Chapter 4-Team 7 and Wave Country
To say Naruto's parents were pissed was an understatement, as they learned about their son being backstabbed by the Shinobi of this village, and all because of their bigotry. It made them want to used a Cero on the Leaf and watch it burn down to the ground with all the people in it! However, their anger turned to surprise when Naruto told them what had happened with Mizuki and the man becoming like some kind of hollow after drinking something if the small glass container the traitor had dropped was any indication.
For Tsunade, she knew this was the work of her old teammate Orochimaru, who she told the trio was a traitor to the Leaf, and had a grudge against it because the Sandaime chose Naruto's Father to be the Yondaime Hokage. Naruto wondered why the Sandaime had done so little against the traitor when it was clear the Sannin was guilty and needed to be punished. Tsunade had to explain to Naruto that Orochimaru was the Sandaime's favorite student when the old Kage was her team's sensei and acquired an emotional attachment to the pale snake man.
It would be as if the Sandaime killed his own son.
Fortunately, Tsunade had no such connection to Orochimaru on any level just like she did with Jiraiya since both betrayed her, and would sooner punch the snake Sannin head off.
As for the team placements, Naruto was told he had to wait until Monday to find out who he was teamed up with, and to be patient regardless of the possible outcome. Naruto did not like the sound of that, but knew he would have to suck it up for now, and just have to go with the flow of things until he eventually became Chuunin.
(Uchiha District-Sasuke's Home)
"You seem upset Sasuke-kun," said Uchiha Mikoto, as she saw her son scowling about something, and looked at Itachi in the kitchen eating an apple peacefully for an answer.
"Apparently, there is a rumor going around that one of the kids in Sasuke's class took down an instructor turned traitor named Mizuki, and prevented the Forbidden Scroll of Sealing get taken away," said Itachi casually, as he knew who it was, and why it made Sasuke so mad.
"Who was it?" said Mikoto, as she saw Sasuke's scowl deepen, and saw the anger in her son's face.
"Uzumaki Naruto," said Sasuke hatefully, as he saw his Mother look at him in surprise, and then at Itachi nodding his head in agreement.
"Really?" said Mikoto, as she herself had no problem with the blonde boy despite her late husband's opposite belief in Naruto being a monster in human skin, and should be put to death.
"Yes. The boy did surprisingly well, but given the extensive training Naruto-kun has done in the last four years is not really surprising, and is no doubt stronger then even I can imagine," said Itachi, as he saw his little brother getting angrier because of his words, and it was clear Sasuke was jealous of the fact Naruto was getting praise from the Uchiha Clan Head.
"Well, I'm sure Sasuke-kun could have done the job too if given the chance," said Mikoto in a way to keep Sasuke's anger from boiling over.
"No. Sasuke-kun still has a long way to go before he is ready for anything like that. He is still very weak," said Itachi simply before leaving to take care of clan related business and ignoring the death glare from his little brother.
'I'll show him!' thought Sasuke, as he had also been hearing that in the form of whispers from the rest of the Uchiha Clan, and it was burning him up inside that he was labeled as "Uchiha Fugaku's Runt" of all things.
He'd show them all.
(Shinobi Academy-Team Announcements)
"Okay everyone listen up! I have here the list of the Genin teams that will be assigned to a individual Jounin senseis, who will continue training you until from here on out, and hopefully make sure you don't get into too much trouble," said Iruka, as he glared at some of his students that made him feel a few years older then he should, and those said kids were now whistling innocently like they didn't know what he was talking about.
"Good luck Naruto-kun," said Hinata, as she sat beside him, and the blonde smiled at her.
"You too Hinata-chan. Even if we don't become teammates, its doesn't mean we can't still see each other outside of our Shinobi duties, and hang out together," said Naruto, as he knew that he may, or may not be teamed with Hinata since there were so many kids their age graduating.
"I would like that," said Hinata, as she knew just as Naruto did, the chances of being on his team were slim, and while it was depressing it didn't mean they couldn't interact with the other outside of their Shinobi duties.
"Okay Team 7, your group will consist of Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Uzum-oh I'm sorry Namikaze Naruto with your sensei being Hatake Kakashi!" said Iruka, as he with many of the kids in the room looking at the blonde with shock, and Sasuke looking at him now with intense anger.
"Namikaze! You're the son of the Yondaime? Why didn't you tell us?" said Ino, as she knew her parents were good friends with the man, and knew he was the last one of his clan until now.
"I couldn't! The Hokage said I had to wait until I graduated and that was four years ago after I learned the truth," said Naruto, as he saw various Uchiha fan girls now have hearts in their eyes, and inwardly groaned knowing he now had to deal with that.
Beside him, Hinata was glaring at the girls, and her inner self having a cat like face with claws while hissing at them all.
"Quiet! As I was saying before being so rudely interrupted, Team 8 will be consisting of Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, and Hyuuga Hinata with your Jounin sensei being Yuhi Kurenai," said Iruka, as he saw the downcast look Hinata had, and how Naruto comforted her much to the girl's joy.
Kiba was happy with being on Hinata's team, but didn't like how Naruto was comforting the Hyuuga Heiress, and growled from his position at the Namikaze. Shino was quiet, as he eyed Hinata from his position, and silently weighed everything in a logical sense.
'My Hyuuga teammate likes the Namikaze, but my Inuzuka teammate wishes it was he, not the Namikaze getting her affection, and will no doubt try to take it by any means necessary. I must make sure my male teammate doesn't do anything...rash,' thought Shino while seeing the Hyuuga girl loving her close contact with the Namikaze and the Inuzuka looking ready to leap from his seat to tear the blonde apart.
"All right! Team 9 is in circulation so that leaves Team 10. Team 10, you will consist of Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Yamanaka Ino with your Jounin sensei with be Sarutobi Asuma. Please wait for your Jounin sensei to arrive so you can have your first among many team meetings," said Iruka, as he heard Ino shot out how she didn't want to be stuck with either of her teammates due to their natural habits that their own families were known for.
At least the revealing of Naruto being a Namikaze had saved him from Haruno Sakura's banshee shrieks of joy for being teamed with Uchiha Sasuke.
So with his piece said to the group of newly minted Genin, Iruka left the room so the various Jounin senseis could come pick up their teams, and have them keep all the little troublemakers in line. As they waited, the Jounin senseis came in one at a time to pick up their teams until only Team 7 remained, and was starting to upset the trio while they all waited.
Not surprising since they were waiting for what was...3 hours!
"Where is this guy?" said Sakura, as she was getting pissed, and her inner self wasn't fairing much better.
"How do you know it's even a guy? It could be a female Shinobi," said Naruto, as he had his feet up on the desk while half asleep, and contemplated leaving in the next couple of minutes.
"Shut up you baka! Women are never late for anything!" said Sakura, as she would have punched the boy in the head if not for the fact Naruto was now glaring at her, and using the very bored looking face his Father gave someone before killing them in a very gory fashion with a Cero.
"Tell me to shut up again and I'll tear you in half like a phone book. Also, don't act like women are never late for anything just because you're of the same gender, and think you are above approach. Women can be just as stupid as men when it comes to things and to you know it," said Naruto, as he looked away from Sakura to the clock in the room, and then let out a yawn before getting up to head to the door.
"Where are you going?" said Sakura, as she along with Sasuke now looked at him, and the blonde haired boy stopped at the door before looking back.
"I've been waiting here for several hours waiting for this guy and I have to take a piss with a side of crapping. You can continue to wait here or you can come with me to the bathroom to see my junk while I drain my internal waste pool. Interested?" said Naruto, as he saw Sakura blush, and began yelling at him for saying something so sick while the blonde just ignored her rants.
In truth though, Naruto had no intention of waiting after he went to the bathroom, and decided to leave after taking care of his internal business.
(Sometime Later)
Hatake Kakashi stepped into the classroom to find two of his students there waiting for him, which made him curious to the whereabouts of his missing third student, and it was clear that the current two were so angry about his tardiness to care. Not surprising really when he considered the past actions of the previous teams that waited and how they left without waiting more then an after hour after the initial meeting time the other Jounin senseis came to pick their students up.
The waiting in itself had helped fail three of the teams in the past he had been assigned to pass.
"Hi! I'm Hatake Kakashi, I'm looking for Team 7? Where's your third teammate?" said Kakashi, as he hoped they knew, and saw Sasuke shrug uncaringly while Sakura was red in the face with anger at remembering Naruto's words.
"That baka said he had to go to the bathroom," said Sakura though she couldn't remember how long ago that was.
"Oh! Well, I'll just leave a note on the board for when he gets back, and we can just meet on the roof to wait for him," said Kakashi, as he left a note on the chalkboard, and the three went up to the roof.
'I can't wait for that baka to get yelled at later,' thought Sakura, as she could just imagine what it would be like to yell at the Namikaze, and teach the blonde a lesson.
And they waited.
And waited.
And waited.
"O-kay. I guess our third member not coming to our group meeting," said Kakashi, as he wondered if this how it felt for his previous teams to wait on someone else, and for a long time at that.
"We don't need him. You have me. I'm worth a hundred of that loser," said Sasuke, as he saw Sakura agreeing with him, and Kakashi in deep thought.
"As much as your confidence in your skills is reassuring Sasuke, I think it would be best if all of Team 7 were here, and we could do this properly. I'll seek him out and you two stay here until we get back," said Kakashi, as he left them on the roof, and went to find the lost Genin of their squad.
With that done, Kakashi went looking for his missing Genin, and wondered why the boy wasn't around to be waiting with the rest of his team? It was possible the boy just gave up in being a Shinobi if it meant waiting for a tardy sensei or the boy got ambushed while going to the bathroom by some bigots that the Son of the White Fang knew hated the boy.
Hoping it wasn't either possibility, but rather a third more positive theory, Kakashi moved through Konoha to Naruto's known haunts, which were still very few due to the village still not being very receptive of the boy, and finally found him at the little family owned ramen stand. The boy was there, eating ramen casually, and clearly bored from what the blonde's face was any indication.
"So you finally gave up waiting and looked for me. Took you long enough," said Naruto in a bored voice while pausing in his eating to look back Kakashi.
"You should really be with your Genin team since were about to introduce ourselves," said Kakashi, as he saw Naruto finish his bowel, pay for it, and then get off the stool before turning to face him with a bored yet serious look on his face.
"What team? What sensei? I have neither because both of my so called my teammates hate me and my Jounin sensei would prefer to be late rather then on time. So until then, I am my own Shinobi, and I won't take advice from a sensei who can't even show up on time," said Naruto, as he walked away, and Kakashi appeared in front of him with a serious look on his face.
"Regardless, if you don't come back with me, I'll have to disqualify your team, and you will be sent back to the Academy," said Kakashi, as he saw Naruto's eyes narrow slightly, and had a dangerous look about them.
"Go for it. Go to the Hokage and tell her you disqualified your team because one decided to leave due to being fed up with your tardiness. I'm sure the Hokage loved to hear the reason behind it before stomping your one eyed ass," said Naruto, as he saw the Jounin looking wide eyed at him, and acting a bit nervous at the idea.
"Well...when you put it like that...," said Kakashi, as he was laughing nervously, and saw his student was not impressed.
"If you want me to take you seriously at all, then I suggest you don't be tardy to Genin meetings, and actually make an effort to teach your Genin something. If not...well I suppose I could just get some training from Maito Gai and tell him how incompetent you are in teaching," said Naruto causally," said Naruto, as he saw Kakashi's eye bug out of his socket, and then fell to his knees before begging the blonde not to do that.
Sad really.
"Don't tell Gai. I'll never hear the end of it. He'll go on day after day about my inability to teach, crying while doing it, and even force me into one of his...hugs!" said Kakashi, as he was crying now, and didn't want to be exposed to that torture.
"Get off the ground you jackass. I won't go see Maito Gai, but if you are late even once for a Genin team meeting...I'll see to it you are stuck wearing green spandex for a whole year, and have plenty of pictures of it to show Gai," said Naruto, as he saw Kakashi look at him in horror at the idea, and nodding his head vigorously.
"Okay! Okay! You win. No being late for meetings. Got it!" said Kakashi, as he knew that this kid would live up to his word, and knew how Naruto would live up to his threat of putting the Jounin in green spandex.
"Good. Because if I don't kick your ass for being late, then the Hokage will, and she's got a mean leg for it. Just ask Jiraiya of the Sannin," said Naruto, as he turned around to head back to the Academy, and Kakashi right behind him now.
"Will do. Now, let's meet your teammates on the roof, and pretend this talk here never happened," said Kakashi, as he ignored the people that looked at him like he was crazy with his antics earlier, and whistled happily like nothing happened.
'He's weird,' thought Naruto, as he used his Flash Step ability with Kakashi to the roof, and saw his teammates being their usual self.
Meaning Sasuke was trying to keep Sakura off of him and away from his pants.
"Okay! Now we're all here, we can get started, and introduce ourselves!" said Kakashi in a happy voice though his students looked less then happy right now.
So with that in mind, Kakashi began with introducing himself vaguely to his team, and then they all did it themselves. Sasuke was broody with a dislike for Naruto, Sakura was a fan girl, who loved Sasuke, and equally hated Naruto for being...well Naruto! As for the blonde himself, he didn't really care for either of his teammates, his tardy sensei, and the only thing he liked was being around his loved ones.
All in all it was one screwed up group and Kakashi doubted the bell test would not turn out well for him tomorrow.
(The Next Day)
Naruto arrived early that morning with a full stomach despite what his sensei suggested the team do in terms of not eating or else they would throw up. He knew the other two would listen to their sensei, as they trusted the man to want to help them pass this test of Kakashi's, and didn't realize that such advice was the exact opposite of helping.
"Are we all here?" said Naruto, as he saw Sasuke, and Sakura along with their growling stomachs telling they listened to Kakashi.
"Yes. We are," said Kakashi, as he quickly checked his watch, and saw he had just made it on time this morning.
The nightmarish premonition of him in green spandex being hugged by Gai while Naruto laughed at him in the distance with a clock above the blonde helped get him up early.
"Can we begin the test now?" said Naruto, as he saw Kakashi bring out a clock, and two bells in each hand.
"Of course. I have two bells that will stay at my waist. Its your job to get them from me before time runs out. The weakest link among you three will be tied to that training post until this is over," said Kakashi, as he saw the trio look at each other, and then back at him.
'This will be fun,' thought Naruto, as saw where this was going, and how this was going to end.
"Remember, come at me with the intent to kill, or you will never get either of the bells at my waist. Ready? GO!" said Kakashi, as he saw Sasuke, and Sakura head to the trees while Naruto just stood there looking bored.
"Do we really need to go through with this?" said Naruto with his arms crossed in a way his Arrancar of a Father did when he was bored.
"You're acting a bit arrogant if you ask me," said Kakashi, as he wondered what this kid had up his sleeve to make him be this way, and if the kid had even figured out the real reason behind the test.
"Not arrogance. Just confidence in my abilities. The only question I have for you sensei is...are you ready?" said Naruto, as he unsheathed his zanpakuto from his back, and now prepared to fight his sensei with all his parents taught him.
"That all depends on you Naruto," said Kakashi, as he brought out his perverted book to read, but the boy moved too fast for the Jounin to see, and stabbed the book right out of the man's hands.
"Take me seriously...or I'll kill you," said Naruto icily, as he was going to make sure this man understood the severity of the situation, and didn't take him too lightly.
'Something tells me I should take this seriously,' thought Kakashi, as he barely had time to let go of the book to save his hand, and leaped back before lifting up his slanted Leaf headband to reveal his Sharingan Eye.
Something that made two people curious and the third facing the Jounin slightly peeved at the sight of it.
"So you have one of their eyes huh? Typical. I ask my Godmother for a competent team and sensei I can work with. Look what I get for asking. An arrogant Uchiha, his most devoted of fan girls, who would rather find ways into his pants instead of training to be a Shinobi, and then a sensei with a Sharingan Eye in his head. No doubt the Councils saw fit to put us all together for their reasons only!" said Naruto, as saw Kakashi flinch, and knew he was right about it.
Of course Tsunade had tried to make sure that the teams be balance and move to have Naruto on Team 8 with Yuhi Kurenai. However, since announcing Naruto's heritage, the weekend gave the Councils means to argue that because Kakashi was the student of the late Yondaime Hokage, he could train Naruto, and Uchiha Sasuke when his Sharingan developed during their training. Hinata would have been on the team, but the Civilian Councilman, who was Sakura's Father had wanted his daughter to be on the Uchiha team, and felt that having three Genin all from Clans would be overkill. That Sakura could help keep things balanced on Team 7 and the boy's in line should they start fighting.
Tsunade didn't believe that for a second, but couldn't argue against such a point knowing her being Naruto's Godmother could be used to question her impartiality. She had to give them some leeway for now and hoped it all worked out in the end.
"A problem with the Uchiha Clan I take it," said Kakashi, as he knew that was the case from the way both boys on the team acted, and clearly disliked the other.
"More or less. Now shut up and fight!" said Naruto, as he moved with incredible speed, and Kakashi had to leap out of the way of the horizontal slash aimed at his waist.
"I see you're taking the advice on coming at me with the intent to kill seriously," said Kakashi, as he managed to dodge multiple stabs thanks to his Sharingan, but in doing so had caused him to be pushed back against a tree, and had to use a substitution with a log to avoid being stabbed in the gut.
'Not really. He doesn't even know I've passed his test,' thought Naruto, as he vanished with Flash Step, and was seeking out the one of his teammates.
Like it or not, they were needed for the next part of this test if they were to pass the right way, and become an official team.
Hiding in the forest around the training area, Sasuke along with Sakura were surprised by how Naruto was able to force their sensei's hand, and reveal the Jounin's trump card that very few get to see. Sakura was surprised by this while Sasuke was furious and made a mental note to talk to his family about Kakashi having a Sharingan Eye.
"We need to talk Uchiha," said Naruto, as he shocked Sasuke, and the arrogant child before the blonde mere snarled at him with a hand moved for a kunai.
"Why should we talk? I think killing you would be better in my opinion," said Sasuke, as he drew a kunai from his holster, but Naruto's zanpakuto had stabbed the tree behind the Uchiha, and the dark haired boy could see his reflection on the flat side of the large blade.
"Try it and I'll destroy you. I don't care what your clan tries to do. I don't care what the people in the village think of me if I turn your body into a blood smear. What I do care about, is this Genin team passing long enough until the Chuunin Exams, which will get me promoted, and leave your arrogant ass in the dust. Now with that being said, the true purpose of this test is teamwork, and for all three of us to work together to get the bell from Kakashi," said Naruto, as he glared heavily at the Uchiha, but the boy scoffed at his reason, and the Namikaze was now tempted to cleave Sasuke's shoulder clean off.
"I don't need you or that worthless fan girl to get those bells. I'm an Uchiha! An elite!" said Sasuke, as he would have gone on ranting had Naruto not angled his zanpakuto so the slightest pull down would have sliced the Uchiha's arm off at the shoulder, and then the bell test would be cancelled.
"You're an arrogant child, who thinks he's better then everyone his age, and can't see anything else around him except his own ego. I don't need you to get the two bells either Uchiha, I just asked out of the decency of my own heart, and you shove it back at me due to your own clan's inbred arrogance. Cross me again like you planned to do seconds ago and I'll see to it that you never be a Shinobi much less being classified as a male ever again!" said Naruto, as he brought his zanpakuto out, and had the dull side of it rest on his shoulders before taking off to find Sakura.
While chances of her saying yes to helping him were slim, there was one way Naruto could turn this around so even she had no choice, and work with him on this.
"You're sure? Why should I listen to you baka?" said Sakura, as she didn't trust the spiky blonde in front of her when he appeared, and asked for her help in taking down Kakashi.
"I'm the baka? Use that brain of yours for once outside of thinking about Sasuke. What rank is Kakashi?" said Naruto, as he knew the way to Sakura helping him was through the mind, and even then the chances were slim.
"A Jounin of course!" said Sakura.
"And what rank are you, Sasuke, and I?" said Naruto knowing that putting Sasuke in it would be the bait needed to spring the trap.
"We're Genin," said Sakura acting professional so far.
"Good. Now can a single Genin fresh out of the Academy, using only the basics taught at the Academy take on a Jounin, and the years of experience he's had over the years?" said Naruto knowing the answer and knowing that Sakura also knew the answer.
"No, but Sasuke-kun could...," said Sakura, but was silenced by Naruto's hand raised, and asked that he be shut up.
"Sasuke aside in your fantasy world, can a Genin take down an experience Jounin?" said Naruto looking at the pink haired girl seriously.
"Again the answer is no. In fact, the only way for us to even possibly have a slim chance to take down someone at the level of Jounin like Kakashi-sensei would be for all three of us...to...act...together," said Sakura, as she understood what he was saying, and was not thinking like a simple Uchiha fan girl.
"Good. Now since I already asked Sasuke and he said no that leaves just us to take him down," said Naruto, as he saw Sakura scowl at him, and wasn't surprised to see some of her fan girl side coming out again.
"But Sasuke-kun will be needed for this too," said Sakura, as she had just explained all that there was to this test, and was now wondering why Sasuke would turn down help.
"I already tried him first. He turned me down. In fact, the asshole doesn't want anything to do with either of us, and from what I just sensed the Uchiha is getting his ass kicked," said Naruto, as he heard the battle off in the distance, and it sounded like Kakashi was in complete control of the situation.
"Then we should help him!" said Sakura, which was true in the aspect of teamwork, but in truth the pink haired girl only did it to earn points with Sasuke, and not for the real reason that it should have been.
"Well wait until Sasuke's defeated. The Uchiha needs to learn humility that comes from his fall due to his arrogance and pride," said Naruto, as he leaped into the trees to the source of the battle, and Sakura running underneath him trying to catch up.
Key word trying.
When Naruto arrived, Sasuke was indeed getting his ass kicked by Kakashi, who had brought down his headband to conserve chakra since it didn't shut off naturally like a born Uchiha could do, and saw the Uchiha of Team 7 buried up to the neck in dirt with his head sticking out of the ground with a scowl on his face.
And a mean bruise the right side of it too!
"I must admit, I was expecting more from you Sasuke, but its clear that the Uchiha Clan just isn't producing strong clan members like Itachi anymore, and I got stuck with the runt of the family," said Kakashi in a disappointed voice before disappearing with a very short tempered and humiliated Uchiha Sasuke struggling to get out.
"Hello Sasuke. How are the earthworms doing down there," said Naruto, as he saw the Uchiha glare at him now, and was trying to get out even harder.
"Go away Namikaze! I don't need the likes of you helping an Uchiha elite like me," said Sasuke, as he saw Naruto look at him with that annoying serious expression on his face, and then found the blonde's foot slammed into his face.
Breaking his nose in the process.
"Grow up! All you go on about is 'Uchiha elite' this! 'Uchiha elite' that! When will you learn that your last name means jack squat when it comes to battles. I understand your clan is infamous because of your Sharingan Eyes. Big deal! You know what my Father was infamous for during the last Shinobi war? Here's a little history lesson for you since its clear you didn't pay attention in class. Namikaze Minato killed hundreds of Shinobi of all ranks using his skills he learned from the means of hard work on his own to end the war with Iwa. He had a 'flee on sight' order in the Bingo Book because he used his hard work to destroy all those around him that were enemy Shinobi with the power to fight Kage level Shinobi. Do I use that to get what I want? Hell no! I spent eight years with nothing to my name under my birth Mother's Maiden name while being hated by this very village and then learned of my heritage after my adopted parents rescued me from being burned alive. Literally! I've trained my guts out to be at the level I am while you expect everyone to give you what you want simply because your last name is Uchiha! I extended you my hand in a partnership to take down our Jounin sensei, but like every other Uchiha in your damn clan with the exception of Itachi, it was turned down because of your natural pride, and baka like arrogance! So I'm only going to offer you this one more time and accept the idea of teaming with me along with Sakura to get the bells from Kakashi since the whole point of the test is teamwork!" said Naruto, as he took his foot off Sasuke's face, and was now right in it waiting for a response.
Blood mixed spit to the face did it.
"There's my answer. Enjoy it!" said Sasuke, as he felt proud to spit on the Namikaze boy's face, and in a way his name.
"And you can enjoy being stuck here until some hungry wild animals come to tear that smug face of yours off since no one is going to save it or your arrogant ass when they arrive to feast. Enjoy being killed in such a dishonorable way Sasuke. Kami knows you deserve it," said Naruto, as he wiped off the stuff on his face, and left the Uchiha alone with his thoughts.
"That wasn't very nice Naruto," said Kakashi, as he leaned against a tree, and witnessed the events that took place.
"If you think I'm not being nice, then you can henge into Sakura, and offer him the same thing. See if he spits in your face too! I bet your other porn book he will," said Naruto, as he saw Kakashi seemingly reading the perverted book, and clutching it a bit tighter.
"I think I'll pass. Witnessing Sasuke's actions is enough to make me hold off in doing such a noble thing," said Kakashi, as he saw Naruto nod, and then show him something in his hands that made the Jounin's eyes widen in disbelief.
"Since Sakura isn't here yet, I thought you should know I offered her a chance to team up with me, and she took it since her brain isn't completely like that of a fan girl. Since I now have these, the test is over, and we can tie the Uchiha to a post," said Naruto, as he saw Kakashi look away towards the Uchiha still trying to get out, and Sakura finally coming into view before she moved to help him despite Sasuke's words telling her not to.
"Sadly, I have no choice, but to agree with you on this one Naruto, and call this test to a close," said Kakashi, which was ironically perfect timing since the clock went off, and told everyone the test was over.
With the bell test being done, Sasuke being dug out of the ground, the Genin team met at the training posts, and the Uchiha was tied to it before the boy could do anything. After a few minutes of the dark haired boy struggling to get free to no avail, Kakashi explained the real purpose of this mission to them, and that it was indeed teamwork like Naruto had first told them. Kakashi went on to further say, the only one worth passing was Naruto, as he not only knew what the test involved, but tried to get his teammates to try it out, and got the bells in the process.
In short, Team 7 was screwed like all the others teams Kakashi tested, and it was mostly the Uchiha's fault.
At least Sakura agreed to help Naruto in the end.
"Since Naruto simply refuses to help you two anymore then he's already tried, which I have to admit is quite a bit given just who is on this team, I'm going to give said two one last chance, and hopefully you won't make the same mistake twice. Before we can begin though, it would seem you two have no energy left in your bodies because you didn't eat anything this morning, and need to regain your lost energy. So take these lunches Naruto along with you Sakura, only do not give any to Sasuke since he doesn't deserve any until his ego had been deflated, and learns a lesson in humility," said Kakashi, as he gave both his students lunches, and was gone before Sakura could protest.
As the trio sat there, Naruto looked at his meal while eating a few pieces, as did Sakura with her own, but the girl looked guilty in eating this while Sasuke was next to her, and was conflicted in helping her crush over that of following orders. She wanted them to pass, but Sasuke would never give her for just eating right in front of him, and not offer a single piece of this meal.
Surprisingly, she didn't have to, as Naruto threw his meal onto the Uchiha's lap, and the Namikaze got up to stretch his four limbs.
"What are you doing Naruto? You heard what Kakashi-sensei said," said Sakura, as she Naruto look at her with that serious, yet "I don't give a crap look", and began walking away with his hands in his pockets.
"I ate this morning. It's not even lunch time and I have plenty of energy to spare. You two are running on nothing, but fumes from whatever you ate last night, and even then one of you ate very little yesterday because you wanted to go on a diet," said Naruto, as he saw Sakura blush in embarrassment, and then anger at Ino for blabbing that part to the blonde.
'I'll get her later after I pass,' thought Sakura, as she ate a few more bites of her meal, and her stomach was now feeling less angry.
"He said not to feed me," said Sasuke, as he decided to speak for once, and got their attention.
"He also suggested we not eat for this, but did I listen to him, and not eat anything? Hell no! Now shut your mouth and eat the damn food," said Naruto, as he gave Sasuke a death glare, and the Uchiha looked away to eat his food though it was difficult since his hands were tied.
"Feed me," said Sasuke simply.
"How about I go hump a tree. Have Sakura do it since she's dying to do just that," said Naruto, as he was not about to feed the Uchiha, and drew the line in terms of helping the boy.
"Feed me now or I'll make you regret it in the end," said Sasuke, as he didn't want his fan girl to feed him, and wanted to humiliate the Namikaze in his own way.
"How about I just shove this food down your throat and you can die choking on it!" said Naruto, as he grabbed the plate of the prepared meal, and slammed it into Sasuke's face while keeping it pressed against the arrogant boy's face.
'Not the way I would have asked them to break the rules for each other, but if it works, then it works, and I'm not going to complain,' thought Kakashi, as he saw Sasuke now struggling to breathe, and Sakura trying to stop Naruto from smothering the Uchiha with the plate of now mashed up food.
"Okay! Okay! That's enough you all pass. Naruto, you can stop trying to kill Sasuke with the plate now, and getting me in trouble," said Kakashi, as he saw Naruto finally move the plate away from Sasuke's face, and then smacked the Uchiha on the head with it.
"Now I'm done. So we pass right?" said Naruto, as he saw Kakashi nodding his head, and Sakura looked relieved at that too.
"Yep! Go home and celebrate with your families. I have to go inform the Hokage about Team 7 passing the bell test," said Kakashi, as he saw Sakura head home, and Naruto use his Flash Step to disappear while the Jounin himself took off to make his report.
Though for some reason, Kakashi felt he was forgetting something, and for the life of him could not think of what it was.
If he really thought about it more clearly, Kakashi would have realized that one Uchiha Sasuke was still tied to the training post, and had food stuck in his mouth that gagged his voice crying out for someone to free him.
(Hokage Tower-2 Weeks Later)
Naruto was peeved. No scratch that, Naruto was really peeved, and for good reason too! So far, his team had done nothing, but D-ranked missions to prompt teamwork, and make it so the team would grow stronger together. If there was one thing the D-ranked missions did, it was make Sasuke arrogant in thinking that an Uchiha was exempt from doing such labor, and Sakura being too high maintenance to get her hands dirty.
And it was pissing Naruto off.
When this first happened, the only reason the D-ranked missions got done was because Naruto had used Shadow Clones and the original one spent that whole time kicking his teammates asses. When they protested to this, Naruto gave them a choice, and told their sensei to shut up so he could make the offer. Either do the D-ranked missions? Or spent that time returning home with a piece of the Namikaze Clan Heir's foot up their ass until the blonde got promoted to Chuunin.
Considering how he sent them to the hospital after the first D-ranked mission during their "sparring", Naruto's teammates accepted doing D-ranked missions, and Kakashi couldn't have been happier.
And not just because the Hokage and Naruto's adopted parents were actually encouraging the blonde boy's behavior towards his teammates.
"Tora was successfully captured Hokage-sama," said Kakashi, as he saw the cat caught by his team actually run towards the Fire Lord's wife, and embrace the woman's hugs of pain.
Considering Naruto brought out his sword, used spiritual pressure, and threatened the cat to never run away from the woman ever again so long as it lived kind of helped.
"That's good. What else can I give you today? Let's see...I have pulling weeds out, you could walk a few of the dogs from the Inuzuka Clan's kennels since most of the clan is on missions right now outside of the village, or you can do some more babysitting for...," said Tsunade, but was stopped when Naruto release his spiritual pressure on the room, and it was clear he had reached his limit in terms of doing D-ranked missions that were for the most part simple chores lazy civilians wanted someone else to do in their place.
Well this Vizard won't hunt for them anymore.
"Please tell me that you have something of a higher rank on hand to give to us because I refuse to do anymore simple chores that these lazy people don't want to do themselves," said Naruto before cutting off the spiritual pressure, as he told his parents what D-ranked missions were, and Tia looked peeved while Grimmjow laughed.
Then Tia told Grimmjow he was sleeping on the couch that night for laughing at their son's expense.
"Well...we do have one C-ranked escort mission to Wave Country," said Tsunade, as she didn't want to put her Godson into something like this too soon, but it was clear all the D-ranked missions were driving him nuts, and she doubted the boy's parents would tolerate their son doing such demeaning chores.
"We'll take it!" said Naruto, as he saw his chance to see the world, and get a chance to do some serious Shinobi work.
"Bring in the client!" said Tsunade, as she ignored Iruka protesting this decision, and saw the doors behind Team 7 open to reveal a drunken elderly man.
"This is my 'protection' on the way back home? The dark haired boy looks like someone ran over his dog, the pink haired girl looks like she's getting ready for her school prom, and the adult looked like a lazy depth perception lacking idiot," said the drunk, which made Naruto smirk, and his team scowl.
"What about Naruto-baka? He's in our team too!" said Sakura, as she wanted Naruto to be insulted, and make herself feel better.
"Yes old man. What about me?" said Naruto, as he walked over to the old drunk, and had to fight back the stench of sake that came off his body.
"You? Umm...nice hair!" said the old drunk, as he gave a thumbs up to Naruto, and made the rest of Team 7 face plant.
"You'll escort Tazuna here back to Wave Country tomorrow morning. So go home and get all your necessary Shinobi gear ready for the trip tomorrow at 8AM. Do not be late!" said Tsunade, as she looked at Kakashi reading his porn book, and the Jounin just let out an innocent little whistle when she did.
'Must...not look...at...evil eyes...from...female Hokage,' thought Kakashi, as he was now sweating slightly at the look she sent him for the accusation, and then again for reading his book since the Hokage hated those things with a passion.
"See you then," said Naruto, as he vanished from sight, and made the old drunk look at his bottle for a second to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.
'Maybe I should actually cut back on drinking,' thought Tazuna before shrugging and then finishing his bottle.
(The Next Day)
Naruto waited by the gate exit/entrance to Konoha, as his teammates, Jounin sensei, and the once again intoxicated client drinking again. The Namikaze wondered if he should get the old man and his Godmother together for a drinking contest to see who wins the next time Tazuna was in town.
Maybe later.
"Is everyone ready?" said Kakashi, as he saw his team nod, and was glad that for once the trio weren't trying to kill each other.
Namely Naruto killing Sasuke with a flick of his wrist.
"Let's go before I age to the point of looking like him," said Naruto pointing to the client with Tazuna scowling.
"Hey! I'm paying the village to escort me back home. Aren't there rules against insulting the client?" said Tazuna, as they headed out, and Kakashi shook his head.
"No. Only against attacking the client," said Kakashi, as he saw Tazuna slump his head down in defeat, and the smirk on the Namikaze's face.
The smirk left however, when a puddle of water was seen on the side of the road, and on a cloudless sky that had been without clouds for over a week. Waiting until they were a few feet ahead of the puddle, Naruto unsheathed his zanpakuto from his back, and turned around in a spin before stabbing the puddle. The puddle of water instantly exploded red with blood, as two figures came out of it, one clutching his side, and the other seeing the element of surprise was ruined went straight for the old man. The injured attacker tried to overpower Naruto despite his injuries, but the Namikaze countered by kicking the man hard against a tree rendering him unconscious, and saw Kakashi had already stopped the second assassin from reaching Tazuna with ease.
"It would seem sensei that our dear client here is more important then he let our Hokage believe," said Naruto, as kept the tip of his zanpakuto pressed against the assassin in front of him, and Kakashi soon threw his counterpart next to him before tying them both to a tree.
"I suggest you talk if you know what's good for you," said Kakashi, as he recognized the two as the Demon Brothers formerly of the Mist village, and wondered who hired them since they didn't come cheap.
Especially if they also served another if the rumors were led to believe.
"Screw you," said the uninjured of the two Demon Brothers.
"Are you sure that's your final answer? Because if it is, then we'll leave you here to watch your counterpart here bleed to death, and stay with him long after his body rots," said Naruto, which wasn't true of course, but the former Mist Shinobi didn't know that, and unless the Missing Nin could read minds...the man would answer their questions.
"You wouldn't dare!" said the Demon Brother before he felt the tip of Naruto's zanpakuto on his neck.
"Try me. You have nothing to lose because you're uninjured, but your friend here...well I doubt he would appreciate that your risking his health, and on a gamble that you can't say for sure is a bluff. You tell us what we want to know, your buddy here gets sent back to the Leaf to get treated while you get interrogated, and everyone lives happily ever after," said Naruto smirking at the sight of seeing the scowl on the two Demon Brothers' face.
"We'll get sent to prison. That's hardly what I call happily ever after," said the uninjured of the two.
"Would you prefer that we send you to Mist? Because I can have you sent there all gift wrapped with a bow on your heads?" said Naruto, as he knew that Mist was looking for these guys since all Missing Nin were basically hunted down like rabid dogs, and feared being caught over that of death.
"Just tell them brother. There's no need to hide it anyway since he will take over from here for our failure," said the injured Demon Brother.
So with that said, the reason behind the attack came out, telling who their boss Momochi Zabuza was the one sent after him, and why that man was being paid a hefty amount of money to have Tazuna killed. Tazuna himself confirmed that Gato was in Wave Country, crushing the life out of it using his shipping company to take control of what came into it, and that the threat of the bridge being built under the old man's guidance would easily be able to break such a grip on the poor country. The reason that Tazuna only hired them was due to what little money he had and the higher grade the mission the more money was needed.
As it stood, Tazuna only had enough money for a C-ranked escort mission, and had now been found out by this event during the escort part.
"Okay time for a emergency team meeting. We have two choices before us. One, we go back to the Leaf, and tell the Hokage what rank this mission really is so it can be looked at again in a reevaluation to be handled by more a experienced group. Or we can go with option two, which is continue on with the mission, and deal with this new development ourselves," said Kakashi, as he saw Sasuke looking hungry for battle, Sakura looking to side on being cautious, and Naruto...he was looking at the old man currently showing fear at the reality of his situation.
"I say we help Tazuna. Not because of the rank of the mission has changed, but because it's the right thing to do, and the longer we wait spells doom for Wave Country. As he felt this Gato guy was lowest kind of slime, preying on the weak while having others do it for you, and hiding behind things like money to be untouchable.
If Naruto did decide to give into his bloodlust, it would be the moment he set eyes on the man, and let the coward know what a Namikaze thought of his actions.
"While I don't fully agree on what the Namikaze here just said, I too wish to proceed with our mission, and make sure the Uchiha name known to others," said Sasuke, as he looked at Naruto, who scoffed at his response, and mumbling something like "pathetic reasons from a weakling" before walking away.
"Maybe we should turn back. I mean, Momochi Zabuza seems to be really dangerous, and on Kakashi-sensei's level. We should head back to have Hokage-sama give this mission to someone more experienced then us," said Sakura, as she saw Sasuke glaring at her, and Naruto just shook his head in disappointment though there was no glare.
"That will take too long Sakura. If we go back, Tazuna will have to pay more then he had for our escort to Wave Country, and the red tape behind this will delay the bridge being built. For all we know, Gato will have people trying to blow it up before we get back, and see to it that Wave Country suffocates. Time is of the essence here and I will do what I must to make sure Tazuna lives long enough to complete the bridge. If you can't handle this, then you can't be a Shinobi Sakura, and I suggest you go back to Konoha to hand in your headband," said Naruto calmly, as he walked over to Tazuna, and just made a hand motion for the old man to follow him.
Not one to be left behind, Sasuke did the same, and Sakura used what courage she had left to follow the Uchiha while Kakashi just sighed. It wasn't that the Jounin wanted to do this mission despite the change made in it, but more like he didn't want to have his Genin get sent into something so big, and that the end result had an increased chance of one of his students dying.
Not a prospect Kakashi desired on his first mission outside of the Leaf with Team 7 and hoped the end of the mission would end well.
As well as could be given the situation.
(A/N: YAY! I updated. I hope you all liked it. My mind was so tired the last time I had finished writing and know you guys want me to update my other stuff too. Give me time all right. Until next time...PEACE!)
