Key"..." Human(s)' talking
'…' Human(s)' thinking
"..." Demon(s)'/Summon(s)'/Other's talking'…' Demon(s)'/Summon(s)'/ Other's talking
"..." Ethereal voice(s)' talking"..." Hybrid of Human talking/thinking (Only in the Awakening)/Emphasis
"..." Hybrid of Human-Ethereal/Human-Demon Talking'…' Hybrid of Human-Ethereal/Human-Demon Talking
Warning:
Rated "T" for crude, bad language, sexual tension and
violence. Probably will be some "M" rated chapter in the
future. … Screw it, it IS "M" rated. Not
for anybody who isn't 16, 17, or anybody who's gotten some maturity
in their brains. If you don't... then, you're still welcomed inside,
my friends, because this is all BUT
mature. ;D
---
Prologue"Dozing off again, dobe?"
"Eh?"
"WAKE UP!" A more feminine, enraged voice yelled in his ears. "You been asleep all through Kakashi-sensei introduction!"
Young Naruto Uzumaki, age 12, blinked as he sat more up. He looked as a disgruntled Sakura Haruno, an indifferent Sasuke Uchiha and a sheepish, almost uncaring Kakashi Hatake, all of them staring – Sakura was more glaring – at him. Naruto, regarding his composure as he drowsily sat up from grogginess, said with a shrug, "Ah well, it must not been too important."
A quick blow from Sakura told him to be quiet and stop being rude. Even with the punch to his head, Naruto blandly stared at his crush. Despite being his crush, he would choose sleep over her any day of the week. Speaking of sleep, he seemed to get those strange dreams over and over again. Weird dreams that lately left a toll on his body, leaving him at nights, mulling over them and just now was the dream again.... The same old dream of -
"Well since we're all up now," Naruto sweatdropped at the sarcasm-laced sentence; half of him really was still thinking about the dream until Kakashi rudely interrupted. "I think introductions are in order of yourself. I told about myself, despite Naruto not hearing it-"
Naruto shrugged again, "Again, probably wasn't missing much."
Surprised that Sakura didn't hit him over, he looked directly at her face. Her face, held a bead of sweat, even blushing in embarrassment a little. Sasuke was almost no different, except he tried to play in a more calmer way. Naruto, himself, sweatdropped at their faces; for once, he was right about something. Apparently the gray-starked-hair cyclops said little to nothing about himself.
"-I think it's good for Pinky to go next." Kakashi lazily pointed to Sakura. The girl, in response, glared balefully at the man.
"My name is Sakura Haruno. My likes are..." Trailing off, she stared at Sasuke with a smile. "My hobbies are...." This time she giggled cutely at Sasuke, who looked dully at her. "And my dreams are..." Once again, she giggled, to a more higher volume.
"And you dislikes?" Kakashi seemed to smile under his mask, as the visible eye he had turned closed.
"Naruto!" She said with a deadpan, even glaring a
little at the blond hair boy, to which Naruto didn't even respond to,
just with an obvious sad sigh. 'Don't
even know why she hates me.' 'Well isn't that something? Déjà
vu all over again.'
"You, brood-boy. Let's here your introduction." Kakashi averted his attention off of the pink girl, who was more focused on the Uchiha's face. Said Uchiha glared harshly at Kakashi, ignoring Sakura completely.
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. My likes are very little and dislikes are almost none and I have no hobbies. However, I have a desire, no, an ambition to restore my clan and to kill a certain man." Sasuke folded his hands and arms in a tight form, having a face twisted in cold.
Kakashi didn't looked surprised. The cold, murderous words, "I have a desire, ambition to restore my clan and kill a certain man" didn't register in Sakura's head. Rather wondering of who Sasuke desired to kill, she choose to look at Sasuke's features and coo, purr almost, at the boy, who look in her opinion downright sexy with his scowl on his face. Naruto, however, was different. Naruto scoffed to himself. 'Pfft, leave it to the fucking Uchiha to steal the spotlight just to act cool.'
Naruto only had hatred for said Uchiha. The boy was a brat in Naruto's eyes. He had women – girls and grown-ass women alike – fucking swooning over him, like HIS Sakura-chan. He had one of the richest houses and family in the country. He had every single person in the village kiss his ass, and for what? He didn't even appreciate anything he had! That was Naruto's belief in the Uchiha. Arrogant, aloof, brooding – these words described the Uchiha to Naruto. Even the name gave Naruto a bittersweet taste in his mouth. Naruto was irked greatly by the Uchiha's cool indifference of things, his stubborn and braggart ways. Teammates be damned, Naruto would have jumped for the chance to fight Sasuke.
Naruto stared indifferently at the cold, silent gaze Sasuke Uchiha gave to the air. A few awkward seconds past by until Hatake coughed in his fist, showing up a smile that looked faker to Naruto than the last eye-smile. "Well, moving on, let's get to Mr. Sunshine over there. Tell us about you."
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki..." 'What should I say really?' "....My likes? I guess training, getting stronger and Ramen..." 'Delicious Ramen's on top.' "...My dislikes?" 'Sasuke, the village, everything ungrateful bastard in the village.' "I hate the time it takes to prepare Ramen. And my dream is to become the Hokage." 'In order to gain respect.'While Sakura and Sasuke were disinterested, apparently because it was the usual from Naruto, Kakashi pondered a little. 'Don't know why, but Hokage-sama said to keep an eye on this boy. He doesn't seem like much anyway.' Kakashi shrugged. 'Hell, they all don't have anything special worthwhile.' Kakashi watched his students-prospects. With not much interest, as it was much profound with his crossed arms and the flickering boredom in his visible eye, he thought, 'I have a pink-haired genin-aspirer but she would rather gawk at the Uchiha than be a ninja. I have an Uchiha who is too arrogant for his good and has wet dreams of killing his own brother. I have a Ramen-fiend, demon-containing boy who tries to hide away his pain from others.'
Kakashi shrugged, grinned a little. His coal black eyes darkened more with a little more sadism. 'I'll just have to break those bad habits with my training.'"You all have made it here; under the law, you are adults. However, you aren't quite Genin just yet."
Sakura blinked. "Uh, but what about the Genin exam in school?"
"That?" Kakashi waved off her. "That was just an exam to see if you got the ability to be a Genin. My exam and the exam of all the Jounin-teachers out there, is the real exam. This will show if you got the skills to become Genin."
"Pfft." The blond boy scoffed. "What's the difference?"
Kakashi found the pinkette and black-blue haired boy nodded silently. Kakashi shrugged. "Well, the difference is actually being one, I guess. It's easy to say you're a Genin when you passed a simple little exam."
Kakashi paused, a little satisfied to see Naruto's face flush in a little shame, especially how much it took him to actually become a Genin. Although, Kakashi admitted, he was probably more well-suited to a battle with another ninja than the other two, especially when the other two didn't have to fend for themselves physically. It was no secret to the Ninja Forces of what the blonde's "situation" was. Last night was just the climax of what he had to do in order to even stand in front of Kakashi Hatake and the others.
Mizuki's betrayal and capture was the talk of the week. Iruka Umino, a chunnin of the school Naruto went to – Kakashi didn't know him personally – reported Naruto for the reason of the defeat and capture of the traitor, despite the kid was tricked into stealing the scroll, Kakashi added. Naruto displayed, according to him, a skill belonging to Jounins and high Chunnins only, plus Sandaime-sama said to keep an eye on Naruto Uzumaki especially. For what exact reason, Kakashi didn't know, but he could guess Naruto knew some skills, despite his former status as "dead-last" in the school. Kakashi shrugged; Who knows really? Only a few people know Naruto's true skill and his task was to find out.
"So, was the other test all for naught?" Sakura asked, surprised at this. Kakashi, in the corner of his eye watched Naruto scowl, anger hardly contained, due to his body language. Sasuke didn't bother to nod or make a sound of wonder. He just looked at Kakashi.
Kakashi coughed, feeling a little tickle in his throat. "Well, I wouldn't say it was all for naught. Despite this being the real test to show whether or not you have the skills to be one, the other one was to see if you can be. If you have the ability to do something, but not the will or skills, it won't matter, know what I'm saying?" He rhetorically questioned; he really didn't expect anybody to understand, despite the three nodding wordlessly. "Well, tomorrow is all about to see if you got it or not."
"And if you don't go 'it'?" Naruto quirky asked; it sounded a little sardonic to Kakashi.
Kakashi smiled a little, evilly, no doubt. "Well, I guess you will have to tell Iruka and the new class how you're a third-year failure." Kakashi jabbed silently at Naruto, showing obviously that he knew of Naruto's predicament in the Academy earlier before he join Team 7. Kakashi easily noticed Sakura or Sasuke didn't catch the equally-sarcastic joking jab he poked at Naruto, which was probably good, Kakashi inwardly said. Would want to shoot down his ego to a lower level, he joked.
However, Naruto's face blushed with embarrassment and became a little more livid, raising his voice louder. He screamed, "What you say, you bast-?!! ACK!"
"NARUTO, SHUT UP ALREADY! LET HATAKE-SAN TALK!"
Kakashi didn't appreciate the scream, but he nodded to her with some feign gratitude. "Well, basically, if you don't pass this one, you will be sent back to the academy for a year in remedial class until you got the attitude and the skills to be a Genin on a team." Kakashi shuffled on his seat on the handrails of the rooftop. Kakashi folded his arms again. "Now, let's get down to business. This test is purely fighting, instead of anything with paper. You gotta show me the skills you developed physically, no doubt. However, as easy as that might sound, passing this test isn't an easy feat."
"Why do you say that?" Naruto asked again, more interested than ever.
"Because, Naruto, the test requires something that people can't get."
"Which is?"
Kakashi grinned. "Now, that would be cheating if I told you. Let's just say the test is so hard that only 33.3% of our Genin-hopefuls pass the test."
"T-Thirty-three percent only?" Sakura nervously asked, apparently not liking the sound of only 33.3 percent of the Academy passes.
Kakashi nodded. "Yes, that little. It's annual, really." He shrugged. "You new generation of kids are very dedicated, I guess."
Sasuke and Naruto openly glared at Kakashi, while Sakura looked at him confusion. Kakashi ignored their looks, and continued with, "You never had to experience the greasy, dark feelings of war and conflict. Your generation has been living with peace for at least a good decade now. My generation and generations before you was in times of war; your generation had time to relax and take then the Ninja Way with ease." Kakashi spoke truthfully, getting Naruto and Sakura to nod a little, although Naruto still was stubborn. Sasuke didn't bother to nod, staring at Kakashi with contempt as Kakashi call him essentially not ambitious.
Sasuke didn't like that one bit.
"While, I guess in a way, isn't really too bad, it's making the generation of newer shinobi and kunochi softer, more weaker. I guess the current Hokage has to do with that."
"Take that back." Kakashi blinked, as Naruto stared more viciously at him, even more insulted that before. His first sentence was almost nothing but a growl. "The old man is a good damn Hokage."
"Naruto!" Sakura warned, with a lethal voice. "Shut the hell up and sit down, you baka!"
Naruto ignored her, promptly. Kakashi would have snickered at the girl being ignored, if the glare wasn't on him. It wasn't like the Genin-aspirer could really hurt him, but he did shifted uncomfortably under the glare of Naruto. Unmistakably, Kakashi saw traits of two things in Naruto: he had the eyes of his parents and his demon inside him.
"I don't insult Hokage-sama at all, Naruto-kun. I believe his rule did bring us a great era of peace since the Kyuubi Attack twelve years ago. He has steered us out of intercontinental conflict since our last war," Kakashi eased. "Although, I'm disappointed that because of the lack of conflict brought us a weaker generation of ninjas who have been failing like flies for the last year and a half. There is fewer Genin teams out there, much less they're fewer Geniuses these days."
"So what? You're a so-called Genius?" Kakashi almost groaned, hearing another sarcastic scoff heave out Naruto's mouth.
Kakashi smiled. "Everybody of my generation was a Genius. Not as I stand here, do I see a Genius." Ignoring Sasuke's grunt and glare at him, Kakashi pointed out, "And with your grades, I wouldn't believe you were a Genius, Naruto-kun."
Naruto glared balefully at him. 'Another arrogance son of a bitch in my way. I'll show him....' Naruto hit his chest with his clenched fist. "I don't need to be a Genius to be who I want. I don't need to be Gifted from birth. Fuck Geniuses. I can be a Hokage anyway I please."
Sasuke smikred. "You, Hokage, dopey? Yeah right. You have a better chance working at that ramen shop you like so much. I have a greater chance become Hokage."
Naruto glared at him. "Shut the hell up, Sasuke-teme. You're just better sitting there, being moody, brooding at whatever you hate." Sasuke narrowed his onyx eyes at the boy. Naruto didn't seem to notice this action and continued, hitting his chest. "Anything could achieve with hard work and skill. I'll become the Hokage one way or another."
While Sasuke scoffed at him, Kakashi noticed it was more in a sense of a respectful huff. Even Sakura Haruno looked briefly at Naruto with something other than contempt, even with something equal to reverence, even if it was more begrudging than Sasuke's huff. Kakashi smiled. 'Well, maybe the boy does has something worth keeping tabs on.'"Hmm, you know, I think I'm staring to like you guys." Kakashi remarked. "We'll see, Uzumaki, if you got what it takes to be a Genin. We'll see if you two also have what it takes. Naruto's right. It doesn't take a Genius to be a Hokage, but it definitely takes talent. We'll see your skills tomorrow, on the battlefield, shall we? Here's I want you guys to do: I want you to meet me at Training Grounds 7 at 5:00 AM sharp. Know where that is, right?" When they all nodded, he continued. "When I say 5:00 AM sharp, I say 5:00 AM sharp. I will not except tardiness. Ninjas are punctual. If you aren't, don't bother bringing yourself to the Training Grounds. Other than that, eat dinner, get some sleep, you know? Got it?" The children nodded. Kakashi jumped off his seat on the railing and move towards to the middle of the roof, near where they all sat. "Well, I guess I'll be going now."
He turned his back toward them, and seem to be leaving the roof, until he stopped. "Oh, and one more thing, don't even bother eating breakfast when you wake up."
Sakura blinked and asked, "Why sensei?"
Kakashi shrugged realistically. "Well, I don't think you want to." He turned his head to her, grinning as his eye closed in humor, perhaps more in the light of sadism. "Surely if do, you'll throw up." After hearing the cheerful, polite voice masking his cruelty, the three students groaned. He seemed oblivious to their groans, although he grinned perhaps more at it. "Okay now! See ya three tomorrow. Remember: Be there on time or don't come at all. Ciao!" After that, the three watched the strange man "poof" out of existence in a teleportation technique he used, leaving only scattered leaves and a plume of white smoke.
All three mulled over his words, not bothering to say goodbye, as they stiffly walked home to their houses respectively.
All three was destined for a hard day tomorrow.
….
Night came quick, he noticed. Naruto Uzumaki had not noticed it at all. He just did his usual schedule – training when he got home. Extensively at that. He just lost track of time, and before he knew it, it was dark. So, he headed home, not before getting his usual Ramen at Ichiraku, one of his favorite restaurants that he could afford. Even then
In the small, but modest, homey abode of Naruto Uzumaki's held said person in a bed. Naruto looked at the ceiling, not sound asleep for once. Instead, he had one of his hands on the back of his head, and the other stretched out in front of him, as he flexed it open and close for several moments, until he stopped, closing his blue eyes, pondering.
'I been having strange dreams lately.... Queer dreams... What was that place I dreamed about?' He frowned, reopening his eyes, albeit narrower than before. 'And that skill I acquired.... I saved Iruka-sensei with it.... The old man has told me something was special about that skill I got before I beat that bastard, Mizuki... Some crap about the fate of the world was in my hands now.... Or did he say worlds?'Naruto shook his head. 'As if that damn monster inside me wasn't enough.' He scowled. It wasn't very long that Mizuki told him that he had the Kyuubi in him.... It shouldn't have effected him like that, especially when he didn't know for the last 12, 13 years he was housing a demon he thought was dead. It explained everything: why he was hated and disliked by villagers and ninjas alike, why nobody wanted to adopt him, why nobody care for him, except for a few people.... Now, Naruto didn't know what to feel about his people, especially now. They spat, kicked, and hurt him because he had the Kyuubi in him, because they thought he was the Kyuubi incarcerate.
It gave him flashing pains of anger. Rage. Sorrow. Apathy. This kinda of ambivalence confused him, made him more irate.
He hated it.
It hurt so much to know that nobody wanted him because of something sealed inside of him. Not like he had any genocidal thoughts, ever, on the village he loved. No, and he still didn't. All this anger was directed to a lot of sources; half the villagers and half to the people who knew him personally, knew the Kyuubi and never told him. Although, Sarutobi reassured him that the law prevented anybody to say anything, he didn't think he quite liked the law. As if it was kept a secret good, he sarcastic thought. He had been too stupid to put the pieces together.
October 10, his birthday, same day of the Kyuubi's attack and siege of the city. His whisker marks that he first thought were just scars. How he seemed to "survive" every attack, beat down and beating in his life. He was endowed with a great gift, Sarutobi said to him once. And now, he had another gift.
The gift to save or destroy the world.
Naruto didn't want this gift.
'Ah screw it.' He reassured. 'Right now, I should worry about trying to sleep.'His hands almost shot out to the ink brush on the side of his nightstand, until he willed them back for his own personal good. No time for experimenting...
Well, when his legs twitched, he shrugged a little to himself and grabbed the ink brush and damped it into the ink. "Okay, maybe a little experimenting won't hurt."
….
Getting up this early didn't get to Naruto as much as he thought. Until he remembered he got up this early to train in his ninjutsu and a form of his own taijustu, he guessed sheepishly, he felt great that he wasn't brain dead with grogginess. In silence he walked to the grounds, until he balked for a second. 'Should, should I use it? Sarutobi said don't use unless it's necessary.' Naruto pondered, hold his hand on his chin thoughtfully, but then shrugged, walking up more. 'Despite that guy Kakashi being a bastard, he's probably a strong bastard. Never judge a book by its cover.' He then smirked. 'Kakashi-sensei better know how to not judge me by stature.'Flexing his right hand again, he grinned and ran to Training Grounds 7, head held up high. Taking a big bite of his apple, he forgot to remember Kakashi's words to eat.
Coincidentally, the other two on his team were walking in the clearing exactly at the time he did. He nodded silently to the two, which earned him a tired nod and a near-nonexistent grunt from his teammates. Sakura, who apparently wasn't accustomed to waking up at this time and hour, did the tired nodding, while Sasuke, who was the complete opposite, did a grunt, that told Naruto that Sasuke wasn't too sure about acknowledge he even lived, let alone, in front of him. Naruto himself did a grunt, shaking his head at the two. Despite Sakura being his crush, he felt a nagging feeling to ask her "Why aren't completely up too?". He knew that will earn him a few knocks in his head; Naruto sighed at that thought. 'Maybe it's because she needed her beauty sleep?'
Of course, he did hear the terminology "Women need their beauty sleep" from others, especially girls, which Naruto never got. Sakura and a few other girls he knew on a name basis didn't need "beauty" sleep. They – Sakura was the prettiest girl he knew, so he definitely knew the phrase didn't apply to her – needed their sleep to feel and look beautiful. Of course, they were already cute/beautiful in Naruto's eyes. 'Ah, girls, I'll never understand them.'Naruto shrugged, a little annoyed he got off his topic-manta-repetition of encourage words to himself.
The phrase was simply: I won't run away.
….
Naruto sat patiently, as did Sasuke on a boulder large enough to fit the three. However, Sakura was off the boulder, screaming crankily, "WHERE THE FUCK IS THAT BASTARD?!!"
The collected two winced a little – Naruto practically shrunk in his orange, decent-smelling (a least today, he noted) jacket, not liking how loud the girl could scream. Made Naruto feel a hundred-times happier that he wasn't on the reason for her barrier-shattering scream, or exactly who she was screaming at – Sakura unconsciously screamed a nest of birds, substituting for her lax teacher who hadn't made it yet. Said birds chirped back obviously irate, boisterously back at her, as if they were screaming to her to "SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU FRIGGIN' PSYCHO HUMAN! ISN'T ENOUGH THAT YOU DEVILS TAKE OVER OUR FOREST FOR YOUR HORRIBLE USES?!!!" Of course, Naruto didn't speak Bird but they seemed mad.
Very mad.
And if he wasn't another man, probably of a different species, the volume of the scream would have irritate him.
But fortunately – or unfortunately, another part of him said, one side that was just a plain heretic in his devotion, religion to the beautiful pink-haired girl in front of him who was still screaming at angry birds – he wasn't.
The first few minutes, everybody was just dwelling on what they were going to do on the test, instead of noticing their sensei wasn't here just yet. Those minutes grouped into a hour...
"…."
Then came the second, with agitation in all three of them...
A twitch began on Sakura's skull...
Then came the third, with even more tension in the air – Naruto could have swore that Sakura Haruno had an ominous aura omitting over their heads like a cloud...
A growl was evident from the girl, almost as it was a snarl...
Then came the fourth, which is now, which is when Sakura decided to scream. 'Damn, those are some powerful lungs', Naruto commented in his head. A part of him, a darker, more perverse side of him thought more into his comment, pulling out the subliminal thought of, 'And she's got a big mouth...'Naruto was automatically driven into more sexual thoughts of his lovely classmate. He could easy remember the hot pink hair, those emerald green eyes, that petite, fair-skinned, cute face and her lithe body. Then, he started to getting into more details.... the specific details.
Sasuke's eyebrow risen as he saw Naruto's face light up red. A grin came on his face, nothing short of mischief. Yes, Sasuke Uchiha has a small, but noticable"What's wrong, dopey? Thinking something perverted?" Naruto growled, as Sasuke purposely stretched out the word "perverted". While Naruto was tempted to say, "Yes" to the onyx hair colored boy, with gusto and bravado in his voice, as if he was proud of thinking of his beloved Sakura in that sense, Naruto was a tad smarter than that.
Sakura, no matter for any reason, whether it was directed to her or not, hated perverts, perversion and anything that was perverted. He bet she seethed in anger when he first flashed the Sexy Technique, the Oiroke no Jutsu in the academy he went to, as did many other females in the academy, as they gave him an "outright" beating after he yucked it up, with laughter as he got screamed at Iruka-sensei and his lovely woman peers.
Ah, good times, he joked.
However, he noticed in the time of his reminiscing, he didn't answer Sasuke's question. The Uchiha boy noticed too, before him at that. He smirked at the inwardly-panicking blond boy.
Instead of the mantra, "I won't run away", Naruto repeated in his skull, "I'm so fucking dead."
Fortunately – unfortunately, as Sasuke frowned disappointedly – Sakura was more into screaming at the birds, as she complained more on how much of a "tardy, lazy-eyed, motherfucker, waste of good space" Kakashi Hatake was as he made it clear he wasn't going to show...
"Good morning, my cute little students!"
Until the idiot walked into the clearing....
….
Sakura's intelligence attracted Naruto the most. The way she could recite rules – rules he might break from time to time but still, it sounded nice when she said them – and the way she seemed to be a top kunoichi of his class. Her personality and her body – Naruto blushed every time he said it – was added points for his infatuation for Sakura. But when Sakura screamed, no matter how much beauty she had, was just horrible, lethal, scary.
When Kakashi shuffled onto the Grounds like he was taking an easy stroll in the park, Naruto and Sasuke was obviously annoyed....
But Sakura was livid.
"WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU?!! YOU SAID 5:00 ON THE DOT!!! I GOT OUT MY BED FOR THIS?!!!"
Kakashi blinked, almost like he truly didn't know what Sakura was talking about, until Naruto saw amusement in his face, as the gray-haired man smiled nervously. "Um, I said that?"
"YES, YOU FRIGGIN' HYPOCRITE!! I THOUGHT YOU SAID IF WE WERE LATE, WE SHOULDN'T EVEN BOTHER COMING HERE!!" Sakura yelled to the face of Kakashi Hatake. If looks could kill, Kakashi would be already in ashes. Fortunately for the other two who just want to pass, Kakashi didn't falter.
All he did was back up from the angered girl, smiling, eye crinkling with amusement. "Well, well, no time to play around. Let's get down to the rules, so I can go home and read in peace. All of you are going to fail anyway as it is; let's get this over with." He said, still very amused and sarcastic. All three glared at him, hatred stinging in their eyes. Kakashi waved the three off nonchalantly, despite them leaking out unintentional killer intent. He noted that they at least had the ability to do that correctly. "Man, you younger generation sure can't take a joke well."
"And you sure can't get here faster, grandpa." Naruto scoffed. "What took you this long to get to the Training Grounds – got lost or something?"
"Actually, I did." Naruto's eyebrow, as did the others, rose at the answer. "I got lost on the path of Life."
"..." Silence followed. Naruto shook his head in disgust, and muttered, "What a flamin' weirdo..."
"Now, now, Uzumaki." Kakashi cheerfully said, despite the insult. "A dead last such as yourself shouldn't talk so bad about his commanding officer."
Naruto's eyes lit up with murder. They screamed, "Kill this motherfucker! How dare he insult us?!"
It wasn't surprising when Naruto shot out to Kakashi, kunai at hand, snarling, "I'll fucking kill you, ya cocky, bow-legged, lazy sumofabitch!"
Despite Naruto baring his fangs at Kakashi – Kakashi still however keep Naruto restrained with one hand at the energetic Genin-aspire – Kakashi smirked down at him. "That's the idea. Didn't let me say 'Go' yet, but at least you have the idea."
"And the idea is to kill you, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura said with dread. Despite Kakashi was an old, lazy bastard with one lazy-eye and a freakin' weirdo, she didn't want to take the man's life, let alone another's life! Still, wasn't this the life of a ninja though?
Kakashi shook his head. "Well, the idea is really to do what you have to do to get these!" Kakashi flickered out two silvery small bells, danging in his hands carelessly. Kakashi closed his fist and brought it back to his face. "The idea is to get these bells at all cost – no exceptions! If you want these, you gotta come at me with the intent to kill. I'm not going to give you these by chance. You gotta fight for them."
"Hmph, what the hell are friggin' bells going to test us on?" Naruto harrumphed at his position. He already got out Kakashi's strong but arrogant grip and returned to his team's side. "It seems like you're just wasting our time."
"No, no, Uzumaki-kun. Perhaps being a dead last is preventing you from understanding correctly." Naruto glared at him heatedly, while Sakura and Sasuke snickered a little at his side. Kakashi smiled though, waving off him a little. "Look, don't get mad, kid. I'm joking."
"All you been so far is a joke, you ninja bastard. Just like all those villagers..." Naruto muttered the last part, but again, the other heard him. While the other twelve-year-old ninjas looked confused at his statement, then ultimately shrugged it off. Naruto was always weird. No difference.
However, Kakashi's eyes narrowed a little at the blond haired boy's expression, until he sighed finally, a little guilty. 'Okay, maybe I should stop joking with the kid. He's too serious.' "Well, the point of these bells are suppose to test your current skills. Speed, agility, stealth, strength, common sense, using your surroundings, that sort of thing." When all three of the young ninjas' face nodded in understanding, he continued, "You are suppose to get these bells from me, doing anything in your power to do so."
Kakashi pointed to a log in front of him, "Here, see this alarm clock?" It was rhetorical, but he waited for them to nod anyway. He nodded himself. "This clock will go off at 12:00 PM directly. Not a second after or a second before it. That's when the test ends indefinitely. When the test is finished, I will evaluate your skills and see if you are fit enough to be label Genin." He juggled the bells, throwing them up and down in and out of his gloved fist. "Now, you got three hours to do that." They groaned.
'No wonder he came late. He want to see us fail.' All three thought, tiredly."Oh, and whoever can't attempt to get the bells, they will not get lunch to eat." When he heard stomachs grumble, and heard some groans, he smiled sadistically.
"Um, right." All of them said. 'So, that's why he didn't want us to eat breakfast....'Naruto smirked to himself. 'I guess breaking a few rules does have it perks.'Kakashi smiled, "So, any other questions?"
"Um, Kakashi-sensei, why are they're only two bells?" Sakura asked. "We're a team of three, so shouldn't there be three bells?"
Kakashi shrugged his shoulders, noticing Sasuke and Naruto nodded with Sakura's question. "Dunno. Maybe he felt three was just too much for a Genin team? Maybe he felt he wanted to weed out the weaklings? One thing is certain, at least one of you will be tied to that log, and probably the same one who goes back to the academy."
'No,
I can't go back in the academy. I will not let this hurdle stop me
from reaching my goal.'
Sasuke's fist clenched. 'Those
losers are going to be the ones going back to the academy.' 'Aw,
no!! I can't go back there.'
Sasuke and Sakura looked at their idiot-teammate screaming. Said boy glared at the stoic gray man before them. Naruto's eyes twitched in anger.
He gritted his teeth together, pumping a fist up, looking like he was read to fight. "Why would the old man go put us on teams of three if it was just to cut us down like this? That's stupid!"
Kakashi looked at him for a second, with some wide eyes, but then, that face fell. He optioned to shrug carelessly at Naruto. "Like I said: dunno. But you don't have to worry about that... Because like I said, 'At least one of you will be sent back'. Doesn't mean all of you can't be sent back." Wide eyes were all Kakashi seen, as a sadist gleam rolled in his eyes, as he smiled. "Now, anymore questions before we start? You do know you wasted about ten minutes with your questions, right?" When the man calmly said this, all of them shook their heads feverishly. Kakashi smiled again. "Well, all I can say is good luck to all of you now."
Kakashi gave them a thumbs-up, telling them, "Go for broke! Go!"
All of the ninjas were off in a blur. Man, you should have seen the kids' lightning speed!
….
...well, at least two of the kids' speed.
Kakashi looked at the eccentric, blond boy, Naruto Uzumaki, who still had his feet planted on the ground. He shook his head. "You know, you aren't like the others..."
"Damn right! I'm Naruto Uzumaki!"
"And... you aren't very bright." Kakashi prodded.
Naruto's anger boiled again. He shouted at the man, "Whatchu say, fucker?!" He was definitely going to kick his ass for that, he promised! How dare he continuously insult him! That stupid, lazy prick bastard.
However, Naruto balked, in a look of confusion and alert as Kakashi dug into his inner-pocket for an item. What was it, a bladed weapon, a bomb, an explosion tag?
Naruto's questions were floored as Kakashi pulled out something he didn't expect... and it sure made him angry.
"I-Icha Icha?" Naruto thought out loud, both his eyebrows quivering and twitching at the site of the orange book. A crude drawing was on the top
"Hmm? Yeah, Icha Icha, kid. The newer edition at that. Icha Icha Paradise!" Kakashi's eye rolled up in content. Naruto could imagine Kakashi was drooling under the mask.
Naruto snarled, "You're reading smutty books while fighting me?!!" How did he have the gall, the nuts, to even play around with Naruto Uzumaki?! To whom he may damn for spawning it, the creature known as Kakashi?! To whom he may beat down for birthing the weirdo know as Hatake?! To whom he may curse for making the man know as Kakashi Hatake?!!
In a fit of rage, Naruto charged at Kakashi, who seemingly was more synchronized with the book than his surroundings. However, when Kakashi caught Naruto's fist before he caught him in his face and all, Kakashi sighed almost exhaustively. "Lesson 1: Taijutsu."
"Wha-" Naruto was interrupted as Kakashi effortlessly coiled his arm to Naruto's shoulder. He grabbed the momentarily-shocked boy and throw him over his head, judo-styled. Kakashi wasn't too surprised when Naruto landed on his feet gracefully, actually glad he did. 'At least the boy knows to land on his own two feet.' Naruto brought forth two kunai blades in each of his hands and stared angrily at the man before charging at him again.
Kakashi lazily stared at him as Naruto ran towards him. Kakashi stayed in place, but unfortunately, that was a bad mistake.
In a surprising speed, Naruto blurred from existence. Kakashi's eye widened Kakashi turned to his left, sensing Naruto right there, and caught his foot. In a little effort to hold up Naruto's foot in his armpit, Kakashi freely read his orange book. "Surprising, kid. I might have underestimated you for a sec. However, to be truthful, your taijutsu is sloppy and lazy. It's as if some kid tried teaching you taijutsu."
Naruto's face lit up in a blush – the new red-colored visage was a blend of anger and embarrassment. "Why you-!"
"Calm down, kid. Maybe if you did a little, I could read my book in peace and just fail you guys." He gotten a growl and flailing out of Naruto once more. "Kid, stop squirming and I could just read and fail you. It will be easier on both of us." Kakashi blinked as he felt a "popping" noise where Naruto was, until Kakashi was billowed by smoke. Kakashi grunted. "A clone. Kid knows Bunshin no Jutsu." Actually, Kakashi remembered that the "Naruto" he had was solid, unlike a vivid but intangible image of him that the regular clone technique created. Kakashi muttered, a little more disappointed that he couldn't read more now.
He was dealing with Kage Bunshin no Jutsu now.
'Is this why the Hokage wanted me to keep an eye out for the kid?' Kakashi wasn't dumb: looks could be deceiving. He was the master of looking "under the underneath" and he was no fool to the boy's skills. They had been sloppy, weird, uncoordinated, looked-like-it-was-hastily-planned (or not planned at all very well to begin with, he thought more accordingly) and unorthodox. However, the boy displayed a jutsu that most ninjas didn't even know: The Shadow Clone Technique. Even if some ninja knew the technique – which were still by few – the technique took a toll on the body. It required massive amounts to do the technique, let alone do a least one or two clones. However, he flaunted the B-Rank technique proudly and cleverly, despite Kakashi knowing where Naruto is.
Maybe the kid would live up to the hype. Maybe the kid would become the Hokage if he wanted to. Maybe the kid could be what only his father was?
The greatest ninja of Konoha?
'Greatest ninja is going to have to wait awhile, I guess.' Kakashi sarcastically said, laughing a little in his head. He barely held his hand up to hold up the kid, who threw wild haymakers at his face. "Time to teach ya another lesson, Uzumaki. Lesson 2: Ninjutsu."
…
Frankly, the lesson hurt badly. Especially to his ass.
Naruto consciously rubbed the offended area gingerly, not trying to cause more anguish to it. It was embarrassing – totally. Nothing like an ass-poke to show how much you suck compared to a jounin like Kakashi Hatake. Like he said before, Naruto thought of Kakashi to be a total bastard. A bastard, but an incredibly strong bastard.
...Still a bastard nonetheless.
Naruto may have be headstrong, but he wasn't stupid now. Stubborn, yes.... Stupid, oh hell no, he prided. He was Naruto Uzumaki, next Hokage to be! But he needed help, a lot of it.
Naruto did have pride in his person but to seek help? No, Naruto wasn't above himself to ask others to help him whether with a technique or schoolwork, or even his grammar issues....
(In a far-away universe, a boy, soon to be 17, coughed "gracefully" at his desk as he types down another word. To himself, his sheepish grin is nothing compared to the embarrassment he felt just then.)
...And Kakashi Hatake was like, the written test. The written test that he couldn't pass because he didn't know what a word it was saying. None-whatsoever. So, why not get help, eh?
After all, that's what's teammates are here for... right?
…
Then again, he could be wrong, sweatdropping at Sakura's ranting. It hadn't been hard to find Sakura – her chakra wasn't as suppressed like Sasuke's, and Naruto knew her scent anywhere! Lilac perfume Sakura wore. She probably wore it for Sasuke, which diminished his hopes of her not liking him too badly, but he always propped up! Besides, he wasn't complaining. If he had to smell Sakura's perfume and Sakura's orange-scented hair – which he always loved; Sakura plus orange equaled a happy Naruto-kun – because of Sasuke, then, who gave two and a half craps?! Naruto was still a happy-go-lucky kid, albeit a bit sarcastic, headstrong and a bit oblivious to the world around him. Maybe that keep him bouncing back to her.
Regardless, he was a bit downtrodden when his crush spat out all the reasons she wouldn't work with him... which most included "her and Sasuke-kun". Naruto almost vomited at the suffix for the bastard on his team. Okay, Naruto hatred for the onyx boy grew more to heights seemingly unfathomable. It took all his muscles to hold himself to not scream, "SASUKE IS A LITTLE EMO BOY WHO RATHER TELL EVERYBODY HIS 'DEPRESSING' STATE OF LIFE OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL HE GOTTEN SICK HIMSELF AND SHITTED HIMSELF TO SLEEP!!!!' ...BUT, he decided he rather not.
Whether or not Sasuke was a brooding bastard or not, Sakura threw a mean right hook. And he meant mean.
"But Sakura-chan," That wasn't groveling he wasn't doing. More like... begging on his knees like a dog. "I can't defeat do this on my own~!" Well, I guess you could call it groveling if you wanted to. Even dogs had respect for themselves.... But Naruto grovelled proudly. Again, Naruto wasn't too beyond groveling, especially to the girl who he liked. He had to admit though: that's what made Sakura Haruno sexy – her firm but intelligent stature. It was a healthy fusion... until she got mad. Her temper was also a contributing factor to him liking her. Naruto, not to sound TOO perverted, liked his girls brash. Scary, yes, but a little balls on the girls he liked didn't matter...!
It wasn't until he realized how wrong that statement before sounded soooo wrong in many levels, that he also noticed the girl of his attention was stomping away from him. "S-Sakura-chan, where ya going? Aren't ya going to team up with me?"
"HELL NO, NARUTO!!" Sakura yelled. For what reason she was mad, was beyond Naruto (or the writer... or the reader.... or God (Gods for whoever believe in more than one).... or anybody other than Kishimoto (no offense)).
Naruto blinked owlishly. "All I asked is you to team up with me."
"And I said no!"
"But why not?!" Naruto pitched back.
Sakura glared. "Naruto, this test isn't about us teaming up! This is all about individual strength, not hoping you can rely on your peers!"
"But we're a-"
"Besides, Sasuke-kun will get those bells for both of us, I know it!" Sakura squealed. "Why, I bet that bad boy is fight Ero-Hatake down there."
While the nickname was amusing to Naruto, he didn't find Sasuke being added into to the mix something to laugh about. Naruto scoffed. "I wouldn't want Sasgay to get some bells for me."
He was glad – then annoyed – that Sakura was so content in her fantasy world of her and Sasuke that she seemingly didn't take Naruto's "off-comment" of the Uchiha to actually hit him. Mean hook, remembered? However, when she did hear Naruto say the rest ("Sasuke" and "Sasugay", could you tell the difference of names beside the spelling if you heard it? I bet not), she turned around, deadpanning, "I didn't mean you and me."
Naruto ignored, or more like tried to, Sakura's statement and instead opted to go back on the grassy floor and grovel again. "Come on, Sakura-chan! Let's team up! Hell, we could even team up with Sasuke if you wanna-"
"I said no, Naruto! Sasuke-kun doesn't need a hindrance like you anyway!!" Sakura dismissed Naruto's hurt look and pondered for a second, a finger on her chin. "I know, I'll go help Sasuke-kun out! Sasuke-kun, I'm coming!!"
"But-" But unfortunately for Naruto, Sakura was well down the grassy path to go search for her crush. Irony would have been Naruto's new word for today, if he didn't stare down at the grass under him. He stood up, grunting angrily.
The words stung in his head, telling him that he was a hindrance in her, Sasuke and possibly that Hatake-guy's eyes. Maybe he was...
No! He shot up, fist pumped, a smile brandishing his face. Actually, it was more a curve on his lips filled with determination. "Naruto Uzumaki" and the word "hindrance" didn't quite mix! He wasn't no hindrance to this team. He was damn stronger than that Sasuke-bastard. And he would show it. To Sakura, to Kakashi, to Sasuke, to everybody he knew.
No more playing around anymore! It was time he showed the world his stuff!!
Naruto muttered the words, "Sorry, old man, but I'm going to show my trump card to these guys." He grinned and jumped into the trees.
And into the battlefield he go.
…
Sasuke Uchiha was a prodigy. He was a Genius child on this newer generation, people believed. With many others and himself believing so, he grew accustomed to the word, "Genius" being applied to his name. He did excel in taijutsu and ninjutsu over his academic peers, especially with his specialty being Katon or Fire Techniques. However, despite many claims that he was a Genius, he was still a kid with limitations. He wasn't perfect in his ninjutsu, as some of his clan techniques he could not perform because his current level of Chakra and Chakra control was not suited for so. His taijutsu was almost flawless but still, his taijutsu had a few holes in it, and could be over powered by somebody who was stronger than him. He knew not a thing about Genjutsu at all – no techniques, only the way to break them.
Kakashi Hatake was a prodigy who was an Jounin by name. That meant, by rank, that he knew a least more than Sasuke in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu. And sadly, Sasuke wasn't disappointed that he did. Well, he was in a way – Sasuke was still prideful of his heritage and power. Sasuke didn't like saying that Kakashi was stronger, faster, and more experienced than him. But it was true.
Sasuke felt winded, breathing a little at the speed Kakashi was dodging his punches and kicks. Despite this, Sasuke still came at Kakashi with every punch and kick he learned from the Uchiha-style taijutsu background he had. Kakashi lazily swiped at Sasuke, which was slow enough to hit, as Sasuke expected Kakashi to be faster. It wasn't until he realized that perhaps Kakashi was playing around, Sasuke gritted his teeth down hard. This level of arrogance exceed his own and Sasuke honestly didn't like it.
He was the only person that deserved to be arrogant, dammit!
Sasuke tugged at Kakashi's silvery bells again, but didn't even have the time to even feel the texture of the bells as Kakashi pulled away quickly. Sasuke punched at Kakashi, which he caught. Holding Sasuke's fist already, Kakashi caught a kick to his head with another open hand. His sigh signified he rather be somewhere else. 'Damn kids messing up my time of reading. The last team I had last year were so afraid of fighting hand-to-hand with me, that they gave me ample time to read.' Despite the sigh signifying he rather read his smut than fight, he smirked in amusement. The kids were strong, brave even, but stupid, he figured. Still they haven't figured that these test wasn't for them to fight him like this, huh?
He glanced at the clock over to his west, despite Sasuke struggling in his grasp.
It was well over two hours this test has been going on. 'Only one hour until this test is over....They got until then to figure it out.'
'Hopefully....' he last thought, as he dropped Sasuke on purpose, to see his reaction. Said boy caught himself and cartwheeled to Kakashi's left. Sasuke threw a flurry of kunai knives and shuriken stars to Kakashi's head. The man dodged a little, front a tilt of his head to a slight shifted in his legs. Kakashi lazily looked at Sasuke's hand flip, flashing hand seals at a surprising rate for an fresh-out-of-the-academy ninja. Kakashi saw the sequence of the hand seals Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, and finally, Tiger, signifying the boy was trying to do a Katon technique.
And succeed he did. After the necessary seals were done, the boy inhaled a great amount of oxygen in his mouth and gathered even more amount of chakra in his chest, Kakashi noted. Like most fire techniques, it was all in the breath. When Kakashi saw the boy put up his index finger and thumb in a "ring", he wasn't surprised the fireball was created. As soon as the fire touched the air, the blaze became greater. Kakashi dodged the power ball quick, despite the surprising speed it put up. Maybe his students weren't so boring as he would think.
Yeah.
Well, he was still sadistic. It didn't take long until he decided to deviously put Sasuke underground. (Oh, don't worry Sasuke fans. Everything but Sasuke's head was underground) Sasuke looked surprised, didn't hold back from yelping in surprise either. When Kakashi bended down to Sasuke's... "grounded" form, (Author is pelted with rocks for the horrible pun) his face lit up in humor. "Well, how's it going down there, Sasuke-kun?" (Almost killed for another pun.)
Sasuke glared balefully at the man above him. "What... did... you... do?" He bared his voice through his teeth. The grinding of his teeth was almost palpable.
Kakashi shrugged. "Oh, casual Jounin technique, my boy. Doton: Shinjū Zanshu no Jutsu or the Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique. It's mostly an assassination technique." Kakashi was sadistic, oh yes, to those who needed it and who didn't need more humbling that the Uchiha brat? Stressing the word "assassination" so blatantly, Kakashi noticed Sasuke's eyes just widened like saucers. In all the time he knew the Uchiha clan, and years of stealing their "coolness" from them, Sasuke was doing something so un-Uchiha-ish. Then again, Obito was just a black haired Naruto... with probably more skills but the same womanly problems. Ah good times....
To distill and dispel Sasuke's almost fearful look, he shrugged, fanning away the confusion. "I don't have the heart to finish it though. However, I think I'll leave you down there like that. More time for me to read anyway. Ciao!"
Kakashi popped out of existence, with a plume of smoke insulting his vision and his nose and his mouth. Sasuke coughed angrily and growled at his situation after the smoke was gone. Great, he was underground, mostly, from shoulders to toes. Could this day get worse?
"S-Sasuke-kun?! AHHH!!!" Sasuke groaned, hitting his face on the ground, as he saw one thing that could easy fuck up his day...
A fangirl fainted right near his face, near his breathing air.
As if his body being 90% underground didn't suck, a fan girl was passed out in front of him...
...He could probably get sick, or worse, they would grow on him!!
NOOOOOO!!! Must hate Itachi, must hate Itachi, no time for girls, no time for girls!! No times for girl parts and girl things and girl troubles! ASEXUAL, ASEXUAL!! Keep screaming "asexual".
No, it's not a term similar to the word "gay"! It just means "not interested"! WHAT, GAY FOR NARUTO?! Naruto?!! Hell to the third power no!! If he was gay, there was no way he like Naruto!! There was no way he was gay; no way he started that kiss with Naruto... BAH!! WHAT KISS?! THERE WAS NO KISS!!
ACK!! NOT GAY, NOT GAY, NOT GAY!!
….
Kakashi stood around, looking at the alarm clock. He narrowed his eyes, 'Thirty minutes... I guess I should just sit it out until the time, eh? 'Cause, it seems they aren't getting it.... Well, maybe that Uzumaki kid.' It wasn't very long that Kakashi saw Naruto stagger into the woods, despite him suppressing his chakra – very good, he might add. He might have suppressed it at first, but it flared up soon after he met with another weaker chakra signature. Kakashi figured it was Sakura, since he noted her chakra coils and signature was smaller and weaker, easier to hide. He guessed seeing Naruto flared up her chakra. He saw as a sign of extreme emotions being played out, and since the girl was no-nonsense, almost damn right hatred for the boy. He should feel sorry for the boy... He should. Sadism, laziness and indifference was his namesake – can't let anybody think he's getting soft for a boy who has more women troubles than him.
"...Wait, I have women troubles?" He muttered. It sounded a little more confused than depressed.
Suddenly, a wave of blades came to Kakashi. If he wasn't already well guarded, he could have been hurt embarrassingly. Again, the "cool" man also didn't have "embarrassment" to his name. Kakashi turned away from the clock's direction and turned to a newer challenger: Naruto Uzumaki. Said boy smirked in his direction, crouched down as if he jumped from a tree. He declared, "Alright Hatake, let's go another round!"
"Kid", Kakashi sighed. "Do I have to go through the 'lessons' again? Preferably lesson 2?" Kakashi stifled a triumphant laugh as he saw Naruto unabashedly rubbed the formerly "assaulted area".
But Naruto steeled himself, now standing, fist pumped like he was about to uppercut somebody. "This time I won't hold back!"
Kakashi snickered. "Even if you did have some trump card, do you really think you can take me out. Kid, I see your skills and they look still very elementary." He almost laughed at Naruto's growls. "Don't you think ya should team up with those other peers. Maybe that will help." Okay, maybe Kakashi was getting a little soft. Maybe he gave a big hint that was so hard to not miss, that you would have to be a real idiot to miss it.
At Kakashi's attention, Naruto's ears popped up, as if he gotten the just of the test, or a little of it. It was hard to tell, since that attention was wiped away, replaced with anger. "Hmph, Sakura didn't wanna work with me, even after I said she could dragged the Uchiha-bastard along for the ride."
Snickering a little to himself, he said to himself, 'I don't think Sakura would be able to "dragged" Sasuke now. I think he's feeling a little "under the weather".' (Again, the author is jumped by a lot of angry fan-fiction fans. He screams, "Gomen, sorry, désolé, désolé!!) He made an "ah" noise and nodded. "Well, I guess we go another round." He stared down at the alarm clock, "You guys only got twenty-five minutes anyway. Might as well making it interesting."
Naruto grunted in displeasure. "Okay, Kakashi! Watch this! See this?"
Kakashi blinked and looked blankly at him. He watched Naruto show his hand, palm open at him."Uh, a hand is nice and all Naruto, but how's that going to defeat me?"
Naruto scowled, "No, not the hand, idiot! Look at the palm!"
Kakashi strode lazily at the boy, looking a little more carefully at his palm, shrugging at what he's seeing. "So, you drew a drawing on your hand. Big ups, kid. I never see a crude, rudimentary drawing of a "T" in my life. Well, should the 'T' be upside down..." He paused and looked at the drawing. "And shaped a like a 'V'?"
Kakashi could easy spot frustration blooming in the face of the kid, however, he wavered a smile over his frustrations. "Actually, this is my trump card."
"The ability to draw badly?"
"No." Naruto glared at him and then grinned, chuckling. "It's what I drew that's my a trump card. It's a sword."
"A sword? Drawing is suppose to help you?" Kakashi innocently said. Actually, despite his innocence, he suspected something already when he first saw the technique. Unless Naruto was into body art, bad body art at that, he would doubt it wasn't for something.
Naruto grinned simply, ignoring the question. "I'll show you what I mean." Naruto suddenly, bit his thumb and wiped some blood over the tattoo. Taking a pregnant minute of pause, the drawing over Naruto's palm seem to smooth out, until it seemed almost like a skillful tattoo. Suddenly, the drawing seem to fizzle out of Naruto's palm, disappearing from all sight and instead, was left with something he suspected and was awed by.
In place of the drawing, left a sword in his hand. As in, a real sword. It stood out in the same proportion and shape as his once-crude drawing. It was in the same of a broadsword, a blade usually handled by bandits, Kakashi noted. Amazement paned the face of Kakashi. This amount of skill and chakra wasn't gifted by many, especially when using these skills.
Storage seals.
Summoning.
The amount of chakra and skill poured in those aspects should have killed, let alone hurt this boy. And yet, he stood, un-winded by his technique. Surprised, yes, Kakashi was. Then again, he reasoned, it wasn't totally unheard of. Kakashi and countless others were capable of doing things like this his age and younger. It was mostly because they were pushed to this edge to become strong, and with knowing what life Naruto lead, what was in his past history, he knew the boy had "Genius" all over him, despite yesterday of him saying he hated the term of "Genius". Yep, Naruto was destined to become something unpredictable. However, with the stance Naruto had which was as clumsy as his taijutsu, he doubted Naruto had a great knowledge how to use that sword properly. Not that Kenjutsu was a specialty of the famed man. Like most well-rounded ninjas, in the fields of Ninja-hood Kakashi only knew the basics of things he didn't specialize in and since his former job as an ANBU taught how to handle a sword averagely, he bet he knew more that Naruto.
And he was right.
Naruto seemed to blindly swipe the blade in Kakashi's direction. With the size of the blade, Naruto seem to have some more trouble with lifting the blade over his head. Given the blade wasn't three times the size of Naruto's total body weight and mass, it was a nice size that seemed a little heavy for the boy. Regardless, he was surprised Naruto could do this.
...If only time was on his side.
The clock rang, and rang in a rage. Kakashi's stance dropped, as did Naruto's concentration on Kakashi. With a wordless "poof", the blade was extinguished from existence and Kakashi stared at Naruto, with indifference. "Times up."
Naruto stare down at the ground, trying to keep his vision from Kakashi. 'Dammit! We failed!!' He sighed, defeated. That was it, he was a three-year failure. "So... I guess that's it, huh...?" Naruto asked rhetorically.
Naruto looked at Kakashi as he stared down at him and shrugged, "Maybe not, kid. For now, it's twelve, and it's time to take a break."
…
Sakura groaned. "Where am I?"
Then, everything came to her, and she gasped in horror, her eyes threatening to leak out in tears. "OH NO!! SASUKE-KUN'S.... SASUKE-KUN'S-"
"-Is here and eating his lunch, Sakura-chan." Kakashi's cool voice came to her, and she sighed in relief as she turned over to the ebony boy.
"Oh, Sasuke-kun, I thought you were dead." All she heard was a grunt from the boy who ate in front of her, but she misinterpreted it as him appreciating her caring about him.
Which popped up images in Sakura's mind. Borderline "M" images to "X" rated images.
And at that, Sakura decided to glomp Sasuke... Well, try to glomp him. She willed herself to do so, but no matter what, she could not move. "What's... going... on! Why can't I... glomp... my Sasuke-kun?!"
Kakashi snickered, "Cause, girly, you're kinda tied up at the moment." ("That's it, muthafucka! We won't take these puns anymore!! Say one more muthafucking pun and you're dead!!" A shotgun is held up at the Author's head. It's a nice "persuasion" to stop those puns now. -Gulp- "I promise!!")
"Huh?" She looked down at her and saw her hands, legs and all tied up in tan ropes to a log stump. "NO! Why?! Am... did I fail?"
"No. You didn't fail, Sakura." She sighed in relief. "Because... you all failed!!" Sakura flinched at Kakashi's booming voice, as did everyone on the team.
"What?! Why?" She asked. "I know we didn't get the bells from you, but you couldn't possible expect with your skill that we could win."
"Of course not!" Kakashi scoffed. "I didn't expect you all to get the bells individually, but maybe you could have gotten it as a team."
"Huh? But-"
"You didn't really expect you could luck out and get the bells from me by those means? It was suicidal going alone against a jounin, especially of my rank and skills, and especially individual. If I was a ninja in the field, I would have already killed you guys." He said harshly, seeing them flinch. "But if you worked together, you guys might have beaten me to at least get one bell. One mind is powerful but it's meaningless compared to three."
"But there was only two bells. How would all of us would pass if one of us wouldn't have a bell?"
Kakashi shook his head. "Maybe because teamwork was the key of the test. Maybe if the bells was devised to make you guys-"
"-Pit each other against each other." Sasuke nodded. "That's what this test was trying to do. It was trying to teach us how to work together." Sasuke finished.
"Very good, Sasuke." Kakashi nodded. "Yes, this test was suppose to teach you how to rely on others. If it was up to me to pass, I would pass Naruto and him only."
Sakura and Sasuke looked at Naruto with surprise. Said boy looked up with interest at Kakashi. "Why me?"
"Yeah, why the baka? If anything, he's the last person that should pass anything! Sasuke-kun should pass!" Sakura huffed, ignoring the look of Naruto's hurt face.
Kakashi groaned in disgust. "If he's an idiot, what are you guys?" He didn't bother to care for Sakura's flinching and Sasuke's grunts and huffs. "Out of all of you, he exercised at least some of the point to this test. Sakura, didn't Naruto ask you for help and you didn't give him it, instead opting to go help Sasuke?" When Sakura's head went down in some embarrassment and shame, he nodded sagely. "Sakura, if anything, you should fail. But I'm not going to do that."
"Y-You won't? So, we pass?" Sakura asked, eager with hope.
Kakashi narrowed his eye down at her. "Who said I'm doing that? Instead I think I'm not going to pass you right up front. That's too easy. Instead, I think I'm going to redo the test, giving you three more hours to get the bells from me, using teamwork. But what I wanna do is take a break for now."
"Oh great!" Sakura sighed. All that fighting – although she didn't do a damn thing – brought upon an appetite; she quickly noticed that Naruto and Sasuke munched on the food there. Whatever it was, was assaulting her senses in a good way. She wanted some of that alright! "Um, Kakashi-sensei?"
"Yes, Sakura-chan?" Kakashi said, reading a little of his smut book. Sakura ignored that, as her stomach grumbled, to her embarrassment.
"Um, where's my food?"
Kakashi grinned under his face. "There's no food for those who are tied to that post."
"W-WHAT?! B-But-!"
"You don't deserve it anyway." He shrugged.
"That doesn't matter! I... shouldn't you, like, give me a chance and excuse me! I'm a female!!"
"Hmm, let me think about it... Nope." Kakashi's sadism was undiscriminating. "If ya wanna be treated equally like the boys, I have to treat you with the same way." Actually, he just like being sadistic. Kakashi stood from his stump and put his book away, ignoring Sakura's protests and hollers. "Hmm, I think I left the alarm clock back in the middle of the forest. I'll be back in a few minutes, guys."
"Oh and one thing," Kakashi said, turning to the boys on the ground who were relishing in their food in their separate bentos, despite Sakura's hollering. "Don't let the girl eat a thing. 'Cause if you give her food, ya'll fail, ya dig?" Naruto and Sasuke nodded wordlessly at Kakashi's order.
Sakura huffed, looking at Kakashi's fleeting form. "Whatever... I don't need any food." But her grumbling stomach said otherwise.
She tried to hide her stomach grumbling, trying to pass it off as something else, but Naruto didn't hesitate to put his bento in Sakura's face. Sakura looked at Naruto questioningly. "N-Naruto, wha-?"
"Take it, Sakura-chan. I'm not hungry anymore. I ate something this morning anyway." Naruto smiled a little to her, despite the uncertainty on her face.
"But what if-"
"Oh don't worry about him. He probably had to walk pretty far for that alarm clock." He shrugged. "Besides, if he's giving us another chance, we're going to need you at full strength, right, Uchiha?"
The boy besides him, also nodding, agreed with Naruto. "Uzumaki's right, um..." Sakura waited. "What's your name again?"
"S-Sakura Haruno." Sakura's attitude deflated at Sasuke's obliviousness to her name, despite them being in the same class together for a year now.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Um, right. Well, anyway, Haruno, we're going to need you at full strength at fighting Kakashi again, so eat, because I won't have you as a hindrance."
Sakura smiled. "Oh, thank you, Sasuke-kun!"
"Um, hey, what about me? I offered first..." Naruto muttered loudly.
Sakura blinked. "Oh, and thanks... Naruto."
Naruto kicked the dirt. 'Well, at least I got a "Thank You".... despite me having to ask.'As Sakura chewed on Sasuke's and Naruto's bento, screaming to them both "Thanks!" in bites – a more sensible part of her screaming most thanks to Naruto, while her irrational part, the part that rule most of her mind yelled more at Sasuke. It wasn't until the boom voice of Kakashi came into play that she almost wet herself.
"What... the... hell are you feeding her for?!"
"Um guys, I think I wet myself." With Sasuke and Sakura numbly nodding the same thing, all three cowered in fear.
Thunder and darkness came over their heads, with Kakashi's voice sounding the most terrifying of the theatrics. Kakashi cackled darkly. "You do know what's coming next, do you?!"
"Um, I got an idea..." Sakura squeaked out.
"YES! I'M GOING TO SAY THESE THREE WORDS TO YOU KIDS! YOU GUYS....""...Pass!" Kakashi said, thunder and darkness now disappearing.
".... WTF?!" All of them said as one.
"Kakashi, what happened about all that bullshit about us failing if we gave-"
"It was a lie, Naruto."
"Eh?" Was Naruto's smartest comment. Not like Sakura and Sasuke could do better – their jaws were still on the floor.
Kakashi sighed. "Kid, you did something that signified you guys teamwork. While you guys were disobeying my orders, you thought of your teammate before yourself. And that's what's all about, guys. You guys gotta trust each other, and rely on each other 'cause if you can't rely on them, then you can't rely on anybody." They nodded, to which Kakashi smiled. "Of course, you guys gotta work on your skills too before becoming a good team. All of you have flaws that we gotta work on but that's all superficial. Tomorrow, we'll worry about that. Until then, enjoy your days, guys. Meet here at 9:00 AM everyday. Got it?" They nodded. Kakashi put his thumb up. "Congrats to Team Seven!"
Naruto and Sakura cheered outright, while Sasuke smirked to himself. It was obvious Sasuke was happy with passing too.
"See ya, guys!" Kakashi teleported away from Training Grounds Seven, leaving the three here to go home by themselves.
"Sasuke-kun! Do you..." Sakura blushed, asking shyly. "Wanna go on the date with me?"
"Hmph. No." He nodded at Naruto and muttered to them, "Later."
Sakura was immediately depressed at him. It didn't help when Naruto asked her on a date after that.
Sakura scowled, "No, Naruto, now leave!"
When Naruto sighed and nodded, treking home now, she grunted and harrumphed. Time for her to go home...
But then she looked down at her predicament and groaned, "No! WAIT, NARUTO!! COME BACK HERE AND CUT ME DOWN FROM HERE, YOU BAAAAAKKKKKKKKKAAAA!!!"
End....
For Now! Omake!!
"Kid", Kakashi sighed. "Do I have to go through the 'lessons' again? Preferably lesson 2?" Kakashi stifled a triumphant laugh as he saw Naruto unabashedly rubbed the formerly "assaulted area".
But Naruto steeled himself, now standing, fist pumped like he was about to uppercut somebody. "This time I won't hold back!"
Kakashi snickered. "Even if you did have some trump card, do you really think you can take me out. Kid, I see your skills and they look still very elementary." He almost laughed at Naruto's growls. "Don't you think ya should team up with those other peers. Maybe that will help." Okay, maybe Kakashi was getting a little soft. Maybe he gave a big hint that was so hard to not miss, that you would have to be a real idiot to miss it.
At Kakashi's attention, Naruto's ears popped up, as if he gotten the just of the test, or a little of it. It was hard to tell, since that attention was wiped away, replaced with anger. "Hmph, Sakura didn't wanna work with me, even after I said she could dragged the Uchiha-bastard along for the ride."
Snickering a little to himself, he said to himself, 'I don't think Sakura would be able to "dragged" Sasuke now. I think he's feeling a little "under the weather".' He made an "ah" noise and nodded. "Well, I guess we go another round." He stared down at the alarm clock, "You guys only got twenty-five minutes anyway. Might as well making it interesting."
Naruto grunted in displeasure. "Okay, Kakashi! Watch this! See this?"
Kakashi blinked and looked blankly at him. He watched Naruto show his hand, palm open at him."Uh, a hand is nice and all Naruto, but how's that going to defeat me?"
Naruto scowled, "No, not the hand, idiot! Look at the palm!"
Kakashi strode lazily at the boy, looking a little more carefully at his palm, shrugging at what he's seeing. "So, you drew a drawing on your hand. Big ups, kid. I never see a crude, rudimentary drawing of a "T" in my life. Well, should the 'T' be upside down..." He paused and looked at the drawing. "And shaped a like a 'V'?"
Kakashi could easy spot frustration blooming in the face of the kid, however, he wavered a smile over his frustrations. "Actually, this is my trump card."
"The ability to draw badly?"
"No." Naruto glared at him and then grinned, chuckling. "It's what I drew that's my a trump card. It's a sword."
"A sword? Drawing is suppose to help you?" Kakashi innocently said. Actually, despite his innocence, he suspected something already when he first saw the technique. Unless Naruto was into body art, bad body art at that,he would doubt it wasn't for something.
Naruto grinned simply,
ignoring the question. "I'll show you what I mean."
Naruto suddenly, bit his thumb and wiped some blood over the tattoo.
Taking a pregnant minute of pause, the drawing over Naruto's palm
seem to smooth out, until it seemed almost like a skillful tattoo.
Suddenly, the drawing seem to fizzle out of Naruto's palm,
disappearing from all sight and instead, was left with something he
suspected and was awed by.
And
Kakashi for the second time in his life was unhelpfully confused. A
light glimmered in Naruto's right hand, as if Naruto was expecting
something to come out of it. And that something was. The light
expanded, like a weapon was coming out, and it did. Finally, the
light disappeared, leaving a weapon Kakashi would only see in his
dreams. Out the light came a blade, no ordinary blade.... actually,
it wasn't a blade. The top, where a blade should have been, the teeth
he guessed, was rigged in the shape of a crown. The top was silver in
color. The "blade" part also was silvery like a sword,
having a handle at the end of the sword-like weapon. The hilt of the
sword was golden colored and square in shape. Basically, it looked
like a big old skeleton key with a hilt and, dare he see it, a key
chain at the bottom.
And this confused Kakashi.
"What the hell!" Kakashi finally broke his character.... And promptly yelled, "WHAT THE HELL KINDA IS THAT?!"
"Ya likes?" Naruto grinned. "Okay, maybe it doesn't have a ridged edge or a straight up pointy blade part but this is my trump card: the Keyblade!!"
Kakashi's jaw dropped, with Naruto took it an invitation to cast some of his magic.
"THUNDER!!"
Naruto gleefully watched as the lightning fried Kakashi's gray-ass. Naruto let out a diabolical laugh. "Mwhahahahaha!! THAT WHAT YOU GET FOR CALLING ME A DEADLAST, YOU FUCKING SCARECROW!!"
'Ugh.
Maybe I should have underestimated him.' Kakashi
said, the lightning leaving him with third-degree burns and a broken
pride. 'This
sooo going to make me look soft when the other Jounin-senseis here
about this.'A/N:
Hey guys, it's been a while, ne? I got frustrated of not doing a damn
story for my life, as I got MASSIVE writer's block. Growl. Anyway, I
came up with this story. Oh yeah, the omake was what I was planning
to originally make: A Naruto/Kingdom Hearts cross over, but then, I
thought that wasn't very original as it resembled one Naruto/Kingdom
Hearts crossover already (Cough, cough.)("Key Through the
Heart" by Andrew Joshua Talon, go read it after you review.)
(Cough, cough.) and I felt I didn't wanna go through the trouble of
people pestering me "Oh, is Sora, Riku, Kairi, Heartless and
Nobodies going to show up? Are they going to travel to new worlds?
Are you going to make up Keyblades for Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura?"
when I didn't know myself, so I changed some text around and behold!
I created this fic: Tattoo! The wonders Chakra and the human
mind could have, ne? I gotten the idea of storage seals thanks
to another fic by Stigma called, "The Genius Losers Of Konoha".
Great author, great story, guys. Go check it out, but not before
reviewing, ne? Pairings? Meh, I don't know just yet. As you
can see, I don't do those well, as well as fight scenes and lemon
scenes. I decided I won't put up the lemon scenes – if there
are any in this story – on and instead of
. The site I kinda ignored for some time now, despite
me being on the site for a year or two. Anyway, I think I would
probably appease the NaruSaku fans and put the pairing in there,
though I will tease other pairings in this fic, including the yaoi
fans, ALTHOUGH there will be no real yaoi in here. If you came to see
Naruto and Sasuke get it on, sorry, this isn't for you. I probably
might not even have the pairing of NaruSaku in this, as I hate how
the character she is but seeing how I created a NaruSaku in the past,
I might do what I said before. Meh. I don't know and frankly, I
probably won't make that much of romance in this story. This story is
just for the lulz or something to say, like, "Eh, not
bad". Original Characters? Don't know and while I'm not
totally contemptuous of the idea, I really don't wanna feel attached
to the story. When I feel like updating, I will. If I feel I will hit
a wall and draw a blank on where things are going with this? Eh, I
probably will try to scrap up an idea for the next chappie. Kakashi?
Well, I always wanted him to be more sadistic, more serious with his
training of students. This fic will do exactly that. They won't
epically powerful super fast, but I guarantee that they will be
strong. Personally, I can envision a more sadistic, lazy, sarcastic
man in place of the regular Kakashi. He's not going to change a lot
but he's a little more darker and surly in his attitude. Will
I stick to canon? Yes and no. Yes, because I think keeping it canon
will keep me from going to south with the story, therefore I will be
okay and have less blocks in writing. No, because I like variety, and
comedy mixed with some stupid-cupid romance, teen-angst and some
stupidly-write action. Plus, at the end of the chappie, you'll have a
nice omake! Who doesn't like those. =D Well, I think I'm done
talking in this useless Author's Note. Oh yeah, if I don't update
this, damn me to hell. Like damn me good. Until then, folks.
I'm Ryu aka DarkMasterStarr and I say, good night, good
fight... Laterz.
