Chapter 1: Team 10?!

The setting is based on an alternate universe. This is basically all false, but it's kind of like a 'what-if' situation. I'm putting Naruto with team 10 and Shikamaru in Team 7.

Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Naruto.

A/N: – – That will answer all you're questions if you have one.

Chapter 1: Team 10?!

The morning is beautiful as parents say farewell to their young children. They know their child is going to be part of the ceremony that makes a ninja a ninja. There's two children who's parents didn't show, to be more exact, they have no parents. The one we're concentrating on in this story is about a boy with blonde hair, sitting carefully on the steps of his apartment while tying his boots on tightly.

"I'm going to be the best there ever is...just watch..." he said after finally finishing his tying business. He promised himself that he'll become the best there ever was after the students from the academy laughed at him when he said he'll be a ninja. Sasuke even said that Naruto doesn't deserve to be a ninja, some of the teachers actually agreed, since within Naruto is a beast that destroyed Konoha a long time ago.

"Just watch Sasuke because my names are in the sky!" he yells, pointing his index finger in the air, "And when you see my name among the stars, dancing around in front of your stupid face. You'll know then that I'm the best there ever was, the best there ever is and the best there ever will be. I am Naruto Uzumaki, believe it!"

"Shut up we're trying to sleep here kid!" one of his neighbors that live alongside him screams out his window. Naruto lives in the 'poor' side of town, not because he has nowhere better to live, but he chose this place to be his home and he believes it to be best. He never argued about the living conditions or some of the scum that live along with him. He likes it here, and if he respects the wishes of his neighbors he wouldn't have any problem at all.

Naruto isn't that type of guy though, standing up with a mischievous grin. He jumps over the railing and lands safely down the ground, despite jumping from a ridiculous height. "Shut-up old man!" he sticks his tongue out and runs away before the old man appears and makes him regret it. Now all he needs to do is find his team so he could carry them into greatness. Naruto's life couldn't get any better than it is.

The ceremony is beginning and the beautiful Sakura leaves falling gently on the ground proved that today is a blessing. The new talent and the new fire of Konoha is ready to get a good start and the new teachers are ready to receive their students so they could create memorable memories.

"Welcome students!" the Hokage said with a smile, looking on at all the parents smiling at their young children. He's done this many times and he watched students grow to be great. He remembers one particular student rising up the ranks and becoming the Hokage himself. Minato would always be in his memories for his sacrifice. "I know you're all ready to start training for missions and learning how to do thing, but right now it's a day to relax."

"Oh man I'm going to be late!" Naruto said, running to the fireworks and friendly chatter. He stopped to help an old lady pack inside her apartment and managed to get a few coins of it too. He went to the store after that and before he knew it the time slipped right passed him. "That old geezer better start speaking old because I can't miss this!"

"Hey...who you think is getting that brat?" One of the teachers leaning against the wall makes a remark to his fellow colleagues, "What you mean?"

"You know what I mean...that demon boy, Uzumaki Naruto." The teacher smiles, tossing his empty can aside. Asuma happened to be there as well, listening in. The teachers gather around and take in consideration of their dream team, but none of them picked Naruto. That's when Asuma grabs the can that guy threw carelessly aside and tosses it up and down in his hand.

"I don't mind having Naruto..." He said, and the teachers laugh as if it were a joke, "C'mon Asuma...you're new to this. You don't understand how it is to have a troublesome kid like him. Even Irukai couldn't keep the boy's head screwed on tight." Asuma shakes his head and crushes the can in his hand, then throwing it in the trash can perfectly, "I don't think so. I think Naruto has the blue-prints to be great actually, with just some guidance...he can be great."

"Team 7..." The old man pulls out a roll of paper and begins reading the names, "Sasuke Uchiha..." Sasuke soon stands up and waves his hand, acknowledging himself to the crowd. There was a round of applause as he walks to stand aside Kakashi. "Sakura Haruno..." Sakura follows suit and stands beside Sasuke, smiling at herself as she points her tongue at Ino. Ino jealously waves her hand as it was nothing.

"And finally..." Naruto jumps into the scene and interrupts Hiruzen. The parents in the crowd boo Naruto as he scratches the back of his head, grinning shamefully. He wanted to make it in time, but not like this. "Get off the stage Naruto..." Sasuke whispers, nudging at the side. Sasuke wanted to give a good impression to his teacher, but Naruto's ruining everything. Naruto glares at Sasuke before stepping down the stage.

"And finally..." Hiruzen repeats himself, straightening his posture and the paper on his hand, "Shikamaru Nara..." there was a slight gasp in the crowd when Shikamaru stands up. His father shakes his head and leads Shikamaru back to his seat before he could go join team 7. "This must be some mistake Hokage, Shikamaru should be with Ino and Choji. They're the only trio who could do the combo that our clans shared for generations." The clans that Choji, Shikamaru and Ino are in is a powerful tradition of harmony, together they create the Ino-Shika-Cho technique that can only be done if they're together.

"This is my final word..." Hiruzen said, closing his eyes as he begins to bring up the next team papers. "This is an outrage!" Choza argues as Inoichi tries to stop him. The two of them are both equally upset like Shikaku and wanted this tradition to carry one.

The crowd soon follows, not wanting an old and valuable tradition to be forgotten, but Hiruzen has different plans for this. "I said this is my final word!" his voice booms across the crowd and silence covers the crowd quickly, no one could stand up against the word of the Hokage.

Naruto looks at Hiruzen and could sense the power and authority he holds. One word from Hiruzen could silence a whole crowd. This is something he longs for. This is something he wants. "This is why I'm going to be Hokage." Naruto snickers, as if enjoying a private joke to himself.

Asuma watches Naruto and couldn't help but smile at his childish behavior. He knows people call him a monster, but if they actually just pay attention to him once in a while. They could know that he's no harm to society at all. He's actually just a normal kid with a big dream.

The other two teams went by quickly and with the restless crowd finally calming down. It seems that the ceremony could end in a happy note. Naruto wasn't called yet and the irritation can clearly be shown. "Am I even in a team Hiruzen..." he whispers to Hiruzen who obviously couldn't hear him. Naruto has the papers that proved he passed his exam, but the absence of his name being called is killing him. He grips the edge of his seat as Asuma walks up to accept his students.

This will be the final team of the day and some of the parents went home, but everyone is still waiting for the child that will replace Shikamaru.

"Team 10..." Hiruzen calls out and Asuma waves his hand to the crowd to show who's the teacher of team 10. "Naruto Uzumaki..." The mumbling crowd grow silent as the over active young boy runs up to the stage with his hands raised in the air, "YES!" Naruto hollers out and stands proudly beside Asuma.

Asuma wasn't surprised at all and he actually felt glad he had Naruto. He knew some teachers who wouldn't give him the right tools that he needed to become a full fledged ninja just because of what's in him. Shikaku folds his hands, already knowing which children would be called next, "Oh no..." he whispers and Inoichi couldn't help but fill worried from the expression on his face.

"What's the matter Shikaku?" Inoichi asked, having his feet bouncing up and down in nervousness. "Don't tell me my little Ino is being partnered up with that brat?!" the crowd looks at the commotion behind them and find out what they're talking about. Hiruzen is unappeased and carries on, "Ino Yamanaka..."

Inoichi almost faints as Ino hits the ground hard with her hand. She can't be partnered up with Naruto...she could already sense the muffled laughter from Sakura in the back. This is just spelling trouble and there's nothing she could do. "Wait..." she said to herself silently...pouting like a little child, "I just won't go up...Daddy?" she looks at Inoichi and grabs his hand, "Can't we go home. I don't want to stand with that freak."

Inoichi nods his head and stands up, clearly showing his disappointment with Hiruzen as he exits the ceremony.

The gaze of Hiruzen does not break, continuing on with the ceremony. "Choji Akimichi." The crowd gives another silent treatment as Choza stands up, pointing directly at Hiruzen, "This isn't right Hokage and you know it!" Choji on the other hand stands up and begins to walk to Asuma with his hand in a bag of chips. He could care less which team he goes into as long as they don't make fun of his weight or stop him from eating.

"Choji!" Choza calls out and grabs the little plumped kids hand and drags him away from the ceremony. He can't stand having his kid along with that monster. He's bad influence and if Choji has to pair up with him. Then he rather have Choji not learn to become a ninja, after all Choza is a worthy teacher to teach Choji all he knows.

"Bye sensei, see ya Naruto..." Choji said, being dragged across the floor while continuing his chip eating business. Asuma looks down at Naruto who's rather quiet after such events. Asuma hasn't shown anything, but he could feel the stares at Naruto. The cold stares from people who don't even know Naruto. The feeling of being alone with no one there to have your back. Asuma puts his hand on Naruto's shoulder and kneels down next to him. Naruto jolts defensively until he realizes that Asuma was the one who touched him.

"Sensei...?" Naruto looks at Asuma and then thought he finally got it. "You...don't want to be around me too right...?" Naruto hides his face under his blonde bangs and clenches his fists. "I'm a monster that will be a bother to you're perfect team, right...?" Naruto bites his lips. He's tired of this. He's tired of being last picked and his tired of people hating him. The red aura of the nine tails surrounds Naruto as his hate soon to grows, "Maybe it's my turn to start think that you're all a bother..." he shakes violently as the ground beneath him cracks and the crowd begin to panic. Hiruzen even grabs Asuma's shoulders, trying to pull him back before Naruto blows.

"Asuma get away!" Hiruzen said, tempting to block his son from Naruto, but before Naruto could strike. Asuma made the first move. He grabs Naruto by his back and pulls him close. Asuma hugs Naruto tightly and Naruto couldn't help but be shocked. He's eyes widen and the tears he held for so long soon comes pouring out all at once.

"It's okay Naruto..." Asuma said, pulling back and smiling at the 'demon boy' who's red Chakra soon disappears. "They'll come around soon enough...you just have to be patient. You'll be patient for me right?" He wipes Naruto's tears with his thumb as Naruto nods his head in agreement, "Atta boy, how about we go get your teammates, alright?" Naruto agrees once more and with that, the ceremony ends in a good note.