Naruto is introduced to his Jonin-sensei and learns about the real genin exam...

YUGAO-SENSEI

Naruto slowly trailed up the stairs. His jonin-sensei, who had revealed her name as Yugao, had teleported to Training Ground 26, not too far from the Academy bleachers. He cracked open the door at the end of the staircase and jumped off the roof, en route to the Training Ground...

Yugao sat down on the bleachers, her face emotionless. "So, Naruto," She began, "Tell me a little about yourself." Beckoning him to begin with the wave of a hand, she watched as he began to speak.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki," His voice was cold and chilling, and Yugao already had her regrets about becoming his sensei. "I like training and fighting. I dislike this pathetic village," Yugao felt herself bristle at the brash and uncaring insult towards her home, yet sat firm in place. "My hobby is becoming as strong as I can and my ambition is to destroy Konoha." He finished, his gaze narrowing and his tone growing chillier.

"Well, that's quite the introduction, Naruto. Too bad that last part's never going to happen..." Yugao trailed off much to the anger of Naruto, who silently radiated killing intent, not that it was destabilizing in any way to the far superior Yugao. "Anyways, my name is Yugao Uzuki. I like to train, take missions, and practice my kenjutsu. I dislike Danzo," A glint appeared in Naruto's eyes at the old man's name, something that the purple-haired woman noticed. "My hobby is polishing my kenjutsu and spending time with my boyfriend, Gekko. My ambition is to protect and serve Konoha." Naruto almost barked out a laugh but held it in, opting to scowl at the last bit.

"Well, enough with the chatting, why are we really here?" Naruto asked, his gaze narrowing suspiciously. "There's no way the genin exams were that easy, even with this village's standards." He finished, smirking at the way Yugao's eye twitched at yet another blatant show of disrespect towards her home.

"Very perceptive, Naruto..." Yugao trailed before continuing, "Yes, there is more to this exam than what you or any of the other genin-hopefuls believe. There is another one, one to do with the genin and the sensei. Just know, sixty-six percent of all genin-hopefuls end up failing and returning to the Academy. I certainly hope you aren't like most..." Yuago said ominously before disappearing in a cloud of dust.

Naruto chuckled, clearly not intimidated by the ominous message before walking off to wherever it was that his home was located.

TEAM 7

Sasuke, Sakura, and even the emotionless Sai stared at the silver-haired Jonin blankly. The time had come for their team introductions and the squad leader, Kakashi had just told them his name.

"Whatever. My name is Sasuke Uchiha, I like to train and garden. I dislike arrogance and cowardice," Sasuke thought of a certain someone when he said arrogance, his pride still stung as he remembered the thrashing the boy delivered to him almost effortlessly. "My hobby is to become stronger than my brother Itachi and lead the Uchiha clan to prosperity!" He exclaimed, his face marred with a smirk.

"Quite the introduction, eh? Well, next up is broody over there.." Kakashi said, pointing toward Sakura's stormy face.

"My name is Sakura Haruno..I like nothing, I dislike blonde-haired people, arrogance, and weakness. My hobby," She started, her face continuously darkening with every word she uttered. "Is to grow strong enough and avenge my family..." She finished, glaring at her hands before shutting her mouth closed.

"Oooh, ominous." Kakashi chuckled, much to Sakura's ire. Lastly, Kakashi brought his gaze to the one who interested him most, former ROOT agent, Sai. "Okay, pale skin, you're up next." He said, watching as Sai visibly deflated at the remark, yet kept up his fake smile nonetheless.

With all eyes on him, the former ROOT agent began. "I am Sai." He said, closing his eyes contently and letting yet another fake smile grace his thin lips.

"Okay...?" Sasuke asked, his face puzzled. The only person allowed to be so nonchalant and mysterious was Kakashi, and only because he was their sensei! What was Sai doing?

"Stop being a jack-ass and start!" Sakura exclaimed, her fist waving in a threatening manner. Sai continued to hold his fake smile, much to her ire. "Well?!" She asked, grasping the front of his shirt.

"Let go of me please, Sakura-san.." Sai said, his fake smile wavering just a tad bit. Sakura did so, gulping as she had seen his face contort. 'Definitely not a genin, as expected...' Sakura thought, her eyes wide and bulging.

"Now, now, guys," Kakashi reassured, holding his hand out in a placating manner. "This is no way to introduce a teammate. If Sai wishes to be mysterious like myself, he has every right to do so!" He exclaimed with an eye smile, drawing another fake smile from the former ROOT member and two deadpans from the remaining genin.

"Now that that's through with, let's get to the hard part.." Kakashi said ominously, a smile cracking underneath his cotton mask. The team could only gulp at what that entailed, sans Sai, of course. He was no ordinary genin.

"You may believe you are genin now..." Kakashi trailed before picking up again. "You are far from it!" He exclaimed. The genin's faces contorted in surprise and shock, yet again, Sai, did not flinch. Kakashi took note of that.

"There is one more test, the hardest test you have probably ever faced in your short lives.." Kakashi drew out. "The bell test!" He finished, grabbing two bells from his jacket pocket to show them off in full display.

"What?" Sasuke deadpanned, his face quizzical. What on earth was his sensei on about? Similar expressions drew themselves on Sakura's face. Of course, Sai's face was still marred with that damned fake smile.

"This bell test is a determiner of whether you get to become true genin. The Academy test was just a qualifier. This is the real deal." Before they could interject, Kakashi spoke yet again. "This test has a succession rate of only thirty-three percent. Chance are you will be back in the Academy." Kakashi said, his eye crinkling yet again.

'Academy?! In your dreams, sensei! I have a dream to chase!' Sasuke thought, his gaze narrowing on the older man.

'Yeah right, we wouldn't fail this, and I still have a certain man to bring to justice...' Sakura thought, she too narrowed her eyes on the tall form of her jonin-sensei.

Sai opted to keep his face in fake smile mode.

"If you think we are failing, you got another thing coming, sensei!" Sasuke exclaimed, his face determined. "We have dreams to chase, shinobi to beat, and missions to complete! Don't think this is going to stop us!" He continued, earning a nod from Sakura and Sai, who still had that smile on his face.

"Inspirational, no doubt. Yet can you deliver on your promise? I don't know maybe." Kakashi said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, much to the confusion of the students. "Anyway, the test begins tomorrow at five PM, sharp. Don't eat food or you'll puke. Bye!" With that, he was gone.

"How much you wanna bet he'll be late tomorrow?" Sasuke asked humorously.

Sakura just shook her head. 'I will pass!'