AN: hi all, back again. The response to the last chapter was just crazy, I lost a couple of readers who didn't like that I'm sticking close to canon, at least for a while, but gained a whole heap more so it all balances out. I never expected my little fic would garner so much response, I guess a lot of people like the idea of time travel fics as much as I do. A common theme I have been seeing in the reviews are people commenting on how much they hate abandoned fics, rest assured I feel the same way and that I wouldn't do that. I hate when a story just leaves you hanging and so if I ever do get sick of writing rest assured that I will tidy up any loose plot points before I go. (As I have heaps of ideas leading into Shippuden I don't see this happening anytime soon so relax people.)
Okay just a heads up, there is a tiny little bit of Sakura bashing here. Now before you get all upset, it is from Sasuke's perspective and I think it reflects the mindset of the Broody thirteen year old. And yes Sasuke is Broody, I think it's just part of his personality personally, and as this is my fanfiction that's how he's going to be written. Sakura should get better, probably after the Wave Mission, right now she is a sheltered little girl with serious fan girl tendencies, once she faces the real world she will grow up some. And Sasuke, well if history has taught us anything it's that whiny brats don't last long around Naruto.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto; I just think he's awesome.
Warning: May contain spoilers and/or clichés, if you are bothered or offended by either; why are you reading fanfiction?
'thinking'
"speaking"
jutsu
demon speak
Chapter 14.
"Are you sure kid?"
"Just take the damn photo!"
"All right, all right. But don't say I didn't warn ya."
*click*
The Hokage sat in the large assembly hall of the Ninja Academy beside the Chunin who had been assigned to help him sort out the new Genin registration forms. He idly puffed on his pipe as he sat contemplating the somewhat restricted view of the Hokage Monument through the large window to his left, as he waited for the next graduate to arrive.
As he looked at the flesh coloured mountainside, just visible between the tall buildings that surrounded the Academy, the Old Man was moved to comment to his companion, "I must say it looks very effective. It's a wonder no one thought to colour them before now. But what I want to know is how he got the colouring just right? As far as I know there is no colour photographs of any of the Hokages printed in any books and the only portraits are hung in restricted Jonin only areas. And yet Hashirama-sama and Tobirama-sensei look just as I remembered them."
"Hehe, lucky guess?" came the voice of one Naruto Uzumaki from behind the two experienced ninja, causing them to jump as they had not felt his approach.
"Ah Naruto," said the Hokage, recovering his dignity quickly, "Do take a seat my boy."
Naruto turned to look at the lone chair some five metres in front of the desk at which the Hokage and his helper sat, he eyed the distance between the two before shrugging slightly and ambling over to take a seat.
"On a side note before we get started. How long do you think the paint should last Naruto?" asked the Hokage.
"Well I used the same paint that I do my murals with and some of the early ones are just starting to fade. So about two years?" Naruto guessed.
"Murals?"
"Yeah, I wanted to brighten up the village some, you know remind everyone about the Will of Fire and such. So I took up painting a few years ago. Did no one tell you about them? They are all over the place." Naruto explained.
"I remember some of the Civilian Council did mention something about civil art works but I had no idea that you did them." answered the Old Man.
"Oh, not just me. Some of my friends from the Academy helped out. The murals are pretty big after all and the whole idea was to finish them without discovery. It was good training." Naruto further explained, downplaying his own involvement.
"Well from now on please check with me before starting any more major art projects, even if the monument does look better now, it could have been very bad if you had made a mistake and defaced it instead." instructed Hiruzen as he accepted the new Genin's file from his helper, "Now Naruto, as to the reason I have called you here. Are you happy with the information you have supplied for your Genin registration?"
"Hai Hokage-jiji."
"So, Genin Uzumaki Naruto, registration number 102607. Known jutsu: Transformation, Replacement, Camping 5 and Shadow Clone. Fuuinjustu level one journeyman," at this the Hokage's Chunin helper quickly looked from the Hiruzen's face to Naruto in surprise, "Hobbies: Pranking, gardening, training and ramen." continued the Old Man, "How is ramen a hobby Naruto?"
"It's not just food Hokage-jiji; it's a whole way of life! There's the different types, noodle consistency and don't even get me started on how different environments create different flavours." exploded Naruto enthusiastically as he counted off each point on his fingers.
"Well I suppose this is all fine, but what happened with your photo Naruto?" asked the Hokage in exasperation as he stared at the offending picture. Sure it looked like Naruto enough for use as identification, but it depicted a much more feral looking Naruto as he had spiked up his hair, thickened his whisker marks with black paint till they looked like bars on either side of his face and for some reason he had painted orange circles over his eyes.
"It's only war paint Hokage-jiji. This way people will know what I look like when I'm serious. My enemies will know that if I look anything like my photo at any point, shit is about to go down." answered Naruto with a smile, "Come on Jiji it's not that bad, I could have gone the whole Kabuki painted warrior look."
The Hokage looked down to hide a smile as the Chunin beside him snorted gently with amusement, 'Ah fresh Genin and their delusions of grandeur.'
"I suppose its fine, truth to tell the other Genin shots were not much better." said the Hokage once he had gathered himself together and was sure he would not laugh out loud, "I don't know why you young people always feel the need to be artistic with these things. Well I guess I can approve your registration now, except don't you want to add the jutsu you used on me the other night? I don't remember much but you did render me unconscious, though mostly because I was caught off guard you understand."
"You mean this one? Sexy Jutsu!" asked Naruto before performing some hand signs and transforming into a gorgeous, naked, blond girl in a cloud of smoke. The girl bent over slightly as she blew a kiss to the Hokage, billowing clouds protecting her modesty even as they added to her allure, "Oh Hokage-sama I've been a very naughty girl. Please spank me." 'She' cooed out causing both the Hokage and his Chunin assistant to fall back on their chairs with massive nose bleeds.
"Hehe," laughed Naruto as he transformed back and retook his seat, giving the Hokage and his helper time to recover, "It's my anti-pervert Jutsu. I use it for infiltration and distraction. Unfortunately it only works fifty percent of the time. I'm working on a version for use on Kunoichi but it only seems to work if the naked dude is on a horse and that takes a heap more chakra to pull off." explained the young Genin as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
The Hokage straightened his robes as he retook his seat and cleared his throat, "A most effective jutsu Naruto, but please don't cast that on me again. We will just add that to your form then."
Whilst the Chunin helper began to busily update the file, the Hokage smiled at Naruto and had just opened his mouth to comment on the boy's growth when the sliding door leading to the room was suddenly violently wrenched open and a small form barrelled into the room.
"Old Man I challenge you! I'm going to defeat you and become the Fifth Hokage!" screamed Konohamaru as he raced forward, kunai in hand and promptly tripped over his own oversized scarf and landed flat on his own face, causing Naruto to face-palm in embarrassment.
"Ow," cried the small boy, "Something tripped me."
"Are you okay Honourable Grandson? And by the way there's nothing here to trip on its pretty flat." asked the overly concerned voice of the boy's so called elite trainer from the open door.
Jumping up the young boy swung around with accusing eyes before they lit on Naruto still seated in his chair. Marching over the young boy indignantly confronted his much larger senpai, "All right! You're the one who tripped me aren't you."
Naruto grabbed Konohamaru by the collar and dragged him closer as he hissed out, "See here kid, I didn't do nothing. You tripped over your own scarf. Why the hell is it so long anyway?"
"Hey you! Take your hands off of him right now! He's the honourable grandson of the Honourable Third Hokage!" shouted Ebisu distraught by the blatant disrespect, even though the Hokage was taking it all in stride.
Konohamaru smirked up at Naruto who could just tell what the little brat was thinking. 'Oh man he was so spoilt back then or rather now. Argh, being from the future is so confusing sometimes.'
"What's the matter HUH? I thought you were gonna hit me. Afraid cause the Hokage is my grandfather?" the young boy taunted his aggressor.
"I don't care if he's your grandmother. You get my respect when you earn it dumbass!" Naruto spat back as he wacked Konohamaru over the top of the head causing him to fall down in pain.
As Ebisu-sensei had a spaz attack, the Hokage let out a long suffering sigh as he asked, "Was that completely necessary Naruto?"
"Of course it was Old Man, the kid needs a wakeup call especially if he thinks its ok to attack you all the time. Well I gotta go, places to see, people to annoy. By your leave Hokage-sama." Naruto said as he cheekily bowed to the Hokage.
"You may go Naruto, but don't forget team placements are tomorrow. Oh and I've had a word with Chishiki-san, you will have access to those scrolls you wanted the day after team selections."
Naruto's eyes lit up, "Hai Hokage-jiji, arigato." He bowed slightly to his adopted grandfather and then continued with an irreverent, "Well see ya." and with a wave he walked past the lecturing 'elite' trainer and his errant student and out the door.
"Honourable Grandson I am most disappointed in you allowing yourself to be drawn into conflict with riff raff of that calibre. You see he is far beneath you; you mustn't stoop to his level. As your elite trainer I am never wrong which means I am always right. I'm far above the other trainers so heed my every word. Your goal is to become the next Hokage and I can teach you the best way to do it. Indeed…" here the pompous twit was interrupted by the Hokage.
"I'm afraid my grandson has left some time ago Ebisu. I think he followed Naruto and I'm not sure where they were going. Perhaps you should look for them as I think the next Genin hopeful is waiting to come in." hinted the Sandaime.
"He's with Naruto? What a disaster!" Ebisu screeched as he ran from the room shouting, "HONOURABLE GRANDSON!"
Casually strolling down the street, his hands comfortably resting behind his head, Naruto's cheerful whistling was cut short as he suddenly halted in place and snorted in amusement, "Oh come on kid! You're not even holding it up right. Give it here. See this ridge? That tells you which way is the right side up, so that you can use it even in low visibility. Man, what is that tutor training you with anyway?"
"Hehe, the rumours about you are true. You're good. All right I'll be your apprentice and you'll be my new trainer," shouted the small boy, who had been ineffectively hiding behind the ninja camouflage sheet, triumphantly.
"Are you sure?" replied Naruto rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he tried to hide a grin, "I'm pretty tough. Do you even think you can keep up?"
"Course I can! And afterwards you have to show me that sexy jutsu thing you did on Grandpa-Hokage." exclaimed Konohamaru as he bounced up and down slightly with excitement.
"I don't know. That jutsu is pretty high grade." mused Naruto seeming to hesitate.
"Come on. Please boss?" begged the child.
"Boss?"
"Yeah you're the boss, Boss. Boss, Boss, Boss."
"Well now, how could I refuse?" exclaimed Naruto with a foxy grin.
A short while later found Naruto and his erstwhile student standing in the centre of one of the small training grounds attached to the Ninja Academy. Naruto stood with his hands on his hips as he looked Konohamaru up and down.
"Now I'm sure you've read all sorts of scrolls and books about chakra control and what not. But the main thing you have to know about how to do ninja techniques can be summed up by two things…"
"What are they Boss?" asked his enthusiastic student.
"I'm glad you asked young grasshopper," said Naruto with a grin, "The two thing are just plain hard work and guts!"
"All right I'm with you," cheered Konohamaru.
"Okay then let's see what you've got."
"Huh?" asked Konohamaru with his head tilted to the side in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"I mean show me what you've got. Once I see what we've got to work with, I'll take you to the next level. Believe it!" Naruto finished with a nice guy pose. "So are you ready?"
"All right I'm ready!"
"Okay then, show me a transformation."
"What should I transform into?"
"You want to learn the Sexy Jutsu don't you? Then transform into the most beautiful woman you can think of." Naruto instructed the young boy.
Konohamaru scrunched up his face in concentration as he tried to picture a beautiful woman before his made the necessary hand signs and yelled out, "Transform!"
What eventually emerged from the overabundance of smoke made Naruto face palm as he thought, 'Oh god it's even more hideous than last time.' Indeed the hideously deformed figure that Konohamaru had transformed into held only a slight resemblance to a human being let alone a woman.
"No, no no. Come here, but release that first you're making me a little nauseous." Naruto pulled a scroll from inside his jacket that he had prepared earlier that morning and knelt down to release the contents sealed inside as Konohamaru approached. A pile of magazines spilled out onto the grass between the two boys, 'No way am I getting hit again this time just so Ko can do some research.'
"Here look at this," he instructed his young friend as he handed him one of the magazines that featured a scantily clad and overly busty figure on the front, "See a beautiful woman is slender and yet curvy at the same time, not all lumpy. You got to make sure you get all the right bits in the right places. And their lips might be larger than ours but they don't form a great big O ring. But most importantly don't forget the smoke this time, it adds to the allure, though don't ask me why." He explained as he pointed out different features of the women pictured inside the magazine.
When first concocting his Sexy Jutsu, Naruto had used such magazines as research; most of these had been heavily censored with all manner of images such as large black bars, various objects like teddy bears and weapons and of course the obligatory floating clouds covering the more sensitive areas of the photos. Naruto's earlier attempts had used floating black bars to mimic the pictures seen, but he had been disappointed by the effect as it only seemed to cause frustration in his victims. Fully naked transformations caused only embarrassed stuttering and he had almost given up on the Jutsu, but when he added clouds well that's when the full bloody-nose, heart failure effect he has after was finally realised, and don't even get him started on the effects of cosplay.
After flipping through a couple of magazines, Konohamaru looked up at his new idol with an excited grin, "I think I'm ready now Boss."
"Okay show me what you've got."
"Transform!"
"No, no, no curvier!"
"Transform!"
"No skinnier!"
"Transform!"
Sometime later found the pair sitting comfortably side by side on a fallen log, replenishing themselves with drinks from a conveniently placed vending machine. Neither questioned what such a machine was doing in the middle of the forest, both were only thankful for its presence.
"So what's up with you attacking Hokage-jiji?" asked Naruto casually.
"My grandfather named me Konohamaru after the ancient name of the village so it should be easy to remember but no one calls me that name. Not one person in the whole village. That's cause when they look at me they don't really see me. All they see is the Honourable Grandson of the Lord Hokage. No one knows who I am." whispered the boy despairingly, "I can't stand it anymore, it's like I'm invisible, it's like I don't even exist. I hate that."
Naruto looked at the boy with sympathy as he continued, "That's the reason I've got to become the Hokage now so people will know who I am."
"Yeah, living without acknowledgment can be really hard," agreed Naruto as he lent back on his hands and stretched his feet out in front of him as he looked up at the sky, "You begin to question you're worth and are reduced to grabbing at anything just to get people to look at you. But you know kid," he continued as he turned to look into Konohamaru's fascinated young face, "Even if you do defeat your grandfather no one's gonna accept a squirt like you as the Hokage."
"What!" yelled Konohamaru indignantly as he jumped to his feet, hands clenched.
"A kid can't just become Hokage after a day or two," explained Naruto calmly, "It's not that simple. It takes years of dedicated training and sacrifice, and even then to become Hokage do you know what you have to do?"
"What, what is it?"
Naruto smirked as he looked at Konohamaru with shadowed eyes, "You're gonna have to defeat me in battle!"
The young boy's eyes widened as he took in the young man still comfortably seated before him, he was just about to open his mouth to retort when a rustling in the tree to his right caused both boys to turn. Perched just above their heads in the crown of the tree was Konohamaru's 'elite' trainer Ebisu-sensei.
"I've found you!" called the pompous man as he adjusted his dark glasses with one finger.
'Here's the closet pervert now, right on time.' thought Naruto as he gazed up at the Jonin, his eyes narrowing as he spied the judgemental sneer on the older man's face. 'For a so called elite trainer he sure acts ignorant.' he mentally sighed.
"Now Young Master let's go home. A Hokage must be well versed in all aspects of being a ninja. You must know over one thousand skills. Right now you don't even know one, but with my expert training …." lectured Ebisu to an increasingly agitated Konohamaru who finally exploded.
"Transform! Take this my Sexy Jutsu." exclaimed the young boy who had turned into a beautiful naked woman in a cloud of smoke.
"Wha… What a vulgar 'skill'! Who taught you this atrocity." exclaimed the horrified 'elite' trainer.
"Huh? It didn't work." sulked Konohamaru as he released the transformation.
"Young Master, if you hang out with the likes of him you'll turn stupid! Just do what I say. I am your easiest short-cut to being Hokage. Now let's go home!" shouted Ebisu as he tried to drag off his reluctant student by the boy's overly long scarf.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" rang out a loud voice as thirty Naruto clones appeared throughout the training ground and surrounded the pair.
"How foolish, I am not impressed," said Ebisu as he let go of Konohamaru and straightened up, adjusting his dark glasses as he continued, "I am an elite tutor you won't find me as easily defeated as Mizuki."
He was answered with a knowing smirk and a shout of "Transform!" as Naruto and his thirty clones transformed into naked, blond bomb-shells who swarmed the surprised elite Jonin. "But we don't want to defeat you Ebisu-kun," they cooed in unison, "We only want to please you!" sang the chorus of nubile young women as they rubbed against him suggestively causing the man's eyes to roll up in his head as he fell unconscious with a massive nose-bleed.
"Too easy!" scoffed Naruto as he released the transformation and dispelled his clones.
"Whoa Boss that was awesome!" screamed Konohamaru in excitement.
"I call that one … Harem no Jutsu!" said Naruto with a cheesy grin, causing the Hokage who had been watching the whole thing on his crystal ball to face palm in exasperation.
"You defeated him so easily but I couldn't do a thing. I really want a name that people will acknowledge, yet why?" whined the young boy before him.
"It's not that easy dummy." explained Naruto as he bopped his friend on the top of the head, he walked passed Konohamaru and stood facing away as he continued, "The Hokage name is the name of the greatest ninja in the village. People acknowledge him not only because of his strength but also because of his sacrifices. Take me for example, I've put up with so many bad things during my life and yet I never gave up and finally I found that one person that believed in me. But it took a long time and a lot of hard work. I tell you now you better prepare yourself. Even after all that training and many sacrifices, if you really want to be Hokage that bad then eventually you'll have to fight me for it. Believe it!"
Konohamaru stared silently at the back of his Boss, overwhelmed by what he had heard. "All right I've decided!" yelled out Konohamaru suddenly, causing Naruto to turn around and look at him, "From now on I'm not your apprentice cause from now on we're rivals!"
Naruto smiled happily as he walked over to the boy, "I wouldn't have it any other way kid. Anyway I didn't have time to train you as I start my ninja career tomorrow. But work hard, cause I'll be waiting… Konohamaru."
A smile burst across the young boys face, someone had finally acknowledged him with his own name, "You better be ready then!" warned Konohamaru as he and his newly minted rival for the title of Lord Hokage bumped fists and smiled at each other, lit only by the light of the setting sun.
Sitting in the front row of a classroom he had thought he had finally seen the last of, Sasuke Uchiha was not happy. Then again, when was he ever? His bad mood had begun shortly after he had awoken and had not improved since, if anything it had gotten worse.
By all rights he should be feeling good, he had finally graduated, Rookie of the Year in fact, and yet for all his achievements it was soured by those that had gone before him. 'Argh, when will I ever beat Him? Fine I'm Rookie of the Year, whoopee duck poop! Itachi was Rookie of the Year at seven, SEVEN! How the hell can I compete with that? I don't even have my Sharingan yet and He had his by eight.'
Sasuke shifted uneasily as he remembered what else had dampened his mood, he leant forward over his desk and rested his mouth against his clenched hands as his eyes narrowed, 'If that wasn't enough, I also have the Dobe to overcome. He's almost more frustrating than my older brother! At least Itachi is consistent in his superiority. But I just can't get a read on the Idiot. Here I sit Rookie of the Year and yet I don't feel like I deserve it as he beats me all the time. When we run he is always one step ahead, when we spar I can never hit him and yet I always score higher. It's like he is just giving me the win. I can't stand it.'
Just then his brooding was cut short by the sound of stampeding feet and the shrieks of those whom he privately referred to as the 'Two Banshees', Sasuke palled slightly at the sound as all that filled his mind was, 'Oh Shit!'
Bursting through the door came two girls his age, fighting and squirming against each other as they both tried to enter at the same time. They glared at each other momentarily before the both turned as one as stared at the source of their affections with predatory eyes, "Oh Sasuke-kun!" they screeched in unison.
'Oh God help!' thought Sasuke as he discreetly looked around the room for salvation but all he vocalised was a quiet "Hn," in response.
Squealing once more is stereo; the two girls rushed forward and took a seat in the empty chairs on either side of the 'mysteriously dreamy' Uchiha heir. For a so called genius he hadn't really thought strategically about his location in the classroom he mused to himself in resignation as he set himself to blocking out the annoying noise from either side of him. This was the one thing he appreciated about the dumb blond; at least he could be counted on to keep the 'Two Banshees' away from him, 'Too bad the Dobe failed the final exam.'
"Oh man, am I glad I'm not him," drawled the lazy voice of one Shikamaru Nara as he stared down at the spectacle below him from his seat in the last row.
"Indeed," came the calm replay from Shino as he too took in the scene.
"Yeah sucks to be him," agreed an unexpected voice beside them, causing both boys to turn abruptly to find Naruto Uzumaki seated comfortably between them with his feet resting on the desk in front of him and a Hitai-ate tied tightly over his forehead. "Yo!" he greeted his surprised friends as he saluted them with two fingers.
"When did you get here Naruto and what's with the headband? I thought you failed." asked his laziest friend.
"Oh I've been here a while Shikamaru, I was just waiting to see how long it took you to notice me and I got the headband cause I took a makeup test after the Graduation Exam."
Long used to his friend's constant awareness tests, Shikamaru shrugged off his surprising appearance in the chair beside him, only pleased that his capable friend had managed to pass after all.
"I was not aware that there was a makeup test, Uzumaki-san." ventured Shino, "Why because I have never heard of such."
"Hehe," chuckled Naruto as he rubbed the back of his head, "Well you know … stuff happened. And please Shino, its Naruto remember? Anyway are you two as psyched as I am to finally be assigned a team?"
"Well as long as I can work well with them I don't mind who I get." mused Shikamaru as he looked up at the ceiling, silently wishing for clouds, "As long as I don't get Ino."
Naruto cracked a smile at this and giggled softly to himself as he looked down at his fellow blonde who was attempting to snuggle up to Sasuke even as the boys spoke, much to the broody bastard's annoyance.
"Indeed," added Shino, "As long as I can work with them and they are accepting, then it does not really matter who we get."
"I suppose so," drawled Naruto as he looked around and waved to his other friends in the room, inviting them over to join the conversation, "As long as they've got your back and you've got theirs its all good. Hey Hinata, Kiba, Choji! How you doing?"
"Hey man, good to see ya!" exclaimed Kiba as he came over and clasped Naruto's hand, bumping his shoulder in manly solidarity, "Glad you could make it!"
"Chip?" asked Choji as he offered the open packet to the group.
"Naruto you graduated after all, I'm glad. I knew you could do it." encouraged Hinata softly.
"Thanks Hinata, Choji, Kiba. I'm glad you guys managed to graduate too. You all excited?"
"Hai!" came the groups answer, just as the sound of a door open echoed through the classroom and Iruka-sensei walked in.
"Well," said Naruto as he stood up and stretched slightly, "Guess I better go sit with my team."
"How do you know who's gonna be on your team? Iruka-sensei hasn't even announced it yet." asked Hinata in confusion.
Naruto smiled slyly as he raised one finger to rest against the side of his nose, "Shinobi intuition!" he answered as he turned to saunter down the steps.
The group as a whole groaned at the answer, one that Naruto had used frequently since they had come to know him to explain all manner of unexplained knowledge from the unpredictable blonde. Shikamaru summed up the feelings of the whole group as he quietly mumbled, "Troublesome."
"All right class take your seats and be quiet please?" asked Iruka-sensei as he stood at the podium at the front of the class and organised his notes, when the noise did not abate the teacher invoked his Big Head Jutsu and yelled out, "I SAID BE QUIET AND SIT DOWN NOW!"
Students frantically sat down and gave the occasionally scary teacher their full attention. "Let me start by saying how very proud I am of all of you today. Know that this village is built on the actions of people just like yourselves and act accordingly as you move into the future. Work hard, train hard and keep the Will of Fire in your hearts. If you do so I know that you will all do very well as capable ninja of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Today you embark on your careers as Shinobi of the Land of Fire and as agents of the Hokage, do us proud!"
The class cheered slightly and quickly quieted to Iruka-sensei's upraised hand, "But you are still only rookie 'Genin' and as such the hard part has just started. Now as you go forth you will be split into three man teams headed by your Jonin instructor. You will follow that sensei's instructions as you complete the duties assigned to you by the village. We tried to balance each team's strength. Please listen for your name. Team one …"
As names were called out the students shuffled their seats so that teams sat together. "Next up Team Seven, Uzumaki Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha," Sasuke smirked behind his hands, 'Finally a chance to beat you.' he thought as he looked at his unproclaimed rival from the corner of his eye. "And Sakura Haruno under Jonin instructor Kakashi Hatake."
The name of the teams instructor was almost drowned out by Sakura's shout of victory and the sound of the usually stoic Uchiha's head slamming into the desk in front of him, but loudest of all was Naruto's cry of "I called it!" accompanied by knowing chuckles from all of his friends.
"Next up Team Eight will consist of Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga under Jonin instructor Kurenai Yuhi. Team Nine is still active, so Team Ten will consist of Choji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara and Ino Yamanaka." their teacher continued causing a groan of, "Oh Man!" from Shikamaru and giggles from the rest of the class as Ino fumed silently for once, before Iruka-sensei finished with, "Under Jonin instructor Asuma Sarutobi."
"We will now break for an hour so you can all get some lunch; I suggest you take this time to bond a little with your new teammates. Please return here afterwards to meet your new Jonin instructors. Dismissed."
"So…you guys want to get something to eat?" asked Naruto as he turned to his new/old team.
"Hn," said Sasuke dismissively as he stood and walked from the room.
"Yeah what he said Naruto-baka," seconded Sakura as she hurried after her crush, "Wait up Sasuke-kun!"
'Oh man can she ever hold a grudge, I only laughed at her once or twice,' thought Naruto as he placed his hands behind his head and casually followed the two out of the room, 'and Sasuke is such a brat. Was he always like this? Good thing I've got a way with brats huh Kurama?'
'Yes this should be most amusing.'
Later that afternoon after all the other teams had been picked up by their Jonin senseis and while Team Seven was still waiting impatiently for their Team Leader to arrive. Said ardent teacher was receiving a tour of the home of the one he would later call his most surprising student from the Third Hokage himself.
"So this is Naruto's house?" asked Kakashi as he looked around, "It's surprisingly clean for a boy his age. What's this?" he asked as he fingered some training menus stuck to the wall. His one eye widened as he took in the extensive exercise menu listed before him, "He does all this every day?"
"Twice, morning and night," corrected the Hokage as he sat back on the kitchen chair and smoked his pipe, "With Resistance Seals. I'm not sure what level though. He resets them ever night, says he gets the best result out of them by doing so, the resistance goes up by half a level whenever he does so your guess is as good as mine as to the level they are set at by now. He's worn them since his eighth birthday."
Kakashi whistled softly as he took this in and looked through the bookshelves which were filled with books and scrolls of all sizes, each one hand written. "So, he's fast then I suppose. He wrote all these?"
"Yes, he reads a surprising amount. To save money he has taken to writing out his own copies on blank scrolls, says he can study at the same time. He also knows a fair bit of Fuuinjustu. I've agreed to let him have access to the intermediate scrolls after he becomes a Genin, he might ask you for help with that." The Hokage informed him as Kakashi finally noticed the large storage seals taped to the back wall behind the couch. Each seal was labelled with what they contained on the area blow each seal.
"Weapons, ninja wire, camping equipment, medical supplies," he read aloud before smirking at the seal labelled trophies, which according to the seal matrix was empty.
"You will find he is a bit of a pack rat. A few years ago he started collecting weapons and equipment left behind at the training grounds. With my permission of course. He also hunts for himself and I'm sure you noticed the garden on the roof. All in all he is quite self-sufficient." mused the Hokage as Kakashi moved to inspect the kitchen, the walls of which were plastered with recipes and nutritional menus.
"He eats more than I do." Kakashi said after reading, slightly amused by the fact that each menu contained at least one bowl of ramen.
"High metabolism." His leader explained placidly, "We're not sure if it's because he is a Jinchuuriki or because of his Uzumaki blood, but he has to eat about three times what a boy his age would usually."
Right then and there Kakashi decided to only treat his team after receiving at least a C-Rank pay. "Kushina-neesan always ate a lot if I remember right." Looking around again, Kakashi's face adopted a puzzled expression as he asked, "All this and he still fails most of his tests?"
"Yes, well I asked him about that and he only replied that it's just rank and doesn't really matter."
"That from a kid that wants to be Hokage?" asked Kakashi incredulously.
"Hmm," hummed the Hokage as he contemplated the footprints covering the new Genin's ceiling, "Ah but he doesn't see the Hokage position as a rank Kakashi, according to Naruto it's just a job that will allow him to achieve his goals."
"And what goals are these?"
"I think I will let him tell you that, after all it sound much better coming from him. But enough of this," he said as he stood up and made his way to the door, "I think you have kept your students waiting long enough,"
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
Naruto was perched rather comfortably on his desk, meditating, whilst he waited for his teacher to eventually arrive. He wasn't too annoyed, it was Kakashi after all, and anyway Sakura and Sasuke's reactions were keeping him sufficiently entertained.
Soon enough he felt the familiar spike of chakra and hopping down he walked over to the blackboard, even if it was expected Kakashi's lateness deserved some kind of response and he had a reputation to uphold after all. Sakura and Sasuke watched with some interest as their previously inactive teammate finally made a move after three hours of sitting still, an action they had both previously thought him incapable of.
"Geez! What do you think you're doing moron?" asked Sakura as she watched Naruto climb up on a chair and wedge a blackboard duster in the door.
"Pft… as if a Jonin is going to fall for such a simple trap," drawled Sasuke condescendingly.
As the students resumed their seats, a large hand appeared in the gap of the door and pulled it open causing the duster to fall and hit their new teacher on the top of the head thus releasing a cloud of chalk dust into the air around him.
"Ha in your face Sasuke," Naruto cheered as he pointed in the other boy's face, careful not to get too close, you could never be too careful after all and according to Kurama you could never know what exactly constituted a Fixed Point in Time.
"I am soooo sorry sensei, he's an idiot. I tried to stop him," simpered Sakura suddenly afraid of getting into trouble though secretly she had been all for the trick.
"How can I say this," mused their teacher as he cupped his chin over his face mask, "My first impression of you all is… I don't like you. Meet me on the roof." He instructed as he disappeared in the obligatory cloud of smoke.
"Nice going Dobe," sneered Sasuke as he stood and walked out of the room.
"Yeah Naruto-baka, nice going," echoed Sakura as she too ran out of the room.
'Ha just as planned. Team Seven is back in business,' thought Naruto as he turned and sauntered over to the window and began to walk up the side of the building, he wanted to have a word with Kakashi before the other two arrived.
Reaching the top of the building, Naruto climbed over the rail and made his way over to his seated sensei. Stopping before the man he bowed slightly and respectfully said, "Inu-san I just wanted to say thank you for your care before the others arrived. Both when I was a child and during the second year incident, know that such actions are greatly appreciated."
"You recognised me?" asked Kakashi taken aback as his hand went to his left pants pocket and grasped the small carved dog that had found its permanent home there.
"Hai Kakashi-sensei, who would forget that hair after all?" Naruto asked with a large smile causing Kakashi to lay a hand on his head self-consciously. "Did the flower survive by the way? I have another plant I was going to give you after my eighth birthday but I couldn't find you again after that."
"I was assigned away from the village and so I could not care for your gift." Kakashi apologised still slightly off balanced by the strange conversation.
"Never mind I still have the other plant, I'll give it to you later, I call it Yuki-san," answered Naruto pleasantly as a noise made them both turn and look at the door through which Sasuke and Sakura had just entered the roof. Sasuke scowled to see Naruto once more beating him as he and Sakura made their way over to the benches where the rest of their team waited.
"Well now that we are all finally here," started Kakashi causing Sakura to frown, Sasuke to scowl deeper and Naruto to snort in amusement, "Let's begin with some introductions. You know like your likes, dislikes, dreams for the futures, hobbies. Stuff like that. Pinkie you go first."
"Can you give us an example?" asked Sakura hesitantly as she tried to martial her thoughts.
"Oh me… My name is Kakashi Hatake. I have no desire to tell you guys about my likes or dislikes. Dreams for the future… hmmm? Well I have a lot of hobbies." drawled their sensei unhelpfully.
'All we learnt was his name,' thought Sasuke and Sakura.
"Kakashi Hatake," read Naruto from a small red book beside them, "or Copy Ninja Kakashi. Graduated Rookie of the Year at age five and was promoted to Chunin at age six. A former student of the Fourth Hokage, he has served as a member of ANBU for ten years reaching the rank of Captain. Known as the man who has copied over a thousand techniques he is a formidable opponent and should be approached with caution. His one notable hobby is an unhealthy addiction to the Icha Icha series of novels."
'Oh that's just great another damn prodigy,' moaned Sasuke silently.
"Where did you get a Bingo Book Naruto?" asked Kakashi as he snatched the book from his 'cute' little Genin's hands.
"Oh you know I picked it up from somewhere. Can I have it back?" answered Naruto offhand.
"Perhaps later, but as you have seen fit to introduce me, I think it only fair you introduce yourself now." instructed Kakashi-sensei with a hard glint in his eye.
"Hai, hai. Yo," saluted Naruto with two fingers, "Names Uzumaki Naruto. I like training, my friends and ramen as it is the food of the gods. I dislike people who revel in ignorance and the three minute wait it takes for ramen to cook. My dream is to one day become Lord Hokage, to gain the respect and acknowledgement of those around me and to protect the lives and future of those precious to me."
"Nice answer. Now Pinkie, you're up." Kakashi said as he pointed to the team's female member.
"Hai," started the young girl as she straightened up and adjusted her headband, "My name is Sakura Haruno. The thing I like is…" giggle, "Well the person I like is… Or should I say my dream for the future?" giggle and blush, "Oh my! … The thing I dislike is Naruto!"
"Hey I only laughed at you like once, maybe twice, at least less than ten times. Why do you hate meeee?" moaned Naruto playfully.
"Argh," groaned Sakura as she continued, "My hobby is …. Sighhh." She finished on a breath as she stared dreamily at Sasuke who had been edging away from her from just after her first sentence.
'Girls of this age are more interested in love than in Jutsu I suppose,' thought Kakashi tiredly, "Thank you for … that. Okay Broody, you're up. Make it good."
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I have many things I dislike and not many likes. I don't want to use the word 'dream'. I have an ambition, the resurrection of my Clan's honour and to total surpass a certain man." recited the emo kid in monotone.
'Cool,' thought Sakura dreamily.
'Oh Boy,' thought Kakashi.
"What BB is trying to say, is he likes tomatoes and his Mom. He dislikes fan girls, though who can blame him, and those involved in the 'incident'," explained Naruto from the side, using his hands to form the inverted commas, "And his 'ambition' is to beat his brother for whom he has a rather unhealthy brother complex."
"I do not!" shouted Sasuke as he jumped to his feet, momentarily dropping his broody persona.
"Ma ma," Kakashi said trying to calm the boy down, "None of that. We're a team, even if temporarily, which means no fighting."
"Temporarily?" asked Sakura.
"He he he," sniggered Kakashi, "You are going to flip when I tell you this. The fact is my cute little students; you're not actually Genin yet."
"What do you mean we passed the test?" exclaimed Sakura indignantly, "That makes us Genin."
"Well, truth to tell, of the twenty-seven graduates only nine will be selected as Genin, the rest will be sent back to the Academy. Tomorrow we will embark on a training exercise, a survival test if you will. You against me. This training will be the hardest test of your life with a failure rate of over sixty-six percent." he explained as he stared at them with shadowed eyes.
Sasuke and Sakura's pale faces stared back at him, adding to his amusement though he was puzzled by the secretive smile on Naruto's face. 'The Hokage was right, he is an odd one.'
"Ha ha I told you you'd flip." Kakashi chuckled as he stood up and stretched his back before he walked off, calling instructions over his shoulder, "Anyway you will be graded on the training field tomorrow morning. Bring all your ninja tools. Oh and skip breakfast, or you'll throw up."
"So," started Naruto as he handed the instruction sheets Kakashi had left behind to his shell shocked teammates, "Who wants to grab some dinner? We can check out the training field after, you know, get the lay of the land."
"Hn Dobe," snorted Sasuke, "My mother is expecting me. Go yourself."
"Well then count me out too," echoed Sakura, "You won't find me cheating."
"It's not cheating it's called being prepared," explained Naruto with exasperation, even though Sakura was stronger during this time period thanks to Naruto's rumours inspiring the girls to train harder she still thought as laterally as she had last time. "Hey come back here. Listen to me." He called after his two departing teammates as he noticed them leaving, "You do know that last bit was a suggestion, not an order right?" he called just as the door closed behind him.
'Oh boy, this is going to be soooo much fun,' he thought sarcastically as he turned as faced the sun setting over the village, 'but at least it's starting at last.'
"BB?" asked the deep voice of his teacher from just behind him, causing him to jump slightly as he had not activated his sensing ability.
Naruto smiled as he turned to face the man, "Short for Broody Bastard."
"Ahhh," said Kakashi as he moved to stand beside the young boy and look out over the view.
"So do you want to get that plant now?" asked Naruto after a moment of shared silence.
"Hmmm, why not?" answered Kakashi-sensei as they turned as one and left the roof.
Moments later a voice could be heard echoing up from the stairwell, "You are going to give me my book back, right sensei? … Sensei? … Kakashi-sensei?"