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Chapter Eleven: You Fail

Naruto looked on at the three genin that were tied to individual stumps. Naruto sat cross-legged in front of them eating his lunch. They each looked at him with different emotions. Ashi seemed mad but actually he looked like he would kill for the food Naruto was eating. Kasumi looked sad. Morimaru looked extremely pissed but not at Naruto, more at himself. Naruto looked like he was pleased with himself but in all actuality he was disappointed. These three showed a lot of potential but they didn't even start to understand the point of the bell test. They sat in silence for a long while until Naruto was finished eating.

"Are you going to send us back to the academy?" Ashi asked.

"No," Naruto replied simply.

"What?" Morimaru's eyes widened with hope.

"No, I am not going to send you three back to the academy," Naruto shook his head.

"Wait. Do you mean we passed?" Kasumi started to smile.

"No, you failed but you three did so bad, I am going to request that you three be removed from the Shinobi program," Naruto said standing up.

"What?" Ashi screamed.

"You can't do that!" Morimaru yelled.

"Actually, I can," Naruto placed his hands in his pockets, "You see, Tsunade-sama is my godmother and we are actually quiet close. She trusts my judgment and if I say that you three aren't fit to be shinobi, then so be it."

"Wait! Please don't do that!" Kasumi pleaded.

"Why not?" Naruto raised his eyebrows.

"Just give us a second chance!" Ashi yelled.

"Please," Morimaru added.

Naruto sighed. Kakashi did give us a second chance. Might as well be fair.

"All right, I will give you a second chance to get the bells. But before I do, can anyone tell me why the genins are placed on a three-man team," Naruto looked at the genins.

They each shook their heads indicating they didn't know.

Naruto sighed, "Basically you aren't understanding the purpose of this test."

"The purpose?" Kasumi repeated.

Naruto nodded, "There is a purpose behind the bell test. My team had to figure it out, so I expected you three to figure it out too."

"What's the purpose?" Ashi asked.

Naruto smirked at the genins, "Teamwork."

"Teamwork?" the three repeated.

Naruto nodded in response.

"But wait there are only two bells! That means even if we work together to get the bells, one of us would still fail!" Ashi yelled.

Naruto sighed again, they really weren't getting it, "Its set up to make you fight against yourselves. Its set up to see if you can put aside yourself interests and work together. But it seems you three have been unable to do just that. Each of you was focused on making another fail. Kasumi wanted Ashi to fail because she believes he is the weakest. Ashi wanted Morimaru to fail because he likes Kasumi. And Morimaru didn't care who else failed, as long as he succeeded. Even for a shinobi of my level, its rare to go on a solo mission. Every mission needs teamwork."

Each of them nodded indicating they understood what Naruto was saying. Naruto turned around and walked over the memorial stone. He placed his hand on the stone.

"This is a memorial stone. Theses names are shinobi recognized by the village. They all died in action. Many of my friends are here. Even my parents are on here," Naruto said quietly, "You three will have to deicide what's more important. You or your friends."

Naruto turned around and faced the genin. He hesitated a moment before continuing.

"I will give you three another chance, but remember there are only two bells. Decide what you three are going to do," Naruto said as he cut the ropes.

The blonde walked over to where the timer was now sitting. He placed his hand on the top like he did earlier, "You have three hours to get the bells."

"No," Ashi said.

"No?" Naruto replied as he turned around and eyed the three.

"No, I am not going to fight for the bells if it means one of my friends has to go back to the academy. You said to decide who is more important, my friends or me. Well, my friends are more important to me," Ashi explained crossing his arms.

"Same here," Kasumi said.

"We are a three-man team, and we are going to stay that way. We aren't go to sacrifice a team mate for the bells," Morimaru agreed.

Naruto smirked and shook his head, "Well, I guess you know what that means then right?"

"We aren't going to be shinobi?" Ashi ask sheepishly.

"No, you all pass!" Naruto gave them one of his famous grins.

"We pass?" Kasumi asked happily.

"Yes, I wanted you three to understand something," Naruto said walking over the genin who were now looking up at him.

"What?" Morimaru asked.

Naruto crouched down so face was now even with theirs, " I wanted you to understand what my sensei taught me. Those who disobey the rules are scum, but those who abandoned their comrades are worse than scum."

"You wanted us to understand that?" Ashi asked.

"Yes, and you did. You three stuck up for each other and refused to do what I asked because it meant that one of your friends had to quit."

"I see," Morimaru replied.

Naruto pushed on his knees to stand up, "Well, meet me here tomorrow for our first mission!"

The three genin smiled at him and a picture of his genin flashed through his head. Naruto disappeared with a puff of smoke.

Naruto reappeared outside the Hokage's office. He knocked and then entered when Tsunade yelled for him to enter.

"Oh, Naruto," Tsunade looked up from her paper work.

"Hey, Tsunade-baa-chan," Naruto grinned as he pulled a piece of paper out of one of the baskets.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that? Makes me feel old," Tsunade shook her head.

"You are old Tsunade-baa-chan," Naruto laughed then stopped when he saw the look on her face.

"Did you team pass the bell test?" Tsunade asked after a moment of silence not looking up from her paper work.

"They did," Naruto nodded as he crouched in front of her desk to use it as a writing surface.

"They did?" Tsunade's head shot up and looked at Naruto who was now crouched in front of her getting ready to write.

"Yes, the team is so much like Team Kakashi, it's a little scary. But the only difference is that they seem to get along better than we did," Naruto laughed as he started writing on the paper.

"Are you filling out a mission request form for the team?" Tsunade asked pulling out the paper Naruto was writing on. He gave her an annoyed look.

He snatched the paper back and continued writing on it, "Yes I am."

"Well, I am surprised you are actually doing paper work!" Tsunade laughed.

"Well, if I am going to be Hokage, I need to get used to doing paper work, huh?" Naruto gave her one of his famous smiles.

"I guess so," Tsunade smiled gently at the blonde who when back to his paperwork.

It was silent for a while except for the occasional paper shuffling. Naruto then stood up and placed the paper in the appropriate basket for the Hokage. Naruto then started to walk towards the door but Tsunade stopped him.

"Naruto?" the voice called from behind him.

With his hand on the door, Naruto turned around, "yeah?"

"Have you told Shikamaru?" Tsunade eyed him.

Naruto smiled gently and nodded, "Yea I have."

"Good, how are you feeling?"

Naruto sighed, "I'm fine as long as I don't use the chakra."

"I see," Tsunade nodded.

Naruto walked out the door and almost ran into the man they were talking about.

"Oi! Watch-"Shikamaru started until he realized who he was talking to.

"Hey Shika," Naruto leaned in and placed his lips on the brunette's.

"Making out in front of the Hokage is not appropriate," the blonde Hokage called from he behind him.

Naruto pulled away and started to laugh, "At least she's in a good mood today."

"Why's that? Did you do your paper work today?" Shikamaru asked.

"Actually, I did!" Naruto smiled.

"Oh good," Shikamaru placed his hands in his pocket, "I will see you at home? I have to do my paper now, troublesome."

"Alright," Naruto nodded and walked out the door.

"Naruto?" Shikamaru asked playing with the blonde hair that was right below his chin.

Naruto and Shikamaru had both finished for the day. They went to Ichiraku's for dinner, then made their way home. They were now both relaxing in bed. Naruto was lying almost on top of the brunette with his head on his chest.

"Hm," the response came.

"I've been thinking," Shikamaru started.

"When aren't you thinking?" Naruto said sarcastically half a sleep.

"Very funny, but I have been thinking about your situation with the Kyuubi's chakra," Shikamaru smiled.

"What about it?" the blonde mumbled.

"Well, what if we could just remove the chakra from you?" Shikamaru said simply.

Surprising the brunette, Naruto shot up and adjusted himself to where he was now straddling him with his hands on either side of the lazy genius. The blonde blinked at him with a surprised look on his face with a hint of anger.

"You know that would kill me right?" Naruto said bring his eyebrows together.

Shikamaru sighed, "Like I would do anything to harm you, Naruto."

Naruto cocked his head and gave the other a curious look prompting him to explain further.

"Look, when a jinchuuriki has their beast extracted from them, it kills them because their soul is attached to the soul of their beast," Shikamaru explained, "Am I wrong?"

"Well, no…" Naruto shook his head.

"So, if we only remove the chakra, it shouldn't cause any harm to you, right?" Shikamaru explained as he sat up and cross his legs.

Naruto sat back and crossed his legs as well, "I don't know, Shika. I have never heard of someone splitting the soul of a Bijuu and the chakra. I don't know even know if it is possible."

"Would it be worth looking into?" Shikamaru asked.

"I guess, but wouldn't the removal of chakra cause harm too?" the blonde shook his head.

"Normally, yes but if your body is already rejecting it, then maybe not?" Shikamaru thought out loud.

"Hmm, but…" Naruto started.

"Plus, the chakra may not even be attached to the Kyuubi, so splitting the soul and the chakra may not even be a problem," Shikamaru shrugged.

He's right, kit a voice in Naruto's head prompted.

"Hmm," Naruto furrowed his eyebrows to think.

The two men sat in silence for a while thinking about the possibilities, until Shikamaru spoke up, "Plus, I have already spoken with Tsunade about it."

"You what?" Naruto shot his head up and stared at the brunette.

"I spoke with her this afternoon about removing the chakra from you. She said she wouldn't discuss it any more until I have talked to you," Shikamaru explained.

"I see," Naruto sighed and looked at his lap.

"So maybe we go speak to her soon about it?" Shikamaru asked as he lifted his hand to Naruto's chin, turning the blonde's face up. Shikamaru looked into the blonde's eyes trying to gage his emotion.

Naruto gave him a faint smile and nodded. Shikamaru noticed that Naruto was truly worried about the Kyuubi's chakra and how one day it may kill him.

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