Ai Saikuro

Chapter Fourteen

So here the four of us were yet again on the godforsaken bridge. Yes, the exact same stinking bridge as last time where I waited pointlessly to hear about a mission I didn't even have to go on. Gosh, I hated wasting time. I berated myself mentally for my stupidity in thinking that the copy-nin may actually arrive in decent time. Psh. Right after I give up my ninja career.  I crossed my legs and placed my palms against the railing I was sitting on leaning back.

I could hear the morons complaining of Kakashi's tardiness despite my attempts at drowning them out with my own thoughts. Ever heard the saying, 'I can't hear myself think'? That's how it is every single time I'm around this crew. I wished the Hokage would assign me more missions that were solos or with other teams. That would be exceptionally nice. Too bad the Hokage was a cruel bastard.

I could be doing something more useful with my time right now, like training or maybe training. Yeah, that would be nice.

Suddenly, interrupting my relatively safe and peaceful thoughts, a blonde blur appeared in my line of vision, staring intensely into my face. Believe me, it wasn't a thing you would want to wake up to in a dark room. I summended all my remaining patience and kept my face neutral.

"HEY!" He called to me in his usual obnoxiously loud yell. "How come you never get involved in the team? You just sit there and act like you're all better than us! Well, you're not!"

Sadly for Naruto, I was better than him, not that he was aware or anything. Because, once again, he was oblivious.

"And how is it that I'm acting superior?" I asked him, sighing, asking myself why I was even bothering to answer him. It only instigated more stupidity on his behalf.

He crossed his arms, making him look very much like the brat he claimed he no longer was and tilted his head up snottily. "Whatever, you don't know anything! Believe it!"

I shrugged innocently and matched my stare to his. "Anything? Anything is a term that refers to literally any thing, sometimes unspecified. I know exactly what anything is." I replied in a lazy lull, rolling my eyes once more.

His face turned red and he tossed his hands into the air in frustration. "What?!" He cried. "No one ever knows what you're talking about!"

A smirk twitched on the corner of my lips. "Believe it." I murmured smartly.

He growled but, luckily for all parties involved, and to my great relief (no, I wasn't afraid of the baka, I was getting bored) the "oh-so-amazing" ninja instructor of ours showed his masked face.

"Yo." I greeted him with a two fingered solute and a blank face. He nodded once to me with his trademark closed eyed smile. Or smirk, depending how annoyed you were with the man at that particular moment.

"I have recommended you all for the Chunin Exams." The grey haired nin explained casually.

The pinkette and the blonde freaked out, not that I can say I was surprised or anything. The pinkette was the first to take action and of course, she was a pessimist or as I would say: a bitch.

"But Sensei! Do you really think we're ready for that?" She asked desperately.

I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes forcefully, Kakashi's voice becoming little more than a hum in the background of my thoughts. Sakura would be the member, if any, to hold this team back. It was sad to me that a team with such potential had such a selfish and unfocused teammate. I wondered distantly if I would be a standing member to the team during the exams or be on my own. Four members on one team and three on the others would be unfair to all groups. In fact, I should probably talk to the Hokage about solo-ing this assignment.

I grinned somewhat wistfully; there was no rule against teams helping specific other teams, however. Not that an innocent person like myself would rig such an important test...

"Think carefully about your choices and meet me at the academy at 8 AM tomorrow." He vanished.

I straightened myself and looked over to my team. "Don't do anything idiotic while I'm gone this time, hmm?"

Naruto scowled poutingly at me while Sasuke nodded, this in turn caused the remaining member to nod quickly as well. If the girl didn't hold back the team by being cowardly then she would get one of them killed with her obsession. I would rather that not happen.

I made a fast hand sign and allowed myself to reappear in front of the Hokage's door. It was rude to barge in without knocking, ninja or not. I raised a fist and tapped carelessly on the wood. With my sharp ears I could easily catch the rustling of papers and the hefty sigh that escaped the room. For a moment I pitied the old man and wondered if I shouldn't just come back a different time but I steeled myself. He was the greatest ninja in the village and he was to be respected; it would be rude to think him too weak to attend to a simple matter such as mine.

"Come in, come in!" There was more shuffling of papers and the sound of a scraping chair.

I straightened and opened the door, entering as silently as was possible. "So...rumor has it that the at least three of the rookie nine will be entering the exams this year. Odd, I'd think. I mean when was the last time someone under fifteen competed?"

The Hokage gave me a stern glance as he finally met my gaze. "One might wonder where you got that sharp tongue of yours." His tone carried hidden amusement.

 "It was a gift." I smirked. "I trust you know why I'm here?"

His eyebrows pulled into a bushy arch. "I have no one at a high enough level-"

I cut him off. "Not that, Sir. The Chunin Exams...Where do I fit in the pretty picture you got going on?"

He tilted his head and then smiled.

A/N: I'm not dead! Imagine that, ma'dears. Sorry for the extended wait. I do, however, have a very important question for you guys: Longer chapters? Or keep them the same? I have way more free time now guys! You can expect more updates and bug me if they don't happen. :)

~Also: Anyone who's a good drawer I would love you forever if you drew Ai! :) And if you want to write a one-shot based on her that's fine too! Send me the link to either and I'll probably follow you, read something of yours, or dedicate a chapter to your loveliness!~