The Genin of Team Seven sat at a dango shop talking with one another about the test they could expect tomorrow.
"Oi why couldn't we have gone to Ichikaru's?" Naruto asked with a frown as he picked up a stick of dango and studied it.
"Because normal people like me and Hinata need to eat something other then Ramen occasionally" Sasuke huffed.
Hinata couldn't help but giggle at Naruto's expression.
"Alright whatever...Soooooo whatya think this test will be about ?" asked Naruto between stuffing his mouth.
Sasuke grunted disgusted by the blondes manners...or lack there of. He ended up shrugging his shoulders ultimately not knowing the purpose either.
"Who knows it's not like we'll really know until we get there tomorrow" he said before folding his arms across his chest.
"Ano...I-I um have heard t-that usually g-graduated Genin are usually tested to see if t-they can work as a t-team" she said shyly as she prodded her fingers together.
Both boys stopped to look at the heiress a bit surprised by her knowledge.
She blushed under their scrutiny.
"Ano I heard that one of my clan members was failed after g-graduating, because he didn't w-work with his team. M-my clan is powerful...but t-they are u-usually unwilling to admit weakness and in their e-eyes asking for h-help can be a sign of that" she explained timidly as she looked down at her fingers.
Naruto felt his hands clench as for a change something clicked within him.
'I wonder if Hinata-chan is so unsure of herself because of her family...those bastards need an asskicking' he thought.
"Chill Kit you eyes are about shift ...unless you want to have a situation on your hand you need to calm down" warned the Kyuubi.
Naruto closed his eyes and took a breath just as Sasuke began to speak.
"That actually makes sense...the academy essentially only tested us as individuals...now that were on a team it only makes sense that this test would involve testing our teamwork. We have to be prepared to work together ...and for the scenario that our Sensei may try and pit us against one another." he said as he laced his hands.
Naruto's eyes opened once more after he had collected himself.
Both he and Hinata stared at Sasuke, surprised to hear him suggesting teamwork, it was something that he would have never suggested a month prior.
"Alright I'm in...but no trying to hog all the glory when we kick our Sense ass" he said before flashing a grin.
Sasuke rolled his eyes but smirked.
"Hai I'm in a-aswell...t-together we can do it" stuttered Hinata.
Sasuke looked at the two as he stood up.
"Alright well I'll see you both in the morning...oh by the way ignore what Kakashi-Sensei said and make sure to eat...if we're going to do this we need to be at our best" remarked Sasuke before he stood up and began walking away from the ramen stand with his hands tucked in his pockets.
Naruto goofy smile turned serious as he looked at Hinata.
"Hey Hinata-chan can I walk you home ?" he asked as he looked into her pale lavender eyes.
She blushed beet red but nodding shyly.
After paying the bill Naruto began walking side by side Hinata through the nearly empty streets. Finally they stopped as the reached an empty secluded park.
There was a long silence between the pair before it was finally broken by Hinata.
"Ano...N-naruto-kun is e-everything alright ?" she asked softly.
Naruto's eyes had a harder more serious edge as he looked at the petite girl beside him.
"Hinata-chan...about what happened last night...about what you saw...what I said.." he started as he looked away his gaze adverted as he was afraid to see her expression...afraid to see the fear or contempt he had grown use to seeing with other people.
He was caught of guard when he felt a soft hand on his cheek. He looked to see Hinata looking at him intently..but rather than hate he saw...compassion...kindness...and something else he didn't quite understand. A blush stained her cheeks but she stood strong as she found her voice.
"N-naruto-kun ...I-I have always admired your strength and confidence...I wished for so long that I could be more like you..there were times I nearly gave up and quit, but when I saw your smile and determination to get back up...I was able to find the strength to keep going. This demon of yours...it's not you...you are but it's jailer...whether everyone else knows it or not...your a hero and I-I trust you more than anyone else in the world." she said barely stuttering as she wrapped her arms around the boy she loved and hugged him tightly.
Naruto's heart began to race as he felt that warm feeling again. He closed his eyes as he took a deep breath savoring her lavender scent.
"Hinata-chan" he whispered.
"N-naruto-kun?" she stuttered shyly.
"Thank you" he added as ran his hand through her hair as he hugged her tighter.
As he opened his eyes cerulean eyes met her violet pools that were oh so close. He felt his throat catch as he stared at her peach hued lips that looked so soft and inviting.
He felt himself drifting forward towards her, but before he could meet her lips he stopped as he heard movement in the trees nearby.
It only took a moment to realize it was but an animal, but the moment had been broken as he looked back at her with one of his rare sincere smiles.
"Thankyou Hinata...you are my most precious person" he admitted as he pulled away with a faint blush.
Hinata who couldn't take anymore finally fainted, before she could hit the ground Naruto caught her and picked her up in his arms.
"Come on let's get you home" he said before he smiled as he began walking towards the Hyuuga estate.
-In Naruto's Mindscape-
The Kyuubi remained silent as he stood up in his cage his attention remained centered around the Hyuuga Heiress.
For but a brief moment, he sensed a presence the likes of which he had not felt in a long time...far too long.
He huffed as the feeling passed and he settled back into his resting position, but left one of his giant eyes opened. 'I've waited for this long to see you again...I'll wait however long it takes' he thought to himself before he shut his other eye and guttural sound of him sleeping filled the otherwise silent chamber.
Naruto arrived at the Hyuuga Estate a few minutes later with Hinata still in his arms.
The guards there exchanged a look before one of them stepping forward.
"Uzumaki you will hand Lady Hinata to me and leave immediately" he said with a sense of authority in his tone.
Naruto gritted his teeth.
He didn't appreciate the man's tone, and he had to wonder if this was the sort of treatment that Hinata was use to dealing with.
"Jeez don't overreact I brought Hinata back because she got sick and collapsed earlier" he stated as he glared at the pair.
"I'm not surprised how sickly she is. Hinata-Sama is unfit to be a Ninja, much less be in the Head family...she truly is a failure." spoke a voice behind Naruto.
Naruto gritted his teeth as he handed the unconscious Hinata to the guard in front of him, before turning to face the one who had spoke only a moment prior.
The boy before him didn't look to be much older then him, but unlike Hinata and even the guards at the gate, he radiated contempt and arrogance.
"Who the hell do you think you are to judge Hinata ?" he asked as he narrowed his eyes and began to shake slightly.
"Hinata-Sama is a failure in every sense of the word...it matters little of what she accomplished in the academy...the fact of the matter is she is soft and pampered like the rest of the Head family. She is only a liability to the clan...even her sister who is five years younger can defeat her. Fate has already decided her place ...now she has but to accept her role" he stated before he walked forward past Naruto through the gate.
Naruto turned his eyes narrowed, but still blue at the moment.
"What's your name asshole? " he called after the boy.
The boy stopped in his tracks as he turned to look over his shoulder.
"Neji and you would do well to learn your place as well " he said.
Naruto clenched his fist.
"I'll prove you wrong...She'll prove you wrong just you wait." he yelled.
"You can't change fate" he murmured as he turned and without another word disappeared from sight.
Naruto growled as he turned and quickly put some distance between himself and the Hyuuga estate.
'Dont you worry Hinata we'll prove everyone wrong...and we'll start by passing tomorrow's test' he thought as he began leaping from rooftop to rooftop.
The next morning dawned early for the Newly minted Team 7 ...well most of them as they disregarded the instruction about breakfast, but Hinata and Naruto did arrive promptly at seven in the morning to find the training ground empty.
As Naruto and Hinata arrived at the same time both looked at each other blushing recalling some of last night's events.
"Ohayo Hinata-chan" he said with a smile as he ran over to his friend with a smile.
"O-Ohayo N-naruto-kun" she stuttered back blushing as the hyperactive blonde that failed to understand the concept of space as he stopped less then a foot away from her.
"We're gonna kicks this tests ass Hinata-chan, so you can't be sick today" he said smiling as he put his hand on her forehead which only caused her to blush even more.
Hinata's mouth fluttered though she couldn't manage to say anything at the moment.
"Hah I know what it is! you're hot!" he exclaimed as he eyed her jacket, to which her eyes widened before she fell backwards into the grass in a dead faint. Her last thoughts were 'Naruto-kun thinks I'm hot ?'
The Kyuubi groaned. "If you could only turn your stupidity into a weapon no one could defeat you".
"Oi what does that mean Baka-Fox" he cried as he knelt over Hinata.
"Hinata! Oi Hinata wake up" he said as he shook her over and over again.
After fifteen minutes of prodding her she finally came around as she blinked in confusion as she gathered her bearings.
"W-what h-happened N-naruto-kun?" she asked
Naruto crossed his arm certain of the cause. "Well I was saying before you passed out that I think I know whats wrong and why you keep getting sick " he said nodding vigorously
Hinata blushed and began fidgeting worrying that her crush had finally figured out her feelings.
"Yeh it's gotta be your jacket...it's too hot to be wearing a big jacket ...you must be overheating yourself...that's why your so hot" he explained.
"Maybe you can use it as a weapon...or maybe cause someone to flee from fear it may be contagious...the Uchiha Brat seems to think it is already" pondered the fox aloud.
"Darn it Fox keep your snarky thoughts to yourself" he muttered.
Hinata's head fell 'Oh Naruto-kun' she thought dejectedly almost hoping the blonde had put the real reason together.
After trying and failing miserably to get Hinata to take her clothes off (In an innocent manner) and causing her to faint multiple times he finally stopped pushing the issue for now as he sat down by the embarrassed hyuuga as they waited 'patiently' for the others to arrive.
-1 hr Later-
Naruto growled as ran his hands through his hair.
"Dammit where is he?" he cried before he jumped as he pointed a finger accusingly at Sasuke who could now be seen approaching from the edge of the training field.
"Oi where the hell have you been? your late" he yelled.
Sasuke just grunted as he put his hands in his pockets."Pipe down Dobe its still early and I'd rather not have a headache" he said.
Naruto crossed his arms as he glared at Sasuke.
Sasuke rolled his eyes as he walked over and took a seat behind Hinata on the ground. "Look I overheard a few Jonin talking this morning apparently our Sensei is always late, so I wasn't in any hurry to be here."he offered.
Naruto pouted as he walked over and collapsed beside Hinata and Sasuke.
"So now what ?" he said crossing his arms.
"We stick to the plan when this starts, we don't know what the test is, but we stick together" he stated.
Hinata nodded shyly and Naruto just grinned before offering Sasuke a thumbs up.
An hour later Kakashi finally arrived with a lazy look in his eye as he had a small book out that he seemed far more concerned with than the team before him.
"You're Late again" screamed Naruto and Sasuke who's eyes began twitching in irritation as Kakashi looked away from the book only for a moment.
"Oh well you see I would have been here on time, but I got lost on the road of life" he said.
"Liar" cried Naruto as he glared at his Sensei.
'Is he really a Jonin ? he acts so...flaky' thought Sasuke.
Hinata just smiled shyly. It took a lot to upset her and honestly having an excuse to be with her crush for a bit longer before this test was far from a bad thing in her mind.
"Alright with no further delay...here are the rules.. I have two bells on me"Kakashi said as he pulled out two small silver bells he shook them a moment before placing them back on his side.
"The three of you have until noon to take them from me...whoever doesn't get a bell will be sent back to the academy. Come at me with the intent to kill or you'll never succeed" he said with little inflection in his voice.
The trio's eyes widened at this news.
Naruto was about to stand up and charge Kakashi but felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey Naruto cool it...remember what I said before..this isn't about our individual skills anymore...we're being tested on something else entirely" he whispered.
Naruto relaxed before nodding.
Kakashi's raised an eyebrow before speaking again.
"Very well you may begin immediately." he said as he flipped backwards about twenty feet from the trio, but began to immediately read his book again.
The trio stood quickly looking amongst each other whispering a few words before Sasuke threw a smoke bomb.
Kakashi was left standing there in the midst of the field as the trio took a position in the treeline about 30 yards away.
"Ok Sasuke got any ideas ?" he asked.
"Yeah ...I've got an idea, but I need you to find a way to put Sensei on the defensive and push him backwards...essentially force his hand...I know your Taijutsu sucks, but get in there and keep him preoccupied. Then here's what we'll do next" he said as he began to convey his plan.
"Naruto... will you able to do this ?" he asked.
"Yeh I got something that will Keep Sensei real busy" he said before grinning mischievously.
"Hinata what about you? You have the most important job...your timing will have to be precise...there's no other way that we'll be able to catch a Jonin off guard" he said as he studied the girl intently.
Hinata felt a bit uneasy but as she looked at her crush she felt a wave of confidence flow through her. "Hai I can do it" she said without stuttering. 'I won't let you two down' she thought.
"Alright it's time to move into place...make sure to wait for your cue to strike" stated Sasuke as each of them exchanged a look before dispersing into different directions.
Kakashi stood there in the open still reading Chapter three of Icha Icha Paradise.
'Hmmm I've never tried that before...I guess you must be pretty flexible to be able to do that' he thought to himself before he heard a loud commotion coming from the treeline. He looked up for a moment noticing a horde of Naruto beginning to charge straight toward him. His one visible eye widened.
'He was last in his class, but he can make this many clones ? ...wait those aren't regular clones...those are shadow clones ...but how ?' his line of thinking came to an end as he sprung into action easily dispatching the first line with a few well placed kicks and punches with his offhand.
'Well he has quantity, but their weak and a frontal approach is a terrible idea' he thought as blow by blow he continued to cut down the incoming Naruto. What Kakashi was unaware of however, was that step by step he was being lead backwards away from the clearing and near the treeline. Just as the 'final' clone was destroyed Kakashi looked at the remaining Naruto with boredom.
"A neat trick Naruto, but this approach was flawed from the start." he stated.
"Oh well guess I'll just have to wing it now" he said grinning as he shrugged his shoulders and ran straight towards Kakashi, as he grew close he leaped forward forming several handsigns.
'More Shadowclones ?' Kakashi wondered as there was a loud puff of smoke.
However there was no horde of Narutos now, but instead a much older female version of Naruto with long blonde hair and curves that stretched for miles and above all else she was completely nude. Kakashi was taken back for a moment as his visible eye widen. He was glad he wore a mask to conceal most of his face at this moment.
"Kakashi-kun please can I have the bells ?" the female Naruto begged as she stalked forward her ample breasts bouncing as her puppy dog eyes stared directly at him.
Kakashi blinked as he still hadn't quite gained his composure and began backing up...he almost missed someone calling out something a few yards away from him.
He turned just in time to see Sasuke to the side of him about 12 yards away forming a series of handsigns.
"Grand Fireball Jutsu" he cried as a huge ball of fire hurled through the air. With Naruto in front of him and the fireball coming from the side he had but little choice to jump backwards into the trees.
No sooner did that happen then he realized his mistake as he saw a series of ignited explosive tags only feet from him. He leapt backwards again this time into a tree only to feel a palm strike pass over his head by mere inches, he leaped up into a higher branch just as as the explosives below went off shaking the surrounding trees.
'Kami...maybe I shouldn't have said with the intent to kill ' he thought as he looked down to see Hinata standing on a lower branch starring up at him.
'phew that was close she missed killing me, by only inches' he thought to himself.
"Ano...Kakashi-Sensei your within the range of my Divination." A timid voice behind Kakashi announced.
He froze turning to see too late the real Hinata moving into strike...
"Eight Triagrams...Thirty-Two Palms" she cried as she leapt forward making contact with Kakashi. Each of her strikes were aimed at his legs and arms, when she finished, he fell out of the tree before hitting the ground with a thud about 15 feet below before groaning loudly.
'He looked up at the Hinata who had hit him and the one on the lower branch...the one on the lower branch poofed and was replaced with a grinning Naruto.
"Gotcha Sensei" he said just as Sasuke walked up and picked the bells up off of Kakashi.
"We'll be taking those" he said before smirking.
Kakashi kept his expression blank as he sat up albeit with some difficulty. "Alright then which of you are going back to the Academy ?" he asked as he looked around at each of them.
Sasuke tossed the bells to Naruto and Hinata.
"None of us or all of us "Sasuke declared as he exchanged a look with both Hinata and Naruto.
"Oi Sasuke's right we're in this together...either we move forward as a team or go back to the damn academy together" he said shrugging his shoulders as he leaped now next to Sasuke before sighing at the thought of going back to the academy so soon.
"H-hai we c-couldn't have done this w-without each other. I'm staying with N-naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun" she declared before blushing slightly as she too joined her teammates.
Kakashi offered an eye smile before speaking "All right then I have no choice then, but ...to pass you all." he said.
"WOOHoo" cried Naruto as he hugged both Sasuke and Hinata.
Hinata simply blushed like a tomato while Sasuke grunted.
"Dammit Naruto cut it out" he said though without any malice in his voice.
As the three began to converse Kakashi watched them closely.
After giving them a moment to celebrate he cleared his throat before speaking.
"The three of you did well as a team however don't become complacent. Naruto you need to work on all of your abilities, your taijutsu was a mess and you only managed to succeed by relying on your stamina and deception. Sasuke you did well taking charge and helping your team succeed, but don't let that go to your head. arrogance is one of the greatest weaknesses a Ninja can have. Finally Hinata it was ultimately your execution of your taijustu that secured your teams success, however we must work on your confidence. Often enemy ninja will try to break your spirit you will have to grow a thicker skin and become more confident in your abilities." he stated.
Three genin were quiet a moment as they processed what their Sensei had said.
"But guys you did well and with that kind of teamwork I believe all three of you will improve in no time. We're now officially team 7" he declared offering an eye smile to which each of the three genin smiled.
"Alright you three, starting tomorrow morning we will pick up our first mission. I'll see you at the Hokage Tower at 9 ! Seeya" Kakashi said smiling before he disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
A few minutes later the trio walked back into the town.
"Yippee we rocked especially you Hinata-chan! Hey can you teach me that trigram thingie?"asked Naruto excitedly
Sasuke rolled his eyes but said nothing as he figured Hinata could elaborate.
"Ano N-naruto-kun... I can't ...it's something only my f-family can do with our Dojutsu" she said timidly.
"Well drat...hey Sasuke what about that giant fireball thing ? Can you teach me that?" he asked .
"Not a chance Naruto...I'll catch you both later for tomorrow's mission" he replied as he offered a wave before he walked off.
Naruto pouted but his demeanor shifted to glee after a moment.
"Oi Hinata-chan let's get some Ramen" he screamed as he grabbed her hand and began darting through the streets.
Only a dust cloud could be seen in their wake as nothing would stand between the blonde and a bowl of his favorite ramen...