~Chapter 9~

It was two weeks later and I sighed, looking down at Zabuza’s and Haku’s graves. I got an irk mark as Sakura slapped Naruto. I felt like slapping him myself.

“What sneaky, greedy trick are you up to now? You eat an offering, you’ll be punished by the gods!” I looked down with a sigh, shaking my head then glanced up as she spoke again, “….but still….Master Kakashi….”

“Hmm--?”

“I can’t help wondering. Were those two right about what a ninja should be?”

I tilted my head. Good question. I looked over at Kakashi as he answered. “A shinobi shouldn’t be concerned with a reason for her own existence. It is important merely that we exist as a tool for our homeland to use in whatever way they need. That’s as true for us in Konohagakure as it is for ninja anywhere else.”

“Is that really what becoming a full-fledged ninja’s gonna be about?” Naruto asked, “I don’t like the sound of it!”

“Do you two really feel that way, Master Kakashi, Master Hokori?” Sasuke asked.

I waved for Kakashi to answer first. “Well….no. and that’s why all we ninja live our lives with that ideal always bubbling beneath the surface of our minds, disturbing us. Like it did Zabuza….and the boy….” I nodded in agreement and watched as Naruto stared at Haku’s grave for a second, then turned to us with a pout.

“That’s it. I’ve made up my mind! I am going to create my own nindo-my own ninja path. My own destiny!” I smiled at him, nodding.

“Oh, and Hokori-sensei?” I looked over at him with a blink of my eye.

“If you don’t mind me asking….how did you know Zabuza and Haku?” Naruto asked hesitantly and I sensed the whole team listening in. I blinked, sighing and looked at the graves.

“When Haku was young….I traveled to the Land of the Mist for a two month long mission. Among that time….” I blushed, looking away and scratching the back of my head.

“What is it, Hokori-sensei?” Sakura asked as they looked at me oddly.

“I kinda dated Zabuza.” I mumbled, poking my fingers together.

They all gaped at me and I blushed darker, turning around. “It was in the past. Then, I had to leave and then they became rouge and….I met them on a mission and since they were in the bingo book I had to kill them. I was with a team of four so I really didn’t have a choice. If I had been alone, I would have let them go but….yeah. Anyway, they got away after almost being killed by one of my jutsu. Though I did hold back….” I chuckled at the memory and eyed Zabuza’s sword.

“I always wanted that sword….no, no. bad.” I chuckled, walking off and waved over my shoulder.

“Zaza and Flower were some of my best friends. Seems a lot of people important to me die.” I mumbled the last part and sighed.

After a long trip back with Naruto and Sakura mostly talking, I finally was able to get home. I let out a sigh of relief as I fell on my bed tiredly after taking a nice, long shower.

I fell asleep immediately.

By the time I woke up I was groaning, rolling over in annoyance to smash my alarm clock to bits. I sweat-dropped as I looked at it. Whoops….

I got up, pulling open a drawer on my beside table and put another one in its place after I swiped the last one into a trashcan. How many does that make? Probably a hundred. Or a thousand….maybe a million….

I sighed again and started to get ready in my usual attire but this time slipped on a black cloak on that had a red diamond on the back with the three kanji for Hinome on the back. I lifted up the hood after braiding my hair and whistled for Chi to follow me as I walked out the door. He let out a bark, sitting beside me as I locked the door. Then I jumped on his back and we headed for the meeting place.

“I still don’t get why you didn’t come with me on The Land of Waves mission. You could’ve seen Zaza and Flower.”

“I had….plans.”

“Plans?! Since when do you have plans that don’t involve me?! Oh my Kami! You have a girlfriend don’t you!” I teased and his ears went flat against his head.

“Would you shut up? You’re annoying.”

“You do, don’t you?!” I shouted as we came near the Genin.

“You’re late!” Sakura and Naruto yelled but I ignored them, jumping in front of Chi and pointed at him.

“Tell the truth!”

“I don’t have a girlfriend.” He sighed.

“Lies!” Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke watched as I launched on him and we started rolling around arguing. Even if he was an eight foot tall dog, I beat him.

“Would you shut up?!” He finally snapped after an hour and I looked up.

“Yo, Spoon.” He sweat-dropped and Sakura and Naruto yelled at him for being late as well.

After a boring mission, Naruto getting beat up, Sasuke challenging Naruto to get better than him, me being irked by Sasuke’s arrogance, we were walking down the street. I looked up at the sky though at the same time Kakashi did to see a bird.

Meeting….

“Okay, that’s it. We’ll call it a day right now. I’ve got to go hand in my report on today’s mission.”

“Yeah. Me too.” I mumbled, glancing over at Kakashi’s perverted book. Make-Out Paradise.

I shook my head, disappearing with him before heading to the ….I forgot the name. Where we turn in mission reports.

“Thanks for your latest report, Master Kakashi, Master Hokori,” Iruka said, shuffling some papers, “How’s our little hellion? Does he get along well with the other members of his team?”

Kakashi and I glanced at each other and he answered. “He’s….getting there.”

“Your team’s seen a lot of action lately. Naruto hasn’t had time to get together with me once. I can’t help worrying about him.” I raised an eyebrow. Huh….

“You know how it is, Master Iruka. Uchiha Sasuke is in our team, too. He and Naruto are like a couple of dogs, always circling each other, snapping and snarling. But it keeps Naruto on his toes, he’s developing fast. He’s always hoping to catch up to his hero….you.” Kakashi told him.

“Really?” He smile and I chuckled, shaking my head.

“Hm….another meeting?”

“Apparently.” Kakashi muttered as we walked down a hall in the Hokage building. I was sipping some vodka and he was reading his book. Once we got in the room and everyone gathered, the Hokage spoke.

“Seeing whom I invited here, you may be able to guess….what we are here to discuss.” I looked around, raising an eyebrow then sighed. It’s that time already?

“Is it time already?” Kakashi asked. Alright, that was weird.

“Have you informed the Lords of the other lands yet? Because I believe I have already seen some of them in our village. When is it to be?” The dude next to me asked.

“One week from today.”

“Seriously?” I deadpanned.

The Hokage puffed out some smoke from his pipe and looked at all of us. “To make it completely official, I hereby announce….seven days from now, on July 1st….we shall begin conducting examinations for Journeymen Ninja-the Chunin.”

Kakashi and I glanced at each other with eye twitches. Our team….is so screwed.

“We’re putting them in?” I mumbled and he nodded. I nodded as the Hokage began talking again.

“Now, then….we’d like to hear first from those who have overseen the training of our newest junior ninja.” Kakashi and I stepped forward along with Yuhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma.

“Masters Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma and Hokori. Tell us….do any of you have, among your charges, any Genin you’d recommend for this year’s Journeymen Exams? That before we can even consider them, they must have completed a minimum of eight missions. Beyond that, employ your own judgment as to whether they are ready to aspire to the next level. To be truly competitive, candidates should probably have completed at least double the recommended number of missions….you may begin, Kakashi and Hokori.” The Hokage told us and I sighed, motioning for Kakashi to do this. I was only a co-captain anyway.

“Team Number 7, led by Kakashi and Hokori, consists of Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura. I vow upon the honor of my clan, the Hatake-“

“-and my clan the Hinome-“ I added when he glanced at me.

“-that all three of them are ready for the Chunin Selection Exam.” He finished much to Iruka’s shock. Kurenai went next.

“Team Number 8, led by Kurenai, consists of Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino. I vow upon my own clan, the Yuhi, that I am as certain as is my esteemed colleagues that all three are ready for the Chunin Selection Exam.” She got a Hyuga (alright, not really excited about that one), Aburame and Inuzuka on her team?! What the hell man?! All I got was foxy, Duck-butt and pinky!

“Team Number 10, Led by Asuma. Consists of Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji. I vow upon my own clan, the Sarutobi, that I am equally as certain that all three are ready for the Chunin Selection Exam.” Asuma finished.

“How unusual for all three of you to have unhesitatingly assented….” The Hokage muttered.

“J-just a moment!!” I sighed, shaking my head as Chi and I glanced back at him along with the rest of the newest Genin mentors.

“Yes, Iruka?” The Hokage asked.

“Lord Hokage! Please allow me to speak!! Forgive me if I overstep, but most of the nine students just named…..were my students while they were at the Academy. Certainly, they are all gifted and show both commitment and talent….but it’s too soon for kids that young to be stepping up to the Journeyman Level. Only with time will they have the kind of experience and maturity those exams require. I don’t understand why their supervisors can’t see that.” My eye twitched.

“I was six year younger than Naruto when I attained the rank of Chunin, Iruka.” Kakashi pointed out.

“Naruto’s not like you! Do you want to destroy those children?! You all know what they call the Chunin Selection Exams, don’t you?”

“They gripe about every detail of every mission. Just for once, I think it would do them good to find out what real pain is….let’s admit it, breaking them would be fun.” I smirked. It really would be.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Only slightly.” I muttered and Kakashi sent me an amused glance before turning back to Iruka with a bored look. “….it was a joke, Master Iruka. I understand you….and I’m sorry if my recommendation upsets you, but I stand by it.”

“But….”

“Kakashi….can we finish with this?” Kurenai asked and I nodded.

“Seriously. I wanna go take a nap.”

Kakashi sighed. “It’s none of your business anyway….they’re not your students anymore. They are soldiers under my command.”

“Hey!”

“Our command.” Kakashi corrected with a smirk under his mask. I know he was, I just knew it!

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Authors Note

o.o I really thought Iruka was annoying during this chapter….it’s sad, really. I mean, get over it. Naruto’s strong now. Not a brat -.-‘
Peace!
~Mew