"I'm tired." Kazuki complained. I rolled my eyes at him and continued forward. "We're almost there. Shut up and power through it."

He huffed childishly at my words. "You hear the abuse I go through Ren-Sensei?" He turned to our Sensei, a look of disbelief on his face.

Ren-Sensei is one of the younger Sensei's, with scruffy black hair, dark eyes, and light colored skin with a lean and built body. One built for speed, but it's his strength that he excels at.

The strongest person I know. The Raikage and Killer B are only super strong because they're fast and they build up that momentum. They don't count.

"Yet I don't hear you shutting up." Kazuki's face morphed into betrayal, causing our Sensei to smirk. "I'm just kidding. I'm not as mean as Princess."

"Wha-!" My head whipped around and I glared at my sensei. This bastard.

He smirked at my reaction, this one edging me on. Why I ought to-! No, calm down. He wants me to hit him.

Once I do he's going to flick my forehead and I'll crash through a tree. Again.

Apparently it's something his 'sensei' did to him. What an annoying guy.

I pushed myself to go even faster and took the lead from my team. As usual. "Wait! Yume!" They called out, but I laughed and went even faster.

I'm one of the fastest people in my village after all. With or without my Kekkei Genkai.

I broke through the tree line and onto flat land. Up ahead, a large, large, gate stood proudly.

There it is.

I ran even faster, my feet barely touching the ground before they're off again. "Yume, wait! I have your paperwork!" Ren-Sensei's voice made me stop suddenly, making my feet skid across the ground a bit.

That's right. Paperwork.

My team soon caught up to me, Shou panting slightly. He really needs to work on his stamina, that's just pathetic "Were already ahead of the other teams that are coming along. You don't need to be ahead your own team too." Kazuki stated, wiping the sweat from his brow.

That's true. We were all originally going to arrive together, but I got impatient. They were all just so slow.

I shrugged nonchalantly. Though I still have plenty of energy in me, I couldn't help but notice the heat in this area. It's way hotter than back home. Well, it's not called the Land of Fire for nothing I guess. It's still annoying.

"They should've kept moving anyway. We didn't get the okay until last minute. Don't the exams start tomorrow? Those slow pokes will be late." I told my Sensei with a frown.

Ren-Sensei sighed, scratching his head. "They don't even want to go to the Chunin Exams. We can move up in rank within our own village. We don't need to go to these."

I shot him a look, clenching my fists. "But if we demonstrate our strengths in these Exams, to all the Villages, they'll know that! That we didn't need to. That we're strong enough! That's what the Raikage instilled in us to do. To show our strength and hold our heads up high! Besides, it'll be fun sparring with someone who doesn't know your strengths." I shrugged.

It is true I think that. But I'm just curious of what's outside our village. I had never left and I've never encountered shinobi of another village.

Ren-Sensei rolled his eyes and began walking towards the gate. "Yeah, yeah. They'll be here before nightfall." He said, ruffling my hair as he went. I swatted his hand away in annoyance.

We followed after, Shou and Kazuki flanking me. "Man, you really wanted to take the Exams." Kazuki stated.

Shou nodded. "I mean, I was interested in travelling outside the village anyway. Besides, it'll be interesting to see what kids from other villages can do."

Kazuki nodded, a thoughtful look in his face. "Y'know, my dad says that Leaf Shinobi aren't even worth calling shinobi. Says that they're a bunch of pushovers and softies." He mulled.

Yeah. The Leaf isn't well liked in our village. We don't like any village aside from our own, but they're even more disliked.

I've been begging for the Raikage to allow us to take the Exams for years.

I'm fourteen for crying out loud, and I'm still a Genin. Couldn't take it in The Mist, or The Rock, and I couldn't take them in our village because I couldn't find a partner to take them with.

And Shou and Kazuki couldn't take them until I could as well. We must enter in teams, but also with a partner. I always thought that the Raikage didn't want me to become a Chunin. Ridiculous, I know.

It's not like we're actually related. But he was there for me growing up and my mom is very important to him. Not to mention she lost dad and I'm basically his carbon copy, just different genders.

I once brought it up to him. He shouted, I shouted. Then we kinda got into a fight so he used his damn elbow technique then laughed in victory.

Old bastard could've killed me.

Then again he got a good scolding from mom. Afterall, the two are childhood friends. And you don't fuck with a mother's child. Ever hear don't poke the mama bear? Well he poked.

See how that worked out for him?

"Well I think it'll be fun! Think about how we'll dominate the Exams!"

Kazuki looked at me wearily. "Are you sure you're gonna do alright for the written exam?" He asked. I shot him a look. Okay. I wasn't an honor student. I had average grades.

Sorry I'm not a freaking brain like Kazuki. Shou's grades aren't that better then mine, but you wanna single me out. But I'm like the luckiest person alive. I always manage.

We soon made it to the gate where the two gatekeepers were. Ren-Sensei showed them our paperwork and the two handed out our visitor passes.

I stared at the pass with some distaste. I'm supposed to wear this? That sucks.

Shrugging, I pinned it to my shorts. I'm currently in full ninja gear.

Black baggy shorts that reach just above my knee, matching colored sash around my hips tilting to my left, gray sleeveless crop top with a diamond cut to show my tattoo, bandages wrapped around my arms, wrists to just below elbow, a light arm guard, gray ninja sandals, kunai pouch on my right hip, my headband wrapped around my neck, the band being white in contrast to the metal plate and my dark attire, and of course I wore my signature fingerless black gloves.

Kazuki and Shou both pinned it to their baggy black pants as well. Kazuki wore his baggy black pants, but they cinched up at the ankle so he wouldn't trip over them. He wore a white sleeveless muscle shirt, the collar going up his neck where it snugged nicely. His headband worn across his forehead as standard issue. He had bandages wrapped around his right arm, much like my own and on his left hand to help in hand to hand combat.

Shou wore a similar outfit, but he wore a black muscle t-shirt that stops just above his belly button. He wore a mesh shirt under it that reaches farther than his shirt. And a blue jacket that matches his eyes and helps with rain, left unzipped. His headband wrapped around his neck, the black blending well with his shirt.

As soon as the guard cleared us, Ren-Sensei handed Shou a hand drawn map. "I must notify their Hokage of our arrival. You three head to the hotel, it's already set up. Room 117. Go straight there." He narrowed his eyes on us, making us advert our eyes from his gaze.

Geez, he has no faith in us. We're a team for crying out loud.

As soon as he left I smirked at my teammates. "Wanna explore?" Kazuki and Shou mimicked my smirk and nodded.

Instead of going to the hotel like Ren-Sensei told us to, we wandered further into the village.

It's so much different from home. It's . . . brighter here. Literally and figuratively. Which made me feel uncomfortable. It's fake. All of it is so fake.

At least back home, you'll know what you get. They'll flat out tell you. But here it's not and it's weirding me out.

Not to mention all these people out and about! Kids, adults, ninja's. Doesn't this village have discipline? They should be training, studying, doing business. But everyone is being so . . . casual. It's weird.

I mean, I'm very eccentric and don't exactly follow the mold, but I always take my training seriously. What were these people doing?

Hm? Ah! "BBQ! Fuck yes!" I shouted, dashing over to the joint. A few women eyes widened before scowling my way for my language.

Not my fault. My mother will deny it until she's blue in the face, but she was a big time swearer. She's recently stopped, but my first word was 'shit'.

That was when mom decided to quit swearing. When all three of her kids first words were curse words.

My brother Akihito's first word was 'fuck' and Akihiro's first word was also 'shit'. Took her three times. But since then she hardly ever swears.

I ran into the building and inhaled the sweet scent of grilled meat. Mm. Yum!

Looking around, I spotted a table near a team of Leaf Shinobi. It's the only table open, but . . . they're the enemy.

Well, not really, but the Raikage always says it. He doesn't really like any village, but the Leaf he especially distastes. I'm sure there are other BBQ places to-

I stopped my thoughts as soon as a waiter walked by me, a large plate of uncooked meat in hand.

.

.

.

Fuck it, I'm hungry.

I walked over to the table and sat down, my back to the team leader and one of his Genin. Surprisingly, the man and the one kid seemed to pick up on my foreign presence but did nothing.

Soon Kazuki and Shou came in. Once the spotted me they headed my way, Shou glaring at me. "You can't just ditch us like that Yume. We don't know this place." He began as they both took seats across from me.

I shrugged. "Should've been faster."

Kazuki looked more amused then anything and Shou eyed the ninja's behind me wearily. They're still a table away. It's not like I sat with them.

A waiter came up and I quickly scanned the menu. Hm. These dishes are different then back home. We don't really have much BBQ and when we do, I never get to eat because 'it's not part of your calorie intake for training'.

Psh. It sucks. I mean, I accept it because my food intake is solely calculated to match and aid my training, but I don't eat for that.

I eat because I'm hungry and it tastes good.

"We'll take two of everything." I declared with a grin. Apparently a little too loud because the Sensei, guy, and girl from the table next to ours nearly fell out of their seats.

We seem to have gained their attention.

Whoops.

Kazuki licked his lips and nodded in agreement while Shou shook his head at us. "You guys are gluttons." I smirked, tilting my head to the side. "You're just jealous because your stomach is weak."

"My stomach is not-"

"And lots of veggies, because this guy needs them to grow big and strong." Kazuki mocked Shou, who turned his anger to him next.

It's not that he's weak. But we can eat A LOT. We have to. We burn through all the calories too fast. Especially me when I train with B.

I burn it up way too fast. It's one of my greatest weaknesses. I need the constant food intake.

As for Kazuki . . . he needs it for his training too, but not nearly as much as I need it. I'm not sure how he's not fat. Or at least chubby. But I'm not one to judge and honestly I don't give a shit.

The waiter soon left leaving us be.

He returned with another waiter and set down some waters and the large plates of food before firing the grill at our table.

Kazuki went to cook, but Shou shoved him aside and began putting the meat on the grill.

He didn't trust Kazuki around an open flame. I agree. The kid can't cook.

Once I was making steaks to celebrate our official debut as Genin's. I had to go to the restroom so I asked him to watch the stove.

All he had to do was watch it.

I was gone two minutes and I come back in to see the kitchen in a blaze of flames. Luckily it was Ren-Sensei's house, but since then he's not allowed near any kitchen or flame.

Which is ironic considering he specializes in Fire Style Ninjutsu.

"So do you think Ren-Sensei will notice we didn't go to the hotel?" Kazuki asked.

Shou rolled his eyes at his question. "Of course. There's no way we're not going to explore the village and he'll definitely make it back before us."

As soon as one was cooked, I snatched it with my chopsticks and stuffed it in my mouth.

My eyes widened at the flavor. I've never tasted anything like this!

"What do you think he'll do?" Kazuki asked, taking some of the cooked meat as well. Shou looked off thoughtfully.

"He might kill us." He mused.

Kazuki began to sweat nervously at his claim. "Really?" He questioned. I scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous Kazuki." This seemed to make him relax. I smiled.

"He'll definitely kill us."

He fell at that. Then he sat up, determination in his eyes. "Then I'll enjoy my last meal!" He declared, beginning to chow down.

"Hey, hey! Don't eat it all!" I shouted, quickly picking as many as I could for me before Kazuki could get it all.

Shou sighed, shaking his head. "I'm not going to get to eat, am I?"

~

After we finished eating, we continued to explore the foreign village. It was interesting. Definately different. Kind of nice but it made me miss home.

I thought we were home free because the sun had set and Ren-Sensei still hadn't come for us.

Maybe he just didn't want to see us and didn't notice we were gone. We have adjoining rooms afterall. Two rooms, two beds in each.

In our village it's not that uncommon for males and females to share rooms during training camps and what not. It's not a big deal because we're shinobi. That's just how things work.

Because of that, Ren-Sensei deemed us one room because he didn't trust any of us not to mess with him in his sleep. Or to not annoy him. Or that he wouldn't kill us. So he has one room to himself.

The three of us stood in front of our hotel, thinking of what to do. Ren-Sensei hadn't looked for us, that much we knew. He would have found us. So we may still have a chance to act innocent.

"Sneak in?" I asked them with a raised eyebrow. Both boys nodded in agreement.

"Sneak in." They repeated.

We moved around the building a bit, trying to find our room. Once we located it, we began to climb up, Kazuki first, then Shou, then me. Kazuki carefully opened the window and began to haul himself over before he froze.

I frowned, holding myself in place by holding a loose brick. Not exactly the most stable, but if we use chakra Ren-Sensei will definitely notice.

"Kazuki, hurry!" Shou whisper shouted. But Kazuki remained frozen.

Irritated, I used my free hand to shove Shou straight into Kazuki and the two let out a shout as they fell through the window and into the room.

I effortlessly swung myself into the room, landing quietly on my feet. But that didn't matter.

A lamp is on. And Ren-Sensei is leaned against the wall opposite the window.

He. Looked. Pissed.

I laughed nervously, scratching my cheek a bit. "We got lost?"