I do not own Naruto. All rights go to Misashi Kishimoto. The only thing I own is O.C Ōkami Uchiha. Q/A for review purposes will be at the bottom.
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I was laughing my head off. I did it again! I vandalized Hokage Rock! I heard shinobi chasing me.
"Naruto, come back here! When I get my hands on you!" One of them shouted at me. I didn't hear what the other one said because of my laughter, but I didn't care, I was having the time of my life! We hopped from rooftop to rooftop very quickly. I yelled back,
"Give it up! You're just bent that you don't have the guts to do what I do, do you?! Losers, wannabes! You'll never catch me! Hahahaha!" And just to prove it, during just one second that both didn't see me, I put up a disguise that blended me in perfectly into wooden boards. I heard them bound past me.
"Naruto, hold on!" As soon as I heard them pass beyond ear shot, I lowered my disguise. I laughed at the two suckers.
"Hahaha, that was too easy."
"Oh yeah, Naruto!" A third voice spoke behind me. I yelped and jumped forward, landing on my butt, and turned seeing my sensei.
"Where did you come from Iruka-sensei?! What are you doing here?" He pointed toward me,
"No, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in class?"
"Aww, but the academy sucks!" I complained.
"I don't care. You will follow me back." He grabbed onto the back of my shirt and I didn't resist, already figuring I lost. I can't believe I got caught by Iruka-sensei again! He always ruins my fun. Especially when I'm tied up with rope right in front of the whole class!
"I'm at the end of my rope Naruto! You've failed the graduation exam twice. Tomorrow you're being given another chance and you're messing that up again." I turned my head in defiance. Who does he think he is, telling me what to do? I can do whatever I want. "Fine, because you missed it Naruto, everyone will review the transformation jutsu!" Everybody, including me, groaned.
First one up was Sakura. Man, she looks pretty with her pink hair.
"Alright, Sakura here. Let's do it! Transform!" A puff of smoke appeared to replace her with Iruka-sensei. Sheesh, why him of all people?! Why couldn't she transform into a tree or something? Man this lesson sucks.
"Transformed into me. Good." Sakura returned back into her self and she cheered for herself. Ah, I'm so glad she did well.
"Yes I did it! Sasuke did you see that?" I turned to Sasuke to my left. He didn't look impressed. Of course he's not impressed, she turned into Iruka-sensei, how else are you supposed to feel?!
"Next. Sasuke Uchiha." Iruka-sensei said, and Sasuke stepped up replacing Sakura. A puff of smoke appeared and- wait, why did he turn into Iruka-sensei too?! I know he told us to transform into him but that's clearly him being a narcissist! Why should we transform into him?!
"Next, Naruto Uchiha." Iruka-sensei said.
"This is a complete waste of time, Naruto." Shikamaru remarked annoyed at me.
"We always pay for your screw-ups." Ino added. I grunted,
"Like I care!" I stepped up and did the sign. "Transform!" I transformed from a young boy into a curvy young woman, blowing a kiss to Iruka-sensei. I then saw Iruka-sensei's jaw dropped and his head was pushed back by the massive nose-bleed. I turned back into myself and laughed my head off.
"Hahaha! Got you! That's my sexy jutsu!"
"Cut the stupid tricks!" Iruka screamed back at me. "This is your last warning!"
As punishment for messing up the review, I had to clean all four of the Hokage's faces.
"This sucks. Loser." I said about Iruka-sensei.
"You're not going home until you've cleaned every last drop of paint." Iruka-sensei reminded me, as if I needed to be reminded.
"So what! It's not like I have anybody waiting at home for me. Not even Ōkami since he was adopted by the Inuzukas but not me. Nobody adopted me! I have to live in a crummy place!" I returned to scrubbing the paint off of the rock. That is until he called my name. "What is it now Sensei?" I asked mockingly.
"Well, I was just thinking, maybe after you clean all this stuff off I could take you for some ramen. The good stuff, what do you think?" Ramen? Alright, my number one favorite food!
"Now that's some serious motivation! I'll have this clean in no time!"
It took all day, but I finally cleaned Hokage Rock, which was worth it because now I get to eat ramen! I was slurping up ramen noodles into my mouth when Iruka-sensei called my name. I turned so that I looked at him.
"Why would you do that to the Hokage faces? I mean you know who the Hokage are, don't you?"
"Of course I know." I answer before slurping my dinner down. "Everybody knows who the Hokage are. They're the greatest shinobi of their time. The best of the best. Undefeated ninja champs. And the fourth Hokage was the one who saved the village from the nine-tailed fox. He's the most amazing."
"Then why did you...?"
"Because I'm going to be greater than all of them. Me, Naruto Uchiha, a ninja legend! Then everybody will have to stop disrespecting me and start looking up to me! Believe it!" I pointed my chopsticks at sensei. I could see his surprise written all over his face. "Uhh, by the way, I kind of want to ask you a favor, sensei." Iruka gulped his mouthful and asked,
"You want another bowl?"
"Nah, I want to try on your headband." I requested while putting my hands together. "Come on, please?"
"This? No way. You can only wear the leaf headband when you finally graduate from the acadamy and become a ninja. You've got to pass the test tomorrow."
"That is so uncool!" I complained while Iruka-sensei laughed.
"Hey, is that why you took off your goggles?" Iruka-sensei asked while chuckling.
"I want another bowl!" I defended. "And just you wait! I will pass that exam and become a ninja! Believe it!"
"Yeah alright. Whatever you say." Iruka-sensei dismissed.
By tomorrow, I was sitting with my classmates. Iruka-sensei was speaking.
"Alright, we will start the final exam. When your name is called up, you will proceed to the testing room. The final test will be on the clone jutsu." I aggressively groaned to myself. Of any of the jutsu, why did it have to be that one! Couldn't we just substitute ourselves with logs? This sucks, I'm never going to pass!
I stepped up to the judges once my name was called up. Alright, get it together Naruto. You can do this. Believe it! I made the clone sign.
"Clone jutsu!" I looked to my right to see a weak, useless clone of myself.
"You fail!" Iruka yelled at me. I took a step back from his anger.
"Iruka-sensei, he's off but the moves weren't bad and he was able to hang in there and replicate. This is his third try so you can tell he really wants this and become a ninja. Maybe we should cut him a break and let him pass." I smiled in hope.
"Mizuki, the others were able to at least create three effective replications, but Naruto was only about to complete one. And look at it; it's pitiful. I can't pass him." I looked at Iruka-sensei angrily. He just couldn't give me a break! I pouted and stomped the floor before leaving the room. I walked out of the building and noticed all of my graduated classmates talking to themselves. I slumped down in defeat and walked to the swing and sat there, looking at all the successful students. I failed. Three times in a row at that. I see the kids showing off their headbands, the parents saying how proud they are of their children, the looks some of the children looking at me with those mocking and condescending eyes and sneers. Although, one of them did run up to me. It was my brother, Ōkami. He came up to me cheering followed by his pet Akamaru.
"Check it out Naruto, I passed the exam! Look at my headband!" He flashed his headband on his forehead. Akamaru barked with happiness. I tried to grin, but I could feel it didn't look for feel entirely convincing.
"Yeah, that's great, Ōkami. Congrat...ulations." I meekly said, trying to be supportive. He noticed my sadness and picked up Akamaru to put him in my lap, so that the puppy licked my face, making me smile as I scratched his ear.
"Hey, don't worry Naruto. I mean, so what if you failed a third time? So long as you're not kicked out, you'll succeed and become the Hokage! Right Akamaru?" The puppy yelped in agreement. Naruto perked up a bit and smiled.
"Thanks Ōkami." In that instant, Mizuki-sensei dropped down next to us, asking,
"Ōkami, how about you go back to your friends? I need to speak to Naruto. Alone."
"Alright. I'll talk to you later bro. Come on Akamaru." He scooped up his puppy into his arms and walked off. I turned to the other teacher.
"What is it that you need?"
"Come with me." He then disappeared, but I was able to tell how to follow him, so I did.
We soon sat on a high balcony facing the sunset sitting down.
"Iruka-sensei is tough, but he's not against you."
"Then why? Why only me?"
"He wants you to be stong with all his heart. But that will never happen if he goes easy on you. He's mostly like you. Aside from your brother, both of you have no other living family."
"But this time I really wanted to graduate." I stated. Mizuki-sensei then chuckled.
"Then I guess I've got to tell you." I looked to Mizuki-sensei with intrigue. "It's a secret but I'm going to let you in on it."
"A secret?" I asked.
"There's this scroll in the Hokage manor. It contains all sorts of secrets and jutsu that could easily get Iruka to pass you. After all, any who learn a skill from the scroll automatically passes. Iruka knows that."
"So I just have to learn a jutsu from this scroll and I pass?
"That's how it works." Mizuki confirmed. I jumped up to my feet.
"Alright! Thanks Mizuki-sensei! I'm going to become a ninja!"
"Calm down. Now, you need to do this at night so that you'll be less visible. Use all the tricks you know so that you can get the scroll and escape before anybody notices."
"Oh, okay. Thanks for the tip. See ya." I jumped off the roof and headed for home. I can't believe it. A secret mission! If all goes well I'll graduate and be a ninja! Just you wait Iruka, I'll be the greatest you've ever known!
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Whew, that was tough. There were definitely some close calls, but I managed to snag the scroll Mizuki needed. I put the scroll down and opened it.
"Alright, first thing is the multi-shadow clone jutsu... augh! Not this again! That's my worst jutsu!" After a few seconds of fuming I looked at the scroll again. "Alright, let's see the instructions."
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Aha! I did it. I completed the jutsu! I can now make clones! I can't wait to see Iruka-sensei's face when I show him! As I panted, I heard footsteps and saw a shadow in front of me. I looked up to see Iruka-sensei.
"It's all over, Naruto." He said almost menacingly. I scratched my head nervously.
"Hehehe, you got me already? Not bad Sensei. I only had time to learn one technique. Listen Iruka-sensei! I'm going to show you this amazing jutzu then you're going to let me graduate and then everything will be okay. That's the way it works, right? Anyone who learns a technique from this scroll passes, right?"
"Where did you get that idea?" He asked fearfully confused.
"Mizuki-sensei told me." I turned my back to show him the huge scroll on my back. "He told me where to find the scroll, and this place..." Huh, why did Iruka-sensei look so scared?
"Look out!" I heard before I was pushed out of the way. When I looked back I saw Iruka-sensei injured from kunai stuck to him.
"I see you found our little hideaway. Naruto, give me the scroll now!" Mizuki ordered.
"Wait a minute, what's going on here?!" I asked concerned.
"Naruto, don't let Mizuki get the scroll!" Iruka warned. "It contains forbidden jutsu that could put the village in grave danger! Mizuki was using you to get the scroll himself and for his own power!"
"Naruto, Iruka is just trying to scare you cause he doesn't want you to have the scroll." Mizuki said. I looked to Iruka-sensei.
"Stop lying to him, Mizuki! Don't let him trick you Naruto!"
"Oh I'll tell you who's really lying. They've been lying to you your whole life, Naruto! You've been kept out of the loop by everyone. Iruka is trying to hide it from you even now." Mizuki admitted.
"What is this, and why does everybody know about it but me?" I asked, now fearful of what I'm going to hear.
"Don't tell him, it's forbidden!" I hear Iruka warn.
"The rule is that no one was allowed to tell you that the nine-tailed fox is in you!" I gasped in shock. "The tailed spirit that killed many and destroyed our village lives in your body. You are the nine-tailed fox! They've been hiding things from you your whole life! Didn't you think it was strange how they treated you? Like they hated you for existing?!"
"No! No no no NO!" I repeatedly screamed!
"That's why you'll never be accepted in the village! Even your beloved sensei hates your guts!" He grabbed one of his giant shuriken off his back. "Die Naruto!" I saw the weapon flying at me, but I stumbled as I tried getting away. Than, just as it was about to slice me in half, Iruka-sensei took the hit, a bone audibly cracking from the attack. Everyone was silent for a few seconds before Iruka-sensei coughed blood.
"W-why?" I asked.
"Because we're the same. When I lost my parents, no one seemed to care. They didn't have time for me. They just forgot I was there. My grades dropped. I became the class clown. I just wanted them to see me and know my name. My school wasn't good enough to get their attention. So I had to do crazy things, and then I had to pay for it. It was hard, and I know it's how you feel Naruto." I felt tears touch my face, as Iruka-sensei cried. "You feel lonely and it hurts inside. And I could've been there for you more. I failed you Naruto. I'm sorry. Nobody should have to suffer that much. No one should be alone like that." Behind Iruka, Mizuki chuckled.
"Don't make me laugh! Iruka always hated you! The nine-tailed fox killed his parents, and now it lives inside you!"
"Shut up!" I shouted. I slipped out from under Iruka-sensei and stared coldly at the liar. "I am not what you're saying! Even if you are right that the tailed beast is within me, that doesn't make me a beast as well!"
"You're a fool! A freak! As if you could beat me! I'm a teacher and you're less than a genin! What can someone like you do?!" Mizuki challenged.
"Don't underestimate me! I may not be a genin, but I'm still an Uchiha!" I declared as I activated my sharingan.
"Oh please, even with the sharingan, you only have one tomoe on each eye. I already know that for a fact. At best your reaction speed is as good as mine. You have the eyes of a beast because you are a beast!" Mizuki mocked insultingly.
"I'm not a beast! Despite everything I always try my best just to be respected. To be seen as more than nothing! I would never betray the leaf, unlike you! I am Naruto Uchiha of the hidden leaf, and I will become Hokage! Believe it!" I proclaimed.
"Such big words from a little runt. I can destroy you with a single move!" Mizuki boasted. I put my fingers into a cross.
"Take your best shot! I deliver it back a thousand fold! Shadow clone jutzu!" True to my word, I created 1000 perfect clones of myself. Mizuki looked quite unnerved, which I grinned at. He snarled,
"Yeah well, I still know where you are!" He threw his second shuriken at me, but I was easily able to jump out of the way and jump him, my clones taking the weapon so that it wouldn't reach Iruka-sensei, poofing as a result.
"Get ready, cause you're going to lose!" Me and my remaining army of me rushed at him. By morning, Mizuki was completely knocked out swollen and bloodied. "I wonder if I got carried away?" I looked to Iruka-sensei. "Iruka-sensei! Are you alright?!" I ran to my real teacher and he smiled.
"Yeah. Come here for a minute. I've got something for you." I walked up to Iruka-sensei as he took off his headband, and placed it on my head. "Congratulations. You graduate." I... pass? "And to celebrate, I have a surprise. We're going out for ramen tonight." My mouth quivered a bit as my emotions cycled very quickly in my mind. I then pounced on my sensei.
"Iruka-sensei!"
"Ow! Hey, that hurts!" I heard him say.
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Episode 2 continues as normal
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I wake up bright and early, the sunshine and chirping birds having woke me up. I stretch my arms out and yawn. I get out of bed and looked at the calendar. October 15th... wait! That's orientation day! I chuckle and grin. To celebrate, I got out a cup of instant ramen and milk.
"Today's the day so... let's chow down!" I gobbled up my breakfast and milk and headed out in my normal clothes after. I was just about to put on my goggles when I remembered I had a leaf headband. I grinned to myself as I put on the headband.
Finally ready, I started walking to the academy. Along the way I noticed a disguise blanket along the fence to my left. The next second Konohamaru tried to attack me but tripped over his own blanket. I didn't even stop or turn my head as I strolled past him. "Sorry, but I've got an orientation to go to. I'm heading to the academy." Once I got to the academy, I sat down and giggled to myself. I'm finally a full fledged ninja!
"What are you doing here Naruto? This isn't for drop outs. You can't be here unless you graduate." I heard Shikamaru ask me from behind in confusion.
"Yeah well, you see this?" I pointed to my forhead. "It's a regulation headband. We're going to be training together. How do you like that?" Shikamaru didn't answer but I knew he was jealous. I can see him hiding it but I know better. Nothing gets past Naruto Uchiha! "Let me put it to you this way, I look great in this headband like it was made for me. Believe it!"
I then laughed. I was then interrupted by the sound of scuffling, so I look back to see Sakura and Ino squeeze through the door, both shouting they were first. Oh Sakura, you look so beautiful. She then turned towards me. Wait, she's looking at me! She must like my headband! I grinned and chuckled. As she got near me in excitement, I called out, "Hey Sakura, what's up?"
"Move it!" She shoved me out the way and I fell flat on my face. I grumbled in pain for a few seconds before I looked to see in just the 10 seconds I was knocked away that all the girls were arguing who to sit next to with Sasuke. I got real annoyed and jumped onto Sasuke's desk right in front of him square in the face, and he stared back at me. I growled at him. "Naruto, stop glaring at Sasuke!" Sakura scolded. I looked at her in disbelief. I looked back at Sasuke. Why are they so obsessed him? It's always Sasuke this and Sasuke that. What's the big deal with this guy? I could hear all of the girls telling me to back off but I kept persisting to look at him menacingly. Then all of the sudden, I felt something nudge me in the butt an...
...
...
My lips connected with his. Am I... kissing... SASUKE???!!! I backed away from him gagging and spitting, not wanting any of his saliva in my mouth. Right in the middle of that though, I sensed danger. I looked to my right amd saw all the girls furious... directed at me! "Naruto, you are so dead."
"No wait hold on!" I defended while flailing my arms around. "It wad an accident I swear! No, hold on!"
When I came to, I could feel my whole body aching and hurting. I could tell that Iruka-sensei was talking. Did he mention something of a three-man squad? Hmm, I want to be with Sakura but, I don't care who the other person is as long as it's not Sasuke.
"We want each squad to have a balance of strengths and abilities. So that's how we set them up. I will now announce the squads." Iruka-sensei explained. I heard my name. "Squad 7; Naruto Uchiha." I perked up. Man I hope I get Sakura. "Sakura Haruno."
"Yeah!" I cheered. I can't believe it! Out of everybody here, Sakura is my squadmate?! It's a dream come true! "And finally, Sasuke Uchiha." I heard Sensei say... what? My head dropped onto my desk and I solemnly swear,
"I'm doomed." I heard Sakura cheer next to me, happy we got him.
"Next squad 8; Hinata Hyuga. Ōkami Inuzuka. Shino Aburame." I looked to my younger brother. Well, at least my brother is paired up with some good people. I at least know those two, if only a little. Ōkami turned to me and smiled as he gave me a thumbs up. I returned both gestures proudly. Then I turned to Iruka-sensei heavily annoyed.
"Iruka-sensei, why does a great ninja like me have to be in the same group with a slug like Sasuke?!" I complained.
"Let me put it to you this way. Sasuke had the highest grades of the students. Naruto, you got the worst scores." Every laughed at that, making me feel embarrassed. "To create a balanced team, we pit the best student with the worst student."
"Just make sure you don't get in my way. Loser." Sasuke said to me. I growled as I tightened my fist.
"What did you say?!" I threatened.
"Hard of hearing?"
"Knock it off Naruto! Sit down!" Loud coughing got our attention as Iruka-sensei called out attention.
"After lunch, you'll meet your new jonin teachers. Until then class dismissed.
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The rest of episode 3 is ignored. I'm not sure how important it actually is.
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I can't believe it! My new sensei is late! I don't see him anywhere down the halls or out the windows in any direction! This sucks!
"Naruto, just sit down!" Sakura tried telling me.
"I don't want to! How come our teacher is the one to be late! I'm ready to rule! Believe it! The others got to see their teachers and go on some adventure or something! And Iruka-sensei is gone too." I rattled.
"We know, okay? Hey, what are you doing Naruto?!" Sakura asked as I got a school and stuck an erasor in the door.
"This is what he gets for being late. Surprise!" I cheered.
"You asking for trouble. You know you shouldn't do that." Sakura objected.
"Our teacher is a jonin; an elite ninja. You think he'll fall for that? Sasuke added. Man he's a buzzkill.
"Yeah Sasuke's right. You're so clueless Naruto." Suddenly the door opened and what appeared to be our teacher stepped in and my eraser fell on his head.
"Hahaha! I got him! He totally fell for it!" I continued laughing even as he inspected the eraser.
"I'm sorry sensei. I told him not to do it but he didn't listen. I'd never do a thing like that." Sakura pleaded.
"Hmm, how can I put this? My first impression of this group..." We waited in anticipation for what he was going to say. "You're a bunch of idiots." Aww dang, talk about not handling a prank. "Well, at any rate follow me up to the roof." The teacher instructed us as he left. A pain shot across my head as I was punched by Sakura.
"Oww! What was that for, Sakura?!" I asked indignantly.
"That was for giving him a bad impression of us you idiot!" She yelled before walking off. I grumbled as I followed after her.
All of us were on the roof with the teacher sitting on the rail.
"Alright, introduce each of yourselves. One at a time."
"Introduce ourselves?" I asked. "How can you not know me?!" I complained that a teacher didn't know me!
"What are we supposed to say?" Sakura asked, ignoring me for some reason.
"Things you like, things you hate, dreams for the future. Hobbies. Stuff like that." The teacher answered us, ignoring me as well. Sheesh, why am I getting zero attention?!
"Well, why don't you tell us stuff about you so we know how it works, teacher?"
"Me? I'm Kakashi Hatake. Things I like and hate... I don't feel like telling you that. My dreams for the future... huh. I never really thought about it. As for hobbies, I have lots of hobbies."
"That was totally useless." Sakura whispers to us. "All he told us was his name." I nodded.
"Okay, your turn. You on the right." Finally, he acknowledges me. About time.
"Believe it, I'm Naruto Uchiha! I like instant ramen in a cup, tonkotsu ramen, shōyu ramen, shio ramen my favorite and miso ramen. I hate the three minutes you have to wait to eat it. My hobbies are eating all sorts of ramen. I've tried Kitakana ramen, Hakata ramen with tonkotsu soup, Waykayama ramen, Tsukemen dipping ramen, Takayama ramen and Sapporo ramen. I also like combining and comparing to get the best flavor of ramen. And my future dream is to be the greatest Hokage, so that the whole village will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like somebody important." I explained myself.
"I'm Sakura Haruno. What I like... no the person I like... my hobbies are... my dream for the future..." She simply giggled to herself. What's up with Sakura? Why is she so giddy all of the sudden?
"And... what do you hate?" I heard Kakashi ask her.
"Naruto!" She shouted with rage. I slipped and fell onto my face, groaning and tears trailing down my face. Then I heard Sasuke.
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I hate a lot of things, and I don't particularly like anything. What I have is not a dream, for I will make it a reality. I'm going to restore my clan, and destroy a certain someone." That morbid introduction sure shut me up. Jeez, I hope I'm not that someone.
"Good. You're each unique and you have your own ideas. We'll have our first mission tomorrow." Kakashi-sensei's words got me excited quick.
"What kind of mission are we going to have?" I asked excitedly.
"It's a task that the four of us will do together. A survival exercise."
"A survival exercise?" I questioned.
"I thought we were supposed to have a real mission? Not more practice." Sakura complained, just like I was thinking. "We already did this stuff in the academy. That's why we're here."
"This is not like your previous training."
"So what kind of training is it then?" I was a little unnerved by the way he was chuckling.
"Hey, hold on, that was a normal question. What's so funny?" Sakura asked.
"Of the 27 graduates who came here, only 9 will be accepted as genin. The other 18 will be weeded out and sent back to the academy. In other words, this is a make it or break it pass fail test. And the chance you'll fail is 66%." My jaw dropped at this news.
"That's crazy!" I objected. "We worked hard to get here! What was that graduation test for anyway?!"
"That? That was just to select candidates who might become genin. Or not."
"What?!"
"That's how it is. I decide who gets to pass or fail. Be at the designated training area at 5 am. And bring your ninja gear." Well I'm not going to be weeded out. People are going to look up to me. I've got to pass this test. Believe it. Believe it! "That's it, you're dismissed. Oh, and you'd better skip breakfast or you'll puke." Huh? Puke?
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At 5 am, I saw my teamates. Seems like she's unaccustomed to waking up this early too from how she was rubbing her eyes. Sasuke didn't even look tired. Screw it. I'm too tired to be annoyed at him. In fact, I'm just... going... to...
"Morning everyone. Ready for your first day?" I jolted awake from a new noise. Once I looked at what appeared to be Kakashi-sensei, Sakura and I cried out angrily,
"Hey you're late!"
"Well a black cat crossed my path so I had to take the long way." I growled in response.
"Well, let's get started." He placed a clock on a stump and set the time. He also held up a couple of bells on strings. "Your mission is very simple. You just have to take these bells from me. That's all there is to it. If you can't get them by noon you go without lunch. Then you'll be tied to those posts and watch while I eat my lunch in front of you." I groaned, not believing he would put us through that!
"Wait a minute, there's three of us. How come there are only two bells?" Sakura asked bringing my attention back.
"Well, that way one of you will be tied to a post and will be disqualified for failing to complete the mission. That one goes back to the academy. Then again, all three of you could flunk out too. You can use any weapons, including shuriken. If you aren't prepared to kill me, you won't be able to take the bells."
"Those weapons are too dangerous sensei!" Sakura objected. I laughed in spite of her hesitance.
"Especially since you couldn't dodge that eraser."
"Class clowns are usually the weakest link. You can safely ignore them. Lowest scores mean your one of the losers." What?! Is he calling me weak, ignorable and a loser in the same sentence?! I pulled out a kunai and charged him.
...
I felt my whole body stop suddenly. I feel Sensei right behind me restraining me, my kunai pointed at the back of my head. "Don't be in a hurry. I didn't say start yet." He then let me go. "But, you did come at me with the full intention of destroying me. I'm starting to like you guys." He let me ho by pushing me. "Aaaaand... start!"
Sasuke and Sakura jumped away but I stayed put right in front of him. No way am I going to hide like a coward!
"Alright Sensei, you and me, right here and now fair and square! Let's go!"
"You know compared to the others you're quite strange."
"Oh yeah? The only thing strange is your haircut!" I then charged again, but stopped when he was getting something from his pouch.
"Shinobi battle tactics part one; taijutsu. The physical part." Taijutsu. That's hand to hand combat. Then why is he drawing a weapon? When he held out a book, I was utterly confused.
"What are you waiting for? Make your move."
"But why are you reading that book?!"
"Why? To figure out what happens in the story of course. Don't worry about it. With your weak attacks it doesn't matter if I'm reading or whatever." This just infuriated me! He's not even going to bother looking at me! I activated my sharingan and resumed by attack.
"I'm going to crush you!" I tried kicking and punching him, but he dodged my offense with complete ease. During my last punch, he completely disappeared and I heard him behind me saying,
"Don't let your opponent get behind you all the time." Then I felt something really uncomfortable in my butthole. I screamed in agony as I was practically stabbed from there and landed in the stream. Why the hell would he do that! What sort of attack is that! Like hell I'm going to go out like this! I'll attack from the water! I formed hand signs and created several shadow clones and sent them up ahead. I swam to the side and got out from an angle where nobody was looking. Good everybody was distracted by my complaining clone. I could feel my stomach growling, but I won't let that stop me. I saw the other clones emerge from the water and begin the assault. As he turned and boasted to my clones, I leapt and grabbed him from behind, catching him by surprise.
"Didn't you say not to let your enemy get behind you? Good advice Sensei. Believe it." Soon all my clones ganged up and dogpiled on him. One of my clones was aiming to punch him in the face. "This is for nailing me in the butt earlier!" I was pushed back by not Sensei, but one of my clones the next second. As soon as my clone got his bearings, he said,
"It's you. You're Kakashi-sensei, aren't you! You transformed into me using a jutsu!" We then devolved into an outright brawl just punching and kicking each other. What the hell's going on here?! Eventually I ended the jutsu after we all agreed to do so, so there I was left after they disappeared, bruised and hurting. Wait, shouldn't there be one other so that Sensei was exposed? A glint caught my eye and I saw a stranded bell.
"One of the bells?" Not only that, I could even see a rope right in front of it. What is that, a trap? Given how good it was hidden, I probably wouldn't have noticed it if my sharingan wasn't on. I grinned as I threw a shuriken at the rope, severing it and seeing the beanch it was attached to spring back up to how it should be. Hehe, trying to trick someone as great as me, huh? No siree, I won't fall for something like-Augh! For a second I fell until I landed on my back, hurting even more now. I looked up to see I was in a hole, several stories deep. Kakashi-sensei appeared above the hole.
"I applaude you for seeing the bait, but did you think I wouldn't have a back up? Also, don't let your enemies use your jutsu against you." I growled as I leapt off the walls in zigzags to escape and beat him up, but the ground above me closed and I hit my head on the ceiling and fell back down. I heard a thump above me shortly after I thumped on my butt. As time passed I hear scuffling and distant voices, but I can't tell anything down here. I growl as I try escaping multiple times, but the ceiling just won't give! Kicking, ninja tools, nothing worked! I decided enough was enough and summoned enough shadow clones to pile up. It took a couple of tries but eventually I broke free from the closed hole from our combined pushing by pushing away the dense ceiling and crawled out. All the clones behind me poofed away and I looked around to see nobody around. Where did they go? I soon spotted something odd in the distance. What's that over there? Wait, are those lunch boxes?! Yes! I ran up to the lunch boxes and sat down.
"Sensei told us we don't get lunch if we don't get a bell, but if I eat now there's nothing he can do. It's chow time!"
"Hi there." A voice called from above me. I screamed as I looked up to see Kakashi-sensei.
"Ugh, I was just joking Sensei." I weakly defended.
"Nice try." He called my bluff and he jumped me, snatching me away before I could react.
"Wait! Wait!! I wasn't going to eat! I swear! I was just taking a break!
"You broke the rules, now you get the consequence for it." He threw me at the middle post and tied me up before I could run. "Now, wait here while I tend to the others." He disappeared, leaving me alone.
"Aww come on! Why am I abandoned here like this?! This is just cruel!" I cursed for a few minutes until my throat was sore from the constant yelling. Soon after that I jumped from the bell above me going off. Dang it, it's noon! This really sucks. Soon enough though Sasuke and Sakura came back utterly defeated with Kakashi-sensei following them. Once all of us were sitting, Kakashi-sensei spoke to us disappointed.
"Uh oh. Stomachs growling huh? That's too bad. Oh, by the way, about this excercise, I've decided to not send any of you back to the academy." Sakura and I started cheering and celebrating from this news. "That's right, became I'm dropping you all from the program. Permanently!" We shut up from that addition. I've been dropped?
"You're dropping us?! But that means we'll never become ninja! You said that if we couldn't take the bells we would be sent back to the academy! You can't just change your mind and kick us out! Why would you do that?!"
"It's because you don't think like ninja. You think like little kids; like brats." That seemed to have ticked off Sasuke since he tried attacking Sensei only to be sidestepped and pushed into the ground with Sensei holding him down. "You think it's all about you."
"Get off of Sasuke, you can't just step on him like he's some bug!" Sakura screamed at Sensei, making me wince from her screeching volume.
"None of you know what it means to be a ninja. You think it's a game, huh? Why do you think we put you in squads? Did you consider that for one moment? You never even realized what this excercise was about."
"What it's about?" I repeated.
"Yes. That's what determines whether you pasd or fail. Use your head. We put three people in a squad. Why would we do that?"
"How are we supposed to know that?! We didn't make the rules!" I yelled in response.
"It's so basic; teamwork!" He answered annoyed.
"Just working together, that's what you mean?" Sakura asked.
"That's what I mean. It's too late now, but if you all have come at me, you might've been able to take them. Well, it's over anyway."
"Wait a minute, you set it up with three people but only two bells. If we worked together and got the bells only two of us could keep them. That would lead to group conflict and the squad to break up." Was it really that obvious? Ugh, of course we failed now. I don't know about Sasuke but if Sakura just leant a hand we might've actually won. I sure screwed up this time.
"Exactly. I purposely pitted you up against each other. I wanted to see if you could overcome and put the squad ahead of yourselves. A genin should have a natural feel of teamwork, but it never even crossed your minds. Sakura, you've obsessed about Sasuke so painfully when he was gone, while Naruto was right in front of you but you even lifted a finger to help him. People like you, selfish and greedy. Naruto, you do everything on your own. Everything. You don't help others, and you don't listen to others. You think it's all about the 'great and powerful' Naruto Uchiha who learned to make shadow clones, who also recived the worst grades in the academy's history and falls for even the most basic of deception."
Ouch, he's really laying it on thick on us. But... come on. Nobody ever helped me except for Iruka-sensei. How am I supposed to know how this teamwork thing works if nobody else was willing to do it before? "And you Sasuke; you thought the others were so far beneath you you thought they were worthless. It's overconfident and blindingly arrogant people like that that are the truly worthless ones. Ninja missions are carried out in squads! Teamwork is the most essential element. Every shinobi understands this. When individuals put themselves above the squad, this can lead to failure and death." I saw him pull out a kunai and place it against Sasuke's throat. "For example. Sakura, kill Naruto now or Sasuke dies." I gasp in fright and struggle trying to escape. I don't want to die because of Sasuke! "That's what happens on a mission." He pulled the kunai away. I sighed in relief, forgetting it was an example. "The enemy takes a hostage and you have to make an impossible decision. And someone ends up dead. On every mission your life is on the line."
I saw him put the kunai away and get off of Sasuke, allowing him to get up and come back to us. "Did you look at this stone? The names engraved on it? They are all ninja who are honored as heroes in our village. One thing they have in common? They were all killed, for the sake of the village. A memorial stone for those that fallen. The names of my closest friends are engraved on here." I looked down solemnly. Have I been really that bad as a ninja? I didn't want to think if I got myself or my friends killed because of my actions. Wow. For once I really do suck. After a bit of silence, he finally said, "Alright, I'm giving you one last chance, but I'm going to make it much harder on you. You'll have three hours to get a bell. Eat lunch now to build up strength, but Naruto doesn't get any." I growled in irritation. "It's your punishment for breaking the rules and trying to eat by yourself. And if anyone tries to feed him, that person will immediately fail." I noticed his tone getting darker. "I make the rules. You follow them."
Soon after he left, and both of my teammates were eating their lunch without me. Every so often my stomach would growl, and I growled in irritation. This sucks more than anything in the past week. Looking at these two eat while I starve. Normally I'd say something like I coupd go two weeks without eating anything, but I'm too hungry and distracted to say a anything. Not that they'd believe me anyway. I heard Sasuke sigh before he passed me his lunch.
"Here, take it." I lightly gasped at his gesture.
"What? No Sasuke, you can't do that. You heard what the sensei said." Sakura said behind me. Gee, thanks Sakura.
"Kakashi's gone. We need to get those bells as a team. If Naruto's hungry he'll be weak and ineffective. That hurts the team and jeopardizes the mission." I felt something nudge my left arm and I turned my head to see Sakura holding her lunch out to me. She gave me a smile. The first genuine smile she gave me ever since we've known each other. My eyes started watering.
"Damn it, you guys are awesome. Thank you so much."
"Don't thank us, just hurry up and eat."
"I would, but I can't move my hands you'll each have to feed me." I meekly requested. Sakura appered to be objected to it, but Sasuke cut her off.
"Hurry up. Kakashi could come back any minute now."
"Fine. This is one time only. You got it!? I'll never do this again, is that clear?!" She yelled at me, but I was too happy to care.
"Loud and clear." I replied. She offered me a bit if rice, and I gladly chomped down on it. However, a plume of smoke erupted in front of us and Kakashi stepped out.
"You!" He yelled with such ferocity, it scared me senseless! "You broke the rules! I hope you're ready for the punishment!" I saw him put a handsign together and dark clouds formed around us. "Any last words?" With clattering teeth I tried responding,
"B-b-but yo-ou said-d"
"Yes?" He interrupted me. I eventually got my resolve.
"You said there were three of us! That's what you said, and that's why Sakura..."
"We're all in this squad and we're all in it together!" Sasuke defended with me.
"Yeah that's right! We gave our lunch to him because the three of us are one!"
"Yeah yeah yeah yeah! Believe it! That's right!" I finalized kicking.
"You three are all one?! That's your excuse?!" A few seconds pass in tense silence before he says in a surprisingly pleased tone, "You pass."
Huh? Passed? Passed what?
"What do you mean? How did we pass?" Sakura asked next to me.
"You pass. You're the first squad who ever succeeded under me. The others did exactly what I said, and fell into every trap. They couldn't think for themselves. A ninja must see through deception. In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, that is true, but those who abandon their friends, are worse than scum. I was nearly on the verge of tears. I passed! I really passed!
"You know, he's kinda cool." I whimpered.
"The excercise is over. Everyone passes! Squad 7 starts it's first mission tomorrow!" He declared while giving a thumbs up.
"I did it! I did it! Belive it! I became a ninja, ninja ninja!"
"Let's go home. I'll treat you all to lunch as celebration." Kakashi-Sensei said as the others followed him... Wait! I'm still tied to this post!
"Hey, you guys forgot to untie me!" I shouted after them.
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A/N: Alright, let's get a few things out of the way.
1. I know there wasn't too much change, but that's because there wasn't much opportunity to. The Land of Waves bit should be more creative and interesting.
2. Alright, I can see how keeping it to only one perspective can limit such a big and complicated story, but I am a novice after all, and while I will perform to the best of my abilities for your entertainment, doing the whole thing intimidates me so I wanted to tackle it in a more reasonable way.
3. Interesting. I never considered point of perspectives to certain genres. I'll keep this in mind.
4. If I by any chance perform poorly enough that you guys want me to stop, I warn you that I will keep going till at least the Chunin exams arc as I see it as my second favorite arc of the original anime with a LOT of potential for me. If people still want me to stop, I'll just go on to my big next thing. Some things are just too big for some people. Especially a who just started on .
5. I have found some more Naruto plots to write so this won't be my last plot in the Naruto franchise afterall. Huzzah!
6. Just so I get an understanding of what I'm doing right or wrong, I'll need at least 50 reviews before I start the next chapter, so that I'm certain on how to improve.
7. How do I upload my stories to AO3? I could probably get more reviews by posting there as well.
Thank you for reading, and have a nice day.