Chapter 31

"So boring…" muttered Naruto, "Where are they? " 

"I know right?" agreed Sakura, "I can't believe they're late. WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FIVE HOURS!" 

Sasuke's stomach growled. "I'm hungry too," whined Naruto, "I didn't eat breakfast 'cause sensei told us not to… I want ramen…" 

"Hey," said Sasuke, "Let's head to the training field first. Maybe we can prepare for whatever test they have for us." 

"So smart!" squealed Sakura. 

Naruto shrugged, "Sure. Race you, Teme!" 

Sasuke glared at him and started running, the two of them leaving Sakura alone. "Boys…" she growled before chasing after them. 

Naruto was winning. He slowed down and stuck his tongue at Sasuke, "Slowpoke!" 

Sasuke glared at him and pushed forward, passing Naruto. "Hey!" whined Naruto before going back to full speed. A few seconds later, Naruto was ahead again. "Ah!" Naruto yelped in fright and fell onto his butt. 

"Baka, whatcha doing?" snorted Sasuke. 

Naruto lifted his hand and gently wiped a thin trail of blood off his cheek. "Ack! I'm bleeding!" He showed Sasuke immediately tensed and picked the kunai off the floor. 

"Get up," growled Sasuke. CLANG! Another kunai aimed at them was deflected by Sasuke. 

"What is it?" asked Naruto, standing up, he was acting like an idiot. "Enemies?" 

They were at the edge of the third training field. "Careful, Sakura," said Sasuke, who had just run over, "We're under attack." 

"We are?" she looked around nervously, "Don't worry, I know you'll protect me, Sasukke-kun."

Naruto rolled his eyes and pulled a kunai out of his ninja pouch, "Come on, they're probably hiding in the trees." 

"That's right," said a voice. A figure stepped out of the trees, masked and cloaked. "Look here! There are three little children! Let's kill them~" The person had a masculine voice and he wore a creepy mask. He released killing intent and enormous pressure, causing Sakura to shiver. 

Another figure stepped out, large but short. They wore a black metallic mask and their eyes were completely dark, even the parts that should have been white. "Fine," he said in a raspy voice, "But kill them fast, Kuro." 

Kuro grinned, "Easy." Kuro unleashed a flurry of kunai and shuriken. Naruto and Sasuke blocked them but got a few cuts. 

"Ow," whined Naruto. 

"Seriously, Baka," muttered Sasuke, "Can't you shut up? I'm trying to focus." 

"You shut up!" shouted Naruto, "Teme! I'm the one doing all the work!" 

"Oh yeah?" asked Sasuke, "Maybe I should let those kunai stab you then. Baka!" 

"Teme-"

"Hey!" shouted Sakura, "Where did he go…" 

The arguing boys found themselves staring at the spot Kuro had been moments ago. "Hey!" shouted Sakura again. "Let go of me!" 

They whirled around and saw Kuro holding Sakura in his arms, kunai to her throat. "Let go of her…" growled Naruto, "Or else." 

"Or else what?" whispered the raspy voice of the other person, "You think you can kill us? S-rank missing-nin?" 

"Uh… what?" asked Naruto. "S-rank?" 

"Baka," muttered Sasuke, but he was shaking, "They're super powerful shinobi who betray their villages and defect." 

"Oh… I remember Rin-sensei told me a few years ago she wanted to be one! She said, 'Sandaime is so stupid.'" said Naruto. "Well, who cares! We're gonna beat you anyways!" 

"We?" asked Kuro, "There're three of you. How about we make a deal~ The two of you fight to the death until only one of you is alive. Then, we'll let you go. And the girl." 

"But-" Naruto looked at Sasuke, then Sakura. 

Sasuke looked deeply into Naruto's eyes, trying to convey a message. Naruto cocked his head, "What? You love me?" 

Sakura gasped and Sasuke groaned at Naruto's stupidity. "Sakura, duck!" he threw his kunai as hard as possible and Sakura ducked as low as she could. Thunk. The kunai embedded itself into Kuro's head before Kuro turned into wood. 

Sakura gasped and stumbled towards the boys. Naruto got the message and grinned. "DYNAMICCCC ENTRYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!" he kicked at the other person who caught his food and slammed him into a tree. 

"Naruto!" shouted Sasuke, worriedly. 

"I'm… good…" groaned Naruto.

"No," rasped the other, "You're not." He removed a pure white blade from its sheath and raised it. 

"Naruto!" shouted Sasuke, "Watch out!" 

Too late. The sword arced and sliced Naruto across the back. He coughed and slumped the the floor. "Hehehehe…" laughed Kuro, "I'll give you one more chance." he nudged Naruto with his foot, "Kill him and I'll let you and pinky free." 

"No," said Sakura, stepping up. "Don't do it." 

"Oh?" asked Kuro, he reappeared right in front of Sakura, causing her to scream in fright. "But… I guess I'll have to kill you instead." 

"Stop!" said Naruto's voice, "Sasuke… do it…" 

Sasuke clenched his fist, his eyes closed. "I…" he shook his head, "I won't." 

"You have to," said Naruto, "You have to… we're a team and teammates protect each other. So DO IT!" 

Kuro stared at Sasuke, whose eyes were still closed. "You're right," said Sasuke, "Teammates protect each other." 

His eyes opened. They were red. Sharingan! 

…

A few hours ago

"Bell test?" asked Kakashi, "That's what Minato-sensei did with us…" 

"Come on," I said, "Don't be boring. Be creative…" 

He stared at me. "Well, what else can we do to promote teamwork?" 

"What you're trying to do is nicely force it," I smiled evilly, "What we should do is violently force it." 

"Ehem…" said Kakashi, "What?" 

"Well," I said, "We both know how important teamwork can be but you learned the hard way… so… let's teach them the hard way." 

Transformation Technique. I turned into a scary-looking version of Obito. "Why…" said Kakashi. 

I shrugged and put on a mask. "It's scary and they are children." 

"But…" said Kakashi, uncertain. 

"Come on…" I muttered, "Such a party pooper." 

Kakashi sighed, "Don't make me regret this?" He turned into what looked like a mix of Hiruko and Kakuzu. 

"Nice," I gave him a thumbs up, "Now let's traumatize some children." 

He glared at me. "Sorry, poor choice of words"