I waited, watching Kakashi's body, it turned into a log! Gah, another substitution jutsu! And now he knows where I've been hiding! I charged into the bushed, calming down my breathing once again, I waited. I thought he lowered his guard, but he didn't. And I fell for it. Suddenly, I heard Sakura scream, I jumped. H-He got Sakura! "AHHHH!" Wait...was that Naruto?! What is happening?! I jumped up, quietly moving through the shrubbery. Where could Kakashi be? I bit down on my bottom lip. Another high pitched scream, I darted towards the noise. "Shinobi battle skill number 2, the illusion jutsu. Sakura studied it in class, but she still couldn't see it coming." Kakashi explained, his nose buried in his book. "I'm not surprised you got Sakura with it. But, I'm not like Sakura and Naruto." I explained to him, hearing him flip a page behind me.

"Say that after you get one of these bells." He walked calmly over to me, I turned around. A silent rustle of leaves caught my attention, so he's here too. Must be looking for an opportunity. I listened to Sasuke creep up on us. I faced Kakashi-sensei, my fists clenched. I quickly reached for my pocket, flying shuriken at him. He easily dodged. "There's no point using normal attacks. I smiled, flying a separate shuriken to cut the rope of a trap Kakashi laid out, as I expected, he also dodged it. With my smile slightly widening, I jumped out from the tree his back was facing. What? A shadow clone? Kakashi quickly turned around, just in time to grab my kick. He head onto my leg, I gulped. Turning around, still in the air, I flew a punch at his face, he caught it with his left hand, holding onto me tightly. I came up and kicked with my free leg, it hit his shoulder. Twisting my self around with my free hand, I reached towards the bells, tapping one with my finger before he threw me off of him, backing up quickly. This kid... Kakashi thought to himself as he watched me skid to a halt on the floor. They're fierce. Hm. I won't be able to read Make Out Paradise now... Kakashi sighed, readying himself for another attack.

I caught my breath, clenching my fists angrily. So close! I almost had the bell! "SASUKE WHERE ARE YOU?!" I heard Sakura scream, Sasuke shifted a bit in the tree, still watching us closely. 

"Hm? Hey, what are those things down there?" Naruto asked himself, still hanging on the tree. He looked down to see three bento boxes sitting on top of the memorial. "Aha! I know what those are! Those are boxed lunches! Oh, 'a ninja must see through deception'!" Naruto grinned, chuckling to himself. 

"Well, you are different from the other two. I'll grant you that," I tightened up, not letting my guard down for even a second. "Snake, Ram, Dog, Rat, Snake, Tiger! Earth fist jutsu!" I shouted, punching into the earth to encase my fists in rock. What?! Genin can't do earth style jutsu! It takes too much chakra! Kakashi thought startled as I lunged at him with my jutsu. I punched down, closing my eyes as dirt flew up in the air. Where Kakashi once stood, I had formed a crater, now where did he go? Behind me? Above? "Below!" I shouted, dodging his hand by burrowing in my own tunnel. "You think you could beat me with my own technique?!" I shouted, kicking him up out of the ground. "HUH?!" I shouted, watching as Kakashi once again turned into a log. "Hey, (Y/N). Behind you." "AHH!" I jumped, feeling wires dig into my skin, trapping me against a tree. Kakashi-sensei stood in front of me, his hands in his pockets. I struggled against the wire, wiggling furiously. "Hey! That was a cheap trick!" I pouted, looking down. "You have talent, and you were right, you are different from the others. But different isn't always better." He patted me on the head. "They say, 'the nail that sticks up is the one that get' hammered down.----" Before Kakashi could finish his lecture, Sasuke came jumping down, throwing shuriken down at him. Kakashi dodged, in almost a second he was behind Sasuke. 

"He got you two," I giggled, looking at Sasuke's head stick up out of the ground. "What ever...." He grumbled, his face flushing pink in embarrassment. 

"Ha ha! Sensei told us that if we don't get a bell, then we don't get any lunch. But if I eat my lunch now, then there's nothing he could do! It's chow time!" Naruto laughed, reaching towards one of the bento boxes. "Hi there." Kakashi said, smiling underneath his mask. "Gah!" Naruto jumped, looking behind him to see Kakashi towering over him. "Uh, I was just joking, sensei..." Naruto gulped. "Nice try." Kakashi said menacingly.

He's stronger than I am. I can't get around that. I sighed. "Huh?" Both me and Sasuke saw Sakura come darting out of the bushes, she stopped. "Hm...uh?!" Sakura looked at us with a shocked face. "Sakura." Sasuke called out.  "AHH! Sasuke's just a head with out a body and he's talking!" Sakura screamed, falling back wards. I sighed. "And that's my partner...." I grumbled, looking down. 

Eventually, Sasuke found his way out of the ground, and helped untie me from the tree. We both walked over to Sakura, she was passed out on the floor. Sasuke knelt down to her. Finally, Sakura came to. "Sasuke..." She opened her eyes, lunging at him in a giant hug. "You're okay!" "Hey! Cut it out! Let go! Let go!" Sasuke shouted, pushing Sakura off of him. I snickered. Sasuke glared at me.

"We've got to get a bell before lunch." Sasuke sighed, standing up. I nodded my head in agreeance. "That doesn't leave much time."I said, starting to walk away, Sasuke followed. "You guys are still trying to get those bells?" Sakura asked, "Huh?" I looked back at her, resting my hands in my pockets. "A while ago, I touched one. Next time, I'll get one." I nodded with a small smile. "That is really great," Sakura clasped her hands together, but I could hear sarcasm in her voice, I squinted my eyes at her. "I can't believe you did that. You're amazing." I can't believe it! They touched one of the bells! I'll never get my hands on one of those things, which means I'll be separated from Sasuke! No, no, no, no, no! Sakura screamed inside of her head, trying to find a way to make Sasuke stay. "Uh, Sasuke, it's almost lunch. There's not really enough time left, so maybe we should give up and then try again next year!" Sakura said with a smile, Sasuke looked back at her angrily, I put my hands on my hips. "I'm the only one who can destroy that person....." Sasuke began, I turned around to him, he looked lost in thought. "What? Who? You mean sensei?" Sakura asked, completely oblivious. I kept my mouth shut. "That day, I was crying." Sasuke explained, I looked down at the floor. I remember....hearing about the entire Uchiha clan being massacred when I was younger....he must be the only one left. And the person who had done it.....I shook my head. It's none of my business. 

"When were you crying?" Sakura asked, stepping closer to Sasuke, I crossed my arms. "It was my....." "What? What happened to you?" Sakura clasped her hands together, worried. "I am an avenger. That means I must be stronger than my prey. I need this training, there's not time for set backs." I gulped, walking closer to him, but mid step, the timer went off. "Ugh, I've wasted too much time." Sasuke continued to walk, I ambled along with him, looking down. I failed.....we failed. 

The three of us made it back, Naruto was tied to the middle post, looking down, we all sat around him, Kakashi-sensei was looking down at us. "Uh oh, stomach's growling, huh? That's too bad. Oh, by the way, about this exercise? Well, I've decided that I won't send any of you back to the academy." Kakashi said with a smile, both me and Naruto's faces lit up. We passed! We some how passed! I smiled. "Yay!" Sakura was jumping for joy. "Then that means all four of us, I mean all four of us!" Naruto wiggled happily in his ropes. "Yes. All four of you are being dropped from the program. Permanently." Every one stayed silent. "Drop us from the program?!" I shouted, clenching my fists. "That means we'll never become ninja! You said if we couldn't take the bells, we'd be sent back to the academy! You can't just change your mind and kick us out! Why would you do that?!" I screamed, standing up with furious eyes. 

"Because you don't think like ninja. You think like little kids, like brats." Sasuke snapped, dashing towards Kakashi angrily, "Sasuke!" Sakura shouted, as if she could call him back. Kakashi took his arm, throwing him to the ground and holding him there. I gritted my teeth. "You think it's all about you," Kakashi began. "Let go of Sasuke!" Sakura screamed, I watched her, surprised by her sudden scream. "Yeah, you can't step on him like he's some kind of bug!" I shouted, defending Sakura. Sasuke looked up at me from the ground. "You don't know what it means to be a ninja. You thinks it's a game, huh?" I grunted angrily, clenching my fists. "Why do you think we put you on squads? Did you consider that question for one moment?" Kakashi's voice completely changed from calm to harsh in a matter of seconds. "I don't know what you mean!" Sakura shouted back, taking a step closer. "I mean, you never realized what this exercise is all about. Not even close." Sasuke continued to struggle under Kakashi's grip, getting angrier by the second.

"What it's about?" Naruto asked, looking at Kakashi with a confused face. "Yes. That's what determines whether you pass or fail." "But that's----I mean, I wanted to ask you that from the beginning." Sakura said, looking worried. "Tch. Use your head. Four people on a squad, why would you think we would do that?" "AH! How are we supposed to know why you picked four people?!" Naruto complained, still struggling against his ropes. "It's so basic. Teamwork!" Kakashi sighed. "Just working together? Is that what you mean?" Sakura asked, dumbfounded. "That's what I mean. It's too late now, but if all four of you had come at me, you might have been able to take the bells." Kakashi shook his head, I crossed my arms. "Well, anyway, it's over." Wait a minute. "You set it up with four people but only three bells, if we worked together and got the bells, only three of us could keep them! And that would lead to group conflict, and the squad would break up!" I shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Kakashi. "Exactly. I purposely pitted you against each other." Kakashi sighed, shaking his head. "Huh?" Naruto couldn't understand any thing being said.

"I wanted to see if you could over come that, and put the squad ahead of yourselves. A Genin should have a natural feel for teamwork. But you, it never even crossed your minds." Kakashi looked down at us. "Sakura, you obsessed about Sasuke who was gone, while Naruto was right in front of you, and you wouldn't lift a finger to help him. Naruto, you do everything on your own. Everything. And you two, Sasuke and (Y/N), you thought you were above every one else was so far beneath you, they were worthless. Arrogance. Ninja missions are carried out in squads. Of course, you need individual skills, but teamwork is the most essential element. Every shinobi understands this. When individuals put themselves above the squad, this can lead to failure and death. For example, Sakura, kill Naruto now, or Sasuke dies!" Kakashi pulled out a kunai knife, and held it against Sasuke's neck. Naruto looked at Sakura in shock. 

"That's what happens on a mission." Kakashi explained, pulling the knife away from Sasuke. "Oh, boy. That was really scary." Sakura whispered to her self with a sigh. "The enemy takes a hostage, and you've got an impossible choice. And someone ends up dead." Kakashi explained, getting up off of Sasuke. "One every mission, your life is on the line." Kakashi started to walk towards the memorial. "Did you look at this stone, the names engraved on it? They are all ninja who are honored as heroes in our village." Kakashi looked down at the stone, his voice becoming softer. "That's it, that's it! I've decided to have my name engraved on that stone! I'm not going to live or die a nobody! I'm going to be a hero! A hero!" Sasuke got up from the ground, and stood next to me once again, I elbowed Naruto in the side, looking down. "Ow! What was that for?" He cried, "You're an idiot Naruto." I whispered at him. "They are a special kind of hero." Kakashi called out, Naruto turned his head back to him. "Huh? What kind of heroes are they? Come on, tell us!" Naruto asked excitedly, I kept my head down. "They are all KIA...." Kakashi said quietly. "Ooh! That sounds cool!" Naruto smiled, "Do you ever shut up? It means killed in action!" I shouted at him, turning away from the post. "Huh...uh....oh...." Naruto put his head down as well.

"This is a memorial stone. The names of my closest friends are engraved here." Kakashi's voice was almost a whisper, we all stayed silent. "All right, I'm going to give you one more chance. But I'm going to make it much harder on you. You'll have three hours to get a bell. Eat lunch now to build up strength, but Naruto doesn't get any." Kakashi walked closer to us, Naruto huffed. "It's your punishment for breaking the rules and trying to eat by your self. And if anyone tries to feed him, that person will immediately fail." "Gahh...." Naruto looked defeated, I kept my arms crossed. "I make the rules, you follow them. Got it?" With that Kakashi left.

I opened my box, looking down at it, it smelled delicious. I looked around, trying to see if Kakashi was any where to be seen. Sasuke and Sakura were already eating. "Hey, Naruto," I whispered, "Are you okay?" I kept a look out, but I couldn't spot him anywhere. "Yeah, this is no big deal," I could hear his stomach growling. "I can go with out eating for weeks! Believe it! This is no big deal!" He was interrupted by another big stomach growl. "Fine. I'll feed you, but you got to keep quiet!" I grumbled, holding my bento box for him to grab. "Huh?" He looked down at me with a smile. "What? No, (Y/N), you can't go that! You heard what sensei said!" Sakura looked around worriedly. "Kakashi is gone, and I can't stand Naruto looking like that, so go on and hurry up, eat!" I shouted at the both of them. "Thanks." He whispered with a big smile, his eyes sparkling. "Don't thank me, just eat!" I growled, holding the box up. "But, isn't that your lunch?" Naruto asked, concerned. "I'll be fine. Besides, I snuck some bread before I came here," I whispered back to him, smiling back, "Just take it Naruto." I looked around for Kakashi. "I can't take it! I can't move my hands, (Y/N) you're going to have to feed me!" "Fine! But I'm never doing this again, you here?!" I shouted, my face turning red, Sasuke stopped eating. Naruto opened his mouth, I grabbed a mouth full of rice with my chop sticks, but to my surprise, Sasuke moved my hand out of the way, and stuffed his own rice into Naruto's mouth. Naruto chocked on it. "Sasuke!" I crossed my arms. "Hurry up and eat it, Naruto." Sasuke looked at Naruto with burning eye. Naruto swallowed the rice. "Thanks." Naruto seethed, moving his face away from Sasuke. 

"YOU!" Kakashi shouted, standing right in front of us furiously. "You broke the rules, I hope you're ready for the punishment!" He put his hands on his hips, staring at me angrily. He made some quick hand signs, looming over us. Storm clouds came looming in, lightning and thunder blazing above. "Any last words?" He asked menacingly. I stood up, stomping my foot into the ground. I looked up at him, my eyes starting to burn as I glared at him, I ignored the pain, he looked shocked. "We're all on this squad, and we're all in it together! I gave my lunch to him because the four of us are one!" I shouted at him, resting my hands on my hips. "Yeah, that's right." Sasuke agreed, standing at my side. "Yeah, yeah! Believe it!" Naruto shouted from behind. 

"'The four of you are one' that's your excuse?" Kakashi's voice was harsh, but I stood my ground, my eyes kept burning, I wish they would stop. "Hm, you pass." Kakashi smiled, patting me on the top of my head. "Huh?" I looked at him with a confused face. "You pass." He said it once again, Naruto's face lit up once again. "What do you mean? How did we pass?" Sakura looked at him, still a bit shaken up. "You're the first squad that ever succeeded. The others did exactly what I said and fell into every trap. They couldn't think for themselves, 'A ninja must see through deception'. In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, that's true." My eyes seemed to relax as I did. "But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum." Kakashi said, looking up as the sky. I sighed in relief, turning back to Naruto who was seconds away from breaking into tears. "He's a---your know, he's kind of cool...." Naruto sniffled. I leaned on Naruto's post, "You big cry baby." I laughed, with a small smile. "Hmph!" He turned his head away. "I'm not crying!" Naruto shook his head. 

"The exercise is over. Everyone passes. Squad seven starts it's first mission tomorrow." Kakashi-sensei gave us the thumbs up, smiling under his mask. "I did it! I did it! Believe it! I'm a ninja!" Naruto shouted, bobbing his head up and down ecstatically. "Let's go home." Kakashi-sensei called out, starting to walk away. I hopped one the chance, Sasuke and Sakura soon followed behind. 

Naruto started grunting, still trying to break out of the ropes. "I knew they'd do this! Happens every time! Believe it! Ghnnn...!" Naruto shook angrily. "YOU GUYS FORGOT TO UNTIE ME!!" He shouted at us, I snickered, waving at him from afar. "This is your punishment for yesterday!" I yelled back at him, sticking my tongue out as I left.