Chapter Nine: Team Seven
The sun was just starting to rise when Naruto sat up in the bed. He looked over and saw the Shikamaru was still sleeping, then he glanced over at the clock. He and the brunette had to be at the academy in 4 hours, but Naruto had to go see someone before he went to the academy.
Naruto swung his legs over the bed, carefully trying not to wake the brunette sleeping beside him. He walked to the bathroom to start his morning routine. Once he was finished he walked back over to the bed. He sat down and gently shook Shikamaru's shoulder to wake him.
"Hey," Naruto whispered.
Shikamaru blinked at him, "What time is it?"
"Its only 6:30, you still have a few hours to sleep but I am letting you know that I am leaving," Naruto said gently.
"Where are you going?" Shikamaru yawned.
"I am going to see Kakashi, there is something I need from him," Naruto said.
"Oh," Shikamaru replied.
Naruto leaned down and placed his lips on the brunette's. After a moment, the blonde pulled back and smiled at the brunette. Shikamaru rolled over to sleep some more.
"My lazy brunette," Naruto whispered.
"My troublesome blonde," Shikamaru murmured into the pillow.
Naruto smiled with a small laugh and then headed out the door. Naruto strolled down the street with his hands on his pockets head towards Kakashi apartment. Naruto noticed the Ino and Sakura were standing with Lee and Choji on the street. The group noticed Naruto and waved him over.
"Morning," Naruto smiled.
"Good morning," Ino smiled at him.
"Where's Shikamaru?" Choji asked already eating.
Naruto shrugged, "Sleeping, where else?"
Ino laughed at her old teammate.
"So what are you doing up at 6:30, Naruto? That's not like you," Sakura asked.
"I have a genin team to prepare for and I needed to go see Kakashi for something," Naruto replied.
"I see," Sakura nodded.
Naruto glanced over at Lee, "Your unusually quiet this morning."
Lee nodded, "I am just tired from my morning work out!"
Naruto nodded, "Well, I need to go see Kakashi, so I will see you guys later. Good luck with your teams Choji, Ino, Lee."
"You too, Naruto!" Ino called as Naruto started walking away.
Naruto made is way to the other apartment complex that Kakashi lived in. He made his way to top floor to the apartment at the end. He stopped in front of the door and knocked.
Kakashi opened the door, and blinked at the blonde. The silvered hair ninja was wearing a plain shinobi outfit without the vest, and he was missing his hitai. Although, he was still wearing his mask.
"Naruto?" Kakashi asked.
"Who else?" Naruto smiled, "Bad time?"
"No. No. Come in," Kakashi waved and opened the door further so Naruto could come in.
"So what do I owe this pleasure?" Kakashi ask sarcastically.
"Two things, I need you advice and two I need those bells," Naruto smiled as he sat down on the couch.
"The bells? Why?" Kakashi eyed the blonde as he leaned against the wall across from the couch.
"Tsunade gave me a Genin team," Naruto answered.
"Ah, and you are giving them the bell test?" Kakashi chuckled.
"Of course," Naruto said.
Kakashi pushed off from the wall and walked into the one of the other rooms. He returned with a little grey box and handed it to Naruto.
"You know, Minato-sensei gave those to me," Kakashi said.
"Maybe some day I will pass them down to my student, or do you want them back?" Naruto looked at the box then up at his sensei.
"No, pass them down to your student," Kakashi nodded.
"I will," Naruto smiled as he opened the box and looked down at the bells, "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."
"You said you needed my advice?" Kakashi raised and eyebrow at the blonde.
"Yea, I have no idea how to lead a genin team. I mean I have lead a team of Jonins but never genin," Naruto scratched the back of his head.
"It's not easy, trust me. Remember how difficult you and Sasuke were to work with! Well, just remember the number one thing for them to work on it teamwork, then train them individually based on their skills. As for the missions, you will be doing D and maybe C rank later on so don't worry too much about that," Kakashi shrugged, "If Tsunade didn't think you could do it, then she wouldn't have given you a team."
"Hmm, I hope my team gets a long better than ours did," Naruto shook his head.
"I think any team would get a long better than yours," Kakashi laughed.
"That's true," Naruto smiled, "For the training part, how will I know their skills to work on?"
"Ah, well at first work on general things that every Shinobi needs, like tree climbing, walking on water, etc." Kakashi thought, "Then their skills with just show themselves. Like with Sasuke, I knew he had sharingan so I worked with him on how to use it. With you, I knew you would be similar to Minato. With Sakura, well, hers didn't show till later when she started working under Tsunade."
"I see, but what if I can't train them? What if my skill set does go with theirs?" Naruto asked.
"Tsunade will match you up so you do match them. Plus if you get a clan brat, his clan will teach him," Kakashi explained.
"That's true, I guess," Naruto gave Kakashi a funny look.
"Trust Tsunade, she knows what she's doing," Kakashi said.
Naruto smiled then stood up from the couch, "Thanks Kakashi-sensei for everything."
"Oh Naruto, one last thing," Kakashi chuckled and threw him an orange book with stop symbol on the back.
"Really?" Naruto gave him a look.
"Now you really can be me," Kakashi laughed.
Naruto sighed and shook his head placing the book in his back pouch along wit the bells.
They said their goodbyes and Naruto left the apartment. The blonde made he way towards the academy and settled on a branch outside one of the classroom filled with Genin. Iruka was standing at the front of the classroom speaking. Naruto thought it would be a good time to learn who his genin would be.
The first student was Inuzna Ashi. He was a mid level student, neither excelling nor failing, just average.
The second student was Ingin Kasumi. She wasn't from a clan. Father died in a mission before she was born. She was highly intelligent and had good chakra control.
The last was a member of the Nara clan. Nara Morimaru. He was the top of his class, other than that nothing special. He was supposedly Shikamaru's second cousin or something.
Why did Tsunade give me a Nara? Why not give him to Shika?
Naruto looked at the clock in the classroom in front of him and saw he had about 5 minutes before he had to go meet his student. Naruto pulled out the book that Kakashi gave him and laughed.
If I am late too, I really can be like him.
Naruto stood up on the branch and jumped down, not noticing the group of Jonin standing below him.
"Shit! Naruto!" Shikamaru yelled at him after scaring all the Jonins.
A bunch of Jonins, including Ino, Shikamaru, Choji and Lee all looked at him.
"Wait, did you guys not know I was up there?" Naruto laughed.
Blank stares.
"Really? You guys are Jonins!" Naruto laughed some more.
Shikamaru shook his then glanced at Naruto's hand.
"Care to explain that?" Shikamaru pointed to Naruto's hand.
The blonde glanced down then smiled, "Um, I went to see Kakashi and he gave me this."
"Oh, I didn't know you were interested in that." Shikamaru teased.
"Shika! You know I am not interested in that." Naruto countered with a laugh.
Naruto placed the book back in his pack and turned to walk into the academy with the rest of the Jonins. The group walked up to the classroom that Naruto was watching. When they entered they saw a bunch of faces that were in Awe. Naruto leaned up against the wall and waited for his team to be called.
"Team seven will be Inuzna Ashi, Ingin Kasumi, and Nara Morimaru! Please step forward. Please follow your Jonin!" Iruka called.
Naruto pushed off from the wall and walked out after making sure the three were following him. He walked up to the roof of the academy, the same spot where his genin team introduced themselves. He leaned up against the back rail, just like Kakashi did. The three situated themselves on the step. Naruto sat there for a moment analyzing his three new students.
The first, which Naruto assumed was the Nara, had his hair in high ponytail which mimicked Shikamaru's. He had small dark eyes. He was wearing a simply green long-sleeve shirt with the Nara symbol on the back, with plain grey pants (with the kunai holder on his right leg) and simple ninja sandals. His hitai was in the traditional place. He was the one eyeing Naruto intently, making it seem like he was trying to read him.
He's right handed, he's observant, and he's trying to size me up? Does he really think he can take me?
The second was the clan-less one. Ingin Kasumi. She was sitting there with her hands in her lap, like a lady. She was wearing a simple black skirt like the one Ino use to wear with black pants underneath. Her top was tight, red, and sleeveless with a zipper funning up the front. She wore her Hitai around her waist. She seemed like she was waiting for Naruto to do or say something.
She's a traditional academy student with manners, great. Another Sakura.
The last was the Inuzna. He was wearing something very similar to what Kiba wears. Black pants with a black jacket. His hair was dark as well. His hitai was in the traditional place.
Naruto sighed, The Nara is just like Sasuke, the girl is just like Sakura and the boy is just like me. I can already tell this team is going to get along fabulously.
"Alright, lets start with introduction, starting with you," Naruto said as he pointed to the boy.
"Yosh! I am Inuzna Ashi," Ashi started, "what else do you want to know?"
Naruto shrugged, "Like, dislikes, dream etc."
"Um, I like training and I dislike how soar I get and my dream is to become the next Hokage!" Ashi continued.
"Alright, next." Naruto shook his head. He really reminds me of myself.
"I am Ingin Kasumi. I like books and reading. I dislike…. Umm… my dream is to become just like Sakura!" Kasumi shrieked.
"Sakura? Why not Tsunade?" Naruto asked eyeing the girl.
"She's kind of scary," the girl said shyly.
Naruto laughed, "Well you are right she is, but that means you never met Sakura, have you?"
"No, why?" the girl asked.
Naruto shook his head, "No reason. Remind me to introduce you to Sakura one day."
The girl's expression suddenly brightens, "You know Sakura-sama?"
"Yes, I do. She is one of my best friends. We were on the same genin team," Naruto nodded, "Next."
"Wow," Kasumi awed.
"I am Nara Morimaru from the Nara clan. I like working in my families' forest and I dislike obnoxious people. My dream is to beat the head of my clan so I can become the head of my clan," the brooding one said.
"You want to beat Shikamaru or I guess it would be Shikaku right now," Naruto said.
"You know Shikaku and Shikamaru?" Morimaru asked.
"Yes, Shikamaru is my… partner, and I fought side-by-side with Shikaku during the war," Naruto nodded.
"Your partner?" Ashi asked.
Naruto shook his head, "I will explain later."
"And who are you?" Morimaru asked.
"Oh, yes. I am Uzumaki Naruto. I have no desire to tell you my likes or dislikes. I have lots of hobbies and my dream….hmm."
"So all we know is you name?" Kasumi asked.
"That's all you need to know," Naruto nodded.
"Great," Morimaru rolled his eyes.
"Tomorrow we will start out duties as shinobi," Naruto said.
"What are we going to do?" Ashi asked.
"Survival training," Naruto replied adjusting himself.
"Survival training?" Kasumi repeated.
"Yes, but this is different. Your opponent is going to be me, and if I fail you, you go back to the academy," Naruto gave them an emotionless look.
"Going back to the academy!" Ashi yelled.
"I can't go back to the academy," Morimaru said.
"Well, then you better pass. Meet me at training ground seven as six-tomorrow morning. Being all your ninja tools. And don't be late," Naruto said pushing away from the rail, "Oh and don't eat, or you will throw up."
"Throw up?" Ashi said.
"What are we going to be doing?" Kasumi thought out loud.
Naruto then suddenly disappeared leaving nothing but a cloud of smoke.
Naruto re-appeared next to Shikamaru who happened to have just dismissed his team. They were sitting in one of the classrooms in the academy. Shikamaru looked over at the blonde, surprised by his appearance, then gave him an annoyed look. Naruto just smiled in return.
"Naruto…" Shikamaru started until he was interrupted.
"You'll never guess who I got on my team," Naruto smiled.
"Who?" the brunette humored the blonde.
"Nara Morimaru," Naruto smirked.
"Wait? Moriko's son?" Shikamaru blinked at Naruto.
"That's the one," Naruto laughed, "You will never guess what he said."
"Oh let me guess. He is going to beat me and father so he can become the head of the Nara clan?" Shikamaru said.
Naruto gasped sarcastically, "How did you know?"
Both men started laughing hard. Once they caught their breath and stopped laughing, they continue their conversation.
"So who else did you get?" Shikamaru asked still having a slight laugh in his tone.
"A boy that reminds me a lot of my younger self and a clan-less girl," Naruto replied.
"Ah, you huh?" the brunette asked.
"Yep, just like me. Who did you get?" Naruto asked.
"A Yamanaka, and two clan-less brats," Shikamaru replied.
"Wait, why did they put the Nara and Yamanaka together?" Naruto asked.
Shikamaru shrugged and pushed off the desk he was leaning against, "Probably because they aren't an Ino or Shika."
"Um, explain?" Naruto requested giving his a look.
Shikamaru laughed, "The Yamanaka I got doesn't have Ino in her name like Inoichi or Ino. And the Nara you got doesn't have Shika in his name like Shikamaru or Shikaku. So it means they may not work well together or they didn't work well together in the academy so they didn't put them on the same team."
"Ah, I see," Naruto nodded.
Naruto and Shikamaru walked back to their apartment talking about how they would test their students the next day. Naruto told Shikamaru about his visit with Kakashi and showed him the bells his sensei gave him.