Chapter 2

The next day, both me and Naruto get letters telling us come back to the academy, where we'll meet our new captain for our team. As we head to the academy Naruto and I wonder what missions we'll be assigned to.

"Capture mission," Naruto enthused. I laughed at the comment. Naruto always thought of the craziest of missions. Me and Naruto would constantly think of what our first mission would be. While my ideas were semi-realistic, Naruto said many missions that would be considered S-Ranked. He'd say stuff like "Hunting a Missing Ninja" or "Protect a wealthy leader".

I went with a more logical idea. "Bodyguard duty," I said. As Genin, we're both gonna get small, stupid jobs. The more I think about it, the jobs we get as Genin are jobs we could do without passing the academy, like rescuing a cat or trash clean-up.

"You gotta think bigger Kei. We're ninja of the Leaf now. We're gonna be expected to fight rival ninja and possibly protect the village from attacks," Naruto said. "The both of our teams will probably get important jobs."

"Like capturing a run away cat," I said. Naruto out of nowhere runs in front of me. He turns his head to me.

"Bet you I can beat you to the academy!" he said. This was a basically a tradition for the two of us. I win almost all the time.

"I bet I'll get there before you even start running!" I yell running.

At the academy, Hikaru is walking the the entrance. She stops at the door and turns back, hearing something behind her. Off in the distance, both me and Naruto are running close to each other. We get to the door as Hikaru steps out of the way as we both crash into the door. We both fall onto the ground.

I rub my bruised head as I look around to see Hikaru looking at me with a confused face. I look beside me to see Naruto knocked out. "AW NARUTO...Naruto bro wake up man. Ah come on Naruto wake up!" I yelled shaking my unconscious brother.

Hikaru shakes her head. "You two are weird," she said going over to the door which now has a large dent in it. The day goes on as me and Naruto split to go to our teams. I head down a hallway and open a door. In the room is a regular classroom with both Teru and Hikaru sitting down, their eyes trained on me.

I sit down in one of the seats as we wait for our captain. Minutes go by as the three of us give uneasy stares to each other. Whoever our captain is he is incredibly late. After 40 minutes of waiting a sound is heard at the door.

The door opens and Iruka Sensei comes in shocking us. The three of us are left bewildered which Iruka Sensei could see clearly. "I can see your all confused," Iruka says.

"Iruka Sensei, what are you doing here?" Hikaru asks. "You can't really be our captain, you teach at the academy."

"That's true, but I am informed that the Hokage has given my position to a new person," Iruka said.

"Who?" Teru asked.

"Um, someone with...lots of experience as a ninja," Iruka said, a slight hint of disgust in his face.

"So why did they put you as our team leader?" I asked. Iruka looked nervous at the question.

"I was the best choice for the team," Iruka said. The three of s were still confused, but just went with it. Iruka went over to the board and laid his back to it. "So, lets all get acquainted with each other."

"But Iruka Sensei?" I asked. "You already know us all."

"But you three don't know each other," Iruka said. "It's one of the most important factors of teamwork. Any of you can begin."

The three of us groaned. Nether one of us were interested in our traits, none of us are as open as my brother. It seemed none of us wanted to share info on ourselves and the silence in the room proved it. Iruka sighed.

"I guess I'll introduce myself first," Iruka said. "I am a Chūnin from the Leaf Village. I was previously a teacher for the Ninja Academy, and my wish for the future is to see all my past students become successful ninja."

Iruka looked at us all. First me, then Teru, then at Hikaru. Hikaru sighed and stood from her seat. "My name is Hikaru Koizumi. I am the 2nd of three children. My family is well-known for our incredible hearing, because of this, my ideas of the future is to become a sensor," Hikaru said.

I suddenly remember yesterday, she did hear Teru's threat "I can see you becoming that one day," Iruka said. Iruka looked at Teru next. "Your turn Teru."

Teru got up giving an annoyed look in his eyes. "My name is Teru Hosono, I am the only son in my family. My family is known for our strong Taijutsu. My ideas on the future is to win a fight against my father," Teru said.

"Fascinating, I've never really meet your parents before," Iruka said. Teru just shrugs the comment away and sits down. Iruka looks at me. "Last, but not least Kei. Tell us something about you."

I stand up. Both Hikaru and Teru are staring at me. I look at Iruka and he smiles at me. "My name is Kei Uzumaki...," I said.

"No it ain't," Teru cuts me off.

"Don't be rude Teru," Iruka said.

"His last name isn't Uzumaki," Teru said.

"And who are you to make those decisions," I said. This was the first time I ever stood up to Teru. As expected, Teru got up from his seat, came to my face.

Iruka quickly stepped in and separated us. "We're gonna have to try harder for you two to work together," Iruka said.

"Forget it," Teru said. "I am not working with this idiot."

"Iruka Sensei, there is no way me and Teru will ever be teammates," I said.

"You two don't have a choice. The Leaf Village is overflowing with people who need help. We need all the teamwork we can muster," Iruka said. "You two will need to learn how to work your problems now or back at the academy."

Both me and Teru gulped at the thought of going back to the academy. "So we're going on a mission?" Hikaru said.

"Exactly, except Teru and Kei will be the only ones to do it, alone," Iruka said.

"WHAT!?" me and Teru yelled.

"The two of you need to learn teamwork. If you don't it would be disastrous. If the two of you can't work together than there is no team. You two will need to prove to me that you can learn teamwork and use it to complete your mission," Iruka said. "If you don't succeed though, you two will go back to the academy."

Me and Teru looked at each other. He hated me, as well as I hated him. But to go back to the academy, I can't allow that to happen. If working together meant keeping my ninja status, then I'll do it. Teru on the other hand is another story.

"And what about me?" Hikaru asked.

"I'm sure there are many different teams that need a third person in their group," Iruka said. "As for you two, we are going to the Hokage's office."

The three of us walked to the Hokage's office, I was nervous while Teru was more furious. We entered the Hokage's office. There we see the Third Hokage sitting a his desk. Standing with the Hokage is this tall man, with pure white hair that goes down all the way to his waist. There's red paint running down the guys eyes. He seems to be carrying a large scroll on his back.

"Ah Iruka. It seems your team is ready for your first mission, but you are missing a member," the Third Hokage said.

"These two are in need of learning how to work together," Iruka said.

"Ah, teamwork trouble," the man laughed. "I remember my fair share of trouble with my team."

The third Hokage sighed with that remark. "What do you intend?" he asked.

"Something that could challenge these two rookie's teamwork skills," Iruka said.

"This is pointless," Teru said. The third Hokage looked like he didn't like that comment.

"Just by that I believe you truly do need training on your teamwork. Genin like yourselves will need to learn it the hard way that missions done with no teamwork will not only lead to failure, it will also lead to loss of life," the Third Hokage.

"Come on Sarutobi, let these two go. Here how bout this. I take them out and show them how to work as a team?" the man purposed.

"Come now, you took my job as teacher at the academy!" Iruka said. "Don't try to take my position as leader of Team 4."

"Hold on there Iruka. I never said I was taking your job as leader of Team 4. I'm just trying to help these two juvenile ninja," the man said.

"Juvenile!" Teru yelled, Iruka smacks Teru upside the head. Oh, I have waited for that for hours.

Iruka looks back to the man. "Please don't do what I think you'll do," Iruka pleaded.

"I promise, I'm just going to show them how to work together," the said. The man leaves the room followed by Teru and me.

"I'm just afraid that's not the only thing your going to show," Iruka thought.

As we're walking we soon leave the building and into the village. The man has not turned around, looked at us, talked, nothing. Me and Teru look confused.

"Um, guy. Where are you taking us?" Teru asked.

"I'm taking you two to learn teamwork," the man said.

"Where?" I asked.

"You'll find out when we get there," he said.

"When Iruka Sensei said you took his position as teacher does that mean that you are now the teacher at the academy?" Teru asked.

"Yes. The old man sent a letter to me and asked me to fill in as teacher at the academy," the man said. "Believe me, I can't wait to teach basic jutsu to a classroom full of noisy brats."

"You sound like you don't want to do it," I said.

"It will be a bothersome job, but I also have something else to do here," the man said.

"And that would be?" I asked.

"Something that isn't of concern," the man said.

"What's your name anyway? I feel uncomfortable following a guy I don't even know who's name is," Teru said.

"You can call me Jiraiya," Jiraiya said. "Now that I told you my name. How bout telling me yours."

"Teru Hosono,"Teru said.

"Kei Uzumaki," I said. I heard Teru groaning under his breath, but I couldn't care less. Jiraiya stopped walking making the two of us stop as well.

"What did you say your name was?" Jiraiya asked.

"Kei Uzumaki sir," I said. Please don't berate me on being Naruto's brother please. I can take having Teru do it, but really.

"Interesting," Jiraiya said. "So the old man wasn't pulling a fast one."

"Excuse me?" I said confused. Was the Third Hokage talking about me with this guy.

"So, Naruto really found a brother. I must say, I never expected anything like this to happen," Jiraiya said.

"So your like everyone else and think he's a monster?" I said angry.

"Oh heavens no," Jiraiya said to my surprise as well as Teru's. "I actually think the boy has some potential."

"So you and Kei are the only ones rooting for this kid. Huh, three people vs. a whole village," Teru said.

"It doesn't matter about the amount of people here are on one side, all that matters is the heart that is brought out from one of the sides," Jiraiya said.

"I don't get it. If one side has like 40 ninja and another had just 10, wouldn't the side with the majority of ninja win?" Teru asked.

"That would be true to the people who never went through that kind of battle," Jiraiya said.

"You went through something like that?" I asked amazed. Jiraiya began walking again, so do we.

"Yes, but that was along time ago," Jiraiya said. "Here we are." We stop at the entrance to the Konoha Hot Spring.

"Why are we here?" I asked.

"It's been a longer time since I visited this place," Jiraiya said. "Come."

Confused looks on our face, we followed Jiraiya to to hot springs. We got into the pool as Jiraiya relaxes his back against the rocks. Me and Teru look at Jiraiya confused. How was this training? Is this training at all?

"Hey wake up you old fart!" Teru yelled splashing water all over Jiraiya. Jiraiya looked unfazed by this, he looked at the both of us. I thought we were about to be beaten.

"You two need to learn the steps of learning teamwork before I truly teach you two anything. First step is patience, you need to learn how to deal with long term situations. Look at where we are. We didn't come here to cool off or relax, we came to train ourselves on teamwork, and one of the most important aspects of teamwork is patience," Jiraiya said.

Me and Teru lay our backs against the rocks. Our bodies relax as we breath in and out.

"Now as you relax, think about yourselves, think about your strengths, your weaknesses. Think about your accomplishments, your failures. And after you do that then think about the other. How you two are similar, how you two differ, then think about how you can capitalize on you differences," Jiraiya said.

I closed my eyes. Listening to Jiraiya's advice, I thought about all the stuff in my life. Being the brother of the most hated person in Konoha, my childhood wasn't easy, but neither did Naruto's. I love my brother, he doesn't deserve to be treated the way he is. I then look back at the time I didn't know Naruto. That mattress feels even more colder now, a reminder of how pitiful my life was.

I then wonder about my parents. They died the very day I was born. I remember the man that saved me from the destruction. He took care of me until he died of a illness. It was so long ago and I was so young that I don't even remember the man's name.

My life has been so meager that I really can't really see anything that I have accomplished or failed at. Becoming brothers with Naruto seems to be the only thing I have done that seems important. With that said I then think about Teru. He was the jock of the class. Flirting with the girls, teasing the "inferior". He was a complete ass. Naruto and I had constant fights with him.

I begin to wonder why he hates me and Naruto. Just simply him and no one else. I've seen Teru's parents; simply put, I'm glad to be an orphan if there are parents like that! There is no doubt in my head that Teru is abused by his parents. They don't do it in public like in front of Iruka or other parents, but it is happening. His father is a brute. His mother is incredibly strict and cruel. I remember back in the classroom, Teru's idea of the future is to beat his father in a fight.

No wonder Teru is so violent towards me and Naruto, his own parents are violent to him. Knowing this, I feel bad for the guy. Just like me, he never really has any accomplishments, knowing his parents they'd brush those aside and berate him for his failures. Teru is just like me only he has parents. Maybe I could be teammates with Teru.

I just wonder what Teru is thinking of me! Jiraiya lays back up and breaths out. "Alright you two, what do you think," he said.

"I guess after thinking about it I could understand you becoming brothers with Naruto knowing about all the stuff people say about him, you being a orphan and all. I saw little success and more failure in my life. Even with parents, I feel like an orphan the way my parents are, they always find different things to do rather than be parents toward me. And when they are in my life it's usually nothing but abuse," Teru sighed.

"I can see why working in a group can be hard in your circumstances. The first teamwork you have in life is with your parents, without that you basically have no chance of surviving in a 3-man group. But with you I find potential. Now that you are in a team that will regularly be sent on missions, you should see your teammates as family," Jiraiya said. "And you Kei, what have you learned about yourself as well as Teru?"

"I thought about my life. And to be honest, I have no family besides Naruto, no friends besides Naruto. I basically came into the world without anything," I said.

"And has that defined you?" Jiraiya asked.

"No. I was given the name Kei by Naruto and I am going to live with that name til I die. I never got to say this, but my wish for the future is to die a hero that is looked on by the children of this village as a role model," I said. Jiraiya got out of the pool. Rapped a towel around his waist and looked at us.

"Your training is complete," he said.

"Wait what?" Teru said surprised as did I.

"You two learned each other. Look long and hard cuz that's teamwork," Jiraiya said. "With the knowledge you have today, you will go out on the battlefields not as ninja of the Leaf, but as brothers."

"Brothers?" I said.

"The two of you will protect each other, make up strategic plans to complete the mission together, you two have officially become teammates," Jiraiya said.

"Yes!" I yelled.

"Awesome," Teru said.

Back at the Hokage's office, the three of us Hikaru, Teru, and me as well as Iruka are standing in front of the Third Hokage. The Third Hokage scrolls through the list of missions on his desk.

"I have a mission I think will be suitable for your team. A great friend of the Leaf Village is in need of an escort back to the Village Hidden in the Moss, with him is equipment we are giving his village as thanks for their years of peace with Konoha. Because of the value of these equipment, there is a chance bandits will try to stop us from reaching to our destination, you will stop anyone from touching those equipments, do you understand?" the Third Hokage orders.

"Yes!" the three of us say in unison. We gather all our equipment, with me are many stacks of Shuriken, some Kunai, and some scrolls to summon some more weapons for me. I pack up everything and head out to meet with the rest of the team. Teru, Hikaru, and Iruka are waiting. With them is Naruto and his team.

I walk up to Naruto. "Hey, your off doing a mission as well?" I ask.

"Yeah, but it is with the most annoying old guy," Naruto says.

"I can here you, you little runt!" the old man said.

"Yeah well it's true!" Naruto yells.

"Oh will you shut up Naruto," the female on his team says as she punches Naruto on the head.

"Ow Sakura, why'd you go off and hit me?"Naruto cries.

"Because we're all tired of your wining now come on, Sasuke, Kakashi and the man have already started walking so come on!" Sakura orders.

"Alright, alright," Naruto says. "So Kei, what cool mission are you doing?"

"Basically the same thing your doing," I said.

Naruto huffs. "I don't get that old geezer. ho does he think he is putting all of us in these pointless escort missions I mean really, there are many cool missions I could e doing that can really test out my cool new...," Naruto is grabbed by the collar.

"COME ON NARUTO! YOUR HOLDING US UP!" Sakura yells as she drags Naruto to where the rest of his team is.

I pray for him. I look at my team as we get ready to set out for our own mission. The man joining us is named Takashi Bakin, he is sitting on a wagon inside is the equipment the Hokage was talking about. He's holding a rope with two hands that goes all the way to a horse that will drag the wagon to the village. Takashi seems to be somewhere around his mid 40s.

With everyone here, everyone ready, we all head out on our long journey to the Village Hidden in the Moss.