Ayakashi walked along the deserted roads, steering Naruto towards the training grounds as he fought to wake up. No one spoke as the birds chirped happily, flying over their heads. Upon reaching the designated spot, Ayakashi saw Sakura and Sasuke walking up with small bags on their back.
It remained quiet as Naruto sat down, his back to the other two as he leaned against Ayakashi's legs, nodding off slightly. The other three kept an eye out for their teacher, wondering where he could be.
The sun continued to rise as Sakura sat down, a worried look on her face. Ayakashi's ears twisted around slightly as she heard footsteps nearing them, glancing over. Kakashi walked up to them, stopping as he raised his hand. "Morning, everyone. Ready for your first day?"
Naruto opened his eyes as Sakura jumped up. He followed suit, an annoyed look on his face. "Hey, you're late!"
"Well, a black cat crossed my path so I had to take the long way." Kakashi smiled at them, pointing behind him.
Ayakashi groaned inwardly, standing behind Naruto as she held her arm, keeping it away from the others so they wouldn't bump into it.
"Well, let's get started." Kakashi said, walking towards a stump and placing an alarm clock on it. He hovered his hand over the button, pushing it down to start the clock. "It's set for noon."
"Your assignment is simple. You just have to take these bells from me. That's all there is to it." They stared as Kakashi pulled out three bells, holding them up. "If you can't get these from me by noon, you go without lunch."
Naruto made a noise of surprise as Kakashi continued. "You will be tied to that pole and will be forced to watch me eat my lunch in front of you."
"Wait! If there's four of us, why are there only three bells?" Sakura asked, holding up three fingers.
"Well, that was one of you will end up tied to a post, and will automatically fail for not completing the mission." Kakashi smiled underneath of his mask, jingling the bells a bit. "That one goes back to the academy. All three of you could flunk out, too. You can use any weapon, including shuriken. If you're not prepared to kill me, you won't be able to take the bells."
"Those weapons are too dangerous, sensei!" Sakura exclaimed. Ayakashi flattened her ears, not liking where this was going at all.
Naruto laughed nervously. "Especially since you couldn't dodge that eraser."
"The clowns are usually the weakest links. You can safely ignore them. Lowest scores, losers." Kakashi retaliated. Naruto frowned as Ayakashi clung to him, eyes narrowed. "When I say start, you can begin."
Naruto let out an annoyed growl, pulling out a kunai and spinning it around his finger, catching onto it and sprinting towards Kakashi. He caught the hand that held the kunai, twisting his body around so that the kunai was pointed towards the back of Naruto's head. Ayakashi let out a snarl, stepping forward until Sasuke held out his arm, staring at the Jonin in front of him.
"Don't be in such a hurry. I didn't say start yet." Kakashi let go of him as he stumbled forward, causing Ayakashi to dart towards him and hold onto his arm. "But, you came at me with the full intention of destroying me, so how can I say this? I'm actually starting to like you guys."
Naruto grinned as he leaned against Ayakashi for support as he regained his balance.
"Alright, get ready. And… Start!"
The four Genin scattered in different directions as Kakashi spoke, leaving him alone. Ayakashi darted for the nearest tree, wrapping her tail around her body to keep from making noise as she shielded herself amongst the leaves. She noticed Sasuke was doing the same, his hand pulling the branches down as he watched Kakashi with eagle-like eyes. She looked down, barely seeing the pink hair of Sakura beneath the protection of a cluster of bushes. She glanced around, her ears turning as she tried to listen for Naruto, but was unable to find anything.
"Ninja must know how to how to conceal their movements and hide effectively." Kakashi said, more to himself than anything. He glanced up, his unhidden eye landing on the orange-clad ninja.
"You and me, right now, fair and square!" Naruto exclaimed, arms folded across his chest as he grinned. Ayakashi flattened her ears, an annoyed look on her face. "Let's go!"
"You know, compared to the others, you're a little bit… weird."
"Oh yeah? The only thing weird here is your haircut." Naruto replied, sprinting towards him once more. Kakashi stared at him, reaching into his pouch, causing Naruto to jump back.
"Shinobi battle techniques, part one: taijutsu, the physical part." Kakashi pulled a book out of his pouch, opening it as he held it in front of him. Naruto looked confused as the other three watched the battle unfold. "What are you waiting for? Make your move."
"Why are you reading that book?" Naruto retorted, confused.
"Why? To find out what happens next, of course." Kakashi replied. "Don't let it bother you. With your weak attacks, it doesn't really matter if I'm reading for whatever."
Naruto took the bait, darting forward. "I'm going to crush you!"
He attempted to land several hits, all being blocked while Kakashi continued to read. He threw a punch, freezing as Kakashi disappeared. Ayakashi's eyes widened as she looked around for the Jonin.
Kakashi appeared behind Naruto, crouch as he made a hand sign, the book between his hands. "Don't let your enemy get behind you all the time."
Sakura popped her head out, a worried look on her face. "Naruto, get out of there quick! He's going to destroy you!"
"Too late." Kakashi said, matter-of-factly. Naruto glanced behind him as Ayakashi jumped out of her tree, sprinting towards Kakashi as he swing his hands forward. "Leaf Village Secret Finger Jutsu! A Thousand Years of Death!"
Ayakashi stopped, jumping into the closest shelter as Naruto went flying forward. He landed in the river as Kakashi opened his book. "Okay, where was I?"
Two shuriken flew out of the water, flying towards Kakashi. He caught them on his fingers, barely even flinching. Ayakashi narrowed her eyes, trying to assess the situation. Naruto pulled himself out of the water, coughing up some water as Kakashi watched him.
"What are you doing now? You know you won't get lunch if you don't get a bell by noon." Kakashi said sternly.
"I know, I know! You told us already!"
"You look pretty wobbly for someone who's going to surpass the Hokage." Kakashi replied as Naruto's stomach growled quietly.
"You told us not to eat breakfast! How can I fight when I'm starving to death?" Naruto exclaimed. Ayakashi held a hand over her stomach as hers growled as well, knowing full well the others were feeling the same as them.
"So, you caught me off guard, that's all it was!" Naruto yelled as Kakashi walked away. Ayakashi darted out of the tree, sprinting towards Naruto and crouching beside him as he glanced down. "I'm so hungry… I don't have any strength. I can't let that stop me! I have to get one of those bells no matter what! I'll find the strength somehow! I'm going to pass this test and I'm not going back to the academy."
Kakashi glanced back as he walked, seeing Ayakashi wrap an arm under his shoulders as Naruto continued glaring at their teacher.
"I will become a ninja." multiple shadow clones jumped up out of the water, causing Kakashi to glance back. "You were over-confident, sensei! That's why you weren't ready for a shadow clone attack! My best jutsu!"
Ayakashi watched as the clones sailed over their heads. 'I recognize this jutsu. It's from that time in the forest.'
"Great technique." Kakashi said as he stared at the clones in front of him. "But I don't think you can maintain it for very long. You talk like you're the best, Naruto, but you're still the worst student. You can't beat me with this jutsu."
The bells on his side jingled as another clone jumped on his back, slightly immobilizing him. He laughed as Kakashi looked at the one behind him, the other clones grabbing onto his legs. "Didn't you say don't let your enemies get behind you? Good advice, sensei. I had one of my clones come out of the water and sneak up behind you super quiet."
Naruto jumped over his clones as Ayakashi watched, ready to take off when needed. "This is for nailing me in the butt earlier! You're mine and so are those bells!"
He landed a blow on Kakashi, sending them flying backwards as Kakashi transformed into Naruto. Ayakashi realized what happened, taking shelter in the closest tree once more as Naruto stared, confused. "You're Kakashi-sensei, aren't you! You transformed into me using a jutsu!"
The group of clones attacked each other, all talking at once until one spoke up over the others. "Let's just undo the jutsu! That'll work! Then there'll be just two of us, so then we'll know who's who!"
Naruto undid the jutsu, leaving just him in the open field. Ayakashi flattened her ears as she sighed. She saw a metallic shine as Naruto glanced over, spotting a bell on the ground.
"A bell?" he exclaimed, grinning. "I must've got him with my attack! He dropped a bell!"
Upon reaching it, he bent down, going to grab it as a rope tightened around his ankles, yanking him up into the air as he hung upside down from the tree.
"Hey! Let me down! What is this!" Naruto screeched as he bounced around. "Somebody! Kashi! Help me!"
"Think before you use a jutsu, or else your opponent might use it against you." Kakashi picked up the bell, sighing as Ayakashi remained glued to the tree. "Oh, and also, if the bait is obvious, don't take it. A ninja must see through deception."
"I get it!" Naruto continued to struggle as Ayakashi started jumping from tree to tree, waiting for the right moment to help Naruto.
"I'm telling you this because you don't get it." Kakashi replied. "You think you get it, which is not the same as actually getting it. Get it?"
Ayakashi froze as a line of shuriken and kunai flew out of the trees and towards Kakashi.
"Won't you ever learn?" Kakashi asked Naruto as the weapons impaled him, sending him flying.
"Sasuke! Are you out of your mind?" Naruto exclaimed. "You went too far!"