Sorry this chapter took a while to write. i have been busy with work and school. soory please RxR
Disclaimer: Do not Own Naruto…but Oc's are mine!!!
Chapter 6: Surviving Teamwork: Hidden Truths!
The sky was overcast as Naruto and Hinata made their way towards training ground 27, the cold morning air was soothing and the sounds on nature all around them was comforting. Naruto was taking powerful strides as his kimono softly swayed in the cool breeze. His Odachi strapped to his hips, hands resting on the hilt. Hinata was beside him quietly staring at the distant clouds; wearing a form fitting black top with a lavender strip running down the sides, black pants going down to her lower shin and black sandals. They had been walking for some time now as they went over their ordeal. The problem was Sasuke and their team dynamics, his refusal to set aside his foolish pride and sense of entitlement because of the clan he comes from. The Uchiha were presumed to be the strongest of the clans in the entire village because of their bloodline. The Uchiha were the pampered people of Konoha, given the Military police so they could have some sense of importance and to feed their collect egos of a clan.
"What are we going to do about Sasuke?" Hinata said worry evident in her voice.
Naruto took in a deep breath, bringing his hand up to his head, running it through his long golden locks. "We will just have to adapt to the situation. I think when the time comes to deal with him comes, we have to convince him." He let out a heavy sigh as they reached the tall gate marking the perimeter of the training ground. "But right know let us get this test over with."
They reached the center of the training grounds noticing that Sasuke waiting in one of the trees surrounding the field. The notice three wooden training logs to the far left of the field and a few feet behind them was a large stone, which looked like a memorial stone. Naruto and Hinata settled down under a tree and waited for their sensei too arrive.
When they had arrived the sun was starting to rise, but now the sun has risen and is almost nine o'clock. They had been waiting for three hours by the time Kakashi decided to show himself.
"Yo!" Kakashi said as he half-heartily waved his hand. Naruto and Hinata stood and bowed despite Kakashi tardiness, and Sasuke joining them from the tree tops, with an agitated expression on his face. His annoyance was affected because of the time wasted on waited for him.
"You do realize that you are three hours late, from the time that you gave us Sensei!" Sasuke said anger lacing his voice.
Kakashi smiled under his mask as he put his hand behind his head, giving him an apologetic look, "Yeah, well you see. I was walking down the street when a black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way here." All three of his students gave him looks of disappointment at giving such a lame excuse. Feeling the awkward silence in the air Kakashi got down to business.
Standing in front of the three large training logs Kakashi placed an alarm clock on the middle log. "I have set the clock to go off at noon. Your objective in this exam is to get these shiny little things from me." Pulling out two bells from his pouch and jingled them in front of them. "You are to take these away from me, using any means necessary."
Naruto picking up on the hint spoke, "Even with the intent to kill you Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi smiled and nodded his head, "Yes Naruto, even with the intent to kill." Sasuke smirked and fingered the Tanto that was strapped to his back. "You can use any weapon you see fit, as long as you come at me intending to kill me because if you don't you won't pass. And anyone that does not have a bell by noon, then they are sent back to the academy." Everyone's eyes shot opened as they looked between themselves and back at Kakashi who had an evil look in his eye.
"Well we should get started . . . BEGIN!" he said disappearing in a puff of smoke. That signaled the beginning of the test as they scattered and hid in the forest. Kakashi was standing in the middle of the clearing standing by a small river, looking around evaluating his student's abilities to mask their presence.
'They're pretty good at hiding. At least they get that idea . . .' he looks before him and notices Naruto standing before him with a serious look on his face, his right hand wrapped tightly around the hilt of his Odachi. 'Eh… This one sure is different.'
Kakashi waves at him and yells, "You do know that you're supposed to hide, right?"
Naruto opened his eyes, as he slowly drew his Odachi revealing it at full length, "To hide from my adversary is not what I do. I prefer to fight head to head."
"That may be ok for Samurai, Naruto. But as ninja you're expected to be able to sneak up on your target and assassinate him without so much as him noticing you." Kakashi said as he reached into his pouch.
Naruto glared at him, "Are you insulting me, Kakashi-sensei!"
Kakashi smile, "No, not at all Naruto-chan. I'm just telling you that if you are to become a ninja, you need to fight as one, using stealth and underhanded tactics. Your way of head on attacks will not get you anywhere in this profession." Naruto raced forward forcing chakra into his legs to increase his speed. Kakashi was surprised at the speed which Naruto was displaying. Naruto was on Kakashi before he could move his hand from his pouch. Slashing left Naruto aimed to cut Kakashi in half, but he leaned back avoiding the slash. Naruto used the momentum of the slash to shoulder rush Kakashi knocking him off balance. He stumbled back and landed on his butt, Naruto capitalized on his position and with a quick movement of his blade loped off Kakashi's head.
Naruto grinned as he sheathed his Odachi, "See, Kakashi-sensei my approach works. Too bad for you, you made me use excessive force." Suddenly Kakashi's body was replaced with a log that was severed in half. Naruto's eyes widened as he looked around for Kakashi, 'Come on, where could he be?' Naruto closed his eyes and extended his senses outward, trying to feel for Kakashi's chakra. The air surrounding Naruto was thick in a heavy charka; it was suffocating the surrounding like a thick fog. It was sickening and had malice infused with it. The concentration of the chakra was surrounding Naruto on all sides. Naruto opened his eyes not able to locate Kakashi within the thick chakra fog surrounding him.
Naruto reacted to a disembodied voice that caught his attention, "You are very skilled in one on one combat Naruto." The voice was cold and was emotionless; an all too human chill ran down Naruto's spine as he searched for Kakashi. "But how are you against multiple opponents, Naruto-chan?" Naruto's eyes harden as out from behind the trees many copies of Kakashi stepped out, each brandishing kunai and shuriken. He took a wide stance and sheathed his Odachi, right hand firmly on the hilt.
Naruto looked around him and noticed behind the wall of Kakashi was a worried looking Hinata looking from a tree branch, 'Watch Hinata-chan. . . . Watch what I can do when our dreams are on the line!' he eyed all the Kakashi copies, with a sinister grin on his face. "Did you know Kakashi-sensei that my grandfather, Minamoto Sakai, developed the sword technique that my clan uses today?" Kakashi gave him a questioning gaze, interested in what he had to say. "He developed it during the First Great Shinobi War, when Mori no Kuni was dragged into it from pressure and fear of attack from northern Ninja. Samurai normally fight one on one, but during times of war; we are forced to engage multiple enemies at once. So he developed the Hakudoragon-ryu, a technique that was designed to defend against multiple enemies."
Kakashi and his clones readied themselves as they slowly approached Naruto. Naruto grin faded as he gathered his chakra into his sword. "Let me demonstrate one of those techniques developed by him." Naruto unsheathed his Odachi in one quick motion, unleashing the chakra gathered in the blade. 'Shinkuuha!' A crescent shaped blast of air and chakra arced around Naruto, destroying many of the clones surrounding him. Some of the clones managed to avoid the slash by jumping in the air and into the trees, while the real Kakashi watched from a distance, impressed by Naruto's skill with his clan's sword techniques.
'Some of his skill level is way beyond Genin.' But he is interested in what Sasuke and Hinata are up to. He disappears in a swirl of leaves, leaving Naruto to deal with the remaining clones that with teach him one of the Shinobi lessons.
Sasuke was running through the trees setting up many traps as he waited for Kakashi to make an appearance. Sasuke had watched the first half of Naruto's and Kakashi's conversation before he left to get into position. He knew from watching Kakashi long enough that he was going to test them whether they came to him or not.
Sasuke was standing in the middle of a clearing awaiting Kakashi. A strong wind blew through the clearing and before Kakashi stood Kakashi with a little orange book in his hand.
His eyes were still on the book when he addressed Sasuke, "You planning on just standing there, Sasuke?" Kakashi placed his book back into his pouch and stared at Sasuke, with a bored expression. Sasuke grabbed the hilt of his Tanto and got into a low stance; feet wide apart and his base solid. Sasuke let out a slow breath and rushed Kakashi unsheathing his Tanto and sweeping it across Kakashi's belly. But Kakashi avoided the attack and leapt over Sasuke and kicked him in his back. Sending him stumbling forward, and colliding with an oak tree. Kakashi landed and pull out a kunai and rushed Sasuke, but he started a sequence of hand seals and ended it at the 'Tora' Seal. He breathed in, filling his lungs with oxygen and unleashed his jutsu.
'Katon: Gokakyu no jutsu!' The giant fireball was sent rushing towards Kakashi. He was engulfed in the inferno, Sasuke pumped more chakra into his jutsu, increasing the temperature of the jutsu. When the flames died down there was nothing but blackened and scorched earth. Sasuke looked around and froze when a pair of hands grabbed him by the ankles and dragged him down into the earth. Only his head was exposed as Kakashi appeared from the earth, only sporting a few burn marks on his clothes.
"That jutsu you used… it's a little advanced for a Genin. You shouldn't have the chakra reserve to handle that jutsu, nonetheless to pour more into it." Kakashi turned around and walked away from Sasuke, showing his back to him. A sign of disrespect to Sasuke and Kakashi knew it. His anger grew and boiled as he struggled against the earth.
He screamed in frustration as Kakashi stopped and addressed Sasuke, "Remember this Sasuke, I am a Jonin level ninja, and you are a Genin. Tell me… what the difference between us is?" Sasuke looked him in the eye and thought about it. He was a Jonin, and Sasuke was a Genin? What was the difference?
"Since you can't figure it out I'll tell you. . . Its experience with other people that has allowed me to advance so far in the ranks." Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves leaving Sasuke to dig out of his imprisonment.
Naruto leapt to his right avoiding a hail of kunai and shuriken. Two clones were left and were taking him for a ride; he was covered in cuts and bruises. His kimono was torn and ripped, blood dripping down his arm and staining the ground red. Naruto reached and ripped off his kimono throwing it to the ground, exposing his upper body to the world leaving him in only his loin wrappings. He tightened his grip on his Odachi and waited for the clones to make another move; it came in the form of fire and water.
'Katon: Honoono Dangan!' 'Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu!'
A great stream of fire engulfed the area surrounding Naruto forcing him to take on the water dragon head on. He leapt up, gathering chakra in his Odachi, and slashed the water dragon in half. The water dragon lost its form and extinguished the flames in the area. The clones raced forward kunai in hands and confronted Naruto head on. Naruto parried a kunai slash and mule kicked a clone in the gut and sent it backwards. Parrying another slash Naruto leapt into the air and brought his Odachi above his head with both hands. Using his entire weight and the descent of his fall Naruto sliced the clone in half, kunai and all.
"That was the Horse slayer technique." He said as he faced the remaining clone. The clone pulled out a long bladed Tanto from his back and handled it in a reverse grip.
"Quiet a powerful technique… to be able to cut through the kunai and my other self like nothing." He rushed forward locking blades with Naruto, "And my kunai aren't ordinary, they were tempered steel enhanced with a bit of iron ore from the Three Wolves Mountain."
Naruto pushed off and in three lightning fast movements and the clone was nothing but smoke in the wind. "That just goes to show that superior technique will overcome any obstacle." Naruto clutched his sword and he collapsed to the ground when warm arms enveloped him. He looked up and saw that it was Hinata, with a worried look on her face as she sat him down against a tree and started to dress his wounds with her ointment. The wounds were quickly healing with the medicine speeding up the process.
"You must rest now Naruto. We can continue when you rest a bit." She said as she sat next to him. Naruto was in thought when he noticed the Hinata had her leg bandaged.
"What happened to you Hinata?" She looked at the wound and rubbed it softly.
"I fell for one of Kakashi-sensei's traps he set up after we separated." Something in Naruto clicked when she said that word.
'Wait…Separated… I managed to defeat his clones, but I could tell that they were way below his skill level. Hinata was injured by a trap when she was by herself, and knowing Sasuke he would challenge Kakashi-sensei by himself. What was it he said yesterday?"
(Flashback)
"We do not attack comrades, period. And we do not degrade one another." He said looking at Naruto. He took his hand off of Sasuke and walked towards the door, "You will learn to work and trust each other even if it kills you. Now meet me on the roof, NOW!" he disappeared in a swirl of leaves and left them to register what just happen. Naruto and Hinata packed their things and were out the door before Sasuke could do anything else. They make their way up the stairs to the roof and find their sensei reading a red book. He notices them and signals them to sit on the benches in front of him. As they sat, Naruto and Hinata next to one another and Sasuke on the other side some distance away. He over looked them with a critical eye and put away his book in his pouch. He leans forward and lets out a soft sigh.
(End)
'That's right he said it twice…comrades and teamwork. Now I understand what he is trying to tell us.
He stood sheathing his Odachi and helping Hinata to her feet. "We have to find Sasuke; I finally understand what the test is about."
Sasuke was still struggling to release himself from the earthen tomb, when a shadow was cast over him. It was Naruto, who was half naked, and Hinata who was giggling softly at Sasuke.
"Care for a helping pair of hands Sasuke?" Naruto asks as he begins to dig him out.
Sasuke glares at him and continues to struggle, "Stop! I didn't ask for your help, nor do I need it. As soon as I am free I will pass this test and become ninja!" Naruto didn't stop until Sasuke was able to free himself, and crawl out of the hole. His clothes was covered were ragged and dirty. He looked Naruto in the eye and walked past him, heading towards the main clearing where Kakashi would be waiting for them.
"You'll fail if you continue what you're doing, Sasuke." Naruto said as Sasuke stopped and eyed him.
"What did you say, Baka?" Sasuke stepped in front of Naruto and was face to face with him, "I'll not fail, and an Uchiha does not fail at anything!"
Naruto smile and explained the truth of the test, "Not only will you fail, but we all will fail. If we don't start working together as a team like Kakashi-sensei wants." Sasuke looked at him with a questioning gaze, "If you look at the evidence and hints of the test, you will understand. He gives us the bells and the statement about returning to the academy to cause in fighting and split us apart. Do you really believe that a lone Genin can defeat an Elite Jonin in a one on one combat?"
"If I maybe so bold as to state that you challenged him by yourself too?" Sasuke said as he criticized Naruto.
Naruto looked down and spoke softly, "I learned that lesson the hard way. If you've noticed I am left in only my underwear." Hinata and Sasuke laughed softly. Wait Sasuke laughed!!!! Sasuke caught it before it could go on any longer. But Naruto and Hinata managed to catch even if just for a brief second Sasuke smile. He covered it up with a quick frown and heated glare.
"Fine if it means passing this test, then I'll work with you. But know that it's just for the sake of the team and our progress, and nothing else." He said with an even face. Naruto and Hinata nodded and began to come up with a plan to extract those bells from Kakashi.
Kakashi was standing beside the alarm clock as the hour drew closer to noon. 'Just thirty more minutes and I'll be free to read my book. I wonder what Akira will do when she finds out about Jin and Tsuki's affair.' Kakashi began to giggle softly as he reached for his little book. When he noticed Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke were surrounding him in a circle. Naruto had his Odachi unsheathed and in an over hand position, Hinata with her Byakugan active and her clan's Taijutsu style, Juken, and Sasuke with his full fanged Tanto in a reversed grip and kunai in the other.
He eyes them carefully and smiled, 'Looks like they finally understand the hidden truth behind the test. But can they work together long enough to continue their mission?' He closed his pouch and placed his hands on his hips and let out a low sigh as he looked around.
"You sure know who to pick your underwear Naruto!" laughing as Naruto's face took on a crimson shade, when he attacked. Hinata also rushed in as support for Naruto, while Sasuke hung back keeping Kakashi on his feet with kunai and shuriken. Kakashi was dodging sword swipes and palm strikes left and right as he countered and evaded the kunai being thrown at him. Kakashi caught hinata's palm strike, and threw her with an over hip toss. She landed hard and got the wind knocked out of her. Kakashi back peddled giving himself some room between himself and his students.
"You guys have a pretty good strategy. Using Naruto as the mid to short range fighter, and Hinata as his short range support. While Sasuke is using long range tactics and keeping me in close proximity to you." He shook his head and praised them for thinking it up, "But how will you get these bells if you can't touch me." He froze when he felt four hands grab him by the ankles from underground. And four more, two each, grabbing his arms and holding strong. He looked and saw that they were copies of Naruto and they were solid. He could make solid Kage Bunshin and use them effectively in combat was amazing. Even with the number he made, he never knew a Genin to know such a high level technique.
Naruto and Hinata took advantage of Kakashi's struggle and raced forward and attacked, but Kakashi broke free from his prison of hands and dodge a sword strike from Naruto but was unable to avoid a palm strike from Hinata the grazed his right arm and left leg. He left them go numb immediately, felt his chances go down of avoiding them anymore. He planted his right knee in hinata's gut and backhanded Naruto. When he felt an intense heat came at him from behind and he narrowly avoided the stream of hot fire ha he fell to the ground. When he stood he looked up and saw that all three of his students smiling and the alarm loudly ringing in the distance.
He sighed and forced chakra into his limbs to unblock his tenkketsu. "Well seeing as you failed to get the bells, I have no choice but to fail you all." He looked at them and noticed that their smirks had not failed when Hinata spoke.
"Um…Kakashi-sensei," she lift her hand and showed a silver bell dangling from a red tread. He was shocked and looked down at his belt and noticed that both bells were missing.
"What but how?" he said flailing his arms in the air.
That was when Naruto's smirk became a full blown grin. "When you backhanded me and Sasuke launched that fire jutsu my sword cut the string when you hit the ground and Hinata picked them up." That astounded him. He was defeated by a couple of Genin fresh from the academy, and he smiled. 'This team will go far.'
"Well seeing as you have defeated me and got the bells, as well as work as a single unit to attain your mission." He gazed at them then proclaimed it out loud to the world. "YOU PASS!"
They screamed and threw their arms in the air in celebration. Kakashi just stood there and watched. "Okay that's enough. We will meet on the bridge in front of the bath houses tomorrow morning at seven. You have the rest of the day off, dismissed!"
The walk home for Naruto was an interesting one as he was wearing the torn rags of a kimono home. Everyone that saw him had some comment to make…when he entered walked through the gates into his clan's compound he was immediately surrounded by his kinsmen and escorted him to his home. A middle aged man opened the door and saw Naruto.
"Naruto-sama, are you alright?" one said as he handed Naruto a sheet to wrap around his body and removed what was left of his kimono. Naruto bowed and thanked him for the sheet.
"Thank you Takashi-san. Are my bothers home?" Naruto asked Takashi.
"Yes, Naruto-sama. Toshitsune-dono and Akuma-san arrived sometime ago. They seemed to be rather worn out, Toshitsune-dono walked by sporting many bite wounds for some reason and rather bruised up. While Akuma-san was limping a bit. And Yoritomo-dono has returned from his meeting with the Hokage." Naruto nodded and thanked Takashi. He reached into his pouched and handed Takashi a few Ryo for his help.
"Thank you Naruto-dono, you are too kind. Have a good day." He bowed and return to his duties. Naruto entered the garden and saw Toshitsune and Akuma sitting by the pond with eyes closed. He approached them and sat beside them. He focused his chakra and began to meditate, his breathing slowed, his wounds seemed to heal and his awareness became great.
"So how was your survival exam?" Naruto asked taking even breaths as Toshitsune winced.
"I was an exam I don't wish to experience again." He said with a dead soft voice.
Naruto opened his eyes and looked at Toshitsune skeptically. "It couldn't have been that bad?" both Toshitsune and Akuma looked at each other and gulped.
"As you know, my team is large, and we have two teachers. The Genjutsu Mistress Yuuhi Kurenai and the Snake Mistress Mitarashi Anko." When Toshitsune said Anko's name Akuma physically shivered. Naruto looked worried and decided to never bring up the subject ever again.
"So…you passed…right?" Naruto asked looking at him. Toshitsune nodded and started to stroke Akuma's midnight black fur. Akuma seemed to relax some at Toshitsune's touch, and Toshitsune seemed to be relaxing as well. They sat there for a couple more hours molding their chakras, restoring the damage that was done to their bodies.
Toshitsune's and Akuma's ear twitch and hear a voice calling to them. "Naruto. Looks like big brother wishes to see us."
Naruto nods and together they walk into the manor and into Yoritomo's Chamber. The walls were all covered in shelves, all of them housing many scrolls and important documents. He was sitting at a big oak wood desk papers scattered and littering the floor. He was currently engrossed in a particular scroll that he was holding in his hands. When he looked up he smiled and greeted his brothers.
"Ah, brothers, how nice it is to see you." He stood and enveloped them in a hug. "Congratulations of passing your exams and becoming Genin. Today I was with the Hokage today and we discussed the results of your exam. As well as your performance." He grasps Naruto and Toshitsune by the shoulder and with a beaming smile gives them the scroll that he was holding. "This scroll contains a sign agreement between The Hokage and I, which allows you to join a special organization once certain goals are meet. But also contains your graduation papers!" he says with great enthusiasm, "You are no longer Apprentices, but are now Acknowledged by me as your master and lord to be fully fledge Minamoto Samurai."
Naruto and Toshitsune can't believe it. They have worked hard for this day since the day they arrived in Mori no Kuni. Naruto and Toshitsune accepted their scrolls and bowed. "Hai!"They say in unison.
"Get some sleep my brothers. You have a challenging day ahead of you tomorrow." He said dismissing them. They bowed and exited the room. Each clutching the scroll tightly and getting some much deserved rest.
That it for this chapter. Next chapter they begin mission and I have a surprise in store for them as well.
As always reviews are welcome…until next time PEACE!!!!