Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or anything associated with the manga, or anime. I only own this story.
Hey everyone, thanks for stopping back in to read this chapter. This story has more than surpassed my expectations for it, so thanks to everyone for reading. Thanks for the support on the last chapter. 65 reviews, 130 favorites, 180 followers, and 13,798 views. 1 community.
InflatedChimp: I'm glad you thought of this story, and yes the poll was very close. It caught me by surprise and I had to map out 3 different ways this story could have gone. Im glad it went this way though.
Tobi Wants a Cookie: Yeah, I know it's not a big deal, but it will have some impact on his relationship with Naruto, which is a main part of this story.
Pikechris990: I'm not overly fond of Harem style romances, which is why I don't want multiple pairings for Naruto. I agree though that it is a hard choice.
Butterflypuss: Thanks for guessing. You will see if you are right soon. Thanks for reviewing.
Michu-92: Yeah Shikamaru came in third…sorry. I hope you continue to like the story though. Thanks for the review.
Uzumaki Naho: A lot of people wanted Shikamaru, and the win wasn't by very much at all. I'm sorry if that disappoints you at all. Sasuke and Naruto will keep a strong friendship throughout this story, though like all friendships there will be ups and downs. As for whether or not he leaves. You will find out, though that won't be for a while.
Altadinata: I wasn't sure if this was a good or bad review….but thanks for reviewing anyway. I appreciate it. Hope to hear from you again.
Guest: Thanks for the review.
Guest: not sure what "YK" meant but thanks for the review.
On a separate note, I am absolutely horrible at drawing, and have no talent in that form of art. I would like to ask if anyone is willing to draw a cover for this story. If so please either review, or pm me. Thanks for the help.
This chapter will reveal the Jonin sensei of squad 7, as well as their test. Thanks for reading and please review, I really appreciate the feedback.
The poll for Who will be Naruto's Pairing in this story is going well. I have 47 voters so far. I decided to end this poll on July 7th. Warning! There will be no NaruSaku, NaruSasu, or NaruHina as they are all so overdone. As much as I enjoy the NaruHina pair, I have another story that has it already and I want to do something new, that I do not see often. The poll is now open and is on my profile.
Ryuuzetsu: 19
Ten Ten: 12
Yakumo: 8
Kin: 6
OC: 2
If you don't like who is in the lead place your vote.
A Hero's DNA
Chapter 10: Squad 7's test: Teamwork Inaction.
"I am proud of all of you. Continue to be the best shinobi you can be." Iruka bowed slightly before he left the room and the Genin got into their respective teams.
"Squad 7 you're with me."
Naruto, Sasuke and Yakumo looked to the door to see their new sensei. Naruto and Sasuke raised their eyes as they saw Itachi Uchiha walk into the room. He was wearing the traditional Leaf Jonin uniform, except his shirt was all black with the Uchiha fan symbol on both shoulders. Sasuke was shocked to say the least. He never figured that his older brother would be their Squad's Jonin sensei.
"How about you three meet me outside in say, three minutes." He nodded to the Genin and burst into a murder of crows.
"Whoa, we definitely got the coolest sensei to say the least. Wouldn't you agree Sasuke?" Naruto said to his friend.
"Yeah….but….why?"
"Are you complaining?"
"No. I just wasn't expecting my brother to be my sensei."
"Hey, you guys?" Yakumo spoke up. "Maybe we shouldn't be late meeting with sensei."
Naruto and Sasuke agreed and the three made their way outside. Naruto looked at the clock above the exit and they had just made it on time. Itachi stood outside and he looked slightly disappointed.
"Well, we're here Itachi." Sasuke announced.
"Right on time as well, so you're late. And you will address me as sensei, Sasuke." Itachi told him with a slightly cold stare.
"What, how are we late Itachi, you said three minutes?" Naruto asked.
"Again, you three shall address me as sensei while I am you're teacher Naruto. And I want you to be in the habit of showing up early. I said three minutes to see if you would just follow the order or take the initiative to be early. Obviously I found out my answer." He coldly replied.
"Excuse me sensei, but how were we supposed to know that?" Yakumo asked.
"It is called seeing underneath the underneath, Yakumo Kurama. As you well know, my little brother and his best friend are on this squad. As such they should know that I expect nothing but the best from them. Slacking off will not impress me in the slightest."
"Itachi why are you acting like this?" Sasuke asked as he started to get angry.
"Yeah the Itachi we knew would never act like this towards us."
"So you think that you are ready to be Genin, though you cannot even follow a simple command by your sensei. I have told you to call me sensei, and two of you obviously are incapable of listening. Therefore none of you will be Genin. I hereby strip you of all rank, and ban you from returning ti the academy!" As he said this his eye flashed red and he caught the gaze of all three Genin.
…
Naruto walked away completely confused and angry. His dream was being taken from him and he didn't understand why. Yeah he didn't completely listen to Itachi, but it was just something he needed to get used to. As he walked he saw Ichiraku's in front of him. The place had become his one true vice and he was starving. He felt like maybe if he got some ramen he could think better. As he approached he heard foot steps behind him.
"Hey Naruto, you came here too?"
Sasuke and Yakumo were approaching him.
"Sasuke? What are you doing here, you hate ramen?"
"I figured we three could talk and see what exactly we did wrong."
"That sounds like a good plan." Yakumo agreed.
"Ok, then let's get some ramen together."
As Naruto turned back to the ramen stand he heard shattering inside. Then he heard Ayame, the owner's daughter, scream for help so he ran inside along with his team. Ayame was being held with a kunai at her throat by a masked ninja with no headband. Then he heard a muffled noise behind him and he found Sasuke, and Yakumo held by two more ninja.
"Finally we have the two clan children we needed."
"You stay right here kid otherwise, I will kill the girl, just like her dear old dad." The ninja holding Ayame said.
"But…"
"Naruto, me and Yakumo can handle ourselves protect the civilian, that is your mission. Forget about us." Sasuke said and then the ninja started to move away before they leapt into the air.
Naruto looked to Ayame, and back to wear his teammates were.
"What do I do?"
…
Sasuke was sitting alone on a bench. He was going over in his mind everything that Itachi had said to them. He was right. Sasuke wouldn't listen and he failed to see through what his brother wanted. He felt like Itachi would be easier on him because they were brothers.
"Hey Uchiha."
"What do you want Naruto?"
"Just seeing how you were holding up."
"I'm fine. I just feel so stupid. I've ruined my future."
"I don't think it's that bad. We just have to talk to the Hokage. I mean, I'm the last Senju and son of the fourth Hokage, and you're a freaking Uchiha. He won't ban us from becoming ninja."
"Naruto, what are you talking about. You would never use your heritage like that."
"Well crap, I was counting on you not caring enough. Oh well."
The fake Naruto dropped his transformation technique and Sasuke instantly recognized the man in front of him from pictures he was shown. The chin scar, the bandaged eye, and the useless arm wrapped up and in a sling. This man was the ex-advisor to the Hokage, Danzo Shimura. The man who orchestrated the Uchiha Massacre.
"Hello there young Uchiha. I know how much you must hate me, so I decided to give you this one chance. I will stand here and you can kill me or what I did to your clan." Sasuke looked slightly stunned by Danzo, but he smiled and pulled out a kunai knife. "Oh but I forgot to mention, if you kill me…" He snapped his fingers and Naruto and Yakumo were dropped from the tree onto the ground. "…then your team will be eliminated by my Anbu. So Uchiha what do you choose?"
Sasuke panicked as he saw Naruto, and Yakumo unconscious in front of him. Danzo was completely exposed and Sasuke knew that this would be his only chance, but if he did then…. What would he do?
"Damn it…"
…
Yakumo felt like something was off as she looked around the classroom she sat in. It was a familiar feeling to her but at the same time completely different than anything she had ever felt. As she sat alone she heard the door in front of her opening. A black haired woman with red eyes walked in and stood in front of her.
"Kurenai sensei?"
"Hello Yakumo. I heard that you failed Itachi's test."
"Yes the team did fail." She answered sadly."
"It is all for the better I think."
"How can you say that sensei?"
"Because you are dangerous. I told you to find a new path to follow. You will never be a strong enough shinobi."
"But I know that I can do it!"
"Do you really think so? Because even i can see that you are still too afraid to control yourself."
Naruto and Sasuke walked into the class room with their hands bound behind their back. Kurenai turned to look at the boys, and when she turned back she became a demon with two long horns sticking out of the side of her head, and longs fangs.
"I am your fears, I am your power. You are weak without me, you are nothing compared to me."
The floor under Naruto and Sasuke began to crack beneath their feet. Yakumo watched as the fear in their eyes grew with every sickening crunch, but as the demon stood in front of her she found herself unable to move. She felt helpless to save them.
"No."
….
Yamato landed in front of Itachi who stood over the bodies of his students. The three Genin were not moving and their eyes were closed as if they had been sleeping. Itachi looked intently on the three Genin.
"You decided to take that route after all."
"Yes, I find that the mind is a much better place to watch someone's true nature in action."
"How are they doing?"
"Better than expected actually, they are fighting against their instincts well."
"So are you going to pass them?"
"If they can prove themselves then yes."
"You know Itachi, many Chunin, couldn't pass this test of yours."
"I know, but I have to make sure that they can handle it."
"Just please don't mess them up too bad. One Ibiki is enough around here. We don't need a second."
Itachi and Yamato laughed together. Yamato still felt guilty around his friend but he had been slowly getting over it. Itachi was glad to have him back.
"Well I had better let you get back then, huh teach?"
"Yes, and you need to get to the Anbu compound. Isn't today your first day Captain?"
The two friends nodded o each other and Yamato left. He really hoped Naruto could pull through this test.
…
Naruto didn't know what to do. One the one hand he could save his friends, but Ayame would be killed. On the other if he saved Ayame, then his friends would be gone. He had to protect the civilian. As a ninja that is his mission. But could he really just let his teammates me taken away. Could he really abandon them like that?
"Darn it. Why can't I be in two places at o…..so stupid!" Naruto said as he smiled and smacked himself in the forehead before making a hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Eight more Naruto's poofed into existence. The split into three groups quickly, attempting to rescue all three hostages at once. The ninja who held Sasuke tried to dodge the first Naruto's kick but a second came from around back and threw a fist. The ninja moved his head in order to avoid the blow but he moved right into the waiting fist of clone #3.
The ninja holding Yakumo dodged several throw kunai without allowing her to be injured. They're orders were to defend the target until delivery. As the ninja was too busy trying to not get his he failed to see the clone falling from above. The clone kicked the ninja's head downwards as hard as he could instantly knocking him unconscious.
The final three clones rushed the ninja holding Ayame captive. He tried to kill her, but was unable due to the shock of his comrade's loss.
"Water Style: Drilling Water Bullet Jutsu!"
All the clones blasted him from different sides and he was forced away from Ayame as the blasts of water hit him. One of the Naruto's leapt on top of him with a kunai and held it against his throat.
"You're finished." And his vision went dark.
…
Sasuke looked straight into Danzo's eyes. The old war hawk stared at the boy with a smile on his face. He knew that he had the boy trapped as he could never resist the thought of revenge and power. Sasuke's fists were clenched and shaking as he didn't know what to do. He was more torn than he had ever been before. He just wanted to make the right choice.
"Sasuke Uchiha, I will make you a deal. Obviously you cannot kill me, or save your friends. So I will give you the one thing that you want more than anything. Power. Kill your teammates and I will give you more power than you could possibly imagine."
Sasuke froze in place. Did this man actually just offer this? More power. The idea was intriguing, and he wanted to get stronger. But after looking at his best friend his answer became clear to him. And for once he felt clarity.
"Your offer is tempting Danzo."
"Do you accept?"
"I accept…that you can shove your offer up your ass. I hate you Danzo, more than you could ever imagine, but I will not let harm come to my friends. I will give my life to protect him you son of a…"
And his vision went dark…
…
Yakumo's knees were shaking. She saw the floor falling away bit by bit, but she couldn't move. The demon was now laughing at her weakness. As she stood there she thought of everything she had been told in her life.
"You are weak."
"You will never be a ninja so give up that path."
"You Taijutsu is awful, as is your Ninjutsu. You will never make it."
"You are pathetic."
As all of the voices rang through her head, she grew angrier, and fiercer. She felt like she would explode if she didn't let it out soon. The demon started to chuckle and walk towards her. And that is when she saw it.
"You stand no chance Yakumo. I am your fear, I am your hatred. I am your strength. I am….!"
"Completely annoying. I mean shut up already." Yakumo looked at the demon with fire in her eyes. "I finally figured it out."
As she said that the floor beneath Naruto and Sasuke's feet began to rebuild itself. The demon was astonished and didn't understand what was happening. Its power was draining away drastically.
"What…what are you doing?"
"This is a Genjustu, granted a really well thought out multilayer one that confused me for a while, but I finally figured it out. You hold no power over me, and I will never let you hurt my comrades, Genjustu versions or the real ones. Your time is up."
She put her hands together into a hand sign and shouted out "Release" as she flared her chakra. And her vision went dark.
…
All three teammate's eyes began to flutter on open and they realized they were lying on the grass in front of Itachi.
"Congratulations you three. You passed my tests."
"What tests?" Sasuke asked, clearly upset.
"Well technically you were not Genin yet. Not until I decided you were ready. There were lessons that the three of you needed to learn first."
"What lessons?" Naruto asked.
"Naruto, you are headstrong, intelligent, and caring to a fault. But you also see your mission as your first duty, and in this world those who don't complete their mission are seen as trash, but those who forget about their comrades are worse than trash. I needed to know that you wouldn't leave your team behind, even if compromised."
Naruto nodded his head in understanding.
"Sasuke, you my brother are one whom I care about more than any other, but you have a few major flaws that you need to work on. Firstly, you need to let go of revenge. Killing Danzo right now would not help. Second you seek power in your life, and wanting to be stronger is ok, unless it hurts your loved ones. You did well in your test but you could have done much better. You were so consumed with the thought of revenge and power that you almost failed your team."
Sasuke looked down dejectedly.
"And Yakumo. You fear what is inside of you, and because of this you are a liability. You need to be able to push forward from your fears if you want to stand a chance at the ninja world. Your teammates will need you to be strong, so don't you fail them."
Yakumo smiled and bowed with respect to her sensei.
"The reason I acted like that before, was I needed to rattle your heads before putting you in the jutsu. And I am proud to say that you are officially the new Genin on the shelf. The first thing that I would like to do as a team is to tell everyone a little about yourself."
"What do you mean Itachi Sensei?" Naruto asked.
"I'll go first." Itachi said. "I am Itachi Uchiha, son of Fugaku, and Mikoto Uchiha, and Brother to Sasuke Uchiha. I have a few likes, and a few dislikes. My hoppy would have to be ding mission for the lord Hokage. My dreams for the future is to help the Uchiha forge a new name among this word, and to help Konoha keep the peace."
Sasuke looked at his brother with pride, while Naruto and Yakumo and Naruto realized just how good their sensei really could be.
"Now Naruto, your turn."
"My name is Naruto Senju-Namikaze, I am the birth son of Kushina Uzumaki, and Minato Namikaze. My adoptive mother is Tsunade Senju, and my brother is Yamato Senju. I like to learn new things, grow stronger with my friends, and to eat as much ramen as physically possible without getting sick. I dislike certain snakes, and people who treat others like tools or less than human. My hobbies include Fuinjutsu, and medical ninjustsu, though I want to start learning kenjutsu. My dream for the future is to become a strong protector of this village and one day become the Hokage like my Father."
"Good, now you Yakumo."
"My name is Yakumo Kurama. I am an orphan ever since my parents were killed in an accident. I like Genjustu, and art. I dislike people who don't let others grow stronger. My hobbies include painting, and my future dream is to become a stronger Genjustu mistress than my previous sensei."
"And now you Sasuke."
"I am Sasuke Uchiha, son of Fugaku, and Mikoto Uchiha, and younger brother of Itachi Uchiha. I like my friends and training. I dislike schemers, and those who wish to steal what is not theirs to take. My hobbies are to train with my brother and best friend. My future goal is to help rebuild the Uchiha clan, and one day become an Anbu Commander. Maybe even the head of the Konoha Shinobi Police Force."
"Well-spoken all of you. I would like to thank you for that. I know that you know each other, or at least Naruto, and Sasuke do, but this is a good exercise to build teamwork. Tomorrow we start taking missions and I will be giving you all personalized training regiments. You are dismissed until 8:00 A.M. At that time you are to be at training ground 42."
"Yes sensei." All three Genin said."
"You may leave."
The three teammates all left to rest their heads after the intense Genjustu tests. Itachi couldn't have been happier with the results.
"Squad 7 will be a success."
…
Thanks to everyone for reading the chapter, I hope that you enjoyed it. Please review, I loved hearing your thoughts on my writing.
Next time, Teamwork raining: A D-Ranked nightmare.