I do not own Naruto.

Wither

"Hey, I very much doubt you're out of your depth. But even if you are, you know how to swim, don't you?" – Barbara Keane

"It is with great pleasure that I announce you all a Genin of Konohagakure no Sato." Shinku, standing at the front of all fourth year students, announced. "Be proud of yourselves, you are now protectors of our Village."

"Hai, sensei!" Their voice in unison, the students shouted out their agreement.

They had bled, sweat and cried to get where they were – Elite Genin of Konohagakure no Sato.

All eighteen students watched as their sensei stepped back and stood beside the other officials. Garbed in their respective attires, the clan heads stood behind their sovereign leader, the Sandaime Hokage. A child from each of the clans – from the Akimichi to the Yamanaka – had graduated a part of this group.

The Hokage, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward to make the act official. With his reading, each student would step forward to receive a hitai-ate and then proceed to stand before their guardian or clan head.

"Aburame Shibi." The tall and shaggy haired boy went and received his hitai-ate and proceeded to stand by his father's side.

"Akimichi Chōza." The rotund boy had grown taller, larger and sturdier – a prime example of an Akimichi warrior. He received his hitai-ate from Shinku-sensei and then moved to stand beside his father.

"Haruno Hizashi." The dull pink haired boy grinned broadly as he rushed to receive his hitai-ate before running to hug his mother, a brightly pink haired woman.

"Hyūga Hiashi, Hyūga Hitomi and Hyūga Hizashi." The three nobles stepped forward and bowed before the Hokage. They each received their hitai-ate and proceeded to stand before the elderly Hyūga clan head.

From the slight look of uncomfortableness on Hizashi's face, it must have been practiced.

"Inuzuka Gaku." The wild looking boy rushed to the front and received his hitai-ate, before moving to stand beside his aunt. The wild looking woman ruffled the boy's hair – she seemed quite fond of him.

"Inuzuka Tsume." Kuromaru howled and Masaki followed, so did the clan head's hound. Tsume then walked forward and received her hitai-ate and moved to stand before her mother. The woman ruffled her hair, just as she had her nephew.

"Kurama Murakumo." The dark haired and broad shouldered boy stepped forward, bowing to the Hokage as he received his hitai-ate, and bowing to his father, a man in his late fifties who wore a proud smile.

"Nara Shikaku." The boy's half-lidded gaze fell from the birds and down to the path he had to take. He moved along smoothly and bowed slightly as he reached the Hokage. He then moved towards his father, who was accompanied by the glee-looking Tōka who proceeded to smother her son in a hug.

"Namikaze Minato." The blonde haired boy smiled widely as he stepped before the Hokage. He then received a hitai-ate and held out his fist towards the Hokage. And strangely enough, the Hokage smirked and ruffled the boy's hair instead, beckoning him to move to his family – Mito, Tsunade, Dan and little Shizune.

"Namikaze Naruto." All eyes gazed at the quiet boy who slithered like a snake amongst his fellow students and they watched as he bowed to the Hokage, his face a frozen painting of stoicism. He then moved to the rest of his family, little Shizune immediately doting onto her uncle's leg causing him to smile slightly.

"Uchiha Fugaku." The proud fire-breather stepped forward as he was given his hitai-ate. He bowed to the Hokage and moved to the Uchiha group, which consisted of the clan' matriarch and a little boy of two.

"Uchiha Mikoto." The dark haired beauty stepped forward confidently, a smirk adorning her lips. She bowed before the Hokage and proceeded to receive her hitai-ate, before rushing off to her little brother, Shisui, who ran to her.

"Uzumaki Kushina." The red haired girl grinned widely and raced to the Hokage. The old man smiled at her as he gave her a hitai-ate. The girl jumped to hug him before speeding to Mito's side.

"Yakushi Nonō." The bespectacled young woman stepped forward fluidly, bowed to the Hokage, and proceeded to join the rest of her family – the Senju clan.

"Yamanaka Inoichi." The blonde haired mind walker, walked to the Hokage, his ponytail swaying behind him. He bowed before the Hokage, received his hitai-ate, and moved to stand beside his father.

"Shinobi." The Hokage began, all eyes gazing at him. "A shinobi of Konohagakure no Sato is one who embodies the Will of Fire – the Will to protect, to save, to serve. Each graduate of this Academy embodies that Will, and it is because of the will that we still live." He bowed his head slightly. "We have lost friends, partners and family over the past years. But, it is because of their sacrifices that we still stand." Each person in the courtyard stared firmly at the Hokage. "That is what it means to be a shinobi. To fight to your last breath protecting the kings of this nation."

Shikaku stepped forward, staring into the Hokage's eyes, before asking the question that lingered on each of his peer's minds.

"Who are the kings?"

The silence that spread across the courtyard as the Hokage mused on his answer was nearly palpable. However, an answer that would affect all future generations was supplied.

The one upper hand Konohagakure would always have over the other nations.

"You."

"I'm so proud of you three." Tsunade said as she smothered the three teens before her. "Especially you, Nonō-chan." She kisses the caramel-haired girl's forehead.

"Thank you, Kaa-san." Nonō responded as she hugged Tsunade back.

"Nawaki would be proud of you." Dan said as he ruffled the boy's' hair. Their nephew truly loved his Village, and had died protecting it. He would have been delighted to have them fight by his side.

"So would your parents, and Hashirama-kun." Mito supplied as she hugged the four teens – Kushina having joined them after leaving her friend Hitomi.

Nonō smiled when she felt a hand pulling at her legs. Picking up Shizune and gazing at her, and the rest of her family, she felt pure happiness.

During her second year at the Academy, her brother, the only family she had left, had been killed by a remnant group of rebels from Sunagakure. Tsunade had found out from Naruto and Minato, and had immediately adopted the bespectacled girl. She had been allowed to keep her surname, in honour of her parents.

"Nee-chan, I want dango." Little onyx eyes stared at her begging for attention.

Unfortunately for Shizune, her sister wasn't like her weak father and uncles.

"No, Shizune-chan. Sweets are bad for you." Nonō smiled at the little girl who pouted and turned to look away.

"But we can get you some strawberries when we get home." Kushina pitched in with a large grin, causing the girl to squeal in excitement and leap into her arms.

"Yay!" The dark haired child hugged her sisters before beginning to ramble on and on about various stuff she had seen today – especially the funny looking man wearing a hat and a dress.

"Nii-san?" Minato said to his brother. He had been awfully quiet today. Although he could sense a bit of his emotions, he wanted to be certain of what he felt. "You okay?"

Naruto turned to him, his grey eyes looking lost, before the light returned to them. He blinked a few times before gazing into his brother's calm cerulean.

"It was four years ago, today."

That simple sentence sobered the rest of his family. They all bowed their heads slightly – even the new members of the family were privy to that knowledge.

Minato placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, a warm smile spreading on his face as he gazed into his brother's troubled cobalt.

"Tou-san would be proud of you, Nii-san. He was always proud of you." Minato smiled when he felt and saw more light returning to those tempestuous eyes.

"You too." Naruto smiled, glad that his brother was always there for him, by his side.

As he would too.

"Come now, everyone." Mito announced, clapping twice for attention, shaking everyone out of their silent mourning. "Good. Now…"

Then she spoke the most revered, as well most forbidden words, to the Uzumaki-Senju-Namikaze family.

"Who wants ramen?"

All who witnessed it stood in awe.

Minato grabbed Kushina by the hand and disappeared a flutter of leaves. Tsunade pulled Dan and leapt, leaving a crater in her wake, and her two daughters. Naruto grabbed Nonō, who had Shizune now, and disappeared in a plume of smoke.

Somehow Tōka, who had been over at the other side of the yard, had caught wind of the offer, and had grabbed Shikaku and Ensui, disappearing with them like a mirage.

Shikatsu and Hiruzen walked over to Mito who had been left behind, seemingly used to those reactions from her immediate family. Shikatsu pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up and placing it at his lips, before blowing out a puff of smoke.

"Ramen, huh?"

In a small ramen shop near the centre of the marketing district, a cacophony of various sounds was drawing attention to several people walking by. There were groans, squeals and moans escaping the building, almost as if…

"This is good~" He giggled aloud to no one in particular, a large stupid grin on his face. "This will sell far better than my last book!" He paused, contemplating between risking his life for his fans or staying away from the sexual sounds. "No pain, no gain." He shrugged.

Just as he rushed into the shop, flicking away the flaps that hid his treasure, he was forced to duck a furious fist that would have caved his skull in mere seconds.

"Tsunade!" A familiar elderly voice resounded in the small shop. "What have I said about attacking Jiraiya-kun for no reason?"

Breathing a sigh of relief as he leaned by the door, Jiraiya knew his favourite old lady had just saved him from a thrashing.

"No reason?! Baa-sama, I know he was out there scribbling nonsense in one of his notebooks!" Tsunade pointed at Jiraiya indignantly, causing his to scoot further away from her – it was pointless as she turned to him. "And I will not be having that with my daughters here!" She folded her arms in anger, staring down at her friend.

"Jiraiya-kun, welcome back." Mito smiled at the man, ignoring her granddaughter. "You haven't changed a bit."

"I think I might have to leave soon if all I do here is almost get killed!" Jiraiya shouted out the last part while glaring at Tsunade from the safest place in the room – behind Mito.

"Ugh…" A loud groan came from the left side of the table. A head of lavender bopped around, searching for the man, until emerald met onyx. "Jiraiya?"

"Dan?" The white haired man smiled. He hadn't seen his friend in quite some time. "I see you're still being stuffed with ramen by this one."

Dan chuckled. "You have no idea."

"I can't…eat…anymore…uhh…" Glancing to the other occupants at the desk, he saw various shades of hair – going from vermilion red to a stark white. "Why do you do this to us, baa-chan?" The redhead moaned again, sliding lazily on her chair.

Noticing it now like the metaphorical elephant in the room, Jiraiya saw the three tables that had been joined together were stacked with almost one hundred bowls – clearly they had been going all out.

"I think I'm gonna hurl." A blonde haired boy – who looked a lot like the boy he'd met years ago.

"Minato, breathe." Jiraiya watched as an auburn haired bespectacled girl help the blonde boy. "Come on, we really don't have to do this all the time!" She smacked the boy's shoulder, causing him to jump in his fatigue.

"Oji-chan, I want more!" A loud child-like voice complained, causing Jiraiya to turn to it. There, where he gazed, he found a complete replica of his friend's late sister.

Shizune had been a beautiful young woman.

"Jiraiya," He heard Mito calling to him. "Saru asked to meet you at his office whenever you arrived." She informed before turning to the rest of her groaning family. "As you can see here…"

"Ah, got it." Jiraiya scratched the back of his head nervously. He'd see them some other time.

As he turned to leave, he felt a pair of slender arms wrapping around him and a sizeable bosom pushing into his chest.

"You kept your promise."

Jiraiya smiled as he turned around and wrapped his arms around his old teammate.

He was back where he truly belonged.

The stunning rays of sunshine that phased through the glass windows illuminated every inch of the room, discarding any lingering shadows of the night. There was some quiet mumbling amongst the students as they awaited their instructors.

It had been a week since graduation, each student having been given the period to prepare physically, emotionally and mentally for their intended careers.

Glancing around, Naruto watched as his friends moved about. Most of them – like himself – had completely changed their attire to match their jobs as shinobi. Turning back to his immediate friends, he dressed them down with his analytical eyes.

Shikaku wore a light green t-shirt with the Nara emblem by the shoulders and a pair of black pants and sandals. Over his shirt, he wore a deer skin coat-like jacket. He also tied his hitai-ate around his neck.

Mikoto wore a long sleeved, high-collared shirt with the Uchiha clan emblem embroidered at its back. She also wore black form-fitting pants and sandals.

Almost similar to their usual attire.

He, however, had changed his entire wardrobe. He still wore his father's midnight blue jacket with a white fur collar. Underneath, he wore a black loose-sleeved shirt that ended below his elbows, his long mesh sleeves to cover the rest of his arm. He wore dark blue, almost black, pants and black sandals. His hitai-ate was tied to his forehead, his long stark white hair contrasting its dark cloth.

The door was flung open as their instructors entered the room. These were the people that had taught them so much over their four years at the Academy. They were held especially in high regard by this group of students.

"I'd like to start by saying how truly proud I am of all of you for coming this far." Shinku begun. He wasn't much for pleasantries, anyway. "You have all exceeded our expectations of you."

Kohari stepped forward and stood beside her fellow Head Instructor – she had been given the rank because the splendid work she had done with all the students in the Academy over the years.

"As of today, you'll be joining a different community – a community of cheaters, liars and killers. All forms of morality are moot in the shinobi world." Kohari's eyes were downcast for a moment, until a fire lit up once again. "However, you have each other. Look around…" Each student turned to the other, smiling. "These are your comrades. They are your family." She stepped back, proud of her speech and the smiles on each of her students faces – they are ready. "You will never be alone."

"Before venturing into the shinobi world as Genin, you are to be placed under the protection and guidance of superior shinobi – Jōnin." Shinku watched as his students nodded. They were aware of this, after all. "As decided years ago, your desk mates with be your teammates. Now, I will read out the teams and their leaders from now on, carrying on from the last numbered teams."

"Team Two will consist of Hyūga Hiashi, Inuzuka Tsume and Aburame Shibi. As a team of tracking experts, you shall be under the leadership of one of Konoha's top foremost trackers – Hatake Sakumo."

"Team Three will consist of Unohara Yoshino, Hyūga Hizashi and Haruno Kizashi. This heavily Taijutsu-specialising team will be lead by Maito Dai, the village's best Taijutsu expert to date."

"Team Four will consist of Namikaze Minato, Akimichi Chōza and Yamanaka Inoichi. A heavily assault and interrogation based team, you will be under the leadership of Konoha's spymaster and one of the remaining Densetsu no Sannin, Jiraiya."

"Team Five will consist of Kurama Murakumo, Hyūga Hitomi and Uzumaki Kushina. This capture and retrieve team will be led by Katō Dan, a renowned Ninjutsu and Taijutsu expert."

"Team Six will consist of Inuzuka Gaku, Yakushi Nonō and Uchiha Fugaku. This rounded team will be under the leadership of the renowned Konoha's Iryō Ninjutsu and Taijutsu specialist, Senju Tsunade."

"Team Seven will consist of Nara Shikaku, Namikaze Naruto and Uchiha Mikoto. This team will be the heavy assault of this group, and it will be under the leadership of…"

The room was silent in apprehension. They were aware, due to their advanced knowledge about their Village, that all the powerful and renowned shinobi able to lead after the last war had been these five. After Orochimaru's death, the elites were down one man, too.

"…the Sandaime Hokage."

That changed things.

The newly dubbed 'Team Seven' had been ordered to meet their sensei at the top of the Academy building. It felt somewhat surreal to them that they were to be under the guidance of Konoha's most powerful shinobi.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was, and would always be, a legendary shinobi.

The man had been a disciple of his father and his uncle, both who were renowned shinobi – one hailed as the most powerful man after the Rikudō Sennin, an actual god.

A story, he remembered Tsunade telling him, about how the older man earned his title of Shinobi no Kami,would forever stay seared in his mind.

Tsunade, Naruto, Minato and Nonō were walking back into the Senju main house. Some minutes earlier, they had finalised all adoption documents with the orphanage in the presence of the Sandaime Hokage.

"Man, I'm so tired." Minato groaned as he plopped onto the nearest chair in the modernised dining hall. "That took way longer than I expected."

"I guess that lady was quite…protective of me." Nonō supplied, her head bowing in embarrassment. Minato had almost threatened the orphanage patron to let her go.

"Hm, I guess." Minato offhandedly leaned onto the desk. "Hey, Tsunade?"

"Hm?" In her hands, Tsunade was skimming through the documents she had signed earlier for any mistake. Nonō was now her legal daughter, after all.

"What's with the old man?" Propping onto his elbows, he stared at the blond haired woman, who stared back questioningly. "You know, how did the old man earn the same title as your grandfather?"

Tsunade paused.

It still made her nervous, even when thinking about it. That day, during the first years of the Second Shinobi War, would forever be in her mind.

"It was during the Second Shinobi War – the second year." She began. The three pre-teens were listening attentively. "Ryōtebin no Ōnoki, the Sandaime Tsuchikage, had led a battalion to take over Takigakure – our ally." She placed the papers on the ground to fully turn to her audience. "When we received intel, Sarutobi-sensei went ahead with Kagami-sama, Jiraiya and a small force of two hundred. A few days later, Orochimaru and I arrived there in time for battle." Her eyes flickered to the left – she missed that pasty bastard.

The children looked slightly uncomfortable. Although they hadn't known him, Orochimaru was held in high regards by their family and the populace alike.

"Ōnoki used his Jintōn, killing nearly sixty of our forces in one attack. And Sarutobi-sensei, in retaliation, bended the elements to his advantage – something impossible for those without the respective Kekkei Genkai. During his rampage, he replicated Yōton and Shakutōn to the finest degree."

Her eyes flickered to a pair of tempestuous greys, a smirk playing on her lips.

"You would learn a thing or two from him."

With a flutter of leaves, the wizened and most powerful shinobi Konohagakure no Sato had, Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared. Garbed in a dark brown kimono, his ebony hair with specks of grey spiked upwards, and a sharp goatee, downwards, the man smiled at the trio before him.

"Hokage-sama." The trio knelt before their leader. He was a man deserving of such respect.

"No need to be so formal, now." Hiruzen raised his arms placatingly. "I'm to be your sensei for the foreseeable future, so just call me Sarutobi-sensei, if you may."

"But Hokage-sama, if you're both our teacher and our Village leader, how will you juggle both those tasks?" Shikaku enquired, his lackadaisical drawl returning.

"It's sensei, Shikaku-kun." Hiruzen corrected calmly. "And about how I will juggle my tasks…" He placed a hand on his chin adopting a thinking pose.

The three teens stared in apprehension – they were standing before a god, after all.

"I'll just do the same thing I did last time." Hiruzen smirked.

"Hai, sensei." Shikaku said, stuffing his hands into his pockets, a small smirk on his lips.

"Now." Hiruzen clapped his hands. "Take a seat, and we'll begin with introductions. To be the best working unit, teamwork is most vital – an essential part of our training. Knowledge is a solid trade in our world, too."

"How should we go about it, sensei?" Mikoto asked as she sat in the middle of her two friends. The wooden bench under them creaked slightly, causing the two boys to glance at her from the corner of their eyes.

"A demonstration perhaps…" Hiruzen hummed. "I am Sarutobi Hiruzen. I like discovering new types of tobacco, and teaching the next generation. I dislike war and everything involved. My dream…" He gazed firmly into the eyes of his audience. "Is to aid in the attainment of true peace for the shinobi world."

Peace.

Even the most powerful man they knew, the very same man who had led countless to war, sought for peace. Surmised, it showed how cruel the world they lived in was.

Peaceful men were forced to fight, and in their place, monsters were created, vengeance was craved and darkness reigned.

The older man smiled, he had caught their attention.

"Mikoto-chan, if you may?" Hiruzen beckoned, the dark haired who seemingly was lost in a trance, looked to the other two boys and shyly stared at the ground, embarrassed at being caught unaware.

"Well, my name is Uchiha Mikoto. I like training, my friends and family – especially my little brother, Shisui. I dislike war, rapists, and people who exploit others." She frowned slightly. She really disliked that trait from some members of her clan. "My dream is to become a powerful kunoichi, like Mito-sama and Tsunade-sensei."

Hiruzen smiled at the young girl – his former student had done a splendid job by becoming a powerful kunoichi. She had empowered hundreds, if not thousands of women from all nations.

"I guess it's my turn." Shikaku sighed, gazing back to his superior. "My name is Nara Shikaku. I like playing shogi with my father and Naruto here. I dislike being forced to do things without being warned beforehand. My dream is to become like my father." Shikaku scratched his temple absentmindedly. "If it isn't troublesome, I really like what he does."

Hiruzen nodded firmly. The boy was already smarter – naturally – than his father. He would be an essential shinobi in Konohagakure, alongside his cousins.

"My name is Namikaze Naruto. I like my friends, family and training. Ramen too. I dislike war, rapists and certain villages. My dream is to…" Naruto's eyes narrowed, a smirk playing on his lips. "Become the most powerful shinobi in the world."

Hiruzen nodded yet again. The white haired boy craved power – not for the wrong reasons, no. The boy was just like him.

Just like Tobirama.

Just like Danzō.

Just like Orochimaru.

A dangerous warrior, a serpent ready to strike at any given moment. Territorial and protective but not incapable of emotions.

A true shinobi.

"Splendid." Hiruzen smiled softly. "Tomorrow, we will meet at Training Ground Four – at dawn. I have a test set out for you." Then he smirked, causing the teens to look at his hesitantly.

"Hai, sensei."

In a flutter of leaves, the Sandaime Hokage returned to his office, leaving behind his new team.

With the sun just peeking on the horizon, the three new members of Team Seven were occupying Training Ground Four was known for – two of them near the three stumps the field was known for.

Shikaku was still yawning, barely awake, but on his feet. Mikoto was running around the field, jogging – an exercise she claimed to do daily. Naruto was seated near a stump, his legs crossed, and posture straight, in a meditating pose.

Last night, after returning home, Naruto had turned to Tsunade, and her friend, Jiraiya. When he'd asked about what kind of test his team would get, Tsunade had merely smirked, then chuckled, while Jiraiya guffawed himself to tears – apparently, his new sensei had done the same thing to his old team.

Just as Mikoto was about to pass them – completing her ninth round – a flutter of leaves signalled the arrival of their sensei.

The man, who was nearing fifty – an age unattainable by standard shinobi – stood sturdy, his shorter than average stature more imposing than the tallest of Kumogakure shinobi. Still garbed in a simple brown kimono, Hiruzen crossed his arms as he looked down at his students.

"Good morning." He smiled as the three teens immediately stood in a straight line. "Come now, I'm not the Hokage now, only your sensei." Hiruzen almost regretted it when Shikaku slouched slightly and Mikoto crossed her arms, an irritated look marring her delicate features.

"You're late, sensei." Punctuality. Punctuality was something Mikoto valued greatly – her father had taught her about it.

A nervous and hesitant look appeared on Hiruzen's face – the girl reminded him so much of a younger Tsunade.

"Ah, well…" He tried coming up with an excuse, but he knew they wouldn't buy it. "I'm old?"

He knew he'd made a mistake when Naruto smirked.

"Not so little now, are you, Saru?" Naruto's smirk widened when he saw his sensei pale slightly, most probably shocked that he knew that title.

His father hadn't hidden anything from him.

Hiruzen attempted to regain his bearings, but his efforts were shattered when Shikaku chuckled while Mikoto giggled. Apparently, the title was still hilarious, even to those who didn't know if it's origin.

Clearing his throat and broadening his shoulders, the effect was immediate. The chuckles and giggles faded, and in return, warriors-in-training stood before him, determined.

"Now, this task I am about to give you will challenge you physically and mentally. A shinobi's body is only as strong as it's mind." Hiruzen reached into his kimono and pulled out three bells attached to three red strings. They jingled, their sound following the calm autumn breeze.

"Why three bells?" Shikaku asked, his eyes narrowed, attempting to discern the goal of this test.

"Ah, I see you have heard of the bell test." Hiruzen chuckled as he attached the bells to his waist. "Unfortunately, this isn't the same test."

Naruto nodded. He had heard about this particular test in passing when Tsunade had mentioned her days as a Genin. The goal of the test was to snatch two bells from the sensei through teamwork. Those who managed or failed to obtain the bells through teamwork would pass, while those who failed to show an semblance of teamwork at all, would fail. It was unfair to new teammates who barely knew each other, but they had that advantage.

Unfortunately, nothing stayed unexploited in the shinobi world.

"The aim of this test is to take these bells from me using everything you have learned in and outside the Academy." He smirked, scaring the teens before him. "Better come with the intent to maim or kill, because I will be retaliating." The teens froze as they listened to the rules of engagement.

Steal from the Shinobi no Kami? Impossible.

But Naruto smirked.

He was tailored for the impossible.

"You have until noon." Hiruzen raised his right arm, and moved his left to his back. "Hajime!" Swinging down in a cutting motion, the Genin disappeared into the woods.

Hiding in the green-blue foliage which matched with his attire, he watched as his sensei propped himself on top of a stump and sat cross-legged. The man fished into his kimono, and pulled out a pale yellow-orange covered book – he swore he had seen that book before.

He wasn't convinced in the slightest that the man was unaware of his surroundings.

Naruto sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes. He first attempted to gauge his sensei's power and regretted it immediately. He cursed when he was flushed out by the ocean.

The man's chakra pool was massive – the only other two pools larger than his sensei's were his aunt, and his father.

Opting for the second option – the first being to act as a distraction for his teammates to attack – he closed his eyes and searched for his friends. Over the years, his sensing ability had grown. With great focus, he could sense the strongest affinities within everyone.

East and South-East. Perfect.

With a perfect manipulation of his chakra, Naruto disappeared via a leaf Shunshin.

'He's reading? Of all things?!'

Suffice to say, Mikoto was infuriated.

When the test had begun, she and her friends had scattered at the signal – Shikaku had predicted that a signal from their sensei would be the beginning of their plan.

'Screw the plan!' Reaching into her weapon's pouch, she pulled out three shuriken, and was about to throw them until she felt a strong hand holding her arm, stopping her.

Twisting around the arm, she snatched a kunai and attempted to stab her attacker, and she was stopped yet again. Sharp greys stared back into her onyx, freezing her in her spot.

"Stay alert, Mikoto." Naruto smirked as the dark haired girl glared at him. "The first plan is a bust, we need Shikaku."

Mikoto sighed deeply. How were they supposed to defeat the shinobi?

"Sarutobi-sensei knows where we are – my father once told me that he was a good sensor." Naruto nodded in agreement. He had heard a similar story from Tsunade. "I'll distract him while you get to Shikaku. We can't lose him."

Naruto disappeared in a flicker while Mikoto reached for three more shuriken and hurled them from hiding place – which was to the far left of her sensei. She sped through hand seal and muttered.

"Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" The six shuriken multiplied to twelve, cutting dangerously through the air towards her sensei.

The man was still paging through that damn book!

Suddenly, within a blink of an eye, her weapons cut through a log, the unassuming man having disappeared from the tree stump.

'Damn it!' She cursed mentally as she leapt from her hiding place – she had been found. As she flipped into an open section of the field, she waited for the older man to reach the area.

Hiruzen dropped to the ground from the trees and landed soundlessly. He watched as the girl before him parted her legs and held up her arms, one raised as a fist, while the other was pulled back into an open palm.

A bastardised version of the Gōken.

"Taijutsu then." He muttered as he put away his novel. Despite the younger girl's stature, she had somewhat grasped his old friend's personal fighting style.

It was very damaging.

Mikoto leapt off and swung her left leg, which was caught by Hiruzen. The girl pulled her leg free and flipped away from her sensei, her dangerous bloody red eyes staring at the man.

'I didn't even see him move!'

While she had launched her attack, she had watched her sensei with her pair of two tomoe Sharingan eyes. The man hadn't moved but he had caught her leg.

He was faster than her Sharingan.

With chakra enhancing her limbs for faster mobility, Mikoto leapt again and threw her right arm. Hiruzen caught the arm firmly with his left hand and blocked a kick with his left shin. The girl winced as she tried to duck and sweep at his legs, only for him to leap into the air. Reaching into her pouch, she threw five shuriken at the air-bound man, only to hit a wooden log yet again. She quickly rolled forward, escaping a powerful stomp that cracked the barren earth and flipped into the air.

'Shit!'

Hearing the sound of weapons cutting through the air, she flew into her own sequence of seals, aiding her teammates.

"Katōn: Gōkakyū!" Mikoto took in a deep breath and blew out a fireball nearly twice her height which burnt everything in sight – the grass and the weapons her sensei had launched.

Her sensei – although she couldn't see – smiled. His friend's daughter was taking strides in becoming like her father.

"Dōton: Doryūheki!" As the wall of mud rose, he felt it approaching faster than he had expected. The fireball smashed into the wall, casting a large shadow above and around him. As he tried moving to the left, he felt his body immobilised – unable to move any part of his body.

He smirked at the creativity – this had been planned well.

"Kagemane, success." Shikaku commanded from as he neared the Hokage, hoping to strengthen his hold.

He was under no illusions that he had trapped his sensei – and he was proven right the next moment when Naruto blurred with a sparkling sword in his hand and cut a wooden log in half.

They had decided to attempt to maim or wound their sensei first to make it easier to steal the bells later, but it was proving quite troublesome.

"Shikaku!" The shadow manipulator jumped away at his friends signal, who sped to his former position, his sword already swinging.

Hiruzen blocked the oncoming attack with a kunai. He had intended to capture Shikaku, and drag him into the ground, but it seemed Naruto was a far better sensor than he expected. A grinding sound alerted him and he glanced at the at Raijin no Ken cutting through his kunai.

Flicking his leg, he kicked Naruto's ribs, causing the boy to fly backwards, flipping on the ground. Hiruzen ducked from a kick aimed at his head courtesy of Mikoto. He palmed the girl's chest quickly and flipped backwards to create distance between himself and Shikaku's shadow.

"Fūton: Daitoppa!" Naruto took a deep breath and blew out fierce winds towards Hiruzen.

"Katōn: Ryūka!" Deciding to assist her teammate, Mikoto spewed out a dragon made of fire. It combined with the strong winds and grew larger than it had been before.

Hiruzen watched the combined attack approach him, and he couldn't help but smile. Even when faced with a nigh impossible task, his new team had performed far better than he expected.

He knew that they wouldn't manage to take the bells from him today, but in the very near future, they would.

"Sūiton: Mizurappa!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen would make legends out of them.

Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Justu -Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique: A-rank, Offensive; The user creates up to a thousand shadow clones from one shuriken, striking down the enemy. This is a technique that combines ninja tools with ninjutsu. Compared to normal shadow clones, clones of material objects are said to be on a far higher level. There is no need for preparations beforehand, like stocking up on shuriken, or kunai, yet since the shadow clones are real and not illusions, all the shadow blades that fly around are equally lethal. Because the clones form in just an instant, completely evading them is next to impossible. This technique can also be used on fūma shuriken, increasing its lethality.

Katōn: Gōkakyū – Fire Release: Fireball Technique: C-rank, Offensive; A technique where the chakra kneaded inside the body is converted into fire and expelled from the mouth, either as a massive sphere or as a continuous flamethrower. The released flames will engulf their target, and is capable of leaving a crater in the ground's surface. The scope of this attack is altered by controlling the volume of chakra that is mustered.

Dōton: Doryūheki – Earth Release: Earth Wall: B-rank, Defensive; The user creates a solid wall of earth as a form of defence. Chakra is either converted to earth within the body and then spat out to form the wall or the user can manipulate pre-existing earth to form the wall. The earth then instantly rises and takes form.

Kagemane no Jutsu – Shadow Possession Technique: C-rank, Offensive; The user extends their shadow on any surface and as far as they want, as long as there is sufficient area. Once it comes into contact with a target's shadow, the two merge and the target is forced to imitate the user's movements. Therefore, the two can throw shuriken at each other at the same time if the user desires that. If the target is out of range, the user can produce a better source of light to increase their shadow's size, or rely on pre-existing shadows for their shadow to freely travel through. It is also possible to split one's shadow, either to trap more opponents at once, or to create a distraction.

Fūton: Daitoppa – Wind Release: Great Breakthrough: C-rank, Offensive; If used by a superior shinobi, it has enough destructive power to knock down a large tree. The wind from the squall can blow away all things in the user's line of sight. The technique can also be used in the form of a devastating stream of wind expelled from the user's mouth. There is also a variation of the technique involves a smaller blast of wind which gets ignited with flame.

Katōn: Ryūka – Fire Release: Flame Dragon Technique: B-rank, Offensive; The user breathes fire along a cord or any other type of long object, which rushes forward in a straight line catching the enemy on fire. A line of enemies can be used as the conductor as well. The flames are meant to target, and assault the enemy's upper body.

Sūiton: Mizurappa – Water Release: Wild Water Wave: C-rank, Offensive; The user moulds chakra in their mouths into water and fires a stream of condensed water at their target. The range, speed, and power is dependent on how much chakra is used. Can be strengthened by various different means such as introducing another element.