SLIADC
Become Your Own Ninja!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or One Piece.
Previously on Sliver Lining in a Dark Cloud,
Naruto just wanted to keep hugging Hinata for accepting him for once in his sad and painful life time. That of course was broken when Iruka chuckled at them, "I must say Naruto. You have a really rare gift, a power I never thought existed."
Naruto was confused but he knew better not to make it known, of he could have ruined the moment. So Iruka went on, "You can find things that are the most hidden and you can bring them in the best to show to the world. That takes a lot of courage and most usually fail instead." Iruka smiled which Naruto caught it too and felt a little warm inside. "Go home Naruto." Iruka said abruptly, "With this mess, I think we can safely say you have passed the review and now ready for the real exams tomorrow."
"Thank you Sensei! Hinata-chan!"
The village had been in an uproar since that eventful afternoon, people finally woke up to complain about blacking out and waking up again in awkward positions with chills nonstop. The Hokage, or ruler of the village, finally settled the villagers down with the help of his ANBU, the enforcers of the Hokage's laws. Still, the paperwork was going to pile and the Hokage had enough of stacks of papers as it is.
Meanwhile, in the Hyuga Compound where Hinata lived, a young couple were in a room fit for a noble princess. The boy slowly woke up and tried to get up from under the covers but he realized that his girl was holding him down like her personal, over sized teddy bear. He didn't complain because she was too cute to get mad at.
The shine that leaked through the blinders, revealed to boy to be Naruto who went down and kissed Hinata on the nose which caused her to wiggle it and slowly wake up. "Good morning Hinata-chan."
"Good Morning Naruto-kun. Was it great that my clan let you sleep in my room with me? You're just like a big teddy bear, all soft and warm." Hinata asked, about to go back to sleep again. Naruto just rolled his eyes and chuckled in amusement.
"Your clan doesn't know you returned to the compound or worse that I am even here. They were all knocked out remember?" Naruto said and Hinata sighed. It was true, the entire clan as well as the other clans were all unconscious so there was no one to stop them from doing what they want. They went on a huge date together while waiting for them to wake up again which took until this morning. It was fun, just the two of them and no one to try and ruin it; they learned a lot about each other, their likes/dislikes, dreams for the future, desire to make their own name and someday have a family.
Now it was time to get out of bed and head over to the academy since this day is when they will get their team assignments. Naruto and Hinata had hoped to be in the same team so they can be together. By the time they arrived, the classroom was bursting with excitement and chatter.
"Hey you two!" Naruto and Hinata heard someone call them over, they saw some of the friends they made; Kiba Inuzuka, Choji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka and Shino Aburame. Kiba and Shino were shunned on by the others since they were considered 'disgusting' by their clan factors such as smelling like wet dog or talking to bugs. Choji, Shikamaru and Ino were all destined to be the same Cho-Shika-Ino Trio that their fathers were part of and yet their impression on the other students were something to consider; Choji was called a fatso since he was big boned, Shikamaru was the laziest yet brightest student of the entire Academy and finally Ino was a fan girl and a gossip. But not with Naruto or Hinata, they were also shunned for their own separate reasons so they felt right at home with this five kids and they did hit off pretty good. Naruto has plenty of friends to hang out with while Ino now had a girl of her age to share interests with and all that girl jazz.
"Hey guys, isn't this exciting?! We are finally given the chance to graduate and become Genin!" Naruto said in excitement that had spread to his friends who all nodded and cheered for an answer.
"So what? You all are about to lose anyways since you are not Uchiha." There came the same voice that had lowered the good mood at the wrong time.
"If that is the case then how exactly are you going to get into a Genin team when you are the only one who managed to graduate? Get involved with other Genin who are not Uchiha since you are the only one in the village?" Naruto retorted back and somehow, that had managed to make everyone snicker at the unbeatable logic behind that saying.
Sasuke just grew beet red that he was outsmarted by the dobe and just went back to his favorite corner to brood about 'finally killing brothers' as a ninja. Then Iruka came in and noticed that his class was actually silent this time; he never even needed to use his infamous Big-Headed Jutsu to silence them.
He cleared his throat, "Alright class, this is the moment I am sure you all have been waiting for. The Graduation Exams, if you pass then you will ascend to the ranks of the Konoha ninja yet if you fail, then you will have to spend another year here. I wish the best of luck to you all." Iruka said as he passed out the first part of the exam, a paper test on history and mathematics; he had explained that he received word about his Co-teacher and partner had commented treachery so he was executed. All Iruka heard was that the traitor was found in the forest, unconscious with the Forbidden Scroll near his hand.
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After the time was up for the Written Exam, Iruka nearly had a heart attack. He went over Naruto's exam sheet about ten times, the blonde somehow got a passing score despite being so bad in the other exams; Naruto couldn't have caught up under one night or two. It was something to consider impossible yet for Konoha's Most Unpredictable Ninja, Iruka should have expected something like this.
Right now it was time for the other parts of the Graduation Exam; the three basic Jutsu taught by the teachers. They consist of the Henge no Jutsu, the Kawarimi no Jutsu and the Bunshin no Jutsu. The student will have to preform them all perfectly in order to pass; to cast a prefect illusion over themselves, to avoid a mock attack with a nearby substitute and then create a living clone by simply moving fast enough.
Half of the Civilian students failed it but each of the clan heirs along with one civilian named Sakura had managed to preform them with a passing grade. Then it was Naruto's turn and everyone was about to think that Naruto is going to fail again, boy were they wrong when Naruto transformed into their Hokage complete with his pipe and smoke. Then Naruto managed to switch places with Sasuke while the Uchiha was still in his chair, while upside down! That last one created a lot of laughs until they noticed that the room was suddenly filled to the brim with Narutos!
The blonde just said, "What? This is the least I can do since I have too much chakra to control." Iruka was still dumbfounded and passed Naruto anyways, much to the dismay of Sasuke and his fan club. Hinata just hugged her new friend since she had begged at Kami herself that Naruto will pass so they will become ninjas together.
The next day, it was time to group for the team assignments. The Hokage had received a list of the graduates and tried to sort them based on their academic history that will work; he had been told by Naruto that if the teammates can't agree then a team is doomed to fail.
"Now that we are done with the first six Teams…" Iruka said after sorting out most of the civilian graduates, the boys were mocking Sasuke on what he had said earlier. "It is time for Team Seven which will consist of Sasuke Uchiha," The fangirls held their breath until, "Sakura Haruno…" Iruka had to duck and brace for a siren screech of utter joy that shattered all those new windows in every building in the village. "…And Kiba Inuzuka."
Sasuke could believe that he was stuck with his biggest and craziest fangirl along with a boy who smells like the dog that smells in his hood. What is worst is that he can now be humiliated effectively by his hated former classmates like so, "Hey don't worry teme. At least you have a clan heir on your team that can track down what had escaped you in order to stop your fall from grace." Naruto said like he was trying to be sympathetic but everyone was able to catch the hidden jab that Sasuke felt full blast before scuffing off to brood. Kiba was just groaning that his friend had the better luck until Naruto patted him on the back while whispering something about a 'reward' for a 'good enough prank on them'. The Inuzuka heir then got his mood back up and began scheming after first bumping with Naruto, for being a good buddy.
"Anyways. Team Eight will be Naruto Uzumaki…" Iruka had announced and Hinata braced for anything bad to happen and yet, "Hinata Hyuga and Shino Aburame." This time Naruto cheered while hugging Hinata gingerly who blushed at the contact and affection; they both knew Shino enough to know that he maybe stoic and rarely shows emotion but Shino can be trusted.
"And since that Team Nine is still in revolution, Team Ten will be Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka and Choji Akimichi." Ino groaned that she couldn't be with her crush and instead with a lazy complainer and a never stop eating 'fatso'. Anyways, they now have to wait until the arrival of their Jonin Instructors.
"Team Ten? Come with me." The first one to arrival after the teachers to the Civilian teams was a large man who reeked of the very smoke weed that the students could clearly see in his mouth of the very moment.
"Team Eight please come with me." The second Jonin was a beautiful woman with ruby red eyes and wild raven colored hair. Naruto, before he went with his team, gave Kiba a wrapped Bento for some reason, the blonde said it was in case that Team Seven had to wait an awful long time. Little did anyone know at the time was that Team Seven did have to wait for their Jonin teacher, three entire hours to be exact.
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Meanwhile, Team Eight was lead to an area labeled as one of the Training Grounds. Then they were all asked to sit on the logs found there. "Okay team, my name is Kurenai Yuhi, a Jonin of Konohagakure. I want you to tell me about yourselves." Seeing their confused looks, she smiled. "You know, your likes and dislikes as well as your hobbies and dreams for the future. I will start; my likes are tea, my friends, my home, men who are real gentleman, and Genjutsu while I dislike traitors, criminals, rapists, people who look down on Kunoichi and cake. Now you do it." Kurenai finished and they all nodded before following her example,
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki, a Genin of Konohagakure. My likes are my friends including a certain girl I hope to date…" Naruto started and he never budged when he made that remark on a 'certain girl' yet Hinata was able to catch a glimpse of the blonde's left eye looking at her before turning back to Kurenai; Naruto had hoped that would happen while the rest of his team never noticed, they all heard about how Naruto used to try and chase down Sakura until he suddenly changed a couple of days before the Genin Exams. "I also like Ramen, Ninjutsu, waking up to beautiful mornings, reading and trying out new things. I dislike the arrogant and the ignorant, the greedy and lustful, bullies, jerks like a certain Uchiha, and how ninjas show off in front of the civilians." Now that was definitely out of character for a boy who had to be abused and neglected by the civilians will defend them. "Finally, my dream is to be able to defend my precious people and to truly turn this village into a real Hidden Village by becoming the Hokage."
That was very heavy for such a young boy, he had his entire life in check and boys his age don't get to do that often at all. Hinata then spoke to break the silence, "My name is Hinata Hyuga, Genin of Konohagakure." Somehow, she was not stuttering anymore so everyone just let Hinata continue, "My likes are a certain boy, my friends, my family, Cinnamon Rolls and tea ceremonies. My dislikes are bullies and rapists, cake and the fact that family is apart. My dream is reunite my family under one cause and maybe even have a family with the boy I love." Naruto had no idea why he was blushing after hearing Hinata talk about a 'certain boy'.
Finally, it was Shino's turn. "My name is Shino Aburame. My likes are very little and that includes my clan and studying new insects. My dislikes are those who think Insects are hideous, disgusting and useless. My dream is to succeed my father and become the next head of the Aburame Clan as well as discovering new species of insects." That was plain but brief and straight to the point; nothing less of an Aburame Clan Member.
"Okay then, we will begin an exam that will really determine if you are really ready to become Shinobi." Kurenai started before taking out a scroll before opening it to reveal that it had three seals, all with the Kanji for Headband. Naruto then had the sudden suspicion before noticing something off.
"Hey where is my headband!?" It was true, the same headbands that were given to the graduates who passed the Academy Exam were gone and the Genin looked onto their teacher with a smirk.
"Yes and if you can retrieve them inside this scroll by the time my timer dings, then you will officially become Shinobi." Kurenai said before she disappeared, leaving a timer behind and the Genin to think on how they are going to find their teacher. Then Naruto told Hinata to search with her Byakugan while Shino used his bugs to scout as well while the blonde himself created a few clones to go into various directions.
After some time, Kurenai was spotted but she escaped via a illusion to fool both the range of the Byakugan and Shino's colony of insects every time they tried again but then, near a tree in the forest surrounding the training ground where it looked like Kurenai was going to disappear, she instead tried to place a illusion on Naruto yet nothing had happened before,
"Impact!" This was no clone as Naruto was able to land a direct palm hit on the Jonin that felt like force of an explosion instead. That hade injured Kurenai but she was puzzled to see that the 'Naruto' had turned into a puff of smoke, leaving some kind of a seashell behind. When she tried to get up and resume the chase, Kurenai's body had decided not to listen to her and as a result she couldn't get on her feet. "There you are Sensei!" Kurenai cursed as she saw that her team was just standing there by the tree next to her.
Naruto was able to retrieve the scroll before realizing something and threw the scroll away. When Hinata asked why, she saw that Naruto had his Headband on again and then she felt something on her own forehead; Hinata felt the headband back on her hand just like Shino. The team soon figured out Naruto,
"Right guys, she only led us to believe that she had stolen our headbands so we will band together like a team should be in order to get back an empty scroll." Naruto said with Kurenai clapping as she could without her body flinching from the injuries; thankfully she wasn't in danger of anything but she will need to let her body rest and heal.
Just wait until the other teams hear about this, the start of something special.
End of Chapter 3
*Yikes! Almost two entire months since I last updated! Things have really be dull, I couldn't get any inspiration sooner! I sure hope that now I have gotten two college exams done in one day, I can get a clear head at my work. Then on the last Sunday of the Month, I will have to get back to JICU like I said I would.
I know that I have not been showing so element of One Piece so far but I promise that by the next chapter, Naruto will really be in action. But since I am going to give all my time and energy into JICU, you will have to wait a while but you all are patient folk so I can count on you to continue to support my stories. That is why you guys are the best!
Just remember that I am the type to try and not waste my time but it is always hard to write without inspiration for what to place in my chapters. I am an author so I will have to welcome any type of criticism but if you don't like, then don't read. Anyways, thank you and hope to update again!*