Once upon a time, team assignments for Jonin squad leaders of new Genin cells could be done in the office of the Hokage. That was in a time when it was expected for a significant number of their academy graduates to be... Less than stellar. When a majority would end up as at best standard Chunin, utterly unremarkable. When a not insignificant number wouldn't quite qualify for field missions, ending up in non-combat roles almost immediately after graduation.
It had been an initiative of the Fifth Hokage to make a change to this particular norm. With a peace that seemed quite firm for the time being, he had worked to overhaul the academy system. The hope was it would result in a higher standard of ninja coming out of the academy, each graduating class armed with worthwhile skills for their future assignment. If a student were found to have no particular aptitude for anything, they were discovered early and given training for their inevitable role as a desk ninja. But even they would have passable combat skills to their names. The result was fewer graduates for certain. But it also meant every new Genin was capable in skill, though not experience.
And so, team assignments became a much more involved process. Gone were the days new graduates would be assigned to a team and not expected to pass muster. Every team would be viable. And so every assignment needed to be chosen with care.
That wasn't to say relative skill levels weren't taken into account. Even as Orochimaru stood at the front of the room leading the discussions, it was not surprising to any of the Jonin present that a certain few among them weren't even mentioned with regard to the graduates from the lower or middle of the pack. Elites would be expected to train elites, after all.
"We're moving along. Team Seven." An energy built in the room as the words left the Hokage's mouth. Every ninja present figuratively leaning forward in anticipation of who would take over the team that had in the past been the designation of their most famous and capable ninja. It wasn't planned that way, just a coincidence, but coincidences like that can sometimes lead people to encouraging them without thinking. Whoever got Team Seven would be important. Wary eyes flicked to the three elites in the room wondering who would get the pick.
"... You know, actually, let's do Team Eight first. It'll be easier."
And suddenly all of the pressure from the anticipation burst into disappointment as quite a few of their most high ranking ninja groaned aloud.
"Jonin Yuhi," Orochimaru spoke to their genjutsu mistress. Debatably the best at her craft. "I assume you would still prefer to have Hinata Hyuga on your squad?"
"Yes Lord Hokage."
"Wonderful! Then I believe her, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame would make for an ideal tracking and capture team, wouldn't you say?"
She took a moment to think it over. "I see no immediate issue with that, sir." It was mildly disappointing to not have anyone on her squad who she could tutor in the art of genjutsu, but there were few enough ninja with an aptitude or interest in the art nowadays that she couldn't reasonably expect such a thing.
"Excellent, teach them well."
And so one of the elites was out of the running. The anticipatory charge began to rise once again. Who would it be? Which of their best ninja would get the prized assignment?!
"Team Ten."
"Oh COME ON!"
Orochimaru gave the strangely loud ninja a confused but reproachful look before getting back to the business at hand. "Anko."
"Sensei!" The purple-haired Jonin and former apprentice to Orochimaru stood straighter.
"Ino Yamanaka, Sakura Haruno and Naruto Uzumaki."
"What?" Kakashi demanded.
"What." Anko asked flatly.
"What?" Orochimaru accidentally echoed them both, "I mean, what's wrong with that?"
Kakashi answered first, less than pleased with who he knew wasn't on his team. "I was expecting to have Lord Fourth's son on my team sir."
"Sensei, are you just trying to push your pet project along?"
"I have no idea what you mean... Kukuku..." the snake sannin tried to plead innocence to the accusation, unable to suppress his sinister chuckle. "What we expected was for Asuma Sarutobi to return to Konoha and form the next generation of Inoshikacho. He has chosen not to do so, instead staying on as one of the Fire Lord's bodyguards." The man hadn't adjusted well to Konoha without his father, as clan head of the Sarutobi. He had elected to hand off his responsibilities to serve the Fire Lord's family, only returning briefly and occasionally to Konoha to spend time with friends and family. It was unfortunate, but he at least seemed happy with the life he had chosen.
Kakashi wasn't convinced. "Just because Asuma isn't here is no reason the inoshikacho can't be a team."
"Allow me to put it simply, Kakashi. Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha cannot be on the same team."
The Hokage's pronouncement struck a harsh note in the room. They had all known the brother of the Uchiha clan head was being assigned during this meeting, but what sort of team he would be assigned to had been uncertain. He had performed well at the academy. Exceptionally, in fact. But with his clan's history, putting him on an elite team...
But Kakashi wasn't willing to deny the facts. "You're giving me Sasuke Uchiha."
Orochimaru nodded. "Team Seven under Kakashi Hatake will be Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akamichi and Sasuke Uchiha. Don't look so surprised," he added, reading Kakashi's expression, "Given your history, out of all of the Jonin in this room you're the most likely to treat him fairly."
Kakashi's response came with a flat stare. "His father killed my sensei and you still think that's true?"
The Hokage glanced significantly toward the rest of the gathered Jonin for a moment, many of whom were not so quietly grumbling about an Uchiha being on the most notorious team. He then returned his gaze to the copy ninja. "Yes."
And while it hurt to admit it, Kakashi nodded. "That's fair."
"And that leaves us with two pairs to fill out the teams. Given their relative familiarity with each other, it was only reasonable to pair them as we have."
"Hold on," Kurenai suddenly interrupted, "Lord Hokage, if the inoshikacho won't be a team, couldn't we have just put one on each of our teams?"
"... Well..."
Anko frowned heavily at her sensei. "So I was right. You are just trying to push the Uzumaki onto a team of three women."
Orochimaru thought desperately to himself, having been caught, his plans revealed. What would Sarutobi-sensei do in this situation? And with that, he had an answer. This was the perfect time for an inspiring speech! "My fellow ninja, when times are hard, we must persevere! We must show the world our will of fire! I remember Sarutobi-sensei once said–"
The crowd of elite ninja groaned as one.
"Oh gods, why does he always do this! He's so bad at it!"
"These speeches don't even make sense!"
"This has nothing to do with what we were talking about!"
"–And that is why kunai have no grip. That lesson always stuck with me and now I hope you can all derive something from it and let it inspire you all to become better ninja," Orochimaru finished his impromptu speech with a satisfied smile. "There. Now, we're moving on. Team Eleven..."
-(-)-
"You know, I can't help but feel kinda sad," Naruto said unprovoked as he walked with Ino to their old classroom in the academy. "Knowing this is the last time we'll have to be here?"
"Really?" Ino asked, not following him on that at all. "I'll be glad to never come back. So many boring lectures! I can't wait to get out and be a ninja!"
"Well yeah, obviously!" Naruto agreed with a grin. "But I mean there were good times too, ya know? I guess it's just weird knowing how different things will be now."
"Well," Ino said as she threaded her fingers through his to take his hand, "Change can be a pretty good thing, I think." She smiled at him as she enjoyed the warmth of his hand in hers. "Don't you?"
Naruto couldn't help his goofy expression as he laughed awkwardly but happily, finding comfort and support in the contact. Contact that ended as their classroom door opened and they entered. Even so, a room full of ninja, trained to stay aware of their surroundings, more than a few of them noticed how much closer the two were as compared to a week prior. And how they separated with a look to make sure the other was still there.
And in particular, Hyuga eyes saw it all.
Hinata was happy for them. She was. Even if she had to tell herself that over and over again, she was. Naruto deserved a girl who would make him happy and he looked happy.
Unasked for, her mind provided her a memory of the two of them being very happy together. Of Ino being exactly where Hinata wished she could be. Doing exactly what Hinata wished she could do. She wanted to be held by him, to be loved by him. For him to feel the same way about her as she felt about him. She wished. She wished. Because now that was all she could do. She had missed her moment. Missed years of moments and now Ino was the one in his bed instead of her.
... And she was happy for them.
She was.
"It's kinda depressing seeing a girl not willing to put herself out there, ya know?" Lady Uzumaki's words haunted her. It was an indictment of her inaction, one she had told herself so many times and yet hurt so much more to hear from the outside. That the reason she wasn't with the boy she liked was not because of him rejecting her, or liking someone else better, or any of the other things her mind warned and worried of. It was the fear of those things. It was her unwillingness to even try.
And so there she sat. Alone. Watching his smile from a distance, the same as she always did.
"You gonna keep watching from the sidelines?"
... That was exactly what she was doing, wasn't it? She was literally watching him from the side, staying away to protect her heart. The same thing, the same inaction that led to her heart breaking only days before. She remembered that night, when she went home and touched herself, cried as the realisation hit that imagining him touching her was the closest she would ever get. When she slept and dreamt of him and Ino together. Of their wedding where she sat so far in the back, so far away from him. Ino gloating about her victory while calling her a coward. She never wanted to feel such regret ever again!
It... It wasn't over! Nothing was set in stone! So Naruto was with Ino now; that was no reason for her to give up! This was her last chance, she had to make an impression on him or he might never notice her! She had to...!
Had to...
The fear, the nervousness crept up on her again. The fear that she wouldn't be good enough. She was never good enough. But... But she had to try! Kurenai-sensei never gave up on her, father never gave up on her, so she shouldn't give up on her either!
That self-assurance took her out of her seat, down to the front of the classroom and touching his sleeve. "N-Naruto!" she stammered.
"Huh?" he turned, smiled at her. That smile, she thought dreamily. "Oh, hey! It's Hinata right? What's up?"
She blushed brightly. He remembered her name!
... What's up? Just as quickly as blood had rushed to her cheeks it rushed away again as she realised she had no idea what she wanted to say, just that she wanted to say something. Well, she had. She had called him by name, gotten his attention. Now what?! "Umm, how are you today?" The tone of the question was less asking a question and more asking whether that question was a good one.
"Weirdly sad about being done with the academy," he answered. Hinata was surprised. On a day like this he was sad? He was so deep and introspective! "But otherwise I'm great! How about you? Are you excited about team assignments?"
Yes! Perfect! All she had to do was say yes, and that she hoped to be on his team. That was it. Just say she wanted to be on his team. That would show interest, right? "Umm, yes, I, umm, hope to be..." Show interest. Like... Like a confession... "On.. y-yurturr..."
"Uhh, huh?" Naruto asked. "Sorry, I didn't catch that."
No, nononono! She could do this! She could! Just say the words! Say them! "I... I...!"
"Are you okay?" he asked, looking worried, raising his hand to feel her forehead, "You're a little warm, are you feeling sick?"
"Ah...!" Hinata squeaked. This was too much! Too much, too fast! She–!
"Hinata!" Naruto yelped as she dropped on the spot only to be caught in his arms. "Oh no! Uhh, Sakura! Can you help her?"
The blonde girl and pink-haired girl looked at each other knowingly before the latter stood and moved to check the fallen girl over. "She's fine, Naruto."
"Are you sure?" he asked, still worried, "She just passed out out of nowhere, ya know!"
"I'm sure," she answered patiently. "Maybe just felt light-headed all of a sudden." Seeing the honest concern in his eyes she sighed. "Look, I'll keep an eye on her if you want."
The oblivious blond sighed in relief. "That would be great. You're the best, Sakura."
And suddenly her hair and cheeks were the same colour. "Thanks." She took the dizzy and dopily smiling Hyuga and walked her up to the back of the classroom.
As Hinata came around as she was being lowered into a seat, she immediately remembered what just happened and flushed brightly, her head falling into her hands. Well... She made an impression at least.
Meanwhile Naruto sat next to his girlfriend in the front row. "Man, I hope she's really okay. It'd be terrible to get sick right as we get put on teams."
The Yamanaka palmed her forehead. "Naruto... Just..." she sighed in defeat. "You're hopeless."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!"
Ino threw her hands up in the air in frustration. How could he possibly be this dense! "Ugh, she's gonna hate me for this, I just know it," she whispered, "She likes you, you dope!"
"She likes me?!" he asked. He did not whisper. His loud question followed soon after by the sound of two dozen heads slamming into desks. The sound of those people unable to comprehend how he could be that oblivious. Both to the girl's feelings, and to protecting those feelings.
Naruto's head whipped around to look the Hyuga's way, seeing her face glowing so brightly it could be seen through the hands hiding her face. Sakura patting her on the shoulder in a gesture of support.
Further back in the classroom, Sasuke Uchiha watched the ridiculous display. Another girl trying to win the bastard's affection. Another in the pointless competition to revive the Uzumaki clan. The whole village bending over backwards to make the nearly extinct clan happy, all while treating the Uchiha like monsters.
And all the while Itachi, the man who was supposed to be head of their clan, supposed to protect and look out for them, he told them to endure it all with a smile on his face.
For years, Sasuke had. He idolised his brother. When he was little, he wanted to be just like him. He was strong, proud, a great ninja. But over time, as he endured all of the scorn, the people who whispered 'traitor' behind his back, that worship dulled to the point he had to ask his brother why. Why they should endure it when all the village offered them was hatred. They weren't wanted here so why not just leave?
That smile, that reassuring smile, it had slipped a little at the question. And for what felt like the first time, Sasuke had seen a little of the pain his brother felt every day. Itachi was the head of their clan, the son of the man who killed the Fourth Hokage, just like Sasuke. Together, they bore the worst of the hatred.
But even so, Itachi endured. And he explained, by turning around to show the symbol on his back. The Uchiha fan. Their clan insignia. In times past, it had been a mark of pride. A bold declaration of who they were, what they represented. But with their father's actions, their clan's attempted coup, it had mutated from a mark of pride to one of shame. And so Itachi had said that he would continue wearing it despite that. They were the Uchiha. Their father wore that mark when he disgraced it, Itachi would wear it until he purged that disgrace. It was a burden, a promise to himself that he would right their clan.
And so Itachi had tried. He had bled for the Leaf over and over, just like Shisui had. And just like Shisui had, when it came time to assess promotions Itachi Uchiha was a prime candidate. A shoo-in for Jonin. And just as Shisui had, he received his promotion. To Special Jonin.
The Uchiha were not respected. The Uchiha were not trusted. The Uchiha were not wanted. And for as much as Itachi talked about earning back those things, Sasuke was beginning to believe it was a doomed endeavour.
"Alright everyone, to your seats!" their teacher ordered as he came into the classroom. He blinked as he realised everyone was already seated. A pleasant surprise. Usually graduating classes were a little more rowdy than this. "Good. I want to start by congratulating all of you again for completing your academy education and becoming full-fledged ninja of Konoha. But I want you all to remember, this is not the end of a journey, only the beginning of one. A journey much more perilous. You now have the responsibility to act in ways befitting a ninja. You are not children anymore. So as you go forward on your path, remember. Always respect your Jonin sensei, follow your orders, complete your missions and never stop learning."
The teacher looked around the room, seeing he had everyone's attention before getting to reading out team assignments. There were cheers as friends were paired together, groans of disappointment as rivals were forced together, and accepting silence. "Team Seven will be Sasuke Uchiha, Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akamichi with Jonin sensei Kakashi Hatake." The three boys barely offered more than a grunt of acknowledgement. Choji's casual snacking was the loudest of the three reactions.
"Team Eight will be Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame with Jonin sensei Kurenai Yuhi."
"Our sensei is a lady?" Kiba asked with a grin. "Nicccce."
"Team Ten will be Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka with Jonin sensei Anko M–"
"YEAHHHHH!" a woman cheered as she jump-kicked through the window, dropping onto her feet and planting her hands on her hips. "Alright, where's my kids?"
"Mitarashi, ma'am, we have doors," the teacher complained. "Also I just got done telling them they're not kids anymore?"
"First, doors are for suckers. In fact, all of you take that as your first lesson. A freebie from Anko-sensei." She began pointing at every student watching her with wide eyes. "Doors. Are. For. Suckers. Hm. Right, second! They are absolutely still kids. Congratulations on graduating, you still don't know shit. Listen to your Jonin sensei. THIRD!" she bellowed... Only to realise he had only said two things. "Where are my kids?"
The poor Chunin just wanted her to go away by this point. He rubbed at his forehead as he pointed, "Her, her and him."
"Great! Okay, you three with me!"
Baffled, the three newly graduated Genin followed the aggressive woman, their teacher offering them a good luck as they passed and leapt out of the window.
Choji raised a hand. "Are... All of them gonna be like that?"
The teacher let out a beleaguered sigh. "Most of them."
Jonin.
-(-)-
"Alright, this seems like a good enough spot," Anko announced as she stopped on top of one of Konoha's taller downtown buildings. She turned around to see her three new Genin right behind her, puffing a bit but still right behind her. "And you kept up with me! Good job." She'd been pacing herself for their sake but that they kept up was a good sign. Though in fairness if they hadn't then something had gone very wrong. The new academy curriculum was no joke.
"So, umm, why are we here?" Sakura asked, "Ahh, that is, Anko-sensei," she tacked on to be respectful.
"Hmmmm!" Anko smiled to herself at hearing her new title. Yes, she was a sensei now. A great sensei to promising young Genin."Mmmmhmhmhmhm..."
The three teenagers watched her giggle to herself for an uncomfortable amount of time.
"So!" the purple-haired woman exclaimed. "We're here so that I can get to know all of you because I have no idea who any of you are."
"I've seen you a bunch of times in Yamanaka Flowers, Anko-sensei," Ino pointed out.
"Yeah? Name the person working the counter at your favourite bakery."
"Himiko," Ino answered without hesitation, Sakura nodding along in confirmation.
"... Huh." Anko blinked at the answer. "Well, that undermined the point I was gonna make. But good on you! For the information retention since you never know what might be important, and for trying to catch me in a lie."
"You were lying?!" Naruto asked.
Anko gave him a look of pity. "Oh, kid, you're too trusting for your own good, aren't ya?" She registered Ino nodding in agreement in the back of her mind. "Yes, I was lying. I was assigned as your Jonin sensei. You think I haven't read all of your files cover to cover?"
"Oh," Naruto flushed in embarrassment.
It was amusing for Anko seeing just how earnest he was. It was almost cute. And as soon as the word entered her mind she grasped it in her hand and choked it into submission. No! Her sensei might be trying to push that rebuilding the Uzumaki crap too hard but that didn't mean she had to give in to it! She shook the thought away. "Still, even if I read your files, doesn't mean I know you. So, introduce yourselves."
"Well you read our files, but we don't know anything about you, Anko-sensei," Sakura pointed out. "Maybe you should go first. Show us how it's done."
Their sensei shrugged. "Sure. I'm Anko Mitarashi, I like snakes, my favourite food is dango and my hobbies are none of your damn business. There you go. Your turn, pinky."
"Pinky?!" Sakura huffed. "My name is Sakura Haruno, I like sweet things and," her eyes glanced Naruto's way, "my favourite food is anmitsu and... Well I don't really have time for hobbies with work and studying."
Anko catalogued that information as well. If the girl had that much on her plate already it would be best to take some off for a while. "Flower girl, you're next."
"My name is Ino Yamanaka, I like Naruto," as if to demonstrate, she cuddled into his arm, "I dislike lazy people and my hobbies are shopping and ikebana."
Both of them already, Anko groaned internally. This was going to be a nightmare. Three hormonal and horny teenagers? Going on the road with them? Just kill her now and save her the headaches. "Okay, now you blondie."
"Wait, she's blonde too ya know?"
"Yeah, but she's flower girl. Keep up."
"Fine! I'm Naruto Uzumaki! I like Ino, Sakura and my mom, my favourite food is ramen, my hobbies are calligraphy and gardening!"
Calligraphy made sense what with his clan's claim to fame. Gardening was a surprise. But not as much as, "Ramen? Your favourite food is ramen."
"Yep!"
"Just ramen. Not, like, a specific kind of ramen. Don't you have a favourite, like pork or miso or..." Anko trailed off as she saw the slowly growing vacancy to the boy's eyes. "Uhh..."
"Fa... Favourite... How... But it's all ramen. How do I...? How could I possibly...?"
Okay. Anko's job was to teach these kids to be ninja, not help them through... Ramen-based existential crises. "Alright. You three can have the day to yourselves. Tomorrow we meet up at training ground five at dawn."
"Dawn?" Ino asked. Only for their sensei to have vanished in a swirl of leaves. "Dawn it is."
"Pork works best with... But then with the right seasoning... And what about the broth...?"
Ino just stared at him for a few seconds as Naruto mumbled incoherently about ramen. "You know, my mom once told me a relationship is learning stuff about the other person that you never wanted to know."
"Yeah," Sakura agreed. "My mom said something like that too."
"Soy is... But if I had to choose... Soy or miso... But basic salt ramen is..."
"Do you think this is what they meant?" Sakura asked.
"Maybe," Ino hedged, not knowing whether she hoped for a yes or no.
