4 years Later/ Graduation
Einjeru woke up earlier than usual. She got dressed and pulled out some accessories that Kakashi had brought for her to use on special occasions. Her necklace and earrings sent an alert to Kakashi if she was in danger. She made some breakfast and went for some last minute training before her exam.
As she got out the door, she saw Naruto. Naruto called over and said "Ready for the exam Einjeru?!" Einjeru walked over and said "Yeah, but I want to practice my jutsu before heading to the academy. Want to come with?" He grinned and followed.
At the training grounds, Naruto says "I almost have the shadow clones down." Einjeru shakes her head and makes 2 clones. One does the substitution jutsu and the other does the transformation. Naruto looks in jealousy and Einjeru says "You could be training you know." Naruto just glares and grumbles knowing that she was right. Einjeru looks at the sun and says "We have to go! We'll be late!" She grabs his arm and takes off running.
They get to the academy and Sakura comes up saying "Good luck on the exams. You're going to need it." Einjeru says "Thank you. I'd say the same, but I don't need to." Einjeru thinks to herself "I skipped classes and still aced the tests. The final graduation test will be a cinch."
They walk to the classroom and sat together. Little did any of the students know, a few of the jonin sensei were watching them. Kurenai and Asuma were hiding in the walls keeping an eye on the soon to be genin. Kakashi comes up behind them and say "Looking at the genin that will become yours?" They looked at him and thought "I didn't think Kakashi would be looking at them yet." Kakashi smiled and said "I do have a kid amongst them." They get a stunned look about their faces and said "How?" Kakashi smiled and said "Look at the list. You'll see."
Back in the room, Iruka and Mizuki came in. Iruka explained the premise behind the exam and what jutsu was being tested. As soon as they heard it, Naruto and Einjeru gave each other a high-five and knew they had the exam in the bag.
Meanwhile back in the hidden room; Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma were watching that and Kurenai said "That's Naruto, but he has the lowest grades in the whole academy. Who's the girl next to him?" Kakashi is smiling behind his mask saying "That's Einjeru." Their mouths dropped as they heard that.
The students were being called into the next room one by one. Meanwhile, Einjeru is eating a snack to replenish her chakra. Naruto realized that he didn't eat earlier and asked if she had any extra. She handed him a snack bar and was called into the next room.
Iruka and Mizuki were awaiting Einjeru's entrance into the room and Iruka said "She skipped a lot of the classes, but knew exactly how to answer the questions on her tests and exams." Mizuki then said "That's how brainiacs work. I'm curious to see how she works with her jutsu." Einjeru walked into the room smiling. Iruka said "When you're ready Einjeru."
Einjeru takes a slow breath and builds up her chakra. She weaves the signs for the shadow clone jutsu and called it out. One Einjeru became five. She smiled and Iruka said "Congratulations. Here's your headband." She took it and put it in her pocket. She went back to the room and said to Naruto "I won't put mine on until you get yours." He smiled and waited until his name was called.
A little while later, Naruto was called into the next room. Iruka gave a gentle smile to Naruto as he walked in, but Mizuki grimaced. It went unnoticed by Naruto. He gulped and built up his chakra. He made the sign and made 3 clones. Iruka looked in amazement and thought "The surge of chakra allows him to be able to use this jutsu without problems. The question is: When did he learn it?" Naruto looked at them expectantly and Iruka said "Come here Naruto and close your eyes."
Naruto walked over and closed his eyes. Iruka got up from his chair and took Naruto's goggles off and put his headband on him. He told Naruto to open his eyes. Upon opening them, Naruto noticed Iruka's headband missing and his goggles in his hands. He immediately smiled and said "I passed?" Iruka smiled and said "Congratulations! You graduate." Naruto jumped up and down and went back to the room.
Upon seeing him, Einjeru smiled and pulled hers out and put it on. Naruto said "Guess whose headband this was?" Einjeru shrugged and smiled. Naruto blurted out "It was Iruka sensei's. He put it on me himself." Einjeru said "Lucky." They did a fist-bump and waited until the rest of the examinations were done.
After the examinations were done, Einjeru and Naruto were heading out and saw Kakashi. Einjeru ran up to him smiling and said "We did it dad!" Kakashi smiled and said "I know. I was watching. I'm also one of the jonin sensei. You'll find out who you're grouped up with tomorrow." Naruto says "I got Iruka sensei's headband. I feel really awesome."
Mizuki meanwhile was planning to frame Naruto by taking the scroll of sealing. Iruka came up behind him saying "I'm glad Naruto was able to graduate this time." Mizuki nodded and thought "I'll make sure he doesn't become a ninja by any means." He walked out of the academy to see Naruto and Einjeru standing together. He grumbled and thought "She'll be able to say that it wasn't Naruto. I have to do something."
Later on at their apartment building, Einjeru was getting something from her room and Naruto was in his apartment waiting. However Mizuki made his way into the apartment and knocked her out from behind. He tied her up and left her in her room. He laughs maniacally and leaves out. Naruto was waiting longer and thought "It never takes her this long to grab something. I'll go over."
He gets there to see the door open and peers in. The lights were all off and Naruto continued to walk in and found Einjeru tied up in her room and her mouth covered. He ran over to her and got her mouth uncovered and untied her. Einjeru woke up and tackled him. He yelped and Einjeru realized who she tackled. She stood up and apologized.
Naruto smiled and said "What happened?" Einjeru shook her head and said "I haven't the slightest clue. I was going to get what I needed and got knocked out from behind." Naruto then said "Did you see who it was?" Einjeru shook her head. They started walking around the village and all of a sudden, Iruka appears out of nowhere saying "I found you Naruto." Einjeru and Naruto look at him curiously.
Iruka grabbed both of them and said "Naruto took the scroll of sealing." Einjeru then said "How? Naruto has been with me." Iruka then said "Naruto was spotted walking out of the hokage's mansion with it." Naruto looked at Einjeru and said "There were cameras all over the apartment building and in my apartment. I was in my apartment waiting for Einjeru. After a while I went to go see why she was taking so long. I found her tied up and gagged in her bedroom."
Einjeru had just realized that and said "The cameras can tell us who knocked me out." Iruka walked back with them to the apartments. They look at the camera footage and see Mizuki walking out of the apartment. Iruka then said "Then what about Naruto?" Einjeru then went to the set of cameras in Naruto's apartment. Einjeru pointed out Naruto waiting on her and the timestamp of the footage. Iruka then said "It must have been Mizuki under the guise of Naruto."
They went to Lord Thirds office and explained everything. Lord Third said "I know. I've been keeping my eyes on the genin since they left the academy for the day. I also know how inseparable these two are. I'm allowing you guys to capture Mizuki." Einjeru smiled and said "I have a score to settle with that traitorous backstabbing sensei anyway. No one knocks me out in my home or frames my friend and gets away with it." Naruto says "Leave some for me. There's no way I'm letting that slide. I already have a besmirched reputation in this village. I must save what's left of it." Iruka then says "I guess I'm leading you two." They look at him and says "Yes sensei!"
In the forest, Mizuki is laughing thinking that the village had captured Naruto. He pulls out the scroll and says "How did those two learn that jutsu? It's the first jutsu in the scroll of sealing." Iruka appears and says "How could you frame a comrade of the leaf village?" Einjeru appears next to Iruka and says "And knock them out?" Mizuki was surprised and said "How did you know it was me?" Einjeru said "For a shinobi you did a crummy job of avoiding the cameras in mine and Naruto's apartment building."
Mizuki laughs and Naruto appears saying "Framing me was your number one mistake." Mizuki looks at them and says "You'd believe them even though they've been lying to you Naruto?" Einjeru realized that he was to reveal the secret that was punishable by a trip to Ibiki. Mizuki said "12 years ago after the nine-tails attack was stopped, a law was made. That law is known by everyone except you Naruto."
Naruto becomes bewildered and says "What is this law?" Einjeru balled up her fist and went straight for Mizuki. He grabbed and pinned her saying "The law forbids us from saying that you're the container for the nine-tailed fox." Einjeru frowned and Naruto said "Is this true?" Iruka was silent and Einjeru was about to say something when Mizuki said "Of course it's true! Why else would everyone be breaking your windows and glaring at you? No one really cares about you!" Einjeru snapped at that and yelled out "That's not true!"
She knocked Mizuki off his feet and stood up with her tail and ears out. Mizuki looks at her and says "You're an unusual kid. No wonder why you woke up so fast." Einjeru glared at him and said "You made a big mistake saying that in front of me." She faced Naruto and said "Most of what Mizuki said is true. The part about no one caring is not. I've been your friend for six years and I've known about the nine-tails." Naruto just stood there and stared at her trying to understand what he was looking at.
Einjeru then realized why Naruto was staring. She smiled and said "It's my bloodline trait. I'll explain later." She turned towards Mizuki and said "You are in big trouble Mizuki. It's three against one and two of us have a reason for beating you to a pulp." Naruto cracked his knuckles saying "It's only going to take two of us to take him down! What do you say Einjeru?"
Einjeru smiles saying "After you Naruto. He was the one who framed you." Naruto smiled and said "Let's get him at the same time." Both of them simultaneously called out "Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu." The clearing was filled with an immense amount of Naruto's and Einjeru's. Mizuki said "You two are just rookie genin. I'm a chunin. I'll knock you out in one punch." Einjeru shakes her head and Naruto says "We'll just deliver it back two thousand fold." Mizuki said "Bring it!" All of the Naruto and Einjeru clones jumped into action while the main ones are standing with Iruka.
Afterwards, the clones dispersed and Einjeru said "That was fun and technically we didn't lift a finger." Naruto smiled at the prospect of the genin teams. Iruka then said "You guys have to get home, but first, let's celebrate with some ramen." Naruto yells out "All right! That's one thing I wouldn't send a clone for." Einjeru shakes her head and says "Only you Naruto." Iruka laughs and wraps his arms around both of them.
At Ichiraku, Naruto tells an over-inflated story and Kakashi comes in saying "I was wondering where you were." Einjeru says "Should I tell him sensei?" Iruka says to Kakashi "You may want to sit down. You're in for a story." Einjeru smiles and runs through the events as they actually happened. Afterwards, Kakashi smiled and said "That's good." Naruto walks home with Kakashi and Einjeru.
At the apartment, Kakashi asked Einjeru about how it felt to control the change. Einjeru smiled and said "It feels good." She got ready for bed. Kakashi went over to Naruto's place to see how he was settling. Knocking on the door he was thinking to himself "It would be nice if the two of them are placed on the same team." Naruto answered and said "What brings you here?"
Kakashi asked if he could come in and Naruto stood to the side. Naruto started off saying "I apologize." Kakashi gives a questioning look and says "Actually I'm glad to see that all the cameras that were placed are working. They helped you get out of a sticky situation Naruto. It also helped to find out who knocked out my daughter." Naruto smiled and said "I'm glad that I have a landlord that cares. What would you have to be sorry for?" Naruto shook his head saying "I thought I did something wrong." Kakashi smiled and said "I only came to check on you. I won't be around so much because I'll be in charge of a trio of genins. I don't know who I'll be getting yet, but if I could choose them, two of them would be you and Einjeru."
Naruto smiled and said "That would be awesome if I could be on the same squad as Einjeru, especially after tonight." Kakashi smiled and said "Yeah. Well I have to meet Lord Third early tomorrow. See you Naruto." Naruto smiles and gets ready for bed. Kakashi heads back to his apartment. He gets there and sees Lord Third standing out there.
Upon letting Lord Third in, Kakashi offered him some tea. Lord Third said "How is being Naruto's landlord?" Kakashi smiled and said "The same. This apartment is spacious and completely different than when Einjeru and I first moved in. It's home." Lord Third nods and said "It's less barren and more clean than the last time I was here. Naruto is also more content because he has a friend nearby and can actually say when something is happening to his home." Kakashi smiled and said "I'm happy that I can contribute to my sensei's legacy."
Lord Third's facial expression softened and he felt better about what he was about to tell Kakashi. He starts off saying "I know that you aren't supposed to know until tomorrow, but I decided on the teams." Kakashi nodded and said "Who will I be getting sir?" Lord Third started off saying "With the excess amount of graduates, one of the squads had to have an extra genin. I decided that squad would be yours. You'll be in charge of squad 7 which consists of Naruto Uzumaki, Einjeru Hatake, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno."
For someone who is known for keeping a straight face in a serious situation, Kakashi wasn't able to contain how happy he was. He started off saying "Isn't it a little weird that you're putting my daughter with me?" Lord Third chuckled and said "She's works the best with Naruto." Kakashi nods and continues listening.
Lord Third then said "Sasuke will need someone to guide him in the use of his sharingan when he awakens it. Sakura is an average kunoichi. It's supposed to be similar to your old squad. Naruto the hopeless, prank-loving idiot, Sasuke the prodigy and Sakura the average female member. Einjeru was hard to place, but I figured that she and Naruto are on par with their teamwork, so why not?" Kakashi was silent.
Lord Third said "Am I to assume you're in shock?" Kakashi shook his head and said "Just happy." Lord Third smiled and said "I hope you're not going soft Kakashi." Hearing that Kakashi placed his emotions aside and said "Not in the slightest. I intend to go at them hard." He looks at Einjeru's room door thinking "She knows most of my tricks, but not all of them."
After the brief discussion, Lord Third left the apartment and Kakashi went to bed. He found it hard to fall asleep with the joy he was feeling.
The next morning, Kakashi went to Lord Third for the official appointment of his genin. Einjeru woke up to see an omelet on a plate waiting for her. She smiled and ate. Naruto woke up and grabbed a slice of toast and some milk.
Later on they met up with each other and went to the academy. At the academy, Sakura came up to them saying "It's a miracle that you two passed with all the classes you skipped." Einjeru scoffed and said "The fact that you have to get in people's faces and belittle them is a surefire sign that you're not going to make it long as a shinobi. Think about that especially if we become teammates." Einjeru never considered who she may have as a teammate, but knew that she had to keep her personal bickers out of it. Naruto was just hoping he would end up on the same squad as Einjeru. He didn't care about the other teammate.
Iruka walked in and saw the genin and started off saying "Congratulations from graduating from the academy. You guys will be starting off on your ninja paths from today with your jonin sensei." Naruto and Einjeru heard this speech already but just looked to make it look like they were paying attention. As soon as Iruka started announcing squads they perked right up.
Iruka said "Squad 7 has four members due to the irregular number of graduates. The members for this squad are Naruto Uzumaki, Einjeru Hatake, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. Your sensei is Kakashi Hatake." The four of them were smiling for different reasons. Naruto because he was in the same squad as Einjeru. Einjeru for the same as Naruto, and the fact that her father was leading so she knew what to expect. Sakura because she was in the same squad as Sasuke. Sasuke because of Einjeru.
Everyone broke for lunch except squad 7. Einjeru pulled out her lunch and started to eat. Sasuke and Sakura came up to her and looked her in the eye. Naruto laughed saying "Wow! It must stink to be Kakashi's kid now, huh?" Einjeru gave a surefire death glare at Naruto that said "Say anymore and you won't make it past the first squad meeting." Naruto shrunk and Sasuke asks what Kakashi is like.
Einjeru says "My father... He can put you six feet under if you don't watch yourself. The best way to get him is to work together." Sakura thinks to herself "I will work with Sasuke anytime." Einjeru just started learning how to read people's thoughts and it was an annoying trait to have when around a fan-girl. She said to Sakura "I hate to tell you this, but you have to work with all of us." Einjeru thought "If we make it through dad's survival test, I'll be breaking Sakura personally. I will ask dad for the privilege." Sakura huffs, and Naruto and Sasuke face-palm at the behavior demonstrated by the pinkette.
Everyone returned from lunch and started to meet up with their jonin sensei. Squad 7 was the only group left and even Iruka went home. Naruto puts a eraser in the door and says "This is what my landlord gets for being late." Einjeru giggles and says "I have a better idea Naruto." She whispers in his ear and they go to Sakura and Sasuke respectively. Sasuke smiles thinking "If Einjeru is planning it, it has to be fool-proof." Sakura says "Why not? It beats sitting here bored."
They go put the traps in place. After they finished, they sat at the desk like they were the most innocent kids in the world. Kakashi gets outside the room and notices the eraser in the door. "Naruto no doubt. I wonder if there's something else awaiting me." He thinks getting closer to the door. He opens the door and the eraser drops on his head. Naruto says "I told you!" Einjeru punched him saying "Wait for it." He thinks upon seeing them "They rigged the room." He intentionally sets the traps off to see which ones they placed respectively.
First he slips on oil. Sakura snickers. Next the chalk that was rigged with paper bombs went off. Sasuke smirks. Kakashi reached for the desk to be shocked. Einjeru blurted out laughing. Eventually Kakashi made it to the window where a clone of Naruto and Einjeru knocked him from behind, A paper bomb went off and he was tied up in the midst of the smoke. The whole squad laughed their collective asses off. Kakashi smiled thinking "Naruto rubbed off on Einjeru. Those two managed to reel in Sakura and Sasuke. I'm impressed that they rigged the room the way they did."
After he got untied and cleaned up from the chalk dust, Kakashi said "My first impression of you guys? You're a joke." Einjeru smiled knowing what that meant. Naruto and Sasuke were offended by that comment, and Sakura was unsure of what she was feeling. Kakashi then said "We're meeting on the roof in five minutes." Einjeru thinks "I shouldn't reveal that until after the test." She proceeds to grabbing Naruto's hand and dragging him to the roof. Sakura and Sasuke follow behind slowly.
On the roof, Kakashi starts off saying "Alright you guys, introduce yourselves." Sakura says "What are we supposed to say?" Kakashi says "Your likes, dislikes, your future goals, your hobbies, and obviously your name." Sakura was insulted by that and said "Why don't you start off?"
Kakashi says "My name is Kakashi Hatake. I don't like much of anything, I have many dislikes, my hobbies are inappropriate to be discussing and I never thought about my future dream." Naruto and Sakura both mutter "In the end, all we know is his name." Sasuke remained silent. Einjeru giggles and thinks "I know the most about him. The inappropriate hobby is his perverted books." Her face flashed red really quick.
Kakashi decides to put Einjeru on the spot by saying "If you have time to be going red in the face, you could be introducing yourself." Einjeru thought to herself "I'm going to get him later." She then said "My name is Einjeru Hatake. I like the colors black, silver and purple. I also like hanging out with my best friend. I strongly dislike blatant ignorance. My hobby is reading. My future dream is like sensei: I never thought about it." Naruto knew why and didn't bother to push it. Sakura thinks to herself "What does Sasuke see in her?" Sasuke remained silent and lets out a small smile. Kakashi went to Sakura saying "Alright. The girl with the pink hair, you're next."
Sakura starts off saying "My name is Sakura Haruno. What I like- I mean who I like... *Staring at Sasuke* My future dream is... *Staring at Sasuke and Squealing*" Kakashi then says "Your dislikes?" Sakura spits out "Naruto and Einjeru." Both of them glare at her and Einjeru says "That attitude will get us all killed on a mission." Sakura then says "I don't care. I don't like you." Einjeru replied "I couldn't stand you since the first day of class. I can't believe I was nice to you at the academy entrance exams."
Kakashi was stunned to hear that come out of Einjeru's mouth and said "That was a little over the line." She huffed and said "I've been holding those feelings for six years. If she was going to blatantly say what she said then I have a right to tell her how I feel." Kakashi then yelled "That's enough! We'll discuss this later. You in the orange. You're up."
Naruto then said "I'm Naruto Uzumaki ya know! I like hanging out with my friends and eating ramen. I really like the ramen that Iruka sensei treats me to at Ichiraku. I don't like having to wait 3 minutes after pouring water in the ramen or people ruining my home for something I have no control over. My hobby is comparing ramen. My future dream is to become hokage and be better than all the hokage that preceded me." Kakashi nods and says "Alright you're the last one."
Sasuke starts off saying "My name... is Sasuke Uchiha. I dislike a lot of things and don't particularly like anything. My dream isn't a dream, but an ambition. I will restore my clan and kill a certain man." Naruto thinks to himself "Shocker about the likes and dislikes, but when he means certain man I hope he doesn't mean me." Einjeru thinks "His personality is like a double-sided coin. One minute he's helping us pull a prank, next minute he's talking about killing someone. Who or what is Sasuke?" Kakashi sees this in Einjeru's eye and says "You each have unique personalities. We'll have our first mission tomorrow."
Einjeru decided to nip Naruto's question in the bud before he even says it by saying "By mission, do you mean survival exercise?" Naruto looks at her who in turn is staring at Kakashi intently. Sakura then says "We've had more than our share of exercises in the academy." Einjeru fronts that for Kakashi saying "This is no mere survival exercise. It's us versus him. Life or death situation. Basically if we fail kiss your life goodbye." Sakura was chilled by how calm Einjeru was being. Sasuke was intrigued by it.
Kakashi said "She hit every nail on the mark. I'll explain more tomorrow. For now you're dismissed." Everyone except Einjeru was getting ready to head out when Kakashi said "Oh and one more thing. You might want to skip breakfast. You'll throw up." Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke left leaving Einjeru to talk to Kakashi alone.
Kakashi stared at her and said "I hope you have a good explanation for showing your behind like you did." Einjeru sighed and said "I was only being honest. Sakura is demonstrating behavior that is detrimental. I'm willing to put that aside while we're on our missions, but she doesn't have the temperament to. What I did was actually better in the long run because I couldn't hold it in anymore. That could've led to a serious problem if I just blew up emotionally." Kakashi sighed and waved it off saying "Head home. I need to clear my head some." Einjeru headed to the apartment (or did she?) and Kakashi went to wander the village.
As Kakashi was walking about, Guy came along and noticed the stress on his rival's face. He starts off saying "Hey Kakashi. What's up?" Kakashi let out a sigh and said "Einjeru demonstrated some behavior that I wasn't sure she was capable of showing. She normally is the nervous type, but she was bold about voicing her opinion of Sakura." Guy says "She hides a lot from you. Four years ago I saw her venting her frustrations out on a log."
Kakashi's eye widened at that and he said "Why would she be doing that?" Guy replied "I don't know, but there's a second side that you need to see. If I'm not mistaken, she's probably at the training ground right now. Come on. I think you need to see her other half." The expression behind the mask on his face was shock. He never knew that Einjeru would be the one to hide how she was feeling.
At the training ground, Einjeru was practicing her stances. "Stupid Sakura. Of all the people to be teamed up with, it had to be her. I swear if we make it through the survival test I will break her in two. There's no way we're going to survive as a squad the way she acts." That was all that was going through Einjeru's head while she was training. Guy and Kakashi get there and remain hidden.
Kakashi starts reading her thoughts and says to Guy "I never knew she would be this frustrated. I'm surprised that she doesn't come to me." Guy then says "You've been training your daughter all this time and made sure she was well versed in the shinobi principles just to forget about number 25?" Kakashi then muttered "A shinobi must never show tears. Emotions only get in the way of the mission. Damn it. At this rate she's a ticking time bomb."
Einjeru however was more focused on just getting her frustrations out. Guy then said to Kakashi "I bet you I can get her to talk. Just stay here and listen." Kakashi's jaw drops at how that was said and just watches. Guy comes up behind Einjeru and she swings around for a kick. Guy dodges and Einjeru says "I've known you and dad were watching. If you must know, I'm just annoyed with Sakura and my other teammate is a total enigma which is flipping me out. Obviously I'm frustrated and talking about it won't help."
Guy smiles and says "How about we spar about it? If I win, you tell me and Kakashi everything. If I lose, I will climb the hokage monument with one hand." Einjeru shrugs thinking "What do I have to lose?" They get into a fighting stance, and Kakashi is watching with intrigue. Guy laughs and says "Your stance is stronger than before." Einjeru sighs and says "No thanks to the weights you gave me."
Guy charges with a Hidden Leaf Hurricane. Einjeru blocks it and holds onto his foot. She then tries to knock him off of his stance by kicking him. Guy was surprised by the movements she was displaying. Kakashi's eye widened as he thought "She isn't going to resort to using the wolf style now, is she?" Meanwhile Einjeru is smirking knowing that he can't recover right away. She jumps back and goes into his blind spot.
Guy smiles thinking "Her speed with the weights on has increased a lot. She might even rival Lee. However, she's just made rookie genin." He recovers and catches her in the middle of her kick. He then pins her saying "You have improved quite a bit in your days at the academy." Einjeru grinned as a shadow started appearing. Guy dodges and Einjeru lands where he just was and the clone disappeared. He gets behind her holding her by her arm and says "Nice try though." Einjeru replies "I guess I lose again." Guy smiled and says "Did you get your frustrations out?" She sighed and nods.
Kakashi comes out and says "We need to talk about this." Einjeru resides herself and says "Can we get something to eat? I haven't eaten since lunch." Kakashi nods and says "But Guy and I pick where we're eating." Einjeru said "Fine. Just as long as it isn't sushi. That stuff makes me sick." Guy gets a weird look on his face and Kakashi said "You don't need to remind me Einjeru."
Flashback:
It was the beginning of Einjeru's fourth year at the academy. She aced the first test and Kakashi was still introducing her to various foods. He decided in celebration of her passing another test that he would take her out for sushi. Einjeru already decided her favorite food was ramen, but she wasn't a fanatic like Naruto was.
When they got to the restaurant, Kakashi smiled and said to her "This is sushi." Einjeru gets a look on her face saying "I know what sushi is dad." Kakashi gets a sheepish grin on his face and says "Have you eaten it before?" She shakes her head and sits down.
As the food gets in front of them. Einjeru reaches for the shrimp. She eats it calmly at first. A few moments later she turned greener than Guy's suit. Kakashi notices this and says "I guess you can't eat sushi." Einjeru looks around for a bathroom or a garbage can to throw up in.
Currently:
They get to the barbecue restaurant and sit down. Kakashi says "That was childish earlier. Most days you carry a mature behavior, but today... I can't even say how I'm feeling about your behaviors." Einjeru looked down and said "Even I can't suppress my childish antics dad. I guess that the frustration that built up over the past few years seeped out when Sakura said what she did. I haven't the slightest reason -besides me leaving a bruise on her face- for why she doesn't like me. Naruto hasn't really done anything to her to deserve what she gave him. That was really what set me off. I really can't stand Sakura, and what I said earlier to her was the truth."
Kakashi said "I appreciate your honesty, but you're going to have to put that to the side if you're going to pass tomorrows test, and I'm speaking as your father not as your sensei." Einjeru huffed and said "Say that to Sakura." Guy then says "Yikes! You can't be serious about that answer." Einjeru glared and said "I am. That brat that I'm paired with can't think about anything but Sasuke and it pisses me off. It would get the rest of us killed if we get out in the field and she thinks like that."
She bites her nail and Kakashi gets a serious look on his face. He starts off saying "Your feelings are quite strong. Are you sure that you can put them to the side while on a mission?" Einjeru got frightened at how cold his voice had gotten all of a sudden. She gulped and said "I would do anything to ensure my teammates survive even if it means that I have to set aside my petty squabbles." Kakashi then says "Do you want me to talk to you like that all the time? I really don't want to." Einjeru gulps and shakes her head furiously.
Kakashi then says "You remind me of myself when I was young, Einjeru. It really scares me." She looks down and says "Sorry dad, but I really don't think I can get along with her to save my life. I'll work with her, but there's no way I can be friends with her." Guy then says "That's not very youthful. What happened to the little girl I met at the park 6 years ago?" Einjeru didn't respond. Kakashi then said "It looks like the me of the past has come out in her. I need to teach her a lesson that will show her the error of her feelings." Guy got scared of that.
After the meal, Guy went to train. Kakashi grabbed Einjeru before she snuck off and said "I don't think you want to try that. I can find you anywhere in this village." Einjeru gulped and said "You're mad." He shook his head and said "No. Disappointed. You may have grown in size, but you have yet to experience what it means to grow up." Einjeru then said "What do you mean?" Kakashi let her go expecting that she would follow him.
They get to a training ground that has a special stone. Einjeru looked at it and Kakashi said "This is a special memorial stone dedicated to the shinobi of the leaf that were killed in action. My old squad is on this stone including Naruto's father." Einjeru looked at him and saw the wariness in his eye. He continued saying "The only way my squad bonded was just as my best friend died before my eyes. It was during the third great shinobi war and I was your age." Einjeru then said "What does this have to do with me?"
Kakashi said "Continue looking at the stone. Look for a name similar to yours." Einjeru kept looking until she got to the end and saw and odd name. Kakashi then said "Your mother. This stone reminds me of how much I lost. Naruto's parents were like my second family after my father's death. They died in the nine-tails attack. I accidentally killed my teammate after I vowed to protect her. My other teammate must have been turning over in his grave when I did that." Einjeru then says "What was my mother like?"
Kakashi said "Curious now?" Einjeru glared at him for that question. Kakashi continued saying "Your mom was very sweet. How I fell for her is something I'm still trying to figure out to this day. You have her looks and my personality. I was cold-hearted after my father died. It took so many of my friends dying for me to get the hint. I never knew that you existed until Lord Third sent me after you 6 years ago. I just can't believe that she went on a mission right after you were born. It was like she wanted to do that intentionally. Once I saw her name on the stone, I truly despaired and threw myself into missions. I didn't want to be hurt by my closest friends dying on me. Now that you're here, I've opened up again. I'm trying to tell you to try and be open so none of your teammates suffer the same fate and you end up being like me."
Einjeru looks at him and says "That's easier said than done. To be open with someone is like performing open-heart surgery. One screw-up and everything is toast." Kakashi then says "True, but you know what? It's better to be honest and polite than to lie and be rude." Einjeru shrugged and continued listening. Kakashi put his arm on her shoulder and says "Never abandon your friends, family or comrades. The way of our village is absolute, but so is teamwork. Lets get home. We have to meet up with them early." They headed home.
The next morning, Kakashi grabbed his bells thinking "Squad 7 has always had a bell test to determine whether or not they become genin or not. Minato sensei, I finally understand why the bells are important." Einjeru was finding it hard to sleep after that talk with Kakashi the previous night. She wanted to cry. "Is being a shinobi really all it's made up to be? If it is, then why can't I shake this feeling?" She buried her head in the pillow and sobbed.
Kakashi came in and noticed it. He knocked thinking it would get her attention. Einjeru knew he walked in but her mind wasn't focused on that. The thoughts that were rolling through her mind were making her sick. Kakashi came up to her and noticed she didn't sleep.
Eventually Einjeru was up and at 'em, but she didn't want to go through the bell test. She went straight to the seventh training ground. All of them thought that she was ambushed when she got there because of how much sleep she had gotten. Naruto went up to her and said "What happened?" Einjeru shook her head and said "Dad and I were talking last night and I wasn't able to sleep much."
Kakashi appears and the rest of them thought "What the heck did he say that made her unable to sleep?" Kakashi starts off saying "Good morning." Everyone besides Einjeru then was wondering what this test is about. Kakashi then said "Out of the ten squads that were formed, seven of them will go back to the academy. I will determine whether or not you guys are one of those seven." Einjeru was groggy and thought "I'm not very useful in this state. I'll be impeding on my teammates chances to make genin officially."
Kakashi eyed her and pulled out the set of bells. He then said "The objective is to get these bells from me. If you don't you'll be tied to the post, and won't get any lunch. You'll sit there while I eat mine." Einjeru was used to not eating for long periods of time. Six years of old habits die hard. However she was more focused on sleeping than trying to fight about food. Sakura then says "Great, I also skipped dinner last night."
Kakashi says "You guys have to come with the intent to kill. If you don't, you won't get near the bells." Naruto then says "We'll get those bells. Believe it!" Kakashi speaking as sensei and not his landlord says "Ignore the loser." Naruto grabs a kunai from his pouch and starts charging out of anger. Before any of them got a chance to say anything, Kakashi was behind Naruto holding the kunai to the back of his neck.
Sakura and Sasuke were shocked. Naruto gulped and Einjeru was still out of it. Kakashi then said "You at least came with the intent to kill me. However you are quite impatient. I didn't even say start." Einjeru said "Of course not." Kakashi let Naruto go and said "Ready? Start!" Everyone scattered. Kakashi thinks "The basic of shinobi is to conceal their presence and hide effectively." He looks around and sees that they hid well.
Einjeru in her hiding spot fell right to sleep. Naruto in his hiding spot was thinking "Kakashi is fast. He might go for Einjeru first because of her condition. I have to get to her first." Kakashi still in the open thinks "All of them know that Einjeru isn't running on her A-game. If I am correct and they work as a team, they'll try to find her first. She hid to the east." Naruto looked at the glance and thought "She went to the east huh?"
Sakura in her hiding spot is laughing because of Einjeru. She thinks "Those two will go back to the academy and I will be able to remain with Sasuke." Sasuke however is thinking "I won't be stopped. Einjeru can be of some use because she knows Kakashi's weaknesses the best. I need to get to her." Kakashi senses the boys moving to Einjeru and thinks "Maybe Einjeru is right about Sakura. She's not moving, but laughing and revealing her position to me. I should go teach her a lesson."
Naruto made it over to where Einjeru was heading, but found a black wolf with gray paws and gray tips on its ears and tail. It was sleeping and Naruto thought "Is that Einjeru?" He took a look at the tail swishing back and forth and thought back a couple nights when they were going after Mizuki. The tail was swishing the same way as back then.
Sasuke then came up behind them and said "Is that a wolf?" Naruto nods and says "I have a feeling that is Einjeru, but I don't want to wake her." Sasuke went and poked its ear. It twitched and its eye opened. The iris's are purple and Naruto looks at it intently. It speaks saying "Why are you staring at me Naruto?" Sasuke stands there stunned and it speaks again saying "Why are you two at my hiding spot?"
Naruto grins and says "I was right. The wolf is Einjeru." She yawns and says "Yes, I am a wolf. I normally go to sleep like this. It's part of my bloodline. I can fight in this form as well. However dad can fight me more effectively because this is from his side. Why did you two interrupt my sleep anyway? I could chew you out for this." Naruto said "It wasn't me! It was Sasuke poking your ear." Einjeru shushed him saying "Are you trying to get us found?" She glared at Sasuke and said in the most menacing way possible "Don't poke my ears. It's good way to get on my bad side." Naruto decided that the ear touching was forbidden.
Next thing they knew, they heard scream coming from the other side. They all thought the same thing. "Sakura got caught by Kakashi." They all sighed and Einjeru said "The only way to get the bells is together. All personal interests aside, we need to get to Sakura. Hop on my back you two. We'll draw less attention if only one of us is heard." They did as told and Einjeru flashed through the trees.
They managed to find Sakura unconscious and Einjeru said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Nice dad. Put her under the demonic illusion genjutsu." Naruto then asks "What is that?" Einjeru said "It's a genjutsu that allows the person under it to see their worst nightmare. Most likely she saw Sasuke on the verge of death." Kakashi says "You're quite right. I didn't expect you three to be together like this." Einjeru grumbled saying "It would have been smoother if these two didn't seek me out. I was perfectly fine sleeping." Kakashi notices that someone poked her ears and said "Who poked them?" Einjeru sighs and says "I don't feel like saying."
Naruto and Sasuke hop off her back and stand back to back. Einjeru goes to Sakura and breaks the genjutsu thinking "Stupid girl." Sakura wakes up to see Einjeru in her wolf form and screams. Einjeru says "Calm down Sakura. If I was a wild wolf I would have hurt you already. You were under a genjutsu." She thought to herself "I wanted to leave you under it." Sakura then says "Einjeru?" She nods and says "My father and I will explain later. Right now we need to rejoin the others."
They rejoin them and Kakashi appears thinking "They're all together and Einjeru is in her other form." Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura look at her and Einjeru says "Surround him." Kakashi smiles thinking "I think these guys will work together quite well." Einjeru reverts back to her human form and yawns thinking "They can restrain his arms and legs, and I can grab the bells and hand them off. I can care less. The point was for us to get the bells together. It doesn't matter who has them in the end. It's all of us or none of us." Her eyes drift to Naruto and he got the picture. Her eyes drifted to Sasuke and he managed to get the idea when she shifted to Kakashi's arm.
Sakura managed to figure out that the boys were going for the arms which meant that she had to go for the legs. She sighed as she somewhat figured out what Einjeru was going to do. She yells out "No way! You're going to take the bells for yourself!" Einjeru face-palms and Kakashi shakes his head thinking "Einjeru has seen through the exercise already. Sakura and them were going to be given the bells and Einjeru would just sit to the side knowing the objective was completed." Naruto then says "Why do you have to go and say stuff like that? Let's just get the bells and complete the mission." Sasuke then grunts thinking "Naruto is right. It doesn't matter how we get the bells, just as long as we get them."
Einjeru looked at them and said "Okay, so what if I did? The mission was to get the bells from him. Sakura, I can read you like an open book. You would have taken the bells and ran off only leaving one with Sasuke and leaving me and Naruto out to dry. I would have at least given up both of the bells. Self-sacrifice is one of the main aspects of being a shinobi. I would gladly give up my lunch and go back to the academy if it meant my teammates succeeding." Naruto looks at Einjeru and back at Sakura. Einjeru says "In all of this my dad probably put a clone or a log in his place. So this little impromptu plan that I made will become useless. Thanks Sakura."
Kakashi was watching from a distance and said "You guys have passed." Sakura said "What?" Einjeru got the picture and said "It started when Naruto and Sasuke started going for me. We came over to Sakura ready to fight as a team. Even though there were only two bells, he was testing us to see who would put aside their personal interests to complete the mission. Naruto and Sasuke automatically did that by going to look for me because I was too tired to defend myself. I displayed that by releasing Sakura and saying what I did. Sakura, we need to bury the hatchet if we are to survive as a squad." Kakashi appeared with four lunches and said "Squad 7 starts their missions tomorrow." Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura nod, and Einjeru dug into her lunch.
They all looked at her like she was crazy, and she said "Come on. You guys can't say you're not hungry." They all laughed and said "That's true." Naruto then hears his stomach growl and turns pink saying "Time to chow down." They all opened their lunches and ate at the training grounds. Kakashi watched how they interacted with each other. Sasuke was the quiet one. Sakura would keep trying to talk to him and Naruto would try to divert her attention from Sasuke just to get yelled at by her. Einjeru tries to say in a polite manner that Sasuke doesn't want to talk but it ends up getting heated and Naruto calms Einjeru down the best he can.
After lunch, everyone splits and Kakashi comes up to Einjeru saying "I passed them because of you." Einjeru shakes her head and says "I don't think so dad." Einjeru didn't believe it for a minute. The bias isn't good. Kakashi then says "You're right, it wasn't you. It was your actions. You were right about Sakura." Einjeru then said "While we're training, can I break her out of her fangirlish tendencies?" Kakashi says "You can, but you can't be too rough. We can't go on missions if one of our team members is injured." Einjeru nods and yawns.
The next day the squad meets up at the training ground because Kakashi and Einjeru had to explain to the squad about the Hatake bloodline. Naruto and Einjeru were the first ones there. Sasuke came followed by Sakura, and Kakashi came dead-last. Einjeru sighs and says "Now that he is here, what you guys saw yesterday can be explained." She goes into her wolf state and lies in the grass saying "The Hatake clan is known for their white chakra, but also their close assimilation to wolves." Kakashi continues saying "Not only can we flip back and forth at will, but here's a special fighting style that we can use in both forms."
Naruto interjects saying "What's it called?" Einjeru shook her head and said "It's called the wolf style, but don't ask anymore. It's a special technique only to be handed down in the clan." Kakashi smiles and says "Any other questions?" Sakura then says "Why didn't you use that on us yesterday?" Kakashi then said "It was unfair and I didn't need to." Sasuke remained quiet and Einjeru went back to normal and said "What's the mission for today?" Kakashi shrugged and said "We have to report to the mission room at the academy to figure that out."
From that day on, squad 7 would start down the path of the ninja with some of the easiest mission in the world. However a few weeks of this would drive anyone insane.
