"..." Normal chat.

ABC. Thought

Chapter 3

Being appointed as a member of team 7, I will be joining the others with their missions since they cannot babysitting me forever.

Which also means I will be taking this year's Genin exam, which Naruto and Sasuke, Sakura had attended way back at chapter one. To make sure that I'm qualified for the Shinobi's jobs.

It may sounds hasty at first, but Hiruzen claims that there's nothing wrong with me joining the Konoha's shinobi squad before getting to know the village's custom.

Not to mention that Chunin exam is right around the corner, so this is the perfect chance for them to test my skills. In case that I want to attend it later.

The Academy.

So now here I am, standing in the middle of the exam room with Iruka, my examiner, to test my shinobi's technique after going through an hour of troublesome writing test.

"Okay, Henge no Jutsu and Bunshin no Jutsu. Can you perform any of them?"

Iruka asks me, while writing something into the clipboard with a pen in his hand.

Bunshin shouldn't be a problem since Ryu had taught me that in one of our training processes. But for this Henge thing...

"No and yes. I know nothing about Henge no Jutsu because I didn't have the chance to learn this technique at home. Perhaps I can do it if you show me how?"

Therefore I ask him for a hint. Hoping that I will be able to get it right if I witness the transform being done in reality.

"Fine, but for one time only."

After spending a short moment thinking, Iruka finally agrees. Then, he does the hand seals following Dog, Boar, Ram to transform himself into Naruto and briefly explains this technique to me.

Basically it's the same to how we utilize Ki, which shares similar functions to chakra, to manipulate various of Ninpou (Shinobi arts) in my world. This technique requires gathering of chakra to turn myself into someone or something else, requiring constant emission of chakra and mentally in order to maintain the form.

And here I thought he's going to tell me something that I didn't know.

Cannot letting Iruka wait, I start doing the hand signs.

"..."

Nothing happens, however. So I keep doing the hand signals all over. Again and again.

"Perhaps you are..."

The more watching my failures, the more hopeless it gets and after about half and hour. Iruka speaks up.

"No! Not yet! Please, just one more time!"

I beg him for one final chance, giving my all into this one attempt before everything is over.

And hard works finally pay off as at the very last minute, the ninjutsu works and I transform into Iruka. The feeling of success is so overwhelmed that I almost burst into tears.

Yes! I did it!

Although I can only maintain the ninjutsu for a couple of seconds due to lacking of concentration.

"Good job. All that left is to combine this result here with the writing one that you took earlier to calculate your total grade."

Still, Iruka smiles and approves my messy performances.

"The result showing that your shinobi abilities rated 60/100, quite average but you passed. As decided, you will be placed into team 7, in Kakashi's care. He will continue judging your ability from then on."

Another half an hour spending walking back and forth at the hallway, Iruka shows up to inform to me about my result.

"Also, please come to the Hokage office after this. There is something that Sandaime needs to discuss with you."

Hmm... I wonder what the old man wants to talk about.

And turned out that while I was busy struggling with the Genin exam, Hiruzen had found a place within the village for me to live by for the time being.

So this is my home from now on, huh?

It's an old room inside an apartment that has enough space for one person, with properties to serve daily living activities. Not to mention being conveniently near Naruto's house.

*I hope that you two can be good friends* or so he said when I asked why.

After that I decide to explore the village to kill off some time. First, I come by Naruto's place, only to find him absent. Same goes to Sakura and Sasuke.

Then I spend a good amount of time wandering around the empty Uchiha's district for sightseeing before leaving.

My next destinations are Ichiraku ramen and Dango shop, Amaguriama.

The dishes look incredible, much more than when I saw them on papers or TV. Sadly, I don't have money with me and don't feel like asking for free food. Perhaps next time.

After that is the Hokage Rock, Konoha Cemetry, Libraby and Orphanage.

It's not until evening that I return home. Too tired to find anything to eat, I sit idly on a white futon in the middle of the room and reflect on everything that happened today.

I can't believe that there's one day I would become a Konoha shinobi.

Staring at the Konoha's headband in my hands, I sigh while thinking about my dark and misty future.

Turns out this special event wasn't so *special* as I had hoped it to be. Back when I was still constantly dreaming about waking up as a character from Naruto's world and started hanging out with everyone there.

Right now, it feels like these kind of stuff are no longer important to me.

Momiji was battling the enemies when I was captured. Our village, has it been crushed down by those men? What about Ryu? Is he alright? Have Ayane and Kasumi come to help them yet?

A couple knocks on my windows tosses me out of my thought and I turn around. Surprised to see a tall shadow is standing outside of my room.

"Who's there?"

To defend myself, I reach for the Kunai hanging on my leg and back away slowly.

"It's me."

Suddenly, that figure speaks up. And I recognize that voice instantly.

"Kakashi-sensei?"

Opening the windows, I find Kakashi's leaning against the wall nearby.

"Here, I figured that you hadn't had anything since noon."

Then he hands me a take-out Ichiraku ramen bowl.

It seems that he had dinner with the team and decided to buy an extra serving for me. Saving him time running around the area finding suitable food.

"Thank you so much."

The scent of delicious ramen causes my stomach to grumble. Not so loud but enough for him to hear and he chuckles.

"We will start our training session at 7 a.m tomorrow at our usual training spot. Be sure to be there on time, okay?"

"Okay."

After that, Kakashi disappears. Come and goes like lightnings.

..

...

Last night.

After tossing and turning on the hospital bed, for countless time, I still couldn't get myself to sleep. Bored, I step off the bed and approach the opened window to watch the night scenery of Konohagakure.

There's nothing new, or too extraordinary out of everything that I've read and watched, everything except for me. A complete stranger who is not belong to this world.

"It's already midnight. Why are you here?"

Soon I felt a presence behind me. It was Kakashi and his Body Flicker Technique.

"You're not from this land, are you?"

Stated the ex-anbu, an uneasy feeling about this mysterious girl started building up in him when the outcome of data gathering for the whole evening about her identity was zero.

No one knows about her, no relatives or anything related to her hometown incident. All we got was her age and name, which were yet to be proved accurate. It's as if this girl had appeared out of thin air.

"Not in the least. I told you that I came from somewhere far away, didn't I?"

"What is it called?"

"Hayabusa Shinobi no Sato."

It's his first time hearing such title. Still, Kakashi decided to keep that *made up name* in his head. Thinking that it might come in handy in the future.

"I shouldn't be saying this but lying or hiding about yourself won't do you any good. We're here to help, not to harm you."

Adjusting the headband on his forehead, Kakashi reminded me.

"I have no reason to lie to you."

While I was being honest with him this time. Because I did come from a place called Hayabusa Shinobi Village and it's dimensions away from this world.

Sounded crazy enough, alright. Plus I didn't have anything to backup for that statement.

Even if that place existed, I was certain that Kakashi would never be able to find it.

Killed, abandoned, wanted or whatever. I don't give a damn.

For everything I said, whether truth or not, would all turn out into lies in the end. So I resolved to stop bothering about it and went along with anything that sounded logical.

...

..

I'm sure Hiruzen has his purposes when he decides to leave me in Kakashi's hands. So that he can keep an eye on me closely and acts quick whenever suspicious activity is detected.

Perhaps also due the fact that Kakashi's the only one who capable of doing those things without getting himself noticed.

Once finish eating, I lay down onto the futon. Facing the closed window and an wooden desk with nothing but a small clock on it. My eyes widen in shock after reading the time.

Oh snap, it's 10 p.m already?!

Damn, I have to stop exhausting myself with all the negative thoughts and get to sleep. Since I was told to meet up with the members of team 7 tomorrow, *early* in the morning.

Next morning

At the team 7's training spot.

It's not until 9 a.m that I arrive and find the trio there. Sasuke is leaning against a tree while Sakura is standing nearby, and Naruto is sitting on the ground not too far away.

None of them seems to be in a good mood judging by the look on their faces.

"He's late! Again!"

Annoyed, Naruto yells. As this is the nth time their teacher not being on time. Though he stops complaining the moment seeing me.

"Nina-chan! I heard you passed the Genin exam. Congratulation!"

When I approach to their spot, Naruto gives me a thumb up.

"Kakashi sensei told us about your success yesterday. Congrats!"

Sakura's happy with my exam result as well.

"Thanks, you two!"

And we continue chatting a bit more while waiting for Kakashi to arrive. And for the whole time I notice that Naruto looks like he wants to say something to me but keeps holding himself back.

"What's wrong Naruto?"

Curious about his odd reaction, I ask him.

"Well, it seemed that you passed the exam without spending a day of practicing. So I'm just wondering how good of a shinobi you are."

Despite not saying it directly to my face, I know what Naruto's are implying. And that he wants to have a match with me.

"Quit it, can't you see that she just got out of the hospital?!"

Sakura shouts at him for suggesting the bad idea. While her inner self speaks the otherwise. Actually I'm curious too...

"Don't worry about it, I'm fine."

Seeing them both being so eager, I give in to their requests.

"Cool! So we're going for 1v1?"

"Then, I'll go first."

Sasuke declares his turn out of nowhere and steps forward, much to Naruto's objection. Though Sakura's quick to shut him up with a punch to his stubborn head.

"Uh... Okay?"

While I'm left deeply confused by his attitude. First he acted like he didn't care. And now he's so determined to be the first one to jump onto the hype train.

"Hmm... This is getting interesting."

Having arrived to the spot and instead of showing himself, Kakashi settles behind one of the trees nearby to watch his students sparring.

"So is there any special rule?"

Before we start, I ask Sasuke whether he has special settings for our battle.

"Do your best and win."

And I will assume that sentence means there's none.

After moving into our fighting stances, we patiently wait for Sakura's countdown from three to one.

"Go!"

Sasuke starts off by throwing multiple Shuriken at Nina to distract her and charges forward to attack with a Kunai. She manages to block it in time with a Kunai in her hand and kicks him away.

Oh, she's left-handed.

They figure out Nina's primary hand and leg when watching her.

As time goes on, Sasuke's speed overwhelms hers while Nina stays with her defensive tactic. And whenever she tries to land an attack, he will counter her to deal even more damages.

"Let's pick up the pace, shall we?"

Tired of toying around, Sasuke tricks Nina into thinking that he has left his side open and she easily falls for it, by discarding her safe distance and aiming for the free point to strike.

"Hmph! How predictable."

Only waiting for that, he kicks the Kunai off her hand and initiates a short combo with another leg to send Nina flying away. Ending the fight with her complete defeat.

That bastard isn't holding back at all. Does he even realize that this is a friendly match? Naruto glares at his friend before walking over to help Nina get up.

"You okay?"

And he smiles when I nod in response.

"Great. Are you still up for the next round?"

Then it's Naruto turn to fight me.

Our match goes smoothly since he doesn't take it as serious as Sasuke. No usage of Kunai or shuriken, just simple Tatjustsu and neither of the us the intention of hurting each other.

Though I have to admit that Naruto's good with his fists and knows exactly what's he doing.

And everything ends the moment Naruto uses Kage Bunshin no Jutsu to confuse the heck out of me. As I'm forced to fight against his endless wave of clones until tiring myself out and quit.

"I guess it's my turn now?"

Coming up next is Sakura, except that I'm already exhausted from battling against the other two and just charges at her head on. Eventually, I'm lost to her deep planning and perfect timing attacks.

In conclusion, the matches end with me losing to all three of them. With Sasuke holding the first place at one minute, following Sakura at two and Naruto at five.

"Don't feel sad, okay? You fought great!"

Naruto say his comforts when seeing me sulking over the bad results. He's so bright and innocent that it's too hard to be mad at him.

"Yeah, for someone who was just recovered from fatal injuries. You handled it well."

Sakura adds. While Sasuke doesn't seem to agree.

Nina's movements are clumsy, while her reflexes and decisions are too slow, no usage of ninjutsu. Her grip on the Kunai is so frail that it's too easy to trip it off her hand. The problem isn't sorely coming from health, but lacking of skills.

In conclusion, this girl is a total weakling. Probably even worse than Sakura.

"Another dead weight to the team."

Having done measuring her abilities, Sasuke spat and walks off.

"Hey! Don't be so mean! I'm sure Nina-chan has something she's good at, you know!"

Annoyed by his rudeness, Naruto yells at him.

"Then she better hurry and gets it to work. Because if that was either Zabuza or Haku, she would have been long gone."

And Sasuke's words gain my attention almost instantly.

Zabuza? They must have finished the Lands of Waves Escort Mission already.

That means the Chunin exam story arc will be coming up next. Jeeze, I didn't expect it to be this close when being informed by Hiruzen earlier.

"It's okay Naruto. It's true that am weak. And you guys are very talented."

Therefore I admit my flaw, in hope that those two will stop fighting.

"Hmph!"

Fortunately, Sasuke drops his lecture and turns away. While Naruto grins shyly by the sudden praise.

"I will train with you, how about it?"

Sympathized with my condition, Naruto suggests helping me to improve my shinobi's skill. And I agree, thinking that it may be a good chance for us to befriend.

"Good luck! I'm rooting for you both!"

Nothing can describe how happy Sakura is when appears someone who's willing to Naruto off her shoulders. So that she can freely follow Sasuke without being disturbed.

"Hey guys, I got lost."

Eventually, Kakashi shows up with another lame excuse.

"You're lying!"

Of course, none of us believes it.

"Anyway play time's over. Everyone, let's head to the Hokage's office. There's a mission waiting for us."

Then he informs them about their upcoming mission bring joy to the whole team. Not wasting time, Naruto takes the lead and runs off to Hokage's office direction before any of us can act.

Let's just hope that it's nothing too important or dangerous.

Me, on the other hand, doesn't seem as much enthusiastic as the Naruto's protagonists are.