Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto; all content belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. Big Thank You for creating such an awesome Anime and story.
Summary: The Uchiha Clan was just massacred and new kid just joined the academy who will forge his journey.
It is early in the morning and the sun was starting to rise; Atsushi was nearly sleepwalking towards the third training ground that was designated by Kakashi and Naruto and Sakura were also barely awake but Sasuke was wide awake and they all have their ninja gear.
"I should've stayed up so late last night." Atsushi thought.
"Good morning." Sakura barely mumbled towards the team which got Atsushi's attention.
"Anyone went to bed late last night?" Atsushi asked with a yawn.
"You idiots! You all obviously didn't sleep early!?" Sasuke scolded. "I knew they'll hold me back." He thought.
"My sis kept me up late alright!" Atsushi countered.
"Not my problem." Sasuke brushed off.
"Look guys I brought some breakfast bars for the team; it's not a real meal but it'll give us some nutrition before Sensei arrives." Atsushi proposed handing his team a breakfast bar each.
"Atsushi; didn't Kakashi-Sensei ordered us to skip breakfast?" Sakura argued.
"Sakura, he suggested, not ordered. We need proper nutrition to keep us strong if we are going to complete the exercise." Atsushi explained.
"Who cares! I'm starving." Naruto brushed off and began to eat. "Bleach! Atsushi! These bars taste disgusting!" He complained.
"Naruto! We would've starved during the exercise, you so rude!" Sakura scolded and began to eat hers.
"Thanks." Sasuke accepted. "He may not so be useless after all." He thought as he was eating his breakfast bar.
"No problems. I'll meditate until Kakashi-Sensei arrives." Atsushi announced with a yawn and sat and began to mediate.
Hours passed and the sun rose high into the sky. Atsushi and Naruto fell asleep while Sasuke and Sakura kept watch. When it's late in the morning Sakura also sat down and fell asleep.
"Good morning everyone. Ready for your first day?" Kakashi greeted which got Naruto, Atsushi and Sakura to snap awake and stood up.
"Why you're late!?" Naruto and Sakura demanded while Atsushi and Sasuke stood silent.
"No wonder why my dad complained about waiting for Kakashi." Atsushi thought.
"You better have a good reason!" Inner Atsushi threatened.
"Well a black cat crossed my path so I have to take the long way." Kakashi answered causing Naruto and Sakura to growl. "Well, let's get started." He announced and set an alarm clock which is set for noon and revealed two bells and explained the exercise.
"If you can't get them by noon; you go without lunch. You will be tied to those posts and you will watch while I eat my lunch in front of you." Kakashi warned but noticed their stomachs are not growling but Naruto dropped his jaw. "It seems they already eaten this morning, but I need to know who and why." He thought as he was examining his students.
"So that's why." Sasuke thought.
"I'm glad Atsushi gave us a breakfast bar, I don't feel so hungry now." Sakura thought.
"He already testing us on our mental capacity. What is the real test?" Atsushi thought as he was reflecting on his games of shogi with Shikamaru.
"Wait a minute! There's four of us. How come there's only two bells?" Sakura asked and Kakashi explained and informed if any student cannot get a bell will fail the exercise and sent back to the academy.
"So it's to create competition, well that's good for the spirit." Atsushi commented with a hint of sarcasm.
"Exactly." Kakashi agreed. "When I say start you can begin." He announced after insulting Naruto for calling him a 'loser' and Naruto snarled, drew his kunai and charged at Kakashi and he restrained Naruto from behind, moving Naruto's arm in position to stab himself at the back of his head.
"He turned Naruto's kunai against him." Atsushi observed while Sakura gasped.
"Don't be such a hurry. I didn't say start yet." Kakashi calmly chastised as Naruto was growling and Kakashi released him. "But you came at me with the full intention to destroying me. So, what can I say this? I'm starting to like you guys." He approved. "Get ready! And start!" He ordered and all his students jumped into their hiding places except Naruto who was standing in the open while Atsushi and Sasuke were hidden in the conopy of the trees and Sakura was laying low concealed in the bushes.
"What are trying to do Naruto?" Atsushi thought as he observed Naruto engaging Kakashi and Kakashi pulls out a book from his pouch and began to read.
"Make-Out Paradise; this is interesting, I wonder what its about?" Atsushi thought as Naruto attempts to deliver blows to Kakashi but he block and evaded all Naruto's attacks and then Kakashi was behind Naruto with a Tiger hand sign. "Now! Paralysis Jutsu!" Atsushi quietly invoked with a handsign which causes Kakashi to stiffen up. "Go on! Take those bells!" He muttered under his breath, but Naruto was remaining still looking in confusion.
"Interesting, another student is trying a technique while I'm occupied to create an opportunity to take the bells, but he's kinda new at it." Kakashi observed as he struggled to do a hand sign. "Release!" He invoked. "Now where am I? That's right!" He remembered and returned his hands into a Tiger sign.
"Was Kakashi caught in a Genjutsu? That must be Atsushi." Sasuke hypothesised.
"Naruto! Get out of the quickly! He's going to destroy you!" Sakura warned which got herself exposed and Naruto turned his head to face Sakura.
"Too late." Kakashi brushed off. "Leaf village secret finger Jutsu! A thousand years of death!" He invoked which caused Naruto to launch into the air holding his bottom and he landed in a nearby river. Then Kakashi noticed a thin veil of mist surrounding him. "It looks like this jutsu was not mastered either." He observed as Atsushi moved into another hiding spot in the shrubs and transformed into a rock.
Then two surikens lauched out of the river and Kakashi caught them as they were spinning towards him and Naruto struggled to climb out of the river.
"I must ask; you guys don't look so hungry. Didn't I tell you to skip breakfast yesterday?" Kakashi confronted.
"Who cares! We all had a breakfast bar to keep up our strength for the exercise." Naruto brushed off.
"I'm glad Atsushi gave us a breakfast bar but I'm worried he'll get in trouble for feeding us." Sakura thought.
"But I will get one of those bells no matter what! I'm going to pass that test and I'm not going back to the academy! I will become a ninja!" Naruto declared and an army of Naruto clones launched out of the river charged towards Kakashi.
"I'll try again, get those bells Naruto! Paralysis Jutsu!" Atsushi invoked which caused Kakashi to freeze again.
"Drat! This is getting annoying." Kakashi thought as he bit his lip to break the Genjutsu. "You talk like you're the best Naruto but you still the worst student. You can't beat me with this Jutsu." He rebuked then he was grabbed from behind by another clone.
"Impressive! But I can't do the Paralysis Jutsu again, I may get Naruto." Atsushi thought as he was mesmerised by Naruto's brilliant tactic with his Shadow Clone Jutsu. Then Kakashi disappeared and a Naruto clone was in his place and started to fight among themselves and then the Jutsu was cancelled leaving Naruto beaten up. "I guess he needs more practice in using the Jutsu properly." He observed then Naruto saw a bell on the ground and ran to pick it and got snagged in a trap and now he's hanging upside down from a tree.
"Think before you use a Jutsu or else your opponent may use it against you. And also, if the bait is obvious; don't take it. A ninja must see through deception." Kakashi chastised as Naruto is struggling to release himself. Then he threw a kunai knife where Atsushi was hiding which forced him to leap to another hiding spot among the branches.
"Good tactics in attempting to help your teammate but don't try to use the same tactic. It makes you predictable." Kakashi instructed as he evades Atsushi's stomp kick from above and punched him in the solar plexus which causes Atsushi to flinch as he got winded and then he transformed into a log with a explosive tag on it. "What!?" He thought as he leaped for cover as the log explodes.
Atsushi then hid himself in another shrub and Naruto was still in his line of sight and threw his shuriken towards Naruto which caused him to be released from his trap only to get ensnared again. Then another kunai knife was thrown towards Atsushi which he evaded without causing too much movement but the knife cut his shoulder leaving a tear in his sleeve.
"You can't hide in the same spot if I already know you're hiding there." Kakashi rebuked as he caught Atsushi from behind only to transform into a log and Atsushi was standing behind Kakashi with one Kunai held against his throat and another against his back.
"Got you exactly where I want you." Atsushi announced.
"Clever, but how are you going to get the bells?" Kakashi asked.
"I'm not grabbing the bells." Atsushi countered.
"He wants us to get the bells?! But he will be sent back to the academy!" Sakura thought.
"This is my chance!" Sasuke thought and threw a combination of Kunai and shurikens in a fan towards Kakashi and Atsushi and they homed towards Kakashi as Atsushi leaped for cover, then Kakashi got hit and he fell back and transformed into a log with Kunais and Shurikens embedded into it and Sasuke leaped away towards another hiding spot.
Atsushi took the opportunity and made his way to the tree that Naruto was hanging from while keeping himself concealed and cut him loose.
"Thanks a bunch Atsushi." Naruto thanked.
"We're team mates Naruto, I was trying to use teamwork to get the bells." Atsushi acknowledged as they both returned into hiding.
"It's nearly lunch time; we should grab those lunch boxes for ourselves." Naruto proposed.
"And what about Sasuke and Sakura?" Atsushi reminded then they head a scream.
"Sakura!" Naruto gasped.
"Quickly! We must reach her!" Atsushi urged and Naruto nodded in agreement and made their way towards Sakura, keeping themselves concealed and they arrived at a clearing, keeping themselves concealed and saw Sakura panicking in the open and Kakashi perched on a branch reading his book. Then Sakura screamed and fainted then Kakashi turned and engaged Sasuke who also just arrived at the clearing.
"Now, we can help Sakura." Naruto announced.
"Okay, let's not expose ourselves or we can't help either of them." Atsushi agreed and they crept among the shrubs keeping themselves concealed and then they dragged Sakura quietly into the shrubs and Atsushi opened his canteen and spashed some water on her face.
"Atsushi?" Sakura asked as she woke up.
"You were in a Genjutsu. My sis used on me many times as a prank." Atsushi informed.
"It's not funny I saw..." Sakura chastised.
"Quiet, we'll get exposed and it won't help Sasuke." Atsushi hushed.
"So what is your plan?" Naruto asked.
"Okay my sis just taught me to do that Jutsu and I have a hunch it may just work but we must work together. I'm going to let Sasuke have my bell, Naruto I suggest you let Sakura have your bell." Atsushi suggests.
"What!?" Naruto gasped.
"Listen! You like Sakura right, you want to her to pass?" Atsushi reproved.
"Alright, if it makes Sakura happy." Naruto relented.
"Thanks guys." Sakura thanked.
"Sakura, you'll be backup, if Sasuke is down you and Naruto need to get him up again. Naruto you'll be offensive and take on Kakashi to distract him and I'll to the Death Mirage Jutsu on Kakashi and Sasuke and Sakura will grab the bells. Do you both understand?" Atsushi laid out his plan.
"It may work; we'll try it! I'll let Sasuke know to grab the bell." Sakura agreed.
"Okay lets do it!" Naruto announced and did a hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" He invoked and a squad of Narutos engaged Kakashi after he dragged Sasuke into the ground only leaving his head exposed and Atsushi and Sakura crept keeping themselves concealed and freed him.
"Sasuke; you and I are going to get the bells." Sakura announced.
"Fine! What's Atsushi doing?" Sasuke asked as Atsushi did a Snake and then a Rat hand seal and leaves were summoned and swirled around Kakashi.
"What!? I can barely move either!" Kakashi gasped and as he was about to bit his lip, he saw Atsushi holding his book called 'Make Out Paradise' and appears to start reading it. Then he started tearing out the pages. "No! What are you doing!? Stop!" Kakashi cried. Then he realised he was under a Genjutsu and bit his lip and he felt relieved it was over.
"Psst! Hey behind you!" Naruto whispered and Kakashi turned around and saw Sasuke and Sakura holding their bells and Atsushi casually walked out of the shrubs.
"Well I guess congratulations are in order Sasuke and Sakura for getting the bells. So is there anything you guys want to say?" Kakashi asked.
"It was Atsushi; Kakashi-Sensei he made up this cool plan for us to work together to get the bells." Naruto boasted then he looked down. "But I guess we're both going back to the academy." He groaned.
"I didn't say you fail." Kakashi reproved and he turned to Atsushi. "Atsushi, why did you decide to let your team mates to get the bells instead of you getting a bell for yourself?" He questioned.
"I knew it's impossible to take a bell alone; but I have been friends with Naruto for many years during the academy days and we did a lot of stuff together, we train hard and work together and I can trust him. That is why I like hanging out with him but I also knew how much Sasuke and Sakura wanted to pass too and I know Naruto cares for Sakura and he would want her to pass and I convinced him to let her to take a bell and I decided to let Sasuke take other bell because I know how important it is to him to pass." Atsushi explained.
"Do you guys understood what he said?" Kakashi interrogated.
"It's teamwork isn't it Sensei." Sakura answered.
"Naruto, Sasuke; do you agree with Sakura?" Kakashi asked.
"Yes; if we don't work in a team, it jeopardises the mission. We're all on this squad and we are all in it together." Sasuke answered.
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! We worked together because the four of us are one! Believe it!" Naruto followed.
"The four of you are one. Is that your answer!?" Kakashi demanded to the team and he did some hand seals and summoned storm clouds with lightning and his students looked at Kakashi with determination. "Now I know you all had breakfast against my instructions; so is there a good reason?" He interrogated.
"I fed the team! I gave them a breakfast bar each to keep the team strong for our first exercise." Atsushi confessed.
"Are you ready for your punishment Atsushi for disobeying my instructions?" Kakashi threatened and Atsushi responded with a determined nod. "You pass." He announced as the storm clouds calmed and drifted apart and his students gasped. "You pass." He repeated slowly.
"That's for everyone?" Atsushi asked with a look of surprise on his face.
"You are the first squad that succeeded. The others did exactly as I said and fell into every trap. They couldn't think for themselves. A ninja must see through deception; in a ninja world, those who break the rules are scum. That's true; but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum." Kakashi informed. "And Atsushi; You had united the team together and put your team above yourself, so I'm making you de facto leader." He announced.
"No wonder my dad speaks so highly about him and can trust him without a doubt." Atsushi thought.
"Hell yeah! I kicked butt! I rule! Who's the man!" Inner Atsushi boasted.
"The exercise is over; everyone passes! Squad 7 starts its first mission tomorrow!" He announced and Sasuke and Atsushi smirked and Naruto and Sakura cheered. "Let's go home." he dismissed.
During the first week; Team 7 had accomplished a few D rank missions and at the beginning of the second week, they had completed the most recent D rank mission to capture Tora the runaway cat. They had just returned Tora to his owner who is the Daimyo's wife at the mission briefing room.
"Hahaha! Stupid cat! That kitty deserves to be squashed." Naruto laughed.
"I'm glad it's getting payback for the trouble it caused." Atsushi remarked.
"No wonder why it ran away." Sakura added.
Then the Hokage picked up a list of available missions for Team 7 and Naruto protested that he wants a more challenging mission. After Kakashi had struck him causing to fall down; the Hokage and Iruka educated Naruto the importance in accepting the missions that are available but Naruto is no longer paying attention and talking about Ramen and Atsushi was the only one paying attention. Then the Hokage called for Naruto's attention but he continued to protest.
"Hahaha. Naruto wants us to know that he's not a brat. He's a former brat and he wants a mission. So be it." The Hokage goaded which Team 7 gasped. "Since you're so determined; I'm going to give you a C rank mission. You'll be bodyguards on a journey." He briefed which got Naruto excited and he ordered the visitor to enter. A door opened and an middle-aged man who's carrying a bottle of liquor appraised the Team that is assigned to protect him.
"What the!? A bunch of little snot nosed kids!? He growled then to took a few mouthfuls from the bottle.
"Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it." Atsushi groaned and Naruto gasped.
"And you; the little one with the idiotic look on your face. You really expecting me to believe you're a ninja!?" The man challenged and when Naruto realised he was mocked, he attempted to attack the man but Kakashi restrained and chastised him.
"I am Tazuna; a master bridge builder and I must return to my country. I'm building a bridge that will change our world. And I expect you to get me there safely even if it means giving up your life." Tazuna briefed.
"If we survive this mission Naruto; I'll let you train with my sis!" Atsushi promised.
"Yeah, Yeah! I'm not afraid of her." Naruto brushed off.
"You really have no idea." Atsushi thought.
Team 7 got all their ninja gear and met Tazuna at the main gate. Naruto is excited that it's his first mission outside the village and after their argument they began their journey to the country of Waves.
"Kakashi-Sensei I think heard some noises in the bushes." Atsushi observed.
"You can never be too careful Atsushi." Kakashi informed.
Sakura asked about the ninja in foreign lands and Kakashi but Atsushi remained tense.
"Atsushi; there are no ninja battles in a C ranked mission, so you can relax." Kakashi assured but Atsushi remained uncomfortable.
"I don't know; I think we're been followed. If it was wild animals those noises in the bushes should've been more random but the noises remain steady and I don't see any wild animals." Atsushi thought as he struggles to relax his shoulders. "Sasuke, you think it's possible to have a ninja battle?" He asked.
"Unlikely, but not impossible." Sasuke answered who was also tense while Sakura was convinced that the mission was safe and they continued their journey until Atsushi noticed a puddle of water on the path.
"The noises stopped. And this puddle, some one was here." Atsushi thought and Kakashi also took notice and they continued their journey.
Suddenly, a ninja emerged from the puddle and another jumped out of the canopy and they both fired their razor sharp chains which bind Kakashi and they pulled which caused him to be sliced into many pieces of wood as Team 7 gasped in surprise and Naruto who was paralysed with fear. Then both the ninjas appeared behind Naruto ready to perform the same tactic.
"Now it's your turn!" One of the ninjas goaded and Naruto turned to face the ninjas who was still in shock and fired the same weapons at him which scratch his hand. Sasuke and Atsushi had recovered from their surprise and Sasuke threw a kunai knife and a shuriken which both intercepted both razor sharp chains and got them embedded into a tree and Atsushi and Sasuke landed on their gauntlets and stomped kicked them in their faces. Both ninjas released their chains and charged towards Naruto and Tazuna and Sakura moved to cover him and Atsushi moved in front of Naruto and performed a Paralysis Jutsu which made the ninja who was charging towards Naruto to fall on the ground.
"Naruto! Snap out of it!" Atsushi shouted and Naruto regained his composure and did a hand sign.
"Multi-Shadow clone Jutsu!" Naruto invoked and an army of Naruto clones were summoned and incapacitated the ninja and Kakashi appeared and incapacitate the other.
"Naruto; I'm glad you're able to handle it after Atsushi got you back on task." Kakashi assessed. "Atsushi, you protected your team mate and got him back into the battle. Well done." He praised and he turned to face Sasuke and Sakura. "Good job Sasuke, very smooth. You too Sakura." He continued then he tied up the ninjas.
"Hey, you're not hurt are you? Scaredy-cat!" Sasuke baited which Naruto growled in response and Kakashi noticed that Naruto was wounded and poisoned told him to remain still then he turned to Tazuna had a serious talk and revealed that these rogue ninjas were Chunins from the Hidden Mist and informed Tazuna that the mission should've been classified a B rank or higher. Sakura then insists to return back to village since the mission is now too advanced and to treat Naruto's poison and Kakashi agrees. Naruto was dismayed that the mission may be cancelled and drew a kunai knive and stabbed his wound to bleed out the poison.
"Naruto stop that! What are you doing!?" Sakura cried.
"Wait! I think he's evacuating the poison by bleeding it out. It's a risky first aid procedure but once the poison is out, the wound will need to be compressed to prevent further blood loss and shock." Atsushi informed and opened his first aid kit.
"Kakashi-Sensei, you need to look at this." Atsushi announced and Kakashi took Naruto's hand and noticed the would is already healing.
"Yeah; Don't worry I think Naruto will be fine." Kakashi assured as he helped Atsushi bandage Naruto's hand and Team 7 agreed to carry out the mission.
Later they boarded a boat which sailed to the Island country and the mist was getting thicker.
"The fog is so thick. You can;t see anything." Sakura observed.
"It's not me." Atsushi denied.
"The bridge isn't far now. Our destination is just ahead. The land of Waves." The paddler announced and Team 7 awed at the incomplete bridge and Naruto admired the bridge at the top of his voice and the rower rebuked him to remain silent. Kakashi demanded Tazuno to explain the true nature of the mission which Tazuno complied willingly and Team 7 learned that a powerful shipping magnate named 'Gato' who hires gangs and ninja to do his dirty work and dominated the Land of Waves and he fears the bridge will destroy his monopoly and the reason he hid the truth is because the nation cannot afford anything better than a C rank mission.
"It sounds like he's getting what he paid for." Atsushi thought as the boat entered a tunnel and the paddler informed they're not noticed. "This is too easy. I think our next enemy may had noticed already but decided not to reveal itself yet." He continued.
The boat docked at the harbour and Tazuno and Team 7 disembarked and they began to escort Tazuno to his house. Naruto who became desperate started to throw kunia knives at any source of sound and Atsushi guided Naruto's hand away from his weapons pouch.
"Naruto; the next one won't be so obvious and it's just a rabbit." Atsushi reproved and Naruto retrieved his knife and apologised to the frightened rabbit.
"Atsushi is right Naruto!" Sakura agreed.
"Hmpf; We'd already pick up chakra if there's another ninja nearby." Sasuke scolded. Then Kakashi got suspicious when he noticed the rabbit isn't ordinary.
"Wait! Naruto is on to something! Don't you see that the rabbit is not wild and skilled ninja are really good at concealing their chakra." Atsushi assessed then he heard a noise.
"Look out!" Kakashi warned and everyone dived to the ground and a oversized broad sword was spinning towards Tazuno but it missed and lodged into a tree and a shirtless masked ninja landed gracefully and stood on the sword's hilt looking down upon Team 7 and Atsushi and Naruto are both shaking.