Chapter 13- Team 13

I stretched my arms out as I get up from my bed and looked at the clock.

I still got around an hour. I prepared for the day and stacked my pouch with Kunai knives and Shurikens. I couldn't take a sword because I don't want to let anyone know I am a Kenjutsu genius, so small weapons should make do for today.

I arrived right on time to see Itsuki already there, leaning on a tree. Just then, a cloud of smoke came out of nowhere and the sadist teacher smiled at the two of us.

"Goodmorning, sensei."

"Good morning to you too, Lhexi-chan, Itsuki-kun. Now then, where's Kenma-kun?"

From the corner of my eyes, I saw a black figure running towards us.

"That should be him.", Itsuki said as I nodded.

He stopped right in front of me as he place his hands on his thighs heaving for breath.

"Looks like you're ready for your punishment.", our sensei smiled evilly.

"Wait! I was only late for one minute! Just one! Please let me go, sensei. Please.", he begged as Aiko-sensei tilt her head from side to side.

"You're not taking any chances now wear this--", she dropped two heavy weightlift in front of him. "--and run 10 laps around the village. Don't you

dare remove it okay?"

Kenma had a look of horror as he tried to escape from her clutches, only to fail.

"HELP ME!", we both turned around and played deaf.

He was forced to run and I smiled in sympathy.

"For you two.", we turned to Aiko-sensei who had a dark idea in her mind.

"Follow him.", he pointed at the running red-haired.

I agreed immediately and run beside Kenma as Itsuke left to banter against sensei for a bit before joining us.

"What? You two?"

"Yeah."

"I guess the point of this exercise is to test our endurance.", Itsuki commented.

"I'm sure it's more than that.", I retorted.

"What do you mean?", Kenma asks.

"Look carefully.", I pointed at the paper bomb Kenma almost activated.

"Is she trying to kill us?!", he yelled as we jump off to escape from Shurikens thrown at us.

I pulled the red-haired up in the air when he tripped because of the weights and Itsuke helped me carry Kenma.

"We have to hurry!", the auburn-haired male proclaimed as we jump away from another trap.

"Oi! Itsuki! Let go of me I can run!"

"Shut up! You're such a pain.", he let him go as we run but, Kenma's pace was slower than ours.

I pulled the two of them behind a tree and started removing his weights.

"Oi oi. Lhexi-chan! Didn't you hear what sensei said?!"

"I know. But, she never said that we can't remove it for you.", his eyes slightly widened, and grinned.

"You're right.", I completely removed the weights and we started running again.

The two plop down on the ground exhausted and I stood on both my foot while I crossed my arms as sweat dripped from my forehead.

"Ehhh...you made it at last.", her eyes stayed on me for more than a second before she grinned. "Now stand up. The test is just about to start, you know."

"EEHHH??!!", Kenma's voice resonated inside the whole forest.

The two shakily stood up and faced the jonin with a glare.

"Oh hohoho! I like those eyes. If you can land a clean hit on me before noon. You pass.", I sighed and stopped Kenma from attacking her as I pull his collar.

"Wait, Kenma. She did not say start yet."

"You're a clever one, Lhexi-chan.", she eyes closed smiled at me. "Start!"

We disappeared and I hid on top of a branch.

Just one clean hit.

Should I attack her now?

Should I let myself be a little sloppier?

I'm already one.

Shurikens went flying out of a certain bush which Aiko-sensei dodged with ease. Itsuki began to fight her in Taijutsu combat to which he was at a great disadvantage. I sneaked away and concealed my presence as I yanked Kenma away from stepping on a trap.

This boy will surely die because of his carelessness one day.

"Shhh...!", I whispered yelled at him as I cover his mouth.

I removed my hand. "Listen. We have to team up."

"Team up?", I nodded.

"Alright! ", I was glad he understood it immediately. "But how are we going

to defeat her."

I flicked his forehead. "Listen. We do not have to defeat her. We just have to land at least one clean hit on her and we pass. See the difference?", he nodded his head and an explosion was heard.

"Do we save that bastard?", I eye smile.

"Of course."

I took advantage of the smoke and grabbed Itsuke from his arm. He instinctively punched me which I dodged.

"It's me...!", I whispered. "Let's regroup with Kenma first."

He bit his lower lip and looked away.

"I have to defeat her myself."

I facepalmed.

"Are you doing some Uchiha Sasuke ego-shit now?", I whispered.

"Listen a genin will never be able to defeat a jonin without help."

Except for me of course.

He looked at me with a dissatisfied expression.

"I know, right?", I said and he reluctantly nodded.

We went out of the clearing and met Kenma far from Sensei.

"So how are we gonna defeat her?", Itsuki asked.

The red-haired snickered. "You mean to land a clean hit on her, dumbass."

"Shut up. Tomato."

"What did you say?! You bastard?!", I swear if I lost my temper among these two I'm sure I'm gonna kill them someday.

"Calm down. You two.", I ordered to which they complied but, still glared at each other. "So here's the plan...", they looked at me before nodding.

Sensei was reading a book while she was waiting for us, typically like Kakashi.

I have to set my level to a genin so I won't attract anyone's attention.

I sneaked behind her and aimed to stab her with a kunai and she caught it with her fingers.

"Ehhh...Trying to kill me from behind huh?", she closed her book and kicked me on my stomach as I went flying to the river.

Oh fuck.

I was deep below and I poofed into smoke.

"Now...!", I grinned when the paper bombs I placed earlier activated.

She was caught in it and she shunshined away from the explosion. Itsuki began hand-to-hand combat against her as Kenma prepared the huge Fuma shuriken. As Itsuki was defeated at the same Kenma threw the huge shuriken which sensei dodged with a small smile gracing her lips.

She was beyond shock when Kenma threw another Fuma shuriken when the first one was still going back to her.

"It's useless.", she mocked. She jumped on time and the second shuriken which went past her turned to Itsuki.

Sorry, Naruto, Sasuke.

I'm borrowing your idea for now.

"WHAT?!", Itsuki managed to throw a punch at her back and I immediately performed hand signs as she turned around.

"Suiton! Suidan no Jutsu!", I said lowly as water accumulated from the nearby source and attacked her.

It erupted loudly enough for the birds to suddenly fly away.

We regrouped together and watched sensei slowly stand up, wet all over.

We high-fived and the two boys smiled at each other before getting embarrassed and looking away.

I chuckled at them.

Their rivalry stands in between their friendship.

We turned to sensei who had a slightly bewildered look on her face, maybe because we worked together and I used ninjutsu. These people look down upon freshly graduated genins.

She smiled warmly and clapped her hands together as she tilt her head to the side.

"Well. You three...pass!", we all smiled and the two jumped on air.

Sensei suddenly engulfed us in a hug.

"You three are so cute! I'm so happy!", she placed us down. "Now. Let's go for our first mission!"

Kenma shouted. "Yatta!"

"But, first I have to change to a new set of clothes. Right, Lhexi-chan?", I rubbed the back of my head.

"Y-yeah..."

..........

Third Person's POV

The Hokage blew another smoke from his pipe as he read the names of the genins who passed this year. His eyes diverted towards the four Jonins standing in front of him.

He chuckled with amusement in his eyes. "I'm surprised, you passed this team, Aiko."

All the Jonins looked towards the blue-haired woman. "I thought you didn't want to become a teacher."

"They may be civilian kids but they were all bright, especially one particular student.", she said with pride in her voice.

Sarutobi raised an eyebrow. "I see."

"Well, I'm interested in your team Kakashi. After failing so many students in the past, you finally passed some genins.", the silver-haired jonin just blinked his eyes in front.

"Like yours, my students are also bright and they have high potential to become great shinobis.", he replied as he eye closed smile.

"Oh.", Aiko replied with an amused expression. Kurenai and Asuma sweatdropped.

Sarutobi turned his attention to the other Jonins. "I suppose the clan kids did well, right?"

His son sighed and shook his head.

"I just got my salary last week but, I think I'm broke now.", he stared at his empty wallet.

Kurenai laughed at him and turned to the Hokage. "There are a lot of promising shinobis this year, don't you think Hokage-sama?", the said old man only nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, there surely are a lot of talents blooming this year.", he let out a long tired sigh before motioning everyone to dismiss. "That's all, everyone may leave."

They all left and as soon as the door closed his smile died down, pulling a file from his drawer he read the genin's biodata.

'Takeda Alexa...what a unique name...her familiar chakra...where could I have felt it before?'

He sighed as he stood up and looked outside the window.

"I must be getting old to be forgetful."

..........

Alexa's POV

I casually spent my time sitting on a branch, swaying my legs back and forth as I watch the flower fields that stretched endless miles. Sensing someone approaching, I looked down to see a raven-haired Uchiha thinking deeply about something. He looked up from where he was standing before springing towards me.

Jumping on the space beside mine, he sat comfortably, staring at the horizon in wonder.

"You were right.", he started.

"Hm. So did you take my advice?", I asked turning my head towards him.

"You knew.", he said all of a sudden with his usual poker face.

"Gathering intel is a job of a shinobi."

"Why didn't you tell me?", he turned to me as if I lied to him.

"Ehhh. If I told you, it would be no fun. And looks like you already passed anyway.", he didn't buy my excuse but, he casually replied.

"Hn.", I grinned and look forward.

"How did Naruto do?", I ask although I already knew.

"That idiot is so reckless. He always falls prey to obvious traps.", I chuckled.

"Typical Naruto."

Our conversation paused as we comfortably enjoyed each other's presence. Our fingers slightly touched and we remained still.

"Hey Sasuke.", he turned to look at me.

The wind brushed against my skin pushing my long hair back as petals danced to its rhythm.

"Take care of him for me, will you?", I requested and he looked away with an unreadable expression.

He did not respond and instead jump down.

"I'm going to train.", he began walking away as he place his hands inside his pockets.

I stared at his back that slowly disappeared in the middle of the flowers.

..........

"Why do we have to do this?! Argh! Damnit!", Kenma shouted as he pulled another weed from the garden.

"Tsk. What can we do? When Hokage-sama doesn't let us go into better missions."

It has already been two months and we still were doing D-rank missions. I looked up to see sensei talking happily with our client as she plant a flower on a pot. Soon we finished cleaning and helping the old granny in her garden and returned to submit the report.

Sensei knocked on the door.

"Come in.", a grave voice said a signal for us to go inside his office.

There he sat with his warm vibe, my main target.

"Mission report, Hokage-sama.", Sensei gave him two papers and he read them for a second before placing them down.

"Good. Now then. For another mission. You're gonna plow the field, babysit the...", I looked behind me to see Itsuki and Kenma bickering to each other.

"Oi. You say it."

"Why me...!"

"I can't possibly do it...!"

Sensei punched the two on the head and I grimaced.

"Stop fighting in front of Hokage-sama..!", Sensei scolded the two.

"It's fine. Aiko, leave them be. So what do you want to tell me?", he asks as he looks at the two scared boys scrutinizing his eyes. They were standing stiff probably scared of talking to him.

Like a robot they stiffly turned to me, pleading. I pointed at myself and they nodded immediately. Sighing I turned to the Hokage. They probably knew I was only the one brave enough to demand the Hokage for a new mission.

"Hokage-sama. May we take on a C-rank mission?", he leaned back to his chair a little.

Some teachers from the academy were present including Iruka-sensei who slammed the table as he stood up.

"You three! You're not yet ready to take on a C-Rank mission yet. You're still genins!"

"But, sensei. How are we going to move up the ranks if we only do D-rank missions?", I ask and I felt my teammate's shock stare on me.

"That's--! You have to gain experience first, of course!"

I sighed and brought my hands out. "But, digging out potatoes and babysitting 3-year-old kids won't get us anywhere. I know that genins should start at the bottom but, we already took the first step to become a full-pledged Ninjas, and we need your cooperation for us to build more experience."

To be honest, I was fed up with D-rank missions. I want to spice it up a little bit by embarking outside the village.

"Alexa!", he yelled probably fuming at my impudence.

I ignored him and turned towards the third Hokage who had an amused reaction.

Well, Sensei chuckled at me and the two boys were sweating buckets.

"Hokage-sama, maybe an escort mission is alright for us.", he smiled.

"Only if you can finish these missions within three days."

"But, Hokage-sama!"

"It's alright, Iruka."

I went towards the third Hokage to get the stack of papers neatly arranged.

This old man.

Is giving us an impossible task.

It would take at least a whole week to finish all these tasks without sleep.

"So how are we gonna finish this in three days?", Kenma asks, his hope to

take a C-rank vanishing away.

Sensei laughed at us as she ruffle his hair.

Itsuki was glaring at the papers.

And I was chewing on a meat skewer.

"Well, who's to blame?", I raised my hand and she laughed.

"It's more than this week's missions!"

"I'll finish it.", I said and they all looked at me.

I blink my eyes.

"What?"

Kenma leaned to Itsuki. "I think Lhexi-chan is different today.", he whispered and Itsuki nodded and I smiled.

"I better remind you I can hear you.", I released a small amount of ki.

"Scary!", Kenma yelled while he back away from them.

"Sensei, could you teach them tree walking, while I'm gone?"

She blinked her eyes.

"Y-yeah. Sure."

I jump from a roof to another.

"Why does it feel like she's the eldest here?", I heard Kenma before I went to a clear training ground.

I made a hand sign and focus my chakra.

'Let's see how many can I make?'

I opened my eyes to look at 10 solid clones of me. I smiled.

"So ten is my limit, huh?", I said to myself.

The third morning came and I run towards the Hokage's office as soon as the sun rose. I slammed the mission reports in front of him as my teammates heaved their breathe as they lean against the wall for support.

"W-wait...hah...Lhexi-chan...hah..."

Feathers were stuck in my hair and paint was all over my body and clothes.

"Mission accomplished, Hokage-sama.", he chuckled before taking out a paper from his desk giving it to sensei.

"I believe you were the only one who did this mission.", he eyed Itsuke and Kenma.

"They were training.", he raised an eyebrow.

"How about you?"

"I have already passed that stage, Hokage-sama.", he smiled.

"Let her in.", he ordered and a small girl around 12 years old with a cloak on, her face was covered with a hood.

"Team 13. Your mission is to escort her to the borders of the Rice Country.", Kenma yelled and Itsuki smiled.

"Finally!"

I narrowed my eyes at her. Something doesn't feel right.

"Alright. Meet me at the main gate in an hour."

"Hai.", we responded.

I did a quick shower and packed my clothes and some food inside a scroll and on a separate one was filled with weapons just in case something bad happens.

I arrived just on time to see Naruto getting chased by huge dogs followed by Sasuke and Sakura.

"HELP ME!", he yelled at the top of his lungs as he wraps himself around a pole.

"Oi! Dobe!"

"Sasuke-kun!"

The dogs were barking at him ready to lunge at any time.

"Don't bite me! Oi! Oi!", a small cute dog leaped into the air and bit on to

his butt.

I facepalmed as he fell on the dirt and got bitten all over.

"ITTE!!!"

I sighed once again and looked behind them only to find myself hyperventilating. This wasn't the first time I saw him but, the familiar sensations of fear clicked right away when my eyes met the living legend.

Memories of Asuna began circulating in my head.

"MoM!", I yelled to the top of my voice as her hands were outstretched, her fingertips bent backward telling me to go away. Her golden orbs were begging me to stay away at the same time suffering in agony. Black marks were spreading all over her visible skin, running over her eyes.

"Chidori!", I saw a spark of lightning on her right chest as a man in a green flak suit with silver hair appeared behind her.

"--xi..."

She coughed up blood, dripping, and smiled at me one last time before her killer removed his hand and she fell on the ground. Tears streamed down my face as his left eye blaze red when he turned to look at me. Preparing to kill me next.

"--exi..."

My legs were bleeding numb and tired from running. I slowly walked towards her and felt a cold tip of a sharp object on my neck. I felt his cold breathing under the intense heat from the fire surrounding us.

"Asuna-hime..."

"ALEXA!", I was woken up to see Itsuki looking at me with worried eyes.

I was being held by him by my shoulders as I trembled and I couldn't speak.

"Look at me.", he pleaded and I stared at his auburn eyes.

His eyes began changing to a lighter shade.

He changes into someone else, to someone familiar.

That man.

I pushed him away but he managed to hold me in place.

"Breathe, Lhexi. Breathe..."

"Itsuki...I-I'm...", he wraps me around his arms and rubbed my back.

"You're fine...you're fine...", I buried my face on his neck as he pats my

back.

I tried to calm myself and pulled away from his embrace.

"Thank you...", I whispered at him.

It was as if he realized what he did and turned into a blushing mess.

"A...uhm...I'm sorry...I...I...didn't know...what to do...so...", I smiled at him and chuckled a little as my nervousness slowly disappeared.

I look behind him to see Naruto sitting on the ground his clothes ripped to shreds and Kenma feeding the dogs with a small smile on his lips as the animals wag their tails.

I saw Sasuke from afar glaring at me in particular while Sakura punch Naruto on his head. I sighed once again and saw the silver-haired jonin again but, this time I held my composure.

I breathe in and out and held Itsuki's hand. Sensei suddenly appeared and eyed our interlinked hands.

"Oh ho ho ho. What a lovely couple."

"Sensei, it's not what you think."

"Not what I think huh. But why are you holding hands hm...Lhexi-chan, you okay?", I looked up to see her and nodded.

"You're sweating...a lot...", I quickly pulled my hand from Itsuke's hand and wiped my face with my handkerchief.

"Where's our client by the way, sensei?", I ask disregarding the topic.

"She said she's gonna buy something so she'll be late by a few minutes or so.", I nodded.

"Lhexi-chan?", I turned to the side to see Naruto with Sasuke and Sakura behind him.

"Oh, hey. Naruto.", I threw him a rolled bandage and he caught it with ease.

"Where are you going?", he eyed the backpack the three of us were wearing.

"We were given a C-Rank mission.", Kenma spoke as he walk towards us as dogs followed him.

"An escort one, so we're gonna travel outside.", I explained.

The three of them looked shocked.

"C-Rank?!", Sakura and Naruto yelled.

"That's unfair!", Naruto pouted as he crossed his arms.

"We're still stuck with D-Rank missions...", Sakura said.

"Hn."

Hey, say something Uchiha.

"Aren't they too early for this? Aiko.", we looked towards Kakashi and I instinctively clutch the hem of Itsuki's sleeve.

"Well, they finished a total of 200 D-Rank missions in two months."

Although I was the one who finished most of it.

"200?!", Naruto and Sakura asked loudly.

"I see."

"Wait! Wait! We're not even near a hundred, ttebayo!"

"And they're more than ready. I already taught them the tree walking exercise.", sensei said raising our ego a bit.

Kakashi narrowed his eye a little bit. My attention was on him and I was fidgeting on the kunai I was holding behind my back with my other hand.

Turning his darted gaze to me, I immediately back off a couple steps as I look away. I felt like a mouse under a lion's heavy and powerful aura. He noticed my actions but, chose to look like he ignored it.

I was relieved when he looked away.

I noticed something was off, Itsuki and Sasuke were too quiet.

Well Sasuke can be at times, but Itsuki.

I look beside me to see Itsuki glaring at Sasuke who was also glaring back. My auburn teammate suddenly held my hand tightly and smirked at the boy in front who only scoffed and looked away, his fists curled to a ball. I elbowed Itsuki at his stomach and he looked at me, his eyes in question.

Just then our client finally arrived while holding a heavy huge bag.

"Lhexi-chan that's your client?", I nodded at the blonde's question.

"Shimizu-chan, let me hold that for you.", Kenma offered but she refused.

"I'm the only one who can touch this."

I sighed and took out a scroll from my backpack and squatted on the

floor. They all looked at me when I stretched my hand to Shimizu.

"Shimizu-san please give that bag to me. I'm gonna place it in a sealing scroll so it won't be a hassle.", she reluctantly nodded and handed me the bag.

I placed the scroll on the ground and opened it up then placed the bag on top then poof, it was gone.

"Where did it go?!", asks my dumb pumpkin.

"It's now inside the scroll, baka!", Sakura lectured.

"Ne ne ne, Lhexi-chan can you seal mine too?", I smiled at Kenma.

"Sure."

I sealed his bag and we began the travel and I looked back at Naruto who was waving his hand. I smiled at him but, it was wiped out as soon as I locked eyes with my mother's killer.

I immediately look in front and pat my chest. I focused on the mission and narrowed my eyes at the cloaked girl.

Why do I feel something is wrong?

'I just hope nothing goes bad.'