Amaryllis
He’s late. Again.
She shouldn’t be surprised. It seemed like it would be the type of thing Kakashi-Sensei would do very often. Sakura was sitting under a tree in the shade, the sun had risen while the team waited on their teacher and seeing as it was summer, the heat would only continue to get worse as time progressed.
Sakura had opted to wear a more light version of her qipao since the heat was overbearing, her hair was tied back into a low ponytail and her headband was tied on top of her head with two strands of hair framing her face. Naruto and Sasuke had come in the same outfits they always wore as well, Sakura wondered if Naruto was getting cooked alive under his jacket and sweatpants.
Kakashi didn’t turn up until 8am with a sorry excuse that ‘A black cat crossed his path so he had to take the long way there to avoid it.’ She had to fight the urge to throw a rock at his head.
The Jonin cleared his throat, “Alright let’s get ready.” He pulled out a clock from his weapon’s pouch, timing it to go off at 12pm. “This test will determine whether or not you’re ready to become a fully fledged Genin. Your mission is simple.” he turned around, pulling two silver bells from nowhere “You have to get these bells from me, you got till the timer goes off to do so.” he tied them to his waist, “whoever fails to get a bell will be sent back to the Academy. And for those other two who get the bell, I got two bentos from which you can eat as a reward.” Kakashi-sensei pulled out a book from his back pocket, his figure entirely relaxed.
But, there’s three of us… One person will be left behind...
“WHAT?! SENT BACK?! WE JUST GRADUATED YOU CAN’T DO THAT!” came the roar from the blond beside her, she couldn’t argue that it seemed unfair that whoever failed got sent back they had studied and prepared too much for their efforts to get so easily dismissed. “Naruto is right, why do we have to go back if we fail?” Even Sasuke seemed annoyed by the turn of events.
The Jonin hummed, “Well, from the group of people who go to the Academy, only those who seem to have promise as Genin are passed. However, as your new teacher I have the right to send you back for further study if I think you’re not prepared enough to become a full-fledged Genin.” His single visible eye lifting form the pages, “To be honest, I am ready to send you back immediately from how you’re acting.” All three of them reeled back in anger, “So without further ado, let’s commence the test once I give you the signal.” Naruto ran forward with full speed, aiming a kick to Kakashi-sensei’s head. The gray haired man easily gripped his foot mid-air and tossed him back towards the trees without even looking away from his book. “Like I said, wait till I give you the signal.” The maneuver happened so fast that Sakura almost didn’t see it happen, his movements were fluid and his reflexes were sharp. “Oh, by the way. Come at me with the intent to kill, that will be the only way you can even hope to get one of these.”
With one hand in his pocket and the other one holding his book, he flipped the page slowly. “Begin.”
Sasuke jumped back to hide while Naruto ran up to Kakashi-Sensei at full speed, kunai in hand.
The boys moved before she could try to talk to them. Disappointed, Sakura jumped back and hid under bushes. She needed to try and get the attention of at least one of them, she was sure that if she talked to them they could figure out a way so they could all pass.
Sakura waited until she could see an opening from which she could get either one of the boys to listen to what she had to say. One very obvious trap later and Naruto had managed to get himself tied up while Kakashi-Sensei fled, Sasuke right on his tracks.
It’s now or never!
The kunoichi crawled out from her hiding spot, she took out a kunai of her own and ran to where Naruto was hanging from. “Oh? Sakura-chan!”
She smiled politely, hurrying to cut him down. “Hey Naruto, I’m gonna get you down but I need you to help me after.”
“Sure, anything!” He fell with a thud on the hard ground. “Ow!”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t worry, so what’cha got Sakura-chan?”
Sakura kneeled down, “First we need to re-group, Sasuke went after Kakashi on his own and-” Naruto shot up, “What?! He’s trying to pull a fast one on me! That damned bastard!” Then he ran off towards a random path, leaving her alone again.
“Naruto, wait! Don’t go!” She groaned with frustration, the energetic boy already disappearing behind the greenery “Boys are such idiots!”
“Even if they’re cute?”
“Especially if they’re cute!” ...Wait… She jumped forward and away from Jonin. He came out of nowhere!
“Quite jump-y aren’t you?” he teased. “I-I just didn’t expect you!” Kakashi chuckled at her dismay. “I’m not so surprised, you’re just a civilian after all.”
“...What?”
“You’ll probably drop out of active duty and right into a desk job, maybe find a rich husband to depend on and become a cute housewife one day. Say, which one will you go for? The idiot blonde or the edgy avenger?” He instigated her further. Sakura glared with anger, falling into a fighting stance instead of answering.
“Oh? You’re gonna try to take me on? How cute.” The kunoichi ran to him, her fists ready. She knew she wouldn’t hit him, but she had quite the punch when she was provoked. He blocked her every punch easily with only one hand, using the other to read his perverted novel. Sakura grew more and more impatient as he kept blocking her, she threw a roundhouse kick next.
He caught her foot, visibly wincing. “Ouch, that’s some kick you have there Miss civilian.” She smirked at his surprise.
Not so fragile now, am I? Shannaro!
However, she forgot she was quite literally in the middle of a fight, with her foot caught by her Sensei’s hand. Kakashi grabbed her ankle and in one swift motion he threw her towards a random direction. Sakura flew towards some trees, she braced herself for the fall, but she landed on a couple of bushes instead.
She decided to use the opportunity to try and re-group so she could convince her teammates to come up with a plan that will let all three pass the test. She ran far, looking everywhere for either boy and instead coming across Sasuke’s head-
Sasuke’s head?!
She did a double take, it was really just his head. Was he …. ? He wouldn’t … “Haruno?”
It talked?!
Her mind went blank and her vision was pure darkness, falling to the floor.
When Sakura had come back to her senses, she was resting against a wooden pillar. To her right, Naruto was tied up to another pillar, Sasuke was leaning against the other with a sneer on his face.
What happened?
As if to answer her question, Kakashi-sensei appeared out of smoke in front of the group. His previous playfulness was nowhere to be seen, he looked scarier this way. “It seems none of you can even follow simple instructions. Naruto here decided to go straight for the bentos instead of playing fair, none of you even remotely tried to co-operate and went solo instead. You’re quite possibly the worst Genin I have had the displeasure of meeting.”
Tch. Sasuke balled his hands into fists, “No, Genin isn’t even the right word. You didn’t act as ninjas, you were just acting like bratty children.” The Uchiha ran to Kakashi with a kunai, rage seething from every move. The Jonin easily maneuvered around him, kicking the kunai from his hand, tripping him and finally putting him in a hold. All in the span of ten seconds. “Like I said, bratty children.”
I can’t believe this…
“I’m gonna have to talk to the superiors, you’re all going to go back to the Academy.” No… Naruto squirmed from where he was tied up, “That is totally uncalled for! We didn’t even get to finish the stupid bell test mission!”
“Ho~ Why should I give you three second chances? Just so you can fail again?” Sakura gritted her teeth, “We won’t fail a second time! We’ll succeed! Together!”
“Yeah! Believe it!”
“And when we pass you will see that we are ninjas just like you!”
Kakashi took a second or two, looking between the three of them. "Interesting…” He released Sasuke from his hold, pushing him back where he was previously sitting before. “Fine, I’ll take your deal.” He produced the two bentos from thin air, “I will give you a second chance to redeem yourself. I will restart the clock at 2pm.”
Yes! Our luck is turning around!
The silver haired man handed her one of the two bentos, the other one he gave to the raven haired boy. “Sasuke, Sakura. You can eat these, since Naruto tried to cheat and got you both in trouble he won’t get any food. That means you both cannot feed him either. If I even suspect you gave him a single grain of rice, I will make sure you’re dropped from the ninja program altogether.”
Her eyes widened, she looked back at her teammates who were sporting similar looks. “That’s all.” Then he vanished behind smoke again.
She opened the bento with a bit of guilt, he’s not here anyways… “Don’t feed him.” Sasuke warned her, he had begun eating already. His black eyes focused on her, “You heard him, plus the dead last loser deserves it for getting us into this mess.”
Sakura furrowed her eyebrows, “But-”
“Don’t worry Sakura-chan! I’m not even that hungry.” his stomach growled in contradiction, his whiskered cheeks turned pink from embarrassment. Sakura pouted, saying thanks and digging in. Her eyes trailed upwards to his face, her chopsticks laying still on her lips. Naruto only eats ramen, and he doesn't have breakfast either… Sakura remembered how it’s public knowledge that Naruto was an orphan and he lived on his own. He probably hasn’t eaten a good meal in a long time… She looked back down at Sasuke, I didn't want to get him mad at me though, I could ruin building a bond, and I wouldn’t be able to help Ino make him fall in love with her…
She went back and forth for a second or two, then she shook her head. She stood up and picked another piece of rice with her chopsticks, “Here, eat.” Both boys looked as surprised as she felt at her actions. Naruto stammered, “But- but Sakura-”
“No, I don’t care. I won’t let you go hungry, we’re supposed to be looking after one another as a team! Besides, Kakashi-Sensei isn’t here!” She moved her chopsticks closer to his mouth, “So just eat.”
Naruto’s stomach growled a second time, he sighed in defeat “Thanks Sakura-chan.” he replied, finally accepting the food. Sasuke looked as she fed their blond teammate, she saw him go rigid at the action. He’s probably angry, but he’s gonna have to get over it! She gave him a second bite, this time a piece of weaners. She ate some more rice and scooped another portion for Naruto, but a second pair of chopsticks beat her to it.
Sasuke shoved his own chopsticks a bit too roughly into Naruto’s mouth, making him choke a bit. Sakura gasped in delight, smiling at him. “Don’t read too much into it! He’ll be less of a bother if he’s not half-dead because of starvation.” He looked back at her with a displeased look, “You too Haruno. I’ll share half of mine with him, so stop giving him food and eat your share.”
Her heartbeat stuttered, he looked cool this way too. Helping out his teammates without showing much affection. It made her giggle, “Okay.”
“How very heartwarming.” The trio jumped in surprise, Kakashi had once again appeared from seemingly nowhere. Their Sensei crouched from the top of the wooden pillar Naruto was tied to, catching them red-handed. We’re in so much trouble…
He had a harsh look on his face, “You three. You cheat, break promises and even go against direct orders just to help the idiot who got you into trouble in the first place. And you wanted a second chance?” Crap, what are we going to do?! Jonin jumped down “You..!” he turned around, a cheery look on his face “...Pass.”
The three Genin looked at him in disbelief “HUH?!” Kakashi chuckled, “You pass. Congratulations.” Sakura slid down to the floor, unable to completely follow Sensei's logic. “The bell test is built specifically to put all of you against each other, the goal is to overcome greed and work together. You’ve successfully shown me you can act as a team. You pass.”
“Wait a minute,” Naruto exclaimed, “You said that if we shared food you would drop us! What happened to that?!”
Sasuke nodded, “We broke the rules, you’re not gonna punish us for that?”
Kakashi-sensei put his hand on his chin in thought, “You’re quite right, you should be punished for breaking rules.” He put his hand down, looking at them more seriously, “After all, those who break the rules are scum.” Sakura deflated, “However, those who abandon their comrades are lower than scum.” He cut Naruto loose from his bindings, then walked towards the forest. “I’ll see you at the gates tomorrow at 0800 for our very first mission, don’t be late.”
The three of them stared at his back, stuck in their places due to shock. This way…
“This way… our Sensei looks rather cool.” Naruto finishes her thought. She nods in agreement and even Sasuke gives a hum in acknowledgement. Sakura was excited for what the future with such a cool Sensei will be like for all three of them.