Chapter 7 - Graduation

Despite what he'd found many people expecting, the Aburame did not make it a practice of wearing their sunglasses and large coats at home.

Why would they? Home was where they relaxed and unwound. Why put themselves in a less comfortable situation? Besides, it's not like their appearances were really all that secret, just reserved for those they trusted enough to see them when their guard was down.

It's why Aburame Shino was dressed in kimono robes while he was setting aside his clothes and gear for the day. No glasses were there to cover his eyes, and no jacket's collar was there to cover his face. He'd gotten up just a while ago, and had gone over his notes one last time before taking his morning shower. He would be having breakfast relatively soon before dressing to head to the academy.

Behind him, he heard the shower turn off.

"Thanks again for letting me use the shower, Shi-kun."

Even though she couldn't see him, Shino shrugged. "It's not a problem, Ten-chan."

She's said that almost every morning she's come by for the past year, and he's said the same thing in response. It had become almost ritualistic at this point.

Team Nine, though most commonly referred to as Team Gai, used the training ground that was closest to the Aburame clan's compound for their morning training. On more than one occasion, he'd looked out the window of his room from the clan head's house to see them running laps, sparring, or Tenten practicing her marksmanship. He'd even pay them the occasional visit on days where he finished up with his morning preparations early, but they would be wrapping up if not outright done by that point.

It would be on one of those days where he'd heard Tenten complaining about needing to walk back to her house on the other side of the village to take a shower that he'd offered to let her use the one in his room if she wanted.

Belatedly, Shino realized how that may have been rather forward of him, but it wasn't the first time something like that had happened. They all used the bath in Naruto's room, after all, or at least one of the other rooms in Azuchi, and they'd known each other since they were small.

So small, in fact that Shino wasn't even sure how old they were when they met. As far as he could remember, he always had Tenten, Naruto, and Sakura in his life. It was something he was glad for. He knew that other people in his clan couldn't say the same. His cousin, Torune, had trouble making friends with the other students in his own class, and struggled making better connections with his own teammates now, even though he'd had graduated a year before Shino did, and had been with his own team for about as long.

Tenten never minded, however, and was more than happy to take him up on his offer. She'd been unwinding at the Aburame compound every day she had training there since. It had gotten to the point that the servants had a permanent table set for her at breakfast.

His parents were more than happy to have her, too. His mother, especially. She'd certainly encouraged him to invite Tenten more often, even asked him to extend the invitation to her other teammates, too.

Tenten told him she wasn't too sure about that. Apparently she'd been put in one of those infamous top-two-and-dead-last type teams with her being the top kunoichi of her year. The Hyuuga boy, Neji, had been their top student, and Rock Lee their dead last.

Shino had actually found the idea strange since the oddly-dressed boy in question seemed to be capable of some rather terrifying things when he saw them train. If that was their dead last, he wondered how much stronger Tenten had gotten since graduating.

Besides that, the so-called Rookie of the Year of their class was apparently a bit unpleasant to be around. She'd told him that he had a bad habit of looking down on others, and had not been shy of saying as much to Rock Lee when they'd become teammates. While Shino couldn't say the same, for the Hyuuga had been polite ─ if clipped ─ with him, Shino was also the heir to the Aburame headship, and was usually afforded respect even from those outside of the clan.

And while Lee was as polite as he could be, he had a habit of being a bit too enthusiastic at times. Shino certainly had gotten some first-hand experience of that when he'd visit the training grounds they used.

Their sensei, Gai, was a pleasant enough man. Certainly as energetic as his parents described him as, but he had a certain refinement that Lee lacked.

So, on Tenten's recommendation, he didn't invite them. At least not yet. But Shino did like to think he was building a rapport with them. He'd certainly noticed their sensei giving him curious and, sometimes, approving looks on the occasions he visited.

The door to his bathroom opened and Tenten stepped out in a fresh change of clothes. She's already started bringing an extra set with her when she went to train so she'd have something to change into afterwards.

"So, heard you guys are having your genin exams today." Her hair was down, falling past her shoulders. "You nervous?"

Again, Shino shrugged. "Nervous? I'm fairly confident in my grasp of the three basic jutsu, and I should pass the written exam, too." He turned from her to the items laid out on his bed. "I just figured it wouldn't hurt to double-check everything."

He felt her nudge his arm with hers. He was only a centimeter or two taller than she was, though he'd really only started catching up to her now.

"Not a bad idea. It'll save your life out there, someday."

She was grinning at him, and he returned it, two pairs of brown eyes meeting. Shino wondered if her teammates usually got to see her with her hair down. He wondered if his teammates would usually get to see him without his jacket and glasses, too.

"So, breakfast?"

"Yes, breakfast. I'm sure my parents are wondering what's taking so long."

"You could always say I was distracting you."

"I'm sure mother would love that."

The head family of the Aburame clan didn't exactly take their breakfast in the same room every day. While a vast majority of the time, it was in the little breakfast nook tucked away in the head's apartments, they sometimes dined in Shino's apartments instead if his parents had an early day. Shino was normally informed where his family would be taking their first meal the morning thereof.

On special occasions, they'd take it elsewhere such as one of the house's various balconies, or even in the conservatory that overlooked the orchard and the silkworm farm. It was at the latter that they were headed to today.

"Good morning, Tenten-chan." It was his mother that greeted them when they crossed the portal that separated the polished wooden interior of the main building and the carpet that covered the stone slabs of the conservatory sunroom. His mother got up and gave him a hug, patting his head and brushing the stray strands away from his face. "And to you, too, my dear boy."

"Good morning, haha-ue." He replied as he returned the hug.

Aburame Haruka wore her dark hair in a loose braid over one shoulder, and like her husband and son, favored kimono robes when at home. After giving him one more pat on the head, she moved to give Tenten a hug as well.

"Excited to face the day, Shino-kun?" His father did not get up, but his mustache did curl in the small grin that he sent his son's way. "Already about to start your career as a shinobi. It seems like only yesterday that we were dropping you off for your first day at the academy."

Shino took the seat to his father's right as his mother let Tenten go, and the older girl took the seat on his own right. Light filtered in through the leaves of the trees outside, allowing the morning sun to brighten the conservatory.

He nodded, "Excited enough. I'm hoping to put on a good show in the practical exams."

"Still gunning for Rookie of the Year?" Tenten asked him after they'd started eating. It was a salmon slab served with various vegetable-based side dishes and rice today. Rather traditional fair. Shino didn't mind it.

"I don't think I'll make it, but I do plan to still give them a run for their money," he replied.

Shibi took a sip of his tea before adding, "Between Naruto-kun, Sakura-chan, Ino-chan, and that Uchiha boy, the top spot is made up of some stiff competition." He nodded, a movement his mother mirrored as she took a drink from her own cup. "Good crop this year."

"Yeah, I heard from Gai-sensei that there's already some expectations for you guys."

"Well," added Haruka, "It's a class filled with heirs, Namikaze Minato's son, and some of the best non-clan kids we've seen since Tenten-chan over here."

"But Ten-chan was just last year."

"And the one before her was almost fifteen years ago in Yuuhi Kurenai. Before that, it was our very own Yondaime Hokage."

At this, he nodded. Not that he minded too much. The competition for the top spot of their class between him, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke had certainly been a big part in motivating him to do his best over the past three years. His parents had certainly encouraged him to do so.

If great things were expected of him, he'd just have to keep trying.

"You got this, Shi-kun. You'll nail that marksmanship test for sure, too."

Looking to the older girl beside him, he caught Tenten sending him a wink before she stuck her tongue out at him and finished the last of her fish. "I helped you train for it, after all, and Gai-sensei says I'm the best shot among Konoha's genin right now."

"And no matter what happens, Shino," He felt his father's hand on his shoulder. "Know that we're very proud of you."

Shino sent his father a smile, then Tenten a grateful look. Shino considered himself fortunate to have family and friends as supportive as they were.

He would keep doing his best, for them, if not himself.

~TtT~

"We'll be having dinner at Azuchi tonight."

Uchiha Sasuke looked up from double-checking his kunai holster and weapon's pouch to see Izumi stepping out of the bakery and into their house proper. While Sasuke had already changed into the clothes he was supposed to wear to the academy, Izumi was still dressed in the double breasted coat and apron combo she used when baking.

"Namikaze having another party?" He looked away and gave his tools one last once-over. Sasuke had no intention of letting faulty equipment be the reason why he'd fail his graduation exam, and he had every intention of trying for his class's top spot, still.

"Of course." The older girl said with a laugh before he heard her footsteps head towards the kitchen. Sasuke could imagine her shaking her head. "Rin-chan and Jiraiya-sama are always looking for an excuse to have guests over, and your batch's graduation is a plenty good reason."

Sasuke had to suppress a grin at the idea. Good, it meant that when he scored the spot of Rookie of the Year, he'd have an entire party to rub it in the others' faces tonight. Knowing how the Azuchi household held their parties, Yamanaka and even that older girl, Aikuchi, would be there, too.

From the kitchen, he heard Izumi call out: "Also, your cookies should be cool enough to box, Sasu-chan."

He suppressed a twitch of the eyebrow at the use of his childhood nickname. It was immature, and not at all appropriate now that he was going to be a ninja. At the same time, he was conflicted at the idea of her stopping. Izumi was the only one that called him that. Everyone else called him by his family name, or by his given name in full. Her nickname for him also reminded him of older times.

After he and Izumi had been released from the hospital, Shimura Danzo and the Hokage accompanied them to see the ruins of the Uchiha Clan.

There really had been nothing left.

Every bit of wood had been burned away. Some of the stone even looked like they had melted from the heat. Sasuke hadn't known that the man that had once been his brother could use flames that hot, or that it was even possible.

It may not have been, however. The Hokage had told them that whatever had been done to start the fires had caused the entire compound to be set ablaze in a single moment. Sasuke couldn't comprehend something like that being possible, but it did register to him that whatever Itachi had done had been planned. That couldn't have been easy to pull off without preparation, after all.

Still, there was nothing left of the place that had once been his home. Izumi took Sasuke in, and what had once been her guest room had been converted into his own room. In the months that followed, he'd helped Izumi clear out her mother's room. Now, the room was still empty sans the furniture that had been left there in case it was needed. She had considered turning it into a study or a bigger lounge for them to relax in, but she hadn't gotten around to it yet.

As for the old clan compound, Sasuke was informed that it was technically his. As the last remaining son of the head family, he was essentially the head of the clan. Not that it mattered much since it was a clan of two people, but the Hokage told him that he could do with it what he pleased when he eventually did marry and have a family of his own.

In the meantime, a monument was built to commemorate the clan, to honor and remember one of the village's founders.

Sasuke at first considered it a hollow gesture, but when he came with Izumi to visit the monument the following day and give the stone fan they had erected a bow, he understood.

The clan was gone, but they would not be forgotten. Konoha would respect that.

Now, the grounds of the compound had been cleared of the debris, and replaced with a park around the monument. The wall was torn down. It was a beautiful place, and both Sasuke and Izumi frequented it on quiet nights when they weren't busy.

One day, he'd promised himself, he'd build something there again.

So, Sasuke supposed, he could live with the nickname.

Oatmeal cookies with cranberries and chocolate. He'd prepared the mix days ago and made enough for the entire class and then some. Izumi thought the recipe was promising, and Sasuke hoped that his classmates would like it enough. He planned on getting it added to the bakery's menu if it was.

With the cookies boxed and his gear checked, Sasuke was about to head out through the door when he felt a pair of arms wrap around him.

"You're so tall now, Sasu-chan." she giggled, "Pretty soon you'll be taller than me."

He turned around and returned the hug with one arm, his other held the box. "Hopefully."

Sasuke could hear the grin in her response as her hold tightened, "Do your best, Sasuke-chan. You go get 'em, Rookie of the Year."

Damn right he was.

Moments later, he was out the door and on the road to the academy. Behind him, he heard Emiko and Sae call out to him with wishes of good luck. He'd turned around to wave back at them and shouted back his thanks.

When the doors to his classroom swung open, he already saw most of his classmates there. It looked like he was actually one of the last to arrive.

Immediately, his eyes were on them. Four other children all seated together. Namikaze Naruto, Haruno Sakura, Aburame Shino, and Yamanaka Ino. Normally, there'd be one more, but Aikuchi Tenten had graduated a year ago. Sasuke knew he'd probably see the older girl at tonight's party.

The Azuchi children, they were called. Sasuke was sometimes counted among their number because of how frequently he'd been taken by Izumi to visit the Namikaze house. Sasuke knew there was some expectation there. How couldn't there be? He was up on that mountain frequently enough to know that house was a gathering place for the strong people of the village.

Between Jiraiya of the Sannin and one of the Yondaime's two remaining students living up there and the fact that they had people from Root not only watching the place, but helping them train, as well as councilman Shimura, himself, taking an interest in his granddaughter's progress, how couldn't there be?

While Sasuke was pretty sure that security there was tight, it wouldn't stop people from coming to that conclusion. The top students of their class's ranking was evidence enough of how hard they were pushing themselves.

Considering that, and how he'd been getting the occasional questions from their customers, it was easy to figure that the village's gossip circles had managed to put together something. Sasuke just wasn't sure what it was supposed to be, but it certainly resulted in he and his kind-of friends getting some sort of… moniker.

It had been a while since they'd started being called that, a few months now, maybe, and he still wasn't sure how to feel about it.

"Oi, Uchiha," Called a voice from across the room. "That smells good. You bring more good stuff from that bakery of yours?"

Trust Inuzuka to catch the scent of good food immediately.

"What's it to you, Inuzuka?" he sent the boy a sneer. "You skip breakfast or something?"

"Nah." The hooded boy replied with a smirk. Sasuke couldn't see it from his spot, but he was sure the Inuzuka was patting his stomach. "Had a big breakfast, but I know I always got room for the stuff you make."

"Oh?" And there was the amused lilt of Namikaze. "Almost sounds like you want to have Sasuke-kun's cooking every day, Kiba-kun."

A pause.

A twitch in the eyebrow.

The crack of a palm coming into contact with their face.

Yamanaka chortled.

"That's rich coming from you, Namikaze." Kiba answered, standing and pointing at the blond that was sitting at the front row between Haruno and Aburame. "Last I heard, you guys are the bakery's biggest customers. Even got Izumi-chan going up Kinenhi-zan everyday, and everything!"

Izumi-chan? A little familiar, aren't we? He didn't think he really caught Inuzuka anywhere near the bakery before. Maybe he should ask Emiko and Sae later.

"I'm not the one that said he wants to eat Sasuke-kun's cooking every day." Namikaze looked back to the front of the room, and Sasuke could practically see the smugness ooze from the blond. Beside him Haruno was rolling her eyes, grinning. Aburame didn't react.

"You know that's not what I meant!"

Sasuke shook his head. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever, Inuzuka." Walking up to the front of the class and putting the box in the center table, he opened the thing and preened a bit at seeing everyone practically lean forward when the smell of his work really got to spread throughout the room. "I got enough here for everyone to have three pieces each. And if you guys like this enough, I might get Izumi to add it to the menu permanently."

He took a step or two back. Sasuke wasn't keen on getting mobbed when it was the food they were after anyway.

"Come and get them!"

The reactions were immediate.

Also, Namikaze was the person closest to the box. Unfortunately, that meant he was getting mobbed. Not that Sasuke thought it was anything new for the guy, but this time Sasuke could take credit for it.

Hah.

The front door to the classroom opened and revealed the raised eyebrow of their instructor of three years, Umino Iruka. He gave the class a once-over and nodded before entering. Assistant instructor Mizuki walked in afterwards.

Umino took to the center desks while Mizuki opted to lean against the stone pillar nearest the door. Once roll was called, their sensei then explained how the final exams were going to work. They would be starting with shurikenjutsu first, followed by evaluated taijutsu spars against either of their instructors. Once that was done, they'd finally cover the three academy jutsu.

After the collective nods of everyone in the room when Umino asked if they understood what the plan was for the day, the man crossed his arms.

"Alright then. Everyone follow me, we're headed for the large marksmanship range. Aburame, you'll be up first."

~TtT~

Umino Iruka liked to consider himself a decent-enough educator. He made it a point to approach all of the kids that were under his purview with a mindset towards catering to their needs, while ensuring that everyone got the same opportunities to grow.

Granted, that was all in the context of class. There wasn't really a lot he could do about those that opted to push themselves more during their own time, or, more accurately, be pushed by their clans.

Still, this cluster was probably going to be the best he would ever train. While he knew he'd get more chances to grow as a teacher, it was very unlikely that the circumstances around this batch of kids were going to happen again.

He had the heirs of just about every major clan in the village, alongside other notables. And these kids not only took whatever they had to teach them with gusto, they also set aside their own time to better themselves.

And he even had a point of comparison, he'd started on his second cluster just this year, and while it had the Sandaime's own grandson in it, the children there simply hadn't had the drive to push themselves, or at least hadn't discovered theirs yet.

No, these kids would go far. And not just the Azuchi children, either. While those five were certainly the head of the pack ─ and Iruka was still impressed to see such a close race for Rookie of the Year ─ the others had all become motivated to keep up. If they all managed to get past the final tests that their jounin sensei would give them, he knew they all had bright futures ahead of them.

"Hey, Iruka," It was Mizuki, walking in from the classroom. He'd had his old friend finish up with the final announcements after all of the kids finished their exams and got their headbands. Iruka had been too busy tallying up the grades for the final rankings that they'd be announcing tomorrow.

"Mizuki. You alright?" The white-haired man looked like he was thinking about something. "We're more or less done for the day. I just need to get these scores finished up, then I'll head over to see Hokage-sama about team assignments." leaning in to give the other man a mock whisper, he continued, "but between you and me, I'm pretty sure the old man already has teams in mind for quite a few of these."

His friend's face brightened a bit, and he laughed.

"Yeah, odds are." he agreed, "The teams pretty much build themselves with this class, huh? But that's not really what I wanted to talk to you about."

Iruka blinked when Mizuki's face turned serious. "What is it?"

"I've decided I want to gun for tokubetsu jounin."

Huh. And here he thought that Mizuki was looking at teaching full-time when he decided to ask for a spot as assistant instructor at the academy two years ago.

"Alright. So what specialty did you have in mind?"

"Administration." Mizuki answered, "I've found I'm pretty good at handling that while I was working here. I figured I'd try to go at it full-time you know? Pay'd be good enough for me to really settle down with Tsubaki."

Iruka nodded. Mizuki had definitely shown some aptitude with that. Iruka had let his friend take care of a lot of the booking for training grounds, and some of the scheduling for classes while Iruka focused on lectures and the application of the academy's curriculum. Honestly, the man had been a godsend.

"Not a bad idea. What can I do to help?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you'd write me a recommendation for Root."

Root's Communications and Administration department would be a big help in getting Mizuki the credentials he'd need to put in a successful application for Tokubetsu. It would also develop the man's skills further, and maybe even get him to be good enough to be head of his own office.

Iruka couldn't help but laugh, though. "I suppose it also helps that I'm on good terms with Anko-chan, and that's her department, huh?"

Mizuki's grin was all the answer he needed.

~TtT~

Haruno Sakura leaned back against the plush loveseat she occupied in Azuchi's largest hall. She sent Ino a smirk as they both squeezed a clearly annoyed-looking Uchiha Sasuke between them.

Once the exams had finished and everyone had gotten their headbands, they first went their separate ways to get cleaned up and ready. While they had been informed by Rin that the dinner was supposed to be casual, it was being counted as a big enough event that their families wanted to be presentable about it.

This meant that besides herself, everyone had gone home to get ready. Sakura was going to be spending the night over, so she had her things for the party with her that day. It was just a matter of having herself a bath before getting dressed.

And boy did she enjoy herself. While the exams might not have been as physically taxing as the training she'd gotten used to with her grandfather, Sakura couldn't help but stress over it all anyway.

Sakura soaking in the very large, very comfortable bathtub in Naruto's en-suite was exactly what the doctor ordered. She'd even be willing to bug Rin or Kabuto about it just to confirm. This was followed by a nap as Naruto enjoyed his own soak.

A few hours later, here they were, seated around a short table while dinner was being laid out by some of the helpers that had been brought in by her grandmother. Iced tea had been served to each of them. The group caught up, Tenten first asking how the exams went. Naruto and Shino were the ones to answer her.

Sakura and Ino, meanwhile, were enjoying some quality time with their class's heartthrob.

"So who do you think managed to get Rookie of the Year, Sakura-chan?" Ino's voice dripped like syrup.

"You mean if it wasn't me?" The pink-haired girl answered with a purposely smug tone. "I'm sure Sasuke-kun, here, would be our top student. He's so good with his shurikenjutsu. I think he got more points than even Shi-kun did."

And it really was close. Sakura had certainly given it her all that day, though she wasn't as confident in her shurikenjutsu as she was with the academy ninjutsu and, to a lesser extent, the taijutsu. From what she'd seen with Naruto, he was probably in the same boat. The unfortunate downsides of focusing on other parts of their training instead.

It was fine, though. She was sure that it would pay off in the end once she'd mastered Tsunade's super strength, among other things.

"Please," Ino waved her off with a scoff. "If there's anyone that isn't Sasuke-kun that's getting that spot, it's me." Sky-blue eyes turned to look at the Uchiha as the latter rolled his own. "Who do you think got the spot between the two of us, Sasuke-kun?"

"Me, obviously."

Both girls giggled. Sakura shook her head. Ah Sasuke, never change.

"Naru-nii-sama!"

She knew that voice.

Turning, Sakura looked to the hall's main door to see a blue-haired blur dash over the carpeted floor and practically knock Naruto off the chair he'd been sitting on, narrowly missing Shino and Tenten. Sakura, herself, was on her feet to help her friend up and pick up the precocious visitor. Ino could have Sasuke for now.

"Sayo-chan!"

Namikaze Sayoko's face turned from confusion to joy when the younger girl realized who had picked her up. Both girls enjoyed the mutual hug, Sakura feeling the rush of air as Sayoko's legs kicked about in the air with excitement.

Sakura met the girl during their first year at the academy. Sayoko had come by to celebrate the new years with her parents, and Sakura had been about to drop off the gift from her family at Azuchi. Naruto's young cousin had managed to get her to stay the afternoon to play with her and Naruto that day, and while she'd originally been intending to just exchange greetings and leave, Sakura ended up staying so late her grandfather had to requisition one of his bodyguards to take her home so she'd make it in time for dinner.

The girl had been around a few more times since, usually on new years, and on Naruto's birthday. Sometimes with her parents, sometimes without.

Sayoko's arrival was very much hard to miss, however. In moments, the children were all gathered around the three. Ino, especially, cooed at the youngest member of the Namikaze clan.

While the others caught up with the girl hanging from her neck, however, Sakura turned to see who else from Naruto's extended family had visited, sure that whoever else had come would be joining them in the hall shortly.

And she was rewarded with the sight of Jiraiya walking through the double doors beside Namikaze Saiki and what looked to be an Amegakure shinobi she didn't recognize.

Sakura didn't think he was much older than they were. Perhaps a year at most? His sandy blond hair was pulled back and tied in what she assumed was either a tail or a braid at the back of his head. Whatever loose hairs there were were kept in place by the Ame forehead protector he still wore. Despite that, he was dressed in very comfortable-looking kimono robes, though this older boy's was grey instead of the dark blue that Naruto favored.

Hardest to miss of all, was the respirator that covered his mouth.

The stranger's brown eyes met hers and seemed to blink in curiosity. He nodded to her in greeting.

It was only then that Sakura noticed that Jiraiya had his arm over the boy's shoulder in a way that he usually reserved for Naruto. He was probably a friend of the family, then. Saiki separated from the group after sending Sakura a wink and moved to join the other adults at the large table.

"Looks like everyone's getting reacquainted. Good." Jiraiya sent them all a grin. Sakura and Naruto exchanged a glance before fully facing the man. The other newly-minted genin all noticed the man's arrival and turned to face them. "So there's someone here I'd like everyone to meet."

With a pat on his shoulder, the stranger from Ame stepped forward and gave everyone a polite bow. Sakura had met Hatake Kakashi enough times to recognize a smile through the eyes.

"Good evening, everyone. I'm Sanshou Kotarou of Ame. I'm actually here as part of Saiki-sama's bodyguard detail, but she and Sayo-chan asked me to attend tonight." Sakura's eyebrows rose at the name.

Sanshou Hanzo was a legend among modern-day shinobi. He was the man that managed to not only unify the fractured Land of Rain during the Second Great Shinobi War, but had turned it into such a military and economic power, that when he declared that he would be remaining neutral during the Third War, none dared challenge him. Instead, the Land of Rain had continued to service their trading partners, and had even started treating any injured shinobi found near or within their borders on condition that none of them fought while in the country.

A condition that had supposedly been followed for the entirety of the war.

The man had been so terrifyingly powerful, he'd fought all three Sannin at the same time and won. In fact, he'd been the one to dub them the Densetsu no Sannin in the first place. A title that was respected by everyone to this day, even though only Jiraiya remained a shinobi of Konoha. Orochimaru and Tsunade opting to retire from active duty to travel the world.

Was this Hanzo's son? Grandson, maybe? Hanzo had been older than the Sannin during the second war, and Jiraiya was pushing fifty now. Definitely grandson, then.

Any further musings had been interrupted when she heard their foreign guest mutter, "They were very convincing." with what she supposed was an embarrassed flush.

Sakura looked down to Sayoko, giving the girl a questioning look. She didn't know an eight-year-old could look so smug, though she did recognize Naruto wearing a look like that sometimes. Guess smug looks ran in the family or something.

Jiraiya laughed. "Kotarou-kun, here, is Sayo-chan's favorite thing to hang from."

"Jiraiya-sama!"

"What? It's adorable! Your grandfather agrees!"

What followed was a story that Sakura was sure Sasuke and Ino hadn't heard yet, and if Shino and Tenten had been told, she hadn't been there.

It turned out that Jiraiya had managed to develop a sort-of friendship with the man that had almost killed him in his youth. Naruto's godfather said that it was going to happen at some point considering how much time he had spent visiting the Land of Rain. Sanshou Kotarou was Sayoko's favorite playmate, and would usually be at the Grand Hinata Inn when he wasn't busy.

Kotarou was very polite. Not unexpected from someone that was essentially raised in nobility. She'd certainly gotten that much from Shino, though it clearly wasn't always applicable since Sasuke tended to be rough around the edges at times. That was fine, it was his appeal.

As dinner was being served and the kids had moved to the table that had been reserved for them, the newly-graduated genin asked Kotarou what being a genin in Ame was like, and while the older boy had made it a point to say that most villages tended to handle things differently, their expectations of finally being considered shinobi and kunoichi of their village were immediately tempered.

How couldn't it be? They were expected to do menial labour and public services for the first few months while their jounin sensei trained them up.

Still, the others were curious and wanted to ask about him and his team with mostly Ino leading in the questioning.

All of this, while Sayoko was seated on Kotarou's lap.

Once dinner was served, Kotarou began passing around a small bottle containing a clear liquid to everyone before getting up and doing the same for the adults.

"It's an antidote," he answered the unsaid question upon returning to his seat, Sayoko not wasting any time on hopping onto him again. He suppressed a grunt at the force and failed. Sakura smiled. "My bloodline limit allows me to breathe and spit poison. I wear a respirator for the safety of those around me."

Sakura immediately knew that this would catch Ino's attention. The girl had expressed an interest in learning about poisons over the course of the past few months.

"I remember reading that your grandfather only had a venom gland implanted in him." Trust Ino to know about famous poisoners.

Kotarou nodded. "He did. My father was born with an immunity to my grandfather's poison, however, and also had another gland implanted in himself. By the time I was born, I had both immunity, and could produce my own." He shrugged. "Admittedly, we're still unsure how it happened, but the doctors that work at the Inn said that they expect my children to have the same ability. Unlike my grandfather and father, though, I can turn it off and on at will."

Ino raised the vial of antidote. "If you can, why give these out?"

"Common courtesy. And while I've trained extensively with it, this is still a very young bloodline, so we're not really sure of everything about it yet. Grandfather would rather play it safe." He laughed. "Besides, I don't want to cause any diplomatic incidents, considering who's at this party."

The group settled into a relaxed rhythm after that. Each of them telling stories about the week, or their training, even Kotarou had been willing to share that, and ─ much to just about everyone's surprise ─ Sayoko. Sakura had been almost concerned until the girl said it was just some basic chakra control, and whatever games she was permitted to play on the Inn's grounds.

Yes, 'play.' Sakura was well-versed enough in what that word meant by Namikaze standards. She sent Naruto a look at that and the boy had the decency to look sheepishly at her in response.

Once dinner was finished, the new graduates had all been in for some pleasant surprises. Apparently they'd all gotten gifts. Sakura still wasn't sure if it was a group thing or not, but it was their families that had been the ones to present it to them.

Tenten was the first to be given hers, her parents joking that they didn't want her to feel left out. It was a set of sealing scrolls made by Jiraiya himself. Apparently, they could actually launch things out of them. Even as Tenten was getting back to her seat, Sakura could already see the girl was studying the seal-work. Naruto promised to work with her on reproducing it sometime.

Shino followed and was given chain-kunai? When Saiki explained that the blades had experimental seals etched into them that allowed them to be used as recurring explosives, Sakura's curiosity had been piqued. That was definitely something she hadn't heard of before.

Sakura was called up next. Her parents and grandparents had been the ones to present her with the lacquered box. When it opened, her jaw dropped.

They were a pair of kote, traditional armor that she'd seen more in the old books, and the few samurai that came into the village from the capitol. Her hand brushed the dark red, lacquer-covered iron that would protect her hands. Even with just a brush, she could feel how easy it would be to run her chakra through it.

"We're proud of you, Sakura." It was her father. He had this shine to his eyes that she couldn't help but return. Her arms flew around his neck even as she addressed all of them.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

After that, it had been Sasuke who got a new set of re-summonable ninja tools, and Ino whose father presented her with a senbon collection and a tea set.

Kotarou apparently knew what it was since he shared it with their table while Yamanaka Inoichi explained it to his own daughter.

"That's a poisoner's tea set. If she's going to be working with poisons, she needs to build a resistance for the ones she'll be using. Taking it daily with her tea is sort of the tradition for us back in Ame."

And that certainly got everyone's attention, Sakura and Tenten especially asking for a more detailed explanation.

"She'll have to start with a very small dose of one poison in the morning." The older genin answered, "Not enough to kill her, but definitely enough for her to feel it. She'll have to build up her resistance every day until she's all but immune to it."

"And the other poisons?" It was Sasuke.

"Well, how many times do you have tea a day?"

"Hot or cold?"

"Either?"

Well, that answered that.

The group had been surprised enough at the idea that when Ino returned with a smug look on her face, Sakura could only send Ino a smile. She could only imagine how uncomfortable her friend's work was going to be.

Lastly, it was Naruto.

Unlike everyone else, he did not open his gift. Instead, he set it aside. There was an almost awed look in his eye when he received it from his foster parents, however. It certainly looked impressive, that's for sure.

The box was large, about as long as Naruto could stretch his arms to his side, and made of polished wood. What stood out the most was the cover, which had been carved into the likeness of a dragon with its wings spread over the surface and eyes of purple gemstones.

If nothing else, it looked unabashedly wealthy.

Naruto accepted it with a quiet reverence.

When asked what it was, all he'd do was smirk.

~TtT~

Hours later, after some games were played and more stories told, everyone else went home. She and Naruto spent another half hour with Sayoko and Saiki while Rin and Jiraiya oversaw the cleanup of the hall. Kotarou and his team were setup in one of the more upscale inns in the village proper care of Rin's apprentice, Yakushi Kabuto.

Once Sayoko was tucked in, and Naruto got a kiss on the cheek from his cousin for the effort, Saiki gave them both hugs and kisses of her own before sending them off.

"For what it's worth, I'm proud of the both of you." The aging woman said, with a grin and a shine in her eyes that warmed Sakura's heart.

Naruto let her shower first. While the bath from earlier had been blissful, she didn't want to be up much later. And besides, Naruto promised her a story tonight, and she intended on extracting that from him.

So she checked his shelves for anything interesting. They'd already done the Founding of Konoha, as well as Naming of the Densetsu no Sannin, though that one had been narrated by Jiraiya while Naruto played it out. Eventually, she did find something that caught her eyes, that they hadn't covered yet.

"The Three Sons." This one was a scroll. Not exactly weird since Naruto had some old stuff in here that weren't long enough to warrant their own book, but those also ended up in collections of stories anyway. And while there were some other scrolls in the room ─ mostly strewn across Naruto's desk ─ this one was in the shelves with the stories and legends that Naruto liked to read. Her friend liked his epics, and it was sort of what started this little tradition of theirs whenever they'd have sleepovers.

A purple glint flashed in the corner of her eye.

It was the box with the dragon top. The one that Naruto had gotten as his graduation gift but didn't open.

Still holding the scroll in her hands, she approached it.

Now close enough to examine it, the box reminded her of a desk her grandfather had made when he moved in with Nabiki after they got married last year. It had this deep, rich, brown color that stood stark against the dark, almost black, grains and knots. Ironwood, Danzo had called it. The sides of the box were smooth to the touch and the edges just rounded enough to not hurt when she brushed her newly-cleaned hands against them.

The dragon was carved so perfectly it was like the wood was molded into form. Sakura stared into the gemstone eyes like they were gazing into her soul.

"Do you want to see what's inside?"

Sakura almost gasped as she turned to see her friend walk out of the bathroom. He still had a towel over his head, but he was thankfully dressed in some loose-fitting sleeping robes.

Ultramarine eyes locked with jade. The look on his face seemed to turn into one of understanding.

"C'mon, Sa-chan. I'm not mad. You didn't even try to open it, looks like." He walked up to her and gave her a squeeze on the shoulder. Sakura relaxed at the friendly gesture.

"Sorry about that. You didn't seem all that keen on showing it to the others."

Naruto laughed almost awkwardly, raising a finger to rub at his nose in a gesture that almost reminded her of Jiraiya when the Sannin was telling some embarrassing story of his time as a genin under the Sandaime.

"W-well, I figured you guys wouldn't be all that impressed about what I got."

He then opened the box in a swift motion that unlatched the top with practiced ease.

Inside it were… branches? Branches of some kind of tree Sakura had never seen before, bundled up in twine. While the outside of the box was richly decorated, the inside was less so. Sakura could see the silver ribbing that reinforced it, but not much else.

Sakura gave the boy a look with a raised eyebrow. "Wood?"

Naruto laughed again, this time with more humor. "Touch it."

And so she did, reaching out to brush against the wood only surprised to see one thing and feel another. "Metal!"

He nodded. "Iron Branches from the Eternal Tree." Naruto then explained what that was. Apparently the Namikaze clan had these iron trees on one of the mountains of the Land of Rain, the same mountain the Grand Hinata Inn was located at. "The metal from the tree is something we melt down and turn into tools. Saiki-baa said that they'll be having a pair of tanto and some armor made for me. We're saving the rest for when I'm older."

Sakura had been about to ask what this Eternal Tree was, and how Naruto's clan got their hands on it.

And then Naruto yawned, leaning back and closing his eyes. Sakura followed shortly after.

"Anyway," Her friend continued as he smiled sleepily at her. "What story did you pick out for tonight? I'm getting a bit sleepy, and we still have team assignments tomorrow."

Oh right!

"This one!"

Naruto's eyebrows rose when she held up the scroll. Then he grinned at her. Drying his hair, and moving the lamp on his desk to the floor, he sat down. Sakura was already shutting off the other lights so only the yellow glow at Naruto's feet was left. It was like sitting at a campfire.

With a wave of his hands, ink flew out from the few inkwells he kept at his desk and into the air. They swirled like his namesake over his fingers. Shadows danced on the walls around them.

He gave her an expectant look, ultramarine eyes glinting.

Sakura smiled, sitting down beside him and opening the scroll she began to read.

"The old sage had three sons. First was Indra, strong in the ways of his father. Second was Asura, who had inherited his father's charisma. Last was Vritra, who had learned the sage's wisdom."

As she spoke, Naruto's ink turned into three figures to represent each of the three sons as she mentioned them, their father, the old sage, looming over them as a larger shadow.

It was how the two of them enjoyed their stories, Sakura narrating and Naruto putting on a little show with his ink and the light. Sometimes Shino and Tenten would be here, sometimes Ino, and even more rarely, Sasuke. But this was theirs, and Sakura loved it.

When she turned to look at him briefly between paragraphs, their eyes met and she knew that so did he.

And there we have it, graduation. Also got to introduce a few more characters to the cast and establish some more things for you guys to expect development from.

So Sasuke is kind of the same as in canon with a lot less of an edge. Between Itachi's change in messaging, and Izumi being alive for him to sort of both latch onto and focus his energy on, he's a lot more relaxed. Still felt that he'd end up being the school heartthrob, just a different kind this time.

Now, Sasuke is the rough around the edges, dark-haired boy that bakes and loves the sister-figure he lives with. Very different appeal.

Ino and Sakura are still interested in him, but the dynamic has shifted a bit. They're sort of competitors that happen to have the hots for him, too, so they're easier for him to recognize them as competent kunoichi.

Hope you guys liked it. We'll be doing team assignments and genin exams next chapter, and maybe some other things, too!

Just a heads up, I haven't been feeling well this past week (I appear to have caught some sort of stomach bug), so writing has been slowed down. As a result, there will likely be no update next week (25 September). It's also why I'm late on the update this week.

Cheers, and I'd love to hear what you guys think of the story so far.