Bell Test!
Ok so, as the name suggests, this chapter is about the bell test. As stated in the previous chapter, Naruto is both older and a sensei to another group. This being the case, the bell tests pans out over two episodes of Naruto, episodes 4-5. When I write I don't like to change scenes too much unless it's necessary, this being the case for this book. I've written it in a way that makes sense to me, please comment if it doesn't and I will take it down and work something out. In these two episodes there are alot of parts that just focus on Naruto, and with Sai and Naruto being total opposites I couldn't really do that. Please let me know what you think of this chapter, and I promise the other one will be out a lot quicker than this one was.
I hope you enjoy it anyway with what I've done.
“Talking”
‘Thinking’
“Jutsu”
Next Morning
(Team 7)
previously
"Team 69, make sure to pack a lot of things, because it's going to be the whole day," Naruto said before disappearing in a flash.
now
Authors POV
- team 7 do their bell test
-"Team 7 are Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha and Sai,"
The next morning team 7 got there early, tired and hungry hoping to get this test over with as quickly as possible.
As time goes by they all get frustrated and annoyed, wondering why their new sensei set a time that they had to be there but not be there himself, with no explanation or warning. The set time for the meet up was six in the morning, it was now nearly nine. They were near the point of just walking away when Kakashi finally showed his masked face.
"YOU’RE LATE" Sakura screamed at the masked ninja, causing her two teammates to both cringe and partially cover their ears. Kakashi didn't seem to have an outward reaction but Sai knew from training that Kakashi wanted to cover his ears.
"haha, sorry about that, I was helping an old lady with her groceries" scratching the back of his neck. At his reply they were all shocked and annoyed, but knew there wasn't anything they could do in the end.
"Today's assessment is to take these bells away from me by noon". With the mask on his face, it's hard for the three of them to tell his expressions, but by the look in his eyes. They are in a bit of trouble.
"Those who can't do it won't get lunch" did they see a smile, they think they saw a smile under that mask.
"They will be tied to that stump, and forced to watch me while I eat my lunch before your very eyes." All three of them, just realizing why he told them not to eat, are now regretting their life choices, and teaching them that they can't always obey orders.
"But wait, hold on, why are there only two bells?" Sakura for once makes a good point the two boys realize.
"There are only two bells , so at the very least, one of you will have to go on the logs. That person will be disqualified for failing the mission... and will return to the Academy. It might be one person, or it could be all three of you. You can use your shuriken. You won't be able to take these bells unless you come at me with the intent to kill me." They all realized that he was dead serious.
"But, that's dangerous, sir!" trying to hype herself up.
"yeah that's right, we don't want to hurt you sensei."
'Those two are idiots if they think they can take on an x-ANBU' Thinking to himself Sai looks down at the ground shaking his head.
"In this world, those who aren't skilled enough tend to complain more. Begin when I give the 'ready-to-go' signal"
Sasuke, trying to prove that he is stronger than anyone else, grabbed a Kunai from his pouch and leaped to the attack. While Sasuke went for the attack, Both Sakura and Sai were frozen in shock. Though Sai knows there is no '1-2-3- GO' in real life battles, he does know when he should hide and think of something before attacking. Leaping into the battle with no plan is what gets you killed beyond the village walls, no matter where you are. He knows Sakura is stupid but he commends the fact she didn't follow Sasuke's lead. Though Sai knows that if she wasn't frozen from the shock she probably would have.
Seeing the attack coming in a slow motion sort of way, Kakashi grabbed Sasuke's wrist as he went for the strike, Sakura was surprised thinking Sasuke could do it. Sai was just standing there asking Kami why he was placed on this team. Sasuke coming out of shock realized he couldn't move and moved his eyes to try and see behind him. As soon as he did, Sasuke realized Kakashi had him in a death grip. Kunai pointed at the base of his skull. tip to skin, while Kakashi's other hand was on his head making sure Sasuke couldn't escape the hold.
From where they were, Sai and Sakura couldn't really see. Though both were curious, only Sakura moved to see what had actually happened. Seeing how her precious Sasuke-kun was being held, Sakura was furious but didn't want to get in trouble so she didn't act on her rage.
"Don't be so hasty. I didn't say start, yet." Kakashi said this in a tone no one could mistake as anything but boredom. The other two hearing this took a step back not knowing what will happen next.
Kakashi seeing this, let Sasuke go.
'No way...' in complete shock still Sakura was stuck in her head. 'I didn't see him at all' .
'So this is some of what Kakashi can do' Sai knows that's not the full power of this man, but to see him in some form of action was interesting.
"But, that's fine. At least you came with the intent to kill me. " chuckling lightly at the end," Kakashi continued. "How can I put this..? I feel like I'm finally starting... to like you guys. Ready....START!!"
As soon as Kakashi said those words, the three genin leapt away all knowing they couldn't attack out in the open like this.
"Fundamentally, ninja must mask their presence and hide. Okay, everyone is hidden pretty well...". pulling out what Kakashi always said was a work of art book, where it was actually something that shouldn't be around young people. 'make out paradise' is the name,
Sai sees that this Jonin won't make the first move, and is ultimately very curious about what he can do. So a decision was made, Sai pulled out two throwing stars, taking aim and letting them fly. It was mostly to test Kakashi’s skill, Sai knows he has a long way to go in terms of everything. Point is Sai knows he has a long way to go, but he's always had a good eye for things, he was brought up in a place where there could be no mistakes made. Watching the throwing stars sore through the air reaching closer and closer to their target, he watched. Seeing what happened next, made all three genin gasp out in both surprise and shock. Instead of the throwing stars hitting their mark, Kakashi moved his hand in a split second catching the throwing stars right in the middle with his fingers. The throwing stars were even still spinning at high speed. From what the three genin could see Kakashi hadn't even moved, only his arm moved in that second.
With the attack Sai made from the trees, Sasuke took the chance to do a charge attack. Creating clones so he wasn't attacking alone they all jumped at once, Sasuke knows they are using a lot of chakra but he needs to take this chance. Attacking from all sides Sasuke makes sure he's distracted from the front so he can grab on from behind, doing this he tries to make a grab for the bells. Seeing this Kakashi starts trying to get out once he comes out of his surprise from this kid being able to come up behind him and actually grabbing on. During his struggle Kakashi sees Sasuke running at him from the front and taking a leap to attack, aiming to kick either the head or the upper chest.
Without any of the Genin noticing Kakashi sort of disappeared into thin air, only noticed when Sasuke's kick didn't land it's intended target and two of his clones dispersed. Looking around in confusion Sasuke wondered how he got away. Quickly realizing he used a substitution jutsu to get out of the hold and away from the attack, both Sasuke and Sai looked around to see if they could see him.
Sakura on the other hand spotted something different, she saw that in the grass was a bell, dropped on the ground. Looking around and noticing that neither of the boys have noticed it and she can't see Kakashi anywhere. So taking the opportunity she made a dash for it, reaching the bell and grabbing it she smiled a happy smile that lasted about a second before she screamed. What caused the scream, well, she got caught in a spring trap made of rope that was triggered by her picking up the bell. Letting out a scream she dropped the bell back to the ground, looking straight ahead she let out another little scream when Kakashi appeared in front of her.
"You have to think when using Jutsu, they can be used against you. Also don't get caught in an obvious trap, you idiot." Sakura flustered as her future sensei said that she was just trying to hold her dress up so nothing was shown to everyone. "A ninja must see through deception.... Got it?" Seething now, Sakura knew this. For some reason she just didn't notice the trap. She was mad at herself for missing it. After all, she was the top Kunoichi of her year. How could she miss it?. She just knew that Sasuke would think less of her now that she has made this mistake, feeling her rage come back tenfold. Sakura decided to let her rage out this time.
"I know that!" Shouting, she knew that the boys heard her, but at this point she didn't really care.
"You know, you say that because you don't get it. Listen up. your movements are wasteful." While Kakashi was carefully berating Sakura. Sasuke took this chance again to try and prove himself yet again, after his failed attempt at getting the bells. Sasuke reached into his pouch and grabbed four Kunai and two throwing stars, taking aim he threw them all at the same time watching as they made their way to their target.
"You're so...." having been cut off, at first glance it looks as though Sasuke got him. Having this happen right in front of her Sakura started to freak out in both joy and distress, though you couldn't really tell which one was happening.
"Sasuke-Kun, you got him great job!, though I think you may have over done it" Sakura shouted in every-which direction because she couldn't tell where he was.
As Sakura continued to freak out, the two boys sat watching and waiting to see what would happen next. Watching Kakashi go down with the Kunai and shuriken sticking to his side, Sai knew something couldn't be right. That feeling was proven right, as the two boys watched before their eyes that Kakashi went up in a cloud of white smoke and turned into a log.
'Substitution Jutsu' , Sai knows that Jutsu can be very useful in situations like this, it's all about timing and having something nearby you can switch with.
Sasuke, having seen this, grew increasingly more angry. Making a dash for it to try and find Kakashi and grab those bells. Leaping from tree to tree Sasuke continues to look around,
"Damn, another substitution. He must have found out my location from those shuriken! He purposefully lowered his guard! serves me right.... I fell for his trap."
While Sasuke is making a mad dash through the forest looking for Jonin, said Jonin is watching him from the bushes, just waiting for him to come closer so he can make his move.
Sai knows after what Sasuke just tried to pull that Dog will go after Sasuke, it's how the ANBU does things, it's how he tracks people when he isn't using his Ninken.
Sai knows what this test is about, why all the new Genins are split up into groups of three with a Jonin or higher rank as their sensei. It's to be taught how to work in teams, because most teams won't be any bigger than four people, and if they are bigger than it's a very big or important mission. If there are less than four people it usually means that it's a lower grade mission or it's a stealth mission. Long term missions are a different story entirely, so Sai knows the other two won't work with him. So with that in mind Sai is just content just to sit and wait out the test, and see how the other two go. Finding what they do is amusing enough to pass the time, if only he thought to bring some chips or something with him.
Sakura, having finally got out of the trap she was stuck in, made a dash through the forest looking for Sasuke. “Sasuke…. Where are you….!?. Don’t tell me, Kakashi has already…. No! That couldn’t happen to Sasuke, right?!” tripping over her own feet, Sakura fell to the ground just above a ledge. Looking over, she saw Kakashi again with his book out, acting as though he was reading it. “Safe! He didn’t notice me.” Thought as a smile creeped up her face.
“Sakura, behind you.” Kakashi called out from below. “huh?!” Slightly freaked out she quickly whipped her head around to look behind her. Coming face to face with another Kakashi, bending at the knees to stare at her at eye level. Meeting Kakashi’s eyes she freaked out in both surprise and fear, screaming out into the forest.
Both boys having heard Sakura, neither made a move to help her though. Sai went back to his book and practicing his drawing art style, and Sasuke kept on his hunt for the older ninja.
Having caught Sakura, Kakashi wanted to see what she was most afraid of. Both out of morbid curiosity and to see if it was something they could work on if it would affect her future career being a ninja. So with that in mind, Kakashi put her in a mild genjutsu testing her ability to depict jutsu to reality.
In reality, it looked as though Sakura was just standing there, blank faced and dazed. Surrounded by leaves flying high into the sky upon the genjutsu’s first activation. As soon as the leaves had left swirling away into the sky, Sakura just stood there, in a small clearing near the training ground.
In Sakura's mind, things were a little different. “What was that?! Huh?! Hold on! Where’s sensei?! Huh! What's going on?! Huh! What’s what?!” Sakura starts freaking out, feeling something different is about, but not being able to pinpoint the feeling.
“Sakura….” recognizing that voice, Sakura's panic instantly becomes excitement and happiness.
“Sasuke!?” turning around to the sound of the voice, trying to find the boy that it belonged to.
“Sa…..Saku….ra….” calling out to her again, Sasuke props himself up on a tree with multiple Kunai and Shuriken sticking out of his back and sides. Not looking up to see her as he called to her. Speaking next he slowly looks up at her, his hair covering his eyes, “P-Please….Help….me” blood seems to be slowly pooling at his feet, still not fully looking at her.
Sakura, since having seen Sasuke, hasn't moved from her spot. All she can do is look at him in that state, and wonder who did that to him. Wonder how it happened as Sasuke is so strong, he could fight off anyone. Seeing him in that state she just froze, not knowing what to do. Tears welling up in her eyes and starting their slow descent down her face, mind finally catching up to her eyes. She lets out a shrill never ending scream to let her agony out of her body, she keeps screaming letting out all her breath, till she finally passes out on her back.
Sitting in a tree just above her, Kakashi is perched kneeling on the tree, book pulled out as he is watching and controlling the genjutsu. Seeing what happened, hearing the scream and watching her fall back, passed out cold. “Maybe I went a bit overboard… But it's really something she should notice…”
Sasuke from somewhere nearby, with how loud Sakura's voice is when speaking, let alone screaming, heard her. “Was that voice….Sakura’s….?”
“Shinobi Battle skill, genjutsu. Sakura was easily lured.” Hearing the jingle of the bells, and the droll of Kakashi's voice. Sasuke was curious, being from the Uchiha clan, he knows all about Genjutsu. At least he's read about them and knows some, he knows how to tell them from reality but hasn’t had a chance to really practice with them.
‘Genjutsu, huh…..?’ Thinking this, Sasuke knew that Sakura would not easily get out of the jutsu. ‘An illusory mind-controlling technique. I’m not surprised she got lured. However’ “I'm different from them. Why don’t you say that after you get a bell…Sasuke?” As if reading his mind, Kakashi seems to appear out of nowhere, leaning on a tree with his book out.
Sasuke turned around and came face to face with the man and his book, Standing at the ready, either ready to fight or run, that hasn’t been decided yet. Hand at the ready to reach for his weapons pouch, waiting for Kakashi to make his move. After a few minutes, realizing that Kakashi wont make the first move, Sasuke takes matters into his own hands. Reaching into his weapons pouch, he grabs a few weapons from the pouch and aims his body stance at Kakashi. Throwing them in a flash that Sasuke thought would be quick enough.
“It’s no use just using straightforward attacks.” Kakashi says this while dodging Sasuke's attack. Having seen this as a possibility to happen, Sasuke grabs another Kunai and throws it up high. Hitting a rope that was previously concealed from sight, Kakashi still sliding along the dirt from dodging the attack.
‘A trap!?’. The trap Kakashi realized triggered more Kunai and Shuriken to aim at the spot Sasuke thought he would go to. His prediction came out to be right, as Kakashi made a quick jump to get away from the attack. Though as Sasuke planned Kakashi was too distracted to notice that Sasuke had moved, Sasuke moved quickly to get behind Kakashi to attack in his blind spot.
‘What?.’ Kakashi, actually surprised by this attack, didn't have much time to prepare. He quickly turned around to block the attack from the front instead of landing on his back, as the attack hit his arm Kakashi made a quick grab at Sasuke's leg. Sasuke seeing this as a possibility was prepaid, twisting his leg that Kakashi had a hold of. With his other leg Sasuke makes an attack on Kakashi's head, twisting his body so that his head is pointing towards the ground. Sasuke kicks his leg up aiming and trying to land his kick, but ultimately a ploy for Sasuke to get the bell. As Kakashi was distracted by the two legs, Sasuke made a grab for the bells. Kakashi, seeing this ‘This guy’ , leapt and pushed Sasuke away from him. ‘What a guy. There is no time to read “make-out paradise.”’ looking across the field at Sasuke not losing eye contact, he prepares for any attack.
Waking up, Sakura is confused. She doesn’t really know what happened, ‘What…? I…?!’ sitting up on her knees to think about what has happened, she remembers what she saw. ‘That's right! I saw Sasuke on the verge of dying and I… Sasuke! Don’t die and leave me here!! Where are you?!’ screaming out into the forest. Sai, hearing her scream, was honestly curious at what was happening, but he wasn’t leaving his spot. Kakashi has left him alone, and he again knows the other two won't work with him, so Sai is very content to just sit and listen to the madness that is going on around him.
The spot Sai has chosen to sit and read, has a stone, under light it looks a shade lighter than it actually is. The stone is black, with its own step, at first glance it looks like a sundial. If you take a closer look at the stone though, it has a bunch of names on it. Those names represent those that have fallen in battle, it represents those that have given their lives in fight.
Sai doesn’t know his parents, all he really knows is that they fell in battle. He doesn’t know if their names are on the stone, but everytime he is here Sai feels some sort of connection, like he is with them and they are here with him. So with his book in hand, he leans back against the stone and takes a breath, hoping this test will be over soon.
“Well! I’ll acknowledge that you're different from others.” Standing on one side of the field casually looking at Sasuke. Sasuke jumps into a defensive position, gets his hands ready and runs through hand signs (Horse, Tiger, Serpent, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger). “Katon Goukakyuu no Jutsu!” (#1) doing the last hand seal Sasuke takes a deep breath and breathes out a blast of fire.
Kakashi realizing what those hand seals were, his one visible eye widens with that knowledge. ‘What?! That’s not a Jutsu that a Genin can do… He shouldn't have enough chakra yet!’
Letting out the blast of fire, controlled by Sasuke's hand on where it was being aimed. The blast of fire that Sasuke was releasing went on for a bit of time, Sasuke was kind of proud of himself as he spent such a long time practicing and training with this jutsu. Both for himself and to try and impress his father, and trying to prove he was just as good as his brother. Coming back to the present, Sasuke released the Jutsu and noticed that Kakashi wasn’t in the crater that had formed. Looking on in shock and confusion, Sasuke started looking around, trying to spot Kakashi, trying to pinpoint where he went.
‘He’s gone! Is he behind me? No, above? Where is he?’
“Beneath you.” hearing the serious voice come from below, Sasuke panicked for a split second. Though, a split second too long. As in that second a hand shot out from the earth and grabbed Sasuke's leg “Wha..?”
“Doton shinjuuzanshu no jutsu” (#2). Being quite literally yanked underground all but his head. When Sasuke finally got his head sorted out he looked up and glared at Kakashi dead in the eyes, when Kakashi moved the bells jingle their taunting tune, causing sasuke's glare to harden further. “This is the third ninja tactics know-how, Ninjutsu. How is it? Can’t move? Looks like your talents are exceptional. But… They say that stakes that point out get driven back into the ground.” Saying this Kakashi pulled out his book yet again and started reading, pissing Sasuke off even more.
buried into the ground, Sasuke struggles and tries to wriggle his way out, calling out into the forest for all to hear, but all will ignore. “Damn it!”
Sasuke for some reason can’t let go of the fact that Kakashi got him in this type of jutsu, can’t let go of the fact that he was beaten like this. ‘Damn it, we’re this different…?’ Scowl sets firm on his face like a permanent fixture, he starts trying to think of a way to get out of this awful and embarrassing jutsu. Hearing someone coming through the bush Sasuke internally panics wondering who it was, looking up as the person stumbles into the little clearing he instantly sees Sakura.
Blinking once, twice and the girl in front of him doing the same. Sakura is completely frozen on her next step just blinking at the head she sees peeking out of the ground, the girl in question hasn't really processed what she sees though. With it slowly coming to her, she tries both not to pass out at seeing Sasuke's head, and screaming out that she had found him at last.
“Sakura” calls out to her, in both hopes she will snap out of whatever world she is in, and also to get her to pull him out of the ground. When Sasuke called out her name, it somewhat snapped her out of what she was seeing. All Sakura can think about is the Genjutsu she was put under and back to how Sasuke was so injured, so with that thought “Now it's a severed head!!”. With her saying that she falls back and lands on the ground past out cold. Having this happen before his very eyes and the words she shouted before she fell, Sasuke was confused as he didn't have a clue as to what she was referring to.
“What’s wrong with her?”, taking a minute to collect himself from what had just happened, Sasuke realizes that the ground around him has started to soften the more he has moved around. So with that in mind, Sasuke starts trying to move his arms in a way to try and dig himself out of the ground. He knows it will take a while but it should be successful, and with some patients and persistence he was right.
Slowly coming back to the awake world, Sakura started slowly opening her eyes, seeing a blue blob above her. Blinking a couple of times to try and make out what this colorful shape is, adjusting her eyes against the nearly noon day sun she starts making out the blob to be Sasuke. Having to blink a couple more times to actually believe that what she was seeing to be true.
shooting up as quickly as she can, Sakura grabbed onto Sasuke's middle and won't let go. “Sasuke-kun? You were okay!”
“Don’t get so close.” Sasuke is trying to pry her off of him, but apparently Sasuke didn’t realize how strong she actually was.
As Sakura finally released him, Sasuke stood up and looked towards the sky, getting a view of what time it was.
“There’s little time left until noon. I’m going.” Turning away from the girl still kneeling on the ground, Sasuke starts to make his way towards the clearing where he knows Kakashi will be with how little time is left.
“Sasuke-Kun, are you still going after the bell?” calling to his retreating back, Sakura finally rushed to her feet, ready to run after him.
“I was able to touch it a while ago. I can get it next time.” As Sasuke said this he turned to face Sakura. The girl in question, hearing what he said put her hands together in front of her, clasped together. She looked at Sasuke as though he was her god, that he could do no wrong. She knows that she would probably follow him to the end of the earth if he asked her too.
“Is that so? You’re amazing, Sasuke-kun.” tilting her head ever so slightly stuck in her own thoughts, though, she was thinking something entirely different. Her mind's self has her hands gripping her hair looking as though it is about to be ripped off her head, eyes screwed shut and brows pinched together. ‘Shoot! I can’t get a bell from that teacher!’, on the outside Sakura was just trying to look cute to Sasuke while having her inner argument with herself.
Coming back to reality, Sakura looked at Sasuke and tried to think of a way to get him to allow her to come with him to get the bells. In her mind it was so that she and Sasuke could be a team together, without a third wheel. But Sakura knows that with little time left there isn't much they can do, thinking back to the words that they were told when this first started, in her mind giving up and redoing in latter was the better option. “Um… Since we have little time left, why don't we try harder next time and give up for now.” ending her little talk with a smile of hope on her face, thinking what she said was perfect.
Taking in what the girl had said, Sasuke turned to her with a sharp glare, snapping her out of the fantasy world she was in currently. As she dropped her smile and just stared at the boy in front of her, the glare she was getting effectively shutting her up. As he turns away from her once more, Sakura is instantly struck with the grief of her mistake, making Sasuke give her that look.
In Sasuke's mind after Sakura said what she did, all he could think about was the look on the unknown person's face after having killed certain clan members. All that he can vividly remember is the eyes, the man's eyes were blood red, not unlike the Uchiha Sharingan, but those eyes had no little black circles and patterns in them, his eyes were just red. Shuddering at the memory of those eyes, Sasuke shook himself out of the memory and just stood in the breeze. Letting the wind brush over him as he stood and thought, “Only I can kill that man.”
Having realized something was wrong, Sakura was worried as she knew what she said did something other than her intended motive, “What…? You mean Sensei?” With concern dripping from her voice, she continued to watch Sasuke stand before her.
“I was crying at the time…” Still having his back turned to the pink haired girl, still not fully out of his mind yet.
“Crying…?”
“My…..” not finishing the sentence, Sakura instantly jumped on that, trying to get him to continue.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“I’m an avenger. I must become stronger than him. I don't have time to stumble here.” hands balled into fists at his side, shaking with the shear force that they were being curled into each other.
‘...To kill a certain man.’ Thinking back on when they did their introductions to the team, Sasuke had said that then too.
Not realizing how much time had passed with the exchange between the two, the time that was set rang loud throughout the forest. Drawing their attention to the noise and what that meant for them.
“Damn it, I wasted my time talking.” Fists unclenching, he started the short trek back to the clearing to see what would happen going forward.
“Sasuke-kun” head bowed and thoughts going a mile a minute she followed him shortly after.
Upon arriving at the clearing Kakashi took to standing in front of her with the same rope that Sakura had dangled upside down in. Mouth agape, she tried to take a step back to get away but Kakashi caught her and seemed to teleport both himself and her to the posts in the middle of the field. Kakashi proceeded to tie her to the post standing up, all the while the two other boys looked on in confusion and a hint of worry about what would happen after Kakashi was done with her.
The grown man turned to the two boys and indicated for them to sit on either side of the post Sakura was tied to. Two lunch boxes sat innocently in front of the three of them, Sai realizing what was about to happen didn't bother putting his book down.
“Your stomachs are growling, eh? By the way, about the results of this training… None of you need to return to the Ninja Academy.” Looks of shock and happiness reigned between both Sasuke and Sakura, Sai didn’t really care.
“What but all I did was faint. Was that okay?” complete shock is the only thing Sakura is feeling at that moment, ‘Love prevails, damn it!’ . Getting over her shock Sakura is instantly over the moon with joy, and tries jumping before realizing she was still tied to the post. “Does that mean we three…?”
“Yeah, you three” with an eye smile visible, the three genin had different reactions. Sakura was the most excited and squirming with happiness even tied to a post, Sasuke didn't look different compared to what he normally does. On the inside though, Sasuke was really happy. Sai didn't really react because he knew something was up.
“Should quit being ninjas.” As soon as those words left Kakashi's mouth, Sakura instantly stopped, Sasuke seemed to be more depressed than he normally is, and Sai still wasn't surprised.
“Quit being ninjas? What do you mean?” Sakura was the most confused out of the three of them, she didn’t understand they had tried their best to get the bells. So why was this man that didn’t know them telling them to quit being ninjas all together. “We didn’t get the bell, but why do you have to say we should quit?!”. She was angry, confused, and annoyed, Sakura didn’t know what was happening.
“It’s because you three are just kids who don't deserve to be ninjas.” Sasuke hearing this reached his limit, he leapt up, stretched out and ran at Kakashi.
“Sasuke-kun” Sakura calling out to him didn't really see what happened. As soon as the dust cleared all they could see was that Sasuke was pinned to the ground with his arms pinned to his back, and Kakashi sitting on him.
“See? You all are just kids.”
Sakura, having taken in the image before her, got instantly angry that this man dared do this to Sasuke. “Don't step on Sasuke-kun!!” not even being fazed by the demand, Kakashi continued to sit.
“Do you guys think being a ninja is easy? Why do you think we’re training by breaking up into groups?” looking dead at the other two genin in front of him as he had said this. Gauging their reactions to his words.
Sakura was the only one to respond to what he said, looking even more confused than she was before. “What do you mean?”
“In other words, two of you don't understand the answer to this test”. Still pinning Sasuke to the ground Kakashi made a brief glance at him but nothing more.
“The answer?” Tilting her head ever so slightly in an attempt to not look as confused as she was, waiting for the silver haired man to continue.
“That's right. The answer to determine whether you pass or fail.”
“We’ve been asking what that is…” The disappointed look she got was answer enough.
“Geez, are your brains empty? You don't understand why you’re all in a group?”
As soon as he said this, yet again Sakura went off, “So what about three people being in a group?” eyes closed, Sakura didn't see the shocked face she got in return.
“Teamwork” Saying it so blandly as though it was the most obvious thing, and Sai knew that it honestly was. Those that did any sort of research or had any previous knowledge about being a ninja it's always all about teamwork, without your team unless you're on a solo mission. You have to rely on your team. If you don't, the chances of you coming back are slim.
Hearing his answer, both Sasuke and Sakura were shocked. They never would have guessed that that was the answer. “You mean cooperate with each other?”
“That's right. But it's too late even if you notice now. If all three of you had come at me at once, maybe you could have gotten a bell. But that's too bad.” Kakashi continues to look at the two in front of him.
Having thought of something, ‘Wait…’, Sakura thinks back to when Kakashi showed them the bells. “Why do we need to use teamwork when there’s only two bells? If three people work hard to get it, one person will have to bite the bullet. A group conflict will occur instead of teamwork.”
“Of course. This test tries to put you three against each other.” Sasuke and Sakura were kind of surprised to hear this, but Kakashi continued. “In this situation, we select those who can prioritize teamwork before themselves. That was the purpose, but all of you were pathetic. Sakura!” Upon hearing her name, Sakura's eyes snapped up to Kakashi and away from Sasuke.
“You cared more about Sasuke, than what your other team member was doing. Even though Sai was right in front of you, and you didn't know where Sasuke was” feeling chastised, Sakura lowered her head.
“Sai!, you didn't help them at all. Though I probably know your reason, you still understood the aim of this test, yet you didn't help either of them.” Listening to what was said, all Sai did was shrug his shoulders. He knew that neither of them would have worked with him, so he didn’t try to waste his time.
“And you Sasuke, you assumed that those two were only going to burden and did everything yourself.” Hearing those words, Sasuke clenched his teeth as he knew both what was said was true, and because of that he could say anything to deny what the man above him had said.
“Missions are done in groups. It’s true that ninjas need well-developed individual abilities, but it's teamwork that is much more important. An individual action that disrupts the teamwork will result in danger or even death for the teammates. For example.” reaching into the pouch at his hip, Kakashi pulled out a Kunai and held it to Sasuke’s neck.
“Sai! Kill Sakura, or Sasuke’s going to die!” As those words left his mouth Kakashi watched as Sai put his book down, and made direct eye contact with him. A look passing through them that he couldn't understand from the boy in front of him. Sakura on the other hand was freaking out, when those words registered she started screeching and crying to both let Sasuke go and to not kill her.
“That's what will happen.” bringing the Kunai away from Sasuke's neck, Said boy let out a breath of relief. As did Sakura, seeing that Sasuke was no longer being threatened with death. Breathing a sign of relief, “Oh, you surprised me….”
Swinging the Kunai around on his finger Kakashi continued, “After getting someone taken hostage, you will be faced with a difficult decision, and someone will die.” hulting the spinning Kunai, he put it back in his pouch. “In every mission, you put your life on the line” as Kakashi said this, he finally got off Sasuke and stood up.
Walking back away from the genin he walked towards the black stone mentioned previously. “Look at this… the numerous names carved into this stone. All these names are those praised as heroes in this village.” hearing this Sakura got excited seeing it as though if her name was on there she would be praised as a hero. Sasuke was thinking much the same as the girl with pink hair, Sai on the other hand looked down at the ground with a grim expression knowing what that stone is.
“But they’re not normal heroes.” Sakura was now confused, he had just said that they were heroes, “so what kind of heroes were they then?” wanting an answer she voiced her question, still staring at Kakashi’s back.
“Those who were K.I.A.” still not looking at them he waited to see if they said anything further.
“K.I.A.?” questioning what that stood for, Sakura waited for the answer.
“Those who were killed in action.” Sai was the one to answer her, as he knew all too well about those stones.
Completely shocked and now guilty, Sakura moved her gaze towards the ground.
“This is a cenotaph. The names of my friends are carved here as well.” crestfallen both Sasuke and Sakura continued looking at him now in a new light to before. Sai, having known this already, kept his gaze firmly on the ground.
“I'll give you one more chance. However, the battle for the bell will be much harsher after lunch. Eat lunch if you are up to the challenge. But! don't let Sakura eat.” Sakura, on the verge of tears at that last statement, resigned to not eating yet another meal.
“This is punishment for not being able to see through the Genjutsu earlier. If anyone feeds her, the person will immediately fail.” seeing the resigned face of Sakura he looked at the two boys, Sai having put his book away finally, and Sasuke not making eye contact with him.
“I’m the rule here. Got it?”
Kakashi, having left the three genin, the two boys were eating happily. Sasuke at a slightly quicker pace than normal because he too didn't eat breakfast. Sai was just eating normally as he didn’t fall for it and had breakfast.
As time passed on they both got more and more annoyed with Sakura, as her stomach was non-stop noise at this point.
“I’m okay even if I don't eat! I’m okay!” really feeling the hunger now she looked to the ground and tried focusing on something else to take her mind off of food.
“Here..” Sai, having enough and knows what will happen if she doesn’t eat, moves his lunch box up to just under her mouth. Sakura in shock and aw didn’t know what to do, she knows that she really shouldn’t accept it as it would mean immediate failure. On the other hand though, she's too hungry to really care.
“Hey, Kakashi just said that we can't feed her.” with a tone that pretty much demanded to be obeyed Sasuke addressed Sai without even looking at him as he continued to eat.
“Don't worry. I don’t sense him nearby.” Sai, not even really caring, continued to put the food in front of Sakura, “Besides us three are going to get the bells together. It's only going to be trouble if she's hungry.” hearing this, Sasuke knew that the other boy had a point. He knows it made sense, having her hungry will do them no good and they will fail again with no more chance.
Resigned to agree, Sasuke also raised his food so that the girl could see it. Both forgetting her arms are also tied and unable to move. Seeing what they were doing, Sakura was brought to tears that Sasuke would do something like this for her. “Thanks guys.” willing the tears away she came to the next issue at hand.
“You don't need to thank us, just eat, hurry.” Sasuke knows that Kakashi could be back at any minute and doesn't want to risk being caught disobeying the clear order they were given.
“But, um… see…” clenching her fists to show what she is struggling to say, it got her point across to the boys, they know now that she cant use her hands.
“Hurry, we don't know when he's going to return.” Looking around Sai knows he would be close just watching to see what they would do.
Sasuke is instantly annoyed, gets his chopsticks, grabs some rice and starts raising it. “I’m only going to do this once. You understand?!” feeling giddy that Sasuke was going to hand feed her, Sakura wasn't going to really complain.
“I understand Sasuke-kun.”
Chowing down on the rice that was offered to her when it was close enough, they were all instantly on edge as soon as a sand storm started right in front of them. Being hit by the wind the two boys try their best to block the wind from their eyes, knowing they won't be able to see anything. Sakura just shutting her eyes as tightly as possible as an alternative.
“You three!” coming out of the sand tornado was Kakashi head first, as soon as two of the genin see this they start freaking out. Both because it looks terrifying how he is doing it, and also because they know what is about to happen. As Kakashi had caught them feeding Sakura.
“You three broke the rule. Are you prepared for the punishemnt?” the wind having stopped Kakashi stood up straight and started to for hand seals (O-ushi, Ousu Buta, Nezumi #3)
“Any last words?” as Kakshi said this lightning flashed above them and the ground began to shake. He was holding the last hand sign and didn't look like he was letting it go. Sakura was scared, she couldn't move or defend herself from what was about to happen. Sasuke was ready to fight if necessary, scowl settling on his face. Sai knew what would happen as soon as Kakshi released that symbol, but it didn't help that it felt like the ground was about to crack like an egg at any second.
Sakura, having some back bone, remembered what Kakashii had said earlier about teamwork. “But. You said…! That's why these two…”
Sasuke catching on continued on what she was saying. “We’re a three man team, right?”.
Sai knowing where this is going, finished off what the others had started. So in a bored voice, “Yeah, We three are one”
Taking a couple of steps towards the genin in front of him, “You three are one, eh?” bending down slightly at the waist, Kakshu could see that the two that could move or at least one of them, is in a ready to move and fight kind of position. Where the other is ready to defend but knows he won't need too. Smiling under his mask and closing his eye, Kakashi goes to say “You pass!!” seeing the shock on two of the three faces Kakashi repeated what he said “you pass.”
Sakura understandably confused, “passed? Why?”
Having released the hand seal, the sky began to clear up, letting the sun shine down on them once more.
“You three are the first. People I had previously were blockheads who just listened to what I said. Ninja need to think beyond the normal. In the world of ninjas, those who break the rules are called scum. But those who don't take care of their friends are even worse scum.” Sakura hearing all that is bringing her to tears as they have passed out of pure luck at the end. Sasuke shared a sign of relief not believing that it actually worked. Sai knew they could do it, though it took longer than it ultimately should have.
“The training ends here. Everyone passes! The 7th group will start doing missions starting tomorrow!” moving his area in a way it looks like he is about to throw a punch, instead as they stare at this man, he poses with his arm sticking out towards them, thumb up in a show of good job.
“Yes, sir!” Happy that she actually passed, Sakura completely forgot for a minute that she was still, in fact, tied to the post.
“Let's go home.” Starting to walk off back out of the training ground, the two boys start to follow him out.
Sakura, seeing this, starts calling out to them in hopes they will turn back around and come untie her. Getting louder and louder with volume she starts to realize that they won't come back for her no matter how much she shouts.
Looking down at the ground letting a few tears fall, she just can't believe they left her like this.
Taking a breath, she tries looking around and seeing if there is anything she can use within her range to get herself out. When that brings no results she takes to looking at the sky, the sun was still really high and it was hot. Sakura knows she will burn in this heat if left here for too long.
As the minutes go by, Sakura hears something coming up behind her. Unable to turn and see what or who it was, she instantly tenses not knowing if she was about to be let free, or killed by an unknown person.
“Well, well. They just left you here, did they?” recognizing that voice Sakura knew instantly that it was the other sensei that was there yesterday along with Kakashi.
“Naruto-Sensei!, they left me here. Can you untie me so I can go after them?" Still unable to see him, Sakura doesn't know what he looks like at that moment. Not even knowing him enough to be able to guess the face he is making, though she still tries by twisting her head from side to side.
“But of course Sakura, I will cut you loose. Though I think it's too late to go after them, I recommend going to get something to eat instead before you keel over from hunger.” feeling the ropes start to loosen Sakura can't help but let out a sign of relief at the loss of the constricting rope.
“I guess you're right sensei, I am very hungry after today.” Knowing she has a bit to make up for missing two meals, she can't help but agree with what the man had said.
“Thank you so much Sensei, I will be off and get something to eat. I will see you next time, Sensei.” Starting to take a couple of steps forward and turning around to give him a bit of a wave in thanks again.
Seeing that she's about to run off, Naruto calls out to her, getting to stop in her tracks. “Before you go, I want you to know that I will be talking to Kakashi about your behaviour, being a Kunoichi it is unacceptable how you are always distracted the way you are. Let alone the behaviours among other things. So i will be speaking to Kakashi soon, in regards to me training it out of you so you can get up to the standards that are in place, so you don't get anyone killed in the process.” he said this in such a serious way, that even though she didn’t know what he was returning to she was scared of what was to come. Nodding in agreement anyway she took off in a little run to go get something she can eat.
“Oh, also stop the diet.” freezing in place she looked back to see no one there. Not knowing where he had gone or how he knew she was on a diet, Sakura didn’t really want to know. So she continued on her journey to find some food.
“So what did you think?” The blond haired man asked.
“They have a long way to go. Tell me, how did your test go? I know you're a lot worse than I am.” looking at the blond man in front of him, Kakashi waited for an answer.
“Well….”
#1 - Fire element! Blazing fireball
#2 - Earth element: suicidal beheading
#3 - Ox, Boar, Rat
please let me know what you think, if this makes sense at all
hope you enjoyed this chapter