Sarutobi Asuma tapped the table in front of him impatiently. He was currently waiting the other jounins to hear the genin exam result. So far, only Shiranui Genma arrived with the news that his team didn't make it, while Asuma's team members were succeed in becoming real genins.
The 2 jounins looked up when the door opened, and 3 people entered the room. Yuuhi Kurenai, a genjutsu specialist, walked in with satisfied look plastered on her face, so Asuma could conclude that her team passed the test. Now, Gekkou Hayate's and Yoruno Korugi's faces were more difficult to read. Hayate brought his hand to his mouth and coughed. Asuma never understood why the sick shinobi didn't stop being shinobi. The sick jounin always seemed as if his life was on thread and would die if he fought against enemy shinobi, regardless his excellent sword technique. Korugi was a silent jounin and his face betrayed no emotion, so Asuma gave up on reading him.
"So," the cigarette-obsessed jounin started. "How are your teams?"
"My team passed," Kurenai smiled. "Inuzuka Kiba is a very energetic kid…and a loudmouth," she added afterwards.
"Inuzuka…isn't that the dog user clan?" the red eyed woman nodded.
"Yes. The other one is Aburame Shino, a very quiet boy and creepy if I could add. He uses…bugs," the jounin woman shivered at the mention of bugs. "Ugh,
I hate bugs," she exclaimed. "And I also got the heiress of Hyuuga. Her name is Hinata. She is very shy though, and didn't have any confidence whatsoever on her bone. Hopefully I can make her more confident after some training."
"Hm…so you got a byakugan user and 2 animal specialists in your team," Genma voiced in. "What about you Hayate?" the jounin asked his sick friend.
Hayate coughed before answering. "They failed," he simply told them that.
"…Can you elaborate about your team?" Kurenai rolled her eyes. Men…
"Nakai Yuma is an average genin, he's rather shy and prefer to stay alone. He's Kagero's son. Reikou Tobe has good taijutsu but really sucks at genjutsu. His ninjutsu is average. Uematsu Takeha is a troublemaker and like to start a fight, but doesn't have the brain to support his brawl. Nothing interesting about them," he coughed again.
"Hmm…What about your team, Yoruno-san?" Kurenai asked politely. The quiet shinobi was her acquaintance, but she wasn't close with him, so she called him with his surname.
"…My team consists of Amane Haruki, Haneda Naru, Sanada Yukime. Nothing interesting about them. They failed," he took a seat beside Asuma.
"Well, my team is the next generation of Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi. The Yamanaka girl, Ino, is really loud," he winced at his memory. "Nara Shikamaru is even lazier than his father, but he has the brain. Akimichi Chouji is…well an Akimichi, I guess," Asuma scratched his hair, not knowing how to describe his food-obsessed genin.
"I guess it's my turn," Genma chewed his metal toothpick. "Team 3: Reihara Shinju, Kowaru Arisa, and Uemaki Hana. Reihara seems to be a leader type. He has good reflex, but is quick to anger. Kowaru is a genjutsu user like her mother, but she lacks the experience to use it on battle and is easily scared. Hana is a strategist, I'd say that if she has a better team members than the other 2, she could pass the test. Alas the team failed."
The 5 shinobis talked for a while as they waited for their comrades to come. 4 hours later the only one that hasn't come was only Kakashi. The others have said that their teams failed. If Kakashi didn't fail his team, then the jounins had to pick up 3 genins from the failed teams to be the new genins (They didn't know that Sandaime has decided that team 7 will pass).
"Why am I not surprised when he is late?" Kurenai asked annoyed.
"Oh, Kakashi my eternal rival, you shouldn't come late for a meeting like this! You could corrupt the burning Konoha youths!" Gai exclaimed tearfully. The others sweat dropped at the sight. Gai was the last year genin team's sensei, but he decided to take part in the meeting.
"…Ignore him," one of the jounins, a female medic-nin named Heika Shiori, said. The rest of the jounins completely agreed with her.
Half an hour later, someone with silver hair entered the room.
"Kaka…shi?" Asuma gaped at his comrade's state. The other jounins gawked at the silver haired jounin in disbelief, even Yoruno and Hayate raised their eyebrows.
"Ah…yo!" the son of Konoha's white fang scratched his back in embarrassment. The jounins there were wondering what happened to the genius shinobi. He looked as if he had a great battle and got his butt kicked. His face was red, not because of embarrassment, but because of the small red swellings he got. He got a bandage on his forehead. His left arm was bandaged and some locks of his hair were colored blue, green and red.
Even Gai couldn't say anything when he saw his rival's state.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I have met with a little devil that cause me some problems that I have to cancel the genin exam, and when I came home, I triggered the newly placed and my own tinkered traps that I have no doubt that it was done by this little devil. And after that I have a problem with some polices because my neighbors sued me for public disturbance, because of the blaring noise from my speakers that was part of the traps" he cringed at his memory.
Silence…
The jounins continued to gawk.
"Uhm…anyway I'm late because I have to wash myself because of some traps. Go to hospital to get my injuries healed and go to Hokage's tower to request a genin team to fix my completely messed up house and go to the police for my case," he added.
It was actually Hayate and Genma who broke the silence. The looked at each other, knowing the real identity of this 'little devil' before blowing in laughter. It broke the ice and the rest followed their' leads. Kakashi's face was as red as tomato now. Kurenai thought that it was cute, since she never seen the cool and collected Kakashi looked so flustered and irritated like that.
"Pft," Genma smirked mischievously. "Now, that's what I call a good reason unlike your other lame reasons," he picked his toothpick.
"So…who's this little devil? I thought that you peeped some girls in bath and they caught you," Kurenai asked curiously.
"Oh, Kakashi, you shouldn't let anyone beat you! It was my job as your rival!" Gai clasped his hand. "Or does this mean that a new rival has risen for me?" the others ignored the Green Beast of Konoha.
"So, how's your team?" Team 10's sensei asked.
Kakashi sighed before he took a seat in front of his smirking comrade. "Like I said. I cancelled the genin exam because of my…injuries, so I haven't known their abilities yet. I have told them to meet me again in 3 days. With the added injuries I got in my home however, I think that I should make it 5 days. Anyway from the introduction yesterday and the short meeting today I can conclude that Uchiha Sasuke is a bit suicidal with the whole I'm-better-than-you attitude. Haruno Sakura is a love struck girl who doesn't have a motivation to be a kunoichi except to ogle at Sasuke, and Naruto is a real pain in the ass with a very devious mind and really, really creative. I admit that he has gotten the better of me with his mind-boggling traps that landed me in this state in the first place," the silver haired jounin growled.
"That's Naruto, alright," Genma snickered. Kakashi shot him a suspicious glare.
"Naruto?" one of the jounins raised his eyebrows. "The Kyuubi's vessel?" he asked in disbelief.
Shiryoku Ren was a fair shinobi. He was one of Konoha's shinobis that survived Kyuubi's attack. And even if his sister was dead that night, he didn't blame Naruto liked the rest of the villagers done. He knew the difference between the blonde boy and Kyuubi. He didn't act hostile with Naruto, but he also didn't act civil either. He was skeptical, because he didn't know that Naruto actually had a rebellious streak, considering how quiet the boy was. Well, that proved that the saying 'you shouldn't judge a book from its cover' right.
5 of the jounins were making a face at the mention of the boy. It was clear to see that they hated the blonde boy. Ren shook his head sadly. It was unfortunate that some people let their hate blinded them.
"Wait, so you meant that this 'little devil' was Naruto?" Kurenai gaped. Damn, that child really had done a great bang job on Kakashi, the so-called genius shinobi. She wasn't sure herself that she could wound kakashi, but here it was, a 12 years old kid kicked the silver haired jounin' butt.
"NOOOOOOOOO! Kakashi lose to a 12 years old boy! How could it be!" the jounins rolled their eyes. There should be a law that stated imbalanced shinobi should be sent to mental institution!
Asuma was quiet. "Say…what if we make a bet?" that got the attentions of all.
0-0 0-0 0-0
Naruto sneezed.
"Damn, someone must be talking about me!" the blonde boy rubbed his nose in annoyance. "So what do you want to talk, old man?" he asked rudely to Sandaime.
"I have heard about Kakashi's…misfortune," the old man's lips twitched in amusement before his face returned into serious mask.
"Aanndd?" Naruto drawled with a smirk on his face.
"I must insist that you don't do it again to him in the future"
"And why should I comply with your request?" Naruto teased.
"Because…because I request it!" Sarutobi yelled in frustration. The Kyuubi's vessel raised an amused eyebrow.
"That's not really an adequate reason, you know. Try again!"
"He will be your team's sensei, and it would be best if you be good with him." Hearing this, the cheerful act was gone, replaced by a cold mask. Hokage's heart sank seeing it.
"Who said I want to become a shinobi for this village," Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Tell me, why should I pledge my allegiance to the village who hate me!" he hissed.
"They don't hate—"
"Yes, they do! And you know, so don't you dare denying it, old man! Why else they threw glares, insults, and even assassination attempts, if not because of their hate to me?" Sandaime was silent. "And for all I know, I could have just leave this pathetic excuse of village."
"…But you didn't leave," the old man pointed out.
"That's just because you will send your anbus to drag me back here!" he snapped. "But I'll tell you that when I'm strong enough, I will leave this accursed place, no matter if you send your hunter-nin to hunt me down."
"If that time comes, will you destroy Konoha?" Sarutobi asked bluntly. He was filled with dread as he waited for the answer.
The blonde boy in front of him snorted. "Those people aren't worth my time, but if Konoha decided to hunt me, I won't sit back idly either," he grunted.
There was a long silence in the room, before the Hokage looked up with a renewed determination. Naruto frowned, wondering what the old man was planning.
"What if I told you that I will grant you permission to leave Konoha at will as long as you become Konoha's shinobi and help it in the time of great need? Of course that would be after you passed as a chuunin at least."
Well…Naruto had to say that this…was an unexpected development. Even the fox demon inside him was speechless at hearing the offer. That was a great offer, actually. The old man must be pretty desperate to have him as Konoha's shinobi that he offered something like this. He wondered why though. Was it because he was Kyuubi's vessel? Or was it because of his father who was the Fourth?
Naruto opened his mouth, but closed it again. He consulted with Kyuubi for his decision. After a long moment of silence, the 2 came into a decision.
"Fine, I'll do it," the old man breathed a sigh of relief, but Naruto hasn't finished yet. "But under some conditions," Sarutobi looked up with a frown.
"…What are they?"
"One, if I'm attacked by some of your…people," Naruto frowned. "No matter that they are shinobis or civilians, I have the right to retaliate and won't be punished for that. Two," he didn't give the old man a chance to speak. "You will give me that permission no matter if I become chuunin or not. Afterall how can I be sure that the examiner would be fair to me? You'll give me that permission right after the next chuunin exam this year. Don't interrupt, I haven't finished yet," he said when the old man opened his mouth. "Three, I won't use Konoha's hitae-ate when I'm outside the wall. Four, what I do outside will remain outside, Konoha won't interfere with my live, and I have the right to reject any mission you sent to me. I will help Konoha when it was needed, that's all. Five, I could take any mission I like even if it isn't from Konoha,. And six…give me more allowance." The Third was dumbfounded at the last request. "Well?" Naruto asked impatiently.
"Then I want you to promise that you won't kill them, just incapacitate them if they attack you," Naruto shook his head.
"If they're civilian I won't kill them unless they pass the boundaries like injuring people close to me or send assassin after me, but I can't say the same for shinobis. Whatever mistake they do, they have to pay for the consequence," Naruto argued firmly.
"Alright, that will do. And I'll grant you permission only and only if you complete the entire exam. It doesn't matter if you become chuunin or not as long as you complete the exam."
"…I think that's fair. Go on!"
"You only take mission from non-Konoha people that doesn't endanger Konoha's safety," the blonde nodded. "And for your allowance, I will give you a bank account with 6 years worth of money, and I'll add your family's money there. If you spend all of them in a year, I won't give you anything."
"My family's money? You know my family?" Naruto pretended that he didn't know about his family.
"They're dead. That's the only thing I can tell you for now. Don't ask anymore!"
"Fine, who cares about them anyway!" there was a sad glint in Sarutobi's eyes when he said it, but Naruto honestly didn't care.
"I will prepare the draft today for the official record, go back here tomorrow, and I'll have it ready by then," Naruto nodded. He exited the room when the door opened revealing Kakashi.
The 2 shinobis just stood there, staring at each other. Naruto broke the silence and smirked. "Something happened to you? You looked as if you were mauled by rabid dogs," Naruto mocked. "See you in 3 days then," the blonde boy passed the jounin.
"Actually it would be 5 days," the silver haired jounin scowled.
Naruto turned around. "Oh? Why?" he asked innocently.
The older shinobi glared hard at him, but Naruto didn't waver. "I have an…unfortunate incident that will take my 5 days time," he growled. "Tell Sasuke and Sakura when you met them," Naruto's father's pupil turned from Naruto and walked toward the sighing sandaime. "You call me, sandaime-sama?"
Naruto snorted and closed the door as he exited the room.
It seemed that he had to change his plan. He might haven't promised the old man that he wouldn't prank Kakashi (because Naruto and sandaime were preoccupied and forgot about it completely when the old man gave the offer to Naruto), but since he agreed to be Konoha's shinobi for the sake of his freedom he wouldn't prank him in their next meeting.
That didn't mean that he wouldn't prank him and his…teammates after that though. Naruto cackled evilly along with the fox inside him.