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Ten minutes later, Sakura was tied to the large wooden post with the alarm clock above her head. Naruto and Sasuke sat apart with Sakura in-between with Sasuke Uchiha to her right and Naruto Uzumaki on her left as the blonde was still sulking about getting for those bells. Their jōnin sensei, Kakashi Hatake, stood in front of everyone with his arms crossed as he said, “I see you’re all hungry, oh and I must say…” He paused for a moment as he lifted his one visible, half-lidded eye at them. “…about the training. There’s no need for you guys to go back to the Academy.”
Sasuke huffed with his usual, “Hn,” while Sakura was confused as she wondered, ‘Huh, but I did was pass out from a simple genjutsu. Was that really enough?’ Inner Sakura, however, shouted, “Love wins, CHA!!” Naruto smiled and asked, “Wait, so does that mean we all pass? All three of us…” Sasuke remained stoic but had a semblance of a smirk on the corners of his mouth. After all, the dobe and him were the closest to getting the bells. Maybe if the blonde applied himself more into those trapmaking skills, using his experience as a prankster, he could be more of a benefit than an obstacle in his way. Sakura, however, wanted to jump for joy but could only move her legs as her arms and fingers were tied to the post behind her with rope.
Kakashi only eye-smiled as he said. “Yup, all three of you…” He opened his eye in a narrowed and serious manner, meaning he was not joking around. “…quiet as shinobi right now!”
Sasuke’s expression darkened into a glare, Naruto’s eyes were wide and his face full of shock, and Sakura’s was full of surprise and sweat pouring from her brow. “Quit as shinobi!? What does that mean!? Why do we have to quit!? Okay, okay, we couldn’t get the bells but…why?” A glaring Sasuke and a gaping Sakura nodded in agreement. Kakashi simply looked at his genin squad and pointedly said, “Because all of you are just wannabes playing shinobi.” Sasuke, in a fit of rage, charges at Kakashi-sensei and making Sakura cry out, “Sasuke-kun, no!!”
The cycloptic jōnin simply landed on Sasuke’s back, pinning him to the ground with his butt while keeping his left arm locked against the boy’s shoulder blade. “That’s why you’re a wannabe, prodigy or not, playing shinobi.” Sasuke seethed at how Kakashi-sensei was humiliating him before placing a foot atop Sasuke’s face, causing the Uchiha’s face too close to the dirt as Sakura screamed, “NO!!! DON’T YOU DARE STEP ON SASUKE-KUN!!!”
Naruto could only freeze in place at how bad the situation is. Sure, he did not like the teme but he was not heartless before Kakashi glared at him and Sakura with his lone visible eye. “Are you underestimating ninjas, huh? Why do you think that you were divided into teams and are doing this training exercise?”
Naruto scrunched up his face into a thinking pose while Sakura calmed down and asked, “Huh? What does that mean?”
“Basically, you guys are not understanding the answer to this test,” Kakashi chidded.
“The answer?” Naruto asked.
Kakashi-sensei nodded. “Yes, the answer which allows you to pass this test.”
Sakura thought for a moment and then asked, “When are you going to tell us?”
“………” was Kakashi-sensei’s only answer as Sasuke tried to wriggle himself free, but their sensei held him in place unmoving despite his struggles. He then paused at the word ‘answer’ to passing this test. He decided to stop fighting and listen.
“AHH, DAMNIT!! What’s the answer already!?” Naruto shouted with Sakura nodding along; if Sasuke did not have Kakashi-sensei’s foot on his head he would nod as well.
“It’s…teamwork,” the jōnin leader replied, making all three genin’s eyes widen in realization. “The three of you working together may have gotten the bells.”
Sakura then realized something. “Hey, what a minute, what do you mean by teamwork? There are only two bells!! Even if we work together and manage to take the bells, one of us still fails. What teamwork? That just makes us fight each other.”
Kakashi-sensei pulls a one-eighty and eye-smiles at her. “Exactly, this test was purposely set up to make you fight amongst yourselves.”
“Huh!?” was the collective gasp of all three genin.
“The purpose is to see whether you can forget about your own interest and successfully work together…” Kakashi looked down at Sasuke to include him in the explanation. “…under these designed circumstances. Yet, you guys did not do anything even remotely constructive together.” He looks at Sakura. “You were only thinking about Sasuke-kun, who was far away, instead of Naruto who was closer to your position. You both could’ve coordinated and formed a plan while looking for Sasuke-kun.” He then looks down at the angry Uchiha with his lone eye. “You, on the other hand, assumed Naruto-kun and Sakura-san were just a nuisance and would just get in your way. So, you tried to do everything by yourself.” Lastly, he turned to the blonde enigma and said, “And you, Naruto-kun. You were reckless in trying to run into danger on your own, even with your shadow clones. Though I’m poised to admit that your unorthodox methods and unpredictability played a crucial role in nearly getting a bell. You coordinate well with your clones and understand how to use them tactfully and can come up with strategies on the fly, but you would’ve succeeded in getting a bell if you simply grouped up with Sakura-san or Sasuke-kun and worked out a strategy that could’ve worked in taking the bells from me.”
Naruto could not help but feel mixed since Kakashi-sensei praised him for using shadow clones more tactfully and more unorthodox style, but was miffed at working with the teme as he was not on good terms with the Uchiha as he wanted to prove himself to be stronger than him. He looked ashamed of himself as even Shindō-niichan always talked about teamwork is what makes a shinobi strong, but he now realizes that it was never about teamwork with his clones at all as he tried it against Kakashi-sensei but failed. It was teamwork in general with his comrades and the hen has finally come home to roost as the lesson finally sunk into his thick-headed brain.
Kakashi gestured with his free right hand as his left was still clenched tightly around Sasuke’s left wrist as he continued, “All duties are done by the team. Yes, superior ability is important, but what’s even more important is “teamwork”. Any individual play which disrupts the team can put your teammates in danger and can even get you killed and your team. For example…” Kakashi holds a kunai to Sasuke’s neck, shocking Sakura and Naruto. “Naruto-kun, kill Sakura-san or Sasuke-kun dies!”
“What!?” Naruto exclaimed while Sakura paled as she has not treated Naruto well, rejecting his proposals for dates, followed by a punch to the head for good measure.
“See? If a hostage is taken, you will have tough choices to make and might even die. You are risking your lives as shinobi. None of you are ready for this kind of hard life. This is why you should quit becoming shinobi.”
Konoha Memorial Stone.
Kakashi gets off of Sasuke who nurses his left wrist whilst rubbing off any dirt off his cheeks with the rest of his arm. Kakashi walks over to the nearby Memorial Stone with names inscribed on the face of the monument. “Look at this,” said Kakashi with in a softer tone than usual. “These are the names carved into this stone. These are all shinobi and kunoichi alike who are recognized as heroes of Konohagakure.”
Excited, Naruto foolishly yelled out, “Hey!! I’ve decided that I’ll have my name carved into the stone as well. I want to be a hero too!!”
Sakura and Sasuke just looked at Naruto as if he was dumb before Kakashi looked up but still facing away from the three genin and replied, “You know, these are not just ordinary heroes. To have your name engraved into the stone, you have to die in the line of duty.” Naruto’s smile disappeared before turning away in sadness as Kakashi continued, “This is a memorial. The names of my comrades and sensei are carved here.” Kakashi traces a finger on their names on the stone, with Sasuke stared stoically in wonder as Sakura had a look of sympathy. Naruto, however, now seemed to realize that if being a shinobi, let alone Hokage, will make you confront difficult decisions, could he do it? No, there must be another way.
Kakashi turned to look over his shoulder at his genin students. “You guys, I’ll give you all one more chance. But only after lunch, and I’ll make it tougher to take the bells. Those who still wish to challenge will eat lunch, except for Haruno Sakura.” He looks at her with disappointment. “Your performance was the worst, and I think a fair punishment will be not eating lunch.” He then looks to all three genin with a sharp and deadly look. “If anyone gives her food, they will fail immediately. This is an order as I make the rules while I’m here. Got it?” All three genin nodded before Kakashi-sensei disappeared using the Body Flicker Technique.
“Heh, it may not be ramen, but the rice with fried pork fillet is still very good,” Naruto said casually, tasting the food and finding it delectable. Sakura only watched the blonde with contempt as he was rubbing salt in the wound that she had to starve while he and Sasuke-kun ate. Speaking of which, the Uchiha had been contemplating his performance in the bell test, about Kakashi-sensei’s orders and lesson on teamwork, and the shocking intelligence of the blonde dobe as he was able to catch their sensei off guard and looked at Naruto eating in a carefree manner. As much as he hated to admit it, the dobe was impressive before looking at the pink-haired kunoichi and saw her miserable expression as her stomach kept growling. As he finished taking a bite of his fish, he felt a twinge of pity because in her state, she will be even more useless than before if they were to do the test again. She would definitely drag her down unless he came up with a plan and he just did not wish to see the pinkette all sad and depressed. He knew she liked him and would do anything he asked, but she would need to be at full strength if he would use her to help take the bells when lunchtime was over. With a sigh, he placed his chopsticks down on the unfinished food before handing it to her with his left hand. Without looking at her, he said, “Here, just eat it.”
Catching the attention of his comrades, they are stared wide-eyed at the Uchiha. “S-Sasuke-kun?” Sakura murmured.
“H-Hey, teme, what’d you think you’re doing? Didn’t Kakashi-sensei tell us not to feed Sakura-chan!?” Naruto exclaimed, annoying Sasuke and Sakura once more with his outbursts. The pinkette was about to scold the blonde for using the affectionate “-chan” honorific before Sasuke cut in, saying, “Without food, she’ll be in the way and that’ll hurt our chances. After lunch, we’ll need to come up with a plan to get the bells together.” Sasuke finally looked at his two teammates in the eye with a serious but determined look. “Don’t worry, I don’t detect him nearby.”
“Sasuke-kun,” Sakura replied, her heart skipping a beat, her cheeks having a tinge of pink appearing. Naruto, meanwhile, looked at Sakura-chan and realized that the teme was right as even with his clones, he still failed. He also did not want to be outshined by the Uchiha, his self-proclaimed rival. He stood up, catching the attention of his teammates before holding three slices of fresh vegetables which he hates because he was quite picky and decided Sakura would not mind. He then presents it to the uncomfortable Sakura before saying, “Say AHH!” Sakura wanted to reject Naruto feeding her, but her stomach was telling her to just take a bite from the baka’s chopstick. She wanted Sasuke-kun to feed her, but the feeling of some hunger pains―recalling not having dinner last night due to dieting―finally got the pinkette to say, “Hmph, fine. But don’t get it twisted, Naruto-baka, I’m only letting you feed me just this once.” Naruto nodded, feeling a bit dejected at her rejection before placing the fresh vegetable slices in her open mouth. Sasuke watched their interaction and began to realize that although he was not attracted to the pinkette, the dobe was and she was rejecting his affection. What he does not know is that Naruto wants to win her heart just to show him he is better than the Uchiha as part of his one-sided rivalry.
As Sakura savored the flavor of the fresh vegetable slices, a familiar masculine voice shouted, “What’s this!?” It caught the attention of the three genin as Kakashi-sensei appeared with the Body Flicker Technique. “UWAHH!!!” Naruto screamed as he accidentally dropped his bento with some of the food spilling directly on his feet. Sasuke gritted his teeth as he did not sense him; how did he do that? Sakura, however, only squeaked as the gravity of their disobedience will force them to return to the Academy. With a deadly glare from his visible eye, Kakashi said, “You guys…” He paused as the sky around them darkened with thunderous storm clouds as Sasuke was ready for a fight, even if he loses. “…Pass ♥,” he finished, in a gentle and proud voice as the storm-like background vanished, leaving three stunned genin with a collective “Huh?” from all of them.
“Wait, we pass? But why?” Sakura asked.
“You guys are the first and only team to ever pass this test of mine,” Kakashi said as he stood casually in front of them, his hands in his pockets. “Everyone else would just do whatever I told them. They were all just complete morons in the end.” The genin still did not get it so Kakashi-sensei elaborated with the most poignant lesson he ever learned, “Like I told Naruto-kun, a ninja should always look beneath what is underneath. Those who break the rules are called trash. But you know what? Those who wouldn’t care about their comrades…” He then paused to let it sink in for his students. “…are worse than trash. I want you all to remember this lesson going forward. Konoha is the best because of our ability to work together to protect the bonds we hold. While individual skill is good, teamwork and camaraderie are the pillars which makes us strong. From here on out, we’re Team Kakashi and will need to watch each other’s backs from now on.” He then struck a pose where he stood with an outstretched thumbs up. “Congratulations, this ends our training for today and all of you pass!” He finished with an eye-smile.
A fifty-megawatt smile formed on Naruto Uzumaki’s face as he now admires Kakashi-sensei and jumps, yelling, “YAY! I DID IT!! I PASSED!!!” Sakura tried not to cry tears of joy as she could not help but feel proud of herself for becoming a kunoichi and struggled against her bonds as Inner Sakura yelled, “CHA!!! WE WON!! We’re one step closer to having our true love!” Sasuke, however, relaxed his posture and only smiled slightly as it appears that he is now on his way towards his goal. Kakashi then walked over to cut the rope apart, freeing Sakura before the cycloptic jōnin said, “Okay, everyone. Starting tomorrow, Team Kakashi will begin fulfilling its duties. Get a good night’s rest as we’re coming back here at the break of dawn. After all, early birds catch the worms.” Suddenly, all three genin were a bit down as they were not much morning people. Still, they were ninjas and needed to act like it. Their journey was only beginning, so who knows what lies ahead.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had several shinobi gather in front of his desk. Among them were the sensei of the newly established Teams Seven, Eight, and Ten, respectively. As the previous six genin teams all failed, Kakashi stepped forward and everyone expected to hear him failing yet another team again before the cycloptic jōnin replied, “Team Kakashi, passed.” He ended the sentence with his trademarked eye-smile, shocking everyone including two other jōnin who he stood in-between in. The Third Hokage looked pointedly at Kakashi before saying, “Eh, well, excellent job, Kakashi-san. Report.”
With a curt nod, Kakashi reported, “Yes, Hokage-dono, I was selected to teach Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Sasuke.” The rest of the shinobi present listened intently, still unwilling to believe that Kakashi Hatake, the greatest but tardiest shinobi within their ranks, passed a team. Kakashi continued, “I tested Uzumaki-san’s skills, only to be surprised as before I even said, ‘Start!’, he attacked me, only for me to hold him in place which turned out to be a shadow clone which a genin should not be able to use. The real him hid behind some bushes, only to come out and attack me from behind which did not work as I got out of the way.” Everyone, including the Hokage, were all shocked and gobsmacked that the deadlast of this year’s graduation managed to fool Kakashi. Kakashi continued, “When the test officially began, I fought Naruto for a while and I must say that he has potential, able to give me a hard time and coming close to getting a bell, just touching them with his fingers before I trapped him in some wire strings.” Everyone could not believe at how skilled and powerful the hyperactive, knuckleheaded blonde is, almost getting the bells from Kakashi who is still one of the strongest shinobi in the village. They were beginning to question if Kakashi has either gotten weaker or that there was something more or strange about the son of the late Fourth Hokage. The gray-haired shinobi continued, “Naruto-kun is tenacious and tends to think outside the box as I suspect he knows the secret to the Shadow Clone Technique too along with having the largest amount of chakra I’ve ever seen in a genin. With some more intensive chakra control exercises and training, I have no doubt he’ll become a one-man army in the future.” Everyone had to make a doubletake to see if this was Kakashi Hatake who was normally laidback and borderline lazy. The Third Hokage smiled with his pipe still held in his mouth as he said, “I’m sure that boy will surprise you, Kakashi-san. What about the others?”
Kakashi sighed. “Well, Hokage-dono, Haruno-san is the weakest on the team as she possesses only academic smarts but has no ability to apply them in practice. For example, she completely failed to see an obvious D-rank genjutsu I placed her under. I thought she could figure it out and dispel it as her file read, she excelled in understanding genjutsu. But I saw for myself that that’s not to be the case. She is also more obsessed with the Uchiha than becoming a proper kunoichi as fangirls like her will likely hold my team back and even get herself and the rest of us killed out there in the field. Remedial training is what I’ll be doing from here on out to make her as strong as she can be so that our team works smoothly. Sasuke-kun, on the other hand, is someone who refuses to rely on others and tends to rush in when emotionally triggered. Still, he has enough chakra to at least perform a Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique. If I didn’t use my Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique to escape and entrap most of his body underground, I would’ve also been burned alive as it singed the ground black. He is further ahead than his teammates as I have seen for myself. He is a prodigy with great potential, but I worry about his mental and emotional state considering the loss of the powerful Uchiha clan and his desire for revenge. I hope to steer it away if I could before he ends like HIM.” Everyone paled at Kakashi’s assessment, knowing who he was referring to as HIM! Even the Hokage sweat dropped at the implication as Sasuke-kun’s path was dark and he needed to develop bonds before darkness consumed him completely. “It looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you, Kakashi-san.” Kakashi nodded with a sigh before stepping back to his original spot in the crowd of high-ranked shinobi who could not stop staring at Kakashi for this unexpected change.
The Third Hokage called the next jōnin sensei, this time being Team Eight. She stood next to Kakashi’s right before stepping forward in a respectful bow. She is a fair-skinned and exceptionally beautiful woman of a slender build with long, black, and untamed hair reaching her upper back and a pair of uniquely red eyes while wearing makeup consisting of red lipstick and purple eye shadow. Her attire also stood out amongst the rest as instead of the standard Konoha outfit, her attire comprised of a red mesh armor blouse with only the right sleeve visible. Overall, this is very broad material resembling bandages with a pattern on it like those of rose thorns. Her hands and upper thighs are also wrapped in bandages, and she wears the Konoha forehead protector and regular shinobi sandals. She stood proudly to say, “Team Kurenai, passed.”
“Report,” the Hokage commanded.
With a curt nod and smile, she said, “Shino-san is by far the best on my team. His taijutsu skills are poor, but he makes up for it with his clan’s hiden techniques. His brilliance is in his strategic thinking and constant vigilance. His demeanor makes him a natural leader as he could keep the Inuzuka-san in check while encouraging Hyūga-san to do her best. I tested their tracking skills shortly after introductions, and I must say that these three show promise. I will need to have Hinata-kun improve on her kunoichi skills and have permission from Hiashi-sama to train her in my own way. As for Kiba-san and his companion, I leave it to both Tsume-sama and Hana-san and will work on incorporating his clan’s hiden techniques with his comrades for maximum effect. He is the best at taijutsu on the team, and with Shino’s leadership and Hinata-kun’s long-distance perception will make our team the best tracking team in the field.” The Hokage seemed pleased with her assessment as she spoke some more details about Team Kurenai’s dynamics as Kiba seemed quite the handful with his brashness and arrogance and he hoped Hinata-kun and Naruto-chan could one day be happy together. “Well, Yūhi-san, it looks like you’ve got a great team on your hands.”
Kurenai simply gave an agreeable nod before walking back to her spot before the Third Hokage looked to his son who then stepped forward. Asuma Sarutobi was taller than everyone in the room, with brown eyes, olive skin, short black spiky hair, and a beard. His clothing consisted of the standard Konoha ninja uniform with the sleeves rolled up halfway, a darker-green flak jacket, regular shinobi sandals and forehead protector. He also wore a sash that had the kanji for “Fire” (火, Hi) marked on it around his waist, a pair of black bangles, and bandages wrapped around the arms of his sleeves, just below the engraved Uzumaki emblem on the upper sleeve. He blew a small stream of smoke before reporting, “Well, Yamanaka-san is a fangirl obsessed with Uchiha Sasuke and is quite arrogant, but I still see that deep down she has a heart, and I will need to bring it out of her. She at least works, albeit reluctantly, with her comrades. Speaking of, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Chōji are quite the duo, a bit of goof-offs who are close friends since childhood. It looks like their file did not do their close friendship justice as Chōji-san follows Shikamaru-kun’s lead in every engagement. I understand the taboo about mentioning an Akimichi’s weight as Chōji-san almost crushed me with his clan’s techniques. Still, Shikamaru-kun calmed him down long enough to coordinate a plan and through the skin of their teeth, they passed my test.” He rubbed the back of his head in annoyance. “I didn’t sign up to babysit a couple of kids, especially a girl so bratty and should learn to be humbler and develop her kunoichi skills more, another too lazy even for my taste, and the last one a glutton who should take his shinobi training seriously. Still, I will teach this generation’s of the famous Ino-Shika-Chō, no matter what!” Asuma finished by blowing a small but thick puff of smoke which made the Third Hokage smile at his son; however, he needed to act professional and not too sentimental in front of the shinobi around them. Still, a flash of a proud, fatherly smile etched into his face before saying, “Excellent, Asuma-san, and I hope your students become the best shinobi for Konoha moving forward.” Asuma nodded, a slight smile on the corners of his lips before moving back to his spot next to Kakashi’s left. The Third Hokage rose to his feet and announced that today’s genin tests were over and those who failed will be sent for remedial training at the Academy and thanked everyone for their time and dismissed them all except for Kakashi who remained behind, as per the Third Hokage’s orders. “Kakashi-san, I wish to speak about something important Ebisu-san brought up to my attention yesterday about his new apprentice.” Intrigued, Kakashi pulled out a chair as he was told that this was going to be a long conversation. “Hokage-dono, why wasn’t Ebisu-san present at this meeting?”
Placing some more tobacco into his pipe and lighting it up with fire chakra, he puffed a small smoke as he answered sagely, “He tested Shunsoku Shindō and learned about something interesting about the boy. It seemed Naruto-kun taught him the Shadow Clone Technique and managed to match him in taijutsu. He resorted to ninjutsu, especially the five nature transformations, which resulted in the boy getting injured; however, he recovered completely and managed to steal the bell off his waist using wire strings whilst his shadow clones distracted Ebisu-san. It seems that the brotherly bond between Naruto-chan and Shindō-kun are starting to bear fruit but could attract my rival, Shimura Danzō, who will use Root to get to them. I will not let him have either Naruto-kun or Shindō-kun in his cold, clammy hands. Kakashi-san, for the sake of this village, keep a close eye on the Fourth Hokage’s legacy and as Ebisu-san will do the same. You will meet report to me here in my office every day alongside Ebisu-san and the three of us will review the progress of these two. So far, I’ve done what I could as Hokage since I’ve got to protect not just Naruto-kun and Shindō-kun, but every man, woman, and child in Konoha in a delicate balance while also keeping Danzō-sama in check.” Kakashi nodded in understanding but knew the Hokage had more to say. “Naruto-kun and Shindō-kun have successfully adopted the Will of Fire as their purpose like they should, but it seems in my haste in protecting them, I’ve seemed to have neglected Uchiha Sasuke as he is dead set on the dark path of revenge which could not only put himself in danger, but also the village too. I fear that someone powerful could lead the Uchiha away from us and use him for whatever purpose as I’ve received reports from the teachers at the Academy that Sasuke-kun has not formed any bonds and refuses to form any. Kakashi-san, please guide Sasuke-kun foster bonds with his team in the hopes of turning away from revenge. I’m asking you as not just as the Hokage, but as a friend. Could you do that?”
Understanding the burden placed on his shoulders, Kakashi was unsure if he could manage all these things at once; however, he could see himself in Sasuke and thought about his late friend and rival who gave him his left Sharingan eye during the previous war and answered with determination, “Hokage-dono, I’ll watch over Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun and train them accordingly and help foster bonds with his peers. I’ll also need to help Sakura-san with her fangirlish ways so she could be the best kunoichi she could be and stand alongside her teammates.” Hiruzen nodded at that and dismissed Kakashi Hatake who disappeared using the Body Flicker Technique. Hiruzen looked outside his window to the cityscape of Konohagakure no Sato and hoped for the best in the coming days.
