A/N: Hey! Second chapter is up! Woot! Sorry this took so long haha, I really hope you guys like it! This chapter like the last is dedicated to shyflorist on tumblr! I hope you guys don't mind the POV jumping around to much...I normally write from Sakura's view and not Menma/Naruto's!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot line.
Four years had passed quickly, in a twist of fate and fun everyone had passed their exams to be made Genin. Now all he could think was that if luck shined on him he would be on a team with Ino, even Sasuke and Hinata would be okay so long as he wasn't stuck with Sakura. The girl hadn't warmed up to anyone, in fact there had been several times he thought Sakura and Hinata would kill each other, or Sasuke. His mother thought Sakura was adorable though she much preferred Ino for Menma's company, even over Hinata.
Menma had made sure to get to class early, so as to snag a seat next to Ino but he hadn't expected to be there before everyone. His hands found themselves rubbing the insignia on his headband, something that marked him for who he was now. A genin in the village of Konoha, his family had some standing here and he was proud of his tasks. When people finally started to arrive he straightened up a smirk painted on his face, he was sure no one would expect him here. And yet when people entered no one seemed surprised that Menma was there instead they all seemed to accept it and Menma had a sneaking suspicion that Hinata and Sasuke had something to do with that. Standing proudly Menma's electric eyes scanned everyone entering until he finally spotted the person he'd been looking for.
Four years hadn't been long enough to dull Menma's curiosity in the Yamanaka girl like it had his ever darkening hair. The bright grin on his lips didn't dull when he noticed the pink haired girl that stood next to Ino because though Sakura hadn't warmed up much Menma had still found her to be an entertaining person. As the two made their way over to Menma he sat down excitedly waiting for his friends. It didn't take long for the girls to be joined by Hinata and Sasuke, and then for the four of them to cross the room together, Menma could tell by the tight lipped expression on Hinata's face that today would probably not go off without a hitch.
Sitting down when everyone was in front of him Menma watched them interact quietly until he was alerted by being poked in the face, turning his head to look at Sasuke, Menma raised an eyebrow. "What do you look so happy about Menma?" Shaking his head Menma just laughed at the annoyed look on his friends face. Leaning forward as if to taunt the Uchiha he tried to tune into the argument going on between Hinata and Sakura, how angry Sakura was would effect how shy Ino felt today he knew. With his attention so rapt on the females, as Sasuke's likely was as well, neither boy noticed the person behind Sasuke fall back into his chair his body hitting Sasuke's.
The second the boy's lips touched the girls stopped arguing; Hinata and Sakura's hands flew over Ino's eyes to preserve her innocence and menace radiated from the two violent females. "Sasuke…" "Idiots how dare you!" It didn't take long for both boys to be slumped over in their seats, groaning after Sakura and Hinata had finished with them, as if Sasuke stealing his first kiss wasn't bad enough. Sulking quietly Menma fought the urge to peek at Ino, afraid that the girl would be laughing at him. The class was interrupted from its whispers and speculating by Iruka-sensei's entrance as he called for everyone to take their seats.
Excitedly Menma motioned for Ino to take the empty seat between him and Sasuke, but to his dismay and Hinata's Sakura slipped in quickly sending a pointed glare at Menma as she motioned for Ino to sit behind her. Menma looked helplessly at Sakura who just shook her head at him. "Now I know you must all be dying to hear your teams, so here we go." Menma couldn't help but ignore the teacher, laying his head on his desk he waited until he heard his name or the name of someone he cared about. "Team Seven consists of Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno-" Biting back a laugh Menma watched as Sasuke shot up with a grin shot at the volatile girl. "And Menma Namikaze." With a smirk shot in his direction Menma realized Sakura wasn't going to be the one to help him understand Ino.
By the time Ino's and Hinata's teams were called Menma felt like class had dragged on forever. Menma's only consolation to not being teamed with Ino was not feeling the wrath that poured off of Sakura in waves at the blonde's actual teammates. He almost felt bad for Shikamaru and Chouji, almost. Smirking slightly the dirty blonde boy watched Sakura's deadly glares and mouthed threats to the two boys on either side of Ino, it was better than listening to Hinata whine about her dysfunctional teammates, each who rebelled against their clan in certain ways.
"Alright, now that you all have your teams, why don't you kids go out and eat lunch. Seriously, go!" The teacher's voice was booming at them chasing them all out of the room in a flurry that made the four of them laugh, lying out on a bench commonly used for lunch time, they couldn't seem to pull air into their lungs fast enough. Despite nothing actually being funny, the shouting teacher who had surely had enough of the students just seemed to kill them. Finally the four rose up, Menma noting that Sakura looked awkwardly away from every one except for Ino.
"Oh, I was enjoying you laying on me Sakura. It must be so nice for you to actually touch someone." With a wink Sasuke attempted to flirt with the fourths daughter while Ino colored awkwardly. "You're so annoying Uchiha." With a roll of her green eyes Sakura practically spat the words at him before standing quickly and running away from the group. All eyes were on Ino as the expected her to follow after the angry girl only to see her sitting awkwardly with them. "S-Sakura-chan needs time a-alone…S-she doesn't r-react well to comments about her being a-alone." Menma felt a surge of pain well up as the girl looked to the ground, obviously saddened by her friends life style. "Hey Sasuke, how about we avoid comments on Sakura-chan's home life from now on?" "Jeez Uchiha, even I wouldn't say that to forehead!"
When almost their entire lunch hour was up three giggling girls ran up to the group excitedly chattering. "Sasuke-kun, Menma-kun! Have you heard? Orochimaru-sama sent a letter to Lady Hokage, he's going to return soon! There's a rumor he's going to be bringing a team too!" The girls stayed to flirt until Hinata scared them off with a glare. Still eating the boys were surprised when they spotted their new teammate running towards them, a silver haired man in tow. "Uchiha, Namikaze, meet our new teacher Hatake Kakashi." As the boys took in the man who they assumed was grinning at them from underneath the mask they tried not to laugh. "Yo! I'm your leader and we all need to head up to the roof top!"
When the three finally arrived at the roof top, panting and looking mildly annoyed at the man who had disappeared in a poof of smoke, leaving them to run after him. While the three of them separated to seats away from each other, the teacher took them in quite amusedly. "Now, how about we get to know each other, I want you to tell me your likes, dislikes and your dreams!" "Wait what?! Why don't you tell us yours first!" Menma's voice held the tinge of annoyance that they all felt. "Fine, my name is Kakashi Hatake, I dislike a lot of things, I don't feel like telling you my likes, and my dreams are none of your business! Now you blondie, you go first!"
Menma glared at the teacher, annoyance clear in his face before he spoke. "My name is Menma Namikaze, I like Ramen from Ichiruka, I dislike when people interrupt when I'm trying to talk to someone, and my dream is to become Hokage!" Kakashi nodded towards Sakura signifying for her to go now as she sighed softly. "My name is Sakura Haruno, I like my best friend, I dislike almost everything else, my dream is to escape this idiotic reality where people abandon their families without thought." Finally it was Sasuke's turn so with flourish and a smile the Uchiha began to speak. "My name is Sasuke Uchiha, I like pretty girls, I dislike when my brother is gone for long stretches of time and my dream is to become a ninja worthy of the Uchiha name!"
