A/N – I've been working on this story for three years now. I have not come up with a decent title, nor have I come close to finishing it. I have eight chapters completed and I will post a new one after a certain amount of time, maybe once every week. I'd like to hear your opinions on my work, but I wanted to let you know that I don't have any outlines for where this story is going. I'm letting my characters kinda develop the plot. If I don't want it to go a certain way, I'll put an obstacle in their path and hope they don't find a way around it, but take a new path. Thank you for choosing LynnieRose as your author. It is much appreciated.

Konoha, a village hidden in the leaves, deep in the center of the Land of Fire, and one of the strongest countries on the map. An ideal place to live. Protected and prosperous. A fine place to raise a family, whether they become ninja or farmer or doctor. A place well-suited for young or old couples, or a single person out to start something for themselves. Or if you happen to be a jounin instructor, such as myself.

Now, I best not get too far ahead of myself. You don't even know who I am yet. I'm not a well-known ninja, but I'm quite sure you've heard of (at least, I hope so) my father, Nara Shikamaru. Yes, that is right! I am the son of Konoha's lead strategist! Hear my name and cheer! Nara Shikirou! *crickets* Okay, fine, I don't need any fan clubs anyway (though, it would be nice to have them *pouts*). Anyway...I, unlike my father, look nothing like my father (did that make sense?). Okay, that's a downright lie. I look a lot like my father, though I try not to. Our hair and eye color are the same, but I, unlike my father, have long hair, much past my shoulders. It's in a ponytail, but tied low. I guess you could say that's the only difference. That, and I'm 20, while he's 39. How depressing...

I guess that's all I really have to say about myself. Perhaps I shall get onto the story? I'm sure that's why you've come. Of course, it is. It's just a short tale of a genin squad I led. Not very interesting...but you'll want to hear it anyway, right? Very well, let's get started!

Chapter One: Academy Graduation

The sun shone brightly through the pristine clouds that floated overhead, a perfect day for the Ninja Academy graduation ceremony. At least, I thought so anyway. I couldn't say the same for my colleagues.

"I just got back from a two-week mission, and graduation comes!" The rosy-haired daughter of Haruno Sakura and Rock Lee, Kikiko, complained. "Can't I get a vacation?" She was never happy when she did get vacation time either. She always said that it was much too short or never relaxing enough. I didn't envy her. She looked exhausted no matter which way it went.

"At least you got to go on a mission. I'm running low on money again. I think the eviction might actually go through this time." Konohamaru, grandson of the late third Hokage (rest his soul), retorted. His shoulders slumped and he hung his head at the thought. Being the third's grandson no longer earned him freebies in the village. He got his wish from when he was younger: to be treated as his own person. Yeah, I would've wished for a million ryou instead.

"Well, I'm excited. I haven't taken on a genin squad for a couple of years now." I looked over at Mika. She was the daughter of Hyuuga Neji and...TenTen. I couldn't, for the life of me, remember TenTen's maiden name. She'd kill me for not remembering. After all, I had been one of her students. Thank god, I wasn't in her squad, though. That would've been torture.

I flashed a smile. "I'm excited, too. Though...my last squad didn't do so well." I cringed at the memories. Nearly 70% of our missions ended with either something being set on fire, or someone breaking a limb. I was victim to the latter on more than one occasion. I shook off the thought. "What about you, Aburame-san? Are you keyed up to take on a new squad of genin?" The bug-user spared me a glance and I visibly shuddered. I still, to this day, do not know why he creeps me out. Maybe it's my fear of crawly things? That seems logical.

"Yes, I am. And I've told you countless times to call me Shino. I'm not an old man yet." He answered my question in his usual monotone. In my mind, he was an old man. He was my father's age, so...to me...he was old. We don't mention it ever, though. With him controlling bugs and all.

"Right...sorry." I turned away. Hatake Kakashi was sitting a little ways off from us, reading his smut books as always. He must've noticed my stare, because a moment later, he closed his book and looked my way. I felt obligated to ask him. "What about you, Kakashi-san?"

He opened his book again and continued reading. "No more than usual."

I really believed that the copy-ninja should've thought about retiring. He was in his fifties, but that didn't seem to stop him from taking on genin each year. I mean, he was in good shape, like really good shape. He didn't look older than mid-thirties. I envied that. I hoped I would look that good when I hit fifty. I don't think I was the only one thinking those thoughts either.

Everyone was brought from their conversations as the academy sensei came out with the list of squads. Mika gave her mother a smile, and I avoided TenTen's gaze. She looked over everyone, making sure no one was missing.

"Alright. There are seven squads this year, so that means I'll need to find another jounin to take on a three-man team." TenTen said, and I looked over the jounin, making sure that there were only six of us. I miscounted twice before getting it right. Math wasn't my strong point. Neither was including myself within the group. I blushed inwardly at my mistake. TenTen continued. "I've already given them their jounin assignments, so they'll be searching for you within the hour. Shino," The bug nin stood, "your squad is meeting near the water tower." He nodded and flickered out of sight. "Kakashi-sensei, you're in your usual spot."

"Of course." He vanished in a puff of smoke. TenTen shook her head. I knew she was thinking, 'Show-off,' because that's what I was thinking.

"Mika, you're by the Hokage monument. Konohamaru, the memorial stone." The two nodded and disappeared. She turned to Kikiko next. "You'll be at the training grounds."

"Right." Kikiko was the only one who walked away. She didn't feel the need to hurry. I think she got that from Kakashi-sensei. She was in his squad, after all, and he was always late. TenTen turned to me last. I jumped up and down on the inside. I had been waiting for this all year. My last genin squad was dismissed four months in because of the failure rate, so I was out of a squad for the remainder of the year.

"Shikirou, you'll be meeting here. Your squad is waiting for you inside."

"Awesome." I could hardly contain my excitement.

"Alright, before you leave, do you have any idea where I might find your lazy father?"

I stopped in mid-stride, putting my hand to my chin. "Let's see...it's about 1 o'clock...he would be...at Hokage Tower...probably on the rooftop...looking at the clouds." I gave her the info. She thanked me and flickered out of sight.

I looked to the sky a moment to watch the clouds pass over. I could see why father would watch them for hours. It was peaceful...

"But, I have a new team to meet right now, so another time, clouds." I said to no one. With that, I hurried into the academy building.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, two of my squad members had set up a slingshot that faced the door and was armed with a chalkboard eraser. I opened the door and, using my awesome ninja skills of perception, put my hand up to avoid being hit in the face with a dusty eraser. I caught the eraser, only being half-successful at blocking the attack. Chalk dust puffed from the eraser on impact with my hand, sending the dusty cloud into my face. I coughed. The two genin who had set up the attack laughed.

I coughed again, clearing the last of the dust from my throat. "I'll admit, if that was poison, I'd be dead. But," I threw the eraser at the nearest genin, hitting him in the chest, "so would you." I wiped the chalk from my face. "Enemies will take whatever time they have left alive to take others to the grave with them." The two looked at me with a mix of awe and excitement in their expressions. "So, be wary of all attacks. The weakest-looking could turn out to be the most powerful in the end."

"So cool, sensei!" The one I hit with the chalkboard eraser exclaimed.

I took a seat atop one of the tables, my legs crossed Indian-style. "Hello to the three of you! I will be your jounin leader for the remainder of your training, until you take the chuunin exams. Why don't we get to know each other until then?" I clapped my hands together. "Why don't you introduce yourselves? Give me your likes, dislikes, hobbies, goals...things like that." One of the boys raised his hand. "Yes?"

"Could you start us off?" He asked.

I nodded. "Sure, why not? I'm Nara Shikirou. I like playing shogi against my father. I don't very much like being in recovery." I got that feeling after being with my last squad for two months. "My hobbies are...let's see...sewing, and metal-working, and reading, I guess. I don't have any real goals at the moment, except for staying alive during missions." I finished, looking over my new students. "I believe that's it." I pointed to the blonde boy in the group. "Why don't you go next?"

"Usu! My name is Namikaze Hiro, grandson of the great Uzumaki Naruto, and great-grandson of the fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato!" He gave a wide grin. I heard all-too-well what the Namikaze/Uzumaki lineage was like and this boy didn't disappoint. He continued. "I like swimming and eating ramen, but not at the same time. I tried that once and I nearly drowned. My mom yelled at me and wouldn't let me go swimming for a week. Uh...I don't really like being called names, or when someone calls others names." Justice-protector-type, huh? Another trait within that lineage, it seems. "My hobbies are swimming and teaching my little brother to swim. My goal is to become a strong ninja so I can protect my little brother and my mom, since my dad's gone all the time on missions."

I raised my eyebrows, nodding in approval. "Very good. Nice to meet you, Hiro-kun." I let my gaze fall to the other boy. "What about you?"

"Um...my name is Danza Kuma, and I...uh...I like going for long walks...and uh...writing..." He began rubbing his short black hair with a nervous hand. "I don't like...um...being the center of attention...or the taste of plain ramen...my hobbies are...writing short stories...I...uh...I don't really have any goals...right now either...I guess...staying alive is good..."

I gave the shy boy a reassuring smile. "Well, maybe a goal could be building up your confidence?" He returned my smile, hiding his eyes beneath his hair. He's the shy, under-confident-type...that's probably why he didn't join in with the slingshot chalk eraser. I turned my eyes to the only girl within the group. Her red hair threw me for a loop, but her ghostly eyes noted her as a Hyuuga, or at least of Hyuuga lineage.

"My name is Sarutobi Sumire, great-great-granddaughter of the third Hokage, great-granddaughter of Sarutobi Asuma, granddaughter of Sarutobi Genma, daughter of Sarutobi Toshiro and Hyuuga Rika." I listened as she listed her unnecessary list of relatives. "I like the color blue and the smell of freshly baked cookies. I dislike the color purple and idiots who think they know everything. My hobbies are none of your business, as are my goals." She gave us a smirk. "I need to be a little mysterious." I chuckled.

"Yes, of course. It makes the relationship a little more interesting. Well," I clapped my hands again, leaning forward on my elbows, "now that we know each other's names, shall we take my little skill test today or wait until tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow!" The three answered in unison. I laughed, pushing myself from the table.

"Alright, then! How about we meet at Ichiraku ramen around, say, nine-ish? That'll give you enough time to complete the test and then we can get a bite to eat afterward, my treat." I received vigorous nods from all three. "Good. Dismissed!"

A/N – So, what d'ya think? Good? Bad? In-between? Please leave a review and let me know!