Chapter 5

Kaoru P.O.V

I woke up and it was almost 11 A.M...well time to get ready and go.

I did my morning routine and prepared my bag, I put the vest inside it because I don't want them to know I'm a jounin before the test. I grabbed 2 apples and went there.

I was on my way there when dad appeared.

- Yo! Good morning. – he said.

- Good morning. – I said giving a bite on my apple.

- I said no breakfast. – he said.

- For them, not me. – I said and then gave him the other one.

- Thank you sweetheart. – he said and started eating.

-Y-You're welcome. – I said...I'm still not used when he calls me that...reminds me of the past.

- Why aren't you wearing your vest? – he asked.

- I don't want them to know I'm a jounin yet, I have it on my bag though.

We were done eating and arrived at the place.

- Hi there, good morning! – dad said to them.

- Yo. – I simply said.

- YOU'RE LATE! – Naruto and Sakura screamed while Sasuke was glaring at us.

- A black – dad started but I interrupted him.

- It was his fault. – I said pointing to dad

- Huh...well, moving on. – dad said and we went to the alarm clock.

- Alarm set at 12. Today's topic is to get one of these bells from – dad started to explain but was interrupted.

- Wait! There's 2 bells and 4 of us! – Sakura stated.

- Actually 3 of you. Kaoru is not taking the test. – dad informed.

I moved towards dad and he threw me a bell which I caught.

- She'll be assisting me on testing you, as I was saying you have to take these bells from us. – dad continued.

I put the bell on my waist like dad had his.

- Whoever can't will have no lunch? I'm going to tie you there and me and Kaoru will eat our lunches in front of you. – dad said.

I smirked seeing their faces.

- Wait a second! Again there are only 2 bells and 3 of us. Why?! – Sakura asked.

- Since there's only 2 at least one will have to be tied to the log. That person will fail since he failed to complete the mission. The person will go back to the academy. It might just be one or all 3. – I explained and saw Sasuke looking at me determined...I KNEW IT!

- You can use your weapons. – dad informed.

- W-What? – Sakura asked.

- You won't be able to get the bells unless you have the will to kill us. – I said in a cold tone.

- But...that's dangerous! – Sakura said.

- Yeah! You couldn't even dodge that chalk eraser! – Naruto said.

- In society, those who don't have many abilities tend to complain more. – I said looking at Sakura.

- Just ignore the guy with the lowest score. We're going to start after I say "Ready, Start" – dad said.

I rolled my eyes, I wasn't talking about Naruto, he's the strongest of those 3.

Suddenly Naruto tried to attack dad but of course he managed to point Naruto's kunai at Naruto's neck and was now behind him.

- Don't get so hasty. – dad said.

I sighed.

- He didn't say "Start" yet. – I said.

Dad let Naruto go and they were now looking at dad all impressed, I went to dad's side.

- But, it looks like you have the will to kill me now. I think I'm starting liking you 3. – dad said.

I smirked.

- We're going to start. – I announced.

- Ready.........Start! – dad said.

After those words they hide.........Sasuke on the tree.....Sakura behind the bushes and Naruto.......I blinked multiple times.

- LET'S HAVE A MATCH FAIR AND SQUARE! – Naruto screamed a few meters in front of us.

I mentally face palm.

- Hey, aren't you a little weird compared to the rest? – dad said to Naruto.

- What's weird is your hair style! – Naruto said.

- He has a point. – I said amused.

Dad got depressed.

Then I felt a presence coming from behind me...Dad looked at me and nodded.

I smirked.

- As much as I enjoy talking to you 2 I have something to take care of. – I said and poofed.

Sasuke P.O.V

She poofed....damn it!

I was gonna get her, where is she?!

Kaoru P.O.V

I was waiting for Sasuke leaning against a tree when he appeared and was now in a fighting position.

- Took you long enough. – I said amused.

- Hn. – he said.

- I knew you would come at me first. – I said.

- How so? – he asked.

- You think I'm weaker than my father so it would be easier for you to get a bell. Well...why don't you try it...duckbutt? – I said with a smirk.

He smirked and attacked.

Throwing a punch here and there with me just dodging I wasn't even using my hands which was making him angry.

- Are you done? – I asked him with a smirk.

He came from behind me and tried to attack me but I blocked it.

- Hi there! – I said with a smile.

- Hn. – he said and went back a few steps.

He started doing hand signs...that's...

- Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu! – Sasuke said.

Nice!

- Doton: Doryuheki. – I said creating a wall to protect myself from the fire.

He suddenly appeared in front of me which made me smirk.

- Futon: Daitoppa! – I said and sent Sasuke against a tree.

- Are you done now? – I asked.

He looked at me completely mad. He started running towards me and started kicking and punching which I just blocked it.

- You know...at this pace you won't get a bell. – I said while blocking his attacks.

- Shut up! – he said mad.

I raised an eyebrow...this guy has an attitude problem.

- Very well, let's end this. – I said and disappeared from his sight.

Sasuke P.O.V

She disappeared.

Where is she?!

Left..........No.

Right...................No.

Above.............No.

So.....where?

- Why not try beneath you? – I heard her and widened my eyes.

- Doton: Shinjuuzansho no Jutsu. – she said.

Next thing I know I'm being pulled down.

Kaoru P.O.V

I was now looking at Sasuke that was buried and only his head was popping up.

I crouched down and looked at him in the eyes.

- You're too cocky, duckbutt. – I said while poking his forehead multiple times which made his eye twitch in annoyance.

- You know you wouldn't be there if you weren't cocky, thinking that I was weak than my father and than you was a big mistake...baka. – I lectured him.

- Hn. – he said.

I sighed then we heard someone coming and we looked to see...

- Sakura. – Sasuke said casually.

She looked at him, screamed and passed out.

- Wow...what a team. One doesn't know the basics, one passes out and you are a cocky duckbutt! – I said.

- Quit calling me that! – Sasuke said.

I smiled at him and he.......blushed?

Nah!

- Well, I'll leave you 2 alone now. See you! – I said and poofed.

Sasuke P.O.V

She poofed.

That smile...I always loved that smile.....I....I BLUSHED?!

What the hell is wrong with me?!

Kaoru P.O.V

I went to where dad was.

- Yo. – I said looking at him and Naruto who was tied to the log.

- Oh, you're here. So? – dad said.

- Sasuke behaved how we expected. – I said.

- I see. – dad said.

- So...why is Naruto tied up already? – I asked.

- He cheated. He was trying to eat the lunches. – dad answered.

I sweatdrop.

- I'm hungry dattebayo! – Naruto whined.

TRIMMM!!!

- Looks like time is out. – dad said.

I simply nodded and spotted Sasuke and Sakura coming towards us...I don't like seeing them together.

Huh?!

WHY DO I CARE?!

Sasuke sat at Naruto's right and Sakura on Naruto's left.

I was now beside dad in front of them, we could hear their stomachs growling.

- Your stomachs are growling, huh? – dad said.

They glared at us.

- By the way, about the results of this training...none of you need to return to the Academy. – dad said.

I raised an eyebrow.

- What? But all I did was faint. Do you get points for that? – Sakura said.

I looked at her with a dumb face.

She's joking right?! She's not THAT stupid...right?!

Naruto was grinning, Sakura jumping and Sasuke smirked.

- Yeah you 3...SHOULD QUIT BEING NINJAS! – dad said serious and mad.

They looked at him terrified.

- Q-Quit being ninjas? What do you mean? Why?! – Naruto asked confused.

Dad looked at me...so NOW I can be cold!

- It's because you 3 are just kids who don't even deserve to be ninjas. – I said coldly.

- K-Kaoru-chan... - Naruto said sad which made my heart ache a bit.

Suddenly Sasuke came at me but I stopped his attack and was now stepping his head with my foot and sit on his back.

- SASUKE-KUN! – Sakura screamed.

- Tch. See? You all are just kids. – I said.

- DON'R STEP ON MY SASUKE-KUN! – Sakura said.

- You're the worst of them. – I said to her with venom.

Naruto was looking at me speechless.

Dad was about to talk but I didn't let him.

- Do you guys think that being a ninja is easy? – I asked them.

- Why do you think you're put into groups? – dad asked.

- Huh? – Naruto said.

- What do you mean? – Sakura asked.

- You 3 don't understand the answer of this test. – I said.

They looked at me and dad clueless.

- C'mon are your brains empty?! – I asked irritated.

They're clueless.

- Teamwork. – me and dad said in unison.

- Huh? – they said.

- If all 3 of you came at me and Kaoru at once, maybe you could have gotten a bell. But that's too bad. – dad said.

- Why do we have to use teamwork when there's only 2 bells?! If 3 people work hard to get it one person will have to bite the bullet, a group conflict will occur instead of teamwork. – Sakura said.

- Of course, damn you're slow. This test tries to put you 3 against each other. – I said.

- What?! – Naruto said.

- In this situation we select those who can prioritize teamwork before themselves. – dad explained.

- That was the purpose, but all of you were pathetic. – I said coldly.

- HOW SO?! – Sakura asked mad.

I looked at her with venom.

- To begin with...Sakura, you cared more about Sasuke than Naruto even though Naruto was right in front of you and you didn't know where Sasuke was. – I said.

- Naruto! All you did was work on your own. And Sasuke! – dad started.

- You Sasuke...you assumed that those 2 were only going to burden you and did everything by yourself. Also you're too cocky, you immediately went for me because you thought that I was weaker than my dad and than you. – I said...it's hard to say it.

- Missions are done in groups. It's true that ninjas need well developed individual abilities, but it's teamwork that is much more important. – dad explained.

They looked at him in shock.

- An individual action that disrupts the teamwork will result in danger or even death for the team mates. – dad said and looked at me and nodded.

- For example... - I started and grabbed a kunai from my pouch.

- Naruto! Kill Sakura or Sasuke's going to die! – I said in a scary tone with a kunai against Sasuke's neck.

- W-What?! – they said with fear.

I sighed and put the kunai away.

- After getting someone taken hostage you will be faces with a difficult decision and someone will die. – dad said.

- In every mission you put your life on the line. – I said and got out of Sasuke's back and looked at dad who was now looking at the K.I.A stone.

- Look at this...the numerous names carved into this stone. All these names are those praised as heroes in this village. – dad said.

- I like that! I like that! I've decided that I'm going to have my name carved into that! A hero! I'm not going to die and useless death! – Naruto said.

I sighed.

- But they're not normal heroes. – dad said.

- So what kind of heroes were they? – Naruto asked.

- K.I.A. – dad said.

- K.I.A? – Naruto asked smiling.

- It means Killed In Action, Naruto. – I said.

Naruto widened his eyes and was now ashamed and sad.

- The names of my friends are carved in here as well. – dad said.

.........................................

- Well, you – dad started but I interrupted him.

- Give them another chance. – I said.

Dad raised an eyebrow.

- Do it and after lunch let's make it much harsher for them to get a bell. – I said going towards dad.

- Fine. Eat your lunches only if you are up to the challenge. But! Don't let Naruto eat! – Dad said.

- Hee?! – Naruto said.

- This is punishment for breaking the rules and trying to eat lunch early. If anyone feeds him the person will immediately fail. – dad said.

They were looking at him in the eyes.

- I'm the rule here. Got it? – dad said serious.

They nodded and me and dad poofed to behind and tree where we could see them and we hide our chakra so they couldn't sense us.

- So...give them another chance huh? – dad said amused.

- Oh please! You were thinking about it too. Admit it, you like them! – I said.

- And you don't? – dad asked.

- I don't like Sakura. – I said.

- Because she likes Sasuke and you like him too? – dad asked amused.

- WHAT?! NO I DON'T! – I said annoyed.

- Sure, sure. – dad said reading his book.

- I just think that they deserve it. Naruto never turns his back to his friends or whoever needs it...he's that kind of person. And well Sasuke...he's an Uchiha and you know when a Uchiha really loves and cares about something he's going to protect it. Now Sakura...well...I don't see anything good up until now. – I said.

- You're worried about him...aren't you? – dad asked.

- Aren't you? You saw and heard what he said on the day we got the team. He's... - I said but stopped.

- Maybe we can turn him around. – dad stated.

- Yeah...maybe... - I said.

- Kaoru...why are you still so cold towards everyone? – dad asked serious and sad.

- I don't know how to explain. – I lied.

I just....I sighed.

I was looking at them...so Sasuke first huh?

- Well it seems they understood it. – I said and dad nodded.

- Follow my lead. – dad said.

I rolled my eyes.

When they started feeding him me and dad went there.

- YOU 3! – dad said in a scary tone.

.....................UHHHH! I LIKE THIS! LET'S SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF THEM!!!

- AHHHH! – Naruto and Sakura screamed scared.

- You 3 broke the rule. – dad said.

- Are you prepared for the punishment? – I asked them with an evil tone.

Dad did some hand signs and made grey clouds come and I made lightning appear...we're enjoying this too much...YAY!

- Any last words? – I asked with a murderous voice.

- But you said... - Naruto started.

- We're a team right? – Sasuke asked.

- Yeah! We 3 are one! – Sakura said.

- Right! – Naruto agreed.

- You 3 are one, eh? – dad said and we moved forward.

- You...pass. – dad said with a closed eyed smile.

- Pass? Why? – Sakura asked.

I made the clouds and lightning go away.

- You are the first ones. People I had previously were blockheads who just listened to what I said. – dad said.

- Ninjas need to think beyond the normal. – I said looking at them.

- 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 than scum. – dad said.

I smiled slightly.

- He's...he's kind of cool. – Naruto said crying of happiness.

- But wait a minute! – Sakura said.

- Huh? – dad said.

- Why didn't Kaoru took the test? – Sakura asked.

- I already knew the purpose of the exercise so it wouldn't be fair for you...pinkie. – I said.

- Besides she's not a student. – dad said taking my vest out of the bag.

- Huh? – they said confused while he handed me the vest.

- She's a jounin. She'll be assisting us on missions and if needed train you. – dad explained while I was putting my vest.

- WHAT?! – Sakura said.

- Geez! Don't scream. – I said irritated.

- My bestfriend is so cool! – Naruto said and Sasuke smirked and well Sakura glared at me.

- I swear I'll rip those eyes off of your face if you don't stop glaring at me pinkie! – I said coldly.

Dad sighed.

- Very well. Team 7 will start doing missions tomorrow. – dad announced while I untied Naruto from the log.

Then Naruto hugged me.

- WE PASSED DATTEBAYO! – he said happy and I just smiled warmly at him and from the corner of my eye I see Sasuke glaring...why?

- Let's go home. – dad said.

- Hai. – Sakura and Naruto said.

I was now with Sasuke since our houses were next to each other.

- Congratulations on becoming jounin. – he said.

- Thanks. Sorry for stepping your head and sit on your back. – I said.

- Y-You're forgiven. – he said.

- Sasuke... - I said calmly.

- Yeah? – he said.

- Don't lose yourself to darkness...please. I'm afraid if you continue like this you won't be able to return from it...and I...I just can't... - I said looking down.

- For you...for you I promise I won't fall into the darkness. – Sasuke said.

I widened my eyes and then hugged him which he accepted.

It felt...nice...

- T-Thank you. – I whispered.

We stopped hugging and we looked into each other's eyes.

Wow...his eyes...they're so...beautiful

I started blushing and so did he.

- Huh...w-we should... - I said embarrassed.

- H-Huh...y-yeah we should go home. – he said.

- Y-Yeah...s-see you tomorrow. – I said and went home.

What was that feeling?

Do I...do I like him?

No...I can't...I'm...

I'm just going to rest.