Heh, I'm really sorry for updating so late. I had all these tests and projects…

Right now, I'm going through a life crisis… surviving school. I failed the bio test, my math grade is just above a C and English… I don't want to think about it. And to top it all off… finals!

Anyways, I'm doing my best, working hard… I hope… and typing as fast as I can.

NOTE: A few people commented that Naruto shouldn't have learned the Naruto rendan until after the preliminaries, but if he could beat Neji and Kiba by using some complex strategies, then maybe he could have come up with the technique by himself. And plus, he already watched Rock Lee once…

Itoko: It means cousin in Japanese

Anyways, here's the long waited chapter. Enjoy!

- - - -

Kakashi woke up to a peaceful morning with the sun shining merrily through his window. He grimaced as he sluggishly swung himself out of bed-a task that seemed impossible at that moment- and walked over to his bathroom. The reflection in the mirror showed a bleak-eyed man with dark brown stains coating his silver hair as well as skin.

Suddenly, last night's mission flashed in his head, an assassination assignment. Things had been going well, his squad going in the darkness of the night and successfully killing the target, but they hadn't expected that the target had been the bait and were ambushed by several sound shinobi.

Unexpectedly, the urge to empty his stomach made him gag. Even though countless missions such as these made him calloused to death, it didn't make him heartless. He turned on the shower, the water at first cold then hot pounded on his tired shoulders.

The water turned pink before disappearing down the drain. He hated blood, ironic as it was. When it dried it would be so hard to get off, you would have to scrape off flakes with your fingernails and even then, it sometimes wouldn't come off. It was as if he was constantly stained. There was an old saying in the ANBU: you were marked by blood, not tattoo.

Three members of his squad were ruthlessly killed before any of them had the chance to react. It was because of Kakashi's single Sharingan eye that had saved his life. Reacting faster than he could think, he brought up a kunai to defend himself, deflecting several shuriken. He had barely made it out alive, dragging the remaining members of his team back to Konoha as fast as he could, being attacked several times. It was a miracle in itself that he hadn't died.

He turned off the shower as he ran a fleecy towel through his hair. Pulling on his clothes sluggishly and wiping the foggy mirror again, he stared at himself. He really did looked like something that had crawled out of the grave. Sighing, he turned around and crept back into bed.

Let Hokage-sama yell at him later. He was tried and the de-briefing could wait… he'll understand… hopefully he wouldn't get chewed out too much...

- - - -

"Nee… I wonder what Itachi meant…" Naruto let his thoughts drift back to the day's previous events.

"…Naruto-kun. You've passed my test… I'll see you soon, little cousin."

"Maa, he's even worse than Sasuke!" He propped his chin on his hand as he stared out the window. He was oblivious to the mass number of the female population gawking over him. "They leave me so confused…"

The blonde perked up when Iruka-sensei walked into the classroom, holding a clipboard and a pencil stuck behind his right ear. "All right! Attention! Attention!" He tried talking over the noise of the class, but no one paid any attention.

"OY! LISTEN TO IRUKA-SENSEI!" Naruto stood up, his chair falling backwards as the class suddenly hushed.

Giving the blonde a grateful look, Iruka-sensei coughed once into his hand. "Thank you Naruto-" Iruka paused before speaking. "… From this day forward, you are no longer mere academy students, but full-fledged shinobi. But among the ranks of shinobi, you are mere genin, lowest of the low. Your greatest challenges lie ahead. The next step is the assignment of official duties to you all on behalf of our village."

Gee, Iruka-sensei sure likes to talk a lot… Sakura thought as her face deadpanned. Just shut up and team me up with Sasuke-kun!

"We will begin by dividing you into three-man teams. Each of you will be taught by a higher ranking jounin who will guide you as you become familiar with your various assignments." Iruka continued, oblivious to inner Sakura's thoughts.

Three man teams? Sounds like they'll slow me down… Sasuke thoughtfully propped his chin on his hands as his mind raced with the possible combinations of the teams that could be one of his own.

Man, this is so boring! I wonder what's going to be for dinner tonight? I hope otousan's gonna treat me out at Ichiraku's! Naruto gleefully rubbed his hands together as he imagined himself eating endless ramen bowl after another. He was off in his own little world.

"And team seven will consist of…" Iruka paused before reading out the names. "Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura."

"Hell yeah!" Sakura shrieked in delight as Sasuke's face could be seen buried in his arms as Naruto could have sworn that he was moaning.

"Take that Ino-pig!" The pink haired girl danced in her victory.

"Iruka-sensei! Why does the wide forehead girl gets to be teamed up with Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun?!" Ino angrily exclaimed as she pointed at the exuberant Sakura.

"Well…" Iruka chewed the bottom of his lip as he carefully fiddled with words. A slip, and everything would go wrong… I can't tell them that… Naruto and Sasuke need the same teacher for their Sharingan development… and Sakura would be the ideal choice for her precise chakra control…

He hated to say it but he was playing favorites… again. Just because the Hokage requested for Naruto to be put on the same team as Sasuke… and he had a soft spot for Naruto, even though he held deep respect for the young ninja. He could never imagine living with so much expectancy from everyone around him.

"This year, we did things a little differently that would effect the outcome of the teams… and Sakura just… happened to be with Naruto and Sasuke…" Iruka haplessly smiled as Ino's face that resembled a banshee's.

Unfortunately, every female in that class agreed with Ino.

A sigh escaped Iruka's lips as he prayed to any god that would listen.

Oh father thou art in heaven, let these kids pass. Thou shall protect every from harm… including each other. Amen.

"YOU ARE SO DEAD SAKURA!!!!!!!"

Or not…

- - - - -

Kakashi was in a very uncomfortable position as he tried not to squirm under the piercing blue gaze of his former teacher. He felt like he was a genin again, all those years ago.

"Now…" The Yondaime's voice seemed to undertake a very dangerous growl as he continued. "…Just what happened Kakashi? And none of your excuses! I want to know why those sound nin ambushed us!" He pounded his desk with his fist angrily.

Kakashi seemed to thoughtfully stroke his chin as he answered in a slow voice, "It wouldn't be good if the sound started a war with the leaf now… we've just signed a peace treaty with the sand and if war broke out, that just might break the frail bond between us and the sand."

The Yondaime gritted his teeth as he massaged his aching temples. His head started to pound as he anticipated a migraine that would last for quite the time. "Damn, what's that Orochimaru up to this time?" He turned around and looked out the window to where the general direction where the sound village was. The mountain obscured his vision as well as the treetops of the forest.

Both men fell into an uneasy silence as they pondered the possibilities; none seemed to be happy for the village. Kakashi remained quiet as he listened to the Hokage muttering curses as he watched the older blonde rummage through his desk for numerous scrolls.

"Kakashi, I'm sending you on another mission. Deliver these to the other kage villages except sand. The last thing we need is for the Kazekage to think that Konoha is vulnerable to any attack. I don't want them getting any ideas…" The Yondaime handed Kakashi the scrolls who immediately pocketed them.

"Hai." The silver-haired man held up a seal, but stopped as he almost embarrassingly asked, "Maa, about teaching a team… did I…"

The Hokage sighed as he shook his head, "Ah, gomen Kakashi… Uchiha Itachi offered to teach, most surprisingly enough… but…" A dangerous glint in his eyes promised Kakashi that he wouldn't get disappointed. "There's always the weekends. I'm sure Naruto would be free then. I suggest on new techniques. God knows that Kage bunshin won't suffice enough."

Smiling Kakashi nodded his head. "Hai, Hokage-sama." He disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

- - - -

"Geeze, where's our sensei? I can't see him! Where is he?!" Naruto craned his neck, trying to spot team seven's new teacher. Sasuke who seemed annoyed immediately hit him on the upside of his head.

"Baka. Calm down." He smirked at Naruto who fumed in anger.

"What'd you call me?! C'mon Sasuke-bastard, I'll beat you up so bad, that not even your Kaasan's gonna recognize you! Bring it on!" Naruto rolled up his sleeves as Sasuke, for once, agreed with Naruto.

Both forming handseals, of tiger, the two boys glared at each other. "Katon-"

Suddenly, a pale hand grabbed both hands and prevented them from completely burning out the academy. In an exasperated voice, the ninja sighed, "Haven't I taught you anything yet? Foolish little brother, haven't you considered the consequences of the Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu inside an enclosed classroom?"

Naruto sniggered as he watched Sasuke shift uncomfortably under the cold glare of his older brother.

"You shouldn't be laughing Naruto-kun. A shinobi doesn't loose his temper whenever someone insults them. You are just as worse as Sasuke." Itachi said in a deathly quiet voice that instantly shut both up.

Sakura was the first to ask, "Ano… are you our sensei?" She hesitantly asked as she boldly looked into the deep blackness of his opal-like orbs.

Itachi nodded as he ignored the looks that Naruto and Sasuke were giving- wide, blank eyes with jaws nearly toughing the floor. "Hai. Meet me on the roof as soon as those two," He jerked his head towards the boys, "are able to speak properly again."

The pink haired girl nodded numbly as her new instructor disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Emerald eyes stared blankly at the empty spot that once occupied.

"Nani, what the hell is he here?" Sasuke was the first to recover, as Naruto's mouth resembled a fish's.

- - - -

Itachi looked at his new team with a lax expression in his eyes, as he leaned casually against the railing. "I want you to tell me a little about yourselves."

Naruto's face scrunched up into a pout as he grouched, "Nee, why? I know everything about this team anyways. And what about Kakashi-sensei? Isn't he supposed to teach team seven? Just what the hell's going on?!"

Itachi ignored him and motioned Sakura to go after Sasuke had finished. "Next."

"Hey, don't you ignore me!" Naruto pointed his finger at Itachi who's eyes slowly flickered to him, his expression unreadable.

"Ninja who do not know when to be quiet don't deserve to live. A careless mishap on your behalf on a mission may cost you your life. Next." Itachi again motioned Sakura to continue.

"My name is Haruno Sakura. My likes are…" She coyly looked at both boys to her left as she continued. "And my dreams are…" She suddenly blushed as she squealed.

Sasuke's right eye twitched slightly as Naruto seemed clueless to what Sakura was actually thinking. Itachi quirked an eyebrow as he coughed, which suspiciously sounded like he was snickering.

"And I hate Ino-pig." She deadpanned, "and my hobbies are…"

It appears that she is more interested in my otouto and itoko than ninjutsu… this will turn out to be quite… interesting. Itachi mused to himself as he carefully looked over his new team with a cynical eye.

"Enough." Itachi stopped Sakura as he motioned that it was Naruto's turn. "Naruto."

"Yosh! My name's Uzumaki Naruto, the future Hokage! What I like is instant cup ramen! What I like even better is the ramen at Ichiraku's! And I hate is the three minute wait after I pour in the boiling water." The blonde said excitedly as he clenched his fist.

Itachi's face remained unreadable as Naruto continued.

"And my dream is to become a better ninja than all the previous Hokages and surpass them all!" Naruto held up his forehead protector proudly as the sunlight gleamed off the metal surface. Shrugging, Naruto finished, "And I guess my hobbies are pranks and practical jokes…"

Nodding his head once, Itachi reached into his jounin vest and pulled out three scrolls. Tossing them into the air, he let the scrolls catch the sunlight before landing perfectly in the genin's laps. "Tomorrow, we will meet on the practice field to have a test. Of the twenty-seven members of your graduating class, only nine will be officially considered genin."

Smirking, Itachi continued. "This test has a failure rate of 66, so I suggest you all prepare yourselves. Sasuke, Sakura… you are dismissed." Itachi motioned them to leave. "Oh, and don't eat breakfast."

Sasuke asked in a low voice, "Why shouldn't we?"

It wasn't like his aniki would actually fail him if he didn't do as he said… would he? His father wouldn't be pleased at all if his second son didn't pass the first time. He shuddered at the thought.

Itachi said with no emotion in his voice, "Foolish little brother… will you really go against your superiors? In combat situation, disobeying means…" His hand whipped out and a shuriken was embalmed deeply into the wall. A thin trickle of blood welled out of the cut; Sasuke gently rubbed the wound with his fingers.

"…Death." Itachi's lips twitched into the slightest of smiles as he continued. "If you really want to know, you'll throw up. So save me the grief of cleaning up your messes and don't eat."

Scowling Sasuke shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away, Sakura latching onto his arm. (Or trying to…)

As Naruto got up, Itachi stopped him by drawing out his kunai- his ebony eyes closed, giving him the impression that he was thinking.

"Eh? What the hell?!" The blonde leapt backwards as Itachi suddenly attacked him.

The full-fledged sharingan stared into his eyes as Itachi spoke in a dangerous tone, "I never said you were dismissed… Itoko."

"Kuso! What the hell are you doing?!" Naruto crossed his arms as he blocked a punch, staggering forwards as Itachi suddenly kicked from the behind.

"…Show me Naruto-kun. Activating it alone isn't enough. Prove to me that you are worthy of carrying the Uchiha blood." Itachi disappeared and reappeared to the left of Naruto to attack him again.

Naruto gritted his teeth as Itachi smirked at him again. Kuso! He's just toying with me… Damn bastard! I'll show him… Kuso!

The blonde haired shinobi was pitched forwards, teetering dangerously against the edge. "A-a-ahhhhhh!!!" His arms twirled around as he fought against gravity. "Whew… Safe." Naruto wiped the sweat off his forehead as he glared at Itachi, clenching his fists again.

This guy… he's… Naruto back flipped to avoid Itachi's foot, twisting around in midair only to have his stomach grazed. Too much for me! What do I do?

"Kage- Oomph!" Naruto was thrown backwards as Itachi lowered his hand.

"I don't want to see your kage bunshin. Naruto-kun… is this all you have? If it is, then someone like you will never become Hokage, let alone surpass them!" Itachi gruffly said as he easily blocked Naruto's punch.

Gritting his teeth Naruto closed his eyes as he concentrated. Focus… focus…

(Flashback)

"In order for you to activate your sharingan, you have to focus your chakra to your eyes. It's rather a simple process if you think about it." Kakashi pulled up his forehead protector and his lone sharingan eye seemed to have a life of its own as he stared at Naruto.

"Nee, is that it? Ha! I have the sharingan mastered in no time! Sharingan!" Naruto yelled as he opened his eyes as wide as he could. "Sharingan!"

They were still as blue as the sky.

"Sharingan!" Naruto tried again as he fell over from staining too hard. "Itai…" He moaned as he nursed his newly acquired bump.

Maybe… it was a fluke the first time… knowing Naruto, I wouldn't be surprised… Kakashi sighed, pulling down his hitai-ate. Maa, this might take a while… The silver haired ninja sat against the tree and pulled out his infamous orange book.

"Sharingan! Kuso! Work damn it!" Naruto stomped his feet, turning around to Kakashi. "Nee, nee sensei… I think it's broken!"

"Naruto…" Kakashi drawled as he momentarily looked up from his reading. "Baka yaro!" He then resumed turning the pages, pretending not to hear the blonde at all.

"WHAT!!!" Naruto yelped as he jumped up and down impatiently. "KAKASHI-SENSEI!!!! I… I HATE YOU!!!"

(End flashback)

Focus… Focus the chakra to your eyes…

"Sharingan!" Naruto's eyes suddenly snapped open; this time… they mirrored Itachi's, though not fully yet developed.

The smirk on Itachi's face was more then enough to show that he was pleased. "Good, Itoko… now the real training begins."

"Ha! I dare you. I'll take whatever you'll dish out and more! Kage bunshin!" Naruto's hands formed the necessary handseals as he rushed at Itachi.

"Hn…" Itachi weaved through the mass numbers of the shadow doppelgangers, destroying each one as he passed them. "You disappoint me. I would have expected something better from the legacy of the fourth."

"Kuso! Eat this then! Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" The fire based jutsu exploded out of Naruto's mouth as it consumed Itachi. Just as quickly as he activated the technique, he canceled the jutsu as he started to panic. "Oh shit! I-I-Itachi-s-s-sensei! Are you ok? S-s-sensei!"

Indeed, the charbroiled figure of the Uchiha Itachi laid motionless of the floor, smoke even coming off the corpse.

Just as Naruto was about to burst into tears, the figure dispelled in a cloud of smoke. He waved his hand around to clear the smoke.

"Ch, do you really underestimate me that much… Naruto-kun?" Itachi looked down at the babbling blonde below, scoffing at the fact that he could be even hurt by such a simple jutsu.

Jumping off, Itachi landed next to the loud-mouthed shinobi falling; again into a fighting stance.

"Heh, I was holding back the whole time. Now I don't have to worry about hurting you too much… Haaaa!" Naruto drew back his arm so that he was able to punch him, smirking as he suddenly kicked Itachi.

Sliding backwards, Naruto crouched down and gathered chakra into his feet as he jumped up. "Don't ever disrespect me! Kage bunshin! All right!" He yelled as crossed his index fingers to form the handseal for his trademark jutsu.

Nani… he's… Itachi ducked as Naruto's foot narrowly missed its target. Suddenly… improved…

"Take this!" Naruto's mouth curled into a snarl as he held up a kunai knife. The explosion of smoke consumed the whole building top.