-1Author's Note: I'm not good at prologues, so let's get right to the story, okay?
Chapter One: The New Chuunin of Konohagakure Village
I was worried when Lady Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage of our village, asked our Genin team to her office, along with our Jounin teacher, Genma. I was astounded to hear the rumors that she was selecting some strong ninja that helped in the protection of our village during Orochimaru's last attack to become Journeyman Ninja. Our teacher knocked on Lady Hokage's office. My strange teammate, Takeshi, was acting so laid back. He didn't care even if he was named to be Lady Tsunade's successor. On the other hand, my other teammate, Yuri, was very nervous. She had problems since her elimination during the third portion of the Chuunin selection exams. "Enter," boomed a voice from the other side of the door.
I gulped, because I failed to win the fifth exam because I didn't use my ninjutsu skills properly. Our Jounin teacher opened the big doors to the Hokage's office. Lady Tsunade was really over-the-hill, but she use cosmetic ninja techniques to make her look not a day over 20. With her was Yuhi Kurenai, the leader of Genin cell number eight, with one of her students, Aburame Shino. Along with them were Hatake Kakashi and his pupils, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura. Even though the blond-haired boy was in high spirits, the rest of the ninja weren't.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice," Lady Hokage started. "I know it has been a month since Uchiha Sasuke left to join forces with Orochimaru,and even longer since the Third Hokage died, but I called you in here today, because you were instrumental in our defense against the Otonin and the Sand Ninja in that ambush. The true reason I asked you and your teachers here today, is because I want to promote you to Journeyman level. Congratulations, Chuunin."
With a clap of her hands, Tsunade's assistant came in with 6 scroll vests for us to strap on. I was not amused, because I couldn't wear the vest, and have my two big kunai knives strapped onto my back. When my vest was handed to me, I realized that the vest had sheaths for my kunai attached on the back. I instantly took off my hat, revealing my very thick red hair. Also, I took off the sheaths and placed the special weapons within the vest's sheaths, and slipped into it. Ironically, I didn't like it because it was too bulky, but I now can use scrolls when needed.
"The only trick to this promotion," continued Lady Tsunade, " is that I have to pair you up into two-man teams for the series of missions I'm assigning to you. She snagged my hat and put a few pieces of parchment into it. She shuffled the papers, so we wouldn't know which piece of parchment is which. She held the hat in front of Shino, and he took a name from the hat. "Hamachi Yuri," the Hokage stated, " You are teamed up with Aburame Shino."
Lady Tsunade then held the hat in front of me. I was worried. I wouldn't know what would happen if I chose a person I didn't like, I took a glance at Naruto. His whiskers really did look attractive. Crap! I thought as I bit my lip. How am I supposed to choose when I dislike both Takeshi and Sakura? After another second of confusion, I reached in, and pulled out a piece that had some powerful feeling emanating from the ink. I raised it above my head; I was too nervous to see whose name was on the piece of parchment. Tsunade, and the other ninja were tense, wanting to know which name I have chosen out of the hat.
