Chapter 8

Hinata, Shikamaru and Chouji sat at the ramen stand. They were waiting for their friend to return from his test. They were not disappointed when a blond blur appeared in front them.

“Hey guys. I didn’t keep you waiting for long did I?” Naruto asked

“N-No Naruto-kun.” Hinata answered

“Of course she would say that.” Shikamaru joked. Hinata had a blush on her face. Chouji just snickered at the confused Naruto.

“So how did it go? Did you pass?” Chouji asked

“You better believe it. I even figured out the point of the exam but it will be a long time before my team actually acts like a team.” he said.

“Sucks to be you. At least you don’t have Ino. Hinata seem to get the best team. Shino hardly talks and Kiba is like you.” Shikamaru explained

‘I wish it was Naruto-kun.’ Hinata thought. A loud slam brought the genius out of their conversation.

“Hey, this is not a social hangout. You either eat something or you leave.” Ichraku said

“Don’t get your panties in a twist old man. Serve up some ramen for the new Konoha genin.” Naruto cheered.

“Coming up.” The chef said and began to cook the ramen.

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Kakashi entered the Hokage’s office, late as usual. He was dressed in a new jounin outfit since his new psycho of a student decided to use explosives against him. Asuma had just finished his report of his team when everyone turned their attention to Kakashi.

“You’re late Kakashi.” Sarutobi said

“Sorry about that. I had to change clothes from today’s test.” Kakashi explained

“That has to be the lamest excuse yet Hatake.” said Genma

“But that’s the truth.” There were some snorts of laughter from around the room. Hatake Kakashi, telling the truth. Impossible.

“Any way...” Sarutobi said with a knowing smile. “...what is your report? There are two teams that passed all ready. Will there be a thrid?”

“Team seven... passed.” he said. Everyone gave him a look that asked him if he was joking. He just gave a smile from under his mask.

“You’re serious. They actually passed your test?” Kurenai asked

“Yes, they did. Surprisingly, it was Naruto that figured it out.”

“Explain.” ordered Sarutobi

“Well, they are a long way from being a team. Sakura only thinks about Sasuke and will do anything that Sasuke says. She really has not skills at all. I thought from her test scores she would be a great support person but that proved to be wrong. Sasuke only thinks of himself and sees the others as dead weight. His quest to kill his brother has made him arrogant and a bit temperamental. Naruto is the big surprise. At first, I assume that he was a loud mouth and would just charge in without thinking. At the beginning he did but then he caught a brain. He was the one who figured out the point of the exam when he thought of certain words I said.” Kakashi reported

“So, in your view, how do they stand?”

“Sakura will definitely be a hindrance with her interest in Sasuke. While powerful, Sasuke’s quest for strength will become a problem. Naruto is a bit difficult. His attitude is very poor. He neither respects me, Sasuke or Sakura.”

“Well, he has been alone since the day he could walk. It is only natural that he doesn’t trust people. The only people he seems to hang out with is Shikamaru and Chouji.” Asuma explained

“Don’t forget Hinata and Iruka. They were the first to actually acknowledge him.” Kurenai added. She left out Anko because Anko wanted her involvement of Naruto’s training to be kept a secret.

“What about this sister that he talks about?” Kakashi asked

“Sister?” asked Hayate

“When we first met, he mentioned a sister. From what I know, he doesn’t have one.” he said. Kurenai thought it was cute that Naruto referred to Anko in such a sense. Last time she saw the two, he was still calling her a psycho.

“I assure Kakashi, Naruto doesn’t have a sister. However, there is someone who has been training him.” Sarutobi said

“Who?”

“That I don’t know but it may be this sister of yours.” Kakashi looked at the kage with a critical eye. He knew something about this person and he wasn’t going to tell anyone about. He promised himself to look into this.

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Naruto entered his apartment and tried. He was celebrating with his friends after they had eaten. They went shopping and played along with Konohamaru and his two new friends Mogei and Udon. In all it was a good day. He suddenly disappeared when he was struck by someone. He tackled the person and held that person in a painful lock.

“You’re really starting to get predictable oneesan.” Naruto said to a log. “Oh, shit.” He felt a crushing force hit him to his side. He was now on the floor, screaming in agony as Anko held him in a headlock, giving him a major noogie.

“Say it.” she said in a sing song voice.

“No way.” he said as he tried to brake free.

“Come on, otouto.”

“Bite me.” It only took a little more pressure until he cracked. “All right, all right. You are the most talent ninja in Konoha.”

“And?”

“And, you’re the most beautiful. Men worship the ground you walk on.” Anko released her hold and laid on his back. She turned to face him while he turned to look at her.

“So, I heard that you beat Kakashi’s test?”

“Yeah. The guy is a jerk but he’s strong. Oh, before I forget, thanks for the advice yesterday. If you hadn’t said anything, I would have never figured out the point of the real genin exam. Thanks again, oneesan.” He said

“You’re welcome otouto. Now that you’re a genin, I can give you this.” Anko pulled out a pendant. It was held together by a string. The pendant was shaped like the sun only it wasn’t. “I made this. The circle is shaped like that stuff in ramen and I added nine snakes that surround it. This is my present to you.”

“Wow, thanks a lot nee-chan.” he said. Naruto placed the pendant around his neck. He looked at Anko who gave him a thumbs up. This day couldn’t get any better for him.

“Well squirt, I have to go. Just don’t get to pissed off about those lame missions you’ll be doing.” Anko informed

“What lame missions? Aren’t we going to be going out saving people, rescuing daimyo’s daughters and protecting the way of the ninja?” Naruto asked. Anko looked at her otouto and started to laugh. She was laughing so hard that she feel down, clutching her stomach. Naruto knew that this was going to be so boring.

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Naruto knew that it was going to be boring but not this boring. For one whole month, team seven had done nothing but D-rank missions. They were nothing more than chores. Naruto didn’t like these missions and constantly complained about it. Sasuke joined him in his displeasure of these missions while Sakura enjoyed them. When they were not doing missions, they were trying to build up their teamwork. Though he didn’t respect any of them, he did do well in the teamwork training. Sakura was still way behind because she followed everything that Sasuke said. Sasuke mostly failed because he neither wanted to work with Sakura or Naruto because he found them underneath him. In all it was a frustrating month for team seven.

The members of team seven moved into place. They quickly hid behind the trees as they were attempting to catch their prey. Each one of them hand a headset on, awaiting orders from their sensei, Kakashi.

“Are you in position?” Kakashi asked

“Leader, this is one here.” was Sasuke’s voice

“This is two here leader.” was Sakura’s voice

“Three is here, believe it.” guess who this was

“How far is the target?”

“About five meters, sir.” Sakura replied

“All right everyone, I want a clean capture. No exotic captures this time. You got that three?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. No kunais, no pitfalls and no deathtraps. Geez, you make it sound like I want to kill the stupid cat. We’ve only caught it ten freakin’ times.” Naruto complained

“Just get the cat.” Kakashi ordered.

“Yes, leader.” was his sarcastic reply. Team seven moved in quickly. Naruto was the first to reach the cat. The cat noticed him and tried to run for his life but he was no match for Naruto’s speed. Kakashi listen in on the capture.

“Damn it, Naruto! Kakashi-sensei said no exotic captures.” Sakura yelled

“I only hog tied him. He isn’t going to die pinky.” Naruto yelled back

“Don’t call me that.” There was a loud smack that rang throughout the forest.

“Cat ‘Tora’ captured.” Sasuke said

“Mission completed. Come on back.” Kakashi sighed.

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Tora struggled to break free of the death hold that his owner, the daimyo wife,. Naruto had a silly smirk on his face as the cat tried to catch his breath. He was brought back to attention when Sasuke tapped him. The team faced the Hokage.

“Ok, the next mission we have are babysitting, weeding the garden, walking the dog...”

“No, no, no. Screw that old man. I ain’t doing anymore of these lame chores.” Naruto shouted. Some jounin who were in the room silently cursed. Why? It would be because of a bet made by a certain sensei of Naruto. The bet? How long it would take for him to explode about the missions. The odds were good that he would not even make it pass two days.

“Naruto! You’re still just a genin. You can’t handle tougher missions yet.” Iruka shouted at his former student. It was then that the Sandaime who explained the point behind the missions. Unfortunately, Naruto wasn’t even paying attention. He was too busy explaining the ramen he ate during the week. Turning his attention back to the Hokage, Naruto sighed.

“Look, I’m not asking for some ultra mission, even though that would be so cool. I’m just asking for a chance for me and my team. We won’t get any experience just doing chores. Send us out in the field and we’ll prove that we’re worthy of earning these headbands. Give us a chance to test our skills.” Everyone was shocked by the way he said that. Iruka, Kakashi and Sarutobi was happy that he was starting to grow up. The Sandaime smiled and looked at the team.

“Do you the rest of you fell the same way?” he asked the rest of team seven. Sasuke just nodded in agreement. Sakura wanted to object but two things stopped her. One was because of Sasuke and two was Naruto’s words. Though they didn’t like each other, he had confidence in her and she would not disappoint him. She nodded as well.

“Well then, I believe I have a mission that is a C-rank. You are to escort a man back to the land of waves. Send him in.” ordered Sarutobi. The team turned to see an old man who had a bottle of sake in his hand. The man looked at team seven with a skeptical eye.

“This is who is going to protect me? A bunch of brat? They don’t look like much, especially the stupid, short one.” he said

“I wonder who he’s talking about?” asked Naruto. Sasuke and Sakura moved closer to Naruto. Getting the point, he was quickly held down by Sakura, Iruka and Kakashi as he reached for several kunais in his coat.

“We can’t kill the client stupid.” said Sakura

“I’ll just cut off a toe. Come on, give me that.” Naruto said while struggling to get to the man. Sarutobi coughed to get everyone’s attention.

“As I was saying, your mission is to escort Tazuna to the land of waves.”

“We have to escort this drunk?” asked Naruto

“Hey, I’ll have you know that I am a super bridge builder. I am a very important person.”

“You look like a drunk old man to me. You’re not even dressed like a client. You’re in the presence of the Hokage for Kami’s sake, you drunk...” he was cut off as Kakashi held his mouth.

“You have to excuse him. He’s very outspoken. You don’t have to worry. I’m a jounin and if it gets hairy, I’ll step in.” He turned to his team. “You all have one hour to get packed and met at the east gate.” They nodded and left the office.

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All of team seven was at the gate. They were surprised to see Kakashi there on time, standing with Tazuna.

“Is this a genjutsu?” he asked his team. Sakura placed her hands in the rat seal and shouted ‘Kai’ but nothing happened.

“He’s really here.” she said

“Are you certain that this isn’t a genjutsu?”

“Enough of the wise cracks Naruto.” Kakashi ordered. Naruto just grinned at Kakashi. Suddenly, Naruto dodged a kunai. He pulled one out and threw it at an oncoming kunai. He took two more kunais from his selves and blocked two oncoming attacks. The rest of the people standing around was amazed to see a woman struggling to overpower Naruto.

“Pretty good otouto. I guess this is a tie.” she said. She suddenly felt the tip of a kunai against her throat. She looked to see Naruto with the kunai in his mouth. He had a wicked grin on his face while she gave him a dirty look.

“All right, you little bastard. You win.” The two calmed down and faced each.

“So, what was that about oneesan?” he asked.

‘That’s his oneesan?’ were the thoughts of the rest of his team.

“Just making sure that you won’t freeze up. You’re going on a C-rank after all.” She then turned to the rest of the team. “Hey, what’s up Kakashi?”

“Anko? You’re oneesan is Anko?” he asked

“Yeah. You can’t thank my training to her.” he said with a grin.

“That’s sweet. Hey Kakashi...” Anko called and dragged him away from the group. Sakura walked up to Naruto.

“That’s the sister that’s been training you?” she asked

“Yeah. She thought me what I know.” Their were so many other questions but a pale looking Kakashi walked up to them.

“Ok team, let’s move out. Sasuke you take point.” Kakashi ordered

“Hey, why does he take point?” Naruto complained

“Because I said so.” Naruto looked at his sensei with a critical eye.

“She threaten you, didn’t she?”

“I refuse to answer that question.” They moved out. Naruto just smirked at his sensei. He looked back to a smiling Anko and waved bye to her. He ran to catch up with his team. Unknown to everyone, two men were observing them. The dark gaze in their eyes spelled trouble for team seven.

Author’s Notes: Ok everybody. I told you guys that the contest was over. Now here are the results.

1. Naruto will be paired with Hinata winning by one point.

2. Anko will be paired with Iruka winning by a landslide.

3. Konohamaru will be paired with Hanabi all thought that won’t happen way later.

4. Sakura is with Lee.

5. Neji is with Tenten.

So those are the pairings. Some may be angry with them but this is how it is.