Soul testing

Well, another morning in Konoha, it wouldn't be so good if it wasn't for the red fox in my arms... looking at sleepy Mito, I'm charged with cuteness for the whole day. I can train hard all day, but today instead of routine training will be training-test with Kakashi... or rather against Kakashi.

Mito and I woke at seven o'clock, had breakfast, and prepared for the test. The girl took her kunai and scrolls with sealed throwing iron, while I took my spiked kunai, a couple of fuma shurikens, and my mask so I could use Hoshingan.

I brought a breakfast scroll if Sakura listened to Kakashi and ate nothing. There was enough food for the whole team, even Sasuke. Mito and I arrived at the firing range just before eight o'clock, and near the entrance, we saw Sasuke and Sakura sitting with their bags.

- Greetings, lovely ladies, Sakura... Sasuke. - I said with a smirk.

- Not funny. - replied a serious Sasuke.

- That depends. - I shrugged, "Well, ready for the test. I hope you've had a good meal and night's sleep. Mito and I are full, awake and ready for battle, aren't we, Foxy? - I looked at Mito.

- Yes, we will destroy this Poop, dattebayo! - replied the red-haired girl.

- Naruto, you were right yesterday, and I did not listen to you and came like a fool. At five o'clock in the morning nothing to eat, and I did not even have time to prepare lunch. We've been sitting here with Sasuke for three hours, and Sensei is still not here. - said Sakura.

- Well, Sakura, how will you go through survival training without sleep and hunger? I've ensured you'll follow all of Sensei's instructions, so I've brought you some food and tea from the herbs used in shinobi combat stimulants, so you'll be invigorated and energised for battle. - I took out a scroll with sealed food and tea.- Sakura, will you listen to me now and eat, or will you continue to listen to Kakashi-sensei and remain weak from hunger and sluggish from lack of sleep? Be warned that Sensei may not come for two or three hours. - I said and waved the scrolls in front of Sakura's face.

- I already didn't listen to you, and now I'm sitting here hungry, so give me your food and tea. - The pink-haired girl took the scrolls, unsealed them, and ate.

- That's right, Sakura, you should obey me, and then I'll take you into my Gar-a-A-Ai. - I was distracted by Mito, who pinched my side.- So, Foxy, you have developed a bad habit of pinching me when I'm talking.

- There's nothing to... that... that, dattebayo. - replied Mito without looking at me.

- Yeah, I get it. - I answered the jealous girl and then turned to Sasuke, "So, well, I hope that the one with whom I share the first place in the list of ranking of graduates thought to eat breakfast or at least bring lunch with me didn't you, Sasuke-k-u-un? - I asked with a slight sneer.

- Pfft. - Sasuke turned away from me but began to glance hungrily at Sakura, who was eating, his stomach rumbling a little, demanding food.

- Eh, Sasuke-ku-un, the one person I didn't expect to be this stupid was you... but I had also foreseen your stupidity, so I brought an extra lunch. If you admit I'm smarter, stronger, and prettier than you, you'll get the same lunch as Sakura. - I pulled out another scroll.

- Pfh. - Sasuke answered a little differently than usual.

- I'll take that as a positive answer. Here's your lunch. Eat it, too, because my team doesn't need an exhausted Uchiha. You won't be able to look at your Sharingans properly. - I gave him the scroll, which Sasuke accepted, and after printing out the food, he also began to eat.

While our team waited for Kakashi, I walked around the training ground and checked all my preparations. I will give three hundred per cent in this upcoming fight, but I still can not defeat the Jonin. Still, this battle will be a good incentive for me to understand my strength's limits and continue to train and become stronger.

We waited for a little over three hours. He showed up at eleven in the afternoon, even though he told us to be there at five in the morning... that's the kind of thing that makes you stop trusting people. Genin must trust their commanding officer because their lives depend on it.

My Shadow Clone spotted Kakashi and scattered to give me the information while I informed the team that our "mentor" was on his way, so we could get ready for the test. As preparation, I put on a mask on my face, and also, by the way, today I removed from the "Spatial Pocket" huge stones, which created the effect of increasing gravity.

So with the mask on, I turned to the team and Sakura said:

- Naruto, that's a creepy mask you have on.

- Yeah, the first time I saw him in that mask, I was scared and screamed, dattebayo. - Mito added.

- Thank you, I tried to make it scary, but the main thing about it is its protective properties. - I took a simple kunai from Sakura and struck the mask with all my strength, causing the kunai to shatter into metal fragments and not even a scratch on the mask.

- But still, you could have made it prettier. - Sakura said.

Soon Kakashi came up to us and greeted us:

- Good morning. - He waved his hand.

- Sensei, you're six hours late, and it's not morning. It's more like noon. - Sakura expressed her "slight" indignation.

- Yes, a black cat crossed the road. I had to go the other way... ahem. - Kakashi justified himself sluggishly, "Well, all right. I'll set the alarm for twelve o'clock, and your job is to take these bells away from me before noon. - Kakashi showed Kakashi two bells and continued to explain:

- Whoever fails will be left without lunch. I'll tie you to those poles over there and make you watch me eat. - He pointed to the makiwars at the edge of the training ground.

- But why do you only have two bells? There are four of us. - Sakura asked.

- It's on purpose so that only two of you can take them, and whoever is left without a bell fails the training and naturally fails the mission. The two of them will have to return to the Academy. - Kakashi replied, "This assignment was originally designed for a team of three, to keep the two strongest genin on the team and weed out the weakest third. And even though there are four of you, there should still be two, so you must drop out. But don't worry. Two of the team or all four of you can return to the Academy.

- It sounds like a lie. I think this enemy saboteur pretending to be our mentor is just talking nonsense. - I commented.

- Shut up. You're the first candidate to be eliminated. - Kakashi looked at me with one eye, "So, during the test, you may use throwing weapons and your entire arsenal of techniques. Consider me your enemy, or you won't be able to complete this task. - I added the Jonin.

- So, this is now an admission that you are an enemy saboteur? Did I get it right? - I clarified.

- If you say anything else out of line, you'll go straight to the Academy. - Kakashi warned.

- Pfft. - I spoofed the Uchiha.

- But, Sensei, isn't this survival training too dangerous? - Sakura asked.

- That's right, dattebayo! It's especially dangerous for someone who couldn't dodge that chalk sponge yesterday. - Mito said with a sneer.

- Those who can't do anything talk the most. See who I mean?" Kakashi looked at me with a hint, "Well, let's get started after I say, 'Let's get started.' Oh, you look like you'll finish me off now. Heh-heh. I'm starting to like this. Okay, are you ready? Then. Let's go! - Jonin proclaimed and stood in the middle of the training ground with a book.

- Mito, Sakura, follow the plan. Sasuke, let's try to keep him busy with close combat. - I commanded, and the Uchiha nodded, and the girls immediately started throwing a bunch of iron at Kakashi. Mito created a couple of dozen Shadow Clones that helped her attack the Jonin from afar. Still, Kakashi had his own plan and decided to eliminate the weakest link of our team, and using Shunshin, he appeared in front of Sakura, who tried to attack but slowly, obviously giving Sakura a chance to dodge, but she did not expect such a sudden attack.

- You can't hit girls. - I teleported in front of Sakura and attacked Kakashi with my spiked kunai myself, but the Jonin used a Substitution, and my spiked weapon stabbed into a piece of wood that Kakashi had replaced it with;- Mito, keep an eye on Sakura. - I said and activated the Hoshingan to quickly find the enemy hiding in the tree.

- Mokuton: Tree Spikes. - I formed a seal, and the tree Kakashi was hiding in became covered in sharp, metre-long thorns, causing the Jonin to jump to the ground.

- So you're that Tenzo apprentice, huh? - Kakashi clarified.

- The only answer I can give to enemy saboteurs is Mokuto: Stream of Tree Rings! - I said, and all the recently grown thorns on the tree rushed towards Kakashi, but he used the Substitution again." "What are you standing there for? Am I the only one who has to fight Kakashi? - I looked at Mito, Sakura and Sasuke.

- We're... that's it, we're packed and ready. - Sakura said.

- Focus, our opponent is a jonin; without teamwork, we will lose in moments. As soon as you see Kakashi, attack him immediately. - Once again, I used Hoshingan to find the Jonin hiding amongst the rocks. Yet, his Shadow Clone was now moving towards us underground.

- Mokuto: Tree Roots. - I stomped my foot, and the clone was pierced by the roots that scattered it - Futon: Fuma Shuriken. - I pulled out my two shurikens, reinforced them with Wind chakra, and threw them at the rocks where Kakashi was hiding. He left the place of attack again, but I teleported into the air and returned my weapon, which I threw at another place where Kakashi was hiding.

- Raiton: Kara with Thunder and Lightning. - Kakashi formed three seals, and lightning struck me from the sky, but I managed to teleport to the ground.

- I don't like getting hit by electricity. - I said and looked around at my team, who were still doing nothing. They just couldn't keep up with Kakashi's movements;- Seriously, do I have to do everything alone?! - I shouted, and only then Mito and Sakura continued to fire at Kakashi. At the same time, Sasuke ran towards the enemy, throwing kunai at the Jonin.

- You know that you can't beat me, so your job is to get the bells. - Kakashi said, dodging the kunai or hitting them with his own kunai.

- I don't care about the test. Half the team will fail it anyway. - I moved behind Kakashi and tried to stab him in the leg with my spiked kunai, but in a moment, Kakashi was standing behind me, holding my kunai at my throat.

- When you use a kunai like that, be prepared for the enemy to take your weapon and use it against you. - said the Jonin.

- Not likely. - I teleported the kunai back into my hand and used phasing to get out of Kakashi's grip while Sasuke attacked him, and I joined him. However, in taijutsu with the adult jonin, we had no chance in a fight, for he was trivially stronger and faster than us physically due to the size and age difference.

Even my phasing tricks only helped a little in a direct melee with Kakashi; Sasuke also realised this when the Jonin threw the Uchiha into a tree. Still, he was in the air in time to fold a few seals and used the technique to land on a branch:

- Katon: Fireball! - Sasuke blew a huge flaming projectile out of his mouth, which was hurled at Kakashi.

- Hiden: Shadow Binding. - I teleported next to Sasuke, formed the Rat Seal, and used Nara's technique to paralyse Kakashi so he couldn't dodge the Fireball. My shadow lengthened and merged with Kakashi's shadow, causing him to freeze in place. Still, the Jonin simply made a Substitution, and the Uchiha's attack hit a piece of wood, which it immediately incinerated.

- Nara's technique? - Uchiha asked, looking at me.

- Is that the only thing that surprised you? How about this? Mokuto: Creation of the Forest. - I folded a couple of seals and activated the growth of acorns scattered around the site, which began to sprout branches and roots that pierced the soil and rocks and other trees. Soon, all the wood on the range had fused into a single conglomerate, making it impossible for Kakashi to use the Substitute on a piece of wood impregnated with his chakra, for this technique requires that such blanks be left somewhere in advance. All of them were now fused into a single mass of wood.

- Impressive technique, but chakra-intensive? - Kakashi said, standing on one of the trees while creating a Shadow Clone with which he could still switch places.

- Costly, but it's not a problem. - I replied and used up all my chakra on this technique - Hiden: Second Breath. - I channelled my supply of prana, reatsu and psi into the Hearth and fully replenished my chakra.

- If you use powerful elemental jutsu for nothing, you'll quickly run out of energy and die. Even though you have replenished your chakra, you shouldn't be able to do it several times in a row. - Kakashi commented on my actions.

- Well, that technique prepared the area for battle on my terms. - I replied, and Kakashi started attacking the branches of the grown forest. My five Tree Clones connected to the common tree system and started controlling it to constantly attack Kakashi.

Also, my team joined the fight again, the girls started firing on the Jonin again, and since they were standing on thick tree branches, I could choose the best firing angle for them by moving them higher, or in case Kakashi counter-attacked, my trees protected Mito and Sakura.

- Hiden: Shadow Binding. - I tried again to paralyse Kakashi so he couldn't dodge and get hit by attacks. Still, he was replaced by a Shadow Clone, immediately dispelled from being pierced by tree spikes and hit by Sasuke's kunai and Fireball.

My Wood Clones continued to control the mass of wood, they spread their root system all over the range, making it impossible for Kakashi to burrow underground to hide from our team that kept attacking him, but there was still a lake on the range, so the Jonin decided to retreat there so we couldn't attack him... he could walk on water, unlike Mito, Sakura and Sasuke.

- What are you going to do now? You can't get me here. - Kakashi said smugly, standing in the middle of the lake.

- Katon: Dragon Flame. - The Uchiha folded four seals and blew out a huge stream of fire that flooded the entire lake with flames. Still, Kakashi stopped keeping himself above water and dove into the lake, waiting for Sasuke's technique to dissipate.

- Not bad, but stupid. - Kakashi said and stood up on the water again, "Especially stupid that you spent all your chakra on that technique. You may want to boil a whole lake. Haha, what kind of fool is that? - With a sneer, he told Sasuke that he was left without chakra.

- It was stupid to forget that trees like water. - I said and formed the Serpent Seal, - Mokuto: The Coming of the World of Flowering Trees. - I spent all my chakra and, together with the Tree Clones, surrounded the lake with a dome of trees. These trees began to rapidly absorb the water from the lake, and at the same time, huge metre-long red flower buds began to appear on them.

Mito and Sakura were still throwing kunai at Kakashi, but the supply of throwing projectiles soon ran out.

- So, what did you accomplish with that? Did you drain the lake? Well, good for you, but you're also out of chakra. - Kakashi commented, but soon the buds on the trees bloomed and began to spread the poisonous pollen that began to fill the bowl created by the draining of the lake.

- Retreat, now! - I shouted and replaced myself with a chakra flesh clone, which used Shadow Binding on Kakashi.

- This pollen is poisonous, huh? And you expect me to be poisoned by it? - The mask on my face didn't bother you, did it? I wear it on purpose, so I don't get poisoned by the poisonous fumes. - Kakashi pointed to his face hidden by the half-mask.

- This pollen is not so much poisonous as explosive. - The clone replied and created several more Shadow Clones around him, using Shadow Binding on the Jonin to ensure he couldn't escape.

While my team and I were running away from Kakashi, the Wood Clones used all the available chakra to create a solid wooden dome over the former lake. As soon as I was far enough away, I folded the Rat Seal and said:

- Katz!" and all of the explosive kunai scattered by Mito and Sakura recently exploded simultaneously across the range, with some of those kunai being under the dome and igniting the pollen, creating an explosion of immense power. A very small amount of chakra returned to me after destroying the chakra flesh clone. This was the energy I used to create the technique:

- Mokuto: Protective Dome. - I shouted, and before the debris from the shockwave reached us, a strong wooden shield rose from the ground to protect our team from the effects of the explosion. Only a dozen seconds later, I removed the wooden dome.

- ... - we all looked in silence at the place where recently there was a lake, and now there was a huge crater, around which the flames were blazing furiously, burning the remnants of trees.

- Now, to whom do we give the bells? - I asked, pulling a pair of bells out of my pocket that I had managed to cut off in one of my confrontations with the Jonin.

- Naruto, did you blow up our mentor? - Sakura asked.

- Well... he wasn't our mentor yet, so it's no big deal. Let's say it was an enemy saboteur. - I replied carelessly.

- Don't bury me yet. - Kakashi emerged from the dust cloud unharmed... with a small dog sitting on his head, which soon disappeared... it seems Kakashi used Reverse Summoning and travelled to the world of his summoned animals to survive the explosion... like Kakashi's summoning of intelligent dogs.

- Sad that you survived... oh, I mean, glad you survived. - I didn't sound happy at all.

- Well, you've taken the bells. Now decide who gets them. - Kakashi said and sat down on the nearest fallen tree.

- Okay, Sasuke, Sakura, hold the bells. Sasuke needs to get stronger to defeat his brother, and you, Sakura, will want to be with Sasuke. - I handed the bells to the Uchiha.

- How do you know about your brother! - Sasuke asked angrily, but his anger was directed not at me but at his brother.

- We live in a village, and many things talk. You just need to be able to listen. So, are you taking the bells? - I specified and rattled those bells, which made a quiet ringing sound.

- I don't know... I want to be with Sasuke, but you got the bells, not me. - replied Sakura.

- Naruto, are we going back to the Academy, dantebayo? - Mito asked uncertainly, she didn't want another year of school, but on the other hand, I would be studying with her, so it wasn't so bad.

- No, I'll ask the Hokage for another sensei for us. I know a Jonin named Tenzo who taught me how to control trees, so we can ask him to be our mentor. - I replied.

- Sasuke, why don't we go with them to the Hokage and ask for another mentor who won't be late and make up stupid tests? - Sakura asked.

- As Naruto said, I need to get stronger, but I realise from today's test that teamwork is very important, so I'll give up the bell and go with you. - replied Uchiha.

- So, Kakashi-san, we have decided that no one will take the bells, which means that we have all failed your assignment and are not worthy of being trained by a great shinobi mentor like you. - I threw the bells under Kakashi's feet and continued:

- The four of us will go to the Hokage and explain the situation to you. Still, since three of the team were the top students in this Academy's graduating class. The fourth team member was added by the Hokage on his own initiative. I don't think our team will have to return to the Academy. Hopefully, the Hokage will assign us a new sensei. I'll try to ask for Tenzo, but if he's busy, let them give us someone else, even a chuunin. I'm sorry, Kakashi-san, that our team is so weak to you, and I'm sorry for taking up your precious time. Also, I'm sorry we didn't meet your expectations and couldn't go through your training with dignity. - I said and turned away from Kakashi to my team, "Okay, let's go to the Hokage, where I'm going to grovel and ask for a new mentor, and I think they'll give us at least some poor chuunin to be our Sensei. - I said, and the four of us turned around and walked towards the Hokage Tower. Kakashi didn't seem to be quite ready for this, and after a few seconds, he called out:

- Hey, wait! You passed the test. You guys are the first who acted as a team, and even the threat of being kicked out of the shinobi ranks is met with a team. The test is over. Congratulations. Team Seven will go on a mission tomorrow. - proclaimed the Jonin.

- No, thank you, but we will decline your undoubtedly generous offer. - I replied.

- You can't refuse. I am your mentor, Jonin, the Hokage has assured me, and I have just accepted you as my team. - Kakashi said.

- So why do you need it? All this trouble with genin training, tell the Hokage that we failed your test and go on enjoying your carefree life, reading books and... I don't know what else you do, but if you refuse us, you can keep doing it. - I said, looking at Kakashi.

- You're telling me to give up on you now? - Kakashi clarified.

- Yes, that's right, in this case, I'll have a chance to ask Grandpa for the role of Sensei, even if it is a weak but very beautiful kunoichi with a beautiful figure and no less than the third size of the chest... Mito, put the kunai back. - I looked at the red-haired girl who was looking at me jealously, holding the weapon in her hand.

- Kakashi-sensei, you are the right mentor for us, don't listen to that fool Naruto, dattebayo. - Mito spoke jealously and didn't take her eyes off me.

- Alright, go home. Tomorrow at eight, we will meet at the Hokage Residence. There we will take the mission and go to fulfil it. - Kakashi said, got up from the tree, and headed towards the Residence.

- Let's go home, Naruto. - Mito grabbed my hand so that I couldn't go to the Hokage to ask for a new sensei," she said, "We're going to kick out all thoughts of women from your head with Sekshi no Jutsu, dattebayo. - the girl took me home.

- Oh, good idea, Foxy. - I petted the jealous redhead.

- Sasuke, it's just the two of us... alone..." Sakura tried to snuggle up to Sasuke.

- I need to train. - Sasuke said and went home, looking at the crater from the explosion.

- ... Sasuke..." Sakura said sadly, looking at the Uchiha's back, and after a while, she went home.

I was at home admiring the grown-up version of Mito. I can't wait to see what she really looks like.

*At this time, in the Hokage's office*

- So, Kakashi, what do you think of your genin team? I heard the test was a blast. - The Hokage said with amused irony as the genin mentor of the seventh team entered his office.

I thought the jinchuriki would be a problem, but I was wrong. That Naruto... almost killed me. Someone less experienced he would have blown up for sure. - Kakashi Hatake replied, "Naruto has many different techniques, from Mokuto and Spatial Jutsu to the copied Nara clan technique... but in battle, he uses these abilities rather poorly.

- He copied Nara's technique? Yeah, he's really a genius worthy of his father. - Hiruzen said and looked at the portrait of the Fourth Hokage that hung in the office along with the portraits of all the other rulers of Konoha;- What about Sasuke Uchiha and Mito Uzumaki? - The Hokage asked and puffed on his pipe.

- Uchiha is not bad, he has good taijutsu and a few Katon techniques, but he has yet to awaken Sharingan, which is the main strength of his clan. Jinchuriki hasn't shown much except a huge amount of chakra, allowing her to create many shadow clones. The last Sakura... she's a ballast of a team. I understand why you added her... but that's just it. She's almost completely useless in combat. - said the mentor of the seventh team.

- I made the four-genin team because I realised that Naruto wouldn't be a genin for long. Tenso said that this guy might as well be a tokubetsu-jōnin by now, the Mokuton holders in Konoha being two fingers counted. Still, I needed him to be on the team with the jinchūriki and control it. Okay, Kakashi, is there something you want to report? - Hiruzen clarified.

- During the fight, Naruto would find me in a matter of moments, no matter how well I hid, so he's also a Sensor. - Kakashi said after thinking for a while.

- Oh... I can see why the ANBU couldn't see anything suspicious in his behaviour when I sent them to follow Naruto. He just sensed it. Hmm..." the Hokage thought for a moment and then looked at the Jonin, "Well, Kakashi, get some rest, and tomorrow you'll bring a detailed report on how the test went. - The Hokage, who had many other important tasks besides dealing with the graduate teams, said, "It's not easy to manage a village of assassins.

- Understood, Hokage-sama, see you tomorrow. - Kakashi left the office of the ruler of Konoha.

- Naruto looked at the portrait of the Fourth Hokage and then at the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Naruto was more like the Second Hokage, both in appearance and behaviour. He possessed the Mokuton, the Enhanced Genome of the Senju Clan. Still, he also has some innate ability in Spatial Jutsu. - The Hokage looked down at his desk, where there were stacks of papers to review and sign.