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Disclaimer: I don't own the charecters of Naruto.Some of the charecters might/will be OOC, 'cause I wrote this the way I like it thus the reason it's a fanfiction.

Chapter 3 - Teamwork
Kakashi arrived to the practice field late the next day. He received identical glares from all three of his students, and both Sakura and Naruto yelled at him. 'They better get used to this, 'cause if they pass, it will be the norm.'

He started the clock, and then announced the test. "This alarm is set to go off at noon. I've got two bells here. Your challenge is to steal these from me before the timer sounds. Anyone who fails doesn't get a lunch, and will be instead tied to a tree stump so I, or your teammates, can eat your lunch in front of you."

"But Kakashi-sensei, there are only two bells, so only two of us will get to eat." Sakura pointed out.

"The young lady catches on first. You're right Sakura, there aren't enough bells to go around, so one of you is defiantly headed for the stump, and that person will be the first of you to fail. At least one of you is on your way back to school … and disgrace. You may use weapons if you choose." He clipped the bells to his belt then as an afterthought said, "Strike to kill. That's the only way you'll even have a chance of passing."

"But sensei, that's dangerous."

"Yeah, I mean you couldn't even dodge an eraser. Not much of a shinobi if you ask me."

"The world on a shinobi is dangerous, Sakura. Now, forgetting the idiot, we'll start on my signal."

He seemed to have struck a cord in Naruto, for the boy grabbed a kunai and aimed for his sensei. Before he could even think about releasing the knife, Kakashi was behind him with one hand on the blond boy's head and the other forcing the hand with the kunai around to face the back of his neck.

"Hold it. I haven't said 'go' yet."

Kakashi grinned under his mask as he said his next words "At least you aimed to kill, so, it seems you've begun to respect me." He chuckled. "Maybe, just maybe, I'm starting to like you three. GO!"

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His team had eight minutes to go before noon, and none of them had gotten a bell yet. The boys had both been close, and would be eating if they had thought their strategies through a bit more. If Naruto had grabbed a bell instead of grabbing his teacher he would have gotten lunch. And Sasuke had, without the element of surprise, in the middle of a fight nearly grabbed one. So far, he hadn't faced off with Sakura but something told him to just let it be. He looked over to the lunches from his perch in a tree, and sighed. Naruto was over there trying to eat the lunches before noon. 'So much for passing as part of a team.'

After Kakashi had finished tying Naruto to one of the stumps he looked at the clock. One minute left. 'Might as well just wait for them here. All of them showed promise in the field of fighting, but not working as a team could get them killed on a mission. Still, the day has a long way to go before it ends, and I don't have to report an anouncment on the pass or fail position of those three till eight o'clock. I think ... I thinkI'll give them another shot at showing me that they can work as a team, and pass.'

The alarm sounded. A minute or so later both Sasuke and Sakura were seated on the ground on either side of Naruto.

"I have to say I'm disappointed in you three. None of you got a bell. But … that's not why you failed. I have other business to attend to so I'm leaving. I'll be gone for a couple of hours. I want to think about why you failed, and when I get back you'll have another go at passing. Sasuke, Sakura, you get the lunches. DON'T give Naruto any, and don't free him."

With that Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke. Yet, once again, he didn't go far, only to a tree out of his team's line of sight. He settled down to see what they would do.

"Naruto, you're an idiot." Sasuke's words were accompanied by the sound of a kunai slicing something. Kakashi decided that it would be safe to go to a nearer tree. Arriving safely, he looked down to see Naruto rummaging through the pack he brought. Sasuke was putting a kunai away, but Sakura was nowhere in sight. The lunches sat on the ground where he'd left them. 'So you think that you can just disobey my orders Sasuke? Even though this is what I wanted …... another reason I don't like taking on teams. Thinking about them always messes up my thoughts'

Finding what he wanted Naruto turned to Sasuke, "Hand me the food will you?" And to Kakashi's surprise, Sasuke did. Sakura returned then with an armful of wood, which she set about arranging in shape that would make a nice fire. Not a long lasting fire, but one that would burn quickly, giving you just long enough to cook something, without adding extra wood. Surprisingly the arrangement was one taught to higher ranking jounin and anbu for missions. 'How'd she know that?'

"Sasuke-kun light this will you?" She turned to the boy in question, and immediately had to jump out of the way as a burst of flame headed her way. "The wood, not me, baka!" She picked up and aimed a stone at Sasuke's head. Sasuke doged it easily.

Naruto chuckled as he brought over a bowl filled with … chicken and vegetables? Kakashi glanced over at the lunches, and sure enough the meat and vegetables that were on the side had disappeared. To the bowl, Naruto added a little water, covered it with a flat stone, and put it in the fire.

"Say Naruto-kun, what's the water for?" Sakura asked as she bit into an apple. She tossed one each to Naruto and Sasuke.

"Sakura-chan, I know, that you know that the lunches were about 50 times larger then usual," Naruto had to pause to swallow the chuck of apple he had just bitten off. "But even with that increase in size, for the three of us to all gain enough energy from the food in order to pass Kakashi-sensei's test we need to have a little more. By adding water to the food already here, I'm making a broth that will break down some of the vegetables, and will give us more food." Naruto smiled at Sakura's sheepish grin.

"Guess we know why Genki-san hired you to help at him in his old age." Sasuke was scooping rice from each lunch into a bowl that Kakashi guessed was from Naruto's pack. Two other bowl were sittingto the side withrice in them.'This is surprising, though not wholly unwanted. They're giving Naruto food even though I gave orders for them not to. I was surprised by Sasuke's disobedience when it came to freeing Naruto, but this ... Sakura hasn't said a word against it. I thought she was supposed to be the one who followed the rules.'

"Guys, what are we going to tell Kakashi-sensei if he comes back during this?"

'Now that's more like the Sakura I've heard about.'

"We'll tell him the truth, Saka-chan. We're a team and as such, we look out for each other."

"Naruto's right. Your idea to work as a team during this 'test' was the best idea. Naruto and I were too stubborn to do it the first time, though."

'So they did think about working as a team to pass. A few more points in their score. But take some of those away for not deciding to work together.' The mental tally Kakashi had was getting confusing with all the scratched out marks.

Sakura smiled at her teammates. "You sound like my dad. 'Always look out for yourself, always follow the orders you're given, but never abandon a teammate, and when it comes to the welfare of those people, treat them the same way you would treat you family. When you're on a mission, they are your family.'" She paused."He would always say stuff like that." She sniffed and rubbed her eyes. Both Sasuke and Naruto's faces were sad as they looked at her.

"Your father was a great guy, Saka-chan. He was fun to be around, and always knew what to say to you. He was one of the few villagers to treat me like everyone else." Naruto wrapped his arms around his legs.

"He was the one that brought me to Hokage-sama after my family died. I never saw him tell a lie, it was always the cold, hard truth. But sometimes that's what you needed." Sasuke looked up at the sky.

"I miss him. I ... I never thought that something like that could happen. I always though he'd be there. He used to talk about how he would spoil his grandkids rotten, or take them to other countries for the day. But he ..." she chocked,"he can't now." Sakura broke down and started sobbing. Naruto lifted his head, and crawled over to her.

"Come on, Saka-chan, it's okay. You've still got your mom, and Iruka-sensei, and everyone else. Please don't cry, it's strange to see you cry. Please don't." Sakura's head was buried in Naruto's shoulder as she sobbed. Gradually the sobbinglessened until it was only a hiccup here and there.

Sasuke walked over to them and crouched down. He gently turned Sakura away from Naruto and towards himself. Sakura grabbed his shirt to keep her balance, and Sasuke lifted his arms to hold her. Turning to Naruto he spoke softly, "Go check the food. I put some water in another bowl to heat up. There's some coco powder next to the rice. A hot drink and some food would be the best thing … for all of us right now."

'So they know how to work not only as a team on missions, but also as a team to comfort each other. I have to keep going underneath the underneath time and time again.'

Naruto nodded, rubbed his eyes a couple of times, then went over to the fire and pulled out the bowl of stew. Then, after checking the other bowl, pulled that one out as well. He poured a third of the stew over each helping of rice, then brought them over to his teammates. Setting down the bowl, he nudged Sakura with one of the lunch containers. "Here. Eat. It might not be the best. But Sasuke's right, the hot food will help."

Sakura took the offered container, and Naruto handed Sasuke the other. Before he started eating, though, Naruto went to his pack and rummaged around some more, finally coming up with three tiny bowls that could serve as cups. Picking up the bowl of hot water in one hand, the small bowls in the other, and the bag of coco in his mouth, he walked back over to Sasuke and Sakura.

Sasuke took the bowls and started pouring hot water into the makeshift cups, while Naruto tried to open the bag of coco. The bag seemed to be winning the battle.

"Stupid plastic bag! Why the hell won't you open!"

Sakura gave Naruto a glare at his swearing before laughing. Kakashi had to admit that it was a funny sight. A ninja defeated by a plastic bag! Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Idiot. Are you a ninja or not?" He tapped said idiot on the head with a kunai.

"Ohhhhh … right." With an embarrassed smile, Naruto took the kunai and cut open the bag. He handed the now open bag to Sasuke, who poured some into each small bowl, then used one of his clean chopsticks to stir it in. He handed one to both Sakura and Naruto before taking a sip of his own.

The team ate the rest of the meal in silence, broken only at the beginning by Sasuke and Sakura complimenting Naruto on his cooking skills, then later when both Naruto and Sasuke demanding that Sakura finish her food. When she protested, Naruto got up and gave a sigh as he told Sasuke that it was such a shame that he'd have to feed Sakura mouth to mouth. Sakura gave a little scream at that, and immediately started to eat again. When she stopped again to breathe, andthe other two hadfinishedlaughing,they went back to eating.

Kakashi looked at the three of them and tried to put a name on the feel of the atmosphere. 'Friendly? Comfortable? Right? Natural? That fits. Natural. It seems natural for something like this to happen.'

'Still, should I pass them or no? None of them got a bell, and they disobeyed my direct orders about feeding and freeing Naruto. Yet that's what I wanted them to do. Team work is important and they defiantly understand the concept of teamwork. Almost too well for kids their age. I've seen and been part of teams that have been together for months and years, but never work this well together. They seemed to know exactly what needed to be done, and were able to separate the tasks without arguing in the slightest. They almost see to communicate without speaking. As if they've done this before, and many times at that. That's what I want in a team I have to lead. Still their willingness to immediately disobey orders is a bit disconcerting. But still it was to help their teammates. ... Hmmm ... Alright I've made my decision. Now all I need is the right moment. Dramatic things are so much better.'

Kakashi looked back down at the three. All of them had finished eating, and Sasuke and Sakura were using the last of the warm water to clean and rinse the bowls. The water then was thrown over the fire, effectively putting it out. The cardboard boxes and wooden chopsticks that had been part of the lunches were stacked together in a pile, and, as he watched, Naruto took the now smoldering wood and ashes from the fire and placed them in the boxes. Picking them up, he quickly turned to Sasuke. He nodded to Naruto who threw the pile into the air, and Sasuke used his fire jutsu to burn them to ashes, which the wind picked up and carried away.

"When traveling in foreign lands, leave no trace of where you've been, for signs left by careless hands, spelt defeat for many men." Sakura quoted an old rhyme taught in the first years of ninja training at the Academy as she watched the ashes blow away.

"Kakashi-sensei said he'd be back in a couple of hours didn't he?" Naruto asked looking at the sky. "I'd say those hours have gone by."

'Perfect.' Kakashi moved, landing right behind Naruto.

"Interesting to see you free when I gave specific orders for you to not be released."

Whirling to face him, the three froze. Not one of the three spoke.

After a moment or two of not receiving an answer, Kakashi pressed them.

"Sasuke. Sakura. Why is Naruto free? I can also guess that he got food as well. I gave specific orders that he was to get no food, and not be released. Answer."

Both teens looked at their teacher, then at Naruto. Sakura answered. "Kakashi-sensei, it's my fault. I told Sasuke and Naruto about a lesson my father always drilled into my head."

"Sakura, I don't need to hear about your father. I want an answer." 'Besides, your lying.' Sakura didn't even flinch at the blatant blow Kakashi had struck her. 'Good girl, Sakura. Good girl.'

"Shut up and listen to her, bastard. She's giving you your answer." Naruto apparently didn't like Kakashi's disrespect. 'Little too protective of a person who isn't supposed to be a friend, hmm, Naruto?'

"Naruto, don't swear. Kakashi-sensei my father often told me things that he wanted ingrained in my mind. One of those things was along this line, 'One of the most important things a shinobi can do is protect themselves and follow any order that a leader gives them. But never in doing that abandon a teammate. Teammates are an extension of you, so treat them with the same care you treat your body.' He wanted me to learn in the same way he did. Sasuke was merely looking out for his teammate."

'A plausible lie … if I hadn't been watching for the past couple of hours.'

"Sasuke, Naruto. What do you say?"

Sasuke answered first. "We're a team, sir. A mission for shinobi of our level would be given to a team. To complete the mission, you wouldwork as a team, not individualy."

Nodding, Naruto added his two cents. "That's right, and even if you reach a level where you are assigned solo missions, you'd still have to work as a team on those, too. Your whole village is your team. If someone doesn't work with others, they'll find it difficult to complete the mission of life we're given at birth."

'That's quite deep Naruto. I wonder if the others were wrong about you and your, quote, "stupidity."'

Sakura stepped in. "That's one of the reasons traitors are put to death once they've been convicted of their crime. If your hand or leg was a threat to the rest of your body, you wouldn't keep that limb."

'These kids know more about teamwork then most adult ninjas I know. Very good, very good.'

Kakashi looked at his students. All three of them looked at their teacher, their eyes telling Kakashi that none of them thought one way or the other about their status of passing or failing. 'They're not going to be upset if they pass or if they fail. Whatever happens happens. If they pass they pass. If not, then not. Smart, but not in all situations. You three still have a ways to go.'

"You three disobeyed my direct orders. That can get you killed in a mission."

"We know, sir." Sasuke's voice was emotionless.

"Do you? All three of you have a long way to go to become ninja. All of you have exelent fighting skills, but that doesn't make you a ninja. That only makes you a person who knows how to fight. Do you really think that only being able to fight well would get you through missions where people are out to kill you? In missions where you watch your teammates die? Do you think being able to fight will make you into a person who can fufill their every dream? Do you think it will help you when you have to kill an old friend or family member who turned traitor?" He trailed off at his team's faces.

Their masks were up. Not one flicker of emotion from any of them. Naruto's head dropped so he was looking at the ground, but no emotion flickered in his face or eyes. Kakashi remembered Naruto's dream of becoming Hokage. Kakashi sighed, and smiled to himself.

"I have only one desision to make. I don't have another choice."

All three turned their heads away slightly.

"You three pass. With flying colors."

Suprise was a winderful thing. All three hadwide eyes, and varying degrees of open mouths.Oh yeah. Kakashi really like messing with people's minds. Hell, he fucking loved messing with anybody's mind. 'But they're my team now, soI have to explain'

"You three were right about teamwork. You found what was underneath the underneath. A shinobi who doesn't follow orders is one of the lowest of the low. But a shinobi who doesn't help and care for his fellow shinobi is even lower then that. I've never seen a single group that has come to me work so well together, and so thoroughly understand the basics of team work. Heck, not just the basics, you three understand more then half the adult shinobi I know."

"It's thanks to our teachers, sensei." Sakura gave a small smile. 'Teachers? Who?'

Turning to her, Kakshi apologized "I'm sorry for the sharp reply earlier. Your father was a wise man to have taught you such things." Sakura smile turned sad.

Looking back at the rest of the team, Kakashi smiled under his mask. "Let's go see who else passed, and get you up on the list as well."

To be continued ...
Anyone catch the Harry Potter refrance?

Sorry for the wait ... :hides in corner:

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