Team 7 was ... okay, I wasn't sure how I could describe them. I stood staring at them, my confusion building with each moment that passed by. Kakashi stood beside me, one hand in his pocket and a book in the other. He looked so caught up in it. I suspected he was used to his team's antics by now.

It would seem everyone in this village was facially - and physically, I would suspect - appealing. Even Sakura, with her long pink hair and her big green eyes. She was dressed so girly and cute, her pink dress complemented her well. I looked down at my boring brown drab and grimaced.

"Sasuke-kun," she purred, her eyes turning dewy with affection. "Sasuke-kun, what's the matter? Are you okay?"

Sasuke didn't even glance at her. He just continued to stare out into the distance, his eyes remaining cold and dark. He looked terrifying to be honest. There was something about him that wasn't right. But then who was I to judge?

Naruto sprang up from the ground, clutching his stomach. "Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan, I don't feel well."

Sakura turned around with fire in her eyes. "I don't care Naruto!" Then she looked back at Sasuke, her eyes taking on the same dreamy look.

"But, Sakura-chan ..." Naruto whined. Sakura moved so fast I almost missed it. She pounded Naruto in the head.

"Shut up Naruto!"

I didn't know what to say or do, so I just stood there watching this all happen. Naruto rubbed his head, muttering to himself. Sakura seemed to have heard him and started shouting. I winced when Naruto shouted back. Did everyone have to be so loud?

Sasuke looked at me and our eyes made four. His expression didn't change and neither did mine. My face remained blank and impassive as I stared at him. His dark eyes seemed to have gotten even more intense and I suppressed a shudder. Something was definitely wrong with him.

Kakashi shut his book, cutting our staring contest short.

"Okay," he said with a clap of his hands. He took three bells from his pocket. They jingled when he held them up. "You're goal is to take these bells from me before time is up."

Sakura put up her hand. "Um, Kakashi sensei?"

"Yes, Sakura?"

"There are only three bells and four of us," she observed.

Kakashi gave her his closed eyed smile. "Very observant of you, Sakura." She beamed from the compliment. "That's right. There are three bells and four of you. Which means one of you won't get one. And those who don't have the bell by noon, won't get lunch. I'll tie you to that post over there." He pointed to a wooden stump to the left. "And the one who doesn't get the bell has to watch while everyone else eats."

Naruto's stomach grumbled, almost as if it were on cue. He clutched it, his face made up. "That's why you said we couldn't eat."

"That's right." Kakashi attached the bells to his waist. "But that's not all. Whoever doesn't get the bell, goes back to the academy."

His words descended on my new teammates and a tension ensued. I looked around at them, confused. "So?" I asked.

"If we go back to the academy, we lose our headbands and we will have to wait to retake the test." Her voice was serious. I took her words in. I guess losing your headband was a serious thing.

"If you intend on using weapons," Kakashi continued. "You won't succeed unless you come at me with the intent to kill."

Those words shocked me. He wanted us to try and kill him? I frowned slightly. Judging by the easy way he said it, he didn't look at all scared. His rank was probably way, way above ours. I gritted my teeth. He was serious. If I wanted a bell, I would have to come at him with all I have. No matter that I had no training whatsoever. They didn't know that.

"But we can't do that!" Sakura spoke up, horrified.

Naruto laughed. "You couldn't even dodge a black board eraser!" He tucked his hands behind the back of his head, looking at ease. I almost shook my head at him. Anyone could see that this sensei was one to be feared. It seems Sasuke shared my views. He was staring intently on Kakashi, and I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. He was definitely coming up with a plan.

"Out in the real world, those who bark the loudest are the ones with no talent." Kakashi said wisely. He sighed. "Ignoring Mr. Dead last, we start when I say ..."

"Dead last?!" Naruto grabbed a kunai from his pouch and charged after Kakashi. Idiot, I said over and over again in my head as he dashed past me. Dumb ass idiot.

Kakashi moved so fast it was a blur. HIs hand came around and with a cloud of dust flaring up, he pushed Naruto's hand around until the kunai was positioned at the back of his neck.

I wasn't surprise. I expected that.

"Calm down. I haven't even said start yet. It seems," he paused for dramatic effect, "I'm starting to like you guys. Begin!"

Everyone was off. I tried keeping up with them but I wasn't as fast enough and before I knew it, I was in plain sight. Kakashi stood looking at me evenly, then his eyes moved over to the side.

Naruto stood there looking cute and stupid as he shouted, "Come here and fight me!"

Kakashi rolled his eyes. I looked over at Naruto, counting my luck stars that he hadn't run off. I don't think I could have taken Kakashi by myself. I ran over to him.

"We should take him together," I whispered, holding my hands before me, ready to fight. Kakashi raised a brow at my stance.

Naruto grinned at me. "Let's go get those bells!" I nodded at him, not sure how this was going to work since I haven't come up with a suitable plan. We ran towards him. Kakashi's stance was way too casually but he reached into his pouch as we approached.

I held out my hand and we both stopped watching him. Was he reaching for a weapon?

"Shinobi fighting lesson #1," Kakashi said, pulling the item from his pouch with deliberate slowness. "Taijutsu." And out came his book.

... What?

We were both dumbfounded. "What, aren't you going to come after me?" Kakashi taunted.

"I'm gonna kick your ass!" Naruto shouted and rushed after him, leaving me behind. He really was such a baka. I rushed in behind him.

Naruto threw a kick but Kakashi dodged it. I tried to jump in but he caught my punch with his only available hand. Naruto saw this as an opportunity to attack and tried kicking him, but Kakashi flung me after him and we collided together and fell to the ground. I got to my feet quickly and bent down, allowing Naruto to spring up from behind me and throw a punch to Kakashi's face.

He caught the punch but I moved in. I swung my leg at his face, using Naruto's body to boost me up. Kakashi used the hand holding the book to block and I fell to the ground. Pain shot up my back but I ignored it.

Naruto gritted his teeth getting frustrated. I knew this was a bad thing. He would try to attack without thinking first.

To prevent this I jumped up and moved in before Naruto could. I slid in between Kakashi's open legs, pulling his shirt lightly as I did so. My plan succeeded and he turned around. Just in time Naruto came after him, creating an even bigger diversion and I grabbed at the bells.

Naruto however decided to attempt to kick his face and Kakashi ducked it, stooping down and coming face to face with me. I glanced at him, my eyes widening when our eyes made four and my fingers only grazed the bell, making it tinkle.

"Good but not good enough -"

He froze, his eyes glazed over. There was a hint of red in his eyes, but I didn't stop to question it. I scurried around him and grabbed a bell. He broke out of whatever trance he was in when I moved, giving me no time to get the other bell for Naruto.

I got out of there as soon as the bell was safely in my hands. Naruto could take care of himself.

//

I was wrong. I leaned against the wooden post with my arms crossed and my eyes closed. Naruto was tied to the post and he was shouting and causing a whole lot of ruckus. I should have known that he wouldn't get a bell.

"Yah! Lemme down!"

"You didn't get a bell, baka," Sasuke said, and I looked up in surprise. That's the first time I heard him speak. Sakura spun her bell around on her finger looking content with herself. She smiled, looking over the moon, when Sasuke spoke.

"I don't want to go back to the academy!"

"Then you should have gotten a bell," Sakura said, but I was sure she didn't mean it. I know she would hate if it were she or Sasuke, because they wouldn't be together.

Kakashi stood listening. He held his hand up, looking absolutely angry. "You all fail," he said.

"What?" Sakura and Naruto shouted. I blinked, surprised. I looked over to Sasuke, he was shaking in anger.

"You all fail because you didn't know the answer."

"The answer?" Sakura asked confused. Kakashi didn't say anything, allowing the silence to draw on longer and longer.

"What is the answer?!" Naruto shouted from the post.

"The answer is," he paused, "Teamwork!" I blinked again.

"You lacked teamwork. Sakura you completely ignored Naruto and all you could think of was Sasuke. Naruto even when Lea told you to work together you rushed into everything on your own without thinking. And Sasuke, you thought that everyone was just going to drag you down so you did everything by yourself. So far, Lea who only just arrived was the only one who attempted to partner up and she was the first one to get a bell. You all fail," he said again. "Except Lea."

I sighed, relieved that I was excused. I sat down on the ground. I didn't want to admit it but I was tired.

"I'll give you all a second chance after lunch. No one is allowed to give Naruto any food. If anyone tries to give him food with fail automatically. I make the rules here, got it?"

He disappeared, probably off to read his little book. I closed my eyes. I didn't know anything about any rule about not eating so I had devoured an instant ramen this morning. Even so, I could still feel tiny pangs of hunger.

I watched as Sakura and Sasuke pull out box lunches. At the sight Naruto's stomach growled. They started eating. His stomach growled again, this time accompanied by mine. Sakura and Sasuke paused.

"Here," Sasuke said. He pushed his food up at Naruto. We all looked at him. Didn't he hear what Kakashi said?

"We won't be a good team if you're working on an empty stomach," he said. Naruto grinned and after a moment Sakura offered her food too.

"Sakura-chan..." Naruto's eyes filled with water.

"Don't you dare," she said, as she started feeding him.

I closed my eyes and sighed silently. "Here," came a voice before me. I opened my red eyes and looked into Sasuke's black ones. He pushed his food at me. "Eat."

"I passed. You didn't," I said frankly.

"If you're hungry then take it," he said irritably. I frowned slightly at him but then took the lunch. I pushed some of the rice into my mouth then I handed it back to him. "Thanks."

He took it from me. "What did you do back there?" he asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"When you were getting a bell. Kakashi practically froze and handed you the bells."

"He didn't hand me the bells," I pointed out.

"You used genjutsu?"

I shook my head. To tell the truth I don't know what happened, but I hadn't questioned it.

"You pass," came Kakashi's voice from in front.

"What do you mean we pass? I thought we were doing it over," Sakura said.

Kakashi came closer to us and gave us his signature closed eyed smile. "You guys are the first. Everyone else did exactly what I told them. Those who break the code and rules of the ninja are trash."

He looked up at the sky. "But those who don't take care of his comrades are lower than trash." He gave us thumbs ups. "You all pass! Team Seven will start their duties beginning tomorrow!"

"Yay! I'm ninja! I passed!" Naruto shouted and I shook my head at him, feeling a slimmer of relief that they made it.