I apologize to anyone that was a fan of either of my two previous multi-chapter stories. To be honest, they became stale to me after a while. To the point where I would regret trying to write for either of them completely. So with this new chapter in my life, I want to start fresh with something I've worked on in my spare time over the years. Hope you like chapter one!

"Hai." Normal speech

"Hai." Thoughts/Conscience/Flashback

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"Let's start with something simple." Kakashi began, putting away his book. "What are your goals as a shinobi? What are your interests? Sasuke, we'll start with you."

"Hai." Sasuke nodded. "My older brother Itachi is my role model, and everyone looks up to him. I hope to be in his shoes some day and become a role model for the future generation. My dream for the future, to become Hokage one day and unite all of the clans in Konoha."

"A noble thing to want," Kakashi smiled, "and what of your interests? Anything you like to do in your free time?"

"I spend most days training. I want to be the best I can be." Sasuke added, giving a warm smile.

"Great, thanks for sharing Sasuke." Kakashi nodded, giving a thumbs up. "Now, Naruto, how about you?"

"I don't have any likes or do anything in my spare time." Naruto scoffed, resting his chin on his hand. "Unless you count being berated daily as a hobby."

"Hm, alright then." Kakashi replied, scratching his neck awkwardly. "Do you have any goals? Anything you want to achieve?"

"My only goal is to leave this place the first chance I get." Naruto spat, frustration in his tone. "I want to get as far away from this place as I can."

"Why do you say that, Naruto?" Kakashi asked, trying to get the blonde to open up.

"I'm done sharing," Naruto waved him off, pointing his thumb at Sakura, "ask pinkie over here."

"Pinky?!" Sakura repeated, her expression showing her anger. "Who are you calling pinkie, teme-"

"A-Ah, Sakura," Kakashi cut her off, trying to defuse the situation, "just ignore Naruto's comment. Tell me what your goals and interests are for now."

"Fine." Sakura huffed, crossing her arms as she glared at Naruto. "My goal in life, is to one day settle down with a handsome husband, have a family of my own and be known as one of the fiercest shinobi of Konoha."

"Very good," Kakashi smiled, "that's a very good set of goals. And what about hobbies?"

"I like to read books," she added, tapping her chin, "and hang out with my friends. Mostly pig face Ino."

"If she's your friend, why call her names?" Sasuke asked, causing Sakura to blush.

"I-It's just something we do." She laughed nervously. "It's all in fun, since we've agreed on becoming rivals."

"Oh, I see." Sasuke nodded, giving a smile that caused her to blush even more.

"Kami." Naruto mumbled, rolling his eyes. "Can we leave now? I would like to get home before nightfall."

"Not just yet." Kakashi replied, standing to his feet. "I want to see you three in action. Meet me at training ground three in the next hour. See you soon."

As Kakashi disappeared into smoke, all three Genin stood to leave. Naruto began his walk alone until he was joined by both Sasuke and Sakura.

"Do you two have to follow me?" Naruto sighed, resting his arms behind his head.

"What if you're following us, baka?" Sakura replied in annoyance. "What was with the name calling earlier, too? You don't even know me that well."

"Right," Naruto looked at her, smirking slightly, "have you looked in a mirror? Your hair is pink. Seemed fitting."

"You know somethin-" She began.

"Guys, can we not argue? We just met each other, technically." Sasuke spoke up, cutting her off. "We'll be seeing each other a lot from now on, so why not try to get along at least a little."

"Yeah, Sasuke-kun, you're right." Sakura smiled at him, glaring at Naruto once more. "It's not me that's trying to be an ass though."

"Whatever." Naruto scoffed.

"Great first day so far." Sasuke sighed, looking at the evening sky.

"Good you're here." Kakashi began, putting away his book as the three Genin arrived. "Twenty minutes to spare, too. Very punctual of you."

"We would've been here sooner, but.." Sasuke began, gesturing his thumb toward Naruto and Sakura.

"He started it!" Sakura exclaimed, clenching her fists.

"Okay you two," Kakashi sighed, scratching his head, "if we're going to be taking on missions in the future we have to all be on the same page. That means learning to work with one another."

"Hai." Sakura sighed, huffing quietly.

"Hai, sensei." Sasuke nodded.

"Hn." Naruto shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, I guess it won't be easy." Kakashi sighed to himself, pulling out a set of bells.

"What are those?" Sakura asked.

"This next exercise will determine which of you three will be going back to the academy." He continued, jingling the bells together.

"N-Nani?" Sakura blurted out, followed by surprised expressions from Naruto and Sasuke.

"Exactly." Kakashi smiled. "So, to be sure you pass, you must collect one of the two bells."

"What's the catch?" Sasuke asked, not sure what to think. "Would you have passed us, knowing there was a chance we could be sent back?"

"No catch, Sasuke." Kakashi replied, placing the bells into his pouch. "This is a personal test I've come up with. If i deem it necessary, one of you will be demoted and sent back to repeat your school training."

"That doesn't seem fair, sensei." Sakura added, worry in her voice.

"In the shinobi world, there is no such thing as fair and unfair." Kakashi replied seriously. "Nothing is guaranteed in this line of work, an you are expected to handle every situation to the best of your ability."

"So the goal is to collect one of the bells, securing our spot on the team." Naruto spoke up, his tone serious as well.

"Correct." Kakashi nodded. "I take it neither of you have eaten yet?"

"No, sensei." Sakura replied before Naruto's stomach growled, as if on que.

"Excellent." Kakashi smirked, also receiving a nod from Naruto and Sasuke. "As a bonus for winning, whoever collects a bell will get lunch on me."

"So this is how you will be assessing our skills?" Sasuke asked, clenching his fists.

"Hai." Kakashi replied, crossing his arms. "When teams are created, they're balanced based upon both skill and knowledge. A shinobi must be proficient in both."

"So are we correct to assume that we are to plan out an attack?" Sasuke asked, both Naruto and Sakura gauging Kakashi's expression.

"Definitely." Kakashi smirked. "Now, before we start, does anyone wish to forefit?"

"That would mean we fail, sensei." Sakura retorted, a sense of pride in her voice.

"True, but it will save you the embarrassment of eventually losing." Kakashi shrugged his shoulders.

"Let's get this over with." Naruto sighed, glancing at both Sakura and Sasuke.

"I'll take that as a no then." Kakashi nodded. "Treat this as a mission, and come after me with the intent to kill. Well then, begin."

In an instant both Sasuke and Sakura leaped out of sight, hiding within the nearby bushes. However, standing alone in front of Kakashi, Naruto made a sign with his fingers.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto exclaimed, creating four clones of himself.

"Hm, so he did read the forbidden scroll." Kakashi thought to himself. "He seems to be able to create clones effortlessly and at an abnormal quantity, if Iruka's reports was correct."

"I'm coming now, sensei." Naruto proclaimed, he and his clones starting to advance.

"You would tell me you're approaching?" Kakashi smirked. "Most would try to keep their opponent guessing."

Naruto and his clones leaped at Kakashi, each dodging his kunai swipes. Just several inches from the pouch that housed the bells, one of the clones attempted to reach for it. Immediately he was caught by a strike to his spine, causing him to disappear in a plume of smoke. The three remaining clones began striking with with their own kunai. they were dispersed in second, save for the last one remaining.

"Not bad, Naruto." Kakashi began. "You've grasped shadow clone manipulation very well. It takes most people years to do so. Though, it seems you've reached your limit."

"Does it, sensei?" He smirked, falling to the ground before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

"Another shadow clone?" Kakashi pondered to himself, glancing around for the real Naruto. "Very clever, but that doesn't mean you've won just yet."

"When did he do that?" Sakura pondered, surprised at the revelation.

"So he used his clones as a distraction to conceal his movement." Sasuke thought to himself. "He's better than I initially thought."

Suddenly Naruto appeared above Kakashi with his kunai drawn, aimed to kill as instructed. With no hesitation, hid blade slammed into Kakashi's shoulder. Both Sakura and Sasuke gasped as blood shot from the wound it made. Naruto, unable to believe he landed the attack, was even more shocked when they body of Kakashi turned into a wooden log before falling to the ground in a cloud of smoke.

"Substitution Jutsu." Sasuke thought aloud, letting out a sigh. "I thought Naruto may have actually landed an attack."

"Baka," Sakura smirked, covering her giggle, "he should've known sensei would outsmart him. He's so full of himself."

"What about you, Sakura?" Kakashi spoke up, causing her to scream in surprise.

A swirl of leaves circled her as her eyes glossed over. Shortly after, a rustling came from the trees nearby. Looking toward them, her eyes went wide in shock. Stumbling out from the brush was Sasuke, several kunai sticking out from his body.

"S-Sakura, please.." He choked out before collapsing.

"S-Sasuke.. you can't be.." She said with a trembling tone, letting out a scream of fear.

"Easily influenced by Genjutsu." Kakashi thought to himself, covering his left eye back up. "What of Sasuke? He's been still since the start."

Making sure his surroundings were safe, Sasuke stepped out from the brush. Noticing his fellow teammate Naruto, he approached him. Not expecting it though, he suddenly had a kunai to his throat.

"N-Naruto, what the hell?" Sasuke asked, swallowing nervously. "I'm not Kakashi in disguise, if that's what you're thinking."

"You're right, you aren't Kakashi." Naruto replied.

Sasuke immediately pushed Naruto back with a kick. Jumping several feet, he drew his own kunai.

"Henge Jutsu." Sasuke pondered aloud. "A shinobi technique used for infiltration and deception."

"Good eye, Sasuke." Naruto smirked, turning into Kakashi. "It seems that you and Naruto are the only ones taking this seriously."

"What about Sakura?" Sasuke asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"She gave up, and I sent her home. She'll be sent back to the academy." Kakashi sighed, reaching into his pouch before pulling out a bell. "Here, take it so we can begin our team training."

"Nice try, sensei." Sasuke smirked, clenching his kunai tighter. "Sakura wouldn't give up, and Naruto wouldn't accept a freebie. I hope."

"Good deduction skills, Sasuke." Kakashi nodded, gripping his own blade tightly. "Now, show me what you're capable of."

"Hai." Sasuke retorted, his expression serious.

Kakashi leaped toward him, their blades clashing with a loud clanking sound. Kakashi was too fast for him. If he had any chance of getting ahead, he would have to use the jutsu he had been practicing for months. Planting his feet, Sasuke went through several hand signs before placing his fingers in front of his mouth.

"Katon! Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" Sasuke exclaimed, a giant fireball shooting from his mouth.

"Such an advanced jutsu, at such a young age." Kakashi though to himself, dodging several more fireballs aimed at him. "I would expect nothing less from the Uchiha clan."

Leaping into nearby trees, Kakashi took a breather. Taking this moment of reprieve, Sasuke put some distance between himself and Kakashi. He needed to find his teammates and form a plan.

Meanwhile, Naruto had stumbled upon Sakura. She had been lying on the ground, fallen victim to some sort of Genjutsu.

"Kai!" Naruto exclaimed as he held her shoulder, surging his own chakra to break it.

"Hm?" Sakura mumbled, her eyes opening slowly. "W-What happened? Where am I?"

"You were under a Genjutsu." Naruto sighed, standing to his feet. "I'm guessing Kakashi got to you. Let's just hope Sasuke is fairing well."

"I'm fine." Sasuke spoke up, breaking through the nearby shrubs. "I encountered Kakashi as well. He's too good for us to take on alone. We need a plan."

"Yeah." Naruto sighed, scratching his head. "Do either of you have any ideas?"

Thinking for a moment, Sasuke began to form a plan. In a tree several yards away, Kakashi contemplated what his subordinates could be planning. The sun was slowly going down, and he was sure they were tired and hungry. There was no way the would be able to last much longer. He had no time to ponder further though, as Naruto pointed in his direction. Seconds later, another shadow clone chased him from his hiding spot, causing him to give away his position. As he landed on the ground, both Sakura and Sasuke took a leap at him. Blocking their strikes, he jumped back several feet.

"Frontal attacks won't work you two." He chuckled, looking over his surroundings. "Didn't you learn anything from Naruto earlier?"

"Sure did, sensei!" Sakura proclaimed, leaping at him once more and wrapping her arms around his waist. "Now, Sasuke-kun!"

Without hesitation, Sasuke went through several hand signs before shooting several more fireballs at them both. Unable to loosen Sakura's grip, he began to wonder if she was suicidal. Able to break free, he leaped into the air just before the fireball engulfed her. Sakura's body suddenly disappeared in a plume of smoke.

"Shadow clone?" Kakashi pondered aloud, noticing the shadow of Sakura directly above him.

"Shannaro!" She exclaimed, her fist cocked back.

Not wasting a second, she slammed it into the tree he landed on. It splintered all the way up before breaking apart. Naruto took this opportunity to send several more clones after Kakashi. They were all dispersed quickly, but as he landed on the ground he noticed something was missing. As he looked up, there stood Sasuke and Sakura both holding a bell each. Naruto had his pouch in hand, thumbing through the orange book he was fond of.

"Nicely done, you three." Kakashi sighed aloud, causing them all to smirk in victory. "However, there's one small detail you neglected. I said whoever held a bell at the end would pass. I only count two."

Realization hit them. Naruto, not sure how to feel, threw Kakashi's pouch back to him. Letting out a sigh, Naruto clenched his fists.

"I don't know why I expected anything else." Naruto spoke through gritted teeth.

"N-Naruto-kun," Sakura spoke up, sadness in her expression, "you can have this one. You and Sasuke did more than me, and all I managed to do was get caught in Kakashi's Genjutsu."

Not sure how to react, Naruto gave a genuine smile. However, he felt guilty. He thought it was unfair to her.

"No, you can have mine." Sasuke spoke up, holding his hand out. "You did the most out of all of us. You deserve it, Naruto. Sakura, you've wanted to be a shinobi for so long. I'll be fine. There's always next year."

"Well, I'm surprised." Kakashi spoke up, clapping in approval. "There's only one thing left to say. You all pass."

"Nani?" The three of them collectively asked, their expressions showing their confusion.

"That's right, this exercise wasn't to see who could collect a bell and secure their spot." He smirked, collecting the bells from them. "It was to see what you could accomplish as a team. In the end, you three used your strengths to work together."

Unsure of what to say, all three Genin glanced amongst each other and at their sensei.

"I'm proud of you guys. We can officially call ourselves Team Seven." Kakashi smiled, giving a thumbs up.

Feeling accomplished, the newly formed Team Seven celebrated with an amazing lunch and each other's company. They weren't fully aware yet, but the had created a bond that would last for a lifetime.

A short introduction to a new story. Hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Look forward to a new chapter some time early March. I would appreciate a review, follow or favorite! Thanks again.