Disclaimer: I'm only gonna say this once: I don't own Naruto. All rights and claims belong to the epic dude in Japan – Masashi Kishimoto-sama.
Arch-Daishou: The first 14 Chapters I am leaving as is. Save a few spelling corrects. But after 14, I will continue this fantastic story.
NOTE: 'READ THIS FIRST, I REPEAT. READ THIS FIRST!' when adopting this from Stormy Rebel, he told me this chapter and parts of chapter 2 were parts of other stories for which he spoke to the respected authors of those fics and they allowed him to use them. 'AGAIN, READ THIS BEFORE READING THE CHAPTER! THANK YOU!'
Chapter 2: Survival Training! Pass or Fail!
Naruto made his way towards the Academy, ignoring the usual stares and glares. It didn't really bother him anymore, he had gotten used to it over the years. The only difference the last week was that he knew why he was getting them. That helped a lot; it was a burden lifted from his shoulders. He didn't have to wonder why.
As he walked down one of the alleys, when he saw someone 'trying' to blend in with the railing behind him, using a sheet as cover. The only problem was that it was hanging ninety degrees wrong. He knew right away who it was.
Before he could call him out, Konohamaru jumped out from his 'cover' yelling at him "Fight me!" sadly, he hadn't even taken one step, before he tripped over the sheet.
Naruto sweat dropped "What are you doing Konohamaru?"
"I expect nothing less from the man I respect" Konohamaru said, getting up.
Naruto was silent for a few seconds "I didn't do anything. You tripped – again."
Konohamaru totally ignored this and got up, making a hand sign "fight me fair and square!"
Naruto shook his head "Sorry Konohamaru. I have to go to my team assignment meeting now."
"Team assignment?" the boy asked confused
"Yeah, I'm a ninja of Konoha starting today!" he said smiling, pointing at his hitai-ate.
Konohamaru stared in awe. He smiled at his big-brother figure "Ok, nii-san. I guess we'll have to do it another day then". And with that, the two boys went on their way.
Naruto made it to the Academy a little earlier than normal. Heck, normally he would have met at least an hour late, since none of the teachers really bothered with him. But that wasn't on his mind today. Today was the first day in the rest of his life, the first step towards becoming the Hokage. Nothing could bring him down. If he was honest with himself, he didn't care much about which team he was assigned. 'Just not Sasuke-teme; he is waaay to broody for me. And I wouldn't mind getting on the same team as Sakura-Chan… though I could image her having a problem with me. I guess I'll do what Tenten told me to.'
- Flashback 3 days ago –
Naruto was walking down one of Konoha's many streets with Tenten. Since the day he had come her father's store, they had become friends. Well, Naruto's first real friend at his own age. Shikamaru and Chouji didn't hate his guts, but they weren't close either.
"So, have you gotten your team assignment yet?" Tenten asked.
Naruto shook his head "nah, we're getting them in three days. If I'm honest I don't really care what team I get on. I'm just happy I graduated"
"Huh, so you don't care at all? There is no one you would or would rather not be with?" she asked doubtingly
Naruto looked at his new friend with a small smile "well, there is this one guy. Sasuke-teme… He just gets on my nerves all the time."
"Wait, Sasuke? As in Uchiha Sasuke? The sole survivor of the Uchiha Clan Massacre?"
"That's the guy" he said while nodding
"Ouch, I can understand that. I mean, I can't set myself into his place, to get his whole clan killed, but he is just so…"
"So brooding"
"Exactly" she smiled. She rather liked Naruto. Not in romantic manner, but he was a good friend. It was a good break from her two teammates and their eccentric sensei. Naruto was a funny guy, maybe a bit straight forward with things, but nothing she couldn't handle.
She took a look around and saw the glares of the villagers. It wasn't her they were glaring at; it was her new friend. She had tried to ask him about it, but he had changed subject rather quickly. She knew that he had pranked most of the villagers when he was a kid. She had found them rather funny. And then a few days ago when painted the Hokage Monument. She was impressed. It wasn't anyone who could over paint a monument, which was visible from most of the village, in daylight, wearing an orange jumpsuit. When she had asked how he had done it, he had answered "It's easy when no one wants you to exist." That time it was her who changed subject.
She was pulled out of her train of thoughts when Naruto started talking again "And then there is Sakura-chan."
She raised an eyebrow while smiling "So there's a girl? I guess she hung up on the Uchiha then?"
"Yeah! Can you believe it? And every time she asks him on a date, he turns her down, and still she won't go out with me" he answered a bit moping.
"So, how many times have you asked her on a date?"
"Erm… Every time I see her? It's usually just after she gets turned down by Sasuke."
"I have an advice if you want" Naruto nodded eagerly "Back off"
"What?" Naruto said disbelievingly
"I said back off. Try to stop asking her on a date every time you see her. Try just to be there for her. You know, maybe in time she will come around" she said while winking at her blonde friend. "Baby steps, learn to be friends first. Then see where it goes from there."
"Maybe… Ok, I'll try it" he said, showing her one of his big bright smiles
"Good" she nodded approvingly.
- Flashback End -
Naruto opened the door to his classroom, and made his way inside. He hadn't stepped three steps inside, before a boy stepped in front of him.
"Oi, Naruto! Today is the team assignments. You do know that you would actually have to pass the exam if you want in on it, right?" it from the brown haired boy. He wore a pair of dark grayish pants the reached down to his calves, and a grey hooded fur-lined coat with a hood he wore on his head. Under the hood, on his head, was a little white puppy.
"Auf, auf"
"See, even Akamaru agrees" Kiba stated with a smug smiled, petting his puppy.
Naruto smiled right back at Kiba, while tapping his finger on his forehead protector "Are you blind dog-breath? I have a hitai-ate, thus must I have passed. The Hokage himself passed me. Can u say the same for you?"
Kiba narrowed his eyes, and took a closer look at his hitai-ate – just to be sure it was real. When he was convinced, he just came with an "hmph" and turned around to go back to his seat.
The blonde Genin shook his head with a smile of Kiba's antics. When he was done, he took a look around the classroom for an empty seat. As far as he could see there were three; one beside Sasuke-teme, and another beside that seat, and one in front of Chouji. The last option wasn't really an option in his opinion. It was a known fact that all the Akamichi's were real greedy-guts and the new clan-heir wasn't an exception. That alone wasn't the problem; the real problem was that not all of his food made the trip from the back it was in, to his mouth. So anyone who says in front of Chouji would be showered in food scraps.
Naruto took a deep breath, and made his way over to the table where Sasuke sat, and took the seat furthest away from the Uchiha. Naruto reached for his pocket, and took up a book on fūinjutsu and started reading it, much to the whole classrooms disbelief. Even the Uchiha was brought out of his brooding mood, and raised an eyebrow at the blonde shinobi.
Hinata was looking from behind the classroom, where she had taken a seat. 'Naruto-kun was able to graduate! Maybe, just maybe, I can get on the same team as him' She thought hopefully.
Before long Naruto was brought out of his reading, when the whole classroom went quiet. They could all hear something rumbling, like some big animals, like rhino's or elephants, which were running. It was getting closer and closer. You would think that the class would become nervous at the apparent impending doom, but this was a daily routine for them. Before long, two girls almost fell in through the door.
"First/I win" they yelled, before turning to each other to glare.
The first one Naruto recognized right away: it was Sakura-chan. She had bright pink hair, a color Naruto didn't know could appear naturally before he had met her, and green eyes. She also had a rather large forehead, and Naruto knew she had been bullied because of it. To him, though, it was just her, and he loved every part of it. She was wearing a red dress with a white circular design on her shoulders and her back, and she wore dark green shorts. She wore her hitai-ate like a hair band.
The second girl was Ino, who had an ongoing rivalry with Sakura. She wore a short purple vest like blouse with a raised collar, a skirt that was cut off on the sides and bandage on her stomach and legs. She also wore purple and white elbow warmers with this, and her hitai-ate around her waist as a belt.
"I win again Sakura" Ino said
"What are you talking about? My pinkie-toe entered the classroom before yours by a whole centimeter!" Sakura replied, glaring harder.
Ino returned the glare "Are you blind?" The two girls kept bickering like that, and the rest of the class went back to doing what they were doing before. That is, everyone but Naruto. He was looking at Sakura with a blush. He quickly looked away again 'Naruto, remember what Tenten said. Give her some space. But there she is! Looking over here! And now she's coming this way. Maybe she wants to sit beside me' he thought, as the pink haired kunoichi made her way over to the table where Naruto and Sasuke were sitting.
He smiled at her "Good morning Sakura-Chan!"
"Get out of my way! I want to sit there beside Sasuke-kun" she replied, pointing at the seat in between him and Sasuke.
He sighed while getting out of his seat "Fine, get in then"
Sakura hadn't expected that. Normally Naruto would get going how un-cool Sasuke was, and she would have to hit him. "Erm, thank you Naruto" she said, taking her seat. She was just about to talk to Sasuke, when Iruka came in through the door.
"Ok class, settle down" most of them didn't hear him, causing a tick mark to appear on Iruka. He used his big-scary-head jutsu "I SAID SETTLE DOWN!" that got the desired effect. He cleared his throat "Starting today, you are all official ninjas, but you are all still just new Genin. It's going to get harder from here. You all will be in a group of three, where you will accomplish missions under a Jounin Instructor." That got the class' attention. Most of them hadn't expected a three-man team. Naruto wasn't surprised, the Hokage had given him permission to train the last week because he was gonna be on a team. Iruka continued "We've arranged the groups such that overall abilities are equivalent. I will now announce them. Team 1 is…"
Naruto started reading his book again, just paying enough attention to react when his own name was called. "Team 7 will be: Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura" internally Naruto was jumping up and down in happiness. Sakura quite the opposite "And Uchiha Sasuke" that got the reversed effect. Naruto couldn't help but throw a quick glare at Sasuke 'The gods must really be against me. There are twenty-seven people that have graduated, and I get on the same team as Sasuke-teme?' He sighed 'well at least I'm also on the same team as Sakura-Chan'. "Next Team 8: Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino. There won't be a Team 9, as last year's Team 9 is still in effect. Team 10 will be Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru and Akamichi Chouji" he called up the last few teams. "That's it for the Teams. Now, your Jounin Sensei will be here after lunch, you can do what you want until then"
With that said, the different Teams went out the classroom.
- In the council chambers -
It was the day of the assignments of the new Genin teams, and thus there was a council meeting. Currently all were present but the Hokage.
The council chambers consisted of the Hokage's seat at the end of multiple tables. Beside the Hokage's seat were two smaller tables where the elders sat. Their names were Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane and Shimura Danzo. Homura and Koharu were old teammates of Hiruzen, and had retired from their shinobi carriers and settled back as elders and councilors for the Sandaime. Danzo was an old rival of Hiruzen. While he had Konoha's best at heart, he didn't always care of the way to get there.
From the Hokage's seat point of view, the left side was reserved for the business people of Konoha, the six that had been elected from their respective areas. These people didn't have Konoha's best at heart. What they cared about was getting more power, and getting more wealth.
The right side was reserved for the eight major clans of Konoha: Senju, Uchiha, Hyuuga, Inuzuka, Aburame, Akamichi, Nara and Yamanaka. Though, because of the Uchiha massacre, the Uchiha seat was empty until the time of the last Uchiha to be sixteen years of age, and the Senju seat was empty because the last known survivor of said clan, Senju Tsunade, wasn't in Konoha, and hadn't been for years. These people were the only one beside the Hokage who were not thinking of ways to get more power, but had Konoha's best at heart.
In the seat closest to the Hokage's was none other than Hiashi Hyuuga, the head of the Hyuuga clan which was currently the largest clan in Konoha. Hiashi was a man who despite his cold demeanor, always put his clan and Konoha first, even when it went against his own beliefs
The next seat from Hiashi was Tsume, the clan head of the Inuzuka Clan. This clan was well known for their collaboration with ninja dogs, their pack mentality and their hotheadedness. They always believed in looking out for family, and were well known for their fierce loyalty to others.
Sitting next to the Inuzuka Matriarch was Shibi Aburame, the clan head of the Aburame clan. The Aburame's were well known as a clan that followed logic, believing that to do otherwise would cause more issues to arise then need be. They were also ostracized because of the bugs they carry.
The last in the lineup were the members of the Yamanaka, Nara and Akamichi clans, who were well known for their powerful team work. These three were Inoichi, Shikaku and Chouza and they had been known as the Ina-Shika-Cho trio, due to the teamwork they used during the Third Great Shinobi War.
Finally the Sandaime entered the chambers, and took his seat. "As it seems we're all here, we will get started. Now first point of order is-"
"Sorry Sandaime-sama, but I have disturbing news that I think the council should hear" Danzo interrupted the Hokage. Hiruzen didn't seem affected by this, as he had known this would come sooner or later. He was pretty sure it was because of Naruto and his Shoton. He knew he wouldn't be able to keep it a secret long after he allowed Naruto's ninja registration photo to be taken. That, and that he had allowed the blonde to use one of the training ground by himself. He was sure that Danzo would have picked up on that.
"What is it Danzo-san?" Hiruzen asked more politely than he would have out of the council chambers.
"It has come to my attention that you have reserved a whole training field for a newly graduated Genin. It intrigued me, but I let it go: I'm not one to question the Hokage" Hiruzen mentally scoffed at that. Danzo questioned every action he took. He had tried to get his hand on the seat for a long time. Other than that, he had tried to get his hands on Naruto more than one time, willing to turn him into a weapon of Konoha, due to his jinchuuriki status. He was sure that he would try even harder now that he had found out about the blondes new kekkei genkai. Hiruzen was, of course, greatly opposing of this. Minato had asked him to make sure Naruto would be safe. He couldn't do much about the villagers, but this he could. He wouldn't let Naruto fall into the grasps of the old war hawk.
Never mind what Kushina would have done to the crippled elder if had gotten hold of Naruto. Hiruzen wasn't entirely sure if he'd applaud or be terrified of that outcome.
Danzo looked over the chamber. He could see that he had peeked their interest. "But then a few days ago, when the elders and I went over the new ninja registration forms, we came across this" he said, taking out Naruto's photo, sending it around the council. He could see many confused looks. "We, like you, had no idea what this was. So I send some of my guards to look for the jinchuuriki. They found him at earlier mentioned training ground. He was training to use… Shoton. Yes, the kyuubi jinchuuriki has Shoton."
- An hour later –
"Enough of this! Yes, Naruto has Shoton, but it isn't dangerous! Jiraiya and I have observed and made sure of that. The reason I allowed Naruto to use that training ground was so he could get it under control, and so he wouldn't put his team at risk" Hiruzen said loudly and irritated. The last hour had been nothing but accusations, and pleads about putting the boy down, letting Danzo have him. "If any other shinobi or citizen of Konoha had awakened Shoton, you would all be delighted. But because it's Naruto, you're acting like this? I won't have it" he continued, while glaring around the council. The shinobi side had been concerned, but had calmed a bit down. It was the civilians and the elders that caused problem. They hated the boy's guts, because of the kyuubi. "Now I have given you all the answers I'm willing, so we're gonna get on with this council meeting. Now, for the first point of order…"
- Lunch at the Academy -
Sakura was sitting on a bench outside the Academy. They still had some time before their Jounin Sensei would pick them up. She had just had a not so friendly conversation with Sasuke. He had told her that he thought she was annoying. '"You're annoying" 'huh? I see… Naruto must've felt the same way. Maybe I can be nicer starting now. I could give him a chance. I never really have gotten to know him; I always brush him off as a pest…'
He did seem different from before.
She was brought out of her thoughts when she saw Naruto coming her way eating a dango. It didn't seem like he had seen her yet. 'Alright, this is my chance to be nicer to him. Remember to smile, not scowl, smile'. With that, she had a really strained smile on her face "Hey Naruto, let's go back to the classroom."
Naruto looked up at her "Sakura-Chan? I thought you would be with Sasuke" he said the last part a bit sad. Sakura didn't miss that.
"Yeah, but he had to go do something else. Come on, let's go back to class" she said. This brought a big smile to Naruto's face 'you're a genius Tenten!'
- Three hours later in the classroom –
"Why is our sensei the only one who's late!? All the other teams have been picked up hours ago!" Sakura said annoyed. Team 7 was still sitting in the classroom. Or Sasuke and Naruto were sitting at their respected desks, and Sakura was going back and forth, getting inpatient with their new sensei.
Naruto sighed and looked up from his book "Sakura-Chan, it can't be helped. He'll get here when he get here." While he agreed with her, he was getting rather annoyed with Sakura. She had been like that for the last hour, coming with outbursts every ten minutes or so.
Granted a part of him was 'really' tempted to pull a prank on this guy. But making a first impression, that wouldn't help much.
Sakura turned to look at Naruto in disbelief, before gathering herself. 'Ok, if Naruto asks me to calm down, I really must be tiring. I mean, he is the most hyper person I know! But that means… that means Sasuke-kun also thinks that I'm getting annoying – again.' She took a deep breath to calm herself down, before taking the seat beside Sasuke. Naruto eyed her, before going back to reading his book.
Fifteen minutes later a silver haired Jounin entered the room. Sakura couldn't help herself, and jumped up screaming "You're late!"
He just starred at them passively "How should I say this… My first impression of you guys is… I hate you"
Sakura got a moping expression, while Naruto and Sasuke got a better look at their sensei. He was wearing the standard Konoha Shinobi outfit, along with iron plated gloves. His face was mostly covered by his mask, and his left eye was covered by his hitai-ate. All in all, they couldn't get a real good look at him.
"Meet me on the roof in five minutes" he said before shunshining away.
- Five minutes later on the roof –
Kakashi was looking over each of his students. He was mostly looking on Naruto Gods, 'he looks so much like you sensei' then he turned his gaze to the Uchiha 'I really hope I can help him, before chooses a path that he can't be saved from'. When the five minutes were up, he spoke "Let's see, why you don't introduce yourselves."
"Introduce ourselves? What should we say?" Sakura asked
Kakashi shrugged "What you like, hate, your dreams, and hobbies. Something like that"
"Why don't you introduce yourself first, sensei? So we know what to say" Naruto suggested
"Me? I'm Hatake Kakashi. I have no intention of telling you my likes and dislikes. As for my dream… I have few hobbies."
The three Genin were left with sweat drops on the back of their heads. Sakura turned to her new teammates "So all we found out was his name" Naruto squints while Sasuke's eye twitched.
"Now it's your turn. Blondie, you go first"
Naruto shot a quick glare for his new nickname "I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I like ramen, Ichiraku Ramen, my friend Tenten, Iruka-Sensei, and Hokage-ojisan. I dislikes are the three minutes you have to wait for your ramen to finish after you have poured water over it, people who will hurt my friends, and can't seem to tell the difference between a kunai and the scroll its sealed inside" this caused Kakashi to raise an eyebrow. He, of course, knew what Naruto was talking about. Sasuke and Sakura looked confused at Naruto. Naruto just continued, acting like he hadn't noticed "My hobbies are training, hanging out with Tenten, and tasting new kinds of ramen. And my dream for the future, I want to become the greatest Hokage and make everyone in the village acknowledge me. I also want to find out who my parents were" he finished, getting a nod from Kakashi.
"Hai, next you pinkie"
"I'm Haruno Sakura! I like… well, the person I like is…" Sakura glances at Sasuke "And my hobbies are… well, my dream is to…" glances at Sasuke again, and giggles like crazy.
"And? What do you dislike?" Kakashi asked
"Naru- I mean… I dislike Ino-pig!" Sakura finished looking over at Naruto 'I promised that I would try to give him a chance. And I start today'. Naruto looked genuinely surprised. He was half convinced that she would had said his name, and knew she almost did
'What happened to her?'
Kakashi looked at Sakura 'Girls her age must be more interested in love than ninja training. Well at least she's trying to be nice.' "Now you, last guy"
Sasuke didn't look up when talked "My name is Uchiha Sasuke. There are many things that I hate, and there aren't a lot of things that I like. Also, I have an ambition that I have no intention to leave as just a dream. The revival of my clan, and to… kill a certain man."
Naruto looked at Sasuke 'I guess it's the man who killed his clan…' Sakura was still hyped after her own introduction 'Sasuke IS cool'
Kakashi on the other hand had a brief look of seriousness in his eyes 'just as I thought'. He quickly got back to his old careless look "Alright, you three all have unique personalities. I like that. We're going to begin a mission starting tomorrow. First we're gonna do something we four can do together. Survival training"
"Survival training? Kakashi-sensei, we have just been through years of training in the Academy, can't we just go ahead and start missions?" Naruto asked rather annoyed.
"This is no ordinary training" Kakashi replied
Now Sakura was looking annoyed to 'Can't he just get to the point?' "Then what kind of training is it?"
Kakashi started laughing, freaking the three Genin out a bit. Sakura looked more annoyed than ever "What is so funny, sensei?"
"Well, if I say this, I'm sure you three are going to be shocked. Out of the twenty-seven graduates, only nine are going to become Genin. The other eighteen will be sent back to the Academy. In other words, this training is going to be a very hard test with a dropout rate of sixty-six percent." And as Kakashi had predicted, the three Genin were very shocked. "See? You three are shocked!" he said pointing at them.
"Are you kidding me? What was the final exam for?" Naruto asked in complete disbelief
"That? It just picks out those who are qualified to become Genin. Did you really think that three jutsu were gonna get you graduated? Out there is a world whose only goal is to get you killed. We're not going to send anyone out there, who isn't prepared." He paused to let it sink in "Anyway, I'm going to determine whether you pass or fail tomorrow at Training Ground 7. Bring your ninja equipment and meet at 5 A.M!" Kakashi could see how shocked the three Genin were. Even Sasuke, who had until now composed himself, trembled some. "Now then, meeting over. Oh yeah, don't eat breakfast. You're going to throw it up, if you do."
- 5 A.M. at Training Ground 7 –
The three Genin of Team 7 came from each their own direction, every one of them half asleep.
"Good Morning" Sakura said tiredly.
"Hey…" it came from Naruto.
And the three of them waited… and waited… and waited…
- Three hours later –
Finally, Kakashi came going from the tree-line "Hi fellows. Good morning"
"You're late!" both Naruto and Sakura yelled at him, while pointing accusingly at him. Now normally the new and improved Naruto wouldn't do that, but the lack of sleep, and his empty stomach made him momentarily pick up some of his old habits.
"Yeah, you see a black cat crossed my path, so…" Kakashi replied, but trailed off when he saw the faces of Team 7. He cleared his throat "Let's move on". He went over to a clock on a stub a few meters from the Genin 'Alarm set at 12 PM' he then turned towards them, and took out two bells to show "Today's topic is to get one of these bells from me. Whoever can't, will have no lunch."
"What!?" it came from Naruto, but was ignored by Kakashi
"I'm going to tie you there, and eat lunch in front of you" he said, pointing at the three stubs, one of them having the alarm clock on it.
At that moment the Genin understood why he had told them not to eat breakfast. It took a few seconds for them to get over that.
"But wait, why are there only two bells?" Sakura asked
Kakashi showed one of his eye-smiles "I'm glad you asked Sakura. Since there's only two, at least on will have to be tied to the log. That person will fail, since he failed to complete the mission. The person will go back to the academy. It might just be one, or it can be all three. You can use tour shuriken. You won't be able to get these, unless you come at me with the will to kill me." He looked at his team. There were no objections. Kakashi continued "We're going to start after I say… Ready? Start!"
The Genin quickly jumped away, hiding in the surrounding area. Kakashi calmly took out a book, and, apparently, started reading 'The most important thing for a shinobi is to hide and conceal yourself. It seems like they got that part down.'
Naruto was hidden in a tree along the river going through the training ground. He was looking at Kakashi, thinking how to do this 'This is a Jounin, the highest rank of ninja, only surpassed by the kages. I can't run head first in there, without having a plan. Just to get a few things down; there is no way that I can take him down. He can't be expecting us to either, which means… he is testing out skills. But, he should already know them from our records from the Academy, well beside me… He must be testing our teamwork! Damn it! There is no way Sasuke-teme will team up with me; he thinks I'm a dobe with no talents. And while Sakura has been nicer to me since yesterday, I don't think she'll go against "her Sasuke-kun". So the only way we can work together is if I prove myself. And I prove myself by fighting against a Jounin… whom I have no chance of beating.' Naruto sighed at the dilemma he was in 'I guess there's no choice then. The only plus side I can see, is that I can get some info on Kakashi…' though he won't even be required to try. Naruto quickly formulated a plan. He made a few kage bunshin, and had them hide throughout the area.
Naruto jumped out from his hiding spot, and made his way to the field where Kakashi were standing. He took his stance a couple of meters in front of Kakashi. Kakashi looked from his book, acting like he had only just seen Naruto. He looked back in his book "You do know that it's basics for a shinobi to attack from the shadows, right?"
Naruto still in his stance, didn't take his eyes of Kakashi, observing everything "Yeah, but I figured there was no way that I, a newly graduated Genin, could beat you, a seasoned Jounin with years of experience. So I came to the conclusion that this test was to test our skills."
Kakashi looked at him again 'He is observing me. Trying to find anything he can use against me. But he-' he was cut short when the earth began to quake. His eyes widened when he saw razor-sharp crystals shooting out of the ground, trying to impale him. He quickly jumped back to avoid it.
"Shoton: Kessho no Hari" it came from Naruto. Kakashi took his eyes of the pink crystals, and looked at Naruto. For the first time since he had met Team 7, he was truly shocked. Was it not for years of experience in the field and in the war, he would have shown emotions
'Shoton… I haven't heard of that in a while. I think there was something up in Ta no Kuni, but to think it would appear here in Konoha… And it to appear in the jinchuuriki of the kyuubi.'
The two other members of Team 7 weren't handling themselves as well as Kakashi was. Sakura face was full of shock 'Shoton? Is that even a kekkei genkai? And how can Naruto have it?' she thought. 'How the hell should I know!?Just don't get hit by it, CHA!' it came from her inner self, which she completely agreed with.
Sasuke had his eyes narrowed 'how can the dobe have a kekkei genkai? He is a clan-less loser with no family!'
Kakashi looked at Naruto over his book "Well, since you want to show your skills, why don't you?"
"Alright" Naruto said before charging. He aimed a punch in the guy, but it was easily parried by Kakashi. Kakashi frowned; the punch had been a lot harder than he would've thought it to be. It didn't stop Naruto, he aimed a kick at the ribs, but it was again parried. He then aimed a kick in the chest. Knowing that Kakashi would parry, he focused his chakra there. Kakashi parried, but was pushed back a few centimeters, much to Kakashi's surprise. Naruto used this to jump back through the air. Kakashi used this to his advantage, and threw a kunai. Naruto saw this, and quickly conjured up a hexagonal shuriken in his hand, and threw it to intercept the kunai. They clashed together and were pushed out of the way.
Naruto landed with a smirk "That was my Kessho: Rokkaku Shuriken".
Kakashi still had his book up, but he had to focus a lot more than he had thought 'So, he is able to crystallize the air around him. It may seem like he doesn't have a weapon, but everything around him is. Also, it doesn't seem like he needs to use hand signs… But how was he able to kick so hard so suddenly?' Kakashi took a closer look at Naruto, and saw light reflect off him, which cause Kakashi to raise his visible eyebrow.
Naruto nodded at Kakashi "It's just what you think, Kakashi-sensei. I call it Kessho no Yoroi"
Kakashi didn't react 'To think he ranked dead-last.' Kakashi was, to say the least, impressed.
"Sensei, you're not going to retaliate?" Naruto asked in a ready pose.
Kakashi looked at Naruto. He knew that he wanted him to attack him, and that he had something up his sleeve. Kakashi shrugged before going through some hand signs "Suiton: Mizurappa!" Kakashi took a deep breath, before beginning to spew out water towards Naruto. He made sure it wasn't as powerful, as he would make it towards an enemy. He had to remember, this was just a test. What Naruto did next completely shocked Kakashi. Naruto raised his arm, just like to intercept, and when the water was a meter from him, it started crystallizing and split so it didn't hit him. Kakashi quickly realized that this jutsu weren't going to work; it was just supplying Naruto with more material to crystallize.
"Shoton: Kessho Hachidori" Naruto cried with the ram sign up. From the crystals that Naruto had just made, thousands of small hummingbirds were created. They appeared around Naruto, until there were no crystals left on the ground. With an unsaid command, they attacked. They closed in quickly, aiming all over Kakashi. Kakashi jumped into the air just in time to avoid them. When they hit the ground, they created a big cloud of debris.
'That was a close one' Kakashi thought, thinking he was out of harm's way.
"Shoton: Rokkaku Shuriken: Ranbu!" it came from several places around the clearing. From five places barrages of crystal shuriken was shot at him.
'Shit' he thought, before quickly performing Kawarimi no jutsu. Naruto's shadow clones jumped out of hiding, before dispelling. Naruto nodded to himself in satisfaction, before jumping away. Now he just had to find the others.
Naruto was jumping through the canopies when he heard Sakura scream. He quietly made his way there, making sure he wasn't detected by Kakashi. He finally found Sakura; she was lying motionless on the forest floor. He wasn't worried if she had been hurt; he knew Kakashi wouldn't take it that far.
He made his way down to where she was, and after a brief examination it was clear she was under a genjutsu. He put to fingers on her forehead, while the other was in a ram sign "Kai!" Slowly her eyes fluttered up. As soon as she could see where she was, she quickly got to her feet "Sasuke-kun!"
"Relax Sakura-chan. You were under a Genjutsu" Naruto said, trying to get his teammate to calm down. But she was still going on about she had seen Sasuke dying. "Sakura!" that got her attention "Stop fussing like that! Sasuke is fine. You were under a Genjutsu. Besides, this is just a test, so there is no way that Kakashi-sensei would hurt any of us badly let alone kill us."
That seemed to sink in, but she quickly shook her head "But I need to find him fast. We don't have much time until the test ends!" she said, starting to run out of the clearing. Naruto quickly grabbed her arm "What is it Naruto-baka!"
Naruto sighed at her affectionate nickname for him "I agree, but we can't just take him on one on one. We need to work together – all three of us."
Sakura stopped trying to struggle his way out of his grip, and he let her go. Then she turned to face him fully "but… one of us will fail."
"Maybe… but it's better than all three of us failing." None of them said anything for a few seconds "Listen, I'll give the bells to you two, you like Sasuke, right?" it was an obvious question he already knew the answer on, but she blushed deeply and nodded. "Good, then you two can be on a team together. I'll just… take another year at the Academy. I already failed three times, what is one more time to that, right?"
Sakura was looking at Naruto in disbelief 'was he always this nice? I kind of feel bad at how I treated him…'
The rosette nodded "okay, let's go find Sasuke-kun"
"No" Sasuke said.
Naruto starred at the black haired Genin in front of him with outrage "Why? You both will pass! We need to work together to get those bells!"
Sasuke scoffed "I don't need help from a clan-less loser like you to do that"
"It didn't seem like that, when we found you buried to your neck before" Naruto replied with a bit of venom earning a glare.
They kept bickering like that, with Sakura just sitting between them. Now normally she would jump to the defense of "her Sasuke-kun", but she could see the wisdom in Naruto's words, and she had seen what he could do with Shoton. Also, this meant that she would work together with Sasuke, and that she would be on the same team as Sasuke. But she knew they didn't have long time to do it.
"Sasuke-kun, we don't have very long time again before the test ends. Wouldn't it be better just to do it together and get it over with" she asked carefully, not wanting to get on the wrong side of Sasuke.
Sasuke actually seemed to think about it. He looked up in the sky to see the suns position. He scoffed "fine". Naruto nodded at Sakura, who was overjoyed now.
- Two minutes to twelve –
Kakashi was standing the middle of the clearing again. He looked over at the clock and sighed 'I guess it's just another team that doesn't pass. I actually hoped they would. Sensei's son, a Shoton user, and jinchuuriki of the kyuubi, the last loyal Uchiha, a true genius, and the girl weren't bad either. She just needs to get over her fan girl stadium. Oh well, maybe next time'
It was then that three Naruto's ran out of the tree-line. He watched them coming, but didn't do anything visible to counter them.
They all brought their arms to what looked like a guard "Shoton: Suisho To!" On their forearms deep blue-colored crystal tanto's formed. They charged forward as one, slashing like crazy at Kakashi. He could see that Naruto hadn't had this style practiced as much as the academy-style Taijutsu. He kept parrying and dodging. At last, he decided that it was time to get rid of the clones. He kicked hard in one of the Naruto's stomach and it dispelled. He was just about to do the same to the second, when he heard a voice shout behind him.
"Katon: Gokakyu no jutsu!" Sasuke yelled, spewing out a large fireball towards Kakashi.
Kakashi saw this coming, and jumped out of the way. He was a little worried that it had hit Naruto, but it didn't last, as he saw them dispel 'they were clones all along, huh?' he didn't have time to think, as he saw a barrage kunai being cast out of one of the trees. With closer inspection, he saw that it was Sakura. He brought up his kunai and began blocking them. He had just landed, when Naruto bolted out of the tree-line again. He was getting closer and closer to Kakashi, and was just about there when the alarm ringed. All three Genin looked in disbelief and despair at the clock.
"No, damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it!" Naruto said, mentally kicking himself for not being a bit faster.
- A few minutes later –
Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto were tied to the logs, and as Kakashi had said he would, was eating his lunch in front of them. Naruto's stomach was the loudest, but Sasuke's and Sakura's wasn't silent.
"Well then, none of you got the bells" Kakashi said. All of them were waiting for the dooming words. "You pass" Kakashi said. They stared disbelieving at him.
"But, you said that we would fail and be sent back to the academy if we didn't get the bells!" Naruto exclaimed.
Kakashi nodded "I lied" he stated flatly.
"But sensei, what was the test for then?" Sakura asked.
"You three are the first I have passed. People I had previously were blockheads, who just thought about themselves, and didn't want to risk getting kicked back to the academy. They didn't want to work together because they knew one of them had to fail. But that is not how being a shinobi works – especially a Konoha shinobi. We work together, train together and basically live together." He looked up in the sky "'in the world of shinobi, those who break the rules are called scrum. But those who don't take care of their friends are even worse than scum'. You guys worked together to have a chance, even though you knew one of you would fail the test. So to answer your question Sakura – it was to test your worth as a team."
Naruto looked at Kakashi, as he moved around the logs to tie up the robes 'you know he isn't that bad. He is actually kind of cool'. When he had tied them up, he turned to them "The training ends here. Everyone passes! Team 7 will start doing missions starting tomorrow!"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Fūinjutsu - Literally meaning "Sealing Techniques": are a type of jutsu that seal objects, living beings, chakra, along with a wide variety of other things within another object.
Shoton: Kessho no Hari – Crystal Release: Crystal Needles: The user creates long, sharp, and pointed bright pink and white crystals that shoot at the target at extremely high speeds with pinpoint accuracy.
Kessho: Rokkaku Shuriken – Crystal Release: Hexagonal Shuriken: The user creates crystal shuriken and launches them at the opponent. The shuriken are six-sided with spikes at the sides of each blade, resembling snowflakes.
Kessho no Yoroi – Crystal Armor: This technique allows the user to cover his skin with a thin sheet of crystal, protecting himself from physical attacks. This armor can also aid the user to perform stronger physical attacks. The user can control the thickness of the crystal, by focusing chakra in certain areas, to either give even higher defense, or harder punches or kicks. The crystal is transparent and can only be noticed by light reflecting off it.
Suiton: Mizurappa – Water Release: Wild Water Wave: Water gushes out from the mouth like a waterfall and washes away the enemy. One can freely control the power of this technique with the amount chakra one releases. Having many variations, this is a basic Water Release technique.
Shoton: Kessho Hachidori – Crystal Release: Crystal Hummingbirds: Many humming birds are formed from crystal, the birds then home on the target dodging simple jutsu that attempt to stop them.
Shoton: Rokkaku Shuriken: Ranbu – Crystal Release: Hexagonal Shuriken: Wild Dance: The user creates and throws a vast amount of crystal shuriken at her opponent
Kawarimi no jutsu – Body Replacement Technique: With this technique, one replaces their own body with a block of wood or some other object, the moment an attack lands. This creates an optical illusion, making the enemy think the attack was successful. From this, the user can use the lapse in the enemy's attention to attack or flee from the battlefield. Explosive tags can be attached to the replacement for an added surprise. It's a basic Ninjutsu even taught at the Academy, but it's a useful art that can be applied in variety of situations.
Shoton: Suisho To – Crystal Release: Jade Crystal Blade: With this technique the user can quickly form a blade made of crystal on her arm, and use it in a manner reminiscent of a tanto. Blades can be formed on both arms if needed.
Katon: Gokakyu no jutsu – Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique: A technique where chakra kneaded inside the body is converted into fire, and expelled from the mouth in a massive orb of roaring flame or as a continuous flame-thrower. The scope of the attack is altered by controlling the volume of chakra that is mustered. The released flames will engulf their target, and leave a crater on the ground's surface. This technique apparently requires more than average chakra reserves and most Genin should not be able to do this technique. The Uchiha clan also uses this technique as a "coming of age" rite and as such was a common and one of the more favored techniques amongst them.