"..." Normal chat.

ABC. Thought.


Chapter 17


"Out of all people, I cannot believe that you would do this to me!"

Nina stomps her feet onto the ground repeatedly, furious after being dragged into their secret training trip against her own will.

"I know that you're mad, but hear me out. Okay?"

Therefore Kakashi tries to calm her down but it's obviously not working. As she refuses to listen to any word he says and turns her head away from him.

"No. Don't talk to me."

..

...

That night at the hospital, both Sasuke and Kakashi were discussing about the preparation for the upcoming training trip. Things were going well until Kakashi mentioned something along the line of bringing a certain kunoichi along with them. And it didn't take long for Sasuke to figure out who that kunoichi was.

"Is that really necessary?"

Confused by his teacher sudden decision, Sasuke asked.

"It's hard to explain, but I kind of have to."

He smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.


Some days ago Kakashi's been reported by the other Jounin about this one kunoichi, whom he's suppose to be in charge with, had tried to leave the village on her own without his consent. Guess I can't leave her by herself after all.

During the Chuunin exam's period, Kakashi's too focus on dealing with its chaos that he had almost forgotten his other responsibility. And after spending some time thinking it over, Kakashi came up with a solution which could help him keep watch on both of his students at once.

Killing two birds with one stone, perfect.


"It's only Nina. I'm sure she will bring no harm. Right?"

Hearing so, Sasuke frowned.

It's not that he disliked the thought of having Nina accompany him for the whole trip. What he hated was that she would be there to witness how weak he was. And not only her, but also everyone else. Especially Naruto.

Judging from Kakashi's expression, it looked like the man also didn't enjoy the idea as much as he did. Despite being the one suggesting it in the first place.

And for someone like him having to do some errands that he didn't enjoy, there could only be one thing. Another one of those Hokage's requests, perhaps?

"I'm sure she will be helpful, one way or another."

Figured that this talk was really not working as intended. In the end Kakashi only promised him that Nina would behave and not delay their training progress.

Sasuke gave his teacher a doubtful look. While none of this actually made sense to him right now, he was somewhat curious about what those adults were planning in their heads and decided to play along. "Fine."

"That's great!"

In instant Kakashi smiled and clapped his hands to conclude their discussion, stating that the only thing left for him to do was to return to his place to *pack things up*.

"Then I will get going first." Not going to sit here waiting for them or having any intention to depart together, Sasuke suggested. Therefore Kakashi nodded and with that, he vanished.

It felt as if Kakashi had become her caretaker or something...

Then the moment his teacher showed up at the spot with an unconscious Nina lying on his back. Sasuke had a feeling that something's wrong, and when he asked whether Kakashi had kidnapped Nina in her sleep. The man denied his doings completely. Explaining that she's only tired and took a nap on his back on the way here.

"Everything would be just fine." Or so he claimed.

...

..

Except it's really not the case.

"Hmmm... I had a feeling that you would say no, so..."

Kakashi scratches his chin in thought. His excuse is that there's no time for debate. By following his shinobi's insinct, this method is convinced to be quickest and easiest.

Surely it was an unpleasant experience for her, but at least it worked for them.

"Of course I would say no! Just what the heck are you even thinking?!"

Nina replies, almost yelling at his face.

"Well... Look at the bright side! you get a chance to go outside and enjoy fresh air, right?"

Kakashi presents her the beautiful view of canyon before him. Until she constantly complaining how there's no tree, no pond, no grass field nearby and how boring this place can be.

"Right my ass, what am I suppose to do in this wasted land anyway. There's literally nothing here but rocks."

Only waiting for that, he suggests her practice sparring with Sasuke in her free time. However she rejects the idea instantly.

"No, I don't want to. Practicing or whatever, I don't remember ever signing up for those jobs."

Nina insists on him letting her go, refusing to listen to any of his requests. "I should be sleeping or watching TV at home right now. Not... this!"

Perhaps having enough of her stubbornness, childish acts and constant nagging. Kakashi's expression turns serious and his voice deepened.

"If you want leave that badly. By all means, do so."

Kakashi says, then points his thumb toward to the exit.

"And the moment you step your feet outside of this area, you're on your own."

Soon after those words fall from his lips the girl flinches, she glances toward to the direction where Kakashi's finger is pointing at then back to the ground below, unsure how to respond next.

Meanwhile Sasuke's standing beside them and has been listening to the whole conversation. He's somewhat confused by her reaction. Just what is she hesitating for?

Kakashi's little threat doesn't sound that much terrifying, as this place bears no danger to a Genin so it shouldn't be a problem for someone like her to return alone. But judging from Nina's troubled expression right now, Sasuke figures that there must be some kind of hidden meaning behind it.

"Beside, what's wrong with helping a friend when he's in need?" Kakashi tilts his head to one side while asking her. "Unless you're having something to hide from us."

Nina frowns a little, and after spending a good minute of thinking over. She has no choice but to go along with his plan. "Alright, fine."

"Good girl." Immediately turning back to his carefree demeanor, Kakashi proceeds explaining what she should do and not while staying here with them. While Nina still showing this much uncooperative attitude toward them, Sasuke highly doubt that she's going to follow to anything Kakashi says and forgets everything eventually.

Soon Kakashi dismisses their meeting and only waiting for that, Nina walks off on her own without looking back. While Sasuke remains since his special training is about to begin.

Still, Kakashi doesn't seem to care and begins their training right away. Since they've wasted too much time for something that's not a main course.

And almost thirty minutes later into the lesson, Sasuke notices Nina's silhouette at the corner of his eye. She's sitting under a boulder not too far away and watching them with a bored face.

It turned out that Nina didn't go home as he thought she would be, but trying to find a shady spot to sit down instead. As she didn't want to suffer from sunburn and heat stroke for staying too long under the sun.


By noon, I was appointed to collect dry branches and catch some fish from a forest miles away in order to prepare for today's lunch.

And now here I am, sitting by the side of the lake and staring at the small waterfall before me for almost an hour, still no fish in my hands. Simply because I don't feel like working nor returning to our camping spot.

Just what the hell did he mean by borrowing me anyway? Am I just some kind of tool for him to use whenever he want?

Of course, I would be a good target to become Sasuke's practice dummy right now, someone who just happened to have the most free time and also a teammate of his. How convenience is that.

"Are you done pouting? If so then get your ass moving because we're going to be late."

Approaching me from behind is Sasuke, as he points at one of the fish swimming within the clear water before us.

"Not yet. And you don't have to walk all the way here just to notice me about my job."

Irritated by his unwelcome presence. I respond by throwing a small rock toward to the spot he's pointing at, manage to scare the fish away.

"Do you hate me that much?"

Sasuke comments, seems to be annoyed by my uncooperative acts.

"Who say anything about hating?"

Fixing the orange butterfly pin which is almost fallen from my messy hair, I begin to nag again. Of how I was brought into this uncivilized place against my own will, by my own supervisor. For whatever reason that I had yet to known.

"Actually, none of us wanted this to happen either."

And after a while Sasuke speaks up. Much to my surprise.

"What do you mean?"

I can understand Sasuke's part of not being fancy of this situation since it's clearly Kakashi's idea, perhaps to keep watch on me, and I have a good feeling that he has talked Sasuke into cooperating with him.

But to say that even Kakashi doesn't want me to be here... Just what exactly is going on?

"If you don't believe me then you can try asking him later."

While telling me so, Sasuke begins to take his shoes and white arm warmers off, tossing them onto the spot at the ground right next to me. Then jumps onto a rock boulder nearby carrying a few Kunai in his hands to start hunting for the food, which are hiding under water and big rocks surrounding the lake. Swiftly and quietly.

Figure that keep sitting in one place pouting won't release me from boredom, I decide to join him to speed up the progress. "I'll help."

"No need."

He declines me right off the bat. But it's already too late since I've already gotten into the water with several kunai in my hands. Therefore I stop walking further when the water reaches my knees and search around. Once spotting one moving around near my legs, I throw the knives. Only to miss the target completely and my brain freezes.

Damn, I almost forgot how bad I was at this.

Despite already being trained for these situations, I actually didn't receive many chances to go out of the village to experience real things due to Ryu's strict rules. And whenever I did, there was always be Momiji who prepared a lunch box for me to carry away. Or Ryu who would just hunt for both of us so that we wouldn't waste time into these chores.

In the end it's quite easy to guess that my survival skills are quite low. They do exist, just not refined. That's all...

Also my B ranked Shurikenjutsu isn't really helping in this case. But not going to give up that easily, I try again. Again and again until hearing a faint snicker behind my back. And it doesn't takes long for me figure out whom it belongs to.

"What's so funny?"

I ask without turning around, eyes still fix on the water surface to look for another target.

"Nothing, after witnessing all the bizarre things you've done. I'm quite surprised that you're actually bad at something as simple as this."

While Sasuke's speaking, I can hear him jumping off from his safe place to move closer to where I'm standing.

"Isn't that great? You found out my weakness."

Even though the Uchiha doesn't comment anything on my lame effort, I can still read his face, which is clearly saying that the result won't change whether I'm here to help him hunt for food or not.

And I definitely don't like that thought. At all. I cannot lose! At least not to these fish!

Yet almost an hour went by, what I gained was not fish but exhaustion and hunger...

"Let's go back already. Kakashi's waiting."

Getting bored after watching endless failures, Sasuke urges me to return since the sun is almost setting. And Kakashi's not going to happy knowing that we've been wandering around on our own for too long without his permission.

"I don't care, not until I can catch one."

Still, I refuse to get out of the water and walk away from him since his words are distracting me from catching my preys.

"What the hell are you being so determined for? We already have enough food."

Sasuke shows me the fish he has caught in his hand but to I ignore them completely. Figure that talking alone won't be enough to stop what I'm trying to do, Sasuke approaches in attempt to drag me back. Ends up scaring all the fish away due to his sudden movements.

"If you want to leave then go on ahead, leave me alone."

Annoyed, I try to shoo Sasuke away by start throwing pebbles at him, but it's not working since he easily dodges everything. Acting like his stubbornness is at the same level as mine.

"Quit fooling around. I don't have all day."

Within seconds Sasuke snatches my arm when I'm trying to reach for another pebble and pulls me toward to the border. Unfortunately for him, I'm not that easy to tame.

"Well guess what, you don't but I do!"

I yank my arm back and toss the water at him. Startled by my reaction, Sasuke receives a full blow from head to torso and freezes on the spot. Still, Sasuke doesn't drop any fish in his hand by that sudden attack so I suppose it's all good.

Or so I thought.

"..."

There's a dead silence between us. And for a short moment I've already imagined the next thing he will be doing are yelling and cursing at me with any insult he has in mind. Different from my expectation however, Sasuke wipes the cold liquid off his face and smirks darkly.

"So you want to play, huh?"


It's not until four in the afternoon that they return to their resting spot. There, they find Kakashi lying on top of a rock and reading his favorite book while waiting.

"So... What took you guys so long?"

Kakashi closes the book in his hand and stares at his pupils, who are completely drenched from heads to toes for some reasons. Then at the fish in Nina's hand, which are suppose to be their lunch have now become their upcoming dinner dish.

"Uh... you can say that stuff.. happened."

Nina replies reluctantly. While Sasuke approaches the campfire spot locates in the middle with dry branches in his arm in order to set it up. Hoping to dry up his clothes before the sun set.

"Okay, like what?"

Kakashi then asks for details and Nina bites her lips, debating whether she should tell him about both of them being caught up in such an intense water battle that they have totally forgotten the time.

A couple of minutes later and she still can't answer him properly, Kakashi let out a sigh.

"Don't think that you're the only one who feels uncomfortable here, Nina. Remember that we are stuck in this mess, together."

Immediately Nina's eyes widens in surprise, then she nods her head to him in apologetic. As if having understand what they're going through. "I see."

From behind Sasuke glances at them curiously, wondering the mess that Kakashi has mentioned just now is himself or something else. Stuck? What the heck does he mean by that?

"I was actually waiting for you to figure all of this by yourself. But it seemed that I had to skip that part since we could not risk wasting any more of Sasuke's time."

Kakashi goes on lecturing Nina about her immature behavior. Too tired, hungry and cold, she ignores most of what he's saying and looks for a spot near the campfire to take a nap instead.


Soon I'm awaken by the smell of grilled fish that Sasuke's cooking and notices that it's already dark. While gathering around the campfire eating dinner, suddenly Kakashi appears and throws something at me.

"Here you go."

Catching it with my hands, I find out that it's my alternative backpack, which contains toothbrushes, stuff support daily needs that I have prepared beforehand in case of any urgent missions. So that when being called, I can just grab it and go immediately.

I don't remember ever seeing him carrying it around when we arrive here. He didn't return to my place just to get this for me, did he?

And before I can even ask him anything, Kakashi speaks. "I also left a note on your table. In case your friends were going to look for you."

A note? It must have meant for Sakura, since I was suppose to meet up with her to visit Sasuke at the hospital today. Also for Naruto in case he feels like barging into my house to look for me without notice.

"Is that so. Thank you."

My eyes fix onto the clothes folded neatly inside the backpack for so long that almost drilling a hole onto it. Can't help but feeling embarrassed for acting up with him before even knowing the full story. And now I don't even know what to say to apologize.

In order to save myself from the awkwardness, I offer to do something to make up for it instead of saying empty words. "I will try to help."

"What?"

Confused, Kakashi's head tilts. While Sasuke stops chewing on the grilled fish and turns his head to look at me.

"Training dummy or whatever, I will do it. But just so you know, my Tatjutsu is nowhere near Lee's level."

While at it, I go on and on about how incredible Lee's physical prowess is and that he has easily outmatched Sasuke, a prodigy and a Sharingan user, no less, in a friendly match.

"How do you know that we're going to practice Tatjutsu?"

Suddenly Kakashi's expression sharpened. Expressing his doubt toward my knowledge and pointing how I've never bothered to pay attention to half of their training, also staying too far away from them to be able to listen to anything, since morning. And not to mention that they haven't been that far into the lesson, all thanks to me and my mischief.

"Isn't that obvious? Because that's all I can provide you with."

Hiding away my nervousness, I say. Attempting to lead them away from the fact that I've already known what they're here for to avoid any conflict or misunderstanding. By reminding those two that I have no chakra or ability to perform any special technique. Therefore the only thing I can do to help is hand to hand combat training.

Also if this is about Bukijutsu, then clearly Sasuke won't be needing me as a practice partner. For obvious reasons.

"How did you know so much about Lee?"

Curious at how I'm being well-informed about that thick eyebrows boy, Sasuke asks.

"Sakura told me."

And I almost stutter. Though it was not truly a lie since Sakura did mention about Lee in our last conversation, although briefly, then everything else was surrounding about Naruto and Sasuke, reason for her new hair cut and crazy encounters.

"Next time. I won't lose."

Suddenly Sasuke declares to us, his hands clench into fists and pair of onyx eyes burn with great determination. It seems that the Uchiha's heir is still holding his grudge against Lee from their faithful encounter on that day.

Since it's still too early to sleep, Kakashi leads Sasuke to a vacant spot nearby to revise the lesson from morning and of course, more physical training after that. Watching them while finishing the leftovers, I sigh.

Jeeze, tomorrow is going to be tough, isn't it?