"What about these, Naruto?" Hiruzen asked as he, Minato, and Kushina held up a picture each.
Naruto looked at them before shaking his head. Hiruzen sighed, "We're running out of candidates," he stated.
"Naruto, are you sure you remember what the men looked like?" Kushina asked.
Naruto nodded. Kakashi sighed. They've been at this for hours. The kids were even here from school. Iruka was trying to keep the younger kids distracted and Hiashi was waiting for the person who did this to his daughter and her friend to be revealed. Minato sighed and shifted through some photos. Naruto made a noise and Minato looked up, "Him," Naruto pointed to a picture, "He was part of the group. Not the man who hurt me, but…"
Hiruzen took the picture, "Him?" he asked holding the picture.
Naruto nodded, "Hinata," Minato said taking the picture and walking over to the girl, "Do you recognize him?"
Hinata blinked once, "I…think…" she said slowly before nodding, "Yes. He pulled the other two away and was yelling at them."
Minato nodded, "I'll get him," Kakashi stated, "Where do I take him?"
"My office," Minato stated, "I don't think this one wanted to hurt Naruto at all. I just don't think he's skilled enough to stop the other two."
Kakashi nodded and flashed out of the room. Kushina kissed Naruto's head and held him close while Minato ruffled his hair. Naruto smiled, "Alright!" Tsunade yelled, "Everyone out! Brat needs to rest!"
Everyone except Naruto's family left, "When Kakashi gets back, I'll have him take you three home," Minato stated.
Gaara climbed into Naruto's bed and sat with Kushina and Naruto. Minato chuckled and messed up Gaara's already messy hair, "Little mama's boy," he said smiling.
Gaara held his bear tightly and whined softly.
Naruto was sleeping soundly in his hospital bed with Kushina asleep in the bed beside his and Minato sitting wide awake beside both of them. He didn't trust the fact that his son was up and his attackers may return to try and finish the job. Naruto's eyes suddenly shot open in fear, "Naruto?" Minato whispered, "What's wrong?"
"Monster…" Naruto whimpered.
Minato's eyes hardened before they softened, "He's not going to hurt you," he said running his hand through his hair.
"You won't let him?" Naruto asked.
"No-well yes-but he can't hurt you," Minato said, "I'll explain when you're older, but know that the monsters you and Gaara are seeing can't hurt you. Kaa-chan and I have made sure of this."
Naruto smiled softly and nodded. Minato tucked his son back in, "If you see Gaara with the monsters," Minato said, "Tell him that, okay?"
Naruto nodded and slowly closed his eyes. Minato sighed as he weaved his fingers through his son's hair. He kissed Naruto's forehead before continuing to watch over the room.
Years passed by quickly. Gaara and Naruto were eight and seven years old respectively and were in the Academy with their brother and sister. Even though Temari would be graduating soon, but that didn't mean things got easier, "Tou-chan!" Minato turned to Naruto as he ran by the kitchen, "We're leaving!"
"Wait!" Minato yelled, "Your lunches!" he grabbed four bentos.
Each Namikaze child took their lunch before leaving. Minato sighed before taking off his apron. Why was his apron pink again? Minato shook his head before grabbing his Hokage Jacket. He had to finish the teams for Temari's graduating class. Minato entered his office and took out several folders with pictures inside. Minato shuffled the pictures around and occasionally tapping his finger repeatedly on the desk. This was more difficult than he thought…Minato looked at the graduating class pictures then the Jounin teachers he was given. A knock sounded, "Enter," Minato stated still looking at the pictures.
Hiruzen came in, "Trouble, Minato?" he asked closing the door.
"I'm short a teacher…" Minato stated bluntly.
Hiruzen blinked and looked, "Oh dear," he said, "That hasn't happened before."
Minato sighed then looked at the pictures again. He suddenly got an idea, "That could work," Minato said mostly to himself, "Now if I could just get her to agree…"
"Nee-chan!" Naruto whined, "The protector goes on your forehead!"
"Well, I don't want it on my forehead," Temari stated as she finished tying her blue forehead protector to her neck.
Naruto pouted causing Temari to giggle and pinch his cheek, "Nee-chan!" Naruto whined.
Temari giggled, "You're adorable, Naruto," she said before grabbing her fans.
"I am not!" Naruto yelled.
"Drive Kankurou bonkers," Temari said before leaving.
"Oi!" Kankurou yelled, "That's not funny!"
"Bye Temari!" Kushina called before the door closed.
Temari walked into her classroom and looked around, "Temari-chan!" Temari turned and smiled.
Temari sat beside Hana with Itachi on the other side of her, "So…" Hana smiled.
"So what?" Temari asked.
"Come on! Your dad told you who your teacher and team would be right?" Hana asked.
"No," Temari stated, "You know I don't get special treatment."
Hana huffed. Suzume walked in, "Alright, I'll be telling you your teams," she called, "Team One…!"
"What do you think the chances are of us three being a team?" Temari asked.
"Very unlikely," Itachi stated, "I'm Rookie of the Year and you two tied for second place and Top Kunoichi. Putting us together would be very unwise."
"Team Six!" Suzume yelled, "Namikaze Temari," Temari turned, "Inuzuka Hana and Uchiha Itachi!"
Temari and Hana cheered while Itachi just blinked, "I was wrong?" he said confused, "I'm never wrong."
"You complaining, I-ta-chi-kun?" Hana asked smirking.
Itachi sweat dropped, "Nope," the prodigy said quickly, "Not all."
After the teams were assigned, Jounin teachers came and retrieved their students. However, only Hana, Itachi, and Temari remained in the room. Temari groaned, "If our teacher is Kakashi-nii then I'm kicking his butt out the window for being late," she stated annoyed.
"Sorry kiddo," Temari paled at the voice, "I'm not Kakashi, but I'd love to see you try and kick my butt out the window."
Temari turned slowly, "A-Anko-nee…" she said terrified, "…What did I do to make Tou-chan mad at me?"
"Temari-chan, who's this?" Hana asked.
Anko walked in smirking, "Name's Mitarashi Anko," she stated.
Itachi perked up, "You were Orochimaru's student before you turned against him after he kidnapped Temari and Kankurou," he stated.
"You sure know your stuff kid," Anko said.
"Orochimaru's…student…" Hana said slowly, "She's not like Orochimaru, is she?"
"Morals: no," Temari stated, "Personality: …oh yeah…"
Hana and Itachi sweat dropped when Anko smirked, "We're dead, aren't we?" Hana asked.
"Now, now," Anko stated, "Hokage-sama wouldn't like it if I killed his daughter or her two friends, now would he?"
"That may be our only saving grace," Temari stated, "But…why are you our teacher?"
"Well, let's see," Anko stood up straight, "We have the daughter of the Hokage who seems to attract kidnappers and I don't think we want to figure out if third times the charm," Temari blushed in both embarrassment and anger, "Then we have mister genius prodigy over here that could've easily graduated at seven or eight. We wouldn't want you to get bored, now would we?" Itachi sweat dropped, "And then there's little Miss Inuzuka over here," Anko smirked, "Unfortunately, I think she just got dragged along for the ride," Hana glared, her face turning red and the three Haimaru brothers, Gure, Haiiro, and Gurei, growled.
Temari and Itachi glared at Anko. Anko smirked, "You're mad; good," she stated, "Because first training session will be tomorrow morning. Seven sharp. Got it?"
The three didn't say anything, "I'm taking that as a yes," Anko said before waving and leaving, "Ja ne!"
"How do you stand her?" Hana asked Temari.
"I hardly see her," Temari answered.
"That would help," Itachi stated, calm once again.
Hana and Temari sighed, "Seriously, what did I do to make Tou-chan mad at me?" Temari whined.
"I don't know, but why did he have to drag us with you," Hana asked.
Itachi mentally sighed. Why was he friends with two girls again?
A/N Yes, I have Anko as Temari's teacher, but it's not in the way you think. Just wait until the next chapter. I hope you all enjoyed. Please leave reviews! I'm hoping to get at least 200 reviews with this story. Grins I own nothing except my OCs!
