The trio waited for their Jonin teacher, this guy Kakashi, to come. Seeing everyone in class already left with their respective instructors, Naruto felt impatient.
"AAAA! Where's this guy!". Naruto already moves around the classroom, jumping here and there. Unable to do anything, he feels restless. Waiting in class for so long made him want to do something.
"... This person is really late. No discipline".
"Aa!", Naruto's mind lights up.
He took the board eraser, opened the sliding door slightly and created a simple trap.
"Hihi… he's late, so serve him right!".
"Idiot… there's no way a Jonin would fall for such a thing", Sasuke brood over.
"Naruto! You are causing trouble!", Sakura try to persuade. But deep inside, she really want to see if it would hit. It's exciting..!
Just then… slide.
Pon!
The whiteboard eraser fell onto his head. Dust of white slightly covers his gray hair and clothes.
Kakashi looked a little dead-eyed, looking at the eraser in his hand, then at Naruto.
"Hahaha! He fell for it!".
There's no way… Sasuke felt this guy seemed hopeless.
"Sensei! I am sorry! I already told him but he didn't listen!".
…
"Hm… How do I put it… my first impression… you guys are idiots".
The squad introduced each other to Kakashi eventually - much like in the original timeline. He looks over at Naruto and Sasuke as they state their dreams. Naruto's goal is quite… unique. But it's understandable. As for Sasuke…
"I want to destroy that person…". The killing intent in his voice is undisguised. Naruto looks at Sasuke's expression, feeling sad for him.
Sasuke had it hard… to want to kill his own brother… the one who… did it... Naruto cannot imagine it. How horrible it felt for Sasuke to experience such a thing. Sasuke had it more difficult than him. That's what Naruto feels. He hopes that the villain will be captured soon.
Kakashi looks at Sasuke's expression. In his view, revenge would only lead to a dead end. Sakura, her motivation is non-existence. Naruto's dream is the most normal and reasonable. Still, he's quite…
"You are unlike your-". Kakashi was about to say something that had always been buzzing in Naruto's ears each time someone got to know him.
"AAAA!!! SHUT UP!!! I know I am different!! I know!!!". Naruto screamed before Kakashi could mention her.
"Cough… Right. All of you are unique. Tomorrow, we will have our first mission...".
"Survival exercise".
Kakashi claimed it's the real graduation test set for these genins. And only 33% passed. It's true - before. But the order from the higher ups is to be more lenient and only true wastes are discarded. This time; 90% or so would pass.
Though, Kakashi won't say this. Even if they failed his expectations… he still needed to pass Naruto anyways - that's the jinchuriki of Konoha. As for Sasuke, as far as he's concerned he's a prodigy so he will pass him too - even if he lacks thinking a shinobi needs; Konoha cannot be choosy at this time. Anyone with combat ability will be chosen, personality can be considered later. As for Sakura… he's not sure.
The next day comes. Despite their grumbling stomachs, and that they had to wait for Kakashi who comes late intentionally - they had to pass Kakashi's test!
Kakashi shows them the bells. The mission is simple.
"You only need to snatch these bells away from me. That's all. You have up until noon. Once time's up, you will be tied to the poll over there and watch me eat".
Yikes! I am already hungry…! Grumbles~ Naruto complained.
"But- there's only 2 bells. And there's 3 of us", Sakura pointed out the obvious.
"Naturally. It means, at least one of you will fail". Kakashi said it with a smile on his eye.
The trio become serious hearing one of them will fail. But, Sasuke's first gaze reached towards Sakura. Already knowing who will fail. He believes in himself and Naruto to pass this test.
"You can use any tools, even shuriken and any jutsu and everything in your arsenal".
"Aa?! Seriously! Hehe you can't even dodge the eraser! You would regret it Kakashi sensei!". Naruto grinned, already feeling excited. Sasuke, too, had a hint of excitement.
Hearing Naruto's words, and seeing Sasuke's expression and stance towards him, he felt dissatisfied. Rash. Overconfident.
"... You two are too confident. Only idiots underestimate missions and their enemy. Those like you… will die first on the battlefield".
Naruto felt irritated hearing Kakashi's words. Sasuke, too.
Only idiots underestimate missions and their enemy.
"Well, once I say begin, we can start".
Naruto, unable to control his excitement and to prove himself, takes a kunai from his ninja bag.
"Take this!", he threw it towards Kakashi. Seeing this, Kakashi simply dodge to the side, using a flicker to jump right to Naruto's face.
Thinking his speed could easily win Naruto, he's about to grab him but-
Naruto launched a punch right as he flashed. This reaction!
He blocked it quickly with his palm, grabbing it hard. Just as he's about to throw Naruto in quick succession - Naruto already reacted - he jumps on his feet, launching a powerful wheel kick towards Kakashi's side.
His eyes widened in more surprise.
Kakashi had to release Naruto's arm to block the incoming kick. Kakashi is pushed back a step from the kick while Naruto escapes his clutch.
Uwa! He almost got me! Naruto said in his heart. If he's slower to react Kakashi would have thrown him in that half a second or twist his arm.
I see… I couldn't think of him like a normal gennin. He is her brother, and Minato's son. He is not a normal graduate.
Kakashi had some light flickering in his eyes, observing Naruto's state. His battle readiness, the reaction he showed before is almost like an instinct honed through multiple beatings.
Sakura at the side looked shocked. I… I couldn't see anything… Naruto… he's so strong…
The time it took since Naruto threw the Kunai, for Kakashi to flicker to Naruto trying to grab him, and receiving a counter attack from Naruto lasted only for 3 seconds.
"Now now. Let's not be impatient. I haven't even said start yet". Kakashi says in a relaxed tone.
"...".
Silence envelops them, Naruto and Sasuke instinctively move to the right and left side of Kakashi. Leaving Sakura right there, not sure what to do.
She looks at Naruto, then at Sasuke, then at Kakashi.
Get yourself together!
Sakura quickly moves in position as well.
"Start".
Kagebunshin no Jutsu!
2 shadow clones move with speed, surrounding Kakashi. While Sasuke threw his shuriken and kunai, blocking Kakashi's retreat.
Unable to find a free path, he had to take out his Kunai to deflect one of the shuriken.
Clang~
The other projectiles barely. Kakashi dodged the two clones, blocking a few punches and kicking one away into smoke before flickering to a safer distance.
His senses tingled. Behind him!
The real Naruto pounced on him amidst the distractions. But Kakashi is still able to react to block his kick.
My left! Barely able to raise his arm, he blocked another kick coming from Sasuke that took advantage of his closed left eye.
"Naruto! Do it!". Sasuke shouted.
"Yea!".
Just then the two of them retreated quickly. Naruto made more shadow clones, tens of them swarmed Kakashi.
So many!
Kakashi dodge and deflect their punches and kick. Each of them is not strong, and Kakashi could use 3 moves to destory. But having all his sides covered make it difficult! Kakashi sees a point of retreat, directly killing a clone with a kunai before escaping.
But looking forward, his eyes widened. Naruto and Sasuke already weaved hand seals and finished it while he's distracted.
Wind Style: Great Typhoon technique!
Fire Style: Great Fireball technique!
Wind and fire blasted towards Kakashi, combined and formed a raging fire storm.
POWWW!!!
As the dust and fire settled… a charred corpse lay dead at the center.
"Kyaaa!!!", Sakura who had been watching since earlier, screamed in fear and fell on her knees.
But of course, the duo never believed this farce. That's for sure just a substituted dummy.
Sasuke's eyes look left and right… trying to find him. No.
Below! Tsuyu's favourite technique is Hiding Like A Mole Jutsu and Sasuke is already numb at this point.
As expected, the ground breaks trying to catch Sasuke off guard but it fails. Sasuke dodge it quickly with a jump, and as he spun in the air he took out an explosive tag attached to a kunai, throwing it onto the hole below.
With a hand seal, he activates it.
Boom!
The ground is blasted, blowing dust covering the area. Ten meters away from Sasuke, a figure emerges from the ground, wiping his cloth with his hand carefreely.
"Not bad… I cannot let my guard down against you two. I thought you two wanted to really kill me…".
Sasuke turned his eyes to Naruto. Naruto flickered close and whispered something in his ears.
Seeing those two seemingly excited more than usual, he felt warry.
Naruto shouted loudly; kagenbunshin no jutsu! Another wave of shadow clones swarmed Kakashi.
His reserve is really big!
As few of them cleared, Sasuke flashed with speed.
"Sharingan!", the 1-tomoe spun, his eyes locked onto Kakashi, finding gaps as Kakashi struggled against many. Each of Sasuke's strikes are decisive. The shadow clones tried to find a chance to grab the bells. While Kakashi had to constantly block and dodge.
Kakashi moves with speed, blocking each of their attacks, counterattack, destroying the clones one by one. He is pushed back, but ultimately none of them are able to reach the bells nor land a hit.
As Naruto and Sasuke fiercely attacks; Kakashi manages to block both of them at the same time. His two hands are occupied - he's about to retreat further but just then, without him expecting it at all a figure flashed from the ground! From the hole he dug himself! He is lead towards this place!
"Ring- Ring-". The real Naruto managed to touch the bell and grab it!
Poof! The bells turned into smoke, revealing those are mere leaves.
"A leaf!? HOW!". Looking at the direction where Kakashi flickered, only a log is left.
Substitution jutsu… so fast!
"To think you two would lead me to the same hole I dug to catch me off guard, I have to give it to you…".
Leaves fall around them as both try to find Kakashi. Sasuke's sharingan spun rapidly-
"Naruto!", Sasuke breaks out of the genjutsu as he realises what's wrong, but it's already too late for Naruto.
"Ack!", Naruto grunted in pain as Kakashi already disabled Naruto, pushing him hard down the dirt.
As Sasuke took one step to get Kakashi off him, Kakashi already placed a kunai next to Naruto's throat.
Gasp!
"Taijutsu… ninjutsu… you two surpassed most of your peers. To display chunin level techniques right after graduating, I am impressed. You two are close enough friends to work so well… I assume you two train together to know each other this much".
"But…", Kakashi pressed the kunai on Naruto, breaking his skin. "There's an obvious problem here".
"Sasuke! Get him!". Naruto still shouted out to Sasuke, not caring about the kunai on his neck, even if a drop of blood already fell.
"Huh… this kid…", he's quite impressed that Naruto could remain calm enough in this situation, even with the kunai on his neck. Naruto knew what the real murderous intention was. How could Naruto feel scared merely by this?
He has enough resolve, and enough will to not feel scared and understand I won't injure him more than required since I am his sensei. I thought he's a simpleton… I am wrong…
Seeing that Sasuke is really about to get him, that Sasuke too understood this fact, Kakashi stood and stored his kunai back, letting Naruto go.
"Naruto, Sasuke… you two show good teamwork, excellent in all aspects more than what most fresh genin do. But… let me ask you. Do I fail Sakura?".
Naruto felt stunned. He really almost forgot about her. As for Sasuke, he completely takes her out of the equation the moment the test begins thinking she doesn't matter.
"No! She's in the squad too!", Naruto said resolutely.
"There's only two bells. It's inevitable one would fail", Sasuke said with reasoning.
Hearing Sasuke coldly implying Sakura should just fail, he felt extremely dissatisfied.
"Think with your head! The squad is in 3 for a reason. This test, for all 3 of you! It's to test your teamwork!!!".
"Naruto! You want her to pass too. But have you tried to include her at all? You didn't. You didn't think of having her help, not at all. You think every mission is always with friends? Or did you believe Sakura won't keep up with you? If not, would you just do everything yourself thinking you would carry them? That's not how shinobi works! At times you have to work with someone you dislike. Someone who you don't know. Someone who may even burden you. Each of you had their own strength. Sakura may play a role if only you two had given her a chance, but neither of you give her any chance at all! One thing you absolutely shouldn't do is abandon and ignore them!".
"Sasuke! You are worse. You completely disregarded her as if she's worthless. This is arrogance! If you two are like this, you will only kill your comrades at some point!".
"Sakura! You may lack the skills like two of them. But while skills are important, that can be trained and honed. The problem is you never take any initiatives with either of them! You have the least resolve to become a shinobi! One thing you can do is to observe me properly, alert them on my movements as you had the best view on me - if you had, these two wouldn't have been caught in my genjutsu. They would have reacted faster each time I escaped! Or you could set traps around, and let the two know so they could lead me there. But instead, you are just watching like it's a show!".
Sakura bit his lips, feeling the pain stabbing at her heart. She held onto the corner of her dress. Digesting everything Kakashi said. She was just… stunned, seeing the two doing so great. And she's just lost, she doesn't know how to contribute…
Sasuke remained silent… he had to agree that perhaps Sakura could play a role… but he already made assumptions she's useless before trying to know what she could do. Hearing the possibilities of what she could have done to help, he noticed it. Even the smallest of help matters.
Naruto too reflected on himself. He feels guilty for Sakura. It's as if he subconsciously looks down on her. Or rather, it's because he knew Sakura was not as strong as Sasuke, he thought he could just carry Sakura. But that's not the way to go.
Suddenly, Kakashi flickered right towards Sakura, grabbing her from behind, pulling her hair coldly while pressing the kunai onto her neck.
"Ahh… n-no… no…", Sakura is shaken with fear, her eyes unable to stay open.
"Release her! Damn it!", Naruto shouted.
"If you become a shinobi as you are now… one of your team will end up in this situation… taken as hostage… and die".
Kakashi released Sakura and walked back. She fell on her knees, her body clearly shaken.
"Sakura!", Naruto went to check up on her, his eyes glaring at Kakashi.
Kakashi just turned around heading to a monument where the names of the heroes of Konoha are engraved.
"As shinobi, you walk with death each time in your missions. These names… are those heroes who have fallen".
"... a lot of my friends' names are engraved in this monument… I wouldn't want to see any of you die too early".
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all look up at Kakashi's back. His tone was solemn, filled with sadness. Kakashi's words engraved into them, that their life can only be preserved if they work together.
…
"I will give you one more chance!". Kakashi turned around to face the three of them.
"After the afternoon, I will be more serious, and it will be harder to take the bells from me. Those who want to take the challenge can have your lunch first. However! Don't give it Sakura. It's a punishment for sabotaging the team down. Not playing any role as a member. If someone lets her eat… they will be disqualified! I make the rule here, understand".
Kakashi walked towards Sakura and tied her up to the wooden pole quickly.
"I will be back in 30 minutes…". He flickered, leaving no trace behind.
Sakura stood there, tied to a pole under the sun. Watching Sasuke and Naruto eating. She looked downward, her eyes teary for some reason. She feels like a burden…
Just then, she saw two bento boxes handed in front of her.
Huh?
"Sakura-chan! Just eat it! Quick quick!".
Sharingan! Sasuke looked around with his eyes, finding traces of chakra. "He's not here, his sign is all gone. Take it quickly… if you don't eat you will drag us down even more. You might not even be able to stand properly…". Sasuke's words sounded nonchalant.
"Sasuke-kun… Naruto… you two… but I don't want to drag you two… no, I won't eat!", drop of tears fell from her cheeks.
"Just eat…", Sasuke picked a ball of rice with his chopsticks, handing it over Sakura's lips.
Eh? This… THIS! INDIRECT K-K-K-K-KISSSS!?
Sakura's face flushed red as she shyly opened her mouth. Just then… Naruto stuffed the one he got into Sakura's mouth.
"Mmh?! NARUTO!!! WHY YOU-! BLEHHHH!!! NOOOO!!!!". As Sakura accidentally swallowed Naruto's indirect kiss, suddenly Kakashi appeared like a ghost.
"YOU THREE!!!!! You defiled the rules, and you know what's coming!". Kakashi tried to intimidate them.
"Hmph", Sasuke just smirked. Ignoring Kakashi's threat. Because he already knows the purpose of this test.
"What rule! We are a team! Sakura-chan is starving-ttebayo!".
"Kakashi-sensei… I…", Sakura looked at Naruto, then at Sasuke. Despite everything, they still won't just let her starve.
"I am a part of this team too! You said it's about teamwork! And I am trying!".
"... HMM!?", Kakashi glared more, trying to intimidate them. But just then, he clapped his hand.
"Good. You all pass".
"I know it…", Sasuke muttered with a smug smile. Naruto scratched his head in disbelief. While Sakura felt grateful.
"What.. but why?", Sakura still felt it's unreal.
"First, a ninja must see through deception. Second, in the shinobi world, those who break the rules are considered trash. But…".
"Those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash…!".
Uwa… so… so cool… Seeing Kakashi with the sun as the backlit, the cool words and atmosphere, Kakashi's coolness rises through the roof.
"Everyone passes! Group 7 will start their mission tomorrow!".
"Yatta!!!", Naruto jumped, raising his fist. "We passed Sakura-chan! Yey!".
***