Chapter VIII

Previously -

"I... I liked it," Inglis whispered, her voice barely audible above the cacophony of gossip and shocked murmurs. Naruto's smile, seemingly filled with genuine warmth, only added to her perplexity.

Meanwhile, Aizen observed the scene with hidden satisfaction(Aizen from inside Naruto), recognizing that his carefully laid plans were progressing as intended. His eyes focused on Inglis, knowing that she held the potential to become a key player in his grand scheme.

As lunchtime continued and the students gradually resumed their usual routines, Inglis and Naruto returned to their seats, their hearts and minds filled with a newfound connection. Little did they know that their relationship, entangled with secrets and unspoken truths, would soon be tested in ways they could never have imagined.

This Chapter -

Now, I am not gonna keep the pacing slow af anymore. I am gonna go straight to teams.

The Day When Students Get Assigned to Teams -

Aizen had spent years training for this moment, and finally, the day had arrived. He, along with all the other students, were getting assigned to teams. Aizen was excited because this was an opportunity for him to find more pawns for his grand plan. However, he knew he needed to maintain a facade of a sweet, trustworthy boy. Still, he saw no harm in acquiring a few pawns along the way. After all, in his eyes, trust was merely an illusion, and he saw no need to trust anyone.

Inglis, Naruto's girlfriend, hoped to be placed on a team with Naruto. She prayed fervently for that outcome, even though she knew it might be unlikely. And for the record, she and Naruto had not progressed beyond kissing in their relationship.

Meanwhile, Sakura POV:

'Oh my gosh! I'm going to marry Sasuke-kun and have his baby! My plan is foolproof; there's no way it can fail! I'll make sure to conceive Sasuke-kun's child, as long as that blond-haired weirdo doesn't interfere, and if luck is on my side. Oh, I yearn to experience Sasuke-kun's passionate embrace and his impressive 10-inch... sword.' I thought, a dreamy expression gracing my face as I imagined thick, white substance on my face, eagerly swallowing it.

Well, that's quite a messed up imagination. You certainly have quite the vivid mind.

Aizen POV:

I had recently gained a new power that allowed me to hear people's thoughts if I focused on them with the intent to do so. Curious, I focused on Sakura, and what I discovered was far from pleasant. 'Disgusting! What is this creature? Is it even worthy of living? It defies all laws. I regret delving into its thoughts; they are utterly repulsive.' I thought, filled with disgust and disdain.

Then, I shifted my attention to Inglis. Her thoughts were repetitive: 'Kami-sama, please place me on a team with Naruto.' Over and over again, the same plea echoed in her mind.

'Hmm, not too bad. I am proud of her; she is a loyal pawn. She possesses power even greater than what is deemed possible in this world. I shall utilize her abilities to serve my grand plan. Everything is progressing according to my plan.' I contemplated, satisfied with the potential Inglis held.

Third Person POV

After all that, Iruka entered the classroom and silenced everyone with his 'Big Head Jutsu.' "Silence!" he commanded, and instantly, the room fell quiet.

"Now, let's announce the teams," Iruka began. "Team 1... Team 7 is a special case, consisting of Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, Inglis Eucus, and Sakura Haruno. Their sensei will be Kakashi Hatake. Team 7 consists of four members. Moving on, we have Team 8..." Iruka continued listing the other teams. He left after saying some other things.

After all the teams were picked up except Team 7:

"Why is he taking so long? I don't want to wait! I want to fight alongside Sasuke-kun and bear his child!" Sakura exclaimed impatiently.

"Shut up, you vile creature," Naruto snapped, annoyed by Sakura's constant screeching that had been going on for the past three hours. Even he had his limits, and Sakura had managed to test his patience.

"Who are you calling a vile creature, Naruto-baka? You are nothing compared to my Sasuke-kun!" Sakura retorted.

"Don't compare me, a tiger, to an ant like him, vile creature," Aizen interjected calmly, locking his gaze with Sakura's. She felt an immense sense of fear; his presence was genuinely intimidating.

'How dare he call me an ant! He is nothing more than an insignificant atom, a weakling.' Sasuke thought, his jealousy flaring up, but he convinced himself of his superiority over Naruto.

Finally, their sensei arrived. He had spiky silver hair that was styled to the left, dark grey eyes, and a perpetually lazy expression. He wore a long-sleeved anchor-grey shirt with a zipper, a green scarf, slate-colored shorts, and blue sandals.

"My first impression of you all is that you're a bunch of dummies. Now, come up to the roof," Kakashi instructed, disappearing with a leaf shunshin.

Surprisingly, Naruto managed to reach the roof faster than Kakashi without using any shunshin or teleportation techniques, relying solely on his incredible speed.

"How did you manage to get here before me?" Kakashi inquired, perplexed. Even if Naruto had used shunshin, they should have arrived at the same time or Kakashi would have been there earlier.

"I'm sorry, sensei, but I'm afraid I can't reveal that. You'll have to figure it out for yourself," Naruto replied, a mischievous grin on his face. What fun would it be to simply tell Kakashi how he accomplished it?

"Alright then..." Kakashi decided not to press the matter any further.

Inglis arrived just as Kakashi did, utilizing a unique red heart-shaped shunshin technique.

Sasuke and Sakura joined them on the roof two minutes later. "Man, you guys are unbelievably slow. At least practice your shunshin no jutsu or work on improving your speed," Naruto commented, a hint of frustration in his voice.

'Speed? That can't be right. There's no way that's possible... or is there?' Kakashi pondered, inwardly questioning Naruto's remarkable speed.

"Okay, now let's introduce ourselves," Kakashi said nonchalantly.

"Why don't you show us how it's done, sensei?" Sakura asked.

'Man, this creature is so clueless that it doesn't even know how to introduce herself,' Aizen observed, slightly amused.

"I'm Kakashi Hatake. As for things I like and dislike... I don't feel like sharing that. Regarding my dreams for the future... I haven't really thought about it. And for hobbies... I have plenty," Kakashi introduced himself lazily.

"Wow, sensei, that's one empty introduction," Naruto remarked. Kakashi remained silent, not bothering to respond.

"Duck butt, it's your turn," Kakashi directed his attention towards Sasuke.

"I am Sasuke Uchiha. I have no 'likes'; all I have is dislikes. My ambition is to kill a certain man," Sasuke stated with a sense of determination.

'Looks like he's still fixated on that,' Kakashi thought, inwardly sighing.

"Now, pinky," Kakashi turned his gaze to Sakura.

"I am Sakura Haruno. As for what I like... glances at Sasuke, what I love... gazes longingly at Sasuke, what I dislike... glances at Naruto Naruto-baka and Ino-pig! My dream is to have Sasuke-kun's children and be covered in his thick white essence~" Sakura revealed, her words dripping with infatuation and a rather vulgar tone.

'Oh my lord, what is this repulsive, despicable fangirl creature? How did I end up with her on my team?' Kakashi thought, deeply regretting his choices.

"N-now, red eyes," Kakashi stuttered slightly, looking at Inglis with curiosity.

"First of all, my name is not 'red eyes'; I am Inglis Eucus. As for what I like, it's training, Naruto-kun, playing, and various other things. What I dislike... I can't tell you that. My dream is to become the strongest kunoichi who has ever lived and, if possible, start a family with Naruto-kun," Inglis stated confidently, her eyes filled with determination.

'Hmm, not bad. At least she's not a creature like 'that',' Naruto thought, his opinion of Inglis elevating.

'She isn't a HARDCORE fangirl like that one. Plus, she can use shunshin, so she's obviously put in some effort to improve her skills,' Aizen analyzed, acknowledging Inglis's potential.

"And lastly, blondie," Kakashi addressed Naruto, his lone eye fixed on him.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze. I like Inglis-chan, ramen, training, unraveling the secrets of the world, and a few other things. I dislike fangirls like that creature over there, and nothing else. Disliking anything that's not necessary is a weakness, and I have no room for such weaknesses. As for my dream... well, I can't tell you that," Naruto responded cryptically.

"Alright, meet me at training ground three tomorrow morning at six. Oh, and I suggest skipping breakfast," Kakashi instructed before vanishing with another leaf shunshin.

Sasuke swiftly turned away, dismissing Sakura's attempt to initiate a conversation.

"Inglis, do you want to hang out?" Naruto asked, extending his hand towards her.

"Sure, Naruto-kun," Inglis replied, taking hold of his hand as they left together, leaving Sakura alone on the rooftop.

'I'll try again tomorrow. Sasuke-kun just doesn't seem to notice my feminine charms,' Sakura contemplated, her hands resting below her non-existent bosom.

Tomorrow -

They all arrived at 6 in the morning, and oh boy, Naruto regretted coming at 6. The team gathered at Training Ground Three. The anticipation in the air was palpable as they awaited the arrival of their enigmatic sensei, Kakashi Hatake. Naruto's excitement was quickly dampened by Sakura's incessant chatter about Sasuke's supposed superiority and her disdain for Ino.

Finally, three hours later, Kakashi strolled onto the scene with his customary laid-back demeanor, his visible eye crinkling in amusement. Naruto couldn't help but feel a mix of annoyance and relief. The team was finally complete, ready to embark on their training(That he didn't need) under the famed Copy Ninja.

Kakashi's gaze scanned his students, his visible eye narrowing as he took in the bickering squad. "Who ate breakfast?" he inquired, his attention focused on the group.

"Me," Naruto and Inglis responded in unison.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow in curiosity, his face concealed behind his trusty mask. "And you two didn't? Why? And why did you two eat?" he probed further.

Naruto, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, retorted, "First of all, sensei, it was merely a suggestion. Meaning it wasn't a necessity. Secondly, you can't fight with your full might on an empty stomach. And those two are dumb because they didn't eat just because you said not to." Naruto said

Inglis nodded in agreement. "I concur with Naruto. It was only a suggestion, and nourishment is essential for optimal performance."

Sakura, always eager to please and defend Sasuke, interjected with a tone of superiority. "Baka, we have to do what Kakashi sensei says. He is stronger than us, but Sasuke-kun is even stronger. We have to listen to Kakashi sensei and Sasuke-kun!"

Sasuke, with an air of arrogance, added, "That's right. I am superior to all of you. You are just peasants, nothing more, nothing less. I am the strongest being in this universe, and no one can oppose me, not even you, Naruto."

Naruto, unfazed by Sasuke's claims, responded calmly, "Say that after you actually achieve it, not just proclaim it."

Kakashi intervened, sensing the escalating tension. "Now, now, this is getting out of hand. We have a test today to determine if you can become genin or not."

Sakura expressed disbelief, "What do you mean test? We already took the test yesterday and passed!"

Kakashi explained patiently, "That was merely to weed out the weak. Now that we have determined who is eligible for the next stage, you must undergo my test. There is a 60%+ fail rate."

Confusion filled Sakura's face as she voiced her concern. "But sensei, there are only three bells, and there are four of us."

Kakashi's eyes gleamed mischievously as he revealed his plan. "Exactly. One of you will return to the academy. And the ones who don't obtain a bell will have to watch the others eat."

Naruto's mind raced, recognizing the true nature of the test. Teamwork. It was all about teamwork. He exchanged a knowing glance with Inglis, their unspoken communication reinforcing their shared understanding. They were ready to face the challenge head-on.

Without wasting any time, Kakashi initiated the test. "You have until noon. Begin!"

As his teammates dispersed, Naruto stood firm in front of Kakashi, his gaze fixed upon his sensei. "Let us begin, sensei," he declared with unwavering determination.

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed, analyzing Naruto's stance and anticipating his move. Swift as the wind, Kakashi darted behind Naruto, executing a precise strike to the back of his neck. Naruto's body crumpled, consciousness slipping away.

"Hahaha, you are weaker than I expected, Naruto," Kakashi chuckled, reveling in his apparent victory.

But then, everything changed. Kakashi's laughter died on his lips as he found himself sprawled on the ground, gazing up at Naruto, who now held the bells tightly in his grasp. Disbelief washed over Kakashi, his mind struggling to comprehend the reality that had been flipped on its head.

"What... what just happened?" Kakashi stammered, his voice laced with bewilderment.

Naruto, ever composed, explained, "It was simple, sensei. It was merely an illusion."

Kakashi's mind raced, grappling with the implications of Naruto's formidable genjutsu abilities. How had he fallen into an illusion that felt so vividly real? Questions tugged at Kakashi's thoughts, marveling at the hidden depths of Naruto's talents.

Regaining his composure, Kakashi addressed his victorious student. "Well done, Naruto."

In a sudden twist, the world shifted again, leaving Kakashi disoriented. Naruto, Sasuke, and Inglis now stood before him, each brandishing a bell. Sakura, on the other hand, found herself bound securely to a stump, her eyes wide with surprise.

"What was that?" Kakashi exclaimed, his confusion mounting with each passing moment.

Inglis, her voice filled with mischief, chimed in, "Oh, sensei, you're finally awake! You were unconscious for three hours."

Kakashi's shock was palpable, his mind struggling to grasp the reality of his prolonged unconsciousness and the illusory feats displayed by his team. Doubts crept into his psyche, casting shadows on his once-unwavering confidence.

"Don't worry, sensei. This is not an illusion," Naruto assured, breaking Kakashi's spiraling thoughts and offering a glimmer of reassurance.

Overwhelmed by the enigma that his students presented, Kakashi uttered the words his young charges longed to hear. "You all... pass."

With those words, Kakashi vanished in a swirl of leaves, employing the Shunshin technique to escape the bewildering situation that had pushed him to his limits. He sought solace in solitude, retreating to a secluded spot where he could reflect on the trials and the remarkable abilities displayed by his team.

Unbeknownst to them, this encounter marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey that would test their limits, forge unbreakable bonds, and shape their destinies as shinobi. The bell test, once a simple assessment, had become an unforgettable turning point, heralding the dawn of their true potential and the challenges that awaited them.

And so, Naruto and his teammates stood united, their shared experiences fueling their determination to rise above their perceived limitations. Together, they would face countless trials, grow stronger, and forever change the course of their lives.

The path to becoming true shinobi was long and treacherous, fraught with hardships and sacrifices. But Naruto Uzumaki, along with his friends, was ready to embrace the challenges that lay ahead, their spirits unyielding, and their dreams reaching for the stars.

That's it for this chapter, next chapter "Chapter IX". See you next time!