Chapter 2: Say hello to Sensei
"I said no! I'm not gonna do it-Kore!" Konohamaru was perched on top of the roof of his house and looked down at Moegi and Udon who had been sent to track him down. Since they were the ones who knew Konohamaru the best it only seemed appropriate that they would search for him. However, the Sarutobi clan member refused to follow the two to the training grounds.
"Come on Kono-kun." Moegi stepped forward and tried to reason with him. Udon was never good with words so he decided to stay back and watch.
Konohamaru simply turned a blind eye towards his teammates and huffed. "You guys can go train with Ebisu-sensei if you want. I can train on my own! Besides, I haven't learned a thing from him since we were made a part of his team!"
His statement was actually true. While Konohamaru had shown significant improvement since becoming a Genin it came to a screeching halt when he was put under Ebisu's wing. Oddly enough this came around the same time as Naruto left the village. Some believed that it was through Naruto's teachings that Konohamaru's skills improved, but that was only a theory.
"Besides, you guys get just as bored as I do when we have to do what he says don't you? His training doesn't even come close to the difficulty of Naruto-nii-chan's training." Konohamaru narrowed his eyes at the two. Moegi and Udon bowed their heads to the floor and fell silent.
"Y-yeah.. That's true but.." Udon tried to think of a suitable comeback, but failed.
"But Ebisu is our Sensei and we have to listen to what our Sensei says. That's the rule!" Moegi's eyes burned with determination.
"Well I think that's a pretty stupid reason if you ask me.."
"K-Konohamaru-kun!!"
"Look, I'm just saying that we could be so much better if we had a Sensei like Naruto-nii-chan. You guys agree don't you? I mean, he's the one who beat that weird Akatsuki guy last ti-"
Udon's face suddenly contorted into a rather ominous scowl, which silenced Konohamaru instantly. It was then that he noticed the tears beginning to well up in Moegi's eyes. He had forgotten.. That day when he fought that Pein. His memory was still a bit fuzzy, but he could remember certain things. After he used his rasengan he felt something strike his head. The next thing he could remember was seeing that Pein towering over him and preparing to strike. Then suddenly he was fighting Moegi's parents. And then he passed out. He later found out that they came across Ebisu and ran to help him, but they were killed in the process.
"Moegi I.. I'm sorry."
"... It's alright, really. I just need to get used to the fact that papa and mama are gone. They wouldn't want me to stay sad forever anyway. Besides, if I keep on crying I'll never be as strong as you."
"Moegi.."
The day proceeded normally for awhile. A few Ninja academy students were preparing for the big test to determine who would become Genin. Normally Shikamaru would be in charge of that, but that duty now went on to Iruka. The new Jounin all went their separate ways after exiting Tsunade's mansion. Kiba went to tell his parents the good news. Shikamaru decided to take a stroll through the woods until it was time for the teams to be assigned. Lee celebrated with his team as they always did and Naruto decided to grab a bite at the Ichiraku Ramen. He just couldn't get that smile off of his face.
"So, Jounin eh? Can't say I'm surprised. Heck you could even be Kage with the skills you've attained so far."
The Ramen shop owner passed the blond a big bowl of beef ramen, free of charge. It was only natural that he'd celebrate his number one customer's becoming Jounin.
"Heh, thanks old man. I never really thought of the chuunin exams anymore with everything's that happened. I forgot how badly I wanted to become a chuunin. It feels good really. And to make it even better I skip right past it and become Jounin! I wonder if I get to wear that vest.."
A whole hearted chuckle left the ramen shop owner's lips at the thought of seeing Naruto strut around in that vest. Oh he would certainly let all that air go up to his head.
"Itadakimaaaas~"
Naruto split his chop sticks in two and scarfed down his meal happily. But seconds were already on the way. Naruto always needed about ten servings before he was content. As he began to scarf down his second bowl he let his mind wander for a bit.
"I wonder what kind of team I'll be in charge of.."
The words caught the attention of the shop owner.
"Well whoever you get I'm sure you'll do a good job at training 'em. Though Neji's team could probably gives yours a run for it's money. Those kids are beasts."
"Neji's team?" Naruto questioned. Now that he thought about it he never found out who was on Neji's team.
"We've heard alot about 'em" The shop owner began. "All three of 'em are geniuses. Graduated from the academy with an average of over 96. One of 'em even got a perfect 100! Boy I tell you those three'll be a force to be reckoned with. They've already been on seven A ranked missions."
Naruto nearly spat his ramen out when he heard the total of A ranked missions Neji's team was on. That couldn't possibly have been right. "S-SEVEN A RANK MISSIONS?!" He blurted out.
"Ayup. And word has it Neji didn't even have to assist those kids. They pretty much wrapped things up by themselves."
"Wow.. Neji's team huh?" Naruto stared into his bowl of Ramen and remained completely silent. "Guess he must be too busy to spend time with his old team."
"Lee maybe. But not Tenten." The shop owner replied.
"Eh? What do you mean?" Naruto stopped slirping a strand of his Ramen noodles and stared cluelessly at the old man.
"Geez... You really are out of the loop aren't you Naruto-kun?"
Time passed. It was almost three in the afternoon when Ebisu entered the Hokage's mansion. One more hour was left until the new rookie teams were assigned to their jounin. Tsunade looked up from her table, somewhat surprised to see the closet pervert step into her office.
"I take it you're here to explain why you were found in the women's hot springs' changing room.."
Ebisu's blush was as clear as day, however his expression remained completely serious. Y-yes well.. No actually, Hokage-sama. I wanted to speak to you about Uzumaki Naruto. Is it true that he has become a Jounin?"
A solitary nod was directed towards the black spectacled male by Tsunade. "Just today in fact. Why do you ask?"
"Well there is something I'd like to ask of you.. If you don't mind that is."
"I'm all ears, Ebisu."
The last hour sped by quickly. Iruka stood outside of the academy with a group of nine children, all bearing Konoha forehead protectors. Some seemed excited, some apprehensive and one didn't seem to care much at all. Iruka coughed into his fist and began to speak.
"Well this is it. You've all officially become Genin. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am. However there is still one small order of business. Selecting your teams. And without further delay.."
The kids tensed up [Except for one girl] and prepared to hear who would be joining who.
"Baek Jin Pyo, Kuwabara Li, Misaki Sasahara. You will form team 5. Your leader will be.."
At that moment a cloud of smoke appeared beside Iruka. When the smoke cleared a smiling and confident Lee struck his signature pose and greeted his new team.
"Osu! I hope you kids are ready to embrace the power of youth!"
Two of the children seemed visibly excited while Misaki, the only girl on the team, let out a small sigh. "I ended up on the weirdo's team." She whispered.
"Very good. Next.. Akimichi Chouju, Yamanaka Inohiko, Nara Ashika. You three will form team 6. Your leader will be.."
With that another cloud of smoke appeared beside Iruka. When the smoke cleared Shikamaru could be seen with a cigarette between his lips. However that cigarette soon fell to the floor once he looked at his team. It wasn't the fact that his team was pretty much another InoShikaChou trio, oh no. It was WHO was on that team that made him want to trade places with Lee. Ashika Nara, Shikamaru's little cousin. The girl walked up to him with an even lazier expression on her face if you can believe.
".. So you're our leader huh? How'd a lazy ass like you end up being a Jounin?"
".. Mendokuse na.."
Iruka stared at the two for a moment before coughing into his fist and continuing. "R-right then. Let's see. "Asuka Nakamura, Violet Summers, Inuzuka Fei. You will form team 8. And your leader will be.."
Just as before a cloud of smoke appeared and when it dissapated Inuzuka Kiba looked at his students with a confident grin.. that soon turned into a look of utter disbelief.
"M-.. My team.. Is made out of just girls?"
This comment reached the ears of his students and they wasted no time in proceeding to pummel their Sensei into a bloody pulp. Things seemed to be getting lively.
"And last, but not least.. Ah here they come now."
The children looked confused since they were the only ones out of their class to graduate. They looked off into the direction Iruka was staring at and caught sight of three slightly older children heading towards them. They had to be at least a year older. Moegi, Udon and Konohamaru walked up to Iruka, somewhat confused as to why they were called here.
"Oi oi, what's the deal Iruka-sensei? Why did Ebisu-sensei tell us to come here?" Konohamaru wasted no time in getting to the bottom of things. This caused Iruka to chuckle for a moment.
"Well, Konohamaru.. Ebisu resigned."
There was a moment of silence before Konohamaru's jaw dropped to the floor in comedic anime fashion.
"R-R-RESIGNED?! HE CAN'T DO THAT! WHY DIDN'T HE TELL US?!?!"
"Now calm down Konohamaru. He resigned because he thought that one of our new jounins would do a better job at training you. And I for one agree. So, team seven. Your leader will be.."
"Oooooooooooi guuuuuuuuuuys!"
The unmistakable voice of a certain orange clad nin filled the air and from out the sky came Uzumaki Naruto. The nine other teams were stunned to see such a big time and almost legendary Shinobi appear before them as the leader of team 7. Konohamaru and the others were shocked as well.. And then Konohamaru fainted with a big smile left on his face.
".. God does exist."
Chapter 2 -end-
Next chapter: Evaluation of strength.