Chapter Eleven - Genin

After the events of our eleventh birthday, things were the same, yet different.

Kayana moved into the compound with Naruto and me. After a few weeks, she seemed to become an almost completely different person. She's still shy and reserved, especially in more public spaces. However, when it comes to people that she's comfortable with, she becomes somewhat outgoing and even mischievous.

Now spending more time with us, she quickly caught onto Hinata's stalker tendencies and has made a mission out of setting them up, using every opportunity to invite Hinata to join us. To Naruto's chagrin, and my amusement.

It's one of these times, in celebration of graduating from the academy, that Naruto, Hinata, Kayana, and I find ourselves leaving Ichiraku's.

"Nothing beats Ichiraku's when it's time to celebrate!" Naruto exclaims as we pay and start walking off. "I still can't believe Mizuki Sensei tried to get me to steal a scroll from the Hokage's office though. Did he really think I would fall for that? Everyone knows what the graduation test is supposed to be!"

Shrugging, I say, "Well, we always knew there was something up with him. He'll be enjoying a nice prison cell for what he's done." After a moment of hesitation, I decide that Naruto needs to know that he's a jinchuriki, which Mizuki tells him in the original timeline. Deciding this, I ask Naruto, "Hey Naruto, now that we're officially ninja, there's something I need to tell you. It's something pretty personal, but I think that Hinata and Kayana should hear it too… Are you ok with that?"

Naruto looks at me from the corner of his eyes before responding. "I don't know what it could be, but I trust you, bro. If you say it's something that they, or even the whole world, should know, then that's fine."

Smiling softly at Naruto, I say, "Well, let's all head to our place for some privacy."

Soon after, we arrive back at the compound and gather around after making some tea.

Taking a deep breath I speak, "So. What I'm about to tell you is an S-class secret, the only ones with permission to tell this information to others are the Hokage, myself, and Naruto. Not that I'm worried about it, but I do need to make sure you understand."

Getting nods from Kayana and Hinata, and a look of confusion from Naruto, I continue, "Naruto, I'm going to tell you why some of the villagers look at us, or more directly you, with so much hate."

Taking a deep breath, I begin, "12 years ago, when the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked the village, it was defeated by the Fourth Hokage at the cost of his life. A Tailed-Beast can't be killed though, they're essentially made of chakra. They can only be contained, sealed inside a vessel." Pausing, I look Naruto in the eyes before continuing, "The only vessel capable of containing the Nine-Tails that was available was a newborn child. You."

Kayana and Hinata gasp and Naruto's eyes widen as I speak. "You should be seen as a hero. Someone who is holding the beast that caused so much pain and destruction back from continuing its rampage. Most of the ninja that know what happened that day believe this." I clench my fists and continue, "Most of the civilians, however, either see you as the beast itself or as a walking potential disaster if the beast ever escapes. The idiots!" My voice laced with anger as I finish.

The others are silent for several moments before Naruto finally speaks. "T-that's… I don't know… You're not scared of me? Even though you know what's inside me?"

Eyes widening, I quickly respond, "No! Of course not! You're my little bro, how could I ever be scared of a guy who couldn't tie his shoes until he was seven?" Ending with a slight smirk as his expression changes to a pout.

"Hey! You said you wouldn't tell anyone about that!" Before he can continue protesting, he's cut off by Hinata giggling.

Barely able to contain her giggles, Kayana speaks up, "Yea Naruto, how could we ever be afraid of you after knowing that? Even if we didn't know that, it's like Ayo said. You're the hero protecting us!" Standing and grabbing Hinata, she continues while smirking, "Not to mention you're Hinata's personal hero even before all this! Right, Hinata?"

Immediately turning red as a tomato, Hinata stammers out, "K-Kayana, w-what are you t-talking about?"

Sighing, Kayana turns and whispers into Hinata's ear, "Everyone but Naruto himself knows how you feel about him. Why don't you give him a hug and a thank you for saving you from those bullies all those years ago?" After saying that, she pushes Hinata towards Naruto.

Stumbling, and looking around for a way out, her eyes land on me, only to see me shooting her a double thumbs up with a cheeky grin.

Accepting her fate, she finally turns to Naruto, somehow managing to turn even redder, she speaks, "I-it's true N-Naruto. You fought off those bullies when we were little. I-I never thanked you, s-so." She then takes a deep breath, steps forward, and suddenly wraps Naruto in a hug. "Thank you! You'll always b-be my hero!"

Looking confused, Naruto eventually returns the hug and replies, "Thank you, Hinata. It reall- Ah, she passed out."

Team assignments ended up being the same as canon, other than Team Seven consisting of Naruto, Kayana, and myself, Sakura was assigned to another team with two other kunoichi not shown in canon.

As in canon, we found ourselves waiting for our Jonin Sensei.

'Looks like we still got Kakashi. Let's see if he's actually late, or testing us.'

Searching my sensory range for Kakashi, I find him observing us at a distance through the window. Deciding to have a little fun, I wait until after Naruto places an eraser over the door, then turn towards where Kakashi is and wave, getting a look of confusion from Naruto, as Kayana just snickers, catching on.

Soon after, Kakashi makes his way into the classroom, walking through so the eraser falls directly onto his head. Earning laughter from Naruto and Kayana, and a slight smirk from me.

With his trademark eye smile, and hand on his chin as if thinking, he speaks, "Well… Based on first impressions… I'd have to say that I hate you."

Naruto just gawks, mouth agape, while Kayana and I just snicker.

After a moment passes, Kakashi continues, "Well, let's meet up on the roof for a second chance at introductions!" Then disappears with a body flicker.

Still snickering, we make our way to the roof and sit before Kakashi, who's leaning against the railing.

After a few moments of silence, he speaks. "Now, I'd like for you to tell us a little about yourselves."

Kayana speaks up. "What do you want to know?"

Shrugging, Kakashi responds, "The usual stuff. Your favorite things, things you hate, dreams, ambitions, hobbies, stuff like that."

Naruto chirps in. "Why don't you start then? You're the stranger, the rest of us already know each other."

Kakashi nods and speaks. "Ok… My name is Kakashi Hatake. I don't feel like talking about my likes and dislikes. My dreams and ambitions are none of your business, nor are my hobbies… Now, you in the orange, you're next."

Naruto jumps up and speaks. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki! I like ramen, especially Ichiraku's with my friends! What I hate is waiting for my ramen to be cooked." Then with a determined grin on his face he continues, "My dream is to be the best damn Hokage this village has ever seen!" Sitting back down he ends with, "I guess my hobbies would be pranks and practical jokes."

Following him, Kayana speaks up, "My name is Kayana. I like my friends. I hate abusers. My dream… I don't really have one. I guess I just want to be happy until I can find something worthy of being a dream. My hobby is reading."

Looking at Kayana I smile and say, "Being happy is worthy of being a dream. Don't feel like you need to be ambitious."

Standing, I continue, "My name is Ayo. I like this world and hate the evil within it. As for my dream… My dream is to become strong enough to protect what I care about from anything and everything that would try to harm it. My hobbies are training and learning sealing arts."

I sit back down as Kakashi claps. "Well, now that we all know each other, training begins tomorrow. Here are the details: don't be late." He tosses out a piece of paper and jumps off the roof.

Giving the paper a quick read, I nod and turn to my teammates. "Alright guys. Let's go home and get prepared. Tomorrow isn't going to be as simple as it looks. It's the true graduation test. If we fail this, then we either get sent to the Genin Corps or back to the academy."

Starting off, teammates in tow, I start thinking. 'Considering how far we've already diverged from canon, I don't know if we'll get the bell test. We don't have any issues with team unity and Kakashi should know that, assuming that he read our file. So he'll likely give us an overall test to make sure we're up to his wild standards.'

After making our way home, I turn and speak. "I've got some gifts for you guys. Some seals and weapons I've been working on for a while. Let's grab the gear and come up with some plans for whatever Kakashi Sensei might throw at us."