Chapter 10


"Sometimes, when you meet someone, you just click. You look at each other, stare in the eyes, and both of you just realize, deep down: 'Holy crap I really hate you, why must we breathe the same air? HURRY UP AND DIE AND STOP POLLUTING THE WORLD WITH YOUR EXISTENCE!' …I never claimed to be sane."


"Uchiha Masaru, congratulations. Remember to return for the team assignments."

Masaru nodded and bowed to Iruka-sensei before leaving the room, his fingers tightening around the blue cloth in his hand. The metal plate bearing the stylized leaf felt heavier than he expected, the hitai-ate's weight unfamiliar as he slowly raised it and tied it around his forehead. Strands of hair brushed his forehead as his bangs bunched up under the plate, making him frown and quickly untie it.

Thinking it over, he slipped it around his neck and carefully avoided his hair as he knotted it, nodding in approval. It felt much better there, the extra weight still a little weird but far less unnatural. Satisfied, he continued walking and stepped out of the building, taking a moment to inhale the fresh air.

"Masaru," a familiar voice called, and he turned to see Sasuke leaning against the wall nearby, hands stuffed in his pockets. A dark blue hitai-ate wound around his head, the bangs on either side of his face hanging over the dark blue cloth and neatly framing his face. Studying him silently for a moment, the black-haired Uchiha commented, "Not wearing it on your forehead?"

"Bangs get in the way," Masaru replied with a shrug, tugging the thick strand that dangled between his eyes for emphasis. Sasuke grunted in acknowledgment as he nodded, and the pair began walking away in silence. Excited chatter filled the air around them as their fellow graduates proudly showed off their hitai-ate to their friends and parents, parents cheerfully congratulating their children.

The pair averted their gazes, focusing on the path ahead of them as they left the academy grounds. From his periphery Masaru spied a shock of orange, and he turned his head slightly to see Naruto sitting on the swing away from everyone else, his head lowered to avoid looking at the crowd. Traces of silver peeked from beneath his blond bangs, blue cloth tied around the back of his head.

Since the massacre the two had never truly reconnected. The adults had sabotaged any attempts Naruto made to spend time with him, going as far as to assign seating to keep them on opposite ends of the room and give the blond detention almost daily to discourage Masaru from waiting for him. Ultimately he'd had been forced to distance himself from the blond to minimize the unfair and unnecessary punishments.

But while they didn't talk, Masaru still considered Naruto a precious person and friend, even if he couldn't be sure Naruto still felt the same. Watching him sitting on the swing alone with no one to congratulate him like their classmates, Masaru felt a pang of sympathy for him. His steps faltered, wavering on whether he should approach him.

Before he could make up his mind though Iruka suddenly appeared, approaching Naruto from behind with a big grin and placing a hand on his head. The blond raised his head with a startled look, the metal of his hitai-ate gleaming in the sun as he swiveled his head around. Seeing Iruka standing behind him, his face lit up in a giant grin of his own and he jumped off the swing.

A faint smile touched Masaru's lips as he watched the two talk enthusiastically, his earlier apprehension fading. "Masaru?" Sasuke's voice drew his attention from the scene, and he turned to find his cousin watching him curiously. He offered a casual shrug and resumed following him.


Thumbing his hitai-ate nervously, Masaru stood in the back corner of the classroom as he watched his fellow graduates filter in one by one, chattering merrily as they speculated about their future teams. Small cliques formed as friends instinctively gathered together, whispering about their potential teachers and their expectations for life as ninja. Funnily enough, he couldn't help but notice most of them expected to save princesses.

A flash of orange caught his eye, and his gaze snapped to the doorway to see Naruto saunter in, beaming brightly and obviously proud of his hitai-ate. As the blonde entered his eye happened to meet Masaru's and his steps halted, surprise flashing across his features. A moment passed as they simply stared at each other, neither of them moving, but then Naruto broke into a giant grin and pointed at his forehead protector.

Masaru offered a faint smile in return as he averted his gaze, but he could still feel Naruto radiating pride at the acknowledgment. It occurred to him that he should probably approach him and strike up a conversation now, seeing as the academy instructors couldn't exactly keep them apart anymore, but... He still had that whole perpetually awkward and useless at social interactions thing going on. Time had failed to improve his social ineptitude.

Now that he was going to be a ninja though, Masaru knew he'd have to get over it pretty soon. Ninja worked in teams, and he'd need to establish good camaraderie with them since they'd be working together for a long time to come. Although, since he and Sasuke were the last two Uchiha, maybe they'd be on the same team? It would kind of make sense, except that might make them a bigger target. And even if they did, they'd still have a third teammate, and a sensei—

Wait.

Did that kid just push—WAIT, DID NARUTO JUST—

Masaru's jaw dropped as he saw a boy accidentally bump into Naruto while turning around, making the blond fall forward towards Sasuke. His cousin happened to turn at just that moment and the brunette winced and covered his eyes as he realized their lips were about to meet. No one else seemed to have the same foresight though, and he heard a loud crash followed by ominous silence.

Hesitating, he slowly parted his fingers to see Sasuke and Naruto sprawled on the floor, their faces shocked. He could already hear the ominous silence emanating from all the girls in the classroom. Time had not diminished Sasuke's fan base, and he could feel wisps of murderous intent starting to radiate from various points in the room.

Sometimes, when he felt particularly dark and humorous, he'd dryly reflect how Akari might react to her classmates now. This was one of those times.

He proceeded to introduce his face to the desk as he listened to an angry horde of fangirls viciously chase Naruto about the room, groaning softly. If only they'd put that energy into actually training. As he tried to block out the sounds of stupidity, he heard the chair next to him pull out and someone sit down. Turning his head slightly, he found a girl with long platinum blond hair and pale turquoise eyes sitting next to him, smiling at him coyly.

"Hello, Masaru-kun," she greeted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Etiquette training kicked in and he sat up, nodding at her in (slightly wary) acknowledgment.

"Hello, Yamanaka-san," he greeted.

"Oh, don't be so formal!" she scolded, huffing slightly. "Just call me Ino."

"Uh, o-okay, Ino-san," he replied, uncomfortable about addressing her without honorifics. Ino sighed dramatically, shaking her head with a large shrug.

"That'll have to do, I guess." Then the coy smile returned, and she leaned forward with her elbows propped on the desk as she twirled a lock of blond hair around her finger. "So, Masaru-kun... Are you looking forward to getting our teams? Maybe we'll be on one together." A predatory gleam flashed in her eyes as she spoke, leaning a little closer to him and oh kami she's flirting isn't she.

Cue Masaru's brain instantly shutting down, a strained smile frozen on his face. Flirting and Masaru did not mix. People and Masaru did not mix. Talking and Masaru did not mix. Oh kami what should he do, should he try to return it but he doesn't like her or does he but he doesn't know her so how would he know if he liked her or not but oh kami she's still staring abort abort ABORT

To his eternal relief, Sasuke suddenly grabbed his arm and jerked him out of his chair and into the aisle. "Come on, we're sitting down here," he told Masaru gruffly, and the brunette flashed him a look of eternal gratitude as his cousin dragged him down the aisle to the table he'd claimed. Behind him he could hear Ino whine in dismay, and he tried to ignore the feeling of her gaze boring into the back of his skull as he slid into an empty chair.

"Thank you," he whispered as Sasuke slid into the neighboring seat, and his cousin just grunted.

"You really need to grow a spine about this stuff," he grumbled, though he didn't sound particularly irritated. He had grown used to Masaru's unusually meek personality, and his experience with fangirls left him with no small amount of empathy for how harrowing it could be to deal with them. Masaru really hoped he wouldn't be placed on a team with Ino.

At this point Naruto slid into the seat on his other side, ducking under the desk to avoid the horde of angry girls reaching for him. Fortunately for him, at this point Iruka entered the room and called the class to attention, and the girls reluctantly returned to their seats. He breathed a large sigh of relief as he settled into the chair, leaning his head back while grumbling under his breath.

The class settled down in record time as Iruka stood at the front of the room, offering a brief speech congratulating them before he began reciting the teams. Heavy anticipation hung over the room as the new genin waited anxiously for their names to be called, each unit raising a small chorus of cheers or groans from the mentioned students. Masaru sat on the edge of his seat, and a glance to the side revealed Sasuke equally on edge, even if he seemed cool and composed like usual.

"Team Seven," Iruka began. "Uzumaki Naruto," Masaru and Naruto both perked up instantly. "Haruno Sakura—"

"Yes!" Naruto cheered while Sakura sank in her seat with a small "no".

"And Uchiha Sasuke."

"Yes!" Sakura cheered, while Naruto jumped up with a loud "NO!" Sasuke just grunted, not particularly affected by the assignment. Masaru sank into his seat with a small sigh, ignoring Naruto's annoyed rant and Iruka's subsequent explanation about the team assignment. Looks like he'd be on a team with total strangers then.

"Team Eight," Iruka continued. "Inuzuka Kiba, Hyuuga Hinata, and Aburame Shino. Team Ten, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino and Akimichi Chouji." Ino gave a frustrated whine while Masaru felt an overwhelming rush of relief. He quickly pushed it out of his mind though, glancing around the classroom sharply. Almost everyone else's names had been read, which meant the final team would be his.

Two other children sat in visible anticipation, looking at Iruka intently. One, the girl, had dark violet hair cut into an uneven bob so that part of her bangs shot out in a jagged strand that extended to her shoulder. If memory served right, she tended to bully other girls with her friends. The other vaguely resembled a mini-Iruka... and also happened to be the boy who bumped into Naruto earlier.

Masaru's shoulders slumped in dismay. He didn't even know their names, and already he didn't like them.

"Team Eleven. Ayakawa Ami, Yamamoto Tobio, and Uchiha Masaru."

Upon hearing their names the pair looked first at each other and then at Masaru, their eyes wide. He slumped in his chair, only paying minimal attention to Iruka's subsequent instructions about meeting their sensei after a brief lunch break. When he dismissed them, Sasuke quickly got up and gestured for Masaru to follow him, which he did gratefully.

They barely reached the door when they heard someone call out. "Sasuke-kun, wait!" The Uchiha boys stopped and turned to see Sakura jogging towards them, stopping next to them with a nervous and excited smile. "Hey, since we're going to be on the same team, maybe we should have lunch together?" Sasuke barely paused to consider it, his eyes flitting to Masaru before he turned and stalked away.

Sakura visibly deflated, and Masaru offered her a sheepish smile. "S-sorry, he's not a people person," he offered lamely. Neither of them were, but Masaru at least had enough manners to tell her that. That, and seeing a girl (or anyone, really) upset just made him really uncomfortable. His comment seemed to lift her spirits at least, and Sakura offered him a small smile.

"Masaru-kun!" Masaru flinched as a high-pitched voice suddenly called his name, his face growing several shades paler. Flashing Sakura a panicked look, he quickly spun and fled the classroom. Sakura just blinked as Ino darted past her in pursuit while calling his name, her pink hair fluttering in the breeze generated by their speedy departures. Sighing softly, she paused as she felt eyes on her and glanced back to see Naruto eying her with sparkly eyes.

Nope. Sakura quickly absconded, leaving the dejected blond alone.


When lunch ended and his team's sensei entered, Masaru's impression of his new team did not approve.

"We will start with introductions," Hyuuga Hoheto told the trio of genin as they assembled under a tree in the schoolyard. "State your names, likes and dislikes, hobbies, and the type of ninja you wish to become." The man had dark brown hair pulled into a high topknot, and like most Hyuuga exuded an air of strict, no-nonsense rigidity that accompanied most adults in high-ranking shinobi clans. Masaru's teammates seemed to be in awe of Hoheto's obvious clan status, given their civilian backgrounds.

Masaru just stared at him blankly, wondering why he had a Hyuuga instructor. Not that he had anything against the Hyuuga clan, but their clans' rivalry had apparently been enough to end Akari's friendship with their heiress. Ironic since at this point the Uchiha definitely did not have a main or branch house, seeing as it was down to him and Sasuke.

"We will start with you." Hoheto nodded at Ami, who smirked.

"My name is Ayakawa Ami," she began. "I like cute boys, cats, and gardening. I dislike girls who are weak or overly full of themselves," she rolled her eyes as if thinking of someone specific, "And moles, because they tend to ruin my garden. I want to be known as the most beautiful kunoichi in the Elemental Nations."

"Good," Hoheto said with a nod, and turned to Tobio. "You."

"I'm Yamada Tobio," he introduced, pointing his thumb to himself with a cheeky grin. "I like comic books, adventure novels, and enka music. I don't really like horror stories. My hobby is cooking, I guess. It's fun to combine ingredients. My goal is to work on the field for a few years and then semi-retire as a teacher at the academy!"

Suddenly his faint resemblance to Iruka took on a slightly creepy note. Masaru found his gaze unwillingly drawn to the very similar style of his ponytail, and he repressed the urge to shudder.

"An unusual goal, but it is good to know what you want," Hoheto mused, and then turned to Masaru. "And finally, your turn."

His new teammates turned to face Masaru, their eyes glittering expectantly as they awaited his answer. His hands clenched in his lap, swallowing as he felt himself break into a light sweat. Inhaling through his nose to calm himself, he breathed a soft sigh and began.

"I'm... Uchiha Masaru," he started. "I... like cats," Ami perked up, "history, and... art, I guess. I don't like romance novels, jerks, and... the color red." Hoheto raised an eyebrow at this, the others exchanging a curious glance. "As for hobbies... um, studying, I guess, and reading. And, the kind of ninja I want to be..."

He trailed off, his eyes growing distant. His mind flickered to the cemetery, kneeling in front of Obito's grave with his hands balled into fists on his lap as he spoke in low tones. "I don't want to be any specific type of ninja," he said slowly, picking his words carefully. "I don't have any big goals for my career. But... I do know what kind of ninja I don't want to be."

His vague answer garnered curious looks from his teammates but Masaru didn't elaborate. After a few moments passed Hoheto decided he had nothing else to say and cleared his throat. "Very well. I shall introduce myself now. As I said when I called you in the classroom, I am Hyuuga Hoheto. I am a member of the branch family of the Hyuuga clan. I will tell you my likes and dislikes... if you pass."

"Huh?" The three newly-minted genin turned to look at him in surprise, confusion evident on their faces. "But, we already passed," Tobio piped up, his brow furrowing.

"Yes, you passed the academy exam," Hoheto confirmed calmly. "However, that is more of a preliminary test, to make sure you have the basic abilities required to begin truly training to be a ninja. In reality, only about a third of your class will likely be prepared to become proper shinobi. The teams that fail will be sent back to the academy for further studying. It is up to the jounin instructors to decide which teams are likely to pass."

Three shocked pairs of eyes stared at him as the trio processed his words. Ami's jaw hung open with disbelief, and then her face turned bright red. "ARE YOU KIDDING!" she exploded. "I am NOT going back to the academy for another year while Fuki and Kasumi become genin!"

"I don't want to spend another six months there," Tobio whined. "I want to get some field experience already! And I just got the hitai-ate, I don't want to give it back already!"

"Complain all you want, but the fact remains that it is up to my discretion whether you shall continue as genin," Hoheto replied calmly, unperturbed by their whining. He glanced at Masaru, as if expecting him to complain too, but the Uchiha boy said nothing, his face curiously blank. His gaze flickered to his new teammates, watching Ami stamp her foot in a childish temper tantrum and Tobio just continue to whine and sulk. Then his eyes slid over to Hoheto, radiating an aura of cool, icy composure, his featureless white eyes unreadable as he stared at Masaru.

"When's the test?" the boy finally asked, prompting his two teammates to stop ranting and/or whining to look at their jounin sensei expectantly. Hoheto's lips quirked upwards, something akin to approval seeming to flash in his face.

"We can begin immediately."


Later that night, Masaru sat in the apartment watching TV eating a bowl of curry when he heard the door open. Sasuke trudged inside, an annoyed look on his face as he grabbed a bowl and filled it before joining Masaru on the couch. Masaru glanced at him from the corner of his eye, noting the even grumpier than usual expression.

After living with each other for five years, he'd grown accustomed to the subtle shifts in Sasuke's facial expressions, able to read them clearly. Right now, his slightly pinched eyebrows suggested heavy irritation. "Bad meeting?" he guessed, and his cousin grunted.

"The dobe is a dobe, Sakura squealed about ANBU, and the teacher's some lazy pervert who showed up three hours late," he ranted irritably, scowling at his dinner. "And to top it off, we still have to take the secret test tomorrow at six AM, and we're not supposed to eat breakfast before going."

"Why not?" Masaru asked, arching an eyebrow.

"He said we'd vomit from working too hard," Sasuke scoffed, making Masaru frown thoughtfully as he swished another mouthful of curry around his mouth with his tongue.

"Huh... If it'd be hard enough to make you vomit, wouldn't it be better to eat so you'd have some energy?" he mused, and Sasuke shrugged with a noncommittal grunt. They ate in silence for a while, allowing the flat jokes of the comedians on the TV to fill the silence. Eventually Sasuke glanced at him from the corner of his eye.

"You haven't said anything about your team."

"Hmm?" Masaru swallowed his curry and shrugged. "Oh, right. I don't like them." The nonchalance in his statement earned a quirked eyebrow from Sasuke.

"You got a couple losers too?"

"I wouldn't call them losers," Masaru hedged, frowning thoughtfully. "Ami's a big jerk but she has good aim and observation skills, and Tobio's really clumsy but has a lot of book smarts. I guess I'm kind of meant to balance them out. And our assigned instructor, Hyuuga Hoheto, is a pretty typical Hyuuga, he's super serious." As he rattled off the points Sasuke turned to face him more directly, a curious glint in his eye.

"You've put a lot of thought into this," he commented. "Did you already take the secret exam?"

"Yeah, we did. We failed."

Cue Sasuke's spoon dropping into the bowl, his jaw falling open as he gawked at Masaru in disbelief. Masaru just calmly continued eating, eyes glued to the TV.