Authors Note: Don't own anything. Image from wallpapersafari - do not own.

Enjoy

Hopefully.

Chapter 2: The Bell Test

He debated whether to just leave altogether. Iruka sensei always said your team is like your family. His sensei was late, Sasuke doesn't care about him or his one-sided rivalry. Sakura had stated that she actively hated him. Hated. Naruto didn't hate anyone! Gai sensei's words came back to him. He wanted to see if he was determined enough to pass his test. He was determined to pass Kakashi's test not 30 minutes ago. He could do this-dattebayo! He sat back down at the same tree and waited.

Sitting down by the tree and waiting on his sensei reminded Naruto of yesterday. When he was waiting, he checked over his injuries and noticed how his seal was active even though he wasn't using any chakra. Seeing as the other two weren't looking his way he decided a quick peek was in order. His shower was rushed so didn't really look at his body when he was cleaning himself. It was still visible.

Deciding to do the same as yesterday he delved his mind into his chakra network. Feeling the raging currents gave Naruto a feeling of power. It was the feeling of his chakra that made him believe he could accomplish his dreams, even if no one else did. This chaotic storm of power that was the foundation of all shinobi arts was what will make him the most respected shinobi in the village.

Once more he started from his center and let his mind flow with the currents, winding left and right. Flowing upwards and downwards. He could feel the flow reach the top of his head, then followed it down till it went all the way through his limbs, ending at his toes. It was calming his mind and the longer he felt and followed his chakra the smoother the ride became. Feeling more comfortable mentally traveling through his pathways, the speed of which he did so gradually increased.

Feeling some chakra outside his own network confused Naruto enough that he opened his eyes. It seemed his sensei had arrived. That was convenient. Just like yesterday when he did this, he didn't have to wait long for his sensei to arrive. Although, the sun had risen rather quickly now that he took a proper look around. How much time had passed? It didn't feel like that long, but his body was rather stiff.

Stretching out the stiffness he joined his sensei and teammates. Still being confused about how much time had passed he asked no one in particular. Getting no response, he scratched his head. Questioning his own memory. It seemed like he was beginning to lose hours of his day. That's two days in a row now. That he could recall… Just how hard had he hit his head? Did he damage his brain? Crap they're talking. 'Really need to stop spacing out like that.'

"You will have to come at me with the intent to kill." He sounded serious.

'Good thing I brought the sharp stuff then', he thought with a smile at his insight.

"Go" What? Sakura and Sasuke shot off into the bushes. He was left standing in the clearing looking around not knowing what was going on, maybe he sho-

"You aren't the sharpest of the bunch, are you?", angry at himself and embarrassed at not even knowing the objective of the test he decided to go on the offensive. Grabbing a kunai in each hand he decided to charge head-on! He said we had to attack him with the intent to kill – so that's what he was going to do. His maybe-sensei reaching into his own equipment pouch to pull out something gave him pause mid-charge. Skidding to a stop - he whipped out a book of all things. In confusion, he looked on at the weirdness that was his new sensei.

"Oh! Don't worry, I don't need both hands to defeat you. Continue." His one eye that was exposed was firmly locked onto the pages of his little orange book. For once Naruto reconsidered his efforts. He didn't doubt the man about his boasts, strangely enough. Remembering his tools and emulating the other two he dropped a smoke bomb and ducked into cover. He chose some bushes that were close together so he could still maneuver himself about the field.

'What is that noise? Sounds like chiming?' Looking at Kakashi he can see a couple of bells hanging from his belt. Why did he have them? As a handicap? Was the survival training surviving against him? Kami, he hoped not.

Looking around to see what the other two were doing he spotted Sakura straight away. The pink hair and red dress were a dead giveaway. She was laying on her front in some bushes just to the righthand side of Kakashi. Sasuke, he had to search for a little longer, he moved around to get a different vantage point and spotted him in some trees looking out onto Kakashi who hadn't moved from his spot yet. The smoke bombs' effects had long since dissipated. Finally making a move, the man just took a casual stroll in a direction away from all of them. Something was telling him he knew exactly where they all were without even looking up from his book. His back was turned when he walked past Sasuke's position. A brace of shuriken came out of the trees headed straight for his back. They all hit their mark dead on.

All three were shocked as the shuriken struck true. Sasuke jumped from his position down to the floor with an agility he knew he didn't possess. he didn't know it but Sasuke didn't plan for his weapons to hit. he had been expecting Kakashi to move to another location to avoid the weapons. Kakashi then puffed into smoke, in his place was a log. 'He used the replacement technique. But where was he? And how in the hell? I saw them hit. He was laying on the ground for Kami's sake! Then poof. Log.' Scratching his head in confusion.

Sasuke now exposed and in the open ran away from the clearing after he caught sight of something off in the distance. Or someone.

Naruto decided to follow him. There were no real hiding places to reach that location unnoticed, so keeping himself close to the ground and sticking to the shadowed areas as much as possible he followed in their direction. It took over a minute to get to the area. Sasuke was fighting Kakashi, and the man had put his book away.

That struck a nerve. Once again getting full attention while he himself was dismissed instantly. It was a small, semi-circled area overwhelmed with trees. Just a small gap between them all for a makeshift entrance. Waiting for a moment to go through this gap undetected took a lot of patience. He had to grudgingly admit Sasuke was putting up a great fight.

His chance came when he saw Sasuke reach for one of the bells on Kakashi. He got close. Too close for the Jonin's comfort. The next thing that transpired was a great ball of fire flew at Kakashi who had already distanced himself from Sasuke. The flame's size and brightness proved a perfect distraction, so he leaped through the gap and rolled behind a tree as quietly as he could. Listening to the conversation, he could hear Kakashi address the Uchiha.

"You may be different from those two, but if you can't grab a bell. You go back to the academy with the both of them. Don't go anywhere now." Kakashi having said his piece left with a small chuckle. He seemed to only laugh when it caused us pain in some form or another.

Leaving it a minute to make sure the coast was clear, it seemed obvious to him now what the test was about. He had to get a bell from Kakashi. He couldn't do it by himself. He knew that. Hearing a scream that could have only come from Sakura he immediately went to help her. Leaving the protection of his hiding place he could hear grunting close by. Finding Sasuke stuck shoulders deep in the earth, trying to escape what Kakashi had done to him.

He had to stifle a laugh but didn't even try to hide his smile. That last remark from Kakashi made so much more sense now he could see how he had left him. Deciding to bask in the moment, not helping him out just yet. It wasn't every day that his rival was so defenseless. Fully regretting not packing any of his pranking supplies at this rare, missed opportunity.

Sakura came running through the clearing and skidded to a stop. Mumbling something he didn't quite catch she dropped dead in a faint. Falling on her side he was about to help her first.

How long had he been watching Sasuke struggle? Sakura had screamed and then run into the cleaning not long after right? His memory was causing him some serious issues lately.

"Oi, loser. Forget her. Help me up first"

"And why the hell should I do that teme?"

"Because I know the real reason behind this test and can actually pass. You fail today that's you done being a ninja."

That was most he had ever heard Sasuke speak at once, and what did he mean by real exam? Looking over Sakura and sighing to himself he decided to help get Sasuke out. He was going to before Sakura came rushing into the clearing and if he had done it earlier, she might not have fainted. 'Consequences Naruto, always consequences. For your actions and inaction.' One of the pieces of advice from the third. Weird how his brain has been acting lately. Lack of memory, blacking-out, and then random old bits of advice he had all but forgotten.

Sticking his kunai into the ground to help loosen the dirt encasing the Uchiha, it didn't take more than a minute to free him. Sakura had awoken just as he helped pull Sasuke to his feet.

"So? What's the real reason behind this test then?" All three of them heard an alarm ringing off in the distance. He could see by the faces of the others that the alarm signified the end of the test.

Dejectedly they all met Kakashi next to where this test had begun. Making a conscious decision to listen this time and not get caught up in his thoughts once more he tried to pay attention.

"Well, you all fail." Like a nail through a coffin. Blunt and final, his head hung in shame. He wasn't good enough today and he knew it. He didn't deserve to pass either. He had failed. Again.

"Now the question is who do I tie to the post? Because frankly, all of you should be up there…" punctuating his statement by pointing at the three posts just off to the side.

"Tie me up." The words came out before his brain registered what he had said. He couldn't take them back though. Wouldn't take them back. He had his pride after all.

"I didn't do anything worthwhile; I didn't attack you, didn't come close to taking a bell…" walking over to the stump, he felt that with accepting his failings he would be able to bounce back stronger. 'Acknowledging your failures is the first step to improving.' Trusty words from the old man again coming to the forefront of his thoughts. Not helping to improve his mood or his predicament, unfortunately.

"Stop." Kakashi was surprised. But he saw an opportunity here. "What about you Sakura? Did you do enough today to prevent yourself from being tied up there with Naruto, hmm?" the girl in question didn't think that she deserved to be placed in the same category as the class prankster – but in terms of her performance today? She didn't do anything either. Plus, there was a chance that if he failed both her and Naruto, then Sasuke might still become a ninja and achieve his goals. 66% failure rate, he said.

"No. I didn't do enough today. Tie me up as well." She held her head up high. Strong in her belief that she was doing the right thing.

"And you Sasuke?" The boy knew the answer to the real test when he lost to Kakashi while trying to grab a bell. The way he phrased the question just confirmed it. Pass and fail as a team, he may not like either of his teammates but if working with them was the way forward to achieving his goals then he would grin and bear it. He would do anything in order to kill that man. 'Even if that means working with a loser and a fan-girl.'

The anticipation was nice for Kakashi, but he could already see in the boy's eyes that he would choose correctly. Looks like he would finally have to take a team of brats this year. How about that?

"Tie me up – "

"Sasuke-kun, no you can't- "she was pinned with a look that shut her up quickly.

Scratching his head as he was now well and truly confused. He didn't see Sakura fight against Kakashi, but he did witness Sasuke with Kakashi briefly. He didn't know what to think. Why would they both willingly go back to the academy?

"You all sure? You will go back to the academy." No one said anything against him. Naruto just looked between the both of them and hung his head once more.

"Hm, well I guess I have no other choice than to say… you pass." Complimentary with a thumbs up and his eye closed - somehow mimicking a smile? It was hard to read his face considering only one eye was showing. The rest of his face was covered. Taking a good look at the man for the first time, he could see almost all of him was covered. His headband was slanted over his left eye and wore a mask over his face. Long sleeved shirt covered all his arms and had shinobi gloves on his hands, only showing his fingertips. Wore trousers that were taped at the ankles and tucked into his shinobi sandals, exposing his toes. The only part that wasn't hiding in some fashion was his hair.

Don't get him wrong. He felt glad that he had somehow passed but just didn't know why he had passed. More to the point; he didn't feel like he should have. Luckily for him, it wasn't some other form of test.

His sensei explained it to them all. It was about seeing if they could work together. How they either passed or failed as a team. And not expecting any fresh genin to be able to accomplish the task set out in front of them was to show them that they had to follow the shinobi rule of seeing the hidden meanings within the hidden meanings. So, he was officially a true ninja of Konoha now.

Felt as good as it did a week ago when he pummeled Mizuki into the ground and got his headband from Iruka.

Or as Kakashi liked to say, "Look underneath the underneath." How not everything was how it appeared and to look at the situation not as academy students anymore but as a ninja. He gave out a bento to each of them to eat. Thanking him he dug in. 'This food isn't somehow a test, is it? Is everything a test now? Is why he was late a test? Ugh, tests suck'. And he had another in a weeks' time. Kami damned it.

Kakashi led them all over to a black stone once they had all eaten. This was the monument with the names of the fallen engraved on it. All three students were silent in respect to the men and women who had given up their lives for the village and its people.

"These are the names of all the shinobi who died protecting this village. They died heroes and it's important that we remember them. The mission is important and those who abandon the mission are trash." He turned his attention from the stone to his new charges. For the first time Kakashi seemed to be standing straight. Serious. He held the gaze of the newly minted genin, "and while that is true, those who abandon their friends are worse than trash. I want you all to remember that as we begin our duties as Team 7. Congratulations team. We will meet here tomorrow morning at 7 am. Dismissed."

He seems cool, Naruto decided. His words resonated with him, he felt that if they all followed that belief, then they might come to be a family like he had always dreamed of. 'After all; your team is like your family. Or so the academy says so.' Finally making Genin officially, he decided to go to his favorite shop to celebrate properly. Even if he wasn't hungry some good company will make this day complete. Deciding to take a nice walk to Ichiruku Ramen.

Arriving at the small, homely stall he was quickly seen to by Ayame. The pretty brunette who always had a smile for Naruto that cheered him up and lightened his heart no matter his mood. She was learning from her father how to cook all the items on their menu. Her father was a welcoming older man probably in his mid-40's, having laugh-lines around his mouth and eyes was an indication of where Ayame got her positive attitude from. In all the years he had been coming to their stand he had never seen either of them upset or angry.

"Dad! Our favorite customer is here" yelled Ayame to the partially deaf man. After checking his work and giving himself the opportunity to step out of the kitchen he greeted Naruto properly.

"Naruto you little rascal. Ha, how have you been? Busy, I hope? Ah and I can see you still have your headband so you must have passed your sensei's final test then? Congratulations!" The ramen chef always had a smile for the young Uzumaki.

"How did you know there was another test old man?"

"Pfftt, I've been serving food for this village from before I was Ayame's age. I know a few things, that the Jonin test their genin is a long standing tradition. I've served many genin hopefuls who never passed and were sent back to the academy." It was true, he had been serving food for nearly three decades. He knew a few ins and outs of the shinobi lifestyle. "We knew you would do it."

Seeing the shocked look on his favorite customer he added a little extra nugget to get him going. He made sure to go back to the food beforehand though.

"You know what else Naruto? When you become Hokage I can finally put up a sign saying that I have served 3 satisfied Hokage. No other establishment can claim such a feat." Softly chuckling at the loud response he received.

"The 4th ate here too?!" Who else could it have been? The 1st and 2nd Hokage were from before the old man.

"Sure did! Sat on that same seat you're sitting on right now."

"Whoa… that's awesome -dattebayo!" Almost in shock. The fourth was a legend! Even if he did seal the Kyuubi in him and he had some mixed feelings about that, it felt like he was somehow following in his footsteps. He was on the right path to becoming Hokage! With that thought in mind…

"I'll have what he did."

"Coming right up", this day was awesome! Coming here was never a mistake! He wasn't even hungry, he thought deliriously. Convincing himself that what the fourth ate was probably the most expensive thing on the menu he grabbed himself a copy. He had enough money to treat himself so wasn't worried about that. This was actually the first time he'd ever picked up the menu from here. He always asked what Techu would recommend when he was younger and so that was his go-to. He was never disappointed.

Ayame came out with the food. This had to be some joke.

"You're pulling my leg, right? You've got to be." The fourth's dish was staring right in front of him.

"Hey, the fourth was like you Naruto. He knew good food when he tasted it." Techu said seriously from the kitchen.

In front of Naruto was his absolute favorite; pork miso ramen!

With almost a tear in his eye, he ate with a reverence for the food. Techu was more than satisfied with his work. When there was no talk in his stall was when people enjoyed his food the most. Silence from Naruto when he was eating was the highest of compliments any chef could receive.

Paid with a generous tip he thanked the dynamic duo and left, telling them now that he was a shinobi he didn't know when he would be back to visit. Techu firmly suggested to Naruto that any mission he took outside of the village, he would then return and get a bowl from him.

Easiest promise of his life!

Unmentioned was that it would ease their minds knowing he had returned safe and sound. The two valued his patronage.

Making his way back to his apartment he felt damned good about himself. He may not have made an impact on his test, but he had his first mission tomorrow morning. And will have another test in just a week with Gai sensei. The time was getting late so he felt the issue of locating Gai's training ground could be put to rest and approached in the morning. He had a full week to figure it out anyway. 'Leave tomorrow's problems to tomorrow's you.' With a certain swagger in his step, the young Uzumaki made his way back to his apartment.

"Crap, my clothes. I never hung them out to dry. Might as well do that, even if it's not hot, the air should help at least." After that was done, he went to his bedroom. Setting his alarm for 6 am made him glad that it wasn't a 5 am start again. Laying down in his bed but not tired enough to sleep left him with time to think. It was mid-evening anyway, so sleep was not on the agenda just yet.

The old man Hokage had told him that his graduation circumstances were to be kept under wraps as they were dealing with a traitor and had to have time to question him properly. It made him glad he didn't accidentally reveal anything to anyone. He didn't think he would have had such an easy time if he had arrived on time with all his other graduates.

'I wonder who passed from my class?' He contemplated with a thoughtful look.

It had become apparent to Naruto that after he had hit his head on the floor, he had begun to feel much calmer, more in control of his thoughts. Not so tightly wound with energy. It was difficult to explain. Like finally being able to stretch fully within his own body. That sounded weird as well… It was a good feeling. Perhaps, it had nothing to do with his head injury and more to do with knowing about his burden. Finding some sort of inner peace, perhaps?

"Well, you're not far off." He didn't know how but he knew that voice had come from his own head. But that was most definitely NOT his voice!

A chuckle echoes inside his mind ominously.

"It's past time we met Uzumaki Naruto" the voice was deep like a mans' and sounded incredibly old.