The Long Road Back (Naruto U.) Part 6

“Where’s Mai?” Naruto asked after breaking through the trees onto the field.

“Probably in a dumpster because she couldn’t get her head right,” Sakura smirked, glad to see that that girl was gone.

“Be quiet, Sakura,” Sasuke grumbled to the teary eyed girl. “Mai maybe a lot of things, but she’s not that bad.”

“Oooo. It looks like Sasuke actually likes a girl,” Naruto laughed as he stood next to Sakura who in returned punched him.

“Shut up, Naruto. There’s no way that Sasuke would like a girl like her,” Sakura glare as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“Yeah? Then why would he be defending her?” Naruto asked to put Sakura in a position to not like Sasuke anymore.

“Cause-... I don’t know,” she gave up.

Then Naruto sneaked up behind Sasuke and asked, “Why did you defend her?

“Why wouldn’t I, dumbass? She’s my cousin...” Sasuke said unknowingly blowing up Mai’s fun.

“You have a cousin?” Sakura asked with shining eyes. Yess!!! Sasuke is so mine!

“Yes,” Sasuke said and stopped talking.

The three pre-teens stood in the same spot for nearly six hours when they spotted a little figure falling off of a far away tree. The figure stood up, shakily, and leaned against the tree, stretched and began to walk over to the three genins.

When it finally approached close enough they realized it was Mai. “Hiya.”

“You were sleeping the whole time?” Sasuke asked as she brushed passed him.

“No. I went to eat first then I came back and slept. Problem?” she stared at the older kids in front of her and smiled pulling out an apple and taking a chunk out of it.

“Well, you really don’t seem to act like much of a ninja, Uchiha,” Sakura mumbled.

Mai squinted at Sakura for a second to let what she said sink in. Then she turned to Sasuke with the same hunched posture and squint, “You told them, huh?”

“So?”

“Gay-tard,” Mai hissed before plumping herself on the ground next to Naruto.

“Stop calling me that,” Sasuke glared. “I am NOT gay.”

“Yeah. De-nile De-nile, De-nile. It’s not just a river Sasuke-kun,” Mai laughed.

“Stop talking about Sasuke like that! You’re his family!” Sakura snapped at Mai

“Okay. You need to watch your mouth Mai. Especially around your new students,” Mai smirked at the thought of being their teacher. “It might take you to places you hate and it will be a long road back before you come back,” a cheerful voice said from behind everyone.

“You’re late!” Sakura and Naruto yelled jumping up from their seats.

“Sorry. A black cat crossed my path and I had to take the long way,” Kakashi smiled.

“LIAR!” the two snapped again.

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“So you all will have one hour to catch one of these two bells that Mai and I have,” Kakashi explain throwing me a shiny little ball.

“Bells?” Sakura asked.

“Yes bells, Sakura,” Kakashi calmly said. “To get these bells you have to come at one of us with the full intention in killing us. If you don’t well you’re out of luck.”

“This is going to be easy...” Sakura murmured while rubbing her hands together.

I rolled my eyes as I watched the three other kids in front of me. Great they’re coming after me.

Suddenly Naruto pulled out a kunai and ran at the tallest person in the group. I leaned against the nearest tree and watched as Kakashi lectured the orange jumpsuit about indeed the intention to kill was there, but it was a bit too early for it.

“Ready.... And GO!” Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura jumped. They ran, hide and watched the two of us in a matter of seconds, but to Kakashi and I followed them with our eyes. They seemed to move so slow to us.

Then, “Hey you!”

“Naruto what are you doing?” I asked as the Uzumaki lifted his arm and drew it back down to hit his nose with his thumb and smile while putting up a thumbs up.

“I’m gonna be the first person to get that bell from one of you two and I will prove that I am worth being a ninja!”