The Senju Guardian [Slow Updates]

| Chapter 14 |

Tobirama woke up the next morning along with Naruto, it was 6 AM, Naruto had set the alarm clock an hour earlier than usual, reason being the test Kakashi is going to give them. Tobirama smirked slightly at the memory, which time is he watching this? Hmm... fifth? Maybe. He smiled innocently when Naruto looked at him suspiciously, his tail swaying slowly behind him, ears turned forward. "You seem a bit too cheerful, troublesome cat." Tobirama snorted at that, he spends too much time with Shikamaru. He nudged Naruto to the kitchen, seeing as he is dressed already. "Yeah, yeah. I'm going." Naruto said tiredly and waved his hand in Tobirama's face, who only huffed and nudged him again before walking over to his own bowl. He got used to eating from the ground long ago, ok? But apparently Naruto is not having his shit today. "Oh no buddy, if I can't eat, you can't eat either." Tobirama huffed, fair enough. Naruto grinned and drunk the water he had, putting the empty glass into the sink before walking over to the doors. Unlocking and opening them and waiting until Tobirama walks out before closing and locking them again. They had enough time but rather than taking the long way they went the quickest one, he may be a ninja but some civilians just won't stop. Once they arrived they saw both Sasuke and Sakura waiting, when they noticed, Sakura ignored them, focusing on Sasuke, who much to his credit, at least nodded when Naruto waved. Naruto looked around and set under a tree, Tobirama joining him. Both of them closed their eyes, knowing that Kakashi will most likely be late. Tobirama tried not to be depressed over the reason why, the Hatake has picked up this habit after Obito, who had died on a mission, saving Kakashi and giving him one of his sharingan eyes. The eye hidden under his hitai-ate. Tobirama woke up when he felt Kakashi's chakra approaching, nudging Naruto awake. "You're late!!!" Screeched Sakura, is her mother a banshee? Or is she herself one? Maybe both. "Eh, sorry, a black cat crossed my path so I had to take the long route." He waved his hand dismissively. Sakura grew a tick mark but didn't say anything else. 'Thank kami, my head hurts and I am not awake even a minute.' Tobirama thought. Naruto simply smirked under his hand and rubbed one of his sensitive ears, being a Jinchuuriki gives him better senses, but that does have its downfalls too. "Well, let's get started!" Kakashi said and walked over to one of the stumps that are in the training ground, setting on it an alarm clock. "So he does have alarm clock." Whispered Naruto to Tobirama, who suppressed a chuckle. "Here we go, it's set for noon." He sounded faintly amused, probably hearing Naruto's comment. He then turned to them, pulling out two bells from his pocket. "Your assignment is very simple, you just have to take these bells from me, and that's all there is to it." Tobirama smirked behind his paw. "If you can't get them be noon, you go without lunch." Naruto's eyes widen and he glared slightly at Tobirama, who was looking innocently around. "You'll be tied to those posts and you watch while I eat my lunch in front of you." Tobirama almost snorted when he heard their stomachs growl, but smiles looked embarrassed when his own stomach betrayed him. Oh come on, he sure did become used to comfort a bit too much. Naruto grinned at him while his ears perked up at the sound, curling his tail down and flattening his ears against his head in embarrassment while sheepishly smiling at Naruto. Kakashi chuckled when he saw this, seems like Naruto had his revenge. At that moment Sakura decided to ask, maybe the smartest question that came out of her mouth yet. "Wait a minute but there's three of us...err four, how are we all supposed to get the bells when there is only two of them?" Tobirama smirked slightly, not bothering to hide it. "That's a good question, it is so at least one of you ends up tied to a post and be ultimately disqualified for failing to complete the mission, that one goes back to the Academy. Then again all three of you can flunk out too. You can use any weapons including shuriken. If you're not prepared to kill me, you won't be able to take the bells." He finished. "But sensei, those weapons are too dangerous! You could get hurt." Tobirama openly face-palmed at that. "Sakura he's jonnin, do you really think a bunch of wannabe gennins can do anything?" Naruto spoke the first time since Kakashi arrived, surprising his other teammates and making Kakashi smile. "When I say start you can begin. Oh and Tobirama try not to help Naruto too much, we both know you were there when the test was created." Kakashi finished with an eye-smile, Tobirama blinked in surprise, so he knew eh? He smirked slightly and nodded. Sakura looked baffled at what their sensei said and Sasuke was barely suppressing his own surprise. Naruto didn't look that surprised, knowing that the cat has been here since the times of Nidaime and maybe even Shodaime Hokage. He just didn't know the real truth. And it seemed like Kakashi knew, maybe Minato told him? Or Hiruzen? He'll have to find out later, now they have a mission to complete. "Alright and...start!" Tobirama jumps into the trees along with Naruto who seemed to be thinking about what to do. "Hmm... He is a jonnin, a gennin could never take him down unless....he I outnumbered." Tobirama smirked, that was quick. He may act like Kushina but he thinks like Minato, good. They waited for a bit, searching for Naruto's teammates, and turning around when they heard a scream. Sakura. They quickly went over, finding her knocked out on the ground, a genjutsu it seems, a low level one. Tobirama snorted, so much for 'the smart one'. Naruto looked at him with a scolding look, and he sighted, huffing and walking over to the girl. He thought for a bit before he grinned, extending one of his claws, filling it lightly with his chakra, he scratched her cheek, a trail of blood leaving the tiny wound. She yelped and set up, Tobirama quickly jumping away. "H-huh?" She looked around, confused, before her eyes widen. "Sasuke-kun!" She yelled and ran off, Tobirama huffed, ungrateful brat. Naruto petted him, trying to calm him down, seeing his annoyance. He nodded and they set off, Tobirama in the lead, following Sasuke's chakra signature. They heard another scream and sighted. What they found? A knocked out Sakura, again, and Sasuke who had his body under the ground, only head sticking out. He sneered when he saw Naruto and Tobirama approach, narrowing his eyes at the cat who was looking at him, amused. "Need help?" Asked Naruto, Sasuke sneered and turned away. "As if you could do anything, dope." Naruto sighed and looked at Tobirama pleadingly, he sighted himself and walked over to the Uchiha, focusing his Doton chakra. 'Doton, Tsuchi Tou Tou [Earth Style, swift earth]' Imagining the hand-signs, putting his paws on the earth in front of Sasuke and putting smaller amount of chakra into it, the earth around Sasuke shifted apart, freeing him. Sasuke looks at him wide-eyed, muttering a 'thanks'. Naruto looked at Sasuke. "Sasuke we need to wake up Sakura, we may not be able to get the bells alone but together-" At that moment, the clock rung, signaling the end of the test. Naruto looked defeated, Tobirama sighted and Sasuke tsked in annoyance. They took Sakura and walked back over to the poles, Kakashi joining soon after. They woke the girl up before Kakashi told them to tie her up to the middle pole, since she didn't even try in the test. "So did anyone get the actual meaning of the test?" Kakashi asked, Sakura and Sasuke looked confused. "Teamwork.." Said Naruto. "It was about teamwork." He looked defeated. "That's right. And Naruto was the only one who even bothered to look for his teammates, who didn't even seem to pay attention to him." He told them. "Sakura, Naruto was right in front of you and you didn't even bother to say 'thanks' after Tobirama pulled you out of that genjutsu. Sasuke, you completely ignored your teammates and went to attack me alone, thinking you are better than them." He scolded them. "But, since Naruto did realize the meaning, I will give you one more chance, Naruto, Sasuke, Tobirama you can eat your lunch, but do not give any to Sakura got it?" He told them, Naruto and Sasuke nodded, Sakura sulked and Tobirama smirked behind a paw. Kakashi 'left' and let them eat alone. Naruto shared some of the fish from his bento bow with Tobirama, then looked at Sakura and back at his food, he smiled slightly and took a rice ball with his chopsticks, putting it in front of Sakura's mouth. "H-huh? N-Naruto you Baka! Sensei told you not to feed me!" She said, her stomach betraying her. "But he also told us about teamwork didn't he? And besides, you can't fight if you're hungry." He told her with a small kind smile, Sakura looked torn before another rice ball was placed in front of her. "Hn, he's right. Eat." She had tear in her eyes as she ate what they gave her, Tobirama just munched on his fish. What? He likes fish. Out of nowhere, Kakashi appeared, storm clouds above his head. Huh, dramatic much Hatake-gaki? "You! I gave you an order which you straight ignored. Explain yourself!" He looked angry, Tobirama just continued eating his fish, amused. "We are a team sensei, If we want to work together we all need to be in top condition to fight." Told him Naruto calmly, Sakura nodded rapidly and Sasuke nodded with a 'hn'. "That's your explanation?!...YOU......pass!" He finished happily, the storm clouds gone as If they weren't there in the first place. "Huh?" The three said together. "You pass!" He said again. "In the ninja world those who ignore the rules are scum, that is true, but those who abandon their teammates are worse than scum." Tobirama smiled at him sadly hearing those words, those words that Obito told him then. Kakashi walked over to the K.I.A. stone an placed him hand on top of it, his eyes trailing th names: Obito Uchiha, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. "This is the KIA stone, names of many great heroes are written on this stone, heroes who died in battle. Some of my friends' names are written here as well." Tobirama walked over to the stone, gently trailing the three names with a claw. Kakashi laid a hand on his head, he smiled at him gratefully and turned back towards the gennin, sitting by Kakashi's side. "The words I just told you were once said to me by a great friend of mine, his name is also on this stone." The three children looked down sadly, and Kakashi sighted. "Alright meet me tomorrow at seven in front of the Hokage Tower, don't be late." Tobirama smacked his hand with his tail. "Ouch! Ok!....7:30- 8 AM- quit it!" The three gennin laughed slightly at the scene. Kakashi narrowed his eyes playfully, nodding them off and Naruto let Sakura down. Tobirama nodded at Naruto to go and waited until all three of them are ot of earshot, even Naruto, before turning to Kakashi with a raised eyebrow, titling his head with a questioning look. "I take it you want to know how do I know don't you, Nidaime-sama." He said with a light teasing tone, Tobirama huffed and smacked him again when Kakashi laughed. "Alright, alright. Sandaime-sama told me when I was told who my team will be. Saying it was important for me to know. I must admit you got me there, after all who would have expected that the mighty Nidaime would let himself be carried around like a Teddy-bear." He said slyly, Tobirama narrowed his eyes playfully, lifting a clawed paw threateningly. "No offence!" Kakashi quickly added. Tobirama snorted and looked at the stone again, his eyes softening after finding the familiar letters. Kakashi stood silently next to him, also looking at the names. "You really liked them didn't you?" Kakashi asked in a whisper and Tobirama nodded. "So... cat bowl?"

Let's say that Kakashi arrived home looking as if Tora had landed on his face.

Tobirama returned to Naruto looking rather satisfied.

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So this is it palls! For some explanations, Naruto is smarter in this, having Tobirama tak care of him more, who had sniffed out Kakashi and made him be with Naruto so no avoiding. This Naruto is also a bit more like Minato in more then just looks, he still likes orange color and Ramen, he just isn't so loud and he thinks before charging.