Naruto looked down to the wooded area in which the Iwa ninja had retreated into. 'Why would he try to hide in there, rather than move straight to the gates? Unless, he's trying to shake me. But... something still doesn't add up. Where the hell are the ANBU for a start? And why didn't anybody else hear that explosion?' Naruto ground his teeth together. None of this made any sense, but any answers he could figure out here were meaningless unless he saved that girl. 'So, he's using the tree's for cover, and going on what I saw earlier, he's pretty awesome at setting traps as he runs. Fine, I guess I'll have to play this one safe.' As he spoke two Kage Bunshin burst into existence alongside him, and set off into the forest, directly following the trail left by the shinobi; one leading the way and another hanging back slightly. The real Naruto followed the pair at a distance, staying just out the pair's eyeshot, meaning he would be out of sight should they come across the shinobi.

It wasn't long before the merit of taking the few seconds to think and strategise before acting became all too apparent, and all of a sudden he was incredibly grateful for all the extra reading he had done once he had finished with academy. And especially grateful towards that weird Jonin that had advised him to do it.

[Flashback]

"Raiton: Kaminari Muchi!" The lightning crackled off of his hand in way that was almost natural to him after two weeks of trying to master the technique. And despite the sweat exuding from just about every pore on his body, the heavy panting and the slightly lopsided way he was carrying himself, signalling the onset of exhaustion; he couldn't help feeling slightly smug, as the tree he had targeting let loose an almighty groan before toppling to the ground, causing a large tremor to reverberate around the clearing that he and Jiraiya had been using for a training ground. And for once, he found himself missing the presence of the self-proclaimed 'super-pervert', so that he could admire his handiwork.

"That's not bad you know, you still haven't quite nailed the control, but that will come with time I suppose."

Naruto stiffened and began to frantically search for the source of the unfamiliar voice, and his eyes very quickly settled on a man, leaning against a tree nonchalantly reading an orange book that was suspiciously familiar. And whilst his face was masked, the Konoha Hitai-ate that was tied around his face, covering his left eye marked him out as an ally.

"Who are you? And how come you're here?" Naruto questioned, his exhaustion temporarily overshadowed by his curiosity. The man in question straightened, and placed his book into the kunai holster at his waste.

"My name is Hatake Kakashi, and I am the Jonin Sensei who was due to take you onto my team, before Jiraiya-sama agreed to make you his apprentice."

"Oh right! But that still doesn't explain why you're here though. I mean, I don't wanna be rude or anything; but this is a little bit far to come, just to say that." The blonde stated, throwing the Jonin a confused look. Kakashi's eye curved, creating what Naruto surmised was a smile.

"Ah, not as slow as you look than, eh?" Kakashi asked, causing anger to flare up in the Genin in front of him, much to his own amusement. However, he continued, as though oblivious to the rage he had generated in Naruto. "Well you're right. I came out here to have a quick talk with you, before I begin preparations for my own Genin team." Kakahi sighed through his mask, his eye losing the smile it had before. "I was the student of the Yondaime, your Father. And, as a result of the council's mistrust-" The masked shinobi's voice had begun to fill with venom as he spoke, forcing him to strain to regain his composure. "-due to the Kyuubi, I was forbidden to make contact with you, outside of my shinobi duties."

Naruto didn't quite know how to react. He was both angry and sad, that another person that could have made his early childhood just a little bit less lonely, hadn't been there. But he also understood what it was to be a shinobi, and that Kakashi hadn't been given a choice. Instead, he felt anger towards the council; a group of people who according to the Sandaime, and more recently Jiraiya, had done everything possible to make his life a misery.

"So Sandaime-sama decided that he would appoint you to my Genin team once you graduated." Naruto finally understood now. The man had wanted to make amends by teaching him, and now it must be like the chance was being taken away from him. "But now Jiraiya-sama is your Sensei, I can't help you directly, without being accused of trying to poach a student." Suddenly, the man's weird eye-smile returned. "However, if I were to stumble upon a rookie Genin, such as yourself; and offer him or her advice, than that would be part of my duty as an elite Jonin and superior, no? And if I were to say, drop a scroll; completely by accident as I leave, then that surely couldn't be breaking any rules, right?" Kakashi allowed a scroll to drop behind him, hitting the ground with a soft thud as he spoke. "Anyway, I'm a little late for a meeting, so I should probably go. But before I do, perhaps I should suggest you carry on with all that reading you have been doing. In fact, I would probably go so far as to suggest that you pay particular attention to battlefield tactics and strategies. As you are in an apprenticeship, the tactical theory is entirely different from that of a four-man cell; and it would be more than likely that you will have to do a few missions solo, too. But as I said, it's just a suggestion."

And with that, the man disappeared in a puff of smoke, signifying a shunshin technique, leaving behind a scroll with a note attatched.

'This is one of my personal favourites, and I'm sure you'll figure out a use for it. Enjoy.' Naruto eagerly opened the scroll, and let out a cry of joy with what he found.

[Flashback End]

Naruto grimaced as he received a first person view of his first Kage Bunshin's fate. It had got it's foot caught in a concealed rope that had tightened around it's leg, and as it was yanked into the air upside down; it managed to catch sight of the handful of kunai that had been let loose in it's direction as the trap activated, before they plunged into it's flesh, dispelling it.

Meanwhile the second Bunshin involuntarily gulped, as it fulfilled it's duty of summoning the replacement.

"Glad that's not my job."

Naruto and his Bunshin pushed on in a similar fashion; until eventually, the leading Bunshin signalled to the one behind him to stop, before dispelling itself. The original Naruto grinned slightly as the memory of spotting the Iwa shinobi setting up the next trap a few metres ahead of his first clones position. he circled around the area, giving the enemy a fairly wide birth, to try and get behind the ninja. As he was doing this, his remaining clone played it's part.

"Hey asshole!" The Bunshin screeched at the Iwa nin, as it leapt down from the tree's into the area where the shinobi was setting up his latest trap. "Hand over that girl, before I kick your ass!" The foreign ninja let out a short, bark of a laugh.

"Why don't you come over here and make me, you little shit." He had barely finished speaking before the Bunshin charged at him, his fist cocked back for a punch. "A head on charge? What the fuck do they teach in this village?" Upon hearing this the charging Naruto grinned, and the Iwa shinobi widened his eyes as he heard two Bunshin appear, and turned his head just in time to see them running at him from behind; taking advantage of the distraction caused by the first. Working purely on instinct, he spun and ducked the blow of the first, and extended his right left leg as he spun, catching the second clone in an improvised sweep. Before, the first clone could regain his balance, he straightened and chambered a kick to destroy the second.

"Raiton: Kaminari Muchi!"

He felt the Raiton chakra whip tighten around the leg he was just about to use, numbing his leg slightly and pulling him off balance; only for the Bunshin he was about to destroy land it's own kick to his stomach, sending him sprawling to the ground. However, this also disconnected the raiton technique that had connected to his leg. He threw a glance to the his captive, who was still unconscious, leant up against a tree just outside of the current area of the battle, before returning his eyes to the opponents before him. The one who had landed the kick on him, was watching him warily, ready to react to his next move. However, the one who had used the ninjutsu was breathing heavily, and just as he was trying to figure out why he was so tired, he exploded in a puff of smoke. 'That one was a Kage Bunshin too? And I watched the other one be created, so that means the real one isn't here!'

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Doton: Shinju Zanshu no Jutsu!"

The Iwa shinobi cursed as he felt Naruto's hands grasp his ankles, and once again only instinct and experience saved him from the jutsu. He performed a Kawarimi no Jutsu just as the blonde began to pull him underground, replacing himself with a section of a branch from one of the tree's above. He raced through hand seals, whilst below the real Naruto leapt out from the hole created by his jutsu.

"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!"

Naruto eyes were drawn up, and they widened as he caught sight of the size of the fireball that was coming his way. 'Shit! That thing is way bigger than the one I saw Sasuke-teme practicing during the Academy! I have to move, but I don't have the time!'

"Raiton: Kaminari Muchi!" Naruto felt the feeling of his own lightning chakra wrap around his leg, as his remaining clone used the jutsu to yank him out of the path of the fireball; which in turn expended the last of it's own chakra, thereby dispelling it. He had barely landed when his gut told him to move once more. He rolled sideways, dodging the incoming knee of the Iwa shinobi. The enemy ninja launched himself at Naruto once again, raining down attacks at the fresh Genin; only to be forced to leap over a leg sweep from a fresh Bunshin, that had seemingly materialised from nowhere. Suddenly, the enemy ninja was on the back foot, being forced to defend against relentless attacks from all directions. No sooner had he blocked a punch from the original, the Bunshin was attacking from behind; forcing him to angle his body sideways to deal with both threats at once. He stepped over a leg sweep aimed at his left leg from the Bunshin, and used the motion to flow into a kick at the Bunshin. The original hadn't reacted fast enough to the clones initial strike, leaving the Iwa nin with an opportunity to counter. He lashed out at the Bunshin, destroying it with a well placed kick to the side of the Bunshin's head. Unfortunately, the sound of the Bunshin being destroyed masked the sound of the creation of two more.

"Fuuton: Goukuuhou no Jutsu!"

"Fuuton: Goukuuhou no Jutsu!"

The two clones announced their jutsu in perfect unison, each launching a barrage of tight spheres of deadly wind towards the enemy ninja, each impacting his torso and tearing into his uniform and skin underneath. The ninja was sent barreling backwards, skidding across the mud, before impacting the base of a tree. The original Naruto looked on as the ninja shakily stood up, and made for the unconscious girl; attempting to escape the scene of the battle. He signaled to his clones, who both used their Raiton jutsu to pull the Iwa nin to the ground, preventing him from reaching the girl. The Iwa nin began racing through hand seals on the ground, too quickly for Naruto to stop him.

"Time for the back-up plan! If I cannot capture the target, destroy it, so it can never be used against us! Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!"

Naruto watched in horror as the ball of flame erupted from the shinobi's mouth, ready to incinerate the child he had been fighting to protect. There was no way he could stop it. Was there? Naruto took a deep breath. He had promised he would make his Father proud, and even if this was to be his last and only chance. Uzumaki Naruto, never goes back on a promise. And there was no way he would let this girl die. Regardless of the cost.

"Kawarimi no Jutsu." Naruto intoned the words for the jutsu not in the adrenaline charged shout that many ninja use during a life and death battle, but in a calm voice, that seemed to settle his own mind. And as he felt the pull of the technique end, indicating he had successfully swapped with the girl, he opened his eyes to face his fate head on.

"Doton: Doruku Gaeshi!"

Naruto's eyes widened in shock as a large stone wall erupted in front of him, stopping the fireball in it's tracks.

"As usual, the Gallant Jiraiya comes to the rescue in the nick of time, and saves his new student from the clutches of death."

The blonde turned his head to where the small girl had been moments before, and turned his head back to see the stone wall crumbling to reveal a very different man to the one had been fighting earlier. This one was taller for a start, and wore a Jonin flak jacket, as well as a Konoha Hitai-ate. Immediately, something clicked in Naruto's brain.

"What he hell is going on here!" He shouted, as he watched both men grin at him; even as the tall Jonin began to light a cigarette.

"What is going on, is that you just passed the Genin test, gaki." Jiraiya stated, his face not losing the smug grin it was wearing.

"...Test?" At this Jiraiya sighed impatiently, and rolled his eyes.

"Well didn't you wonder where all the ANBU were? Or that if the kidnapped girl was so important, why no-one was looking for her? This was a test designed by myself and Sarutobi Asuma over here, in order to see if you were ready to become a Genin, or more specifically a Konoha Genin." This appeared to confuse the blonde even more.

"But I thought i had already graduated after the Mizuki incident? And what about the girl and the Iwa ninja? I still don't get what's going on!" Jiraiya pinched the bridge of his nose. Sure, he knew that the kid was still trying to the shake off the adrenaline of a battle and all that, but it was really frustrating to have to explain it all.

"Yes you graduated, but before you officially become a Genin, each individual Sensei puts there squad under a test of their own design in order to judge whether the potential Genin have the qualities that they want from shinobi under command. Hatake Kakashi, one of Konoha's more proficient Jonin, puts his students through a test designed to test their teamwork. As I am taking you as an apprentice; teamwork, whilst still important, is not a priority, so I tested you for different qualities." Seeing that the blonde was still giving him his full attention, Jiraiya continued. "First of all, I tested you to make sure everything that you've learnt in these past weeks has actually stuck around in that thick skull of yours. We intentionally forced you into situations where you would have to use the skills you have learnt, such as the tree's laced with traps. But more importantly, I tested you to make sure that you had the thing that gives all of Konoha's greatest ninja their strength. The 'Will of Fire'." Naruto once again looked confused.

"What's 'The Will of Fire'? I haven't heard of it before? What do you mean it gives Konoha ninja their strength?" This time it was Asuma who stepped forward to speak.

"'The Will of Fire' is the phrase we use to describe the spirit that drives Konoha ninja to fight. It's the desire to protect what is precious to you, and the extra strength that desire grants you when that precious something is put at risk. For us Konoha shinobi, it is the village and it's people that we strive to protect above all else. For some, like me in fact, it takes a while to realise and understand what it is that you as a ninja fight for. And for others, it is instinctual. People like your Father and the rest of the previous Hokages, are those kind of people. They understand on a base level that they would put their life on the line for what they consider precious. Whether that means loved ones, friends, the village, or the people that live within it's walls." Asuma paused as he stepped on the finished cigarette, that he had let fall onto the ground.

"And I have to say that today, you proved that you understand 'The Will of Fire' perfectly, even if you didn't realise it at first. When you performed the Kawarimi with the child, you did not hesitate. You simply knew that you had to save her no matter the cost. that is 'The Will of Fire.'" Jiraiya grinned as the understanding dawned on Naruto's face.

"Anyway, gaki; if you still haven't figured it out yet, the little girl was me henged. And Asuma was the Iwa nin you fought, also in a henge."

"But how did you maintain the jutsu as we fought? Surely the hits you took should have dispelled it?" He had aimed the question at Asuma, but it was Jiraiya who answered.

"That would be because of these." The Sannin stated, pulling on a slip of paper from his jacket. "They are seals of that I that store chakra, and pump it into an already active henge technique to 'smooth over' and disruptions in the Henge." Naruto still looked lost, despite the fact he was nodding his head, causing Jiraiya to have to fight back another sigh. "Listen, you understand that a Henge is a basic genjutsu right? And that when a land a hit on someone, it disrupts the chakra being pushed into the Henge to keep it active, cutting it off from power and as a result, dispelling it?" This time Naruto nodded far more surely, showing his understanding. "Well these seals essentially act as a back-up generator for the jutsu, giving it chakra to replace the user as the source, meaning it cannot be dispelled by taking a few hits."

"Could they be used for other jutsu, like a Bunshin?" The question had caught Jiraiya unawares. he had genuinely never thought of that.

"Possibly, but I'd have to revamp the seal. Why?"

"Just curious, it sounds like it could be really useful when used in combination with the Kage Bunshin, is all. Will you teach me how to use seals?" Jiraiya's grin grew at this.

"Of course, gaki. But only when you're ready. But first, we need to get some food down you. We have a busy day ahead of you still, so you'll need the strength." Naruto cocked his head to the side in confusion.

"Busy day?"

"Of course! We still have to train a little bit, and we will start taking missions today as well. But first, we are going shopping. I will not have an apprentice of mine running around in bright orange."

Naruto just looked oblivious.

"But... what's wrong with orange?"