Secrets

The Bell Test

Ryuu's POV:

I was walking towards the meeting point when I heard, "YOU'RE LATE!!" From Naruto and Sakura.

"Sorry. A black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way. Hmm...Where's Ryuu?" Kakashi asked.

"He's late, like always," Sakura said.

"Sorry, I'm late. I slept in." My teammates looked at me shocked. "I was up all night having a staring contest with an owl." They rolled their eyes at me.

"Alright then, let's get started," Kakashi set an alarm clock on a tree stump. "Here we go. It's set for noon."

We all stared at him in confusion.

"Your assignment is very simple. You just have to take these bells from me That's all there is to it. If you can't get 'em by noon, you go without lunch. You'll be tied to those posts and you'll watch while I eat my lunch in front of you."

"Wait a minute, there's three of us. How come there are only two bells?" Sakura asked.

"Heh, well, that way, at least two of you will end up tied to a post and ultimately disqualified for failing to complete the mission. Those two go back to the academy. Then again, all four of you could flunk out too." After he finished explaining the rules I jumped away to a tree and took a nap.

Hopefully, one of them will figure it out and come find me, so we can work together.

Timeskip

I climbed a tree and saw Naruto hanging upside down from a tree. I quickly ran over to him. "Hey, Naruto what are you doing up there?" I asked him.

"It's not intentional! Just get me down from here!" He yelled.

I cut him down and he fell on his head, "OWW!"

"Whoops. Hehehe. Sorry."

"Wait a minute, I get it now. He said, 'look underneath the underneath.' He obviously wants us to take the lunches." Naruto exclaimed. "Come on Ryuu! Let's go get some food."

I know it's not part of the test, but I'm really hungry now that he mentioned it. I haven't eaten since yesterday. I had too many missions.

"Alright let's go."

He walked over to the K.I.A stone and sat in front of the lunches.

"HAHAHAHAHA! Sensei told us that if we don't get a bell, then we don't get any lunch. But if I eat my lunch now, then there's nothing he could do." Naruto explained.

"Man! You sure are a genius Naruto." I said drooling at the smell of the food in front of me.

"I know, I know." He said smugly.

"It's Chow Time!" I exclaimed.

"Hi there."

Naruto and I screamed turning around to see Kakashi-Sensei. "Guh. I was just joking sensei." Naruto said.

"Nice try."

I tried to run away, but he quickly grabbed us and tied us to the stumps.

The bell soon rang and everyone came over to Naruto and I's tied up forms. Everyone's stomach growled.

"Uh oh. Stomach's growling huh?" Kakashi questioned. "That's too bad. Oh, by the way, about this exercise? Well, I've decided I won't send any of you back to the academy."

My teammates and I cheered, though I was still confused.

I thought this test was about teamwork. And the only teamwork used was when Naruto and I tried to steal lunch. Oh well, as long as they passed.

"What? I passed? All I did was faint and fall over. Do you get points for that?" Sakura said, confusing me.

I faintly saw Saskuke smirk before my eardrums almost burst from hearing Sakura yell. "Yayyyy!!"

"Then-then that means..." I started.

"All four of us--I mean, all four of us?." Naruto finished excitedly.

"Yes. All four of you are being dropped from the program. Permanently." Kakashi finished harshly.

"WHAT'D YOU SAY, YOU STUPID OLD MAN!?!?!" I shouted furiously.

I knew there was a catch.

"Yeah, what Ryuu said!" Naruto exclaimed. "Drop us from the program? That means we can never become ninja. You said if we couldn't take the bells, we'd be sent back to the academy. You can't just change your mind and kick us out! Why would you do that?"

"Because you four don't think like ninja. You think like little kids, like brats." Kakashi stated.

Sasuke suddenly charged at Kakashi-Sensei, only to be stepped on by him.

I was to be busy cursing myself to listen to Kakashi's stupid monologue, but when I finally zoned back in I heard, "Eat lunch now to build up strength. But Naruto and Ryuu don't get any."

"WHAT!!" I shouted anime crying.

"It's your punishment for breaking the rules and trying to eat by yourself," Kakashi explained. "And if anyone tries to feed them, that person will immediately fail.

"Nyaaa." I heard Naruto grunt.

I closed my eyes, trying my best not to faint at the smell of the bento boxes in my teammate's hands. Out of nowhere, I felt someone pressing rice up to my mouth. I opened my eyes and saw Sasuke trying to feed Naruto and me.

"Really?" I questioned. He nodded. "Wow! You're the best Sasuke!" I exclaimed eating the food while crying anime tears.

Kakshithen jumped out, "YOUUUU!! You broke the rules, I hope you're ready for the punishment! Any last words!"

"B-but you said--" Naruto stuttered.

"Yes?" Kakashi questioned.

"You said that there were three of us. That's what you said! And that's why Sakura and--" Naruto finished lamely.

"We're all on this squad. And we're all in it together." Sasuke finished for him.

"Yeah, that's right. We gave our lunch to them because the four of us are one!" Sakura said regaining her confidence."

"Yeah! Yeah! What they said. We gotta stick together!" I shouted with them, trying to be helpful.

"Yeah! Believe it!" Naruto Yelled.

"The four of you are one, that's your excuse?" Kakashi questioned. "Hm. You pass."

"Huh?" Naruto and I questioned dumbfounded.

"You pass." He repeated.

We all cheered and Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke walked off.

"Heyyyy!! You forgot about us!!!" Naruto shouted. "Looks like it's just you and me now, huh Ryuu?"

Unfortunately for him, I used the escape Jutsu and was running to catch up with the rest of our team. "Wait for me!!" I shouted.

"Not you too, Ryuu!" Naruto yelled after me.