Chapter 2 – To beat the odds

The rooftop was generally a peaceful place, especially during Konoha's bright summers. The birds chirped their melodies and all the trees swayed to the slow waltz of the wind. One could easily spend the day watching the village here, leaning carefree against its safety rails. This peace would not last long.

"Pathetic"

"That's not fai-" The blond haired boy was suddenly booted from behind, tumbling down the rough stone steps below his feet before coming to a stop. He tried to lift his head, ready to protest. Harsh knee bone was pushed into his back. "Should you have been from another village and have spoke back to your military superior your sensei would not be nearly as lenient as me"

Kakashi then sighed before chucking Naruto at the other two academy graduates, causing the three to tumble to the ground. "The three of you need a lot of work before I can even deem you as ninja, at the moment you're undisciplined and possess none of the qualities that Genin should have. I should send you all back to the academy." The Uchiha bristled. This was unfair! did he not know who he was?! "Then send them losers back! why should I, the last of the Uchiha be held back by the dobe and fan girl!" Sasuke exclaimed. Sakura's face became downcast. "Maa, you're right." said Kakashi "Why should I, an elite Jounin of Konoha waste my time with three academy graduates when I could just go back to whatever I want to do?" "But thats not the same!" Sasuke said "But it is. just like you said, us betters shouldn't bother right?" The Uchiha's perfect composure was then shattered and he began to violently stride towards the copy cat ninja. Sakura gasped.

Slam!

Sasuke groaned. Impossible! he didn't even see him move?! Kakashi painfully restrained his arms behind his back with just one hand. Naruto sniggered at his humiliation. "You! laughing at what should be your team mate, your comrade! weren't you the deadlast of the academy? the one who scraped the barrel with your pass and was fooled by just nice words and attention into stealing the scroll of seals!." Naruto's grin slipped, his feelings hurt. Would Kakashi treat him like most of the village? a travesty for even existing? Kakashi then released Sasuke.

"Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandoned their friends are worse than scum" Kakashi said. "It is the will of fire that unites the village, the strong protect and help the weak" Kakashi stared at Sasuke "alongside our comrades, all unifying and working together to protect our precious people." Kakashi watched as Naruto then dejectedly started walking towards Sasuke, offering his hand "Sensei is right, we're a team now. I shouldn't of laughed at you at all, I'm sorry" The sun kissed boy repented. With wide eyes and a quick glance at Kakashi, Sasuke eventually accepted the help.

Better. They're finally getting it now, well the two boys atleast. But we can figure out a way of sorting that out soon enough.

Looking at Kakashi and taking his silence as acceptance of his apology Naruto exclaimed "So we're Genin now, does that mean we get to learn cool jutsu!?" Kakashi almost, just almost, felt bad about what was about to happen next. "Nope, you might of passed the academy exam but you're not Genin yet" .Three "What!" the three Genin hopefuls shouted in unison. Ah, how he enjoys this part. He grinned. "You didn't think passing an exam nearly everyone with some sort of sense gets through was enough did you? Only so many make it to Genin each year." Three faces gazed upon him with indignation. His eye crinkled."Meet me at training ground 3 tomorrow; 2am sharp."

Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

"Man I've got to learn that jutsu! it's so cool!" Naruto shouted. "Thats if we even pass the test, baka! But I'm sure Sasuke-kun has worked it all out on how to pass, right Sasuke-kun?" Sakura swooned. The rooftop was empty. "Oh" Sakura muttered sadly. Now was his chance! "Hey Sakura-chan, how about we get some ramen at Ichiraku! Who needs the teme anyways when you have me!" "Damn it Naruto for the last time no!" Smack!. Sakura then marched off home, leaving Naruto on the floor with a painful bump on his head. Naruto began to cry anime tears. "Whaa! I was sure it was going to work this time!"

Unknown to the three Genin, Kakashi had been watching from the next rooftop. He knew he had his work cut out if he was to turn the three of them into true shinobi. Starting with their attitudes to one another. I wonder if this is how Minato sensei felt with Obito, Rin and me? I wonder, what would you do? Sensei?

In the hokage tower, a pipe was being lit. The smoke climbing above the burning tobacco leaving a wispy trail that floated to the ceiling. "Report Kakashi" spoke the third hokage showing the face that all the village knows and associates as the kind grandfather. The room itself was cozy with oil paintings of his predecessors placed neatly against the walls gleaming in the evening sun who's rays casted a warm orange upon them from the was merely an illusion, designed to allows guests to let their guard down. For hidden in the shadows Kakashi sensed at least 3 members of the Anbu, the elite of the elite.

"The children have no sense of teamwork nor situational awareness since they're preoccupied with their pathetic arguing. I have a deadlast too busy pining for a fan girl who's eyes are only for the Uchiha's heir who whilst may be the rookie of the year and the cream of the crop amongst the academy graduates suffers from a clear superiority complex and is unwilling to properly associate with his team." Kakashi said. " My opinion of them so far is that they would be dead within the hour of leaving Konoha's walls."

"Which is why I trust you, of all the Jounin, to teach them Kakashi" Sarutobi smiled. "You hold no prejudices against the boy the village treat as the demon fox, nor favoritism for Sasuke that would hinder the progress of the other two wards in your care." Kakashi frowned "That may be so hokage-sama but I recommend sending them all back for remedial training, they're not ready"

The hokage stopped smiling, eyes sparkling with a glint of sadness. "The council demands results, they hover like vultures ready to unsurp any power that they can off me. Do what you can, Kakashi, but as much as I hate to say this we need to keep them happy and also prove to the other nations that we are still standing strong. That despite the Kyubbi incident we still have the strength to protect our walls from our oppurtunistic enemies." The fire shadow then sighed.

"Team 7 must shed their innocence soon, destroy their hearts to become the next legendary three, striking fear from the shadows. Become the horror story that mothers tell unruly children at night. Whatever it may cost them."

*Authors Note:

So here we have it, I have something original cooked up for their exam which I hope you all enjoy. I will be roughly following cannon untill we get to the timeskip however stuff like Wave and the Chunnin exams will have a twist as I find no pleasure in rehashing the same stuff we've all read a million times. Big thank you once again to Novrier for mentioning about the 4 shadow clones in the first chapter. This has been amended.