Naruto's POV (Team Seven Training Ground - Hidden Leaf Village)
Naruto's experience with an expert-level sensei was limited. His mother had never been overly keen on training after that old accident, and the tension between them had only made training with the two more sparse, though that had now changed. Iruka was the next to come to mind, but with the man's busy schedule, it had rarely been outside of a classroom. Naruto wasn't sure how this whole thing should go, though he doubted this was exactly what most would hope for.
After having Team Seven run themselves rampant, Kakashi decided they needed a cooldown exercise designed to test the mind as the body recovered. This entrailed the three sitting upon the creek's surface within their training ground. They had mastered tree and water walking, but Kakashi had insisted they test it more; as if continuously sitting on a shifting surface of water wasn't hard enough, the man grilled them. This grilling entailed random questions, ranging from battlefield scenarios to political conundrums or even piercing personal questions.
The three were not allowed to speak unless answering a question, which seemed simple until Kakashi began to up the intensity. Now, each of them was straining to maintain focus and composure.
"Next question…" Kakashi hummed lazily, sprawling upon the cove of the creek. One hand held his head, the other the book, which even now he rarely left out of gaze. "Ino… cup size?"
"As if I'd ever tell you!" Ino howled before falling into the water as his concentration lapsed.
Naruto howled with laughter, and even Neji smiled. However, the blonde stopped as Kakashi's gaze landed on them. "Care to venture a guess yourselves?" he asked carelessly.
Naruto sputtered before he, too, joined Ino in the depths of the flowing creek. Neji rolled his eyes as Ino and Naruto climbed back to the surface. "Degenerates."
Naruto and Ino glared at their teammate, intent on killing him with their gaze alone. However, their hatred was fed as Kakashi flicked a stone into Neji's head, dropping him into the water from the distraction. As Kakashi lazily flipped a page the two blondes laughed at their grumpy teammate, and he joined them back on the surface now as perturbed as the blondes had just been.
This was how it had been going for nearly an hour now. The entire situation left him stressed out and tired. Which was only increased by two members of his own team. Naruto wasn't sure which of his new teammates seemed to be the bigger pain in his ass. Kakashi was strange and ran them rampant; he seemed uncaring and unamused by then. This was something Naruto was familiar with and not very fond of. Plenty of adults during his childhood had treated him the same way. Though the blonde had been warned by his mother to be patient with Kakashi, apparently the two had some history. So Naruto did his best to hold his temper at bay.
Neji was a much bigger annoyance and seemed unlikely to change. It was strange to him because Neji was his equal on paper, if not in behavior. While Naruto had been made aware of genius status and negative attitude, he had assumed it would wear thin over time. Yet Neji, during the long day, if anything, had seemed more and more annoyed with him. A sentiment the blonde shared, for Neji's frosty and dismissal attitude annoyed him to no end. Naruto would also admit to some jealousy; the man did what he struggled to do with ease, and it was natural. That made it clear that Hyuga and his teammate may have been geniuses, but it was clear to Naruto that he was no friend. It offended Naruto, but for now, he would do his best to overlook it; surely, time would aid him. Though Neji did not seem to try nearly as hard to coexist…
The female member of his team was the only saving grace. Ino was someone Naruto hadn't known well; just a couple of weeks ago, he would've likely dreaded being placed with her. Ino, in many ways, differed from him massively. She was popular and well-liked among peers and civilians alike. She was trained from birth by her clan and seemed much more vain than Naruto ever liked. Yet she had proven more than that; she had a sharp mouth and a sharper sense of humor. Which Naruto found made her a great person to hold a conversation with. She could be shockingly kind, yet she was slightly temperamental overall. Something he had been told of himself countless times. Naruto found himself enjoying her company in general. And she seemed to empathize with Neji's negative focus towards Naruto. A new friend was made if nothing else.
Team Seven was a rough team so far, but one Naruto was content to see through. These three strangers, for now, were distant and strange to him. But they represented something Naruto had always craved, community. A group he had an in with, one that he had his own place within, that could evolve into the close friendships he had sought for years. Naruto had to figure out how to get them all on the same page… easier said than done.
"Alright." Kakashi declared, standing up and snapping close his book with a sudden air of intention. "The three of you have run around like headless chickens, been soaked thoroughly, and been individually grilled. I think this leaves the three of you in a diminished enough state to begin the true point of this exercise. One last question, one that will be purely serious and require input from each of you separately, then I will offer my own feedback."
"How much time of mine do you intend to waste?" Neji snapped at Kakashi. Naruto growled, annoyed. Of course, Neji thought himself above this all; he hadn't even mentioned them. But all the same Naruto was tired of the endless games…
"This and everything we do these next few days is essential." Kakashi countered with a shrug. "See, every Genin cell isn't officiated until the personal approval of their Jounin Sensei. This is entirely based on their own agenda and is not open to anyone questioning them. So today has been my way of gauging your worth; if you don't wish to play along, you don't have to, but then you'll be removed from Team Seven and, by proxy, active duty."
Neji frowned but nodded as Naruto and Ino shared a smile. At the very least Naruto could understand just why Kakashi had been so distant. He had been gauging their worth, probing them to see who they were. Somehow the knowledge this was all a test made Naruto determined to pass it. Based on Ino's own determined stare she felt much the same.
"The question then," Kakashi said happily. "Our team has been tasked with journeying with a caravan of merchants. Our goal is to ensure this caravan reaches its destination in one piece. However, we are suddenly ambushed by enemy shinobi. During the chaos, the most vital clients and I were singled out from the rest of the group. The three of you manage to assure the safety of the rest; however, you realize the status of myself and the other clients… How do you react? Naruto, you begin this one."
Naruto frowned as he pondered over the situation. An impulsive guy like himself usually fired off his first thoughts, but he was a Genin now. He needed to think this through fully. The details were intentionally sparse, but Naruto went with what felt right to him. "Well, assuming the lion's share of the caravan is safe, we can leave one of us behind to keep them safe. From there, I'd want to work towards saving you and the other clients. I guess we could separate and check on you both."
"I see, Ino. Why don't you go next"? Kakashi decided with a hum. Naruto noticed he didn't offer feedback.
"Well, I agree with Naruto to an extent." Ino offered, giving Naruto an apologetic smile. "However, I don't like splitting up like that, maybe once but not twice. Guarding the safe clients is a good idea and necessary, especially assuming we might lose some to the ambush, but we should probably focus on Kakashi or the remaining clients… doing both just leaves us stretched thin and more vulnerable. Which leaves us with two choices. I can't really decide which is the good one…"
"A good question indeed." Kakashi coldly responded. "Thoughts Neji?"
"Ino is closer to the correct idea; however, her indecision bodes poorly for her intelligence," Neji spoke smugly. "She was right to admonish Naruto's multiple split-ups; a needless and likely costly risk. No, the correct choice would be to check on the clients and guard the rest. Kakashi should be stronger and safer than us even on his lonesome, and with the client being the source of income for the Leaf, they take precedence over him. Should he perish, it would be due to his own failure and we would be rewarded for succeeding despite it."
"So we should leave each other behind if it means we achieve the mission parameters?" Naruto asked indignantly.
"Of course, we're shinobi." Neji pointed out. "It's expected of us, and meeting such an expectation is an honor."
"What a soulless response, fitting for a guy like you." Naruto spat back at the Hyuga. The idea that someone would willingly turn his back on someone they were allied with was sickening to him.
"If you can't think logically, perhaps you're even more worthless than I had thought." Neji said.
"To be fair," Ino interjected, placing her hands between the glaring Naruto and Neji. "I share Naruto's feelings. I recognize that it is the proper action, but it doesn't sit right with me either."
The three were silent as the tension built for a moment.
"And it shouldn't," Kakashi chimed in during the lull of conversation. "Missions, travels, etc.; it all rarely goes smoothly. In fact, assuming the worst is often for the best. In our line of work, things will go wrong, and choices and dilemmas will be forced upon us where all options seem poor. However, Ino's reflection and Neji's addition would be the best move in this particular instance. Make no mistake, the life of a comrade is nothing to be risked lightly. However, in my case, taking time to secure the clients is the better choice. I'm unlikely to be in any trouble that I couldn't handle, so the client is more important. Besides you should place their and your own safety over mine."
"See." Neji chimed in smugly. "Our sensei can see reason."
"Sure," Kakashi replied flippantly before flicking a rock into Neji's forehead, causing him to fall back into the water. Naruto and Ino cheered as Kakashi waited for Neji to settle before continuing. "But it should be said that the Leaf expects more of its shinobi. The mission and safety of the Leaf is paramount, but it should never come at the cost of our own allies. Those who break the rules or fail their home are scum… but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum."
The three were silent as they pondered over the words. Naruto had been shocked by the passion Kakashi had spoken with and the sentiment shared. Maybe he wasn't such a bastard after all…
Naruto felt a sharp pain as his head snapped back. The shock broke his concentration and made him fall into the cold creek. He breached the water with a gasp for breath, clumsily climbing onto the surface.
As he did, he noticed Neji and Ino doing the same. Kakashi had done it to them all! The three were furious, tired, and wet. Having temporarily forgotten the tension among each other, the three shared a murderous look before landing their gaze onto Kakashi.