Finding the right Path
Fourth installation. Tests are underway, lets see who passes and fails
There are no pairings for now, that may change however
I do not own Naruto or any other aspects that reference people who could sue me...
Enjoy
Chapter 4
The next day, all of the students were sitting in the classroom chatting like there was no tomorrow. "Quiet please" Iruka called, only for the noise to raise a decibel. "Shut it" he screamed, silencing all the Genin in the class.
"Thank you. Now that I have your attention, I will announce the team placements. Before I do that however, I would like to say that I'm very proud of each and every one of you. You did a good job in this class over the past four years and I look forward to hearing about the many adventures that you have in the future. Now in stating that, I also have here the Rookie of the year listings…" The classroom waited in silence as Iruka spoke. Many believed that the only people to have come close to the Rookie of the year were Sasuke, Kiba and Shino. The twins weren't in class most of the time to be nominated, so they were out.
"The Rookie of the year goes to Uchiha Sasuke." At Iruka's words all of the girls screamed, applauded and praised the young Uchiha who didn't react at all to the information. He just sat looking out the window. "Now the Kunoichi of the year is a three way tie between Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino and Hyuuga Hinata. All three girls averaged out to come in equal position." Iruka explained, noting how each Kunoichi reacted differently to the news. Hinata had her head on the desk, appearing as if she were asleep, Sakura was throwing glances at Ino every now and then. Trying to put as much venom and hate into her looks as possible. Ino on the other hand was quiet with a large grin on her face.
"Okay… Moving on… The final item on the list is team placements" here Iruka's gaze landed on Menma then on Naruto. He knew the team placements and knew what each child would be doing in the future. Both Naruto and Menma caught the look on Iruka's face. They knew they were going to be split up. "Team 1 consists of…" No-one really paid attention to Iruka until their names were called.
"Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura and Uzumaki Menma are on Team 7. Your Jounin Sensei asked that you meet him at training ground 3 as soon as possible." With that, Menma looked at Naruto as if asking a silent question. Naruto knew what was going on, he had explained the separation to Menma, but he still couldn't get over the fact that his brother was on another team. Menma looked disheartened, but walked out the door none-the less. Sakura and Sasuke left first in the hopes of learning something from their sensei.
"Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino will be on Team 8." As Iruka finished that sentence, a young Kunoichi with long dark flowing hair and red eyes appeared. She looked at Hinata, who looked up from her desk, with a smile.
"Team 8 follow me please" Kiba was gobsmacked. He knew that Kunoichi had perfect figures, but he still couldn't get over his Sensei. She was the epitome of Goddess. Kiba basically felt 'Love at First Site'.
Without looking over her shoulders, the Jounin Sensei left, closely followed by Hinata and Shino. Kiba had to run to catch up or he'd lose sight of their Sensei. What the Team 8 members didn't know was that they were being tested as soon as their Sensei entered the Academy.
"Team 9 is still in circulation so Team 10 will be Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Chouji. Your Jounin Sensei asked that you meet him at 'The place where the alliance stands'." With that, Shikamaru led the way followed closely by Chouji and a grumbling Ino. They all knew where to go; it was a part of their training. The three clans did have a strong bond and alliance which could not be broken.
"Naruto, it says here that you are to return home." Iruka spoke in a soft tone. Naruto merely nodded before making his way back home. Halfway there, a few 'civilians' decided that they wanted a piece of the Kyuubi brat. They started running towards him with a variety of objects such as knives, cleavers, bats, bars and the occasional kunai. He knew that he was a Shinobi now, and that harming civilians could lead to devastating consequences. With that in mind, Naruto high tailed it out of there, too quick for any of the civilians to catch. Reaching his favourite training ground, he was slightly surprised to see a purple headed Kunoichi wearing a dark orange mini skirt and a long brown jacket staring at him with mirth and a slightly predatory look. Now Naruto knew he was in some sort of trouble and couldn't run his way out of this one.
"Hey gaki, what'cha doing?" Asked the slightly deranged looking Kunoichi. Before Naruto could reply however, he was knocked onto the ground and had his hands tied with chakra absorption chains and his head covered with some type of sack. He was then transferred to an unknown location via Shunshin.
Menma, Sasuke and Sakura were slightly disappointed when they arrived at their appointed training ground. Their Sensei was doing nothing but staring at a large stone. He didn't acknowledge any of them, just stood there staring. Sakura was about to speak when their sensei spoke in a cool voice. "Welcome to training ground 3. We will start off with introductions and proceed from there." The three Genin stood silent in wait. "My name is Hatake Kakashi." Here Kakashi turned and faced them, showing his one eyed smile. He was a tall man and had silver gravity defying hair. His face was mostly covered by a mask and his other eye was covered with his forehead protector. He wore normal dark Blue Jounin attire with a vest over that.
"I have many likes and some dislikes. I don't have a hobby and my dream is to see that you all pass this test" The three Genin looked at Kakashi questioningly. They wondered what test, but before they could voice their thoughts, Kakashi continued. "Now who is next?" Kakashi asked looking at the only girl on the team.
"My name is Haruno Sakura, I like a certain someone…" here she looked to her right where both boys stood eying her wearily. "I also like reading. I hate people who make fun of others and my future dream is too…" Here Sakura blushed and stopped talking all together. Kakashi looked at the scene with sad eyes. He knew the reality of the Shinobi world and knew what might befall his student if she doesn't commit to training. Kakashi's eye landed on Sasuke and waited for him to speak.
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke, there are things that I like but many more that I dislike. My dream, no the reality is that I will avenge my clan and kill a certain man." Kakashi knew who Sasuke was referring to and hoped his other students didn't know. Menma however was nodding as if he knew who and what Sasuke was talking about. That was something Kakashi would have to ask later on.
"Okay you're up." Kakashi spoke looking at Menma and gaining his attention.
"Ohayo Inu-San." Menma spoke, catching Kakashi slightly off guard and almost causing him to react. "You know who I am so why do I have to introduce myself?" Menma continued, giving Kakashi some time to readjust to the outburst.
"I do know you, but does your teammates?" Here Menma thought for a bit before looking at his two teammates.
"I guess not, well I like my Aniki, and Ramen, especially Ramen from Ichiraku." Menma replied, salivating slightly from his mouth at the word Ramen. "I hate being separated from my Aniki and stupid people who can't tell a Kunai from a sealing scroll." Everyone could feel the Killer Intent roll off of the boy but paid it off. Kakashi figured that he was doing it unintentionally. "My dream is to become the best Shinobi this world has ever seen."
Kakashi looked at each student before turning to look at the memorial stone once more. The silence lasted for a full minute before Kakashi spoke up. "This stone has the names of Konoha's heroes written on it. It is an honour to be placed here." At his words, his students looked at the stone. "My friends' names are on this stone and one day mine will be too. But before then I hope to create the best team Konoha has ever seen, even stronger than the Legendary Sannin." Here Kakashi looked at each of his students. "My friend once told me that 'those who break the Shinobi code are trash, but those that abandon your comrades are worse than trash'… He said that to me the same day he died. His name is on this stone." With that revelation, the three Genin looked at their sensei with wide eyes before looking back at the stone, a slightly more sombre look on their faces. This was the reality of being a Shinobi and Kakashi wanted his team to know it.
"Tonight will be a survival test that you will undertake. This test is to determine if you remain a Genin or get sent back to the Academy." Sasuke looked at Kakashi with slight anger and pure determination. Sakura looked shocked and looked close to voicing her opinion. Menma however looked relieved and Kakashi wasn't sure why.
"We completed our Genin test. Why do we have to take another one?" Sakura asked anger clearly evident in her voice. Though that were the case, everyone knew she was covering her nervousness.
"Well the final decision, if you pass or fail, is up to me. Pass and I will train you to surpass me, to fulfil your dreams. Fail and you get sent back to the academy." Kakashi spoke in a bored tone. The three Genin stood stock still as they replayed what they had heard over and over again in their minds. They couldn't believe it, even Menma. He knew that they were to be tested, but didn't think the results were this extreme. He knew he had to pass to prove that he was a strong Shinobi. Prove it to everyone, especially his brother.
Naruto didn't know what had happened to him. When he opened his eyes, he noticed that he was in a dark room lit only with candles and was looking into the eyes of the Kunoichi he briefly met in his favourite training ground. "So, is it okay to get kidnapped by Konoha Shinobi…?" Naruto asked, right before getting hit across the face with a right hook.
"What is your name?" The Kunoichi asked, showing some mirth on her psychotic face. Naruto was about to answer before he got hit again but on the other side of his face. Naruto started seeing stars from that hit, and knew he was in some serious trouble if he was in the Torture and Interrogation chambers. He knew who the woman was, he wasn't stupid, and being in her playground had him quite nervous… especially if her reputation was true. One thing was for sure though; Naruto really didn't want to find out.
Naruto looked up at the expectant look the Kunoichi was giving him. "My name is Naruto, I am…" before he could continue he was hit in the face once more, this time with enough power that he was sent to the ground. He was about to try and get free before a pair of hands grabbed him and righted him upright in front of the Kunoichi. It was then that he realised that there were others in the chamber. 'Probably some ANBU, to make sure I don't cause any havoc' was his thought process.
"I'm going to ask you again and please don't lie to me." The Kunoichi spoke again. "What. Is. Your. Name?" This time with each word Naruto was struck. Four body hits from the Kunoichi had him reeling slightly. Although Naruto and Menma were twins, they both had a different body built. Naruto was built like a swimmer, whilst Menma had a bit more muscle development. It was easier to hurt Naruto then it was to hurt Menma.
"My name is Naruto." Naruto was a little relieved when he didn't get hit. He looked up when he heard a noise and what he saw made his body tremble. In front of him, battered and bruised was Menma. He had no shirt on and was bleeding from his mouth. His hair was matted and slightly red due to the blood. Naruto was about to shout when he saw the Kunoichi punch Menma over and over. "Stop it… what the fuck are you doing?" Naruto screamed, but to no avail. Naruto kept repeating stop until he blacked out once again.
"Well, looks like he didn't know it was a Genjutsu?" the Kunoichi spoke to the other figure in the room. The other figure sighed before disappearing from the chamber. A second later Ibiki walked in. He went and collected Naruto and transferred him to another cell, one that was suited for 'his' Interrogation.
