An Unexpected Friend (Book 1 of the Unexpected Series)

Summary: Team Seven enters the Chunin exams and meets a friendly foe.

Kakashi met Kokoro, Sasuke, and Naruto outside the academy building on the day of the Chunin Exams. He was leaning against a pole nearby and straightened once they arrived. Naruto was walking giddily while Sasuke and Kokoro walked calmly. She was trying to calm her mind from the racing thoughts running through it. She hadn't been able to sleep much the night before, and having to wake up early didn't help. Her dad had to make her an energy-filled smoothie to help her get going, and even then it only helped so much. She had enough energy, though, to threaten her dad. She was already grumpy from being tired, she didn't want to be even grumpier from his lateness.

Naruto startled when he realized Kakashi was there before they were and asked in shock, "You're actually on time?!"

"It's a big day for you three," Kakashi shrugged.

"I'm just glad you took my threat to heart, dad," Kokoro said sweetly. Kakashi sweatdropped and chuckled uneasily.

"Yes, well, nothing unusual crossed my path today," he said.

"Like anything actually does," Naruto muttered.

"I wanted to wish the three of you good luck. You'll do great. I wouldn't have entered you in the exams if I thought otherwise," Kakashi admitted. Kokoro smiled and hugged him. Naruto joined in and dragged Sasuke with him.

"Thanks for the boost of confidence," she mumbled against his chest. He waved them off and pushed them towards the front doors.

"Get going before you're late," he said before he disappeared in a pile of leaves. After walking up the steps of the academy building and getting past an elaborate genjutsu that Sasuke had to point out, Kokoro, Naruto, and Sasuke entered the waiting room. It was filled with genin from all over the shinobi nations staring directly at them and held a tense atmosphere that set Kokoro on edge. She glanced around, trying to find familiar faces, and landed on a certain redhead with a bad attitude. He made eye contact with her and dismissed her promptly. She huffed and looked away. She spotted Shikamaru, Choji, and the rest of her graduating class and made her way to them.

"Sasuke, where have you been?" Ino asked as she launched herself at him. He grimaced and glared at her as she latched onto his back. "I've missed those brooding good looks of yours."

"Lay off him, will ya?" Kokoro said as she pulled Ino off her teammate. "I need him in good condition for the exams."

"Oh, it's you guys," Shikamaru said as he approached with Choji. "I knew this was gonna be a drag, but I didn't know it was gonna be this lame."

"Stop being such a downer, Shika," Kokoro said as she slapped him hard on the back. He flinched under the weight and leveled her with a hard stare. Then he smirked and let out a huff.

"This should be interesting," he said.

"Well, what do you know? Looks like the whole gang's back together," Kiba said as he approached with Hinata and Shino. Kokoro greeted them and hung back as the group started talking loudly with one another. Her eyes drifted around her and noticed the others in the room glaring daggers into them. She shifted in her spot and cleared her throat, trying to garner their attention. When it didn't work, she growled impatiently and smacked Naruto softly in the back of the head.

"Ow! What was that for?!" he shouted, overexaggerating. The rest of the Konoha rookies stared at her curiously and she made a motion with her head as she clamped a hand over Naruto's mouth.

"You're being too loud. Everyone's glaring at us," she told them.

"She's right. You might want to try keeping it down a little."