Realization: Chapter 3

Kakashi noticed the change immediately. But then, he was their teacher. It was his job to monitor his students, check their progress, help them grow into sufficient ninjas. Not the easiest task when your team consisted of the villiage's most frigid rookie, it's most two-faced love stuck girl, and hellion for attention that happened to be the seal of a devastating demon. He took it in stride though. It was the team that he had wanted, after all.

It always amused him that they thought he was so late for their morning meetings. Truthfully, he rarely was. There was an occasion or two where he'd catch a few more minutes of rest before having to deal with the day, but mostly, he watched. He had left them waiting for hours before, just watching, seeing how they changed, with every passing day. Each so eager in their own way to advance. . .

He could always expect Sakura to be running late. Sasuke, never. He was always the first there, waiting, uncomplaining. And Naruto, he was always the latest of all, a stream of cusswords flowing from his mouth, which would usually dissipate, eyes brightening when Kakashi-sensei would tell them the agenda for the day. He was always to enthusiastic.

To the Jounin's surprise, Naruto was there first, this morning. The dew was thick upon the ground, and he looked tired, as if he had been there all night. Dark circles ringed his eyes as he leaned against a tree trunk. The boy appeared to be mumbling angrily to himself, his hand briefly touching his lips every few moments in a nervous tic. Tensing, he stopped immediately, silent as the ever punctual Sasuke appeared.

Sasuke looked unfazed by the blonde boy's attendance, in fact, his face, gait and demeanor didn't slip for a second. He would be a great ninja one day, Kakashi mused, if he ever learned to trust anyone. The Uchiha leaned against a tree opposite from Naruto, still paying the orange clad boy no attention.

It was as if there was a physical countdown on Naruto's face, as the lack of acknowledgement only enraged the smaller boy more. The gray haired man watched as Naruto's muscles tensed, enraged and ready to attack, when-

"You keep staring at me like that, deadlast, and someone's gonna think that you have the hots for me." Sasuke's voice snapped through the clearing, and Kakashi was surprised to see Naruto falter a moment. Usually such a goading statement would send the boy flying in a rage to prove himself the opposite of a derogatory statement.

But he only faltered a moment. And Kakashi's surprise only grew.

"The only people who'd ever like you are little girls who're only looking for a pretty face!" Naruto snarled, seething. That only made Sasuke smirk more.

"So you think I have a pretty face, Naruto?" Sarcasm oozed like honey through the Uchiha's voice. Naruto withdrew in shock, mouth forming shapes, but no actual sounds emerging.

"I. . . I didn't say that! I said. . ."

"You said only girls looking for a pretty face. So, if you use that analogy, you must think I have a pretty face, huh?" Sasuke was turned away from Naruto, but the sound of his voice easily told that he was triumphantly smirking.

Naruto's fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. "You. . . you stupid bastard!" The blonde boy snarled, launching himself at the Uchiha. Of course, Sasuke could have seen the attack coming from the next town over and easily dodged it, and the volley of kicks that followed. It wasn't long before Naruto was slammed face down in the dirt, Sasuke grinding a knee into his back. "You might as well just give up, dobe, unless you like. . ."

Kakashi strained his ears to hear what Sasuke was saying, but it was as if the boy purposely quieted, to make the next words for Naruto alone. He watched as cerulean eyes widened in shock, hurt, and anger. He thought to hop down from the tree and stop this display, when he heard Sakura approach. Sasuke evidently heard too, as he gracefully stood and leaned against a tree, stoic to the world yet again.

The pink haired girl's arrival wasn't as bouncy and adoring of Sasuke as usual. In fact, she didn't even glance his way. Kakashi noted the brisk step in which she headed straight for Naruto. The blonde on the other hand was grumbling and getting up, brushing mud spatters off of his orange jacket and pants. Kakashi noticed something was missing-- her forehead protector. She knew better, being a ninja trainee, than to leave it at home. . .

She was shrieking. "I hate you! You know that? I hate you! All you ever do is get in the way!" Her fists were balled at her sides, her body taught with outrage. Naruto gazed up at her, hurt lancing throught those blue eyes.

"But Sakura-chan, I didn't-"

It was then Kakashi saw her forehead protector, tied tightly around a fist, metal adorning her knuckles. Shit.

Her fist connected with Naruto's nose before Kakashi could even shout a warning to the boy. He yelped in pain, an animal sound, as he crashed to the forest floor a second time. Blood poured from his nose as he stared up at Sakura, betrayed. Even Sasuke couldn't keep his cool any longer, as he took a step forward, staring in shock at the spectacle before him.

"Don't you dare talk to me like we're friends! You. . . you bastard! How could you do this to me! When you know I like. . ." she managed a quick look at Sasuke, before turning her glare back to Naruto. "You shouldn't even be a part of this team! No one likes you, and you're a huge nuisance! Everybody just feels too sorry for you to tell you how much they hate you!!!" She screamed, raising her leg to kick him while he was down.

It was then that Kakashi stepped in, easily grabbing her leg. She wheeled in shock, gazing at her sensei in horror, knowing that he'd seen.

"That will be quite enough, Sakura-chan. I don't know what's going on here, but it's over now. You are dismissed." He said simply, watching her face turn to terror.

"Dismissed. . . what do you. . ." She stuttered, not quite believing the words.

"Meaning there will be no training today. Though I would like you to go home and think about what the word 'team' means, and how you've made a mockery of yours today." He allowed a twinge of anger to enter his voice, as he let the girl go. Sakura backed away, glancing at Sasuke once, before turning and running home, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Kakashi turned to the spot where Naruto was sitting, well, had been sitting. All that was there now were splotches of blood from the teen's bloody nose. The grey haired man grimaced. Probably broken. Not that it would be for long. He would be easy enough to find. There was still Sasuke. . .

But to his surprise, the Uchiha had dissapeared too, leaving him alone in the clearing.

Kakashi grimaced under his mask. This wasn't going to be good.

to be continued





previously ~*~ Back to the other fics ~*~ Next Chapter