Title: A Little Pain
Summary: At the age of 7, there were a few things Hinata Hyuga was sure of. One, her father, Hiashi Hyuga, was the strongest shinobi she knew. Second, just the thought of her having to one day make decisions for her entire clan terrified her beyond belief. Third, her younger sister Hanabi, at the age of 2, was very easy to impress.
Hinata Hyuga never wanted to lead her Clan and when she is stripped of her title and essentially an outcast in her home, she finds solace in the brief comforts of a pink-haired girl named Sakura. Though little did Hinata know that losing her heiress title would send her life spiraling down a path of self discovery, bravery, and the realization that changing yourself is a possibility is the most powerful jutsu of all. But... perhaps stopping yourself from fainting whenever you happen to be around your crush is a start. And convincing the entirety of Konoha that it's first all-kunoichi team won't be a complete and total failure should be prioritized before any of that.
[;';]
From now on, Author's Notes and Comment Responses will take place at the end of the chapter!
Chapter 4: The Compromise
"This is an outrage!" Inoichi Yamanaka bellowed. "What is the Hokage thinking approving this nonsense?!"
Who are you telling? Ino rolled her eyes.
She was still in utter disbelief over who her teammates were. Months of hoping that the InoShikaChou generational teams would stop and be stunned by her and Sasuke being an unstoppable duo. Hopes that such a dynamic frame of work in combination of the Yamanaka's Mind Transfer jutsu and the Uchiha's Sharingan inventing the most unbelievable jutsu! Hopes that such jutsu would usher in the blessing from her father to allow her to go from Ino Yamanaka to Ino Uchiha.
All of that went down the drain in one fell swoop when her old homeroom teacher announced who she'd really be sharing a new sensei with.
At this point, Ino watched as her mother brought a plate of roasted duck to the table. I'd prefer the InoShikaChou.
"Now now, Inoichi." Chiaki soothed. Yet Ino could tell her mother didn't seem that happy about the arrangement as well. "There's probably a reasonable explanation for this and we just need to ask the Lord Hokage. And if it's something we hadn't considered, then we'll just have to go along with it. Working with the Hyuga may be a good idea."
"As if that lout Hiashi would ever want to work closely with any clan outside of his own." Inoichi countered. "The Hyuga might not care what teams their youth may be placed on, but I do. We've had 15 marvelous generations of InoShikaChou formations only for this be thrown out! It's as if we're being given the worst bits of territory in Konoha like Uch-"
"Inoichi." Chiaki's brown eyes were sharp, cutting Ino's father off swiftly. She looked from him to Ino and his blue eyes widened in recognition.
Ino cocked an eyebrow, "What is it?"
"Nothing, dear." Chiaki gave a small smile. "Just your father's language getting out of control with his analogies. I just want you to know that he isn't upset with you, the InoShikaChou just means a lot to our family so it's a bit unsettling for things to change all of a sudden. But we'll get things sorted out soon."
Ino's brow furrowed briefly but she forced herself to look unbothered. "I'll be fine, Mom. This isn't anything I can't handle." Even though I don't think anyone is happy about our team. At least, her parents made it pretty obvious they didn't like it. Sakura was her biggest rival, too. As far as Hinata, Ino wasn't too sure whatever went on in the gloomy girl's mind but she probably would have preferred a team with Naruto instead of her and Sakura. She thought back to Kurenai's words from before. "Tomorrow morning I won't be able to eat breakfast because Kurenai-sensei wants us all to meet pretty early at our training grounds. So wish me luck."
"Well, I'll be talking with the Hokage first thing in the morning." Inoichi set his tea cup harshly onto the dining table. "This is going to be sorted or so help me, the Yamanaka ancestors won't be able to rest."
Chiaki laid a hand on her husband's shoulder and gave him a soft smile, "it will be fine, Inoichi." She reassured.
Ino took a bite of cabbage. That was something she had wanted to do with Sasuke. Maybe after a rough day of training that didn't end good. She'd be mature just like her mother and tell him everything would be fine. Maybe I'll be able to if we get the old teams back! For all Ino knew, she was on a team with Sasuke. Ino perked up almost instantly but the pep deflated. Even if that were true, her father would just demand her to be on a team with Shikamaru and Chouji.
Life really wasn't that fair for a ninja.
When Ino finally left the Yamanaka Compound, the sun had barely risen in Konoha.
The clouds were thick and fluffy, the kind of clouds Ino detested the most. Clouds were fine if they were traily wisps in the sky, barely casting their shade on anything. All the fluffy clouds did was block the sun from their flowers and greens that needed it. Inoichi always said that gardening was a test of perseverance as you could never predict how the weather would be the next day, just how you could never predict the flow of battle.
Life lessons aside, Ino really just preferred for her days gardening to be straightforward so she could finally get to her favorite part of the experience. Seeing her blooms blossom healthily and vibrantly and arranging them to be her own living pieces of art.
Ino could feel the new wrinkle in her brow settling down as she walked to what would be Team 8's training grounds. At the very least, she could relax today when she got home and could see her garden. Then she could ask her mother about any new shipments of any exotic flowers they could be receiving from any other lands.
Desert roses from Suna.
Sootflower from Iwa.
Maybe a bird of paradise or two from the Land of Waves.
Ino was sure that if she decided to go against the norm of being a ninja, she'd more than content as a florist. So she was happy that the kunoichi curriculum had its own floral design classes.
The class she had always been best in.
"Kunoichi have a special role to play in the ninja arts." Their kunoichi arts teacher, Suzume, announced. She was donned quite differently than her usual shinobi attire, wearing a white kimono and red hakama pants. "Not only must they learn ninjutsu, but also a wide range of knowledge and refinement as women." Suzume gave her students a sharp look as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, the light making them shine white. "If you don't blend into enemy territory and conduct yourselves as a normal woman, you'll never be able to succeed as a spy.
"In any event, today's class will be flower arranging."
Yes! Ino leaned forward with a grin. I could do this class in my sleep or my name isn't Ino Yamanaka! As often as Ino helped her parents with gardening and running their shop in the heart of the village, Ino could build an arrangement in her head even if she was in the middle of playing tag. Beside her, Ino felt Sakura stirr looking more than a bit concerned. Ino gave the pink-haired girl a gentle nudge. It's going to be fine!
Sakura cheeks nearly seemed to match her hair but she smiled back anyway.
"Now then, everyone." Suzume continued. "Go into the field and gather distinctive flowers you feel attracted to and make an arrangement."
"Yes ma'am!"
Ino wasted no time in bounding ahead of her classmates. This was an area she knew very well.
"Ino-chan, wait up!" Sakura called, not too far behind.
Just as Ino turned, skidding to a stop, Sakura's face planted into the dirt before she looked up in embarrassment. Ino couldn't hold back a sigh. How was Sakura ever going to be a ninja if she kept tripping all over the place. "Geez, you're such a klutz, Sakura." There was a flash of navy blue far off from where the two of them stood and Ino looked over to see the concerned face of Hinata Hyuga staring at where Sakura fell. Ino gave a nonchalant wave.
Sakura was fine.
"C'mon, Sakura. Let's go before the good flowers get taken." Ino already began heading away again as Sakura stood up with a few nervous chuckles.
Ino already knew what was going to be her focal point for this arrangement and she'd be darned if she let someone get to all the cosmos flowers before her. She settled nicely into the grass when she found them, cosmos flowers as far as the eye could see in beautiful shades of purple, red, striped, yellow, and orange.
The light purple cosmos were definitely always the way to go. But maybe a chocolate cosmos would be great if we had any. Ino learned last year from Chiaki that chocolate cosmos were more common in Iwa than Konoha, so those blooms were a rarity in the village. It'd be fine either way, but next floral design class Ino would definitely get her hands on a beautiful chocolate cosmos!
"Ugh." Ino looked up from her small hand full at Sakura. The pink-haired girl frowning deeply as she plucked a few thoroughworts from their stems and into her bushel of blossoms. "You're lucky you work at a flower shop, Ino-chan. I'm no good at this kind of thing." Sakura sat down, dejected.
Ino couldn't hold back a light laugh. "That's no good for a girl named 'Sakura'." If anything, that was the perfect name for a florist. A lot better than being given the traditional name of 'Ino'; 'boar'. But Inoichi said that was the name every first born Yamanaka child of the Clan Head would be given. "As started by our first Clan head, your ancestor Inosuke Yamanaka and passed to your grandfather Inoken, to me, and now to you and to your future children and grandchildren!" Her father said and so Ino was stuck with least floral name ever. "Look, there's a trick to it okay?" Ino pushed thoughts of her family name behind her.
"When it comes to flower arranging, you have to decide on what your main flower is going to be." It was the first thing Chiaki had told Ino about the artform before Ino even stepped foot into the family shop. "Then once you decide that, you find other flowers to compliment it! You don't want the flowers to be arguing over who's getting all the attention! Like a bouquet of roses being complimented by stock, lisianthus, tulips, and…" Ino trailed off when she saw Sakura's brow furrow in further confusion. "Okay, maybe let's use flowers in front of us. For example, you see these cosmos? If you want those as your focal point then these thoroughwort flowers would be the perfect accent! The cosmos are my favorite.
"They're actually even compared to cherry blossoms, the Sakura ." Ino gave Sakura was a pointed look. "A spring flower, cosmos flowers are considered Akizakura . Autumn cherry blossoms. And they're the prettiest flowers of the fall. Not to mention they also mean harmony! So I'm pretty sure any autumn flower or grasses would be perfect with them, so I want to make these my focal point for class."
Sakura's eyes were wide, her jaw slack.
I guess she's amazed by my cool flower knowledge! Ino was pretty amazed herself when her mother taught her all this the first time.
Ino took one of the thoroughworts in Sakura's hand, "I think I'm even cuter than the cosmos though." Ino brought the flower beside her blonde locks. "Don't you think so?"
Sakura looked away, "um… yeah." Ino didn't notice the pink tinge on Sakura's ears.
"Hey, what's with the pause?!" Ino pouted. "If you really thought I was cute you woulda said it right away! I know when I've been insulted!"
Sakura only laughed at the accusation. Ino giggled right after.
"Well don't you two look like you're having fun!" An annoying voice suddenly approached.
Ino groaned internally as she looked behind them and saw a familiar pair of brown eyes and an asymmetrical purple bob. Ami Nishimura and her duo of followers, Kasumi Tanaka and Fuki Ito, had approached. Ami may have been popular with the boys, but her personality was less than pretty as Ino's mother would have put it. Ami crossed her arms with a smirk, "hey, Billboard Brow!"
Sakura hunched over knees as Ami leaned further. "You suddenly think you're so cute now that you're wearing some dopey ribbon?" Ami suddenly held out her hand, flicking the girl's forehead dead center. "Don't get so full of yourself!"
Ino didn't even hesitate, flicking her wrist precisely and sending three thoroughworts into the girl's mouth so quickly Ami fell squarely onto her back. "A-Ami-chan!" Fuki and Kasumi cried in unison.
Ami pushed their hands away furiously, pushing herself back into a sitting position. "INO!" She screeched, flowers still hanging from her mouth.
"Oh, whoops!" Ino held her hand up in mock surprise. "Sorry, Ami! You have such a pretty cylinder-shaped body that I thought you were a vase and vases need flowers so…!"
Ino only smirked, pulling out a dark bloom from her kunai case. "Oh dear… I think I pulled that out of the same place I keep all my shinobi wolfbane!" Ino continued on, unfazed by Ami's glare. "The poison is pretty weak but it can rub off on other flowers… So I think you should really get those out your mouth, Ami."
Sakura along with the goons all looked at Ino in horror.
It didn't long for three gawdy shrieks to fill the air as Ami, Fuki, and Kasumi ran for the hills. "Sensei!"
Ino clutched her stomach, her laughs so hard they fell like small jabs to her tummy. I can't believe they really fell for it! Ino opened an eye just in time to see Sakura looking at her in confusion. "Don't worry, I should have just added that it's really just the roots that are poisonous!" Ino's giggles bubbled over again. She exhaled loudly once they had all gotten out her system and shot her best friend another smile.
One day, Sakura would be able to protect herself from jerks like Ami. Ino just knew it. She was about to tell the girl this when she saw that Sakura once again looked dejected. "... Sakura? You okay? Don't let Ami bother you like that, alright?"
Sakura twiddled with one of her thoroughworts. "Ino-chan, if you're a cosmos flower… then am I a thoroughwort?"
Oh Sakura. Ino frowned. It didn't really matter how much Ino protected her if her confidence would shatter the moment Ami or some other jerk said something about her forehead. You can't just compare yourself to a complimentary flower. Chiaki always said that a person was the focal point of the arrangement called 'their life'. "What are you saying? Geez, Sakura."
"W-what is it?"
"Well…" Ino looked up thoughtfully. "I'd say you're not even a flower yet, Sakura. You're still just a bud, right now."
"Y-yeah…" Sakura laughed, forcing a smile before looking away again. "... Ino-chan… why did you give me this ribbon?"
Ino flashed back to when the two of them officially talked. When Sakura was hunched over in a park blubbering her eyes out. It was like there she had no hope in the world. A shriveling bud in a garden of hardy plants. "Well… I just thought it'd be a waste for a bud to just wilt away before blooming."
From the corner of her eye, Ino thought she saw Sakura's cheek turn pink. It looked more like stray strands of pink falling over her face from her bangs. Ino looked over at a yellow daisy buds and tapped them lightly. "I just think there's no point in all the effort if flowers don't bloom in the end. It's the best part of gardening!"
A warm breeze flowed over them, flowers seeming to bob in agreement.
That was always the best part of gardening. Seeing what a bud would turn into after all the sun, cloudy days, and rain.
"For all we know," Ino beamed at her friend. "you could be a flower even prettier than the cosmos."
Ino clenched her fist tightly at the memory.
The random blushing and shy expressions.
I feel so stupid.
How did Ino even miss it?
There's no point in thinking about the past anymore, Ino. Ino shook her head. Pretty soon, things are gonna be back to whatever teams we had before this. Then she wouldn't have to work in tandem with her rival. She'd be able to work with her mind free.
Ino really couldn't wait to get her hands in her gardening gloves later after whatever it was their sensei wanted them to do.
Their sensei who had yet to arrive to their training grounds by the time Ino had arrived to the training grounds.
Sakura had arrived first, Ino locking eyes in an intense glare before looking away with matching 'hmph's. By the time Hinata arrived minutes later, the light morning fog had begun to dissipate. They exchanged some very brief greetings, Ino gladly welcoming the blue-haired girl to lighten the tension.
All that was left was to wait for Kurenai.
Thirty minutes passed and the sun was beginning to shine, its rays setting fire across the horizon. Clouds painted into hues of orange, pink, and violet.
An hour passed and Ino's stomach growled, much to her embarrassment and Sakura's amusement.
Another forty-five minutes had gone by and Sakura grabbed at her hair, groaning loudly in frustration. "Geez, where is she?!" She exclaimed, large brow furrowed deeply. "How can she tell us to arrive so early when she comes here late?!"
Ino sighed, "I hate to agree with you, but I'm agreeing with you." It was more than just irritating. At least when they first met Kurenai in their former homeroom, Iruka had never explicitly told them when they were going to be picked up by their sensei. Not to mention their preemptively eating lunch beforehand.
Breakfast had passed and lunch was swiftly approaching and their beautiful sensei had yet to arrive.
"This stinks." Ino huffed.
"M-maybe she's just running late?" Hinata offered, pointedly looking at her feet. She even looked doubtful at her own words.
"Well I say that we leave if she doesn't show up in the next ten minutes." Ino yawned. There were better things the blonde could be doing right now. Like gardening. Or maybe even sneaking over to the Team 7 grounds and observing their training. "I bet Sasuke-kun has an amazing sensei!" She sighed. "I'm sure we would have had a great partnership if I was on his team, right Hinata?"
Hinata didn't get the chance to say anything as Sakura interjected, hands on her hips. "As if, you porker!"
"Well it certainly wouldn't be you! You didn't even get that good a grade when it came to taijutsu! And your ninjutsu is average at best! You might be best when it came to all that boring studying but when it comes to ninja stuff, I totally win!"
Sakura's scowl deepened, cheeks flushed. "Whatever, you're not so great!"
"Whatever." Ino mocked.
Hinata held her hands up, lavender eyes wide. "I-Ino-san, Sakura-san, we shouldn't fight."
Sakura crossed her arms, but the angry flush remained. "F-fine." Sakura grounded out, albeit reluctantly. "I'm only stopping for Hinata's sake."
Ino only shrugged.
Ino 1, Sakura 0.
"Still this is totally boring." Sakura moved on. "If I knew Kurenai-sensei would be taking this long, I wouldn't have bothered skipping breakfast. What about you, Hinata? Did you eat?"
"No." Hinata mumbled. Almost on cue, a stomach growled and Hinata's face turned scarlet. "S-sorry!"
Ino would have laughed if Hinata weren't so skittish and easier to read. "Alright, that's it, we should just-"
"Excuse me." A deep voice interrupted Ino's oncoming rant. The man was a shinobi, his build stocky. "Team 8, under the tutelage of Kurenai Yuhi, your presence is required at the Hokage's office. Your team is under examination until the problem is sorted."
"Problem?" Sakura repeated, arms at her side. "What problem? Is everything alright?"
"There is a discussion about the teams created ongoing." The man answered briskly. He turned, ready to lead the way to the Hokage. "Please, follow me now."
Ino's eyebrows rose in realization. Dad!
"This is ridiculous!" Kurenai barked, crimson eyes glaring back at blue.
Beside her stood Inoichi Yamanaka, an old comrade, one of the most reliable. Yet in this instant, he was practically an enemy as they stood in front of Hiruzen. Shikaku Nara and Chouza Akimichi stood among them, both donning their own brows. Asuma appeared unfazed, his decision made up a long time ago.
The Hokage had yet to announce his thoughts; only allowing four shinobi in front of him to lay out their arguments in order to hear all sides.
"Furthermore, Lord Hokage has already given his seal of approval of those placed on my team." Kurenai continued. Everything had been written, sealed in stone. A union already given its blessing to blossom into what could be an amazing team of kunoichi in Konoha's history! "There is nothing to argue over. Even Asuma is satisfied."
Asuma merely shrugged, "I've been fine with my team from the beginning. I'm just following orders. If those orders happen to change, I'll follow those as well."
"What's ridiculous is the treatment of an alliance held dearly to our clans being disregarded so easily." Inoichi posited firmly. "The InoShikaChou has been prevalent in the history of this village since nearly the time of Konoha's origin! It's a matter of tradition. How can the InoShikaChou continue on with this disruption?"
"Not every tradition needs to be upheld, that's true." Shikaku added, sounding calmer that his blond companion. "But this seems to be a bit much. As our respective heirs, this is their duty to continue on our families traditions and then pass it on the next generation and the next. Changing outdated traditions for the better of the village is fine, but at the expense of a clan's culture?"
Their points were solid, Kurenai could admit. "True as that may be, I still feel that together these girls can craft something amazing. A shinobi's training is rugged, there's nothing from stopping you from training them as the InoShikaChou at your training grounds."
"They need to be able to train together outside of the compounds if they wish to work perfectly in tandem on missions." Inoichi seemed to stare Kurenai down.
"Yes, that's true." Kurenai's own gaze remained steady. "However, they won't be going on missions together. They will be going on missions with their respective teams. Training at home should be able to suffice your desires for the InoShikaChou to continue." It didn't have to disband. It would continue, it would simply need to adapt to a new scenario. This was already the life of a shinobi.
Inoichi clicked his tongue."The InoShikaChou alliance has been built upon generation after generation! Our techniques have been honed for years in order to achieve the symbiosis we have between our families! How in the name of the Five Elemental Nations are you ever going to achieve that with these three?!"
The feeling is mutual, Yamanaka. "I've already began to think about that! But it's quite hard actually achieving anything if I haven't even been given the moment to truly assess their abilities in person!" Her team who had been left out to wait miserably for what would be the final exam to truly test their abilities and see if they were truly ready to be ninja.
"Perhaps we need a tiebreaker." Chouza finally spoke. Kurenai looked at redhead's thoughtful expression. Between the three of them, Kurenai always remembered Chouza being more quiet and philosophical to counter Inoichi's high energy and Shikaku's occasional backs of laidbackness bordering laziness. "Everyone has been raising fine points, but ultimately this will be the Hokage's decision and we will respect whatever is chosen."
Kurenai turned her gaze back onto the Hokage, who closed his eyes. "I've heard all of your arguments." Hiruzen opened his eyes as he began, "It is true that it would be quite the shock to the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi Clans that their children aren't under the tutelage of the same instructor. Uprooting tradition to the disadvantage of a clan is cause for uproar." Kurenai opened her mouth, but Hiruzen holding up his hand made her close it as he continued on. "However, Kurenai is also correct that there is nothing stopping you all from training your children and continuing this generation's InoShikaChou from a different standpoint. It's also unfair to damn Kurenai's team to the expectations nothing will rise from them if they are to continue on when she hasn't been giving the chance to begin training them. So we will compromise.
Should both Team 8 and 10 be ready for the Chunin and should they all pass, the teams shall be allowed to continue as they are and the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi can plan accordingly. Shall they fail, the original arrangements of these teams will be as originally intended. Asuma the InoShikaChou. Kurenai will receive Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame. And Kakashi will receive Sakura Haruno, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha." Hiruzen finished. He gave all of his shinobi a firm look. "Are there any protests to this compromise?"
"No, Lord Hokage." Asuma replied to his father.
"No, Lord Hokage." Kurenai grounded out.
Inoichi, Shikaku, and Chouza all followed behind in unison.
Kurenai could feel the hairs on the back of her neck beginning to stick to her skin. Failure would not be an option.
"Dismissed."
Kurenai's eyes met with the faces of her and Asuma's respective students, Kurenai's own looking especially concerned as they watched three disgruntled fathers leave. As Asuma approached his own students, Kurenai stepped in front of hers as Sakura asked, "what's wrong, Kurenai-sensei?"
Kurenai smiled, though it was less than enthusiastic. "We've been given an ultimatum in order to compromise with Ino's father." Kurenai met Asuma's gaze and they both nodded. Kurenai looked back at her girls and nodded towards the exit. "The three of you learned about the Chunin Exams in the Academy, correct?"
"Yeah, Iruka-sensei told us about it." Sakura answered. "The exams all genin must take in order to advance to the next rank of chunin , right? Then there's one for jonin."
"That's right." Kurenai praised. Sakura smiled in satisfaction. "We need to begin training immediately for it."
"It's my dad, isn't it?" Ino's expression clouded over. "He said he wanted to talk to the Hokage because he wanted me, Shikamaru, and Chouji on a team together. Are switching teams now?"
Hinata brought her right hand up to her face, her expression a mixture of surprise and horror. "We.. we're being disbanded?"
"No, no." Kurenai laid a hand on Hinata's shoulder. "At least, not for now. The Chunin Exams will be our one hope to keep Team 8 together without interruption. Should we pass, ultimately, they'll allow us to continue and Ino will train alongside her parents in order to continue the Clan tradition. It will be a rough road ahead. They will be doubting us completely, but we should be fine if we begin training im-"
A stomach suddenly growled.
Hinata hunched over, ears burning.
"... Maybe training can wait for the day." Kurenai relented. "I should treat you all as an apology for today. I was accosted right as was leaving to the training grounds." There she would have surprised her students with their final test. However, now it seemed there was a new test with a further out deadline. "We'll start assessments tomorrow and train accordingly. This isn't the Academy anymore, you're genin and a complete unit given the blessing of the Hokage and your homeroom instructor who both believed that together, you three would be compatible and turn your unit into an elite one." It seemed far off; three girls fresh out of the Ninja Academy being elite units. It was a concept they had no choice but to be if they wanted to succeed. "The three of you are now more than just classmates, you're teammates. You will hopefully be that for years to come. You will grow and succeed together, you will fumble and fail together, and come to depend on one another deeply on and off the battlefield.
"You'll need to know each other as well as one knows their own body and jutsu. It all starts now."
Kurenai spent the night settled at her desk, feeling irritated.
The vanilla incense lit minutes prior did nothing for her, neither did her now lukewarm cup of green tea by her half eaten daifuku. The faint chirps of crickets, normally a sound of comfort in the night, only fueled her anxieties.
It all started now and here she was feeling stuck more than ever.
With a huff, Kurenai let down her hair from its bun hoping it would help her mind settle and her sate her worries. The change did nothing as Kurenai continued staring at the information before her. The events of the morning and noon were still reeling in her head, the seething retorts and the tension of the reached compromise. It wasn't nearly satisfactory enough.
Make her team successfully pass the Chunin Exams, lest she see the girls disbanded before their careers as kunoichi halted before they truly began.
Damn. Kurenai cursed, staring even harder at the paperwork she had laid out. The first caught her eye as she saw the names of her very own team circled in a dark circle of crimson ink.
Team 8 - Kurenai Yuhi
Hinata Hyuga, 12 (f)
Sakura Haruno, 12 (f)
Ino Yamanaka, 12 (f)
Alongside that, lied their student files.
Files that told Kurenai everything she would ever need to know about her girls. What she had originally put off viewing in the case the girls would fail their secondary assessment. Which was now irrelevant with their ultimaturm.
"The InoShikaChou alliance has been built upon generation after generation! Our techniques have been honed for years in order to achieve the symbiosis we have with one another's techniques! How in the name of the Five Elemental Nations are you ever going to achieve that with these three?!" Inoichi had argued.
"I've already began to think about that! But it's quite hard actually achieving anything if I haven't even been given the moment to truly assess their abilities in person!" Kurenai countered.
Even if there was part of her burning to deny it, the truth was currently laid out in front of her. Kurenai was going to have her work cut out for her with the mix of students she had been giving.
In terms of taijutsu, Sakura seems behind Hinata and Ino, surprisingly. Kurenai noted. Ino's scores were undoubtedly the highest, but Hinata's achievement as second wasn't by much in comparison to Sakura's. Hinata's own abilities were nearly even to Ino's, Sakura's own grades in taijutsu lagging to around average. Hiashi's past training of Hinata came to some benefit for the girl, even if even thinking of the man made Kurenai's blood boil.
Tends to hesitate during sparring. Iruka printed beside Hinata's grade. That needs to be taken care of now. There's nothing wrong with wanting peace and showing your opponents mercy, Kurenai could agree. But in a split second on the battlefield, that hesitance can be the deciding factor between life and death. Whether you would live or if your story would be forgotten over the years.
Yet the ultimate problem still lied in the matter of abilities the girls already had and how they'd come together in battle.
Then there was the matter of Hinata's Byakugan and the Gentle Fist techniques, the kekkei genkai passed down the Hyuga's line for generations. Techniques that could be a deadly weapon in the right palms.
Any observer would know that the mind techniques of the Yamanaka were nothing to take lightly either. Inoichi and countless other Yamanaka proving the fact time and time again.
Then there was Sakura. She hadn't been from any notable Clan; the Haruno were typically a clan of civilians that occasionally spawned a shinobi or two. None of resulting into any shinobi of any importance. Nor were there any known records of special abilities taken into account when it came to the Haruno either.
So perhaps I've been given a blank slate. But there's no telling what she could be inte- Kurenai paused as her eyes strayed to the notes Iruka had written.
Has a keen eye for noticing when she's in a genjutsu and penchant for making traps.
Kurenai's eyes widened.
Maybe the puzzle pieces would fall into place after all.
"I've decided what our efforts in training shall be geared to." Kurenai announced the next morning, no accosting preventing her from showing up to her team's training grounds quite punctually. She smiled warmly at the pairs of lavender, jade, and blue eyes looking up at her curiously. "The Yamanaka's mind techniques perfect for holding enemies hostage and peering into their deepest thoughts. The Hyuga's all-seeing eye that can see for kilometers and detect even the slightest movement. Sakura, your ability for genjutsu and traps." Kurenai didn't know how it did not come to her almost immediately upon first viewing of her students files. "Your abilities combined will be perfect for the most traditional of all shinobi fields. Tracking and interrogation."
Author's Note: OOOOF, sorry it took so long to finally update guys.
Man, it has been a long time since I updated this.
Sorry about the wait again, I had a lot going on from a few depressive slumps and employment issues. Whenever those happen, writing doesn't come as easily to me. Plus, I needed to work on getting another job... So I avoided this project all together, but today I really had a good day and the urge to write came a lot easier. I'd like try and get an update schedule going, maybe twice a month, now that I have the outline finished including some humorous Road to Ninja side chapters. Even if it takes me a long time, I want to be able to finish this at my own pace.
Anyways, now with chapter 5 officially kicked off, the first arc of this story is really getting started and I have them all set up! Academy Days, The Genin Years, Pre!Shippuden Interlude, Naruto Returns, and Fourth Shinobi World War. I'm going to try and have chapter 6 up by the middle of this month now that all the background work is finished up.
(That aside, I'm going to do some light editing of the previous chapters with some additions I believe may be very beneficial!)
I had a lot of fun writing in Ino's POV today with the flashback and the descriptors about gardening. I honestly had some inspiration from taking my own floral design classes I've taken in the past and my own love of flowers; one day, I'll get that garden… Writing with Kurenai is always fun as well, but next chapter we'll be heading back into the perspective of Hinata!
I hope you look forward to it! I'll do Comment Response next chapter as it's been so long I can't tell which are more recent than the others but I still appreciate each one I receive!