This time I would like to say that I'm not bashing any Naruto characters. I hope you like this chapter. Please read my other story Away From Konoha. Please leave reviews.
"Talking"
Thinking or talking to Kyuubi
"Kyuubi"
Chapter 3
Team 7
It has been 5 years since Naruto's first day at the Ninja Academy. Since then, Naruto and Cressela have become best friends. The rest of the class ended up becoming friends with Naruto as well, even Sasuke. Naruto easily passed the test to become a Genin. The Hokage forced Kakashi from his position as an ANBU member to a Jonin. For certain reasons, the Hokage assigned Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, and Cressela to the same squad, Squad 7, which was supposed to be led by Kakashi.
"Where is he?" asked Sakura.
"If I know him as well as I do, he's not gonna be here for another hour," said Naruto.
"All the other squads were taken by their leaders 2 hours ago!" shouted Sakura.
"Calm down. He just got here. I can sense him," said Cressela.
A few seconds passed before a silvery-haired man entered the room. "It looks like I'm a little late."
"Yeah, just a little bit," said Cressela sarcastically.
"Everyone, meet me on the rooftop," said Kakashi. He immediately left. Once everyone was on the roof, he said, "I will choose one person to speak at a time. You will tell us your name, hobbies, likes, dislikes, and dreams. Pinky, you first."
Sakura stared at him with murderous intent when he called her Pinky. "My name is Sakura Haruno. My hobbies are…" she stared at Sasuke. "My likes are…" she stared at Sasuke and giggled. "My dislikes…" she stared plainly at Kakashi. "My dream is to become one of the best medical ninja and…" she stared at Sasuke again.
Wow. Did the Hokage give me Sakura and the boy she likes just to bother me?, thought Kakashi. "Uchiha kid, you're next."
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha," Sasuke said. "My hobbies are practicing ninjutsu and sparring. My likes…I have very few. My dislikes…I have a lot. My dream is to kill a certain person."
I hope he means his brother and not Naruto, thought Kakashi. "Fox, it's your turn."
"I thought I told you not to call me that!" yelled Naruto. "Whatever. My name is Naruto Uzumaki. My hobby is to practice my shadow clone techniques. My likes are ramen and my friends. My dislikes are people who call me Fox and people who hurt me because I hold the Nine-Tailed Fox. My dream is to become the Hokage."
He's changed a lot. He seems…happier, thought Kakashi. "And now you, purple eyes."
"My name is Cressela Hekkeitaki. My hobbies are making origami and trying to find different ways of using elemental chakra without performing hand signs. My likes are books and designing different jutsus. My dislikes are people who keep others waiting for hours," she said staring at him, "and people who make fun of me for having violet eyes. My dream is to become a member of the ANBU Black Ops."
Testing different jutsus? Is this girl crazy? She could get killed by doing that, thought Kakashi.
"Well, what about you?" asked Sakura.
"Oh yeah, well, my name's Kakashi Hatake. I have a lot of hobbies. My likes and dislikes are none of your business. My dreams are for me to know and for you to never find out," said Kakashi.
"Hey, that isn't fair! We told you about ourselves!" shouted Sakura.
"Give up. He's not gonna say more than what he told us," said Naruto.
"I guess that's it. Meet me at the training field tomorrow at around 9 o'clock," said Kakashi.
"What are we going to do at the training field?" asked Naruto.
"You're going to fight me," said Kakashi. Everyone looked up. "The truth is, only about 60% of the people who graduated the academy test fail the training session that we are doing tomorrow. Only 10 student actually get to graduate and become part of a team."
"Wow, that's a small amount," said Cressela.
"Yes it is. Now meet me at the field tomorrow. I almost forgot. Don't eat breakfast. I don't want you guys to get stomach cramps while fighting." And with that, Kakashi disappeared.
Just when Sakura and Sasuke were about to leave, Naruto and Cressela shouted, "Wait!"
"What? I really need to get going," said Sakura.
"Tomorrow, eat breakfast. I don't care what Kakashi says. He's going to be late tomorrow. We're just gonna end up starving ourselves and fainting on the field," said Naruto.
"Ok," said Sakura.
Each of them said their goodbyes and left to do whatever they wanted to do for the rest of the day. The next day, they each ate a balanced breakfast and went to the training field.
"Where is he? It's been 2 hours already," said Sasuke.
"It's a good thing that you told us to eat before coming here," said Sakura.
Then Kakashi appeared, reading Icha Icha Paradise. "Hey guys, you got here early."
"No, you got here late," said Cressela.
"Whatever," said Kakashi. He placed a timer on a stump nearby. "Each of you has to grab a bell from me before sunset or you'll get sent back to the academy. You will get your lunch when I decide. If any of you try to steal the food before lunchtime, I'm gonna tie you up to a stump and you will be sent back to the academy."
"You only have two bells. Does that mean two of us are going to be sent back?" asked Cressela.
"Yes," said Kakashi.
"Well, let's not waste any time," said Naruto.
Kakashi started the timer and said, "Begin."
Everyone ran out of sight to devise a plan to get one of the bells. Naruto and Cressela sat back to back behind a few bushes.
"You know what this survival test is about, right?" asked Naruto.
"Of course, it's all about teamwork," said Cressela.
"Exactly. I need you to find Sakura and Sasuke, tell them what the test is about, and then bring them back here. I'll distract Kakashi for a little bit," said Naruto.
"Ok," said Cressela before disappearing.
Naruto ran out of the bushes and went toward Kakashi.
Looks like one of them finally has the courage to fight me, thought Kakashi.
Naruto ran up to Kakashi and ran to his side. Kakashi attempted to sweep kick him, but failed when Naruto jumped in the air and kicked Kakashi in the face. Sadly, that was only a shadow clone. Suddenly, Kakashi's hand came out of the ground and grabbed Naruto's leg. Then, Naruto disappeared and was replaced by a log.
A substitution jutsu…, thought Kakashi.
Kakashi reappeared out of the ground.
Naruto, I got them, said Cressela.
Stop it. I hate it when you do that, said Naruto.
Naruto ran toward the trees where he wouldn't be seen crossing to the area where the group was.
"Cressela, don't ever talk to me through thoughts again. It feels so weird," said Naruto.
"We need to come up with a plan, and soon," said Cressela.
Naruto and Cressela discussed a very elaborate plan. They talked over a couple of ways so that all of them could stay on the team.
"So we all understand the plan?" asked Cressela.
"Yes," said everyone.
"Try to see if Kakashi has any barriers around his mind," said Naruto.
"Barriers?" said Sakura.
"There are very few people in the world who have the ability to enter someone's thoughts. Cressela and I are part of that lucky few, but I don't have as much experience in mind tampering while Cressela does. Certain people can also create mental barriers that block people from reading their minds. She'll try to see if she can either access Kakashi's mind easily or break a mental barrier," explained Naruto.
Cressela focused all her thoughts and accessed the outer chamber of Kakashi's mind. To her surprise, there was no barrier. She walked forward and entered Kakashi's main thoughts. She saw everything that Kakashi was planning to do when each came out of hiding.
"Ok, I'm done. Sakura, if you see Sasuke dying on the floor, it's a genjutsu. Sasuke, if you try to use any trap, he'll use a substitution jutsu. Naruto, if you see a bell on the floor, please do not pick it up," said Cressela.
"Lunchtime!" shouted Kakashi.
Everyone left their hiding place and ate lunch.
"Alright, this is your last chance to get the bells. Begin."
Everyone separated to start the plan. Sasuke ran up to Kakashi and started to randomly kick and punch, just as a distraction. Kakashi was able to deflect the blows with ease. Then Sakura came up and tried to perform a minor genjutsu.
"Illusion Bell Needles!" shouted Sakura. Small bells shot out of the ground and started to ring. The multiple sounds affected a part of Kakashi's brain, causing him to see multiple copies of Sakura.
"Now Naruto!" shouted Cressela.
Naruto grabbed Cressela by the legs, spun her around, and then threw her at the direction of Kakashi.
"Fire Style: Rasenkaton!" shouted Cressela. A Rasengan formed on the palm of her hand. Then, blades of fire grinded around it, making it turn from blue to fiery red. The sound of it sounded like blades scratching metal. Cressela was still in the air when she flew in front of Kakashi. She then forced her hand into Kakashi's back. The Rasenkaton then expanded into a fiery blaze which blew Kakashi away and made him pass out.
"Did I kill him?" asked Cressela.
"Looks like those elemental jutsu fusions were worth something after all," said Naruto.
An hour later, Kakashi woke up in the hospital. "What happened?" asked Kakashi groggily.
"The doctors said we almost killed you," said Sakura.
"Did you guys get the bells?" asked Kakashi.
Sakura and Sasuke held up one bell together while Cressela and Naruto held up the other one.
"We grabbed each bell together. Now you have to pass all of us," said Sasuke.
"You're right. I would have to pass you guys anyway considering how well you all worked together. And you two," he said pointing to Cressela and Naruto. "You guys finished what the Fourth Hokage tried to complete with the Rasengan by combining elemental chakra with the regular Rasengan. If you ever try to do that again, I will disable your arms. Combining elemental chakra with that much condensed energy can blow your arm off."
"Ok," said Cressela.
"Well, I guess you all pass," said Kakashi.
Everyone went out to celebrate at Ichiraku's after the doctors said it was ok for Kakashi to leave the hospital.
"Well, I guess we're officially ninjas," said Cressela.
"Yeah, I need to get some sleep. I'm tired after all we went through today," said Naruto.
"Me too," said Sakura.
"I need to wake up early tomorrow, so I'm going home," said Sasuke.
Everyone went to sleep.