Konoha's Red Dragon

little bit of misdirection never hurt nobody

The alarm rang and she flinched. Kakashi looked at her for a little longer before nodding. A silent good job. Aki grinned, even as she rubbed her back.

Kakashi stood with a faux calm in front of a disappointed Sakura, a brooding, scowling Sasuke, Naruto tied to a stump with Aki sitting a little away from everyone else, Kakashi huffed.

"Congratulations, I've decided that no one will be going back to the academy." He began, only to be cut off by an excited whoop from Sakura and cheers from Naruto. Aki was relieved but had a sneaking suspicion suspicion at the sudden change in thought. But people change their minds all the time.

"You'll be dropped from the program. permanently."

Instant silence. He smiled at them as outrage slowly broke across their faces. Aki slumped in disappointment. That wasn't fair! 'You lied!' she yelled internally, a sense of betrayal that she didn't think the disembodied voice would be capable of giving her.

"Be patient, everything will turn out fine. Just protect your teammates." she said softly.

Aki turned her head slightly when she noticed the hate in Sasuke's eyes. He tensed and leapt up, his hand immediately reaching into his kunai pouch.
As soon as Kakashi reached to grab and disarm the hot headed boy, he was tugged back. His pride being the only thing holding in a very panicked yelp as Aki threw him back from Kakashi.

She stood in front of her team, looking Kakashi in the eye with a challenging glint. Before turning her head to give Sasuke a very pointed look that almost made Kakashi snicker. It would do him no good if Sasuke got into trouble now anyway.

Sasuke looked quite undignified at being thrown so easily by one of his classmates. Naruto looked torn between laughing his head off at Sasuke or glaring at Kakashi, while Sakura was practically glowering at Aki and Kakashi both. It made for quite the funny picture, Aki thought.

"You think it's all about you. It's not, and you will get everyone killed, including yourself, thinking that way," Sasuke opened his mouth to refute but the jonin continued on. Not willing to be disrupted. "Why do you think we put you on squads? Typically in groups of three, have you ever thought about it?" he asked, not missing the way Aki seemed to shrink a tiny bit where she stood while Sakura seemed to look contemplative.

When no one spoke up, he narrowed his eyes, "it's so basic, even a 6 year old could understand it-" they all bristled behind Aki, who only looked down. She thinks she knew the answer. She just couldn't say it- "teamwork!" When it finally clicked, they looked shocked. It made Kakashi stare at them coldly. His one eyed look verging on a glare.
Yup, Aki knew the answer, she was basically given it, but still.

"Just working together? Really?" Sakura voiced the question that seemed to be on everyone's mind. Aki tipping her head forward in disappointment.

"Really," he parroted, "well, there's really no point, is there?" he asked, somewhat mocking. Aki kept her mouth closed, her eyes stung somewhat but she wouldn't cry. She didn't want to not be able to become a ninja entirely. She was really hoping for a second chance.

"Sakura, if I had captured Sasuke and Aki wasn't able to help, you would have to decide between them. Either kill Naruto to save Sasuke, or let Sasuke die and help Naruto." At her crestfallen expression, he could see he made somewhat of an impact on her, "that's what happens on a mission. The enemy takes a hostage, typically teammates, people who hold emotional value to you, and you have to make a decision, and quickly. Usually, someone ends up dead." he finished breezily.

Aki thought that he sounded like he was speaking from experience. She couldn't doubt that he was.

He sighed, tucking his hands into his pockets as he looked down at them.