"Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura, you are Team Seven under Hatake Kakashi."

Naruto looked at them to judge their reaction. Sasuke was as he expected, no doubt thinking two to many. Sakura was cheering about being with Sasuke-kun. "...We might have fun. Assuming we pass the next test."

Sakura growled at him. "You will always be such an idiot, Naruto! We already passed the test."

"Sure, sure," Naruto said as he stood up and walked to the window. "Pft. If it was so easy to be ninja, just knowing Kawarimi, Bunshin, and the Henge. If that was all it took, then every two bit person that came along that could control chakra would be." He turned to Iruka. "We shall be back at noon, Iruka-sensei." Opening it, he jumped out, and landed across the street. He raised a hand and waved to the people watching him. They were use to things like this from him after two years. Jumping things that should be impossible to, walking up walls, making his weapons out of nothing, he would be Rookie of the Year if he wasn't out done by Sasuke.

Not that he wanted it. Being general population was a good thing. Everyone hears about who was first, no one cares beyond that. Naruto took his spot on his customary stool at Icharuka Ramen. "Good afternoon, Teuchi-san, Ayame-chan. I think I will have the usual."

"One bowl of beef, miso, and chicken coming up," Ayame said. "You look good with the headband, Naruto."

"Thank you, Ayame-chan. We feel good with the headband. But it doesn't fit well under our mask."

"Wear it like a belt," Teuchi suggested. Naruto thought about it and nodded. He took it off and affixed it to Venom. "So, you know who your sensei is?"

"Hatake Kakashi."

"...Oh, I think I know who that is," Ayame said. "A tall, lean guy, kind of like a scarecrow that has white, spiky, hair, wears a mask over his lower face, and always walks around reading a book."

Naruto nodded, he had seen that person as well. "We will keep an eye out. Thank you very much, Ayame-chan."

After eating, he jumped up on a building and began to look around. What he found was something else. He got this tingling sensation he had whenever he was about to be hurt. Ducking, he saw two kunai go sailing over them. Shooting webbing to catch them, he pulled them back and hurled them back at the thrower. It was Sasuke. "I want a rematch."

"Still mad that you lost in taijutsu to me," Naruto jibed.

"No way are you better than me," Sasuke said.

"I believe I proved I am, countless of times." Naruto dropped down. "And I am tired of doing it. Knock it off, you are better at ninjutsu and chakra control. Get over it that you are not the best at all things."

"Just because you have that Kekkei Genkai, does not mean you are better."

"But until the day comes you can beat us, you are second best in taijutsu." Naruto turned and started to walk away. He dropped down even as Sasuke started the punch. He came back up, his mask on, and flipped over Sasuke. He pressed a blade to his throat. "This is it, enough," Naruto warned. "We will not hold back again."

He dropped the blade and walked away, feeling the glare from Uchiha. It was thanks to Venom he knew when a punch and jutsu was coming. It was thanks to Venom he could more easily focus. But Venom chose him, not the other way around. He felt no guilt in using his abilities.

—oo000oo—

"Kakashi, I am warning you, do not be late with this team," Iruka said when he saw the jonin after dismissing the class. "Even if you fail them, don't be late."

"Why," he asked, flipping a page in his book. "They are just genin."

"Naruto," Iruka told him. "Ever since he activated his Kekkei Genkai, he has been unpredictable except at respect and betrayal. It was Naruto that tracked Mizuki down three nights ago. Just don't, please."

"I will think about it." Iruka sighed, that meant no.

—oo000oo—

Kakashi opened the door and stepped in. To see a giant sling shot fitted with a spike big enough to impale him, launching its missile at him. He dropped down, and watched it hit the wall. It was there for fifteen second before dissolving. "Next time, don't be late," Naruto warned, flipping a kunai in hand. Kakashi looked at him and found he wore a mask the same colors as his clothes.

"How do I put this...I hate all three of you. Meet me up on the roof in five minutes." The clone released itself.

Naruto went out the window again and climbed up to the roof. "So, you have mastered climbing with your feet," Kakashi asked.

"No, our Kekkei Genkai is an odd thing. It gives us several abilities, some like that, we have no control over. We just do it."

Kakashi frowned at the way he talked to him. "Tell me more."

"No." The others arrived. "So tell us what we have to do to stay ninja. That way Sakura will believe us."

Again, Kakashi frowned, he was taking the fun out of this. "First, introductions. I want you to tell me about yourself. Likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams, things like that."

"How about you go first," Sakura asked.

"Me? I am Hatake Kakashi. My likes and dislikes are none of your concerns. My dreams for the future... Well, I have lots of hobbies. You go, masked man."

"We are Uzumaki Naruto or Venom."

"...And?"

"We like jumping, having fun, and fighting to protect those around us. We hate those that are evil and dislike someone that can't get over himself because of birth."

"...Am I going to have to drag everything out of you kicking and screaming?"

"...Our hobbies are private but our dreams are simple. To become the strongest Hokage the world has ever seen. Then to protect those around us."

"And are you going to keep doing that?

"Yes we are."

"...Okay, you pinkie, you go next."

"I am Haruno Sakura. I like... I hate Naruto! And my hobbies ares..."

"Stalking Sasuke," Naruto muttered.

"SHUT UP!" She tried to take a swing at him but Naruto leaned back and pushed her back to her seat. "I really hate Naruto. And my dreams for the future are..."

"To marry Sasuke, jump his bones, and have his children," Naruto muttered again. "And maybe not in that order." Sakura tried to hit him again and got the same result.

"And you," Kakashi said to Sasuke.

"I am Uchiha Sasuke. I don't particularly like anything and there are a lot of things I hate. I don't have any hobbies and only an ambition. To kill a certain man and rebuild my clan."

Kakashi nodded. He had read that Naruto was more pleasant when he was younger. Sakura was smarter than she appeared. But she looked like and idiot so it couldn't be that hard. And Sasuke was predictable.

"Now, as one of you already guessed, there is a test tomorrow to see if you stay ninja. This will be up to me. And there is a sixty six percent chance to fail." He smiled when he saw Sakura drop her jaw and Sasuke arched an eyebrow. But Naruto was unreadable with his mask. 'Kami, am I that annoying with this thing on?'

"Now, be at training ground seven tomorrow at eight. And don't eat breakfast or you will throw up." He turned into smoke, another clone.

"...Let's see how fun this is," Naruto said. He walked away, planning on getting a full night's rest. "He didn't order us not to eat, just advised against it. So we are going to wake up early to digest it fully before we have the chance to throw it up."

Sasuke nodded, that was a good idea. He stood up and walked back down to the street like normal people and Sakura ran after him, bugging him for a date.

—oo000oo—

Naruto got to the training ground bright eyed, bushy tailed, and happy. He ate and would tell Kakashi he did proudly. "Ready Sasuke?"

"Yes, 'we' are," he replied. Sakura snickered but Naruto ignored the insult to his speech.

When Kakashi finally arrived, he had to dodge several of the spears. "Yo, good morning. Let me explain the rules. I have two bells. You are going to try to get them before noon. If you don't, I tie you to that stump and eat your lunch in front of you." Sakura's and Sasuke's stomach growled making Naruto look at them.

"We are ready," Naruto said for himself.

"I doubt that. Come at me with the intent to kill or you won't have a chance. Go."

—oo000oo—

Naruto climbed up the tree and hung from a branch. Crouching, he pushed off. He hit the ground and slid, having missed Kakashi. He felt him behind him and rolled to the side.

"You have good reflexes," Kakashi stated. "Let me tell you the first lesson in being a ninja. Taijutsu." He reached into his pouch and produced a book. Naruto felt insulted that he thought that low of him but pushed it aside. "What, aren't going to try your luck?"

"We are." He pushed his arms out, throwing the webbing and catching Kakashi with it. He pulled and let it flying, ignoring it. His senses told him Kakashi was else where so he was. Naruto produced two swords and ran at where he felt him.

"Very good senses," Kakashi stated as he dodged. His eye widened when he felt his cheek get cut. "You really are trying to kill me." Jumping back, he watched Naruto. He had no form or style. He went in and moved on reflex alone. Normally this was a bad thing. But Naruto obviously hadn't heard it was because try as Kakashi might, he couldn't force Naruto into a damaging position. He twisted and turned, never needing to block.

'This is no genin!' Kakashi felt something against his foot, having backed into it. It was more webbing. "Hell."

Another Naruto dropped from a tree, pulling the webbing with him. While the original formed a giant shuriken in his hand. It started spinning and Naruto through it to take off Kakashi's head. Kakashi flashed through handsigns and a wall of stone blocked the attack. "That...was close," Kakashi said as he threw a kunai at the Kage Bunshin. He dropped down to the ground. "...I might have to be serious with you."

Naruto crossed his arms and spikes bristled along them. He then threw them to the side, launching several dozen kunai at him. Far to many to block all of them. Instead, he was went into the ground to doge them. "Konoha's most sacred and ancient..." A fist and boot collided with his head.

Kakashi recovered his balance as fast as he could. Naruto meant for his blood so he had no time to waste. He finally realized what Naruto was doing. He wasn't thinking, moving like a swords master did, just acting and reacting.

Naruto jumped back and did a few handsigns. It grew hazy, making it difficult to see anything. While Naruto completely disappeared.

—oo000oo—

"That is Naruto," Sakura asked amazed.

Sasuke gritted his teeth. Naruto wasn't good with those things but he had more than enough chakra to make up for it.

—oo000oo—

Kakashi slowed his breathing. This was an assassination skill, he need only listened and he would hear him. He felt something hit his chest and pull. He saw a white spider appear and knew he was flying right to it. He couldn't twist, he couldn't dodge, he could only take it. And it felt like being hit by Gai. But Naruto couldn't pull back either. He was hit in the face in return. The haze fell away as Naruto stood back up.

"...We win." In his hand was a bell. "We'll give the others a chance before we return to get the bell for them." He jumped into the air, shot his web at a tree and disappeared from sight.

Kakashi picked his jaw up from the ground. "He actually got a bell. ...Hmm, looks like someone it mad." He could feel the killer intent from Sasuke being directed at Naruto.

—oo000oo—

"Sakura," Naruto whispered behind her, making her yell out. "Quiet," he hissed. "I need your help to think about something."

"What do you mean? Last thing you need is help, you already got a bell."

"That is it though. Something is wrong because it isn't adding up. Why put us in a team of three only to break us up?"

Sakura was about to answer but she couldn't. "I don't know."

"We think more is going on here than it appears. We don't know what yet but this is clear. We need to get you a bell." Sakura clenched her jaw. She wanted to pass but if she did, Sasuke didn't and vice versa. "Sakura, has Sasuke ever encouraged you to continue going after him?"

"Well, he never said it but I know he..." She realized how pathetic that sounded.

"Remember what he said yesterday? 'There is nothing that I like and a lot that I hate.' He doesn't return your feelings."

"What do you know about the feelings of others!?"

"Not much. But we know that being kind to Sasuke hasn't gotten you any closer to him. That he respects power. Show him how strong you are. Even if you need some help, you will prove you are strong enough to take it."

Sakura look around desperately. "...Alright." She grabbed Naruto's hand and he pulled her to her feet and jumped.

—oo000oo—

"Kakashi-sensei," Sakura yelled out. "Give me the bell!"

He looked at her and was surprised to find Naruto behind her. "I thought you hated Naruto." She didn't reply. "And won't you getting a bell keep Sasuke from graduating?"

She looked like her will to continue was about to crumble. But Naruto put a hand on her shoulder. "...No. We'll figure out someway so we all pass," Sakura shouted. "But we need the second bell first! You won't underestimate Naruto again but this time, he will have help." She held a kunai in hand.

"Save us the time, Kakashi-sensei, and drop the bell," Naruto said, meaning both him and Sakura. A clink came from his bell as he shifted.

Kakashi looked at him and it. "Naruto, I can take you bell back if you do this?"

"Then we will not have what it takes to be ninja yet," Naruto replied. "If we cannot work with Sakura or Sasuke, then that is proof to us."

"But you are not working with Sasuke now."

"Correction, he will not work with us," Naruto told him. "Enough talk. We are taking the bell." To Sakura he whispered, "Ready?" She swallowed before nodding.

Naruto made a cross with his hands and a Kage Bunshin appeared on the other side of Sakura. Both grabbed her arm, lifted her up and threw her Kakashi. "We hope her plan works," they muttered before launching themselves at Kakashi.

Kakashi was so unprepared for such an attack, he was only just able to duck. He kunai caught his flack jacket, making her spin and stop. She brought a knee to his face, which he blocked and used to throw her off him. Naruto was right behind him, four swords working in tandem. "I have seen better form in children," Kakashi taunted. But Naruto did nothing about it. One of them went off and helped Sakura.

"...You will not drive us apart, Kakashi-sensei. So my suspicions were right."

"And they are?"

"That you are trying to see if we can work as a team." Kakashi was about to reply but a kunai hit his back and Sakura ran forward, pulled along by a web. Looking down, he found the second bell gone. "Sakura, run and get Sasuke to protect you. We will hold back Kakashi."

She nodded and ran. Kakashi looked at her then him. "You got both bells."

"Now we will see if Sasuke can pass his part of the test."

—oo000oo—

"Sasuke-kun! Help!" Sakura ran, unsure if Kakashi was following or still fighting Naruto but she didn't dare check.

Sasuke appeared in front of her. He glanced at her bell before looking her in the eyes. "What?"

"Naruto told me to go find you. He is fighting Kakashi-sensei so I have a chance to hide until the alarm rings." Sasuke kept glancing at the bell.

"How did you get that?"

"We worked together," Sakura told him. "Naruto thought something wasn't right so he helped me get mine."

"...I need a bell to get my revenge, Sakura." It was obvious he wanted her to give it to him. But then a look of horror appeared on her face. Sasuke turned around and found Kakashi glaring at him.

—oo000oo—

Naruto tried not to snicker at Sasuke but couldn't stop. His stomach was growling all the louder while Kakashi gave a bento box to Naruto and Sakura. "I have decided your fate, Sasuke. There is no need for you to go back to the academy."

He grinned, "So I passed."

Kakashi smiled. "Nope, you should quit being a ninja."

"WHAT!?"

"Sakura said it herself, she hates Naruto. But she was willing to work with him to get a bell. Naruto already had a bell but he risked his to help Sakura. You know why he didn't help you instead? Because you wouldn't accept his help. And then there was what you did. I gave a mission to your team, get the bells. You wouldn't help the others and even tried to fight them."

"But you said if we don't get a bell, we don't pass," Sasuke growled. "Why should I let someone weaker than me pass when I might not?"

Sakura dropped her head until Naruto put a comforting hand on her arm. "Don't let him get to you, Sakura. In the end, because we worked together, we were stronger."

"Two weaklings...

"That works together are stronger than one man that works alone," Kakashi said. "In the world of ninja, those who ignore the rules are trash. This is true. But those who abandon their friends are lower than trash. Sakura cares for you, Naruto is willing to work with you. What about you?"

Sasuke said nothing. "I shouldn't give you the chance but I am going to give you a second test. Because the other two passed, that is the only reason. Naruto, Sakura, despite the outcome of the next part, you are going forward. Don't worry about that. But...if you feed Sasuke while I am gone, you all fail." He turned and left.

It was a calm few minutes. "He is still here," Naruto stated, his mask pulled down.

"I don't sense him," Sakura said.

"That doesn't change the fact that he is over in those trees." Naruto pointed right at Kakashi. The jonin jumped to a different location but knew it was muke. "Well, if we can't give you some food without getting caught, we can at least untie you." Naruto set down his food down and cut the ropes. Sasuke tried to ignore that they were eating but he wasn't. "We're full," Naruto announced, having barely touched his food. He stood up and stretched. "We are going to warm up a little. Sasuke, don't touch our food," Naruto said with a wink.

He crossed his hands again and made six clones. They all faced each other and created several weapons and started throwing them at each other. Between the dodges and the blocks, weapons were going everywhere. Both Sasuke and Sakura ducked behind their logs. After a moment, Sakura reached back to the front and grabbed hers.

Sasuke saw her do that and turned away. Naruto's was sitting right there, just two feet away. Looking up, he saw a sea of black throwing weapons hitting everything around them but the box, the stone behind them, and each other. No way could Kakashi see through all those to see them. "Baka," Sasuke called Naruto while he reached around and grabbed it. Hiding behind the log again, he began to eat.

"...That wasn't nice, Sasuke-kun," Sakura scolded. "He gave it to you, you don't have to insult him for it."

Sasuke swallowed what was in his mouth. "...Maybe you are right. I have been acting like an ass."

"No acting about it," Naruto said when one of the clones ducked behind his log. "Pardon me." He stood up and threw a glaive that formed in his hand. A moment later, at least twenty were returned. "So, enjoying lunch?"

"Do you always over do it this much?"

"No, just most of the time." He stood up. "Stop! We need to consider something!"

"What," another clone asked as they walked to the center.

"We need to think about the plan."

"What plan?"

Naruto grinned before several kunais shot from his arms, killing the clones. "The plan where we kill all of you." He jumped back suddenly as a mass of weapons went at him. One of the clones hadn't trusted him and made his own to replace him.

The two stop with the weapons and ran at each other. Sasuke watched with interest and almost recognized it. They were moving like they knew what the other was going to do. But not in the same mind kind of way. But similar to when he saw Sharigan uses spar against each other. They had known what the other would do even as they did it. Matches like that often went for hours until one could no long maintain the Sharigan.

Naruto ducked a punch and kicked. The clone caught it and twisted. Even as he did, Naruto had jumped and spun, canceling the action. Both of their spider sense were working over time to protect them. Finally, when Naruto was breathing hard, still not having struck, nor striking, the clone, he backed away and release the jutsu. "You two ready?"

"I finished," Sakura stated.

"And you, Sasuke? Still hungry?"

"...Yes."

Naruto spun to face Kakashi as he appeared. "LIARS! I ordered you not to give him any food!"

"We didn't," Naruto sad calmly.

"You have broken the rules! What do you have to say for yourself!?"

"Those who ignore their comrades are worst than trash," Sakura said to him.

"Fine, then your punishment is..." Naruto's sense that he was a threat went away. "You pass," Kakashi said, doing an eye smile.

—oo000oo—

Naruto walked away from the grounds, refraining from jumping through the city. "What should we do today? Put itching power inside the ANBU uniforms? Put webbing in the old man's hat?" He became aware that someone was following him. "Maybe say hello to Hinata-chan? Yeah, we like that idea." Without warning, he jumped into the air to a wall and then atop a building. He circled around and spotted Hinata. She was trying to find him.

Naruto timed it so that he could drop right in front of her. Venom timed it so his spider sense wouldn't realize he made a mistake until it was too late. "Hi Hinata...WHOA!" She had been running and had ran right into him. Naruto was grateful that no one was around right then to see them. Because it was compromising. Especially with her lips pressed against his. Both were wide eyed as they stared into each other's eyes.

Hinata's eyes rolled into the back of her head and she slumped off him. Naruto just blushed, cursed the feeling of amusement from Venom, and sat her against the wall. When she finally came to, Naruto was examining a new design for kunais to make it fly better. "Sorry about that, Hinata-chan," Naruto said as he discarded the blade. "We did not mean for that to happen."

Hinata turn her deepest red yet. "Y-You m-mean th-that happened!?"

"Yes it did," Naruto replied. "We did not mean to steal your first kiss."

"I-It i-is al-alright Naruto-kun. I-I honestly don't mind." 'I kissed Naruto-kun! I actually kissed him!'

"...We see you passed, Hinata-chan." Naruto pointed to the headband she still possessed.

"Y-Yes, I d-did."

"We are glad to hear that. ...We have nothing left to do today, care to join us, Hinata-chan?"

"W-With you?" She seemed to be about to pass out.

"Yes. Here," Naruto offered her his hand. Hinata took it after a moment of staring at it. Naruto swung her on his back and secured her with some webs. "Hold on to us tight, Hinata-chan." He crouched down and jumped into the air. He hit the wall and pushed against it to sail to his next point. He caught a flag pole and spun atop it. He started moving up and down on the end and Hinata stared wide eyed as he spring board off it, reaching fifty feet above the the building they had been on.

Naruto shot a web out and caught a balcony. Giving it a yank, he flew to it. Before he hit the wall, he got another building and swung around it. Letting go, he flew up and landed on the Hokage tower. "Having fun, Hinata-chan?" She looked dizzy but nodded yes. "We are almost there." He made two poles and stuck them in the ground. Still holding onto them, he attached a web to both. Letting go, he quickly ran back and sling shot into the air

"AH!" Hinata screamed, holding tightly to Naruto's neck. But they didn't splat into the Hokage monument like she thought they would. They went over it and Naruto caught a tree before swinging down to the ground. He untied them and Hinata fell to the ground. She had never been so scared... A smile spread her lips. Or excited.

Her heart was still racing and she could still feel the wind as she flew over Konoha. "...That was fun, Naruto-kun," she told him breathlessly. "Is it always like that?"

"We toned it down as this was your first time," he told her as he set himself a swing to sit on.

"I wish I could do that," Hinata said. "To be able to literally leave everything on the ground."

"Even a bird must return to the ground, Hinata-chan."

"True." Hinata could feel the adrenaline inside her thinning. "Naruto-kun, can we do that again?"

"Now?"

"Yes," she nodded eagerly.

Naruto smiled at her. "Alright."

—oo000oo—

Naruto finally stopped that evening, ending with a parachute drop down to outside the Hyuuga estate. "We hope you had fun, Hinata-chan."

"I did, Naruto-kun," she replied, a little dizzy from the adrenaline rush. "I had so much fun." She gave him a hug. "Thank you." She waved good bye and stumbled back in her home. Her father would want to know if she passed and where she was. She would tell him doing some extra training with a distance fighter, trying to block him. Her clothes were crumpled up enough for it.

Naruto, feeling a little spent and hungry, walked home. But before he got far, he felt someone glaring at him. "You have some nerve, boy,"

Naruto turned to face Hiashi. "We fail to see how."

"Holding my daughter like that."

"...If we understand it correctly, you have all but disowned Hinata-chan. we were helping her with her confidence problem."

"I doubt that."

"We were. She met with us this afternoon and we spoke a little. She didn't seem all that sure about something so we invited her along with us. Just somethings that would cause her stress but at the same time, we made it fun for her."

"...If I find out that you have done anything to her." He left the threat hang.

But Naruto was unfazed. "We would never do anything of the sort, our word."

"Your word means little to me."

"Why? Because the Kyuubi was sealed inside us?" Hiashi showed his shock. "A drunk tried to hurt us one night, calling us 'demon' and 'monster'. He let it slip."

"So you know then. And the reason everyone hates you."

"Couldn't be more obvious to us. Why else but that?"

"...And you still want to become Hokage, to protect the people of this village, despite the past?"

"We would," Naruto replied.

"...I believe you. If you wish to see my daughter again, merely knock on the door." Hiashi turned and walked away.

Naruto let out a breath. At least he hadn't held a knife to his throat.

—oo000oo—

"Venom, in position."

"Cherry blossom, ready to cut off escape routes."

"Avenger, herding the target into the trap."

A dark, evil monster ran through the grass and turned when Sakura got in the way. It jumped over a log and found itself caught in the air. A giant spider web. This white spider the size of a man's chest became visible and moved from the shade of the tree towards it. Tora the cat passed out before Naruto came into full view. "What happened to Tora," he asked as he crawled down the web just like a spider. Like he really needed to ask. He knew that the spider on his chest would one day be the nightmares people that will face him and survive will have.

He reached her and free her fur from the webs. He then jumped down and landed on the grass. "Pink bow on left ear, this is the target," he said into his radio.

"Good job everyone," Kakashi said to them. "How bad are the injuries?"

"None," Sasuke replied.

"None? Gee, I don't believe, Sasuke made a joke. Really, how bad?"

"Lazy book reader, this is Venom, the cat passed out when it thought a giant spider was coming to make a meal of it."

"Would you have happened to be that spider, Venom?"

"Why would you ever think that?"

Kakashi sighed and let it drop. This would be the first time ever someone has caught Tora and come out without injury. Just what he needed, his team thinking they could handle something bigger than they could... Actually, that sounds like a good idea. Work off the stress as well as knock them down some pegs.

—oo000oo—

Venom has never felt sorry for its victims. And its host never have either. They fight, they are defeated or even killed. But the sight in front of them was one that made both understand why the cat ran away and even sympathize with it. Tora was being squeezed to death by her owner. "Ma'am, we are good with animals. Maybe we know what will keep Tora-chan from running away again."

"Really," the wife of the Daimyo asked. "Tell me how, please."

"First, consider how you were just treating her." She looked confused. "If we were a small, furry animal, and a much larger creature were to start doing something like that, we would think we were being attacked." The woman looked ashamed at her actions. "Second, cats not creatures that like to play rough when they get older. If Tora was a dog, she would love you for it. But she is a cat. Thus she prefers the passive affections. Pet her softly. When you hold her, hold her so she is stretched out like on a windowsill. If she is more interested in just lying down, then let her be like that. Don't pick her up, in fact, ignore her. When she starts to feel lonely for the hands that treats her well, she will come searching. Sit and relax and she will want to lie down on you as her sleeping spot."

"Now why didn't I ever have you before, young man," she asked, all smiles. She looked down at Tora and shifted him around. The cat cringed, thinking another wave of pain was coming. But instead, a hand gently rubbed her ears. Nearly shocking the cat to death, definitely pass the point where she could think about taking advantage of the loose grip and run.

"Thank you again, I will make sure you are given a bonus. As well as I will ask for you whenever I can..."

"Uzumaki Naruto, ma'am."

She blinked a few times. "Oh, well, it is a pleasure to meet you Naruto. I have heard about you from my husband. He has dropped by every now and then and the Hokage just can't stop talking about the boy that went from dead last to almost the head of his class. About a hero, in all accounts."

"We wouldn't understand why we are."

"No, no, of course you wouldn't. I shall go speak with the Hokage right now about your bonus." She left, Tora still stunned.

"...Should we be glad or mad," a chunin behind them asked.

"What do you mean," Sakura asked.

"Well, glad because we will never have to look for the cat again. Mad because in a year, the Daimyo spends nearly enough money for an S rank mission just to retrieve her."

The genin dropped their jaws. They had heard about the prices of those only in legends. They turned to Naruto. "We didn't know!"

"Well, the cat is getting older and can't make the escapes like she used to," Kakashi said to them. "Used to take a full week of hunting to catch her. I guess this means we will have to get a new tracking training mission."

They walked up to the office of the Hokage and entered to hear, "And I will make sure that my husband hires more from the village." The wife of the Daimyo said as she walked out of the office. "Have a good day, Naruto-kun."

Kakashi looked back at her and turned back to the Hokage. "Good news?"

"Tora might not be running away as much. She insisted she give Naruto a bonus for 'finally telling me why she runs away'. And the promise of more request for genins in the future."

"Might make up for the lost of money from Tora," Kakashi stated.

"You have no idea. She gave me this." He held out a sheet of paper with at least two dozen jobs to do on it. They were simply things that genin could do and even a few C missions like guarding her nephew while he travels to the Land of Lightning. "This is just somethings she was wondering about. She has a whole list of things her husband can have us do. This is my favorite. Ahem, 'My husband can't sail to a location fast enough. Maybe a ninja with control of wind can get him to his fishing spot and back within the same week'. Naruto, you may have cost us a bit but you have brought more than that back in."

"How so?"

"That one alone will be closure to a B rank mission because of the lack of wind using ninja in Konoha. Most use lightning and fire jutsus. Rarer are the ones that use earth and water. But practically no one uses wind."

The genin looked confused. "I thought you just made the handsigns and focused your chakra to use a jutsu," Sakura stated in the most simple version. "Why couldn't someone use wind if they wanted to?"

"Hmm. Kakashi, think they can grasp this?"

"Yes, they are surprisingly intelligent. Especially Naruto. He might not be as smart as the others but he easily grasp things about combat and life."

"Okay then. What you three are familiar with at this point is non elemental chakra. This is what is used with any jutsu. Then there is the elemental chakra. These are water, fire, wind, lightning, and earth. A person with wind can do those very easily. Lightning isn't as easy but close. Earth and water are about the same as a normal jutsu. While fire is almost impossible to do. In the order I said them, the one to the right is weak to the one before it."

"So...I am a fire type," Sasuke said.

"Probably," Sarutobi said. "Sakura, you show signs of being earth. And Naruto...I don't know. He reminds me of a bolt of lightning. One brilliant flash and then its gone." Sarutobi, Kakashi, and Sakura laughed at the joke, while Sasuke smirk.

"...Perhaps we are fire," Naruto said. "If so, then maybe we can use some to get you out of that chair you are ruining our robes in."

"You aren't Hokage yet," Sarutobi told him. "Iruka, can you get me three pieces of chakra paper." He nodded and left. "Now onto missions."

"Hokage-sama, I think it is about time to give them a harder mission. They caught Tora without any trouble so they are ready for it."

"Okay, I got a few here. Hmm, I think this is just what you are looking for."

Iruka opened the door and handed the paper to the Hokage. "Took a few moments but I got them."

He handed them out to the genin and told them how to work them. Sasuke channeled his chakra through it and it crumpled before catching on fire. Sakura did as he did and hers turned to dust. Naruto went last. His was cut in half. Even as the second piece fell, the first was soaked. Naruto bent down and pocketed the paper. He wanted to know something. "Sasuke, you are lightning and fire. Sakura, you are fully earth. Naruto, you appear to have equal abilities in both water and wind. This maybe how you create your weapons.

"Now, on to your mission. Come on in, Tazuna."

A man wearing a bamboo hat, with a bottle of sake, and a beer gut walked in. "These are the three protecting me!? I wanted ninja team, not a day care."

"Three,"the Hokage asked. Naruto was no longer where he had been.

"Do we look like we need a day care," Naruto said as he tapped a kunai to Tazuna's cheek, hanging from the ceiling.

"Well, when you put it that way..."

—oo000oo—

Author's Notes. It is fun to think about this ability and how they might be used in Naruto. Yes, Naruto has the Water affinity because of Venom. In time, I am going to think of ways that they will use these with combination instead of just using abilities they have alone.

As for Hinata talking clearly, it is a funny thing what an adrenaline rush does to you. Can't say much more to that.

See ya space cowboy.