Ninja Love

A Day in the Life of Jack

Team 7 sat at the counter of Icharuka's with large bowls of celebratory ramen. The team was cheerful and smiling as they rejoiced their victory when Naruto stood silently with a solemn expression and removed his headband. The team quieted down in confusion and slight worry.

"I'd like to have a moment of silence," he said, " for all the precious time we lost with that pinky on our team." Naruto dramatically mimed a toast, the rest of the team laughing and joining in on the joke. Afterwards they finished their meals and soaked up the happy atmosphere.

Kakashi watched his genin with pride as they watched Naruto downed a twelfth bowl of ramen ( it was a good thing the Taisho's opened a tab with the ramen stand ). Pulling some papers out of his pouch, he cleared his throat to catch the genins attention and held up the papers.

"Congratulations, Team 7. You completed an A-Rank mission and returned with more experience than the normal rookie team. Your team has cut its rusted link and is now ready for the next step." He fanned the papers back and forth a bit before continuing. " These are application forms for the Chunin Exams. I have no doubt that you guys want to take part so I hope to see all of you day after tomorrow with these filled out. Use tomorrow wisely because the exam is the day after. If by any chance you don't want to take part however, I completely understand. See you guys two days."

With that, Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke, five sets of hands each snatching a form out of the air.

"Do you realize what this means?" Naruto cheered, his companions saying nothing, signalling for him to continue.

"We're gonna be real ninjas! They cant tell us that we're a bunch of baby genins anymore." He yelled, bouncing around the small space. He stopped after a minute to put his hand up to his face, an evil smile on his face. "And ," Naruto crowed " we can rub this in those jerk teachers at the academy that we're the same rank as them. Fufufu!"

They all laughed at this before saying their goodbyes. The Taisho kids and the Uchiha twins waved as their paths parted, making their way to their designated compound.

As Kagome, Jack and Naruto walked home, they each thought about the forms tucked safely away in their pouches. As the wall around the compound drew closer, they thought on how the exams might change their team for the better.

"Well," Jack broke the silence as they walked passed the guards, " at least our team has a serious edge. We can ask Sesshomaru and Inuyasha how their exams went."

Kagome nodded in agreement as they walked through the quiet compound. They were out pretty late, almost everyone had already turned in.

"Yeah,and the temes can ask Shisui. I mean, how much could the Exams have changed since they took it. " Naruto said quietly as they walked around the side of the main house, completely ignoring the front doors.

They calmly walked up the side of their home to Jack's window. They didn't have to wait as the window was unlocked and pushed open from the inside by a lone plant on the sill. Climbing in, they said good night, leaving Jack alone as Kagome and Naruto left for their rooms. Stripping down to his boxers, Jack climbed into bed and went straight to sleep, his mind empty of the dreams that plauged him as of late.

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Jack watched as Zero splashed about the bath. It was early in the morning, leaving him alone in the private bath house. Jack leaned back against the smooth stones as his body sank comfortably in the heated waters. He stared boredly at the smooth surface, his nose just above water level.

"What a strong son you have Taisho-sama!"

Steam rose lazily around him, black hair with white tips hanging in his face.