5 o'clock came faster than Kakamei could have guessed. His alarm went off in his little apartment. He reached from under his covers and slammed his hand on everything near him until he slammed onto the alarm. He let off a deep "UGH!" He sat on the side of his bed and wiped the crust out of his eyes.

"We have a survival exercise today. He told us not to eat but I'll take the risk. If I don't eat I'm gonna pass out before I even make it to the training ground." Kakamei said to himself as he stood and did his morning routine. He brushed his teeth, took a shower, and ate breakfast. Just in case his friends had skipped breakfast he grabbed a black bag, a couple of apples and walked out of the door.

As he was walking through the village he saw that most of the people in the village were setting up shop for the day. He walked through the streets and came to the training site. He saw all three of his teammates standing around sleeping, sulking, or standing warily.

Kakamei took a seat on the ground and started to wait just like the others.

"He probably won't be as late as he was yesterday." Sakura said. Naruto nodded his head.

After 20 minutes of waiting Kakamei laid back onto the ground and fell asleep. Sakura and Naruto stood over him.

"How can he sleep? Kakashi could be here any minute." Sakura said as Naruto nodded in agreement. After another 30 minutes of waiting Sakura had sat down and Naruto started to jump in excitement.

"You can't be serious! We have been here for almost an hour!" Naruto yelled as Kakamei woke up from all the noise Naruto was making.

"What time is it?" Kakamei asked as he stood up to see Kakashi walking to the group. Sakura stood to her feet. Kakashi stopped is front of the group.

"Good morning, everyone. Ready for the exercise?" Kakashi said as Naruto started barking angrily.

"You're late!" Naruto and Sakura yelled as he just closed his eyes in a smiling face.

"See, a black cat crossed my path so I had to take the long way." Kakashi said, dismissing himself for being late. He cleared his throat to get ready to speak.

"Now let's get started. This alarm is set to noon. Your assignment is simple. You just have to take these bells from me. That's all there is to it. If you don't get one by noon you won't get lunch. You will be tied to those post and watch me eat my lunch in front of you." Kakashi said. Sasuke's eye twitched with annoyance. Naruto's stomach rumbles as Sakura felt slightly angry that she didn't even eat dinner, let alone breakfast.

Kakamei remember he had brought them a few apples. He reached into his bag and tossed each of them an apple. Kakashi saw this and was intrigued. They all caught an apple happily.

"Thanks, Kakamei! You're a real life saver." Naruto said. Even Sasuke his ate the apple.

"Hey, Kakamei." Kakashi said, catching the black haired boy's attention.

"Yes?" Kakamei asked as he closed his bag and stood up.

"I told you not to eat breakfast. Why did you bring food for everyone?" Kakashi asked as Kakamei stood up and slung the bag across his back.

"Well, if I remember correctly you said that this was a survival exercise. One of the main components of survival is food. Also, if you are hungry how can you move at your best?" Kakamei said as he looked at his teammates who were finishing their apples.

"Alright, very good. You have the right idea." Kakashi said. Sakura looked at the bells.

"But Kakashi-sensei, there are only three bells. How are we supposed to get one bell each if there are four of us?" Sakura asked.

"That way at least one of you will be tied to the post and disqualified, and sent to the academy for failing the mission. But, it's a possibility that all four of you will fail if you don't my get a bell. You may use any weapon. Shuriken, kunai, anything you can think of. If you're not prepared to kill me you won't be able to take a bell." Kakashi said suavely as his students readied themselves.

"Those weapons are too dangerous! Sensei!" Sakura said as Kakamei stopped her.

"Especially since you couldn't catch that eraser. Hahaha." Naruto joking told his sensei.

"Class clowns are usually the weakest links. Ignore the ones with the lowest scores for they are probably losers." Kakashi said. That comment made Naruto angry.

"When I say start you may be–" Kakashi Tried to say before he was cut off by a loud roar front the blonde Shinobi. Naruto grabbed a kunai out of his ouch and went to slice Kakashi. In an instant Naruto had one hand behind his head.

"Don't be in such a hurry." Kakashi said. All the other Genins took a step back before Kakashi let Naruto go.

"You came at me with the full intent to destroy me. How can I say this?... I'm actually starting to like you guys. Now if you're ready… go!" Kakashi said as his students jumped away.

Sasuke was hiding in a tree that wasn't too far away from Sakura who was lying in a bush. Kakamei was sitting on top of a tree.

"A ninja must be able to hide his presence and hide effectively. Seems like most of them have that down." Kakashi said as he looked to his left to see Naruto standing right in front of him.

"You and me right now, fair and square!" Naruto yelled challenging Kakashi flat out. Kakashi looked at Naruto.

"You know, compares to the others your kind of weird." Kakashi said. Naruto sprinted towards Kakashi.

"The only thing weird is your haircut." Naruto said. Kakashi lowered his eye and stood up straight. He reached into his pouch.

"Shinobi Battle Techniques , Lesson Number 1: Taijutsu." Kakashi said. Naruto jumped backwards.

'Taijutsu is hand to hand combat. So why is he grabbing for his weapons?" Naruto asked himself as Kakashi pulled his hand out of his pouch with a book in hand.

'He's really going to read during this. Kakashi-sensei is very confident.' Kakamei thought to himself.

"What's wrong? Weren't you going to attack me?" Kakashi jokingly said. Naruto looked confused.

"But… I mean… why are you reading that book?" Naruto asked his sensei.

"Why? To find out what happens in the story of course. With your weak attacks it doesn't really matter if I'm reading or whatever." Kakashi said. This made Naruto angry. He started rushing towards Kakashi.

"I'm going to pummel you!" Naruto yelled as he threw a kick at Kakashi as he simply ducked the kick. Naruto then went for a punch but Kakashi vanished. Naruto looked around searching for his teacher.

"Don't let your enemy get behind you all the time." Kakashi said as he formed a hand sign. Sakura gasped as she saw her sensei seemingly getting ready to destroy his student. Kakamei was watching.

"Oh great." Kakamei said as he jumped off the top of the tree and landed in front of Kakashi. He pushed Naruto back with his foot and started weaving hand signs.

"Wind Release: Gale Bullet!" Kakamei said launching a huge gust of wind out of his mouth. Kakashi jumped out of the way fast enough to dodge the jutsu. The wind hit the ground creating a decent sized hole in the ground. Kakamei jumped backwards and looked for Kakashi. Naruto stumbled backwards before regaining his composure. He walked to Kakamei with a smile on his face.

"Thanks man. I could have died if you hadn't saved me. Haha" Naruto said scratching the back of his head. Kakamei turned and looked at his teammate with a straight, sort of clueless, face.

"Yeah, no problem." Kakamei said as he walked past Naruto.

"We still have to get a bell. You can go and fight him again but I'm going to wait some more." Kakamei said before jumping away. Before he leapt off of the ground Naruto felt a slight heat hit him. Kakamei disappeared into the bushes.

"Whatever," Naruto said to himself, "I'm going to give it another shot." He walked away looking for his sensei. Kakashi was sitting on a tree branch read Make Out Paradise. Naruto spotted him and pointed at his sensei.

"There you are Kakashi-sensei! Come down here and fight me!" Naruto yelled. Sasuke was watching in the bushes becoming annoyed by Naruto's arrogance. Sakura, who wasn't too far away, was also watching and shaking her head.

'He's a Jounin. I highly doubt Naruto could take him on by himself. He's just going to get beaten again." Sakura thought to herself as Naruto continued to angrily yell at Kakashi.

"Come down Kakashi-sensei! Fight me right now!" Naruto said as the silver haired teacher just continued to read his book. Naruto growled and charged at the tree.

"If you won't come down here I'll just go up there." Naruto said. As he was watching Sasuke prepared himself to attack.

Naruto was rushing to the tree before he looked down to see a silver, shiny thing blurring his vision. He looked down to see a bell. Naruto walked over to pick up the bell but he felt a tugging on his leg and before he could realize it he was dangling upside down from a tree.

"Aahhhhh! Get me down from here." Naruto yelled.

"If the bait is obvious don't take it. Nina's must see through deception." Kakashi said. Naruto was still dangling from the rope. He was jumping around trying to get out of the trap.

"I… get… it!" Naruto said annoyed by the fact that he was still having to hear that same spiel over and over again.

"I'm telling you this because you don't get it. You think you get it which is different from actually getting it. Get it." Kakashi said.

As Kakashi was giving telling Naruto off Sasuke was watching and put his hands into his pouch. 'Now!" He yelled to himself and threw shuriken and at Kakashi all which seemingly hit.

With a yell he fell to the ground and Naruto started to freak. "He just got blasted with shuriken! Are you out of your mind Sasuke?!" Naruto yelled.

'He's a Jonin. I doubt a couple of shuriken and kunai will kill him.' Kakamei thought to himself as he jumped down from his tree.

Naruto was still freaking out as Kakashi's body poofed into a log. Naruto looked surprised as Sasuke started to jump from tree to tree trying to find a new positioning.

"Another substitution jutsu. Now he knows where I'm hiding. Gotta to move fast." Sasuke said to himself as he jumped from tree to tree. Kakashi, who was hiding in the bushes, was now watching as his student was running to find another hiding spot.

'So, that's where you were.' Kakashi said as he watched Sasuke maneuver through the branches. He reached into his back pocket.

As Sakura was running through the forest she frantically worried herself for the sake of 'her Sasuke'. She bolted thinking quickly as she saw Kakashi standing there reading his book.

"Thank goodness he's there." She said. Just as she let out a sigh of relief She heard a whispering voice behind her. She turned to see Kakashi kneeling behind her. Sakura screamed loud enough for everybody on the training ground could hear her.

A tree with a squirming boy

Naruto was still trying to get down from the tree as he angrily talked to himself about Kakashi repeating the same thing over and over again.

"A ninja must see through deception." Naruto said in a mocking voice.

"Yeah, yeah how am I supposed to do that anyways?!" Naruto said angrily as he took a kunai out of his bag.

"Well, I'm not falling for any more of his tricks." Naruto said before slicing the rope in half and falling to the ground. He landed on his feet before taking a step and his leg being caught in another rope. He flew up into the air and started dangling from the tree once again.

"I fell for the stupid trick again!" Naruto screamed. He was going to keep barking loudly as he heard rustling in the bushes and prepared his weapon for Kakashi to walk out and attack him. Instead he saw his fellow Team 7 member Kakamei. Naruto perked up at the chance of someone helping him down.

"Hey, Kakamei. I'm stuck. Do you mind helping me out?" Naruto asked. Kakamei just looked up and started laughing. Naruto looked slightly angry at Kakamei.

"What's so funny?!" Naruto yelled as this made Kakamei laugh even harder. Naruto let out a grunt as Kakamei stopped laughing and looked at Naruto.

"Are you going to help me or not?" Naruto said as Kakamei wipes a tear from his eye.

"Sure." Kakamei said before taking a kunai and throwing it at Naruto's rope. Naruto fell to the ground and landed on his back. He got up and looked at Kakamei.

"Thanks. But why are you all the way out here?" Naruto asked. Kakashi was deep in the forest probably playing with Sakura.

"I'm all the way out here because I thought you needed help. I'm going to try and get a bell by myself. If I don't end up getting a bell I might need some help on the second try." Kakamei said. Naruto shrugged and threw a thumbs up at Kakamei.

"Yeah, I'll help. But, I saw something while I was up there that I need to go check." Naruto said. Kakamei nodded and started to walk away. Naruto turned around and started walking towards the post, laughing maniacally. Kakamei ignored and jumped into the trees to find Kakashi.

Kakamei was rushing through the leaves as he stopped and watched the Sasuke fight. Sasuke did a combo on Kakashi creative enough to catch Kakashi off guard and touch the bell. Kakashi jumped backwards. He watched as Sasuke quickly wove hand signs.

"Fire Release: Fire Ball Jutsu l!" Sasuke yelled seemingly catching Kakashi off guard once again. Sasuke took a deep breath and blew a relatively large fireball towards Kakashi. Kakamei took note of this as Sasuke let the jutsu go off and looked around for Kakashi. In an instant Kakashi's gripped Sasuke's ankle and pulled him underground. Kakashi squatted in front of Sasuke, looking quite amused.

"... You know they say the nail that sticks up the most get hammered down. Now if you'll excuse me I have another one of your teammates to deal with." Kakashi said as he looked at Kakamei who was quite surprised by the fact that Kakashi had found out where he was hiding. The Daichiki kid let this go and jumped out of the tree. He landed behind Kakashi and looked over the side to see Sasuke's head poking out of the ground. He chuckled a little bit which annoyed Sasuke.

"Yo, Kakashi-sensei. I've been waiting to get my chance to fight you." Kakamei said as Kakashi just shook his head and turned to look at his student.

"You can't defeat me." Kakashi said as Kakamei just shrugged. He got into a fighting stance and got ready to attack Kakashi. Kakamei jumped at Kakashi and waited for Kakashi to act in some way but Kakashi simply said "Stop." Kakamei heard this and stopped abruptly which made him land on his face. He stood up quickly.

"Is there something the matter?" Kakamei asked his sensei. Kakashi turned around and jumped into one of the trees.

"Follow me." Kakashi said as he jumped through the trees. Kakamei reluctantly followed. Before he could jump he stopped himself and looked at Sasuke.

"I'll come dig you up when I get a bell." Kakamei said as he jumped forward, following Kakashi. Sasuke rolled his eyes. A couple seconds later Sakura came running through the bushes. With very few words exchanged Sakura went into a panic attack.

In The Woods

Kakashi landed on the ground with Kakamei landing soon after. Kakamei walked forward and stopped a couple of meters in front of Kakashi.

"So Kakashi-sensei, what are we doing all the way out here? We could have fought right where we were standing." Kakamei said trying to find a method behind Kakashi's madness. Kakashi made an eye smile.

"Well, it's for tell reasons. One, Sasuke was in the ground and I put him down there for a reason. The second reason I brought you here is to test something I have been wondering." Kakashi said. Kakamei was curious about what Kakashi was going on about but he didn't have time for it. The time to get a bell was almost up. Kakashi started to make hand signs. Kakashi finished the last sign.

"Wind Release: Water Bullet Technique!" Kakashi yelled. Kakamei dodged the attack by jumping into the air. While floating in the air Kakamei wove hand signs and created an air bullet that rushed towards Kakashi. In that instant Kakashi jumped into the air and slammed Kakamei onto the ground. Kakamei landed on the moist ground. Kakashi landed on the ground and looked at his student. Kakashi raised his hand and stuck it inside his weapon pouch and one again pulled out his Make Out Paradise book.

Kakamei became annoyed by this and jumped at Kakashi. He went for a kick to the left of Kakashi's head but the Jonin simply ducked. Kakamei used the momentum he had created and swung his body making his hands swing in a tornado type manner. Kakashi jumped out of the way. Kakamei landed on the ground and took another stab at Kakashi. Kakamei jumped at and tried to land a punch on his chest but Kakashi simply raised his left hand, his right being the one holding the book, and caught the punch. Kakamei jumped in the air and went for a a kick that would land on Kakashi's temple. Kakashi jumped behind him and flicked him in the back of the head. Kakamei grabbed the back of his head. He turned to Kakashi only to turn to see his teacher had disappeared. Kakamei sighed.

"We were just getting to the good part." Kakamei thought out loud as he started walking towards the training place.

At the Memorial

Naruto was sitting on the K.I.A. memorial. Wit chopsticks in hand he bowed his head and prepared to dig in to his meal.

"Sensei told us if we don't get a bell then we don't get any lunch but if I eat my lunch now there's nothing he can do about it. It's chiu time! Hahaha." Naruto said aloud as he started to open the boxed lunch. Before he could get the lid off he felt a cold chill go down his spine.

"Hi there." A voice said beside him as Naruto felt as if he was going to be sick.

"I was just joking sensei." Naruto tried to say but Kakashi wasn't buying it with only a response of, "Nice try."

Somewhere in the Forest

Sasuke was sitting in the ground as he was thinking

about his fight with Kakashi.

'He's stronger than me. No getting over that.' Sasuke thought to himself as bushes rustled and his teammate came rushing through the forest. Sakura looked down to see her love interest on the ground. The genjutsu That Kakashi has put her under had already put her to her breaking point as she completely pooped out and fell over to the ground. Sasuke was slightly annoyed.

"And this is my partner." Sasuke said aloud as seconds katera Kakamei emerged from the woods and looked down at Sasuke. He cracked a smiled as he looked as the number one rated Genin had everything but his body submerged underground. He bursted out laughing and pointed at Sasuke.

"You're still down there. Hahaha. I thought you would be out by now." Kakamei said as Sasuke looked annoyed by Kakamei's laughing. He rolled his eyes before trying to maneuver his way out.

"Just get me out of here." Sasuke said as Kakamei silently laughed as he pulled Sasuke out of the ground by his head. Sasuke landed on his feet and wiped his shirt. Kakamei ceased to laugh and he walked over to Sakura, who had passed out on the ground.

Kakamei and Sasuke looked over her. Sasuke started to shake her body as she slowly woke up. Sakura's eyes opened as she saw Kakamei and Sasuke standing over her. She gasped and said. "Sasuke, you're okay." Before jumping into his arms. She pushed him around.

"Hey! Get off me!" Sasuke said trying to pry the girl off of him. Kakamei just looked in confusion. Sakura let go and Sasuke stood up before turning his back on Sakura. He started to walk away.

"I've got to get a bell before lunch. That doesn't leave much time." Sasuke said. Sakura looked worried.

"Sasuke you're still trying to get one of those bells?" Sakura asked as she really wanted Sasuke to stay. Kakamei just watched in the background as he watched the conversation continue.

"A while ago I touched one. Next time, I'll get one." Sasuke said as Sakura just looked surprised. She clasped her hands together and looked at her crush.

"That's great. I can't believe you did that. That's amazing." Sakura said patronizingly as in her head she had the complete opposite thoughts going on. 'I can't believe it he touched on of the bells. I'll never get my hands on one of those things. Which means Sasuke will pass and I won't and we will be separated forever. NO NO NO NO NO!' She yelled inside her head as she kept a calm exterior.

"It's almost lunch. There's really not enough time, so maybe we should just give up and try again next year." Sakura said as Sasuke let out a grunt that surprised Sakura as well as Kakamei.

Sasuke stood in thought as he thought back to something personal.

"I am the only one who can destroy that certain person." Sasuke said mysteriously. Sakura was surprised. Kakamei just sighed and started walking back to where the squad was supposed to meet.

"What?" Sakura said silently as she looked at Sasuke, "You mean the sensei?"

That day… I was crying." Sasuke said as Sakura had now accepted the conversation and started to become uneasy by how Sasuke was talking.

"When were you crying?" Sakura question.

"That day… it was my—" Sasuke was going to say before he stopped talking.

"What? What happened to you?" Sakura asked.

"I am an avenger. That means I must be stronger than my prey. I need this training. There's no time for setbacks." Sasuke said as Sakura remembered what Sasuke had said back when they first met Kakashi and were introducing themselves. Just as Sakura was thinking to herself, she was cut off by the ringing of the timer that Kakashi had set. Sasuke grunted.

"I've wasted too much time." Sasuke said before turning around and walking back to the meeting ground. Sakura stood in question of what Sasuke had just said.

At the Wooden Posts

The possible Team Seven wrapped around each other with their sensei standing in front of them. Sasuke was sitting down to the left of the post. Kakamei was sitting on top of the middle post. To the right of the post Sakura was sitting down ready for what Kakashi had to say. And in the middle of his three teammates, Naruto Uzumaki was tied in the middle. He had an ashamed looked as his stomach grumbled, catching the attention of all of his teammates.

"When you said you had something you wanted to check out I didn't think this was what you had planned out." Kakamei said looking down on Naruto.

"Whatever. I was just hungry." Naruto said as another stomach growl made Naruto drop his head in defeat.

"Uh oh. Stomachs growling huh? That's too bad. And oh about this exercise, well, I've decided I'm not going to send any of you back to the academy." Kakashi said as this seemingly raised everyone's spirits with the exception of Sasuke. Naruto cheered loudly.

"What? I passed? All I did was pass out and fall over. Do you get points for that?" Sakura questioned as once again her mind was singing a different tune. 'Love wins out! Cha Cha Cha!' Sakura said in her mind. Kakamei grinned widely as he thought he had finally earned the rank of ninja. Even Sasuke cracked a slight smile in the corner of the group.

Sakura jumped up and Naruto attempted to be excited as much as he could while still being confined to the wooden post.

"Then then then… that means all four of us…" Naruto yelled as Kakashi made a slight eye smile and started to talk.

"Yes, all four of you are being dropped from the program… permanently" Kakashi said as that statement put a damper on everyone's mood. All the aspiring Genin gasped as they heard those words utter from Kakashi's mouth.

"Drop us from the program ?! That means we can never become ninja!" Naruto yelled as he kicked to get out of the ropes.

"You said if we couldn't take back the bells then you would send us back to the academy. You can't just change up all the rules and kick us out! Why would you do that!?" Naruto yelled out in rebellion trying to struggle free from the ropes.

"Because you don't think like ninja. Our think like little kids, brats." Kakashi states. As soon as Kakashi finished that sentence Sasuke jumped out of his position and charged at Kakashi. In an instant Kakashi had Sasuke face flat on the ground with his arms behind his back and his foot on Sasuke's head.

"You think it's all about you." Kakashi said. His foot being on Sasuke's head triggered her as anger tears started running down her face.

"Get off of Sasuke! You can't step on him like he's some sort of bug!" Sakura yelled.

"You don't know what it means to be a ninja. You think it's a game. Huh?" Kakashi asked getting the attention of all four members.

"Why do you think we put you on squads? Did you consider that question for one moment?"Kakashi asked.

"I don't know what you mean." Sakura said as Kakashi answered quickly.

"I mean you never realized what this exercise was all about. Not even close." Kakashi said as Naruto made a sour face.

"What it's about?" Naruto asked as Kakamei jumped down from the top of the wood post and dropped down next to Naruto.

"Yes, that determines whether you pass or fail." Kakashi said fiercely as Sakura started to say something.

"But, I wanted to ask you about that since the beginning." Sakura asked as Kakashi simply scoffed at the remark.

"Use your head. Four people on a squad. Why do you think we would do that?" Kakashi asked. Everyone but Naruto remained silent.

"Ahhh! How are we supposed to know why you picked four people? We didn't make the rules." Naruto yelled as Kakashi became annoyed by what Naruto had just said. It was so simple.

"It's so basic. Teamwork." Kakashi said as all of Team 7 were shocked by the answer.

"You mean by working together?" Sakura asked her sensei.

"Yep, that's what I mean. It's too late now but if all four of you had come at me at the same time you may have had a chance to actually get a bell. Well, anyway, it's over." Kakashi said. Just as he was saying that as Sakura thought of something that bothered her.

"Wait a minute. You set it up with four people but only three bells. If we worked together to get the bells only three of us would be able to keep them and that would lead to group conflict and the squad would break up." Sakura complained. Kakashi didn't seem impressed but instead more intent on getting his point across.

"Exactly. I purposely pitted you against each other. I wanted to see if you could overcome me and put the squad ahead of yourselves. A Genin should have a natural feel for teamwork. You… it never even crossed your mind." Kakashi said. His students lowered their head as they listened to their sensei tell them off.

"Sakura!" Kakashi yelled getting the girls attention, "you obsessed over Sasuke who was gone while Naruto and Kakamei were right in front of you and you wouldn't lend a finger to help him. Naruto! You do everything on your own. Everything!" Kakashi said this and got Naruto's attention. Even making the boy look to the ground in shame.

"Kakamei! You thought you were strong enough to get one by yourself so you disregarded your teammates like they were useless!" Kakashi said. This got Kakamei's attention as he looked at his sensei, ashamed by the fact that what Kakashi was saying was true.

"And you, Sasuke! You thought the others were so far beneath you that they were worthless." Kakashi said pushing Sasuke's head deeper into the ground.

"Arrogance. Ninja missions are carried out in squads. Of course you need individual skills but teamwork is the most essential element. Every shinobi understands this. When individuals put themselves above the squad this can lead to failure and death. For example…" Kakashi said reaching into his pouch and grabbing a kunai knife. He put the kunai up to Sasuke's neck.

"Sakura, kill Naruto now or Sasuke dies!" Kakashi said surprising all of his students. Sakura gasped as Naruto started to struggle as he wanted to get away from the situation.

Kakashi pulled back the kunai and started to get get off of Sasuke.

"That's what happens on a mission." Kakashi said. Sakura felt relief.

"Oh boy that was scary." Sakura said as Naruto let out a sigh. Kakashi spun the kunai in his hand.

"The enemy takes a hostage and you have to make an impossible choice. And someone ends up dead. On every mission your life is on the line." Kakashi said as he caught the kunai and placed it back into his pouch.

Kakashi rose off of Sasuke and turned his back on his students and started to walk off. Sasuke slowly stood up off the ground and walked back to his teammates.

"Did you look at this stone? The names engraved into it?" Kakashi asked as his students took notice.

"They are all ninja who are all honored as heroes in our village." Kakashi states as Naruto perked up at the sound of what his sensei just said.

"That's it! That's it! That's it! Now I know. I've decided that I'm going to have my name engraved on that stone. I'm not gonna live and die like a dog for nothing. I'm gonna be a hero! A hero!" Naruto yelled as Sasuke walked right next to his tied up teammate and turned around to his teacher.

"These are a special type of heroes." Kakashi said solemnly as he looked onto the stone.

"Ouuu ouuu what type of heroes?!" Naruto asked excitedly as Kakashi halted himself before answering.

"They were all K.I.A." Kakashi said. Naruto seemed to be all too happy about this.

"Ouuu that sounds cool." Naruto said as Kakamei sighed and put his hand on his temple.

"It means they were killed in action." Sakura told Naruto. This automatically put a damper on Naruto's mood as he went silent after hearing that.

"This is a memorial stone. The names of my closest friends are engraved on it." Kakashi said. This put all of Team 7 in a silent state for a second. Kakashi looked at the stone before turning around and looking at his team.

"Alright, I'll give you a second chance. But I'm not going to go easy on you. You'll have three hours to get a bell. Eat now to rebuild your strength. But Naruto doesn't get any. It's your punishment for trying to eat early. And if anyone tries to feed him they will be disqualified immediately." Naruto growled at this comment as he was probably the hungriest of them all.

"Listen, I make the rules you follow them. Got it? I'm leaving." Kakashi said before puffing into a cloud of smoke and disappearing.

Minutes later all of Team 7's Genin except Naruto we're eating their boxed lunches. As they were eating they heard a growl as Naruto was standing above them watching them consume their lunch.

"This is no big deal! I can with not eating for days! Weeks! Believe it!" Naruto yelled. His teammates watched as Naruto's stomach growled again and the energetic blonde boy quieted down. After a few seconds Sasuke reached out his lunch box to Naruto.

"Here eat." Sasuke said trying to give Naruto his lunch.

"But Sasuke! You can't do that. You heard Kakashi sensei." Sakura said concerned for Sasuke's choice.

"We need to get the bells as a team. If Naruto is hungry he will be slow and ineffective." Kakamei watched from the background before looking at Naruto. He raised his lunch as well.

"I already ate breakfast so I'm not as hungry as you are so here." Kakamei said before attempting to give Naruto his lunch. Naruto looked at his two male teammates with slightly confusion. Then Sakura lifted her lunch at Naruto.

"Sasuke's right. Here." Sakura said holding out her hands and Naruto looked as if he was about to tear up.

"But, Sakura you—" Naruto tried to say as he was cut off by the pink haired kunoichi.

"I'm on diet. I mean don't eat as much as Sasuke or Kakamei. Here take it before Kakashi-sensei comes back." Sakura rushes Naruto. The jinchūriki looked as if he was going to cry.

"Hurry before Kakashi comes back." Sasuke urged as Sakura pushed the box forward.

"I can't move my arms! You're going to have to feed me." Naruto said which made Sakura visibly unnerved.

"What!?" Sakura yelled as Sasuke rushed them. Sakura let out a frustrating sigh.

"Fine. But this is a one time thing! Got it?!" Sakura yelled as Naruto looked ecstatic.

"As clear as bell Sakura." Naruto said as Sakura fed Naruto some rice.

Just then there was a loud boom and their master appeared.

"You!" Kakashi yelled. This surprised all of the students. Strong winds blew everywhere. Naruto was rushing to get out of the ropes. Sakura was struggling stand up right and Kakamei and Sasuke covered their faces.

"You broke the rules. I hope your ready for the punishment." Kakashi said as he wove hand signs and storm clouds arose in the sky.

"Any last words?" Kakashi asked as the entire team thought they were facing ultimate destruction. Naruto was freaking out and scrambling to find a way out of the bind. Sakura even had her hands atop her head to shield herself from whatever punishment Kakashi was going to give.

"But you said…" Naruto started saying before his speech dwindling.

"Yes?" Kakashi asked trying to pry out what Naruto had to say.

"But you said that we were all a team! That's what you said. That's why… Sakura…" Naruto said. Kakamei noticed that Naruto was out of words.

"You said that we had to work as a team. The chain is only as strong as the weakest link so it only makes sense to give Naruto food!" Kakamei yelled trying to scream above the winds that were pushing against him.

"We're all in this together." Sasuke said as Sakura chirped in a "Yeah! We have our lunch to him because the four of us are one!" to go with the others. Naruto finally had the courage to say something.

"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Believe it! That's right!" Naruto yelled while kicking his legs around in the air.

"The four of you are one. That's your excuse?" Kakashi asked as he got in the four students face. All the student looked as if they were on the defensive as Kakashi struck a smile.

"You pass." Kakashi said as Sakura and Naruto said "Huh?"

"You pass." Kakashi reiterated as Sakura asked another question.

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked as Kakashi stood over them.

"You're the first squad that ever succeeded. The others did exactly as I said and fell into ever trap. They couldn't think for themselves. A ninja must see through deception." Kakashi said as he stood up straight and looked at his new students.

"In the ninja world those who break the rules are scum. That is true. But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum." Kakashi said looking out into the open sky. All the Genin smiled as Naruto looked as if he was going to cry.

"Ya know, *sniff sniff*, he's a pretty cool guy." Naruto said barely able to hold himself together.

"The exercise is over! Everyone passes. Team 7 starts their first mission tomorrow!" Kakashi said while moving in a wild motion and making very gallant manner. The four Genin celebrated as they were now full fledged ninja.

"Yeah! Yeah! I did it! Ive become a full fledged ninja!" Naruto yelled. Kakamei was now standing as he smiled that he had finally become a genin.

"Let's go home." Kakashi said as he turned and walked back towards the village. Everyone but Naruto followed after him.

"They do this every time! Believe it! They forgot to untie me!" Naruto yelled as his comrades who were walking away still. Kakamei and Sasuke were turned and still walking away.

"Should we go back and help him?" Kakamei asked. Sasuke shook his head.

"Nah let's just leave him for a while." Sasuke said as everyone kept walking off.

"Come get me!" Naruto yelled.