The next morning, Sakura, Ino, Neji, and Kiba cooked a huge meal for everyone. They got dressed and just sat around. When it was almost time to meet the senseis, they left. They started to walk when Naruto stopped them.
"Let's have a race, guys!" he said. "We can use our techniques to try and win."
"That's actually not a bad idea," agreed Sasuke.
"Alright, we have to stay on the roofs and can't go any lower than second story windows. That'll be a little challenging," Naruto said, now excited.
They lined up.
"On your mark…get set…GO!"
Sakura, Kiba, and Tenten were tied ahead because they could control their chakra the best and channeled it to their feet. Sasuke was in second, followed by Neji and Hinata. Ino, Ami, Chidori, Shikamaru, and Naruto were all grouped together behind the others. Everyone was pretty close though.
I've had enough of this, Naruto thought.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu," he yelled. Naruto clones held the others back while he raced away. I should have known, they all thought.
Shikamaru broke free and used his shadow jutsu and held them all back. Once he got in front of them, he walked backwards so they would walk backwards the opposite way. He let go of them and sped away. Chidori had had enough. He transformed into a bird and flew as fast as he could.
"So that's why you named him Chidori," Neji said to Naruto. They had now caught up with him and Shikamaru.
"Yup. He was sort of floating when he was born. Also, birds would always come near him for no reason. They seemed to be talking to him. Yukito and I always thought that they were just baby noises, but Chidori was actually speaking to them. Or so he says. Well see ya," Naruto said suddenly as he transformed into a fox.
"Naruto!" they all yelled as the fox ran away and jumped a little higher out of their reach.
"Akamaru," Kiba said. The dog stuck his head out of Kiba's hoodie. Akamaru was a little bigger now. He was stronger and faster too. "Go get Naruto. He's the red fox on that roof."
Akamaru bounded off after Naruto. He got distracted enough so that Kiba and a few others got ahead of him. Akamaru then ran back to Kiba and got in his hoodie.
Naruto jumped nimbly up higher where it was easier to run. He took a shortcut through an alleyway and jumped from a pipe to a clothesline to the main street again. He looked back and could see the rest of the kids a little farther back.
He had now caught up with Chidori. They raced neck and neck, beak and…er… snout/nose. They saw the Ichiraku Shack up ahead and surged forward. It was a tie. The other kids came to a stop when they saw that Chidori and Naruto had won.
They all sat down and waited for the senseis. They talked and ate. Finally the senseis came.
"Well, we will tell you more about the tasks now," Kakashi said as they all sat down.
"Just as I said, the tasks will be as hard as A-rank missions. They will deal with your strength, your emotions, and your mind," Kurenai said.
Asuma continued, "You will be in a building. There will be sleeping quarters, a room for eating, rooms for just hanging out or doing certain tasks, a courtyard outside with outside training grounds, a fountain, trees, and gardens. Oh yeah and there will also be-"
"A gym and workout room for training indoors and to show off your youthful spirit," Gai interrupted with a ping of his teeth and thumbs up.
"Last, you will stay in the whole area for three to four weeks," Kakashi concluded. "Any questions?"
"What are these tasks testing us for?" Neji and Sasuke asked together.
"You guys are so specific. Everything must have a reason to it with you guys. The whole thing is just to have fun. For goodness sakes! But, if you need a reason, the test is to…promote togetherness and bonding…or…er, something like that. There, is that a good enough reason for you guys?" he asked. The boys opened their mouths to speak. "Good," Kakashi said without waiting for an answer. Kurenai rolled her eyes. She cut in before anything stupid happened.
"Whoever wants to do the tests, raise your hand," she said taking charge. Everyone raised their hands.
"Fine, Chidori and Ami can come too since they raised their hands."
"Ok, you are dismissed," Kakashi said completely forgetting to mention when the tasks were to be done. He started to walk away. Everyone sweat-dropped.
"And, since Kakashi forgot, meet us on Monday to start the tests."
As they turned to leave, Gai yelled enthusiastically, "And don't forget, youthful spirit!"
"Oh, let's go train," Naruto and Sasuke said together. The others groaned.
"How about…no! Let's go relax at the park," Ino said.
"Yeah, we could just go talk," Tenten said.
"Going to the park to relax is fun to me. It feels good to just sit down for a while," Hinata added.
"Ok! Let's go to the park then," Naruto suddenly said. The boys rolled their eyes at how quick Naruto changed his mind just because of Hinata.
They walked down a couple of blocks and finally came to Konoha Park. They went over to their favorite spot in a small field of tall grass. It had some trees and wild flowers everywhere.
Chidori and Naruto climbed up a tree. They were lying on their stomachs on two low branches. Naruto folded his arms and rested his head on them. Chidori's arms were hanging over the sides. Both their legs were hanging down. Ami was just sitting on a branch across from Chidori. Sasuke sat and leaned on a tree. Neji was sitting opposite him in the same position. Tenten came to sit next to him and she blushed as her arm brushed against his. Neji looked at her.
"Sorry," she said softly, embarrassed.
"That's okay," he said. He moved over so Tenten could sit against the tree.
Sakura, Hinata, and Ino sat in the grass. Shikamaru simply laid down on his back next to Ino.
Ino started talking about when they were kids and she and Sakura ended up singing a song that Iruka-sensei taught them that they only remembered. They all ended up falling asleep.
2 hours later
They woke up and it was getting dark.
"We better get home," Tenten said.
"I'll walk you home," Neji said simply and quietly.
"Alright," she said as though she didn't care. Yes, yes, YES! She thought.
They got up and walked out the exit. They all walked a few blocks until the road split three ways. Sakura, Ino, Ami, and Shikamaru turned left. Tenten, Neji, and Hinata walked straight since Neji lived with Hinata and her family. Naruto, Sasuke, Chidori, and Kiba turned right. They all lived relatively close.
(A/N- Alright, well this is the last chapter I'll put in today. I have to get up tomorrow and go to school. Sorry if you're upset that there's no Lee and Gaara. I promise to put them in my next one I make. It's might be called 'The True Konoha Leaf High' or something like that. I know it's going to be about a school.)