A Survival Exercise
A small yawn escaped Amaya’s lips as she walked across the bridge.
“Hey! You’re late!” Naruto and Sakura both shout in unison.
“He said dawn… It’s only just dawn..?”
“Yeah, but shouldn’t you at least try to be early?”
She shrugged at Sakura’s comment, leaning against the railing of the bridge. One brief glance at Sasuke and he had been glaring at her, which she quickly turned away from, instead turning to the blonde.
“Hey Naruto-kun, you alright?”
“Hm? Yeah! I’m fine!” He gave his signature grin.
She jolted slightly, feeling her face flush as she turned to the water. His smile felt so genuine, it was something that she really missed seeing, someone smiling for her, and meaning it.
It was a while before anything interrupted her thoughts as she stared at the water, the barely audible footsteps drew her attention as she turned to them.
“Hey! You’re late!” Naruto and Sakura both shouted.
“Sorry, a black cat crossed my path.” He gave a smile as he scratched the back of his neck.
“So, what’s the survival exercise?”
“Ah, yes.” Kakashi pulled out an alarm clock, setting it on one of the stumps. “You have until noon to get one of these bells.” He held the bells up with emphasis as he attached them to his waist.
“Wait, but sensei there’s three bells, and four of us.” Sakura piped up.
“Ah yes. This was supposed to be a squad of three, but it seems an extra student managed to pass this time around, and this exercise will be weeding them out.”
“Well this’ll be easy since you can’t even dodge a chalkboard eraser.” Naruto had his hands behind his hair, an easygoing smile.
“I may not have been told who the extra genin was, but I think I have a guess. It’s safe to ignore the class clown.”
Naruto immediately lunged at Kakashi, kunai out. He easily blocked him, giving him a lazy look.
“I didn’t even say start yet… But you did come at me with the intent to kill me.” There was a pause as he easily pushed Naruto back, “Now begin.”
Everyone had quickly dispersed- or well, everyone except Naruto who was standing in the field. Amaya gave a sigh, shaking her head.
“Such a Naruto move.” She muttered under her breath with a smile.
“Be quiet, you’ll blow our cover.” Sasuke’s voice hisses from beside her.
“Whoa-” She was barely able to catch herself on the trunk of the tree as she let out a deep sigh, “You scared me Sasuke-san, what the hell.”
“Hmph. You should’ve watched where you were hiding.”
“Are you serious- ugh. Never mind.” Amaya moves to turn back to the battle.
“If you really want to be a good Kunoichi you should constantly be aware of your surroundings.”
“I was very aware of my surroundings, you- I-” Amaya grit her teeth, taking a step as she lost her footing and falling to the ground.
“Ack- Amaya! Where’d you come from!?”
She groaned, turning to see Naruto hanging upside down by his foot.
“Fell from the tree… Where’d Kakashi-sensei go?”
“Uh… No clue… He kinda disappeared after I got trapped here.” Naruto huffed, crossing his arms.
Slowly Amaya got up, shaking her head clear as she got to her feet. She pulled a kunai, cutting the rope attached to his foot where he fell with a thump.
“Owow.” Naruto rubbed his head.
“Sorry! Are you alright?” She helped him up, giving a small smile.
“Don’t worry about me! Now, I’m gonna go find the sensei. I will get one of those bells, believe it!”
Naruto rushed off, leaving Amaya alone, her smile fading. She was thinking of a plan when she heard a scream echo through the forest, taking off before she even registered she had started moving.
She burst into a small clearing, skidding to a halt as she saw the scene in front of her. Sakura was sitting, looking absolutely terrified. Amaya followed her gaze, eyes widening as she saw nothing but Sasuke’s head poking out from the ground.
“S-sasuke-san? Are you alright?”
“Yeah. Just fine.” He snapped, glaring at her.
“Sakura-chan can you help me pull him up?”
“H-huh? Oh… Yeah, I can help you…” She shakes her head, seeming to snap herself out of something as she stood.
The two of them had reached through the hole, grabbing one of his shoulders as they both pulled him from the hole. He let out a huff, standing as he brushed the dirt from his shirt.
“I was so close. There’s no way I can quit now.”
“Wh- But Sasuke-kun! He’s a Jonin, there’s no way we can take him on!”
“You don’t get it. I touched one.” Sasuke glared at her, “And there’s no way I will let this opportunity go.” Sasuke was about to run off, when the sound of an alarm rang through the forest, his usual scowl returning to his face, “Great. I’ve wasted my time on this.”
He stalked off, leaving the two girls to stand alone.
“Wow… Sasuke’s so determined.” Sakura hummed, a smile on her face.
“Mhm.” Amaya gave a nod, before following Sasuke, “C’mon, we don’t wanna make sensei wait.”
The three of them walked out to the clearing, the first thing they saw being a very annoyed Naruto tied to one of the logs. Sitting by Naruto, Kakashi was able to glare at the four of them.
“Do you really not understand what the point of this test was..?”
“To weed out the weak?” Sakura spoke weakly.
“No. It was about teamwork.” He gave a deep sigh, “Naruto all you did was run solo and right into danger, Sasuke you tried- but refused the help of his team, Sakura you were too worried about what Sasuke was doing, and Amaya you were distracted by petty arguments.”
As he spoke Amaya sheepishly picked at the grass. He was right. She behaved like a child, and she knew better.
“You will have one more chance after lunch… However, Naruto isn’t allowed to eat. He broke the rules, trying to eat the food early, and those that break the rules are scum.”
And with that Kakashi disappeared, leaving the three of them to eat.
They sat in silence for a moment, opening up the bentos when Sakura broke the silence.
“We should come up with a plan.”
“Yeah. I agree.” Sasuke hummed.
“Naruto, you in?” Amaya gently nudged him, as he gave a triumphant smile.
“You bet I am!” His enthusiasm was cut down with a growl of his stomach, “Heh… Don’t worry about me, okay! I’ll be fine.”
Amaya gave a sigh, shuffling towards Naruto.
“Here, eat.” She spoke, offering him a bite from the bento.
“Woah hey! Amaya, sensei said he couldn’t eat.”
“He isn’t here, now is he?” Amaya grinned, “Besides, what’s he gonna do, make Naruto un-eat it?”
Another pause.
“He can have some of mine too. If you give up too much of your lunch then you’ll both just be half as effective.”
“Yeah. Besides, I don’t eat much anyways.” Sakura added, offering up her food as well.
Naruto had just taken a bite when the wind picked up, the sky darkening with storm clouds as a booming voice loomed over them.
“You!” Kakashi had suddenly appeared behind them, “Do you know what you have done?”
“W-we…” Amaya’s voice died in her throat.
“We’re a team!”
“Yeah Sensei, you said it yourself. We need to work as one.”
“That’s right!”
“You…” The thunder crackled as the wind violently shook the trees, “You pass.”
With an instant the sky cleared and the wind died down, a noticeable smile on his face.
“We… What?”
“You pass. While those who break the rules are scum, those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum.”
Amaya gave a bit of a laugh, the four of them rejoicing.
“Now we’ll meet up again tomorrow for our first mission, alright?”
“Hai sensei!” They shout in unison, excited for the day to come.