(This chapter is dedicated to KMC14 for giving your author-san some stones.....)
The air crackled with anticipation as the graduating class of the Konoha Academy assembled in the training grounds. It was the day they'd all been waiting for, the day they'd finally prove themselves worthy of becoming Genin. But for Naruto, the day was already filled with a mischievous glint in his eye. He'd spent the last few months mastering a new trick, courtesy of his best friend, Rumi.
"Alright, class," Iruka Sensei announced, his voice booming across the grounds, "Today is the day you've all been working towards. You've all come a long way, and I'm proud of each and every one of you."
He paused, a mischievous twinkle in his eye, "But before we begin, I want to remind you all that this exam is no joke. It's a test of your skills, your teamwork, and your ability to think on your feet. And I'm not afraid to throw a few curveballs your way."
Naruto, ever the prankster, couldn't resist. He leaned over to Rumi, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Iruka Sensei's gonna love this!" he whispered, his voice barely audible above the chatter of the other students.
Rumi, ever the mastermind, simply nodded, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.
As Iruka Sensei began to explain the first part of the exam, Naruto's eyes lit up. It was a simple obstacle course, designed to test their speed, agility, and stamina. But Naruto had a secret weapon – the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"Alright, everyone, line up!" Iruka Sensei called out, his voice echoing across the training grounds.
Naruto, with a mischievous glint in his eye, quickly created a dozen shadow clones, each identical to himself. The clones, in unison, dashed forward, creating a chaotic blur of orange jumpsuits.
"What in the world?!" Iruka Sensei exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief. He had never seen a student use the Shadow Clone Jutsu with such precision and speed. The other students were equally stunned. Some gasped, others laughed, and a few even cheered.
Rumi, watching from the side, couldn't help but chuckle. "You really are a handful, Naruto," she whispered, shaking her head in amusement.
Naruto, surrounded by his clones, grinned triumphantly. "This is gonna be fun!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the training grounds.
The clones, each with their own distinct personality, began to wreak havoc on the obstacle course. They swung from ropes, jumped over walls, and slid down slides, all while making a cacophony of noise.
Iruka Sensei, trying to maintain order, was overwhelmed. He was outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and outwitted.
"Alright, alright, that's enough!" he shouted, his voice strained. "Naruto, get your clones under control!"
Naruto, still surrounded by his clones, simply shrugged. "But Sensei, it's so much fun!" he replied, his voice dripping with innocence.
Iruka Sensei, exasperated, shook his head. "Naruto, you're impossible!" he said, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.
The chaos continued for several minutes, until finally, Iruka Sensei managed to regain control of the situation. He used a combination of his own jutsu and his authority as a sensei to bring the clones to a halt.
"Alright, everyone, that's enough!" he announced, his voice regaining its usual authority. "I think we've all had enough fun for one day."
He paused, a wry smile playing on his lips. "And Naruto, I'm going to have a long talk with you about using your Shadow Clone Jutsu in such a reckless manner."
Naruto, his clones dissolving back into him, simply grinned. "But Sensei, it was just a little fun!" he protested, his voice dripping with innocence.
Iruka Sensei, shaking his head, sighed. "Naruto, you're going to be the death of me."
The other students, still recovering from the shock of Naruto's antics, burst into laughter. The exam, which had begun with a sense of seriousness, had quickly turned into a hilarious spectacle, thanks to Naruto's mischievous nature and Rumi's clever guidance.
As the laughter subsided, Iruka Sensei cleared his throat. "Alright, everyone, let's get back to the exam. This time, I'll be watching you closely."
Iruka Sensei, still bewildered, approached Naruto, his brow furrowed. "Naruto, how did you learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu?.
Naruto, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, pointed to Rumi, who stood beside him, a calm smile on her face. "Rumi taught me, Sensei!"
Iruka Sensei, his eyes widening in disbelief, turned to Rumi. "Rumi, you taught him the Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
Rumi, with a knowing smirk, nodded. "Yes, Sensei. It's a very useful technique, wouldn't you agree?"
Iruka Sensei, speechless, could only stare at them in disbelief. He knew Rumi was a talented kunoichi, but he never imagined she could teach Naruto such a complex jutsu.
"But... but... how?" Iruka Sensei stammered, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and confusion.
Rumi, with a mischievous glint in her eye, simply shrugged. "It's a secret, Sensei. But I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually."
Iruka Sensei, still trying to process the situation, shook his head. "I'm going to need a lot of coffee after this," he muttered under his breath.
The other students, still recovering from the shock of Naruto's antics, watched the exchange between Iruka Sensei and Rumi with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. They couldn't believe that Naruto, the class clown, had actually mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu, and that Rumi, the quiet and unassuming student, had been the one to teach him.
The remaining part of the exam went smoothly, with the students demonstrating their skills and teamwork. But the memory of Naruto's antics and the mystery surrounding his newfound mastery of the Shadow Clone Jutsu lingered, a reminder that even the most serious of occasions could be turned into a hilarious spectacle with a little bit of creativity and a whole lot of mischief.
The Hokage's office was a haven of quiet contemplation, a stark contrast to the bustling streets of Konoha. Yet, the air crackled with tension as the Hokage, a seasoned veteran of countless battles, sat hunched over his desk, a scroll in his hand.
"Lord Hokage," a deep voice boomed from the shadows, the unmistakable presence of an Anbu Black Ops shinobi. "I have a report on the recent academy graduation."
The Hokage, his eyes narrowed in concentration, gestured for the Anbu to continue.
"The exam was… unorthodox," the Anbu reported, his voice devoid of emotion. "The student Uzumaki Naruto demonstrated an unexpected mastery of the Shadow Clone Jutsu."
The Hokage's brow furrowed. "Unexpected?
"Indeed, Lord Hokage," the Anbu confirmed. "It seems he learned it from his classmate, Rumi."
The Hokage's eyes widened in surprise. "Rumi? But… how? The Shadow Clone Jutsu is a forbidden technique, not to be taught lightly. And how did she learn it without access to the seal scrolls?"
The Anbu remained silent, his presence a shadow in the room. "We have no information on how Rumi acquired the jutsu, Lord Hokage. She has shown no signs of using it before, and there are no records of her receiving any special training."
The Hokage, his mind racing, tapped his fingers on the desk. "This is troubling. Rumi is a talented kunoichi, but she has a history of… unconventional methods. We need to investigate this further. But first, we need to assess the situation. What are her intentions?"
The Anbu bowed his head. "We are currently monitoring her activities, Lord Hokage. She seems to be using the jutsu for… amusement. But we cannot be certain of her true motives."
The Hokage sighed, the weight of his responsibility pressing down on him. "This is a delicate matter. We cannot simply dismiss it, but we also cannot act rashly. Keep me informed of any developments."
The Anbu nodded and vanished back into the shadows, leaving the Hokage alone with his thoughts. The mystery of Rumi's sudden mastery of the Shadow Clone Jutsu was a puzzle that needed to be solved. The implications were far-reaching, and the Hokage knew he had to tread carefully.
****1 day later****
The Hokage's office, usually a place of quiet contemplation, buzzed with a nervous energy. Three young ninjas, each with their own unique aura, stood before the Hokage, their faces a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.
"Naruto Uzumaki," the Hokage announced, his voice firm yet kind. "Rumi," he continued, his gaze lingering on the young kunoichi, "and Sasuke Uchiha. You three have been selected for Team 7."
Naruto, ever the boisterous one, jumped in excitement. "Team 7! Awesome! I'm gonna be the best ninja ever!"
Sasuke, his expression stoic, simply nodded curtly. Rumi, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint, smiled softly. "I'm looking forward to this, Hokage-sama."
The Hokage, his eyes twinkling with amusement, nodded. "You will be training under Kakashi Hatake, a skilled and experienced Jounin. He will guide you on your path to becoming true ninjas."
He paused, his expression turning serious. "However, your training will not be easy. Kakashi-sensei has a unique way of teaching. He will test your limits, push you to your breaking point, and ultimately, help you discover your true potential."
He handed them a scroll. "This scroll contains the details of your first mission. Meet Kakashi-sensei at the training grounds in an hour. He will be waiting."
The three Genin, each with their own hopes and dreams, left the Hokage's office, their hearts pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
An hour later, they stood at the designated training ground, their eyes scanning the area for their new sensei.
"He's late," Naruto grumbled, his impatience evident. "What's taking him so long?"
Sasuke, his eyes narrowed in annoyance, simply muttered, "Typical."
Rumi, her gaze fixed on a nearby tree, smiled softly. "Patience, Naruto. He'll be here soon."
Just then, a figure emerged from behind the tree, his face hidden behind a mask. He wore a tattered, green jumpsuit, a single Sharingan eye visible beneath his mask.
"Sorry I'm late," Kakashi said, his voice raspy and low. "I was… reading a book."
He pulled out a book titled "Make Out Tactics" and held it up, a sly grin on his face.
Naruto, his jaw dropping, stared at the book in disbelief. "What kind of sensei reads that stuff?"
Sasuke, his expression unreadable, simply rolled his eyes.
Rumi, her lips curving into a smile, chuckled. "He's definitely a unique sensei."
"Alright, Team 7," Kakashi said, his voice turning serious. "I'm Kakashi Hatake, your sensei. Now, I want you to introduce yourselves and I know both Naruto and Rumi had already trained with me for a week so you should know me both. Now introduce yourselves with your names or your dreams. Tell me something about yourselves that reveals your personality."
Naruto, eager to impress, puffed out his chest. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, the future Hokage! I'm gonna be the strongest ninja in the world!"
Sasuke, his gaze fixed on Kakashi, spoke in a cool, collected tone. "I'm Sasuke Uchiha. My goal is to avenge my clan."
Rumi, her eyes twinkling with mischief, smiled. "I'm Rumi. I like to sleep."
Kakashi, his eyes narrowed beneath his mask, nodded. "Interesting. Now, for your first training exercise, you will be competing against me. The rules are simple: you need to take this bell from me."
He held up a silver bell, its surface gleaming in the sunlight. "Whoever manages to take it from me within the next hour will pass. If you fail, you will be sent back to the academy."
Naruto, his eyes wide with excitement, charged at Kakashi, his fists clenched. "I'm gonna get that bell, Sensei!"
Sasuke, his movements swift and precise, followed close behind.
Rumi, her eyes sparkling with determination, took a step back, her gaze fixed on Kakashi. She knew this was going to be a challenging test. But she was ready to face it.
The bell, a symbol of their potential, hung in the air, a challenge that would test their skills, their teamwork, and their resolve. Team 7, united by their shared ambition, was ready to face the challenge head-on.