Chapter 10 – Graduation
Isaribi took her normal seat in the back sitting next to Hinata who as always had arrived before her. She then waved to Ino and a few other girls in the class.
It was hard to believe, but she and Ino had becomes friends after the first time they snuck out of the village much to Hinata's dismay. Ino was outgoing, energetic, and most importantly she would challenge Isaribi.
Their friendship was … interesting to say the least, but they got along well enough. Her friendship with Ino led to her becoming friends with a couple of Ino's other friends. Although there were still those that made fun of her and tried to pick fights.
But Ino would stand up for her. They weren't best friends but they were good friends. Isarabi, Ino, and Hinata would also spar together from time to time when ever Hinata could get away from her clan duties and training and Ino could get off from her families flower shop.
The three were among the top female students in the academy thanks to the combination of Hinata's brain, Ino's memory, and Isaribi's athletic ability. The only one that came close to their scores among the females in the academy was Sakura, Ino's once upon time best friend before they had a falling out. Of course Sakura was a fan girl as were most of the females in the academy so while she scored highly on the academic portions receiving top marks she was average or worse in things the required stamina and athletic ability.
The last three years saw many changes for Isaribi she had even managed to get a better apartment with some secret help from Anko living a few floors down from her. They still had to keep up appearance so no one suspected Anko was helping her against the orders of the council.
But that just made it more fun to sneak around and risk being caught. Anko had told her that would end once she became a shinobi and today was the day after she passed the exam along with her friends. She would be considered an adult and the council would have to back off and allow them to be friends.
Even though she was forced to back off Anko had managed to get several of her friends to help the girl. The most prominent in Isaribi's mind was Yūgao Uzuki or Yu-sempai as Isaribi called her.
Anko had introduced them 2 years ago. Anko had heard Isaribi talking with Naruto about Kisame's sword and while the subject of that man was touchy with both girls she still wanted a strong sword like her and Naruto said they would get. Unfortunately Konoha wasn't really known for sword making or sword smithing, but with Yūgao and by extension Hayate she at least was able to learn how to wield one.
Yūgao had even gone as far as showing her the Shadow Clone technique and her Hazy Moon night technique, which Isaribi had yet to master but was on her way. Yūgao had also showed her the basics tracking along with Hana Inuzuka.
Hana was an excellent tracker like Yūgao and Anko combined with her clan training and techniques really helped her develop in that area to where she could say that was a decent tracker even though she was just an academy student. Hana also tried to teach her a few Iryō ninjutsu, but Isaribi could never quite get the hang of so she stuck to tracking, kenjutsu, ninjutsu even if she hadn't learned any techniques aside from what Yūgao and the academy had shown her.
She had also met Kurenai through Hinata whom escorted her to the academy for a few years now. Kurenai helped her chakra control when she had the time. So far she had managed to have enough control to learn the clone technique taught at the academy despite her large reserves.
Of course Isaribi wasn't the only one that learned from the trio of kunoichi. Hinata took an instant liking to medical ninjutsu much to Kurenai's disappointed whom had hoped despite the Hyūga clans refusal to let her train Hinata in her discipline. Still she supported the girl and loved her like a little sister.
Ino as well had trained with the women and learned a few things mostly medical ninjutsu and taijutsu training. While Hinata focused on the more healing aspects of Iryō ninjutsu Ino focused more on the use of plants particular those used in creating poisons. Ino was also curious about learning genjutsu, but she had training with her clan so she couldn't devote herself to it.
The three girls were all anxious to find out whose team they would be on. Unfortunately Anko and Kurenai told them they wouldn't be on the same team since the usual configuration was 2 males and a female with the rare exception. Still they were all excited about graduating and becoming Kunoichi.
Of course they were not the only ones excited. The whole class was buzzing about finally graduating and not having to listen to any more of Iruka's boring lectures. So when Iruka entered the classroom at last to a few paying attention he was met with the loud and noisy classroom he had become accustomed to so he did what he normally did.
3 hours later
Isaribi sat in her seat looking at the 2 who were to be her teammates.
'Why me?' She thought.
Hinata had been teamed up with Kiba and Shino to form Team 8 led by Kurenai. Both had sadly waved in her direction as they left the room with their new teammates.
Ino much to her own disdain was partnered up with Shikamaru and Chōji led by Sarutobi Asuma. Of course Ino was most upset as were the many other girls that they weren't with Sasuke.
The other teams except for hers were all civilian kids or those not from major clans of Konoha. Her team was Haruno, Sakura and Uchiha, Sasuke. She wanted to kill that old monkey especially since her sensei was 3 hours late in picking them up leaving them all alone in the building. Worst of all she had to watch for three hours as Sakura preened, fluttered, fluffed, and pretty much debased herself all to get Sasuke's attention. She actually felt sorry for the Uchiha a little.
After 3 hours her patience finally paid off as the tardy Jōnin made his appearance. After walking through the door and looking them over he insulted them and told them to meet him on the roof and disappeared.
It didn't take long for the 3 perspective genin to make to the roof of the academy building. Once they did he motioned for them to take a seat. Still, the silver haired man with one visible eye seemed to pay little attention to them until after several minutes had passed and he closed his book.
"Alright, introduce yourselves" He says.
"Huh, what do you mean sensei? What do you expect us to say?" Sakura questions.
Kakashi siting on the railing looks at her for a second before answering.
"Tell us about things you like, things you hate, your dreams for the future obviously. Things like that" Kakashi responds.
Seeing where this was going Isaribi thought it was change to learn about the man so she turned it on him.
"What about you sensei? What do you like or hate and what do you expect from our team?" Isaribi questions.
Kakashi looks her in the eye before focusing back on the group as a whole.
"Things I like and things I hate … I don't feel like telling you about that" Kakashi says nonchalantly.
Frustrated Isaribi isn't ready to give up.
"Well, what about our team? What do you plan to teach us? What are our objectives as a Team?" Isaribi asks.
Kakashi looks at her and then at the rest of the group and sees they also wanted those answers … well Sasuke at least. Sakura seemed more interested in Sasuke than anything that was going on around her that wasn't Sasuke.
"To be honest I don't know what our objectives will be. I actually had someone else in mind when I picked this squad" Kakashi tells them.
He was being honest as he had always hoped to be Naruto's sensei doing for him what Naruto's father did for him. Sakura was supposed to be the brains and would help Naruto with areas he would undoubtedly lack, in his opinion. While Sasuke would be a catalyst for Naruto to work harder while Sasuke would grow bonds for Naruto that were missing thanks to the destruction of his clan. As for Sakura she would benefit from working with them and he hoped become somewhat like Rin.
But Naruto wasn't here which is why he asked for Isaribi. Naruto left when he was on a mission with ANBU away from the village. When he got back the Hokage shared his plan for Naruto with him and Jiraiya. The belief would be that Naruto would come back on his own, and when he didn't it shifted to the girl.
From what had been gathered there was a strong bond that linked the two together beyond what happened to them. Naruto would come for her sooner or later and when he did Kakashi wanted to be there.
For the perspective genin they all bristled at this answer especially Sasuke.
'I am an Uchiha, he should be honored to be my sensei and teach me everything he knows' Sasuke thought with a scowl.
'I can't believe I am stuck with this guy as my sensei. Why couldn't Anko nee-chan be my sensei or Kurenai. I don't think this guy is going to teach us anything' Isaribi thought.
'Sasuke-kun is so cool!' thought Sakura squealing in her mind as looks at him scowl at their stupid sensei.
"Now I do believe it was your turn …" Kakashi starts to say before being interrupted.
"You never said what you would teach us" Sasuke says.
That was all he wanted to know and all he cared about.
Kakashi scratched his head knowing they weren't going to let it go.
"I'll teach you … teamwork" Kakashi says.
"WHAT!?" even Sakura shouts.
"Teamwork is the foundation of the village beliefs. Without Teamwork the village doesn't exist so until I think your teamwork is good enough to begin missions that is what we will work on" Kakashi informs them.
"But once we do you'll teach us jutsu?" Isaribi questions.
"I suppose …" Kakashi says vaguely.
"Now since our discussion got sidetracked ... how about we pick this up tomorrow where you will have your first mission" Kakashi says.
"But sensei, didn't you say we wouldn't go on mission until you thought our teamwork was good enough?" Sakura questions confused.
"Ahh, but this is a special mission. We will be doing a survival exercise" Kakashi tells them.
"Huh, a survival exercise?" Isaribi questions.
"I thought we were supposed to have a real mission?" Sakura questions.
"We already do this stuff at the academy. That's why we're here" Sakura tells the man.
"This isn't like your previous training" Kakashi says.
"What kind of training is it" Sasuke questions.
Kakashi just chuckles for a bit before Sakura interrupts.
"Hey what's so funny, that's a normal question" Sakura says defending Sasuke not that he cared.
"If I tell you the answer your not going to like it" He tells them.
"Could you please get on with it already sensei" Isaribi cuts in.
"Of the twenty-seven graduates only nine of you will actually become genin" Kakashi says shocking them.
"The other eighteen will be weeded out and sent back to the Academy. In other words this is a make it or break it pass fail test and the chances of failure are at least sixty-six percent" He finishes.
All three genin couldn't help but give him the exact reactions he was looking for with even Sasuke couldn't hide his surprise although it was more subtle that the others. This was the only part he actually enjoyed about this.
"Wait a minute, then what about the Academy exam? What was all that for?" Isaribi asks angrily.
"That was just to select candidates that might become genin or not. That's how it is, I decide rather you pass or fail" Kakashi tells them.
"Meet at Training Ground Three by 5 O'clock A.M., your dismissed we'll pick up where we left off after the test" Kakashi says and starts to turn away from them.
But before leaving he turns to them and adds.
"This probably doesn't have to be mentioned but bring your ninja gear and you might want to skip breakfast or you'll puke" Kakashi warns before leaving.
The three perspective genin sat there for a minute before Isaribi leaves, which Sakura appreciated. She wasn't sure if Isaribi was after Sasuke or not, but at least for now she wasn't getting in her way. Of course as she was thinking this Sasuke up and leaves as well before she notices until the door to the roof closes.
The several nights later Isaribi is sitting in her kitchen thinking about her team when Anko shows up. She immediately goes into the fridge and brings out the Furikake for the plate of sashimi tuna she brought to celebrate Isabiri officially becoming a genin. When Isaribi failed to gobble up the sashimi, which was very expensive, Anko noticed that Isaribi hadn't even noticed she came in.
"Calling on Isaribi, what's up gaki" Anko says.
"Huh … oh, hey Anko" Isaribi responds.
"What? No Anko Onee-chan?" Anko asks.
"Sorry" Isaribi responds pathetically.
"Alright, what's wrong?" Anko asks.
"Nothings wrong" Isaribi responds.
"I know somethings wrong. You haven't even touched the Tuna Sashimi sitting right in front of your face" Anko says back.
Seeing the plate of food she sighs in resignation and decides to talk.
"You know about the test Kakashi had us do several days ago" She starts.
Anko nods. Honestly she didn't care much for the scarecrow, but Yamato spoke reverently of the man. Still, despite how she may act she didn't approve of him being late to meetings and reading porn everywhere and anywhere even some times during important meetings like he couldn't be bothered.
There was also a little jealousy. Anko had been called a prodigy and graduated from the Academy early at age 10 and became a Chūnin at age 12 and a Jōnin 6 years ago at the age of 15 where she was apprenticed to a Hokage candidate and Sannin … which was a disaster that left her marked, but even thou she was so accomplished she was envious of his career. Kakashi had became a genin at the age of 5 years old and Chūnin at the age of 6 and a Jōnin around the age of 10 or 11. But despite that and all the favors done for him by the Yondiame Hokage and the Sandaime Hokage he had wasted away his potential especially since he left ANBU, but still he kept getting favors from everyone it seemed to her.
She was also very skeptical of him being a good Jōnin-sensei since he refused so many times before hand and then there was his reputation, 'Friend-Killer Kakashi'. She didn't know too much about it other than it involved Rin Inuzuka his former teammate whom he killed. She really didn't care to know too much, but now he had picked Isaribi to be on his team so she had obvious concerns about his ability to teach and how safe Isaribi would be in his care. She and Kurenai had asked the Hokage to take on Isaribi and two other genin to form a squad, but apparently Kakashi had already asked for Isaribi before her and the elders liked the idea.
'Probably so he can keep an eye on her in case she bolts ...' the like him was quickly squashed in her mind.
"Well, Kakashi … sensei" Anko could hear the lack of confidence that surrounded 'sensei'.
"He tested us by saying one of us would be forced to go back to the academy if we didn't capture one of the two bells he had on his waist by his ninja pouch" Isaribi continues.
Anko nods as she knew she had heard Kakashi was a proponent of that particular test because that was how the Yondiame tested his group.
"I immediately knew that was wrong thanks to the stories you told me about your own genin team and the stories Yūgao senpai, Hana, and Kurenai senpai told us. I tried to tell Sasuke and Sakura that it was a trick but they didn't believe me and said I was just trying to trick them so that I would get a bell" Isaribi recounts.
"It just got worse from there. When Kakashi-sensei started the test the other two immediately ran off so I did the same jumping into the forest and then back tracked towards the stream that was near Kakashi-sensei. I watched from the water as he stood there for a few minutes seemingly not paying attention when pulled out some kind of book and started giggling as he read it" Isaribi tells her.
Anko knew immediately what book she was referring to and was starting to get pissed. She didn't care if Kakashi read his porn in private, hell she had her own stash that despite now being in a relationship with Yamato she kept, Icha-Icha was tame compared to the stuff she read and watched. But to pull out it when testing his team …
"Sasuke must have thought he was distracted, because soon after he started giggling several shuriken and kunai came from the canopy of the trees and seemed to hit Kakashi-sensei, but it was soon shown to be a log Sasuke hit. I thought sensei would go after him, but instead I heard Sakura's screams a few minutes later so he must have went after her first.
I had a Shadow Clone leave the water and go check on her. I don't know what he did to her, but she was out on the ground with look of fear on her face. The clone checked her and she was fine, but then I heard more fighting from elsewhere so the clone left to check it out instead of waking her up.
My clone found Sasuke fighting Kakashi-sensei and he looked like he was doing okay until he used a Fireball jutsu my clone witnessed Kakashi come up from the ground and dragged Sasuke underneath he called it Earth style Head Hunter jutsu.
Memories from my clone though showed that after a bit of talk with Sasuke he looked up in the direction of my clone before using the Shunshin jutsu, which you have to teach me some day" Isaribi says.
Anko just nods knowing the girl wanted to get as strong as possible so she can find Naruto and bring him back.
"So while my clone I later learned helped Sasuke get out of the pit, which he didn't appreciate as Sakura woke up and as I was helping him and screamed about something stupid, Kakashi was back at the tree near the Memorial Stone with the bento's. He was reading that perverted book of his …"
"Now, now Isa-chan I know you've taken my own copy of that 'perverted' book in the past … actually what happened to that one anyway" Anko says with a smug smirk.
"Nee-chan!" Isaribi screamed
Anko just grinned even more so knowing she hit the mark with that taunt. It maybe started a year or so ago when she noticed Isaribi's door was locked the first time. Of course she picked the lock not expecting anything until she heard faint sounds coming from the bedroom that was also locked. Anko later noted someone had broken into her place while she was gone on a mission and taken a few of her magazines and novels that she had hidden in her bedroom.
Now Isaribi had eventually told Anko about those dreams that she started having 3 years ago so she knew of them, but not everything. However, what Isaribi didn't know was Anko had shared this with the Hokage whom then shared his own suspicions and the journals that had been confiscated. So when she eventually confided about the new dreams blushing the whole time helped Isaribi in her own way … basically she brought the girl her own stash of porn and toys.
"Sorry, sorry I couldn't resist" Anko teased.
'Stupid Nee-chan' Isaribi groused in her mind since she knew actually saying it would do nothing but earn her an 'extra' training sessions with Anko and while she wanted to get stronger that was only a side effect of those sessions.
"Anyway, I thought he was reading but I noticed his eye would every few seconds glance where I was hidden under the water. I also recognized that his posture while seeming unaware was tense so he was expecting something. It was at that point my clone dispelled itself telling me that Sasuke and Sakura once again denied that the test was about teamwork and working with me. So I didn't have a choice …" Isaribi says.
"You were running out of air weren't you" Anko says and was rewarded with another blush.
Isaribi decided to just get through this and finish the story.
"So I tried hit him with a few kunai without breaching the water, but as I expected he dodged those but once again he just stood there seemingly nonchalant but tense. Since he was close to the water I sent a couple of water clones to engage him, but he quickly beat them.
I tried to use the Water Blast jutsu and instead of dodging he tried to beat it with Kunai. He managed to deflect it but it drove him back and sustained a little damage so when he was dealing with the jutsu I jumped out of the water and ran to fight him in taijutsu but just when I reached him that alarm went off.
I was so frustrated, but Kakashi-sensei just smiled at me and we waited for the others to join us. When we were assembled again he went on some speech making it seem like we passed despite all the failures, but he quickly dropped the hammer saying we shouldn't even go back to the Academy and should be dropped all together.
I protested and he said 'we' don't think like ninja and of course Sasuke tried to fight him again and was quickly put down and of course his issue was he only thinks of himself which anyone could have said do to his behavior at the academy. That's when he went on a teamwork rant despite my protest that I tried to work with both Sakura and Sasuke and neither wanted to team up with me but he just said some bullshit about 'I should have tried harder'.
I was so mad that I missed him talking about the Hero Memorial Stone until he said something about giving us a second chance. That's when he said more bullshit and tied Sasuke up to one of the posts and said not to feed him and of course as soon as he was not in sight Sakura goes to feed Sasuke from her bento. I guess I should have to, but it didn't matter because Kakashi immediately came back using either some kind of genjutsu or some kind of combined technique making a fierce wind and the sky to become dark and cloudy with a lightening effect and said we all pass when Sakura said we are a team and Sasuke echoed it. Of course no one seem to notice that I didn't but anyway that's how we passed" Isaribi tells her.
"Okay, I don't see the problem. You passed didn't you? Does it matter how?" Anko asks.
"Don't you see, I don't matter on this squad. I was picked for a reason … I think that reason is Naruto" Isaribi says.
"What makes you think that?" Anko asks.
In truth Anko was concerned, because she knew that was part of it probably, but not all. As a Jōnin Anko was privy to the purpose of the teams and she confronted the Hokage about it. Anko had hoped Isaribi would be placed with one of her friends as she and Kurenai had actually talked about it. Kurenai even wanted to bring back Yakumo the girl she previously tutored to form the first all girl squad with Hinata, Isaribi, and Yakumo but the Hokage had vetoed that saying Isaribi was needed on Team 7 and that Yakumo was still too unstable to be placed on a team. The old man then rejected her proposal saying she was needed in ANBU and when she threatened to quit he told her even if she did due to a conflict of interest ... which didn't make sense to her, that she couldn't be Isaribi's sensei either.
However, Anko was surprised that Isaribi had caught on.
"I think I am on Team 7 to bring Naruto back from where he went like I'm a placeholder for him to take my spot when he returns" Isaribi says.
"That makes no sense kiddo, teams aren't that easy to break apart. Teams are only changed if one is promoted or …" Anko stops herself.
Anko immediately springs up and embraces Isaribi.
"I promise you, no one is going to hurt you even if the brat does come back … well except for enemy shinobi … if you take the Chūnin Exams there is a risk there … and of course" Here Isaribi stops her by placing a hand over her mouth.
"I get it, thanks" Isaribi says with a smile.
They break apart and Anko goes back to sit in her chair.
"I also think Kakashi-sensei is a terrible teacher. We've been a team for 2 days and all we have done is teamwork exercises" Isaribi complains.
Anko just chuckles.
"It's 2 days kiddo. If the scarecrow still hasn't taught you anything by next week I'll help and maybe I can get some of the girls involved or Yamato-kun if he isn't busy" Anko tells her.
"You mean it nee-chan" Isaribi responds.
"Of course, I couldn't let my little imouto go out there untrained" Anko responds.
Isaribi smiles and begins to dig into the food, when Anko reminds her of why she maybe should have quit when she was ahead.
"I'm sure Xing won't mind if I summon her to help out as well" Anko says with a creepy smile that Isaribi tried to ignore.
Xing was one of Anko's favorite summons one of the few sizeable snakes she could still summon. Xing was 15 feet long and several or more feet wide. The only good thing was that she wasn't poisonous not that you want to get bitten by her at all. Xing had yet to bite Isaribi seriously, probably because of her own scaly defense, but even then she got hit with the tail hard plenty of times during their training sessions and it hurt enough.
The rest of the night was spent eating and drinking though Anko refused to let Isaribi have a sip of her Sake.
6 months later
Several groups are at the main gate asking for entrance into Konoha.
"State your purpose" One of the guards asks.
A young ninja steps forward from one of the groups. He was wearing a green and black raincoat with a hood covering his hair and a half mask covering the lower portion of his face below the nose. If he were to take off the coat you will see he was wearing a blue and green rubber like stretchy jumpsuit over his body covering him from his neck to his feet where he wore boots with rubber soles and it had a green reptile pattern covering his feet. He also had what looked to be a trident strapped to his back and a short sword sheathed on his waist.
"We are here for the exams" he says.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Uzumaki, Naruto Jōnin-sensei of Team 9 from Kiri" He answers.
As he lowers the hood and mask showing a scale free face although you could make out three whisker like marks on each side of his face and greenish black hair. Of course this sent the guards into a panic.
"Are you going to let us in" Naruto asks.
"Of course" the guard stumbles.
"Just sign in and follow the rules we sent to your village. If you need help finding the Hotel where the foreign teams are housed go the Tower and someone will help you there" the man says.
"Alright, thanks" Naruto says as he takes the clipboard and writes his name and waits until everyone in his group does before heading into the village.
As they go the guard immediately signals an ANBU to follow the group from Kiri and another that split off to inform the Hokage of their visitor.
Of course they needn't bother as the old man was already watching the green haired youth on his crystal ball.
"You've finally returned Naruto-kun" The old man says with a smile.
He had been contacted by Kiri about wanting to participate in Chūnin Exams several months back. Apparently Yagura was out and had been for over a year and the new Mizukage wanted to showcase some of her young troops as well as talk about a potential alliance. In accordance to the rules Mei the new Mizukage had sent a list of participants along with their accompanying Jōnin-sensei.
He was shocked of course to find Naruto listed not as one of their genin but as a Jōnin-sensei. Still, he would have Naruto back home where he belonged he was sure of it. So letting the image fade from his crystal ball he got back to work. Later he would summon Jiraiya back home for a reunion with Naruto.
Shame really if he had kept watching he would have seen a another reunion several years in the making.
Alright that's a wrap. Thank you for sticking with me. I know it's been a long time for this one to be updated. I hope you enjoyed the chapter that marks Naruto's return.