Naruto stood outside the ANBU headquarters waiting. He had made an educated guess that Kakashi would be passing by here. From what Sasuke had told him – which wasn't very much – Kakashi should be returning to Konoha within the day. So he waited where he would have the highest chance of finding him.

As he had expected Kakashi was late, something he had never improved on in the grand scheme of things Naruto lamented.

He jumped down cutting off the silver haired ANBU agent and his partner. "Sensei," He said respectfully.

The masked ANBU agent looked at him and seemed to sigh. "You know Naruto; we ware these masks so that no one knows what we look like or who we are." Kakashi told him.

"I never used your name." Naruto countered folding his arms.

"You only call two people Sensei, one of them is currently Principle of the Academy." Kakashi responded. "Leaving only one possibility."

Naruto couldn't help but grin. "Oh please, everyone knows it's you, you are the one in the village with hair like that." Naruto told him evenly. Kakashi let his shoulders slump as he accepted defeat.

"Alright, alright, what do you want?" Kakashi asked him, changing the subject.

"I need some advice." Naruto told him letting his hands fall to his side.

"Advice?" Kakashi asked. "About what?"

"My Genin team," Naruto told him.

Kakashi cocked his head to the side but nodded. "Alright, I still have to give my report to Sasuke but come past my place later on tonight and we'll talk then." Kakashi told him.

"Thanks' Sensei," Naruto said giving his teacher a bow. "Good to have you back in the village." He said. "You too Captain." He added to Yamato.

Yamato bowed his respect. "Thanks Naruto, it's good to be back." He said.

"Anyway, you go give your report and we'll talk later. Bye." He said, waving before disappearing.

Kakashi let out a long hum as the two walked into the ANBU headquarters.

"What is it?" Yamato asked him as they walked up a set of stairs.

"Well…" Kakashi began. "The last time Naruto asked for my advice was with his first Genin team over seven years ago and he only asked me one thing…And that was really because he was new to the whole thing, he was entering new territory and he needed the most basic advice. After that he sailed thorough being a Jonin Sensei, I mean Yakuno was on his first team, and after they graduated he became a Jonin in a year and personally I think he might be the next head of the ANBU if Sasuke ever steps down, and Tokoni is already one of the senior members of the torture and interrogation Corps."

"So?" Yamato asked.

"Well I'm just wandering what his team is like to have him need my help all of a sudden." Kakashi answered as they walked into Sasuke's office.

Akari walked through her front door of her apartment, kicked off her shoes and walked into her kitchen looking for something to eat. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the boxed dinner Taki had brought her three nights ago.

She had already eaten the food in it and had to admit it was delicious. She sighed to herself as she realised sooner or later she would have to give it back to Taki. And considering she had eaten it, she felt she should at least be polite enough to thank the girl for the meal.

She felt nervous as she walked back to her door and put her shoes on. The prospect of going over to Taki's home had shivers running down her spine. Of course when they had first become a team Naruto had told them to share information about themselves. Taki had talked eagerly about her happy loving family.

And that was what had her so nervous, even if she wasn't aware of it. Ever since her parents had died in the war the adults of the village had been looking at her with contempt and even anger. They had treated her like garbage, and rarely offered her anything even remotely closed to acceptance, Naruto and her Academy teacher Ino were the only two people that had really ever tried to get her to open up.

But as always she had shrugged the attempt of affection away. She took a deep breath and walked out her front door. She ignored the half glair that her neighbour – an elderly woman – gave her and smiled at her in return before walking off.

It took her nearly an hour to find Taki's place, she had never really entered the suburban district of the village and even though she had the address it still took her some time to find the right street.

After a few deep breaths Akari raised her fist to knock on the door and waited for someone to answer it. The wait was what killed her the most and she began thinking about just leaving the box there and going home she'd already done all she had to.

But before she could leave the door opened to reveal a tall black haired woman.

The two stared at each other for a moment before the woman gave Akari a warm and welcoming smile.

"Hello," She said in a kind, soft voice. "You must be Akari."

Akari only nodded, not trusting herself to speak, after a long pause Akari finally managed to say something. "I…uh…I wanted to return this." She said weakly, holding the box out before her.

The woman nodded and stepped to the side. "Thank you. Would you mind putting it on the kitchen bench?" She asked.

Akari nodded, noticing that the woman was pregnant.

As she walked to where the kitchen was she came face to face with Taki. There was a moment of silence between them before an enormous grin lit up Taki's face.

Akari blushed and looked at her feet, shuffling awkwardly. She felt Taki taking the box from her and looked up. "I hope you liked it." Taki said as she put the box on the kitchen bench.

"Uh…yea…it was delicious…" She said awkwardly, remembering how she had treated Taki the night she had brought it to her.

"Would you like to stay for dinner tonight?" Taki asked her hopefully.

Akari looked at her in shock and unconsciously took a step back from her. "Oh, um, I uh…I wouldn't want to impose…" She said uncertainly as she took another step back. Taki however just waved it off with her hand and taking a step closer to Akari, grinning again.

"Oh don't worry I'm sure it's no trouble, right Mum?" She asked her mother.

Her mother smiled and nodded, "Oh of course not," She said in her gentle tone. "I only just started cooking so it would be no trouble. And it's always more fun to eat with friends." She said walking into the kitchen. "You two have fun, it'll be ready in about an hour." She told them.

"Then it's settled." Taki said grabbing Akari's wrist gently. "Come on." She said leading her to their yard. Still completely stunned and caught off guard by the whole situation Akari only stumbled over her own words before she let herself be led away.

Taki lead her out to the garden and took a seat on the bench, indicating for Akari to do the same. For a long time there was silence between the two as neither could think of anything to say, the only sounds coming from nearby birds and the kitchen below them.

"I'm glad you liked the meal." Taki said with a smile as she rested her head on her knees. Akari blushed slightly and nodded looking down at the ground.

"It was really good. Thank you." She said quietly. Taki responded by turning her smile to the other girl.

"It's okay." She said.

"I…I'm sorry," Akari said, after a long silence.

Taki looked up at her and cocked her head to the side. "About what?" She asked.

"About…." Akari let her voice trail off as she tried to think of how to say it. "You were just…" She began again, "And I…." after a few more stop and start attempts at an apology Taki finally piece enough disjointed sentences together to finally figure out what the other girl was saying.

"It's okay," She said, trying to calm the other girl down. "Naruto Sensei talked to me about it, and if anything I should be apologising to you." She said, looking the girl in the eye for a brief moment before Akari looked down at her feet. "You were right," Taki continued. "I never really tried to help you before we became a team, and I admit that I only really tried because we were on the same team. I should have tried harder in the Academy, but I didn't. I hope you can forgive me." She said sadly.

Akari looked away from her, her hands gripping her pant leg so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, and she did what she always did in situations like this.

She ran.

"Akari wait!" Taki shouted out as she started after the girl. Before she had even reached the entrance to the house Akari was already down the stairs.

Her mother stepped out of the kitchen to see what was going on, and Akari nimbly side stepped her in the narrow corridor. As she ran out the door she hit something and fell back with a start as letters fluttered to the ground. Akari got to her feet quickly and saw a middle aged man with the same hair as Taki, staring at her with a curious look in his blue eyes.

"I'm sorry kid," He began.

Akari blurted out something that was supposed to be an apology before she ran past the man and down the street.

"Akari!" Taki called out as she appeared in the doorway, but the blond girl was already around the corner.

It was after dark when Naruto knocked on Kakashi's door. After a short pause the door opened and the silver haired Jonin stood there, still dressed in his mask and headband.

"Naruto," He said with a nod as he allowed his former student in. Naruto returned the greeting and walked into Kakashi's apartment. It was simply furnished; tables, chairs and two sofas, everything someone would have, and yet nothing overly extravagant.

He waved to Yamato as he walked in and took a seat on the sofa opposite his, Kakashi briefly disappeared into the kitchen and produced another cup of tea, giving it to Naruto before taking a seat next to Yamato.

"So Naruto, what advice do you need?" Kakashi asked, sipping down his face mask to drink his tea.

"How did you manage us when we were Genin?" Naruto asked.

"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked, not really understanding the question.

"Sasuke, Sakura and I, how did you make us work as a Genin team?" He clarified. "I mean I know it couldn't have been easy, I was always trying to one up Sasuke and stirring some sort of trouble, how did you make us work as a team?" He asked.

Kakashi pondered the question for a while, tilting his head back as he thought, "Well I know me saying this isn't going to help you but I do need to be honest. I just winged it." He said. "I really didn't know what I was doing, I just went with my instincts; you guys were my first Genin team after all."

Naruto nodded, he didn't like the answer Kakashi had given him, but he moved on. "I see," He said sounding a little disappointed.

Kakashi sighed and looked at Naruto, "So what are you Genin like?" Kakashi asked, hoping to find some way to help his former student.

"Well, Azuko is kind of like Sasuke only with anger issues." Naruto began. "He's good and he knows it, it's gone to his head rather spectacularly, he's arrogant and I think he only works with the team because he has to. Taki's a pretty well balanced kid; she's diligent in her studies and excels in both the mental and physical aspects of being a Shinobi, she works well with both her team mates and has the best attitude for being a Shinobi of Konoha. Akari is kind of like me when she was a Genin, a total dunce; she doesn't really try to better herself, her chakra control leaves a lot to be desired, worst of all she lacks any kind of motivation, personally I think she became a Shinobi because it was convenient for her, to top it off she's overly cold and distant, she's quiet and doesn't communicate with others unless she's on a mission or in training."

Kakashi nodded as he took another sip of his tea. "Well honestly, I really don't know what to tell you Naruto. I mean aside for what you already know. You need to find some way of motivating Akari, as well as making her open up as a person to her team mates and the villagers around her, but that's always easier said than done. Taki's fine as she is, all you need to do is find what she excels at and give her the proper instruction and she'll be a splendid Shinobi. Azuko just needs a good beat down to prove to him he's not the best, I mean it worked for Sasuke and Neji so it's a good bet it will work for him." Kakashi said.

Naruto nodded. "Well thanks for your help Kakashi Sensei." Naruto said finishing off his tea. "Are you overly busy this week?" He asked.

Kakashi shook his head, "I've got about two weeks of spare time up my sleeve," he told the blond.

Naruto nodded. "Feel like joining my team for a training session?" He asked. "I'm going to start teaching them more advanced Ninjutsu, and find out what their Chakra natures are."

Kakashi nodded. "Of course, could be fun." He said. This wasn't the first time Naruto had asked Kakashi to train with his cell. Naruto was a firm believer in sparing against as many strong opponents as possible while in training. It helped the Genin develop their fighting styles against superior Ninja with a variety of different forms and techniques. As a result Kakashi and Yamato had spared with both of his previous teams during their Genin training.

"What about you Captain?" He asked Yamato.

Yamato shrugged. "Well I might as well." He said casually.

Naruto nodded his thanks. "Good, we'll be at training ground seven from seven thirty, see you guys there, lunch is on me." He added before walking out the door.

Kakashi and Yamato waved as he left, before Kakashi cleaned up. When he sat down again he rested his feet on the coffee table between them. "Well this is going to be interesting." He said

Yamato nodded in agreement. "I'm looking forward to it."

As Naruto and his cell arrived at the training ground he wasn't surprised to find Yamato already waiting. He let himself smile as he knew Kakashi would once again be late.

"Captain Yamato," he said with a nod.

Yamato returned the nod and looked at the Genin, "Morning Naruto," He said.

"Sensei who is this?" Taki asked.

"This is Yamato," Naruto said, giving them a formal introduction. "He was my squad captain seven years ago and a good friend of mine; he's going to be training with us today. Yamato this is Azuko, Taki and Akari." Naruto said introducing them.

The three Genin bowed respectfully to the Jonin squad captain before Naruto spoke up. "Don't suppose you've seen Kakashi?" He asked.

Yamato shook his head. "No I haven't but you know how he is."

Naruto nodded, "Sure do, think we should wait for him?" He asked.

Yamato shook his head again. "I think it would be best to start without him, ya never know when he's going to get here." Naruto nodded in agreement.

"Who is this Kakashi person you keep talking about?" Akari asked.

"Kakashi Hatake," Naruto answered. "He was my Jonin Sensei when I was a Genin he'll be training with us as well." Naruto told her. "However, he has a knack for showing up late, so we might as well get started and have him join us later."

"So what are we doing today?" Azuko asked.

"Well we're going to start with these." Naruto said producing four small squares of paper, giving one to each Genin and keeping one for himself.

"What are these?" Akari asked looking from the paper to Naruto.

Naruto gave her a grin. "They are litmus paper that reacts to a person's Chakra," He told her.

"And how does this help our training?" Azuko asked.

"They will tell you what your Chakra nature is and from there you can learn and develop powerful techniques." Yamato explained.

"So that's why you brought Yamato and Kakashi?" Taki asked.

"Ever quick on the uptake, you are right Taki." Naruto told them. "I myself have wind nature Chakra, Yamato has earth and water and Kakashi – should he arrive – has lightning nature Chakra, so here's hoping none of you have fire nature's or I'll have to find someone else to help with the training." Naruto said.

The three Genin nodded, looking at the small squares of paper in their hands. "So how do they work?" Azuko asked.

"Like this," Naruto said. He held out his hand and ran a small amount of chakra though his hand and the paper split in half. "They react differently to each nature. Wind cuts, fire burns, earth crumbles, lightning crumples and water goes soggy." He explained to them. "All you have to do is put a small amount of Chakra through your hand and the paper will react according to your nature."

The three Genin looked back to their squares of paper and concentrated. Naruto nodded at the results, rather pleased with what he saw.

Taki had a water affinity.

Azuko had an earth affinity.

And Akari had a lightning affinity.

Naruto smiled to himself and took the remains from Taki and Akari. "Okay, well we'll wait till Kakashi Sensei gets here to go over your nature training, so until he gets here well run though some basic drills with Captain Yamato."

The four of them nodded and they began a series of gruelling taijutsu drills.

It took Kakashi another four hours to arrive at the training ground.

As he appeared Naruto sent the man a scowl. "You're late again, Kakashi Sensei." He said loudly as he noticed the silver haired Jonin.

The three Genin halted mid drill as Kakashi walked over to them.

"Guys I'd like you to meet my Sensei Kakashi Hatake." Naruto said with a grin.

"Yo," Kakashi greeted giving the three an informal salute. The three Genin gave him an odd look before Naruto spoke up.

"All right now that Kakashi has arrived we can begin the basics of nature manipulation." Naruto said.

"So who's what?" Kakashi asked.

"Akari has lightning nature so if you could help her with how to generate lightning based Chakra Yamato and I will handle Azuko and Taki." Naruto told him.

Kakashi nodded and looked at the blond girl before him before turning to the other two. "And what are their natures?" He asked.

"Azuko's earth and Taki's water." Yamato said. Kakashi nodded before gesturing for Akari to join him. "Well come with me." He said taking Akari off to their left while Naruto and Yamato lead Azuko and Taki to a small stream to practice their natures.

Kakashi lead Akari to a rocky out crop near the edge of the cliff overlooking the village, he threw Akari a leaf and sat on a rock. "Okay well seeing as Naruto asked me to help train you take this." He said.

Akari looked at the leaf and raised an eyebrow to Kakashi, "And what do I do with it?" She asked. Kakashi produced his own leaf and held it between his fingers; it crumpled just like the litmus paper had.

"When you have mastered nature manipulation this is what you can do with just your Chakra alone." He told the girl. "This is just the first step I gave Naruto when we did his training seven years ago there are more complex steps but we don't need to worry about that for now."

Akari nodded and forced her chakra into the leaf but nothing happened. She frowned and looked at the masked Jonin, he only nodded at her. "Do worry about it right now." He told her. "Being able to make the leaf – which doesn't respond to a person's Chakra – crumble like the paper – which is incredibly sensitive to one's chakra – usually takes about six months." Akari looked at him and he continued. "It's something I want you to keep trying while you're on your mission until you've mastered it. It doesn't take a lot of Chakra and it can easily be done on the road." He told her.

She nodded and kept running her Chakra through the leaf. Kakashi nodded at her approvingly before he held out his hand. "For now though, I wanted to show you an example of Nature manipulation in Ninjutsu." He said hopping off the rock and holding out his hand, he gathered his Chakra in his palm until it became visible and small bolts of lightning arched off his hand. Akari watched with interest as Kakashi thrust his palm against the bolder he had been sitting on, burying his arm completely within the rock.

Akari watched in astonishment as he pulled his arm free with a little effort. "That was a technique I developed many years ago, called the Raikin. Or lightning blade." Akari nodded and Kakashi continued. "When learning to manipulate your Chakra into your nature affinity it is important to understand its qualities and how it works best." He told the girl. "For lighting natured Shinobi like ourselves Raiton style ninja arts work best when we use them for a sharp and penetrating attack.

Akari nodded and looked at her hand, and to the sizable gape in the bolder next to Kakashi. "So when I develop my own lightning style arts they will work best if I use them like a stabbing attack?" She asked to clarify that the Jonin had told her.

Kakashi nodded, "That's right, now I want you to focus your chakra in your hand, and we'll see how well you can manipulate your Chakra."

The cell spent two more days on the basics of Nature training. Yamato taught Azuko some of the basic earth style Ninjutsu that he knew while Naruto helped Taki with some of the more basic forms of water style Ninjutsu.

After that it was back to hard physical training. In an attempt to enhance the teams chakra control and stamina he developed a new form of training to start in their second week of training.

He led them to the cliff face overlooking the village and turned to them, "All right guys, here is your final challenge for this part of your training." Naruto said as the group assembled around him.

"And that is?" Akari asked.

Naruto smiled and held up their head bands, it still provoked a reaction from his Genin, but it had since moved from a look of shock to one of annoyance.

"Same as last time get your head band from me and you're finished." He told them. Azuko folded his arms and glared at him.

"We've already done that, it's not a challenge." The boy said irritably.

Naruto nodded. "True," He agreed. "But this time the location is going to be a little different." He said.

"Different how?" Akari asked, she like her team mates knew that the look he had in his eyes was one that he got when he had something rather devious in mind.

"We're going to be fighting on the cliff face," He said with his trademark grin.

The three Genin started at him for a moment before Taki spoke. "Isn't that a bit dangerous Sensei?" She asked shakily. "What if one of us falls?"

Naruto nodded at her question. "Well I guess it's not the safest training imaginable but for one thing, the mission you're going on next week is going to be dangerous and secondly I have made some precautions to limit the danger of this training, primarily I have placed a safety net underneath us to prevent you from falling too far." He told her.

Taki nodded accepting his answer.

Knowing that his team were on bored with the training he extended his fingers into a cross sign.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu,"

As he spoke Naruto was enveloped in a cloud of smoke, when it cleared there were three of him.

The three Genin stood wide eyed as the centre Naruto handed one head band to the two clones either side of him.

"All right then." The three Naruto said in unison. "Let's begin." At their own command the three of them stepped off the cliff ledge sliding down a good sixty feet before stopping. The three Genin looked over the ledge to the three Naruto's and then to each other. At a simultaneous nod all three leapt into the fray.

Naruto watched from the top of the ledge and smiled to himself. He figured he had a good hour or two to enjoy some ramen before they would be able to beat even one of his clones.

Akari moved in first, she added Chakra to her palm to add speed and she swung the Demon wind shuriken in a wide arc. All three Naruto's jumped back from the girl as she stepped between two of them she kicked out with her right leg at one of them as she lashed out with her other hand, transferring the shuriken from hand to hand with peerless grace.

Again the shadow clones jumped back and Akari grinned as she managed to isolate one of the clones. She regained her feet as Azuko and Taki stepped into the fight, increasing the rotations of the shuriken as she and Taki moved in on the single clone.

As Azuko moved between the clones and his team mates he made a series of hand signs before thrusting his palms against the rock wall.

"Doton; Doheki no Jutsu!"

Chakra rushed from his hands to the cliff face forcing the rock to jut up and out like a wall. Without missing a beat he set another series of hand signs and put his hands to the wall he had just made.

"Doton; Kabe Bakuhatsu no Jutsu!" As his Chakra fused with the wall it exploded outwards, showering the other two clones in rubble and dust.

Quick as ever he spun on his heal going to help Akari and Taki with their clone.

Akari kicked for his legs making him jump back as Taki jumped up and over Akari, weaving hands signs she went.

"Suiton; Wairudou Ebu no Jutsu!" She held her Chakra in her stomach as she let out a savage torrent of water. Naruto smiled at her as he weaved his own signs.

"Futon; Kyofu no Kaze no Jutsu!" He took a deep breath and exhaled, mixing his breath with his Chakra causing a heavy wind.

Taki was blown back but Akari managed to keep her feet. She stepped in and produced the second demon wind shuriken she had and began using her Chakra to maximize the rotations. Using the brief moment she had when Naruto's Jutsu ended to go toe to toe with the Jonin Ninja like a child possessed.

It had been six days since Naruto had set the challenge and the Genin had this day and the next to retrieve their head bands before their mission started and Naruto was genuinely pleased with the level of enthusiasm and grit the three of them had displayed over the course of their training. As Akari attacked Naruto he couldn't help but be amazed at the girl's level of flexibility and agility. She displayed a grace and balance in her movements that surpassed even Naruto's, it was undoubtedly the only reason the girl could wild two such shuriken at high speed without cutting her arm off in the process.

As Akari increased her barrage of blows she coated her shuriken in Chakra, her training in Nature manipulation starting to show as the blades started to crackle with energy.

Azuko cam in behind Naruto and set a heavy double kick into the clones back, forcing him into the shuriken in Akari's hand.

He threw the head band to another clone just in time as the blade passed through leg and head in one startlingly fluid motion and the clone vanished in a puff of smoke.

All ready tired from using so much Chakra just to stay on the wall, the three Genin had no time to rest as the other two clones came in for a joint assault.

Azuko cast a glance to Akari and Taki making a series of hand signals before the three attacked. The message received loud and clear.

Mind your step.

As Akari and Taki attacked the two clones Azuko weaved several hand signs and focussed what little Chakra he had left. They needed to end this now.

"Doton; Fuanteina Ishi no Jutsu." He punched both fists through the rock and flooded the last of his chakra through the cliff face. His Chakra forced the rock under their feet to spit and come lose making it very treacherous terrane to fight on.

As the rocks came loose under foot both of the clones lost their footing as the stones started to break free of the rock face.

Meanwhile Akari and Taki expecting the Jutsu jumped into the air sending heavy kicks into the side of the clones heads, sending them colliding with each other heavily. There was a puff of smoke as both clones vanished.

Quick as ever Akari grabbed the headbands and threw them to her team mates, all three of them where exhausted and as one lost consciousness.

Naruto only smiled as he drew on a small portion of Kurama's power to catch the three Genin before they fell.

He lay them down under the tree. He knew that they would be fine after a rest. They were defiantly out of Chakra but not at zero yet, nothing a good day of rest wouldn't fix for them.

He sighed to himself and summoned two clones. "You take Taki and you take Azuko." He told them.

He knew they'd be fine in a day and so he figured it would be best to take them to their homes to rest.

Before you even get the idea NO CHIDORI/RAIKIN! They will develop their own kick ass super beat stick jutsu to start using in the next chapter when things finally start getting interesting.

Sorry for taking so long, but you know, this whole Character Development BS and it being important to a story kind of took a while. Also I have been re-reading Naruto to get a feel for how the Chunin exams progressed.

Needless to say, the epic fighting starts soon, so be super excited, the only character development that happens now is the kind that happens with a kunai in hand and a stab wound to the gut.

Also here is a link to the Narutopedia web sight, the land of Planes that they are traveling to is the peninsula land to the south of the land of fire. It doesn't have a name so I'm taking the liberty to name it. . /wiki/Geography. So again the small Peninsula south of the land of fire is the land of plains, and because it will be relevant in the chapters to come the black like that indicates a nation border is also a mountain range.

Also here is the Ninjutsu they were using - if your interested.

in order of appearance they are;

"Earth style; Earth wall."

"Earth style; Exploding wall."

"Water style; Wild waves"

"wind style; Gale winds"

"Earth style; Shaky stones"

Until next time I wish you all the best.
Yours truly.
Nicolai Grey.