"Hey, what squad number are we, anyway?" I asked as we approached Ichiraku. Minato's mood continuously improved as we got closer to the ramen shop, as if his brain waves were directly connected to his distance from his beloved ramen. If they said I, Sasuke's son, was in squad 7, with Naruto's son, I would beat Iruka. Fate my ass.
"We're squad five. You didn't pay any attention at all, did you?" Kougi said smiling as we entered the ramen shop.
"No, not really." I said with a slight laugh.
"Euah, wed squud faid!" Minato said with a mouth full of ramen. He had gone ahead...because he wanted ramen.
"Try talking without ramen shoved down your throat." I said to him. He swallowed.
"Yeah, we're in squad five!" he said with a smile. "Your ramen is ready, guys! Dig in, courtesy of Ichiraku ramen, and their best customer, my dad!" The ichiraku guy just smiled broadly.
"Eat up, kids. The Uzemaki tab is unlimited! He's been my best customer since he was even younger than you guys!" His daughter said with a laugh. We ate, Minato more than Kougi or myself, or the two of us put together. I was satisfied with one serving, as was she. Minato wouldn't be content until Ichiraku had to refill their pantry. It wasn't surprising, but I noticed how impeccable her table manners were. I'd expect nothing less from Neji. Would our kids be like that? Woah, did I actually just think that? I might be getting ahead of myself. I was only twelve, after all, and I knew nothing about her.
"Thanks for the ramen, Minato, but I should probably get home."
"Why? Our dads are training, your mom is the hokage, and you're the youngest kid. You don't have to take care of anyone, and your parents won't notice if you are a little late."
Minato mentioned. He was finally done eating. There was truth in his words, I was only in a hurry to leave because I was a little uncomfortable. I wasn't used to being treated like a human being.
"I don't know. I should still probably go home."
"Oh, come on! We could start our training together as a squad early!" Kougi said with a bright white smile.
"Yeah sure, why not?" I said. Minato grinned at me like he knew exactly what I was thinking. Smug little jerk.
"Alright, let's go train!" Minato shouted as he turned around on the bar stool and hopped off. I got off and walked just ahead of him. He ended up moving to walk beside me, and put a hand around my shoulder. He grinned madly.
"What's your problem?" I asked, shrugging his arm off my shoulder.
"Aww, come on, what's the big deal? We're teammates! Friends, you know?" He still had the same, smug, I know your secret look on his face.
"I'm not really the touchy type. Besides, my dad tried to kill yours when they became best friends."
"So?" I took a step forward, turned around and looked him in the eye.
"Do you really want to get all that close to a guy with my family's history?" He stopped walking, and Kougi laughed out loud. Her laugh was entrancing, really. I couldn't help but continue trying to make her laugh. Even just a giggle would be satisfying. "I might turn on you one day, and form a plan to rid the world of ramen." His eyes drooped like a kid who just lost his puppy. I turned my back on him smiling, trying to not let Kougi see my grin, as she laughed louder.
"What makes you think I won't turn on you?" Minato shouted as he ran up to me, jumped, and landed on my back. Instinctively, when I hit the ground, I rolled to the right and swatted him off with my left arm. We stopped moving, him on his back cringing, and me with my hand on his jacket, an arm reared back. He almost looked scared, and Kougi did too.
"Maybe that will be a little deterrent." I said as I smiled, climbed to my feet, and helped him to his. I hoped my lie had worked, if Kougi hadn't been there I probably would have slugged him. He laughed and smiled.
"Hey, keep that for tomorrow, kids." A ninja with a green vest and silver hair appeared behind us. Most of his face was covered with a black mask, including one eye.
"Who are you?" I asked. I couldn't see his mouth, but I could tell he was smiling.
"You don't know him?" Minato said, surprised. "That's Kakashi sensei! He taught my dad, and your parents when they were in a squad together!"
"You did?" I had no clue. Kakashi nodded. He would have to be pretty old, if my mother was in her mid 30s, that would make this guy in his 50s or later! He looked like he was in great shape for an older guy.
"Right up until when your father defected from Konaha." Kakashi smiled at this, which was odd.
"You're not OUR sensei, are you Kakashi sensei?" Kougi asked. Kakashi ruffled her straight black hair and she smiled and laughed.
"I am, actually."
"You're our sensei?" I asked. Iruka…
"Yes. I asked specifically to be this group's sensei when I read the roster. I've been doing this sort of thing for a while, so I have leverage."
"Why did you specifically ask for us, Kakashi sensei?" Minato asked.
"Oops, look at the time! I'm late! I have a few meetings to attend to. I'll see you kids around!" Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Weirdo." I said as I continued walking, my eyes mostly downwards.
"What kind of meetings, do you think?" Minato asked, his head towards the sky.
"I bet they are important! He knows your mom, Kujikeru, so I bet it has something to do with the Hokage!" Kougi said cheerfully. Even for a guy like me, who was normally bored and dismal, her perky nature was contagious. They couldn't see it, but I was smiling.
"Well, since we already ate, we should train! Really surprise Kakashi sensei when we begin tomorrow!" Minato cried excitedly.
"What did you have in mind?" I asked, raising on eyebrow and looking at him.
"Well, we aren't too far from an open field, we could spar!" Minato continued.
"Sounds good. Kougi, you in?" I turned my head all the way around, still walking in the same direction.
"Maybe if I watch you guys go at it a time or two. I haven't really done a lot of training as far as fighting." How could she manage to be cute when she was shy? It didn't make any sense.
"Alright! I'll totally whip you, Kujikeru!" Minato ran ahead. I laughed.
"So, do you think he's very strong, Kujikeru? Man, your name is a mouthful."
"Some of the other girls have come to call me 'Kuji'." I can't believe I just told her the nickname I hated more than anything, except maybe being told I was like my father. Sasuke would be a nickname I couldn't stand.
"Oh, OK then. I'll call you Kuji!" I hated it a little less now.
"Yeah, ok. But, I bet he's strong, but probably not all that bright." I said with a slight laugh.
"Why do they always hang around you?" she asked. Why was she asking this question? Did it have to do with the fact that we were alone? No, just stay calm Kuji. NO! Now I was using it myself. That wasn't right.
"Who?"
"Kawaii and Joji, but some others, too."
"I really don't know. I always try to get them to leave me alone, but they don't seem to get it."
"Huh, that's weird. Oh well, here we are! Minato looks like he's ready for you!" Minato was stretching out extensively.
"We'll see." I had decided I'd make a fool out of him. Just really toy with him, get a rise out of him. If he got mad, he'd be an even worse fighter. "So, what are the rules, Minato?"
"Anything goes! We ARE ninja, after all!" he said, beaming.
"Sounds good." I crouched a little, facing the left side. He came charging at me, starting with a wide sucker punch. I ducked under him, elbowed his stomach with my right elbow, and then spun around, hitting his surprised head with the side of my foot. It picked him off the ground slightly, and a bit to the side. I completed my spin, then turned and placed a fist in his stomach, not actually pressing. He still had that same look on his face, with some dirt added in. I looked over my shoulder, and Kougi's eyes were wide.
"Alright, lucky shot!" Minato jumped up and moved a bit away. He drew a kunai, and threw it at me. He began to run around and to the side, so instead of distracting myself with blocking, I just ducked slightly. He had crept up right under my vision, and he stood up, ready to hit me. I finished the hand signs as he looked in my eyes.
"Pheonix Fire Flower Jutsu!" I shouted, shooting three miniature balls of flame at him. He ducked to avoid narrowly, and I sidestepped around him, kneeing his back as it was bent at a low angle with my right knee, then pivoting as I kicked him with my left foot, sending him sprawling. I wasn't really toying with him, but it was still fun. Kougi looked like she was having fun too. "Was that one lucky too?" I asked laughing. Kougi giggled.
"Fine, if we are using techniques, then how's this! Byakugan!" the odd veins around his
eyes popped up, and his stare was intense. I forgot he had that. He came running in at me again, bent over low, and his arms back. "Eight Tri-grams! OW" My fingers poking his eyes interrupted him. He fell over, landing in a sitting position, rubbing his eyes. Kougi was crying she was laughing so hard. I was happy. His byakugan was gone.
"OW! That wasn't fair!" Minato pouted.
"We ARE ninja!" I said with a laugh. Kougi was sitting down now, still laughing histerically.
"You think it's funny, YOU fight him!" Minato said angrily. She couldn't respond, she was laughing so hard. Her eyes were teared up, and she was waving her hand in front of her.
"I'm gonna hit you SOOO hard, Kougi! Stop laughing!" Mianto demanded. I laughed at that a little too. Boy was he mad. "I'm not kidding!" He ran over towards her, a fist reared back. I moved extra fast over, and stuck a foot in front of his feet. He tripped, and went flying over Kougi's head. She had ducked as he flew over her, and as she turned her head around, to see him with his head and shoulders on the ground, looking up at her, with his back bent and his legs extending forward beyond his head, she fell over laughing. Maybe this squad wouldn't be so bad after all.
