Naruto: A blade in the Shadows

Chapter 6

As the clock rang, the sharp sound pierced through Sakura's daze, pulling her out of the genjutsu. Blinking groggily, she stumbled to her feet, her vision swimming as she surveyed the training ground. Her head throbbed, but she forced herself to move forward, determination overriding the lingering effects of Kakashi's illusion.

Not far ahead, she spotted a figure stuck awkwardly in the dirt. Her eyes widened as realization struck.

"Sasuke…?" she whispered, taking a hesitant step forward.

"SASUKE IS DEAD!" she screamed, the words tearing out of her throat as she dropped to her knees. Tears welled in her eyes, and her vision blurred as dizziness overtook her.

A low, irritated groan cut through her panic.

"Dead? Are you an idiot? Dig me out already!" Sasuke barked

Sakura froze, the color rushing back to her face. Embarrassment mingled with relief as she stammered, "Y-you're alive?"

"Of course, I'm alive!" he snapped, glaring at her. "Now hurry up and dig before I really do lose circulation."

Scrambling to her feet, Sakura began clawing at the dirt with trembling hands. It took several minutes of grueling effort, but eventually, Sasuke was free. He staggered slightly, brushing the dirt off his clothes with as much dignity as he could muster.

"Next time, don't assume I'm dead," he muttered, his cheeks tinged with faint embarrassment.

---

As the two regrouped, they found Naruto and Kakashi already waiting. Naruto leaned casually against a stump, while Kakashi stood with his hands in his pockets, his signature lazy demeanor masking his sharp gaze.

Kakashi's voice broke the tense silence.

"Well, I'll make this simple. You all failed," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.

Sakura's face paled. Sasuke scowled, his fists clenching.

"Sakura, your performance was the worst of the group. As a result, you'll be tied to the stump." Kakashi

As Sakura was about get tied up. Naruto stepped forward with a cheeky grin. "No need for that, Sensei."

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed. "What do you mean?"

Naruto held up his hand, and two small objects dangled from his fingers, the bells.

Kakashi blinked, his hand reflexively going to his waist. The bells were indeed gone. "When did you…?"

Naruto chuckled, his grin widening. "Let's just say you were having too much fun with the games to notice me snatching them."

Kakashi's mind raced, replaying the events of the last few minutes. When did he steal them? During spinning top? Kaeru Jump? Or was it during Ayatori? No… it must have been during Irooni when I was distracted by countering his strikes.

A part of him was frustrated that he'd been outmaneuvered by a newly promoted genin. But another part, one he couldn't ignore, was deeply impressed.

"He got me. A fresh genin pulled one over on me, the Copy Ninja. I underestimated him. This kid isn't just skilled, he's cunning.

Kakashi let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "Alright, Naruto. What are you going to do with the bells?"

Naruto turned to his teammates, his gaze serious now. "Before I decide, let me ask you two something. What do you think the real purpose of this test was?"

Kakashi's brow rose slightly, his interest piqued. "He's figured it out, hasn't he? This kid… a lazy genius like Shikaku."

Sakura hesitated before speaking, her voice uncertain. "The purpose… it was to take the bells from Kakashi-sensei, right?"

Naruto made a loud buzzing noise, mimicking a game show wrong-answer sound. "Eeeh, wrong!"

Sakura frowned, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Then what..."

Naruto turned to Sasuke. "What about you?"

Sasuke's expression was calm, but his voice betrayed a flicker of irritation. "The same. To take the bells from Kakashi."

Naruto shook his head. "Nope. Think harder. Why would Kakashi-sensei give us such an unreasonable test? I mean, come on. A group of newly promoted genin against a jōnin? That's like asking a snail to outrun a hawk."

Both Sakura and Sasuke fell silent, their brows furrowing in thought.

---

Sakura clenched her fists. "Unreasonable… he's right. There was no way we could've beaten Kakashi-sensei. Then what was the point? It has to be something more than just individual skill. Maybe… maybe it's about how we work together? But we didn't even try that."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "We were told to focus on getting the bells, but Naruto's right, it was a setup. Kakashi wanted us to fail. Why? Because we didn't work as a team? That makes sense. I was too focused on proving myself."

Finally, Sakura glanced at Sasuke, who gave a slight nod. Together, they turned to Kakashi.

"It's about teamwork," Sakura said softly.

Kakashi's eye curved into a smile. "Exactly."

---

Kakashi crossed his arms, his tone turning serious. "This test wasn't about your individual skills or how strong you are. It was about teamwork. On missions, if you don't work together, you're going to fail. And sometimes, failing means more than just messing up a mission, it can mean losing a teammate."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"In this world, those who break the rules are considered scum," he continued. "But those who abandon their comrades… are worse than scum."

Sakura looked down, shamefaced. Sasuke's jaw tightened, his gaze locked on the ground. Naruto, however, stood tall, his expression unreadable.

---

Naruto broke the silence, stepping forward. "Then let's do it over, Sensei."

Kakashi blinked. "What?"

"Let's do the test over," Naruto said, his tone resolute. "This time, we'll work as a team. No solo acts, no selfish moves. Just teamwork."

Sasuke and Sakura looked at him, surprise flickering across their faces. Slowly, they nodded.

Kakashi chuckled softly, his eye crinkling. "You're an interesting one, Naruto. Alright. Let's do it over."

And with that, the team prepared themselves for a fresh start.

---

At home

Yoshino asked how the test went, Naruto told her the whole story.

At the Hokage Tower

As the final jonin finished delivering their report to the Hokage, detailing whether their respective teams passed or failed, all eyes turned to Kakashi. His reputation for failing every team he tested made his results the most anticipated.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, gestured for Kakashi to speak.

Kakashi's signature eye smile was firmly in place as he said, "Team 7 passed."

A collective gasp rippled through the room. The other jonin exchanged incredulous looks. Kakashi's team had passed? It was practically unheard of.

Asuma leaned back, stroking his beard thoughtfully. It's got to be Naruto, he reasoned. He figured Naruto's unorthodox nature played a key role in the outcome.

Kakashi continued, "While they passed, there's a lot of work to be done. Their teamwork is shaky, and they'll need to improve drastically if they want to survive real missions."

Hiruzen nodded and asked for Kakashi's individual assessments.

"Sakura," Kakashi began, "needs to work on… well, everything. She lacks strength, awareness, and confidence, but she has potential if she applies herself."

"Sasuke's taijutsu is adequate, and his fire ninjutsu is impressive for his age," Kakashi continued. "However, he tends to get heated when provoked, which could be exploited by an opponent."

Finally, Kakashi's visible eye glinted with curiosity. "Naruto is… different. His swordsmanship is remarkable, and his speed is far above genin level. However, his real strength lies in his creativity. His ability to adapt and strategize is exceptional."

With the report concluded, Hiruzen dismissed everyone except Kakashi.

As the door closed, Hiruzen leaned forward. "So, Kakashi… By any chance did you and Naruto play children's games during the test."

Kakashi nodded.

Intrigued, Hiruzen pressed on. "How do these games work in combat?"

Kakashi explained, "Naruto's twin swords, Katen and Kyōkotsu, possess a unique ability"They can transform children's games into reality. During the test, we played several games,

Bushōgoma, Kaeru Jump, Ayatori Snare, Irooni, and Onigokko Duel."

Hiruzen listened intently as Kakashi described how Naruto used the games to force him into complex situations where even his Sharingan couldn't easily predict the outcome.

"These swords are fascinating," Hiruzen mused, stroking his beard. "Do you know where he got them?"

"No," Kakashi admitted. "But they're unlike anything I've seen before."

After a moment of contemplation, Hiruzen dismissed Kakashi, making a mental note to keep a closer eye on Naruto's unique abilities.

---

At the Nara household, the family gathered around the dinner table.

"How did the tests go?" Shikaku asked, his sharp eyes scanning the group.

Shikamaru shrugged lazily. "We passed. Asuma's test was a waste of time. All we had to do was catch him in under an hour. He ran around for fifty minutes, then just stopped running in the last ten."

Yoshino chuckled. "Sounds like he wanted to see how persistent you'd be."

Shikamaru grumbled but smirked as he thought that Naruto's test might have been harder.

When it was Naruto's turn to share, he said bluntly, "We failed."

"You failed to work together." Shikaku

Naruto nodded.

"You fought Kakashi, didn't you?" Shikaku asked.

Naruto nodded again.

Shikaku's lips curled into a knowing smile. "And? Who won?"

"We called it a draw," Naruto replied.

Shikaku chuckled. "Better luck next time."

Shikamaru, envious thought "Lucky Naruto he is going back to the academy, meanwhile I am stuck with ninja duties. What a drag." Shikamaru

Yoshino chuckles as she tells Naruto to stop playing.

Naruto explain that they'd been given a second chance at the test.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, though his mood noticeably improved. If they both passed, at least he wouldn't have to deal with it alone.

---

Chapter 7

A Few Days Later

There's a legend that runs through town, all the way from the capital of the Fire Nation itself. Its yowls send the winds a howling. Its claws have clawed up many faces. Most ninjas look like hell after they deal with this monstrosity of a brown fur ball with a red ribbon on its right ear. I'm talking about a hissing old cat named Tora, that raises hell in Konoha every Monday through Friday from nine to five.

When Team 7 received the task to catch Tora, Sakura and Sasuke begrudgingly began searching. Kakashi, as usual, stayed in the background, while Naruto disappeared entirely.

Flashback

Naruto wandered through the quieter parts of the village, following faint scratches and yowls. Eventually, he spotted Tora perched on a fence, her fur bristling.

"Hey there," Naruto said softly

Tora hissed at him, her claws unsheathed.

"Relax. I'm not here to hurt you," Naruto continued, his voice calm. Slowly, he extended his hand, careful not to startle her.

Tora glared at him suspiciously, but the soft, rhythmic tone of his voice eased her nerves. Naruto reached into his pouch, pulling out a small piece of dried fish he'd swiped from the kitchen earlier.

"Here. Peace offering," he said, tossing it gently.

Tora sniffed, then cautiously approached. She devoured the fish in seconds, glancing at him with a flicker of curiosity. Naruto held out another piece, letting her eat from his hand.

Before long, Tora relaxed enough to climb into his arms.

Flashback end

On the Hokage Monument

As Team 7 continued to search, Naruto sat on the Hokage Monument, stroking Tora and gazed over the village. When he finally responded to his earpiece, Sakura's voice erupted with frustration.

When he rejoined them, Sakura chewed him out, and Sasuke's glare could've burned holes through him.

"Did you sense the cat's distress?" Kakashi asked with a chuckle

Naruto nodded, ignoring the confused looks from his teammates.

---

At the Hokage Tower, Sakura and Sasuke winced as Madam Shijimi crushed Tora in a tight embrace. They now fully understood why the cat a

ran away.

"Madam Shijimi, may I have a word?" Naruto asked politely.

"Oh, but of course. Anything for the ones who brought back my precious Tora-chan." Madam Shijimi replied.

Tora let out a sigh of relief as the squeezing stopped.

"Well, this is about Tora. She feels that her home life is, well for a lack of a better word, bad… I don't know what exactly she doesn't like about it, but I would recommend that you try and find out so that Tora no longer feels the need to run away from you all the time." Naruto explained.

"Oh my Tora-chan! I am so sorry if I have been mistreating you in anyway! Just let me know what is wrong and I will fix it immediately!" Shijimi exclaimed as she squeezed Tora again

"Uh… Madam… I think I know what keeps making Tora run…" Naruto sweat dropped.

"Oh! And what would that be young man?" She asked ever curious of what she do to help her Tora out.

"Don't squeeze her so tight. She looks uncomfortable." Naruto pointed towards the cat whose eyes were bugging out.

"Oh Tora-chan! I am so sorry!" Shijimi shouted as she loosened her grip on the cat. Tora immediately relaxed into her owners grip and nuzzled into her. "Thank you young man, I hope to see you again in the future."

Hiruzen, observing the exchange, couldn't hide his amusement. Kakashi gave Naruto a subtle thumbs-up, silently relieved that Tora's reign of terror might finally be over.

---

Few Days Later

Naruto's Inner World

The setting was breathtaking, rolling fields of lush, vibrant green grass stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with colorful flower beds swaying gently in an unseen breeze. Towering trees framed the horizon, their leaves whispering softly as if sharing secrets with the wind. In the farthest corner of this tranquil paradise stood a massive, ominous cage. 

Behind its iron bars, the Nine-Tails stirred, its crimson eyes glowing with malevolence. 

Naruto approached casually, stopping a few feet from the cage before sitting down cross-legged in the grass. 

"We haven't had a proper chat yet," Naruto began, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity. "Don't you think it's about time we got to know each other?" 

The Nine-Tails chuckled, its deep, guttural voice dripping with malice. "Chat? You think I want to "chat" with you? I'd rather rip out your throat, boy." 

Naruto tilted his head, unfazed by the fox's venomous tone. "Why can't we just get along?" 

The fox's claws slammed against the bars, the sound echoing like a thunderclap. The force of the strike made the ground beneath Naruto tremble slightly. 

"Get along? With a human?" The fox's eyes narrowed, its gaze seething with disdain. "You and your kind are nothing but parasites. I curse the day your wretched father, Minato sealed me inside you!" 

Naruto sighed but didn't flinch. The mention of his father didn't shock him; he had learned the truth about his heritage years ago. Standing up, he dusted off his pants and turned to leave. 

"Well," Naruto said with a smirk as he turned back to the fox, "I'll free you… but only if you promise not to cause trouble." 

The Nine-Tails paused, its gaze sharpening. A lie formed quickly on its lips. "I promise," it said smoothly, its voice devoid of the malice it carried earlier. 

But its thoughts betrayed its intent. "Once I'm free, I'll destroy everything… starting with you."

---

Naruto stood before the cage once again, his hand hovering over the intricate seal. With a swift motion, he tore the seal away. 

The cage shuddered and began to dissolve as an oppressive wave of chakra erupted from within. The Nine-Tails roared, it's immense form bursting free. In an instant, its massive claws swiped at Naruto. 

Naruto dodged the strike with practiced ease. From behind him, Katen materialized. As she hugged him, an amused expression formed on her face. 

"You knew this would happen and yet let it out," she said, her voice laced with teasing familiarity. 

Naruto smirked. "Ohana, you wound me. How was I supposed to know the big guy wouldn't keep his word?" 

Katen chuckled softly. "Because, Naruto-kun, you're as clever as you are reckless." 

Katen vanished, her form dissipating as Naruto unstrapped both her and Kyōkotsu from his waist.

---

The Nine-Tails reared back and released a deafening roar. The sound reverberated through the inner world, shattering the tranquility. A violent shockwave rippled outward, uprooting trees and tearing apart the flower fields. 

Naruto leaped into the air using Shunpo, hovering above the destruction. His swords gleamed in the fractured light as he waited patiently for the beast to finish its rampage. 

When the chaos subsided, Naruto looked down at the Nine-Tails, his expression calm yet mischievous. "Feel better now?" 

The fox snarled, its massive tails lashing behind it like living whips. "Do your worst, boy. I hope you can entertain me." 

Naruto grinned, the wind stirring his hair as he raised his blades. He brought them together, the air around him humming with energy. 

"When the Flower Wind Rages, the Flower God Roars…" 

The landscape seemed to darken as an immense power surged through him. 

"When the Wind of Heaven Rages, the God of the Underworld Sneers." 

With those words, the world itself seemed to hold its breath. 

Tbc