AN: I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind reviews. It makes me so happy to see people excited about this story!
I feel completely out of place as I enter the bustling classroom. I'm the youngest in the room and haven't been in any classes with anyone in here. I immediately recognize Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji. None of them are sitting near each other.
As much as I love Neji, I'm not getting into a fight today so I'll let Naruto beat sense into him later on. The seat by Tenten is taken. But there's an empty seat beside Lee. It's weird to see him with longer braided hair instead of his bowl cut.
I go to sit beside him anyways.
"Is it okay if I sit here?" I ask him, pointing to the middle seat in the row. The other seat is empty, but I don't want Lee to feel left out. It's already clear that he's not his bubbly self yet. Gai sensei must pull that out of him.
"A-are you sure?" He asks, his cheeks turning a light red. Oh, no. Lee you sweet child please don't react like you will when you see Sakura for the first time.
"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't," I tell him honestly. He gives a timid nod.
"I do not recognize you," he says, looking at me intently.
"I'm in the class under you, my brother insists we take the test each time it's offered and I managed to pass it this time," I say as I feel my own cheeks heat up.
"Congratulations! It is quite the accomplishment to graduate from the academy early."
"Thank you," I say as I feel someone stand beside the empty chair next to me.
"May I sit here?" An Aburame boy asks, he wears a long green coat with a high collar that covers half his face. His eyes are covered by dark sunglasses, and on his side is a jar that matches his coat.
"Of course," I smile at him. He pauses for a minute, I think his chakra spikes a little in surprise, but he sits down next to me. I put my elbows on the desk in front of me, and drop my head into my hands.
So. Much. Chakra.
It'd be one thing if it was like Naruto's, like a raging fiery sea. But Naruto's just feels like one chakra system. An Aburame's feels like hundreds to thousands. The closest I'd felt to this was Shino's (who I never got to sit near), and Shibi's (who I never got to sit beside in clan meetings). I feel so dizzy and overwhelmed.
He must have thousands of insects. It's insane!
"Are you alright?" Lee asks, leaning a little closer to me.
"Yeah," I manage to mumble. I take a few deep breaths before finally feeling normal again. I sit back in my seat and take another breath before explaining what had happened to the two boys looking at me. "Sorry, I'm a sensor. I'm not used to being so close to so many kikai."
"You know that I work with kikaichu?" The boy asks.
"I kinda guessed 'cause they feel a little like Shino's."
"So cool," Lee whispers beside me. "You can identify different chakras?"
"Yeah, it was a common trait among my clan," I say as I look down at the desk in front of me.
"Interesting," the Aburame boy says.
"Oh! I didn't even ask your names, 'ttbane!"
"My name is Lee," the boy in question says as he smiles at us.
"My name is Aburame Reiji, what is yours?" The boy says as some of his kikai crawl across his hand on the desk.
"Uzumaki Kikuko," I say as I play with one of my lower braids. Lee looks like he's going to say something, but Naoki sensei walking into the room stops him.
"Alright everyone!" She says loudly, calling the attention of those still talking in the room. "Congratulations again on your graduation from the academy."
There are a few whoops as the room is filled with excited chatter. Naoki sensei rolls her eyes before raising her hand to get everyone's attention again.
"I will read out your genin teams, after I finish you are all dismissed for lunch."
"Yes, sensei!" The room choruses. I look around in shock. That would never happen in our class. It's way too chaotic. I see Naoki sensei struggling to contain her amusement at my reaction as she begins to read out the teams.
I end up zoning out after a few teams until I hear team nine called.
"Team nine, Hyuga Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee," Tenten turns around from the table in front of us to give Lee a small smile. Thankfully they seem to already get along.
When sensei calls team ten it's names I don't recognize. They must be one of the teams that fails the next test. I zone out again, not recognizing any of the names.
"Alright, and our last team, team twenty." Now that gets my attention. I'd either completely zoned out to even my own name, or this is my team.
"Aburame Reiji, Akimichi Minoru, and Uzumaki Kikuko," I see a boy with red hair near the front of the room turn around and give a tentative wave in our direction. I return it with a small smile.
"Alright, you all are dismissed. Be back here in one hour!" She says, looking pointedly at the Nara boy sitting beside Minoru at the front of the room. I let out a little laugh at the action, it reminds me of Iruka sensei scolding Shikamaru for being late in the mornings. I kind of wish I didn't graduate early now. I'll miss out on an entire year with Naruto, Shika, Choji, and hell even Sasuke.
The kids start leaving the room quickly and I stand as well. Minoru and Reiji have already left. I feel myself deflate a little as I start to leave the room. I give Naoki sensei a kind wave before heading out to the courtyard.
I see the boys sitting under our normal tree and feel a pang of sadness when none of them look over. They seem to be having as much fun as usual. But then my attention is quickly pulled away from them as a kikai lands on my nose.
"Eh?" I feel their amusement as they crawl along my nose, making me scrunch it up. "That tickles 'ttbane!"
"Hikari," Reiji scolds. I feel even more amusement from the kikai as she flies back to him. "I apolo-"
"You don't have to, I don't mind your kikaichu."
"We were wondering if you wanted to eat lunch together?" Minoru says from Reiji's side. I smile at both of the boys. They weren't leaving me behind after all.
"Sure!"
"We were going to go to one of my clan's barbecue places, but we can pick up bento if you'd like," Minoru says, motioning towards the bento box in my hand as we start walking out of the courtyard.
"I'll never turn down barbecue 'ttbane!" I pull out an empty stasis seal from my pocket and put my bento inside of it before pocketing it again. "I always keep a stasis scroll on me, I really never turn down barbecue." Minoru laughs loudly and I can feel amusement throughout Reiji's chakra.
I feel eyes on my back as we leave the courtyard but don't turn around. The last thing I need to do is cry in front of my new team.
We made it back to the classroom with a minute to spare. Naoki sensei gave me the tired look Iruka sensei gives Naruto, and I can't help but grin. Yes, I was a bad influence on my teammates already. But what is the fun of being a shinobi if you can't make dramatic entrances? We go back to our seats from earlier and I smile at Lee.
Speaking of dramatic entrances, as soon as the hour for lunch is up, the door is almost knocked down by a man in a green jumpsuit. He gives the class a peace sign as sparkles appear in the air around him.
"Ah! So many youthful students! I am Konoha's Noble Green Beast!" The room breaks out into giggles, but I can't help but slap my hands on my cheeks as I look at him.
"So cool!" He turns his attention to me and offers a wide smile, there's even a sparkle when he does it!
"Thank you, youthful kunoichi!" I feel my cheeks heat up, I can't help it. Yeah, Might Guy was super over the top. The green jumpsuit does look kinda out there.
But SO many muscles. And you can see all of them.
Oh no, my first crush cannot be on a sensei. Kami help me.
"I am here to pick up team nine!" I feel myself deflate at that. I knew it was coming, though. He'd be the best person for Lee. Lee hesitates next to me as Tenten and Neji walk to the front of the room.
"Ne, you'll be great, Lee! Guy sensei is Konoha's taijutsu master." I give him an encouraging shove (much like Kakashi had given me out of the Hokage tower many times). Lee makes his way to the front, following his team out of the room. He pauses to give me a tentative wave. I smile widely and wave back.
Other sensei start making their way to the room. I stop paying attention to them and instead watch Reiji as he takes care of his kikai. But then I feel a familiar chakra signature.
"Shisui? What?" I whisper under my breath. He must have read my lips by the loud laugh he lets out. I feel my cheeks heat up as he winks at me.
"I'm here to pick up team twelve!" He chirps. The Nara sitting beside Minoru lets out a loud groan. I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. The Nara were so predictable sometimes. "Don't cause too much trouble, Kiku-chan~" He teases as he leads them out of the room.
"Don't set the entire village on fire Shisui-nii~" He snorts as he shuts the door behind him. I hear Reiji sigh next to me and have to stop myself from turning to look at him. I've already managed to annoy one of my teammates and we haven't even met our sensei yet. I was super careful during lunch not to be too hyper or talk too much.
And then I blow it right before our sensei walks into the room.
"Team twenty will be with me."
He's a Hyuga. It's clear to see from his white eyes and covered forehead. I can feel the seal and take a deep breath to calm myself. I get up and start walking towards the front, careful to not look at Reiji or Minoru. I follow them out of the classroom, keeping my eyes trained on the ground.
Sensei doesn't say anything as we start walking through the village. The whispers of the villagers are clear to hear as we walk by them. I'd gotten so used to them when walking around with Naruto or on my own, but having them mutter under their breaths when they saw me or talking openly about how they hate me now. It's too much.
Sensei will fail our team just because I'm on it. I couldn't ruin this chance for Minoru or Reiji. Maybe I could get an apprenticeship with Tenzo? That'd get him out of Anbu-
I almost walk face first into Reiji's back. I blink and look around us and realize we're out of the village streets and on a training ground. I can feel sensei's annoyance. I look back down at the ground as he has us sit down across from him.
"I will not train someone who cannot look at me." Sensei says firmly. I close my eyes tightly before opening them again and bringing my head up to look at him. His eyebrows furrow as he looks at me. I can't stop myself from talking.
"I know there's a test to determine if you will pass our team. Please don't fail Minoru and Reiji, I'll go back to the academy and someone in the reserves can take my spot."
"Are you that afraid of my test?" Sensei says after too long of a silence.
"What? No, I just, I know you won't want me on your team after-"
"After civilian villagers showed their ignorance?" He cuts me off. I feel my throat tighten. "Their opinions do not matter to me. Hokage-sama assigned you three to be my students. I will test your abilities, and if I think you are ready you will become my students." There's more silence.
"Is that understood?"
"Yes sensei," I squeak.
"Now, moving on. I would like to know some basic things before I meet your families later today." Well, that's not what I was expecting.
"Meet our families?" Minoru asks.
"Yes, it is common practice for jonin sensei to meet their prospective team's families. I will visit each of your homes this afternoon." This is going to go horribly wrong. I just know it is.
"Please tell me your names, your immediate family's names, your chakra natures if you are aware, your strengths, and your weaknesses. You may start," he gestures to Minoru who nods before answering.
"My name is Akimichi Minoru, my mom is Misaki and I have a little sister named Miki." Sensei nods for him to continue. "I have the chakra nature of fire and my strengths are my clan techniques and using a bo. My weaknesses are my speed and ninjutsu."
"Good, next?" He asks as he looks at Reiji.
"I am Aburame Reiji. My parents are Renjiro and Hiromi and my little sister is Hideko. My chakra nature is earth. My strengths are my clan techniques and genjutsu. My weaknesses are in taijutsu and my chakra reserves."
"Good, next?" Sensei repeats as he gestures for me to speak.
"I'm Uzumaki Kikuko, my twin brother is Uzumaki Naruto. My chakra natures are water and wind." I see sensei raise an eyebrow at that, but continue anyways. "My strengths are my fuinjutsu skills and sensor ability, and my weaknesses are my genjutsu, chakra control, and shurikenjutsu."
"Good," sensei nods. "My name is Hyuga Oda. I have no immediate family, my chakra natures are earth and fire. My strengths are my clan jutsu and my ninjutsu. My weaknesses are my clan jutsu and my bukijutsu."
"But you just said your clan techniques are your strengths," Minoru says.
"Look underneath the underneath." Sensei says as he stands. "I will visit your family first Minoru, then Reiji and Kikuko. I will be at your home in twenty minutes, Minoru." Sensei shunshins away from us, but I can feel him watching us in the trees. As soon as they think sensei has left, the boys turn on me.
"Never do that again!" Minoru says. I try to respond, but Reiji cuts me off.
"Do not talk about yourself like you are disposable." I feel my breath catch as I look between the two boys. I feel tears well up in my eyes before I'm pulled into a hug by Minoru.
"We're a team. Dad always said that his genin team was his family. We're your family now, Kikuko." Minoru says as he pulls away from the hug. I take a deep breath and look back and forth between the two boys. Their eyes don't hold the same hatred as most of the villagers and shinobi.
"Then you're going to have to call me something other than my actual name," I say, smiling at the confused look on Minoru's face. "None of my friends or family ever call me Kikuko, it's either Kiku or Ki." I stand up from my spot on the ground. The boys follow my lead as I reposition my sword.
"Sensei just left, so you might want to head home, Minoru."
"What?"
"She is a sensor," Reiji answers.
"Sorry, I just heard fuinjutsu." He says while rubbing the back of his head. "Dad used to really like it."
"Oh," I say before smiling. "Well, I can always teach you some of the basics if you'd like!"
"Really?" He asks, his eyes wide.
"Really, but only if you get home before sensei!" He freezes for a second, fear clear in his eyes. And then he takes off out of the training field. Reiji shakes his head before starting to follow him. He pauses and turns around to look at me.
"Are you coming?"
Reiji walked me back to my apartment. Which was kind of embarrassing because he refused to leave without walking me up to the actual apartment. We've made it as close to a home as possible, but it still doesn't look good on the outside.
What was even more embarrassing was bursting into tears when I realized he left one of his kikai to watch over me. They sat right behind the top of my ear as I panic cleaned our apartment.
And then, Kakashi decided to show up. He sat at the kitchen table, propped his feet on top of it and promptly pulled out his Icha Icha. I ignored him to focus on making dinner.
I have no clue when Naruto is going to come home tonight, but I still want him to eat something other than ramen. As soon as I put everything out on the counter to cool before going into the fridge, there's a knock on the door. Kakashi raises an eyebrow at me but I just roll my eyes and go to open it.
"Hi, sensei," I say as I open the door.
"Hello, Kiku," he has a small smirk on his face as he steps inside and takes off his sandals.
"I just made dinner if you want some." He just waves me off.
"Like I can eat after visiting an Akimichi." I hear Kakashi snort in the kitchen and sigh. Of course he'd eavesdrop. "May I look around?"
"Yeah," I say as I feel my hands shake a little. I was only used to people I knew well being in the apartment. The Kikai behind my ear moves slightly, reminding me they're here as we walk down the hall into the kitchen.
"Yo," Kakashi salutes as we enter the room.
"Feet off the table," I tell him out of habit. I feel sensei's eyes on me as I go to see if the food is okay to put in the fridge. "Or I'm not making anything with eggplant in it." I say over my shoulder when I realize Kakashi hasn't listened to me.
"You wound me, Kiku-chan~"
"Don't you have a genin team to fail?" I ask as I put the lids on the food containers.
"Maa, Hokage-sama didn't give me a team this time around."
"So that is how you knew about the genin test," sensei says, pulling my attention back to him.
"More so his boyfriend complaining about him failing more teams."
"Boyfriend?" Sensei's interest is piqued. He's just as bad as the rest of them.
"Oh! Your eternal rival has a team! Did he tell you yet?"
"Not yet," Kakashi says as we both ignore Sensei's question. I hear him huff before his footsteps leave the kitchen.
"Why didn't you tell me he was so cool?" I ask as I put the food in the fridge.
"Cool?"
"He had sparkles around him 'ttbane!"
"Genjutsu, Kiku-chan," Kakashi says, amusement clear in his voice.
"Kiku!" Sensei calls from my room. I sigh and walk towards my room, barely dodging Kakashi's attempt to poke me in my side.
"Yes, sensei?" I ask as I walk in my room.
"Is this your fuinjutsu set up?" He nods towards my small table in the corner.
"Yes sensei, but I also practice with Jiji once a week."
"Jiji?" He raises an eyebrow.
"Oh, uh, Hokage-sama."
"That sounds so weird," Kakashi snorts from the kitchen.
"Huh." Sensei says before shaking his head. "Well, now that I've seen your home, is your brother coming home soon?" I freeze at the question. Sensei immediately notices my reaction, dropping a hand on my shoulder. "Later, then."
"Yeah," I say, letting out a breath.
"I will see you at training ground twelve at eight in the morning," he says as we walk down the hallway towards the front door.
"Yes, sensei." He slips on his sandals before opening the door.
"Try to get some rest tonight, you'll need it." I'm pouting as he shuts the door behind him. Yes, I've been able to sleep a little, but I haven't been able to sleep well since Hiroto-ojichan-
I take a deep breath before turning back towards the kitchen. I have an annoying older brother to pester.