The Dark Side of Akatsuki. Chapter 7

Then there was Uzumaki Naruto. Kakashi took a look at the dossier picture that showed the young kid posing in kabuki makeup, for whatever reason. Known troublemaker and loudmouth with a lack of respect for authority. Other than that, it was hard to look at his actual evaluation and think anything other than 'bland'. No special jutsu or trained fighting style. Physically, he seemed competent enough, but even his mediocre grades were probably only a result of Sasuke's good influence. Put the two of them together, he thought, and the result might turn out just a bit like his old teammate, Obito. At that thought, he brought his hand up to his covered eye.

Hatake Kakashi considered the most important virtue for potential students to be teamwork. More specifically, the ability to stick together with your team no matter what. Oh, he'd once thought that a ninja needed to be able to throw away an ally to complete the mission if necessary, but some rather serious losses had made him realize that that kind of thinking just wasn't workable in the long run.

It was amazing how many ways there were to escape from impossible situations when you stopped thinking of them as impossible. Not to mention that it was so rare that succeeding in a mission was actually worth the cost to the village of losing a skilled shinobi with decades of work put into raising them. No, it was lack of trust that your comrades were looking out for your best interests that tended to break up teams faster than even the most dangerous of missions.

Sasuke and Naruto were already friends. It wouldn't do any good to try and test that teamwork. Still, he needed ninjas that would fight for their fellows because they were teammates, not because they were friends.

Well, in that case, the answer was obvious.

-Two days later-

It was a beautiful day to be outside in Training Area Number 5. The warm air was dry, and the breeze was cool, carrying the varied scents of a village that was gearing up for lunch. Some parts of the training grounds would have made excellent places for an outdoor meal away from the Academy where one could think in solitude. Well, except for the possibility of explosions, anyway. All in all, it was a wonderful day for Konoha.

Not for the potential members of Team 7, though. Oh no, not for them. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were being put through hell on earth, and Kakashi thought it was hilarious. Oh, they had performed well enough so far, but the main event was just now starting.

Naruto and Sasuke had just returned to the main clearing to see their missing partner, Sakura, gagged and tied to a wooden pole. As they approached, the earth shook and heaved, launching the two boys into the air without warning. Sasuke barely managed to land on his feet, though Naruto hit the ground in a tumbling impact that he tried and failed to pass off as a roll. It would have gone a bit better if he hadn't slammed into the pole that Sakura was currently pinned to.

As Naruto climbed to his feet, spitting out dirt and muttering something about splinters, Kakashi appeared before them in a cloud of smoke. He looked upon his scowling charges and began his prepared speech.

"Well, I think congratulations are in order. That actually wasn't half-bad. You've got good teamwork. I've almost seen enough. Another few months of training and you two might actually be trusted to hold a kunai the right way around on the first try."

Naruto's grimace intensified, and he spat out a wet blob of dirt. Sasuke blinked, puzzled by what he had heard. After a moment, Sakura's eyes widened in understanding.

"Yes, I said 'you two' for a reason. Sakura, I'm afraid that your showing was pathetic. A shinobi can always build on strengths and compensate for weaknesses, but all of that becomes impossible if a student can't bring herself to take even basic offensive action. You were clearly out of your element out there. I'm taking you out of the test. I'm sorry, but I strongly recommend that you reconsider becoming a ninja altogether."

Sakura let out a pitiful muffled moan around the gag currently keeping her from speaking. Before long, her eyes were filling with tears of frustration and shame. It wasn't fair to expect her to work well with two boys who were already friends, Sakura thought. She didn't even know them!

Kakashi turned to regard Naruto and Sasuke. "You two. I'm out. I will be back in twenty minutes for one more try. Use that time to put together a final plan of attack. Impress me." Kakashi turned, as if to leave, then paused. "Oh, and if you're thinking of helping your failed partner there, I'd advise against it. An unprepared teammate will just get you killed. It's too late for the three of you together, but I might be able to grab a third member from another instructor. So, to be clear, if you include her in your planning then I'm failing both of you. Sometimes, the mission requires you to leave people behind. This is one of those times."

With that, Kakashi disappeared, too fast for their eyes to follow.

Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other, jaws clenched. Naruto was the first to say what they were both thinking.

"Man, screw that guy."

"Asshole," Sasuke agreed, then scanned the treeline for signs of their instructor. Seeing nothing, he joined Naruto at the post. In moments they had begun cutting the tough ropes binding their teammate. Sakura's eyes were wide and worried, and Sasuke quickly undid the knot on the gag.

"No, y-you can't do this!" she said, "You heard Kakashi-sensei. I can't- I mean, I'm not- I'm not on the team any more. If you help me then you'll both fail!"

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