Little Misfits

Chapter Fifteen: The Unpredicatable Ninja

Akumi Pov____________

We arrived at the tower. Sasuke held the door open as we walked in.

"Here." Naruto set me down gently. I wonder but ignored the pain.

"You sure you can continue the exam?" He asked and I deadpanned.

"I've been worse, just a bit of soreness is something I can handle. " I tell him and smiled at him.

He frowned. "I hate seeing you injured nee-chan." He sighed and I let out a small laugh. "Naruto like I've always told you, a little blood and pain doesn't hurt me." I say and his frowned deepened.

"Yeah and you always did say girls were different and that because you were a girl you don't feel pain." He finished off and my smile faded. Sasuke and Sakura cringed slightly at Naruto's statement did akumi really say that? It was no wonder she was holding up with her current injuries, they thought.

"Here let's open the scrolls." Naruto quickly changed the subject and grabbed the heaven scroll.

Sasuke held out the earth scroll and they opened them at the same time.

There was a puff of smoke and Iruka sensei appeared.

"Congratulations!"
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3rd POV

They all stood in a single file lines as they awaited the annoucnments the jonin and Hokage were going to give.

A few of the genin standing behind akumi cringed at the bubbly peeled skin that was visible on akumi's back, the deep gashes that were a light fleshy red from lack of skin made most of them try and look away.

Even the rookie 9 who were mildly afraid of the girl felt slight pity and knew that akumi's back would be a weak spot for her considering how damaged she was.

Sakura stood beside akumi, her face had swelled up in certain areas especially around her left cheek where she had been hit repeatedly. The pink haired girl also had dark colored bruises on her arms and legs but even she cringed at the sight of her teammate.

Had it not been for the red head they would've not made it when the grass nin attacked. Just remembering made Sakura shiver and thank kami for their strong teammate.

When they'd first met she disliked her, the way she was blunt and had a worse temper than herself. But Sakura had changed her views on the girl after being invited to her house. The place her two teammates lived in wasn't exactly ideal and yet they managed to be okay.

But what really changed her views on the girl was how she easily pushed away her own dislike and encouraged her to try harder and catch up with the team. In the beginning she had no notiable skill and was weak. Not only was she that but she was arrogant and love struck Akumi quickly showed her the flaws in her ways and became a slight role model.

In sakura's mind Akumi became the perfect example of a good shinobi, someone who endured and endured and strived for a better tomorrow. From the stories they had heard in the forest, akumi's actions all made sense.

Akumi protected her brother and worked hard to keep him safe and that's where her strength came from. She had a strong mind even if she had a few weaknesses.

And throughout the second exam she finally saw Akumi in her full light. She threw herself in harm's way to save comarades and didn't even let a single tear fall as her back was disfigurated by a fire style jutsu.

Even Sasuke had grown to see his red headed teammate in a higher spotlight. In a way she had out done him.

She was cunning, smart and was willing to place her life on the line for her teammates her brother in specific. Not only that, the girl was strong and brave. She did her best to protect and shelter them in a way.