A Little More Than This (Discontinued)

Chapter 11

12-year-old Mei laughed loudly as she looked out the window, capturing a view of the Hokage faces.

"What is it Hatake?" Iruka-sensei asked. "The Hokage Faces they're, well, different" she giggled. Iruka shot a slightly puzzled look at her and walked over to the window, before allowing his jaw to drop.

Mei nudged Shikamaru awake and pointed to the mountain. He choked back a laugh and nudged Chōji, who was too busy eating to notice anything.

The three fell into silent laughter as much of the class ran over to the window. Many of the kids stifled laughter, while a few like Kiba and Mei and a few unnamable others laughed loudly, earning a heated glare from their sensei.

"Every go to study! I'll be right back!" Iruka growled, jumping out the window. The class settled down and many of the kids started socialising.

"Geez can't they be quiet so I can sleep?" Shikamaru asked. "Of course you'd say that Shika" Mei giggled. Shikaku just averted his gaze and nodded. Chōji let out a low chuckle before turning back to his food.

Mei opened up a book on water jutsu and started memorising the hand sequences.

~

Naruto sat in the middle of the class viewing area, tied up with ropes. Apparently he was the one who messed up the faces.

Mei sighed quietly to herself, this was typical behaviour from him so she was a little pissed at him.

"Thanks to you Naruto we'll be taking the test all over again!" Iruka yelled.

Scratch that, she was very pissed at him.

The entire class lined up in front of the seats, most glaring at Naruto. Eventually Mei's name was called and she stepped up.

"Transform" she muttered, transforming into her sensei. Iruka nodded and she released the jutsu then returned to her place in line, on the end closer to the window.

Sasuke went next, gaining the same head-nod at his jutsu before Naruto walked up.

"Don't do it" Mei muttered as Naruto transformed, into his 'sexy jutsu'. Iruka got a nosebleed and many of the boys blushed slightly. "Oh my god" Mei sighed, face-palming slightly. Naruto released the jutsu and many of the girls glared at him.

"CUT THE CRAP!! THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!!" Iruka yelled, causing many students to sweat dropped.

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Sasori pulled up his brush, having finished repainting the tiny puppet. He connected his chakra strings and made the little tangerine replica dance childishly. Surprisingly it brought a smile to his wooden lips.

He made the puppet face him and ran a hand through it's woollen orange fluff, causing him to scowl slightly.

"This isn't right! Her hair is too grubby!" He growled, causing his partner to wake with a start. "Huh? What's too grub-i-is that Mei?" Deidara asked wiping the sleep from his eyes.

Sasori looked furious with himself, but nodded curtly, avoiding eye-contact with the blond artist. "It's pretty good, considering you can't get human hair for it" Deidara said patting the puppet's head. Sasori hummed in response, scratching his chin thoughtfully.

"Though you haven't got the right colour blue in her eyes" Deidara muttered. "Usually the colours of the puppet are already there! I don't have many colours!" Sasori growled, a tic mark pulsing in his head.

"I was gonna ask if you wanted to borrow my blue! I made it based off of her eyes Sasori-Danna!" Deidara snapped back, holding out a little casket of ink. Sasori snatched it off of him and cleaned the puppets eyes, before repainting the puppet with the new ink.

"See? Better, you should wash the wool though, it looks disgusting" Deidara smirked, rolling back over to sleep.

Sasori just growled at him before turning back to the puppet. He made the puppet twirl once before smiling at it. He ran a wooden hand through it's orange fluff before sealing it back it it's scroll.

"We miss you"

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Kakashi was on edge, Mei was practising water jutsu, but it was like she had know them all her life, a few he was baffled that she even knew them at all. His little tangerine was growing very powerful and he was scared.

"Oh hey Tou-San!" Mei called spotting him. "Hey Baby Girl, how long have you been practicing?" Kakashi asked. Mei flinched slightly and then answered "I came here after school, Shika-kun and Sasuke-kun where both here but they had to leave".

"Can't you have any female friends?" Kakashi asked desperately. "I do! Sakura, Ino and Hinata are my friends!" Mei replied happily.

"Hey..... Do you want to head home and make some Onigiri?" Kakashi asked. Mei beamed up at him and nodded, causing Kakashi to beam back and take her home.

'How long until you tell me Mei? That secret you're holding back from the world?'

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Mei ran to class, she was going to be late no matter what happened. She skidded along the final corridor and bolted to her classroom door. She burst in and sighed as Iruka raised an eyebrow at her.

"You have a late slip Hatake?" Iruka asked. Mei half ran, half tripped over to him and slammed a pink slip of paper on his desk.
"Alright, please take a seat Mei" Iruka replied featuring for her to take a seat.

She sat down next to Shikamaru and sighed as Iruka started explaining what the Graduation exam was gonna be about.

"So any ideas Shika?" Mei asked. "Yeah, if Naruto get's through, then I guess him and Sasuke will be on one team, that team will get a stabiliser, most likely you or Hinata. Me and Choji will be on a team with a possible medic, again either Sakura, Ino, you or Hinata, and that's all I'm sure of" Shikamaru responded under his breath.

Mei nodded quietly, understanding exactly that those two teams where a definite.

"-the test will be on the Clone Jutsu" Iruka announced. Mei looked at Naruto pitifully as the blond started freaking out. 'Poor Naruto. That's his worst Jutsu'.

"Or maybe he won't get through, maybe Kiba instead" Shikamaru said, crossing his arms behind his head.

~

"Hatake Mei!"

"Well this is me! See you in a minute Shika, Choji" Mei cried, running down the stairs and waving goodbye. Choji waved back and Shikamaru mumbled a 'bye' after her.

Mei opened the door of the testing room and stepped inside. She quickly scanned the room and walked over to the two at the table.

"Please preform the clone Jutsu, it doesn't matter which type you use" Mizuki stated, crossing his arms.

"Leaf-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Mei cried forming three signs, unfamiliar to the two Chūnin. There was a small whirlwind of leaves before three, perfect clones stood behind the real Mei. All four did a small curtsy, before Iruka threw her a headband.

"Great job Mei!" Iruka cried, allowing her to leave. "Just go straight to lunch and wait for for you instructions once we're through testing everyone" Mizuki told her. She nodded and skipped off to lunch.