"Normal speech"
"Thought"
Nine-tails/Other big voices
InnerSakura
A/N:
Disclaimer
I do not own Naruto in any way, shape, or form. This is merely for my, and hopefully everyone else's, enjoyment. Thank you!
In came Iruka with a big grin on his face followed by a few other shinobi…
In this chapter I decided to change my writing style up a little. Instead of all the he said, she said, he stated, etc… I wanted to try it a different way. Please enjoy…
Team Formation: Lucky Number 7
As Iruka smiled to his former students, he prepared to introduce the shinobi behind him. He looked around the classroom hoping to see a bunch of excited and interested looks but instead found that a couple of his former students were missing. He was about to question the class about this when the door slid open…
There stood a blushing Hinata who had an injured looking Naruto with his arm over her shoulder.
Naruto: Thanks… I'll take it from here Hinata… *with a glazed over look on his face*
He made his way to his seat, flopped down, and eased his head down onto the desk. Sakura looked at him like she had something she wanted to say to him, but before she could get a word out Iruka spoke up.
Iruka: Now that you're all here, I'd like to introduce you to your new Jounin sensei.
One by one he introduced each team and their sensei. He got to Team 8 and had them stand like the other teams and introduced their sensei.
Iruka: This is Kurenai Yuhi. She is one of the newer Jounin, so it looks like you'll all be learning a thing or two together.
Kurenai gave Iruka a look as if to say "watch it buddy" and changed her attention to her new students. She looked at Hinata and gave her a big smile showing her white teeth. To this Hinata shyly smiled back at the new sensei.
Kiba: You two know each other?
Hinata: Y-Yeah, but only a little.
Kurenai was a woman of average stature with long flowing black hair, a bizarre bandage wrapped dress outfit, and red eyes.
Iruka then went on to Team 9 and began to introduce their Jounin…
Chouji: I wonder who our sensei will be.
Ino: I hope that it's a woman. A cool and beautiful woman that will tell me the secret to winning over any man. *making dramatic movements to signify beauty and coolness (I guess)*
Shikamaru: And what if it's a man?
Ino: If it has to be a guy then… I hope he's a ruggedly handsome man who's cool and brave while we carry on in our forbidden love. (Ahhh!) *squeal*
Shikamaru: Whatever, I just hope whoever it is isn't too demanding. That would be a drag.
Iruka: HEEEY! WHY DON'T YOU BE QUIET AND YOU'LL FIND OUT JUST WHO YOUR SENSEI IS!!!
Everyone got quiet and all the Jounin gave Iruka a surprised look.
Iruka continued from where he left off and introduced Team 10's sensei…
Iruka: Team 10, your sensei will be Asuma Sarutobi.
This caught Naruto's attention as he looked at the Jounin as he stepped forward. Naruto just smiled.
Asuma was a fairly big and burly looking man with midnight blue hair and beard. What stood out about him the most was the fact that he was smoking a cigarette.
Asuma: Well I'll be a monkey's uncle… Naruto's actually going to become a ninja...
Team 10 was surprised to see their sensei… who was smoking… in a classroom… full of kids.
Shikamaru: Well…? *while looking at Ino*
Ino: Well What?!
Shikamaru: Is he ruggedly handsome and cool looking?
Ino blushed slightly and looked Asuma up and down…
Ino: He's not really my type… *turning her head while blushing*
Iruka had called out all teams, and their Jounin, and they left to get to know each other. There was only one team left but their Jounin sensei hadn't shown up yet. Iruka hung around for a while to keep the remaining students company, but after what seemed like forever he decided that it would be better to look for the missing sensei instead.
The students continued waiting for another fifteen minutes before Naruto began to get restless. Sakura noticed this and decided that this was as good a time as any.
Sakura: N-Naruto!… I… I have something to tell you.
Naruto lifted his head to listen to what she had to say…
Sakura: I… I… I'm sorry okay! I didn't mean everything I said earlier… I was just upset… I hope we can put it behind us…
Naruto: Don't worry about it. It's no big deal.
Sakura: Re-Really?! Are you sure?!
Naruto: If I say don't worry about it then don't worry about. I mean it.
Sakura: I still feel a little bad, I mean… he lost his parents, he doesn't even have a mom to look out for him…
He then reassured her with a smile. Seeing this she began to feel a little better about things and returned the smile.
Five minutes later…
Naruto: Why is our sensei the only one that has to be so late? All the other teams left with their teachers and even Iruka sensei left, but we're still here, left to rot!
Just then he gave his patented foxy smile. He ran over to the blackboard, grabbed an eraser and headed towards the door…
Sakura: Naruto, what are you up to?
Naruto grabbed a chair and set the eraser over the door. When he was done he stepped down and looked like he was trying to figure out if his prank needed something with more… OOMPH! Then he figured it out…
Sakura: You don't believe that that will work, do you?
InnerSakura: I hope it does because it would be so funny. GO FOR IT!!!
Sasuke: Get real… There's no way that a Jounin would fall for something as lame as that.
Naruto: Someone's coming!!!
Naruto got into position and stood ready. The door slid open and a man poked his head through. The eraser fell from above and with a thud landed on his head. He then looked up to see what it was only to have more chalky erasers thrown at him. Then as chalk dust filled the classroom and spilled out into the hallway, a bucket of chalk began to rain on the man's head. (It was all I could think of)
Naruto fell from over the door rolling on the floor in agony as his sides were about to split and he was about to laugh his tail off. At one point he thought he was going to die laughing.
Sakura: I'm… so sorry sensei. I tried to tell him…
InnerSakura: YEEEAAH!!! NAILED HIM!!! SINCE HE'S A GUY THAT WAS TEN TIMES BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE! WAY TO GO!!!
Sakura was trying to stifle her laughter but couldn't hold it in. She turned around in order to hide her expression and try to forget the hilarious image after the dust cleared. This didn't work to well as her attempts to quail her laughter could be heard fairly well.
Sasuke: Is this guy really a Jounin? He doesn't seem very reliable.
???: Hmm… How should I put this?… My first impression of you guys… Idiots. I don't like you!
The Jounin looked like a ghost with so much chalk dust clinging to him. It was priceless.
Naruto: Uh, sensei… it looks like you still have some chalk dust on you. Your hair is all gray.
???: For your information, that's my real hair color.
Naruto and company were surprised to hear this. Their sensei didn't seem that old and yet… he had gray hair.
???: Okay let's start over. How about we introduce ourselves…?
The Jounin and his new students were now sitting on a rooftop…
Naruto: What do you wanna know?
???: How about your names, likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams, things like that.
Naruto: I don't quite follow you. It'd be simpler if you went first and gave us something to go by.
???: Okay, I'm Kakashi Hatake, I have no desire to tell you all about my likes or dislikes. As for my future dreams…… My hobbies, well I have lots of those.
The genin huddled together and pieced together the information they received and came to the conclusion that all they learned was his name…
Kakashi: Now, you, the kid in orange… it's your turn.
Naruto: M-Me! Uh, well… my name is Naruto Uzumaki and I like eating many things, especially ramen. The best is the ramen shop Iruka sensei treats me to. I also like to train until I can't anymore. I usually wake up the next day well rested in my own bed, probably because of the old Hokage's attendants. Things I dislike… I dislike the 3 minute wait for Cup Ramen to cook, or any food for that matter. My dream… TOO BECOME HOKAGE!!! Then everyone of the village will have to acknowledge me!!... Hobbies would be… pranks I guess…
Kakashi: Jeez, does this kid think about anything besides food and fighting. It makes sense though seeing what he is. He sure has grown up in an interesting way.
Kakashi then looked to Sakura and nodded signaling that she was next…
Sakura: Um, my name is Sakura Haruno of the Haruno clan… I like… *looking over in Sasuke's direction (giggling)* … My dream for the future is… *once again* …Oh My God!... I dislike… *gaze drifting to Naruto* … My hobbies…
Naruto: Wait a minute…! What was that?!
Sakura: What do you mean?
Naruto: You now what I mean… that look… What was with that look you gave me?
Sakura: Just drop it Naruto…!
Kakashi: Girls her age are more interested in boys than anything else… but since she's from a clan where males are seen as nothing good, maybe it won't be such a big problem.
His attention then drifted towards Naruto who seemed a little upset at what just transpired but didn't make a big deal out of it.
Kakashi: Okay, Next!
Sasuke: My name is Sasuke Uchiha, I don't like or dislike anything in particular. My dream, no Ambition…… is to Kill a certain man and resurrect my clan.
Sakura: Sooo cooool!
Naruto: What's this guy's deal? Whatever… he better not mean me.
Kakashi: I thought so. He has more of a one tracked mind than Naruto… That's enough of that, now where to begin…
Naruto: How about telling us what kind of missions we'll be going on? Will they be tough…? I hope so because…
Kakashi: Missions…? Oh, we'll do something special, just the four of us, tomorrow. It'll be survival training.
Sakura: Why survival training? We've already done it plenty of times at the Ninja Academy.
Kakashi: That may be, but this won't be your run-of-the-mill survival training. I will be your opponent, and of the 27 graduates… only 9 will be chosen to continue as Genin. The rest…… will be sent back to the academy…
At this new information the students were shocked. They had just graduated and now there was a chance that they would have start back from square one.
Kakashi: That's just the beginning; the training will be extremely difficult and has a failure rate of over 66%.
The students were now freaking in a big way, except for Sasuke who didn't or couldn't seem to react at all.
Naruto: WHAT THE HELL?! WHAT KIND OF CRAP IS THIS?! WHAT WAS THE POINT OF GRADUATING IF WE'D JUST BE SENT RIGHT BACK?!
Kakashi: Oh... that's just to see who had potential to become certified Genin. Anyway, tomorrow you will be graded on how you handle yourselves on the battlefield, so bring your ninja tools. I also advise you to skip breakfast… You might throw up… *sinister look in his eye*
Kakashi then handed the kids a map and instructions to find the field that the exercise would take place at. He then left them to contemplate their futures…
The next day Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke trudged to the designated training field and waited… and waited… and waited… and (let's skip ahead).
Kakashi had finally arrived extremely super late…
Naruto+Sakura: YOU'RE LATE KAKASHI SENSEI!!!
Kakashi just made up some wild excuse about what he had spent most of the morning doing while taking out a timer and setting it. He explained that their goal was to take the two bells that he held in his hand before noon. He then went on to say that anything and everything would be allowed in the attempt to get a bell.
Kakashi: You won't succeed unless you come at me with everything you've got, even if it means my death. Those who don't succeed and get a bell won't get lunch and will be tied to a post. There are only two bells so one of you will definitely be tied up and I'll eat lunch right in front of you…
Genin: So this is why he didn't want us to eat breakfast.
Naruto: Eat right in front of us… that's mean Kakashi sensei…
Kakashi: Just do what you can… Oh yeah, one last thing… the one of you that doesn't get a bell… will be sent back to the academy…
Genin: Sent back to the academy…? I can't let it end like this…!
Sakura: Sensei… you… you said that we should come at you with the intention to kill you, r-right?
Kakashi simply nodded.
Sakura: But you'll be in danger!!!
Naruto: She's right. For you to say something like that must mean that you're very sure of yourself… Makes me think that all that happened yesterday was just some sort of ruse, am I right? *giving Kakashi a toothy smirk*
Kakashi: Oh! So you realized it huh? I guess you're not as big an idiot as you lead me to believe…
Naruto: Yeah and I'm gonna force you to show me everything you got… Believe it!
As he said this the look in his eyes began to change. It was as if the thought of the grueling challenge ahead excited him to his core.
Kakashi saw this and decided to test Naruto to see if it was just overconfidence or if he really had some skill…
Kakashi: In the real world, the mutts with no talent often bark the loudest. So let's ignore the talentless loser and start when I say…
The words Kakashi said dug into Naruto and really got under his skin. Naruto was gonna make him pay for every syllable that came out of his mouth with a vengeance. He whipped out a kunai and charged straight for Kakashi only to be stopped a held hostage by his very own weapon…
Kakashi: That's the way! The only drawback is that I haven't said start yet… *handing Naruto back his kunai*
Sakura: No way! I couldn't even follow that...
Sasuke: So this is a Jounin…
Kakashi: Heh heh heh! Well I don't believe it… I think that I may actually be starting to warm up to you guys, if only a little…… Okay, let's begin… Aaaaand, START!!!!
The three genin jumped away in different directions, leaving Kakashi standing alone on the field. Just then, Kakashi noticed that something wasn't right. He looked up to see Naruto standing there as if to challenge him…
Kakashi: The basics of being a ninja is to hide yourself well. This doesn't seem like a good job at hiding Naruto.
Sasuke-Sakura: What is he doing? What an idiot!
Naruto: Get ready because here I come!!!
Naruto charged at Kakashi with a burst of speed ready for anything, but then he saw Kakashi reach into his pouch. Thinking that it may be a weapon, Naruto stopped and hunched over like a cougar and began pacing back and forth. He was waiting to see if there would be any danger in advancing or if he needed to change his strategy.
Kakashi: Ninja skill number one… taijutsu. I'll teach you about it…
Just then Kakashi pulled out what he had been searching for... a book, to the surprise of everyone else.
Naruto: Wa-Wait a minute… What's with the book? I thought we were gonna fight…!
Kakashi: This book…? Well I wanted to see what happens next. Don't worry though, it won't make much of a difference against you guys.
With that Naruto was pissed once again and charged…
Naruto: DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!!! I'LL SHOW YOU!!!
Naruto threw a straight punch, which Kakashi simply side stepped. He then came back with a high spinning roundhouse kick that Kakashi ducked and jumped backwards to create some distance.
Naruto smiled at how exciting things were starting to get. He then decided to give it one more go and charged once again…
He decided to try something different since direct attacks weren't working. He began bouncing around all over the place before finally attacking with a spinning lariat…
Once again he just missed Kakashi as he poofed before his very eyes and reappeared behind him…
Kakashi: A ninja isn't supposed to let an enemy catch him from behind.
Sakura: … His hand…that's a tiger seal! Does he plan on…?!... NARUTO!!! GET OUT OF THERE!!! YOU'RE GONNA GET YOURSELF KILLED!!!
Naruto could sense that Kakashi was behind him, so he was going to attempt a spinning back kick, but it was too late! Kakashi had an evil look on his face… err…uh… in his eye because that's all you could really see.
Kakashi: "HIDDEN LEAF JUTSU: 1000 YEARS OF DEATH!!!!"
Kakashi then charged his hands with chakra and thrust them upward. Naruto felt an UNCOMFORTABLE feeling as he was thrust through the air, screaming in pain…
Sakura: … What was that?! It was just a hard poke strengthened by chakra. *confused look on her face*
Sasuke: A bunch of morons is what they are...
Naruto flew several feet through the air and landed in the lake. As Naruto "cooled off", Kakashi decided to kill some time by reading his book. While he did, maybe something interesting would happen…
Suddenly, a bunch of shuriken flew from the lake directed at the inattentive Jounin. Without even looking from the page Kakashi caught the flying projectiles with only two fingers laughing as if amused by something.
The water began to bubble and from it flew quite a few Narutos. All at once they began to advance on Kakashi who had taken his eye from his book. Even though his expression couldn't really be seen, you could tell that he was amused by what was before him.
Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi were surprised and amazed at the number of real clones Naruto had made.
Kakashi: So many… So this is the forbidden jutsu he used to defeat Mizuki! It turns out that you're not as much of a hopeless…!!!
While Kakashi was lost in thought one of the Narutos managed to sneak up from behind and wrap him up. Once again Naruto pulled off a great feat in not just catching an experienced ninja off guard, but he surprised Kakashi who never seemed to show any kind of expression.
Naruto: Weren't ninjas not supposed to get caught from behind!?... Right, Kakashi sensei!?... I used the clones as a distraction so that I could sneak around behind you!
The rest of the clones then took this opportunity to close in like a pack of wolves moving in for the kill…
Sakura: That was pretty good Naruto, way to go!
Sasuke: Nice plan!
As the clones attacked, one of them yelled out that his ass was still hurting from before and this would be payback. A punch landed with a sickening, face breaking thud. The only problem with this was that it wasn't Kakashi who was the recipient of said attack.
It turned out to be one of the Narutos that was hit. The Narutos became confused and had puzzled looks on their faces. He was wondering exactly what Kakashi had done, until he realized that it had to be some jutsu.
All the Naruto seemed to be talking among themselves as if nothing had happened. Then they all turned towards a nearby tree, which Kakashi just happened to be hiding in…
Naruto: There's no use hiding Kakashi sensei. We know exactly where you are, it's sort of an ability of ours.
Kakashi: An ability…?! So he's able to sense chakra signatures! That's interesting…
As he came back to reality all of the Narutos ran to the tree only for every one of them to be snagged and hung by their tails.
Kakashi jumped from the tree and began to tell Naruto about how he shouldn't let himself be so easily caught…
Kakashi: A ninja must be able to see underneath the underneath.
Naruto just hung their as if all of his energy had been sapped from his body…
Kakashi: Like I said you shouldn't let yourself be caught so easily, especially by someone who knows your weaknesses and how to exploit them. The thing about you and your clan is that though physically you're astounding, you have one big weak point…. your tail. Applying the right kind of pressure to it can hinder you greatly, allowing the enemy to take advantage. It's pretty dangerous though because now you probably really do want to kill me. The only way to save myself would be… to take your life right here, right now…
Naruto's in a pinch. Is there any way that he can pass this test...?
Next chapter: Try... try... try again...