Author's Note: Thanks for the alerts/review! :) I hate to say this, but I do feel more inclined to post with the more reviews I get, just saying... Here's a B chapter about Hiroshi's life as a genin.

Chapter 1.b

A few years earlier.

Hiroshi hurried to meet up with Asuma Sensei for some extra training, running late for the second time this week. He had just made genin a few weeks ago, but since he was the only person from his class to pass, he didn't have a squad yet. When Lady Tsunade became Hokage, she decided that he shouldn't be going on missions on his own or just with an Elite shinobi, so he would just train at a more advanced level until further notice.

Being the only person to pass in his class, even though he had only been in it for less than a year, made him one of the most hated genin in the village. Because of how he had helped during Orochimaru's attack in the final part of the chunin exams, he was immediately promoted to genin. Every time he had to walk into the academy, all he received was jealous glares from the classmates he use to call his friends. Every so often he'd hear them yell some sort of name at him, or the worst, call him Bean Pole since he was ridiculously scrawny and taller than he'd like to be. For whatever reason, someone called him that when he hit a growth spurt in school, and the name stuck on him like a leech. That's why when he heard it called at him; he knew exactly who it was.

"Hoy! Bean Pole!" yelled Daiki, one of Hiroshi's exclassmates who particularly enjoyed giving him grief. "What's the hurry? Running late again?" Hiroshi just kept running, taking his father's advice and just ignoring the kid, but for some reason today, he wasn't having it. He followed him, still calling at him. "Yo! Bean Pole, I'm talking to you!" Trailing behind Daiki was a few more classmates, but Hiroshi didn't really know them very well. He stopped, turning to look at the strong built boy.

"Yes, I'm running late," he said, irritation rearing its ugly head in his voice.

"Off to do important genin things? Top secret missions?" Daiki asked in a tone that made Hiroshi's fist clench. "You know, I was talking to my father a few days ago, telling him how you were the only person in our class who made genin. He had an interesting theory Bean Pole."

"I don't care," Hiroshi said, turning back around to leave. He was really running late.

"Oh, I think you do," the boy sneered, crossing his arms. His gang of friends did the same, all wearing smirks that made Hiroshi's stomach twist. "He told me that it wasn't a surprise that you made genin, I mean, with your father being such a big important jonin and all. Not to mention that your mom was some sort of whore from the Sand Village. They felt sorry for you and knew that there would be a big controversy if you didn't make genin. So that's why you made it. Because your dad's some big time shinobi who had sex with a Sand Village whor-"

The end of Daiki's sentence was cut off by Hiroshi's fist making contact with his face. The kid flew several feet, smacking into a tree, stunned by what had just happened. Hiroshi charged at him, pounding his face into the tree with his fists.

"You're a liar!" he screamed over and over until a firm hand grabbed his fists. Hiroshi panted, staring at the damage he'd just done. Daiki was missing several teeth and was bleeding profusely from his mouth. Both of his eyes were already darkening with bruises and tears were running from them. His friends grabbed him and ran off with their tails between their legs.

"I was wondering where you were," Asuma said, the smell of cigarette smoke invading Hiroshi's nose. Shaking from anger still, he looked at his blood covered, trembling hands that Asuma had finally let go.

"I… I don't know what came over me," he said, still trying to catch his breath.

"Come on," Asuma said like nothing had just happened. "I think you should skip training today."

Instead, the pair went to Asuma's house, where he handed Hiroshi a towel to wash the blood off of his hands with. He sat down at Asuma's table, trying to get over what he had just done. He could've killed Daiki. He knew he wanted to after all of what he said. He knew it wasn't true, that he had worked hard for his position as genin and that his mom wasn't that ugly word Daiki called her, but for whatever reason, everyone in the village didn't think so. A bottle of sake clinked on the table in front of Hiroshi, along with a small cup, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, I'm not allowed to-"Hiroshi started, pushing the drink back.

"Don't worry about it. I won't tell," Asuma said with a smirk, taking another drag of his cigarette. Hiroshi gave him a grateful smile, pouring himself a cup and throwing it back. It burned his throat and up through his nose, but seemed to take the edge off of what he'd done and steadied his hands a bit.

"Could you also not tell my dad about… what happened?" Hiroshi asked as he poured himself another cup.

"There's no getting around that. He probably knows by now," Asuma said. "That kid, Daiki, seems like the type who'd go running to his dad as soon as he could."

"I knocked his teeth out," Hiroshi said bluntly.

"He deserved it," Asuma said. "I heard what he said to you. I didn't think you'd beat the shit out of him, otherwise I would've stepped in sooner, but to say he didn't have it coming would be lying."

"Maybe so, but Dad is going to be pissed," Hiroshi said, drinking his third cup.

"You're right about that," Asuma said, almost laughing. All of the jonin thought it was funny to imagine Kakashi actually getting mad, since it didn't happen too often, but Hiroshi knew better. He could see behind that cool composure, his dad was someone you did not want to piss off. "Better not drink too much of that. I don't think it'll make him much happier if you walk home in a zig zag."

"Right," Hiroshi said, pushing the sake away from him. His vision was getting a bit fuzzy, but he knew he'd be able to manage. "I'd better go… Thanks Asuma."

"Anytime Kid," he said, opening the door for him to step out and go meet whatever he would have to face when he got home.


The walk home was more difficult than usual since his motor skilled had been weakened by the sake, but by the time Hiroshi reached home, his head was clear again. He fumbled with his keys for a few seconds before his father opened the door. To say he didn't look happy would be an understatement. Shrinking a bit, Hiroshi walked inside, finding Daiki's mother and father also sitting in the apartment. Daiki's father was built big and strong, just like his son, and had big angry eyes glaring right at Hiroshi. Daiki's mother looked more upset than angry, her eyes filled with tears.

"Where have you been?" Kakashi asked, obviously still trying to keep his cool.

"With Asuma Sensei," he answered, looking back to his father. Kakashi raised his eyebrow at him and sighed, putting one hand on his waist and closing the apartment door with the other.

"I'm assuming you know why Daiki's parents are here," Kakashi said, getting right to the point. Hiroshi flinched at the cool anger in Kakashi's voice.

"Yes," Hiroshi said, not saying 'to collect their son's teeth?' like he'd wanted to. He had a feeling that wouldn't have gone over well.

"You're lucky those weren't his permanent teeth," Kakashi said. "Otherwise, this would be an even worse situation." Hiroshi sighed a bit in relief. "Don't even think for a second that it means you're off the hook."

"I..." Hiroshi wanted to justify himself, but he had a feeling there was no justification. "I'm sorry," he said, looking over at Daiki's parents. "I… I really didn't mean to hurt Daiki…"

"You didn't mean to hurt him?" Daiki's father said, rage slowly building up. "You pummeled him into the dirt and for no reason! Daiki told me everything, you little big shot." Hiroshi wanted to laugh at the oxymoron, but he stifled it. He must've smiled though. "Don't even smile. My son only wanted some help with his ninjutsu, but instead, you beat the holy hell out of him!"

"Wait," Hiroshi said, his smile completely gone. "That's what Daiki told you?" Hiroshi started laughing, almost hysterically. He couldn't help it. "Daiki told you that he asked for my help with ninjutsu?"

"What the hell is so funny?" the man yelled, standing up as if he was going to punch Hiroshi. Kakashi quickly got in between the two of them, putting a hard hand on Daiki's father's shoulder, forcing him to sit back down. Hiroshi instantly shut up, remembering that his father was still pissed too.

"That isn't what happened," Hiroshi said simply, trying to hard not to laugh again. "Not at all."

"Then what did?" Kakashi asked with his arms crossed. He knew that story didn't add up when Daiki's father had told him, but the man was unreasonable, so for the sake of keeping the peace, Kakashi went along with it until Hiroshi had said otherwise.

"I was running late to practice with Asuma Sensei and Daiki called me over. I ignored him because I had to get to practice, but he followed me until I had to stop and hear whatever he had to say. Then he sat there and told me that the only reason I made genin was because my dad is a jonin and then he called my mom… a name, and I lost my cool. I know that doesn't justify anything I did, but he is not even close to being inno-"

"You lying little bastard!" Daiki's father yelled, standing up from his seat again. "My son would never do such a thing!"

"Well he did!" Hiroshi yelled back, not liking being pushed around. "Ask Asuma Sensei! He saw what happened!"

"You know, I was going to try and settle this in a way where we wouldn't have to involve the Hokage," Daiki's father said, standing up. "But, if you aren't willing to own up to what you did, then I'm not willing to make your life easier. You'll lose your rank for this." He said as he stormed out with his wife. Hiroshi cringed as the door to their apartment slammed, more pissed off than ever.

"Well, now you've stepped in it," Kakashi said bluntly.

"But that's what happened!" Hiroshi yelled. "His son called mom…" He couldn't say the word, so he stopped.

"I have a pretty good idea," Kakashi said, saving his son from saying it. "But he's right you know. You could lose your rank because of this. It shows a lack of control, which a shinobi can never have. You have to learn to control your anger. This doesn't just look bad on you, you know."

"I know," Hiroshi said under his breath. "And I am really sorry… I didn't mean to hurt him as badly as I did…"

It ended up that the Hokage did become involved, but Hiroshi didn't lose his rank. He didn't even have to speak to the Hokage, since Asuma beat Daiki's father to her. As soon as Hiroshi had left his house, the jonin went to the Hokage's office and told her exactly what happened. Hiroshi did end up getting some horrible missions as punishment, but it wasn't ever spoken of again between him and his father. Although, he did hear Asuma tell his dad that "the kid deserved every punch" one time.