Frozen Past (A Naruto FanFic/Gaara Love Story)

Sand and Leaf

"The Chunin Exams?"

"Yes, Akari, as I've said four times already, you all will be joining in the Chunin Exams this year," Kurenai Sensei says wearily. She has, in fact, repeated this to me four times, but I'm so excited and shocked I have to keep asking, to make sure she isn't kidding.

The Chunin Exams! We've only been a team for a few months, and now we're going to enter the Chunin Exams! I'm too excited to be worried, but Hinata...

"B-But Kurenai Sensei... isn't it t-too soon?" she stutters, making Kiba roll his eyes. Ignoring her worries, he bares his teeth in a smile. "This is awesome!" he exclaims, with Akamaru barking madly to back him up.

Shino merely lifts and eyebrow, showing his mild surprise and excitement.

He's so expressive, isn't he?

Ah, I love him anyway.

"As a matter of fact," Kurenai says, "I've got to go inform Third Hokage of my decision right now. So go ahead and take the rest of the day to do what you please. Train, relax, freak out. It's your choice."

With that, she does a quick handsign and disappears.

Hinata turns to me, fear in her eyes. "You're not worried at all?" she asks me. I pause, rubbing the back of my neck. "Well, I know it feels a little sudden but if Kurenai Sensei thinks we're ready, then I think we're ready too." A small bit of reassurence creeps into her eyes, and I smile to myself. It's been about two weeks since her father almost killed me for being in his house without permission, and we've both been training hard even since.

Kiba and Shino have too, but they hardly need it compared to us.

More importantly, Kiba has been helping me with basic Taijutsu. I still need somebody a little more specialized, but the training has been helping. I feel ready to tackle the Chunin Exams, even if my head tells me Hinata is right, and it's too soon.

"What do you guys want to do?" I ask the three of them. Kiba throws his hands behind his head, shrugging. "Not sure," he says. "Training makes sense, but I'm not really focused at the moment. Shino?"

The Aburame shakes his head, telling us the decision is ours.

I roll my eyes playfully.

"Thanks Shino," I say, shoving him gently. "At least we can rely on you to make the tough decisions."

He says nothing, and I'm not surprised. I've not been able to goad him into an argument yet, though not for lack of trying. I honestly think it would be funny and horrifying to watch Shino explode.

I have a "lightbulb" moment, slapping my forehead in frustration. "What's wrong, Akari?" Hinata aks worriedly. I smile at her, to say nothing's wrong, not really. "I've just remembered. Masaki asked me to show him my new jutsu today. He was very adamant about it." I shrug helplessly. "Guess I'll see you guys later?"

Kiba grins broadly, throwing an arm around my neck and nearly knocking me to the ground in the process. "Course we'll see you later. Now go kick your brother's ass!"

I can't help buy laugh, and apparently, neither can Hinata. Only Shino keeps his cool, watching us with an unreadable expression as I crack up and Hinata giggles uncontrollably.

Man, I love my team.

***

"Ugh, I never realized how far I live from the training grounds," I mutter irritably, walking slowly down the road that leads home.

People glance at me as I mutter to myself, raising eyebrows or hurrying away from me. I don't really care. I already get looked at strangely for my horrible Taijutsu skills within my Clan. Oh they try to hide it. But I see right through them. They think something's wrong with me, either mentally or physically. There isn't, I'm sure, but it's what they think.