(And here I am again. Enjoy this chapter where Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke prove themselves to Jonin Kakashi.)

As the sun rose over Konoha, Naruto had heard his alarm clock go off. After turning it off, her got up and started getting ready. After he got himself ready, he fed Soreth his breakfast.

"Ok, Soreth I'll be back later. Stay out of trouble." he teased the dragon who snorted.

So Naruto left his place, and headed for the training ground Kakashi instructed him, Sakura, and Sasuke to meet at for their final test. When he arrived he saw both Sakura and Sasuke were there waiting.

"Hey, guys." Naruto greeted them.

"Good morning, Naruto." Sakura greeted him.

"Hey." Sasuke greeted.

Naruto looked around seeing no sign of Kakashi, "Shouldn't sensei be here before us?"

"That's what we thought." Sasuke answered.

"Well, he can't be much longer." Sakura said hoping to lighten things up.

Naruto sat down against a training post, as they waited for Kakashi. About two hours later, Kakashi finally arrived.

"Hey." he greeted the three.

"You're late!" Sakura called him out.

"Sorry about that, but I kinda misplaced my favorite mask so I had to buy a spare, but they were nearly sold out, plus the lines were killer." Kakashi explained sheepishly.

Naruto gave him a deadpan look and thought, 'I don't even need Toph's ability to sense things through the ground to know that's a lie.'

Kakashi cleared his throat, "All right, now that you're all here we can begin our final test."

"And just what is our final test?" Sasuke inquired.

Kakashi reached into his brooch and pulled out two bells each tied to a thread, "You will be required to take these from me."

"Take?" Naruto asked.

"Yes. If you get a bell from me you will be pass."

Sakura spoke up pointing out a flaw, "But, sensei, you only have two bells."

"That's right. Whoever doesn't get a bell not only fails but will be sent back to the academy." Kakashi warned them.

Sakura looked worried, while Sasuke looked curious, and Naruto squinted suspiciously. Kakashi pulled out a timer, "And another thing, you will be timed. If no one succeeds in obtaining a bell then no one passes and you'll all get sent back," he set the timer, "Your test starts now!" the three genin quickly made themselves scarce, while Kakashi stood out in the open before pulling out his favorite book to read.

While Sakura and Sasuke were wondering what to do to get a bell, Naruto already knew what to do. He quickly snuck his way over and brought both of his supposed teammates to him.

"Naruto, we're being timed, remember?" Sakura reminded him.

"It doesn't matter if we're being timed." Naruto answered.

"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked.

"This whole final exam he's got us doing is just a farce."

"How so?" Sakura asked in confusion.

"He wants us to turn on each other just to get a bell for ourselves." Naruto explained.

"Divide and conquer." Sasuke realized it.

"Exactly." Naruto nodded.

"Ok, so why purposely do this, does he want us to lose on purpose?" Sakura asked.

"No. The real test isn't about seeing who can get a bell, it's about getting them together." Naruto enlightened her.

"Teamwork." Sasuke got it, and Naruto nodded.

"So what can we go to get those bells?" Sakura asked.

"I have a plan, but I'll need you two to stall him," Naruto began, "Can you two do that?"

Sasuke nodded with a confident smile, "You know it."

"Right." Sakura agreed.

Back on the training ground, Kakashi still read his book while keeping a single eye out for any of the three to attack. He thought to himself, 'I may look like I'm taking it easy, but I am cautious. After all one of my opponents is the Avatar. Sandaime said he's still learning, but still isn't to be taken lightly.'

Suddenly he was brought out of thought as Sasuke appeared out of nowhere forming hand signs, "Fire style; fireball jutsu!" He spat fire from his mouth right at Kakashi. The jonin held onto his book and backflipped away to avoid the jutsu.

Sakura was hiding out, before launching some paper bomb wrapped kunai at the ground where Kakashi landed. The explosions threw him off balance, and Naruto dropped in and used airbending to blow the bells off Kakashi's person.

Sakura saw the bells fly through the wind before she caught them, "I got them!"

"Yes!" Naruto pumped a fist, as Sasuke crossed his arms feeling impressed.

Kakashi saw Sakura got the bells, and was prepared to give her an ultimatum, "All right, Sakura. Now that you have both bells, what will you do? Keep one and give another to your teammate?"

Sakura looked at Kakashi, Naruto and Sasuke, and then the bells. She looked back up and answered, "I don't want them." she tossed both of them to Sasuke, who caught them.

"Sasuke?" Kakashi asked wondering if he'll make the choice.

"Pass." he tossed the bells to Naruto.

Naruto looked at the bells before dropping them before Kakashi, and answered, "Keep them."

"You three are just giving up the bells like that?" Kakashi inquired.

"We were put together on this team of three for a reason. We can't just desert each other now." Sakura explained.

"I'd rather stay at the academy than abandon anyone." Sasuke added.

"If I abandoned anyone I couldn't call myself a ninja, or more importantly call myself the Avatar." Naruto explained, while both Sakura and Sasuke were wondering why Naruto would say what he is in front of Kakashi.

Kakashi eyed the three before speaking, "Well, if that's your final answers... Then you passed." he eye smiled.

The three genin returned the smile, as Naruto spoke, "It was all about teamwork."

"Correct," Kakashi nodded, "If there's one thing I value most when being on a team or guiding a team, it's teamwork. A wise friend once taught me those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum." he saw how the three looked moved by the words and had already committed it to memory, "All right, starting tomorrow we begin our first day as Squad Seven. Until then you are dismissed." he took his leave.

Sakura looked to Naruto, "Naruto, does sensei already know you're the Avatar?"

Naruto looked at both Sakura and Sasuke who were curious, and answered, "Actually, yes."

"How long has he known?" Sasuke asked.

"He's known ever since that night I found out what I was."

"How?" Sakura asked.

"Because he came to my defense when others tried to take me down." Naruto answered, while the two were confused at that last part.

"Well, whatever the case we passed and tomorrow we begin our new lives as ninja." Sasuke said.

"Yeah, so let's work well." Sakura suggested.

"Yeah," Naruto nodded, "Hey, how about you three come join me for lunch? My treat."

"I'm sold." Sakura answered.

"Well, I suppose." Sasuke answered apathetically, before smirking smugly at Naruto who playfully punched his shoulder.

Later on the three were at Ichiraku Ramen, enjoying some bowls of the delicious stuff. As Sakura finished hers, she spoke, "So what do you think we'll be doing for our first mission?"

"I hope it's something cool." Naruto said, until they heard cat hissing.

They looked behind them seeing a cat wearing a ribbon running away with a group of three shinobi running after it.

"After it!"

"Don't lose it!"

"I'll head it off!"

The three genin looked at each other, as Sasuke spoke, "I wouldn't want to have that for a mission."

"True that." Naruto agreed, as the three laughed.

After the three finished their meal, Sasuke spoke, "Thanks for lunch, Naruto."

"You're welcome."

"So I guess we'll see you tomorrow." Sakura said.

"Hold on you guys," Naruto began, "I'd like you two to come to my place tonight. There's something else I'd like to share with you."

"What's that?" Sasuke asked.

"It's a surprise."

"We don't even know where you live." Sakura noted.

"Don't worry. I'll send some clones to show you the way."

"Well, ok." Sasuke answered.

"See you tonight." Sakura said, as she and Sasuke headed home.

Later that night, Naruto was on the roof of his home waiting for his squad. He looked down and saw his clones coming over with Sakura and Sasuke. Naruto's clones dispelled, as Sakura and Sasuke jumped up to the roof.

"Well, were here." Sakura said.

"So what's the surprise?" Sasuke inquired.

"Well, it's someone special I'd like you to meet. He's been with me for a few years now."

"Who?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Before I introduce you to him, I must request that the both of you not scream."

"Why would we scream?" Sasuke wondered.

"My friend isn't exactly someone you come across every day."

"What is he?" Sakura asked.

"See for yourself." Naruto whistled. They looked and saw Soreth crawl out one of the open windows and onto the roof stop beside Naruto, "Guys, meet Soreth. Soreth, that's Sasuke and Sakura."

Soreth let out a roar, whiel Sakura's eyes were widened in shock, "Is that a d-d-d-d."

"A dragon?" Sasuke gasped in shock.

"That's right." Naruto nodded.

Sakura shook off her stupor and asked, "A real live dragon?"

"Oh yeah." Naruto answered.

"How did you come across a dragon?" Sasuke asked in surprise.

"I found him as a young dragon. I took him in, nurtured him, and raised him myself."

"Amazing." Sakura said, as she and Sasuke slowly approached, but stepped back as Soreth looked at them.

"It's ok, he's very gentle... Around gentle people at least." Naruto said.

Sasuke and Sakura got closer, before lowering down to Soreth's level. Sasuke held out a hand above the dragons forehead before placing it down upon him. He pet him a few times before seeing he really was docile. Sakura seeing this pet the dragon as well.

"You know, he's actually kinda cute." Sakura admitted, while smiling.

Soreth roared happily from the petting, as Naruto spoke up, "He's been living here with me at my place since I came back to Konoha. Aside from Jiji nobody else really knows about him."

"Do you keep him cooped up inside your house because of what some might do if they saw him?" Sasuke asked.

"Only during the day, but at this time of night is when he gets his exercise." Naruto explained.

"Exercise?" Sakura wondered.

"Yeah," Naruto said, as he held out his Airbending glider staff, "Climb on his back and we'll show you."

"Climb on his back?" Sasuke asked, until Sakura found out what was going on.

"Hold on, I'm not so sure I want to..."

"Don't worry, Soreth is always careful when someone's riding him." Naruto promised.

Sasuke climbed up onto Soreth's back, as the dragon beckoned Sakura to climb on as well. Sakura looked hesitant at first, but seeing the honest look in Soreth's eyes could tell he wouldn't let her fall. Smiling, she climbed on behind Sasuke.

"Hold on you two," Naruto instructed them, as they held on. He looked at Soreth and ordered, "Let's fly!" the two started running across the roof, while Sasuke and Sakura were bouncing up and down.

When they reached the edge of the roof, Naruto's staff folded out into his glider, and took it to the air with Soreth flying after him. As the dragon flew up, Sasuke and Sakura held on as they were instructed.

Sasuke looked over seeing Naruto gliding, "Naruto, you're flying!" he called.

"Technically, this is gliding, but you get the picture." Naruto replied.

Sakura was holding onto Sasuke's back, until she opened her eyes and saw how far up they were, "Whoa." she gasped.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Naruto asked.

"This is amazing," Sakura answered, "You can see the whole village from way up here!" she started smiling.

"That's the beauty of it." Naruto said, as he started gliding around performing aerial maneuvers.

"Naruto, you're a show off." Sasuke said, as Soreth was flying at Naruto's pace.

"Jealous much?" Naruto teased.

Sakura giggled, before looking ahead seeing a flock of birds, "Look out!"

Naruto looked ahead seeing the birds and glided above their flying formation, as Soreth flew at their side. One bird noticing the dragon squawked in shock, until Soreth flew further up after Naruto.

The two flew above the clouds, as Sakura put her hand through one just to feel it. Naruto spoke, "Take a look you guys, we're on top of the world."

"This is about the greatest moment in my life," Sasuke began, "So far at least."

"You betcha. Soreth, dive!" he ordered, as the two dove down. As Soreth dove Sasuke and Sakura screamed and laughed from the thrill and excitement.

"How did it take for Soreth to let you ride on his back?" Sakura asked Naruto.

"Quite awhile. At first he felt uncomfortable with me on his back, but after a few lessons and show of trust we were flying all over the night sky."

"Why only at night?" Sakura asked.

"Because dragons are very rare and hard to come across," he answered, "Sure it's much safer to fly in the sky's of Republic city in the day time, but in Konoha you can imagine many may start a panic."

"He's right," Sasuke agreed, "While many fire jutsus are based off dragon abilities, not many have actually seen one. And civilians would be more likely to panic than shinobi would."

"Uh-huh," Naruto confirmed, "Many fairy tales and bedtime stories have always depicted dragons as evil ruthless monsters, but deep down are noble creatures that represent wisdom and strength."

"I never knew." Sakura said in awe.

"Now ya do." Naruto replied with a laugh, and soon both his teammates laughed with him as they flew.

Eventually, Naruto and Soreth pulled around and flew back to the house. After landing back on the roof, Sasuke and Sakura dismounted Soreth.

Naruto folded up his staff, as Sakura spoke, "Thanks for the fun, Naruto."

"Yeah. We really appreciated this." Sasuke added.

"Hey, that's what friends are for, right?" he asked.

"Yeah." Sasuke nodded, along with Sakura.

"Well, we'll see you tomorrow," Sakura began, before giving Soreth one last pet, "Goodnight, Soreth." the dragon playfully roared.

Sasuke gave the dragon one last pet as well, before he and Sakura jumped off the roof and headed back to their places. Naruto smiled as he watched them leave, and lowered himself down to Soreth's level to pet him, "See, boy? That goes to show not everyone is judgmental and stereotypical of your kind. I could get used to having them as a team." he said to himself.

(And there's the chapter. Squad seven passed and Sakura and Sasuke got to meet Soreth and go for a fly. Don't miss next time where Squad seven gets their first real mission. See you until then.)