Emergence of Talents
Naruto age 12 (Konoha's resident blonde gaki was elated that he, in all his twelve-year-old glory, would finally become a ninja. He'd been waiting so, so long to be a shinobi just like his parents.)
It was graduation day and that meant that the students would become full-fledged ninjas, and all of the responsibilities and expectations that came along with it.
The current class was possibly the most talented class in last 20 years, including seven clan children (five of which were first in line heirs), the son of the late Fourth Hokage, a girl full of potential with intelligence to match-yes, a new generation.
Naruto Namikaze, the son of the late Fourth Hokage and the sole Uzumaki survivor, was in class and extremely bored as his teacher, Iruka, went on about how this was the most important day of their lives.
"Today is examination day and, for most, the hardest test you will have taken up to this point. This is your first step to becoming a ninja." Iruka recited his speech even though he saw boredom and other various reactions throughout the classroom, such as Naruto looking completely disinterested.
The rest of the class was faring no better, as Sasuke seemed impatient, told by the repeated tapping of his foot, Shikamaru and Kiba were both fast asleep in the back, Chouji was muching distractedly on some snacks, and Ino was absently fiddling with her hair, subconsciously trying to smooth it out. Shino, Hinata, and Sakura seemed to be the only ones paying attention, although it was hard to tell with Shino, as his shades and high-collared jacket hid most of his face.
After Iruka's speech he then started to pass out papers as graduation included the final exam: the students' last roadblock in becoming Genin. The final exam was comprised of three tests: a written exam to test general knowledge, as ninja needed at least basic intelligence, a practical test to evaluate shuriken and kunai usage and basic taijutsu, and, last but not least, a ninjutsu evaluation that went over substitution, transformation, and clone jutsus.
As Naruto received his test he grew really nervous, as he was not the best at written exams, as he tended to lean on the physical side of being a ninja. His hand started to shake as he grabbed his pencil and he closed his eyes, breathing in and out slowly to calm himself. It was one of the few things his mother had been able to teach him before she passed away.
Scanning his test, he realized there were only five questions, which came as a huge relief.
The first question was simple enough, as it just wanted him to list the twelve basic hand seals. Bird, Boar, Dog, Dragon, Ox, Tiger, Snake, Rat, Horse, Monkey, Hare, Ram, he thought as he scribbled them down, his chicken scratch just barely legible. The second question prompted him to list and explain his knowledge of the three basic types of jutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu, which was easy enough. After that, he easily recalled the five basic elements of ninjutsu.
The fourth question highly amused him, considering it asked for the listing of all Konoha's Hokages. He knew three out of four of them, and the Fourth was his father, so he didn't have any trouble there.
The final question asked for the Five Great Shinobi Villages, which he quickly wrote down. Konohagakure, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure.
As Naruto set down his pencil he saw a few more students finishing up their tests, based upon Iruka getting up from his desk he could tell that the written test was almost over, as the last person finished their test Iruka stood in front of the class
Academy Training Grounds
"Alright, now let's go outside to the kunai range for the physical test," Iruka announced as he ushered everyone outside.
Outside the academy were the training grounds, they were separated into three sections, with the fourth being the entrance, on one side was a simple open field where students usually did their taijutsu practices, on the other was the kunai range
The kunai range was nothing special-just five targets lined up with some chalk on the ground to mark throwing distance. It had little tables next to the chalk with neat rows of kunai and shuriken.
"Alright! You may pick to throw shuriken or kunai. It's up to your preference and you can use up to five. Now lineup in alphabetical order. The first five go first," Mizuki, Iruka's assistant instructor, announced once the children and filed out.
After most of the students it was only three students left as there wasn't a good amount of students to make a multiple of five. The only remaining students were Naruto Namikaze, Sasuke Uchiha and Ino Yamanaka as the all had late last names. Ino picked up her kunai in confidence as she started to fire them off one by one, the target had multiple lines but the middle circle was the goal which gives 10 points, Ino hit the first four on in the middle but didn't give herself enough room on the fifth in the middle so it bounced off leaving her with a 40, as she walked off she said to the remaining boys
"The show's all your boys" said Ino as she skipped back to the rest of the students
Naruto and Sasuke were rivals, they pushed each other at a lot of things from fighting to racing and the test was not excused from the rivalry, Sasuke was clearly the best boy in the class but Naruto always gives him a run for his money. In this challenge was a simple one instead of simply facing the target they would have spin before launching all five of their weapons at once, Sasuke chose kunai while Naruto chose shuriken. They spun 10 times to make them dizzy then counted to three.
"1" said Sasuke as he raised his kunai in preparationn
"2" said Naruto as he was regaining composure
"3!" they both said as the launched the weapons
"50 for both Naruto and Sasuke, alright next test let's go back inside "said Iruka as he wrote the score down and led the class back inside
The rest of the test was boring as the class had to one by one sit through each students jutsus, and it unexpectedly took longer that Iruka told the kids who already passed and received their headbands to start heading home and celebrate with their families and for those who didn't to try harder next year. Eventually it got to Naruto and was nervous but scared, he performed the transformation jutsu perfectly, the substitution perfect but the clone was only good as he only made to two clones but with that combined with his other test scores he passed.
"Congratulations Naruto" said Iruka as he handed him a headband
"Thanks sensei!" said Naruto as he stared at his headband all the way out the academy, until he bumped into something
"Come on Naruto I know you're happy but watch where you're going" said a girl
"Sorry Ama I wasn't watching where I was going" said Naruto
Ama was a nine-year-old girl with red hair with violet like eyes, she was the current jinchuuriki of the Nine tail fox but she didn't know that. Only the village higher ups and a select few like Naruto knew she was a jinchuriki. She is also Naruto's sister which she is also unaware of. The Hokage and the council decided that protecting Ama's identity as the jinchuuriki and daughter of the fourth hokage was needed by separating her from her brother as they don't want others to know who is the jinchuriki and the addition of being the Fourth's daughter will have even more enemies after her than Naruto since girls are more valuable to outsiders. This also adds the possibility of her having a normal life as she would grow up seemingly as a civilian with the last name Uzumaki because of the red hair.
"It's okay I understand you're happy" said Ama
"I'm so happy that I'm even going to offer Ramen for the both of us!" said Naruto as he exclaimed
"Yay!"
At Ichiraku
As Naruto and Ama were eating at Ichiraku, gulfing down their ramen, Ama keeps asking Naruto questions about the test but Naruto keeps waving them off or giving her a brief answer which just infuriates her.
"Come on Naruto, why can't you tell me about the written test, I'm not even asking about the clone jutsu this time." whined Ama
"Because it will give you an unfair advantage than the other kids" said Naruto as he got his third bowl of ramen
"But I'm already at a disadvantage, the teachers won't help me, please bro" said Ama as she knows whenever she calls him brother he has a soft spot for her unaware of her situation in Naruto's perspective
"Another time Ama, besides you got about three years before you should be concerned about the test" responded Naruto softly
"I know but I want to just shut this kid Konohamaru up, he's so loud and cocky, it's so annoying, and since he's a boy and I'm a girl I won't get a chance to beat him up in the taijutsu spars and-"
"I get it but you're going to have to fight through it" said Naruto as he remembers how Sakura used to be
"Alright but promise me that when I do become a genin, and I will, that you will help train me alright bro" said Ama as she held her pinkie finger out
"Fine I promise sis" conceded Naruto as he wrapped his pinkie finger around hers
Academy
All the graduates were in their former classroom waiting on Iruka to give out their teams, a lot of the kids were just talking about what teammates they would like how they would want their sensei to be like.
"Alright genin I have the team assignments and I'm announcing them" said Iruka as he read off the teams "Team 1…"
"N-Naruto-kun?" said Hinata trying to get his attention
"Yeah Hinata what's up?" said Naruto as he stopped listening to Kiba's wild prediction on how hot his sensei will be
"Do you know the teams? I mean I know the third Hokage tells you a lot so…" asked Hinata
"Sorry Hinata I don't Grandpa made it really hard for me to find out, I guess he really wants this to be a surprise"
"Team 7!" said Iruka louder to get more attention "Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuga and Shino Aburame, your sensei is Kakashi Hatake"
"Team 8, Sakura Haruno, Kiba Inuzuka and Choji Akimichi your sensei is Kurenai Yuuhi"
"Team 9 is still in rotation, next is Team 10 which consists of Naruto Namikaze, Ino Yamanaka, and Shikamaru Nara and your sensei is Asuma Sarutobi.
"Team 11…"
"Well it looks like we're not on the same team Hinata, and now you're with Sasuke, I wish you luck" said Naruto
"Yeah...well Sasuke isn't that bad right?" asked Hinata
"Well he's stubborn and hot headed, with a superiority complex-"
"I heard that!" said Sasuke as he turned around in his seat to confront Naruto
"Good now don't give Hinata and Shino a hard time, there nice unlike you!" responded Naruto
As they were going back and forth a lot of the other teams' sensei's were picking up their teams until there were only nine students left
"Alright Team 8 I'm your sensei come with me" said the woman presumably Kurenai
"Woo! I told y'all that my sensei would be hot" Kiba said as he raced out of the classroom after his sensei
"Wish me luck Shikamaru" said Choji towards Shikamaru his best friend
"Trust me I do" responded Shikamaru as he truly felt sorry for his best friend as he was stuck with arguably the loudest kid in the classroom
As Kiba Choji and Sakura left Team 10's sensei came in "Naruto, Ino, and Shikamaru come with me" said the man which can be presumed to be Asuma
"Well Sasuke behave or Hinata will have to make you" taunted Naruto as he made his way out with Ino and Shikamaru
Training ground 10
"Well I can assume you all know each other already so feel free to ask any question for me" said Asuma as he lit a cigarette
"Give us a brief description of yourself" said Ino
"Well my name is Asuma Sarutobi, my hobby is playing shogi, and my favorite food is soba"
"My question is why am I on this team?" asked Naruto which gained the attention from everyone
"What do you mean?" asked Asuma
"This was actually my question too" said Shikamaru "Why is Choji not on this squad to keep the Ino-Shika-Cho tradition up"
"Well first it's not really a tradition it just managed to be a coincidence for a while, you see it used to be the most intelligent student usually a Yamanaka, with the 2nd or 3rd strongest student usually a Akimichi and the laziest student usually a Nara. But Choji was actually the 4th strongest and Naruto was the 2nd or 3rd strongest in your class, Ino was you most intelligent based on the written test results and Shikamaru was easily the laziest student. They did this so that the brain and brawn of the team could motivate the laziest of the team." answered Asuma
"Oh well I guess that makes sense" said Ino
"Yeah well anyways it's time for the test to see if you should really be genin, and before you asked this is happening with the other teams as well, it's too see if the academy test was a fluke or not, and to see if I personally feel if you're ready." said Asuma as he stood up from his spot still smoking his cigarette "This test has a 33% pass rate meaning of the 27 genin who passed only about nine will pass"
"Alright what's the test?" asked Shikamaru as he and the other two stood up as well
"Simple the goal is to trap me in anyway necessary, attack me seriously or you won't stand a chance, if the trap is to weak I will break out of it, so the trap has to be a good one." said Asuma as the wind blew and leaves started flowing in the wind, Asuma grabbed one out of the air "The test begins when this leaf hits the ground"
The leaf hits the ground and Asuma seemingly vanished
"Body Flicker! he also wants us to find him to" said Naruto recognizing the technique
"Good this gives us time, he never gave us a time limit, so we have time to plan" said Shikamaru "We need to go over what we are good at and what techniques we can use"
"All I have is the mind body transfer jutsu" said Ino
"That will be the main way we trap him sense if he can break out of a lot of things means that we need to attack more than just his body" said Shikamaru "I have the Shadow paralysis and shadow imitation but based on the time of day I won't have that much longer to use them effectively"
They all looked at the sun as it was already sunset meaning it will be night soon and Shikamaru's shadows will be almost useless
"What about you Naruto outside of the academy jutsus we never see you use any jutsu" asked Ino
"Well most of my jutsus are offensive, but the ones that can be used here are my chains." Naruto said as he simultaneously grew chakra chains out of his hands
"How far can they go?" asked Shikamaru interrupting Naruto
"As much as my chakra can allow, but there still chains so they don't just bend at will like your shadows" said Naruto
"Right what else sorry for stopping you"
"It's fine, I also have some elemental jutsu my favorite is my wind style: blow away jutsu"
"Blow away?" questioned Ino
"Yeah!" Naruto said as he crossed his finger and formed a shadow clone which raised the eyebrow of both Shikamaru and Ino, Naruto placed his hand on the clones' chest and released his jutsu
"Blow away!"
Naruto's hand erupted with a powerful wind, blowing his clone forcibly back even off its feet, then it disappeared as hit the tree behind it
'The wind itself did not damage but it pushed his clone back so hard that I even felt it' analyzed Shikamaru
"Alright Chains, Wind and the clone jutsu, we can make a plan with those" said Ino enthusiastically
"Oh and I also have that jutsu that I haven't used in a while" Naruto said cryptically to the two who immediately understood
In the trees behind them Asuma was lurking curious what was taking them so long, until he remembered he didn't give them a time limit, but it doesn't matter this allows him to see how their teamwork and planning skills are until a large barrage of kunai and shuriken were hauled his way
Asuma jumped out of the trees and back into the open
"Good you found me now I hope you found a plan yet"
Before he knew it Naruto and Ino blitzed him in close range combat, Ino went for a low sweep kick, which made Asuma simply jump back a little out of the kicks range, Ino followed up still in the spinning motion with some kunai throwing which made Asuma move to his right, Naruto followed up going for a chest blow with his right fist, Asuma planned to simple block it but almost as soon as his made contact his hand opened up
"Wind Style blow away!"
Asuma felt the powerful wind pushing him back even when using chakra on his feet, the wind kept going Asuma knew it would be awhile before Naruto stops with the wind so he spits out his cigarette and proceeded to use his own wind style
"Wind style great breakthrough"
The winds clashed against each other fighting for dominance, but it was clear Asuma was winning
'Naruto's holding his own he must be a wind nature' thought Asuma
He felt something creeping behind him, only to glance back to see a shadow approaching his own, he quickly flickered away to avoid the shadow, only to find Ino ready to engage in taijutsu again
Ino went for a roundhouse kick which was easily grabbed by Asuma and thrown towards Shikamaru direction, as this was happening Naruto went in for an opening while Asuma back was turned but was dodged by Asuma, Naruto overthrew his punch and resulting to somersault back into a better position, Asuma not the passive type went in for the opening but before he knew it he felt a kick in the back
'Damn… he learned it' thought Asuma 'When did he mark me?'
Meanwhile Ino and Shikamaru were also amazed by the jutsu even though they have saw it before although that was years ago
"Flying thunder god jutsu" started to explained Naruto "A space and time jutsu where it instantly teleports the user to formula where it lies on, it's the jutsu that made my dad the famous yellow flash"
As he was explaining he was landing small blows on Asuma who was trying to figure out the pattern, this was obviously the first time Asuma experience the jutsu but based on his studies and talks from Kakashi that if you can predict where the user is going to be than you can beat but it's about being at least three steps ahead of them
'Step one make a feint to have them go to the best spot for them to either escape or attack perfectly' Asuma was thinking through the process he has heard over the years
Asuma saw Naruto in his stance a went for a punch but Naruto teleported
'Step two go for the most obvious opening after the feint'
Naruto teleported behind Asuma with an intention to attack around the legs but Asuma did a no look kick behind him which almost got Naruto but he teleported
'Step three after forcing him to the best attack direction now go for any spot that is within the user's field of vision otherwise you're screwed'
Naruto teleported to Asuma's left with the thought that most people are right dominated his left will be weaker but was surprised when he felt a fist in his gut
"Nice try but you telegraphed your moves too much" said Asuma as he watched Naruto kneel over 'Maybe too much force on that one'
"How?!" coughed Naruto
"You went for the best place to attack which shows how good of a fighter you are but it makes it predictable, and once I almost caught you, you panicked and went for what you could quickly see which was my left thinking I was right sided but I'm ambidextrous" explained Asuma
"Damn just like the third" commented Naruto but soon received a kick to his stomach that launched him back to his teammates
"Well plan A didn't work" commented Shikamaru
"Plan B then?" Ino said also asked Naruto as she helped Naruto up
"Yeah I thought I could surprise him with that but let's go your way" said Naruto upset he couldn't surprise Asuma
"Alright go!" said Ino
Naruto made 6 clones making seven Naruto's and they approached Asuma, until a shadow from one of the clones extended towards Asuma forcing him to jump back
'He's using the clones shadow to extend his range to catch me' thought Asuma impressed
Asuma felt something behind him and luckily dodged in time as Ino made it behind him and started throwing kunai, seeing as he was pinned he fled into the forest which the genin followed him into, they managed to pin him against a tree with the Naruto's surrounding him from all angles. Shikamaru came out from behind the tree Asuma was pinned to and revealed that he had Asuma in his shadow
"You used the shadow of the tree to get me but this will wear off soon" said Asuma as looked at the sun and saw it was nearly set
Suddenly he clones dispelled and Asuma felt out of control of his body and before he knew it as he regained control he was tied with ninja wire to the tree from shoulder to toe, he also noticed that a kunai was to his neck and Ino and Naruto were in front of him with kunai and shuriken ready as well as more sunlight than before
Asuma tried to recall to happen and he thinks he has a good guess
"You used Naruto's clones smoke to cover up Ino's mind transfer which left me unable for a few seconds but that was enough time for one of you to tie me up and you used Naruto's wind to make an opening in the trees for more sunlight to keep your shadow paralysis up longer" said Asuma
"Yeah the only way to actually trap you is if you were in a life-or death situation so with this kunai I could have killed you otherwise Naruto and Ino would be right here ready for an escape" said Shikamaru "I kept the shadow paralysis for insurance"
"I still have the mark on you so I can keep chasing you if you try to escape" added Naruto
"And I could have held you for a longer time with my jutsu, which would have guaranteed a capture, so did we pass sensei?" said Ino
"Yeah you pass" said Asuma "*sigh* give me a cigarette"
Note this isn't a Naruto 'god' fic but he just has techniques that still need polishing
Again thanks to breakeven2007 for being my beta for this chapter!