NARUTO : BORN TO LOVE AND LEAD

by happylove123

Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze is a genius who pranks all 5 nations to do what he wants, to achieve peace. He brings hope for people drowning in darkness. His burdens are heavy. So, his sensei Kakashi, helps his future hokage as dutiful shinobi and helps himself in return and Shikamaru is the advisor & brother. Strong Naruto, Strong Kakashi, Grey Kyubi, Good Itachi. Kakanaru. No underage.

7. GENINS GEAR UP

Summary:

Kakashi laments, Ibiki crackles, some genins ponder, some clan heads wonder, Naruto rocks and Shikamaru shocks.

Author's note:

I have been rewriting chapters. Please wait until I catch up to the existing chapters before I upload new ones. I love writing this story. Please support. Thanks!

Bold inside double quotes: "Brat" - Kyubi talking.

Bold no quotes: Kage bunshin no jutsu - Jutsu

Italics inside single quotes: 'Yeah right'- Internal musings/thoughts/talking mentally.

Italics no quotes: Kenjutsu- Important things.

Bold Italics: Chakra sensing Technique – Weapons or Chakra techniques that are not jutsus.

CHAPTER 6 – GENINS GEAR UP

The survival training. Naruto snorted. If this was called survival, then what was his life called? Naruto knew Kakashi would be late. He did not waste his time waiting, but he didn't want to irk his teammates, so, he sent a clone in his place half an hour earlier than the appointed time to make traps for the genin test and not to face the comments of his teammates for arriving last.

Meanwhile, the original started with his morning routine of exercises and clones for training. He analyzed the information he gathered yesterday. Naruto wanted to accelerate his plans now that he had opportunity to move freely with the agreement from Sandaime. Naruto used most of his clones on chakra manipulation and others to master many of the B-rank and some A-rank ninjutsus he started before graduating. He was also concentrating on the jutsus from the forbidden scroll and the remaining high level ninjutsus.

'What are you going to do, puny blonde?' The mighty Kyubi no Kitsune asked.

'What do you mean?' Naruto questioned.

'Yesterday was fun. It was entertaining to watch that cyclops flounder like a flounder. Are you going to continue the charade?'

'Foxy, this is about more than fun. I am officially a ninja now. It is time to deliver the promises I made, including the one I made to you. But I cannot do this alone. You are my partner. I need your help.' Naruto said slyly.

'That won't work on me. I am not your partner. But I agree, you need my help. Without me, you would die.' Kyubi retorted.

Naruto smiled at the fox. 'Keep saying that. I know you like me. I need you to remain vigilant from now on, as there will be many eyes on me, and keep an eye on our surroundings when I am distracted. I can't afford to be weak, and I also have to practice how to use your chakra properly without alerting anyone, if the mission required.'

'First of all, I don't like you. Second, I don't like to be controlled. I am only co-operating with you, so you can kill that mask man who set me on this damned village twelve years ago, as such, I will keep an eye out for you, but if I see you slacking, I will let you die. I will reform some years later and continue my vengeance. Understood?"

'Crystal clear, furball' Naruto replied cheekily much to the annoyance of the fox.

At 08:00 a.m. Naruto shunshinned to the training ground after hearty breakfast. He appeared on the nearby tree and saw his clone sleeping on another tree much to the annoyance of his teammates. Naruto sent a chakra pulse and woke his clone up, for the memory transfer of what happened before he arrived.

Few hours earlier, when Sasuke and Sakura arrived to see clone Naruto lying under a tree, Sasuke 'tch'-ed and Sakura shouted at him to get up. The clone did not get up and when Sakura wanted to hit him, Naruto stopped her with a cold stare. "Did you forget what I said yesterday? Sensei is not here, and we are not assigned any tasks. Unless it affects the mission, you do not have to bother with anything I do or do not. You hear me? Leave me alone."

Naruto clone left the shocked Sakura and Sasuke and climbed the tree to continue sleeping.

"Who wants to worry about what you do? Let the sensei come and scold you for sleeping." Sakura huffed and turned her attention to Sasuke. Sasuke was not amused and wanted to climb another tree, but he did not want to do what Naruto did first.

The original Naruto felt around for Kakashi's chakra and found him near the memorial stone. Considering it was safe, he continued writing on the folder labelled 'SO' thinking about the time he explained few things about shadow clones to Shikamaru yesterday. He asked him to bring Choji and Shino back with him to their spot today after their respective genin tests.

After two and a half hours, he felt Kakashi moving. Naruto switched places with his clone by Kawarimi jutsu. The basic techniques and their combinations were the few he mastered when he was seven. Later, he started with basic E level and D level ninjutsus and combined them together to form new ones and mastered them. One would not believe the effect of combining basic jutsus, some of them were better than high rank ninjutsus, for example, multi clone-explosion technique.

Naruo got down from the tree and landed near his teammates when Kakashi appeared in a nearby tree.

"Naruto, so you decided to come down. I thought you were not coming down at all. Why can't you be like Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked.

"I got bored Sakura-san and I don't want to be like Sasuke-san" Naruto replied in a calm tone.

"What is wrong with being like Sasuke-kun? Che, what am I saying? You can never be like Sasuke-kun." Sakura argued and Sasuke scoffed but both of them noticed the difference in Naruto's address for the first time.

Naruto ignored Sakura and asked Sasuke, "Sasuke-san, do you want me to be like you?".

"A dobe cannot be like me. Don't hold me back." Sasuke replied to Naruto and looked at Sakura pointedly as well. Naruto shook his head in disappointment and did not argue further. The new attitude of Naruto made them uncomfortable.

Kakashi saw Naruto getting down from tree when he appeared. He was observing his genins and concluded that Naruto and Sasuke rivalry had changed. Naruto was not interested in arguing with Sasuke. He was ready to talk to Sasuke first, but he stopped once Sasuke rebuked him. He was not interested in a 'showing up' match with Sasuke, like he did in the past. If his other two genins did not change soon Naruto would stop extending his friendship.

Kakashi also thought about how Sasuke and Sakura would react if they knew that Naruto was not the dobe he portrayed him to be. Kakashi was interested in what skillset Naruto would show today, like yesterday's tree climbing.

Yesterday evening, Kakashi asked Asuma did he already gave the genin test to his students, but he replied in negative and told him that they just went for food and the test would be today, just like team seven. So, the Nara heir Shikamaru did not tell him about the secret of the test and yet somehow Naruto knew about it.

Naruto looked relaxed, but he was thinking how he could change the arrogant attitude of Sasuke. He was not going to ignore Sasuke, but he did not plan on continue to be a doormat either. He was not planning on upstaging Sasuke by a landslide, only a little, because it would attract council's attention and unwanted hatred on Sakura's part. It was not anything he could not handle but he did not want to handle, hence the downplaying.

Moreover, Sasuke, who was power hungry and easily prone to jealousy, would do something like what he did when he was a child. Sasuke might have forgot what happened, but Naruto could never, as he was the victim of Sasuke's desire to prove his power as an Uchiha. Sakura on the other hand, would complain in her home that I showed up Sasuke, without intention to harm, but her mother, who got Sakura on this team to get Uchiha's prestige by letting her daughter bearing his name, would inform unpleasant characters in the council. Naruto knew that Sakura didn't know she was being used by the council. That was why their plan worked so well in their favour.

He had to play dodgeball with his team for time being while giving hints to Kakashi. Naruto already knew Kakashi was ordered to focus on Sasuke and ignore him. He did not want that to happen, so he decided to get Kakashi's interest by playing his hand yesterday. Now, he was waiting to see how Kakashi would play this out.

After few minutes, it seemed Sakura gave up pestering Sasuke again and started a rant about the sensei who had no concept of punctuality. Naruto waited for another half an hour, for Kakashi to come and meet them.

Kakashi decided to show up around eleven a.m. with two bento and an alarm clock.

"You are late." Sakura shouted.

Kakashi gave a sheepish smile. "Maa, I got lost road on the life first and found an old lady who wanted help to carry her groceries. Then I had to fight a chipmunk to get walnuts for her."

Sasuke and Sakura looked at him disbelievingly and Sakura started screaming "Liar!"

Naruto could see this would become team seven's routine every morning.

Kakashi was ready for Sakura's outburst at his excuse, but he did not expect Naruto's shuriken. Kakashi caught the shuriken and gave a stinky eye to the smirk on Naruto's face.

"Maa, it is not good to maim your sensei before the test. Who knows? I might fail you." Kakashi said lazily and Naruto gave him a deadpan expression implying his question Really?

Kakashi ignored the knowing look and showed the bells. He explained that the genins had until noon, which was an hour away, to get bells from him.

"Sensei, there are only two bells." Sakura said and Sasuke looked curious.

"Right, who doesn't have the bells have to go back to the academy" Kakashi explained boredly. Sakura was shocked, Sasuke looked determined, and Naruto had a plain expression.

"Come at me with intent to kill." Kakashi ordered.

"We could kill you, sensei" Sakura said naively.

'As if they could touch his hair!' Naruto did not know whether to be impressed by their confidence or laugh at their stupidly.

Kakashi smiled and told them not to worry. He was expecting Naruto to start already because of the shuriken at the beginning but he was standing there patiently. "Start."

Two of his genins went into hiding but Naruto was still opened his orange book and asked Naruto what he was doing.

"Thinking." Naruto replied.

"You already know about the test. Aren't you going to help them pass?"

"A fall into a ditch makes you wiser."

Kakashi was amused. "Crude and rude." Naruto shrugged.

"What now? Do you want to try for a bell." Kakashi wanted to know how Naruto was going to get the bells.

"I am not an Uchiha to test my power, and I know, I will lose if we fight. Even though you and I both know the council had already ordered you to pass this team, still we have to continue this farce, because I know the hokage is watching the test to learn about me, my wayward teammates are waiting to see how I will lose as they cannot hear us talking and you want to learn more about the skills I am not going to show without understanding you more. In the words of my lazy friend, troublesome."

Kakashi should have known that Naruto would find out about his orders. "You are the number one, most unpredictable, hyperactive, knucklehead ninja."

"Why knucklehead?" Naruto pouted.

Kakashi let out a chuckle at the childish action. "You know the hokage was watching and must be some ANBU too, right? Yet you talk about knowing information you should not know about."

"Who said I did not think about that?"

'And yet he is not scared.' "Hence the knucklehead. Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers."

'He has a nine tailed fox made of volatile chakra inside. No need to fear the common animals.' Naruto talked ignoring the Kyubi singing his own praises

"Ano, I and ANBU who are close to hokage, have an unspoken agreement on what is fun and what line is not to be crossed. They may be irritated with me because of my pranks, but I know they are also the ones who are protective of me as much as the hokage, maybe even more, especially Tori-san."

'Ha, Tenzo really likes Naruto as I thought. I knew he would protect Naruto in my place when I asked him to, before leaving for the long-term mission, but to think Naruto liked him that much... I am not jealous, really, ok, a little bit. I was Naruto's favourite ANBU when he was young.' The infamous Kakashi did not sulk.

All the ANBU pointedly ignored the hokage's eyes at first and turned as one to the said Tori-san. Tenzo, aka, ANBU Tori, gave a deer in headlights look, when he was looked at by the hokage and all his ANBU peers. He had a frigid expression under his ANBU mask but was inevitably touched that the little orange rascal who he had watched grow up, remembered him and he was not just a faceless mask in the crowd to someone other than his colleagues. Unlike his fellow ANBU, he did not serve as a regular ninja and had never made connections outside.

In the training ground, after his envy paused, Kakashi remembered the fury emulated by Naruto yesterday. "I thought you hated the hokage?"

"I am angry at him and disappointed with him, but I don't hate him. I am not unaware of his goodwill and if I am not, I would have taken up the plenty of offers from others to be join their camp to have menial comforts. Despite the misgivings, I will always be grateful for what the old man has done for me. I will continue calling him 'hokage-jiji' in future, to not arouse suspicions about my relationship with him, but I hope one day I can call him 'jiji' and mean it like when I was young. Though I will not trust him again, ever."

Kakashi knew that this was Naruto's way of saying he would not join the council's and elders' troop just to spite the hokage. Naruto might not see the hokage eye to eye, but he would not betray the old man who showed him the first bout of affection. And in spite of any, if redemptions were made by hokage, it would be welcomed but it would not undo the damage already made. Kakashi had a feeling this not trusting ever again part was because there was a reason beyond the hokage's inattention in teaching the clone jutsu to Naruto.

"Why don't we start sensei?" Naruto created hundreds of shadow clones.

Kakashi raised his eyes at Naruto's ability to create the sheer number of clones and ripped them apart with fireball jutsu. Kakashi ended with some advice never let your enemies behind your back, and his special jutsu, One Thousand years of pain. The clones dispelled and Naruto who was lying on the tree got their memories continuously.

"Clones huh, He was never here, smart." Kakashi tried to find Naruto and found his chakra signature on a tree somewhere. Meanwhile, Naruto was having a panic attack. He was heaving with a hand on his chest.

"Calm down, kid. Breathe through it." Kyubi grumbled and Naruto was trying to concentrate on the fox's voice.

Kakashi found Sakura and took her out with the first genjutsu taught in the academy: Magen: Narakumi no Jutsu (Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique).

Sasuke started with some traps and taijutsu and impressed Kakashi with Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire release: Fire ball jutsu) but went down by Kakashi's Doton: Shinjū Zanshu no Jutsu (Earth release: Head hunter jutsu). Only his head was just above the ground like a sheep ready for slaughter.

Kakashi went to search Naruto and found him sitting on a tree, just after Naruto got himself under control. Kakashi looked at his ruffled state with doubts, from the branch above and Naruto looked from below with a small "Hi sensei." Kakashi didn't ask why Naruto was upset and for that Naruto was grateful.

"Why are you not trying to get the bells?" Kakashi asked stopping himself from asking about his state as opposed to the composed one he had been seeing for the past two days. He didn't think the blonde would answer.

"I tried sensei. You fought me."

"I fought your clones."

"You never said we should not use them." Naruto countered.

Kakashi hummed and threw a kunai at Naruto. Naruto pulled a seal less kawarimi with a nearby stone and escaped. Kakashi shunshinned near Naruto but Naruto already created a clone and pulled a kawarimi midway. Kakashi was attacking a clone again. He was surprised. Kakashi found a smirking Naruto nearby and came at an accelerated speed. This continued at least three times before Kakashi got irritated by an evading genin. He was not using his full speed, but he still used chunin level speed and it irked him that he still could not find the original.

Naruto replaced him with a log, created a clone and kawarimi-ed behind Kakashi with a kunai. "Never let an enemy to get behind your back." Naruto shot back Kakashi's own words at him, knowing full well that was Kakashi's clone.

The original Kakashi was on a nearby tree. His clone poofed and Naruto dispelled his clone too. After a series of cat and mouse game, Kakashi found the real Naruto and used full jonin speed to appear in front of him. Kakashi had a doubt Naruto let him and he would be right because the next second Naruto threw a kunai at the nearby bush springing traps. Kakashi was bombarded with projectiles. Kakashi was busy deflecting that when Naruto appear midway to fight him with taijutsu. Kakashi created a clone to help with projectiles and concentrated on the spar. Whenever Kakashi tried to hit him, Naruto replaced it with earth clones dissolving into mud.

When Kakashi performed Shuriken Kage Bunshin no jutsu (Shuriken Shadow clone technique), Naruto countered it with Futon: Hanpatsu Kaze no Jutsu (Wind release: Retrieving Wind Technique) and pulled the incoming projectiles along with Kakashi towards him, when his clones deflected all the projectiles, Naruto feigned the punch but kicked Kakashi at last minute who had to block it with his hands in front of his chest.

Kakashi had to take few steps back from the impact. 'He hits hard and had trained well to change his attack at the last minute.' When Kakashi wanted to continue the fight and expected to see Naruto smirking or going for bells, Naruto raised his hands in front of him in surrender motion.

"Let's stop here sensei. I don't want to continue, and Sakura is about to wake up. If she sees my fighting skills, she will tell Sasuke. We don't want to send my teammates on inferiority-superiority complex trip. It is odd both of them have the same condition."

Kakashi shook his head at that. "What is with the last jutsu? When I threw projectiles, I did not expect you to use ninjutsu at all, but if one has to use wind release, they will go with Futon: Boufuu Kyouzuu no Jutsu (Wind release: Gale Surge) to repel the projectiles and not use retrieving jutsu to pull them towards themselves. But good use of E-rank jutsu to pull one over a jonin."

"Most unpredictable ninja, remember?" Naruto gave a small smile.

"Indeed." Kakashi snickered a little.

"Thanks, but I know you were holding back a lot. Now, we wait while my clones unearth the bruised-ego avenger and wake up the 'all hat and no cattle' love-brain. Let's hope they accept my help and get this drama over with."

'Well, that is one way of saying useless. At least, he is nice about it.' Kakashi started analysing his fight with Naruto. 'Good taijutsu on par with Sasuke but I think he is still holding back. He is very good at dodging my weapons and he could incorporate shadow clones with his fighting style. Makes me wonder how long he knew the shadow clone technique. Then there is the earth clone. He only showed E-rank wind technique, but he could use them seamlessly and include it in his fight. He is at least low chunin level if I had to evaluate him.'

Naruto huffed and shook his head in exasperation. "Your kawaii genins do not want my help."

"Maa, let's go. I will tie Sakura to the post and give your team another chance." Kakashi sighed at the divided team.

"You should tie me to the post."

"Why, she was the only one who did not try for the bell?" Kakashi was confused.

"I don't want to get into council's eyes yet. You tie her up, her mother will start to dig what happened here and ask how the dead-last could be better than her 'kunoichi of the year' daughter? I want to buy me sometime till chunin exams, but I don't want to be a pushover. I want to slowly build my reputation and achieve my goal."

"Maa, don't worry. You will become a famous ninja one day and until then, I can still protect you as your sensei to most part."

Naruto raised his eyebrows at that. "Don't make promises you can't keep."

"Maa, I told you I am not like your academy senseis."

"I am not taking about them. I am talking about others. There were others who said the same thing buy they all had other priorities. Everyone chose something over me, eve-ry-one." Kakashi's whole frame went rigid at the last part. 'I can't refuse because even his father did the same.' Naruto questioned unaware of his inner turmoil which only increased Kakashi's guilt further. "I mean, when you formed this team, did not you hope that I would be cheerful and form a sibling like rivalry with Sasuke and make him see the light while stroking Sakura's confidence. You changed the plan because I changed."

Kakashi wanted to say something to deny that, but he couldn't. He did think like what Naruto said but he did not think how it would affect Naruto. 'What was I about to do? Genin team are friends for life. How could I think it is okay to let Sakura physically abuse Naruto? Unlike Sasuke, who once had a family, Naruto did not know any form of affection and I was hoping to use Naruto's sense of craving for approval, for this team to work. As much as Sasuke needs bonds, this team is Naruto's first chance to be accepted somewhere, a place to belong. I was about to exploit an orphan's weakness to make this team work, which may or may not work in Naruto's favour, since I am not sure he would get the same sense of acknowledgement he provides his teammates.'

Kakashi begrudgingly looked at his own behaviour. 'Have I deteriorated to the point I am used to mistreatment of Naruto; I unconsciously ignore it like all others? I used to think I care about Naruto, but unknowingly, I prioritised others' welfare and was about to ignore what Naruto needs, thinking it was nothing new for Naruto and he could handle. I am just like the hokage, no, worse, at least he did some good things for Naruto. We both say we care, but our actions do not reflect that, and we consciously and unconsciously ignore Naruto's well-being and hope everything works out, by exploiting and not improving his status quo.'

Naruto looked at Kakashi as if he could look through his thoughts. Naruto's next words made Kakashi's guilt worse. "Sakura is hellbent on getting Sasuke, so, she is working hard to be on the same team with him and get his attention. Sasuke is hellbent on getting revenge, so, he is working hard on his own to be a 'rookie of the generation' and getting more power. If Sasuke and Sakura are concentrating on their own goals, why should not I? I am not here to judge, but I don't think my goals are not worse, if not better than theirs. When they are working hard towards their ambition, why should I waste my time on chasing them around, especially when they don't show the same amount of concern or at least common courtesy to me as their teammate? I am not their family and they made it a point for years that I am not their friend. It is not my job to guide them to right path. As a teammate, I would defend Sasuke and Sakura, and you, if it required, and apart from that, I will be civil with those two but don't expect me to be a patsy they could use to cover up their insecurities."

Naruto exhaled loudly at the end of his speech and Kakashi stood there listening intently. "Naruto, I don't know what to say. I did think like what you said but I did not really have any ill-will towards to you. I was just worried about teamwork of this team and missed the cost I have to pay, your growth and well-being. I was ready to unknowingly ignore one of my teammates, ironically, for the sake of 'teamwork'. It is a grave mistake that will result in 'another' failure and thank you for making me realise it, 'for not letting me make mistakes that I will regret later'. I am not good at this sensei thing, but that is not a valid excuse to know I have to help all my students. You are right, I will help you all to become a great ninja."

"I know. That's why I talked to you. If I think you are a hopeless case like my academy senseis, I would not have said anything, and you don't dismiss me, unlike Iruka sensei. If you had not listened and agreed to be reasonable today, I would not have bothered with you next time."

"So, I passed the test huh?"

"Yeah, unlike your other two genins. You don't have to worry though. I have no intention of antagonizing them. I will try but I won't sacrifice much of my time and dignity on unreciprocated efforts. Let's hope they are decent, and this team works."

"Speaking of which, how do you know about my bell test?"

"I did not know it was your test until I heard the bells jingled from your pouch yesterday. You must have found them when you were assigned a team, again." Naruto gave a smirk to Kakashi's irritation to be assigned genins every year whom he promptly failed.

"I have seen jonin senseis run around with the bells before, for testing the graduates."

"Ah, so you heard the meaning of the test from them!"

"Nope, hyperactive remember? I can't wait for hours for them to finish the test or follow them around without the jonin knowing."

"Oh!"

"I found out the meaning of this test, after your little speech yesterday. I did not give it much thought before until you said and I quote, 'Out of the 27 graduates, only nine are going to become genin. The other 18 will be sent back to the academy. In other words, this training has dropout rate of 66%.' I have spent enough time in hokage tower to know all teams are made of 3 members headed by a jonin sensei/captain. That's when it clicked, this was about teamwork, and not to mention, you stressed about not letting your teammates down, yesterday."

Kakashi noted down Naruto's memory was good under 'later' pile. "Your brain runs around as much as you. When I meant hyperactive, I did not mean your brain, guess, I should include that too."

"You should." The bell rang just then. "Now, off you go sensei, haul my teammates and let's tie me to a post."

Kakashi rescued Sasuke and Sakura from their sorry state and entered the clearing to see Naruto had already tied himself to the post. Kakashi heard what Naruto said, but he had every intention to treat the kid fairly as much as he could without the council knowing, hence, Sasuke and Sakura were tied alongside Naruto as well. The council could not have doubts when he tied everyone to the posts.

"You guys fail!"

Naruto sighed while the other two looked defeated.

Sasuke and Sakura were visibly worried when Kakashi looked at them. "You two should not go back to the academy. You should quit being a ninja altogether."

"What about the dobe?" Sakura asked and Sasuke was mirroring the question with his face.

"He did not pass either, at least, for the supposed dead-last he did not fail miserably. Sakura, you did not even try to get the bell, Sasuke, you underestimate people too much and let your anger cloud your mind when you fail. I saw the kunai you were about to throw at my back in anger, when you were following me to rescue Sakura. You cannot accept that you lost, to someone who was above you in strength and experience, and I don't want to think what you would do if you lost someone to your age. Moreover, when I criticize, instead of trying to salvage your situation, both of you, deflect your shortcomings on your teammate. That's why you are not suitable for ninja life."

Sakura looked embarrassed that her new sensei, not sensei now that she failed, called her out on her behaviour, unlike her academy senseis who usually just told her to be silent and reprimanded Naruto. Sasuke was angry that he was still weak and failed the test. He could not afford to spend another year in academy if he wanted revenge soon.

Naruto did not expect Kakashi would punish or scold them. He felt warm and begin to get a glimpse of his Inu slowly resurfacing in Kakashi.

"I will give you guys one more chance after lunch. Try to pass the test then." Kakashi said and vanished with a shunshin.

All three of them looked at each other and ground for many minutes tied to their posts and Sakura, obviously the one lacking patience, her first reaction was of course, to cover her embarrassment and boost her self-confidence by putting Naruto down."

"Don't be proud Naruto. You might not be smart enough to understand what sensei said, so I will explain it to you. He said that as you are a dead-last, he expected nothing of you, unlike us."

"That's not the issue now, Sakura-san. We have to come with a plan to get the bell later. Sasuke-san, let's all team up to get the bells."

"Hn. I don't want to team with losers. I will do it myself."

"I don't see a bell anywhere when you fought alone." Naruto eye rolled internally.

Sasuke was already mad that he lost to Kakashi, now that Kakashi had praised Naruto however disparagingly, his anger turned to Naruto. He did not want to listen to anything Naruto said though he might be right.

"Tch, dobe. Shut up and let people with brain do something."

"Stop talking and let Sasuke-kun think Naruto." Sakura threw her useless advice.

Naruto ignored her. "Guys, I have a plan and let's proceed with it first."

"Why do we have to go with your plan first?"

'Because if I go through with my plan, we can finish this farce and I don't have to put up with your whining any longer for the day.' "Do you have a plan, Sasuke? If yes, let's hear."

Sasuke was embarrassed. "Why should I tell you of my plan? You are not part of it, and you will spoil it anyway."

"Listen, I am not saying we should not go with your plan. We can go with it, if mine doesn't work. Before you ask Sasuke, it is not because of me wanting to prove my superiority but because my plan is simple and easy, and all you guys have to do is say 'yes' whenever I ask you guys anything, that's it, and no, Sakura, I am not saying this to ask you on a date in a roundabout way." Naruto shut them up before they opened their mouth and they deflated. Both of them could not help Naruto's vocabulary was nothing fancy but greatly improved in these past two days as opposed to him usually mispronouncing 'chakra' as 'catra'.

Naruto thought for a minute and decided to lower himself a little to appease his teammates for a sensei who was trying his best. "Moreover, if my we go by my plan first and it fail, nothing will happen as you guys have back up plans, but if you guys, top graduates fail the test first, again, sensei will not be willing to listen to me. So, if you guys agree, let's get out of the ropes first."

The emphasis on again made them backpedal on all the protests. Naruto did not give them a chance and got out of the ropes and untied Sakura while Sasuke untied himself. Kakashi appeared suddenly with a threatening glare in his single eye. "What do you guys think you are doing?"

Sakura was scared, Sasuke was slightly shaken too but Naruto's voice steadied them in a silent murmur. "Remember guys, just say yes to everything I ask you."

Kakashi continued to pretend. "I told you guys should wait until I came break from lunch to untie you from your posts."

"That's because we got the bells. Right guys?"

Sasuke and Sakura looked at him in shock and confusion 'Did he get the bells?' but Naruto signalled them with his eyes. "Yes." They chirped.

"Is that so? Then what is this?" Kakashi showed two bells from his waist.

Kakashi looking at Naruto intriguingly wondering what Naruto was playing at. Sasuke and Sakura looked ready to murder Naruto with their eyes as he told a white lie and now they had to get punished for lying as well as failing but Naruto was not deterred.

"Your bells are fake. We got the real bells, but you are showing the fake to purposely fail us. Right guys?" Sasuke and Sakura looked increasingly confused but they could see Naruto had a solid plan with his confident tone. "Guys?" Naruto nudged them again.

"Yes sensei." "Your bells are fake."

Kakashi raised his eyebrows. "Oh, how did you get them?"

"We got the bells when Sasuke engaged you in close combat and I shielded your visibility with my shadow clones and projectiles while Sakura henged as my clone got the bells while you were distracted when my clone tried to steal your orange book and Sasuke's fireball jutsu."

Sasuke and Sakura looked at Naruto incredulously. 'Shit, we should have listened to him when he came to help us. His plan would have worked.'

"Right guys?"

"Yes." Sasuke and Sakura agreed a little more enthusiastically than before though Sasuke's expressions were muted.

Kakashi watched the drama unfold interestingly. "Is that so? Where are the real bells then?"

"We lost them." Naruto simply shrugged.

"You guys lost it? What kind of ninja can't even keep the bells safe?"

'Don't falter now dobe / Naruto-baka.' Naruto did not disappoint. "We did not lose them because we forgot where we kept it, we lost it because you continued to fight to take those bells back from us. I looked you up. You have not passed single genin team till now because you don't want to do low rank missions you had to do when you become a jonin sensei, so you wanted to take back those bells to fail us, and when you could not, you went to buy fake ones in the name of lunch break. Right guys?"

Sasuke and Sakura were caught in the magic wove by Naruto and unconsciously nodded their heads.

Kakashi was watching their expressions with increasing amusement. Though he wanted to pass them and done with it, he wanted to poke Naruto's story and see could he handle further probing. "It does not matter if you got them, there are only two bells. Only two could pass and who is the one going back to the academy?"

Sasuke and Sakura looked at Naruto unconsciously and Kakashi wondered whether they two realise they were relying on him already as though he was their team leader.

"Stop lying sensei." Kakashi had a déjà vu. "There were three bells. Sakura even asked you, as there are three bells should we get one for each of us or get one together as a team, and your answer was the first one."

'Smooth Naruto, smooth. This little blonde will be a golden boy in T&I (Torture and Interrogation) Unit. I should introduce him to Ank-, no, Ibiki would be fine.'

Sasuke and Sakura were so engrossed in the story they almost believed that was what happened, but Sasuke got his bearings in time while Sakura took some time.

"Guys, yes?"

Sasuke and Sakura looked at him with wide eyes and open mouth in bafflement at his story telling before agreeing one after another. "Hn. Yes." "Ye…Yes…Yes sensei."

Kakashi looked at the twin parrots and wondered how Naruto could make them agree to anything he said.

"So let me get this right. Me, a jonin, had three bells and you guys, three genins, took them from me, and then you proceeded to lose it because I fought with you guys to take it back. Later, I bought fake bells. Is that what you are saying?"

Naruto was ever confident. "Yes. That's what we are saying."

"Is that what Naruto is saying or all three of you together are accusing, me, your jonin sensei?"

Sakura gulped; Sasuke tensed. Sakura was opening and closing her mouth and seemed to come to a decision. The look on her eyes told she was going to cave unlike Sasuke who was somewhat still wavering but determined to see through the lie.

Naruto interrupted her before she talked and spoiled the plan. "Look sensei, my clones are coming, and they found all three bells we lost." Three Naruto clones came just then and threw a bell at each one of them which they caught reflexively.

"What?!" Sakura was shocked but when Sasuke gave her a look to get her shit together, she covered her blender by overaction. "See sensei, we did get the bells. You can't fail us on purpose."

Sasuke only thought she overacted but Naruto knew better. Naruto inhaled sharply. 'You stupid girl, you are not a civilian anymore, you are a ninja now. You can say you are not lying but you can't 'accuse' your superior. He could punish you for that especially when you have no evidence and, in this case, you are at fault. There are other ways to go about that and you should be careful with your words. You can say you are not lying without pointing fingers at him. Talk less or our team will be doomed if you pull this with other ninjas.'

Kakashi obviously noticed what Naruto did and discreetly shook his head in disappointment at Sakura. 'I have lot of work cut out for me.'

Naruto composed himself after few breaths. "We obviously got the bells. So, we pass?"

"Yes. You guys pass!" Kakashi announced with an eye smile.

Sakura jumped in joy that she could be in her Sasuke-kun's team. Sasuke was relieved he could train to get his revenge. Naruto just wanted to get away.

Kakashi took the two mint genins and one demon container to the KIA (Killed in Action) memorial stone. He explained his friend names were also in there. "I did not pass you because of the poor excuse of lies Naruto told. I passed you because you guys covered for him. That was the true purpose of the test. Teamwork. My friend once told me the words I live by, listen carefully, in ninja life, those who break the rules are trash, but who abandon their comrades are worse than trash."

Naruto looked at the memorial stone. It had names he recognised and some. After that, Kakashi told the genins to meet tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. same place and shunshinned to the nearby tree.

Sakura was expecting Naruto to ask her out on a date. But he was still looking at the memorial stone. She ignored him and pestered Sasuke for date. He refused and left. Sakura followed him.

Naruto was still looking at the memorial. Kakashi observed his dark-red jumpsuit clad blonde student and appeared beside him. Naruto's shoulder tensed and relaxed once again.

"What do you want sensei?"

"Maa, I just came to see why my cute student is looking grim?"

"I am thinking about all those who deserved to be here but could not, due to various reasons. There will be nothing to prove their life."

Kakashi hummed. "Their names may not be in here, but their legacy will live through those people who they protected."

Naruto agreed. "Yeah. It is our duty to honour them."

"Do you lose someone who is not here?'

"Do you, sensei? I mean, will you tell me if your friends are here?" Naruto raised his eyebrows pointedly.

'Right. Exchange of information.' Kakashi replied, "Rin". Naruto was surprised at the unexpected response, but Kakashi was still looking at the memorial stone. Even Kakashi wasn't sure why he said it. Maybe it was because Naruto didn't have any intentions behind questioning him. But Kakashi thought it was because of Naruto's look in his eyes. No judgement, no sympathy, just the eyes of someone who was as haunted as Kakashi. "She died in the crossfire. I could not save her, but her name is here."

Neither said anything for a long time until Naruto broke the silence. "I lost someone to suicide. That person does have a grave, but the name is not in this KIA memorial. It should be here, after all, that person died because he did not want Konoha to be under fire."

Kakashi was curious but knew not to probe. But he could ask something simple. "What is their name?" Naruto smiled mirthfully. "I told you my friend's name. It is only fair you return the favour."

"It is not that I don't want to tell you, sensei, I can't, because they made me promise not to reveal it until it was necessary."

"Why should the name of all your friends secret? Is this person powerful as the last one too?"

Naruto eyes became unfocused as if he was reminiscing something. "One of the most powerful I have known. Though I can't tell you the name I can tell you something else. Like your friend imparted wisdom to you, mine said something I live by too. 'It does not matter how many jutsus you know, it only matters how you use it. Keep things simple.'"

"Ah, that's why you could use simple E-rank futon jutsus that surprising well and touch me unlike Sasuke's C-rank fireball jutsu."

"Yup. Ninjas need not be flashy." Naruto nodded.

"Wise words ninja nowadays do not understand." Kakashi agreed and remembered something. "Give my bell back."

Naruto chuckled at that and threw his bell back. His bell was from taken from Kakashi while the other two his teammates got were fake. "You are really fond of that bell."

Kakashi ignored the comment. "When did you take it?"

"My clone did when we you were talking about how you had no idea how to be a sensei?" Naruto replied making Kakashi wilt. 'I was distracted by my emotions. Some ninja I am.'

"Master of pranks, king of misdirection, remember?"

"Unpredictable Knucklehead."

"Nah, Konoha's orange hellion."

Kakashi gave him a dirty look. "If you had the plan to spin a ridiculous story why bother taking the bell from me? You could have faked this bell too."

"Well, the future generation can't say their hokage could not get the bell from his sensei during his genin test."

"Your goal is still to become a hokage?"

"Iruka sensei must have misunderstood when he eavesdropped. I never had any doubts about being a hokage, I just had doubts about what kind of hokage I want to be."

"Have you decided?"

"I don't have relevant experience to decide that, but I know what not to do. I am not going to follow in my predecessor's way. I am going to find my own way."

Naruto froze Kakashi in his place with a look that screamed promise, power and protection.

"I want to be a hokage who has support of all my ninjas. I want to be a hokage who my ninjas draw strength from and move forward without fear. I want to cast a long shadow where my soldiers can rest and be protected, with me as their back up. I want to be a hokage powerful enough that Konoha's Will of Fire will not burn her leaflings and harvest their lives as sacrifice. I want to be a hokage my ninjas are proud to follow. When I win, I want them with me on the top, and when I fail, I want to able to look at their eyes and say I tried and let's go to hell together. That's the kind of hokage I want to be, and I am just not sure how to go about it."

Kakashi had to physically stop himself from bowing on his knees to the twelve-year-old ninja. He could not help but see his sensei in Naruto's steely visage. Minato had the same sense of loyalty and determination towards his subordinates, now, Naruto was the same, but there was something else in Naruto's eyes that set them apart. Naruto knew failures of his own and others, especially people of power, intimately, which was why he had clear cognizance on what he wanted from his ninjas and what his ninjas needed from him. 'He will make a great hokage.'

Kakashi proceeded to tell him that. "You will make a great hokage Naruto. Don't worry about 'how' for now. Keep moving forward under your seniors' shadow for now and you will find his way along the journey. We will help you. I will help you."

Naruto gave a nonchalant smile not entirely believing that. "Thanks sensei."

"No Naruto. I mean it. You are not alone, and you don't have to be alone. We are here, scratch that, I can't talk for others, but I will be here for you, always."

Naruto gave an intense look that pierced through Kakashi. "Sensei, a promise is something I take seriously. It will not be easy to uphold a promise made to me, because it is me. Think about all the repercussions seriously."

Kakashi understood what Naruto was saying. It would be easy to support Sasuke or Sakura, but if he promised to stay by Naruto then he would have butt heads with Konoha's authorities. Naruto knew that and he was giving him a way out, but Kakashi had not worried about them in a long while. "I am serious too Naruto. I pro-"

"Sensei, don't. Give it a day, sleep on it tonight and answer me tomorrow. If you are sure, know that, once you promised, I will expect you to stand by that promise and I will hold you responsible. Make a choice. If you don't make a promise, that's ok too. We can be sensei-student until I make chunin and we go separate ways after that. Think about all the responsibilities that come with the promise carefully."

Naruto vanished with a shunshin and Kakashi stood there thinking about what just happened.

"You played a dangerous game there." Kyubi mused.

'I know. But I have to let him know he can't just waltz in and out of my life as he wished. If he back out now, it will be hard, but I will get over the fact that he has changed and move on, but if he promised knowing the dangers then I will not let him go even if he wavers.'

Naruto replied and went to see his friends after buying ramen from his favourite people in Konoha.

At the hokage office:

After the hokage watched Naruo's performance through crystal ball, he invited other jonin senseis inside to start the meeting knowing Kakashi would be late.

"Team 8 consisting of Aburame Shino, Hyuga Hinata and Inuzaka Kiba passed." said Kurenai, genjutsu mistress of Konoha and a fellow jounin sensei.

"Team 10 consisting of Akimichi Choji, Yamanaka Ino and Nara Shikamaru passed." Said Asuma, a fellow jonin sensei, now in charge of famous Ino-shika-Cho team announced.

"Sorry I am late. I have to rescue lost ducklings and return them to their mother." Kakashi reported appearing out of nowhere making his fellow jonins twitch and groan at his poor excuse. "Team 7 passed."

The hokage dismissed others. "Kakashi, how did they perform?"

"They passed barely Sandaime-sama."

Hiruzen pulled a puff out of his pipe and asked, "How is Naruto?"

"I don't believe he is a dead last."

The hokage started smoking his pipe and signalled Kakashi to continue.

"His speed and taijutsu is better than Sasuke. Naruto used basic academy jutsus and E-rank jutsu. But the way he used; he really is creative. He may be a genius in his own right."

The hokage sighed. "I suspected as much."

"I believe he will become the hokage." Kakashi shook his head and added, "No, he will surpass all the hokage."

Sandaime was interested to know what made his aloof elite ex-ANBU captain who worshipped Yondaime, say that about a genin who had yet to achieve anything.

"Naruto has a vision as to what Konoha should be and it is somewhat same as Shodaime and Nidaime and yet different, more refined and it is not empty optimism. He has better Will of fire than most of our ninja force, you included hokage-sama." The hokage's eyebrows raised in question and Kakashi signaled for secrecy.

The hokage dismissed everyone except Kakashi and ANBU Tori. Kakashi began to explain his earlier conversation with Naruto about his goals.

Sandaime did not say anything but stepped to the window to see Konoha through it.

"Kakashi, listen to my next orders carefully. I see a ninja worthy of Nidaime's legacy sprouting in leaf village after a long time and we should not let it wither by some unworthy nuisances. I will support him more from now on, as I always should have. I cannot support him explicitly, but I can stop others from interfering with his training. Naruto is right about council. I cannot give him his heritage, but I can give him some of their belongings. This is not an official mission, but I know you would be willing. From today onwards, you will be in charge of Naruto's protection. This is a S-rank mission I am assigning you for indeterminate period of time. You can get Tori's help if needed. I guess he would be willing?"

ANBU Tori, known as Tenzo stood in attention. "Hai Hokage-sama. Would you like me to train him when Kakashi senpai is not available?"

"There is no need for that. Naruto already said he will find people on his own. What I mean is, since he is going to sow some of his skills, there will be unwanted attention on him, some are dangerous. I don't want anyone like Mizuki to appear and endanger Naruto again."

"Do you suspect someone else is behind Mizuki incident other than Orochimaru, hokage-sama, any elders?"

"I am not sure about that particular incident but there are other dangers. Since the council tried to approach him once, they will try again. We could only be glad Naruto did not take their bait and clear headed, unlike me. I want Kakashi to be more on guard and Tenzo to focus when Kakashi is away on other missions. Tori, you don't have to follow him. I want you to introduce yourself to him so he could know where he could go when he was in any danger if Kakashi was not available."

"Understood hokage-sama." Tori replied.

"Is the situation so serious?" Kakashi was slightly thrown off by the caution the hokage was showing for Naruto's life.

"I believe it is, or at least according to the summons who delivered the message from the Senju -Uzumaki, who is Naruto's kin."

"You got a message from him? I did not want to ask Naruto when we will be able to see that person from the moment, we saw his name in the summons scroll yesterday."

Tenzo was confused about him, so, Kakashi explained who it was and how he was Naruto's relative by blood after the hokage's nod of permission.

"Yeah. He said that he will be arrive soon and he will come see you and me in person. Until that, he asked us to keep Naruto safe."

"Is Naruto in danger?" Kakashi wanted to know and Tenzo was concerned as well.

The hokage's tone took a grave turn. "He sent me a photo of a room in Konoha, specially designed to hold Kyubi and so Naruto."

The hokage showed the photo he took out from his drawer to both ANBU and ex-ANBU for their viewing which he kept for showing it only to Kakashi earlier. Apparently, Naruto was fond of Tenzo and Tenzo liked the boy too, so the hokage changed his plan.

There laid the photo that shook Kakashi and Tenzo to their core followed by one sentence.

Keep their paws away or when I cut, it is not just the hands that will be falling. - Senju Uzumaki NXXXXXX.

Kakashi was seething in righteous anger looking at the room designed to hold Kyu- Naruto. "Where is it? Where is this place? where is this abomination? Who made this hokage-sama? I will destroy it and I will destroy them. It should not exist; they should not live anymore." His sharinghan was spinning violently which he was not aware when it opened. His killing intent spiked, and rage rolled of him in waves that could be felt by the ninjas outside the sealed room. It did not help that Tenzo looked ready to follow his senpai in his hunt. The sharinghan no Kakashi, silver lightning wanted to destroy everything in that photo. "Let me go hokage-sama. I will I don't want Naruto to ever see this place in his life."

"How do you know he has not already seen it?" the hokage asked with regret and angst filling his voice.

Tenzo was horrified at the implications while Kakashi stood there petrified. For the supposed prodigy, Kakashi's brain was not computing now.

"Evidently, that was where the youngest Senju found his blood relative, one Uzumaki Naruto. He sensed one of his kin's chakra fading and went to find out what happened. Guess what happened? Konoha was failing his hero, that's what. I don't know how I could let Konoha come to the point someone could get away doing something like this under my nose. I am not surprised Naruto does not trust me anymore. At this point, I am surprised he did not ask the Senju heir to take him out of Konoha apparently after Naruto almost died under our noses."

Kakashi was burning with protective fury. 'Naruto! Sensei, Kushina-nee, I am so sorry.' He could not understand how he could have been that ignorant and unwilling to know what happened with his sensei's son, and now his student, yes, unwilling because if he did not know he could fool himself thinking Naruto was living happily. 'But look where it led to? Good going Kakashi. You are worse than scum.' Kakashi was filled with self-loathing and the thought Naruto would have died left him reeling in guilt, despair, grief and anger at himself and others. Tenzo could not believe what he was hearing and fervently hoped that the happy boy did not suffer like he did.

The hokage was aware of the thoughts running around in their heads because he had felt all those things when he first saw the photo.

"They young Senju saved Naruto and when he wanted to help him materially, Naruto denied and asked advice on how to become stronger. Senju heir gave him some books and scrolls. He could not support Naruto by hand due to discouraging circumstances and was ready to interfere if Naruto could not make do with what he had. But apparently, Naruto thrived and never asked him for anything except how to improve his skills and knowledge. The Senju was impressed with his progress and met him once a year for few weeks to teach him what Naruto could not learn by himself."

The pride was apparent in the hokage's tone.

"Last night, I got a summons from him. He sent his blood for testing, and it is certain he is Senju and an Uzumaki related to both Tobirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki. He said he will be coming soon and meet us in person and until then, he wants to keep it a secret from the council."

The hokage explained the reason for Senju's sudden appearance now. "Apparently, the Senju heir sent a scroll through his summons to Naruto to inquire about his graduation. After knowing what happened, he gave permission to Naruto to tell us about him. He wanted us to know Naruto was not without back up. He wants to appear in Konoha with a leverage on few people, if Naruto ever needs protection, since he not so kindly pointed to the fact that how helpless we are against the council and apparently how we have failed, failing Naruto. He suspects that Naruto will be in more danger, now that he graduated."

Kakashi and Tenzo listened intently and understood the underlying message. Ninjas are prone to danger easily than orphans in orange, shouting to heaven and pulling pranks garnering hokage's attention.'

"That's why I want us to be on guard. He is doing his part, and we must do ours too. We care for Naruto, and it is high time we show that. I will keep the council busy. Kakashi, you train Naruto so he could protect himself, and Tenzo, when Kakashi is away just note down who he is getting help from. No need to interfere or follow him all the time so Naruto would not think I am spying in him. I assign you this job so that unwarranted people would not get close to him in name of helping. Do you accept the mission?"

"Hai hokage-sama." Kakashi and Tenzo replied steadily.

The hokage dismissed Tenzo and sat back on his chair. "What have you decided about your promise Kakashi?"

Kakashi reopened the orange book he put away, effectively masking the tension accumulated in his frame from the earlier conversation. "You already know the answer Sandaime." Kakashi went towards the window to leap off and drown his misery in sake in The Leaf Bar where most of the jonin senseis would be gathered for gossiping after team assignment.

The hokage continued smoking and spilled his words of wisdom before Kakashi took off. "You don't need to make a promise to protect him, but if you do make it, you will have to deal with your amassed guilt and past ghosts. That will be a great deal to you and might affect Naruto as well. Naruto does not trust people easily and won't give you another chance if you betray him. Think carefully before you promise him anything."

Kakashi did not reply but the tightening grip on his book indicated that he listened to his every word.

At friend's camp near Naka River:

Shikamaru, Shino and Choji were waiting for their favourite blonde. Naruto sent a clone sometime back informing his late arrival. Three of them were talking about other things than team assignment since they wanted to share their experience with everyone together once Naruto arrived. Mainly, as Naruto and Shikamaru planned, it was Shikamaru explaining what Naruto had done with his clones so far and the agreement he got the hokage to sign. Naruto had a clear idea as to what secrets about him his friends should and should not know.

As Shikamaru finished, Naruto appeared with food and snacks for his band of companions. "Hi Naruto!" "You are here." Choji and Shino greeted warmly and Shikamaru waved lazily.

"Hey Shika, Cho and Shin! Sorry, I am late. Kakashi arrived later than usual. Let's eat first." Naruto called his friends by his nicknames and showed the food parcel.

All of them dug in and Shikamaru started with Naruto. "Did your team pass? I mean with pinkie and broody there is no way you can have teamwork."

"Kakashi buried the overconfident broody and he did not even touch the pinkie, she went down with the academy genjutsu."

Choji was confused. "Should not she be good at genjutsu? Her chakra control should be good as she has negligible chakra."

"It is not about what she is good at but about whether she can do it, just like Hinata's taijutsu. She knows it but she can't use it do tasks effectively." Shino answered logically eating onigiri.

Naruto then went on to explain how he passed and other three found it funny. Shikamaru wished Naruto was on his team, though he would make them train hard, at least it won't be boring as it was now with Ino's constant complaining about not seeing Sasuke everyday like Sakura. "Did you really think your sensei will believe your nonsense?"

"Nah. But he was already searching for inkling of a teamwork from us so he could pass the team as ordered by the council." Naruto continued to eat his ramen.

"I don't get why being a last Uchiha garners this much favouritism. Money aside, there is no practical worth in Sasuke that is not in others. How can he be a better ninja just because he is the last of his clan?" Choji did not understand how everyone could worship a boy when he did not even awaken his bloodline.

"It is an investment. They want him to be in their camp when, if he becomes powerful, provided. They got nothing to lose everything to gain by supporting him." Shikamaru explained the political point of view.

"He is the last of the clan, if he opts for Clan restoration Act (CRA), their daughters can bring them wealth and prestige just by signing a marriage certificate." Shino added harshly which would not have been detected by anyone other than his friends and parents.

Naruto quietly listened and advised seriously at the end. "Don't talk about this issue. It is a mix of everything you said but there is much more fatal secrets hidden it. You can complain about blatant favouritism but don't talk about why in public."

All three of them heard the warning in Naruto's tone and agreed vocally. "Hai"

"Go on, Shino, what happened with your team?"

"Yuhi sensei wanted us to find her while she hid under genjutsu. At first Kiba did not co-operate until I got Hinata to listen. Then she used her Byakugan, and Kiba tracked her with Akamaru, while I used my kikaichu to perform Hijutsu: Mushiyose (Secret Technique: Insect Gathering) to break her genjutsu. We did not get her in time, but she passed us." It was Aburame clan's habit to call someone they were not acquainted well by their surname. He needed a minimum of a week to call her by her given name Kurenai.

"What is your verdict on your team so far?" Naruto wanted to know Shino's conjecture.

"It was same as the information we gathered. Moving forward, Kiba will be loud and outspeak Hinata and me most of the time. I hope sensei can keep him in control in serious situations."

"I don't think that will be a problem. He is used to listen to his mother's authority. He may flirt but he will not discriminate and challenge your sensei or bully Hinata. It is you who he will bother." Shikamaru knew Shino and Kiba were not as close Kiba and Naruto, Choji and Shikamaru.

"Yeah, just beat him in spars and let him win few times, he will listen to you. Their clan is all about strength and loyalty. He won't betray you because of disagreements." Choji said munching on salad chicken, though he was aware Shino knew more about Inuzaka clan than him. Like Ino-Shika-Cho, it was tradition for Hyuga-Aburame-Inuzaka team to be formed if things aligned.

Shino agreed with his opinion and talked about his next team member. "Hinata has great potential, but she is very shy and has low confidence. That is okay, but she can't talk properly without a stutter."

"No matter how you help her in the team it won't go do much good if her family is unsupportive." Shikamaru was sipping his iced tea remembering the tidbit Naruto shared about Hyuga household.

"Unlike Sakura and Ino, she trains a lot, but her Will is bent, but not yet broken." Choji added his ten cents.

Naruto sighed at the mention of Hinata. He was aware of that girl's crush on him and stalker behaviour. He did not reciprocate her feelings but did not want to call out on her and destroy more of her confidence. He could guess she would retract inside her shell more when even a dead-last with no clan rejected her. "Kurenai sensei was already familiar with Hinata. It did not help her much with confidence before and I don't think it will help now. Let her settle on the team first and Shino can have taijutsu spars with her and we can decide what to do based on her performance."

Choji shared his experience next. "Asuma sensei did not give a bell test, but he asked us to land a hit on him. Ino wanted to be a team leader and boss us around. That was ok but she did not have a plan. Shikamaru and I were ready to work together and once we stated our intention, she agreed and joined us. She used Shintenshin no Jutsu (Mind Body Switch Technique) when Shika used Kagemane no Jutsu (Shadow Possession Technique) and I came with Kara no Dōn Jutsu (Empty Crash) to capture a clone, but he passed us anyway."

"And your verdict?" Naruto picked Choji's brain this time as he knew Shikamaru and Shino were good at judging people and Choji needed more training as he would never think about worst of someone.

"Asuma sensei is strong and seems like a well-rounded sensei. Shikamaru can play shogi with him, he can teach me taijutsu and he is not a push over, so he can make Ino train physically."

Shikamaru added without having to ask. "Sarutobi clan understand Ino-Shika-Cho team well." It was a tradition a Sarutobi clan member who was close to any Ino, Shika and Cho to gift an earring when they became chunin to signify they reached adulthood. Sarutobi clan was not a knit group like Ino-Shika-Cho, but they were close. "So, sensei won't be a problem. It is Ino that is the problem. She is a combination of Kiba and Sakura. She comes from a clan but not serious about ninja life and still crushing on Sasuke. She wants to be an alpha female, but her physical ability is like civilian. Troublesome."

Naruto agreed with those statements.

"There is two of you and a sensible jonin. She is outvoted and Sasuke is not there on the team for her to be distracted." Shino provided his input. "Well at least, our teams are not as bad as yours Naruto."

Choji expressed his sympathy for Naruto. "Don't worry Naruto. It is only until you become a chunin. With your talent, it won't be that hard."

"The council won't agree to promote Naruto unless Sasuke and some of us is promoted first. The council is not fond of him and have a grudge that he graduated despite their protests against him to be in ninja force."

All three were helpless and angry at that but Naruto was unfazed. "I know. That's why I have a plan. I want to make a name for myself in the chunin exam."

"But next chunin exams mostly would be in Konoha." Shino remembered his father talking about it. "Your plan is only possible if you expose your talent in front of most of the world."

"In Konoha, the council would intervene and manipulate your matches with weak or overpowered opponents, not to let you advertise your skills, though a strong opponent will not be a problem for you." Shikamaru scowled at the elders.

"Our clans will support your promotion, but I doubt that will be enough." Choji worried his friend being subjected to unfair treatment.

"Don't worry about back up. I already have a strong one. As for manipulating the matches, the hokage will not be a pushover anymore and if I am right, if I show enough will and skill during my genin candidature, he will actively support me. If I want to change my reputation to good among Konoha ninjas and villagers, the chunin exams should be in Konoha. They won't accept if they don't see it with their own eyes. But my plan mostly depends on three of you."

"Us? No problem." " Don't worry. We got you." "You know we always have your back."

Naruto grinned at his friends happily and they had to squint their eyers from the brightness. "I know I can always depend on you guys. As Shika, said, if some of the clan members got promoted and I show more than enough strength and has sufficient back up, there will be less opposition for my promotion. They will promote Sasuke despite his skillset just to keep him happy anyway. So, let's not worry about him,"

"We will definitely improve our strength before the exams, Naruto." Shikamaru and Shino agreed with Choji's statement. They did not want to hold their talented friend back if they could help and the training and promotion were good for them as well.

"I know I can depend in you guys. That's why I have come with something to help you." Naruto brought a folder labelled SO. Yup; the same one he was working on morning.

"SO?" Shikamaru was curious.

"Squad One"

"Are there others?" Choji asked.

"My clones are called Squad C."

"Will there be squads with other people?" Shino knew Naruto had other plans when he numbered their group 'Squad One'.

"In future, but it depends on their character."

"Did Shika told you guys about my clones?"

"Naruto, I did not know you could make thousand clones a day." Choji was dumbstruck when he heard the number. Naruto did not tell them the real number of clones he could produce.

"It is good that you use them to gather information on the council." Shino approved since information was as important as skills.

"You should have worked hard and done many experiments before sustaining that many clones for practical applications. Just thinking about it makes me tired and wants to sleep." Shikamaru said yawning but became alert when Shino sent one of his bugs to sting him lightly to stop him from lying down.

Naruto ignored his lazy friend and explained the contents of the folder to the group. "Listen well my dear newly promoted full-fledged fellow ninja comrades. Most people, even most low-level ninjas of Konoha, think, genin time is the most lethargic time of ninja career but that's not true. More than 40% of Konoha genins lose their life in first six months of their career and most die by experienced bandits and non-ninjas. Considerable portion of the remaining percentage also lose their life before they become chunin. Almost all the genins who make it are clan children and we all know why, but even the number of clan genins that lose their life is higher than it should be."

Naruto was increasingly talking about serious things and his friends were listening with rapt attention.

"The things we experience in genin term determines our career but that is like going along with flow, make do with what we get because we did not know what we want, or we don't have a specific goal to work towards. The academy students who are graduating and becoming genins now, are only slightly better than civilians and have no idea what ninja life entails. Children aspiring to be ninjas should have at least one skill, not jutsu, skill, they have the least bit of knowledge on before graduation, like good at chakra control, or interested in medicine or treatment, taijutsu or using a ninjato or sword. Once they graduate, they can learn and try to develop on other things they find interesting, based on their experience and skillset during their genin time under a jonin sensei. At the time they are ready for chunin exams, they can choose what they want to be, a field or a non-field ninja. But genins now are not like a sprout nurtured by the great tree but a fallen leaf floating on the wind heedlessly"

Naruto looked at the three of them in eyes making their spine ramrod straight. "I don't want us to be like that. I want us to know what is going on in our life and have milestones to achieve. Becoming a chunin is secondary, becoming strong enough to survive our missions comes first. What I want is that, at the time of chunin exam we all should have high chunin skills."

"Naruto, we are not strong as you are. We are only at high genin level now. The chunin exams are in six months. We might need more time." Choji was not worried about working hard but he was unsure about time factor.

"Naruto, going from a low genin to high genin is easier than going from low chunin to mid chunin level and we won't have much time for private practice session with just us because we will be preoccupied with our genin team." Shino pointed out logically.

"We all don't have ocean of chakra like an Uzumaki, you troublesome blonde. We also cannot spam shadow clones like you and improve at exponential rate." Shikamaru reminded.

Naruto whined like a petulant child to Shikamaru. "It does not work like that. You know practising with 500 clones does not improve my proficiency by 500 times, but I feel fatigue of all 500 clones physically and mentally, right?"

Shikamaru, Shino and Choji collectively winced at the phantom pain. "But what we said still stands."

Naruto laughed at them. "Fear not my fellow leaflings, I have taken into account all the things you said and came with a proposal. Moreover, when you say high genin level, you mean genin levels of my standard, not Konoha's current standard. I keep saying you guys are at mid genin and high genin, so you think that, but in reality, you guys are already at low chunin level by Konoha scale."

Naruto had many complaints about academy, and he vowed to improve it as soon as he got a chance. "Think guys, if you want to say low genin level, when did you have genin level chakra reserves mastered academy level jutsus? It was almost eighteen months back, so you were already a genin before two years. We steadily improved and now, you know at least two of your clan jutsus, high genin level taijutsu, all five chakra control techniques, low chunin level reserves and know few E and D-rank ninjutsus and one C-rank jutsu of fire and earth nature. Anyway, this is what a minimum of a ninja should know to participate in chunin exams, which, you already mastered. You guys are at mid chunin levels according to Konoha."

Shino and Choji startlingly remembered that they always judge themselves based on Naruto's opinion not other academy students.

"I did not put you guys at chunin level according to our internal standards, because I want you guys to be a basic level expert in one weapon other than usual projectiles, and able to perform at least one defensive C-rank ninjutsu of chakra nature that is not your own. I know the requirements are excessive than normal limits, but it ensures your survival when you want to go for chunin missions."

Shikamaru was already aware Naruto was very astringent, but he was overwhelmed by what constituted as a low level chunin to Naruto. If this was what the standard Naruto hold up to, may be Shikamaru was wrong in evaluating Naruto as low jonin, he should be mid-level to high jonin and that was a conventional measure.

"We are in Naruto, no matter how troublesome the training is going to be."

"Yes Naruto, Give as the folder. Time is not a problem. We will not give up."

"We would find time for private training sessions. We will put 100% effort."

Three of them were determined to become a chunin according to Naruto's standards. After all, no one wanted to be weak when an opportunity to be strong was given, especially when they were working in a field where their life was on the line, all the time. Everybody wanted to survive.

Naruto gave them encouraging smile. "You guys don't have to be so grim because you already have laid a foundation for what I have come up with. I just want to know whether you guys are comfortable with my proposal and see that is the skill you want to develop or modify them in a way in it suits you. You are free to refuse them altogether and we can explore alternate paths, but if you don't like it, the gift I bought for you as a graduation present has to be changed." Naruto pouted at them making his friend smile unconsciously. They had some gifts to deliver to Naruto too.

Naruto focused on Shino first giving him a scroll and asked him to open it. "Shin, I know whatever I chose should not hinder your use of your kikaichu." Naruto opened a storage scroll and pulled out a few things. "I came with crossbow and chain gun. Your other teammates are taijutsu experts and close-range fighters. So, I chose long range weapons that can be used with and without chakra since I know you can't amass chakra for long range jutsus because your kikaichu are constantly draining it. Firstly, the crossbow, it is small, handheld, even your insect clone could it. The crossbow can be used without chakra, so it won't harm your reserves for subsequent jutsus. Secondly, the chain gun, it has a trigger than can launch chains. You can use it without chakra to trap an enemy and use your kikaichu or a jutsu to harm the enemy. But if you use chakra to trigger the gun, the chains absorb chakra from others when it is connected. They are not ordinary but chakra absorption chains. No, it is not Uzumaki can's chakra chain made of pure chakra, but a physical chain made of chakra conducive material that facilitates the flow of chakra. You can use the absorbed chakra to feed your kikaichu."

Shino held those weapons close to his frame and his lips curved upward indicating he liked them already.

Naruto gave him a fond smile and continued. "You have earth and fire release and your kikaichu is vulnerable to fire, so I have written down a defensive water ninjutsu to save them if the enemy used a fire jutsu to burn them. You should learn offensive earth and fire jutsus, since it requires less chakra for you. The scroll has information from beginner to intermediate level for both weapons and jutsus."

"Thanks Naruto." Shino appreciated his friend's thoughtfulness.

Naruto turned to Choji next and handed a scroll. "Cho, Muscles are your strength, but they also make you feel each of your punches and kicks. So, I came up with few things." Naruto pulled out another set of things from the storage scroll. "First of all, flails, these are adjustable type, which could be used for swinging when you expand, and you can use them in normal stature as well. I know you hate lynching and not use flail when you are in normal stature, but it can be an excellent decoy since I included a mechanism in the spike ball for launching senbons. No one would expect you to use them as Akimichi clan is about strength and not speed. Moreover, they will only concentrate on your muscular stature, and neglect mostly invisible projectiles filled with poison or paralyzing agents. This requires you train your speed, and it will also help in your taijutsu. Secondly, the twin halberds with adjustable handle, they can be used with all your expansion jutsus since the height of handle is adjustable and the size and weight of the halberd is optimized. Both weapons are heavy and blunted at the end to not draw much blood."

Choji was very satisfied with these weapons. They would easily cause harm but not kill and once he got used to ninja life, he could just sharpen the flail spikes and halberd edges.

Naruto went for the ninjutsu plan. "You have earth and fire chakra too, so I have written down an offensive water ninjutsu for attacking. You should learn more defensive and offensive earth jutsus and few low-level fire jutsus I have provided, since it suits your style and Shika will pick up more fire ninjutsus for attack and less earth jutsus for defence to balance your team. The scroll has information from beginner to intermediate level on all the things I explained."

Choji was grateful to Naruto and got little emotional. "This is really great. Thanks Naruto. Though I am improving, I am not sure of my place and worried about holding back my team because of my hesitation. I was really scared to use strong means and bring shame to my clan. With these weapons and jutsus, you have shown me an alternate path to gain strength and follow my dreams without letting go of who I am. Thank you really."

Naruto gave him a meaningful smile. "That is what friends are for Choji. The real ones will see you for what you are and like you anyway. And don't worry about your inability to initiate attack since you have improved a lot. You could not get over the last hurdle because you subconsciously know all our mock training people are clones and there are no real enemies. If you experience one or two real life missions, you will be able to start a fight. I assure you that." Choji nodded vigorously and clutched the scroll tighter with resolve.

Naruto gave a sheet from the folder to Shikamaru lastly. "Shika, I know you prefer mid-range fighting, and you are proficient in your clan shadow jutsu." Naruto pulled out a few things from the storage scroll. "First, wire torch, with ninja wire made from chakra conducive material. It may seem ordinary, but the material is also light conducive. This weapon is called wire torch instead of spool not just because of its shape but it has a switch to emit light through the wire that could cast shadows. You may fight inside forests or places with no light to use your shadow jutsus effectively, that time, this weapon will be very useful. Without chakra, you can just use them ninja wire purposes, with chakra you can manipulate the path of the chakra conducive ninja wire. I want you to able to perform knots and nets with it, just using chakra. Second, handheld spears, no they are not throwing knives, because they could reach distances and the head part have mechanism to emit poisonous gases to cover wider area. They are also made of chakra conducive material; you can practise throwing them with explosive notes or use your shadows to manipulate their path. The main advantage is their shape, don't think the spear is slender, they are designed like a needle for being as fast as a kunai, and manipulating it's path easier like a senbon."

Shikamaru liked them already and Naruto was right. He could elevate his clan chakra applications faster, easier and more versatile consuming lesser chakra with this. "Thanks, Naru." Shikamaru could not help using his nickname for Naruto.

Naruto beamed at his nickname like he always did when Shikamaru used it and gave him a look that said, 'it is not a big deal'. "Shika, I know you have earth and fire release as well. Since you are on the same team, I would like you to learn a long-range offensive lightning jutsu since Choji is not suitable to use it because the chakra burns from lightning release could affect his physical expansion jutsus and damage internal organs."

Shikamaru readily agreed but still added troublesome at the end earning a whack from Naruto. He then addressed all three of them.

"Before I forget, get help from your family for your clan taijutsu, since it is the most suitable for you and I can help with other styles. You guys are excellent at kunai, shuriken, and senbon throwing but knowing any sword style like a knife for Choji, ninjato for Shino and a soft sword for Shikamaru will be a plus. There is beginner, basic and intermediary level notes for that on the scroll. It is not compulsory to learn it. There are elemental chakra control techniques for all types in the scroll. Chakra manipulation is jonin level technique but practising these chakra control techniques will help you perform elemental jutsus that are not your own nature, easier. I am glad all of you guys have fire and earth chakra while I have wind, lightning and water releases, it completes our group. But more importantly, I want you guys to learn a clone technique of your choice. I believe Shino and Shikamaru has bug clone and dark clones. I can teach earth clone jutsu for Choji."

No one questioned how three of their jutsu power could be equal to one guy's output because they know Naruto had much more chakra than all three of them combined without Kyubi's input.

The three friends looked at all the weapons but they knew they could not use others' and only their own weapons were suitable for them, for example, Shino's crossbow, would stop Shikamaru from using hand seals for his clan jutsu and could not be manipulated with chakra, unlike his own chakra conducive wire torch or spears, or unfit for Choji, because while Shino has his kikaichu to cover him, it was unsuitable for expansion techniques that leave Choji open for opponent's attacks unlike his swingable flails or twin halberds.

All three pondered about their friend's generosity and perceptiveness, but the brainchild Shikamaru ventured a little further and his eyes widened in stunned shock which was noted by Shino.

"What is it, Shika?" Shino asked making Naruto and Choji focus on the ponytailed brunette.

"Is this why you taught me chakra channeling technique back then? You planned this before a year and half?" Shikamaru questioned astoundingly with his thoughts running a mile per minute.

Before Naruto could answer, other two caught up with Shikamaru's line of thinking. "You taught me chakra absorption technique. You premediated this."

"You taught me nunchucks to help me wield twin weapons. How long have you had these weapons?"

Naruto was asked questions without a gap, and he held up his hand in slow down motion. "The weapons are new but the techniques I taught you were on purpose. Shino was suffering from chakra drain, Choji did not want to use his hands for hurting people and Shikamaru did not like close combat. So, I planned to help you guys to overcome those things and gave those methods to help you. Few months back, I have designed these weapons as a graduation present, that could help you to apply those techniques and build on it."

Shino asked an important question. "Wait, you said you designed these weapons!"

"I just customized them. It is not like I invented bow and arrow or spears." Naruto explained flatly to the mental turmoil of his friends.

"What about these techniques? The things in our clans were not that detailed on those topics." Choji asked his doubt.

"That…., I did not invent or modify them. I found information from several sources and composed them together. I just simplified them for your use."

All three looked at him wonder. They were still complaining six month was less time to become a chunin and here was a boy of their age, stronger, more skilled and more intelligent than them, who had made plans for future spanning back years. It was no wonder he had vision to become a hokage. He was already on track to achieve his ambition and they were sure he had already made some plans for that.

Shikamaru sighed. "So, what is the play here hokage-sama?"

"Hmm…Shika?" All of them ignored Naruto. Naruto got used it since Shikamaru called him that, at times, when they were alone, but this was the first time Shino and Choji was hearing it. They turned to Shikamaru who gave them a look. "Don't tell me you guys never thought about it. And he has more plans for good of Konoha and its ninja, than the current people of power. I had been calling him that for some time. I fully support him as a hokage."

Shino and Choji also believed Naruto would become the hokage but never expressed it vocally to Naruto's face. 'Maybe it is time to get on the agenda.'

"You are right. Shika. Naruto will become hokage-sama and I will back him up." Choji accepted the blonde as his hokage wholeheartedly.

"You can ask for my assistance anytime hokage-sama". Shino knew that world felt right once he said it.

Naruto looked increasingly flustered, but Shikamaru ignored it. 'It is time people see what I see in you and importantly, you see it too.' "So, the plan Naru?" Shikamaru asked again.

Naruto was still processing the fact that Shino and Choji trusted him with his life because that what it signified when you call someone 'hokage', you follow them without question, you take their orders without doubts and ready to lay your lives for them without hesitation. Being clan children, they knew what it entailed but they still accepted him as their hokage. It was a profound thing and Naruto did not know what to feel.

'Get your bearings straight. Those kids respect you, don't let them down." Kyubi advised him without his usual snide remarks.

Naruto took few breaths and answered about the plan. "The necessary information, steps and schedules are inside the scroll."

"Not what I asked, troublesome blonde. Since you had planned for this stage of our career, before two years, what else have you come up with, at this point of time, for our future career in two years or further? I assume these weapons and techniques are intermediary steps and the end point is something else." Shikamaru accurately grasped his self-proclaimed brother's intention.

Naruto gave them a mysterious smile making all three curious. "You assume right I will not go on to the details, only some techniques and, expected but not compulsory, official military positions."

"For Shino, my strategy is to combine Uzumaki style Kekkai Ninjutsu (Barrier Ninjutsu) and Kongō Fūsa (Adamantine Sealing Chains). Imagine, Shino erecting a barrier formed by chakra absorption chains and use jutsus to defeat the enemy. He does not need much chakra for sustaining the barrier as he can use the absorbed chakra from the enemy, which could be done again by kikaichu or chakra chains interchangeably, while launching arrows on trapped enemies or attack them with ninjutsu. In a broad sense, I want Shino to be my intelligence division head when I become the hokage."

"For Choji, I am thinking about combining Hyuga style Hakkeshō Kaiten (Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven) and Bukijutsu: Hotengeki (Weapon Technique: Halberd). Imagine, achakra dome formed by his weapons. It is both defensive and offensive and if he uses his expansion jutsu and wield his twin halberds or swing two flails in 360 degrees, he could decimate a platoon all by himself without a single injury and the launched hidden senbons take down another, without much hassle. In the future when I am the hokage, I want Choji to be logistics and trade division head."

"For Shika, I want him to combine his clan's Kage Nui no Jutsu (Shadow Stitching Technique) and Sarutobi Asuma's Chakura-tō: Maichimonji (Chakra Blade: Straight Line) with Chōtō Ninpō Jigumo Nui (Longsword Ninja Art - Earth Spider Sewing). Imagine, Shika could launch his needle like spear, and enhance its size and manipulate its path with chakra over a wide area and attack multiple enemies over without sweat. While they were distracted, he could use wire torch, and weave a tangible and intangible net easily with the help of wires and shadows confusing the opponent and seal a person inside small shadow prison or and multiple enemies can be trapped based on his chakra reserves. He can just attach wire torch with his spear to cover wider area with less chakra. It can be argued that it hard to combine three jutsus but with a brain like his, he is smart enough to achieve that, after all Shika is going to be my advisor, but mainly, he is lazy enough to want to fight without moving from a place. Moreover, one is his clan jutsu and another, he can observe and get tips from his sensei."

Shino, Choji and Shikamaru was engrossed by Naruto's ingenious use of combining weapons and ninjutsus and could not help envisioning how powerful and useful they could be. They were brought out of their musings by Naruto's sigh. "It is that.., I did not come with a final version, and I don't want to. I will leave it for you to create a technique or techniques according to your opinions and styles. It is not set on stone, and it is just my idea. You can freely follow your own ideas and come with new ones. By the time you become a jonin, I want your personally created named attacks to become your signature, like Raikage's lightning armour or Konoha jonin Hayate Gecko's sword style. I know I ask too much of you already. Please don't be burdened with this and pursue your own dreams. Future is for later, concentrate on the present now."

Naruto never wanted to dictate what his friends' life should be. He knew how that felt when others made decisions for you without your consent, and he did not want to do that to his friends.

The dazed three looked at the blonde incredulously for both his ideas on their career and their welfare. Choji immediately comforted Naruto. "It is nothing like that Naru. We were caught in our own imagination of being that awesome in future."

"We are embarrassed that we are short-sighted and don't have broader vision for future." Shino admitted truthfully.

"We always wanted to become jonins and repay our clans as a ninja, but we did not think beyond that like honour and achievements. Your strategy combined our clan jutsus and our individual traits perfectly and we are wondering how you are able to come with such a proposal. We are not troubled by your ideas. We know you are saying this for our future, Naruto." Shikamaru assured.

Choji agreed whole heartedly with the statement and Shino's opinion was delivered by happy buzzing of his hive.

"By the time the chunin exams arrive, we will have all the techniques in the scroll mastered Naruto." Choji was clear about his goals. Unlike now where he could only helplessly see his friends Shino and Naruto getting unfair treatment, he could protect them and his family by training harder and become a strong ninja like Naruto said.

"Let's show the world what the outliers of academy are capable of." Shino delivered a challenging statement committed for a severe training for laying foundation to be able to perform the jutsus of calibre Naruto mentioned in the future, to protect his home and friends.

"Troublesome. Well, as a person who is going to keep the hokage in line, I can't lag behind the two-handling money and information. Count me in." Shikamaru's words were aloof but there was a steely determination in it. Unlike the other two, his father was in the know and Naruto was already helping him to get faster. His family, friends and clan needed him to be strong and he would deliver without fail. His brother needed him to be powerful and he needed his brother to be dangerous, to protect those they held dear, and it was high time they started on their goals.

Naruto showed a fist bump with an encouraging smile and the others fist bumped him with a smile of their own.

"Naru, now that we have discussed everything serious, let's open your graduation presents." Shino said eagerly.

"Mine?" Naruto was surprised because unlike him they could not have planned this before, right?

"Yup. Open mine first." Chino piped up cheerily while Shikamaru looked at them with a soft smile.

Naruto was happy and could not stop smiling. "I am glad we are friends. Friends for life!" Naruto shouted and all three chorused "Friends forever!"

After opening up all the presents, Naruto brought their focus to the matter at hand.

"Let's assess our team for a week and decide on way forward. We have to get a grasp on our senseis and reorganize our schedules for our private sessions. I can help with your weapon techniques and you guys help me vent, because I am sure my teammates are going to be festive." Naruto grinded his teeth on the last part making all three pity him.

"Come on guys, since we just finished eating, let's not spar for a while. I will show you how to do elemental chakra control exercises. We should not let our senseis treat us like other Konoha genin batches and slow down our progress. I want all of us to display some of our hidden strength to throw our senseis off balance and not let them slack in training us and thereby our team for the next six months."

Three of them started their training with newfound determination and some mischief at pulling one over their jonin senseis. Meanwhile, the said jonin senseis assembled in the bar had no idea what was in store for them.

At The Leaf Bar:

Most jonins and clan heads, few chunins and off duty ANBU were gathered in The Leaf Bar, which was the usual spot for ninja gossip. It was a tradition to assemble here after every graduation test, to discuss the batch of new genins who passed and who went to reserves, with their team leaders. This time, the crowd was larger and more chaotic, because most clan heirs were on this batch and the last Uchiha was said to be assigned under Kakashi Hatake, the powerful jonin of Konoha, who refused to pass a single genin team for years.

Ibiki Morino, who was here for only one person, was eager to know what his favourite disciple did during the test. He was not worried about the results, not because the council ordered Kakashi to pass his team, but his pupil was well versed in the art of mind warfare, to convince the hokage-sama to sign a free pass. When Naruto's clone let him know the news yesterday, he was stupefied and extremely proud. 'I taught the boy.'

Shikaku who was sitting with his friends Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza, gave him a knowing smile which he reciprocated. When Shikaku heard what transpired from Shikamaru yesterday, he was stumped too. He did not see it coming. Naruto was as unpredictable as a lightning, did not know when, where, how or why it struck, but when it did, nothing was left unaffected. He was eager to hear what happened with both of his charges. Yes, him and Yoshino considered the blonde as theirs as well, he was Shikamaru's brother after all. Aburame Shibi was there with Inuzaka Tsume but Hyuga Hiashi was missing.

All five clan heads and Ibiki were sitting at the large table in the middle near Genma's which had seats for three more.

Asuma and Kurenai entered the bar together. Genma enthusiastically invited them to the table where Anko was inhaling her dangos and Gai was sipping sake. "Guys, come on sit here. What happened with your team?"

"Both of our teams passed." Asuma replied looking at the clan heads.

"Where is Kakashi?" Gai asked wanting to know about his friend who might be taking his first genin team.

"He was late as usual. He is reporting to the hokage now." Kurenai explained exasperated with Kakashi's tardiness and reading habits which were unsuitable for children.

"Did he at least pass his team?" Anko chipped in having finished eating.

"He did." Asuma replied earning surprised looks from most Anbu and chunins.

"Of course, he did. Uchiha-san would have carried his team and aced Kakashi-san's test despite having a dead weight on his team." Ebisu exclaimed earning dirty looks from some ANBU and other ninjas confusing him.

Inoich gave a derisive snort and murmured only for the five of them to hear. "Kakashi was all about teamwork. Expecting the last Uchiha to pass his test is like asking a fish to do bungee jumping." Choza smiled, Shibi agreed with a slight incline of his head and even Tsume had to accept that comment despite her wariness towards his other teammate. Ibiki was internally plotting vengeance against Ebisu sipping his sake. Shikaku smirked imagining Ebisu's face fault reaction when he knew about real Naruto.

But not all of them were like them though and agreed with Ebisu. 'Fools. Naruto's youth will shine soon and you people belittling him will regret it.' Gai chided them mentally. "Explain in detail how your youthful students performed, my friends."

Asuma and Kurenai described what happened in their genin tests along with few other jonins who tested their teams but had to send their candidates for genin reserves.

More than half an hour passed when Kakashi appeared. The whole room went became enthusiastic and picked up their ears when Gai called him out loudly.

"Rival, you are here." Gai came to the door with his usual exuberant behaviour but there was a masked concern in his eyes when he noticed the minuscule tension lingering in Kakashi's frame. Others were not perceptive of Kakashi as he was and did not find anything amiss with his characteristic late arrival and orange book covering his face.

Kakashi gave a fleeting look to Gai that said he was ok, but Gai knew better. Kakashi took a moment reeling in his emotions without taking his eyes from the book. He put on his bored look and went to Genma's table.

"Kakashi, did you really pass your team?" Genma wanted to know if Kakashi would also be doing D-rank missions like them. He could not wait to see Kakashi doing babysitting missions with his little brats.

"Yes." Kakashi replied and sitting near Gai. He poured the sake in the cup and started doing shots oner after another.

"Oi Kakashi, slow down." Anko scolded because he was drinking her sake too.

"We know you don't really like taking a team, but it is not serious as to drown yourself in sake." Asuma remarked wanting to smoke his cigarette.

"Explain how your team passed and causing your sorry state." Anko chimed having saved her sake from Kakashi.

"Naruto." Kakashi sighed.

"Of course, it is him." Ebisu piped up giving Kakashi a pitying look. Many people in the bar agreed with him. But Ibiki and the clan heads could see that was what Kakashi meant was different from what they thought from his bemused reaction.

Kakashi was confused. "What?"

"Come on, Kakashi, we all know that Uzumaki kid is a loud-mouthed brat. He must not be easy to get along with. He is immature and his skills are non-existent unlike our students." Kurenai said making Kakashi angry.

"Shut up Kurenai! As far as I know, none of your and Asuma's genins strength and mentality is anything to squawk about except that Aburame kid who lacks necessary chakra reserves for you to talk about my student."

Gai could see Kakashi was increasingly going taut since Ebisu opened his mouth. He wanted to stop before it got out of hand as his friend's state was not right and he suspected it had something with Naruto. When Kurenai commented, he was just glad it was just Kakashi's irritation that reached its breaking point and not his anger. Nothing in the nearby vicinity could get away undamaged if Kakashi let loose his anger physically. He was unfortunate to witness that happen few times in his life.

"I was simply stressed about passing a genin team and protecting them when they are under my care, as all three of my genins are handicapped on family side unlike yours and Asuma's. My genins don't have anyone to train and support them in home and they entirely depend on me for their ninja career at the starting stage."

Tenzo appeared in the bar when Kakashi started ripping into a flustered Kurenai and others looking at him in shock. For most people inside the bar that was the first time they even heard Kakashi raising his voice.

But Kakashi was not done and looked at Ebisu. "Did I say anything about Naruto causing my stress? Why are talking about him? First of all, who are you to talk about him? Did you ever put time and effort to get to know that kid? Where you there during my genin test? How did you know what happened was his fault?"

Ibiki and Shikaku wondered what happened for Kakashi, who was dead set on avoiding Naruto to defend him like that. Ebisu was starting to get scared at being questioned by a copy ninja known for killing enemies with one move, because the one standing before him was not their usual aloof jonin everyone came to know. But Ebisu did not become a jonin without composure. So, he defended his actions.

"I don't have to be there Kakashi-san. Everyone knows he failed the graduation test thrice and he only passed because the hokage pitied him. He was always pulling pranks and had no skills."

Kakashi pierced him with a look that promised very unpleasant things. 'Kakashi would have let the matter slide if Ebisu did not argue but who knew he would be a fool. Today would not end well for him.' was the collective thought of all who knew Kakashi well.

"Is that so? Tell me Ebisu, are saying in front of all these ninjas, that you disagree with hokage's decree? Do you think hokage got his emotions in the way of his rational judgement? Are you saying he made a mistake regarding Konoha's welfare and put us in danger?" Kakashi asked calmly startling many ninjas in the bar. 'Could this be interpreted like this? He made him a treasonist with few words.'

Tenzo, Ibiki and ANBU who worked with Kakashi smirked knowing Kakashi's silver tongue. He was always many steps ahead of his opponents and Minato, when he was alive, trained Kakashi to think calmly and dangerously with increasing pressure, after he lost two of his students.

"No, no.. that's not what I mean Kakashi-san. I…" Ebisu stuttered out.

"Then what do you mean? Are you saying I am incapable of choosing potential candidates to develop Konoha's future generation?"

Ebisu was turning blue and everyone who supported him start to look uncomfortable. "Yes, I agree with you, it just so you know, it was Naruto the reason for my stress." Kakashi said confusing everyone except the clan heads, Gai, Tenzo and Ibiki who could guess what had happened. "He is going to give me more problems because he was the reason the team seven passed. He guessed the purpose of my test and made his teammates to work together in his albeit, childish plan that made me pass the team. He even came with a hypothetical situation on how to get the bells with a mature plan, but his genius teammates refused his help. So, yes, he caused my headache."

Kakashi did not give any time to process that and continued. "You talked about his pranks. It is his indigenous prank that passed this team, while the people you respect because of a clan name or political influence, could not. He knew his teammates would not go for his mature plan because they were as prejudiced as you are. So, he used his reputation as a prankster and the supposed skill non-existent candidate pulled a prank on me with his 'skilled' teammates, because it was simple and all they had to do was say 'yes'. His pranking nature passed this team since he knew all I expected was for them to work together as a team."

Kakashi gave him an accusatory look. It was amazing how many things he could convey with a single grey eye. "I am confused why he pull pranks? Let me think." He turned to his friend. "Gai, why would he do that?"

Gai fully agreed with his rival's line of questioning. He wanted to join too but did not want to break his promise by prematurely exposing his friendship with Naruto. But he could always play safe with general angle and nothing specific.

"I can take some guesses my friend. Maybe because he had no toys to play with, no friends to play with?" Gai gave an unnerving look to Ebisu that was very uncharacteristic of him. "Or bigoted people like you who did not know difference between a kunai and a scroll made it hard for him to walk in the streets with your cold stares and whispers? I wonder which one. Be happy all the name callings just resulted in pranks and nothing worse."

Ebisu and many ninja looked embarrassed that Kakashi and Gai called them out on their habit of calling Naruto a demon-brat. Ebisu was ashamed as he never thought about that from that kid's point of view.

Tenzo was initially sent by the hokage to stop Kakashi from reacting violently to the recent bad news, by losing his temper on people as it has happened once before, but it's not violence stabbing people with words, right? The hokage asked him to find some way for Kakashi to vent his anger without actually being a danger to others and himself. Tenzo decided Kakashi was not causing bodily harm to anyone, so it did not count as dangerous, so the hokage would not fault him.

Moreover, Tenzo also wanted to shake these people like a tree to make them see some sense, but he went for talking instead. "His pranks were never harmful. It never left a lasting damage, and he was measured in his behaviour."

Yugoa Uzuki, ANBU Neko, who was in Naruto protection squad attested to that. "True. That kid is very perceptive. He will not spoil clothes on a merchant shop which would affect their livelihood but had no problem dropping orange paint in ANBU laundry. He would mostly throw water balloons or smoke bombs in the civilian area."

Gecko Hayate added his ten cents among his coughs. "Chasing him was more dangerous than the prank part as he had set up traps for pursuing ninjas. I think, since he had no one to play with, he used us ninjas, as playmates as he always had more fun seeing us springing his traps. But even those, never left anything physical other than simple cuts and scratches."

"It was as if he knew civilian could not handle those things and with ninjas he could turn it a notch. He never put traps for pranks, only for pursuing and the route was always outside the civilian area." Iwashi Tatami, promising chunin said bashfully at having to talk between jonins and ANBU, but he braved up as he always liked that kid. He did know at that time; this comment would greatly help his career.

Kakashi was still going on. He wanted to express his helplessness and frustration from earlier problem here because it stemmed from these kind of hostile behaviour.

"Don't talk about my student with disdain since you don't know him well and pass your judgements on gossips and prejudice. And Kurenai," Kakashi turned to her making her uncomfortable and Asuma tense for his crush. Kakashi had not forgotten her. "Since you can talk about supposed truths, we all know about my student, then you should have no problem in telling the truth about yourself we all know the answer to. Will you have taken Naruto as your student, willingly? Again, we expect the truth."

"Hmm…no." Kurenai was uncomfortable he put her on spot but was unwilling to show any weakness.

"If hokage assigned him to you, would you have gone far and beyond for him like you will with your female student?"

Kurenai's anger spiked. "What are you insinuating Kakashi? Are you saying that I would mistreat my students and let my emotions get in my way of doing my duty properly?"

"No, I am saying you will treat him normally, but you would not have helped with anything he had not asked for multiple times and would not have given him extra tips you would give your other students. You will not have put him in danger wantonly, but he would not have grown under you to an extent he would under Asuma, Gai or Genma and even me, and that is ok. You would have still taught him fairly because you are decent human being."

'The silver tongue strikes again.' Ibiki and Inoichi thought together.

"But?" Kakashi gave her a look that said thousand unsaid words.

Before Kakashi could continue, Raido Namiashi intervened promptly. He was on Minato's protection squad along with Genma and always wanted to protect his boss' son. "But not everyone is like you. Take Mizuki for example, can you guarantee he did not sabotage the boy before his ultimate betrayal? Think about others who did not have good work ethic. Can you give assurance that they taught him properly? Despite his poor attendance in academy, can you say there was no external influences in his supposed non-existent skills."

"I think his poor attendance was because the teachers did not like him and sent him out of many classes." Izumo Kamizuki, a chunin who was mostly on guard duty, who enjoyed Naruto's pranks immensely, piped up.

"That's true. It was always sad to watch him sitting alone on play time or physical training classes as sometimes the teachers did not even assign him partners and neglect him altogether. If I had to go through that constantly, I would rather cut that class before it starts as well." Kotetsu Hagane, his partner on guard duty revealed what he knew and Izumo agreed. "Me too."

No one in the bar expected these many ninjas to speak for Naruto. At least quarter of them liked him but did not think others were of same mind as them. Amidst this chaos, Kakashi noted down who were all ready to defend Naruto. He planned to put that information for use, in case, they had to protect Naruto in the future. At the same time, he questioned Kurenai without missing a beat.

"Loud mouthed brat you said Kurenai?" Asuma sighed knowing Kakashi well enough that once he targeted someone, there was no way he would miss. Asuma just prayed he did not go overboard with Kurenai. Kakashi turned to Genma. "Genma, why do you think a kid is always shouting and yelling?"

Genma was anxiously looking for his chance to defend Naruto since Yugoa talked. He suspected that Kakashi knew he was eager to intervene for some time. 'I would not put it past that lazy brat. He could always read me since our time together under Yondaime.' Genma, who was older than Kakashi, always wanted to get close to that blue-eyed blonde-haired boy. He knew Naruto's heritage as he was someone in the Yondaime hokage's squad and close to the Namikaze-Uzumaki family. He took the chance Kakashi provided and made his point with a dramatic flair, all while characteristically chewing his senbon.

"This case is about a kid who shouts and yells often. I am not a genius like you, but I can make some guesses. Let's see. Maybe he is throwing temper tantrum to get his elders to buy him something, ah, he does not have anyone, maybe he hates the silence that fills his desolate apartment" Genma launched a metaphorical senbon on Kurenai with a stare "maybe, no one listens when he talks as if he was not there, like he is empty air or avoids him like a ghost, so he shouts and gets louder and louder, so someone would hear him." Genma turned to Kakashi with an innocent look like a school kid looking for approval from his teacher about his maths test. "That's all I can think about. Did I do good?"

Many people snickered at his 'good boy' tone when an unsuspecting ninja spoke.

"Be glad he looks for attention by being loud and does nothing worse with all the unfairness surrounding him." A Hyuga chunin added wisely.

Kurenai had the decency to looked ashamed but was mad that Kakashi called out her in public and made others look down on her. She thought Kakashi only did that because she was a woman, and he did not think that she was his equal. She always thought Kakashi's choice in literature disrespected women and so he must be like that too. She failed to spare a second to think, while lot of people did non-consensual things or had demeaning words but came with an outwardly sincere and respectful attitude, Kakashi never made any female uncomfortable or never made a degrading remark, heck, he never even flirted with anyone as he always held people at a distance.

Kurenai thought Kakashi was treating her like Ebisu, a decorated jonin and not like Asuma or Gai, solid jonins. He could have talked to her in private, but he admonished her overtly in a bar and even chunins advised her. No one would take her seriously after this. Her experiences with sexist behaviour of ninja world clouded her judgement and she made it worse for her, again.

"You can't fault us for stating the facts Kakashi. That kid skills are bad, and he is unruly. That is secondary. We avoid him because of everything we lost and if we have opinions on him, it is our business. We are entitled to our own feelings, and you cannot force us to like him. It is not like we are abusing him or attacking him."

The moment the last few words left her mouth many people frowned including the clan heads Shikaku, Choza, Inoichi, Shibi, Tsume, Ibiki, Genma, Gai, Hayate, Yugoa, few ANBU, Raido, some chunins and even Anko, Kurenai's best friend. As someone who was going through systemic ignorance and bullying, Anko knew Kurenai was wrong on all her last comments and Tsume would never support child abuse. For Inuzakas, kids were like pups that needed protection and lot of love.

Kakashi released as silver of killing intent and reeled it back when Tenzo and Gai touched both of his shoulders in firm grip. "Abuse him? Attack him? You want to harm him? Harm who? My student? Someone under my protection? Try me, I dare you. Try me and you will know why I am wanted in four nations and even our fire nation fears me."

His tone was gravely serious and his single grey eye shone with a dark and crazy glint, rivalling the madman Uchiha Madara. Everyone shivered and even the clan heads were surprised by how much KI Kakashi could emulate without actually releasing it. All the ninjas who hated Naruto decided to turn other way if they see him again. Kakashi was a dangerous ninja, and everyone remembered why, seeing him now.

Asuma wanted to intervene when Kakashi's KI leaked but stayed put, as the other two stopped him. He had nothing to say about the warning though since Kurenai crossed a line there. Naruto was mistreated in Konoha, and it was an indisputable fact. Him and his father had argued about that issue few times in the past before he left to serve Fire Damiyo. Moreover, if Kakashi did not vent his anger now, his relationship with Kurenai would become irreparable. He did not want his friend and girlfriend on non-speaking terms.

Kakashi criticized her harshly remembering what happened in the hokage's office. Naruto was kidnapped and no one even knew he went missing for how long, until a Kami-blessed miracle of a supposed dead clan member went to save him. "I don't want you to like him, heck, I am not worried about you avoiding him. He could do without you guys showing sympathy for him. It is just no one even knows what is going on with him if he is not pulling pranks."

Tenzo was of same mind as Kakashi and spoke before his senpai did. "You say ignoring him is not a big deal but what does it say if he could get lost in Konoha forest tomorrow and no one will know until the hokage personally look for him to give his stipend. It could range from weeks to three months. Is that what our Konoha teaches us? Is our village's ninja policy to neglect a poor kid to the point we don't know whether he is alive or dead?"

Tenzo's words made smart people doubt whether it had happened before. Ibiki and Shikaku looked at each other discreetly in grim realization that it had had happened with 100% certainty, making them understand why Naruto chose to wear a loud persona and bright colour despite having other non-nuisance character options. Inoichi suspected the same while Shibi was thinking along those lines as well. Choza's and Tsume's heart hurt knowing they would not be able to accept if the same thing happened to their kid.

Kakashi decided to stop the prejudiced behaviours and ill-rumours surrounding Naruto. "You said your opinions are not my business, but it is not true. It becomes my business when your hurt feelings extend to form bigoted opinions about him and judge him, like you did before. You let loose some comments based on rumours, without any actual proof, in a room filled with ninjas of all ranks, casually, it destroys his career, my student's career, even before it starts."

Before Kakashi could lose his temper further, Anko interrupted with good points to make Kurenai see her faults. "He is right Kurenai. No client would give him a chance if they heard these rumours, and if assigned to work with him, they would not trust him and undermine his decisions, putting everyone involved in the mission on danger. It is a different matter altogether if he did something wrong, but prejudiced beliefs making someone's life difficult, does not it sound familiar? Does not it look something like the sexist behaviour you complain about facing in our career all the time?"

Kurenai did not know how to answer that and looked embarrassed. "What I wanted to say earlier, did not come out right." Kurenai's indirect apology made the anger brimming in Kakashi started to recede.

Everyone was about to sigh in relief when her unsuspecting words destroyed the upcoming peace. "We have it hard too. Our initial feelings for him did not help either since that is us dealing with our grief. The kid's lack of manners makes it easy to overlook him. But not all orphans are like him, I am an orphan myself and know loneliness, but we have better behaviour."

'Would you please stop?' All the ninjas who were scared by Kakashi priorly screamed collectively in their mind.

Kakashi did not hold back this time and ripped into her cruelly. "Oh, you do? Tell me Kurenai, have you ever had to go hungry because your caretaker hates you? Have you ever lacked clothes because an orphanage would not buy you one? Have you ever had to face these things at few months old?"

It was Tenzo who interrupted him this time as someone who personally witnessed the blonde undergoing several mishaps. "Have you ever lacked proper nutrition because no one bothered to explain how or what to eat and what to discard, have you ever lacked anyone to teach how to wash your own clothes as you started walking? You have no idea."

Gai continued comparing Naruto, his and Lee's life and unarguably Naruto's life was harder. "Do you know how it feels when all the children around you are treated warmly but everyone gives you cold stare and avoid you like a plague? Tell me, have you ever lacked friends to share your feelings? Do you know how it feels to live an apartment alone at a single digit age? You don't. He is like all orphans, but no orphan is like him."

Asuma said nothing because everyone was right. Kurenai's father died in Kyubi attack, even though she did not hate Naruto she still had no agreeable feelings towards the kid.

Kakashi knew Kurenai was thinking about her father when she was talking about feeling certain way about Naruto due to grief. He decided to set facts straight. "You and many ninjas of our generation including me, had to experience loneliness because our elders, be it parents, siblings, guardians, or parent-like figures, made an informed decision, voluntarily, to venture on to a fight that had 100% failure rate, to protect us, and future generation like him. You talk about feelings that come with loosing people, let me point out something that you and many others conveniently forgot, it is not just you, me and others lost people that day, he lost his parents too, just like you, just like most of us, that day, he too lost his family to an attack that was not his fault."

Gai rounded up other forgotten things. "It was worse for him, because he was a newborn who lost his parents in few hours. He never knew and will never know how having a parent feels like. He did not even know who his parents are and that is even more tragic. He lost every connection to his family that day unlike us who had friends to help us after that tragedy."

Genma sadly stated the ugly truth. "He not only had to lose his family that day, but he also lost everything that makes him normal. He lost a chance to get adopted, a chance to have a relatively happy life like other children in the orphanage. He lost a chance to make friends and basically everything human was taken away from him. His loneliness cannot be compared to ours."

Raido added on Genma's points. "Not only he experiences that, but he is also disliked. It is different not to like him or treated without any like or dislike, but he garners hate for something that was beyond him. He is feared, scorned and glared for something that is not his fault."

Seeing many ninjas opening up, considering Kakashi's outrage and the hokage's ANBU guard Tori's vocal support, Shikaku concluded that the hokage was finally taking a stand in Naruto's matter. Unlike his son, he suspected there was something big involved other than the agreement between the hokage and Naruto. 'Wonder the blonde knows what it is.'

Shikaku made an interesting observation that many people overlooked. "Speaking of stealing his chances, we forget that he has no say in many decisions concerning him. Where he lives, what he has to be when he grows up, what to and what not to teach him, even what he eats to some extent is determined by us. He has no autonomy over his life. Introspect yourself, can you guys live your life like that?"

Inoichi supported his friend. "No one asked him if he wanted that burden. He did not give consent or defend himself. He was thrusted with a responsibility that he has no idea about, just few hours after he was born. Can anyone one of you volunteer yourself or someone from your family to provide the same service he is providing Konoha? I admit, if given an option, I would not want my daughter to do it."

"We keep treating him like what happened was his fault. He has no idea of whatever happened that day. You guys treat him like a punching bag and expect him to take it without any reaction. If he reminds you of something unpleasant, that is no reason to mistreat him, spread hostile rumours and showing partiality. You don't even realize it is wrong and it reflects badly on your character. Ask yourself, if the same thing happened to you, will you stop at pranks or do something adverse? " Choza asked people to put themselves in Naruto's shoes.

"Either you are scared of him and treat him better when he approaches you, to not provoke him and let leash his supposed 'behemoth skills' on you, or, you have disdain towards him because he is an orphan. It is illogical to think someone as a 'behemoth' and still provoke him or take out frustrations on a child who has no support. Have you ever asked yourself why you really dislike the boy?" Ever logical, Shibi raised valid points.

"All I know is that no one is guilty until they do something wrong. Moreover, I asked myself a question when I needed to decide how to treat him, which I would like to ask you guys to ask yourself too. If that kid belonged to a reputable clan, despite his burden, would you still treat him like you do now? If he has ninja parents, or if he comes from a small clan or have some alive family, would you still mistreat him? In spite of everything, I am a mother. I can't accept any kid being glared and given cold shoulder." Tsume proved with her wisdom and compassion, why she could become a clan head. Her strength was never to be questioned after all.

"It is worse than that, because he did not know why." The unexpected voice of Ibiki sounded startling everyone in the room except Kakashi, who was alert on battle mode. Ibiki did not keep them waiting. "He did not why he was treated differently. How much a child without any moral support would have wondered about how different he was from others to be treated unfavourably? How many reasons and ways he had to come up with, before he consoled his own mind that he won't listen to the villagers' comments and carry on like their untoward attitude is nothing?"

Now that Shikaku and others had spoken, Ibiki can open up with up raising suspicions. So, he continued when he was ahead and decided to pull heartstrings of his audience. "How desperate he had to be, to pull pranks, to say something other than 'I don't know' when other children who did not know what he holds, asked him why he was disliked by the adults? He had to give a reason to himself and others, at least, that way, he would be hated for something he did and not for some unknown reason he was repeatedly refused to know despite asking many times, hence the pranks."

Ibiki's questions made everyone churn in shame, as expected of a person known for mental torture tactics.

Yugoa, who admitted Iruka in hospital, agreed with Ibiki's statements. "The kid did not know until recently why he was hated. He suffered for twelve years, without knowing why everyone not just hate and fear, as Kurenai-san said kindly, 'avoid' him. What would that kind of thing would do to a child's mental health? I am glad he did not go insane. The not knowing was worse than cold attitude."

Hayate came in with his signature cough. "It is just not bad attitude; from what I know, he was denied service in shops. He could only get inferior goods for tripled prices. Except for that ramen stall, no one let him inside any food outlets. Some do not like him, and some do not want to lose business, as their customers dislike him."

Anko raised some concerns next. "How could an orphan kid never invited to other people homes and not allowed to eat in restaurants correct his manners by learning from them?"

Kakashi dealt the death blow with a venomous tone. "I am sorry his parents inconvenienced people like you with their death, causing him lack of manners, the very fact that bothers you all the time and makes your life everyday life difficult." With as much as sarcasm he could muster, he forged ahead. "After all, if I ask you who have time and patience for teaching that kid kindly about life and manners, you will point to several right? "

After some people set some facts straight, many ninjas who were unsure and disliked Naruto before, started thinking what they pointed out.

"Actually, why are his manners our business? It is not like he is being disrespectful of our private space?" the unsuspecting Hyuga chunin chimed in again hesitatingly.

"Whenever he pulls pranks, he always cleans up later, like the awesome prank on hokage mountain. The mountain is undamaged, and he removed the paint himself. So where does his reputation of causing property damage come from?" Iwashi echoed the confusion of his fellow chunin.

"All I know is that he has never harmed, scolded or name called a civilian despite them being jerks from my observation. In fact, monthly merchants not native to Konoha like him better than others. The kid has never made a bad remark to spoil the image of Konoha vendors though some of ours had asked others to stop doing business with him. How could he be called a petty guy known for short temper?!" Kotetsu was firmly on the blonde side.

"Yeah, I don't understand how his lack of manners and loudness affect people in a bad way. He is not shouting at restricted times, and he had never broken any serious rules. I don't know where he got his reputation of having problem with authority come from. His teachers cannot be called authority as mostly they sent him out of important classes without any reason. Cutting classes is not a grave offense anyway." Izumo defended Naruto.

"My kid cut classes with him, and they mostly play around with Choza and Tsume's sons. Actually, Shikamaru told me, that kid watches clouds with him. From what I have heard, he is very knowledgeable in physics. He likes to spill random facts about clouds, everything astronomical and how chakra might be connected to it and play shogi with him sometimes." Shikaku expressed his opinions lazily subtly saying Naruto was smart and liked reading.

"He has eating contests with my son and had saved him few times when Choji was bullied. He invites him to his team when others refuse to play with him and never made any insensitive comments about his size. He stands up for his friends from what I understand." Choza shared what he knew implying Naruto was loyal and gentle.

"He is not averse to Shino's bugs and never discriminates him like others. He even gave some new bugs to my son and those beings needs lot of waiting and hiding to capture them. It requires one to stay put for a long time." Shibi told in a calm tone highlighting his kindness and patience.

"Ninkens are good judge of characters. Akamaru, my son's companion, likes that kid very much. That's why I never stopped Kiba from associating with him. I have yet to hear he lost his temper with Akamaru when he played roughly with the kid." Tsume said truthfully musing over the kid's tolerance and soft-hearted attitude.

"From what Ino said and what I observed, the kid may come as loud and annoying, but he had never made anyone uncomfortable or retaliated against other students. From what I can infer, he knew the students only followed their parent's opinion. He understands that children only act according to the adults' guidance, so he never took out his anger on them." Inoichi added his perspective as a psychological expert pointing out his awareness of general situation and ability to empathize with others.

Ibiki supported Inoichi fully. "True. I sent someone to observe him at the beginning, since I was worried about his pranks aimed at unguarded children in the academy. He only pulled harmless pranks on them, but the bigger pranks were always aimed at teachers. He never directly disrupted the class, but the teachers would punish others in his name, thus wasting the class hours indirectly. Actually, half of the fault of indirect disruption of class lies with his teacher Iruka, who used to say things like, 'Since Naruto did that and wasted time, let's all do this. Class, pop quiz or perform a jutsu'. He unknowingly increased the ire of students towards Naruto. He did more harm than good despite having good intentions."

Kakashi listened to everything others said and learned many things about his student he did not know before. Naruto had many qualities and a level of intelligence he did not know about. His student was many times better than he imagined. He thought about the undeclared promise to Naruto and the responsibilities, suppressed feelings and the unpleasant memories it would bring. But it did not faze him anymore. If Naruto can overcome all those things for twelve years alone, he could do it too. Moreover, he owed Naruto this. 'Naruto deserves at least this much from me. He deserves my full support as he should always have. I need to do this. I want to do this. I will do this.' Kakashi vowed to himself and started to uphold his promise with a warning first.

"Naruto is my student and as such, he is under my protection and hokage's protection. Don't forget, he is not a civilian anymore. He is a ninja under direct command of the hokage. You have a problem, reasonable ones with him, come to me. But no matter what, any form of assault, be it direct or indirect, verbal or physical, it is bound to have severe ramifications from now on. You are entitled to your thoughts and opinions but once it leaves your mouth, it is a different story. You touch my teammate, get ready to face me." Kakashi addressed everyone with intimidating remarks not explaining what kind of consequences there would be.

Even when the silver-haired Hatake talked in a bland tone, it was somehow still bone-chillingly cold and when his threatening glance settled on them, everyone except handful ninjas gulped visibly. 'This is sharinghan no Kakashi, the friend killer Kakashi. His reputation precedes him. No one has ever seen Kakashi's sharinghan and lived to tell the tale in a serious fight. Even the Uchihas, did not wield the sharinghan like him, use it to kill without depending on genjutsu.'

Kakashi having made important decisions and getting his points across, regained his composure. He pulled out his signature book and sat down leisurely signalling the matter was settled. The bar collectively let out a sigh of relief.

Ibiki gave a look to Shikaku making him yawn. "Troublesome. Oi Kakashi, you said the kid made your team pass with a prank and some 'yes' saying plan?"

"Yeah, my rival. What did your youthful student do to impress you?"

"Come on Kakashi, I want to know how he got the anti-social Uchiha to work together?" Inoichi's gossiping nature reared its head.

He smirked at their curious behaviour. "He lied, cheated and stole like a ninja should."

"Speak clearly, you lazy head." Tsume scowled at the lack of information. Her views on Naruto fully changed to positive today.

"Ibiki, you will definitely like him." Kakashi said approvingly.

'I already like him.' Ibiki raised his eyebrows wondering what Naruto did for Kakashi to say that.

"Senpai, please explain so we understand." Yugoa asked politely.

"He framed me for faking my bells and held me culpable for of failing them on purpose, without accusing me. When I called out his lies, he spun a convincing tale to prove his innocence without calling me a liar. He convinced other two that if his smart teammates failed before him in their last chance, I might end the test prematurely, and he would not have a chance to execute his plan. So, without ego, he lowered himself to be deadbeat and assured them that his plan would fail and proposed that when he failed he would have worn me out a little and, his rookie of the year and kunoichi of the year teammates will still have awesome back up plans to get the bells."

"He is good at grasping their thought process and formed a plan based on their attitude." Anko was interested as she was part of T&I now under Ibiki. Anyone who got Kakashi's approval should have some skills.

"Yup." Kakashi explained in relaxed tone tinged with barely detectable pride. "He apparently guessed teamwork is the key. He did not want to give them a chance to refuse in mistrust of him, a dead-last, guessing the correct solution for my hidden test, or preventing their ego to get in the way of working together, if they accept his answer, as, a dead-last worked out the meaning of the test before them. and convinced them to cover him, So, he never told them details before I arrived."

Everyone was amazed to know the guy they thought had no brains was actually smarter than their top starts.

Kakashi let out a chuckle. "It was funny to watch Sasuke and Sakura acting like confused parrots, repeating yes over and over."

People like Inoichi and Shibi along with elite jonins found much more. 'He should be a clever guy if he can convince his hard-to-get-along teammates to band together or accuse his superior without actually accusing him.'

"How did he do that?" Raido was curious.

"Because….he was the number one, most unpredictable, hyperactive, knucklehead ninja of all time." Kakashi was enjoying it too much.

"Kakashi, spit out the full context." Genma chewed out irritated at Kakashi's mysterious ways.

"Want to know?" Some of them nodded and Kakashi lazily drawled out "Ask him. He was in hokage's office looking through his crystal ball along with the old man." He started giggling at his book ignoring Tenzo's glare. Tenzo sighed and explained what happened omitting some parts. But what he revealed was enough to make the audience entertained.

When Tenzo exposed Naruto's hypothetical plan to get the bells together with his team, achieving both purposes of the test, they could not help but agree it was a sound plan. It could have worked. No one except few, expected the blonde to come up with a good strategy. It was different from what they know of the dead-last guy who failed his graduation thrice.

The part where his teammates saying yes to every time he said 'guys' was funny and they wondered how the blonde came up with that. The plan was simple and efficient. The kid did not even move from his position to pass the test. He told lies with his eyes open as if they were facts and they even doubted whether Kakashi was lying when the kid pointed out how Kakashi never passed a team and hated doing low rank missions.

Gai praised Naruto's youth in a loud voice. Genma, Anko, Raido, Hayate, Yugoa, Izumo and Kotetsu liked the kid more than before and expected more of his mischiefs in future. The clan heads Shibi and Choza were equally amused by his actions.

Shikaku laughed silently. He had heard such things from Naruto before, but it was more fun if the victim was someone other than him.

Inoichi agreed Naruto would make a good T&I expert making Ibiki smile proudly. 'That is my student.' When Shikaku pointed out how Kakashi would have many such headaches in the future, Ibiki cackled picturing Kakashi handling Naruto's mind games.

"Congratulations on getting a brat who is bratty enough for your bratty-ness, Kakashi brat." Tsume said making everyone laugh.

"Hmm…Did you say something?" Kakashi asked with a smirk making the bar rumble with laughter.