Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Rewarding Assignment ❯ Bell Test: Naruto Style! ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Naruto looked over his students as they sat next to the posts in the training ground. He had been sizing them up ever since he first saw them, but was still not sure what to make of them.

The Hyuuga girl was dressed like pretty much all Hyuugas were, and had those same pale orbs for eyes. Just like Hinata-chan when she was that age, thought Naruto fondly. Forcing himself to focus on the task at hand, Naruto looked to the second member of his team.

Hikaru was the son of rich merchants. Naruto would have known that even if he hadn't read about him on his team roster. (A/N: Naruto reading? I know, it is strange, but remember that it has been thirteen years since the series started. He is more mature now.) He wore a black shirt of the highest quality, and his gray pants were of similar material. The only thing about him that didn't reek of fine grooming was his hair, which was a messy mass of brown. He did, Naruto noticed, have extraordinarily pale blue eyes. As long as he isn't a snob, Naruto thought, I guess he won't be too much of a problem. He was much less sure of his third team member.

Daisuke had shown signs of boredom after being in the training ground for only twenty seconds. He wore gray pants, though a darker gray than Hikaru's, and sported a dark red shirt. His spiky white hair had been cut extremely short. There had been very little information about him in the team roster. Apparently he didn't have a last name that he used, had done very poorly in class, and had no distinguishing habits. I guess I'll have to wait and see about him, thought the Whirlwind.

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Hikaru fiddled idly with a piece of grass. His initial burst of excitement at finding out that Naruto the Whirlwind was their sensei had worn off after the first minute of being studied by him in the grass. Hikaru was already beginning to be kind of creeped out by the way that Naruto took turns staring at each of the three genin.

He didn't know about Daisuke, but even the energetic Hanako was obviously started to get bored. Luckily for Hikaru, Daisuke, and Hanako, Naruto decided to begin.

“You know, most teams start off with only one task on their first day,” said Naruto, smiling. “But, I think you guys can handle two. You up to it?”

“I guess so, Naruto-sensei,” said Daisuke uncertainly. Hanako was more sure.

“Of course we can, Naruto-sensei!” The Hyuuga girl, overjoyed at the prospect of doing something besides sitting, had leapt up in joy, to the slight surprise of her male teammates.

“Sit down, Hanako-chan,” said Naruto, “The first thing we're doing will happen right here.” Hanako was crestfallen as she reluctantly returned to the ground she thought she had escaped. Naruto cleared his throat, then began to speak.

“All right, the first thing we are going to do today is get to know each other. I'm Uzumaki Naruto. You need to say things you like, don't like, and your plans for the future. I like ramen, and Hina-“ Naruto saw Hinata's younger sister, and quickly changed track. “And training! I don't like waiting for ramen to cook, or stuck up people. My goal is-“

“To become Hokage.” The three genin's voices rang out in excitement (Hanako), polite interest (Daisuke), and boredom (Hikaru).

“Eh? How did you know that,” asked Naruto, confused. Seeing that Hikaru was too bored to answer, and doubting that Hanako's answer would be intelligible, Daisuke took it upon himself to answer.

“Well, Naruto-sensei,” he said, “Whenever Iruka-sensei gave a lesson about the Rookie Nine that mentioned you, he would always say that it was your dream to become Hokage one day. Everyone in our class knows a lot about you, Naruto-sensei.”

Naruto wasn't sure whether to be proud that his accomplishments had finally earned him acknowledgement, or to be freaked out by the fact that there was a whole batch of genin running around that knew his life story. Well, most of it at least. Naruto knew that Iruka would never tell the students that Naruto held the Kyuubi inside of him.

Naruto was barely listening when Hanako launched into her tirade of likes and dislikes, which included flowers, sunshine, older sisters, bugs, snakes, bad things, good things, and every other object imaginable. He was too busy thinking about the demon housed in his stomach. Over the years, all of the Konoha Eleven had learned of Naruto's secret. He had never been so happy as the day he realized that they all knew, and that none of them cared. He had a group of true friends.

He knew, however, that not everyone was so lacking in prejudice. Many of the adult villagers still held a disliking towards him, although that was fading as his actions as a shinobi became more well-known.

Suddenly, the depth of his responsibilities struck him. He was going to mold three young lives. Change them in ways so fundamental that he would literally make them into different people. He would bare his soul to them, would trust them with his life. And they would trust him with theirs. Someday, he would tell them about the Kyuubi.

Although the goofy grin on his face never changed, Naruto became a bit more solemn. He intended to live up to this new responsibility. After all, if he couldn't look after three genin, how could he look after the whole village as Hokage?

“—And my dream is to become as strong as my cousin Neji-chan, and Hinata- nee chan!” Naruto was a moment behind in realizing the Hanako had finished with her introduction. Judging from the bored look still on Hikaru's face, and the drool dripping unnoticed from Daisuke's mouth, Naruto hadn't been the only one not paying attention.

“Um, that's great, Hanako-chan,” he said with a grin. “Daisuke-san, why don't you go next?” Daisuke popped back into reality.

“Well, I'm Daisuke,” said the boy as he ran his hand through his hair. “I like all the things I don't dislike, and I dislike things that I don't enjoy. My dream is to one day complete all of my goals.” Naruto blinked for a moment as he realized that he couldn't understand what Daisuke said. Hikaru finally took interest.

“That doesn't mean anything,” he complained. “You have to tell us something.” Daisuke grinned.

“I did, and every word of it was true.”

Seeing that Hikaru was about to start arguing, Naruto spoke up.

“Hikaru-san, it's your turn.” Hikaru glared at Naruto, then sighed and gave in.

“I'm Raizen Hikaru,” he said. “My parents are merchants, and I'm the only ninja in my family. I came to the Konoha Academy because I showed skill with chakra molding, and my parents are on better terms with Konoha than they are with any other village. I like napping, and dislike being bored. My dream is to someday find something at least a little interesting around here to do.”

Naruto grimaced internally. Wow, he's just like Shikamaru. Lazy, but not as much of a genius! Reminding himself not to judge too early, Naruto stood up.

“Okay guys, it's time for our second task for the day.” Hanako once again leapt for joy, energetic and happy at the slightest provocation. Hikaru and Daisuke stood up slower, but Naruto could tell that they were ready to do something too. Reaching into his pack, Naruto brought out two bells.

“I have here with me two bells,” said Naruto as he jangled them. “You are going to try to take them from me.” He watched as the enormity of the task sunk in. Even Hanako, who was bright and cheerful all of the time, was skeptical.

“But, Naruto-sensei! You're a jonin,” she said, “And we're genin! We can't beat you!” Naruto waved her statement aside.

“You may notice that there are only two bells,” he said with an evil grin forming. “That means that only two of you will be able to get a bell. The other…” Naruto paused for dramatic effect, although he knew that Kakashi had done it better than he did. “…will be sent back to the Academy.”

The three genin gasped in shock. It took every ounce of self-control Naruto had to resist from laughing and revealing the trick behind the test. For a moment, he felt almost bad for deceiving them, but he decided that he would go easier on them then Kakashi did.

“However,” he continued, giving no sign of his internal emotions, “That doesn't mean that two of you will pass. Maybe none of you will get the bell, and you will all fail…” Naruto pantomimed looking at a watch, and looked back at them nonchalantly.

“You guys get to start… now!”

In a flash, all three genin were gone. Hmmm, thought Naruto. Looks like none of them are going to try attacking head on like I did. With a fox-like grin, Naruto began strolling in the direction that his students had gone.

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Hyuuga Hanako saw the kunai knife in her hand shaking, and fought to stop it. She knew what her father, Hiashi, and her sister Hanabi would say if they saw her now.

Look at her, father. Not even as strong as Hinata.

You are correct, Hanabi. It appears you are the only one with any of the Hyuuga talent.

Hanako tried to focus on the task at hand. She doubted that her family would even take her back into the house if she went back to the Academy. She felt the strain of her constant cheeriness beginning to take a toll on her. There were times when she wished to be more like her sister, Hinata.

Hinata-nee chan wouldn't be afraid in this situation, she thought. She isn't scared of father or Hanabi at all! Her thoughts of her older sister increased her resolve to take on the bells dangling from Naruto's belt.

She nearly fell out of the tree branch she was sitting on when she felt a hand grasp her shoulder. However, she was both stabled and silenced by the hand clamped over her mouth.

“Don't make any noise,” Daisuke whispered. “I've got a plan.”

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Hikaru swore silently to himself that if anything crawled, jumped, or slithered onto him while he was lying under these bushes, he would make Naruto pay. He wasn't sure exactly how he was going to make one of the strongest jonin in the village pay, but he would find a way.

Hikaru watched Naruto as he walked, examining for anything that could be used as an opportunity. Unfortunately, it was hard to tell a lot about someone from the way they walk. He didn't see any obvious ways to attack that wouldn't be obvious to Naruto as well.

Hikaru was about to just throw a barrage of shuriken when he heard a crackle behind him. Turning as he drew his kunai, he managed to stop himself before he attacked Daisuke and Hanako. Although he stopped himself, he did not lower his kunai.

“How do I know you two are really you, and not bunshins?” Hanako looked surprised. She hadn't thought of that possibility. She was almost embarrassed at the ease with which Naruto would have been able to fool her. Daisuke shocked her, however, by raising his own kunai.

Hanako jumped away from him, and Hikaru tensed. However, fighting wasn't Daisuke's intent. Daisuke slashed a cut into his own arm. While it wasn't too serious, it did bleed.

Hikaru and Hanako couldn't hide the surprise in their faces. Daisuke, however, seemed to think nothing of his act of self-mutilation.

“If I was a bunshin, I would have poofed away now,” whispered Daisuke without a trace of pain in his voice. “I have a plan to take the bells, one that will let us all pass.”

A/N: Ouch, sorry to leave you hanging like that. Man, if I were you I would really hate me right now… Oh well. Don't worry, I plan to post the next part within the next two days. However, enough reviews could tempt me to post sooner…

R&R!