KONOHA
The stone stab descended behind us sealing the stairway to the hidden room. With a smile, we unfolded the tatami mat from earlier, returning it to its original location. We paid our respects one last time, bowing towards the Mitamaya. All things being equal, we would return in a year's time for the next rites.
Our hands flashed through a series of hand signs, dispelling the Fūinjutsu barrier we had erected, and at that moment, the outside world came rushing back into our perception. Our ANBU friend was still there, although he had company now. Two more ANBU had joined him in silent observation of the shrine. This little expedition of ours would have no doubt sent alarm bells ringing throughout Konoha's upper echelon, but it was definitely worth the risk.
We put the ANBU spies out of mind, relegating them to background noise, as we had long grown fond of. Our Chakra churned as we flickered away in the direction of the Mission Assignment building; Kakashi and the rest of our team, no doubt on their way, or already, there as well for our scheduled meeting.
Halfway there though, we perceive a trio of chakra signatures that caught our interest.
"You three, halt!" we said to the unfamiliar shinobis. Our gaze flickered to their headbands. It was engraved with a symbol resembling a lidded hourglass; Sunagakure.
"Yes?" one of the ninjas, a redhead just slightly shorter than we were, grounded out. His voice sounded like gravel being ground together, and hanging across his back was a large clay gourd almost as tall as he was.
"State your business," we instructed the boy. "What is a group of Suna-nin doing in Konoha?"
Of course, we didn't really care what their business was in the village. Or rather, we did care, but only for the sake of being privy to the information itself. Any reason that would justify foreign shinobi being allowed into Konoha was one would prefer to be aware of.
"Weren't you informed?" Our gaze flickered to the girl who had just spoken. She was pretty enough, with teal eyes and sandy blonde hair, which was gathered into four consecutive pigtails. On her shoulder hung a light purple-coloured garment that extended halfway down her thighs; a scarlet sash wrapped around it at her waist.
"We are genin from the Village hidden in the Sand," she said, retrieving from his pouch what we immediately identified as travel papers. The other two also pulled out theirs, flashing it at us. "We are here for the Chūnin exams."
"A week early?" we countered, our eyes flickering from the documents to meet hers.
"Yeah," she said, twirling a lock of her hair with her left index finger. "We thought to go sightseeing for a bit before the exams start. You know, get to know the place … Hey! Maybe… you could show us around? You seem to be the reliable sort."
"Ok," we agreed easily, much to the girl's—Temari, as was on her papers—surprise. "Meet me at Yakiniku Q's BBQ saloon at five-thirty today. I should be free. I am Sasuke by the way. Sasuke Uchiha."
Without waiting for a response, we flickered away. A minute later we arrived at the Mission Assignment Building two minutes late. Naruto and Sakura were already waiting. Kakashi, predictably, was nowhere in sight.
"Ah!" Naruto said, pointing a finger at us, a victorious smirk on his face. "You are late!"
"Sorry," we replied, noncommittal. "I wandered a bit from the path of life."
"Ugh," Orange jumpsuit recoiled in horror and disgust. "They are multiplying!"
"Hi, Sakura," we greeted the girl.
"H-hi! G-good morning, Sasuke. How was your night?"
"Fine, thank you."
"..."
"...Uhm."
"Yes, Sakura?"
"I-I made you dumplings."
"Oh, thank you," we replied, receiving the bento box she extended towards us. We opened it, taking a sniff. It wasn't poisoned. Good.
"Hey! I want dumplings too!"
"Shut up, Naruto!"
"...Here have some."
"I don't want any of your stinky dumplings, loser!"
Sakura smacked the demon container on the back of the head. "I made those, fool!"
***
Kakashi arrived about seven minutes later. "I have recommended all three of you for the Chūnin exams," the Jōnin told us after he succeeded in settling Naruto and Sakura, the two naturally vexed at his persistent tardiness. "You all have to fill out these applications. If any of you don't wish to compete, the exam is entirely voluntary. You need not turn in those application forms unless you want to. If you do, report to room 301 at the academy by four PM next week Tuesday. That's all. Enjoy your break."
We received one of the sheets of paper and looked it over before turning back to face our Jōnin-sensei. "But, Sensei," we said before the man could disappear again.
"Yes, Sasuke?"
"I want to take this exam," we said, "but you haven't taught me anything in particular since I joined the team. At least I am aware you have been helping Sakura with her Genjutsu and Ninjutsu, and Naruto with his Taijutsu and Chakra control via water-walking. But you haven't taught me anything I haven't already mastered on my own yet."
The Jōnin stilled. "...We'll sort that out at a later time, Sasuke. Just do your best!" came his vague reply, the Jōnin scampering off before we could say anything else. Coward.