Authors Note: I know that there has been a lot of time between updates and I'm not going to come up with an extravagant excuse like others would I got busy and haven't had time plain and simple. That being said I hope you enjoy the newest instalment

Chapter 7: Tests of Bonds and a Dinner Party?

Last time ….

"Well, if you can use the first two gates, I'd say your strength is plenty enough to pass my test. So, if you want to close them now and I'll tell the clan. Do you want me to take it back before your graduation dinner?" Frank asked. "That would be lovely Frank. Also, can you tell the clan well be having three summon bosses over Enma, Carla, and Komatao." Dracula said before poofing out along with everyone else leaving Naruto to train by himself for the rest of the afternoon.

And present ….

Here they were all the people who passed the graduation exam and were about to be assigned a team. Most where you average civilian kid who thought they could make it to fame by becoming a ninja. But there are eight among them that showed fountains of potential These people were Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame.(All cannon outfits and skills so far) There is one that shows more potential than the rest and that is Naruto Uzumaki, dressed in a white fur shirt with yellow bandages around his arms and legs and seaweed green scale shorts going down to the knees, the current and only holder of the Monster Summoning Contract. As he was waiting for the teacher arrived he was still pondering on who his team may be and if they won't like him for his summon contract. Before his thoughts could get any farther the door opened and in walked Iruka the head teacher for the class he was in and was supposed to be in before discovering the contract. "All right class settle down and I'll call out the teams." No reaction from most of the students to busy chatting in their friend groups to pay the scarred instructor any mind. "SIT DOWN AND LISTEN UP YOU BRATS" Iruka stated with a tick mark for being ignored and with his head about 10 times bigger. "Right, Team 1 …." Naruto ignored the cheers of all the civilians who did get on the team they wanted "Team Seven Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Choji Akimichi. Team Eight Hinata Hyuga, Ino Yamanaka, Kiba Inuzuka. Team Nine is still in circulation from last year making the last team, Team Ten with Naruto Uzumaki, Shikamaru Nara and Shino Aburame. It's been fun teaching you all and I wish you all the best of luck. Your instructors should arrive in about an hour." Iruka said giving them their final dismissal. Shino walked down to Naruto's row and then both proceeded to go collect their third teammate without a word.

Outside under a tree near the sparing rings you could find the three new teammates getting to know each other. "So, why do you guys think we got put into a team together?" Naruto started off breaking the semi-awkward silence that came after escaping the classroom for lunch. After taking a bite out of his bento box Shikamaru gave his reasoning "Well from what I know of Shino and his clansmen they are typically long range fighters with tracking skills, so my assumption is that is his roll on this team." After a nod from Shino, he continued "My clan usually are midrange fighters with more of a tactical mindset. That would mean you are more than likely plugged in for being our close range fighter with a different role depending on who are sensei is." Shikamaru said as he finished his lunch and prepared to go back to wait for their sensei. They didn't have to wait long soon after lunch and most of the civilian kids being shuffled out by nondescript jonin leaving just the nine teens when two more jonin walked in. One was a lady in a white with red trim ribboned dress and a red arm covering on her right arm. "Team Eight follow me." She said before spinning on her heal and walking right back out the door. The other one to enter was a man with black spiky hair connected to a full but well-trimmed beard in the standard jonin attire except for the two trench blades at his hip and the purple sash around his waist with the kanji for 12 on it. "Team 10 follow me." The man said popping a cigarette in his mouth and turning to leave now that he had collected his team.

After about ten minutes of walking to the training grounds area they arrived at their designated training ground. It wasn't much there was a small, shallow, and calm flowing stream running through the middle of the training ground leading to a pond you could barely make out in the distance, a couple of practice dummies and a circle of flat rocks to offer a place to sit and with trees making up a majority of the scenery around the edge of the clearing.

"Alrighty tell us a little about yourselves likes dislikes and the sort." Said Asuma after lighting the cigarette and sitting on one of the stones and motioning for them to do the same. "Well, my name is Naruto Uzumaki, my likes are my summons and training, and my dislikes are traitors and people who can't tell the difference between a kunai and a scroll." Naruto stated after a brief pause of silence. "My name is Shikamaru Nara, my likes are my clan members and tending to the family deer, my dislike is anything I deem troublesome." Shikamaru said realizing it was his turn next. "My name is Shino Aburame, My likes are my clan and insects, my dislikes are pesticides and people who kill insects for no reason." Shino stated with a low buzzing sound coming off him at the mention of his dislikes. "Right well my name is Asuma Sarutobi, my likes are my fellow jonin's and my clan, my dislikes are elders who can't let go of the past and perverts." Asuma said before continuing. "So, this team as with all other teams made this year are supposed to be well rounded so we have Shino for tracking and wearing down the enemy, Shikamaru to capture and hold the enemy, and Naruto who will be our jack of all trades, so I'm told because of his summons." He breaks to take a drag of his cigarette " So your task to officially become Genin is simple you have three options you can track down and capture Kakashi to find and burn his stash of books, replace the hokage's stash of tabaco with these mushrooms, or find and get Kurenai to tell you her crushes name."

After a bit of discussion Naruto speaks up "We chose to replace the stash of tabaco with the mushrooms." At this Asuma quirks an eyebrow but nods none the less and gives the kids the bag to replace with the tabaco. "Find me after your done" Where his last words as he vanished unknowingly to the genin to follow them and see how this takes place. As the newly grads are left alone they start discussing on how to accomplish this task they have been given. "So, what is the plan?" Naruto asks. "I believe are best bet would be to have you and me as a distraction as Shino's bugs exchange what are objective is." Shikamaru states as he holds his hands in an upside down semi-circle. Seeing a nod from both of his teammates they make way to the tower discussing different plans to distract the aging kage. As they walk into the office, all except Shino who is using a female bug he planted on Naruto to guide his insects through the ventilation shafts with the bag of mushrooms, "Hey old man you haven't forgotten about the dinner tonight I hope?" Naruto asks in a sickly sweet voice making the hokage sweat and gulp nervously. " Of course not, and I have already had a long talk with Enma to be on his upmost best behavior tonight." He chuckles out. "That's great to hear because you know how they would have reacted if you were a no show to the dinner." At this he remembers something turning to Shikamaru he remembers to ask "Hey, would you and your family like to come to diner tonight as well? You could even bring you summon over!" Naruto asks then exclaims. "Yeah I'll have to ask my parents though the fact you know of the Nara clan's connection to the deer contract is remarkable considering no one really summons them anymore." Shikamaru states.

Just as he was about to retort Shino walks in followed by Asuma. "Sorry I was just in the restroom. Also, yes I would have to talk to my parents as well for the dinner party." Shino says "That's cool how you can talk to insects! Did you have some on me to hear about the dinner invite? " Naruto asks "Yes, as to why I planted a bug on you is because I haven't been in the hokage tower much and didn't want to get lost is all" Shino said answering the hokage's question before he asked it. "Are you going to invite the Insect summons? And are you going Asuma sensei?" "Wouldn't miss it for the world kid" Asuma responds. Turning to Shino and getting a nod in conformation they all leave the hokage's office with Asuma using hand seals behind his back to tell his dad not to smoke till he comes back.

Back at the training field Asuma tells them to report. "We broke off into two teams team A, which served as a distraction so team two could slip the bag of mushrooms in place of the normal tabaco." Naruto started. "Then after which team A consisting of Naruto and I went into the hokage's office to pose a situation that would demand most of his attention drawing them from the surrounding to us." Shikamaru continued. "Then using the female beetle I planted on Naruto during our walk there I brought the mushrooms using my beetles to the desk and swapped out the tabaco for it. Once that was done I went to go in and you followed behind me." Shino finished. Asuma was pleased oh was his team going to do wonders. "Well, to start off you passed the tests were designed to test teamwork because only when you worked together did you actually accomplish the mission. Now what time is the dinner Naruto?" Asuma stated then asked." They said to meet at the hokage tower at 7:30 pm" Naruto replied having to think back on the time Dracula gave him. "So, you're all dismissed until then. Now I have to go report to the hokage about you passing your exam so may I have his tabaco back please?" He said then stuck his hand out to Shino to retrieve the tabaco.

After saying their goodbyes and parting for now Asuma sped off to the hokage tower to report on his team. Not ten minutes went by before he was kneeling before his dad waiting to give his report. "How did they do Asuma and why did you tell me not to smoke until you come back?" Hiruzen asked. "Well, I gave them three options for their teamwork test, one was to capture Kakashi and find then burn his book stash" that caused a shiver to go down the kage's back "Second was to find Kurenai and find out her crush" causing a sweat drop to go down the kage's head at the blatant crush his son had "And lastly the one they picked was to replace your tabaco with mushrooms." At that the old kage looked in his drawer to find the bag or shrooms and was really glad he followed his son's advice to not smoke until he came back. "And how did they exactly do this?" Hiruzen asked as he gave the mushrooms back in exchange for his tabaco "Well they had Shino exchange it while you were distracted with Naruto." Asuma said as he made a mental note to give the mushrooms back to the hospital before the dinner.

Latter that night ten minutes before the appointed time everyone invited to the diner was standing outside the tower. All except Naruto who was going to arrive in an extravagant fashion. Just as the clock hit 7:30 there was a poof of smoke followed by two bats doing circles around him starting at his feet until they vanished in poofs of smoke after passing his head. As for what he is wearing is a pair of crimson ninja sandals that led into a pair of black ninja pants with his eight sage circles going down the outside of his pants with the first ring being black with a thin lining of red on the inside on a patch of mahogany colored cloth to make it visible, the second looking like that of a snake eating its tail with a forest and emerald green back and white underbelly, the third had an outside of a faded yellow with a gray green color accenting, the forth was a mini plesiosaur curled in on itself with a sea green color, the fifth ring looked like an albino white werewolf in a curve with a half-moon that gave of the appearance of it chasing the moon, the sixth ring was a stone grey with a brown wooden bark color lining the inside of the ring, the seventh ring was bleached bone white and gave the appearance of being composed of actual bones, the last ring was comprised of a grey flesh color with black stitches running in a crisscross pattern along the ring. (For future reference this is the new appearance of the circles) And he hade the bottom of his legs after the last circle wrapped in yellow bandages. Holding his pants up was a white fur utility belt that had kunai and shuriken sealed in it with lots more room for future tools and weapons. For a shirt you could see a sea green scaled shirt wrapped under a black cloak with his eight circles on his back with a crimson-orange fox head with the kanji for nine on its forehead.

After he was sure they were done taking in his new outfit he started speaking "Now this diner is going to take place in my summons realm the boss of each of your clans was invited and has already shown up and started talking amongst the others. Now if you all will so kindly put your hands on my shoulder I shall take you there as well." At that bit of information, the aged kage, Shikamaru and his family grabbed on to his left shoulder with Asuma, Shino and his family grabbed his right shoulder. With everyone grabbed on he did the summoning jutsu and they all vanished in a poof of smoke.

When the smoke cleared there vision they where in a well decorated stone room that had two doors one with a seaweed green rug in front of it and the other with what looked like a shrunken head on the handle the room had a full sized bed with blood red silk sheets and two pitch black pillows at the head of the bed, a dresser and a wardrobe, a full body mirror with what looks like two slide out mirrors that allow a three hundred and sixty degree view of ones self. Just as they were finished observing a nock came from the door with the shrunken head. "Are you all ready for dinner the clans getting a little impatient." Dracula said through the door. At this both Naruto and Hiruzen pale at the implications and quickly usher everyone out into the hall. "Ah good to see you all my name is Dracula acting boss of the monster summoning clan. Now if you will follow me to the dining hall" He said with a bow and then turning lead the group to the dining room. As the group approached they could hear the chatter coming from the other side of the door and it was monstrous. (pun totally intended) As the doors swung open the group of humans besides Naruto are left speechless at the sight before them. Right in front of them had to be the largest variety of creatures all in view and there are more tables the further the halls go down. "Now as the last of our guests arrive we hold this feast for the prominence of tomorrow as our summoner has taken the first step in becoming a ninja and so we shall celebrate like there is not tomorrow tonight and come morning we will train to fight for battles yet to come as we fight alongside our summoner as we aid him in his time of need and bring with us a new age of prosperity for young Naruto!" Dracula said as he sat down "Now let us give a hearty toast to new friends and allies from the beetle clan led by Komatao, the Deer clan led by Carla, and last but not least the Monkey clan led by Enma." Dracula said as the party geared up in full swing.

*** And this is the chapter don't worry it won't be as long for the next update just hold tight***