Disclaimer: Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
Sort of took longer than I thought it would to post. :( But here is Chapter 5, My version of the "Bell Test" and Itachi's attitude, will it ever get better? I hope you enjoy. Please leave a review.
Chapter 5
A Sensei and a Bell Test
Twenty new genin and one Suna exchange student stood outside of the academy building. Small groups clustered together buzzing with excitement, wondering who their Sensei will be. Each hoping they would be on the same team as their friends. Itachi sat alone against the side of the building watching the other genin. Though he had been with them in the academy, he knew only a few of them and then not on a very personal basis. That's the way he liked it. He found himself sizing them up. He wanted team members who were aggressive, strong, and ready for training and action.
Itachi eyed each student, hmm, Kayto is way to slow in movement. That one by him is pretty heavy, can't move to fast and can't do shadow clones. The girl with the blue hair, nope, she always giggles and acts silly . Certainly don't want her. The older boy, Mika, can't control his chakra, don't want him. He picked apart each student one by one. No one was good enough for his team. Itachi could do transformations really well, in fact so well that when he did one of Iruka , Iruka himself couldn't tell the difference. He was also praised by the staff for his chakra control. There was one genin from the Hyuga clan, maybe he would be okay. The coveted byakugan would be useful for his team.
The byakugan, very powerful, even more than the sharingan, some have said. The sharingan, that was a troublesome thought. Itachi, ticked off that he still didn't show any sign of the Uchiha bloodline trait, wiped his eyes. Allergies, he thought. He certainly didn't want anyone to think he was a cry baby.
A disturbance caught his attention. Here came the senseis. There were only six. That's odd, there should be seven. Everyone gathered in a circle around the Senseis as they got ready to be assigned to their teams.
No one noticed the lean figure crouched in the tree. Perched on the branch just above the academy building was a masked man. He'd been there for quite some time studying three particular genin. He wanted to learn all the could about his team. He made mental notes about each of them. He stayed there observing until all had left but the last three individuals. They just stood there looking at each other,Uchiha, Itachi; Akemi of the Sand Village, and one named Zenni, Koho.
The three eyed each other. Koho was a quiet and worrisome lad. He looked at Itachi Oh no, he's the Uchiha. I'll probably get killed the first day of practice. Great, looks like the girl from Suna will be on my team too. Wonder if she's a monster like the Kazekage.
Akemi looked at the two lads. Looks like these two must be my team-mates. Hope they are ready to get serious. The one I think is from the Uchiha Clan. Heard he's sort of weird, hmm. Wonder if I can take him on. The other, he looks more mild. I can handle him.
Itachi looked at Koho, Humph, piece of cake. He won't last an hour. Then he eyed Akemi, girl. My team's no place for a girl. He noticed the bundles on her back.. "Dolls," he blurted out loud.
She eyed him cautiously, "So what of it?"
Just then the man jumped from the tree and landed on his feet in the center of them. "Hi, I'm Kakashi Hatake and welcome to Team 5.
Itachi stood and stared, Kakashi, the great copy ninja, the one with the sharingan. "You're late," he muttered.
"Well," replied Kakashi scratching his head. "I was on my way here when this old lady need my help to cross the street."
"Okay be at the edge of the west training field tomorrow morning prompt." With that said, Kakashi walked away.
Itachi entered the house to find his family already sitting down to dinner. He ruffled the pink hair of each twin.
"Hey," Tetsuo cried out, "Don't mess up my hair, it's just like Daddy's."
Tomoko smiled up at Itachi with big round eyes and giggled.
Lee looked up from his plate, "you're a bit late."
Itachi scowled, "My Sensei was late."
"Oh," squealed Sakura, "You got Kakashi Sensei!"
"How did you know?" Itachi asked.
"Kakashi Sensei is always late, it never fails," Sakura shook her head and smiled. "I bet he told you he was helping an old lady across the street, right."
"Ya," her son replied.
"That is most wonderful news," Lee beamed at Itachi. "With his skill and knowledge he can teach you the sharingan." No sooner had the words left Lee's mouth than he knew he had said the wrong thing.
Itachi's face fell. "Right, if it ever comes." He stomped off upstairs.
Sakura glared at Lee, "Way to ruin a perfect meal Lee."
Early morning and three genin were at the appointed place, no sensei. Two hours later Kakashi came wandering up the street, hands in pockets, whistling. "Hi," was all he said.
"Late again," Itachi glared at his sensei.
"Sorry guys, I'm afraid I got lost on the path of life."
Akemi giggled and Koho shook his head and grinned, he knew he would like this sensei.
Kakashi looked at each member of his new team. Itachi didn't look happy but Koho seemed attentive and ready. The Sensei noticed the bundles on Akemi's back.
The shinobi looked straight at Koho, "Why do you want to be a ninja?"
Koho's eyes met Kakashi's, "Well, I want to defend my village and my family."
Kakashi nodded then looked at Akemi and raised his eyebrow.
Akemi responded, "I am here on exchange from Suna to learn your ninja ways," Hummm thought Kakashi is that all she wants. She had paused then added, "to help my village." again Kakashi nodded. Then looked at Itachi, "And why are you here?"
A dozen answers ran through Itachi's mind, non of which he dare expose. He scuffed his sandled foot in the dirt. "To become a great ninja." he scowled.
"I see," was the shjnobi's reply, frowning under his mask when considering the attitude more than the words.
Kakashi jingled two bells in his hand and tied them on his belt. "The goal is to get a bell. And..." Koho interrupted him.
"Hey sensei, there are only two bells,"
"How perceptive, I see you can count. NOW if you will let me continue, A ninja must see through deception and..."
Before he could finish Akema grabbed for a bell almost touching it. POOF a log fell on the ground.
"I didn't say it was time to start," the voice came from the tree behind them. All three genin looked up and there was their sensei crouched in a tree, dangling two bells.
Kakashi jumped down from his pearch. "A ninja must see through deception and also remember, you are a team. Now, any questions?" All three just stared at him. "Okay, let's get started." With that he pulled a book from his vest and began to read.
Itachi slowly walked around his sensei assessing the situation. A ninja must see through deception. What is the deception here? Three of us and 2 bells, hmmm. The wheels in his brain kept turning trying to unravel this scenario. Every so often Kakashi's eye would flicker over to Itachi. Must keep watch on that one Kakashi thought. totally like his father, a bit like his mother, yet trained by Lee.
Koho spoke to his team-mates. "There has to be a trick to this, but I'm not sure what it is."
"I'm going to get a bell no matter what," Itachi spoke up.
"Maybe there is a way to share a bell or something." Akemi suggested.
Itachi snorted in disgust, but Koho cocked his head to one side in thought. "Ya, maybe."
Itachi used his tai-jutsu fast speed and ran at Kakashi. Just as he was about to place a firm kick to his sensei's midriff, he found himself laying on the ground flat on his back, his sensei was still reading his book. "Remember Itachi, I have the sharingan." Kakashi pointed to his covered left eye. Itachi fumed at that mention of the word, sharingan. Kakashi made mental note of that. Itachi got up, wiped his eyes and walked away.
Suddenly Akemi flipped open one of her bundles and out came a light green and black haired spider. Kakashi could almost feel the chakara dripping from the puppet. The puppet hissed as it flew with great speed straight for Kakashis face, shooting chakara as it came. Kakashi side stepped, the chakara burning into the tree where he had been standing. She's fast, the copy ninja thought, putting down his book. Guess I better pay attention to this. "Remember the sharingan," He wondered how much a student from Suna might know about this skill.
Koho knew that this sensei expected him to make the next move. He held off, hopping Itachi would move again. Koho was not disappointed for Itachi's lightening speed sent a kuni straight for Kakashi. The copy ninja caught the kuni and flung it to the ground. "Is that all you've got?" Itachi's face turned red with anger and he ran for his sensei. Anticipating that Kakashi would move, he adjusted his aim and flung another kuni. He just missed the shinobi's cheek. "Not much better," Kakashi said. He shook his head and waked over to a large rock and sat down.
Now it was Koho's turn. He put his hands together and said "Water style, torrential rain jutsu."
The rain pelted Kakashi with great force. Koho ran to get the bell – poof. Another log lay on the ground. "I'm over here," said a voice from behind them." Not bad, water style hummm. This kid has potential.
Akemi turned to the male members of the team. "I have an idea."
"What is it," Koho replied.
Itachi just growled, "you guys are dobes," He walked away.
Akemi and Koho whispered and then in unison said, "Let's do it." Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
Akemi put her hands together, "Wind style, hurricane jutsu." With that a burst of wind caught Kakashi's book, nearly ripping it from his grasp. The shinobi clutched the book to his chest with both hands. At that moment Koho came from behind and grabbed for the bells. Kakashi twisted around and brought his leg up across Koho's back knocking him to the ground. Then stood there with his foot on Koho's back. "Good try you two, but not good enough." He released the boy. Itachi shook his head, idiots. It was as if Akemi could read his mind when she replied, ""We haven't seen you produce any results." Itachi just smoldered.
Suddenly a large cat ran from the brush with a young girl in pursuit. "Oh Kitty, Kitty, come back. Grandma will kill me if you get lost." Immediately Koho and Akemi rushed after the yellow cat. Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the feline. Itachi just shook his head. "Well," Akemi said to him, "Aren't you going to help us catch it?"
"Alright," he grumbled, "the sooner we get it out of the way the sooner we can get this over with."
Akemi started to get another puppet from her bundle. "You won't get it with your stupid puppets." Itachi growled.
"Their not stupid, they were made by the best puppet maker in Suna."
This caught Kakashi's attention, Kankuro, puppets made by Kankuro? Impressive.
"Well, do you have a better idea Itachi?" she scowled at him.
"I do," replied Koho. " Akemi you go up the tree and force the cat out onto the edge of the branch. Use your wind jutsu to shake the branch. When the cat falls down, Itachi and I will catch it."
Akemi scampered up the tree and out onto the branch forcing the cat further to the end. She put her hands together and said " wind style, great gust jutsu." The branch shook violently. The cat clung on for several seconds then jumped to another branch. Itachi rolled his eyes, "ya right, right into your arms hu." Kakashi let out a sigh.
"Please get my kitty, please." the girl wailed and her tears flowed.
"Ok tough boy," Akemi said to Itachi from her pearch in the tree, "let's see you do it."
"Oh if I have to. I don't suppose either of you can do a transformation jutsu.?"
"I can," said Koho a bit timidly. He knew he needed more work on it, but he wasn't about to let Itachi humiliate him. "Ok, up in the tree on the branch above the cat." Quickly Koho hurried up the tree into place. Itachi followed part way up to take a look "Ok, when I give the signal," -
"What signal?" questioned Koho.
Itachi shook his head, "Ok, when I say NOW you transform into a large dog and start barking."
"Okay," Koho realized it was too late to not be humiliated.
"Akemi, you grab the cat when it jumps down." She nodded.
"Okay Koho. Now!" instructed Itachi.
Kakashi watched with interest as the team worked together. Koho put his hands together and said, "transformation jutsu DOG!" With that Koho turned into a frog. Ribit, Ribit." The cat was so surprised that it ran straight for Itachi and over his head, knocking his forehead protector askew. It ran straight down the trunk of the tree where Akemi put her hands together and said, "Wind style, Whirlwind jutsu." The whirlwind caught the cat spinning it around and around. The little girl screamed "Stop it, stop it, you'll make him sick." Akemi stopped, the dizzy cat fell to the ground. The girl ran and grabbed the confused cat in her arms. "Grandma will be so mad if you make kitty sick." She headed off to the village. Itachi, in disgust straightened his forehead protector. Koho returned to his normal form and came down from the tree. Akemi started to laugh, Koho laughed. Itachi just growled and Kakashi laughed, shaking his head and said, "YOU PASS."
"WHAT," the three genin yelled in unison.
"I said YOU PASS."
Well that's it. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Loved the poor kitty cat. Again, please leave a review. Thank you.