finally wakes up from her slumber to greet her teammates. Much to Naruto's and Sakura's joy.

"How are you feeling?" Naruto's face is the first thing to get into my view, then Sakura who is standing next to him at the left side of the hospital bed.

"Doctor told me that your body's fine, all of the past injuries had been healed. So the fainting just now was mostly due to shock." Therefore Kakashi approaches and asks. "Say, was that your first time experience Genjustsu?"

I nod in response and he scratches the back of his head. "Hmm, I suppose that's one of the reasons..."

And before I can open my lips to say anything in return, Sasuke's jumps into our conversation.

"You're so weak. What did you do when your loved ones were getting killed by the bandits? Running away, crying and hiding like a total coward?"

"Sasuke, enough." Kakashi stops the boy before he goes too far with his criticism, but being completely ignored.

"Sitting in one place and wishing for your family to be revived won't do you crap. If you bear no desire to get stronger in order to take revenge on those criminals or doing whatsoever to improve yourself. Then you better off quitting being a shinobi."

"I said that's enough." It's not until Kakashi raises his voice that Sasuke finally shuts his mouth. Shooting an annoyed glance at his teacher before walking toward to the opened window and jumps outside.

That was quite harsh. Even though already knew that Uchiha had never been a happy kid for the whole series, but this was way more than what I'd expected.

If my background story's actually true like everyone else here believed. Then having to hear him lecture with *wise and nice words* while already being desperate to the rock bottom would have driven me insane. Jumping at him to fight for my rights and scratching his eyes out even if I have to.

But then again it can also be one of Sasuke's unique ways to express his concern with other people. I seriously don't understand him sometimes.

"What's this guy's deal? He's been acting weird ever since coming back from the Land of Wave, you know." Naruto crosses his arms and speaks about his teammate recently strange behaviors, which he and Sakura have yet to figure out the real reason behind. Though I'm sure Kakashi's already noticed and just doesn't want to talk about it.

Not feeling like spending another day sleeping on boring hospital bed, I get off and attempt to leave the place.

Worried that I'm going alone while still being unwell. Sakura offers to accompany me. "Do you need me to take you home?"

"It's alright, I'm fine. Sorry for worrying you guys." Therefore I politely decline. Since I'm not coming home straight away but wandering around the village to enjoy some fresh air. So it's better not to have anyone following me all over the area just because of that.

"What is there to sorry about! We're friends, You know!" Naruto grins and I smile in response. Trying not to cause more trouble for them and quietly get out of the room.

Waiting for Nina to disappear out of sight, Sakura asks Naruto. "Do you think she's upset?"

But the boy just stands there thinking for a couple of minutes before dashing away, much to Sakura's confusion. "H-Hey! Where are you going!"


While strolling near the training grounds to enjoy the sunset scenery, I spot a similar figure praticing alone by a tree not too far away. Short dark blue haired girl in cream-colored hooded-jacket, navy blue pants and a forehead protector around her neck. Isn't that Hinata, the heir of Hyuuga's clan and Naruto's future wife?

Judging from her dirty attire and skin, she must have been here for quite a long time. Probably training for the Chuunin exam which is coming close. It's going to be a tough fight with Neji, and we're still having Gaara coming along the way.

Subconsciously, I spend a good amount of time watching her practicing while recalling to the time I had to go through countless of Ryu's ridiculous training sessions in order to become a shinobi.

..

...

It was during a stormy night from two years ago.

"Again." Ryu commanded me to get up. Despite the loud noises of thunders cracking, heavy rain and wind combined surrounding us. His voice still sounded so clear, calm and strict.

"No! I'm tired! I want to go home and sleep!"

Throwing away the Shuriken in my hand to the ground after having failed using it to hit the center of a shooting target on a tree's body for nth times, I disobeyed and remained on the floor fuming. Splashing mud everywhere and yelling back at him.

"I cannot do this anymore! Unlike you or everybody here, I'm not born to be a shinobi!"

How in the hell would you expect me to stay relaxed, aiming and throwing a Shuriken perfectly when I could barely see or walk straight with all the water and wind coming at my body in every direction? Also expecting to be struck by lightnings and die within any seconds out of stupidity because we were now standing under a huge tree during a thunderstorm.

While every other kids in the village was enjoying staying at home eating steamy food and cuddling inside their warm blanket, playing games and watching TV. I had to stay outside in the dark, suffering from coldness, wet, hunger, numb muscles and exhaustion just to re-do Omitsu's old lessons all over and over. It's unfair!

"You claimed that I would be safe in your village. And there would be no one who could harm me! So what's the point for me to train so hard for?! It was because you cannot keep your promise and had no choice but forcing me to become a shinobi, wasn't it?!"

Could no longer stand all the stressful and punishing training courses, I started crying and blaming him for the false vow he made when he first brought me into this place.

However Ryu didn't say anything in return, or even trying to back up his statement. Just stood there watching me throwing tantrum until I eventually got tired and stopped.

"Have you calmed down yet?"

"..."

I shifted my head away, ignoring his question and he sighed. Taking off his jacket to cover my body from the heavy rain and squatted down in front of me, patting my head gently.

"I understand that you're angry with me right now but please listen, Nina. All of the tedious training I had made you do up to this very moment was only for your own good."

"So you knew they were ridiculous." I murmured, wiping the tears mixed with dirt and rain water off my eyes to see him clearer.

"You cannot depend on I and Momiji, or everyone here to protect you forever. There might be one day you have to stand on your own feet and fight for your own life. Without any of us standing by your side."

"You're speaking as if you know that day would come." I frown after hearing what sounded like a very bad joke.

A day, month or even years without Ryu or Momiji? For sure I won't be able to survive long. But if I admitted any of it to him now, he would just throw another *that's one more reason for you to get stronger* or something along that supportive line into my face.

"Neither you nor I can be certain about what future may bring, that's why we all need to be prepared for everything. From the best to worst."

At that time, I thought he only said it just to motivate me to continue training. So I didn't take his words too seriously but didn't give up on trying to be a shinobi either. Because not only there's a huge stubborn part inside of me that didn't want to let him down, but also wanting to show the other kids in the village that I was not a cry baby or a quitter.

...

..

And now I regret so much for not listening to him from the start. This is probably... No, must be the worst situation I've ever been in my life. Being all alone inside a made up world and trying to fit in with a bunch of fictional characters whose personality, backgrounds and deep dark secrets are anything but an open book to me.

Not to mention getting myself involved with their exciting and long lasting adventures, which are just right up ahead, in order to find out their true purposes in life. As much as their real identities while I'm still struggling, having no idea what mine is about and don't even know how, or where to start. All in all, I'm completely lost.

"Nina-chan!" Suddenly Naruto's loud, high-pitched voice appears right behind me. Successfully surprised both I and Hinata to death.

"What the heck are you yelling for? Why are you here?" Annoyed for being found out hiding behind a tree watching someone else training without their consent, I turn around to find Naruto is standing next to me.

"I got worried so I followed you here. And I did call you multiples times already but you didn't answer so..." He scratches his head, smiling like an idiot and I sigh. Having no choice but to step out of the tree's body to show myself to Hinata.

"N-Naruto k-kun?!" As always, the girl flusters the moment she sees him. Though her expression quickly turns from happy to confused once her white eyes land on me. "Uhm..."

"I'm Nina, new member of team 7." Therefore I announce myself as the newcomer of Kakashi's team, instantly shocked Hinata due to the lack of information and proper explanation. "Eh?!"

"Yeah, stuff happened and now we are a four-man team. Believe it!" Naruto chimes in.

Hinata looks stunned for a short moment before finally be able to introduce herself to me, still fidgeting. "I-Is that so. U-Uhm, my name is Hyuuga Hinata and I'm from team 8. N-Nice to meet you."

"Likewise." As soon as my sentence ends, loud grumbles are heard coming out from both Hinata's and my stomach at the same time. Causing us to freeze on our spot due to embarrassment. While Naruto finds it super hilarious and bursts into laughter.

Instantly realize his mistake when seeing the girl's faces fuming with both anger and shame, his laugh quickly dies down and he offers us something to eat. "H-How about we have dinner at Ichiraku ramen shop? My treat!"

"Your treat? Are you sure that you have enough money for that?" Somewhat is suspicious about his financial status, I ask him and Naruto confidently takes out his green frog wallet to take a look inside.

And he gulps a mouthful of air before turning to us with a force smile, sweating all over his face and talking like Hinata. "N-No problem...! B-Believe it!"

"Okay, let's get going! I will order a lot for us." Figured that there's indeed something wrong since the wallet looks almost empty, I taunt him and gesture Hinata to follow me to the Ichiraku's shop. Much to his distress. "E-Eh?! Wait!"

"Don't worry, it's my treat."

"What?"

"You heard what I said. Believe it." Therefore I show Naruto my purse and his eyes shine like the sun. Jumping for joy when having his ass saved in the last minutes.

Last night when Kakashi came over to my house to deliver food, he had left a small purse that contains allowance for a me to live off a month by myself inside the Ichiraku's ramen package. And I didn't find out about it until I almost trashed the whole thing away into the dumpster. Jeeze, talk about close call...