Chapter #9: Genin Exam – part VII

Naruto's Decision…

The ring of the alarm clock was heard in the whole area.

"Tough luck, your time's up" announced Naruto calmly, turning towards his students. "Guess it's time to talk about the results of your test. Well, you got one bell and the other three are still with me, so who's the lucky one that has the bell?"

Daisuke reached for his pouch and picked out a small, silver bell, saying: "I have it. But…it's not really mine" and with those words he threw the bell to Haruto. "If it wasn't for Haruto, I wouldn't have got the bell in the first place…it was his idea that helped us get the bell, so he should be the one who passes…"

"It's not fair at all" replied the burgundy genin-to-be. "I'm the weakest…so I'm the last one here, who should pass…"

"Can't argue with that weakest part…" nodded Takeru with a serious face. Emi elbowed him in the arm. "Ow…but Daisuke does have a point. Even though it's pathetic to lose to you."

"In the end, I was right…" sighed Naruto, sweat dropping, "They hate each other."

"Daisuke's right" Emi barged in. "So, just take the bell, okay.

Naruto started to chuckle: "I guess I should announce the results of the test. Listen carefully, coz I'm only gonna say this once: you guys… all passed!"

"Huh…?" Haruto's eyes widened as his jaw felt to the ground.

"…Come again" Daisuke said faintly.

The jonin's eye twitched: "I said that you all passed."

"You're joking…" Emi looked suspiciously at the man.

The Nine-Tails vessel sighed, lowering his head a bit: "It's no joke, but I see that you have no idea why you guys actually made it. Well, I guess you should know my reasoning…"

"Oh yeah?" said Haruto confused. "So what was it for?"

"The goal of this exam was to…" Naruto made a dramatic pause, "Test your teamwork! The object of this exam was actually easy to figure. I'm a little surprised that Emi nor Kumiko figured that out…"

"Well, it all makes sense now" replied Emi. "I guess that's the reason why there are only four bells: to divide the group…"

"Exactly" nodded Naruto with a smile. "My old sensei gave me and my cell a very similar test. Well, I guess you guys did better than my team did…"

"Yeah!" yelled Haruto, throwing his hand to the sky. "We rock!"

"Change the record, will ya?" with those words, Daisuke smacked him on the head.

"Wait a minute" interrupted Takeru, narrowing his eyes, "If we hadn't get any bells, but worked together, we still would've passed?"

"Of course" replied Naruto with a shrug. "In the Leaf Village, strength isn't that important, because the shinobi of the Leaf is never alone. The missions are completed by teams. To put it simply: the real power of leaf ninja is the ability to cooperate with their teammates."

"Huh?" Haruto didn't quite understood.

"Look, you bird brain…" said Kumiko somewhat tired, "As a team, it's not important who's the strongest and who's the weakest. The most important thing is how good we can fill in each other weaknesses…"

"I couldn't said it better myself" the jonin gave her a compliment.

"So wait a minute, it shouldn't bother me if Takeru's weaker than I am?"

"Didn't you just said a while ago that you're the weakest on the team?" Takeru gave Haruto an asking glare, sweat dropping in the process.

"Well, you know, that I didn't wanna hurt your feelings" replied the boy with a grin.

"The thing that you all must understand is the fact that you need work as a team" Naruto stated, regaining their attention. "If one of you fails, you all do. You have to trust and support each other. These are the basics of success as a ninja…"

"Understood!" yelled Haruto, saluting.

"Anyway…" he said after a short pause, "Starting tomorrow we'll be attending the missions. I want to see all of you here at eight in the morning tomorrow. Right now I have business I must take care of, so for now, you're dismissed" and with those words he disappeared in the cloud of smoke.

-Later that day-

Iruka was sitting at his desk when Naruto appeared. The Chunin immediately looked up: "Please, have a seat" he pointed a small, wooden chair near the desk.

"No, thanks, Iruka-sensei" replied the blond with a smile. "This won't take long, especially since I have other matters to attend to. I only came here, to announce that I qualified all members of team number seven to become genin…"

"They did that good?"

"Well… they did alright," answered the jonin simply. "I'd say that they all have their issues…but in the end, they did work together…"

"You think they'll manage out there?"

"Guess we'll find out soon. Would you mind telling me what, other teams passed the test?"

"Well, it's no big secret" replied Iruka. "From this year it'll be team numbers eight and ten. I assume you're aware of who the leaders of those teams are?"

"Yeah, I do" replied Naruto with a smirk. "Guess I should get going, after all, I still have to prepare some missions for my cell and I can't let those two take all the good ones."

"Well, I don't think you should be worrying about team number ten stealing any interesting missions from you…"

"Things have changed, Iruka-sensei" and with those words, the Nine-Tails vessel once more disappeared in the cloud of smoke.

-Later still-

Hatake Kakashi was going through another pile of papers. As he was signing another document, Naruto appeared by jumping through the window. Without even raising his head, he asked: "When are you going to learn how to knock? You know, we have doors nowadays…"

"But getting in through the door is so lame" replied the blonde with a smirk. "Anyway, please, forgive me, Rokudaime-sama…" at this point the Kyuubi vessel bowed."I came in order to receive a mission for my team."

"Oh, so you actually allowed your students to pass?" Kakashi seemed surprised. "Well, at least now you'll see just what kind of hell I had to go through when you were my subordinate…"

"Perhaps, but at least I won't hide my face before them" replied Naruto teasingly. "Which reminds me: don't you think that now, when you're the Hokage, you should take off your mask, Kakashi-sensei?"

"How I dress is none of your business. Besides, you came here to get the first assignment for your new team, didn't you?"

"Oh yeah."

"Well, I think I've got a really interesting mission for you guys then…"

"So, we're going to fight bandits or something?" the blond already got a little excited.

"No, even better" replied the Hokage. "Your mission will be to exterminate… rats in the basement of the major of the nearby village!"

"And thus crappy missions begin" sighed Naruto with a sweat drop, taking the document that Kakashi was holding in his hands. "What was I thinking when I allowed those guys to pass?"

And now, time for the promised, special note. As I said, it's nothing, really special, but if any of you guys (and girls) were wondering what the names of my characters mean, you'll find the answer right here. Without further to do:

Haruto Sarutobi: his last name means monkey jump, (which refers to his clan). Haruto has actually many meanings, but in this case it refers to 'spring' (I choose it to underline his last name).

Emi Tomoko: her clans name means wisdom or intellect, which is thought to be common among the clansmen . Her first name, Emi, means simply a 'smile', but if you exclude the first 'I', you get 'em', which stands for 'blessing'.

Takeru Hagoromo: his last name means "angel's raiment'. That is the name of his clan Takeru was born into and will be explained in the later parts of the story. As for his first name, Takeru, means 'warrior'.

Kumiko Murasaki: her last name, means purple and that is also the color of Kumiko's clothes. Her name means simply 'forever beautiful child', which refers to her looks, as she is though to be rather attractive.

Daisuke Ganseki: both his first and last name have only one meaning: 'Ganseki' means 'rock' and 'daisuke' can be translated as 'big help', which will refer to Daisuke's future techniques.

Well, I guess it's nothing, really special, but I hope this makes a good add-on for the story.

And with that, please review.