Kakashi's POV

I lay on the couch with my eyes closed. I hear the doorknob turn followed by a slow creak. I open my right eyes to see Maru standing at the door with three bags of groceries.

"I though I would make dinner tonight," He says in his same monotone voice. "I'm a little tired of take-out."

"What were you thinking about?" I can't help but ask.

"I bought all the ingredients for rice curry." He walks towards the kitchen and lays the bags on the counter. He goes to the cabinet and pulls out a pot and the rice cooker. "You can go back to sleep," he says while facing the kitchen sink. "I'll wake you up when it's done." I nod my head and close my eyes again, falling into a sound slumber.

~~~<>~~~

I wake up to a delightful aroma forcefully filling it's way into my nostrils. I open my eyes to see Maru setting down two plates of rice and curry.

He open a drawer and grabs out two pair of chopsticks, then grabs some napkins and places them on the table. I get up and walk to the table and sit down , Maru soon joins me sitting across form me.

"Itadakimasu," he says to himself. Maru kept to hisself during dinner. He quickly finished his dinner put his plate in the sink. "You're doing dishes tonight," he says while making his way to his room. I take my time with the meal indulging every bite. I then proceed to wash the dishes.

"I wonder what Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are doing now?" I question to myself it loud. "I imagine Sakura is probably fan girling over the fact that she's in the same time Sasuke. Sasuke is probably sitting on his bed thinking of the best way to 'defeat' Maru and I. And Naruto, I know he's got a dummy of Maru and I just hanging from the ceiling, punching and taking us down. But that's just a thought, Naruto isn't that stupid. Right?" And with that thought lingering within my head, I made my way to bed.

~~~<>~~~

Maru's POV

I open my eyes and pull the covers of me. I get out of bed and make my way to my closet.

'This will do' I say to myself subconsciously. I take it of the hanger and put in on. I open my door still adjusting my jacket. I realize that the showers running. I look around the kitchen for some food. I decide on slicing up and apple. I grab an apple out of the fruit basket sitting on the counter. I pull the drawer open and take out a semi sharp knife. I divide the apple in to 8 sections. I then proceed to put them in a plastic bag. I hear the shower stop and 10 seconds later, I hear the doorknob turn and see a dry Kakashi come out with a towel placed firmly on his waist. He walks towards his room.

"You want anything to eat," I yell to him.

"No," He replies back. I walk back to my room leaving the apple slices on the counter. I grab my weapons pouch of my dresser. I attach it to my right leg and make sure to stock the appropriate supplies, such as kunai, shuriken, sebon needles, explosive tags, etc. I walk out of my door and grab my apple slices. Kakashi is waiting for me at the door with his trusty book in his hand. I swear that like the 25th time he's read that book. I read the book once when I was 14, Kakashi said 'I'm growing up' and 'I need to read a real book'. Well I read it and let's say when I meet the man that wrote this book I...

"Come on Maru get out of your head, we need to leave. I me a you do want to fight the Uchiha, right?" I give him a glare. "Then let's go." I walk out following Kakashi then shutting the door behind me.

~~~<>~~~

We get to the training ground to be met with a screaming Naruto and Sakura.

"You're late!" The Uchiha says nothing while standing next to the pinkette and the blonde.

"Calm down you guys." I say walking next to Kakashi. He puts a clock on a tree stump and sets it for noon.

"Ok," he says out loud. "It's set for noon." He pushes a big button. He turns to face the Genin. "Here are two bells." He hands me a bell. "Your task is to take these from Maru and I before the time is up." I wave the bell, it making a small jiggle with each movement. I tie it around the chain by my pocket. They look at Kakashi with with puzzled looks. Then the sudden realization hits them: that why they weren't supposed to eat. "Those who don't have a bell by noon...... get's no lunch. I'll not only tie one of those stumps, but I'll also eat right in front of you."

"Me too," I pipe in.

"You only have to get one bell." he continues ignoring my remark. "There's only two, so one of you will definitely be tied to the stump." They all look at him with serious faces. "And the person who doesn't take a bell fails. So at the least one of you will be sent back to the academy." Everyone is silent. "If you want you can use shurikens and kunais. You won't succeed unless you come at us with the intention to kill."

"But!! You'll be in danger!!" Sakura yell at Kakashi. I pretend to cough in my elbow but I actually let out a laugh.

"Yeah," Naruto yells joining in. "You're so slow you can't even dodge a.. blackboard easer!! We'll definitely kill you!!"

"In the real word," I chime in. "Those with no talent often bark the loudest. At least that's what I've learned."

"Well.." Kakashi starts. "Ignore Mr. Deadlast and start when I say.." I can here Naruto whispering something. I think he's saying 'dead last'. He starts getting madder and madder until finally he pops. He grabs a kunai and charges for Kakashi. I take a step back knowing what's about to happen. Kakashi then grabs his hair and his hand with the kunai in it. When the action calms down Kakashi has Naruto in a hold where his kunai is pointed against his neck. "Calm down," he says in a relaxed tone. "I haven't even said start yet. "Well, it seems you're finally prepared to come at me with the intent to kill. So you've finally acknowledged me? Hehe, it seems like...I'm beginning to... like you guys." The Uchiha looks at me with a smirk on his face.

"Bring it on, Uchiha," I whisper. Kakashi gives me a glace. I nod my head twice.

"Ok then," he says. "Let's get going." I smile slightly. "Ready.....

BEGIN!!"

An with that I jump ready into a tree, waiting for the Uchiha to make his fateful move.