Chapter 4- Teams and problems
Naruto was dreading and was looking forward to today. Why? Today was the day where he would get put into a team. He just hoped he didn't get put into a group of morons. Namely Sasuke and Sakura if at all possible. Oh Kami he prayed that he didn't have those two. He hoped he would get put with someone like Hinata and Shino. Those two had some sense in their heads. Heck he would take Shikamaru at this point. His thought process was cut when he came to the entrance of the academy. Iruka came into the classroom to address the class.
"Welcome class. First off, I would like to congratulate all of you for passing and becoming genin. As you know, this means that you will now be put into groups and will carry out mission with them and your sensei. Now, for the team assigning. Team 1 will be …" Iruka said as he announced several teams.
This continued until he got to team 7.
"Team seven will be Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha," said Iruka, as he saw Naruto just put his head down in anger.
'Kami, you have cruel sense of humor,' thought Naruto, as he raised his head and looked at Sasuke and Sakura, seeing that they weren't too happy about the pick either.
The rest of the teams were announced, and they were picked up by their respected senseis. Only team seven was left. Needless to say, Naruto was getting pretty tired of waiting for a sensei that probably wouldn't teach him much. People far more powerful than anyone in Konoha, or the entire planet had trained him. This guy would probably favor the Uchiha and spoil the little punk with jutsus. The thought was sickening to Naruto. However, it couldn't hurt to see just how he faired against a jonin.
"Ugh, where is he? He couldn't have gotten lost, could he?" asked Sakura, wondering what could be taking their instructor so long.
"Sakura, its bad enough that I am stuck on the same team as you, don't make things worse by annoying me with your blabber," said Naruto, while Sakura just looked at him angrily.
"What did you say ingnorant ba-," Sakura stopped when Naruto gave her one of those 'remember what I can do to you' looks.
"Hmph," said Sasuke, annoyed at both his partners and wished he didn't have to wait around.
The door opened to reveal a man with gray hair, half mask, jonin outfit, and his headband was over one of his eyes. He walked in and briefly observed the three.
"Okay, you three are with me. Come outside so we can talk a little," said Kakashi, as the others got up and followed him outside.
"Okay, now I'm going to ask you guys about what you like, things you hate, and your dreams about the future. I'll start off. I'm Kakashi Hatake. Things I like and things I hate... I don't feel like telling you that. My dreams for the future... never really thought about it. As for my hobbies... I have lots of hobbies," said Kakashi, while Naruto and the others had anime sweat drops on their heads.
'Well that was… informative,' thought Naruto as he looked at Kakashi lazily.
"Okay now, blonde kid, tells us a little about you," said Kakashi, as Naruto focused back in and straightened out his back.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I like ramen and hanging around with my friends. I hate people who are annoying and anyone who threatens my village and my friends. My dream is to one day become the strongest and be hokage," said Naruto, as Kakashi nodded at him.
'This one has great potential,' thought Kakashi, as he told Sakura to tell a little about her.
"My name is Sakura Haruno. I like (giggles) well the person I like (giggles) is Sasuke. I hate Naruto and others who don't like Sasuke. My dream is to be a great shinobi," said Sakura, while Naruto and Kakashi were annoyed.
'Oh perfect, a fan girl,' thought Kakashi, who told Sasuke it was his turn.
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I don't really like anything. I hate people who are losers. And my dream, no, my goal is to kill a certain someone and restore my clan," said Sasuke, while Sakura looked worried and Naruto just shook his head.
'Revenge, the one thing that makes anyone and pain in the ass,' thought Naruto as he looked at Sasuke.
"Okay then, tomorrow I'm going to work with you guys with a little exercise I use. So get some rest and meet me at the training field. Oh, and I would advised not eating in the morning if I were you," said Kakashi, as he left leaving his students in thought about his advice.
Sakura and Sasuke were all worried, but Naruto was not in the slightest. He knew a bluff when he saw one, and Kakashi was doing just that.
'You might have these other two fooled, but you'll soon find that I'm much sharper than that,' thought Naruto as he headed back to his apartment.
The next morning, Naruto woke up and ate a plentiful breakfast. He made is way to the training ground, feeling comfortable about today when he would be tested by Kakashi. Just a few seconds later, Sakura and Sasuke showed up, tired and hungry. Naruto mentally chuckled at the pathetic site of them both. Kakashi finally showed up to give them their task.
"Good morining everyone. Today's exercise will be a simple one. All you have to do is get these two bells from me. The two who get them will be safe while the one who didn't get one will tied to one of those post there," said Kakashi, as he held up the two bells that would be the prize.
"That's all? Huh, and here I was thinking that this would be a little bit challenging," said Naruto, popping his neck.
"Yea I thought that we would be fighting or something like that," said Sasuke, all the while Sakura nodded in approval.
"I thought so, but I haven't told you this bit. If you don't get one of the bells, you also don't get any food at the end," said Kakashi, who saw surprised looks from Sasuke and Sakura.
"That's why you didn't want us to eat this morning," said Sakura, while Naruto gave a slow clap.
"And the light finally turns on," said Naruto mockingly, getting an angry glance form Sakura.
"Enough you two. Now I want you all to come at me like you want to kill me, understood?" asked Kakashi, while everyone nodded in agreement.
'Time to see how I fair,' thought Naruto, getting himself ready.
"Ready? Go!" said Kakashi, while Sakura and Sasuke went away, but Naruto staid put, arms crossed.
"I have no intention of hiding and waiting. Im going to see right now if I can hang with one of the best Konoha has to offer," said Naruto, cracking a smile as Kakashi readied himself.
"I've actually been wanting to see what you can do as well," said Kakashi, pulling out his orange book.
"What are you doing?" asked Naruto, raising an eyebrow at his sensei.
"Finding out what happens at the end," said Kakashi, seeing Naruto face drop into the ground.
"Anyway," said Naruto before disappearing in a Flash step.
"What the-," said Kakashi before looking up to see Naruto with one leg raised vertically in the air.
"Hollow leg drop!" yelled Naruto, bringing his leg down on Kakashi, causing a huge impact.
'Holy crap!' thought Sasuke and Sakura as they witnessed the immense power Naruto displayed with jaws on the floor.
When the dust settled, Naruto stood over a broken in half log.
"A substitution jutsu. This guy is quick on his feet," said Naruto looking around for his sensei.
'I have to admit I wasn't expecting that from him. I have to be really careful with this one,' thought Kakashi as he hid in the tree from his student.
"How in the name of Kami did you get so strong baka?" asked Sakura as she and Sasuke came out of hiding.
"Years of intense training, and a drive not fueled by revenge," said Naruto, clearly directing his comment at Sasuke.
"You saying that my way is wrong? That I shouldn't punish the man responsible for my clan's destruction?" asked Sasuke, while Naruto just shook his head.
"You just don't get it," said Naruto while Sasuke began to walk away.
"Whatever, I'm gonna go find sensei and get my bell," said Sasuke before disappearing, leaving Naruto and Sakura.
"Sasuke will definitely get a bell, then he'll help me get one too," said Sakura, while Naruto just rolled his eyes.
"That idiot wont get a bell if he keeps up the attitude. Heck even if he did beat Kakashi, he wouldn't get one anyway," said Naruto smiling, while Sakura looked at him with confusion.
"What do you mean?" asked Sakura, all the while Naruto still smiled.
"This is what I mean," said Naruto, holding up both bells.
"When did you get those?" said Sakura in total shock at the sight of the bells.
"When I disappeared, I snatched the bells quickly and then moved above Kakashi. I'm actually surprised he didn't notice," said Naruto, while Sakura's eyes sparkled at the bells.
"So I guess I have to beat you to get the bells. Then lets do it," said Sakura getting ready only to get laughed at by Naruto.
"As much as I would love to smear you across the ground, you are still my teammate," said Naruto as he tossed her a bell and started to walk off.
"Why just give it to me so willingly?" asked Sakura, as Naruto turned around and looked at her.
"Because you need it more than I will," said Naruto before Flash stepping away, leaving Sakura lost in thought.
Naruto searched around for Sasuke. He expected to see him fighting Kakashi, but he found something else. Sasuke was neck deep in the ground, having been put there because of Kakashi. Naruto had to fight back the snicker he had coming up.
"So I guess you didn't get the bell huh," said Naruto getting the attention of Sasuke, as well as a frown.
"I almost had him. What do you want loser?" asked Sasuke, while Naruto stood a few inches from his face.
"Your goal to get revenge for your clan isn't going to get you anywhere," said Naruto, Sasuke looking shocked at his words.
"I have to avenge my clan. What do you know about it?" asked Sasuke, Naruto just looked at him.
"I don't know what its like to lose your whole clan, but if you go down this path, you'll be alone in the end. Now what will you do?" asked Naruto, seeing Sasuke smirk at him.
"Here's my answer loser," said Sasuke, who then proceeded to spit on Naruto's sandals.
"Oh well, can't say I didn't try. You don't deserve this, but I really don't care," said Naruto, tossing the bell in front of Sasuke.
"When did you get that?" asked Sasuke, while Naruto just Flash stepped away again.
Naruto landed on a tree. Also on the tree a certain masked, orange book reading jonin. Kakashi put his book away and started to slow clap.
"I'm impressed that you were able to get the bells so fast," said Kakashi as Naruto sat down on the tree branch.
"I'm surprised that you didn't stop me or try to get the bells back," said Naruto as Kakashi sat down next to him.
"I wanted to see what you would do with them. So, why did you give those two the bells?" asked Kakashi, while Naruto thought back a while.
(Flashback)
"You really think that you can take me?" asked Apacci, enraged that Mila Rose could take her.
"Heck yea I could Unicorn weakling," said Mila, getting face-to-face with Apacci.
"You two fighting all the time is so childish and trivial," said Sung-Sun, getting anger from the other two.
"What did you say?" asked Apacci, getting even madder at the comment.
Meanwhile, Naruto watched high above on a tower as the three Fraccion members fought amongst themselves. He saw Tia Harribel walking behind him.
"Why do they constantly fight amongst themselves Harribel-sama? They have to work as a team with you and the rest of the Arrancar, but they just fight," said Naruto, as Tia walked up to him and was to his right shoulder.
"You are right, they do fight amongst themselves a lot, but they still work together. Its because of me and their loyalty to me that they work together. Loyalty is the key for a team to work together, or rather a united goal," said Tia, seeing that her wisdom had reached Naruto.
(End Flashback)
"Lets just say that I had a good teacher that said loyalty is the key to uniting a team," said Naruto, seeing Kakashi nod at him.
"Well, the timer should be going off anytime now. You should probably go off somewhere," said Kakashi, Naruto taking off as soon as he was done.
A few seconds later, the timer went off and everyone made their way back to the Hero's memorial stone. Sakura and Sasuke showed Kakashi that they had their bells. Kakashi congratulated them both and told them they could eat. He told Naruto that he would have to be tied to the log. Naruto willingly went over and let himself be tied up. Kakashi told Sasuke and Sakura that they could eat, but were told that Naruto could have none, and that they could not feed him any of theirs. Kakashi then left Team 7 to eat.
"I still don't understand why you let us have the bells Naruto," said Sakura, all the while Naruto just stared off into space.
"It doesn't matter if you understand it or not. Though I don't like it, you guys are my teammates, so I have to help you," said Naruto, Sasuke scoffing at him while he ate.
"You're an idiot who doesn't know how to take advantage of and opportunity, that's all it is," said Sasuke, eating his lunch in front of him.
He stopped when something different happened to his amazement. What he saw was Sakura raising her lunch to Naruto. Naruto was equally surprised by this move.
"Don't think that this means that I like you or anything, but you did give me a bell so this is payback," said Sakura as Naruto sighed a little bit.
"Oh thank Kami. I thought you were trying to make me fall for you or something. That's a relief," said Naurto, getting an angry look form Sakura.
"Do you want to eat or what?" said Sakura, now seeing a serious look on Naruto's face.
"You'll have to feed it to my mouth considering I'm a little tied up right now," said Naruto, seeing Sakura get angry but then understood the circumstance.
"Fine, here," said Sakura, taking a little bit of the food with her chopstick and giving it to Naruto.
The minute Naruto swallowed the food, there was a huge boom, and Kakashi appeared with an angry expression.
"DID'NT I TELL YOU NOT TO FEED HIM!" yelled Kakashi, seeing Sakura look scared out of her mind while Naruto just looked at him with a serious look.
"I w-was j-j-just giving him s-some of mine s-since he helped m-me get a b-b-bell," stuttered Sakura, as Kakahsi looked at her then Naruto.
"Is this true Naruto?" asked Kakashi, though he already knew the truth.
"It's true. I gave Sakura her bell," said Naruto, while Sasuke just looked at him with anger.
"Well then, you pass," said Kakashi cheerfully, getting shocked look from Sakura and Sasuke.
"We… passed," said Saskura, who then proceeded to jump up with joy.
"Well that was a good act you put on their sensei," said Naruto, who had to admit it scared him at the beginning.
"What'd you mean we pass?" asked Sasuke, still unsure what was going on.
"This test was all about teamwork and how well you could you work together. Naruto was really the only one who really saw it, but then Sakura's display was what sealed the deal," said Kakashi, as he untied Naruto.
"I figured, but why did you make up this type of test?" asked Naruto, as Kakashi looked back at the stone.
"It's something that my friend taught me. Those who break the rules are scum, that's true. But, those who betray their friends are worse than scum," said Kakashi, seeing Naruto nod at his words.
"So what now?" asked Naruto, now that they had passed their teachers test.
"Now? Team 7 starts missions tomorrow!" said Kakashi, giving a thumbs up.
'Finally, we get down to business,' thought Naruto, as he left Kakashi and his teammates and headed home.
(A/N: Sup! Let me start off by saying… I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT POSTING IN A WHILE! If you combine remaining schoolwork with my own laziness, you get a man who doesn't want to do anything. Anyway, hope you enjoy and don't forget to review. Till next time.)