5 Chapter 4

Out of the forest, Kakashi Sensei had apparently caught Naruto trying to steal the lunchboxes and had tied the blond to one of the tree posts.

Myra sulked over and dropped onto the floor, hungry and annoyed - and tired, too. She wanted to stuff herself with food, roll over and go to sleep.

Soon, Sasuke and Sakura joined them and Kakashi Sensei stood in front of the four of them, studying them.

Myra kept glancing at the unopened and uneaten lunchboxes, her stomach grumbling. It wouldn't be long before Usajii started complaining about the lack of food in her stomach too.

"Oh, oh, your stomachs are growling," Kakashi Sensei said, his arms crossed.

"By the way, about this exercise ... Well! There's no need for you guys to go back to the Academy," Myra looked at him in surprise as Naruto's mood improved.

"What?" Sakura thought out loud.

"I ... All I did was lay unconscious. Is that okay?" But she cheered up as she started to jump up and down, yelling

"Yahoooo!"

Myra continued to eye Kakashi Sensei. How could he do that when they had been so terrible?

"Then, then!" Naruto started, still tied to the tree post.

"That means the four of us." He and Sakura kept cheering. Myra noticed that even Sasuke seemed pleased. But there was an unnatural smile growing on Kakashi Sensei's masked face.

"Yes, the four of you ..." Kakashi Sensei said as he smiled a closed-eye smile.

"Must quit being Ninja!" Naruto and Sakura froze midway into their cheers while Myra and Sasuke stared at him in shock. Quit being Ninja? Never! Myra couldn't do that!

"Quit being Ninja ?!" Naruto shouted.

"What do you mean ?! Uh, well, it's true that we weren't able to take the bells but why do we have to be told to 'quit' ?!" Myra looked over at Kakashi Sensei again, who was watching them lazily.

"That's because you're all squirts who don't have the qualifications to become Ninja," Kakashi Sensei told them. Myra didn't find that fair. She could've gotten a bell if the time hadn't been up. Sasuke went rushing at him but Kakashi easily subdued him against the ground, sitting a top him.

"I'm saying you're squirts,"

"Don't step on Sasuke-Kun!" Sakura screamed but Kakashi Sensei ignored it all.

Myra frowned deeply as she crossed her arms. He should give them at least one more chance. It's unfair that he asked them to be done with being Ninja over this.

"Are you kids thinking being a Ninja is easy, huh?" Kakashi Sensei questioned. They stared.

"Why do you think you're doing this exercise in teams?" Myra stared at him.

"To put it simply, it's as if you guys have no understanding of the answer to this test,"

"Answer?" Naruto muttered.

"Yes," Kakashi Sensei replied.

"The answer that determines passing or failing of this test," Myra continued to eye him.

'In teams'? Does he mean teamwork? Were they supposed to do it together? Realization washed over her. She had herself thought of it when watching Sasuke fight the Jonin.

"You mean ... Teamwork?" Myra asked slowly. The other four turned to look at her as she slapped her forehead, making Usajii grumble within.

"We were supposed to work together ... Why didn't I realize it sooner? We could've gotten them ..."

"Exactly," Kakashi Sensei replied.

"But it's too late even if you realize that now. You might've been able to take the bells if the four of you had come at me together ... Well, it's too bad," Myra pulled at her twin tails, annoyed out of her wits.

"How could this be ?! "Why use teamwork if there were only three bells?" Sakura questioned suddenly.

"If the four of us were to desperately go take the bells with one having to hold back, that wouldn't be teamwork. That'd create internal discord,"

"Of course!" Kakashi Sensei replied.

"This is a test set up to purposely place you against each other. It's under just such conditions where one's own interests aren't the issue. The intention was to select those who could prioritize teamwork. Despite this, you fools!" Sakura! You were only concerned with Sasuke and you didn't even know where he was. And you didn't care for Naruto who was right in front of your eyes,"Sakura bowed her head in embarrassment." Naruto! All you do is run solo, "Kakashi Sensei continued. Naruto grimaced. "And Myra, you could've gotten far if you hadn't wasted time watching your teammates get beat and trying to figure out weaknesses, "Myra looked away, guilty." You labeled the others as hindrances and acted on your own, "Kakashi Sensei said to Sasuke, pressing his foot onto the boy's head." Missions are carried out in squads! There's no mistaking that Ninjas need unsurpassed individual skills. But 'teamwork' is considered more important than that. "Individual actions that disrupt teamwork throw the team into crisis and lead to death. For example," Kakashi Sensei pulled out his Kunai from his pocket and held it against Sasuke's neck.

"Sakura! Kill Naruto, or else Sasuke dies!" They all stared in shock.

"Is what will happen,"

"On top of having a hostage taken, you're faced with two impossible choices and end up being killed," He put his Kunai away into his pouch.

"Every mission is a life-risking assignment," He stood up and walked over to the Konoha's Memorial Stone.

"Look at this. The many names engraved on this stone. These are all Ninjas who are called heroes, "

" That, that, that, that! "Naruto exclaimed." I like that! I've decided now to get my name engraved there, too! "Myra glanced at him, sure that he didn't know the meaning of it.

" A hero! A hero! I'm not going to die like a dog! "

" But they're not just ordinary heroes, "Kakashi Sensei told them.

" No kidding, "Naruto replied.

" Then, what kind of heroes are they? "Kakashi Sensei looked away from them and Myra wondered what he was thinking.

"Hey, hey!" "They are heroes who were killed in action," Kakashi Sensei said.

"Killed in action?" Naruto questioned, still cheery.

"Uh, Naruto-Kun , "Myra said.

" That means that the Shinobi were killed during a mission, "Naruto stared at her before realization sunk in and his smile vanished.

They looked at their Sensei.

" This is a memorial, "Kakashi Sensei said.

" The names of my friends are also engraved here, "Myra frowned. She wondered how many friends he had lost. Kakashi Sensei looked at them.

" I'll give you guys one more chance! However, after noon, it'll be a harsher battle to take the bell.

"Those who want to take on the challenge can eat lunch. However, don't let Naruto have any," Naruto grimaced.

"It's punishment for breaking the rules and attempting to eat lunch on your own. If someone lets him eat, that person will be disqualified on the spot. I make the rules here, got it ?!" Kakashi Sensei left the four of them and walked off somewhere.

Myra took one of the three lunchboxes while Sakura and Sasuke took the other three.

Naruto tried to keep his stomach from growling as the other began to open and have the food. Myra kept glancing at him, feeling rather guilty. She was hungry so she was pretty sure that Naruto was hungry too, and his stomach growls were so loud ... She looked around to see where Kakashi Sensei was. If he was off reading this novel, they could give Naruto some food.

"I'm okay with not eating lunch!" Naruto announced when his stomach rumbled for the umpteenth time.

"No sweat at all, dattebayo!" He had barely finished his sentence when his stomach groaned again.

"No sweat." "You should have some food, Naruto-Kun," Myra said, frowning. She got up to give him some when Sasuke held his lunchbox out at Naruto. Sakura looked at Myra and Sasuke in shock and stumbled through her words.

"H-Hey, Sasuke-Kun! Myra-Chan!" Sakura said.

"Sensei just said ..." She began to look around the place to see whether Kakashi Sensei was anywhere nearby.

Myra couldn't feel him anywhere either (unless he was hiding very well).

"It's okay," Sasuke said.

"There's no sign of him right now," Myra was surprised that Sasuke had such sentiments of teamwork. But then remembered he wanted to kill someone and couldn't afford to go back to the Academy. She sweat-dropped.

"He's right," Myra said, recovering.

"The four of us are going to have to work together to get those bells. If we want to defeat Kakashi Sensei, then we must all replenish our energies. Otherwise, we're only going to mess up again, "

" It'll be trouble for me if he becomes a hindrance, so .. "Sasuke agreed.

Sakura immediately offered up her lunchbox as well, making Naruto blush deeply at the sight of his crush. But Sakura didn't want to feed the blond.

" Just eat up, quickly, Usa! "Myra said as she grabbed a block of rice from her lunchbox and shoved it into the bounded male's mouth. It had barely hit Naruto's mouth when a huge Shinobi- influenced hurricane that erupted behind them.

"You four!" Kakashi Sensei shouted as he appeared out of it, making them all jump and go defensive mode.

"You defied the rules so that means you know what's coming," He began to go through Hand Seals. Dark clouds overtook the sky and thunder roared.

"Do you have anything to say? "

" Usa, you're wrong! "Myra exclaimed, although she was quite frightened that the Jonin would go all out at them and defeat them within seconds.

" You said it yourself, Usa! "

" What? "Kakashi Sensei demanded.

"We're a four-man squad, right?" Sasuke said.

Myra sighed in relief, at least she wouldn't be the only one dying today. Sasuke would too!

"That's right!" Sakura added, gaining inspiration from her crush.

"The four of us are one, so!" Now, three of them would be killed, not just one!

"That's right! That's right! That's right!" Naruto shouted.

"That's right!" Now this is going to be the end of Team Seven. Kakashi Sensei would kill them all!

"The four of you are one, eh?" Kakashi Sensei said as he neared them. Myra stood in front of Naruto, knowing he couldn't protect himself otherwise. Then, suddenly, Kakashi Sense smiled at them.

"You pass!"

"What ?!" the four of them stared at Kakashi Sensei. Sakura continued,

"We passed ?! Why ?!" It was a question in all of their minds. Above them, the dark clouds above began to clear out and let the sunlight through.

"You guys are the first," Kakashi Sensei told them.

"Up until now, it was always just dunces who would meekly listen to what I said. A Ninja must see through deception. In the world of Ninja, those who break rules and codes are branded as scum. But those who abandon their friends are even worse than scum, "

" He's .. He's .. Kinda .. Cool .. "Naruto whispered, his eyes tearing up. Myra nodded furiously in agreement. Sakura cheered slightly and Sasuke looked quite satisfied as well.

"That's it for the exercise," Kakashi Sensei announced.

"Everyone passes! Team Seven starts their mission tomorrow! "He gave them all a thumps-up.

Myra and Sakura cheered.

" I did it, dattebayo! I'm a Ninja! Ninja! Ninja! "Naruto cheered as well.

" Let's go home, "Kakashi Sensei told them.

" Usa! "Myra agreed she started to follow Kakashi Sensei with Sakura and Sasuke. Naruto yelled at them to untie the rope as he was left behind.

Myra threw over an origami rat to chew the ropes off of Naruto.

**time skip**

"Ohhh! My Tora-Chan! "Madam Shijimi exclaimed as she squeezed the cat Team Seven had just rescused half to death.

" I was worried to death! "Madam Shijimi was the wife of the Fire Daimyo. She came around a lot to hire teams to find Tora, who often ran away. The woman loved her cat but the cat did not really reciprocate the same degree of affection to her. And seeing what was happening in front of her eyes, Myra could wonder why. If she were a cat, she would run away from Madam Shijime's death-grip as well. Naruto, however, felt differently.

"Serves him right, that stupid cat!" Naruto said, laughing as they stood in front of the woman in the Hokage's office. Tora had scratched Naruto's face off, so Myra couldn't really blame him for having such sentiments for the cat.

"No wonder he ran away." Sakura trailed off.

Myra nodded in agreement. The cat looked absolutely frightened and Myra knew it wouldn't be long before he would run away again and the Hokage would ask them to look for him again.

" Okay, then, "Hiruzen said as he picked up a piece of paper from his desk.

" The next mission for Kakashi's Team Seven is ... An errand to the neighboring town to babysit the Chief Counselor's three-year-old son, helping with digging potatoes ... "

" No! "Naruto screamed suddenly.

Myra, Sakura, Sasuke and Kakashi Sensei all turned to look at him, as did the Hokage.

" No, no thank you! I want to do a more exciting mission! "

Myra did agree with him internally.

" Idiot! "Iruka Sensei said, leaning over his desk.

" You're still a novice Ninja! Everyone needs to start with the easy missions to gain experience!

"That did not appease the 12-year- old blond at the slightest.

" But - but we've only been doing dumb missions lately! "Naruto protested in response. Kakashi - Sensei punched him over the head, making him face plant the floor, telling him to cut it all out.

Myra sighed.

"Naruto," Hiruzen said. Naruto straightened a little, sitting on the ground.

"It looks like I need to explain to you what missions are, "Naruto looked over.

" Listen, a lot of clients come to this village every day, they request things from babysitting to assassinations. On the request list, a variety of requests are listed on it and they are separated into ranks A, B, C and D according to difficulty.

"In this village, we separate the people into Jonins, Chūnins and Genins according to their abilities. We, higher officials, assign the missions to the Shinobi with the appropriate abilities. And if we complete the mission, we receive a fee from the client , "He pointed at them.

"You have all become Genins just recently, so D-Rank missions are best for you," At that moment, he realized no one was listening to him. Sasuke, Sakura, Myra and Kakashi Sensei were standing around Naruto, who was sitting on the ground.

"I had Tonkotsu Ramen yesterday, so l'm going to eat a Miso ramen today, "Naruto told them all, his one hand on his knee and the other waving around.

Myra was about to scold him when she remembered that she only ate sweets all the time too.

" Listen! "Hiruzen shouted at them to catch their attention. The five of them turned and looked over at the Hokage, who had lectured literally no one. Naruto turned to Hiruzen.

"You always lecture me like that, pops," Naruto said.

"But I'm not the kid who used to pull pranks anymore! "He turned away from the Hokage.

Kakashi Sensei sighed and rubbed the back of his head. Myra was sure he was going to get scolded later.

" Okay, I understand, "Hiruzen announced in defeat.

Naruto and his team looked over, surprised.

"If you insist, I will allow you take on a C-Rank mission," Myra's interest peaked.

"It's to escort a certain person,"

"Really ...?" Naruto asked, excited.

" Who? Who? The Daimyo? Or a princess? "

" Don't get so hasty, "Hiruzen told him.

" I'll introduce him now, "Myra's eyes sparkled, excited to have a decent mission for once.

" Can you please come in now? "They looked to the door as it slowly opened.

"What? They're all kids! "The old man said before drinking from the bottle he was holding.

" Hey, is the smallest one there with the idiotic face really a ninja? "

" Who's the smallest one with the idiotic face? "Naruto asked , laughing loudly. Myra, Sakura and Sasuke stepped next to him, making him realize he was the shortest. Myra and Sasuke were the tallest, followed by Sakura.

"I'm going to kill you!"

"Don't kill the man you're supposed to escort, idiot, "Kakashi Sensei said, holding onto him while the blond tried to free himself and launch himself at the old man.

" I am the bridge building expert Tazuna, "the drunk old man introduced himself.

" Once I have returned to my country, I will have all of you protect my life with yours while I complete the bridge, "