Chapter 4 revised and edited. Review or PM me on what you think about this chapter now.

Disclaimer – I don't own anything from the Naruto anime/manga all I own are my original characters and plot twists.

'Talking'

"Thinking"

'Heavily demonic voice'

'Fox talking'

"Fox thinking"

*expression*

Jutsu

Flashback

Chapter 4 – The Test

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke arrived at the training grounds at five AM. The training grounds, Naruto noticed, was the one he had been training at.

"Huh what a coincidence." Thought Naruto bemused before sitting against a tree.

Sakura once again ignored Naruto and attempted to get Sasuke's attention. Sasuke was eyeing Naruto due to what he saw yesterday, while Naruto used the time to meditate and in doing so, blocked out Sakura and Sasuke. Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto waited for three hours when Kakashi finally arrived. 'Hey you're late!' Yelled Sakura.

Sakura's shout alerted Naruto to Kakashi's presence so he promptly threw a wind chakra enhanced kunai at Kakashi. It tore through Kakashi who had a shocked expression on his face before a puff of smoke surrounded him and a pierced log with a kunai sized hole in it fell to the ground.

Naruto turned around and threw another kunai at a seemingly random tree.

'You know Kakashi, you are starting to make me dislike those who are late.' Said Naruto calmly, while looking at the leaves of the tree which he previously threw his kunai at.

'Oh sorry, but a black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way around.' Said Kakashi, as he dropped down from the tree.

No one bought his excuse and just looked at him with a set of sceptical, annoyed stares, with Naruto adding a slight growl in. Shrugging off the glares easily, Kakashi then moved on to the reason they were even out here in the first place.

'Okay then, the exercise is to get these two bells from me by noon. If you don't get a bell, you go without lunch and you will be sent back to the academy.' Said Kakashi, oblivious to Naruto's anger.

"So that's why he told us not to eat breakfast." Thought Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke.

'A ninja must see through deception. Although it was fun to make you skip breakfast. Ready? Begin!' Announced Kakashi, causing all of the Genin to quickly hide in the bushes.

-line break-

After a few minutes with no one moving, Kakashi decided to make his move. Kakashi appeared behind Sakura and tapped her on the shoulder.

'Hey Sakura.' Whispered Kakashi, which caused Sakura to turn around.

'Demonic Illusion: Death Mirage Jutsu.' Said the form of Kakashi, which then vanished in a swirl of leaves.

Sakura's eyes became heavy, and she started feeling tired.

'Ugh Sakura.' Said Sasuke.

'Sasuke.' Squealed Sakura, before she turned around and saw a mutilated Sasuke. He had his left leg dislocated and pointing backwards with heaps of kunai and shuriken sticking out of him all over his body, with blood steadily falling out of his mouth.

'Sakura… please help me.' Croaked out Sasuke.

Sakura then screamed and fainted while Kakashi thought "Despite her test scores, she couldn't see through the most basic Genjutsu."

Naruto and Sasuke didn't really care about why Sakura screamed, but they assumed that Kakashi did it, so she wasn't dead.

"Hey fox, how am I going to get a bell?" Thought Naruto.

'You could always try combing your techniques together.' Suggested Kyuubi.

"Ok, I know what to do." Thought back Naruto after some deliberation.

-line break-

Naruto then walked around and found Kakashi near the lake.

'Oh sensei, I think it's time I give you a bit of incentive to stop being late.' Said Naruto in a sickly-sweet voice.

'Shadow Clone Jutsu.' Said Naruto, as he made his cross-hand sign and created ten clones.

'ATTACK!' Shouted the real Naruto. Two charged Kakashi with their swords and each gave a horizontal strike, one from left to right, and the other from right to left. Kakashi jumped up and threw down two shuriken, but this is what Naruto expected. One more clone jumped down with both of his hands held together to give a clasped double fisted hand strike and swung it at Kakashi's head. Kakashi anticipated this so the clone ended up cracking a log instead, which Kakashi seamlessly swapped with. Kakashi then appeared in front of the clones, but twenty metres back from where he substituted.

"Damn it, he's good." Thought Naruto.

Naruto went for one last ditch effort and charged with all his clones following suit in a circular formation, as all of them tried to cut Kakashi down with their swords, with a diagonal sword slash from top right to bottom left.

Kakashi was slashed and instead of oozing blood, disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Damn, I can't believe him, he's good. I better get some help." Thought Naruto, before he walked around, looking for Sasuke, as Sakura wouldn't be able to help for obvious reasons.

-line break-

Naruto found Sasuke fighting with Kakashi and when he used Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu he made his move. Naruto threw twelve three-pronged kunai about two metres apart from each other in a close-knit circle around Kakashi and then made twelve shadow clones who flashed halfway to each kunai and engaged Kakashi in a Taijutsu battle. He then went out to grab Sasuke to tell him his plan.

Naruto jumped back with him into some trees a fair distance away.

'Hey, Sasuke, I know you don't like me, and I don't particularly like you, but I want to pass, so I need your help.' Said Naruto quietly.

Sasuke thought about it and realised that if him and Naruto worked together, they might be able to get both bells, as Naruto had recently been surprising him.

'Fine.' Sasuke conceded, after a brief moment of deliberation.

-line break-

Kakashi was waiting for them to make a move and was reading Make-Out Paradise.

"Hmm, seems like they are working together." Thought Kakashi, feeling both boys approach him.

Sasuke jumped out of the bushes and threw kunai and shuriken until he got Kakashi within the space Naruto's twelve kunai had made before. He then jumped back onto a branch on a nearby tree, ready to attack Kakashi if he tried to escape and said, 'Now Naruto.'

Twelve more shadow clones flashed halfway to the kunai and surrounded Kakashi. They then all drew their katana's.

'All right, ready?' Asked one clone, with all the others replying in the affirmative.

All shadow clones charged at Kakashi two at a time, using Wind Release: Vacuum Sword, opting to make gusts of winds rather than blades and after they did it, using the Flying Thunder God technique to get away from Kakashi's counter, before using Wind Release: Vacuum Sword again and eventually trapped Kakashi in a swirling tornado.

"I don't believe this, how could a mere Genin know how to use the Fourth's most famous technique. It's unbelievable, even if he hasn't mastered it yet." Thought Kakashi.

At this point, Sakura had found where they were fighting and couldn't believe what she was seeing "Since when was Naruto this good? He couldn't even do a simple clone jutsu at the academy." She thought in surprise.

'Now Sasuke!' Yelled Naruto, jumping away from the tornado.

Sasuke made the hand signs and used Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu at the base of the tornado and it became a flaming tornado. Unfortunately, the Kakashi that was trapped in the tornado turned out to be a shadow clone, which was revealed when it disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Oh crap." Thought Naruto, before there was a shout.

'Earth Style: Head-hunter Jutsu.' Said Kakashi from underground, before he pulled Naruto and Sasuke into the ground up to their heads.

'Well, nice try, but you'll have to do better than that to beat me. I am a Jounin after all.' Said Kakashi and his clone, which had pulled down Naruto and Sasuke respectively.

'Ha, and you shouldn't underestimate us.' Said Naruto, as he puffed into smoke, while a kunai came out of a tree and struck the Kakashi clone.

Naruto quickly jumped down from the tree, jammed both his fists into the ground with brute force, pulled Sasuke out by his shoulders and ran away.

Kakashi sweat dropped at this while thinking "Well, he countered the jutsu... I guess despite how crude the method was."

-line break-

'Man, that was close.' Said Naruto.

'It was your fault; you gave him too much time to make a substitution.' Said Sasuke.

'What? Are you serious? It was probably your slow fireball that gave him the chance to escape.' Retorted Naruto angrily.

Sasuke went to open his mouth, but Naruto put his hand over him, effectively silencing him, much to his annoyance.

'Ok, forget all that. When we were fighting him, he looked really surprised when we did those moves. So, what I'm thinking is he will expect us to rush him with jutsu so we will charge at him with pure Taijutsu. I'll hit him high you hit him low. Deal.' Said Naruto as he uncovered Sasuke's mouth.

Sasuke liked the plan, but he was going to be the one to get the last word.

'I'll hit him high you hit him low.' Said Sasuke, before he walked off.

'*sigh* Always has to get the last word in.' Mumbled Naruto, before he followed the Uchiha.

-line break-

"Hmm they have almost showed just enough teamwork to pass. Looks like I'm getting a team this year." Mused Kakashi.

'Hey Kakashi.' Said Sasuke as he stood alone, keeping a distance of about five metres from Kakashi.

"Or not." Thought Kakashi.

'Yes Sasuke.' Said Kakashi, giving an eye smile.

'I'm taking those bells.' Said Sasuke, before he rushed him.

Sasuke went for a right roundhouse, which Kakashi blocked with his left arm. Sasuke then leaned back and brought his left arm around for a hook which was also blocked, this time by Kakashi's right hand. Sasuke then went for a jab straight to Kakashi's face with his right which Kakashi blocked by bringing both his hands together.

"Got him." Said Sasuke, as he let go with his left hand and reached for the bells.

He just managed to touch one, causing it to jingle, at which point Kakashi pushed him away.

"This kid is something else." Thought Kakashi, before he promptly dodged a sweep kick by jumping back.

'Got you now.' Said Naruto, as he followed up his sweep kick with a right uppercut. Kakashi hooked Naruto's arm with his left and flung him away over his shoulder. Sasuke waited for the release and charged back at Kakashi with a right jab. Kakashi spun and blocked with his right arm and threw Sasuke away in the direction opposite of Naruto.

Kakashi waited for a moment before two shadows appeared above him. Sasuke and Naruto both slammed down with an axe kick on Kakashi's shoulders before he turned into a log which was smashed into splinters.

Two clones of Kakashi snuck up behind Naruto and Sasuke and were about to use One Thousand Years Of Death on both Sasuke and Naruto. Sakura who had been waiting before managed to get him away from both by throwing two kunai. Both of the clones were hit and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

All three of them were looking around when they saw both bells in the centre of where the shattered log was. They all jumped to them, and all came to the same conclusion.

'Three people and only two bells. What do we do?' Asked Naruto.

Kakashi was behind a tree waiting to see what they would do.

'Well, you two are the ones who made him drop them. So *gulp* you guys should take them.' Said Sakura reluctantly.

'Yeah, but Sakura, you are the one who stopped him from hitting us both with that last technique, so you should get one as well.' Said Naruto.

Sasuke spoke up after a moment 'Listen, there are three of us and two bells, right?' Sakura and Naruto nodded 'So that means one of us has to fail.' Concluded Sasuke.

Sakura then remembered what Kakashi had said. 'Not necessarily. Didn't he say a ninja must see through deception?' Asked Sakura, to which Sasuke and Naruto nodded. 'So maybe this was a test in the test.' Concluded Sakura.

'Yeah, you're right, so maybe the purpose of this test was to see if we could work together as a team, rather than actually getting the bells.' Said Naruto.

As Naruto said this there was the sound of clapping 'Very good Naruto, that was the purpose of this test.' Said Kakashi walking towards them.

'The chances of three Genin beating a Jounin are much better than one Genin on his or her own, which is why I set up this test. Its purpose was to see if you could work together even though one of you may fail.' Continued Kakashi, standing in front of his three Genin.

'In ninja missions, those who break the rules are scum, that is true, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum. Now there is only one more thing to say. You all pass. Team Seven will have its first mission tomorrow.' As he finished saying this, a Jounin appeared and spoke to Kakashi.

Kakashi nodded and then spoke 'Okay, the rest of the day is yours, but Naruto, I want you to wait for a minute.' Sasuke walked off, while Sakura quickly followed and tried to get a date.

-line break-

'So Naruto, I take it you don't know who this person is, do you?' Asked Kakashi, to which Naruto shook his head.

'Well in that case, let me introduce you to Hayate Gekko, one of the best swordsmen in the Hidden Leaf Village. Apparently, he saw you using a sword at this training ground yesterday afternoon and he seems to think you have potential, so he has volunteered to teach you Kenjutsu.' Finished Kakashi.

'Really? Wow, thanks a lot Hayate-Sensei.' Said Naruto happily.

'So Naruto are you willing *cough* to give up *cough* two hours after all of your missions to allow me to *cough* train you?' Asked the sickly Special Jounin.

Hayate had short brown hair and dark eyes with protruding bags. He had pronounced lines under his eyes, as well as an unexplained chronic cough that plagued him. He wore the standard Leaf shinobi outfit complete with a forehead protector that he wore as a bandanna, flak jacket, and regular shinobi sandals. He also carried a katana with a rectangular hand guard strapped over his back.

'Sure, I wouldn't mind at all.' Said Naruto eagerly, excited at the prospect of learning from a master.

'Ok, so Naruto, after you finish your missions, meet Hayate here at Training Ground Seven for sword training every day, at three PM sharp.' Said Kakashi.

'No problem.' Said Naruto saluting.

'In that case, you're dismissed for now.' Said Kakashi, with his patented eye smile.

Naruto left and headed to the Ichiraku Ramen Shop for lunch, as he had skipped breakfast, and it was now noon and therefore didn't hear what Kakashi and Hayate were talking about.

'Does he really have that much potential in Kenjutsu?' Asked Kakashi seriously.

'Yes, he was using a style similar to the Demon Fox Style *cough* which is very difficult to learn.' Said Hayate just as seriously.

'You don't think he can talk to the fox, do you?' Asked Kakashi with a concerned undertone.

'I think so, otherwise there is no way *cough* he could have known it.' Said Hayate.

'Very well, I'll tell the Hokage.' Finished Kakashi and a moment later both left the training field in a Body Flicker, leaving only a clump of leaves behind.

-line break-

Naruto was walking to Ichiraku when he bumped into someone. Said person turned around and that person turned out to be Tenten.

'Oops, sorry Tenten.' Said Naruto.

'Oh, hey Naruto, don't worry about it.' She replied easily with a small smile.

'Hey Tenten, guess who my Jounin sensei is?' Asked Naruto.

'Who?' Asked Tenten.

'It's Kakashi *mmph*.' Naruto couldn't finish because Tenten had covered his mouth with her hand.

'Don't say that so loud, someone might hear you.' Tenten whispered, hoping nothing would happen, but unfortunately, someone had heard.

'Kakashi, you say. You know that Kakashi and I are said to be Eternal Rivals.' Said a man.

The man was tall and well-built with high cheekbones, thick eyebrows, and black hair cut in a bowl style. He also wore a green jumpsuit, orange striped leg warmers and the standard Leaf flak jacket, though it was unzipped. His forehead protector was on a red cloth and was worn around his waist, like a belt.

'Who are you?' Asked Naruto, after Tenten reluctantly removed her hand.

'Me, I'm the Leaf Village's Sublime Green Beast of Prey, Might Guy.' Said Guy flashing his nice guy pose.

At that moment, another 'mini-Guy' appeared and started talking to Guy.

'Guy-sensei, I did it! Five hundred laps around the village in under an hour.' Said the 'mini-Guy'.

'Nice work, Lee!' Said Guy, once again flashing his nice guy pose.

'Hey, Tenten, who are these guys?' Asked Naruto in a whisper.

'*sigh* They are my teammate and sensei.' She replied.

Naruto was about to start laughing, but saw she was serious, so repressed his laughter and patted her on the shoulder.

'You poor girl.' Said Naruto sadly.

'What is your name?' Naruto asked the 'mini-Guy'.

'My name is Rock Lee.' Said Lee, giving a 'nice guy' pose, which consisted of sticking out his right hand, thumb extended, while flashing a smile, with his right eye closed.

The light seemed to make his teeth flash to the point that Naruto was almost blinded. Lee possessed very thick eyebrows and large, rounded black eyes, with prominent lower eyelashes. His hair was cut and styled into a bowl-cut style like Guy. He also wore the same attire, consisting of a green jumpsuit, orange leg warmers, and a red forehead protector worn as a belt. The only difference between the two concerning their attire were the bandages Lee wore around his hands and wrists and his lack of a flak jacket.

Naruto twitched at the resemblance and then remembered his manners.

'Oh, sorry, I didn't tell you my name yet. My name is Naruto Uzumaki.' Said Naruto smiling.

Guy noticed the bulge around Naruto's ankles and wrists and asked, 'Are you wearing training weights?' Naruto nodded and both Lee and Guy got flames in their eyes and started saying 'That's the way, let "The Power of Youth" explode.'

Tenten trying to shift the conversation away from "The Power of Youth" turned to Naruto, 'So how much are they up to now?' Asked Tenten genuinely curious.

'Oh, the wrist and ankle weights are up to fifty each and the vest is on a hundred.' As Naruto said this, Tenten's jaw dropped.

'But you were only at five and twenty last week, how did you improve so quickly.' Tenten asked amazed.

Naruto shrugged his shoulders. 'Guess I'm just awesome.' Said Naruto, smiling at the end.

'Hmph, awesome thanks to my power giving you accelerated healing.' Grumbled Kyuubi.

Lee and Guy heard this and then made a challenge.

'We must not let our flames of youth diminish, LEE!' Shouted Guy.

'YES Guy-sensei! Let us do five hundred laps around the village on our hands in one hour and if we cannot do this, then I will do a thousand push ups!' Shouted back Lee.

'That's the way Lee! I too will do a thousand push ups if we do not get around the village in half an hour!' Shouted Guy, before he took off with Lee following.

After they left, Tenten was going to leave so Naruto quickly asked 'Hey Tenten, do you want to get some ramen with me?'

Tenten thought for a moment and then said 'Sure.' With a smile.

-line break-

At Ichiraku, Naruto was telling Tenten about the test they had to do to become official Genin.

'Wow, Kakashi sounds tough, but at least you passed.' Said Tenten.

'Yeah, I guess. So, what's the deal with your teammates?' Asked Naruto, still thinking about what he saw moments ago.

'Well, Lee and Guy are both a bit… how can I put this nicely...' Started Tenten, before pausing as she tried to find the right words.

'Training obsessed is probably the best way to put it. My other teammate is a boy named Neji Hyuuga, who is obsessed with his clan and destiny.' Finished Tenten.

'Wow, you have an obsessive team. What about you?' Asked Naruto in between slurps of his noodles.

'Me? Well, I guess you could say I am obsessed with weapons.' Said Tenten.

'Well I'll keep that in mind, but if you don't mind me saying, that's a much better thing to be obsessed with... although the training obsession doesn't seem so bad. Or maybe it's better because you're the one obsessed with them.' Said Naruto, as he flashed her a smile.

'Heh told you, you like her.' Said the fox.

"So you've said. Shesh fox, you got your point across, what do you want, a medal?" Thought back Naruto sarcastically.

'Grr insolent brat.' Grumbled Kyuubi, before going silent.

Naruto looked at Tenten and thought he saw a slight blush, but figured he was just seeing things.

"I wonder if he meant that. Does he like me?" Thought Tenten, who actually had blushed, not often on the receiving end of any praise other than Lee and Guy's exuberant encouragement.

They both finished their meals and Naruto paid with his vouchers for both of them. They walked outside and said goodbye.

'Thanks for lunch Naruto.' Said Tenten.

'No problem Tenten and if I see any rare weapons, I'll be thinking of you. Heck, I might even bring you back one from my missions.' He replied.

As he started walking off, he again realised what he said and how it could have been interpreted.

'That was priceless, you should see your face. You're practically already trying to make her your mate... although I don't think she would mind very much either.' Said the fox, almost crying from laughter.

"Shut up fox, we are not talking about this anymore." Thought Naruto, who found he actually didn't mind the idea, but was getting annoyed with the Kyuubi's constant input.

'Sure, sure, whatever you say.' Replied the fox with a grin, thoroughly enjoying the chance to rile up his container in a new manner, since he had stopped affecting his chakra.

Naruto went home and got ready for bed. That night, the fox decided to shape Naruto's dream and made him dream about something that Naruto said they weren't talking about.

"Well, all he said was, we weren't going to talk about it. He never said I couldn't do anything else." Thought the fox with an evil smile, before he curled up and went to sleep.

-line break-

Tell me what you thought about the fight. Also, rejoice, the introductory chapters are now over and the story will start developing now.