Kakashi's Disappearing Acts (Kakashi Hatake)

Chapter 20-The Chunin Exams?

"Hello, you guys," You cheerfully exclaimed to Sasuke and Sakura. It was a week after the previous mission. The trip home was successful, and the Hokage agreed to let your team go on C rank missions, even B ranks, as a new normal. Nobody was happier than Naruto at that moment.

You were meeting at the usual spot, but you asked Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke to meet you at the ramen shop and you could walk together. They happily agreed. (well, a "hn" from Sasuke). 

"Where's Naruto?" Sasuke asked. You shrugged. "Dunno. He left before I woke up. Probably out with his other friends, or Konohamaru or something, my money would be on that. Those kids are always bothering him." You reached an intersection. You began to cross when you turned to the side and saw Naruto, with Konohamaru and his friends, facing three other ninjas. Seemingly, from a different village. You nodded your head towards the three of them and walked over. "Hi?" you waved your hand politely. Naruto looked mad. "Is something wrong?" You frowned. "This guy is acting like he's so cool, and-" You waved your hand dismissively. "Whatever. Why are you guys here?" You asked. The girl, with blonde spiky hair laughed. They were from the sand, judging from their headbands. 

"The Chunin Exams, obviously," said the taller guy, with face paint on. The redhead stayed quiet. Your eyes lit up. "Holy shit, the Chunin exams!" You covered your mouth and turned to your friends. They looked confused. "You guys don't know?" You giggled with excitement. You looked back at the three sand ninja, but they were already gone. Sakura shook her head, followed by Sasuke shrugging, and Naruto yelling at you to explain. You held back excitement. "Okay, you'll see. I don't want to get your hopes up, so just ask Kakashi." 

A few moments later, you had arrived at the area where you were to meet. Kakashi, of course, wasn't there. So annoying. Naruto was clinging onto your arm. "TELL ME! TELL ME!" He screamed into your ear. You pushed him away. "Gedoff. Be patient, seriously." 

"Hello, sorry for being late again. An old lady wanted me to help her cr-" Kakashi started. You pushed your hand onto his mask. "Save it." You rolled your eyes. "We bumped into these couple of ninja from the sand. Apparently, the chunin exams?" You raised your eyebrows. Kakashi nodded. "Yeah, did you tell them?" Naruto waved his hand. "We're still here! Hello!!??" You pushed him away. "No, you can tell them." You shrugged.

"Chunin is the next rank after Genin, which is what you are. After that would be Jonin, my level. In order to get promoted, you have to pass the Chunin exams. There are some different types of levels and stages, some written, some combat. We don't know for certain, its all thrown your way. So participants should get ready in any way they can."

Sakura would be fine for a written exam. That was her forte. Sasuke would do well in strategy. Naruto...he would do well in sheer force. Your team could use some help in teamwork. It was good, other than the fact of the rivalry between Sasuke and Naruto.  You didn't know why you were thinking of this, because you weren't sure if you were participating or not.

"So are you we going to be in it?" Naruto beat you to it. Kakashi smiled through his mask. "I've decided. Even though there are people years older than you, I think all of you are fully capable. Even though you are almost a Jonin," He turned to you, "Securing a spot as Chunin wouldn't hurt." You thought the same and nodded in accord.

Naruto flung his arms onto Kakashi's neck and shouted, "I love you, Kakashi-sensei, thank you!" He spun around. Kakashi put him down. "No need for that," he laughed. Sasuke cracked a smile, and Sakura jumped around. 

"Now, you need to be careful. There's a possibility you could die,"  You added. I'm sure that won't be the case." You tried to reassure them. "Still, as Kakashi-sensei said, there's people years older than you with plenty more experience. You will have to give it your all if not, more. Sakura, you should work on your physical strength. Naruto, work on your facts and teamwork. Sasuke, you too." Naruto frowned. "And what will you work on?" You smiled. "I'm trying to develop a Jutsu, like Kakashi-sensei's. If I could get a hold of that, then it would benefit me a lot." You glanced at Kakashi. He looked lost in thought, looking away. 

He snapped out of it. "Okay, you can head back home and train. Come to me with any questions or if you need any help. You have a week." A week? That wasn't much time, at all. You sighed. Way to be unpredictable.

And so, the preparations for the exams started.

(wrote July 1, 2020)