Exam day.
Ino had been dreading this day for weeks. She looked over at Sakura, who was the only other person taking the exam. She had a determined smile on her face.
"Hey, Ino-Pig. You're looking at Tenchi's next apprentice. And you'll probably be stuck setting broken arms at the hospital for the rest of your life."
Dream on, Billboard Brow."
Lady Tsunade appeared in the doorway, accompanied by the High Elders.
"Good morning, ladies. Are you ready?"
"Yes, Milady."
"Follow me to the exam room and we can begin."
The two kunoichi followed her to a large exam room with two tables, each with a patient on it: Kakashi Sensei and Guy Sensei.
Ino looked over at Sakura, who looked like she might burst out in laughter. The scene was humorous, to say the least. Guy Sensei was milking it, and Kakashi Sensei looked like he would rather be anywhere but here.
"Okay, these two ninja were just brought in from the battlefield with severe injuries. They are both unconscious, and have wounds that will not close. They will quickly bleed to death if you do not intervene. Sakura has Guy, Ino has Kakashi. And... GO!"
Ino ran over to Kakashi.
"Um... what hurts?"
"... I'm unconscious."
"Oh, yeah."
She grabbed the smelling salts from the cabinet across the room and returned, pulling his mask down to his chin. She blushed at the sight of his face. The fact that her patient was devastatingly handsome was not helping. She placed them under his nose.
"There, now you're awake."
"Yeah, but I'm bleeding to death."
"What happened?"
Kakashi barely moved his mouth when he spoke.
"Not important. Think, Ino. What would you use for wound closure?"
"Powdered Nara deer antler."
"Bingo."
She pulled out the deer antler.
"But, don't actually use it, Ino. It's too hard to obtain-"
"AGGGGGGHHH!"
Ino turned to see that Sakura's patient had awoken without the smelling salts, and he was going for the Academy Award. Tsunade and the Elders were taking notes. Ino turned back to her patient.
"Are you still alive, Kakashi Sensei?"
"Looks like it, but I still need to be bandaged."
Ino went back to the cabinet and grabbed some Arnica flower oil and bandages. She returned to Kakashi. Tsunade approached them.
"Arnica flower?"
"Yes, it's to aid in wound healing and strengthening."
"Good thinking."
Ino wrapped Kakashi's chest and shoulder in bandages.
"Go around the shoulder, and back over the chest, Ino. Good."
Ino thought she might cry. There was no way she was going to pass this exam. Kakashi Sensei basically took it for her. As she was moving supplies, Kakashi Sensei reached to pull his mask back up, exposing his arm to the elbow. His forearm was severely lacerated and burned.
"Oh, Sensei., You actually are hurt."
"Oh, this? It'll be okay. It's from a mission yesterday."
Ino took his hand and turned it to expose his forearm.
"It looks like a burn from a wind jutsu. Why didn't you have this looked at?"
"Because I hate the hospital."
"Does it hurt?"
"Yeah..."
Ino reached out and touched the wound gently, making him wince slightly. She sighed and grabbed the Arnica off the table again and some cotton, actually opening it this time.
"Come on, Sensei. Let's wash this off and bandage it."
"It's pretty clean. I did it yesterday..."
"I'm gonna do it again."
As Guy Sensei convulsed violently on Sakura's table, Ino gently washed Kakashi's would arm and dried it with a fresh towel before applying the Arnica flower.
"Ino, your patient probably shouldn't be walking since he's severely wounded."
"It's okay, Milady. He lived through the exercise and now I'm healing his arm for real."
She rummaged through the cabinet and found some powdered yarrow root, putting the smallest amount on each laceration and sprinkled some on the burn itself.
"This will help with the pain, Sensei. Yarrow root is a powerful analgesic."
She then took the bandages and gently wrapped his forearm. Tsunade watched over her shoulder.
"Good work, Ino. A perfect wrap, and you went above and beyond for your patient. And your bedside manner is excellent. Well done."
Kakashi sat on the exam table, admiring his bandaged arm.
"Thanks, Ino. I really appreciate it."
"No problem, Sensei. You really need to take better care of yourself. We need you."
She could tell by his eyes that he was smiling at her, making her blush slightly. She smiled back.
"Please, sir! Let me bandage you!"
Sakura was struggling with a dying Guy Sensei. Kakashi rolled his eyes and Ino struggled to suppress a laugh.
"Should've knocked him back out, Billboard Brow!"
"Shut up, Ino-Pig!"
"Guy, just let her bandage you so we can leave."
"Kakashi, where's your spirit? I want this to be a true test of wills!"
As they all watched the epic struggle unfold, Ino turned to Kakashi.
"Thanks for your help, Sensei."
"Thanks for bandaging my arm. It finally stopped aching."
"It's just the Yarrow Root, it should be healed in no time."
Ino smiled at him and turned back to watch her friend crash and burn in front of everyone.

YOU ARE READING
The Red String of Marriage
RomanceFIRST BOOK IN TRSOF SERIES Kakashi had been struggling to get through each day until a familiar face comes back into his life through dire circumstances. The Copy Ninja's destiny can finally come to fruition. Kakashi x OC. Lemony.