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Chapter 3: Team 7

Six years later….

Naruto had passed the Graduation Exam because of his improved chakra control that he obtained through exercises. He had become an expert in all of his sword styles. During the first year, he received extra instruction from Gekko Hayate, a skilled swordsman of Konoha. During the second year, he learned Kido and Arrancar techniques. Soon, he would have a chance to test out his new powers….

At the Academy...

"Alright! From today forth, you are all shinobi and kunoichi of Konoha. I am proud to have been your instructor for all these years. Now, I will tell you all your team assignments. Team 1...Team 7: Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Sasuke; your sensei is Hatake Kakashi. Team 8: Inuzuka Kiba, Hyuuga Hinata, and Aburame Shino; your sensei is Yuhi Kurenai. Team 9 is in circulation. Team 10: Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, and Akimichi Chouji; your sensei is Sarutobi Asuma. Please wait here for your senseis."

The door opened and two people came in. "Team 8, meet me at Training ground 8," said a raven-haired, red-eyed woman. "Team 10, see you at Training ground 10," said a bearded man smoking a cigarette. The rest of the teams soon left, leaving Team 7.

Two hours later...

Sakura growled, "Where is he!? He is extremely late!" Sasuke grunted, "This jounin seems incompetent." Naruto remained silent. Sakura turned to Naruto, "And you! What's with the wardrobe change and those swords?" Naruto impassively stared at her, "I decided to become serious. That's all, Haruno. The me you knew at the Academy was merely a mask." At that moment, the door opened and a masked man with gravity-defying silver hair entered. "Hmm...my first impression of you is that I don't like you. Meet me at the rooftop in five minutes." He disappeared in a tornado of leaves.

Academy rooftop...

Kakashi was reading an orange book as his team arrived. He snapped his books shut and said, "Alright! Now that we are all here, why don't we introduce ourselves? Tell me your name, likes, dislikes, hobbies, and dreams" Sakura asked, "Why don't you go first so we know how it's done, sensei?" Kakashi sighed and said, "My name is Hatake Kakashi. I don't feel like telling you my likes and dislikes. My hobbies are none of your business. Any my dream...never really thought about it."

His entire team sweatdropped, "All we learned was his name!" "Alright, you first, pinky." Sakura bristled at the nickname, "My name is Haruno Sakura. I like...(stares at Sasuke and blushes). My hobbies are...(stares at Sasuke and blushes). My dream is...Kyahh!" Kakashi sweatdropped, "A fangirl. I have my work cut out for me." "And your dislikes?" "Naruto and Ino-pig," she screeched. Naruto remained impassive, surprising Sakura once again. "You next, emo." Sasuke twitched, "I'm Uchiha Sasuke. I have few likes and many dislikes. My hobby is training. My dream...no, it's more like an ambition. I want to revive my clan and kill a certain man." Kakashi calculatingly stared at him, "An avenger. I have to be careful. I can't let him choose the wrong path." "Last one, blondie." Naruto spoke, "My name is Uzumaki Naruto. My likes and dislikes are none of your business. My hobby is training. My dream...I'm not sure." Kakashi looked surprised, "He is extremely different from what his Academy profile says about him. Wasn't he a loudmouth who wanted to become Hokage? Hmm...I wonder what happened. Maybe it's because he found out about Kyuubi when he helped take down Mizuki last night?"

"Alright. Now that we know each other, we have our first mission: a survival exercise. Sakura looked confused, "Didn't we already do that in the Academy though?" Kakashi chuckled, "I'm about to blow your minds. You aren't truly genin yet. Out of the 27 students who graduated, only 9 will become genin. In other words, there is a 66% fail rate." Sasuke and Sakura looked surprised while Naruto thought, "I knew it was too easy." Kakashi said, "Meet me at Training Ground 7 tomorrow morning at 6 am. Don't be late. Also, I suggest that you don't eat breakfast. You may puke." With that, Kakashi once again disappeared in a vortex of leaves.

Sakura turned to Sasuke, "Do you want to eat lunch together so that can get to know each other better, Sasuke-kun?" Sasuke walked away, "No. I'm busy." Sighing, she turned to Naruto, only to find that he had disappeared. She decided to go home herself.

The next day, Training Ground 7, 7:58 am...

Sakura and Sasuke were sitting on the ground, looking both tired and hungry. Sakura groaned, "Where are sensei and Naruto? They are both late!" At that moment, Naruto arrived at the training ground. Sakura glared at him, "You idiot! Why are you late? Sensei told us to meet here at 6 am." Naruto replied, "I did my research. He is always 2 hours late for meetings. That's why I decided to come now." Soon after he said that, Kakashi appeared in a vortex of leaves. Sakura glared at him, "You're late!" Kakashi eye-smiled, "Sorry. I got lost on the road of life." Sakura screeched, "Liar!"

Kakashi placed an alarm clock on the stomp. "I have 2 bells here. If you get one, you pass and become a genin. You have until noon to get one. If you do not get one, you will be tied to the log and be forced to watch your teammates eat the bento I brought." Sasuke's and Sakura's stomachs growled as they thought, "So that's why he told us not to eat breakfast." Naruto just smirked. Kakashi thought, "It seems he saw underneath the underneath. Another surprise. I should keep my eye on him." Sakura spoke up, "Wait! There are only 2 bells though!" Kakashi nodded, "Yup! It means that only 2 of you will pass and 1 of you will be sent back to the Academy." Sakura looked both shocked and scared.

Kakashi spoke, "Now then...come at me with the intent to kill or else you won't be able to get a bell." Sakura objected, "But sensei...what if we hurt you?" Kakashi eye-smiled, "Don't worry about me. Worry more about yourself. The test starts...now!" All 3 of them disappeared into the forest surrounding the clearing.

Suddenly, Naruto stepped out of the foliage. Kakashi looked surprised, "It seems I underestimated you. Coming out to fight me face to face..." He reached for his pouch and Naruto tensed. He pulled out an orange book, making Naruto's eye twitched, "What do you think you are doing?" Kakashi eye-smiled, "Reading a book. To find out what happens next."

Naruto held out his fist towards Kakashi and a red orb of energy suddenly enshrouded it and blasted towards Kakashi at high speeds. "Bala." Kakashi's visible eye widened and his shock prevented him from reacting in time, allowing the blast to hit him and stir up dust. As the smoke cleared, it revealed Kakashi covered in singes and his book destroyed. Kakashi narrowed his eye, "You are indeed surprising. Luckily, I have another copy of that book at home. Well, since I no longer have reading material, I guess I will have to fight you. First lesson: taijutsu."

Kakashi ran towards Naruto and tried to punch him in the face. Naruto grabbed his fist and tried to knee him in the stomach, but was blocked by Kakashi's other palm. Kakashi tried to sweep Naruto, who jumped up and performed a spin kick on Kakashi, who blocked with his arms, though the force pushed him back a little. He's keeping up with me as I use chuunin level speed. He's good. However..." As Kakashi ran towards Naruto, he suddenly accelerated to jounin level speed, causing Naruto's eyes to widen. He was unable to block the punch to his stomach that knocked the breath out of him and the follow-up kick to his face which sent him flying a few feet away.

Kakashi chased after him as Naruto performed a back-flip and landed on his feet. Kakashi tried to punch Naruto in the face, but a yellow rope suddenly wrapped around his right foot. "Bakudo no 4: Hanaiwa (Crawling Rope)." Naruto swung the rope, sending Kakashi towards a tree. Blue lightning coursed through Kakashi's right hand as he swung it towards the tree, "Raikiri (Lightning Blade)." It cut through the tree like a knife through butter, leaving Kakashi unharmed. With his free hand, he took out a kunai, charged it with lightning chakra, and cut through the rope.

As Kakashi landed on his feet, he eye-smiled, "Not bad. It seems we're transitioning to our second lesson: ninjutsu." He performed a series of handseals, "Katon: Gokakyuu no Jutsu (Fire Style: Grand Fireball)." A large fireball emerged from his mask and flew towards Naruto. Naruto held out his hand, "Bakudo no 81: Danku (Splitting Void)." A transparent barrier formed between Naruto and the fireball. The fireball hit the barrier and when the flames dissipated, it showed that the barrier was undamaged. Kakashi looked shocked, "What kind of jutsu is he using? I've never heard of them before! They are powerful though."

Kakashi sighed and performed more handseals as blue lightning coursed through his hand once again. "Raikiri!" He charged towards Naruto at high speeds and shattered the barrier before piercing Naruto through the chest. He chuckled darkly, "Your time is up, monster." Suddenly, the entire area began cracking before it shattered, revealing Kakashi standing where he was after the fireball failed to damage the barrier. Naruto glared at him, "A low-level and pathetic genjutsu like that won't work on me. I have all the data I need on you. Goodbye." He puffed into smoke, revealing himself to have been a shadow clone.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "He sent a reinforced shadow clone against me to gather information on my fighting style and test my strength. Not bad. Now...time to see how the other two do." Right after that thought, Kakashi was suddenly struck by various shuriken, only to poof into a log. In the trees, Sasuke cursed, "A replacement! Shit! He found me!" He jumped down into the clearing and Kakashi appeared in front of him. "Let's see how the Uchiha does." Sasuke replied, "I'm not like the other two." Kakashi narrowed his eye, "We'll see about that."

Sasuke ran towards Kakashi and attempted to punch him in the face, but was blocked by one of Kakashi's palms. He then tried to roundhouse kick Kakashi, who grabbed his leg. With his free hand, Sasuke reached towards the bell and actually touched one before Kakashi threw him away. Sasuke performed a set of familiar handseals, "Katon: Gokakyuu no Jutsu!" Kakashi's eye widened, "A genin shouldn't have enough chakra to perform that jutsu!" He was consumed by the flames.

Sasuke smirked. As the flames dissipated, nothing was left. Sasuke thought, "Where is he? Left? Right? Above?" Suddenly, a hand emerged from the ground and grabbed his foot before pulling his entire body into the ground, leaving his head out. "Doton: Shinju Zanshu no Jutsu (Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu)." Kakashi emerged from the ground and eye-smiled, "Not bad. However, you aren't as good as Naruto." Sasuke glared at him, "I'm an Uchiha. I'm the best." Kakashi sighed at his arrogance, "Whatever you say..." He then disappeared in a vortex of leaves.

In the forest...

After watching Naruto's fight with Kakashi, Sakura had retreated deeper into the forest. She was shocked. She didn't expect Naruto to be so strong; he even kept up with a jounin! She thought, "I'm the weakest link. At this rate, I'm going to fail." Suddenly, a voice whispered in her ear, "Sakura..." Startled, she turned around and saw a wounded Sasuke crawling out of the foliage, covered in blood and with many kunai stuck to him. He begged her, "Sakura...please help me." Sakura let out a scream as she fainted.

Kakashi sighed from behind her, "Falling for such a low-level genjutsu. The profile said she was quite skilled at genjutsu. Another inaccurate report..." He disappeared in a vortex of leaves.

Meanwhile...

Naruto helped Sasuke escape from his prison. "We need to work together to defeat Kakashi. I have a plan." Sasuke glared at him, "I don't need your help. I can defeat him alone." Naruto glared back, "Don't you understand? The purpose of this test is teamwork!" Sasuke growled, "I told you! I can do this alone. You would only slow me down." With that said, Sasuke went back into the forest. A shadow clone of Kakashi was nearby and saw everything.

In the forest...

As Sakura woke up, Naruto jumped down in front of her. "Sakura. We need to work together to defeat Kakashi." Sakura glared at him, "Work together? You are just trying to get the bells for yourself. I'm not gonna let you deceive me! Sasuke-kun can get the bells by himself." Naruto sighed, "Fine. Do whatever you want." He disappeared in a puff of smoke, revealing himself to be a shadow clone. Another shadow clone of Kakashi was nearby and saw everything.

Training Ground 7...

Kakashi appeared in the clearing and saw Naruto in front of him. "Well...it seems your teammates won't listen to you. What are you going to do now?" Naruto shrugged, "Not my fault that they refuse to listen. I guess I will obtain the bells myself." As he got into a fighting stance, the alarm clock rang, signaling the end of the bell test.

Sasuke and Sakura entered the clearing, looking angry and sad respectively. As all 3 of them stood in front of him, Kakashi said, "None of you managed to get a bell. You all fail." Sasuke ran towards Kakashi with a kunai, but was quickly immobilized and pressed onto the ground. Pulling out a kunai, Kakashi said, "Sakura! Kill Naruto or Sasuke dies!" Sakura froze, unsure of what to do. Sighing, Kakashi placed his kunai back into his pouch and got off Sasuke.

Kakashi turned towards the large stone in the clearing. "Look at this Memorial Stone. It has the names of the heroes of Konoha. Ninja who died for the village have their names engraved onto this stone. The names of many of my friends are here. A friend once told me, "Those who break the rules are trash. However, those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash." The purpose of this test was teamwork. Sasuke and Sakura, neither of you accepted Naruto's offer of help. I am disappointed in both of you." Sasuke and Sakura looked down in shame.

Kakashi sighed as he handed Naruto and Sasuke bentos while tying Sakura to the log. "I am giving all of you a second chance. Naruto and Sasuke, don't give Sakura any food or you all fail." With that said, Kakashi disappeared in a vortex of leaves.

Naruto held his bento up to Sakura. "Here. Have some." Sakura's eyes widened, "What are you doing? Sensei told you not to give me any food or else we will fail!" Naruto replied, "The purpose of this test is teamwork. How are you supposed to help us if you are too weak from hunger?" At that point, Sasuke held up his own bento to Sakura. "The dobe's right. If you don't want to be a burden, eat." Tears appeared in Sakura's eyes.

Suddenly, a vortex of leaves appeared in front of them and Kakashi emerged from it, looking extremely angry and directing killing intent towards them. "I told you not to give her any food! Prepare to face the consequences!" Naruto stood up, "Bring it on. We'll defeat you together." Sasuke nodded. Sakura yelled, "That's right! Together!"

The killing intent disappeared and Kakashi eye-smiled, "In that case...you all pass." There was a brief moment of silence before Sakura yelled, "Yes! We did it!" Naruto and Sasuke smiled. Kakashi gave them a thumbs up, "Congratulations. We are now officially Team 7. Missions start tomorrow, so see you here at 6 am." He disappeared in a vortex of leaves. Sasuke began to leave. Sakura screeched, "Wait! You didn't untie me!" Naruto untied her and began walking away. "Thanks, Naruto." Naruto just held up his hand as he left. He smirked, "It all begins now."

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