Though Naruto knows a shinobi is in all things patient, he can't help bouncing his knees as Iruka-sensei congratulates the class on becoming genin. He's just as curious about who his jounin-sensei will be as he is about his teammates. He reflects on Kakashi-niisan's teasing from the previous night.
It's a surprise, Naruto-kun.
But what if I don't like my sensei? How come you get to know and I don't?
You'll see. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Naruto drags himself out of his reverie in time to hear Iruka rattling off team assignments, "...On Team Seven, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, and Uzumaki Naruto. Your jounin-sensei will meet you at 0700 tomorrow on training field three. Team Eight..."
At this point, Naruto stops listening. He turns in his seat to give Sasuke a fierce, competitive smile. The Yondaime's son and the latest iteration of kaleidoscope eyes have been trying to outdo each other since their first day in the Academy.
The corner of Sasuke's mouth twitches up in response. Naruto is about to say something when Sakura flicks his ear and hisses, "Pay attention!"
Naruto rolls his eyes at her and directs his attention back towards the front of the classroom, where Iruka is wrapping up.
"I want you all to know how proud I am of each and every one of you. Tomorrow, you take the next steps on your ninja journey. I'm excited to see where it leads you," Iruka grins.
The students exchange bows with the young teacher as they hasten out of the classroom and into the soft glow of the early morning sun. There's a promise of that summer heat Konoha is well-known for in the air, but for now a cool breeze tousles Naruto's hair. He walks backwards through the streets, facing Sasuke and Sakura.
"So, Dad's not gonna be home for a while and niisan's on Wall Duty. Whaddya say we go to Ichiraku?"
Sakura wrinkles her nose, "It's always Ichiraku with you. Don't you eat anything else?"
"Actually, I do. But it's a special occasion, 'ttebayo, my treat! S'not every day you make genin, but I was a shoo-in anyways."
Sasuke snorts, "You? Who had the highest grade in the class, idiot?"
The three are still bickering when they take their seats on the stools at the ramen stand. Teuchi cheerfully sets the usual sutamina ramen in front of them, plus an additional plate of three red bean daifuku from Shiranui Bakery.
Naruto grabs one of the pastries and is about to shove it in his mouth, "Itadakimasu!" but then he realizes something important, "Oh, I only brought enough money to pay for the ramen. Sasuke? Can you spare me the ryou?"
Teuchi chuckles and hooks a thumb towards his forehead, "It's on the house. Congratulations to you three."
The newly minted genin flush with pleasure, then Sakura slaps Naruto upside the head, "Say thank you! Don't you have manners?"
Naruto rubs the sore spot on the back of his neck, "Thanks, Teuchi-san."
For the first five minutes, there's a dearth of conversation, then Sasuke clears his throat and asks what's on everyone's mind, "Who do you guys think our jounin-sensei is going to be?"
Sakura twiddles her chopsticks, "Well, it has to be someone Yondaime-sama trusts to handle Naruto."
"You say that like he doesn't trust every shinobi in this village," Naruto squints at Sakura, "Though he would probably pick someone who's not involved with Sasuke's family."
"There's nothing wrong with my family!"
"No, but Dad probably doesn't want anyone starting drama. If our new sensei likes your family, they could try to get close to you and ignore me and Sakura. On the other hand, if they don't, you could become chopped liver."
"Fair enough. So," Sasuke counts off on his fingers, "What active duty jounin don't have any strong feelings towards my family, can wrangle Naruto, and are petitioning for a genin team?"
"Maybe niisan..." Naruto says, starry-eyed.
Sakura glares at him, "You're two for three at best. You know pretty much every Uchiha hates him."
"I don't hate him! That much. And not for the reason everyone else does," Sasuke's lips twist in a wry smile. Kakashi is an unapologetic pain in the ass, but Naruto's opinions of him have colored his own. Whatever happened that led to Kakashi gaining a Sharingan eye, Sasuke knows it wasn't forcibly taken. The Copy-nin would look less depressed every time Obito was mentioned, otherwise.
"Okay, okay. I really wanted it to be niisan."
"He's not fit to handle genin, he's got the emotional range of a wet paper bag," Sakura presses her lips into a thin line, "Perhaps the Sandaime's son?"
"Asuma? Wouldn't that be kind of a political...thing, dattebayo? Cause I'm the current Hokage's son."
Sakura's frown deepens, "This is hard. Do you know any other jounin?"
"Yeah, but they're all ANBU. I only know their masks. Plus, who'd quit ANBU to teach?"
"You'd be surprised," Sasuke shrugs, "Anyways, I should be getting back. Mom wanted me to help her clean the family shrine."
Naruto sighs dramatically, slipping a kunai out of his pouch and twirling it around his fingers, "I guess I'll just head back home, all alone..."
"Don't trip and poke your eye out on the way," Sakura teases.
Naruto can hardly sleep that night. He stares up at the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling of his bedroom and imagines the name of his jounin-sensei is scrawled in them.
