Sasuke POV

I felt myself hit the floor as a weight collided with me. Looking up I saw Naruko reaching out for my hand. She grabbed onto it and at first I was a bit confused, but soon I felt her being pulled away by Kakashi-sensei.

I pulled on her wrist, maybe a bit too hard, and she kicked her foot down onto Kakashi-sensei's wrist making him release her.

We toppled over from the lack of pull against us, but I made a quick recovery and rushed over to the cover of the trees still pulling her behind me.

Looking back for a split second I saw her limping as I pulled her. She didn't seem to notice though.

Damnit! Why did she have to get in the way?! I was so close to getting the bells!

*im not going to include everything that Naruko said, because im lazy. but ill put Sasukes thoughts*

She wants to work with me?! A weakling like her, and not to mention she has a sprained ankle! She'll just get in the way with an injury.

I bit back a scoff and sighed instead when she continued to insist.

"Fine but one condition."

"What is it?! What is it?!"

"No Sakura."

Naruko POV

Following the signature screech we found Sakura collapsed on the grass. She didn't look hurt at least.

"What do you think happened?" I asked Sasuke.

"I'd say a genjutsu of some sort."

I nodded at his answer.

"Yeah I'm not seeing any injuries, and I don't think she'd scream like that just from being knocked out."

I tried to release her from the genjutsu but she didn't make any sign of waking up.

I made a noise of confusion and looked up to Sasuke.

He huffed and said, "I think she's already out of the genjutsu. She must have fainted from what she saw."

"You're probably right, we can't just leave her here, we need to bring her somewhere a bit safer."

Sighing he reached down and reluctantly picked her up.

We quickly brought her to a semi hidden tree. Setting her down we darted away and searched for Kakashi.

I couldn't sense him nor could we see him.

"Go out there and taunt him or something."

"What?!"

He dismissed me and pushed me out in the opening. I had momentarily forgotten about my injuries but when I sturdied myself I felt the bones in my ankle creak at the pressure.

"Fuck. Um. Yo! Kaka-Sensei! You missed me last time! How 'bout we continue?!"

I shouted across the field.

Feeling a presence close by I turn around to see Kakashi standing right behind me.

"Shit! Don't scare me like that."

He rose an eyebrow and pulled out a book. It was Icha Icha Paradise.

"Kinky as always Kakashi."

I got into a taijutsu style position. I decided to go for a semi modified academy style just to distract him so Sasuke could attack, and to not hurt my ankle any further.

Charging at him I did the hand signs for Kawarimi no jutsu and switched with a shadow clone I had left by Sasuke when he pushed me.

Me and Sasuke came up with a plan and he ran out to assist my clone, and I waited until I saw an opening.

Kakashi looked momentarily surprised when he saw me and Sasuke working together, but put his book away when Sasuke and my clone attacked him simultaneously.

My clone went in for the bells and Sasuke sent a kick towards Kakashi's ribs. Kakashi got away from both of them and a spiral kick flew over Sasuke and my clones heads.

Although barely dodging my clone continued to barrage Kakashi with attacks, more than most missing. Even when they didn't miss he just blocked them never allowing a solid hit. My clone wasn't trying to hit him though.

She was trying to get him far enough away from Sasuke so he could launch a jutsu to distract Kakashi. In that moment of disorientation I would sneak in and take the bells replacing them with a henged pair. Sasuke and I would continue attack him and retreat after it seemed we couldn't win.

They had gotten far enough away when Kakashi struck back. He popped the clone with one hit and looked towards Sasuke.

Luckily Sasuke had already started doing the hand signs and release a large fireball as soon as he and Sensei made slight eye contact.

Running as fast as I could I grabbed ahold of the bells and switched them with the fakes. I saw Kakashi reach down and grab my hand, but I had already tucked the bells away by then.

The smoke had cleared and Sasuke stood a little while away looking at me. I winked and he smirked.

Rushing at Kakashi he sent dozens of kunai and shuriken at him.

I tried to pry my hand out of his grip, but it was no avail. Gritting my teeth in frustration I hooked my leg around and went to kick into Kakashi's spine. Just before I could make contact with him he shunshined away leaving me to dodge Sasuke's army of weapons.

Sasuke stopped in his tracks and I balanced myself.

"Damnit!"

"Sasuke calm your tits! Let's just go before he comes back we can try again!"

He growled out hushed curses at our teacher, but still ran into the trees with me.

"Alright! We got the bells!"

I whisper yelled while smiling at him.

He nodded and I saw him smirk.

"Here take them, I think it would be a good idea if you try to attack him again. Just make sure he doesn't find out you have the bells. I'm gonna check on the banshee."

He nodded again and tucked the bells away. We parted ways and I saw him run back out to where Kakashi was.

I made my way to where we left Sakura, but stopped when I smelt something delicious.

Looking to my left I saw a few bentos filled with nicely cooked rice and more.

I wasn't hungry but it wouldn't hurt to try one.

I licked my lips and tip toed over to the bento boxes. I was about to grab one when I felt a hand take me by the collar of my shirt and turn me around.

When I looked up I saw the towering form of Kakashi, it was at these times I wished I wasn't so short.

"What are you doing Naruko?"

I could still hear fighting from where Sasuke was, but I couldn't tell if this was the real Kakashi or not.

"Um nothing honestly. Just looking for those pesky little bells y'know?"

I laughed awkwardly at being caught trying to eat the lunches.

He dropped my collar and I landed on my sprained ankle. Why must everything in this world despise me.

Barely suppressing a wince he grasped my broken wrist and pulled me towards the wooden pole thingys.

Fucking hell man. How did he not even realized that my wrist was swollen. It was huge at this point, and it hurt like a bitch not to mention.

"I can walk myself. Ehem. I won't run away, you caught me fair and square anyway."

He ignored me and continued dragging me to the poles. I was luckily able to keep any pressure off my sprained ankle by allowing him to drag me. I guess that's one upside.

I bit my lip to hold back my hisses of pain as we finally arrived to the poles.

He made quick work of securing me to one.

"Not that I'm an expert of anything in the field, but I don't seem remember strippers being tied to the pole. Not with out paying extra."

I winked at him.

The pain in my ankle had reduced to a dull throbbing now that it was off the ground, but of course the wrist that was hurt was the one pushed against the bark of the log behind me.

The Kakashi in front of me proofed away and the alarm rung, signifying that the test was over.

I sighed in relief, but it came out as a wince. Anyway, Sasuke came over to the poles and sat next to me not even asking why I was tied up.

Kakashi soon made his way over to us with Sakura in tow.

With both of them sitting on either side of me he started to speak.

"This has never happened before in my history of giving this test, but before I tell you whether you pass or fail can you three answer a simple question for me."

We all nodded skeptically.

"What is the most important part of being a ninja?"

We all went deep in thought trying to come up with an answer.

Seemingly sensing our confusion he gave us a hint.

"Come on! Why do you think you are put in teams anyway?"

My eyes widen and I shouted out an answer.

"Ohh teamwork!?"

He looked at me and smiled, but I saw a hint of something in his eyes.

"Yes, and even if you didn't necessarily work with Sakura you at least tried to keep her out of harms way. Something to remember is that in the world, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse then scum."

I could feel a deep emotion behind his words that I couldn't put a finger on, but you could tell that it inspired all of us. Although it seemed Sakura was still reluctant to rely on me.

"With that I would like to say you all pass. Even if Naruko did try to eat the lunches."

He looked at me unimpressed, and I sheepishly zlaughed.

He sighed and spoke once more.

"You are all now officially part of team 7!"

We all smiled, even if Sasuke tried to cover it up with a smirk.

😔🙏

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