Kakashi felt like sobbing happily as they walked into Konoha a week later. He immediately set course to report to the Hokage, while his team, Tobirama, and the two demon-spawns went off to Ichiraku's Ramen shop.
Kakashi entered Hiruzen's office a few minutes later. Hiruzen stared at him in slight surprise.
"Oh, you're still alive." Kakashi glared.
"Yes, I am. Madara is still trying to kill me though." Hiruzen nodded.
"Well, report." Kakashi started describing exactly what happened on the mission. Every now and then, Hiruzen twitched and muttered under his breath.
"...and then Madara and Hashirama left a huge bloody mess on the bridge. They then forced my Genin and Tobirama to clean it up. And then we came home. The end." Hiruzen rubbed his forehead and sighed.
"So your simple C-Rank escort mission turned into a high A-Rank."
"Yep." Hiruzen groaned. He grabbed a bright red stamp off his desk, and stamped a big A on the mission scroll. He then dug through the papers on his desk and pulled out six permission slips.
"Give the white ones to your Genin and the green ones to Madara, Hashirama, and Tobirama." Kakashi nodded and accepted the outstretched papers.
"And these are for...?" Hiruzen smirked.
"You guys made it back in time for the Chunin Exams." Kakashi froze. The Chunin Exams. If Naruto were to pass this time around, he wouldn't have to see those damn demon-spawns and Tobirama as much! Kakashi slowly grinned under his mask.
"Thank you so much Hokage-sama!" He said, before he disappeared out the window. Hiruzen rolled his eyes and pulled and orange book out of one of the drawers. He giggled and started reading.
Kakashi found his team and the three Geezers at a little red bridge. He jumped down from the roof he was on and waved happily.
"Kaka-sensei! You're early! It's the end of the world!" Naruto shouted, pointing at him. Kakashi chuckled.
"That's because I have something important for you guys." He handed out the permission slips.
"What are these 'Chunin Exams' exactly?" Madara asked glaring at the green paper in his hands.
"The Chunin Exams are a special test, where Genin compete and try to kill each other to go up in rank. Going up in rank-" He started, seeing the still confused looks. "-means gaining more responsibility and you're not restricted to a team snd you get to go on harder missions." They all nodded. Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. Said blond blinked up at him.
"Kaka-sensei?"
"Naruto, it is very important that you do your best to pass this exam. Remember to look underneath the underneath. Do not choke yourself up." Naruto nodded and grinned.
"Don't worry sensei! I'll pass this exam with flying colours dattebayo! Believe it!" Kakashi shivered. Why did that 'dattebayo' sound so familiar?
"Good Naruto. Now bye bye! Oh, one piece of advice!" Kakashi eye smiled. "Don't die!" With that, he poofed away. Tobirama raised a brow.
"How about we sign this. Then we'll teach you to water walk."