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Kakashi~So Ann, aren’t you going to introduce yourself now?
Ann~Nope
Sakura~Come on Ann, we all did
Ann~I’m not telling anyone anything that they don’t already know. Especially if we’re not a team yet
Ravi~What are you talking about? We were assigned together as sensei and student. Why aren’t we a team?
Ann~Didn’t you hear? We got the sensei that fails academy graduates
Naruto~What?! Then why even go through all this crap?!
Kakashi~I didn’t fail anyone…At least not right after introductions
Sasuke~So you will still?
Kakashi~*sigh* Maybe. Since Ann refuses to cooperate, I’ll move on. Before we are officially a team, I like to give one last exam.
Sasuke~So we’re not a team, like Ann said.
Ravi~It’s not going to be another written will it?
Naruto~Yeah, those things are hardly fair. Ninjas don’t need to write essays
Sakura~Mission reports are essays
Ann~Any ways, Kakashi was just about to tell us the exam
Kakashi~Nicest she’s been towards me…The exam is a survival exercise. We’ll meet at the training grounds tomorrow at 5am. Get a good night’s rest, and don’t eat breakfast
Ravi~Why not?
Kakashi~Because you’ll just puke it up. I’d hate to have you clean it up
Ann~If we pass the exam, we’ll officially be a team?
Kakashi~We will. Why are you so fixated on this being official?
Ann~I need to know if I can depend my life with you and them. Being on a four-man squad for the first time is special. The academy pits you against each other for the best grades. But like Iruka-sensei said, our teams are designed to balance our strengths and weaknesses, so we can grow as shinobi. Because of that, we need to adjust from looking out for ourselves to thinking of the group. If we cannot call ourselves a team, then I have no reason to tell you anything more about myself.
Naruto~I’m surpsied Sasuke didn’t make that speech…
Ravi~Too many words for him. Also, he doesn’t work with others
Naruto~Like Ann does!
Sakura~More so than you!
Kakashi~Off topic guys. Ann, I accept that answer. We’ll see what happens tomorrow, and if you happen to pass, I expect that introduction
Ann~You better not pass us just to get me to talk either. I’ll tell Hokage you cheated.
Kakashi chuckled~I only failed 20 other graduates. I don’t think you need to worry
He dismissed them after and was the first to leave
Ravi~I couldn’t tell if you wanted to be on the team or not
Ann~You know how he is about me. I don’t want him to pass us then fail us as soon as I said anything
Sakura~What did you plan to share?
Ann~You can wait tomorrow

The following day, Kakashi told them they needed to grab two bells from him as the final exam. He also told them that whoever did not get a bell will be sent back to the academy and that they had until lunch to get one. By lunch time, Naruto was punished for trying to steal the bentos, and the group was given specific instructions that he doesn’t eat, and the five can try again to get the bell after eating. When Kakashi left, they talked about following his instruction and decided to feed the blond so they had the best chances at beating Kakashi. Before Naruto had a bite, Kakashi appeared with a storm, ready to berate them for disobeying his orders. The team stood their ground and explained that they needed to because that’s what a team does

Kakashi~Anything else you want to say? I’m really glad they decided to work together. I hope this lessens the strife between them as well
When no one spoke, Kakashi smiled at them and the storm disappeared.
Kakashi~Congradulations. You all passed. We are officially Team 7.
Sakura~Really? That worked?
Kakashi~Just as Ann said yesterday, you need to think of the group, not the individual. That’s what a team is. You take care of each other and watch each other’s backs
Sakura~But we disobeyed you too
Ravi~Only you’d care…
Kakashi~That normally would get you killed. Orders, rules, and commands are there to give you structure. And those who break those rules are trash, but if you abandon your friends, you’re lower than trash. You guys might not like each other, but you definitely stick your necks out for each other
Naruto~So…We’re for real a team?
Kakashi~Yes
Sasuke~And not because you want Ann to talk?
Kakashi~She would have said something eventually. I’d rather fail you if you couldn’t work together than lie my way to knowing her secret
Ann~You have lied to me before through
Kakashi~Which is why I never tried again. I had other people lie for me
She tackled him, and they wrestled a moment before Kakashi managed to sit on her back
Ann~You’re crushing my boobs!
Kakashi~If you don’t attack me again, I’ll let you up
Ann~Okay!
He got off and helped her up. She hit him still and went back to the others
Ann~Do you guys promise not to betray me? Can I trust you with my life?
Naruto~Of course Ann. We may be idiots but we’re not stupid. You’re our friend
Ravi~You know I wouldn’t. We’ve been friends for forever
Sakura~We’ve had our differences, but we stick together. Always.
Sasuke~I don’t talk to anyone
Kakashi~If I betrayed you now, then my speech was total bullshit.
Ann nodded and listened for a moment
Ann~Do you know if anyone is supposed to be in the nearby training grounds?
Kakashi~I don’t smell anyone upwind or in the surrounding area. Why do you ask?
Ann~I don’t want anyone else to hear. I’m not supposed to exist.
Naruto~But…you’re right here…
Kakashi~Not like that…Come, we’ll go to my place. I never expected it to be like that, Ann
He cut Naruto loose and motioned them to follow
Naruto~But…lunch…
Kakashi~You can eat along the way if you can’t wait. We need to let Ann say what she needs to without the worry of spies.
Ravi~But…we’re in the village. I thought we’d be safest here
Kakashi~Even the greatest can have faults. Remember Mizuki?
Sakura~Honestly, he always creeped me out…
Ravi~You have a point…but why your place?
Kakashi~Closest from here. I also have several jutsus and wards to keep people from finding me
Ann~Why don’t you use that for me and Ravi?
Kakashi~I do use it for you two. In case you ever need me, like need me. I’ll already know. The only ones who can interrupt are those with the key to the jutsu
Ravi~We have a key then?
Kakashi~Literally
Ann~Your keys
Naruto~That sounds really suspicious…
Kakashi~Don’t over think it. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, you guys can come to me any time too. If you ever need someone, come to me. Don’t just let the feelings fester
Sakura~Ann, Ravi, do you visit sensei a lot?
Ann~Once a week…Saturdays…If it’s bad I stay for a few days…
Ravi~Not as often. Usually when Aniki is already gone for a few days…
Sasuke~Ann…that’s not something you’d normally share
Ann~Should tell you something about me that I’ve kept from you guys
They got to Kakashi’s home, and they all settled down in the living room
Ann~Are your jutsus up?
Kakashi~Yes Ann
Ann~Ann is just a nickname. My name is Annaliesalayoshi Momochi Maboroshi
Naruto~Why is your name so goddamn long?!
Sakura~Sensei, it looks like you’ve seen a ghost
Kakashi~The rumors were true
Sasuke~The gossip from the teacher’s lounge?
Kakashi~Yeah…Ann?
Ann~The name might not mean anything to you guys, but Momochi is well known in the Mist. Zabuza Momochi, a member of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, is my uncle. My mother is his sister, Ane
Naruto~What’s special about her?
Kakashi~She was ready to kill me 13 years ago
Ann~Hehehe looks like my family has been out to get you
Kakashi~I was still learning to control Sharingan at the time, and my eye was telling me something weird was going on with her. She threatened to destroy the village
Ann~Sounds right. Zabuza’s told me stories and that’s how I’d react too
Sasuke~But you chose to run if you didn’t have Kakashi to to go against
Ann~Couldn’t show my true strength
Sakura~E-exactly how strong are you?
Ann~Do you really want to know?
Kakashi~So even with me you’ve been holding back?
Ann~Yes. Making deliveries is not my top speed. I could have single handedly taken you out today. If I was especially demented, there would be no academy.
The gennin paled
Kakashi~Exit exam from the Mist required you to kill your best friend. Zabuza killed everyone. Is that part of the reason?
Ann~Yes. Do you know the other part?
Kakashi~Maboroshi?
Ann~Yes. I uh…I don’t think I was supposed to know that bit though
Sakura~Then how do you know? And who are the Maboroshis?
Ann~I can read thoughts. Well, I did. It was only for a moment…I…
Kakashi~You don’t have to keep sharing Ann. Us knowing all of this is already putting you at risk
Ravi~What?! What do you mean?! Is there really someone out to get Ann?!
Kakashi~Only if they know what the Maboroshis can do
Naruto~All they can do is read minds. The Yamanaka Clan can too
Kakashi~That’s the only thing Ann discovered. There’re other aspects too, but the one that Ann could be exploited for is summoning the dead. The only jutsu that can do that requires a sacrifice. So, if someone decided to create an army of the undead, they would need a village to do it. That would take time. If they discovered the last member of that clan still exists, Ann could be forced to summon the dead until she died from exhaustion
Ann~Oh…
Sasuke~you didn’t know that?
Ann~Hokage didn’t want to tell me
Naruto~The old man knows? You told him before us?
Ann~He already knew before I did
Ravi~Is this why you’re always on guard?
Ann~No…actually…I wasn’t worried because I grew out my hair. I was most recognizable when my hair was short
Sakura~I was afraid she secretly liked Sasuke…I’m glad that wasn’t the case
Kakashi~You don’t have to keep going
Ann~I know. But I want you guys to know now. I never really relaxed because I was worried for you guys. If anything had happened, I’d be the strongest one; I would need to protect everyone. I know our teachers are supposed to protect us, but they’ll try to get us somewhere safe before going after the threat. And if we get ambushed…then…
Kakashi moved to her and held her.
Kakashi~It’s okay. It’s okay now. You don’t have to take all that resposnsibility anymore. You can rely on us to help
Ann~But…Sensei…I…
Sakura~We probably will take a few more years, but we’ll get as strong as you too. You don’t have to keep worrying about us
Ann~I-I don’t want you guys to get hurt
Ravi~What happened?
Sasuke~Ravi
Ravi~Something happened that she couldn’t even share with me. Ann tells me everything
Naruto~Obviously she didn’t trust you enough to tell you she’s a run away
Kakashi smacked Naruto
Naruto~Hey!
Sakura~Ann would be more of a refugee. She wasn’t trained by the Mist’s academy
Kakashi~We can continue another day. You’ve already shared years worth of fears. We understand the amount of trust you’re putting into us
Ann~T-this’s the last thing…I-I only wanted to be strong because…
She shied away from him
Kakashi~what…what did I do…to make you scared?...
Sakura~How do you know it was you?
Sasuke~Ann backed away from him. She tries to hide from the cause of things if given a choice. Kakashi was the cause
Ravi~When did you hurt Ann? It wasn’t recent was it? You’ve regularly been on missions until just a few months ago
Kakashi~I don’t go out of my way to attack you two like you come after me. If I was to bother you it’d just be to check that you haven’t gone off the deep end
Ann~It…it was when you tried to…kill yourself…One of those nights…you had a nightmare…none of those were your fault…but…I didn’t…
Kakashi pulled her back into a hug.
Kakashi~I’m so sorry…I was weak…I was so overwhelmed…
Sasuke placed a hand on Kakashi’s back
Sasuke~You don’t need to feel obligated to share or explain yourself. You’re our sensei. We have to trust your judgement. If you feel it’s not something to share with us, none of us are going to pry it out.
Kakashi~Thank you…
Naruto~Where does this leave us?
Kakashi~Hopefully a better understanding of each other. I want you all to remember that you can trust one another with your problems. You don’t have to carry the burder of guilt, fear, or loneliness by yourself. Not anymore. If any one of you have any problems, reach out to one another. You’re more than welcome to bother me too
Naruto~Always?
Kakashi~Yeah. Even after you’re no longer my students. Ann and Ravi came to me before being my student
Sasuke~What if you need protection?
Kakashi~You’ll know
Sakura~But…what about from yourself?
Kakshi~You’ll know
Ann~How?
Kakashi~I’ll act more ninja. I’ll push you away. I’ll try to make sure you’re not concerned with me before I break down. I’ll wait until everyone is safe before I do anything to myself. You’ll know when I need you to save me, because I won’t ask. I’m going to hope that you’ll care for me without asking you to because I think so low of myself that I genuinely believe that I don’t deserve any sort of affection
Naruto was the first to hug him
Naruto~You’re not a monster…
Sakura was next to hug them, realizing that Naruto probably knew the feeling. Ravi pulled Sasuke over to join the hug
Ann~I won’t lose you?
Kakashi~I’ve been trying to die for years. I’m not going anywhere. Life has a mission for me
Naruto~I’m gonna be Hokage.
Sakura~Someone needs to keep the peace between him and Sasuke. It won’t be Ravi
Ravi~Yeah. You and me will be the one to start it Ann
Naruto~Believe it!
Ann~Thank you…
Kakashi~You might be stronger Ann but try to remember I’m the most skilled. If you ever need a moment to just shut down, let me know. We’ll take care of you. And everything will be okay.
Naruto~Yeah! You know as well as anyone all the antics is just for show. Sasuke and I are good friends
Sakura~What? But you hate each other
Naruto~But we kissed
Sasuke~Dumbass! That wasn’t a kiss!
Naruto~But I thought we had something special…
Sasuke pushed away and pulled Naruto off as well. He went to punch him but Kakashi stopped him to point at Ann, who was laughing hard against Ravi. Sasuke looked back to see Naruto smiling big and Sakura shaking her head
Sasuke~The dumbass actually tricked me!
Kakashi~You guys should eat. I still have enough to make a few more helpings too
He stood up to go into the kitchen
Ann~You actually made those bentos?
Kakashi~Of course. If I let Iruka do it, he’d try too hard and make sure each of you got your favorite.
Naruto~Did he try though?
Kakashi~Of course he did. I got him to settle on baking something instead.
Sakura~Are we going to meet up with him?
Kakashi~Yeah. At the academy where the picnic tables are. I half expect him to cook too
Naruto~Yeah! His cooking is the best!
Sasuke~And ramen?
Naurto~Can’t beat a home cooked meal. We should uh…we should all go out to someone’s house as a regular thing. We can swap recipes?
Sakura~Yeah, that sounds amazing. Let’s do it this week?
Ravi~I nominate sensei
Kakashi~Wait, what? I thought it was just you guys to do it
Sakura~Even if we’re gonna see you everyday, we have to make sure your homelife is still okay. Iruka sensei can’t do it because you’re not living together yet
Kakashi~Yet?
Ann~Everything knows you’re dating. It’s only a matter of time before you finally tie the knot
Ravi~Especially after how many times you knotted him
Ann~Hahaha gross Ravi!
The other three were mortified and Kakashi had tripped at the comment. When he got up, he threw a wooden spoon at both of them
Kakashi~With all the comments that passes your lips the two of you should be considered way more perverted than me. I only play the part. It’s not like I act on it
Naruto~But sensei, you do
Sakura~Why do you know?
Naruto~Sometimes, when I try to cockblock Kakashi, they’re already in the middle of it…
Sasuke shuddered at the thought
Ravi~So... you’ve seen his face?
Naruto~No! What kind of b*****d has sex with his mask on?!
Kakashi chuckled a bit and grabbed out the stuff he used to make the bentos. After it was all laid out on the table, he led his gennin to the dining room and grabbed the spoons he threw earlier.
Kakashi~If we make eating together a regular thing, Ann, Ravi, you two need to relax on the comments and antics. This is to have a good time. I know your good time is to pick fun at people, but it’s just us. You don’t have to put on a show for the attention
Ann~Fine, but you have to eat too
Kakashi~Mask stays on and no cameras of any kind
Ravi~But sensei!
Kakashi~No. It stays on. Anyways, I have a face reveal planned. When a thing happens is when it comes off
They all groaned, knowing that they won’t be able to press further with that kind of response.