It was mid spring and the children of the leaf village were in class listening to Iruka-sensei dabble on about chakra. Naruto was sitting in class drawing on his paper. Sasuke was sitting back in his chair brooding. Sakura was sitting staring at Sasuke much like all the other girls in the classroom. Everyone was having a regular day before the door to the classroom swung open. Standing in the door was the the Third Hokage standing next to a small boy.

The boy had light brown skin. He had medium length black hair that reached his ears and nearly covered his right eye. His eyes were big and dark red. He was wearing an all gray outfit. His jacket was long enough to reach his knees and his pants were also gray. He was wearing boots that had his gray pants tucked into them. The boy looked slightly depressed. Sarutobi slightly pushes the kid into the class.

"Iruka this is your new student, Daichiki Kakamei. He's from the Sand Village. He will be joining the course from now on. Please teach him well, Iruka." Hiruzen said before turning around and walked out of the classroom closing the door behind him. Iruka turned to the boy.

"Hello Kakamei. You may pick a seat and sit there. We are going over the course of chakra. Please choose a seat." Iruka said as he pointed his hand to the row of seats. Kakamei walked to one of the empty seats on the front row and looked forward. The kids started to whisper along themselves.

"He's from a different village." and "He has weird clothes." was what some of the kids slightly said so the teacher could here them.

"Hey, that's enough. We have to get back to class." Iruka said as this made he kids silence and Iruka turned around and went back to teaching.

Years Later

The same kids that were sitting in that class were waiting for their Iruka-sensei to call their names.

"Team 7 will be Naruto Uzumaki... Sakura Haruno... Sasuke Uchiha and... Kakamei Daichiki." Iruka said. The class whispered to each other about the groups that had been chosen.

Ino stood up quickly.

"Iruka-sensei why does team seven have four members?" Ino asked. Iruka sighed.

"Well, Ms. Yamanaka, There are 28 students that passed so there has to be one team that has 4 members. We—" before he could finish his sentence he was cut off by the blonde haired, flamboyant protagonist.

"But, Iruka-sensei! Why does such a talented ninja like me have to be in the same group as that loser Sasuke." Naruto yelled. Sasuke's eye twitched in annoyance. Kakamei sighed and looked at his new teammates. He had never had in crazy interactions with any of his team mates. He had sparred with Naruto and Sasuke during the matches in class. He had seen them sitting around the village only on occasions but never had the courage to go speak with them. Kamakei wasn't shy but he was sort of an introvert. He never really talked to anyone in the village since he had moved there years ago. He had never had a conversation with either of the boys and especially not Sakura. She was always to obsessed with her Sasuke to pay attention to him. Kakamei looked at his teammates. This was going to be a long day.

"That's because Sasuke had the best grades of all the graduating students. You, Naruto had the worst. To balance out the teams we put the worst student with the best student." Iruka said. There was chuckling.

"But why is Kakamei in that group. He wasn't the worst student." Ino said. Iruka was started to sigh.

"Kakamei had results that put him directly in the middle of the class. Lord Hokage made the decision to put him in Team 7. If you have any problems with it you may go talk to the Hokage about it.

"Just make sure you don't on my way, loser." Sasuke said loud enough for Naruto to hear.

"What was that?!" Naruto yelled as Sasuke ignored the knucklehead ninja. Iruka cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"After lunch, you will meet your new Jounin-senseis. Until then class is dismissed."Iruka said. And with that everyone in the class left. Sasuke had left to find a place to eat by himself. Sakura, as usual, was with a group of girls who were looking to eat lunch with Sasuke. Even Naruto had disappeared. Kakamei had no reason to speak to them so he went to the Dango shop.

He sat down and ordered. He ordered three sticks. He was sitting down eating as he heard noise coming through. It was Shikamaru. He walked in and saw Kakamei.

"Hey, Kakamei. You're eating by yourself as always. You never seem to have anyone to sit with." Shikamaru said as he walked into the seat in front of Kakamei. Kakamei looked up and saw his "friend" Shikamaru.

"You know I'm not really one to sit around with others. I'd rather be alone than with others." Kakamei said as he smiled to welcome Shikamaru. A waitress came to take his order but waved his hand.

"I'm not going to be long. I have to go meet my new teacher." Shikamaru said. The waitress nodded as she walked away. Kakamei watched the nurse.

"So, you have Sakura and Sasuke in the same team." Shikamaru said. Kakamei swallowed the dumpling in his mouth. He looked as if he was in thought.

"Yeah, I'm afraid that she will be fangirling the entire time and we won't get anything done. But I can't judge them until we have a mission. You have Choji and Ino on your squad. Choji seems reasonable but Ino doesn't seem like the nicest person under the sun." Kakamei said. Shikamaru chuckled.

"Yeah, she doesn't does she. Seems like a drag. I just want to get it over with." Shikamaru said. Kakamei smiled and put the last dumpling in his mouth. He finished chewing the dumpling and swallowed it. He stood up and Shikamaru followed. He threw away his plate and they walked out of the restaurant.

"What do you think your first mission will be like?" Kakamei asked his buddy. Shikamaru shrugged.

"We're only a couple of genin so it can't be anything too serious. It would be a real drag if it is something really important." Shikamaru complained. Kakamei smiled as he thought about how Shikamaru was always complaining.

"You're always complaining. Even during shougi you complain about how too much work it is." Kakamei joked as Shikamaru looked slightly annoyed.

"It doesn't happen with everyone. You are one of the only people that makes me rethink so many times. Do you remember the first time we played shogi?" Shikamaru said as he thought back to the first game they ever played.

It was years ago. Kakamei was sitting at a park table by himself. He was sitting in front of a game board with pieces moved around. It was a two person game but only one person sitting. He had moved to pieces by himself. He was playing by himself.

As he was thinking about what his next move could be a kid and his father were walking by. It was a tall man with long, spiky hair that was sticking out in a bun. Beside him a little boy looked just like him was walking. They saw the boy sitting there by himself playing. The man and boy noticed Kakamei sitting by himself but tried to ignore him. After they were far enough away the man's child asked his father a question.

"Hey, dad, that kid back there was playing shogi. He's in my class at the academy." The kid said. His dad nodded.

"Can I go play with him?" The kid asked. The dad shook his head.

"We're busy now, Shikamaru. But, if he's still sitting by himself when we come back you can play with him." The kid's father said. The kid now known as Shikamaru nodded.

Hours passed by when Shikamaru and his father, Shikaku, walked back through the park to see the kid still sitting playing by himself. The sun was setting as Shikamaru tugged on his father's shirt. Shikaku nodded his head with a slight smile.

'The kid has been sitting out here for hours. We were gone for hours… and there's no telling how long he was out here before we found him. I wonder if his parents are worried about him.' Shikaku thought to himself as he gestured towards the kid sitting down. Shikamaru raced towards the walked to the park bench. Shikaku slowly walked behind him.

When Shikamaru was at the table he looked at Kakamei. The kid playing shougi was so focused on the game that he didn't notice the boy sitting next to him. Shikamaru waved his hand in his face and the kid looked up quickly.

"Hey, you're playing by yourself and I was wondering if I could play with you." Shikamaru asked the boy. Kakamei looked surprised that someone had approached him.

"Sure." Kakamei said enthusiastically. Shikamaru reset the pieces he was going to use. Shikaku walked up to the table and watched as the two set up their pieces.

"I hope you're a good player 'cause if you aren't then I'll beat you in a landslide." Shikamaru said as Kakamei smiled.

"Well, I play by myself all the time so I don't really know if I'm decent." Kakamei answered the prodigy as Shikamaru laughed.

"Let's find out how good you are." Shikamaru said as he moved his piece. Kakamei moved his piece just as fast. They both started moving pieces along the board. Eventually they started to slow. Shikamaru sat thinking as Kakamei just silently smiled to himself. Shikamaru looked up and saw this.

"So what are you smiling about?" Shikamaru asked as Kakamei asked himself the same question.

"If I had to answer I would say that I've never had the chance to play with someone else." Kakamei answered. Shikamaru looked confused.

"Your parents or siblings don't play with you?" Shikamaru asked. Kakamei shook his head.

"I can't play with them. My parents are dead and so are my siblings. So I only play with myself." Kakamei said. That made Shikamaru slightly awkward before going back to his calm self.

"Well, that's bad but i guess you can't help it. Let's finish the game." The young prodigy said.

They played until late when the sun was setting. Shikaku started to yawn as he saw that both of the boys were still playing like they had just sat down. He sighed and started walking away.

"Shikamaru, come home when you're down. I'll be heading home now." Shikaku said before walking away. Shikamaru was still concentrated on the game as was Kakamei. Shikaku walked home.

Eventually Shikamaru started yawing. He dropped down his final piece and said, "I won." Kakamei sighed in irritation.

"Do you know how long we've been playing? For hours! I don't think I've won a game yet!" Kakamei yelled as Shikamaru laughed.

"Yeah well, it's been fun but I have to go now. It was fun. Maybe we should play again sometime." Shikamaru said as he got out of his chair. Kakamei smiled and started getting out of his chair. Shikamaru turned to walk home and put his hand up to signal goodbye. Kakamei walked away. When Kakamei walked inside the apartment that he had been given by the village. He closed the door behind him and leaned his back on the door. He grabbed his heart and gripped his shirt tightly. His eyes watered slightly.

"It hurts. So bad." He said to himself. He was talking about his heart. He hadn't had fun since he had made it to the village. He fell to his knees before standing back up. His eyes had a look of slight depression.

"I haven't felt emotions like this in years. Can I really get stronger? Or do I have to run away?" Kakamei asked himself. He wiped the tears from his eyes and walked to his bed. He took his shoes off and sat there for a second thinking to himself.

"No, I have to stay here. I can feel it in my very being." Kakamei said as he smiled devilishly. "Yes I can feel the potential for growth here… STRENGTH!" Kakamei said as drooled wipes down his face and laid down on his bed.

"But for now I have to find a way to grow stronger in the academy. Hopefully I'm not wasting time." Kakamei said before falling to sleep.

Present Time

"Yeah, hahaha we played all night long. It was the first time in a long time that I had fun. Now we're full Genin going to meet our new senseis. They stood in front of the academy and walked in. Kakamei started to break away from his 'friend' and walked up the stairs.

"Alright, I'll see you later." Kakamei said as he waved his hand in the air and walked to his respective classroom. Kakamei waved his hand to signal goodbye.

When he made it upstairs and to his meeting place he opened the door expecting to see his sensei waiting for him. Instead he opened the door to see his teammates sitting around waiting. Naruto was sitting on the row table. Sasuke was standing to himself and Sakura was standing in the middle of the floor.

'So Kakashi-sensei hasn't arrived.' Kakamei thought to himself as he walked in silently.

"Hey, Kakamei you made it." Naruto said as he looked at Kakamei. The black haired Daichiki boy. Kakamei looked surprised because he had never had a conversation with Naruto. He decided to speak instead of ignoring him.

"They told us to be here so I had to show up." Kakamei said as he sat down in a chair. Naruto was slightly excited because someone was actually willing to have a conversation other than ignoring him.

"I think this Kakashi guy will get here soon since he's a Jonin." Naruto said as Kakamei nodded.

"Hopefully." Kakamei said as he leaned back in his chair. Sakura didn't speak but slightly seemed interested in the conversation.

'I've never really heard Kakamei talk so much. Even during class he barely talks. Maybe he's just not good in a class setting.' Sakura said as Naruto looked at the time.

"I hope he comes soon or I'll die of boredom." Naruto said as Kakamei chuckled. Sasuke just stood in the stood in the corner brooding as he usually did.

2 Hours Later

Naruto was looking out of the door down the hallway.

"Oh Naruto sit down." Sakura ordered the blonde haired boy. He popped his head back in the room.

"I don't want to. How come our teacher's the only one that's late. I'm ready to roll. Every other team has met their squad leader and took off on some crazy adventures. Even Iruka-sensei has left too." Naruto complained.

"We know already." Sakura said as Naruto started rumbling around the door.

"Naruto! What are you doing?" Sakura asked him.

"That's what he gets for being late. That's what he gets for being late." Naruto said.

"You know you're not supposed to do things like that." Sakura said to Naruto naggingly.

'Cha! I love things like this!' Sakura screamed in her head. Kakamei opened one of his eyes and looked at what was happening. Even Sasuke opened his eyes and looked at what the knucklehead ninja had to say.

"You can't be serious. He's a Jonin. Something like this could never fool him." Sasuke said as the door started to move and Kakashi walked through. The eraser that was positioned in the door fell onto Kakashi's head. Naruto burst out laughing.

'This guy's a Jonin?' Sasuke said to himself. Kakamei shook his head.

'Cha that was great!' Sakura's double personality screamed.

"Hahahahaha. You fell for it!" Naruto laughed as Kakashi sighed.

"Let me see… my first impression of you is that you're all idiots." Kakashi said. Sweat fell from the Genin's head.

"Meet me at the roof in five minutes." Kakashi-sensei said before proofing into smoke. Kakamei sighed and let his seat down. He stood up and passed Naruto.

"Not gonna lie. That wasn't what I was expecting." Kakamei said. Everyone else started walking out.

"I'll say." Sasuke said as they made their way to the rooftop.

5 Minutes Later

Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, and Kakamei were sitting in a row as Kakashi was sitting across from them.

"Alright, we'll start by introducing ourselves." Kakashi said. The group was confused.

"Introduce ourselves? What are supposed to say?" Sakura asked. Kakashi thought for a quick second before answering.

"Ya know, things you like, hate, future goals, hobbies, things like that." Kakashi answered as he gave the floor back to the Genin.

"Maybe, you should go first? To make sure we know what to do." Naruto said still confused about what was happening.

"Me? My name is Kakashi Hatake. Things I like and things I hate… well, I don't really want to tell you that. My dreams for the future? I never really thought about it. And as for hobbies? I have lots of hobbies." Kakashi finished.

'He didn't really tell us anything other than his name.' Sakura thought to herself.

"Now that you have an idea of what you are supposed to do Naruto you go first." Kakashi said as Naruto lit up in excitement.

"Yeah! My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I like instant ramen in a cup and I really like the ramen Iruka-sensei got me at Ichiraku's. But I really hate the three minutes you have to wait when you pour the hot water in the cup. My hobbies are collecting different types of ramen and comparing them. And my dream from the future is to be the greatest Hokage. Then the village will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like I'm somebody! Believe it!" Naruto said. Kakamei looked surprised. He had heard Naruto scream it but he never thought he was serious. Naruto's goal was similar to his.

"Now for you Sakura." Kakashi pointed at Sakura. She became flustered.

"My name is Sakura Haruno. I like to (giggling squeals)... I mean who I like is (giggling squeals)... my dream for the future is (giggling squeals)... my hobbies (more giggling squeals…" Sakura girlishly said barely getting words out as she was completely infatuated with the idea of Sasuke.

"And what do you hate?" Kakashi asked. Sakura wet silent of giggling and became somewhat annoyed.

"Naruto!" Sakura yelled. Narut gasped in surprise as Kakamei just smiled.

"It's like she is in her own little bubble where nothing but Sasuke exists." Kakamei said to himself as Sakura caught wind of this.

"What did you say?!" Sakura yelled as Kakamei just leaned back. "Nothing." He replied as Kakashi pointed at Sasuke.

Sasuke didn't seem to have any emotions but answered the question.

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I hate a lot of things, and I don't particularly like anything. What I have is not a dream, because I will make it a reality. I'm going to restore my clan, and kill a certain someone." Sasuke finished.

Everyone went silent as they all were equally surprised by the answer except Kakamei. Kakamei was too busy thinking of what he was going to say.

'As I expected.' Kakashi said to himself as he pointed at Kakamei finally.

"And last but not least Kakamei. Introduce yourself." Kakashi said as Kakamei sat up and looked at the sky.

"My name is Kakamei Daichiki. I like sweet tea, dango, and training. I hate pickles, the cold, and weakness in power. My hobbies are training and sleeping. And my future goal is to be the strongest ninja ever. To stand on top of everyone." Kakamei answered. Naruto and Sakura looked surprised. They looked at Kakamei. They had heard him speak before but not this much. Even when he spoke he never talked about himself. They didn't even know a single thing that Kakamei had said.

'Interesting.' Kakashi saidin his mind as he looked at Kakamei.

"Good. You are all unique and have your own ideas. We will have our first mission tomorrow." Kakashi said. Naruto jumped up quickly.

"What mission are we taking on Kakashi-sensei?!" Naruto asked frantically. Kakashi looked at the blonde haired boy.

"It's a task the five of us will do together. A survival exercise." Kakashi said as Sakura and Naruto looked confused.

"I thought we were going to have an actual mission. We did all the exercises at the Academy!" Sakura said. Naruto was jumped up.

"Yeah. And what exercise is it then?" Naruto asked his sensei. Instead of a straightforward answer he received a chuckle.

"If I tell you the answer you won't like it." Kakashi said before pausing to regain his composure.

"Out of the 28 students that graduated this year only nine or ten will actually become Genin. The others will be weeded out and will be sent back to the Academy. In other words this is a pass-or-fail test, and the chance of you failing is 66%." Kakashi said. Naruto and Sakura shrieked in surprise while Sasuke stiffened and Kakamei looked surprised at the fact that he could be sent back to the village.

"I told you you wouldn't like it." Kakashi said

"That's crazy! So what was the graduation test for anyways?!" Naruto yelled. Kakamei was sitting next to Naruto so he put his finger in his ear.

"That was just to select candidates who might become Genin… or not. In any case, be at the training ground number three at 5:00 A.M. sharp. Don't forget to bring your ninja gear. Oh, and I suggest that you shouldn't eat breakfast. If you do you'll puke." Kakashi said as he pooped away once again and left his soon-to-be students.

Kakamei jumped up and started to walk away. Sakura turned a yelled "See you tomorrow!" Kakamei didn't say anything back but did his usual goodbye of raising his right hand in the air and walking away.