AN:

I just wanted to say sorry it's been a while I updated this story. I have been busy working on my story, Child of a Snake.

However, Child of a Snake is getting close to being completed. So I will continue to write this story especially while I have a slight writer's block figuring out the Tsunade arc for my story Child of a snake.

-Now onto the chapter!-

I woke up to the alarm blaring in my ear. I place my hand on the off button, silencing the annoying buzzing sound. Groggily I open my eyes to meet a dimly lit room lit up with a small lamplight. I tore the blankets off my body. The cool temperature of my room meets me.

I repeat my usual morning routine of showering and getting dressed. I was grabbing my bag of weapons. I leave my bedroom and make my way towards the kitchen to eat a small breakfast. My brother always said it is better to train after eating, but don't overeat or you get sick. So I wasn't going to skip breakfast.

My new mother, Anka, should still be sleeping because she doesn't wake up till later in the morning. So the kitchen should be empty. Walking in, I see that I'm wrong. Dressed in his ANBU gear, my new father is eating rice with a side of sushi.

"Morning, father," I greeted with a small smile.

"Hey Haru, what are you doing up so early?" He asked, smiling back at me.

"My sensei said we're doing a survival exercise this morning," I replied with a yawn.

"Who's your sensei?" He asked as he continued to eat his food.

"His name is Kakashi Hatake," I answer as I make myself a nice bowl of fruit.

"What!" He exclaimed, nearly choosing his food. "You mean the Hatake Prodigy. He and my younger sister were in the same class. Kakashi graduated before her at the age of 6. Be wary of him; he's intelligent and strong, don't face him by yourself. Use teamwork," Dai said, his hand resting against his chest.

"At age 6," I said with wide eyes. "Also, how come I only seen pictures of your sister?" I asked.

"Yeah, he graduated at age 6," He said. "Well, Hana's apartment is all the way over near the forest. So we live farther away. Anyway, I have a mission, so I'll see you around later. Bye, little snow angel," He said, kissing my forehead before gett ready to leave the kitchen."However, you might meet her eventually she a jounin sensei herself," He said before he completed exited the kitchen.

I was finishing up my fresh bowl of fruit quickly. I looked at the clock to see that it was 4:38 am. Putting my bowl in the sink and grabbed my bag, and silently walked out of the house.

***

The morning was barely getting started, birds chirping happily, early risers getting their errands started, shops opening, and shinobi running back and forward from the Hokage tower.

I gingerly walked towards the training ground, whispering a tune that my older brother used to sing to me every morning as the sun slowly rose from the horizon.

Arriving at the meeting point, I'm met with my somewhat awake team members. Sasuke, who is purely awake, had his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at the grass. Naruto is sprawled across the floor, wanting to catch some more shut-eye. Sakura is sitting against a training post, slowly falling asleep as her eyelids droop.

"Hey," I greeted.

"Hn."

"I see that nobody is a morning person. Which is fine with me," I said to myself with a shrug of my shoulders.

Since nobody was in a talking mood, I decided to do some reading. I walked over to a shady tree and tossed my bag of weapons onto the ground. I sat down under the tree and reached into my ninja pouch that mainly had medical supplies, and grabbed my book on body anatomy. I opened up to a page that showed a diagram of the human body nervous system. I was recently learning about medical justu from Anka.

"What are you reading?" A voice asked.

I turned around to find none other than the brooding emo boy standing next to me.

"I'm reading about the human nervous system. Since I'm studying Medical Ninjutsu," I explain, looking back down at my book.

"You're studying this early in the morning?" Sauske said with seemed like a slight hint of surprise.

"Yeah, I  always study; it's one of my hobbies I shared with my older brother," I replied.

"You have an older brother? And why study Medical Ninjutsu?" Sauske asked.

'Why in the world is he suddenly talking to me right now?' I thought, stareing at Sasuke, the usual brooding emo who was currently talking to me.

"Well, my foster is a skilled medic and want to become an even better medic than her and be able to help find cures for illnesses that don't have a known cure, I guess," I said, trying my best to socialize with someone I wasn't that close to.

"Hn," He grunts.

I shrugged and went back to focusing my attention on my book. Not in the mood to continue trying to socialize with the brooding emo. Who main word is just hn.

***

After a few hours of reading my book, I was now quieting, humming the same tone from earlier as I was now laying down under the tree, still waiting for Kakashi sensei to arrive.

At that moment, Naruto decided to wake up. I watch as he groggily sits up. His azure eyes scan the training ground before he exclaims.

"He's not here yet?! If he was going to be this late, why did he tell us to come early!" He shouted, waking up the beautiful pink hair girl sleeping not too far from him.

"Hn," Sasuke grunts with irritation.

"He could be trying to test our patience," I guess, even though I wasn't bothered by waking early. I was used to being up early back in the Hidden Mist Village.

"Wrong. He just likes making us wait," Naruto complained, annoyed not agreeing with my statement.

'Technically, waiting requires patience; it's Naruto, after all, he tends not to use the brain in his head. I believe his brain is always on vacation.'

"Ugh, why is he still not here," Sakura complained.

I sighed at their bickering. They were both acting like little kids. I then started to block them out as I quietly began to sing to myself, which has been another hobby of mine since I was little.

"YOU'RE LATE!" Naruto and Sakura shouted in sync.

I turned my gaze to our fashionably late sensei as I stopped singing. He was squatting on the training giving us a closed eye smile waving at us.

"Sorry, a black cat crossed my path. So I had to take th long way here," He lied.

"LAIR!" They screamed in sync once again.

"Well, let's get started; you have until noon to take away one of these bells," He said, pulling out three silver bells.

"Wait, there are only three bells," Sakura stated the obvious.

"Oh. Because one of you doesn't get a bell, you fail. Come at me with the intent to kill and use weapons," He explained.

"But sensei, those are dangerous!" Sakura exclaimed with a hint of worry in her voice.

"Yeah, you couldn't even dodge an eraser," Naruto boasted, smirking.

"The weakest ones are always the class clowns," Kakashi-sensei said, referring to Naruto.

The said boy growls in anger while running towards our sensei. Kunai in his hand, he aims for an attack. Kakashi being a jounin or prodigy, easily dodges it taking Naruto's hand and bending it behind the blonde's head.

"What....?"

"I didn't say start yet. I'm beginning to like you guys," He said, letting go of Naruto. "Okay. Ready set and start!"

I leap towards the trees along with Sasuke and Sakura. Hiding up in the branches of the tree, I'm hidden within the leaves. I looked around the terrain and immediately spotted Sakura's pink hair sticking out like a sore thumb. She was hiding, but not good, which was in the bushes below the tree Sauske was hiding in. I felt a sharp pain in my heart. Even in the sense of danger, she chases after him. I then focused my concentration back on Kakashi-sensei, only to roll my eyes.

"You and me, right here, right now!" Naruto exclaimed with his hand on his hips.

"You know, compared to the others, you're a bit weird," Kakashi stated.

"The only weird thi g here is your hairstyle," Naruto insulted, pointing to Kakashi.

'I admit it is not a normal hairstyle, but that's what makes it unique.'

"Fine, shinobi lesson number one, the Art of Taijutsu: hand to hand combat," The latter said, pointing one finger up.

He then moves his hand towards his weapons pouch, making me narrow my eyes, wondering what he was reaching for.

Slipping his hand into the beige-colored pouch, he immediately takes it out. In his hand is an open book. It's an orange book with a picture of a man chasing a lady with a man chasing a lady reading 'Icha Icha Paradise. I facepalm, realizing my sensei was a pervert recognizing that book from the book store.

'Why on earth did I end up with a pervert. I would have been more greatful to end up on whatever team led by my aunt.'

I silently observed how they fought, how Naruto tried to hit him, and how Kakashi blocked him while reading pornographic literature. I could see Naruto getting fed up with being underestimated and letting his anger blind his motions.

He charges towards a crouching Kakashi with a raised fist having intentions to land a hit. He runs, getting closer, and just as he's inches away, Kakashi disappears. Only to appear right behind him, with the Tiger hand sign.

"Here's a tip. Never let your enemies get behind you," Kakashi informed with an evil glint in his eye.

'Seriously, Naruto is such an idiot.'

"Naruto, get out there," Sakura screamed, revealing her hiding spot.

'Oh, come on, Sakura, don't let Naruto stupidly rub onto you.' I thought facepalm ing.

"Wha..."

"Too late! Secret Art: A Thousand Years of Death!" Kakashi exclaimed.

I watch with widened eyes as he trusts his fingers up Naruto's butt? Naruto flies to a river screaming in pain as he grips his butt.

'Oh my goodness, that was a very disgusting justu.'

I turned away from the disturbing sight and started to really put some thought into the test. 'So there's only three bells and four of us. This test was made to put us in each other since there are fewer bells than us. Everybody will want a bell for themselves, resulting in us competing against each other. Well, be too blinded by our selfish needs to see the real meaning of the test. Our need in wanting to pass will get in the way. We're also up against Kakashi, who is a jounin. My father told me he graduated from the Academy at age six. He was a prodigy, and that he was intelligent. He also to be wary of him.'

Then I remember something else he told me earlier.

'Teamwork! He told me during breakfast to use teamwork. That is the answer we're supposed to work as a team. Thank you, dear father, for giving me fantastic advice. It reminds me of how my brother always gave me advice when training. I hope he is doing okay.'

I immediately darted my green eyes towards the pinkette; she'll indeed work with me, seeing we sort of having a friendship, seeing I have no interest in Sasuke. Then my eyes darted towards the Uchiha, who caught the pinkette attention. He might work with me if he is not too arrogant.

Quietly jumping down from my tree, I crouch towards the floor, not wanting to be seen. I slowly and quietly make my way towards the girl of my dreams. I could hear Naruto and Kakashi continuing to fight.

"It seems that you're hungry," Kakashi started as Naruto's stomach growls.

'That what they get for listening to him. I ate something just made sure it wasn't too heavy of a breakfast.'

Shaking my head, snapping out of my thoughts, and continued to make my way towards the pinkette after a few seconds of stealthily crouching. I made it next to her. I place my hand on her shoulder, making her jump. I quickly put my free hand on her mouth, not wanting her to scream. I turn her body towards me to be quiet. She nods, eyes still wide with surprise. Lowering my hand from her mouth, I kneel next to her.

"So Sakura, want to work together on getting a bell?" I asked, a hint of hope in my voice.

I watched as she titled her head in thought, and her eyebrows furrowed with debate.

"Sorry, Haru, but I'm going to work with Sasuke," She explained, making my heart drop.

"But S-"

"Sorry, Haru," She cuts me off before chasing Sasuke.

I clutch the front of my shirt, feeling a painful feeling in my chest near my heart.

Pushing the pain away, I stumble through the forest with a blank face.

'It's always Sasuke! Why can't she ever notice me?'

I was jotted out of my nagging thoughts about Sakura constantly rejecting me for Sasuke. Hearing Naruto's screams for help and leads me to his distress calls. Reaching the learning in the forest, I spotted him hanging Naruto as he swung from his legs. Lifting a finger, I carefully shot a small bone from my fingertip, neatly cutting the rope, making Naruto crash onto the ground with a strong impact.

'Well, it seems that I got better with using my kekkei genkai. In the past, I was only using ut to kill, but it went out of control. I just used it to help a teammate yet still don't completely trust myself.'

"Thanks, Haru," Naruto said, sitting up.

"Hey Naruto, do you want to work together, maybe go two against one on Kakashi. We have a better chance to win the bells," I said, trying to convince him.

"Sorry, Haru, but I want to be Hokage; I need to do this alone," He said before running off.

"Well, first, a Hokage needs to have some intelligence," I muttered to myself.

Okay, I need to develop a plan for getting the others to work together with me, but Sakura's too obsessed with Sasuke to think straight. Naruto believes that working alone will make him become Hokage; he doesn't notice that he can't do everything alone. Sauske he's too arrogant and thinks he could, but it doesn't hurt if someone helps him.

Walking through the forest, I was thinking about ways I could make the other all work together.

'I could try and convince Sakura to work with ne to get the bells for Sasuke; then I could grab them all. Then again, that won't work Kakashi is too strong for two genins, especially if I have to do all the fighting. I could try to convince Sasuke by offering to help him train after we pass. Then again, he probably would get mad thinking I was saying I was stronger than him. I couldn't ask Naruto Bakashi already knows his fighting style. Man, this is too complicated.'

A scream pierces through the forest and immediately dash towards it. I know Sasuke doesn't sound that girly, and I heard how Naruto sounds when he screams. So the scream belongs to Sakura.

Running, my long white hair dances against the bushes, ignoring the scrapes as I play the role of hero, saving the damsel in distress. Arriving at the clearing, I spot the girl I had a crush on unconscious on the forest floor. Falling to my knees, I crawl towards her fallen state with caution and alert.

Placing my hand on her neck, I checked her pulse and saw that she was still alive. I take a closer look at her. Her chest is heaving up and down, her breaths uncontrolled and unsteady.

'Must be a genjutsu.' I thought, placing my palm on her forehead; I inserted a steady flow of chakra in her body, breaking the Genjustu. Seconds later, she gasps out of breath and abruptly sits up, her emerald eyes filled with alert and worry. I might not be good at casting genjutsu, but I know how to release myself and someone from it.

"Sakura, it's okay. It was just a genjustu, an illusion all fake," I explained.

"B-but S-Sauske h-he was hurt. Have was in danger," She said, eyes brimmed with tears.

"All of it was fake. Sauske is perfectly fine," I informed.

She abruptly pulls me in a hug," I was so scared, I-I thought he died," Her voice quivered.

'She truly does love him.'I thought sadly.

"It's all okay," I said.

"Thanks, Haru. You're such a great friend," She smiled.

'I wish I was more than that.'

"You're welcome," I said with a fake smile.

Before I got to say something else, Sakura ran off searching for the boy she loves. With a clenching sensation in my chest, I go the other way, rushing down the clearing. Well, that was until I fell flat on my face.

"What?" I said, confused as I stood back up.

Turning around, I spot Sasuke well, his head on the floor. I realize that Kakashi used the Head Hunter Justu, an Earth-style justu, which is my charka nature. I then made moved my hand making hand signs.

"Earth Style: Head Hunter Justu!" I formed chakra in my hand and grabbed Sasuke's arm pulling him out of the ground setting him free. I then released his arm once he was free from the hole in the ground.

"Do you want to work together? If we do, we will have a better chance at getting the bells," I said, turning my attention back on Sasuke.

"Hn, no. You'll only slow me down," He said, dismissing the idea of working together.

Just as I was about to give a response, Sakura came running into the clearing.

'Great with Sasuke here. I'm completely invisible.'

"Sasuke," She squealed. "Do you want to work together, like get a bell, I mean?" She asked shyly while blushing.

"I touched one," He said monotone.

"A bell? That's great!" She happily exclaimed.

"I need to defeat him, " He said darkly.

"Who Kakashi? There's no time. It's almost noon. Maybe we should try again next year," She sated cluelessly.

"No!" He glared at her."I have no time to wait for another year. He's out there. I'm an avenger, so I can't just sit here and do nothing!"

The suddenly dark conversation gets cut off as the timer rings through the air, alerting us that our time ran out.

I sighed. I just wasted my time trying to get the team to work together. And I didn't even get a bell, meaning that I didn't pass. If I were still part of a clan, they would be disappointed in me. Not that it would matter. They saw my brother and me as nothing but a weapon.

I turned my attention away from Sakura and Sauske and walked towards the post with my head down. Walking through the clearing, I eventually make it to the posts. I'm met with a tied-up Naruto who's looking at the grass in shame.

I spot Kakashi by the Memorial Stone, who's blankly looking at us. I walked towards the posts and art myself down on the grass beside Naruto. It doesn't take long until both Sasuke and Sakura meet us. As if on cue, their stomachs growl in hunger along with Naruto's.

"Oh! You guys look hungry. Oh, and by the way, something about the training. Well, there's no need for you guys to go back to the academy..."

"Yeah," Naruto grinned.

"Huh? All I did was faint and fell over. Do I get points for that," Sakura said to herself.

"Hn," Sauske smirked.

"Hm," I hummed to myself, feeling there was a hidden message in his statement.

"Yup, all three of you should quit as shinobi," He said in a matter of factly.

'Three wait there, four of us.'

"You said three; however, there are four of us," I pointed out.

He goes to reply to me, but he gets cut off.

"Quit as ninja?! What does that mean!" Naruto exclaimed while kicking his legs in a wild manner.

"Okay, okay. We couldn't get bells, but why do we have to quit," Sakura asked.

'Alright, I might like you, but that was just a dumb question.'

"Because the three of you are just punks who don't deserve to be ninjas," Kakashi informed while insulting them.

Upon hearing this, Sasuke gets angry and blindly runs towards the Jounin. He was clearly letting his emotions blind him. Unfortunately, with Kakashi being a high-ranked jounin, Sasuke's attack becomes fruitless. In the end, Kakashi ended up pointing the genin to the ground.

"Hey!"

"Sasuke-kun!"

"That's why you're a punk," Kakashi stated.

"Hey! Don't step on Sasuke-kun like he's some bug!" Sakura exclaimed angrily but with slight worry.

"Are you guys underestimating ninja? Huh? Why do you think you were divided into teams and are doing this training," Kakashi asked with irritation.

"Huh? What does that mean," Sakura once again asked obliviously.

'Again really makes me wonder why I have feelings for her.'

"You guys do not understand the answer to the test," he simply informed for my clueless team members.

"Answer," Naruto said cluelessly.

"Yes, the answer that helps you pass this test," Kakashi replied.

"So...when are you going to tell us?" Sakura asked.

Kakashi glanced at me. "Haru, why don't you tell them."

"T-the answers teamwork," I informed the three, not looking at them.

"Correct! The four of you working together may have gotten the bells," Kakashi stated.

The three of them get a look of realization painted across their faces as their eyes widen.

Sakura immediately stands. "What do you mean by teamwork?! There are only three bells! Even If we work together and get the bells, one of us will still fail! What teamwork? That just makes us fight each other!" She shouted a variety of questions.

"Of course! This is purposely set up to fight amongst yourselves," Kakashi explained.

"Huh?"

"The purpose is to see whether you can forget your interest and successfully work together under this designed circumstance," Kakashi informed us on the true purpose.

"Yet you guys...Sakura! Instead of Naruto was in front of you. You were only thinking about Sasuke, who was far away. You declined Haru's offer twice, even though she helped you," He said, making Sakura look down in shame.

"Naruto! You were just running around by yourself. Just like Sakura, you declined Haru even after she freed you from the rope," He scolded, making him look down as well.

"Sasuke! You just assumed the others would get in your way and tried to do everything by yourself," He explained, making him glare at the grass.

"Haru! Even when you helped them and offered them your help. You didn't try hard enough," He sated.

'He right. I should have tried harder, but instead, I let them walk off. Just because I don't like talking that much with strangers, and Sakura is always about Sasuke.'

"Your duties are done as a team, but what's even more important is teamwork," The Jounin explained.

'True, if a team can't show teamwork, they won't be able to complete missions, but then again, sometimes it is hard to trust after everything that has happened in my past.'

"Individual play that disrupts the team can put your comrades in danger and even get them killed. For example... Sakura kill Naruto, or Sauske dies! Haru kill Sakura, or they both die," He said while taking a kunai and placing it on Sasuke's neck.

I stood frozen. I couldn't kill Sakura, but if I don't, then Naruto and Sasuke die. It's either the girl I love or my teammates.

"WWW HAT!" Naruto and Sakura shouted in synch.

"You see? If a hostage is taken, you will have tough choices and die. You will be risking your lives for these duties," Kakashi informed, getting off Sasuke.

I let out a breath of relief.

I watch as our sensei makes his way towards the Memorial Stine, his shoulder slightly hunched over. He probably knows some of the people whose names are on there.

"Look at the numerous names carved on this stone. These are ninja ninjas who are recognized as heroes of the village. Some of them were my closest friends," He said solemnly.

"Hey! Hey, hey,  hey! I've decided to get my name carved on that stone too! Hero! Hero! Hero! That's what I'll become," Naruto exclaimed, full of naive.

"Hn."

"What a fool," I muttered.

"But they aren't your normal heroes..." Kakashi trailed off.

"Oh yeah?! Then what kind are they?" He asked, continuing to be naive. "What? What?!"

"They are all heroes who died while on duty," He finished sadly.

I watch as Naruto's grin disappears, as his face falls with remorse, sadly groaning. I bow my head in respect as silence lingers in the air.

"You guys, I'll give you another chance. This time I'll make it more challenging. If you wish to take the challenge, eat lunch, but you can't give any to Naruto as punishment for trying to eat the lunches earlier. If you give him any, you'll automatically fail. I make the rules here, got it," He said before using the transportation justu, disappearing.

Grabbing a bento box, I gingerly sit in a cross position. Opening the box as the delicious aroma hits my nose, making my stomach growl for food. I watch the other two eat nonchalantly as Naruto's stomach grows hungrily, sounding like a dying animal.

'I had breakfast earlier. He didn't. Besides, I'm used to not eating, often being locked up in a cell.' I thought, looking at my bento box than at Naruto.

Ignoring his protests to accept food, I shove some rice in his mouth, silencing him.

"Eat," I ordered.

"Haru! What are you doing? You'll fail," Sakura cried out in worry.

"I had something to eat for breakfast earlier. So I'm not that hungry. Besides, he'll need food if he wants to participate in the challenge or else hell slow us down," I explained.

Seeing as his mouth is clear of food, I shove some more rice into his mouth before he has a chance to talk. Sasuke takes my side as he, too, feeds Naruto food.

"Sasuke?" 

"She's right; he'll slow us down. He needs the energy," Sasuke explained.

I watch as she offers her food as well." i'm on a diet, I-I mean, I don't eat as much as you, ah whatever, just take it!" She exclaimed, pushing her food forward.

"I can't," Naruto said. "My hands are tied.

"Huh," A look of realization dawns on her. "Fine! This is a one-time thing, got it," She defended.

I watch as he raises her chopsticks to his mouth as he places vegetables in his mouth. Just as she does that, Kakashi appears, looking angry.

"You! You defied my rules!", He exclaimed making several hand signs.

The sunny atmosphere becomes dark as clouds regain in, drawing the level of suspense, lighting clashes against the sky for a dramatic effect.

"Do you have any last words," Kakashi said murderously.

"But you said..." Naruto trailed off nervously, sweating.

"Yes."

"We're a team," Sasuke stated.

"Yeah, the four of us are one," Sakura chirped.

"Yeah. Were a team that means nobody gets left behind," I said, adding myself to the conversation, trying to socialize more.

"You guys... Pass," Kakashi said, giving us a closed-eye smile.

"Huh?"

"You guys are the first to disobey my rules. You see a ninja the hidden meanings. Those who break the rules and codes of the ninja world are scum...but you know what? Those who don't take care of their comrades...are lower than scum," He said, giving us valuable information.

"Kyaa!" Sakura squeals in admiration.

"That ends the training. All you pass! Okay!! Tomorrow, Team Seven will begin its duties," Kakashi said, giving us a thumbs up.

"Finally, I'm ready to head home," I groan, throwing my head back.

"Yay! I DID IT!! I DID IT!!! NINJA! NINJA! BELIEVE IT!" Naruto exclaimed, cheering.

In celebration, we all walk out of the training grounds with our packs, happy that we passed.

"Dammit! I knew this would happen!" Naruto yelled.

I sigh, taking out a kunai and carefully f throwing it, cutting him free from the rope, as I continue walking off to head home to study some more.

💗💗💗

Hey lovely readers!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Feel free to comment and vote and share this story with your friends and family.

Thanks for reading!

QOTD:

1. What is your favorite part?

2. How long do you think Haru will continue to try to get Sakura to notice her?