Kishimoto owns Naruto and all derivatived works.

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Chapter Four

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"What do you mean that Sasuke has been removed from the exams?!" Orochimaru hissed. The silver-haired genin medic-nin looked back at him without flinching from his anger.

"Apparently, one of his team-mates chose not to enter the exam and sent a Kage Bunshin to wish them luck. Due to a mix-up, the presence of the clone got them into the first exam and by the time it was discovered that they should have been refused entry, they were already in the Forest of Death. The Hokage decreed that irrespective of what happened, both Sasuke and his team-mate Sakura would be removed from the tests as soon as they reached the tower. Both of them are currently in the hospital, having been officially declared unable to continue."

Orochimaru growled, his eyes narrowing in rage.

"That… is not good news."

"The girl blames the Jinchuuriki for not supporting them." Kabuto smirked. "When Sasuke recovers, he'll probably do the same, especially if I… help him reach that conclusion. When that happens, he'll probably ask to join you just to get revenge on his team-mate."

Orochimaru paused, then slowly an evil smirk spread across his face. "Yes… an excellent plan and one that fits in very well with the planned attack."

"It shouldn't be too hard." Kabuto said with a matching smile. "All I need to do is point out that while Sasuke was getting injured fleeing from Gaara, Naruto was having a cushy time helping the Academy brats learn chakra control."

"Kukukukuku." Orochimaru chuckled. "Your plan has promise, Kabuto. I look forwards to hearing your next report."

"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto bowed.

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Asuma looked up as a familiar figure approached him and his team.

"Hey, that's Naruto, isn't it?" Ino said curiously. "Didn't he quit the genin exams?"

"He never entered." Asuma said, remembering the rumours that had been flying round the Jonin information network. "He sent a Shadow Clone to wish his team good luck and it somehow got the other two in. Kakashi really got blacklisted for that."

"Hi." Naruto said, scratching at the back of his head. "Ummm, you're Sarutobi Asuma, right?"

"I am." Asuma said and Naruto nodded.

"Iruka-sensei said that you were the only other Wind-element type in Konoha and…"

"Wait." Asuma commanded, his eyes intent. "You're a wind-type yourself?"

Naruto nodded. "Yup! Iruka said you could give me a few hints on how to start my elemental training since you and someone called Danzo are the only wind-users in Konoha, and he told me to keep away from Danzo."

"I see." Asuma nodded. "So, have you learned any exercises for it yet?"

Naruto shook his head and Asuma picked up a fallen leaf. Holding it in his hand, he frowned slightly in concentration and the leaf promptly split in half.

"That was the first exercise." He said to the wide-eyed boy. "You focus your chakra on the leaf and cut it. I picture it as a pair of thin blades grinding against each other to sharpen them, you might do something else. It all depends on what you can get to work for you."

"Cool!" Naruto half-shouted, then he leaned forwards. "Ummm, can you show me again, please?"

With a grin, Asuma picked up another leaf and a second later, both halves fluttered to the ground.

"Okay, I think I got it. The Boss will want to try it. Thanks."

"Wait!" Asuma commanded, staring at the boy. "Boss?"

"Yeah." Naruto grinned, one hand rubbing the back of his head. "I'm a clone, Boss sent me to see if I could pick up a few tips from you. What are you doing? Quit poking me!"

Ino stepped back, eyes wide as she pulled her hand back to her side. "You… you're solid!"

"Kage Bunshin." The clone announced proudly. "Everything I learn goes straight back to the Boss and my bros when I dispell. Boss is getting thwacked by Lee at the moment, even Kage Bunshin's aren't helping him, although he's getting good at his Kawarimi."

"He's swapping with his clones to avoid Lee's attacks." Shikamaru deduced and the clone nodded.

"Yep, Bushy-brows Junior really packs a wallop. He may not be able to use chakra, but he's scary fast. Whup! They're taking a breather, gotta go. Thanks!"

The clone vanished in a puff of smoke and Ino sighed, turning her attention back to the remaining two males.

"I'm going to the hospital to check on Choji." She declared and Shikamaru glanced up as he moved a piece, causing Asuma to moan.

"I'll come with you." He said as Asuma sighed and started putting the pieces away. "I heard that they'll be removing the cast from his leg today, although he'll need crutches for a while."

"Yeah. Okay." Ino shrugged. "I heard that they're going to release Sakura today as well."

Shikamaru paused at that.

"Sakura? Haruno Sakura? Naruto's team-mate? What happened to her?"

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"Hey fore… head…"

Ino's standard greeting faded as Sakura turned to face her. Half of her face was covered by a modified ANBU-style white mask with an eyeslit that hid the eye behind it. The top of the mask was moulded round Sakura's Hitai-ate which was now on her forehead rather than holding her hair back, its fabric band obviously re-purposed to hold the mask in place.

"Ino."

Ino shivered slightly at the coldness in Sakura's voice.

"I heard that you were being released today and…"

Sakura snorted and turned to look out of the window. Ino sighed.

"Sakura, I'm not here to gloat. I was worried about you…"

"You should be worried about Naruto-baka, because I'm going to kill him for what he did to me." Sakura growled and Ino frowned in confusion.

"What? He was nowhere near you when…"

Sakura's head snapped round, her visible eye narrowed in anger.

"Exactly! He abandoned us, betrayed us and ran away! I'll make sure he never runs away again!"

Ino stepped back, staring in shock at the girl who had once been her closest friend, and who she no longer knew.

Outside the window, an ANBU pocketed the tape recorder and vanished in a shunshin.

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"…and that should do it." Kabuto smiled as he lifted his hands from Sasuke's torso. "Your ribs are now as strong as they were before they were broken."

Sasuke sat up, then slowly stretched. After a moment, he nodded. "Thanks."

"Just doing my duty." Kabuto smiled, although his gaze flickered to a small shadow on the windowsill. "You went up against Orochimaru, you were lucky to escape."

"I wasn't strong enough." Sasuke mused, almost ignoring the med-nin.

"Then you need to find another way to get stronger." Kabuto offered. "Perhaps your sensei can suggest something. Maybe new exercises."

"Hmph." Sasuke snorted. "Kakashi, teach? He's a lazy bastard who is always late."

"Then perhaps you could ask another Jonin to help you train in your spare time." Kabut suggested. "I heard that your team-mate Naruto is being trained by your Sensei's eternal rival, Maito Gai. He is considered the best taijitsu master in Konoha, if not the Elemental Countries. I hear Iruka's giving him remedial lessons as well."

"What?!" Sasuke growled. "He decided to betray the team and got rewarded with extra training?!"

Kabuto hid a smirk as he tried unsuccessfully to calm Sasuke down, making sure that he didn't say anything that could incriminate him when the Hokage listened to the tape being recorded by the ANBU on the wall outside.

His smirk briefly broke free as Sasuke stomped out of the room and then he began tidying the ward.

Just because Konoha was going to be destroyed didn't mean that he could slack off in his duties.

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Hiruzen sighed and pressed the button to stop the tape before looking up at Kakashi. The Jonin seemed to have aged dramatically as he listened to the recordings.

"Lord Hokage… I…"

"I let you have Team 7 because you specifically asked for it." Hiruzen said, his quiet voice somehow filling the office. "You wanted to teach Naruto and I was willing to let you do so, but it seems that my decision was in error."

"Lord Hokage…" Kakashi started, his voice pleading and Hiruzen shook his head.

"This was your last team, Kakashi. You heard yourself how unstable two of them are, this sort of thing was what you were meant to watch out for and counter."

Kakashi slumped, his gaze fixed on the ground.

"As of today, team 7 is no more." Hiruzen sighed. "If Haruno and Uchiha wish to remain as ninja, they must first submit to a full psychiatric evaluation from Yamanaka Inoichi and Morino Ibiki and undergo whatever remedial training is deemed necessary. Failure to comply within the week will result in them being returned to civilian status."

"And Naruto?" Kakashi sighed. Hiruzen pushed forwards a file and leaned back as Kakashi read through it, becoming more and more depressed as he did so. Finally, Kakashi returned the file to the desk.

"Naruto has progressed more in the last week than he has done in all the months he spent in team 7." Hiruzen said, his voice gentle but the message brutal. "Gai reports that with the aid of Kage Bunshin, Naruto is fast becoming a taijitsu master. His weapons skills have also improved out of all recognition and he has actually calmed down quite a bit. My son reports that Naruto has already completed the leaf-cutting evercise and is moving on to rock-cutting."

Kakashi seemed to slump even more.

"I am redesignating Naruto as an independent genin and will be rotating him between teams eight, ten and Team Gai." Hiruzen sighed. "At this time, I have promoted Iruka to Tobesku Jonin and placed him in charge of Naruto's overall progress with Naruto also being assigned to aid him in the Academy. Furthermore, given how much he has improved, I will be telling him about his parents and giving him his inheritance withn the week. Given how much he has improved, he may be able to learn the Rasengan."

Kakashi swayed as if someone had thrown a Kunai through his heart.

"Lord Hokage, please…"

"Kakashi." Hiruzen commanded. "You are barred from contacting him for the next two weeks. He is no longer your concern. Your old position in ANBU is still open if you want to re-enlist in it, or I'm sure that I can find a mission or two for you to perform."

For a moment the two remained silent, then Hiruzen spoke again, his voice softer.

"Kakashi, not everyone is suited to teaching. You are one of the best when it comes to completing missions but no-one is great at everything."

"And Naruto…"

"Is leaving the village for a while." Hiruzen smiled. "Team 8 accepted a bodyguard contract to the Land of Snow, but the weather means that Aburame Shino would be at a major disadvantage, so Naruto is going in his stead. Jiraiya will be joining them on the way and he'll teach Naruto what he can during the mission."

Kakashi nodded slowly.

"You may go."

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