Authors note

Sorry it has taken so long for me to write, such is life. For those that have been waiting, hope ya'll enjoy.

P.S. I don't own Naruto or its characters.

Uzumaki Apartment

"Well, look who finally back," Naruto mocked Itsumi as she walked back into the apartment.

"Oh, shut it Naruto," she shot back while looking around the apartment. "Well it doesn't look like you set the place on fire," she continued.

"Hey, that's not fair, I only burned the curtain once," Naruto replied defensively.

"Calm down Naruto, it was just a joke," She replied as she was making her way to the back of the apartment.

"Hey, where are you going now," he asked

"Bed, and you should be too. Don't forget we have to be back at the academy tomorrow for team assignments," was all she said as she closed the door to her room.

"Ugh, fine, I'll go to bed," Naruto replied as he walked up to her door and gave it a knock. After a minute she open the door.

"What," she asked as Naruto wrapped surprising her a little.

"I just wanted to say thanks for everything you've done for me," he said as he let her go. She then looked at him and could tell he meant what he said genuinely.

"This comes as a surprise," she calmly replied.

"I know, I just realized how much you've taken care of me, and to be honest, I don't think I would have graduated without your help," he told her. "just to let you know, if you ever tell anyone I said any of this, I'm going to deny it," he finished showing his usual grin.

Itsumi simply raised her arm and gently flicked him on the nose, "I know, you knucklehead," she replied softly. "Now, go to bed," She finished.

And with that Naruto walked over to his room turning back before entering, "Night, sis," he said as he entered and closed his door.

"Night, Naruto," she quietly said to herself as she closed her door and went to bed.

Next Morning

Itsumi woke to a pleasant smell of eggs and bacon, and that's when she started to worry. She jumped out of bed, bolted out of her room, and into the kitchen, where she saw Naruto making some scrambled eggs and frying up some bacon.

"Welcome back to the land of the living," Naruto teased Itsumi. Who only glared at him for a second that turned into a big smile, setting Naruto a little uneased.

"So, you can cook something besides ramen," she said smugly. Naruto simply made a mock pouting face and continued cooking. Itsumi simply shrugged her shoulders, "All well, at least I don't have to drag you out of bed," she finished.

"Oh, knock it off and get ready, breakfast will be done shortly," he shot back at her.

"Yea, yea I'm on it," she replied as she headed back to get ready.

So, the morning based by relatively quickly and they raced to the academy, which Naruto won. "Damn, how are you so fast," Itsumi asked in between breaths.

"Just that good," replied triumphally. Which earned him a glare from Itsumi. And with that the went inside and took their seats to what for Iruka. As they were waiting, the room began to fill with the rest of the recently graduated students. After which Iruka came in and gave the class a congratulatory speech that no one listened to. Then he began calling out the teams and everyone began listening intently.

One by one the teams where called until it came to the last handful. "Team 7, led be Kakashi Hatake, will be Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki," Iruka announced which surprised everyone because to two students who were considered the best were placed on the same team. Itsumi was a little upset that she and Naruto wouldn't be on the same team, but she figured that wasn't going to happen anyway.

"Team 8, led by Kurenai Yuhi, will be Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, and Itsumi Uzumaki," Iruka continued. This got Kiba pretty much hated by every boy in the room, and Kiba would have been fine with that. Except he was trying to disappear from Naruto's piercing gaze he felt was burning through him.

Hinata herself looked back at Itsumi and began to panic, thinking about last night's encounter.

Flashback Last night, Hokage Monument

"Well…" Itsumi pretended to think to herself, making Hinata even more nervous.

'Is Itsumi really going to help me win over Naruto,' Hinata thought to herself, while her heart was racing. Waiting for Itsumi's response, every second feeling like an eternity.

"…Ok," Itsumi finally said.

"Really," was all Hinata was barely able to squeak out. And with a nod of confirmation Hinata essentially tackled Itsumi, who was surprised by Hinata's burst of speed. Then looking down at Hinata she couldn't help but smile.

"You know Hinata, I don't think I've ever seen you this happy," she said realizing that it struck a cord with Hinata who now had sadness in her eyes. "I'm Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," Itsumi quickly apologized trying to make Hinata, at least, a little less sad.

"It's Ok, just family issues," Hinata replied looking down at the ground still upset.

Then getting an idea in her head Itsumi placed her arm around Hinata, "Well, on a side note, lets talk about how you can win Naruto Over," Itsumi stated bringing a little joy back to Hinata.

End Flash Back

Hinata Remembered about the many things they had discussed, and it brought a tinge of red to Hinata's checks. But she snapped out of her daze when she heard Iruka calling out the final team, and nobody was shocked to see the it was Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji on a team. Then Iruka put down the clip board he was reading and got everybody's attention. "Now that teams have been announced, get to know each other if you don't already, then you are all to remain here until your Jounin instructor comes and gets you, understood," he asked and with nodes from everybody he left the room. Immediately everybody got with their teammates and were just chitchatting. Except for a member of team 7 and all of team 8.

Itsumi pretty much flew to Hinata and played like she didn't know her. "So, your Hinata Hyuga, nice to meet you. Say I like your shirt," she said all sweet like. Then she looked over at Naruto, "What do you think Naruto, doesn't Hinata's shirt look great," she asked almost showing Hinata like a doll.

Naruto looked at Hinata, then her shirt, whish was a lavender T-shirt with the fishnet like armor underextending to her mid forearm. "Yes, it does," Naruto said a little sheepishly.

"You really think so," Hinata asked shocked that she was being complimented by him.

"Yes, I think it looks good on you," he said without thinking, only after realizing what he said, a slight blush creeping in. Then he remembered something and looking at Hinata and his sister he simply said, "Excuse me I have something to take care of right this minute."

And with that he walked past them and grabbed Kiba, who was being abnormally quiet, by the back of his hoodie. "Come on Kiba, we need to have a chat."

"Akumaru help me," Kiba Shouted as Naruto began dragging Kiba away, but stopped when he heard the yip of the little dog. And with one glare the dog whimpered and laid back down.

"That's what I thought, your little dog doesn't want any part of the little chat we are about to have," Naruto said staring threateningly at Kiba, who seemed to shrink. And with that Naruto stepped outside the class dragging Kiba behind him.

"Um, where is Naruto taking Kiba," Hinata asked Itsumi.

"Oh, to give Kiba the..." Points finger downward and deepened her voice, "don't do anything to my sister or you'll regret ever being born…," returns her voice back to normal, "speech." She said as they both began to laugh at Kiba's misfortune.

"I just realized Hinata, you didn't stutter, turn tomato red, or faint when you were talking to Naruto," she said matter of factly. Which made Hinata perk up a little, realizing Itsumi was right. The when she looked at Itsumi, her spirits sank as she saw the look in her eyes. "Just wait Hinata, you'll be winning over Naruto in no time," she said with a devilish smile, making Hinata wish they were not on the same team.

Authors note

And done, not so much of a cliff hanger this time. However, it going to get interesting later. I have a few ideas for later chapters so hopefully I can get those written and sooner than the last update.

Till next time.