Mix Up

The Test

For the Sake of Empathy

~ Forenote ~

In an effort to improve and maintain my creative momentum, I have opened a poll to determine which stories I should put the most effort into. You can find details on my profile.

This story is going to have very short chapters. Partly because it's an attempt at comedy and partly because I don't plan on making it too in depth. But I hope the short chapters means that once my momentum is up, I'll be able to update it more frequently. Hopefully this one will be the one I can work on when I'm just not feeling my other fics.

Please enjoy.

Previously

The Hokage has been met with several demands on the team selections and now the final results are back. The Genin have received their teams and are now meeting their new sensei for the first time! What will she say? How will the team be able to operate?

As they all took their seats, the Jonin watched closely for any reactions from her new genin. The pinkette was clearly aware of the glares the wait staff were giving Naruto. The clan heiress appeared not to notice, but Kurenai suspected she was intentionally ignoring them.

Naruto for his part just sat quietly, his shoulders hunched and his eyes downcast, as he waited for the restaurant to kick him out again.

A cleared throat brought all three genin to look at the server waiting patiently for them to make their orders. "Jonin", the woman greeted, "I understand these are your new genin, and I trust you will ensure their behavior?"

Kurenai simply gave her a nod.

"Then if you are all prepared to order…" the woman let the statement hang as she waited for their responses.

Once they had made their orders and the woman was on her way from the booth, the Jonin addressed her students.

"Can either of you girls tell me what Naruto did to upset the staff at this restaurant?"

Both girls paled at her question, proving her suspicions about Ino being as aware as Sakura.

Naruto flinched.

"Sensei, I'm sure whatever he did has been dealt with alre—" Ino began, but she was interrupted by Sakura, "if he did something that's on him! Not us!"

Kurenai silenced them both with a raised hand. Turning to the boy she gave him a chance to explain his situation. "Naruto, have you ever even been in this restaurant?"

He shook his head.

"Have you ever pranked them, or any of their employees?"

Another shake.

"And do you know why they don't want you in here?"

This time the boy nodded and both girls glared at his admission of guilt.

"While I won't ask you to tell anyone the reason itself, I would ask that you answer one more question." Kurenai knew that even if she explained the truth of his situation as thoroughly as possible, it wouldn't have the same effect as what she was planning. But in order for her manipulations to work, Naruto himself would need to acknowledge that it wasn't his fault.

"Were you, Naruto, in any way responsible for, or had any say in or control over the reason for their animosity here?"

After a moment of silence, where the genin in question closed his eyes and withdrew in on himself, he finally answered in a whispered voice. "No."

Ino blinked at him, her attention focused intently on his face as she clearly searched for his underlying thoughts.

Sakura on the other hand, stared at him incredulously as she coped with the fact, in her mind, that he had just blatantly lied to their sensei!

"Now that we've gotten that out of the way," the Jonin stated in a much lighter tone of voice, "let's discuss the test!"

All three of her students looked up at her in startled confusion at her more jovial attitude. But before they had processed her words about a test, she continued. "Normally, this would be the point when your sensei is supposed to introduce herself and ask for your introductions as well. However, I am already well informed about who each of you are, and I expect you will have plenty of time to get to know me later on. For now, let me start by saying that none of you are actually genin yet."

That got the expected responses.

Raising her hand to cut off their objections, their sensei kept going. "The simple fact is that each sensei gives their students a test to ensure that they can work together and make a cohesive team! Those students that fail this test are usually sent back to the Academy for one or two remedial semesters, and to my knowledge there has yet to be a single remedial graduate to make it past the rank of Chunin. Most dropout either in the remedial courses or as genin."

She paused to let her words sink in. Watching the fear that passed over her students. Sakura in particular kept glancing over at Naruto as if already blaming him for their failure.

"To be clear, the results of this test are based primarily on how well the three of you can work together to accomplish a common goal. While your individual skills may be tested, the goal of this test is to ensure you are capable of cooperating."

And so she outlined their test. They were going to be splitting into two groups, one would consist of Naruto and herself, while the two girls would be accompanying their chunin sensei from the Academy, and gathering an assortment of furniture and supplies for an apartment. They would have three hours to locate all the supplies on each of their lists and purchase them using only the money she would be giving them.

At this point she answered the obvious question. "Umino-san will be accompanying you to ensure that you don't do anything that would irreparably harm Naruto's reputation, he will also be ensuring that you complete the test while fulfilling the parameters I am about to set."

Naturally, their next question was how they could hurt Naruto's reputation. Kurenai answered with anticipation of their disbelief. "Because over the course of your shopping, both of you will maintain the illusion of Naruto's appearance! And you can be certain that all of the shops where your target acquisitions shall be located are locations that Naruto himself has never had any reason to explore or offend."

It would be best, if the girls witnessed his life firsthand. However, just to add an extra layer of legitimacy to the test she decided to make it slightly more difficult.

"I am known primarily for my expertise with illusion techniques. Add onto that, the fact that Naruto has mastered a solid clone technique, which I expect him to utilize quite frequently, a key aspect of my anticipated teamwork tactics will be to have the two of you hide amongst his clones. For that reason, the two of you must maintain your illusion of his appearance, under stressful situations, and potentially for extended duration. Therefore, you will maintain his appearance as you acquire everything on your list. You will not drop the illusion until you have completed your assignment. If anyone finds out that you are not Naruto, you will fail."

Naturally they asked what Naruto would be doing for his test. And she explained to their horror that he would be henged as them. But she reassured them that she would be with him to make sure he didn't embarrass them just like Iruka-sensei would be with them.

~ Note ~

~ So basically they will have to spend a few hours in eachothers shoes.

~ Iruka is participating because he wasn't satisfied with the team assignment. If you recall, Iruka participated in the test Kakashi gave Naruto before the chunin exams… he will be watching the girls to see for himself that they learn to empathize with Naruto.

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