Kakashi looked on approvingly as his perspective students scattered. They were at least taking this test seriously. He could easily see Sasuke hidden in the trees and Sakura in the bushes, but they were doing a decent job for academy students. And he wasn't a jonin for nothing. He glanced around for his third student and raised an eyebrow when he didn't find her immediately. That was strange. He focused his senses, searching for a scent or sound to give her away. To his utter shock it was as if she had completely disappeared.

Kakashi walked over to where the brats had been standing around waiting for him and he could easily identify her scent, the odd mix of forest and ramen, but it didn't seem that the scent went in any direction. Now Kakashi was both impressed and frustrated. He didn't have too long to think on it, Sasuke decided to take advantage of the silver haired man's distraction to launch an attack.

The assault was predictably futile, but Sasuke impressed Kakashi by managing to at least touch one of the bells. After burying Sasuke up to his head Kakashi went off to test Sakura. The girl was supposed to be the top of her class with a talent for genjutsu, so he wrapped a low-rank illusion around the girl and sweat dropped at how easily she fell for it. That was just pathetic.

With both of the examinees occupied Kakashi began to seriously search for his wayward charge. No matter how hard he searched there was simply no sign of the blonde girl. Kakashi mentally growled. That wasn't possible! While he specialized in assassination, Kakashi was quite an accomplished tracker. No genin could hide from him. Hell, most jonin couldn't do it!

The next two hours were spent looking for the girl and keeping an eye on the other two. He was not surprised to see that Sasuke refused to work with Sakura and he was disappointed when the alarm went off and no one had managed to get one of the bells.

Everyone made there way back to the training posts and Kakashi's eye twitched when he saw Naru in the exact same spot she'd been in before she vanished. The girl didn't even react as the man tied Sakura to a post.

"Do I even need to tell you that you've failed miserably? Not one of you managed to grab a bell."

Kakashi was cut off by the tinkling of a bell. He turned and saw both of the bells dangling from Naru's hand. He quickly checked his belt and was shocked to notice the bells were gone.

"When did you—?"

Naru shrugged, a mischievous smile on her face. "When you were distracted with Sasuke I snuck up behind you and grabbed a bell. And while you were putting the genjutsu on Sakura I grabbed the second one."

She had to be lying. Maybe he hadn't been able to find her during the test but there was absolutely no way she had been following him around the whole time and he didn't see her. And he would have noticed someone that close to him. He had not been even close to going all out with either student, he was not distracted enough to not notice the one student he was actively looking for. Still, if that was how she wanted to play it, he could go along with her. "Well then, which of your teammates will you give a bell to? You only need the one after all."

Maybe his test wouldn't be a complete waste after all. While they hadn't worked together to get the bell maybe they would still be able to work together now.

Sakura and Sasuke both stared intently at the blonde. Sakura bit her lip. She wanted to pass so badly but her passing would mean Sasuke would be sent back to the academy. Sakura, with her eyes downcast, said, "Give the bell to Sasuke. I didn't do anything. Sasuke at least managed to touch the bell, I couldn't even do that."

Sasuke felt reluctantly impressed with Sakura, he hadn't thought she could be that selfless. He glanced at Kakashi whose face was completely blank and Naru who was staring at him to see what he would say. Sasuke gritted his teeth, he wanted to take the bell, he needed to become a ninja if he was ever going to defeat that man. But he didn't feel right knowing that he would only be going on because Sakura was willing to sacrifice herself for him.

"I didn't earn that bell either. I was only a distraction." It looked like it pained Sasuke to say it, but Sakura perked up, her face going red as she realized that her crush was defending her.

Kakashi was very pleased with his student's responses, he might actually have a team this time. Still, he needed to hear from one more student before he would allow them to pass. "Naru? Who is it going to be?"

Naru frowned, looking between the two. She didn't want to be the one to send one of them back to the academy. She had only barely graduated to begin with, was it really fair that Sasuke or Sakura be punished just because Naru was better and sneaking around?

"Here," she said softy, holding out a bell to each of her teammates. Well, she guessed, almost teammates. It hurt to pass up her chance to finally become a ninja, but she knew she couldn't be the reason they failed. Sasuke and Sakura stared at the girl in shock and they both felt their respect for the girl grow a little. It humbled them, especially Sasuke, to see her give up her dream so that they could pass.

Kakashi was so proud he could almost burst. "You all pass."

"WHAT?" Sakura shrieked.

Kakashi eye smiled at his new team. "Have you ever noticed that all teams are made up of a four-man cell? You would never see a genin team of 2 unless they lost a teammate. The bell test is meant to test Konoha's most fundamental virtue—teamwork."

Sakura's eyes were bugging out. She was vexed at being tricked by the man and confused at the same time. "But there are only two bells!"

"Yes," he agreed. He was enjoying watching their reactions. Sasuke looked angry he hadn't figured out the secret and also annoyed at the fact that teamwork, which he clearly did not think very highly of, had been the entire purpose of the exam. "As ninja we are expected to act in the best interests of our village and our client. Sometimes what is best for the village is not what is best for us. On a mission you can and will have to lie, cheat, kill, and seduce. And there are times when you may lose a comrade or be captured yourself. The bell test forces you to confront the needs of your team versus your own needs. If you cannot be trusted to put your team first how will you ever be trusted with the village? If you can't face the idea of another year in the academy how can you be expected to risk your life?"

The genin were taken aback by the serious turn in the conversation. Sakura gulped, she often tried to ignore the realities of ninja life because of course nothing bad would happen to her. If she was ever in danger Sasuke would save her! But hearing her sensei's words she considered for the first time that she might put Sasuke in danger. If they were ever attacked would Sasuke get hurt protecting her? And even if she didn't like Naru very much she didn't want the girl to get hurt trying to protect her. Sakura had always believed she would be a great ninja. She was the best in the academy other than Sasuke. But today's test proved just how out of her depth she was. She had accomplished absolutely nothing today. Sasuke managed to touch the bells and Naru somehow claimed them both. And what had she done? Fallen for a genjustu and passed out. Sakura swore to herself then and there that she would never be this useless again. She wanted to be of use to her new team.

Sasuke tried to hide it but he felt deeply shaken. He wanted to rage that Itachi hadn't needed a team in order to massacre his clan, but wasn't that almost the point? Itachi had put his own needs before the good of anyone else and that was what made him a monster. And did Sasuke really want to be like that man? Still, this went against everything he had believed in for the last few years and it would take time before he was willing to change his outlook on life.

Kakashi's eye settled on his blonde genin. He was very curious about how she'd managed to evade him so thoroughly.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The Hokage leaned back in his chair, taking a puff from his pipe. "So, Kakashi, you finally passed a team."

Kakashi eye-smiled, "What can I say, they're a great group of kids."

Sarutobi made a noncommittal noise. "And what did you make of them?"

"Sasuke's taijutsu is on par with a veteran genin and he is able to use some higher level ninjutsu which was unexpected. His planning was decent, and he carried it out well. I didn't test his genjutsu, bit as an Uchiha it should be proficient. His arrogance will likely be a problem, he considers his teammates useless and he wants nothing to do with them. He's also obsessed with getting revenge for the massacre. I believe he is a flight risk, but if we can secure his loyalty he could be one of the best ninjas of his generation.

"Is that so?" The Sandaime mused. "I agree he has potential, but he needs to be carefully watched. And the others?"

Kakashi sighed. "Sakura is…distressing. Her records indicate she has top grades, but her performance was subpar. She shows a frankly disturbing fixation for the Uchiha and a dislike of Naru. She was flagged for having a talent for genjutsu but was easily trapped by a low-level illusion. She showed no ninjutsu or taijutsu but I'm not expecting much there. Her chakra levels are low, even for a rookie. Her attitude also needs some working on. She passed out and then just followed Sasuke like a little lemming, so I don't have any idea of her strengths, if there are any." He muttered the last part under his breath.

The Sandaime raised an eyebrow, showing that yes, he did in fact hear that, thank you very much. "And Naru?"

Kakashi faced the hokage and said in utmost seriousness, "I have no idea of the girl's abilities beyond that she could easily be promoted to tokubetsu jonin on her stealth and evasion. She completely disappeared and apparently, I didn't notice her when she was right next to me, or when she was taking the bells. How is that possible?"

The Hokage released a breath, blowing out a stream of smoke. "What I am about to tell you is not to be repeated to anyone. Understand?"

Kakashi nodded, a little worried about what he would find out.

"Naru spent the first few years of her life in an orphanage and when she started the academy she was given her own apartment. This is what was told to everyone who cared enough to ask after her. Anyone else was simply told she was being taken care of."

Kakashi nodded. He had asked after the girl often, but never checked on her himself. He couldn't bring himself to face his sensei's daughter. He didn't want to see any reminders of the people he'd lost that night.

The Sandaime looked as if he had aged forty years. "That was a lie." Kakashi's visible eye widened. He hadn't expected the hokage to be so blunt. He was also angry. He might not have been able to face the girl, but he'd been fanatical about making sure the girl was safe and cared for.

"The truth is that when Naru was four the orphanage kicked her out and the ANBU assigned to guard Naru decided not to inform me. He abandoned his post but continued to provide reports saying she was still at the orphanage. It wasn't until I visited the orphanage, some two years later, that I discovered the truth. I cannot even describe to you how utterly enraged I was. I assembled a team of elite, but discreet, tracking ninja and ordered a search to be done as quietly as possible. Could you imagine the chaos if the village discovered our jinchuriki was missing? I was very worried when they were unable to find her. I began to fear the worst. I was planning on launching a massive search party when someone reported that Naru was causing trouble in the market. We could not believe our eyes when we saw her there. I brought her back to my office and asked where she had been, but she pretended not to know what I meant. She can be quite slippery, that girl. I had y ANBU tail her when she left to find out where she was staying, and she lost them quite easily."

Kakashi gaped. One did not simply lose ANBU guards. He was one of the only ninjas capable of doing so, but he had been ANBU and knew all of their tricks. For a child, one not even in the academy yet, it was unheard of.

"After that I always had a team of ANBU on the lookout for her. And they were under strict orders to follow the girl everywhere. She lost every single ANBU. She gives no indication of even knowing they're there. There is no indication she was preparing any kind of jutsu or that she was preparing to make an escape. I have ANBU who swear to me that she vanishes right before their eyes. They are looking directly at her and suddenly she's not there anymore. And no one can find her. It's as if she's disappeared from the face of the planet. I've tried to ask her how she does it, but she just smiles and says it is a secret. If you fin out how she does it, you are to inform me at once. It could completely revolutionize infiltration and assassination missions. However, I know very little about Uzumaki Naru. I can only find her when she wants to be found. I don't know if the academy teachers sabotaged her or if her skills are really that bad. She could easily spy on other genin training sessions or even chunin and jonin training. She could know anything."

Kakashi couldn't contain himself any longer, "How could you not know? How could you not notice she was missing for so long?"

Sarutobi sighed, "Kakashi I missed my own children growing up. This job is difficult and time-consuming for a young man and I am certainly not that any longer. I don't have time for my own family, I certainly don't have time to raise that little girl. I have done what I can, it is clearly not enough, but it is what I managed."

Kakashi nodded his head, ashamed. What right did he have to accuse the hokage when he had been no better?

The Sandaime decided to move on, acknowledging the silent apology. "Naru may not seem like it, but she is even more of a flight risk than Uchiha Sasuke."

Kakashi started at that, "What do you mean? Naru is famous for going around shouting about being hokage. And though life has been hard for her she seems reasonably well-adjusted."

The Sandaime scoffed. "Naru has been missing for more than half of her life. There have been long periods of time where she is completely unaccounted for. She could be leaving the village already. If she is ever so much as late to a team meeting you will respond as if she has left the village. We have a hard-enough time trying to find her as it is, with a potential head start? We'd never find her. I don't need to tell you how unacceptable that would be."

Kakashi gulped. If he were a lesser man he'd have crumpled under the force of the old man' KI.

"We were fortunate that she had the academy five days a week, we were able to keep track of her that way. Every time she skipped a day the gate guards and ANBU were put on high alert. Summer breaks may have prompted the tightest security the village has ever had. Naru is fond on Iruka and she has begun to bond with Konohamaru, but she has no real attachments to this village. She could defect at any time and honestly, I could not blame her if she did. As a ninja who goes on missions she will have more opportunities and temptations. Keep and eye on her, but do not alienate her."

Kakashi's mind was spinning. This was not how he'd expected the meeting to go. Just what had he gotten himself into by taking a team? To borrow a phrase, "How troublesome."