Gone [Naruto fanfic]

#23

It was time for the test.

Just like I remembered, Lady Tsunade decided that it was time to test Sakura and Naruto against Kakashi to see how far they've come. Only this time, I was joining in on the fun.

I was thrown completely off guard when Tsunade told me I was going to be participating with Sakura and Naruto. Since I consider myself much less experienced than both of them, it confused me why she would want me to do it.

I asked why.

"Lady Tsunade, I've only been training for three months! Are you sure I'm ready?"

"I was only considering it at first, but Kakashi thought it was a good idea. Yes, you've only been here for a few months, but even I noticed your quick improvement. You beat Kakashi the first time he tested you, and you beat Shikamaru at shogu as well. So after this test," Tsunade folded her hands on the desk "You will begin your official medical ninja training with me. But you've already started yourself, haven't you?"

"How did you-?"

"I'm the Hokage Amira, I have eyes and ears everywhere. The librarian has told me all about the kinds of books you've been getting. So, how far have you gotten with the training?"

"I think I've gotten the chakra control part down. Right now I'm focusing on the different functions of organs in the body and how should be healed."

Tsunade nodded, satisfied.

"Not bad. Still beginner level, but it makes my job easier for the moment." She leaned back in her chair, looking thoughtful and pleased.

"Amira, I have seen and known many students and Genin, but I've never seen someone like you."

"What do you mean by that, Lady Tsunade?"

I really hoped she didn't break that in a bad way.

She leaned forward, propping her elbows up on her desk, a mixture of curiosity and seriousness on her face.

"In the first week you were here, you taught yourself three jutsu, two of which were difficult and would usually take the average ninja weeks or months to learn. You've started teaching yourself medical ninjutsu, and have already mastered chakra control very close to Sakura's level."

I started to laugh. Tsunade quirked an eyebrow.

Once my small fit of laughter subsided, I explained.
"Are you surprised at me and how I  teach myself? I've done that ever since I was a kid! I was homeschooled, so I had free time to do whatever I wanted once I was finished with homework. But sometimes reading story books or playing games got boring, so I read other books and taught myself how to do a lot of things. Drawing, juggling, needlework, weaving...those are some of the things I taught myself. I also studied different subjects that caught my interest, usually it had to do with animals though. Because of all that I've grown a knack for teaching myself things by simply reading." I shrugged, "But I never considered it as a big deal."

"Well I consider it quite a big deal. It gives you an edge over many other shinobi your age, and also shows your dedication to improving yourself."

"While I am flattered by your praise Lady Tsunade, I'm still not sure if I'm ready for this." I fidgeted uncomfortably.

"As I said before, I spoke with Kakashi, and he made it quite clear that he wants you to do this." She narrowed her eyes, "I've never heard Kakashi speak so highly of a Genin before, much less one who has barely started. He is not one to exaggerate, or give out praise easily, and that's why I agreed with him in the matter of you taking the test. Now if I were you, I would go and prepare."

And that was the end of that.

                                                                
                         ******

A few hours later, I was standing next to Sakura and Naruto, my body tense as I waited for the signal to start.

"You all know how this works," Kakashi held up the bells(he made it three instead of two to compensate for my participation), "you have until sunrise to take these from me. Now start!"

The next few minutes were a blur as Naruto began his attack and Kakashi disappeared underground.

I glanced at Sakura next to me, and mimicked her movements.

We punched the ground in unison, our chakra enhanced strength rending the ground wide open. I charged in, quickly forming hand-signs.

"Earth style: Rock wall!"

A twenty foot wall of earth shot up from the ground where Kakashi had been.

Reading really did payoff.

Kakashi's torso poked out horizontally from the vertical protrusion, but and then disappeared in a poof.

-Shadow clone.

The next few hours went by quickly, a show of blows being exchanged and new jutsus being shown off by all four of us.

I remembered the way Naruto and Sakura had beat Kakashi was because of his stupid book, but that was when they had already been fighting for several hours. I reasoned that that was the best way to do it. By tiring out Kakashi-sensei with hours of fighting and keeping him from reading the book, he wouldn't be thinking straight and would be slow to react when we took the bells.

                    *******

It worked.

The first rays of sunlight began bursting their way through the darkness as we waved the bells mockingly in Kakashi's face, all of us feeling victorious.

The sound of applause came from a few yards away. Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune revealed themselves.

"That was very impressive. You all showed a great amount of strength and intelligence."

Tsunade turned her gaze toward me, her eyes full of pride.

"You did very well, Amira."

"Um, thanks?"

I always felt uncomfortable when people praised me in public. It felt weird.

Kakashi turned to look at me, his one eye giving me an I-told-you-so look.

"Who taught you how to do such an advanced Earth Style jutsu?" It was Shizune.

I felt everyone's gazes burning into me. I shrank back slightly in response. My cheeks grew hot from embarrassment.

"I sort of...taught myself?"

Jiraiya turned to Tsunade, "You said she's only been here for three months and has had no previous training?"

"That's correct, Jiraiya."

"Hmmm...Very impressive."

-Ok, I think all this praise is getting a little excessive.

*No kidding, wimp. I don't see how they think you're so special when most of them could probably do the same thing.

-Beats me.

Yawning, I stretched out my arms. It had been a tiring night. Usually I was pretty good at staying up late, but after having been so active, I felt pooped.

"Well, I'm going to go home to get some rest. See you all later!" I waved to them as I quickly turned to leave.

Jumping up into the treetops, I headed back home. The light of the morning growing brighter with every moment.