D/C: We don't own Naruto. 'Nuff Said.
(the authors appear)
Dragon Man 180: Well, here is another chapter of Itachi-chan's life!
Jedi Mistress 1990: Hai, this is where it starts to get really interesting!
DM: We're also drawing closer to the Mssacre, care to guess how that will go?
JM: Hmm, yeah, let's keep them guessing! But since I'm really excited about this chapter and the next one, let's let them read!
DM: Right, chapter start!
(oOoOo)
Itachi woke up to the sound of Hana apparently telling the story of Yondaime's battle with Kyuubi to the younger children. "... and then Gamabunta appeared in a giant cloud of smoke and fought with Kyuubi. Gamabunta's sword and Kyuubi's tails tore up the forest and to this day there is a huge clearing where they fought. Then, when Gamabunta was nearly out of chakra, Yondaime unleashed his final jutsu. A bright flash of light engulfed Kyuubi and it screamed in pain before its soul was ripped from its body," said Hana. "As Kyuubi's body burned away, Gamabunta caught the falling form of Yondaime-sama, who gave his life to save us all."
"Yatta!" cheered Naruto. "Someday, Imma gonnna be as great as Yondaime!" Waving his hands up and down in excitement, the blond was clearly enjoying Hana's story.
Itachi smiled at the cuteness. "That was a great retelling, Hana-chan!"
Hana grinned. "Yup! How are you doing, Itachi?"
Itachi thought about it. "How long was I out?"
"It's been three days since we saved your brother and Hinata-chan," said Hana as the kids swarmed Itachi. Sasuke was the first to reach her, hugging his sister tightly around the neck.
"Itachi, you saved us!" he squealed before giving her a kiss on the cheek. "You're my hero!"
Hinata was next, handing Itachi a small container with a blush. "Oka-san helped me make this, she said it would help with any aches you might have," she said with a bow.
"Kawaii!" Itachi squealed in her head while ruffling Hinata's hair lightly, causing the Hyuuga girl to smile.
Naruto and Kiba presented Itachi with a medal made from the top of a can with a ribbon glued to it bearing the words, "Best big siblings ever!" The two were extremely proud of their work, causing Itachi and Hana to make a big show of putting the medals on.
"Mou...am I gonna get any of the limelight?" Anko loudly said in mockery of longing. "I'm not as cute as these little chibi, but I have the better present."
Itachi and Hana perked up at this. "What is it, Auntie Anko?" Itachi asked eagerly.
"Sandaime-sama and your parents were impressed by the team work and capabilities you showed on what would normally be a B Rank mission that they've agreed to let the two of you graduate early. You'll be on a Genin team with Umino Iruka," said Anko.
"Eh? Why that guy?" Hana scowled. She forgave him for the water balloon prank, but she was still wary of him.
Itachi was doing her best to hide her blush.
"You two have shown to have exceptional skills in tracking, Ninjutsu, and taijutsu, Iruka has good stealth, trap, and reconnaissance skills. He covers the few areas you don't have down," said Anko.
"...He's never really demonstrated any of that in class," Itachi said, composing herself as the stoic, straight Uchiha boy once more. "Wasn't he one of the kids with the lower grades?"
Anko sighed and said, "Yes, that is true. But he's an accomplished prankster and has rarely been caught after doing a prank, nor is there much proof he did them. He needs the right team to make him shine."
Hana nodded. "Oh, that makes sense, then." she noticed how much Itachi was struggling with hiding her femininity at the moment. "Ano, Auntie Anko, can we please talk alone?"
Anko quirked an eyebrow. "...Yeah, I guess so," and she turned to the children.
"Your parents are waiting outside, kids." she told them with a friendly grin.
As soon as the door closed behind Anko and the kids, a blush spread across Itachi's face.
"You've got a crush on him?" asked Hana with a grin.
Itachi could only nod as her face resembled a tomato. In fact, if Sasuke had been there he would have been tempted to see if Itachi's head had performed a Kawarimi with a giant tomato.
"Aw, it's okay, Itachi!" Hana said cheerfully. "So long as you don't try to go after him or make your feelings obvious to your dad, then it's okay with me!"
"Thanks, Hana. I guess we can't avoid dealing with Otou-san any more than we already have," said Itachi before she called out for their visitors to come in.
Two days later found Itachi and Hana being given a clean bill of health and released from the hospital. After a quick stop at their homes to change, they met Anko and Iruka at Training Ground 3 by the Memorial Stone dedicated to those who had fallen in battle.
"Alright, kids, you three have been deemed worthy of being Genin by the council and Sandaime. However, first you have to pass my little test," said Anko as she stood in front of Itachi, Hana, and Iruka.
"First I want you each to tell me your name, likes, dislikes, and dreams for the future," said the snake mistress.
"Itachi, you first!" Anko pointed to the Uchiha heiress. "It's all because of you that we're here, so shoot!"
"My name is Uchiha Itachi. I like my little brother Sasuke and his friends as well as my mother. My dislikes are those who can't except reality. My dream is to be the kind of shinobi I was born to be. ," said Itachi.
"I'm Umino Iruka. I like pranks, ramen, training, and a certain girl. I dislike Kyuubi and those stupid enough to not see past the surface. My dream is to be a great ninja, spread the Will of Fire, and make my parents proud of me," said Iruka.
"My name is Inuzuka Hana, and these three are the Haimaru triplets," said Hana as she pointed to her companions. "I like hanging out with Itachi and training with my dogs, I hate people who abuse dogs, and my dream is to become a veterinarian."
"And I'm Mitarashi Anko. I love Dango and my son Naruto. I hate people who mistreat those close to me and my old sensei Orochimaru. My dream is to kill Orohcimaru and become a famous Shinobi of Konoha," finished Anko
"Good!" Anko cheerfully said with a grin. "Now, let's get on with the real test!" her grin turned slightly devious, and the graduates were wondering if they should feel scared.
"Your goal is to defeat one of my summoned allies by noon," said Anko as she bit her thumb. "Kuchiyose no jutsu!" the usual cloud of smoke caused by displaced air rapidly cleared away to reveal a beautiful purple snake about as thick around as a tree trunk and as tall as Anko.
"Hello Anko-sama, are these the hatchlings you want me to test?" asked the snake.
"Hai!" Anko chirped all-too-excitedly and nodded.
"Now listen up, Shiden (Purple Lightning), isn't poisonous, so don't worry if she bites you, but treat her as an enemy!" commanded Anko. "You've got three hours, go!"
Instantly, Hana grabbed a trembling Itachi and a flabbergasted Iruka before leaping into the trees with her dogs following.
"Calm down, Itachi!" snapped Hana as she lightly bopped Itachi on the head to snap her out of her fear. "I know you hate big snakes, but as long as you stay back and support us with ninjutsu you should be fine!"
"But Anko-sensei called that snake Shiden, since she looked pretty normal I think the lightning means she's very quick," said Iruka.
"Good point," said Hana.
"So how do we take out a giant purple snake that is probably very fast?" asked Itachi.
"I've got an idea..." said Iruka as he pulled a senbon from his supply pouch and started sketching a plan in the dirt with Itachi, Hana, and the Haimaru triplets watching.
Anko smiled as she lay back in the sun shining into the clearing and enjoying a stick of Dango while Shiden remained coiled in the center of the clearing ready to move at a moment's notice.
"These brats are good," said Anko as she hadn't detected them yet with passive senses.
"Anko-sama, they're coming," said Shiden just before a storm of kunai and shuriken shot towards her. Shiden's tail snapped up and the hidden genin aspirants were shocked to see the snake's tail was armored as she used it to deflect all the weapons.
"Yaeba Gatsuuga (Double Touth Piercing Fang)!" yelled Hana as she exploded out of the trees with her dogs, all four of them becoming a spinning storm of claws and fangs.
the four attacks missed Shiden and circled around her for a few seconds before breaking away, at which point Shiden found herself bound by ninja wire. Iurka suddenly jumped out of the trees and tossed an open bottle at the wires that soaked them in oil.
"Now Itachi!" yelled Iruka. Itachi stepped out of the bushes with the ends of the wire in her mouth and her fingers in the tiger hand seal.
"Katon: Ryuuka (fire Style: Dragon Fire) no Jutsu!" yelled Itachi before sending an intense flame down the wires towards Shiden.
"Suiton: Suiryuudan (Water Style: Water Dragon Projectile) no jutsu!" yelled Anko before a dragon of water shot out of the the nearby lake and doused the flames as well as sweeping all three of her students and Hana's dogs in front of Anko.
"I thought we had to beat Shiden, not you Anko-sensei!" groaned Iruka.
"And you would have if that jutsu had hit. But I value my friends to much to let one of them get hit by that attack. You all showed brilliant teamwork and I'm proud to say you pass!" exclaimed Anko.
"...Somehow I feel cheated." Itachi said.
"Meet back here tomorrow at ten for training and missions!" said Anko before Shiden and she disappeared in a puff of smoke to pick up Naruto from the Hyuuga manor.
"Hell yeah, we passed!" yelled Hana before pulling her team mates into a hug with each arm. Iruka struggled to breathe as he was crushed into Hana's chest while Itachi realized that her soaked clothes didn't hide her figure well.
Iruka managed to pry himself from Hana's grasp and directed a grimace of sympathy for the still stuck Uchiha, only to stare at the developing breasts revealed by her soaked clothes.
"A-ano..." Iruka was at a loss for words and he truly did not know what he could say and avoid a beating in the process. "Itachi..."
Hana followed Iruka's line of sight and groaned. "Looks like you're about to be inducted in the grand Itachi conspiracy Iruka-kun," she said as Itachi blushed at being caught by her crush.
"Can I get caught up to speed first?" Iruka asked. "The whole time I've known Itachi, Itachi was a boy, and now Itachi's a girl, and..." he slouched. "I'm lost. Explain?"
"Her father is a sexist jerk who basically denied the physical evidence she was a girl at birth and threatened her mother if word got out. Itachi has to pretend to be a guy from then on," said Hana.
Iruka rubbed the back of his head as he processed this new information, and then he grinned. "Aw, come on, I had an inkling she was a girl all along!"
"Oh yeah? How?" demanded Hana.
Iruka shrugged offhandedly. "I have an eye for detail. Itachi's too pretty even for a bishounen, no normal boy I know has a female best friend, and as far as I know, normal boys aren't afraid of snakes either--" he realized his conclusion. "Not that that's a bad thing!"
"Well, at least that means on missions outside of Konoha Itachi can relax and act a bit girly when Sensei isn't around," said Hana as she sank to the ground to scratch the ears of her dogs.
"What do you mean when I'm not around?" asked Anko from behind the new Genin, causing all of them to leap into the air in fright and send a barrage of shuriken and kunai at her.
"Woah, calm down kids, I've known for a long time!" yelled Anko.
"I feel like I've been forgotten..." Obito said.
That's because we don't want everyone knowing a spirit can possess them, thought Itachi.
"I see how it is..." Obito huffed, but hovered over Itachi in a (lazily) protective position.
"But, Auntie Anko, if you've known, how come you've never let me know?" Itachi asked.
"Because I could never find you without someone else being around. I was going to reveal I knew now after Iruka left, but Iruka figured it out too," said Anko.
"I suddenly feel like I should fear for my life, for various reasons..." Iruka muttered.
"Well Iruka, you are on a team with three Kunoichi, so you're going to have to watch your mouth in the future!" chirped Anko with a smirk.
"He better be scared!" Obito said. "Because I know you like him, imotou-chan, and if he makes you cry, I'll bring down his body temperature to dangerous levels, make him humiliate himself, amongst other things I can think of to do as a ghost!"
Itachi sweat dropped. Obito-nii-san... she thought with an inner sigh.
"Alright, go home, get changed, then we're going to have your first and probably most done D-rank mission!" exclaimed Anko as she punched the air to give her team enthusiasm.
"What would that mission be Anko-sensei?" asked Itachi.
"Babysitting your little brother and his friends, including my son Naruto!" replied Anko.
Iruka edged away from the excited girls to give himself some male time before he was committed to enduring daily femininity from not two, but three girls. "I hope I'm alive by the time the year ends..." he said.
(oOoOo)
JM: Well, this chapter didn't take as long to write:D
DM: No, I guess since we set a start date we were able to stalk up on ideas and plan ahead.
JM: But, remember, the next chapter will be ALL ME!...or mostly me, anyway
DM: Yes, everyone should prepare for a Shoujo filled chapter!
JM: And if that's not okay with you, then...nii-chan, you decide.
DM: We shall ignore any flames sent to us and laugh at your immature behavior!
JM: ESPECIALLY if you're male! I prepped nii-chan by bombarding him with shoujo manga for the past week or so! D (ish evil)
DM: no... more... flower... sparkle... overload...
JM: oh, come on, the stuff I gave you wasn't THAT sparkly...
DM: They don't need to know just how much I have been affected...
JM: Um, anyway, please leave those constructive English-skilly reviews like always and make me happy!
DM: Yes, let us know what worked and what didn't work!
JM: With that I say: goodbye, sayonara, au revoir, adios, adieu, et cetera et cetera et cetera!
DM: See you next time!