Chapter 3 is officially up. To anyone reading, thank you for taking the time to check out my story. Reviews are greatly appreciated, negative or positive. Thank you and enjoy.

Chapter 3: Ninja academy: Iruka Sensei forever.

"Hey Kumori come over here."

"What's up Shikasu?"

"Eh nothing my dad was getting on me last night about practicing my ninjutsu. I don't get it when he's not on missions he just sits around looking up at the sky all day."

"Sasuke told me your dad was the best strategist he's ever met."

"You sure we are talking about the same guy here?"

Shikasu Nara; one of Kumori's best friends. Son of Shikamaru Nara and Ino Yamanaka.

"Hey I think sensei is coming."

The door to the room opened to show a brown haired Chunin, with a familiar scar lining his nose walking into the class room. He walked behind his desk and stood staring at his class, a smile on his face that showed experience, and caring.

"Good morning class. As you all know tomorrow you will be taking your graduation exams. While I know that all of you are studying to the best of your ability." As he said this Iruka stared at Skikasu.

"And as much as I would love to see you all pass, some of you may not meet the standards for becoming a Genin. All I have to say is that pass or fail, I am proud to be your teacher, and if you do fail better luck next time. Now that we have that out of the way I want you all to turn your books to page 316."

For the next several hours Iruka sensei went over basic historical knowledge, and chakra disciplines with his students. A few times he had to stop students from playing pranks on each other, and not listening to him while he was teaching. This made him remember the blond haired knucklehead he had the pleasure of instructing all those years ago.

"And to think, the man who was once the biggest prankster I ever taught may be the next Hokage. Naruto you better be careful out there on your missions."

"Hey Iruka sensei are you alright?" a student asked.

"What….Hey I thought I told you to write me a one page essay about what is expected of a Genin."

"You did sensei, but we all finished ten minutes ago. You forgot to let us go for lunch!" exclaimed another.

"Oh….right….I am sorry, please turn in your papers and you are dismissed until 1:30. When you return we will be reviewing the techniques you need to know for tomorrow. Don't be late."

As the students filed out of the classroom, and turned in their essays, Iruka began looking over the papers to see what his students believed and had written. He looked up to see Kumori sitting in his desk.

"Kumori I dismissed you, you can go outside to eat you know."

"Iruka sensei, not to be prying or anything, but can I ask you a question?"

"What do you need?"

"Well, you taught Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and the others over 16 years ago right?"

"Yes. My it has been a long time, hasn't it?"

"So I guess my question is, why after all this time have you never become a Jonin?"

Iruka looked a little shocked at the question at first. He began thinking and chuckled a little. Looking at his student he thought of all the faces he has seen walking through these halls.

"Well Kumori, I have thought about taking the exams, but in all honesty, I don't think I am suited for the level of combat that a Jonin experiences. I have always been a much better teacher, than a fighter, or even a team leader, and at the end of the day, while I may only be a Chunin, this is where I am happiest."

"I see."

"So even though my former students have surpassed me in rank, I am right where I need, and want to be, training the next generation of ninja to be the best they can be, and I can think of no better job for me to have. So does that answer your question?"

"Yes, thank you Iruka sensei. And if you ask me, you're the best teacher in this academy."

"Well thank you Kumori, now go eat before your lunch is over, I still need to look at all of your essays."

"Ok, see ya Iruka sensei."

"That kid, ha-ha. You have done a good job with him Sasuke."

As Kumori arrived on the outside field he noticed his group of friends so he walked over to sit with the,. They were all laughing when he arrived, and Shikasu moved over so Kumori could sit down.

"Hey Kumori what took you so long."

"I was just talking to Iruka sensei Shikasu."

"Trying to brown nose your way into getting a better grade or something."

"You wish Hikari, I'll get better grades than you without even trying."

Hikari Uchiha; firstborn daughter of Sasuke Uchiha and Irina Hyuga. Close friend, and rival of Kumori.

"So any of you guys nervous about the exam tomorrow?"

"You kidding, I'm going to pass that thing no problem."

"Yeah Kyo, as long as you don't forget to actually make a decent clone this time."

"Hey Reiku, my clones are perfect and you know it." Kyo retorted

"Actually Kyo, she has a point."

"No one asked you Akihiko."

"No, but the truth hurts nonetheless." Akihiko exclaimed.

"Your one to talk, everyone knows ninjutsu is all but out of your reach."

"My taijutsu makes up for my ninjutsu. And or the record my ninjutsu has become much more efficient"

"Keep telling yourself that." Kyo replied.

"All right I will."

"You guys are crazy." Reiku stated.

"Hey you better watch it." Kyo threatened

"Thank you Reiku, I'll take that as a complement."

"Yeah, Akihiko, you would."

"Come on Kyo, let's play nice now." Kumori advised, staring in slight annoyance at his friend.

Akihiko Haru; taijutsu fighter with little skill in ninjutsu, friend of Kumori.

Kyo Moriko; outspoken, and defensive, known to cause fights. A close friend of Kumori.

Reiku Natsumi; known for her beauty, almost matched by her intellect; friend of Hikari.

"Fine, sorry, so Kumori. How do you think you're going to do?"

"Well Kyo, I hope I pass, but my Transformation Jutsus are never perfect, I have been working on them though,"

"Hey Kumori, if you spent half as much time with on that technique as you do those swords you'd be golden."

"I prefer fighting with these swords, to trying to trick your opponent with some lame Transformation Hikari."

"A good foundation of basic jutsu is essential for a ninja to prosper, and live through all missions. A basic Transformation can save your life as much as a well-executed strike with a sword."

"Thank you Reiku, see Kumori." Hikari boasted.

"The same goes for you Hikari, you need to be balanced to be a great ninja."

"Whose side are you on here?"

"In an argument such as this, sides are unnecessary as their re faults on all."

"Well said Reiku."

"Thank you Shikasu." An appreciative Reiku said.

Kumori looked at the clock above the doors to the academy building and noticed it was already 1:25. He quickly stood up and took care of his garbage.

"Hey you guys, I think we should get back before Iruka sensei gets upset."

"Roger that." Kyo sarcastically affirmed.

The six of them just got back in time for class to resume. Iruka was again standing in front of the class holding a clipboard. Kumori knew he would be scoring the class on the execution of their jutsu.

All right as I call your names please come forward and demonstrate whichever jutsu I request. I will score you and tell you what you need to work on before the exam tomorrow,"

For the rest of the day Iruka began testing the students on the clone jutsu, the transformation jutsu, and the Substitution Jutsu. While he was impressed by the technique of many, others need a lot of work if they wanted to graduate the next day.

"Okay now before you all leave today I just wanted to say, to those of you who pass, I am very proud of you. You have shown me great improvement, and dedication. And if you should fail, well then I will see you back again next week, and we will work harder to prepare you for the next graduation exam. Regardless I am very proud of all of you, and I will see you tomorrow. Last but not least, after tomorrow I will no longer see many of you as my students, but instead I will see you as fellow ninja, who will stand up to protect this village with your lives. You are all dismissed for today. Have a safe trip home, and don't get reckless and hurt yourselves tonight."

Kumori and his friends left the classroom that day knowing that after tomorrow they will no longer be classmates, but fellow ninja comrades. They were not sure what to expect after tomorrow but they knew that whatever it was, if they were together they could handle it.

"See you guys tomorrow. So Hikari, do you want to study later with me, I figured we could help each other train one last time."

"Not that I need it, but sure, I'll help you out and show you what I know."

"Humble much there."

"You know me Kumori, Humble as a mouse."

"We will see about that all right."

"Shut up loser."

Kumori and Hikari spent the rest of the day training, with the help of two little demons of course. Sasuke and Irina watched from distance.

"You think they are ready Sasuke?"

"Of course, Hikari has the noble blood of the Uchiha, and the Hyuga in her, she will have no problem tomorrow."

"And Kumori?"

"That boy has talent, he has a way to go still, but when he gets there, well, Hikari better watch out."

"I'm proud of them."

"As am I."

Well there you go chapter 3 is done. I always figured Iruka would always be teaching at the academy so that's why I put him there still. Chapter four will focus on the graduation exams. Who will pass and who will fail. Anyone have ideas for any ninja for a graduating team, send me names and abilities. Thank you for reading, and reviews are welcomed.