They worked through the year, but they still were not a team. The chunin exams were approaching, and Kakashi warned them if they didn\u2019t figure it out they wouldn\u2019t make it through the exam. They would most certainly be killed.<\/p>\n
But even his most stern warning didn\u2019t get through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And after a small mission went awry and they\u2019d nearly gotten killed \u2014 where Kakashi had to save them all from their attackers and<\/i> from each other \u2014 Kakashi had finally had enough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The walk back to Konoha was silent. Team 7 finally seemed obedient. It was almost like they could sense that they had crossed a line with Kakashi.<\/p>\n But once back inside Konoha\u2019s gates, Sakura, Sai and Sasuke thought they might get off easy. They were exhausted, dirty and bruised, and it was clear they hoped their leader\u2019s prolonged silence meant that they would just be dismissed. They were wrong.<\/p>\n Kakashi\u2019s voice rumbled to life. \u201cMeet at the bridge. At dawn.\u201d He met their surprised eyes and answered their unasked question. \u201cNo rest,\u201d he said emphatically.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He usually gave them a day off after missions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf you all can\u2019t get it right, then I\u2019m sending you back to academy.\u201d Sasuke scowled and Kakashi doubled down. \u201cAll of you.<\/i> And not just for a visit. You will each have to start over again. From the beginning!\u201d<\/p>\n The angry timbre in his voice, the finality of his words shook them all. It was the only thing keeping Sasuke quiet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi leveled a hard look at him for a moment, and Sasuke understood the perilous position he was in. Kakashi held his entire fate in his hands. They both knew what Sakura and Sai and the rest of their classmates did not: Sasuke was under observation by the council.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As the last member of his clan he was entitled to certain rights. But first he had to prove himself.<\/p>\n Kakashi was no longer in the mood to keep that secret.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to do more teamwork training tomorrow,\u201d he looked at Sasuke as he spoke, \u201cand I\u2019ve invited the council to come see how much you\u2019ve progressed.\u201d<\/p>\n Sasuke\u2019s mouth fell open in shock. Sakura and Sai glanced between them, not fully comprehending the exchange but understanding that it couldn\u2019t be good.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi waited for Sasuke to lose his temper, but it took every shred of restraint Sasuke had not to take the bait. Sasuke knew he couldn\u2019t go against Kakashi.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cRight. Tomorrow morning then.\u201d Without another word Kakashi flash-stepped away.<\/p>\n The next day they showed up at dawn, expecting him to be late. But he was there, waiting for them. That was not a good sign.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi did not greet them. Instead he pulled a large roll of red ribbon from his pocket and began to unwind it.<\/p>\n Sakura recognized it as the ribbon from their school days. It was part of her favorite game.<\/p>\n Wanting to break the tense silence, Sakura went to speak, but Kakashi raised a hand, stopping her.<\/p>\n \u201cI know what you are going to say,\u201d he said, never looking up, \u201cand you are, of course, correct, Haruno. This is from the academy.\u201d<\/p>\n Sakura fidgeted, feeling like she hadn\u2019t helped things at all. Sasuke shot her a mean look for speaking to him.<\/p>\n Kakashi slowly unrolled the rest of the ribbon. \u201cAlthough it\u2019s true Team 7 has passed its D and C missions, I have a feeling that the little old ladies of Konoha are happy to have their cats back no matter how it gets done.\u201d He looked at Sasuke, \u201cWith visual tracking,\u201d then to Sai, \u201cor ferocious drawings,\u201d then to Sakura, \u201cor process of elimination.\u201d The last of the ribbon wound out. \u201cAnd of course a fair amount of luck.<\/p>\n Kakashi looked at the three before him. It wasn\u2019t lost on him that any time they stood together, Sakura and Sasuke always put Sai in between them. But that was a problem for another time.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I hadn\u2019t been your sensei, you would be dead right now.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke couldn\u2019t hold back his anger any longer. \u201cOr we\u2019d have a better teacher and a better team\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Sakura gasped. Even Sai angled away as if Sasuke had just lit a fuse. But Kakashi didn\u2019t blink.<\/p>\n \u201cI am the best teacher you three will ever have,\u201d he said, steel in his voice. \u201cAny other teacher would not have known what to do with you.\u201d<\/p>\n The observers from the council were approaching. Sasuke silently bowed his head.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut a better team\u2026. Now you\u2019re figuring it out, Sasuke.\u201d He spoke louder, so that the observers could hear him too. \u201cI have let you all go on for too long without understanding the real value of teamwork. It could save your life. That bond is more important than your skill, more important than any weapon\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Safe from view of the observers, Sasuke rolled his eyes. Kakashi had delivered this speech many times. It never worked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Irritated, Kakashi stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you three can\u2019t work together as a team here, then you\u2019ll never make it to the chunin exams.\u201d He smiled suddenly. \u201cBut I think I\u2019ve figured out a way to see if you\u2019re ready.\u201d<\/p>\n He took the ribbon and tied it around first Sakura\u2019s wrist, let a length fall between them, then Sai\u2019s wrist and let the length fall, then he stood in front of Sasuke. Sasuke didn\u2019t move.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi had a devilish glimmer in his eyes. \u201cRemember,\u201d he said quietly, \u201cyou have guests\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Sasuke shoved his arm forward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNow\u2026. The more you work together, the more freedom you have. The less you work together,\u00a0 <\/span>the less freedom you have. Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n They looked at him in shocked silence.<\/p>\n Sakura rallied first. \u201cT-This is not at all the game we used to play\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cGood!\u201d Kakashi said it in a way that didn\u2019t sound good to them at all. \u201cI was hoping you\u2019d remember this game! Sakura, please explain it to us!\u201d She didn\u2019t want to answer. \u201cGo ahead!\u201d<\/p>\n Sakura mumbled her way through the explanation that they already knew. \u201cWe have to follow each other, no matter what, and not let go of the rope.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, yes. Such fun! And you say you loved that game, Haruno?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded miserably.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, good. Chin up! Hopefully you\u2019ll come to love this one just as much!\u201d<\/p>\n She frowned. She was sure she wouldn\u2019t. Sasuke scoffed. Only Sai, standing in between them, looked out with an emotionless face.<\/p>\n Kakashi leveled a hard gaze at him, then at the other two. He wondered just how long it would be till they cracked. Sai would probably be the last one. But he\u2019d break. They all did.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright!\u201d He clapped his hands together. \u201cNew rules for the ribbon game! You have to pass each mission I set out for you successfully. If you do, you get more freedom. If you don\u2019t, you will only get closer together\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Sai\u2019s emotionless facade didn\u2019t waiver. Kakashi couldn\u2019t help himself. He reach out and grabbed Sai\u2019s face, \u201cUntil the two of you are\u2014\u201c he squeezed Sai\u2019s cheeks together as he spoke each word\u2014 \u201csmushed right up next to Sai!\u201d<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi let go, and Sai blinked, his face falling back into its impassive mask. But he was pleased to see that an irritated crinkle was beginning to twitch at the corner of Sai\u2019s eye. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sakura and Sasuke leaned away from the display, looked horrified. Sakura did not want to be next if Kakashi was giving out smushy-faces, and Sasuke looked like he was about to blow his top, but Kakashi stopped him\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cAh-ah-ah, I\u2019m not finished. Last rule. You may not speak to each other. Or to me. At all.\u201d<\/p>\n They gasped. Even Sai\u2019s calm veneer looked like it was cracking.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay,\u201d Kakashi said, smiling, \u201cmaybe that\u2019s a little too rough. Sometimes I get carried away and go too far. How about this\u2026. You can speak. But, you can only say \u2018We move as one.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke couldn\u2019t take it. \u201cWhat?!?<\/i>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi put a finger to his ear. \u201cI couldn\u2019t hear that? What did you say? Already disobeying orders then?\u201d<\/p>\n He stepped forward to grab the red rope as if he was going to make good on his threat and tie them a little closer.<\/p>\n Sakura shook her head fiercely, even Sai looked nervous. They both pulled their arms back. Only Sasuke defiantly left his arms out, daring Kakashi to tie them closer.<\/p>\n This time, Kakashi did not. But only this once. He turned away, speaking as he did. \u201cYour mission today is the bell test\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cWha?!\u201d<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi whipped his head back, but they were immediately silent. He looked at them all for a long moment before he continued. \u201cI\u2019ll go easy on you, though. You just have to put one finger on it. Not take it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He pulled out a timer. \u201cAlright,\u201d he said, gaze moving to each of them. The timer clicked loudly in his hand. \u201cOff you go\u2026.\u201c<\/p>\n They looked at him, stunned. Thinking quick, Sasuke stepped forward to touch the bell, his face turning smug when the first jingle filled the air\u2014 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi exploded under his fingertip.<\/p>\n They were shocked. Kakashi appeared at the tree line, waving. The observers laughed at the deception.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke\u2019s face burned red, and it was clearly taking everything in his power not to shout at Kakashi or the observers. But he didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n They moved together, jogging in a spread-out line to the woods after Kakashi, but he evaded them. Finally, out of sight of the council and their clipboards, Sasuke whispered \u201cHow are we supposed to do this if we\u2019re shackled together?\u201d<\/p>\n Kakashi appeared and clicked his timer. \u201cNot even two minutes.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cThat\u2019s a record. You all are officially the worst team.\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled the ropes closer between them, making them move a step closer together.<\/p>\n Sasuke was about to mouth off, and Kakashi paused his hands to look up at him, daring him, when Sakura interjected. \u201cWe move as one!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It was more of a panicked shout than statement, but it made Kakashi chuckle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNow you\u2019re getting it.\u201d He pulled out the timer and pressed it. \u201cAlright, start again.\u201d<\/p>\n They started again, this time making it seven minutes before Sasuke jerked hard on the ribbon, pulling Sakura into Sai with a loud, \u201cOw!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke defended himself as their self-appointed leader. \u201cWell if you would listen to what I say and follow me, then\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Sakura fired back, \u201cIf you would just tell us first, then we could\u2014<\/p>\n Sai pushed Sakura off him, and looked up soundlessly as Kakashi clicked his timer.<\/p>\n Sasuke and Sakura froze when they realized their error.<\/p>\n Kakashi bit down his smile as he pulled them a step closer. Then he stepped back. Sai looked put upon. Kakashi said, \u201cYou know what\u2019s next, don\u2019t you Sai?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But Sai, who had been trained in Root, was too smart to fall for that trick.<\/p>\n \u201cWe move as one.\u201d<\/p>\n Kakashi laughed. \u201cThat\u2019s right. It probably won\u2019t be Sai that gets you all cheek-to-cheek.\u201d He glanced at Sai. \u201cAlthough every shinobi has his breaking point.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai shifted uncomfortably.<\/p>\n Pleased that he got a response, Kakashi smiled as if he was really enjoying this. He clicked the timer and disappeared.<\/p>\n They started again. Coming to a fork in the trail, Sasuke gave a hard jerk on the ribbon to make a turn and was about to speak when they didn\u2019t immediately follow him, but he caught himself. Teeth gritted, Sasuke said, \u201cWe move as one,\u201d then pitched his head toward one side of the trail.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sakura disagreed. On the opposite side of the path, Sakura tipped her head toward the other fork. \u201cWe move as one,\u201d she said, not as sternly, but no less certain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There was an impasse. Sasuke wouldn\u2019t repeat himself, and Sakura wouldn\u2019t budge. She said it again. \u201cWe move as one,\u201d then jerked her head to her side.<\/p>\n It dawned on them at the same time that they had a tiebreaker standing between them. Sai.<\/p>\n He looked at both of them, then, without a word, nodded in the direction on Sakura\u2019s side. Sasuke was put out, but he went along.<\/p>\n From the shadowy canopy, Kakashi nodded. Sasuke yielding to the group was their first stroke of true teamwork. Without a sound, he leapt from limb to limb, followed their backs.<\/p>\n Sakura picked up on Sai\u2019s communications immediately. Kakashi supposed it was cheating to put a trained shinobi in their mix. He was, in fact, looking forward to wrapping their hands together and making them really hate each other. Sai might ruin that. But Kakashi hadn\u2019t yet given up hope. There might still be time\u2026.<\/p>\n They wound down several more trails, more or less successfully. Some of them, however, were certainly not on the map as Kakashi knew it. He considered this as the three crept underneath him, looking everywhere. The training forest was leading them in circles. It must have sensed their frustration. Kakashi smiled deeply. Now the forest was toying with them too.<\/p>\n When they finally came to another split in the trail that Kakashi recognized, he settled down to watch. This one should be interesting\u2026.<\/p>\n Sakura and Sasuke stood at either ends of the ribbon, with Sai at the mid-point, all three looking for a sign of something familiar. A hint that one path was the \u2018right\u2019 path.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke stepped forward to peer down one sunlit path. Behind him, Sakura nodded significantly to Sai. She beckoned him, waited for him to acknowledge, and when he didn\u2019t, she tapped his arm. Sai looked up. She pointed from Sasuke\u2019s path to a shadier, winding path beside them, then up toward the sky. He immediately understood. Using little hand signals, they began working out the angle of the sun to chose the best direction to go.<\/p>\n Kakashi was pleased. They were moving faster than he expected, at least. Silent communication was imperative for them to stay alive, as long as they worked together\u2014\u00a0 <\/span>But maybe he\u2019d spoken too soon\u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke decided their course and stepped forward onto the broad, sunny path, pulling them all behind him. He wasn\u2019t speaking, but he also wasn\u2019t yielding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai resisted. Kakashi knew why. In the middle of the seemingly empty path was a glistening razor wire. Really, it was only a rounded trip wire. It wouldn\u2019t hurt as much, but the scare would be the same.<\/p>\n From where he stood, Sai caught sight of its glinting flash. But Sasuke was too close. It would have been impossible for him to see it until he was upon it. It wasn\u2019t deadly, but if he was going to avoid it, then he would need his teammates\u2019 help.<\/p>\n Sakura might have seen it too and been able to alert him, but she was too busy tugging them in the opposite direction. What she could not know was that the fallen log at the first corner of the path concealed a paper bomb. Just like the razor wire, it was only a trick, a simple flash bomb. It wouldn\u2019t hurt them, just scare them. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai immediately looked at the fallen log and frowned. There were no fallen leaves on top or at the sides, so it was recently placed there. No doubt it was a trap too. Trained shinobi that he was, only Sai would have been taught how to notice out-of-place items in the forest. Not Sasuke or Sakura. But if Sai didn\u2019t help out his teammates then they were in just as much danger as if he wasn\u2019t there at all.<\/p>\n Sakura tugged them towards it, while Sasuke pulled the other way. The ribbon between them was straightening. Sai refused to move in either direction, but their silent skirmish was pulling him forward, closer to the edge of the path.<\/p>\n Behind his mask, Kakashi\u2019s mouth curved up into a wicked grin. This was just what he was hoping for\u2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai\u2019s eyes went wide. He just realized why the square patch of leaves in front of him looked so strange\u2014<\/p>\n But Sasuke broke their fragile teamwork first. He opened his mouth to yell back at them but stopped himself at the last minute to growl instead, \u201cWe move as one,\u201d then yanked hard on the rope. They tumbled forward into him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Catching sight of the shimmering wire, Sakura immediately started dragging them back from danger, pleading, \u201cWe move as one!\u201d but Sasuke couldn\u2019t understand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai stumbled backwards with her, catching sight of the log over she shoulder. He shook his head. It wasn\u2019t a viable option either\u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But Sakura was still pulling, then Sasuke jerked harder back, forgetting where they were and intent only on winning the tug-of-war. Sai lurched forward suddenly, and got a clear view of what was waiting for them if they kept this up\u2014<\/p>\n Kakashi\u2019s last trap, a pit covered with leaves just off the path, just out of the angle of sight. If he fell in, he\u2019d drag them both in on top of him\u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai tried to stand and warn them, another hard tug sent him stumbling right for it\u2014<\/p>\n That was the last straw. \u201cStop it! Both of you!\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n It echoed off the trees, but it worked. Both stopped, eyes blinking, shocked at his outburst.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Slow realization broke over Sai\u2019s face. He was the one to disobey orders this time\u2014<\/p>\n Kakashi landed on the path. All three were caught.<\/p>\n \u201cWe move as one,\u201d they said in breathy unison.<\/p>\n Kakashi laughed mirthlessly. \u201cA little late for that, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n But instead of pulling them even more tightly together, Kakashi slid the rope from their wrists and pocketed it.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough for today. I\u2019m starving and I don\u2019t want to babysit you three all night. Be at the bridge at dawn.\u201d<\/p>\n None of them were relieved. They knew enough of Kakashi now to be concerned.<\/p>\n \u201cSasuke, I dismissed your observers long ago. But they\u2019ll be back.\u201d He wasn\u2019t joking, and Sasuke didn\u2019t laugh.<\/p>\n With a single salute, Kakashi left in a flicker. The rest broke off, going their separate ways without a sound. Sasuke went first as if he couldn\u2019t get away fast enough. Sai turned back to the forest to retrace his steps, identify his moment of error and remedy it for future assignments. And then it was only Sakura, who was left with nothing to do but watch their backs as they left.<\/p>\n She knew if they were really a team, then they would have talked about tomorrow, about what Kakashi might have planned, and about how they could succeed. Or succeed at thwarting him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But they didn\u2019t. She went home too.<\/p>\n At dawn they were there, and not long after was Kakashi. That wasn\u2019t a good sign.<\/p>\n He made them all stand on the bridge. Sakura always put Sai in between her and Sasuke. She thought for a moment that Kakashi might have forgotten about their last infraction the day before because there was so much length on the rope between them. But he wrapped their wrists together, hands back to back, taking in all the space from yesterday. He didn\u2019t forget.<\/p>\n Kakashi walked them to a nearby garden plot. \u201cD-ranked mission. All week. No talking, except for what I\u2019ve told you you can say.\u201d<\/p>\n They nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that is\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe move as one,\u201d they said obediently.<\/p>\n He nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cEach time you speak, each time you break my rule, you have another week of D missions, just like this.\u201d They were aghast. He didn\u2019t care. \u201cPlant all the crops. We\u2019ll break for lunch.\u201d Then he waved a hand and flash stepped away.<\/p>\n They stood there a moment, looking at the wheelbarrow full of seedlings. There were three small shovels and three straw hats. Sai was starting to angle over, and Sakura would have been right behind him, but Sasuke didn\u2019t move. The muscle at his jaw jumped as if he were holding back saying something. Something mean\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just because you can\u2019t see me,\u201d Kakashi\u2019s deep, disembodied voice suddenly filled the air around them, \u201cdoesn\u2019t mean I can\u2019t see you!\u201d<\/p>\n They jumped, and immediately started to work without a sound.<\/p>\n They worked the rest of the week, first saying the words to get each other\u2019s attention. But by the end, they were both as diligent as Sai. Kakashi watched them closely. They were aware of each other\u2019s movements, needing only a gentle movement to communicate what needed to be done. They nodded, pointed, and worked their arms and legs together in synchronicity. They truly moved as one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the end of the week, Kakashi leaned against the garden wall and secretly observed the last rows of their work. They had stuck it out and managed to plant a full garden plot of evenly spaced crops. He smiled, pleased with himself. This had been a valuable lesson.<\/p>\n He came around the corner suddenly and surprised them. But they didn\u2019t respond.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He greeted them by name, but even then, they didn\u2019t speak.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He asked them some leading questions, but they either pointed or shook their heads.<\/p>\n He leaned over Sasuke\u2019s last plants, pretending to be interested. \u201cWe both know this is beneath someone with your abilities,\u201d he said quietly, letting the thought hang in the air.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke\u2019s hand tightened around a reedy young plant for a moment. But he released his grip and tamped it down into the soft soil. \u201cWe move as one,\u201d he ground out, never looking up.<\/p>\n Kakashi chuckled. He made his way down the row and ambled to the other side, where Sakura was working.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd Haruno,\u201d he whispered, voice dripping with false sympathy, \u201cwere you able to keep up with them?\u201d<\/p>\n He hoped to provoke a flash of anger so she\u2019d forget herself. But Sakura didn\u2019t fall for it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe move as one,\u201d she responded placidly.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t miss the look Sasuke cut at her. Well, there was still room to improve.<\/i> But even Sasuke had learned the value of silence.<\/p>\n He looked at Sai, Sai looked back and nodded obediently. Kakashi smiled, and Sai went back to work. He didn\u2019t have to test him. Kakashi knew that Sai\u2019s one slip up would never be repeated, no matter how crafty he was.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But this little experiment had forced them to work together as a team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He stood up and dusted his hands. It was time. They were ready. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAlright Team 7. You\u2019ve worked hard. You deserve a break. Tomorrow, take the day off. But the next day\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n They looked at him waiting.<\/p>\n \u201cMeet at the pitch. Dawn. Time to retake the bell test!\u201d<\/p>\n They said nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, what do you say? Don\u2019t you think \u2018thank yous\u2019 are in order for getting you out of all this work?\u201d<\/p>\n They looked at him, then each other, clearly unable to decide if it was a trick or not. They went with the safer option. \u201cWe move as one,\u201d they said in discordant, uncertain voices.<\/p>\n Kakashi laughed deeply. \u201cCan\u2019t fool you!\u201d He left them to their work, saying over the wall as they strolled away. \u201cBell test! Day after tomorrow! Third time\u2019s a charm!\u201d<\/p>\n Sakura looked down at her hands, noticing that they were still attached. She narrowed her eyes where he was walking away. Sai had watched him leave as well, but then returned resignedly to the last plants. On the other side of him, Sasuke stabbed the shovel in the ground, focused only on finishing the task.<\/p>\n It felt like the ribbon \u201cgame\u201d was over \u2014 Kakashi even hinted that it was \u2014 but they were still tied.<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t need to speak to come to an agreement. They were all too wary of their teacher now, too alert to his tricks. They finished in complete silence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They moved as one, patiently waiting till each other stood. They retrieved their farm tools, the empty seedling pouches and straw hats, and walked single file back up the newly planted row. Only after the last hat was pitched in the wheelbarrow and they straightened and looked at each other did it become apparent they had a problem.<\/p>\n They were still tied. And Kakashi was no where to be found.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They looked at each other. It was Sasuke who took the plunge. He lifted up his hand and opened his mouth to speak, and Sakura\u2019s stomach tightened, expecting Kakashi to come jumping out of the woods, bellowing at them for breaking the rules and threatening more work or worse\u2014<\/p>\n But Sasuke surprised them all with a quiet question. \u201cWe move as one?\u201d<\/p>\n Sakura understood. What do we do now?<\/i> Sakura shrugged. \u201cWe move as one\u2026.\u201d I don\u2019t know\u2026.<\/i><\/p>\n They both looked at Sai, standing in between them. Sai looked uncomfortably between the two, then fixed his gaze on a distant point down the road. His shoulders rose and fell in a single resigned breath. \u201cWe move as one.\u201d We wait.<\/i><\/p>\n Sakura and Sasuke nodded tiredly and turned to look down the road. They would wait, for something to happen, or someone to show up, and tell them they could take the ribbon off\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cExcellent!\u201d<\/i> A grinning Kakashi popped into the space directly in front of them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Startled, they each jumped. Kakashi leaned forward, delighted, looming into each of their astonished, dirt-smudged faces.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat job Team 7! You have performed so much better than I expected at the ribbon game! So what do you think Sakura, still your favorite?!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She uttered a noise of despair and confusion and might have shaken her head, but Kakashi didn\u2019t care. Her response was drowned out by his laughter as he untied her hand from Sai\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cGood job, Sai. As expected. You performed admirably, and it will be duly noted to your handler.\u201d He moved to Sai\u2019s other hand and began untying Sasuke\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you as well Sasuke, your friends on the council received glowing reports of your performance. That should keep them off your back, hopefully.\u201d<\/p>\n Finished, Kakashi slid the ribbon from their hands and wrapped it around itself to pocket it. The three rubbed their wrists, each feeling strangely like a weight had been lifted. Or that a gulf of air had opened between them, even though none had stepped away yet.<\/p>\n His voice turned serious. \u201cIf this had been a mission, then it would only be considered complete when the last transaction occurred. I know Iruka covered all this with the dummy scrolls. But the truth is, it\u2019s not always scrolls. Sometimes it\u2019s people. Sometimes it\u2019s things. You never know what you are protecting or delivering or transporting. Your job is to stay together, to work as a unit for the good of the mission, until the mission is complete. No matter how anyone tries to throw you off that path. Your mission was the not finishing the garden plot. It was the ribbon game. Your mission was work together until you finished this task.\u201d He pointed to the rows of crops, casting long shadows across the garden.<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstand?\u201d They all nodded, each predictable in their response. One thoughtful. One respectful. One who didn\u2019t appreciate being lectured to\u2014<\/p>\n Kakashi laughed. \u201cAlright team. Good job. Bell test is up next. Off you go\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a conspiratorial glint in his eye as he said the last, and they looked to each other and back at him, unsure if they could really trust them. He laughed at his own weird sense of humor, then said \u201cShoo, Shoo! Go home!!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And it wasn\u2019t until then that they started to leave, but still in complete silence. Sakura glanced back over her shoulder a few times, just to make sure it wasn\u2019t a trick. Kakashi smiled and waved. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEnjoy your day off,\u201d he called after them in a sing-song voice.<\/p>\n Team 7 left the civilian district in silence. They walked together down the now-dark streets, not even realizing that they were timing their leg and arm movement to each other. (Well, perhaps Sai knew, but he didn\u2019t stop himself from falling into sync.) \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sakura\u2019s fingers fidgeted. She was thinking, turning over everything that had happened in her mind. Something was wrong, but she just couldn\u2019t figure it out. Ahead of them was the last intersection before they split and went their separate ways. She was running out of time\u2014<\/p>\n At the roads, Sasuke nodded but never looked back. Sai did the same. They split off, leaving Sakura standing in the middle. She gulped. Something was wrong. She couldn\u2019t let them leave\u2014<\/p>\n She grabbed Sai\u2019s sleeve and hauled him back, then lunged for Sasuke. Both made noises of discontent, shuffling feet on the gravel, and Sasuke looked like he might have been ready to fight off an attacker, but Sakura immediately shushed them with a finger to her lips.<\/p>\n It worked. They stopped. Alert and waiting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She held out her hands, trying to mime, \u201cWhat if we\u2019re wrong?\u201d or \u201cWhat if this is a trick too?\u201d<\/p>\n But neither understood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She pointed back to the plot, to the pitch, to the three of them. None of it worked. She fisted her hair. Sai waited, but Sasuke was finished. He swatted her attempts at communication away and turned on his heel.<\/p>\n She looked at him, panicked. She looked to Sai, who just shrugged, then back to Sasuke. She had to stop him.<\/p>\n \u201cWe move as one!!\u201d Her voice echoed off the buildings around them. A light flipped on. A dog started barking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke stopped, he looked back to sneer at her in his best I-think-you\u2019re-crazy way.<\/p>\n She patted her pockets, looking for a scrap of paper\u2014 She found a receipt from the market, dirty but it would have to do\u2014 But she didn\u2019t have a pen.<\/p>\n In front of her, Sai\u2019s hand appeared with pencil and a torn piece of clean paper. She blinked up at him, smiled and nodded thanks.<\/p>\n She scribbled fast, her normally neat cursive letters smashing together. She was pleased to see Sasuke\u2019s feet appear in her vision beyond the edge of the paper. She held it up to them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if we\u2019re wrong? What if this isn\u2019t over?\u201d<\/p>\n Sasuke scoffed and ripped the paper out of her hands. \u201cDon\u2019t be stupid,\u201d he wrote, his angled handwriting just as sharp and dark as his words. \u201cOf course it is. He said so.\u201d<\/p>\n But Sakura gave him a flat look. She glanced at Sai who wore an equally unimpressed expression. They both thought the same thing: If Sasuke thought it was over and that Kakashi wasn\u2019t going to pop out from behind a tree at any moment, then why wasn\u2019t he<\/i> speaking?<\/p>\n Sasuke rolled his eyes. He picked up the pencil again, started and stopped a few times, scribbling through the lines and using up more of the small torn page before finally settling on, \u201cI\u2019m not gonna be the one who makes us do more work!\u201d<\/p>\n He shoved it back into Sakura\u2019s hands and looked at her as if it were a dare. She shook her head. This wasn\u2019t helpful.<\/p>\n Sai produced the pad it was torn from. He took the pencil from Sakura\u2019s hand. \u201cWhy do you think we\u2019re wrong?\u201d His writing was neat, evenly spaced and efficient.<\/p>\n Sakura responded. \u201cI don\u2019t know exactly. But it feels like it should be a trick.\u201d<\/p>\n Sasuke tugged the pad toward him, then made an even bigger show of rolling his eyes at her response. He grabbed the pencil out of her hand. \u201cIt\u2019s over!! Go home!! You just don\u2019t know how anything works\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Now she rolled her eyes, and grabbed the pencil back, but Sasuke had a tight grip on the pad and he wasn\u2019t letting go. Their tussle might have erupted into a fist fight if Sai hadn\u2019t put his hand firmly on the center of the pad and leveled an angry look at both of them that promised pain if they didn\u2019t let go. Surprised at the rare display of emotion from their teammate \u2014 and anger, at that \u2014 they remembered it was actually his property and both let go.<\/p>\n He took it, smoothed out the crinkled corners, then looked to Sakura who still held the pencil.<\/p>\n She nodded, promising silently she\u2019d be more careful, then accepted the pad and started writing again.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething he said\u2026. He was too happy for us\u2014\u201d Sasuke shook his head, but she kept writing, finally finding the thing that stuck out. \u201cHe told us to have a nice day off. Why would he do that? He\u2019s never given us a day off!\u201d<\/p>\n They read it, and paused, thinking too. Feeling like she was finally on the right path, Sakura continued. \u201cIf he wanted us to take a day off, then it probably means were supposed to be doing something else\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Sasuke took it and reread it all again silently. He was still not convinced, yet he wasn\u2019t leaving. He passed the pad to Sai. She looked to each of their faces. They were thinking too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What else would Kakashi expect them to do?<\/i><\/p>\n Sakura wracked her brain, running through his words, the bell test\u2026and the day off\u2026.the bell test\u2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The bell test! This was still about the bell test!!<\/i><\/p>\n Her eyes shined in the darkness. She replayed his words. She\u2019d figured it out!<\/i><\/p>\n Sakura grabbed the pad from Sai and began scribbling. They moved to either shoulder to read and, for a moment, looked very much like a team, until Sasuke backed up a step. He glanced around. Standing there, so close, made it feel like they were all part of some chummy group. They were not.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But he tipped his head to follow her words just the same.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we were on a mission, just like he said, and we had been given extra time, then we would be expected to get ahead. Scout out. Look for shortcuts or traps. Or plant them.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked up. Sai nodded definitively, confirming to her she was on the right track.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would make a plan. So, then tomorrow, on our day off, for the bell test\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Sasuke disagreed. He took the pad. \u201cThe test won\u2019t be the same though. We won\u2019t have our hands tied together, and Sai and I already know we can get it. It\u2019s you who needs the practice\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Sakura took the pad back, gently however, not ripping it out of his hands even though she might have felt like it. \u201cWe don\u2019t know that. He might try the ribbon game again. But this way we can make a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Sasuke shrugged.<\/p>\n Sai nodded.<\/p>\n Sakura continued. \u201cIf I\u2019m wrong, then we just had some extra practice. If I\u2019m right,\u201d she let the pencil rest on the page for a moment, \u201cthen it\u2019s what Kakashi would expect a team to do.\u201d<\/p>\n The last line suddenly struck her as harsh. She scribbled quickly, \u201cI guess,\u201d at the end. But it didn\u2019t make it any less true.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n No one commented on it. They weren\u2019t a team, and they all knew it. Their crazy teacher was forcing them to get along\u2014<\/p>\n Sai took the pad next and scribbled in his neat lines, \u201cWhat do you suggest? Should we meet tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n Sakura nodded, writing, \u201cMeet at the bridge, at dawn?\u201d<\/p>\n Sai nodded immediately before reaching again for the pad. Sasuke looked around, considered it, clearly feeling it was unnecessary, but finally shrugged one shoulder in acceptance. He shot Sakura a mean look that he knew she\u2019d understand. Of course he would be there. It wouldn\u2019t be him that messed it up for the group.<\/i><\/p>\n She ignored him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai flipped the pad out towards them again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sakura read Sai\u2019s clean handwriting. \u201cShould we speak tomorrow?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n She understood. The ribbon game was technically over, but if they were taking Kakashi seriously, then maybe he was expecting them to continue in silence\u2026.<\/p>\n Sakura took the pad and pencil. \u201cI don\u2019t think so\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Sasuke snatched the pencil out of her hand and scribbled down the side of the page. \u201cScared?\u201d<\/p>\n Sakura bit her lip, stopping herself from yelling into his taunting face. She grabbed the pencil back\u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSays the one who just wrote it!!\u201d She underlined \u2018wrote\u2019 several times to make her point\u2014<\/p>\n Sai had apparently been pushed to his limit. He yanked the paper and pencil back, and shoved them in his bag. He turned and left without a word.<\/p>\n Not wanting to be alone together, Sakura and Sasuke both left immediately, going fast in opposite directions.<\/p>\n Their day off was one of their most tiring days together. They spent the whole day in the training forest, not speaking, and trying not to kill each other.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When they weren\u2019t going in circles, they were scouting short-cuts to get around in front of Kakashi, testing branches where they could ambush their teacher and hunting for traps that might catch them and waste valuable time.<\/p>\n And they looked at everything in terms of three, just in case Kakashi surprised them and tied their hands together again. Could the short-cut conceal multiple people? Could the branch hold the weight of three creeping shinobis instead of just one?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n None of them spoke. Each of them carried their own notepad in their pocket and used some rudimentary hand signs. At no point did any of them feel the need to say \u201cWe move as one,\u201d as Kakashi had drilled into their heads.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But they did move as a single unit anyway.<\/p>\n By the afternoon, when they had exhausted all the planning they could, Sai suggested they try to coordinate their skills. Sasuke shrugged. Sakura said nothing. She had nothing to offer like they did.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But she guessed correctly that this was some of the strategizing Sai was trained in. She had started to observe him (and she was sure he was aware of it), when he chose a path or inspected a branch. He said nothing. Even if he was alone, he would be absorbing every detail. This wasn\u2019t a personality quirk. He was trained to do this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke did not. He approached every path as if it was going to kill him, and he was going to beat it. He looked suspiciously at his surroundings, stopped at any sudden movement, then proceeded confidently once the threat had been neutralized.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The two of them began clearing the area of traps, but they worked independently, doing things their own, proven way. Sakura saw that if they combined their abilities, they could get twice as much done. But neither seemed inclined to do so.<\/p>\n Sakura watched Sai paint out small ink creatures to dart up the trail, tiny mice who sniffed at every odd leaf, frogs who hopped down the center looking for wires.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke didn\u2019t wait. He saw the wire sooner and shot out a blue bolt from his hand. It burned up the edge of the path, exposing the wire\u2026but also exposing them to anyone they were trying to sneak up on.<\/p>\n Sakura shook her head. She wrote on her notepad, \u201cIt\u2019s not a competition!\u201d and shoved it at Sasuke. He pushed it away and walked out to inspect what he\u2019d done.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Little black creatures were scurrying back toward Sai. He leaned down with his calligraphy brush to absorb the animated ink back in, but some of them grew more frantic when they got to Sai. Understanding, Sai looked up suddenly\u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke was walking into another hidden trap.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai stood to call out, remembered he couldn\u2019t, then lobbed a stick at Sasuke\u2019s back. It connected. Sasuke turned around in a rage. Sai pointed just beyond him to the wire. The branch it was tied to had paper bombs all over the underside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke smirked and burned the whole thing up with his fire katon. Sai shook his head at the waste of energy, then continued creating his ink creatures. They were slowly, methodically, going over every inch of the woods.<\/p>\n Though Sakura had neither of their unique and, though she\u2019d never admit it to Sasuke, awesome<\/i> powers, she could see that they weren\u2019t going to get very far working like this.<\/p>\n Sai was never going to finish. And Sasuke was just going to burn everything up.<\/p>\n She might have mentioned it if either of them had been closer. But Sai kept making more animals and Sasuke kept shooting out flame blasts\u2014 From where she stood she could see where it was headed before they did.<\/p>\n Sasuke turned and shot a blast straight down at a flash on the ground\u2026which turned out to be Sai\u2019s ink animals. They sizzled up with the leaves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai frowned. Sasuke looked back, lifting a shoulder in apology. But he walked back and scribbled on the pad. There was a moment where Sakura thought Sai might be mad enough to refuse to read it. She almost hoped he would\u2014 But it didn\u2019t happen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He read Sasuke\u2019s pad and nodded in agreement to whatever was written there. Then Sai was sending the mice, frogs and snakes ahead and alerting Sasuke, who then shot down his katon with surgical precision.<\/p>\n Their devised plan worked, and worked well. And Sakura, the self-proclaimed \u2018normal one\u2019 in the group without the strange and terrifying powers, was left to just wait for them.<\/p>\n When they were finished, they walked back to where Sakura stood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke looked triumphantly at her, as if this moment proved everything he\u2019d said was right. His message was clear: She didn\u2019t belong.<\/p>\n Sai glanced over, but wouldn\u2019t meet her eyes. Strategically, his opinion was the same: She was a liability.<\/p>\n Refusing to be the one to blow their hard work with an angry outburst, Sakura took out her notepad. She couldn\u2019t hide her shaking fingers or her furiously slanted writing. But she could make herself be heard.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what if I don\u2019t have insane powers! My chakra control is better than anyone\u2019s! They tell me so at the hospital all the time\u2014\u201c\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke took out his pencil and wrote beside her words, \u201cDon\u2019t need a medic! We need a ninja\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n She pulled it away so he couldn\u2019t write. \u201cYou need a look-out!\u201d she scribbled beneath his sentence. \u201cDoesn\u2019t matter how many traps you clear if you still can\u2019t see Kakashi coming! You need to know what he\u2019s doing, then make a plan to catch him. \u201d<\/p>\n She pointed to her feet, and then to a nearby tree branch. Sai followed her movements and nodded. Sakura continued writing. \u201cI can cover the canopy, then report back where I see him\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Sasuke pulled out his own notepad. \u201cHow!?\u201d He gave her a look of disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cWith hand signals\u2014\u201c\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat if you\u2019re too far away?\u201d<\/p>\n She thought and thought, tapping her pencil.\u00a0 <\/span>Then she brightened and pointed to Sai. \u201cHis animals!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Surprising her, it was Sai who disagreed with her this time. He shook his head then took out his notebook.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI only create mice and snakes. Small forest creatures. Too small.\u201d He pointed his pencil up. \u201cCanopy too big. Won\u2019t make it\u2014\u201c He scratched that out. \u201cInefficient use of time and resources and\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Sakura shook her head and wrote in her own pad, \u201cDraw a bird then!\u201d<\/p>\n Sai looked stricken. Sakura was utterly confused.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He started and stopped writing several times. But finally he pulled his thoughts together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Sakura stared up at him as if he was crazy.<\/p>\n Sai looked like he\u2019d swallowed one of his ink frogs. It was clear Sakura wasn\u2019t going to give up till she had an answer. Sasuke stepped forward to look at him questioningly as well. It was the first and only time they\u2019d been united in anything.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai grimaced and repositioned his pencil. \u201cCan\u2019t draw birds.\u201d His small, neat writing had suddenly become even smaller.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sakura had to reread it a few times to make sure she understood. She scanned the tree branches, trying to see if birds were really that complicated\u2014<\/p>\n Sai\u2019s pencil started moving again. \u201cI can draw them. But,\u201d he paused here, holding his pencil as if he were hesitating on some deep shame. \u201cThey won\u2019t fly.\u201d<\/p>\n Sakura threw her hands up in the air. Sasuke stalked away, mad that he\u2019d wasted his time and concern over something so trivial.<\/p>\n Sai looked down, avoiding their reactions. Sakura stood still, looking at the canopy, the sky, the network of paths around them, then suddenly scribbled fast and shoved her own notepad over his.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about that. You draw them. I\u2019ll make them fly.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He looked up at her completely confused. But she smiled as she wrote, \u201cI\u2019ve got a plan!\u201d<\/p>\n The next morning, Kakashi strolled up to the bridge. He was only a few hours late. But they were expecting it. They had spent the rest of the morning going over their plan.<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t all believe in it, but they were in silent agreement that it was the best they had at the moment. They still weren\u2019t speaking, and they didn\u2019t know if Kakashi was going to tie their hands together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi was going to tease them a little, maybe even act like he might retie their hands. But seeing their serious demeanor, he decided not to. He said nothing about their silence, and he did not ask them how their time off had been.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They walked across the pitch in silence, then to the training forest. They turned in unison and looked to Kakashi. Mildly intrigued, he pulled out his timer. He glanced up \u2014 they were waiting on him \u2014 and without a word, he clicked it. They scattered in different directions in dark streaks.<\/p>\n Kakashi had been planning to read the dog-eared book in his back pocket, but now he had second thoughts. These kids were up to something\u2026.<\/p>\n He made several clones and set them out to search the forest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hours later, the team had popped all of them.<\/p>\n Kakashi was surprised. He created another clone, this one with a much closer chakra signature to his own, and sent it into the woods to creep up on them. From the canopy, Kakashi pulled his headband up and opened the scarred, swirling sharingan that was hidden there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They might never know, but it was a compliment that these kids could make him not only put down his book, but actually unmask his sharingan just to see what they were up to\u2014<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t long till he found them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai had mapped out a network of logs, tree trunks, shrubs and rocks, and was using them as cover while he drew ink creatures by the hundreds. Each of them was a little sentinel reporting back to him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Impressive, but Kakashi knew the range wasn\u2019t far. So Sai couldn\u2019t be working alone if he was stopping his clones.<\/p>\n That meant that Sasuke was lurking somewhere nearby\u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi\u2019s sharingan eye found him, noiselessly stalking his clone. He was close, but not close enough to be certain of his target. Sasuke\u2019s hand was raised for a katon, but he waited.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If Sasuke was alone in a foreign land, that hesitation could be a fatal mistake\u2026unless he had more knowledge than it appeared. He might have been working with Sai, but Sasuke was now too far out of range of his little creatures to be useful\u2014<\/p>\n A black mass swooped down from a tree, startling Kakashi. But Sasuke seemed prepared. Without a word, he moved to intercept it.<\/p>\n The black bird righted itself in his hand, then pointed in the direction that Kakashi\u2019s clone was moving through the trees, and bowed its head once, verifying there was only one human. Sasuke\u2019s target was alone.<\/p>\n Without a sound, Sasuke set the bird down on the ground. Kakashi could see its inky wings, flapping uselessly as it disappeared into the woods, probably running back to its creator.<\/p>\n That was another liability. It could be tracked back to Sai by an opponent. But when Kakashi looked to the high branches where the bird had come from, moving his head to get a better angle, he couldn\u2019t believe what he was seeing\u2014<\/p>\n There, creeping through the canopy, was Sakura. She was moving slowly, arms out, swaying a little, as gently as tree limbs. On her outstretched arms were three remaining birds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With his sensitive eye, he could detect the delicate tracks of many, many more birds stamped onto her shoulders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi had to stop himself from laughing out loud. This was too much.<\/p>\n She must have looked like a scarecrow up there, waiting for her assailant with birds sitting all over her. There were even a few marks on the top of her head, so one must have hopped up there for a while.<\/p>\n She moved oddly, legs still, but her arm was pulled back as if to throw a kunai. Except, there was no blade. One of the birds darted down her arm and hopped into her hand. Once it was in position, her fingers firmly around it like a giant black dagger, she thew it into the air, keeping the rest of her body perfectly still to absorb the thrust. It soared downward, wings back and opened them only to stop itself from colliding with the ground.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This one was a little clutzy, and rolled a few times before it stopped. These were definitely the last ones of Sai\u2019s creations, so they weren\u2019t as good. Another liability, no matter how funny it was. Kakashi bit down on his lip to keep himself from laughing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke picked the bird up by a leg, waited till it righted itself in his hands, then followed the direction it pointed.<\/p>\n Kakashi understood it all now. Sasuke was on point, assigned with catching their target. Sai was sweeping the back, making sure they were flushing their prey out and that they were not snuck up on from behind. And Sakura, like the trained medic that she was, was exploiting her greatest skill: She was working the big picture, moving through the canopy and passing back information to her teammates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It was ingenious. He was really impressed. They still had a lot farther to go, of course. Any mid-level shinobi could wipe them out. But there would be time to correct those lapses in safety.<\/p>\n Kakashi\u2019s clone popped. The sun was beginning to set.<\/p>\n There was no way they\u2019d catch him this time. But that was okay. He went back to the training poles to wait them out. He nodded at the three people sitting on a long bench off to the side under the shade of a tree.<\/p>\n Unfortunately for Sasuke, his observers from the council had not been shaken off so easily. They arrived late in the day and seemed prepared to wait as well. They gave a friendly wave to Kakashi as if they might have liked to speak to him some more about Sasuke, but he pretended he didn\u2019t see them and stayed put where he was, leaning against the pole.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n An hour later, when it was nearly dark, all three came out. He was deeply proud. They didn\u2019t abandon each other. Even in the face of failure.<\/p>\n They were tired. Sai had ink all over his hands and spots on his face and chest. Sakura had black marks all over her shoulder, as if a thousand birds had been sitting on her. And Sasuke had several burn marks in his fatigues where he\u2019d let his katon get out of control.<\/p>\n They were exhausted. But he couldn\u2019t be more pleased with them.<\/p>\n They couldn\u2019t see well enough in the dark to be sure, but his voice sounded like he was beaming.<\/p>\n \u201cExcellent Team 7! Well done!\u201d They shifted, spirits rising despite being tired. \u201cYou would, of course, all have been killed, at many different intervals\u2014\u201c Their shoulders dropped. \u201cBut you\u2019ve done so much better! You would have lasted so much longer before you were picked off by enemy nins!\u201d<\/p>\n He was smiling, they could hear it in his voice. They looked at each other, unsure if he was joking or not. No one spoke.<\/p>\n There were a few chuckles from off to the side, and a scratch of pencils on clipboards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sasuke noticed them. Realizing who it was, and who they were there for, he quickly turned away with a scowl. The observers were satisfied with Kakashi\u2019s praise and began gathering their things to leave, but when Kakashi started speaking, they respectfully sat back down.<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t go over the parts you got wrong \u2014\u00a0there were many errors, and experience will be your best teacher to remedy those \u2014 so I will talk about the parts you got right. Your teamwork far surpassed anything I expected from you.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at them for a response, but got none. He had to stop himself from cracking into a huge smile.<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2026Anything you\u2019d like to add?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They couldn\u2019t escape it now.<\/p>\n They looked at each other nervously before mumbling a dispirited, \u201cWe move as one.\u201d<\/p>\n He tucked away his smile and took them seriously. He gave them a shrewd look. \u201cGood job. You may speak again.\u201d<\/p>\n None of them did.<\/p>\n Excellent, he breathed. He was truly pleased with them. \u201cYour mission is complete,\u201d he said firmly.<\/p>\n They visibly relaxed.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, tell me how this all came about.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They glanced at each other, but it was Sai who took the plunge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe divided up our abilities and our most efficient use of the skills that benefited the group, then we devised a communication system\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cStop,\u201d Kakashi said, but it was not mean. \u201cI understand why you did it. I want to know how. Plainly. This is not your anbu team, Sai. Speak as if you\u2019re on Team 7.\u201d<\/p>\n Sai cleared his throat. \u201cWe decided to prepare for today, since you\u2019d given us the day off.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd how did you come to this decision?\u201d<\/p>\n Sai answered automatically. \u201cThrough a process of non-verbal communication and\u2014\u201c Kakashi put his hand up. Sai paused, then added, \u201cWe wrote notes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd when did you work all this out?\u201d<\/p>\n Sai remembered to speak plainly. \u201cWe took our day off to get ahead. To work in unison, to make a plan.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi nodded, satisfied. \u201cIt worked. Good job.\u201d<\/p>\n He narrowed his eyes. Sai may now be their appointed speaker, but he doubted he organized it. And Sasuke would rather not have been there at all. That left only one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd who decided not to speak?\u201d<\/p>\n After a moment, Sai answered. \u201cUh, we all did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd who decided not to take the day off?\u201d<\/p>\n This time, however, Sai glanced at Sakura.<\/p>\n Kakashi knew they\u2019d worked out something amongst themselves. He\u2019d watched them. He\u2019d seen Sasuke nearly storm away, and Sai stay neutral. It was Sakura alone who called them back and made them come together.<\/p>\n \u201cI did.\u201d Her voice sounded rusty and small in the the darkness. She cleared her throat. \u201cI did,\u201d she said firmly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He looked at her as if she\u2019d done something wrong. \u201cContinue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou said that the mission wasn\u2019t over until the task was complete\u2014\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA-And that we should look underneath the underneath.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi\u2019s face broke into a quizzical expression. Sasuke scoffed quietly.<\/p>\n She glanced at Sasuke, but she stood her ground, refusing to let her confidence crumble.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, then, I thought that the mission was not about the old woman\u2019s garden. Nor was it the D-rank mission, or even this<\/i> bell test. We never completed the first<\/i> bell test. That was our mission, the one you set out for us at the beginning. The one we failed.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAh yes, seeing the big picture Sakura.\u201d He was silent for a long time, enough to try to rattle her. \u201cAnd you\u2019re sure about this\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2014\u201c\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sai and Sasuke were looking at her as if they had no idea what she was talking about. Sasuke\u2019s expression carried a warning for her to not screw it up.<\/p>\n She glanced at them, but it made her nervous, so she turned back to Kakashi and said quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes. Because you said the same thing both times. When you started the bell test and when you started the second one. You even said the same words, \u201coff you go,\u201d in the same tone at the beginning. Everything was the same.\u201d<\/p>\n He nodded at her to continue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo if this was a mission, then it was a single mission: The bell test. And the ribbon game, the D-rank mission\u2026even the day off, those were all just a distraction.\u201d<\/p>\n Kakashi was smiling beneath his mask. Sai tipped his head nodding at this new information. Sasuke\u2019s mouth had opened once in surprise, but he quickly closed it again.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if the \u2018rules\u2019 were really mission constraints in disguise\u201d she splayed out her fingers, \u201cthen the constraints were first, take the bell test; second, don\u2019t speak; and third, take the bell test again. That was only mission. Not to get the bells, but to finish the bell test as a team<\/i>. It was always the same mission.\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled broadly. \u201cMission accomplished.\u201d<\/p>\n For the first time in days, Sakura felt like exhale.<\/p>\n \u201cWell done, Sakura. Your medic training has taught you to see the big picture, then zoom in on the finest details. You are learning to pick out what matters, and what doesn\u2019t. You two could learn something from this,\u201d he said, looking at the two boys. \u201cIt will make you better shinobi.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Sai nodded, but Sasuke\u2019s arms were folded over his chest as if he didn\u2019t believe Kakashi.<\/p>\n \u201cThe three of you, as a team, work together as a single weapon. Each brings his or her own unique piece, and together you are infinitely more powerful than apart. But it only works if you fit together, you move<\/i> together, seamlessly. You move as one<\/i>. One team, one weapon. You understand each other\u2019s strengths and weakness, as if they were an extension of your own. You know what your teammate is going to do, how they are going to react, sometimes even before they do. From now on, I want you to think of Team 7 as a single weapon, working in complete unison for a single goal.\u201d<\/p>\n Sakura took it to heart, Sai was nodding in understanding, and even Sasuke seemed to have relaxed a little, like all of this work might have been worth it\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cSo then,\u201d Sasuke began. \u201cThis means you\u2019ll sign for us up for the Chunin exams?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh heavens no!\u201d Kakashi laughed. \u201cYou\u2019d all be killed in the first 10 minutes!\u201c<\/p>\n Sasuke sounded like he was choking. \u201cWhat?!\u201d<\/i> His self control evaporated. \u201cWhy\u2014? How could you\u2014?\u201d Deep, unshakeable anger descended upon him. \u201cYou\u2014<\/i> \u201c He growled, pointing a finger up at Kakashi. \u201cYou\u2019ve lied to us every step of the way! You were never going to let us go, and this whole thing was just another lie!! What a waste of time\u2014\u201c he muttered, running his hands through his hair. \u201cWhy did I<\/i> get stuck with you\u2014 with all of you\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n He looked up suddenly, hair sticking up everywhere like a madman, remembering that the observers were there. But it was too late. They were already going back to their clipboards, some jotting new notes, others erasing and rewriting old comments.<\/p>\n For a moment, Sasuke looked like he wanted to cry, like he knew he had ruined it for himself and there was no one else to blame.<\/p>\n The observers stood and left without a word.<\/p>\n Sasuke\u2019s watched their backs disappear into darkness, his face twisting into a pale rage. Once they were out of earshot Sasuke turned on Kakashi with vicious anger.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have no right to hold me back\u2014\u201c His voice was low and trembling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kakashi shook his head, disappointed that they seemed to be losing all the ground they\u2019d gained.<\/p>\n Sasuke looked around desperately like he still wanted to blame it on something else\u2026someone<\/i> else\u2014<\/p>\n He pointed suddenly at Sakura\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cThis is all because of you!\u201d<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sakura gasped and frowned back at Sasuke.<\/p>\n But Sasuke no longer saw her. \u201cIt\u2019s her who would get killed. Not me!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
\n