The Bending Ninja

Chapter 3

(Hani's POV)

I move a little closer quickly, staying hidden and open my water pouch. I see him blow out a lot of fire, and I can't spot sensei, even when the fire clears. Where did he go???

Hands pop-out of the ground and pull Sasuke in. wow... As Kakashi appears in front of him, I take the water infused water and strike it at the bells, cutting one off. Surprised faces landed on both of them. I then quickly infused my chakra into the air and created a strong gust of wind at the bell, so Sensei couldn't retrieve it. As the bell hit the dirt, I used the earth to propel it away and into the pond. I ran to the pond, but as Kakashi reached there first, I used the water in the pond and create a large stream of water to strike him, but he dodged it, leapt into the water, and retrieved the bell before coming back up for air.

"Not bad. I think that's the closest yet, but not good enough."

I stood at the edge of the pond. Water, I find, is easy to manipulate, even in large quantities, so maybe this will work out. I step on the water and use ice as skates that keep me above the water. Moving towards him, I make the water swallow him and bring him under for a moment, and then bring him upwards high enough so I can reach for a bell while he's preoccupied with catching his breath but he grabs my wrist and tosses me across the other side of the pond.

I hit the water and go under, but I pop up soon after to see Kakashi standing on the water while I just float in the water where I am.

"You have some unique powers Hani, and you've learned to use them quite well, but I sense there's something holding you back, like you're restraining yourself. Powerful nonetheless."

I concentrate on making the water move up from behind him and grab his leg to drag him in, but he jumps away and disappears before I could get a grip on his leg.

I hit the water, a little frustrated. I swim to the edge and climb out of the water. I bend the water off of myself and walk to where Sasuke is stuck in the ground, to find a fainted Sakura as well.

Sasuke sees me and asks, "What was that that you did? I didn't see you use any hand signs."

"Shush," I reply annoyed that he just cares about what makes me different. Either way I earthbend him out, a little too rough, causing him to fly a little too high and land hard on his back with an "oof."

Sakura wakes up panicked, but just as she's up, the alarm rings, signaling noon...

____________________________________

Naruto ended up tied to a post for trying to sneak in lunch.

Sensei was talking to us now.

"About today's mission, I have decided that none of you need to go back to the academy."

What? What's going on?

"No, instead you should all...quit being ninjas."

"WHAT!?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN QUIT!?!" I couldn't even tell who was talking, the next few minutes were a blur, Sasuke attacking, Kakashi speaking.

"The answer to this mission is Teamwork!"

Teamwork...but then, "why were there only three bells then? Even if we worked together, someone would have to be left behind anyways."

"It was made to pin you against each other. A situation where you must put your own interests behind and choose to work as a team regardless. But you did nothing as your teammates struggled. Missions are carried out in squads! Ninjas need their individual skills, but teamwork is ranked even higher. Individual actions that disrupt the teamwork can throws the team into crisis and death. For example, Sakura, Hani, Kill Naruto or Sasuke dies." He held a kunai to Sasuke's neck.

Sakura and Naruto panicked, and I couldn't move from all the frustration I felt.

Sensei took back his Kunai and released Sasuke who walked back to us while Kakashi sensei turned to face a dark multi-sided stone. "You risk your life every mission. If you look at this stone, the names you see are heroes of this village. Specifically ninjas who are K.I.A."

Naruto lit up said, "That sounds so cool! I want my name to be written on there!"

Sakura educated him. "Naruto, that means they were killed in action." Naruto's face fell into sadness and regret of his excitement.

Kakashi spoke to us, but he was focused on the stone. "This is a memorial. The names of my friends are engraved on here.

"I'll give you one more chance, but it'll be tougher to take the bells now. You'll get 3 hours to take the bells. If you want to challenge eat lunch now, but Naruto gets none for trying to eat lunch on his own. If anyone lets him eat any, they will be disqualified. I make the rules, understand?" Kakashi had stern eyes that practically challenged us to defy him.

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"Don't worry about me! I could go without eating for weeks!" Naruto argued, but seriously, how could anyone resist food?

"Here." Sasuke was the first to offer.

"No Sasuke! You can't do that! What if Kakashi Sensei comes back and-" Sakura seemed to be one for rules.

"Kakashi's gone. We need to get those bells as a team. If Naruto's hungry that will only harm the team, and we won't be able to get the bells."

I remember something and I begin to search my bag as I hear Sakura and Naruto speak up. "Here"

"Thanks, but isn't that yours?"

"I'm on a diet, I mean I don't need as much as Sasuke. Just take it!"

I found it, my large apple-cinnamon muffin! "Actually, I brought some snacks. This way if we get caught we might be able to get him to be lenient since its not the bento food he provided."

Sakura seemed surprised. "You brought food?"

"Well yeah," I shove the muffin into Naruto's mouth as I speak. "Who knows how long we would be here for."

Suddenly there's dark skies and loud thunder. Kakashi pops out and raged, "YOU! YOU BROKE THE RULES, GET READY FOR YOUR PUNISHMENT ANY LAST WORDS?"

Naruto panicked and spat out some of the muffin, "But you said, you said there were 3 of us that's why..."

Sasuke reasoned, "we're all in this squad and we're all in this together."

And as I still believe, "since it wasn't in the bento's you gave us it shouldn't matter. It was my food and I gave it to my teammate!"

"The 3 of us are 1!" Sakura reaffirmed.

"THE 3 OF YOU ARE 1, THAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?.... You pass."

"What?" We were all confused.

"You pass," announced Kakashi Sensei. "You're the 1st ones to succeed, all the others did what I said and fell into every trap. They couldn't think for themselves. A ninja must see through deception. In the ninja world those who break the rules are scum, that's true, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum. The exercise is over. Team 7 begins their first mission tomorrow."

We all cheered, glad to have passed, and not having to postpone our ninja status.

"Let's go home" dismissed Sensei.

I grabbed a kunai and freed Naruto from the post, and he thanked me and ran, jumped, and cheered about passing and going to get ramen.

Sasuke walked up to me as Sakura watched. Probably upset Sasuke isn't talking to her instead. "How did you get me out of the ground? You didn't even use any hand signals."

I responded, "It's my style of fighting. Something you wouldn't be able to grasp."

Sasuke looked a little annoyed, but I just decided to leave. "Bye!"

...ok so I'm a little irritated at how he points out how different and odd I am...but he did have good moves. I might be able to learn more taijutsu if I watch him carefully.