TigrezzTail - Thank you! I thought it'd be interesting to see the kids' thoughts about team placements, and it also meant I got to express the reasons why the teams are as they are in this series, rather than changing from canon.

Reshuffling his papers for a third time to mask the fact he wasn't doing any work, (there is no one around, but it always feels like someone is looking over his shoulder, like he should be doing more, like he should be fulfilling the big dreams his successor once had), the Sandaime glances at the clock to check how long until his impending doom. With a snort, he places his pipe down. Melodramatics aren't usually his forte, he'd much rather prefer to leave such dramas to children. Many are now, in his eyes, children, but he supposes that such things come with age, (he supposes he wasn't meant to live this long).

Another check of the clock tells him that it's time for his next meeting, the one he's been dreading, (because how do you look a boy in the eye and tell him that the people hate him for a reason). Honestly, Hiruzen would rather avoid this, but some things are unavoidable, (like war, like death, like conflict, like bloodshed, like more graves everyday); moreover, he owes this boy's father this meeting, whether he wants it to go ahead or not. His secretary enters the room with a knock. "Naruto Uzumaki and Toru Uchiha are here to see you."

"Let them in," he replies as he moves his paperwork out of the way and clears a space on his desk. Standing, hands behind his back, he watches as Naruto and the Uchiha Clan Head enter the room together.

"Jiji!" Naruto cheers, leaping forward. With a smile, Hiruzen lifts the boy and hugs him.

"Good morning, Naruto-kun," he greets. "How have you been?"

"I graduated!" Naruto says, "And I'm gonna be on a team and we're going to be amazing and I'm going to make chūnin in a year and I'm coming for your position – so you better watch out!" Amused at Naruto's rapid chatter, Hiruzen places the boy down and gestures at his guests to take a seat, doing the same himself.

"I better prepare myself," Hiruzen says as he glances at Toru, who seems uncertain about why he is there, (and he is there because Hiruzen can afford to be kind). "However, I have not called you here for idle conversations, no matter how much I wish to hear how your week has been."

"Eh?" Naruto says loudly, "Why am I here then?"

"Patience, Naruto-kun," Hiruzen says as he activates the privacy seals in his office. "Privacy seals," he adds, when the two boys look around in (what appears to be) confusion.

"Oooh, is this matter important, Jiji?"

"It is," Hiruzen says. "What I am about to say is of utmost importance and you cannot tell anyone else."

"Is this going to be like what Sasuke could hear and I couldn't?" Naruto interrupts, twisting to look up at Toru.

Hiruzen frowns, wondering what he had allowed Toru to tell Sasuke, but the Uchiha is already nodding so Hiruzen brushes it off to think about at another time, (or maybe he won't think about it at all; it does not do to dwell on massacres). "You're going to have to promise not to tell anyone," Toru adds. "It's that important."

"I promise I'm not going to tell anyone Jiji! Even if they promise to buy me ramen for the rest of my life!" Naruto says, bouncing on his seat. "Can you tell me now?"

"This is an S-rank secret," Hiruzen says gravely. "The day the Kyūbi attacked Konoha, the day when the Yondaime gave his life to protect Konoha, the Kyūbi did not die."

"What?" Naruto screeches, eyes wide in surprise. "But- We were told the demon died! The Academy teachers were wrong?!"

"The beast did not quite die," Hiruzen says, wishing that he could pick up his pipe but knowing it would not be a smart idea in this situation. "The Tailed Beasts are creatures that cannot be killed. They can only be sealed in humans so their power is contained and can be used for the good of the village." Hiruzen waits, watching Naruto carefully.

Frowning, Naruto says, "So, the Yondaime sealed the Kyūbi in a ninja?" Squinting at Hiruzen, the boy continues, "Why are you telling me this?"

"The Kyūbi was sealed in a baby that night," Hiruzen says, eyes soft. "That babe was you, Naruto-kun."

Naruto bolts upright, eyes wide with shock. "No," he shouts. However, Hiruzen can see the boy putting everything together. "That's why everyone hates me, isn't it?! That's why they call me a demon! Because I am!" Without providing Hiruzen any time to say otherwise, the boy slams open the door and runs out, tears streaming down his face, (and what would he say, anyway, in the face of such accusations? He can tell the boy he's wrong, but that doesn't mean he will be believed).

Meanwhile, Toru Uchiha stands up, looking remarkably composed despite everything that had happened, but they are ninjas, so who knows what the truth is. "That was harsh," he states, meeting Hiruzen's gaze steadily.

"It was kind," Hiruzen corrects. "You being here was a kindness we could afford. He will understand soon enough. He is strong."

"He is strong," Toru repeats, "but everything that just happened was not kind, having me here was not a kindness. You have done wrong by Naruto."

"I have not done wrong by Naruto-kun!" Hiruzen states, standing up. "You would do well to remember your position, shinobi. I have done the best I could have in this world of ours. There was no other way."

There's a flicker of something across the boy's face before he nods. "I apologise for my words," he says with a bow. "I spoke before I thought and acted rashly, Sandaime-sama."

"You are young," Hiruzen says. "Such slights of yours can still be forgiven. Go, now, and look after your charge. Tell him that he is welcome to come visit me at any time."

"Of course, Sandaime-sama," the Uchiha says with another bow, before leaving, shutting the door firmly behind him, (Hiruzen wonders if Naruto will ever return, but perhaps that's just his emotions speaking; they are ninjas, after all.

After exiting the Hokage building, Toru takes to the rooftops. Naruto, he knows, could be difficult to find if he doesn't want to be found and acts stealthy, rather than being his usual noticeable self. However, despite the fact that Naruto is a ninja, he is still a boy and – currently – a rather emotional one, (if he desires comfort, he will not hide, but if he wishes to hide, then Toru will let him hide because choices matter).

Nonetheless, Toru is able to track Naruto from the rooftops, following routes where there's grumbling from numerous people about rude children, (without his now-renowned orange, they think he is just another child, not the boy with the demon sealed in him). Toru is aware that Naruto's normal spot to go and think is the Yondaime's head, but he's unsure whether such a thing will remain true currently, after just finding out that the Yondaime sealed the Kyūbi in him.

In the end, Toru finds Naruto in a tree in one of Konoha's training grounds. Not seeing any reason to hide his presence, (not seeing a reason to hide himself), Toru simply climbs the tree and sits next to Naruto as the boy gazes down at a nearby bubbling brook.

"Did you know?" Naruto asks, voice hoarse as he rubs his eyes, (tries to conceal the fact he had cried). "Know that I was a demon?"

"Yes," Toru says, (simply, plainly, straight-forwardly in a world where deceit is the usual way to speak). "I knew you had the Kyūbi sealed in you, but that does not make you a demon, Naruto."

"Doesn't it? Everyone hates me for it; called me demon and devil and variations of such words. I never believed them… but they were right."

"Naruto Uzumaki, do you honestly think I would let a demon into my family and call him family?" Toru asks.

(Does Naruto think Toru would endanger his family so easily?)

"I think you would let anyone into your family if you thought you could love them enough," Naruto says. "Besides, what does it matter what I think? You did it regardless."

Withholding a sigh and taking a different path, (and such things seem common for him), Toru says, "If you're a demon, then I must be worse."

Naruto blinks in surprise, (not understanding that not everyone shares his view of Toru), and turns to look at Toru. "You're not a demon!"

"Oh? How can you say such a thing; what makes you think that?"

"You're just not! No one calls you a demon!" Naruto counters.

"So, someone has to be called a demon to be one?" Toru asks and Naruto nods. "Then, going by that logic, I must be a soulless monster who is heartless and lacks mercy and has no kindness; evil to the core."

"That's not true! No one calls you that!"

"Some people have," Toru muses, " and that means it's true, right?"

"No! That's not true, because those are lies people are telling you. You know that's not true!"

"Is it possible, then, for the people calling you a demon to be lying as well?" Toru asks. "Because that's much more plausible than the Naruto I know being demon of any kind."

"I am a demon," Naruto says. "The Kyūbi is sealed in me!"

(One plus one equals two; Naruto's been called a demon his whole life, and so that must be true.)

"That's where you're wrong," Toru says firmly, (but kindly, strongly yet gently). "The Kyūbi may be sealed in you, but that does not make you the Kyūbi or any kind of demon. Seals are strange, wondrous tools and are capable of many things. However, the seal that was used in you is like a storage seal – it makes you the storage scroll and the Kyūbi the object being stored. The Kyūbi is far from being you, Naruto; the pair of you are separate entities. I am quite sure there are legends of ninjas and Tailed Beasts working together to be better fighters. There are even old legends, extremely old legends coming from the Clan War Era, of the Tailed Beasts being capable of intelligence. It's difficult to know what the Kyūbi is, for all we know, the Kyūbi may have even had a reason to attack Konoha."

"It's a monster, though!"

(All ninjas are seen as monsters, Toru knows, but that does not mean they all are.)

"How do you know that? Did you learn these facts for yourself or were you told such things and simply accepted them? How do you know such things aren't lies?"

"I… I don't know," Naruto says quietly. "So, I'm not the demon, right? It's just trapped inside me?"

"Something along those lines," Toru confirms. "Anyone who says otherwise is lying. People are creatures that are easily hurt, and we tend to lash out when we're hurt with anger and hatred to protect ourselves. This doesn't validate such actions or excuse them, but there are reasons. The people of Konoha are wrong to believe that you are a demon."

"Do they… Does everyone know?" Naruto asks, leaning against Toru.

"The adults all know," Toru replies, "but many don't care. It is a minority who care about such things. You know better, we know better; everyone who matters knows better."

"I don't feel like me anymore," Naruto says in the following silence.

"You are exactly the same person you were before," Toru says, "you just know more now. We all have our secrets, what's one more?"

"I suppose…"

"Come," Toru says decisively, jumping off the tree branch. "We can go grab Sasuke and do some training instead. Take your mind off of things and let you get all your anger out by attempting to pummel me instead."

With a weak laugh, Naruto nods and jumps off the tree to stand next to Toru, grabbing a hold of the older boy's hand. "Okay."

Sasuke and Naruto are walking out of the Uchiha Clan Compound when Jūro Nakano sees them. Clad in his flak jacket and mission clothes, Jūro appears to have just returned from a mission of some kind. Upon spotting the boys, the chūnin grins. "Congratulations on graduating! Sorry it's a bit late, but it's the thought that counts, I suppose. When do you guys get put into teams?"

"Hi Jūro-san," Naruto replies with a smile. "We get put in our teams today, in a few hours. Did you just get back from a mission?"

"Yeah, just some border patrol, pretty standard. They're still easing me into this whole chūnin thing," Jūro replies. "I'll let you two head off now, judging from those grocery bags in your hand I dare say you need to get back to your apartment before heading to the Academy."

"Before you go," Sasuke starts, "can you tell us anything about what happens now?"

Jūro hums in thought, eyes flicking upwards. "I can't really give you too much advice, in all honesty. What tends to happen is that you'll be put into teams and learn under your new teacher. They'll test your skills and then base your team training on that. Once you're all at a level they deem acceptable, you'll start doing basic D-rank missions until you have enough experience and training, then they'll take C-rank missions alongside you."

"What if our teacher doesn't like us?" Naruto asks in a small voice, shoulders hunched, (the words demon and devil and monster echo in his ears).

Jūro offers the pair a smile. "While I doubt such a thing is possible, if you don't become genin, then you simply return to the Academy as teacher assistants and take remedial lessons. If that happens, then you'll have Toru as your main teacher I suppose, and everyone in the compound will lend a hand if you desire. Everyone here lends a hand to teach if necessary." Looking at the sun, Jūro adds, "It's almost nine, what time did you need to be at the Academy?"

"Nine," Sasuke responds, already turning and walking away.

Rolling his eyes, Naruto goes to follow him, "Thanks Jūro-san!"

Sasuke's figures tap a light pattern against the smooth wood of a classroom desk. Beside him, Naruto bounces slightly in his seat, impatient and more willing to show it than Sasuke, (because Sasuke knows that giving the façade of calmness often necessary and makes a point to practice and train whenever he can). Before Sasuke can tell him to stop moving so much, Sakura elbows Naruto, causing the blonde-haired boy to yelp and stop moving, inching closer to Sasuke and away from Sakura.

There's a clap of hands and Sasuke's eyes move from his desk to where Iruka-sensei stands at the front of the classroom. Their teacher smiles at them. "I know I said this earlier, but congratulations all of you. Your time at the Ninja Academy has passed and will shortly be behind you. You have faced many difficulties and hardships over the course of your years here, some – I know – have faced more than others. Nonetheless, you have all made it to today, and that is something to be proud of. Your time has now passed, but you better not forget all you have learnt over the years. I am proud of each and every one of you, and I hope you do not forget your first teacher here. Now, without further ado, I'm sure you wish to hear about your teams, no?"

Naruto shouts loudly, causing Sasuke to scowl and twist away, even as Kiba does the same with Ino relatively close by. Beside his chair, Takuma whines. Dropping a hand onto the ninken's head, Sasuke scratches Takuma's head; he agrees that Naruto is too loud.

"Remember," Iruka continues once everyone has quietened down, "that you will be on these teams for your genin career until one or more of you are promoted to chūnin or put into an apprenticeship. Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki – your teacher is Kakashi Hatake. Shino Aburame, Hinata Hyūga, and Kiba Inuzuka – your teacher is Kurenai Yūhi. Chōji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara, and Ino Yamanaka – your teacher is Asuma Sarutobi. Your teachers will be along shortly, please remain calm and relatively quiet until then. You are allowed to talk."

Almost immediately, Naruto scrambles out of his seat and towards the middle table where Shikamaru, Chōji, and Shino sit. "We were all wrong," he says once the nine of them have gathered around the table. "Although, we did get some things, I suppose."

"Perhaps there's another factor we didn't take into account," Hinata replies.

"Or maybe," Kiba says, "they didn't want to split Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun, so that only one person got a headache trying to train them."

"That person will be me," Sakura says with a grin.

"We're not bad!" Naruto protests, glancing at Sasuke. "C'mon back me up here!"

"You're that bad," Sasuke replies, "I don't understand why I'm being grouped with you." Takuma barks in agreement. "See? Takuma agrees."

"Takuma always agrees with you," Naruto responds, "So that doesn't count!"

"Anyway," Ino says loudly, stopping the argument before it can arise, "it's pretty clear what team specialisations we all have."

Before she can continue, an unknown man steps into the room. "I'm Asuma Sarutobi," he says. "Who would my team be?"

The group exchanges a glance before Ino gets up, tugging Shikamaru and Chōji along with her. "That'd be us," Chōji says as they line up before him.

"Follow me then," he says, leaving the room with his genin trailing after him.

"I'm Kurenai Yūhi," a woman says, seconds after she enters. "If my team could please follow me?"

After the other three genin have left, Naruto sighs and lies down on a desk. "I'm so bored," he whines. "Why isn't our teacher here already?" Sitting down next to Takuma, Sasuke shrugs.

"Who knows," Sakura muses, glancing at the door. "I'm sure he'll be here soon."

Half-an-hour into waiting for their teacher to turn up, the small talk drops away. "Do you reckon we'll do the genin test today?" Naruto asks, head hanging upside down as he lies on the table.

"Probably," Sakura replies. "They tend to run the genin test after we've been put into teams. Didn't you say Toru-san had his genin test straight after being put in a team as well?"

Sasuke grunts in agreement and pushes himself upright so he's sitting, leaning against a table leg, rather than lying on the floor beside Takuma. "What do we think will happen?"

"Well, there'll probably be something on teamwork," Sakura starts, "considering we're put into teams for a reason. They've got files on pretty much everything else, I'm sure. That means the main question is how they will test our teamwork."

"If it's well known that teamwork's generally a factor," Naruto says slowly, "then isn't there the expectation for us to know that we're going to be testing for teamwork?"

"Huh, that's a good point. Nice work, Naruto-kun," Sakura replies, tucking a strand of pink hair behind her ear. "That means they'll try and set us against each other."

"They'll probably test our fighting capabilities," Sasuke adds, "since previously we've only been tested in terms of sparring really with opponents we know well."

"Alright, so teamwork and fighting then," Sakura says with a nod. "We can't really plan in advance, but we can figure out a location to meet up if necessary."

"We'll be in one of the training grounds, though," Sasuke points out. "We can't figure out a location."

"All training grounds have some source of water," Naruto says. "We can meet at one of them!"

"But what if we go to the wrong one?"

"I'll send Takuma," Sasuke says in response. "He can find Naruto and myself. He might be able to find you, Sakura-chan. Reckon you can do that Takuma?" The wolf cross sniffs Sakura before barking. "He'll do his best."

"Alright, so try and meet up by a water source, if someone isn't there, Sasuke has to find them with Takuma's help," Sakura states. "If Sasuke's missing, then Takuma leads him to us. We'll figure more details out during the task itself."

Sasuke glances at Takuma. "Do we want to keep Takuma hidden for now? He can track us outside of the Academy and follow behind us if needs be."

"That's a smart idea," Sakura says. "Hatake-san will probably know you have a ninken, but you can just lie and say you left him at home."

"Tell him Takuma got bored and left! After all, Toru says that the best lie is one that's the truth and – technically – it's not a lie. Takuma is bored and we just told him to leave, so he did, actually, leave," Naruto says. Sasuke nods in agreement, says something softly to his ninken, and then the dark wolfdog stands, walking off shortly afterwards.

There's a few moments of silence, during which Naruto groans loudly and flips off the table and Sakura starts sharpening kunais, before Sasuke sighs. "I'm so bored." He, and Naruto and Sakura, startle when someone coughs from the doorway.

The ninja in the doorway looks down at them, appearing rather disinterested. "My first impression of you three is that you are children. I was expecting genin, it appears I should have been expecting otherwise."

Sakura puts everything away, a glower on her face, (they called her child and baby and civilian-born, but she got here now; she deserves this; she is not a child). Meanwhile, Sasuke, (who Toru calls brat and child but only ever fondly), glares at the tall shinobi, because he hates being looked down upon. Naruto, on the other hand, squints his eyes and rubs the back of his head, because they could've been called much worse, (he has been called demon and devil and hurtful words but he also has people who will shield him from such insults and hatred).

"I was also told there was meant to be a ninken, but I see that the Academy staff informed me wrongly, which I also should have expected," the shinobi continues, gaze sweeping through the classroom.

"Iruka-sen–" Naruto starts angrily.

"You'd do well to keep yourself in check," the shinobi, (their teacher), interrupts.

"Takuma," Sasuke says coolly, "got bored and left. He probably had the right idea."

"Insolent, little child, aren't you? Come, all of you, we have little time and I have less patience for slackers," the man says, turning his back.

"Aren't you going to introduce yourself?" Sakura says shrilly, clearly angry.

"Introductions are only for those who aren't failures," Kakashi Hatake states, turning around to glance at them. "Hence, it is my belief there will be no introductions in any of our near futures. Follow."

Clicking his tongue, Sasuke groups himself with Sakura and Naruto to trail behind the older shinobi. Sasuke and Sakura keep Naruto between them and stop him from saying anything. The blonde is a seething mess, muttering under his breath with a scowl, (no one gets away with insulting Naruto's family and friends). As they get closer to a training field, he hisses to his teammates, "We are going to beat this guy, believe it!"

"You got it," Sakura agrees, continuing to glare at the man's back, (she hates him because he insulted her friends, insulted her, spat on her work at being more than a civilian).

"He would deserve it," Sasuke adds, (anger and rage running thick through his blood like a forest fire because no one upsets those who are like family to him). "Remember, we meet up first and devise a plan from there."

The three of them remain silent as they reach a large glade in training ground three. Hatake turns to face them, his back to the memorial stone. Reaching into his weapon pouch, he pulls out a single bell. "I have one bell," he says, dangling the silver object from his fingers. "Your objective is to take the bell from me. The person who manages to have the bell, within the next hour, I will take on as an apprentice, whilst the other two will return to the Ninja Academy or – if I decide – drop out of the ninja program entirely. Understood?"

"No," Sasuke immediately says.

"No?" Hatake repeats, titlting his head and staring directly at Sasuke with his one eye.

Gulping, Sasuke shakes his head. "Sakura-chan can have the apprenticeship," Naruto says decisively. "Sasuke an' me can work with Toru instead, because he's backing us up so we can afford returning to the Academy. Sakura-chan doesn't have that – she just has friends."

"Friends who have the potential to be powerful and influential," Sasuke adds, "but aren't yet."

However, Sakura is already shaking her head before Sasuke finishes speaking. "Sorry, Hatake-san! But I can't be taken on by you as an apprentice. Your skill is well-known, but it doesn't quite mesh with what I need. You might be able to teach me quite a bit, but I'd be better off gaining an apprenticeship at the hospital, which I could probably manage with Iruka-sensei's help."

"But Sakura-chan, this is your best chance to be a genin!" Naruto says, "You can't just drop it because Sasuke and I can afford to!"

"It's alright, Naruto-kun. Iruka-sensei told me earlier this year that there may be a position for a medic internship early in the new school term which I could do as part of my remedial training," Sakura replies.

Hatake coughs, interrupting their conversations, and they turn to face him. "Is this your final decision?" He asks, "You can't go back on it after all. You'll return to the Academy and not be made genin until this time next year, unless you completely drop from the Academy altogether."

"This is our decision, Hatake-san," Sakura says. "We're not going to change our minds."

"Oh?" He leans over them, and Naruto's chakra flickers as Sakura shifts her weight backwards and Sasuke's hand inches closer to his weapon pouch. "In that case, you best be leaving! My predictions were correct this time. I'm not getting a genin team at all."

With a scoff, Sasuke turns around and Naruto loops an arm over his shoulders, Sakura doing the same to him. "It's a pity we couldn't be on the same team, Sakura-chan," he says loudly. "We were so prepared as well!"

"It's a pity our training against the others and each other isn't going to be helpful until next year," Sasuke says with a scowl. "Kiba-kun's going to be ahead of us."

"So?" Naruto responds with a wide grin, "It just means they'll think we're weaker when we come out and whoop their asses at the chūnin exams next year!"

Hatake appears in front of them in a flurry of leaves. "I've changed my mind," he announces with could be a smile. "Sandaime-sama will probably have my head if I don't give you a chance. Thus, if any of you manage to take the bell from me, then I will take on your whole team as my genins. Only, though, if you get the bell from me. Your time," he glances at the sun, "started five minutes ago. You don't have long left now!"

Sasuke heads towards the forest, a half-whistle to the wind, leaving Naruto and Sakura to scatter. Sakura heads left whilst Naruto uses chakra to get himself into the trees and tree-hops further into the forest. They leave their teacher in the middle of the open clearing, an amused expression on his face and a bell hanging from his fingers.

With Takuma at his side, Sasuke ghosts through the undergrowth, heading towards the river he knows is nearby. The forest clears a few metres around the river, rocks jerking out of the ground providing evidence of a previous spar of some kind. Watching and waiting, Sasuke scans his environment, searching for any sign of Hatake and his teammates. Sakura finds him first, slipping between the trees to stand next to him. Looking over at her, he tilts his head in question. There's a rustle of leaves and then Naruto is climbing down a nearby tree to stand next to Sasuke and Sakura.

"We need to get that bell," Sasuke says. "He already underestimates us, we just need to use that to our advantage. He also doesn't know about Takuma here."

"Don't underestimate him," Sakura warns. "He's a jōnin for a reason."

"Then it would make sense for him to underestimate us further, right?" Naruto says with a frown. "I could attempt using some of my traps, but I'm not sure how well it'll work."

"I could back you up with ninjutsu and then between us we engage Hatake with taijutsu," Sasuke says. "Sakura-chan, he probably underestimates you the most, especially because your files show a predisposition to healing rather than fighting."

"I'll help out with taijustu as well then, attempting an ambush while he's distracted," Sakura says slowly, "and we aim to cut the string of the bell. Can Takuma grab the bell for us then?"

Takuma huffs and Sasuke nods. "He'll do it and then run."

Sakura nods to herself, "Alright, Naruto go set up traps; he'll be after you pretty quick because your chakra is easy to sense. Sasuke, get ready, I'll follow behind you, just try not to burn the whole forest down."

"That would be Hatake's problem," Sasuke says, "Let's go."

Kakashi had been initially willing to let the three faux ninjas walk. Except, he knows the Sandaime would have his head for not giving the three a chance and that there's a chance the Uchiha Clan Head would cause problems, and Kakashi didn't really want to fail Naruto, (he didn't want to cause the boy to be killed either). However, giving the group a chance hadn't meant that the trio would succeed. Against all odds, though, they had pulled it off.

"Alright," Kakashi decides, "call the ninken back now." The Uchiha glances at him, anger clear in his face, before whistling sharply. The ninken – probably a wolf crossed with a dog from its looks – bounces through the bushes and drops the whistle at his feet. Kakashi is well aware of what a smug ninken looks like, and this one certainly fit the bill.

"The three of you did alright, working together as you did, relying on your teammates' strengths, and covering each other fairly well. You did, in the end, manage to achieve the bell. Nonetheless, it cannot be denied you are all children – arrogant, unskilled children. Sakura-chan, you assumed that I wouldn't know you were there even though I am a jōnin and you aren't even a genin. Your arrogance will get you and your teammates killed." Beneath his gaze, the pink-haired child shrinks, gaze dropping to the ground, (better she knows this now then she knows it with either her or her teammates dead). "Naruto-kun, your traps were obvious and you didn't bother to hide, confident in them. Not only did you wrongly assume that the traps would hold me, you gave away where your teammates were. Sasuke-kun, you thought you could do everything alone and didn't see any of your own faults or flaws. Not to mention, your ninken lacked subtly that you should've taught them."

The group of kids look angry, but not hurt, yet they don't attack or do anything, simply draw together and wait him out. He's been testing them from the beginning, and yes he wanted to fail them, still wants to, but…

"My test, though, is to look for children who are willing to put aside their petty differences and work together. Whether or not you deserve it, you have passed my test. The three of you have some skills, not much, but you have the potential to be powerful – even if you aren't there yet. For that reason, I welcome you to Team Kakashi. I am Kakashi Hatake, a jōnin, and will be your teacher for the foreseeable future."

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki and I'm going to be Hokage," Minato-sensei's son says, lifting his chin and meeting Kakashi's gaze steadily.

"I'm Sakura Haruno," his female kunoichi says.

"Sasuke Uchiha," the last child states, "and my partner is Takuma."

"We will meet here tomorrow," Kakashi decides, figuring that would give him enough time to read over their files, which he had previously ignored, and decide what he should teach them tomorrow, "at seven." With that said, he disappears in a body flicker, landing in a tree to watch his students leave, whispering amongst themselves. Once they are far enough, he shunshins back to the memorial stone. "Minato-sensei, you should see your son…"

Naruto learns of the Kyūbi, meanwhile the nine recently graduated students learn of their teams and teachers. They are all tested, and against the odds, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura pass.

The Sandaime kinda made a mistake with Naruto, not to mention all the issues that would've come with being hated his whole life. That definitely would've gotten him down at times. Also, I am having problems inserting sections with brackets, because there's a lot of talking in these first few chapters of this book so far. I've actually ended up doing a reread of each chapter to add parts in. Although, that might just be me getting back into the pattern of writing this. Anyway, there was definitely some power play going on between the Sandaime and Toru because Toru's like you stuffed it and Hiruzen is like I am the Hokage who are you to speak to me like that and Toru can't go and say he's the Yondaime Uzukage the Second (or the First? I don't know how would you even go about being like I'm reincarnated).

Naruto sees Toru as such a huge figure and partially the Best Person Ever. He totally believes that Toru would adopt a demon if he thought it needed it and like, he's not too wrong. Toru would take in anyone who needed it as long as they wouldn't harm him or what he deems his. Also, Toru does not know much about the Tailed Beasts, but there are stories of their intelligence and they managed to avoid capture for some time so they have to be intelligent. At least, that's what Toru thinks. But also, Toru could just think they're intelligent the same way he thinks dogs are intelligent. Also, Toru being like the Kyuubi may have had a reason to attack is not anything based on his actual knowledge, but creatures with intelligence don't attack out of nowhere (most of the time).

Trying to figure out Iruka's speech was Hard, so I stole and warped parts of the speech I had to do at my graduation for valedictory. I stole like three lines, but I mean, it works.

Yes, Kakashi is presented as an asshole in this chapter. To be fair, though, he doesn't want to deal with children or low ranked missions. Also, he's already targeting their weak points and testing them. He's already positioning them so they are willing to attack him, and attack him out of anger and therefore badly attack him.

Sasuke and Naruto are willing to wait because they can learn in other ways, but Sakura is a civilian born. She's unlikely to get the same amount of help that the other two can get.

Anyway, that's all I really have to say currently, so that's me off for now.