Underlined - English

SARUTOBI HIRUZEN


A/N: This chapter is lighter on plot and heavier on reasoning. I wrote this chapter after I complied a separate document reasoning out whether it was actually logical to put Noa on Team 7. I didn't want to just say "hey." Sakura ain't here no more. BETTER REPLACE HER.

Thanks again for reading!

Lots of Love!
-MiloOfTheKey


He was getting too old for this.

He already retired - honestly, he had. But all the same, after Minato died -

No. Don't go there, Hiruzen.

I lit my pipe, allowing the strong odor of the tobacco to fill the office. I massage my temples gingerly, staring at the pile of files in front of him. Newly minted genin files.

Being the Hokage was satisfying in many ways - and usually deciding new genin teams was one of them. But not now - not with the Foreigner, the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki, and the Last Uchiha all in one graduating class.

The council - no doubt orchestrated by Danzo - wanted to spread around the Foreigner's trust to as many people as was possible without her catching on. The problem was - it was clear she already had. The girl was slowly becoming alienated simply because we wanted her to trust us. She needed stability and familiarity before she could really connect with anyone new, but the council refused to hear it.

But ultimately, the decision came down to him - although displeasing the council may make major decisions more difficult later on. Kami, why did he ever get involved in politics?

Breaking down abilities and potential teams was like one big logic puzzle. You wanted the best result while also taking in as much factors into consideration as possible:

The Genin:

ARAMBAME SHINO was the second ranked boy in the Academy - and just above average all around. His bugs and clan jutsu gave him limited additional offensive abilities, but he had potential for an INFO GATHERER or SCOUT or TRACKER.

AKIMICHI CHOUJI average all around, but had his clan jutsu and physical prowess to fall back on. TAIJUTSU SPECIALIST.

INUZUKA KIBA had above average physical abilities - not fantastic, but with potential to be formidable. Plus both Inuzuka traits and his companion to enhance his tracking abilities. TAIJUTSU SPECIALIST or SCOUT or TRACKER.

UCHIHA SASUKE was the top of his class - rookie of the year. He was well rounded all around, although with some difficulties performing genjutsu without the aid of a Sharingan. Impressive offensive ninjutsu abilities. NINJUTSU or GENJUTSU SPECIALIST.

NARA SHIKAMARU was ranked only above the grossly discriminated against Naruto in the Academy. However, he was the Nara Clan Heir and had demonstrated his ability to pick up any information - even English - very quickly. He was best at ninjutsu overall, but not overly impressive. INFO PROCESSING or NINJUTSU SPECIALIST.

HYUUGA HINATA was above average across the board. She had her clan taijutsu and Bakugan to augment her abilities - although she wasn't overly impressive with either. TRACKER or SCOUT or TAIJUTSU SPECIALIST.

YAMANAKA INO seems to have baseline fine enough chakra control to learn medical ninjutsu - and had expressed interest in it in the past. She is above average at ninjutsu, and as a Yamanaka, she had her knowledge on human psychology and her clan jutsu. FIELD MEDIC or T/I SPECIALIST or INFILTRATION SPECIALIST or NINJUTSU SPECIALIST.

UZUMAKI NARUTO was the "dead last" in his class, although most of that was the discrimination against him, not because of his gross lack of ability. Naruto is an offensive person, which resulted in him using his newly learned Shadow Clones for that purpose. Originally however, Shadow Clones were used for infiltration and reconnaissance.

His skill with ninjutsu in the Academy was dismal - but his demonstration last night in the forrest implies that it was the little things that he had trouble with - not the big ones. Which made sense, with his chakra stores augmented both by his heritage as an Uzumaki and because of his hosting of the Kyuubi. So he could be an INFO GATHERER or SCOUT or NINJUTSU SPECIALIST.

NOA has her own unique way of molding chakra that no one had ever seen before - allowing her to create whatever she wanted to in an instant. She had demonstrated this ability predominantly in weapons, but her instructors has seen her make decks of playing cards, toys, paper, and various other trinkets - even an entire completed set of shogi. With that kind of control, it would be highly beneficial if she was trained as the primary field medic in her rookie year. That same creativity and control would make her a great at genjutsu as well.

Noa was also taken under Gai's tutelage as a taijutsu apprentice, however she was dismal before and competent now. Taijutsu was not her strong point.

The foreign girl's unique language gives her much potential as an extremely secure messenger. To their knowledge, all of the girl's nomadic relatives had died in the Kyuubi attack or soon after. Therefore, English would be a very secure channel. Not only that, she had demonstrated her ability while doing pranks to throw on a Henge and disappear into a crowd - INFILTRATION SPECIALIST or INFO GATHERER or GENJUTSU SPECIALIST or FIELD MEDIC.

Compiled, that was:

INFO GATHERERS: Naruto, Shino, Noa. INFO PROCESSOR: Shikamaru. INFILTRATION: Noa, Ino, Naruto. SCOUTS/TRACKERS: Hinata, Kiba, Shino. T/I: Ino.

TAIJUTSU SPECIALIST: Hinata, Kiba, Choji. GENJUTSU SPECIALIST: Noa, Sasuke. NINJUTSU SPECIALIST: Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Ino.

FIELD MEDICS: Noa, Ino

- Field medics couldn't logically be put on the same team as another unless there was a surplus. There's no reason to have two medics on one team and none on another.

Preexisting relationships couldn't be ignored, either. There was the tradition of Ino-Shika-Cho, and the three had been training together since birth. However, Noa and Shikamaru had proven that they were constantly on the same brainwave if the reports from the Academy were anything to go off of.

Most prominently, though, were the relationships between Naruto, Sasuke, and Noa. If he broke the three of them up completely, then the village may very well lose all of Noa's trust - alienating both her, and Naruto and Sasuke - who's most prominent ties were to her.

Then there were the jounin-sensei. The only one's available were Hatake Kakashi, Sarutobi Asuma, and Yuhi Kurenai. They came with their own problems and criteria.

Kakashi had to be the one training Sasuke, in order help the Uchiha develop his Sharingan. And by putting Kiba with Kakashi, Kiba would also be able to develop further his enhanced senses. However, putting Kakashi and the Nara on the same team would compound the laziness.

Hinata needed a strong feminine influence in her life, and Kurenai may just be able to provide that for her. But there was the chance that Kurenai would clash with Ino severely if Ino was on her squad.

Asuma's leadership and strategic abilities would help him get in the good graces of both Noa and Shikamaru. However, his unflappable demeanor may compound with Shino's to create a low energy - although very analytical - team.

He really was getting too old for this.


It took him two hours and a lot of paper pushing to narrow it all down to two possible team combinations. One that the council would like, and one that he thought would benefit the most people.

Kami, why did he ever get into politics?


For the council:

w/Kakashi - OFFENSIVE TEAM: CHOUJI - KIBA - SASUKE

Weaknesses - no singularly defined ninjutsu expert. Sasuke is separated from both of his closest friends/rival.

Strengths: Sasuke and Kiba are both with Kakashi.

w/Kurenai - SCOUT TEAM: NARUTO - SHINO - HINATA

Weaknesses - the Hyuuga Heiress has obvious feelings for Naruto, and that could be detrimental. Also: Naruto on a team away from his close friends.

Strengths: Hinata is with Kurenai. Shadow Clones, Arambame bugs, and Bakugan all create highly effective scouting team.

w/Asuma - INFILTRATION/INFO PROCESSING w/2 MEDICS: NOA - INO - SHIKAMARU

Weaknesses - Shikamaru and Noa knew English - but would be hard pressed to trust enough to teach the others, especially if they felt forced. Also, there would be two medics one one team.

Strengths - Shikamaru and Noa are both highly familiar with each other, and so are Shikamaru and Ino. Plus, Ino has a kind of loose rivalry going with Noa. Noa is in a familiar team environment in a way, and has the potential to quickly come to liking Asuma.

However, as he would prefer:

w/Kakashi: OFFENSIVE TEAM w/MEDIC: SASUKE - NARUTO - NOA

Weaknesses - Sasuke and Naruto's rivalry. Plus, little opportunity for Noa to meet and connect with new people. However, Kiba wouldn't have a chance to work on his tracking with Kakashi. No defined taijutsu expert.

Strengths - Kakashi values teamwork above all else - and that's exactly what those three embody. Plus, with three of them knowledgeable in English, they could communicate effectively in the field.

w/Kurenai: TRACKING AND SCOUTING TEAM: HINATA - KIBA - SHINO

Weaknesses - Kiba misses out on the chance to train with another person with enhanced senses.

Strengths - Hinata has Kurenai to pull her out of her shell and boost her confidence. Plus the Arambame bugs, Bakugan, and Inuzuka traits would be an effective tracking, scouting, and mediocre offensive unit.

w/Asuma: INFO PROCESSING AND FIELD WORK w/MEDIC: INO - SHIKAMARU - CHOUJI

Weaknesses - Noa doesn't have a chance to interact often with either Asuma or Shikamaru.

Strengths: Ino-Shika-Cho tradition maintained, and only one medic. Shikamaru has a chance to meet Asuma and interact with him often.


It was decided. The benefits far out way the drawbacks. Those old hags on the council could gripe all they wanted. He was getting his way with this this time.

Kakashi better be ready for the new Team 7. They were going to be quite the handful.