Narudevilfan: I won't agree that yaoi is a nightmare, but I will warn you long before you start liking a story if it will be yaoi. You are safe on this one, and I intend to get better with each chapter I post!


CHAPTER 9

Naruto and Rend stayed around to listen to tomorrow's orders. The four genin to be were to meet up at their training ground at 8am and were advised not to eat breakfast. Miki commented on the fact that 8 o'clock was hardly early and that she normally would be two hours into her training or at the academy by then. Sakura stared at the girl like she was an alien. Miki received a simple "Damn." from Naruto and Rend. The duo had unconsciously started to believe that none of the kunoichi in their class trained much at all. Sasuke stayed silent up until the point where the squad was dismissed, and then blatantly refused Sakura's advances as usual. Miki went her own way and the Okami brothers headed straight toward Ichiraku's to celebrate.

Teuchi and Ayame were quite sad for the two boys when they heard of the failure. Naruto and Rend didn't have the heart to tell them when it happened, so the Ramen chef eventually found out by word of mouf. Ayame openly cried as Shino recounted the way things played out. As their best friend, he felt obligated to let their family know. But he also saw them as they entered the classroom with their headbands the next day. No one knew how that was possible, but Shino was determined to celebrate with them nonetheless. He planted a few of his clans bugs on Rend to alert him when they were headed to the Ramen stand. Kurenai would have to forgive him for bolting out of their introduction dinner.

Ichiraku Ramen

"Ossan! Tell me, does this thing here look familiar?" Naruto said with an undeniably proud tone.

"Hey kid.. Im.. WHAT! I heard you failed the exam! HOW?" Teuchi yelled.

Appearing almost out of nowhere, Shino chimed in, "Yes, I too would like to hear how you managed to become a genin."

Naruto and Rend informed them of most every detail of their exploits, baring the part where they saw the depressed Hokage and the fact that he holds the Nine-Tails.

"Everything makes sense now. Mizuki sensei's traitorous ways were to sabotage you for his own gains. I knew something was foul when you two attempted your bunshin and a seal glowed underneath you." Shino stated.

"I KNEW WE COULDN'T HAVE FUCKED THE TEST UP!" Rend yelled, causing everyone to flinch.

"Loud ass..." Teuchi commented.

"But yeah, our squad seems pretty screwed though... only person I'd expect to be a good teammate is oddly enough Miki." Naruto thought aloud.

"And hell, is it just me or is she actually pretty damn cute?" Rend asked

"Pretty cute? I'd expect you to say she was 'Pretty DAMNED hot!' or something like that."

"Normally, but she seems like the type that will become a keeper in a couple years." Rend said slightly seriously

In a rare moment of boldness from Shino he said, "In a few years, I'd say that baring her dislike for my bugs she's is a keeper right now."

Everyone except for Teuchi were frozen. He eventually placed his hand on the boy's shoulders and said, "I knew you had it in you Kid."

The girl in question was walking up just in time to hear the conversation about her. She spoke up, "It doesn't please me to be a keeper in the eyes of a pervert like you Rend.. And Shino..." she looked into his sunglasses for a while, then flicked his forehead. "As long as you keep your bugs to yourself, you're ok by me." Her opinion of him rose during the fight since he didn't rely on his clan's bugs to win the battle. She still couldn't like the bugs themselves yet though.

"And their good taste in women came from yours truly!" Teuchi said with a mock bow before Ayame whacked him across the head.

"What can I get for you?" She asked sweetly.

The group talked fondly between themselves with Miki joining in every now and then, commenting on the vulgarity of the males in the group (save Shino since he is always calm) or adding her comments on battles. Naruto eventually got around to telling the name of their squad leader and Teuchi responded, "Kakashi huh? You're sensei doesn't suck ass like I expected. I assure you kids, that he's a man you can respect. Facin him on the battlefield is somethin that most people have nightmares about. Tomorrow, I want you to do me a favorite Naruto." He paused in order to see the head nod reply. "I want you to use some of my old gear." Teuchi disappeared into the back to reappear moments later with a set of gauntlets made of interlinking metal plates and a weird cross that seemed to be made of bone. "Those gauntlets are the ones I used to fight with back in my days as a brawler and that cross was a part of a gimmick I used to have when I got too damn cocky. I'd always thrust it into the ground before a match while yelling 'Driver!' to show that the fight was gonna be life or death. You do that, and I guarantee you that he'll remember it!" Naruto agreed immediately then equipped the gauntlets.

"I got the things refitted to your scrawny little arm. You'll have to rework em or get some more made when you grow a little." Teuchi said, his voice full of pride.

Trying to secure the cross to his back with a bit of cloth Naruto said, "I'll repair them, but I wouldn't dare change your weapon any Ossan."

Tired of seeing him struggle, Miki took the heavy cross away and said, "Here, let me help you. Idiot..." She drew a storage seal on a small sheet of paper.

"Shoulda thought of that... Thanks Miki!" Naruto said.

"My thoughts were right, you people are alright. Sure, a bit perverted, but alright no less. Just don't get TOO perverted!"

"Don't worry Sweet Cheeks, I might fancy a girl or two but I aint humpin no legs for kicks." Rend chuckled.

She shook her head, unsure of which 'cheeks' he referred to.

"He's much more of a gentleman than he lets on, I assure you." Shino stated

"And you, I'm surprised that someone as quiet as you would hang around them. No offense." Miki stated

"Well, they look past the bugs in my system and treat me as family. Ever since we became acquainted with one another Naruto and Rend were sure to include me in their schemes. They are true friends indeed." Shino replied

"I think I might have to look more into you guys... You're not the normal men I'm used to." Miki said seriously, then she had a moment of genius. If Shino had something in common with these three, then she might be able to get him to show an emotion other than calm. "I've taken a special interest in you, Bug Boy..." she said seductively while rubbing her finger around in a circle on Shino's chest.

He immediately fainted.

Chuckling, Miki separated from the group and went home. Teuchi and the boys used this time to be merciless toward their cherished friend. "YES SIR! YOU FOUND ONE THAT WANT TO TAKE YOU TO THE SACK!" Rend yelled out. Naruto was laughing too hard to say anything. Teuchi added, "I might need to let em borrow my Icha Icha for a few days, don't want one of my boys to do anything less than givin her noodle legs!" Rend laughed while Naruto and Ayame looked confused. Teuchi was glad his daughter didn't caught the joke but he made up his mind to teach his adopted son more about sex. Poor Shino's face couldn't get any redder and his normal precise and intelligent wording was replaced with stammering. He had lost. After Shino had decided to return to his home, the atmosphere grew more serious. "I told you two that upon graduating that you would get gifts from me. The gauntlets and cross were mine to Naruto, but you haven't received yours yet." He disappeared into the back once again and returned with a pure white sheath. "You said that you wanted a wakizashi but ended up findin a tanto. I felt that for a ninja son of mine, he should have what the FUCK he wanted in the first place so I called in an old favor. Congratulations Rend, Naruto." He said whill handing the weapon over with a tear that threatened to escape his eye. Rend unsheathed to see the blade was the same pure white as the sheath with a blue tribal pattern that mimiced his fur perfectly. Since he noticed the tears falling from Rend's eyes Teuchi commented, "Made of chakra steel like your brother's gauntlets.. I helped a man some years back who just so happened to be a blacksmith. I'm glad you're likin it so much." Rend silently cried and the makeshift family celebrated into the later hours, yet early enough for the boys to get to sleep for their next trial.

The Next Day

Naruto and Rend were not late, but still the last to arrive to the training grounds to wait for their sensei. Sakura was mad at him for some reason and strangely enough, Sasuke was watching him more intently than normal. Neither of the Okami brothers could place the expression, but Miki found herself snickering in understanding. Said girl was also the only one of the five (counting Rend) to eat breakfast. Sakura managed to complain for the entire two hours it took for Kakashi to appear.

"Sorry about being late, but a cat was stuck up a tree and I tried to help it. That was until the thing started to follow me around until I gave up trying to shake it." Kakashi said with a slightly dejected tone.

Sakura wasn't believing a word of it, until she heard Naruto yell, "Swiftpaw! I knew it was you when he first started complaining!"

The black cat in question seemed smug, licking its paw like the world was his own.

In the animal language, Rend barked, "Stop tailing our DAMN sensei! You're making him late all the time!"

Unphased, Swiftpaw replied. "Afraid I've moved on from you, Danna(1)?"

Rend flinched and replied, "I just don't want to have to wait two hours for whatever the hell he has cooked up!"

Because Swiftpaw wasn't close enough to really see, she said, "She's really taken to Rend huh?"

"Swiftpaw's a guy, and supposedly after the heart of another feline..." Naruto deadpanned in both english and animal speak.

"Tora WILL be my lady one day! She's the wife and I'll be Rend's if he lets me..."

Both Naruto and Rend spoke up, "That's wrong on soo many levels."

"Enough playing around! This is your test to see if you're truly qualified to be genin. As you can see in my hand, I hold three bells. Considering that Rend will assist Naruto regardless, they'll work together for each other but you all must try to get a bell. The one who doesn't shall return to the academy for another year! And don't you dare scream about fairness! Life as a ninja is nothing NEAR fair! Start the test!" Kakashi yelled as he stood in place with his favorite book in hand.

Everyone except for Naruto scattered into the surrounding trees. Naruto did as he was told by Ossan and unsealed the cross. "DRIVER!" he yelled as he plunged the cross into the soil. This shocked Kakashi more than anything had done for years as he reminisced about his most difficult fight with a civilian. "So Teuchi comes to haunt me again... Tell me Brat, did he have you follow his fighting style?" Kakashi said with a miniscule amount of respect in his voice. When he saw Naruto fall into stance for a split second he knew, and weaved back to evade a powerful right jab. The jounin Shunshinned away and kicked Naruto in the back to start a powerful combo on his student. "You'll become a problem if you're as good at that style as your teacher..." Kakashi kicked the orange clad teen into a tree, which made him disappear in a poof of smoke. "I guess this group may be worth something." He thought as he prepared himself for combat.

Naruto however was still reeling from the combo. It had been a stroke of genius to switch places with a clone, so he could prevent being hit again. He immediately rethought his plan. "Should've expected that he fought Ossan once before, I mean I was told who to get under the man's skin!" Naruto thought as he traveled toward the east to find Miki. "So you're done trying the impossible?" Miki asked as Naruto nodded. "This requires all of us together to even get a SINGLE bell. He's a JOUNIN for god's sake!" Naruto simply nodded and listened. "So do you know where Rend is? Or the other two?" Miki asked as Naruto projected a thought toward Rend and everyone heard Sakura scream. "Rend's on his way here. And somehow I doubt that Sakura is even conscious..." Naruto said as he noticed Miki's surprise. "Rend is a talking Okami, and you mean to tell me that you're more surprised that we can tell where the other is located?"

"Good point, but you're tellin me who you two do that!" Miki proclaimed.

"Fine, but it doesn't mean that you'll be able to learn it. And I'm not being arrogant when I say that either!" Naruto said while defending himself.

"So Hotness, needs us after all..." Rend nearly whispered.

"Shut the hell up. I need to pass this test!" Miki replied. "We need to find Sasuke and save Sakura from whatever she got herself into in order to get the bells."

Rend caught on quicker than everyone this time, "But if there are only three bells, then not everyone will get one. Does that mean we're supposed to get rid of one member?"

Miki snapped without thinking, "No you idiot! Squads are normally four man cells including the sensei so dropping one of us would doom all of us!"

Naruto caught the hint, "So wait, does that mean that Kakashi sensei actually wants us to go against his orders?"

Sasuke walked into the area while dusting sand off of his shoulders, "So the Dead Last DOES have a brain..."

"I only got that title by default, Jackass. And yes I'm smarter, stronger, and more desirable than you." Naruto retorted.

Sasuke mentally agreed on the last part but retorted, "Says the person who only passed the finals when people weren't around to watch."

"I still kicked YOUR ass Sasuke! Or should I punish the 'precious' last Uchiha some more?"

Sasuke's mind traveled too far and too fast due to that statement, so he simply blushed and shut his mouth. Silence was damning, but stammering like a school girl with a crush would have ruined his image.

"Let's find Sakura." Naruto said as the group headed toward the direction her screams were heard in.

They found the young girl distraught and broken for some reason and whimpering Sasuke's name. Sasuke released her from whatever genjutsu she was under and she snapped back into reality. "Sasuke! You're alright, thank goodness Sasuke!" she whimpered as she tried to steal a hug and failed. Miki and Rend cringed at the devotion from the pink haired girl while Naruto simply watched in awe. "We have to take on Kakashi sensei as a team." Sasuke said, which made Sakura decided to assist the already formed group. The quintet started their way steathily toward the jounin as Sakura started on her genjutsu. "Gejutsu: Quagmire!" she called out as she sent the image into Kakashi's brain that he was being sucked into a swamp filled with alligators and thick mud beneath. Each of them were aware that the illusion alone would not hold, but the group prepared their own attacks.

"Katon:Goukakyuu no Jutsu" Sasuke shouted

"Ora ORa ORA!" Naruto yelled, while utilizing the combo he used against Sasuke

"Doton: Earthen Fist!" Miki stated calmly as a fist created from mud slammed into Kakashi

Rend simply executed a skillful swipe toward his sensei's belt and loosened the bells. Naruto, who had the most speed aside from Rend caught the bells and through them toward his teammates. Each of the three caught the bells, leaving Naruto and Rend without one. Kakashi spoke up immediately.

"So the decision is made. Naruto and Rend will have to spend another year in the academy since they didn't receive a bell."

"Wait! You can't do that! It was those two who helped us earn the bells!" Miki shouted.

"But they gave the bells up to you all, so apparently they wanted you to pass. Will you waste that opportunity?"

Before Naruto could defend her ways Miki stood firm and said, "For a ninja to sacrifice themseves to allow their team to succeed, that's true dedication! I'd gladly give up my spot on this team to ensure that our village is protected by someone who would put themselves aside for the greater cause!"

Naruto spoke up as well. "I know that you only had three bells. And I know that individually, none of us stood even the slightest chance of touching you so me and my brother used a plan that would sacrifice as little as possible to reach the necessary goal. Miki is right in standing up for us but our village DEMANDS ninja who would serve it the way that we are supposed to! For the sake of Konoha we push forward!"

Kakashi started to clap. "You all pass. This was a test to see if you all would work together as ninja to reach a common goal. It was also to see if you would be willing to break said rules in order to protect your comrades. And Miki, the way you defended your fellow genin shows that you have the will of fire within you! Your missions will start tomorrow and from this day forth, you are now undeniable genin ninja of the leaf village!"


1: Danna normally means husband but can also mean master.

The yaoi hints will always and forever remain hints. I will not do yaoi stories unless the urge strikes or someone requests one. The pairings are still undecided so far, but I have a slight idea about them. The squad missions and the introduction into the Okami missions will happen next chapter. I do hope that this story continues to keep you as interested as you are now and grow better with time. Reviews are much appreciated, but never mandatory.

P.S. I do intend to start on the Story of Teuchi. It'll probably be called Tetsujin: Brawling Ramen Chef