Chapter 36: The Red Flash
Sasuke ate slowly the bento that was handed to him and Sakura. From time to time he stared at both Naruto and Kaito who were the only ones not having any food.
Sakura also already stopped eating for a while and looked at the monument that Kakashi talked about. Weirdly enough it was her that started a conversation.
"Do you guys think the team of Kakashi-sensei is written on that stone?"
That was rather surprising and Kaito raised both his brows. Then he glanced over to the monument and tried to read a few names.
It was actually a monument of previous team 7 members. ´Does every training ground have those? The wars truly were taking their toll on lives. There are so many names...´
Then he actually noticed a few names he recognized and sighed lightly.
"It could be. We are shinobi that were raised in a rather peaceful time...I can't imagine how hard it must have been for all the people just two decades ago. Kakashi-sensei was probably around our age at that time and there was still a war going on..."
Kaito talked in a rather quiet voice but still was hearable by the three of them.
Sasuke averted his gaze for a short moment and probably thought about his own clan.
"And yet we are still living in danger, are we not? It feels unreal that so many have given their lives for only such little progress." Naruto was the one that said those words. He knew as well as the other two that the villages still stood under tension with each other.
"Hatred is something that engulfs people's hearts for various reasons...But there is still hope." Kaito picked up a leaf from the ground that was carried there by the wind. "Just like this leaf, we are a new generation of shinobi. It is up to us to change things like that. And we will not be the last. Even if we end up burning, new leaves will bloom after us..."
Sakura and Naruto looked at him in confusion when he said those words but Sasuke actually contemplated his words.
It became a somewhat awkward atmosphere but it was quickly broken by Naruto´s stomach protesting with a grumble. He immediately got a slight blush in embarrassment because of that.
Sasuke looked over and thought about something. Then he stretched out his remaining food to Naruto. "Here, eat your fill."
"What, really? Thanks!!" Naruto started to grin but his smile vanished shortly after. "Ehm...I can't really eat it. I am still tied up..."
"Tch, now I have to even feed you? Then you better be useful. If you waste this in the next try of getting the bells I will beat you up myself." Sasuke was rather annoyed now that he had to feed this guy but he still did it.
Sakura looked at this and thought about her own lunch. Then she only sighed and went over to Kaito to hand him her food.
"Hmm, you want to feed me as well?" A smirk appeared on his face at first and then he opened his mouth. "Ah~."
She blushed when she realized what he was after but also got angry with him. "As if!! Use your goddamn hands to eat it! You are not tied up!"
Kaito laughed now because they all suddenly got into a better mood. That previous talk was rather depressing and better put aside for now.
"It´s fine. I am not that hungry yet.", he added with a smile at her.
"Ah! Sakura-chan! Then give me some!" Naruto smiled. He, sure enough, tried to use this chance to get fed by her.
"No! You already got Sasuke-kun's food. Don't get greedy!!" It was a straight denial from her side though.
"Don't be like that Sakura-chan~." Naruto was still shameless enough in his pursuit.
"Hmpf." Sakura just ignored that and started to continue eating while looking at Kaito. "Well, I did try to share. Don't come complaining later."
Kaito just continued to smile.
Suddenly they heard someone shouting. "YOU! What is going on here!" It was Kakashi that appeared instantly again and glared at them. "You still shared food while I ordered not to?"
"Wait, Kakashi-sensei! It´s my fault. The other two don't have anything..."
"You pass." Kakashi stopped Naruto´s try to take the blame.
"Huh?" All three were stunned by his words.
"How?", asked Sakura.
"People that don't follow the rules are scum. That is true. But those that don't care for their companions are even greater scum. Seeing that you shared the food I am going to give you a chance as a team. Your teamwork may not yet be great but this is already a good start."
"Really!? Did you hear that? We passed!" Naruto was very happy with that outcome. The other two were also showing signs of relief and happiness.
Then Kakashi turned to Kaito. "That is if Kaito manages to steal my bells."
Suddenly everyone was struck by a mood dampener. Kaito´s smile also diminished somewhat.
"What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei?", said Naruto. "Why does Kaito have to steal your bells?"
Kakashi just ignored Naruto´s question and walked further away. "Are you in for it, Kaito?"
Kaito looked at Kakashi and still wondered what this was about. But then he stood up and walked over to Kakashi.
"I am not sure what this is all about. But sure, I am ready." Kaito nodded slightly.
"That is good to hear. So, the title of genius. Let me see how much of that is true. Be warned. I also had that title myself. And I know some that had it before you." Kakashi still looked very relaxed.
"..." Kaito thought about something and then looked upwards into the air for a short moment. "I am not sure I ever considered myself as such. Is that how I am being viewed by the Anbu that stalk us?"
Kakashi was still putting on his relaxed face but in his mind, he was slightly surprised to know that he knew he was under surveillance.
"Not really? It´s just that your academy results are the best in all categories. I got all that from your documents."
"I see...Well, then we should start, no?" Kaito smiled slightly and took out two Kunai out of his pouch. "To be truthful I am kinda excited. I know I don't stand that much of a chance but to make this worth, I would like for you to be serious with me."
"We will see about that, won't we?"
Kaito looked at him and only could sigh. At least he warned him to take him seriously.
Then Kaito´s chakra flared up for a short moment and he charged right at Kakashi trying to get at his side. When he was near him, he attacked with his Kunai.
Kakashi his eye trembled slightly seeing Kaito´s speed. With barely any hesitation he reacted and energized his own body to react and deflect the attack that was already incoming from his left.
Sparks flew and both Kaito and Kakashi distanced themselves.
"Very good use of body flicker. You really are quick. Looks like you were not bragging when you said I should take you seriously."
"Where are you even looking at?", asked the Kaito that was in front of him.
"!?" Kakashi jumped upwards just before another Kaito revealed himself from under the earth and followed him into the air. Kakashi threw his kunai out of habit in Kaito´s direction and had a slightly shocked expression surface on his face because he didn't want to do that.
If he gets hurt it would be his fault. But unlike his expectation, the kunai only hit a Kaito clone that went up in smoke.
Kakashi immediately looked back at the other Kaito when he landed on the ground and saw him printing signs. "Crap." He cursed and also started printing.
"Katon - Great Fireball." The column of flames charged forth from Kaito´s mouth right at Kakashi who also just finished his hand signs.
It was a Jutsu that Kaito knew as well. "Doton - Mud Wall." A 2-meter wall appeared in front of Kakashi that had some dogfaces on it as decoration. Probably a small flair touch from him. It blocked the flames that raged on the other side of it.
"Hey! You are supposed to get the bells. Not trying to fry me!" When Kakashi shouted in a weirdly amused voice he suddenly hears jingling. "Huh!?" Looking down at his waist he saw Kaito already crouching beside him with the bells in his grasp.
"I already got them." Kaito grinned and made a victory sign.
Kakashi only looked at him flabbergasted. "How?"
"WHOA! SO COOL, BROTHER!!" Naruto shouted and laughed.
Sasuke and Sakura were staring in disbelief.
At another place in a building, an old man looked inside a crystal orb.
"He actually managed to learn it..." Then the old man started to laugh lightly. "That little brat is surely something. He really got the same talent as him. No, even better than him." It was Hiruzen that said those words and smoked his pipe while watching the show through his crystal ball.
Because he had a better view over the battle he knew exactly how Kaito won. But Kakashi should have noticed as well and that is why he couldn't believe it.
"In the end, there is no need to interfere. I even ended up seeing something very interesting."
Hiruzen was only spying because Iruka voiced his concern that it may have been a little bit too harsh to let them be evaluated by a Jonin that never let anyone pass until now.
"Looks like this time you will have to accept being a mentor, Kakashi."
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