(Welcome back, friends. My new chapter's all ready for you.)

Naruto awoke the morning after the night he stopped Mizuki from stealing a scroll of jutsu. After washing up, changing, and having a bite, he grabbed his new headband and tied it around his forehead. He walked into his living room seeing Soreth stretching. Naruto placed a bowl of food by him.

"Eat up, Soreth," he said, as his dragon chowed down, "Good, boy. I'll be back soon." he left the place.

Naruto rather than walk all the way to the academy, decided to run across the roof tops, and jump from one to another. When he saw he had to make a far jump to the next roof, he jumped as far as he could normally before spinning and created a gust of wind at the soles of his boots to propel himself further. With that he managed to reach the other buildings roof.

"Yes!" he cheered, before continuing on.

When he arrived, he went inside and into the classroom to join his fellow classmates. Before Naruto could decide a seat, Ino called him over, "Naruto, over here." she said, as Naruto saw Ino sitting next to Hinata.

Naruto taking the invite sat next to Ino and Hinata, "Morning, girls. What's up?"

"What isn't up?" Ino asked rhetorically, "This is our final day as a class."

"She's right," Hinata nodded, "Who knows what will happen to us after today?"

"Always best to be prepared for anything." Naruto answered, as he kicked back and relaxed until Iruka entered.

"Good morning, class." he greeted them.

"Good morning, sensei." they responded.

"I'm glad to see all of you could make it. I'm proud to have been your academy instructor these past few years," Iruka started getting sentimental, "But now it's time for you to move on from the academy and go out there to serve your village as Konoha shinobi."

The students cheered in excitement, as Naruto thought, 'Yeah, can't wait to see what surprises await for me out there.'

Iruka continued, "Now then you will all be paired off in a team of three genin under the guidance of a Konoha Jonin. I'll start by reading them off now." Iruka started reading off names of classmates.

As he read them off, Naruto thought, 'Team of three, huh? Well, a majority of these guys in class I get along well with. Though I'd want to be on a team who can support me fully and ones I can do the same for.'

"Squad seven shall consist of Naruto Uzumaki," Iruka listed off, catching Naruto's attention, "Sakura Haruno," Sakura looked up as both she and Naruto felt interested, "And Sasuke Uchiha."

The three genin looked at each other curiously, until each of them gave a smile showing they could work with that. Hinata looked at Naruto thought dismally, 'Oh, I wanted to be with Naruto.'

Ino had similar envious thoughts herself, 'Why does Sakura get to be with both Naruto and Sasuke?'

"Next is squad eight composed of Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame." Iruka continued. Hinata looked at both Kiba and Shino, and knew that while there was nothing wrong with them Kiba did have a sense of cockiness and Shino despite socializing with Naruto, wasn't sure how well he'd do with everyone else, especially with Kiba.

Iruka eventually reached the final squad, "Finally squad ten shall consist of Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Chouji Akimichi."

Ino sighed to herself, 'Well, guess it's only natural for the three of us to be paired so we can carry on our families team legacy.' she thought.

"So troublesome." Shikamaru sighed. Chouji just ate his chips not having any problem with the arrangement.

"Your jonin's will be by to pick you up momentarily," Iruka continued, "Good luck to all of you."

"Hai, sensei!" the graduates answered.

As they waited, one after another Jonin shinobi were picking up the genin teams they were assigned. The only team remaining was squad seven, who looked bored out of their minds waiting for their sensei.

Naruto was growing impatient, "If our sensei doesn't get here soon I'm going home and take a rain check on the meet up."

"Come on, Naruto, it can't be much longer." Sakura tried calming him.

"It better not." Sasuke hoped.

Suddenly they heard the door slide open, and stepping in was none other than Kakashi the former Anbu Inu. The three looked at him awkwardly, until he asked.

"Squad Seven, I presume?"

"Yes. And if you're our sensei then you're late." Sakura said dryly.

"Sorry about that, I kinda got lost on the road to life." he explained sheepishly.

Naruto eyed Kakashi recognizing him, 'Inu.'

"Well, then. Let's meet up top and get things underway." Kakashi suggested, as the three got up and followed him.

Soon enough they were on the roof of the academy, where the three genin sat before their new sensei. Kakashi began, "Now let's start things off with introductions, who you are likes, dislikes, hobbies, and even goals in mind."

"Why don't you go first so we get an idea?" Naruto suggested.

"All right. My name's Kakashi Hatake, and as you know I'm a Jonin," he began, "I prefer to keep my likes and hobbies to myself, my dislikes are random actually, and truth be told I've never really set any goals in life."

'That's helpful.' the three thought simultaneously in dry tones.

"All right, let's start with you." Kakashi motioned to Naruto.

"Ok. My name's Naruto Uzumaki. I like training, eating ramen, the people I look up to and admire. My hobbies include training, relaxing, and just having a good time. My dislikes are corruption and imbalance, oppressors, dictators, and just plain bullies. My goal in life was at one time just to become Hokage and achieve acknowledgment, but now I wish to bring balance and peace in the world."

Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke were stunned by Naruto's introduction. Especially the parts about his dislikes and goal in life. Sakura thought to herself, 'I didn't know Naruto was so affected by such things as corruption and dictators. I wonder why?'

Sasuke thought to himself, 'Bring balance and peace to the world. Sounds impossible.'

Kakashi had his own thoughts on the matter, 'Seems your Avatar training has done wonders on your outlook on life, Naruto,' he then turned to Sakura, "All right, let's hear what you have to say."

"My name's Sakura Haruno, I like hanging out with friends and studying. My hobbies include cooking, improving my own ninja skills, and being with my friends," she secretly eyed her new teammates, but most of her focus was on Naruto, "My dislikes include jerks who underestimate me, and when people talk about my..." she glanced upward at her forehead, "Never mind that. My goal is currently to be the best kunoichi I can possibly be."

Kakashi nodded, 'And we'll make sure of that,' he looked at Sasuke, "And now for you."

"My name's Sasuke Uchiha. I hate plenty of things, and my likes include training and pushing myself past my own limits. My hobbies are sparing with Naruto since he's the only one strong enough to keep up with me," Naruto smiled at the compliment, as Sasuke finished, "My goal is to avenge my clan and bring the one who took it from me to face punishment."

After a brief moment of silence, Kakashi spoke up, "All right. Tomorrow morning we will meet at the training ground for your final test."

"Final test?" Sasuke asked curiously.

"But we already graduated." Sakura reminded him.

"That was to test if you had the essential requirements to be a shinobi. My test will test your worth as one," the three genin having no way of objecting nodded, as Kakashi had one last thing to tell them, "And don't bother eating breakfast. You'll only throw it up." Sakura cringed at that while Naruto and Sasuke were concerned, "Until then." Kakashi vanished.

Naruto spoke to his team, "I say we eat breakfast."

"What?" Sakura asked, "But you heard what sensei said."

"I heard him, but a ninja can't fight if he's hungry. Hunger is something that can throw a ninja off their game." Naruto explained.

"He has a point. So I'll eat tomorrow." Sasuke said.

"Well, if you guys are sure. Then I will too." Sakura nodded.

"Guess we should rest for tomorrow." Sasuke suggested, as he and Sakura were prepared to leave, until Naruto spoke up.

"Wait, guys."

They stopped and looked back, "Yes, Naruto?" Sakura asked.

"Could you two walk with me? There's something important I have to talk to you about." he requested.

The two were curious, as Sasuke answered, "Ok. Where too?"

"Follow me," Naruto said, as he led them to the spot in the forest area where he fought Mizuki, "No one will bother us here, I'm sure."

"So what did you want to talk to us about, Naruto?" Sakura inquired.

"The true reason why I hadn't attended the ninja academy when just about all of you started. I was out of the village for three years."

"Three years out of the village?" Sasuke asked, as Naruto nodded I response.

"But why?" Sakura wondered.

"Iruka-sensei said on the day I first came to class I had been privately training for three years. The reason my training was private because the stuff I was learning was something not anyone in the village could teach me."

"And what's that?" Sasuke inquired.

"This." Naruto answered as he performed some fire bending tricks, taking the two by surprise.

"Whoa!" Sakura gasped.

"That's nothing, check this out." Naruto continued as he performed some earthbending on some boulders, airbended the wind around them creating a refreshing breeze, and finally waterbended a pillar of water from a nearby lake before turning the pillar to ice.

"Naruto, what kind of jutsu is that?" Sasuke asked feeling lost for words.

Naruto answered, "This isn't jutsu, Sasuke. This is bending."

"Bending?" Sasuke asked in confusion.

"Bending what?" Sakura asked.

"Bending of the elements, Sakura."

"You're not making any sense." Sasuke said.

"That's ok. I didn't understand it myself at first, but I eventually caught on."

"But how can you do bending, Naruto?" Sakura wondered.

"Because I'm the Avatar." he answered.

"Avatar?" the two asked with raised brows.

Naruto nodded, "Sit down. I'll tell you the story," So Sakura and Sasuke sat down on the grass, as Naruto began to tell them the story he was told years ago about Avatar Wan, the spirits, Aang, and Korra. He finished, "And now the responsibilities of the Avatar are on me.

Both Sakura and Sasuke sat their with shocked expressions on their faces, until Sasuke answered, "No way!"

Naruto nodded, "Way."

"Naruto, no wonder you said how much you hated dictators and corruption." Sakura said flabbergasted.

"Yeah. Every Avatar throughout history faced some kind of corruption from someone," Naruto answered, "Wan dealt with Vaatu, Kyoshi had Chin the Conqueror, Roku and Aang had Fire Lords Sozin and Ozai, and Korra dealt with people like Amon, Unalaq, Zaheer, and Kuvira."

"And do you think someone like any of them exists out there?" Sakura asked in worry.

"No doubt about it," Naruto confirmed, "There will always be conflict in many ways and forms, and someone will always try to throw the world out of balance. But the Avatar must maintain balance in the world no matter what. That is the never ending mission."

"So much responsibility." Sakura said in surprise.

Naruto nodded, "And it's my mission like all the Avatars that came before me."

"Sounds like you got a lot on your plate." Sasuke noted.

"Yes. But I've been taught by the best benders out there in the other nations. I have no intention of letting them or anyone else down. I wanted to tell you guys this because this is my way of trusting you with a secret of mine that not many in the world know about yet."

"Yet?" Sakura questioned.

"Eventually it'll become known to everyone who the next Avatar is. At least to those who know of the legend of the Avatar. But for now until something that is a threat to all of the world or to our village itself emerges, I am Naruto Uzumaki; genin of Konoha."

Sakura and Sasuke got up, as the Uchiha spoke, "Naruto, thank you for telling us this."

"Yeah. Sharing something like that with us takes a lot of guts." Sakura added.

"And you got a lot of em." Sasuke smirked.

Naruto smiled, "Thanks guys. Tomorrow let's pass sensei's test together." Both nodded, as they did a three way fist bump, before going their separate ways.

Unbeknownst to them, Hiruzen was watching them through his crystal ball. He smiled as he watched the scene play out, "Nice to see you can trust your friends with this secret and burden, Naruto. Perhaps one day you'll have the guts to tell them your other secret. But that depends solely on you."

(And that's the chapter. Squad Seven is decided, and Naruto has let his new team in on the secret of what Naruto is as well as the burdens and responsibilities that come with the position. Don't miss next time where the three must work together against Kakashi to prove they have what it takes. See you then.)