Chapter: 2
The Test
For once Kakashi was just a tad nervous waiting for one of his Genin. Sasuke and Sakura were already at the bridge, the only one missing was Naruto. This was worrying because Naruto hated wasting time, he wasn't late for no reason and he wasn't goofing off or over sleeping. He was fairly certain he was planning something and he wouldn't like it. He already knew that Naruto had probably figured out it wasn't going to just be a training exercise. He likely didn't know exactly what Kakashi was planning but they both knew something was up.
Naruto was walking towards them into the clearing when Kakashi noticed him. He made sure that his Genin couldn't tell he was nervous by hiding it with sarcasm. "Like keeping your teammates waiting?" Naruto just smirked. "I like to make sure I'm prepared." Sakura growled. "Baka! You kept us waiting!" She made to hit him admonishingly but Naruto blocked her causing her to get angrier, but she didn't do anything else.
Kakashi just sighed at the two and took out a clock, setting the timer on it to six hours and set it down on one of the stumps in the area. "Alright, this timer is set to go off at noon. Anyone who doesn't get one of these-" He held up two bells. "-gets sent back to the Academy." Sakura raised her hand and asked, "But sensei, there are only two bells. Won't one of us get sent back to the Academy no matter what?" Kakashi nodded. "Exactly." Naruto narrowed his eyes at that.
"Oh, and before I forget, anyone who doesn't get a bell by the end of the timer also gets tied to one of those logs and has to watch as I eat my lunch. Alright your time starts...now." Immediately after he said that Sasuke and Sakura jumped away while Naruto made seven Shadow Clones. Each Naruto jumped off into different directions, disappearing. Naruto's mind went into overdrive thinking of what exactly was wrong with this picture.
"There's no such thing as a three man cell in Konoha, no matter how skilled they are. Not just that but Konoha has always promoted teamwork and cooperation, all the way back to the time of the First Hokage. Pitting us against each other like this seems to completely go against that. Hmm...what could this really be about? It seems to me like this test is all about self sacrifice. To see which of us is willing to put the team ahead of themselves. The best way to get this test over with is to get Sasuke to join the team first. If Sasuke joins, Sakura follows. Good thing I spent the morning preparing for this."
Naruto summoned a clone to look for Sasuke and Sakura. Sasuke was the only one hidden relatively well. Sakura was stuck in a genjutsu. He stood behind Sasuke. "Sasuke, we need to work together." Sasuke looked at him skeptically. "No, you'll just get in my way." Naruto didn't budge. "The real meaning of this test is self sacrifice and teamwork, not raw power. You don't honestly think you'll be able to catch a Jounin off guard do you? The only way we stand a chance is together."
Sasuke contemplated it for a moment. 'Damn, he has a point.' "Alright, where's Sakura?" Naruto just ran off deeper into the forest. "Follow me." Off they went, until they found Sakura on the floor in a genjutsu. "Could you wake her up Sasuke?" When Sasuke broke her out of the genjutsu she tried to latch onto him asking him if he was okay. "Sakura, I want you to join the team." She looked towards Naruto with a disgusted look. "Why would I want to join a team with you?" Naruto spoke without missing a beat. "Because Sasuke's on the team." Sakura looked surprised then sighed. "Fine, but only because Sasuke-kun's on the team too."
Naruto dispelled his clones. Turns out Kakashi was still out in the open. "Come on. I have a plan." Without giving them a chance to retort he left to join the Jounin out in the open. When all three of them landed, Kakashi had stopped being nervous. "Oh, are all three of you teaming up on me?" Sasuke and Sakura nodded. Kakashi continued. "Well, you'll still need to beat me to get these bells." Naruto pulled out a book. "I don't think that'll be necessary." He held the book in front of him and Kakashi's eyes widened. "I-is that-" Naruto opened the book and interrupted him. "I think you know exactly what this is Kakashi-sensei."
Kakashi gulped. "T-the Extremely Limited Collector's Edition of Make Out Tactics: Icha Icha Paradise! Personally autographed by Jiraiya of the Sannin!" Naruto asked him a question with a mean smirk. "Can you imagine where I got this from Kakashi-sensei?" Kakashi paled. "B-but how! I had it perfectly hidden in my apartment!" Naruto answered. "I'll admit it took me awhile to find it. The only reason I didn't get caught looking for it is because you weren't there to begin with. Now, give Sasuke and Sakura the bells or I rip every single page out of this book. One. By. One."
Kakashi panicked a little. There were only five in existence after all. "O-okay! Just c-calm down!" He said as he pulled the bells off his belt. As he handed them to Sasuke and Sakura, they couldn't help but gape at how easy this was. How did he even know this would work?! Sasuke looked at Naruto, a little impressed. "How did you know that would work?"
Naruto looked at him, silent for a moment. "He trained me." Was all he said. Kakashi, after securing his book, cleared his voice. "Alright, I think it's time we spent some time as a team." The next few hours they spent together were at the ramen shop, Ichiraku Ramen. Naruto was having a rough time sitting there as all the memories came to him. Kakashi was the first to notice, Sasuke was the second though neither said anything. An Anbu came up behind them. "Naruto Uzumaki, the Hokage wishes to speak to you."
Naruto nodded and stood up. Before he could go however, Sakura stopped him and awkwardly said to him, "Hey, uhm, thanks Naruto. I guess." They all were surprised though Naruto didn't show it. "Your welcome." Then he left.
Hokage's Office
Naruto sat down in the seat in front of the Hokage as he thought to himself. 'Should I tell him? He seems more mature but...' He looked at Naruto's unusual but functional clothes. He had to ask, "Naruto, why are you dressing like this all of a sudden." Naruto answered him. "Fear." Hiruzen urged him to go on. "Fear is the only thing cowards understand. Cowards like Mitsuki can only understand fear. Be that fear of being ordinary, weak, injured. I will be a symbol of everything they should be terrified of. A Fox in the Shadows."
As he said this Hiruzen had his answer. "Naruto, it's time you knew who your parents were."
End Chapter
