5 New Team, New Members, Familiar Sensei

6:30 in the morning and I was still awake.

See, in the games, you could be awake for as long as you wanted with no ill consequences. If my theory was correct, then that was the case here too. I stayed up all night doing…well, actually I was writing.

Fallout fanfiction, specifically. In English. It seemed appropriate. Soon as 7:30 rolled around, I used a candle to burn it up. About the Sole Survivor and Courier Six meeting and establishing a relationship between the Commonwealth and the Mojave, something I wish I could've seen for real.

Before I died, that is.

Anyway, I was still fine, So I was right. You know, if training of any kind actually worked for me, I'd be even more stupidly powerful than I already was. Because I'd have all the time in the world to work on my skills.

So, I got dressed, slid my belt on and hopped on over to the Academy.

Quest Added: Shinobi, Assemble!

Meet your team and Jounin Sensei.

Nice. I better get EXP for that.

It occurred to me that I didn't know where Naruto's apartment was. I'll have to ask him next time I see him at lunch…wait. I think we're let out early once we meet our Jounin-sensei. So I might not see him at lunch.

There's probably a registry or something I can check. Tell him the good news.

…wait, was he swinging on that swing set after the exams?

And I missed him?

Ooh, I feel really bad now. I need to find him as soon as possible, see if he's okay.

…what if he graduated already? That would be interesting. I mean, I don't think I had enough of an impact for him to do that and he never tells me about how he's doing in class for me to help him but it's a possibility. I mean, I know he took the exam three times before finally passing in Canon so...huh.

I guess we've grown farther apart than I thought.

I need to fix that.

Anyway, I'm at the Academy. Something I learned is that it's always a good to be at least a little early to every gathering. About five minutes. Sends a good message and makes sure you're never late. The gates open since Shinobi are reporting in at all hours to the administrative building, so I head into the building, make it to the class room.

Inside, there's students already sitting in desks, but not everyone's here yet. So, I took my spot in the corner and waited for things to happen. I watched the students file in and…wow, less people from my class graduated than I thought. Huh.

Hisako arrived, talking with another girl who I didn't recognize. Alright. After that, a girl I identified as Tenten, being the only girl I've ever seen with the Chun-li buns in either of my lives, walked in the door. Okay, she does exist. Then Neji, who sat at the front with a stoic look on his face. Then…oh that's right! That's what Lee looked like, before he got Gai-sensei'd. Okay. He had

Right at seven, the doors to the teacher's office open, revealing a new guy. I'm guessing he's the photographer. Oh, right. We needed a card to prove we were Shinobi. I wonder what happens if that card gets stolen.

I hope I never have to find out. It'd be about as bad as getting pulled over without your driver's license, only worse because the cop could shoot you on the spot. I shall never lose my card.

"Alright, Genin!" The Photographer called out. "I need everyone to line up and we'll take your picture for your ID. After that, there'll be some papers for you to sign and if we get it done fast enough, you'll be done before the Jounin arrive."

I wonder why they didn't do this yesterday. Must've been running late. Or the camera broke. Do they use those old flash cameras? That might be why. Anyway, we got into a line, and had our picture taken. Mine went without incident, I received my card and reviewed the paperwork that I signed to make me a full-fledged member of the military.

…well, in my old life I didn't think I was cut out for the military and never joined. This is an interesting reversal. With my card in my book, because it can hold things and I never lose my book, I walked out and…wait, does my book actually hold things?

I opened the book and…yup, there it was. Whew. I don't know where my book went, but it went somewhere. Hammerspace! Wish it paused the game so I could go 'Stop! Hammertime!' when I whipped it out.

So, I sat in my usual chair and waited. Eventually, 8 o'clock rolled around and Okawa-sensei. He was wearing a rare smile on his face and held a clipboard close to his check. I noted the door to the hall was open. "Good morning, Genin."

"Good morning, Sensei!" We chorused back to him.

"Without further ado, I will announce the teams and your senseis," Okawa-sensei said, clearing his throat.

"Team 1 will…" And he started. Trio's were called, either to their cheers or their disappointment. It varied.

We were all shocked, however, when Okawa was announcing the team number, a giant cloud of smoke suddenly appeared next to sensei's desk. The smoke faded slowly, and there, standing on a turtle, was Maito Gai!

Wait, what was the team number?

Perception Check Failed: 5/9.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

` Well, looks like his team number will be a mystery for the ages.

"I'm ready to stoke your fires of youth!" Gai said loudly, striking his nice guy po-geeze man, do you have a laser built into your teeth? Dang!

"…Tenten, Rock Lee and Hyuuga Neji," Okawa finished, utterly deadpan.

Oh, the looks on their faces were priceless. Especially Neji, who displayed emotion for the first time since I saw him. Even if that emotion was disgust.

You know, I don't think I'd mind Gai as a mentor. Lots of laughs, knows a lot about Taijutsu which is sure to involve a lot of perks and special moves. Wouldn't mind at all. Unless he tried to get me to wear spandex, then that would be another story.

They filed out, and I caught Tenten's 'please kill me now' expression on the way out. Haha, priceless. Of course…well, I might not get someone completely terrible. Or bad for me. 10 luck is great for that, since, you know, I can't really be unlucky.

"Team 10 will be…" Oh, they're team Nine. Makes sense, I suppose.

"Team 13, Shimoda Daisuke, Yamada Hisako, and Nakamura Nichiren," Well darn! I suppose I should've seen this coming, but who's Nichiren? "Their sensei will be Hatake Kakashi."

What.

…

WHAT?! THE?! $%# ?!

YOU HAVE FAILED ME, LUCK STAT! YOU HAVE FAILED ME SO HORRIBLY I SHALL CUT YOU FROM THE STATS SCREEN!

I buried my face in my hands and let out a soft whimper. Hatake Kakashi. The guy so focused on teamwork just got assigned a Genin with no charisma or anything to make teamwork actually work. This…screw this. I-I…gah!

"He's late again," Okawa, either not noticing my display or not caring, said blandly. "You three have my sympathy. Sorry about your day being wasted."

Hisako scoffed in disbelief. "Seriously?"

"Yes, unfortunately," Okawa said. "Team 14 will be…"

And two calls later and it was just me, Hisako and who I guess is Nichiren. He was hunched over and was wearing glasses. He had brown hair and was drumming his fingers on his desk.

"Try to have a good day," Okawa said, sighing in disgust. "And good luck."

"What did he mean by that?" Nichiren's asked as Okawa closed the door.

"Probably a test of some kind," I said, trying to keep the bile I was feeling from seeping into my speech. Not sure I was successful.

"Oh no," Hisako groaned, tilting her hair back. "I thought I was done with the tests."

"Hey maybe it won't be too bad," Nichiren said weakly. "We could pass it with flying colors."

"Maybe but still," She said, folding her arms and resting her head on her desk. "I just wanna go out and do things."

"Passing the test is doing something."

…Optimism, thy name is Nichiren. Or maybe denial. Alright, well.

I stood up and moved down to the front row, where he was sitting. I gestured to the seat next to him. "May I sit here?"

"Oh, sure!" He seemed surprised by the question. He said as I sat down, "Didn't think such an amazing Genin like you'd want to sit by me."

"Now why in the Elemental Countries would you think that?" I asked with a frown.

"Well, everyone used to talk about how you were going to be Rookie of the Year," Nichiren explained. "I was always just average."

"I've never had anyone say something to me like that," I replied, blinking in confusion. Well, the Henge made it so people would talk to me at least, hanging out with me wasn't something they were willing to do still. Which was still better than nothing, but not as much as I was hoping.

"Well yeah," Hisako said, coming over and taking the seat opposite of Nichiren. "You knew basically everything and good at almost everything."

"Then why wasn't I rookie of the year?" I asked, though I had a suspicion…

"Your aim sucked," Hisako stated.

"That would do it," I said to myself, leaning back. "Never thought I was that good. People tended to avoid me."

"Well…your kind of scary," Nichiren said with an uneasy smile, as if afraid I might punch him.

"You know I'm not going to bite, right?" I said flatly. Scary, huh? Well, that's one way of looking at it. I exhaled in annoyance. Nothing to do about it now. "So, where do you guys want your careers to go?"

"I want to join the Anbu," Hisako replied, bracing her head on her fist. "They do some really cool stuff. Only the best of the best get in."

"Nice," I nodded.

"I-I uh, well, I want to be a Medic Nin," Nichiren said, exhaling. "Those guys are so brave, helping hurt shinobi right on the battlefield."

I can respect that. He's got a while to go, but saving lives is cool with me. "I wish you luck."

"Thank you," Nichiren seemed to calm down just a tad.

Hmmm…you know in Oblivion, using the Wait command would send you forward hours at a time and bring you out of it the moment something important happened.

"So, can I ask you guys a favor?" I turned to them.

They both perked up.

"Like what?" Hisako asked curiously.

"I'm going to start meditating," I lied. "If I don't snap out of it when he gets here, I want you to snap me out of it. Pushing me over is an option. Okay?"

Speech Check Success: 26/15.

+15 EXP.

Neato. 2,135 more EXP to go.

"O-okay," Nichiren said uncertainly. "I can do that."

Poor guys got serious confidence issues.

Commencing Wait.

I was snapped out of my trance when the door opened and therein entered Hatake Kakashi. The Copy Ninja. An S Ranked former ANBU captain. A traumatized, tortured soul. The absolute worst choice I could've possibly had for a sensei.

I swear, I'm forcing a game over if I don't get past the Bell Test. And-suddenly I'm pushed and falling out of my chair sonofa-!

As I lay there on the floor, I only had one thought.

Huh. He actually pushed me over.

While I was picking myself up, I was also cracking up, really badly. I just, it was really funny and I was so stressed and it just…hehehehe!

When I finally stopped chuckling, I looked and saw Kakashi was starting at me with an odd look in his eye.

"My first opinion?" The mask isn't muffling his voice. I call Chakra Shenanigans. "You're idiots."

"And you're late," I cheekily reminded him, still in a good mood.

"Well, if you're going to be like that," Kakashi started, turning around. "Maybe I should just go and let you get back to the academy."

"No!"

"Stop!"

"I didn't mean it!"

The three of us shouted at the same time, holding out hands out in a desperate attempt to get him to stop. He stopped.

"Oh?" He said, slowly turning around to face us. "Well then, maybe I should give you another chance."

"Let's meet on the roof," He said with an eye-smile. "Have a little get together."

Huh. That's odd, I thought he'd do something stupid like jump out the window just to freak us out. Well, whatever. Let's get this meet and greet over. When we arrived at the roof, he leaned up against the railing, folding his arms and watching us as we took seats on the air-conditioning units.

Look at him trying to be all cool with his near-total mask and laid back posture and flak jacket and-okay fine, I already established the flak jacket is cool. And Kakashi is cool. Just…ugh. I've got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"So, why don't we introduce ourselves," Kakashi said to us.

I wasn't about to go first. Maybe one of the others could? Sorry. Even with my charisma mostly around average thanks to the Henge, I'm still a little skittish of it.

"I'm Yamada Hisako," My teammate offered.

There was a silence. Hisako looked at the two of us.

"…and?" Kakashi motioned for her to continue.

"I like sharpening my kunai and I don't like being told someone's unbeatable?" Hisako offered.

...that can't be everything.

Perception Check Failed: 5/7

So does that mean there's something there or I have trouble accepting the simplest solution?

Perception Check Failed: 5/7

Oh, screw off game.

"Do you have any hopes for the future?" Kakashi asked, sounding bored.

"I want to join ANBU," Hisako replied, folding her arms. "They're the best of the best. And I want to be the best."

"Alright," Kakashi said with no hint of approval or disapproval. He pointed at Nichiren "How about you?"

"Hi. My name is Nakamura Nichiren," Nichiren introduced himself, looking like he'd prefer to hide in the infinite void then tell us about himself. "I like reading and delicious food. I don't like snakes. I want to be a…a f-field medic."

"Alright," Kakashi gave a shrug. He looked at me, "Now how about you?"

"Shimoda Daisuke," I reported, mimicking his arm fold. "I like a lot of things. I don't like being stagnant. I want to go down in history as the Shinobi with the most missions ever done."

"Huh. Okay then," Kakashi stood up straight. "So, since we're a new team, there's a little task the four of us need to do."

"What kind of task?" Nichiren asked quickly.

He just giggled sinisterly. I would've gotten the chills if I didn't know what was coming. As it stood, I almost got the chills anyway.

"I'd tell you," He said full of mirth. "But you won't like it."

I get it, this song and dance is to get us to freak out. Whatever, just get on it.

"The suspense is killing me," I replied drolly.

He glared at me and I decided now was a good time to shut up.

…please don't actually kill me.

"So the four of us just need to do some survival training," Kakashi went on as if I hadn't just interrupted him. "It's a test to see if you're really going to be Genin."

"…what?" Nichiren asked quietly.

"We're already Genin!" Hisako stated hotly.

"What? Oh, no you're not," Kakashi explained, with a tone that suggested he was talking to a child who just said something amusingly idiotic.

"Yes we are!" Hisako snapped.

"No. You're not," Kakashi stated a bit more firmly. "The exam was to bring out candidates that may or may not be Genin. The test is to see if you're actually capable of being Genin."

Which we are. Well, I am. I might actually be able to carry these two through the bell test, though I'm not sure.

"If you fail the test, you'll be sent back to the academy," At this, my fear was overcome by UNYIELDING RAGE for just a second, and I just glared at him. Think maybe I should try killing intent? Nah, I don't want to get counter-intented. "Of the 27 Students that you saw there in the room downstairs? Only nine of them will go on to actually become Genin. This test has a failure rate of 66%."

If I didn't know what it was already? I'd be scared. As it was, I was mad. And bored. The other two were starting to look nervous. Nichiren…how, exactly did he pass into being a Genin? He looks about as stout-hearted as a skittish bunny.

"So meet me tomorrow at training ground 3 at 5am sharp," Kakashi ordered. "And don't eat breakfast. You'll throw up."

With that, Kakashi disappeared.

Well. I wonder if eating follows the same rules as my sleeping? He did technically just order me to forgo breakfast and I know what the test is. So…time to experiment? Except I remember being really hungry when I was younger…hmmmm…maybe it was just for the tutorial? Maybe I shouldn't risk it? Or maybe I should.

"So, I'm going to go home and do…whatever," I told my teammates. "See you tomorrow!"

"How are you so calm about this?" Hisako demanded.

"Yeah, didn't you hear him?" Nichiren asked incredulously. "Most of the students who take this test fail!"

"I did hear that," I nodded. "But that doesn't mean it's impossible, does it?"

Charisma Check Failed 4/5.

Screw off, game.

"Well I dunno," Nichiren said.

"Look, Daisuke's right," Hisako replied. "The test can be beat. Don't worry about it. Let's just get there tomorrow and prove we're Genin."

"Okay," Nichiren replied, sounding a little bit better.

We each went our separate ways and…

Quest Updated: Shinobi, Assemble!

Completed: Meet your Team and Jounin Sensei.

Go to training ground 3 before Kakashi gets there.

I like how it's giving me the option to be late because I know Kakashi is going to be late. That's cool. But I'll show up on time anyway to show…solidarity to my team. I want to be a team player. Because I don't have any desire to go back to the academy whatsoever. Nooooo no.

So I head off to the Orphanage. I don't see Naruto on the way there. Oh, man. Where is he? I haven't seen him in forever! Maybe he's sulking.

Whatever.

Another thing I wanted to test was…how long can I sleep, exactly? That's what I want to know. Because in Fallout you could wait and or sleep for up to twenty-four hours. It was…ah, crap. It was only noon. Well, better say hi to Matron Kumiko before I konked out for the day/night cycle.

I walked around and…. "Hey, Obaasan!"

"Hello Daisuke," She looked up from her place over the pot of stew she was mixing.

"Can I help?" I asked.

"No, I can take care of it," She told me. "How was your first day of being a Genin?"

"It was okay," I shrugged. "Our Sensei was four hours late and told us we have to take a test. If we fail, we could get sent back to the Academy."

"Ha!" She let out a barking laugh. "Oh, I have no doubt you'll impress your sensei. You needn't worry."

"I'm not worried," I told her. "I'm pretty sure I can figure it out, it's just frustrating."

"Well, I can certainly see that," She smiled. "But testing ourselves is how we grow, right?"

…she's right. Dang. She doesn't even know about EXP and she's right. I've got the wrong attitude toward this test. It's just another quest. One I know how to beat, for that matter. "I know, Obaasan."

"Then why are you frustrated?" She asked me kindly.

"Because I thought I was done jumping through hoops," I groused. "But you're right. It's just…another test. Well, I'm off to bed."

"Bed?" She balked. "It's only noon?"

"Well, you know that bloodline I supposedly have?" She nodded. "With it, I can pretty much fall asleep on command, no matter how much I'm running on, so I want to see if I can sleep all the way until tomorrow morning."

"I…alright," She rose a spoon in my face. "If it works, just be quiet and try not to wake anyone up. Now taste, how is it?"

"Delicious!"

"Good," She smiled. "Have a bowl before you sleep."

"Yes Obaasan," Well, who was I to refuse?

After eating a pair of bowls of soup, I was ready for bed. Okay…so, it's almost 1? So…15 hours will get me to 4am, which gives me enough time to get ready. Alright. Here we go!

4am. Son of a gun, that's useful.

I quietly got dressed and gathered some supplies. Kunai, Shuriken, a couple of explosive tags the Matron was kind enough to give me, that sort of thing. No food. I wanted to see how that worked out for me.

I jumped out my bedroom window, tree-walking down the wall with casual ease. As I headed to the training ground three, I went over what I knew in my head.

Hatake Kakashi is a Jounin, former ANBU captain and has been taking teams for years, only to fail them when they failed to put their teammates lives over the Mission, something that might contradict the whole 'Will-of-Fire-Support-The-Village-At-All-Cost' the rest of the Village has going on.

He knows a lot of Jutsu and is a Ninjutsu specialist. He was able to copy those jutsu with the Shari-err...Cheatigan.

Yes, it's the Cheatigan, because having that much power in a pair of eyeballs is completely stupid. Well, okay, living a new life while subjected to rules from a video game that allows me to master a skill in as short as a day when it normally takes a life-time is also cheating, but AT LEAST I ADMIT IT!

I haven't even seen Sasuke at the Academy. I guess our class schedules were simply that well planned. Okay, I technically wasn't even looking for him, and I may have failed a few perception checks but still!

Anyway; Kakashi.

So…he knows a lot of Ninjutsu and isn't likely to take me seriously. Or maybe he will, if I act weird or something. I don't think the whole episode with the rats, as awesome as it was, will net me a whole lot of cred with this guy. Maybe I can use it to my advantage.

But I got to remember to put a team-work spin on anything I do. So while I'm slugging it out with Kakashi (which is rather generous, if I were honest with myself), maybe I could have my teammates grab the bells while I keep him distracted. Then I could bluff and say it was okay that I go to the academy and if there's any sense of justice in the world, they'll both offer me their bells and prove we've got the teamwork chops to be taught by a very lazy sensei.

Who may also have the largest collection on Ninjutsu in Konoha.

Okay, maybe this won't be so bad.

Canon's still nuked beyond recognition, though. I wonder what the repercussions will be from this? Will we take the Chunin Exams, become Chunin and leave Naruto with a more experienced teacher? One who might actually teach his senseis kid like I heard he wanted to rather than offload him to spend all his time on Sasuke?

What if we fail and Kakashi never becomes Naruto's sensei because he's stuck with us for another year?

That…could be a possibility.

It might even be a good possibility.

Depending on who he gets stuck with.

I arrived at the training ground in 15 minutes, meaning I was there 30 minutes early.

Well, I could have planned that out better. Whatever. That's what the wait command is for.

So less than an hour later, Hisako shows up, wearing her backpack and her hair tied in a ponytail. Followed by a very hasty and really tired looking Nichiren.

Seriously, how did this guy past the Academy?

"Yo," I said, waving at them.

"Hey Daisuke," Hisako nodded.

"How long have you been waiting here?" Nichiren asked.

"About thirty minutes," I replied with a thoughtful frown. "I could've planned that out better."

Hisako scoffed. "Seriously?"

"I like being early," I said.

"But…thirty minutes," Nichiren said.

"Yup," I nodded. "By the way, have either of you had breakfast?"

"Sensei told us not to," Hisako replied. "He said the training would make us throw up."

"Yeah," Nichiren said. "Besides I woke up late and didn't have enough time to eat anything."

"Personally," I looked at them both. "I don't think we would've thrown up. I think he just wanted us hungry for the training. It is survival training after all."

They both looked at me with horrified expressions on their faces as they realized that I had a point. Then they started to grumble about how unfair their Sensei was being.

Hisako got out a Kunai and whetstone and started to sharpen it. "Looks like we're going to be here for a while."

Nichiren got out a book and started to read.

"Looks like it," I said. "So. Nichiren, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," He said, looking up from his book.

Oh, how do I ask this without causing a rift in the team dynamic. "So, you're the most nervous Shinobi I've ever met."

"…okay," He asked.

"Do you mind if I ask why?" I finished lamely.

Charisma Check Failed: 4/6

Shut up, game.

"Well, I'm just nervous in general," He said with a nervous grin.

"Then how'd you pass psychological evaluation?" Hisako asked without looking up from her kunai. "There's no way they'd let someone with nerves like yours become a Genin."

...wow. Tactless, thy name is Hisako.

"I…uh…" Nichiren's eyes got big and his hands started shaking. "I…I just did, okay."

Okay, now I'm thinking less 'nervous in general' and more 'hiding something'.

"You just did?" Hisako rose an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Yup, just did," Nichiren smiled.

"I don't believe you," She snapped.

"But…I…did," Nichiren said.

"No one's doubting that you did," I spoke up. "We're just more dubious about your methods."

"Well, I did," Nichiren snapped, angry for the first time since I saw him.

"…whatever," Hisako sighed and went back to her kunai.

I shrugged.

The hours passed quietly with no one saying anything else. I was tempted to use the wait function again, but again, I wanted to spend as much actual time with my team as possible. The sun was high in the sky when, at 11:00 he finally showed up.

"Good morning, team!" Kakashi said, with an eye smile and a wave.

"You're late!" Both my teammates stood up and screeched.

You know, I was still fine from the lack of food. This is odd. I implicitly remember being insanely hungry back in infancy. Maybe now that the tutorial's over I don't need food like the others do?

"Sorry, the road got broken up and I had to find another route," He said with an eye smile.

I simply shrugged and stood up. "Well, we're all here. So what's the mission?"

"It's just a test," Kakashi said mirthfully. He pulled out a pair of bells and an alarm clock. "This alarm is set for noon. You must each take a bell from me in order to pass. If you don't take a bell before noon, you'll be tied up to one of those posts- "He pointed to a set of three wooden posts. "-and I'll eat lunch in front of you."

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. But I'm a ninja so I'm supposed to lie. I'm not worried. Not in the slightest.

"Wait, there's only two bells," Nichiren pointed out.

"Yes there are," I could just feel the smile that was affixed to his face. "That ensures that at least one of you will fail and be sent to the academy."

"Why do I get the feeling that the test has a 66% fail rate because you've rigged the test," I began, leveling a gaze at him. "Rather than because the Genin aren't good enough?"

"Oh I wouldn't put it like that," Kakashi said, putting the bells on his waist. "I'd put it like I'm giving them the right level of incentive to do well. Oh, and by the way?"

He became somewhat serious. "The only way any of you are going to succeed is if you come at me with the intent to kill me."

Nichiren gulped. Hisako switched her kunai to reverse grip. I simply rolled my shoulders.

I'm going to make you eat those words, Kakashi.

"We'll go when I say start," Kakashi returned to his easy going tone. "Ready…"

I popped my knuckles. Nichiren bounced on his toes. Hisako simply glared him him.

"Set…"

If I get sent back to the academy, I want to at least know that gave you a difficult fight. The odds of that are slim with my stats and such, but still!

"Start!"

Quest Updated: Shinobi, Assemble!

Completed: Go to training ground 3 before Kakashi gets there.

Pass the Bell Test.

Nichiren ran away fast. So did Hisako, though I think she's planning an attack and…ah, no. Well, this is going to be difficult. Time to punch Kakashi a lot!

I ran forward, gearing a punch in exaggerated fashion. Kakashi looked at me oddly and…caught my punch.

Chakra Control Check Success: 100/75.

Hehehe…got you.

I was stuck to his hand. Or rather his glove and I jumped land to his head, which he ducked under. I twisted around his hand and landed a kick right to his back. Hey, this might not be so hard-

Suddenly, I found myself grabbed with the other hand and flipped me over onto the ground. He landed a punch to the chest.

-5 HP.

That's it? Oh right. He's not actually trying to kill me.

I landed a punch to his face and stuck to his headband while I freed my other hand to reach for the bells and I barely brushed them before I found a kick to my stomach, and a forearm brought down on my wrist, disrupting my concentration.

-10 HP.

-5 HP.

I bounced back to my feet, leaping away from him.

Kakashi angled his head at me. "Huh. Where did you learn how to do that?"

"Oh, it's something I picked up here and there," I said nonchalantly. "You learned a lot when people show off."

Charisma Check Failed 4/5.

Shut up, game.

"Uh huh," Kakashi said, disbelieve only slightly in his voice. "Well, since you've proven that I might actually have to take you seriously, I guess I won't be getting to read my book any time soon."

I was going to need to change tactics. So…I looked around. "Wait, where's my team?"

"You didn't see them run off?" Kakashi asked incredulously.

"…be right back!" I said, running off in the direction I saw Hisako run in.

Please don't run after me, please don't run after me, please don't run after me…

He didn't run after me.

I think.

Perception Check Failed: 5/8.

What does that mean game? That he's stalking me or that I don't have enough perception to know for a fact there's nothing there?

So…where did she go?

Survival Check Success: 17/15.

Oh, there's a foot print, a bent shrub, a freshly broken branch…there she was, hiding in a tree. "Hey!"

I called up to her. She turned around and saw me, jumping down to meet me.

"Where'd you go? We could've had the bells," I asked grumpily.

"He's a Jounin," She barked at me. "Hiding and waiting for him to be vulnerable seemed like the smart thing to do. What were you doing?"

"I thought I had an edge on him," I shook my head. "It didn't work and now he'll be ready for it if I use it again."

"It was kind of surprising to see how well you did," Hisako admitted. Then her gaze narrowed. "Have you been holding out on me?"

"No," I answered truthfully. "Actually graduating was very inspiring."

She snorted. "Whatever. You want to fight him together?"

"Yeah, but we need Nichiren," I replied.

Hisako scoffed. "That useless coward?"

"Yes," I replied. "He graduated too, so he's got to be good for something."

Charisma Check Success: 4/4.

Finally! Thank you, game!

"Fine, let's go before Kakashi ties him to the post," Hisako stalked off. "But I get a bell."

"We'll decide what to do with the bells once we get them, alright?" I asked exasperatedly. "We can argue for days about who gets to go back to the Academy, but it doesn't actually mean anything until we get the bells."

Speech Check Success: 24/20.

+15 EXP.

"Whatever, let's just go find him," She waved me to follow her.

I wonder when the game decides on speech check versus a regular charisma check. That needs testing if I'm going to be putting points into a skill: I need to know how to use it.

Kakashi wasn't in the regular clearing so we cut across it and…

Perception Check Success: 5/5.

I saw a silver gleam, shining under a tree.

"Hey look," Hisako said with a large smile. "You must've startled him so much he dropped a bell."

"That is obviously a trap," I said with a nod.

Hisako frowned at me. "You think so? I guess you're right. Pity. Think we can get the bell without springing it?"

Perception Check Failed: 5/8.

"Probably," I answered. "Can you see the trap?"

"Hmmmm…" Hisako replied. "Nope."

"Maybe Nichiren would be able to see it," I not so subtly dropped the hint that we needed to keep looking.

"Maybe you're right," Hisako allowed, turning to me. "Why are you so hung up on finding him?"

"Because we're a team and I don't think we have a chance to get the bells without everyone here," I said. "There's only two bells, so it's like Kakashi is deliberately trying to divide us up and I don't want to go back to the academy."

Speech Check Success: 24/20.

+15 EXP.

"Hey I'm with you there," She said with a nod. "The academy was so boring. It didn't teach me anything I already know."

2,105 EXP until level. Nice!

"Where did you learn so much?" I asked as we walked past.

"My parents are both Shinobi," She replied. "They taught me what they could when they weren't busy. How about you?"

"I was just born this great," I said glibly.

"Oh whatever," Hisako rolled her eyes. "Seriously?"

"I don't really know," I lied, shrugging. "I'm just really smart and so what they tried to teach me just stuck to me like magic almost."

Survival Check success: 17/15.

"I think he went that way," I said, pointing toward a path that had a scattered trail of footprints going down it.

"Oh. Nice," Hisako nodded in the direction of the trail. "We'll find him in no time."

I hope so.

We ran down the trail and holy crap what the-?

"H-help…me…" There he was alright, with blood seeping down his back from numerous kunai and shuriken stuck there.

I…I don't believe it. Kakashi actually killed that nervous wreck! That…that's not canon at all. I thought I was going to be a student of a lazy shinobi, not a murderous one!

"Kai!" Hisako shouted, and the air around Nichiren warped around and he disappeared.

Wait what? Oh…

Perception Check Failed: 5/7.

Derp.

Okay, that's a gaping hole in my kit. Genjutsu vulnerability. That isn't good.

"Well, that was encouraging," I finally managed.

"It's supposed to be test, remember?" Hisako asked with a risen eyebrow. "Let's go find him so we can figure out a plan."

"Agreed," I said with a nod.

Running through the forest, we did eventually find him. Curled up into a ball against a tree crying his eyes out. This…isn't promising. "Uh…Nichiren? Are you okay?"

He looked up at us, gasped something awful. "You guys are alive! How-how are you?"

"He hit you with a Genjutsu too, huh?" I asked with a sigh.

"Wait…that was a-?" He slapped his face. "I'm so stupid!"

"Hey don't worry about it," I said. "I fell for it too."

Charisma Check Failed: 4/5.

OH FOR PETE'S SAKE!

"You're just saying that," He accused weakly.

"No, he's telling the truth," Hisako came to my rescue. "I had to break him out of it."

"…really?" Nichiren asked with wide eyes.

"Yes. Really," I affirmed, folding my arms. "Now we need a plan to get the bells from Kakashi. Fast."

It was 11:41, so unless we got the bells, everyone would get tied to posts and have to watch Kakashi eat lunch in front of them. Didn't bother me at all, which will take some getting used to, but the twin grumbling stomachs I heard was an agreement.

Kakashi was probably watching us to see what we were going to do.

Perception Check Failure: 5/9.

Shut up, game.

"Well you guys can have the bells," Nichiren said. "I don't deserve to be a Genin."

"Yes you do," I said automatically. "So you got caught in a Genjutsu. Sure it was scary, but it has to happen eventually."

"No, not that," He shook his head violently. "I cheated."

"What do you mean you cheated," Hisako asked with just a hint of venom in her voice.

"I mean I cheated at the Graduation exam," Nichiren explained rapidly. "I didn't study enough and I don't have the Taijutsu skills needed to be a Genin. So I took a soldier pill and copied from several other students."

Oooh.

Well, that would explain the nervousness.

"Wouldn't they have noticed the extra physical prowess from the soldier pill, though?" I asked, cupping my chin.

"Not if you suppress it and don't act like you're swimming in chakra," Nichiren replied, seeming to breathe a little easier.

"How did you cheat off of several other students?" Hisako asked curiously. "Aren't our teachers all Chunin at least?"

"Well yeah they are," Nichiren nodded. "But when a couple of classmates started sneezing uncontrollably, they were a little distracted."

Dang.

"So I've been scared this whole time I was going to accidentally get you both killed because I couldn't muster up to the challenge," Nichiren said. "Then I got hit with that Genjutsu and I thought I really did get you killed and-"

"Hey," Hisako knelt and put a hand on his shoulder, shaking him out of it. "It's okay. We're not dead."

"Is it wrong that I'm actually a little impressed?" I asked with a confused shrug.

"I'm not actually sure," Hisako answered, blinking.

"Y-your impressed?" Nichiren asked blankly.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because we're ninja," I replied. "Being devious is part of the job. What you just told us was some next-level stuff. I think it's awesome. I mean, you're going to have to pick up the slack at some point, but cheating like that is its own level of aptitude."

Speech Check Failure: 24/25.

Rats.

"I still cheated and I still need to tell Sensei," Nichiren said, looking downcast. "So, you need to get the bells."

"Well, like it or not we're still a part of a team," I said, folding my arms. "You mind putting that deviousness to work in separating Kakashi from those bells?"

"I think it'd help a lot," Hisako said. "You can tell Kakashi about the cheating afterwards."

"Okay!" Nichiren said, standing up. "I brought some smoke pellets and stuff."

"Alright, let's head out," I said. "I think we've been sitting here for too long."

I got a pair of agreements from them and we headed out.

"Oh, by the way Nichiren?" I asked.

"Yeah?"

"Why didn't you study very hard?"

"Oh," He said. "Oh, hehe. Well, see, my parents are civilians and they own a clothing store. They needed a lot of help this year when half the staff quit."

I could see that. I've been there, having to work while half my co-workers quick, leaving us understaffed. Made it difficult to work on college stuff, let me tell you.

"Makes sense."

We talked on the way, in whispers, formulating a plan. I was pretty sure Kakashi heard or at least was able to guess it in its entirety, but I hope the teamwork impressed him. Because we weren't passing otherwise.

It was 11:55 and we needed to find him. We headed out to the clearing, the bell trap was still there.

"Guys screw it," Hisako said, maybe a little loud. "I'm getting that bell."

"Wait, no!" I replied back as she ran over to get the bell and what happened was predictable. The rope tightened around her ankle and she was hoisted up into the air.

"And you were doing so well!" Kakashi said mirthfully, appearing suddenly as he retrieved the bell. "But you really shouldn't fall for such an ob-"

I was on him like glue. I tackled him from behind-

Chakra Control Check Success: 100/90.

-and I stuck there punching his head even as he jumped HOLY CRAP THAT'S HIGH and tried to suplex me! I switched grip to my hand and swung around to his front to start kneeing him in the stomach. Then he punched me in the face, grabbed me and spun around again as he landed, him on his feet while holding me in the air.

But Hisako was free and she was carrying a pair of Kunai as she went for the bells. He accidentally let me touch the ground and I was stuck there, too.

Chakra Control Check Success: 100/95.

Suddenly, he couldn't leave the grou-wow, my Chakra's getting low fast! I grabbed his arm and he ripped me and the ground beneath me out and threw me at Hisako, who had the common sense to duck.

I hit the ground and was thoroughly dazed.

-40 HP.

Dang. Well, that was fair, considering what playing nice got him. Still hurt a lot, though. Ow.

I stood up and started running back to the fight because Kakashi was making short work of Hisako, who just wasn't skilled or crazy enough to keep up. Behind Kakashi was Nichiren who was making a grab for the bells.

Only for Kakashi to grab Nichiren's wrist and throw him down to the ground with one hand.

Suddenly, way off by the posts, the Alarm rang.

"Stop!" Kakashi shouted, holding an outstretched hand. He took a deep breath and looked at each of us. "You all pass."

Quest Updated: Shinobi, Assemble!

Completed: Pass the Bell Test.

Completed (optional): Pass before someone is tied to a pillar.

Talk to Kakashi-sensei.

There's optional objectives to quests? Holy cow, I had no idea!

"Wait, what?" I said, playing a long. "We didn't get the bells!"

"Don't be coy," He glared at me. "You knew I was testing your teamwork."

"…okay yeah, I did," I said, rubbing my heads.

"Wait, what?" Hisako sounded alarmed. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because that would've undermined the test," I said. "I highly doubt we would've passed like this if we all knew the solution."

"He's right," Kakashi said with frustration. "You all showed admirable teamwork and were willing to work with each other in spite of personal misgivings."

"Then why are you mad, Sensei?" I asked.

He looked at me. "Because while you did show that you weren't willing to abandon each other, you still knew what the test was and that undermined the entire point."

"…sorry Sensei," I said. "But when we're raised on 'The Will of Fire' and how everyone in our village is like our family and how we're supposed to never betray our village…the lesson was clear."

Kakashi grunted. "I suppose that's true. But there is one thing I wanted to ask."

"Yes, Sensei?" I asked.

"How did you get so good at the Tree-walking jutsu?" He asked, exasperatedly.

"You mean like how I was stuck to you and you couldn't get away?" I asked. When I got a nod, I continued. "Well, I do have a bloodline, apparently. Maybe that's a part of it? I don't know the details all that much."

Charisma Check Fail: 4/5.

"I thought your bloodline helped you recuperate when you sleep," Kakashi said, eye narrowing.

"As I said, I don't know all the details," I said, shrugging. "I was able to do the tree-walking jutsu on my first day of the academy almost effortlessly. You gave me the most challenge with it I've ever had, so…"

Kakashi sensei sighed. "Okay, that makes sense."

Speech Check Success: 24/20.

+15 EXP.

2,090 EXP left.

"Erm…sensei," Nichiren said, timidly approaching and bowing.

"Yes, Nichiren?" Kakashi asked, turning to him.

"I have something to tell you," Nichiren looked like he was bracing for impact.

"I heard you in the forest," Kakashi replied.

"Y-you did?" Nichiren gulped.

"I did," Kakashi confirmed with a sigh. "I will need to tell the Hokage and we'll need to go over your case, but Daisuke was right: We're Ninja. Cheating systems is a part of what we do."

"Sensei," Nichiren said looking at him with star struck eyes.

"Now everyone, please follow me," Kakashi-sensei…it's going to be weird calling him that for a while beckoned us and we followed behind him.

He, of course, lead us to the black memorial stone on the outskirts of the training ground. I remembered it from the Anime and it was an impressive, if grim looking, structure, shaped like a Kunai.

"Does anyone know what this is?"

My hand went up.

"Besides you."

My hand went down.

"It's the memorial stone," Hisako replied, looking on it with respect and reverence. "On it are the names of every Shinobi who has ever died in the service of our village."

It's kind of like the Vietnam memorial wall back in my old world. Except shaped like a Kunai. Shame I never visited that one before I died.

"So, Nichiren," Kakashi addressed the Genin firmly. "You said you wanted to be a Field Medic. Is that still true?"

He nodded, rapidly.

"Field medics possess a very important role," Kakashi said quietly. "They keep their teammates alive and their names off of this memorial. I would be proud to train someone like that."

He looked into Nichiren's eyes.

"If you are to remain a Shinobi, you and by extension your parents, must understand that being a Shinobi is your job and the most important one in the village," Kakashi said weightily. "If you promise me that you will do everything in your power to make up for your lack of training in the academy, I will do everything I can to make sure you stay on this team. Can you do that?"

"Yes! Yes, Sensei, I promise," Nichiren nodded some more, before bowing all the way to the ground. "Thank you, Sensei!"

Cool. I get the most devious person I've seen in a long while on my team. I consider this a bonus.

"As for you two," Kakashi said, looking at me and Hisako. "Meet me at the Hokage Tower's entrance in three days at seven in the morning. That's about how long it'll take to get your teammates situation sorted out."

"Hai, Sensei," We both said at the same time, bowing.

Quest Complete: Shinobi, Assemble!

Completed: Talk with Kakashi-Sensei.

+1500 EXP.

…holy crap, that is a lot.

590 EXP until level 6.

"And Daisuke," Kakashi said to me.

"Yes, Sensei?"

"We need to figure out the extension of your bloodline one of these days," Kakashi said, his visible eye looking like he still didn't believe what had happened.

"Hai, Sensei," I replied.