Reminiscence

The sun was barely peeking into the sky when Naruto lumbered his body through the village and into training ground number three.

His eyes fought to remain open as he forged on, legs feeling heavy and arms dangling at his side uselessly. Ahead of him, he could see the two approaching figures of his new teammates. Both of them looked just as tired as he felt.

“Good morning.” Sakura greeted in a low, sleepy voice. Her hair looked strangely well-styled despite her exhaustion.

“Morning.” He mumbled, feeling resolutely out of place now that they were faced with the new reality of their team and who it was they were going to train and work with for the foreseeable future. That is to say; if they managed to pass whatever test Kakashi-sensei had in store for them.

“Hn.” Was Sasuke’s only response, although he wasn’t much of a talker on a normal day, so Naruto wasn’t too surprised.

Their stomachs growled in unison and they shared a look of mutual misery as they stood there, waiting for Kakashi to grace them with his presence.

Naruto wasn’t holding his breath, however, knowing that the man’s late arrival yesterday was probably just the start of a long-lasting habit.

When 20 minutes passed and the teacher had yet to show himself, Naruto flopped on the ground into his familiar meditative stance. His two teammates didn’t object this time, instead choosing to do the same. However, it should be noted that Sasuke chose to sit a great deal away. Sakura, having not gotten the unspoken message only hovered closer to the boy in response. 

Not wanting a repeat of yesterday’s mishap, he chose to keep his meditating to a shallow stage. Enjoying the light morning air, the sound of the waking world slowly emerging around him.

If he stretched his senses, he could almost hear the rustling of a few squirrels, occupying the trees near them.

It was one hour later that he finally noticed an additional presence. One moment he wasn’t there, and the next, he just was. Standing there, in the middle of the makeshift triangle they had unconsciously formed.

“You’re late!” Sakura yelled as soon as she noticed him. Pointing an accusatory finger at him. Naruto almost wanted to join her in her shouting.

“Ah, sorry, a black cat crossed my path so I had to take the long road here.” He defended weakly ignoring their incredulous looks. Rubbing a sheepish arm behind his head, he continued. “A-anyway, let’s begin. Your goal is simple.” He held up two bells, hanging by a red string, chiming as he moved them. “Take these bells from me before noon.”

“So that’s your angle…” Naruto muttered, already spotting the inconsistency in this challenge.

“Naruto, let him explain.” Sakura admonished with a glare.

“Oh?” Kakashi approached them by a couple of steps. “Have you already guessed what I’m after?” The man seemed surprised and more than a little skeptical.

“There are only two bells,” Naruto explained, eyes narrowing. “So you’re plan is to pit us against each other.” But what would that accomplish, unless…

“What- why would he do that!”

“That’s right. There are only two bells, which means that only two of you will pass my test, and the third will be forced to return to the academy.” He confirmed, making his two teammates gasp in understanding. The severity of the situation finally catching up.

However, something in his gut told him that this wasn’t entirely true.

“Now, enough chitchat, let’s begin.”

____________________________________

Naruto watches Sasuke throwing attack after attack at Kakashi, never actually landing a hit on the man despite his best efforts to do so. He’d hidden himself behind the trees as soon as the exercise had started, wanting to observe and analyze before deciding on his action plan. Years of running headfirst into danger had taught him that sometimes, it was better to plan and think before acting.

Mind running with a dozen different scenarios, he finally settles on his next move.

Putting his hands in the now familiar sign, he produces a dozen clones, sending them to help Sasuke and distract Kakashi while he goes to accomplish his newfound mission. Finding Sakura.

The girl is huddled inside a bush when he finds her, doing her best to blend into the greenery despite her obscenely bright pink hair. Letting an amused grin stretch his face, he silently settles down behind her. Making sure to mask his presence to the best of his abilities.

“Hey.” He whispers, satisfied when she squeaks, startling so hard her entire body jackknives off the ground. “You’re leaving yourself open like this.”

“Naruto-!” He hushes her with a hand to her mouth, eyes hard as he shushes her. The glare she sends him almost makes him laugh, but a boom resounds from the training ground and he knows that they can’t waste any more time.

“We need to work together.” He says, expression twisting into something more serious, his voice low and steady, wanting her to understand that this was important. “Kakashi is a Jonin, an academy student alone could never stand a chance against him.” He lets go of her, sure that she won’t scream now.

“Why would I work with you? And what about Sasuke-kun? You just want the bells to yourself!”

“I already told you why we should work together, that includes Sasuke.” He hisses, aware that they were running out of time. “Kakashi-sensei can’t send one of us back if he sees that we all worked to get the bells.”

Another explosion resounded from the field and he could feel that most of his clones had already popped. “Look, hear me out alright? I have a plan.”

Reluctantly, the girl nodded.

____________________________________

Kakashi sighed in disappointment as he dodged once again another set of kicks and knives from Sasuke. The boy’s taijutsu was impressive, and Kakashi found that he at least didn’t have to entertain himself by reading during the fight. However, his power and years of experience still made it a very boring one.

Yawning, he stepped out of the way of a fire jutsu, smiling at the tiny Uchiha, he looked around, wondering if any of the two would deign to show themselves soon. Abandoning their teammate like this wasn’t a good sign for the rest of their exam.

Suddenly, as if summoned by his wayward thoughts, Naruto sprang into action, his clones bursting forth from the trees to attack him from all sides. He concealed his shock at the sheer amount of clones the boy could produce, whistling as he changed his fighting stance, this was getting interesting. The clones were relentless, their movements erratic and unpredictable as they swarmed around him.

Kakashi's eye narrowed behind his mask as he faced the onslaught of attack. He knew that Naruto was up to something, but he couldn't let his guard down for a moment. With a swift motion, he dispatched several clones with a series of well-placed strikes, but more continued to emerge, keeping him on the defensive.

Unbeknownst to him, amidst the chaos, one of Naruto's clones had slipped past Kakashi's defenses, disguised as Sasuke, effectively taking the boy’s place as another clone ushered the real one back to the forest. Speaking in a hushed tone, they strategized together.

With Naruto's unrelenting insistence, Sasuke reluctantly agreed to cooperate, realizing that their only chance of success lay in working together as a team. He quickly formulated a plan, rejoining the fray and directing his clones to keep Kakashi occupied while Sasuke and Sakura executed their plan to obtain the bells.

As Kakashi focused on the onslaught of clones, Sasuke and Sakura moved with stealth and precision, sneaking up behind their sensei.

Catching Naruto’s eye while he launches another distracting attack at Kakashi, Sakura nods slowly, sharing a glance with Sasuke, her heart pounding with adrenaline as she prepares to execute their plan. With shaky hands, she retrieves the smoke bombs from her pouch, her movements betraying her nervousness. Naruto's clones spring into action, surrounding Kakashi and launching a barrage of attacks.

Sasuke engages Kakashi in combat, stepping in as soon as his designated clone pops out of existence, his attacks growing more desperate as he struggles to land a blow. Kakashi, ever the elusive opponent, evades Sasuke's strikes with ease, his movements calculated and precise.

Taking a deep breath, steeling herself for what comes next. With trembling hands, she throws the smoke bombs at Kakashi's feet, the bombs exploding in a cloud of thick smoke. For a moment, the world is obscured by a veil of grey.

Steeling herself, knowing that if she can’t see him, then he probably can’t either, she darts forward, seeing her opening. Her heart pounds in her chest as she lunges at the Jonin, a surge of determination going through her as she acts. She knows that she has only one chance to grab the bells, and failure is not an option.

Sasuke, sensing Sakura's movements, joins her in the fray, his eyes blazing with intensity. Together, they launch a coordinated attack, their movements clumsy with inexperience but determined. Sakura reaches out, her fingers brushing against one of the bells, but Kakashi reacts with lightning speed, swatting her hand away.

Having anticipated this, Naruto is quick to throw a series of punches and kicks, allowing both her and Sasuke to try again.

Sasuke is quick to capitalize on the distraction. With a swift motion, he grabs the bells from Kakashi's belt, his heart racing with exhilaration as he throws one of them into Sakura’s waiting hands as soon as Kakashi turns to face him. For a moment, time seems to stand still as Sasuke holds the bells triumphantly in his hand, his eyes meeting Kakashi's in a silent challenge.

Naruto dispels his clones the moment he sees Kakashi settle back into a resting stance, knowing that the exercise is over. He pants quietly, trying to catch his breath as he watches the man’s eyes narrow over them, deep in thought.

He knows what’s about to happen even before the ninja opens his mouth to speak, seeing the dark glint in his eyes flash.

“You both pass” Kakashi directs at the duo holding the bells. He can’t even get himself to feel surprised as the man turns towards him and continues in an almost bored voice. “Sorry Naruto, you fail.” Not sounding sorry in the slightest. Wasn’t the entire point of this exercise teamwork? Had he understood wrong?

“But Sensei he-“ Sakura goes to protest, making his eyes widen, not having expected her to be all that bothered. Even Sasuke is glaring at the man.

“Quiet, unless, you wish to join him back at the academy.” That gets her to shut up, shoulders hunching as she folds in on herself, losing her momentary courage. “Now, as punishment, no food for you, Naruto. Maybe I’ll give you another chance in a couple of months if you behave.” 

Naruto can only stare apathetically, his eyes losing the excitement they had gathered with adrenaline and working as a team for the first time in years. His throat feels strangely clogged as he swallows, and from the corner of his eyes, he sees Sasuke’s hand clenching around the bell, fingers trembling, as if debating on something.

“Fine.” He says before any of them can do something they might regret later.

To the rising dread in his stomach, Kakashi goes as far as to tie him to a pole in the middle of the field, rope scrapping against his skin as he pulls them tight enough to inhibit his movements.

He contemplates struggling but can’t get himself to care enough to do so, as he watches his teammates sit on either side of him. Looking guiltily at the bento boxes in their grasps.

Bitterly, he thinks that this doesn’t change anything, since he hadn’t brought any food with him to begin with. Even if he had passed, he’d have gone hungry tonight.

He moves experimentally, testing the ropes binding him, his mind involuntarily flashing to another instance where he’d been tied to something. Darkness, cold stone, and laughter ring in his ears as he shakes his head as if to physically dispel the memory.

“N-Naruto…” Sakura speaks up hesitantly, voice softer than he’d ever heard it while addressing him. “I’m sorry, this-” She stutters, seemingly unable to meet his eyes. “-this isn’t fair…”

To his ever-growing surprise, Sasuke actually hums in agreement at that, twisting the bell between his fingers, body tense and food untouched.

“Don’t worry about it.” Things usually weren’t fair when it came to him, after all. “I’m used to it.” He muttered, not intending for his last words to be heard.

To both his embarrassment and relief, whatever response the two had for him was interrupted as his stomach growled. He could feel his cheeks heat up as he looked away, ashamed.

He heard shuffling but refused to look up as he assumed both of them had gone back to their food. However, his field of vision was soon accosted by a bento box, the scent of tomatoes and rice filling his nose.

Eyes wide with confusion, he followed the hands holding the bento to their owner, ocean eyes meeting intense black as Sasuke pushed the box closer to him, looking away with an impatient frown.

“What are you-?”

Before he could even begin to protest, another box had joined the other, one pinker and similarly filled to the brim.

“If Kakashi-sensei sees you, you’ll get in trouble.”

“Just eat, Dobe, who cares what the old man says.”

Something unidentifiable filled his chest, making his heart squeeze painfully, had he fallen into some kind of parallel universe? Was this some kind of Genjustu?

Huffing impatiently, Sasuke took his chopsticks and offered him a bite directly, his eyes still not meeting his own.

With slow, tentative movements, as if afraid to dispel the illusion or for this somehow to end up as a cruel joke, he bit into the offered food, stifling a groan as he tasted real food for the first time in a few days.

As if summoned by an unseen force, Kakashi appeared before them in a gust of wind, startling Sakura hard enough that she dropped her bento.

“You broke the rules, are you prepared for the consequences?” His voice had lost the bored apathy it had previously been filled with, now Naruto could see the Ninja behind all the rumors of strength and power. His intimidating aura and murderous intent drowned the field.

“H-Hey! We didn’t do anything wrong!” Sakura shouted, fear evident in her tone, eyes determined despite the tremble in her limbs.

“Oh?” Kakashi advanced menacingly, his hands forming the beginning of a jutsu.

“Naruto deserves this just as much as we do.” Sasuke gestured to the bells and the food, his voice still low and steady.

“Yeah! Naruto was the one who pushed us to work together!” His eyes couldn’t get any wider as he watched her throw the bell at Kakashi. “You can take your stupid bell! I don’t want it anymore.”

Steeling himself, he spoke up. “Wasn’t the entire purpose of your exercise teamwork?”

“You’re saying that you would rather go back to the academy than lose your teammate?” Kakashi’s voice was hard, betraying nothing as he leaned in, looming over them. When none of them protested, nodding resolutely, the man’s expression changed, twisting into something different. Almost satisfied.

“Hmm...Then you pass.” He finished simply, pulling a gasp from Sakura’s lips as Sasuke’s body seemed to deflate, losing the tension in his limbs.

Naruto could only stare, finally understanding what the ninja had been after all this time. His initial assessment had been right, after all.

“W-what?” She asked, confusion obvious in her wide green eyes. “We pass? You mean all of us?”

"In the ninja world, those who don't follow the rules are scum." He began slowly, his posture losing the sharpness he’d been previously threatening them with. “But those who abandon their friends are even worse than scum.” With a quick move of his body, the ropes tying Naruto to the pole fell to the ground, freeing him. “Do you understand?”

Maybe having them as his team wouldn’t be so bad…Naruto thought, his heart constricting painfully in his chest.

The mirrored nods of his teammates only helped to emphasize his thoughts.

chapter 16 part 1-2 already up, link in my insta bio

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