I do not own anything from Naruto, that is all Masashi Kishimoto.

This is my first fanfic and because it is my first, criticisms are welcome, feedback is appreciated, and flames (well, noone usually likes you anyway :P), no I'm kidding, please still feel free to post reviews.

Kaien Kurayami: If you ever want to borrow the rule of silver, just send me a PM with what story you're using it in and give me credit for it :)
plums: No, I do not intend on keeping the rivalry between Ino and Tenten forever. Just for right now, they are competing for Naruto's attention. Sorry that you don't like it.

As previously stated, I do not like to write to canon, but some parts will be as per canon. Though that will be up to my discretion. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the reviews.

"Normal conversations"
"Thoughts"
"Kyuubi talking"
"Kyuubi thoughts"
"Jutsu"
(Jutsu name)

Chapter 8: The Newest Genin

Team Seven arrived at training ground three at roughly 8:30 AM wanting to show to their new sensei that they were tactful. Naruto was laying down on the grass, hands under his head as he watched the clouds roll by, his face hidden by his ever-present mask. Sasuke was off in the distance abit throwing shurikens and kunai at the wooden posts that stood in the center of field. Tenten was not too far from Naruto, laying on her side and staring at her crush.

"Come on Tenten, get your act together and talk to him." She looked over to where Sasuke was at to make sure he wasn't going to be coming by anytime soon. "So Menma, when we were sparring, I noticed you don't really use the taijutsu stances taught to us in the Academy. What kind of taijutsu do you use?" she asked, wondering how he succeeded in beating everyone in the Academy. The only person he wasn't able to beat every now and then was their teammate Sasuke. She was clearly so far behind them that their experience, as young as they were, completely out-shadowed her. She stared at her teammate for a few minutes, not getting a response. "Hello? Earth to Menma? You there?" she said, waving a hand in front of him.

Naruto stared at the clouds, tuning out everything around him. "What am I going to do about Yugao-chan? I offered her a piece of silver with a chakra gem and it was quite pricey too. What do I do if she offers me a piece of silver in return?"

"Calm down brat and stop worrying. If you are going to worry about what a simple girl is going to do about silver, how do you expect to fight people who are trying to kill you? Mind you, if you die, I'll bring you back from the Shinigami and kill you myself for being so stupid and getting me killed." The fox berated him, tapping a claw lightly on the ground, causing ripples in the water of Naruto's mind.

"That's easy for you to say Kendama-sama, you can't die anyway. You'd only come back a few years later when your chakra was restored." Naruto spoke back, enjoying the more civil of conversations with his overly violent friend.

"Regardless of the truth behind that statement, that doesn't mean I wish to die. You may be my container and I may offer you my power when you are hurt, but I only do it because you are useful to me. Also, WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT CALLING ME THAT?!" Kyuubi yelled at his container, growling lightly as he communicated to Naruto.

"What else am I supposed to call you? I don't exactly know your name and just because I am useful to you doesn't mean anything. One of these days, I'll take that seal off so we can be real friends and not have to worry about us trying to kill each other."

"Ha! Like you stand a chance of beating me! Also, if you will stop calling me such an insulting name such as Kendama, then I will tell you my name." The kyuubi spoke, noticing Naruto's anticipation to know his name. "My name is Kurama. I will not ever repeat my name to you, so if you forget my name I will not speak it again. Also, it would be best to know that each one of us tailed beasts have a name. We do not give out our names to those who we don't think are worthy of it."

"Awww, you think I'm worthy of your name? I'm so happy!" Naruto said happily, smiling behind his mask.

"You're more worthy than my last two containers. At least you talk to me and don't keep me chained to a post." Kurama spoke, remembering how Kushina and Mito both refused him a landscape which he could wander and instead chose to chain him down entirely.

"Seems even you have a sensitive side Kurama-sama. Who would have thought?" Naruto teased playfully.

"Hmph. Ungrateful brat." He said before cutting off communication with Naruto. "You truly are different Naruto. Makes me wonder how far you will come as a shinobi. Maybe you were the one that my father told me about, but we will have to wait and see, you are still young yet."

Naruto rolled his eyes, before hearing his teammate call to him. "Huh, what?" he said, looking over to Tenten. "Sorry, I didn't hear what you asked."

"I asked what kind of taijutsu style you use. It's not one I've seen before." She responded, a little irritated that he would ignore her.

"Oh, I use a style of my own. It's primarily a brawler and street fighter technique, mixed with some martial arts. Sure it may leave a few openings every now and then, but its good as an overall technique and powerful too." He responded before sitting up, realizing that is was going on 9: 30 AM. "Where's this new teacher of ours?"

"Think you could teach me that style?" she asked with hope, wanting to spend more time with him.

"I could, but it would be pointless. You already have a style of your own, plus taijutsu isn't your strongest point. You seem more of a long ranged fighter than short ranged." he answered back.

"I would still like to learn." She said sitting up and leaning forward.

Naruto rolled his eyes and looked at his teammate. "We'll have to see what our new sensei teaches us before I give you an answer."

"Awww… fine." She said before tilting her head back to look at the clouds.

A silver-haired man with a mask across the lower half of his face was sitting in one of the benches of one of the rooftop balconies, reading a book. He looked up to see one of his old friends come up, smoking a cigarette. "Hey there Kakashi, shouldn't you be at the training grounds with your team to see if they pass or fail?"

Kakashi closed his book and sighed, closing his only visible eye, as his other eye was hidden by his hitai-ate. "Why bother, Asuma? Most genin nowadays don't understand the value of camaraderie or that you need to stick together as a team, nor understand the value of placing oneself in a situation so your allies can continue. I would be willing to bet this team fails just like my last four hopeful teams did." He said, as he watched his friend sit down beside him.

"That is exactly why you need to teach the newest genin what you know as well as your values. You're not going to be around forever Kakashi. If we don't teach our students the values we hold dear and about the Will of Fire, this village will fall faster than my cigarette ash does. Besides, you never know, maybe one of your students will become Hokage or more." Asuma responded in kind, tapping on his cigarette to watch the ash fly away in the wind.

"Although you speak the truth, there is no point in teaching those who do not value their teammates." He said, putting his book away.

"How do you know they don't unless you test them?" the cigarette smoker asked.

"I guess you have a point. However, don't be surprised if they are sent back to the Academy." He said, before shunshin-ing away to training ground three.

Itachi stood in the middle of training ground fifty along with his opponent, Inabi Uchiha. "Inabi Uchiha, I'll give you one chance to withdraw. This fight is going to be pointless and futile and will only result in your failure." Itachi said, looking at Inabi.

"Never! Your father was wrongfully accused of planning a coup d'etat and is now in the Blood Prison for it! This is your fault! You don't deserve to hold the title of Clan head." Inabi exclaimed back, activating his three tomoe sharingan and grabbing a kunai from his pouch.

"If you choose to fight me and lose, no one else in your family may challenge me. Deal?" Itachi said, activating his own three tomoe sharingan, watching Inabi closely.

"Fine, but that won't be necessary as I will defeat you." Inabi said, unaware that Itachi was once an ANBU captain and is much more capable with his sharingan than he is.

Itachi sighed and shook his head. "Then let us begin." Itachi said as he dodged a few kunai to jump into the air, analyzing everything that Inabi was doing, throwing shuriken in quick succession towards Inabi to make him take up a defensive posture as he landed on the ground.

Shisui and Yugao watched on in wonder as the two Uchiha members fight it out, each one throwing kunai, shuriken or fire jutsu at one another, though it was clear to the both of them that Itachi was winning the fight. "So, Menma gave you a silver necklace huh? Are you going to return the gesture or let him down gently?" Shisui asked quietly, watching his best friend deflect more kunai and shuriken.

"Honestly? I think I'll return the gesture. I've spent a lot of time around Menma as he's grown and he's turning out to be a fine shinobi, one who has the ability to change the world. He's also the one who stopped me from leaving the village a year ago when Hayate and me broke up." Yugao spoke, reaching a hand up to rub the chain absent-mindedly.

"I heard about you two breaking up. What happened? You two seemed so into each other." Shisui said, looking at her a brief moment before looking away.

"I offered him a silver ring and he declined the offer, saying he didn't think it was the right time. I'm not upset anymore. That was a year ago and I've moved on." She said, smiling at her friend.

"Just don't go out and get yourself hurt again. If you do choose to be with Menma though, give him some time to age. He is only a few years younger than yourself and still naïve." Shisui said as he watched as Itachi landed a few blows onto Inabi, making him reel back from being hit so hard.

"I know and I will. Besides, I can't give him a piece of silver until he's 16. Well, I could, but the rule wouldn't apply until then." Yugao responded as she watched on. "Why's Itachi taking his time in defeating Inabi?" she asked curiously.

"He's getting some extra training in. Since becoming the Clan head, he hasn't had a lot of time to train, what with the semi-constant Council meetings, having to deal with the police force and making time for his younger brother, Sasuke. So these minor challenges give him an excuse to train, so he takes advantage of it." Shisui said, watching on as Inabi took a few more hits from Itachi.

"I see. So how long ago was this fight already won?" she asked curiously.

"The moment he threw his shuriken at Inabi. Granted, Inabi has a small chance if Itachi isn't careful, but he's so analytical that I doubt that would happen."

Itachi continued to dodge and weave from the shadow shuriken that Inabi had made, enjoying being able to put his training to some minor work. Inabi was well beneath his skill, at best a B-rank shinobi, while Itachi, himself, was at least an A-rank, if not S-rank shinobi. He watched as Inabi let loose another jutsu, which he dodged with ease. "This is starting to get boring." He thought to himself before he stopped moving and put his hair out of his eyes, looking straight at Inabi. "Tsukuyomi." Suddenly, Inabi was chained against a rock while Itachi stood before him with a sword. "You can either claim defeat or be put into the hospital. Your choice." Itachi said to Inabi.

"You think a simple genjutsu can hold me? Release!" he yelled out as he sent a burst of chakra through his body, but nothing happening. Inabi frowned and sent another burst of chakra through his body, hoping to dispel the genjutsu he's in.

"It won't work. You're in my Tsukuyomi. I control time and space with this genjutsu. A second is a day, an hour is a month, a year is a decade. Whatever time span I want it to be, is. So once again, submit or be hospitalized." Itachi stated.

Shisui and Yugao watched as the two fighters stopped moving, Yugao speaking up. "Whats going on? Why'd they stop moving?"

"Itachi's ultimate genjutsu, Tsukuyomi. Inabi is trapped in it and the only way out is for Itachi to end it himself." Shisui stated, rather coldly.

Inabi looked at Itachi, "I'll never submit, I'll figure out a way to get out of this and beat you!" he growled out towards Itachi.

"Very well." Itachi said as he stabbed Inabi in the side with his sword, pulling it out, revealing no blood loss, only the very real pain of the stab being felt by Inabi. "Once you submit, I'll stop." Spoke a second and third Itachi, as all three stabbed him, continuing the process of more Itachi's being created and stabbing Inabi.

"Ok! I submit! You win!" Inabi said, having felt like he'd been stabbed over a million times over what seemed like three days.

Itachi released his genjutsu and knelt onto a knee as he closed his eyes, not seeing that Inabi had completely collapsed from pain and was fading in and out of consciousness. "I'd suggest you take him to the hospital immediately." Itachi said, hearing people scramble towards Inabi and walking away.

"Told you Itachi would win." Shisui said as he walked over and helped his friend up. "Try not to use your sharingan for a little bit. You'll only increase the blindness further if you do." He said, knowing the after-effects of using the sharingan all too well.

"I'll see you around Itachi-san, Shisui-san. I have to get to work." Yugao said as she walked away from the field.

"See you around Yugao." Itachi and Shisui spoke at the same time, before they both disappeared in a shunshin.

Team Seven was leaning against the wooden posts, talking to each other about why their sensei was so late. "Oh come on, whats he possibly doing that's going to make him an hour and a half late?" Tenten asked.

"Maybe he forgot about us." Sasuke spoke up, breaking off a piece of grass and twirling it in his fingers.

"Forgot? Oh no, I didn't forget. I was just testing your patience. There will be many missions you will go on, if you pass, that will require patience." Kakashi said as watched his students stand up from the ground after the scare he gave them. "Now then, I am going to conduct a simple test, one which will determine if you pass or fail." He pulled two bells out of his pocket and tied them to a belt loop on the side of his pants. "There are two bells. You must retrieve both of them before sundown or you all fail. The only downfall, the one who does not get a bell goes back to the Academy."

The three genin looked at each other and sweatdropped before Naruto spoke up. "If that's the case, I'll go back to the Academy. I don't mind spending two more years at the Academy, who knows, I might even make some more friends." He said, looking at both Sasuke and Tenten.

"You'd really do that Menma? Why?" Sasuke asked, surprised at his rival's bold statement, which also caught Kakashi by surprise.

"Well, if only two of us could pass, and there are three of us, whats the point in everyone putting in all their effort only for one to fail anyway? I'd rather just go ahead and go back than to see one of you guys get sent back merely because you couldn't get a bell." Naruto said calmly.

"Did he see through the test? Noone has ever given up this quick to make sure his comrades could go on, just who is this masked Menma?" Kakashi thought to himself.

"You do realize that if you go back baka, I'll follow suit. I'd rather be on your team than be stuck with someone who I don't know or trust." Sasuke said, patting his friend on the back.

"I'll go too." Tenten spoke up, not wanting to be part of a team that didn't have Menma on it.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, before giving an ever absent eye smile, one that would become quite common with his newest team. "You all pass." He said calmly, making the three genin look at him in shock.

"How? We didn't do anything." Naruto spoke, looking at his newest teacher.

"Simple. The bell test is not a who will pass or who will fail, but a whole team pass or fail. You see, in the ninja world, those who break the rules are trash. However, those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash. Had you proceeded to fight me to obtain the two bells, and in some great stroke of luck, did obtain both of them, you all still would have failed." Kakashi said as he looked at his students. "Now then, because you all have already passed, I want to see how good you guys do working together. I still want you to do your best to retrieve these two bells. Come at me with the intent to kill, that's the only way you can get these bells." He said before backflipping away and pulling out his book to read it.

Naruto and Sasuke raised an eyebrow both, before grinning as Naruto made the tiger seal. "Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" (Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu) Suddenly, there were at least 200 clones on the training field, which made Kakashi blink in surprise.

"Guess no reading for me. This Menma kid is serious… almost reminds me of, well, me." He put his book away and began a taijutsu battle with each of the clones, one hit causing each of them to dispel. While he was busy with the clones, he didn't notice as Tenten jumped into the air and began throwing kunai, senbon, and shuriken at him. He felt the first of the senbon pierce him before he jumped out of the way, being pegged by two more senbon and getting kicked and punched by a couple of clones. "I see, so they are serious, and abit more aggressive than I thought. However, that's two, where's the third?" He said, before seeing a fireball come toward him, the fireball eliminating clone after clone in its path. He jumped away towards the river, making a few hand seals. "Suiton: Suijinheki" (Water Style: Water Wall) Kakashi stood firm as the water around him rose up to make the fireball disappear, seeing the three genin land in front of him. "Is that all you guys can do? You'll have to be abit more serious than that if you want the bells." Kakashi said as he tapped his side, not feeling the bells there. "When did they…" He thought back for a second, coming to the realization that one of the punches was not a punch, but was a grab by the masked boy, who succeeded in taking both bells before disappearing from the fireballs path.

Naruto held up the two bells and grinned from behind his mask, "Wasn't that hard sensei. Now, whats next on your schedule?" He asked tossing a bell to Sasuke and the other to Tenten, putting an arm around them both.

"Impressive. First day together and they're working well as a team, particularly Sasuke and Menma. I can see this team going far." "Now we get to do introductions. By that, I mean we tell each other our names, likes, dislikes, dreams, and hobbies." Kakashi said, waving his team to join him at the water's edge. He pointed towards the girl. "You get to introduce yourself first."

Tenten nodded and looked at her teammates and teacher, "My name is Tenten, I like Menma-kun, I dislike those who think I'm not good enough to be a kunoichi. My dream is to become as legendary as Lady Tsunade of the Sannin and my hobbies are throwing weapons."

Naruto spoke up next, "My name is Menma Shonjiki. I like training til I can't train anymore and I like learning new things, I dislike those who beat other people up just for fun. My dream is to become a Hokage, one far greater than even the First or the Fourth, and my hobbies are training and eating ramen."

Sasuke spoke up next, "My name is Sasuke Uchiha, I like training and learning new jutsu, I dislike those who are not an Uchiha or have not gained my respect. My dream, can't really say I have one. My hobbies are training."

Kakashi gave an eye smile to his three genin, "My name is Kakashi Hatake. I have no real desire to tell you my likes or dislike. My dreams for the future, hmm. As for my hobbies, I have lots of hobbies." He said, making his students get little tick marks on foreheads.

"That's it Kakashi-sensei? That's all you're going to tell us is your name?" Tenten spoke up, saying the same thing she thought Naruto and Sasuke were thinking.

"Yes. I don't see the need of you guys understanding everything about me. If you knew that stuff about me, I wouldn't be able to surprise you with anything." Kakashi replied simply to his students. "Now if you excuse me, I must report to the Hokage. Meet me at the Hokage Tower in three days at 10 AM. We'll get our first mission then." He said before shunshin-ing off.

"Well, that was fun. I'll see you guys around. I have some stuff I need to do." Naruto said.

"You always leave so suddenly after we're dismissed Menma. What are you doing that needs so much attention?" Sasuke asked of his teammate, noticing Tenten's sad look, but ignoring it.

"Research and studies." Naruto said calmly before shunshin-ing in a swirl of leaves, leaving behind his two teammates.

Hiruzen sat at his desk, seeing the four jonin in front of him. "Status report of your students?" he said looking at the twelve papers in front of him with a fail or pass stamp prepared for any of them.

A woman with smoke-colored hair spoke first, "Team Eight has passed their test and are awaiting further missions."

Asuma spoke up next, "Team Ten has passed their test, though just barely."

A man wearing a green jumpsuit spoke up next, quite enthusiastically, "Team Nine and their flames of youth has passed ever so greatly!" The three other jonin sighed and bowed and shook their heads in something between pity and embarrassment of him.

Hiruzen looked at the last three papers to be stamped and signed: Menma Shonjiki, Tenten, and Sasuke Uchiha. "I'm going to take a guess that your team failed, eh Kakashi? This will be the fourth team you fail, are you trying to get me to take you off the list of applicable jonin teachers?"

Kakashi gave an eye smile, "On the contrary, Hokage-sama, Team Seven has passed my expectations quite well." He watched on as his fellow jonin fell back in shock that he would pass a team after failing everyone else. "I look forward to seeing how they work together. Although, if I can make a small request." He asked, not sure how the Hokage would take his request.

"What is your request?" Hiruzen asked.

"I request that my team be started on C-rank missions instead of D-rank. Their teamwork is quite great considering their short time together. I would like to see them excel further." Kakashi said, running a hand through his silver hair.

The shinobi in the green jumpsuit spoke up, "You just want to beat me in mission ranks don't you Kakashi? I request the same thing!" he exclaimed to the Hokage loudly.

Hiruzen looked up at the two. "Kakashi, I will grant your request to start with C-rank missions, however, the missions will stay within the Land of Fire until they have gained more experience. Might Guy, your request is denied. Considering the report you gave me earlier, your team needs to work on their teamwork." He looked up to see Guy bow his head in defeat. "You are dismissed."

"You beat me again Kakashi. Our rivalry will continue on!" Guy exclaimed before running out the door.

Asuma spoke up, "Pass huh? They must be some team."

"They are quite unique." Kakashi said, before walking out the door and reading his book once more.