Anticipation was high in the Ninja Academy Classroom as their teacher, Iruka IUmino, read out the team assignments. Each of the twenty-seven prospective Genin had their hopes and wishes.
Naruto Uzumaki, the Leaf's orange-wearing Jinchuriki, hoped that he wouldn't be put on Sasuke Uchiha (the class' "Resident Emo-Lord) team, who in turn hoped that he didn't get put on the same team as any of the girls...as they either all annoyingly obsessed over him...or hated him.
Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka and about six of the other girls were hoping to be on Sasuke's team, as they were all hopelessly "lin love" with the Last Uchiha. The only girl who wasn't like this at all was one Hinata Hyuga, who secretly rather despised Sasuke Uchiha.
He reminded her of some of the Hyuga Clan's more stuck-up members, thinking that just because they possessed a dojutsu and were from a noble clan that they could do whatever they wanted. No, Hinata was instead following a different trend...one not uncommon to the Hyuga Clan: falling in love with an Uzumaki Clan member. Specifically for Hinata, one Naruto Uzumaki.
For quite a while, the Hyuga and Uzumaki Clans have been interconnected, longer than the alliance between the Senju and Uzumaki Clans, despite not having a common ancestor since the Progenitor of Chakra herself, Kaguya Otsutsuki. It was common, if a Hyuga Clan member married outside of the clan for them to marry an Uzumaki Clan member.
Heck, at the moment, about a quarter of those in the Hyuga Clan had the surname of Uzumaki.
So why, when he became an orphan, was Naruto not placed with his "Hyugamaki" relatives? Politics. Annoying politics that ruins a lot of people's lives. But that's not the point.
Moving on...
...Shikamaru Nara was hoping that he wasn't placed on the same team as anyone troublesome, but would be perfectly fine with being teamed up with Choji Akimichi. They had been best friends since they were both little kids, so those two would be great at working together.
Choji Akimichi in turn hoped that he was placed on Shikamaru's team, but also Ino's, as he secretly had a crush on Ino. However, because she sometimes teased him about his size or his eating habits, he didn't feel the most confident about telling her or asking her out on a date.
Shino Aburame just hoped that he would be teamed up with someone who didn't mind bugs...and wouldn't forget about him or ignore him too easily. The Aburame Clan's incognito-style way of dressing made it easy for people to overlook them...or be creeped out by them.
And Kiba Inuzuka...well...he hoped that he'd get teamed up with someone who liked dogs. His clan used ninkens, so it'd be a problem if his teammates couldn't handle being around dogs.
Then, Iruka finally began to get to the soon-to-be-called "Rookie Nine."
"...Team Seven will be comprised of Choji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara and Sasuke Uchiha," Iruka read aloud, which shocked the class and made them all jump or gasp in surprise. It had been a long time since there had been an all-shinobi or an all-kunoichi team. What was going on?
Alright, I get to be on the same team as Shikamaru, Choji cheered mentally as he munched on potato chips from the bag that he had been working on since the beginning of class.
Teamed up with Choji? Won't be a drag like I feared, Shikamaru thought as he woke up from his nap at the sound of his name. Then, he eyed the Uchiha Clan survivor as if analyzing an opponent. But Sasuke...knowing him...he's going to be real troublesome. What a drag...
Wait...what...? I'M NOT WITH SASUKE, Sakura and Ino, the remaining two Sasuke-fangirls to not be selected yet mentally screamed, looks of fear forming on their faces.
"Hn." The only verbal reaction, and Sasuke's usual grunt of indifference. A Nara and an Akimichi, huh? At least it's not one of those annoying fangirls... These two might actually get useful. Despite thinking that, Sasuke glanced back at Shikamaru and Choji. "Just don't get in my way."
"Yep...troublesome," Shikamaru responded, lowering his head at the Uchiha's words. Choji didn't seem to be noticed as he moved on from his bag of chips to something else. The boy may have looked like he was all body fat, but it was mostly very round, thick muscle and robustly built bones. And because of this body type, Akimichis had to eat a lot of food...and all the time.
"...Team Eight will be Sakura Haruno, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame," Iruka continued.
"Wait, WHAT!? I have to be with DOG-BREATH and BUG-BOY," Sakura protested, leaping up to her feet. "I don't get it, Iruka-sensei? Why can't I be with Sasuke!?"
"Ugh, and I thought blondes were troublesome," Shikamaru groaned, laying his head down on his desk. I guess pinkettes are even more of a drag...
"Hey, what gives," Kiba asked Sakura, rather offended by the insult. "I thought you didn't mind me and Akamaru!"
"Akamaru's cute...but you're not Sasuke, Dog-Boy," Sakura snapped back.
"At least one traditionally-structured team had to be kept," Iruka explained, already starting to get frustrated. "And this was the team that was chosen to be so out of the shinobi clan teams."
"But I'mnot from a Shinobi Clan," The Haruno protested.."My parents may have been shinobi...but we're not a Haruno clan."
"Why you ask," Shino asked. "Probably because of your grades being just as good as ours."
"Please...just SIT DOWN and let me CONTINUE," Iruka demanded, getting agitated. Sakura and Kiba both sat down, and Iruka sighed before continuing.
That's almost all of the teams...so...I guess...I might be on Naruto's team, Hinata thought hopefully. She smiled to herself as she gazed at her long-time crush and best friend.
I don't get to be on Sakura's team... Naruto thought disappointingly. Then, Naruto laughed internally as he remembered something. A secret that he's kept since he was around nine-years-old...one that he wasn't sure if he was ready to reveal yet. Which...should be fine, dattebayo.
"Team Nine is still in rotation, so we move on to the final team," Iruka concluded. "Team Ten: Ino Yamanaka..."
Ino exhaled, the anticipation released as she was finally called. She didn't get to be on Sasuke's team...but at least she wasn't on Shikamaru's, Choji's or even Sakura's team. Her former best friend turned rival. And it would seem...that she was going to be on...
"...Naruto Uzumaki..."
"Huh? Oh," Naruto exclaimed, chuckling as he snapped out of his semi-daze and grinned after hearing his name being called. He wasn't necessarily friends with Ino, but they weren't enemies either. Sure, she bullied him sometimes...but at least it wasn't like with what he got from Sakura.
"...and Hinata Hyuga."
I...I get to...I get to be on Naruto's team, Hinata screamed internally, pressing her index fingers together as she felt overwhelmed with excitement and the blood started to rush to her head. This is exactly what she wanted...what she had dreamed of. But...could she handle it?
I'm on Hinata's team, Naruto thought, and he turned to look up at Hinata, and smiled. Sure, she was shy, dark and weird...but there was something about the girl that Naruto rather liked. Ino, he didn't mind...but Hinata...Naruto felt...well... Well, guess I'll finally get to tell her, dattebayo.
I should take this chance...to tell him...since we'll...be on the same team...together... Hinata decided, smiling back down at Naruto, when then turned back around. Her face felt warm and she knew that she was on the verge of fainting. Come on, don't faint, don't faint!
"Alright, that concludes the Genin Team Assignments," Iruka said next. "You're all dismissed now for an extended lunch break. Make sure to get here in about an hour to meet your Jonin instructor. I enjoyed getting to be your teacher, I hope you all know that. Good luck to all of you."
Everyone started to leave at first. Some of the students stopped first to thank Iruka for the last few years that he had been their instructor before heading out for lunch, some others didn't. Sasuke sat in his corner, hoping to not be noticed and so that he could go eat in peace. Shikamaru and Choji headed out together, probably to go to Yakiniki Q.
Ignoring everyone else, Naruto walked up to where Hinata was sitting. She was just starting to get up from her seat when he reached her, and her eyes widened and her face went red.
"N-Naruto..." Hinata rarely stuttered, despite popular belief (it was just that she spoke rather softly, not that she couldn't say a full sentence without stammering), and it was only usually in moments like these...where Naruto was right next to her something. "Hi..."
"Hey, Hinata," Naruto said, smiling at his teammate. "Um...I was wondering...would you maybe like to go and eat lunch with me?"
He wants me...to come eat...lunch with him...? This better not be a dream... Hinata could feel her face burning as she stared at Naruto, her confidence waning. "A-are...are you sure...Naruto...?"
"Of course, Hinata, come on," Naruto said cheerfully, taking her left hand in his right and pulling her along. He was holding her hand, which was soft and warm compared to Naruto's slightly rougher hands. Unable to take it anymore, Hinata slumped against him. "No, Hinata!"
However, it was in such a manner to where Hinata's face collided with his and he fell down. The few students in the room stared, stunned at what they saw. Hinata's lips had collided with Naruto's, causing the second accidental kiss of the day. But this one...was more welcome.
I'm...kissing...Hinata... Is...this...really...happening!? Naruto felt his own face burning this time, his senses overwhelmed. Not wanting to break the kiss just yet, Naruto wrapped his arms around Hinata's torso and slowly stood up with her in his arms, and then broke away.
"Hey, Hinata, you alright," Naruto asked, blushing as he gently shook his friend's shoulder.
"H-huh...? Naruto...?" Hinata's pupiless lavender eyes opened as she regained consciousness, and she found herself in Naruto's arms. This almost made her faint again, but she fought it as hard as she could and steadied herself as Naruto let her go.
"You gonna be alright, Hinata," Naruto asked, clearly concerned, and she nodded.
"Yes, thank you, Naruto," Hinata confirmed, then remembered something. "You wanted to eat lunch with me, right?"
"Yeah, sure did," Naruto replied. "Where would you like to eat, Hinata?"
"Um...Ichiraku's Ramen...if you don't mind," Hinata requested, causing Naruto to grin.
"Wait, you like Ichiraku's, too," Naruto asked excitedly. "That's so cool! Of course!"
About fifteen minutes later, Naruto and Hinata were sitting down at Ichiraku's Ramen Shop with bowls of miso ramen in front of them. When they had gotten there, Ayame Ichiraku had teased Naruto and Hinata about being out on another date, which almost made Hinata again. However, upon hearing that they were both on the same team, Ayame congratulated the pair.
"You seem really happy about being on my team, Naruto," Hinata pointed out eventually. "How come? I thought that...that you would've wanted to be on Sakura's team?"
"Maybe...if she didn't hate me so much," Naruto admitted. "And if she wasn't so obsessed with Sasuke. And, maybe...well...maybe..."
"Maybe...what?"
"Huh? Ah, it's nothing, 'ttebayo," Naruto lied, rubbing the back of his head and laughing nervously.
"Oh, I see," Hinata said, then turned back to her ramen. After a few more bites, she turned back to Naruto. She was going to tell him. Now. Now was better than never. Even if she fainted, she had to at least get it out...those three simple words. "Naruto...?"
"Yeah, what is it, Hinata," Naruto asked. Ayame and her father paused what they were doing to watch what was about to happen with interest. They both knew about Hinata's crush on Naruto (who didn't?) and were hoping that maybe they were about to witness her confession!
"Well...um...I...uh..." Hinata swallowed, pressing her fingers together nervously. She felt like her veins and nerves were on fire, but she tried her hardest to calm them. "Well...you see..there's something...really important that I need to tell you, Naruto."
"Okay, and what's that," Naruto asked, his focus entirely on her now. Wait...don't tell me...?
"Naruto...I...I...I love you," She almost shouted it, just needing to get the words out. It had been a now or never situation. Hinata watched Naruto's face, and could tell that he was stunned. Then, Naruto smiled at her and stood up from his seat, and stepped closer to her. "Naruto...?"
"Hinata, I didn't...I didn't realize you felt that way," Naruto told her, wrapping his arms around her. Ayame smiled sweetly and gave an "aww" while Teuchi simply gave a kind smile. It was adorable, and causing Hinata to redden again. "I had kinda hoped...but I...I just wasn't sure."
"What do you mean, Naruto," Hinata asked, fighting the light-headed feeling as best as she could. She was probably going to faint again, but she at least had to hear his response.
"Well...I...I knew that you weren't like the others, dattebayo," Naruto said to her. "You're not mean...or crazy...or obsessed over that Sasuke-idiot. Sure, you'er kinda weird, dark and shy...but...you're also really, incredible nice. And...really pretty. Especially your eyes."
That did it. Hinata slumped unconscious in Naruto's arms, making him laugh. It was beginning to get close to head back to the Academy anyways to meet their Jonin instructor. So, Naruto payed for his and Hinata's ramen, before carrying Hinata back to the Academy piggy-back style. And the whole way, Hinata had this satisfied smile plastered on her beautiful face.