Bake-Neko

By TwinEnigma

Disclaimer: I do this for fun and because I should be sleeping. Obviously, I don't own Naruto and I'm not making money off my scribblings.

Characters: Sasuke Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno, Naruto Uzumaki

Keywords: AU, Chuunin-exam arc, Drabbles

AN: Each drabble goes in chronological order.

1: Rank D

The mission was simple – D-ranked, animal control. A rabid animal of some sort was eating livestock in the civilian sector of Konoha, near the borders of the city proper and close to several large wooded training grounds. Team 7 picked up the mission, promptly reminded to exercise caution if the animal did indeed prove to be rabid, and moved out.

Kakashi had them focus on a small area where a large number of the attacks had occurred and outlined a general game plan. They would rig and conceal traps along one street and then Kakashi and Naruto would flush the animal out and herd it into the path of the traps, which Sasuke and Sakura would trigger. It took the better part of several hours to block off the streets and conceal traps to their sensei's satisfaction, but the end result was a deadly bottleneck where they could terminate the animal easily.

The sun slipped below the horizon at last and Kakashi signaled for them to take positions. Sakura sprang up to her rooftop lookout, while Sasuke sunk into a concealed window and then Naruto and Kakashi were off, speeding into the growing night, the full moon illuminating them in ghostly shadows.

Now, it was a waiting game.

A sudden whistle brought Sasuke to full alert – Sakura had spotted them and they were headed this way. He drew a kunai and tensed, ready to throw the weapon for the killing strike, and then the beast was there. His first throw missed and he cursed: the animal, most likely a dog, was faster than he'd thought.

The next thing Sasuke knew, he was on his back on a cement floor, the full bulk of the creature on his chest, its jaw clamped firmly on his shoulder. He scrabbled for another weapon as he kicked and fought, finally grabbing a pot of some sort and smashing it on its head. It yowled in pain and let him go, but seemed to be ready to lunge again. Several shuriken peppered its flanks as Kakashi and Naruto both caught up and the animal scrambled deeper into the house.

A child's screaming erupted from the next room. Kakashi gave Sasuke a look that said he would end the animal's life swiftly and then disappeared from sight. A dull thud echoed from the next room and Kakashi reappeared, motioning for Naruto to signal Sakura that it was safe.

"Hang in there," the jounin said, pulling a roll of bandages from his pouches. "You're gonna be okay."

Sasuke didn't say anything: the adrenaline was wearing off and now he could really feel the pain from his shoulder and back.

AN: And so it begins.