Ami was the first one to come to the training ground and immediately set up her little tricks. She knew what the test was going to be, so she could act strategically. She performed the summoning jutsu, summoning a dozen small lizards. Each of the lizards was only as big as the palm of her hand but each of them knew fire and or wind jutsu.
The lizards hid themselves against the bark of trees or burrowing themselves down into the ground. These would be her 'landmines'. As soon as Kakashi sensei got near them, they would release a jutsu to disorient him. She wasn't sure whether that would be enough, it probably wouldn't, seeing as this was a Jonin they were up against but maybe she could at least impress him with her strategy.
The wait was unbearable. Again, Kakashi sensei was late. So, Ami took the opportunity to talk to her teammates, "I think I know what this training is about"
"Really?! Tell me!" Naruto shouted and Sasuke was also listening, though he pretended not to.
"I think Kakashi sensei wants to test our teamwork. Most likely, he will present an objective designed to split us apart. We can only win if we work together" Ami explained, looking up at the sun, it was still early, Kakashi sensei wouldn't come for at least another hour, "Kakashi sensei lives by the mentality 'in the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum'"
"Eh?! And how do you know that?!"
"Information gathering is an important part of being a shinobi", Ami explained, swiping a stray hair out of her face, "I have been looking into you two too, after I knew we would be teammates. I know that your primary technique is the multiple shadow clone jutsu, a forbidden jutsu which you can only effectively use if you have a massive chakra pool and you, Sasuke, the last Uchiha loyal to Konoha, you said you wanted to kill a certain person, that would be your brother right? Itachi Uchiha, the rogue ninja who has slaughtered the Uchiha clan"
"All of that after just one night? You are good", Sasuke gave a satisfied nod.
"Wait- the Uchihas were killed?"
"Where have you been living, under a rock? What did you think happened?"
"I thought they just… left. Wow, now that I say that out loud, it sounds pretty stupid, hehe", Naruto chuckled weakly, scratching the back of his head.
Ami shook her head, he really was an airhead. Some, like Sakura might find that annoying but to Ami, it was just cute. He had an aura of innocence around him and a natural charm that made it hard for her to hate him.
"Baka", Sasuke muttered, though Naruto didn't hear.
They discussed their strategy and waited for their sensei to arrive.
"Hey guys, good morning"
"You are late!"
"Yeah, I ran into a black cat on the way here and had to take a detour", Kakashi explained. None of them bought the excuse. He placed a timer on a tree stump and got out two bells, "here are two bells. Your task is to take these from me before the time is up. Those who have no bell by lunch don't get to eat. I will not only tie you to those stumps but I'll also eat right in front of you. You only have to get one bell. There are only two, so one of you will definitely get to be on the stump and… the one who doesn't get a bell fails and has to go back to the academy. If you want, you can use any ninja tools you have. You won't succeed unless you come at me with the intent to kill"
"You are so slow you can't even dodge a blackboard eraser, we will definitely kill you!" Naruto boasted.
"In the real world, those without talent often bark the loudest. We'll ignore mister Dead last as I-"
Naruto was angry at being called dead last and pulled out a kunai, ready to throw it but Kakashi was already behind him, "calm down, I haven't started yet"
What speed! To fast to see with the naked eye. This was the speed of a Jonin!
"Well it seems yo are prepared to come at me with the intent to kill, so you finally acknowledge me? It seems like I'm beginning to like you guys. Okay, ready? Begin!"
The trio left in all directions, their plan fresh in mind.
"Come and fight me! I said come and fight me, you coward!" Naruto initiated the taunt but Kakashi just pulled out his smut book and began reading. This ticked Naruto off. Next phase of the plan -as they had already anticipated this- he created a bunch of shadow clones and began attacking. The Jonin kept dodging, closer and closer to one of Ami's gecko's. He hadn't even noticed it was there until a fireball was send at him. The ball of flame was small but it gave the chance for Sasune to take one of the bells. He almost had them, when Kakashi sensei disappeared in a flash. The body flicker technique!
Only where he landed just so happened to be the hiding place of another lizard, buried underground. It sprung up, snatching the bells or at least trying to, as Kakashi smacked it out of the air.
'A summoning jutsu? Which of them is the summoner? Definitely not Naruto. This strategy is too sophisticated for the loud mouth… so either Ami or Sasuke. They-' Kakashi was deep in thoughts, completely missing the small spider which had crawled up his leg. Of course, this wasn't a normal spider, it was Ami under a transformation jutsu. Transformation was a versatile technique, even allowing its user to fly as a bird but transforming into a living creature that isn't a human required much more chakra but it was worth it. She was sitting on the bells and cancelled the transformation technique, snatching the bells all the while. This was the next phase of their plan. Their plan had 12 phases but four was enough to snatch the bells apparently.
"What?!" Kakashi sensei looked shocked, before composing himself, 'let's see who you give the other bell to'
"I- didn't expect that but now you have the two bells. Who will you give the other bell to and who will go hungry and return to the academy?"
"I guess I will", Ami threw the bells at the boys and walked over to the stump, ready to be tied to it.
"Why- why would you do that?" Kakashi was in utter shock. Why would she give up her chance like that?
"I heard from a very wise man once 'those who betray their friends are worse than scum'. I would rather try again next year than take this opportunity away from one of my teammates" Ami explained, "are you gonna tie me to this now or what?"
"I- you can eat with the others. You all passed. You all showed loyalty, teamwork and selflessness. You are really something else. From the beginning on, you worked together, that is exactly what I was searching for and you even got the bells in less than 20 minutes. From tomorrow on, we will assume our duties as shinobi!"
"Hurray! Your plan worked Ami chan!" Naruto hugged her.
"I must ask though, who is the summoner of those gecko's?"
"That would be me, sensei", Ami grinned at the silver haired Jonin. She did a handsign and dismissed her other summons.
"Summoned beasts are a great asset" Kakashi nodded, "but you can't rely on them forever"
He gripped a tree trunk next to him and applied pressure and chakra. The wood exploded. A shoe of force to make it clear that he still was a Jonin. They had just caught him off guard, in a direct fight, they would still lose, even with the lizards and a hundred shadow clones.