Always Out Of My Reach

Part 2: Introductions

Time slipped away as they followed Kakashi to their next destination. They ended up at the walkway with three arches above head and stairs that led to the dead end. The rails in front of them signified that they were at a high place and to be careful not to fall off. They made themselves comfortable on the steps and their team leader leaned on the railing. He looked over the group in front of him with no hope that they successfully complete the challenge he set for them.

Nevertheless, he did his part as their current team leader. He was first to speak. "Introduce yourselves. One at a time." The bored ninja said while looking at them. Their expression told him that they didn't know how to. A long sigh left his lips. "Like things you hate and dreams for the future."

"Will talk to us about you and let us see how it is supposed to work." The orange ninja said to Kakashi.

"I'm Kakashi Hatake. Thing I like and things I hate I don't feel like telling you that. My dreams of the future, never really thought about it. As for my hobbies...okay your turn." The team leader said looking back at them.

"Believe it, I'm Naruto Uzumaki. I really like the ramen Iruka sensei got me at the Ichiraku noodle shop, and my future dream is to be the Greatest Hokage." The knuckle headed ninja went first with his introduction.

"Akiko Bushida, I like dumpling with meat filling and dreams for the future is...whatever the clan leader decides." Her voice came out soft and crackly because of the long period she didn't speak. The orange ninja started to laugh at her.

"That sounds like a girl's name, believe it!" He said as he laughed more but the boy next to him gritted his teeth at the loud ninja.

"But I..." Akiko began but was interrupted by Sasuke. "My name is Sasuke Uchiha, and I don't particularly like anything. My dreams are to restore my clan and to destroy a curtain someone." Sasuke said with disdain in his voice.

'Just as I thought.' The little voice in Kakashi's mind said as he looked at the boy. "Now that this is settled. We will meet at the training grounds tomorrow morning at 8. I advise you not eat anything until then. The training is going to be so severe that you'll vomit." Kakashi said to them with a glint in his eyes before taking off in a flash.

"Some teacher, he is." Naruto complained before standing up from his seated position.

Akiko stands up and dusted herself off. It's been a long day for her and really wanted to go home. Sasuke glared at the girl from the corner of his eye. All he saw in 'him' is another obstacle he must overcome. The aura the kid emitted made him underestimate 'him', but the sense of power was there that he just couldn't shake.

Akiko looked at her team and gave a small wave at them with a small smile, not that they would notice, before she walked off. Excitement brood within her. She knew what her father prepared for her that day. Dumplings.

That small gesture from Akiko sent Sasuke in overdrive. 'How dare 'he' think 'he' is better than us!' He thought while his heart was racing a thousand miles per hour and his ears turned to a blush red. Naruto noticed the pink ears and started laughing.

"Sasuke is blushing! Sasuke is blushing!" The loud ninja teased the dark-haired boy. Sasuke scoffed at the boy's childish attempts while more 'anger' rose within him.

"Shut it, loser." With that the boy stood up and left the scene.

Meanwhile the silent girl was on her way home. She passed the training ground she usually practices her swordsmanship with her father. Her eyes wandered over the surface to see three familiar faces. The chubby boy, the scrawny pineapple head and the annoying Sasuke fangirl. They were training their bodies from the look of their stances. She stood there for a moment watching them. Then suddenly the pineapple head's eyes catch her gazing. He cocked his head to the right as he watched her.

The only thing she could think of doing in that awkward moment was to nervously smile and wave at the pineapple head then ran off. She couldn't believe he noticed her presence. Her cheek flaming red of embarrassment as she walked in her house.

The boy on the other end was just even more confused at the 'boy's' behavior. His mind wanders back to the incident that happened in the classroom and a chuckle erupted his throat. Then something hard made an impact on his face that send him flying back. The chubby boy just hit him at the request of his teacher.

Then next day they met up at the 4th training ground with three large posts at the arranged time. Kakashi was no where in sight. Akiko looked down at the pink bento box in her hands and then looked at her team. Her father packed lunch for her and her team as an attempt for her to make friends with them after hearing that they didn't get along with her. Akiko on the other hand felt embarrassed at the idea but her father insisted that it will work.

Her voice is low as she spoke, "Our lunch...for...after training and Naruto..." she called at the blonde boy and gave him bunch of small slips. The blonde looked confused as he took it.

"Ew, a love letter from a boy." He said before looking it. Akiko shook her head no. When Naruto looked down at the slips and read what was on it, he looked back at her confused. Sasuke tries to seem uninterested but was listening intently. "Laundry mat tickets. So, you're saying I stink!" He said in disbelief. The dark-haired boy snickered. That made Naruto's face flamed up before he stomped off to the other direction.

She didn't know why the blonde boy was upset. In her mind, she was just tried to help him after he nearly caused her death the day before. She still has much to learn form the whole team thing. Her eyes avert to the snickering boy. She tilted her head at the boy with a confused look.

After a moment, the snickering stopped, and the dark-haired boy looked at her. He was amused to see her confused face. 'Maybe 'he' can't understand social cues? Maybe I overestimated 'him' thinking 'he' was strong, but 'he' just doesn't know how to talk to people.' The dark-haired boy thought with a smirk on his face.

Akiko felt like she did something wrong but still didn't know what and thought that the boy smirking at her would know. "Did I do something wrong?" She asked. Her dad said that it'll work if she gave them presents and food.

"No, you didn't. But you did hurt his ego." Sasuke explained. Akiko made an 'oh' face and that made her felt guilty. "Never had any friends before, have you?" The boy said with a curious face. He also never had friends.

She shook her head no. "Never needed one." She said monotone while looking at him. Sasuke could relate to that. Friends was always last on his list. But then something hit him. ''He' never needed friends. Does that mean our goals are alike? The need to get stronger. I won't allow that.' He frowned as he thought that.

Akiko saw the boy's expression change. 'What is wrong with this people? Seriously, like a damn landmine.' She thought annoyed with herself. It would be better if she didn't talk to them. She didn't want to make things worse that it already is. 'Where is Kakashi sensei?' Her eyes wandered around to the bland ninja.

So, they waited and waited but the ninja was nowhere in sight. 8 o'clock turn to 9 and 9 turn to 10. And finally, the bland ninja landed on the middle post with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Naruto blasted at him. "And where have you been? It's been hours, believe it!" The knucklehead demanded answers. Kakashi looked at the sky with glee.

"I got lost on the path of life." He said before his facial expression turned into a serious one. "Are you ready for the worst training session of your life?"

To Be Continued

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Sorry it took so long to update.  But I hope you enjoy this chapter. Rawr.😺😺😺