Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor am I an expert on the Naruto Universe.


Chapter 8: Matters of the Future

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched from his window as students rushed out of the Academy, excited to head home for the day. He fought back a smile as a wistful memory danced across his vision. Children and pupils from years past, doing the exact same thing as the current generation. Excited yells that only the young could produce filtered up to his aging ears. He turned from the window to regard seven jonin standing in his office, each holding a green folder.

"Thank you for coming," he welcomed as he took his seat. The men and women in the room greeted him back in their own way. "We're missing one," he stated with a sigh.

"Kakashi will be here whenever he shows," Asuma muttered to Kureni standing beside him. The dark-haired kunoichi just smiled back and looked down at her folder.

"I gave you all a task. Each of you has expressed a desire to become Jonin Instructors for the new Genin Teams. You know what is expected of you. This is classified as an A-ranked mission, as you'll be training the newest generation of ninja. You've all had a chance to read through the files of each student we believe will pass and have been given ample time to see them in action. Were there any questions before I take your lists?" he asked.

"What is the likelihood I'll get the students I want?" Irori asked with a frown. He was the shortest shinobi in the room and his skills were excellent.

"That is for the Council and me to decide. This exercise wasn't a waste of time. Even if you get one or two students you wanted, you'll have a general understanding of all possible candidates."

The jonin shrugged and held out his folder. "I thought it might come down to the Council. This year has too many Clan children in it. If I didn't know better, you all were waiting for them to graduate together," he mused aloud.

Hiruzen smiled but didn't say anything as he took the folder from Irori. The young man had a sharp mind when he chose to use it. In short order, all the jonin placed their top picks for students on his desk. He dismissed them with a thank you and a promise to get back to them as soon as he could. After they'd all left, Hiruzen stared down at the folders in front of him and sighed. It wouldn't be an easy decision again this year. He pulled open the top drawer to his desk and drew out a gray folder. A rustle made him look up.

"Hello, sir," Kakashi greeted as he jumped in from the window.

Hiruzen placed the gray folder back in the drawer and closed it. "You're late, again," he sighed.

"A tabby cat blocked my path, so I had to go around," the jonin answered with a shrug. Kakashi placed his green folder on the desk. Hiruzen saw the crinkles in the folder, a stark contrast to the others. "I want Naruto-kun."

Leaning back in his chair, Hiruzen looked up at Kakashi. "You know that may not happen," he warned.

"None of the others want him. I checked. I want Naruto-kun."

"Do you really think Naruto and Sasuke-kun being in the same group would be a good thing? One wants to kill the other."

"I noticed. The only thing is, I don't know which of them hates the other more. Naruto-kun seems to antagonize Sasuke-kun any time he can. Either way, I'll make it work."

Hiruzen didn't agree with his jonin's assessment but didn't voice it aloud. "I will take it into account," he allowed. "Both of them could become great assets to the village's future."

"I owe it to his father to watch out for him."

"Maybe, however, it isn't like I'll be sending genin off on dangerous missions. You can work with him when he is a chunin."

"The foundation starts with being a genin," Kakashi argued.

"I'll keep that in mind. Is that all?" Hiruzen asked with a little frost in his voice.

"No, Hokage-sama. I'll show myself out."

Hiruzen watched Kakashi leave before reaching over to the crumpled folder. He opened it and saw only two names scrawled in nearly illegible handwriting. Uchiha, Sasuke and Namikaze, Naruto. He crumpled up the page in one hand.

It took some time to sort through the shortlists of each jonin instructor. Asuma surprised him by choosing Shikamaru Nara as one of his candidates. He even picked Choji Akimichi, knowing the Nara boy wouldn't want to be too far from his friend. That was two of the clans. He kept reading and frowned. Asuma said he didn't want Ino Yamanaka because of her poor discipline and the fact that the village needed to break up the Ino-Shika-Cho teams. The Sarutobi clan almost always watched over the younger generations of the prominent clans. His estranged son's choices rarely made sense to him.

Kurenai Yuhi's choices were similarly strange. She politely demanded that she be given Hinata Hyuga and explained why. Hiruzen wasn't blind to the Hyuga's situation and their treatment of their heiress. She said she liked Kiba Inuzuka's energy and Doi Nampo's dedication to his work. In the middle of the list, she wrote Naruto's name before crossing it out and rewriting it near the bottom. It was a surprise Naruto's name was even on the list. Kurenai also asked for Sakura Haruno because of her intelligence and possible gift with chakra control.

The only other jonin kunoichi, Sawa Akoto, asked for mostly civilian students who had average grades. However, she chose Naruto near the top of her list but didn't give a reason. That made him frown. Naruto only made it on three shortlists. He couldn't understand why. In his opinion, the boy had more potential than even Sasuke Uchiha. He sighed and sat back in his chair.

"Do you need something, Hokage-sama?" a voice asked from the corner.

"A long rest," he admitted. "I'm getting too old for this."

"You'll survive, sir," the feminine voice answered a moment later. "How many?"

Hiruzen didn't need to ask who his Anbu was asking after. "Only three lists," he admitted.

"Fools."

It was quiet for some time while Hiruzen thought, staring at the ceiling. A knock on the door roused him from his musings. "Enter," he called.

"They are ready for you," the chunin guard called as he opened the door. Maita Hiro was a sensor shinobi, careful and precise in everything he did.

"Thank you," he answered and opened the drawer again. He grabbed the gray folder and sighed. It was time to argue with blind, deaf, and dumb people for the betterment of the village.

"This isn't how it is done!" a reedy voice argued, his meaty fist slamming against the table in front of him.

"Calm yourself, Councillor Kannon-san. Your objection is heard," Inoichi Yamanaka counseled with a slight frown. His ash-blonde hair, tied up in a ponytail, shook slightly as he regarded the Supply Division Provider. "We've heard Councillor Uyeno-san. It'll be up to the Hokage to decide."

"But, tradition!" the portly villager complained.

"I have heard all sides to this argument," Hiruzen cut in. "We will deliberate and bring it up next meeting. The Chunin Exams will be held here. We'll just have to plan around the Soma Nomaoi Festival. I will consult with others and come up with an answer for you, Councillor Kannon-san."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," the villager muttered as he attempted to bow in his chair.

"I must ask the Council to move on to the next topic," Hiruzen said, hoping his exhaustion wouldn't come out in his voice. "The Academy."

"You'd better keep the Ino-Shika-Cho team," Choza Akimichi challenged. His bulk creaked as he shifted his weight in his chair. His long, spiky red hairpiece shook as he waggled his finger at Hiruzen.

"I hadn't planned on disbanding a village tradition," the Hokage answered in an even tone. "What makes you think that I would?"

"Rumors," the tall, plump clan head answered as he crossed his arms.

"Rumors indeed," Shikaku Nara commented. The Jonin Commander looked across the room at his old comrade and shook his head, his dark, spiky hair shaking. "As I understand it, our sons... and daughter," he added with a nod to Inoichi, "have formed a strong bond within the Academy. It would be foolish to separate them." In the last statement, he shot a look at Hiruzen.

"I agree," the Hokage answered with a smile. The three old men thought he couldn't see through their rouse? "It must be said, however, that each of them has done well in their own right. It may benefit the village to sep," he got out before the three old friends erupted into outrage.

"Don't you dare!" "You wouldn't!" "Stop joking around, sir."

"Calm yourselves," Hiruzen ordered with a small smile. The three men looked at each other before grimacing. They nodded to him before settling back down. "However, this is why we are here. To discuss the future generation of shinobi."

"Let's cut to the case. We all have our opinions about this year in particular," Tsume Inuzuka barked, her sharp eyes narrowing at him. Kuromaru, her one-eyed ninken, growled a little in his powerful chest.

"I'm sure we do," Hiruzen allowed. "Almost all the Councillors present have a child who may graduate in a few weeks. This is the main reason we're gathered here today. I would like your input."

An eery silence descended upon the room. "There is something coming... is there not?" Shibi Aburame asked in a low, level tone. His eyes, hidden by dark glasses, missed little.

"There is unrest in the Elemental Lands," Hiruzen allowed after a moment. "That is why it is critical we look to the foundations of our village." He saw heads nod in agreement. Everyone here knew that outside the village, the world was becoming a dangerous place once more. "Some may have given this more thought than others, but I would like your input, outside of the Ino-Shika-Cho team."

The discussion went on for two hours, each member of the council sharing their input. Hizashi Hyuga, the leader of the Hyuga Clan, spoke little and only to give his assessment of a student. He didn't speak for, or against, his daughter's role to come.

"None of you has spoken about the Uzumaki boy," Tsume challenged with a glare. "Why?"

Hiruzen blinked and looked at the Inuzuka Clan Head. She hadn't even realized that she ruined his hope that everyone would forget about Naruto. Recently, the boy had been behaving and kept under the radar of most of the village.

"He'll graduate?" the Head Medical-nin for the Hospital asked. Seto Bakin was not a well-liked individual on the Council.

"According to my son, yes," Shikaku answered with a raised eyebrow at Hiruzen.

"Outrageous!" Councillor Kannon bellowed. "We should have run him out of the village long ago."

"That is unwise," Inoichi answered with a frown at the villager.

Choza turned to Tsume. "Why are you bringing him up?" he asked in what sounded like a genuine question.

"My son says he might be the strongest student of their class, yet, we're discussing the Uchiha and his future."

"The Uchiha clan is more important," Koharu Utatane answered in a level voice. She shifted on her seat, using her gnarled cane to assist her. "His bloodline must be maintained, at any cost."

"Quite correct," Homura Mitokado agreed as he peered down his nose at Tsume. His glasses slipped a little down his nose, and he had to push them back up again with a muttered curse.

"You've already talked about the program for an hour. I could care less who the brat breeds with. Which team is the Uzumaki boy going to?" Tsume challenged again.

"Give him to a team we know might not make it. Send him off to be an Anbu. If he can make it through the training," Danzo Shimura stated with a sigh. "No one here is blind. He'll be of the most use to the village there."

Several heads nodded at Danzo's words. The disfigured elder, with half his face wrapped in bandages, carried a lot of respect within the Council and village. Hiruzen saw through his old nemesis' ploy. "We will return to this conversation in a moment," he said, hoping people would forget entirely. "Look over the document provided once more. This is many of your children's futures. I would like frank answers and suggestions."

The next day, Hiruzen sat behind his desk staring at the information the Council agreed upon. While he was the Hokage, and the final decision was his, he had to keep the wishes of those under him in mind. It'd taken hours of argument, cold calculation, and more than a little speculation to come up with the quantitative numbers associated with each student.

At the top of his list was the Ino-Shika-Cho team. By comparing the raw data from Ino Yamanaka's time in the Academy, the Council gave her a final score of 2. Her intelligence and ninjutsu mastery made up for a lot of areas she was lacking in. Statistics like ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, intelligence, raw strength, sustained speed, prolonged stamina, and test scores all added up to a final grade of one through three. One classified the student as barely passable as a shinobi, while three classified them as a major asset to any team they might be a part of.

Shikamaru Nara got one of the highest scores of 3 and Choji Akimichi squeaked out a 2. Much to his father's shame, Choji's statistics were debated for an hour before an eventual score was awarded. The legacy team was best-suited for prolonged engagements. He assigned his son, Asuma, to lead their team.

The next group of students was a little harder to decide. Sasuke Uchiha might have scored a unanimous vote of 3, but Sakura, Kiba, and Hinata all took a long time to decide. Sakura had a high intelligence but lacked in many other areas. She got one of the worst scores out of the entire group of twenty-three students. Hinata, similarly, received a low score of 1. Her father, Hizashi Hyuga, shrugged as if he couldn't have done anything more for her. Kiba, after a lengthy tirade from his mother, received a 2.

The Council almost forgot about Shino, until his father reminded them to mark his son as something at least. The intelligent boy got a 2, after minimal debate. It took the Council exactly two minutes to award Naruto a 1. Tsume was outraged but the other Councillors ignored her outburst. That suited Hiruzen just fine. The boy would show his worth in time.

Kyoya Shoyo and Koyasu Juro were the only two civilian students who garnered any real attention. Both students did well overall while in the Academy and received a mark of 3. Both could have promising futures in the medical-nin force. Amaya Sojuro, only a second-year student, obtained a 2 and was accepted as being able to graduate early.

A light knock on the door made Hiruzen glance up. Horse, a new Anbu addition after his predecessor died, bowed to him. "Yuhi, Kurenai-san requests to see you," he said in his scratchy voice. The rope marks where the young shinobi had been hanged stood out against his tight, black bandages.

"Send her in."

Hiruzen waited while his jonin seemed to struggle for words. He didn't rush her. "I... need some information, if you're willing to answer a question," she haltingly said as she looked up into his eyes. Something was bothering Kurenai.

"It depends on what the question is."

"Naruto-kun."

"Ah, is this about your shortlist?" he questioned as he steepled his fingers.

"Yes... and no," Kurenai answered with a small sigh. "Young Hinata-chan is... infatuated with him. I'd like to know something before I make my final decision."

"I wasn't aware I finalized the groups."

"Asuma might have said something about it yesterday," she hedged.

"He's always been a clever boy," Hiruzen answered with a nod.

"Why does Naruto-kun fear me?" she asked in an almost desperate plea.

Hiruzen paused and glanced to the corner of the room. He sat back in his chair and breathed out slowly. "I cannot tell you," he finally answered. "Unless you become his sensei, I cannot reveal village secrets."

"So, it was something I did?"

"No, it wasn't."

"I don't understand."

Hiruzen looked at the distraught jonin in front of him. Kurenai was a strong kunoichi and had no problem instilling fear in her enemies. However, she was worried and, it sounded like, hurt that Naruto feared her. He took a risk. "Put it out of your mind. I will place Naruto where I think he will excel," he finally stated.

Kurenai crossed her arms. "Asuma said he thought he might put him with me. Why?" she challenged.

Hiruzen fought not to smile. "The boy is remarkable in his own way," he answered. "I'm not sure why Asuma thought I'd put Naruto with you. If anything, I debated putting him with Kakashi."

"That silver-haired perv wouldn't be able to help him."

"And, you would?"

That seemed to catch Kurenai off guard. "I don't know," she admitted. "I don't even know why I'm here talking about him." A look of annoyance flashed across her lovely features. "It's stupid to have him with Hinata-chan anyway."

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at his jonin. When she didn't say anything or move toward the door, he said in a low voice, "why does it matter?"

"It doesn't," she answered after a few seconds. "Sorry that I wasted your time, sir." Kurenai bowed before turning around and striding toward the door.

Hiruzen didn't stop her and waited until the door closed before sighing. "She's right about one thing," a familiar voice whispered. "Kakashi-san won't help him much."

"Hush, I'm trying to think."

"As you wish, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen pulled out the gray folder from his desk and opened it. His numbers on each graduating student were different than what the Council agreed upon. At the top of the list was Naruto. The amount of dedication, drive, and sacrifice the boy made to achieve what he had made him proud. Just under him was Sasuke. The Uchiha boy wasn't a genius, but he was just as driven, if for a different reason. Revenge burned in the young boy's mind.

He'd listed out various teams and what their roles might be if they passed the true Genin Exam. The Council flat out refused a few of his suggestions, and rightly so. Having Hinata Hyuga and Sasuke Uchiha in the same group was a recipe for disaster. A Byakugan and Sharingan in the same genin team would draw head-hunters from other villages, just for the chance to acquire the rare dojusus.

Kakashi was correct was saying that the time a shinobi spent as a genin would shape their future, and he needed to plan for the village's future. He took out a pen and compared his notes to the Council's opinion. "Do I go with a rounded-out team, so they can do anything, or do I specialize again," he muttered aloud. No one answered him.

Five hours later, just before it was time for him to quit for the day, he sent runners to find his new jonin trainers. They assembled in short order. Even Kakashi arrived on time. "Thank you for coming," he said as he slipped several pages into the same green folders he'd given out before. He paused before sliding the last page into the crumpled folder.

"I expect each of you to do your utmost to help this generation. Not everyone will be happy with my decision, but I need to think to the future of the village. Take your folders," he instructed. "Do not open them, yet," he ordered when he saw Kakashi swipe his first.

The eight jonin collected their folders and waited, looking at him with barely suppressed patience. "You all remember how you were tested for the true Genin Exam. Remember that if you sign off on your teams, they, and you, will be a team for some time. Only pass those who are ready for the harsh reality of what we live with every day. Am I understood?" he questioned.

"Yes, Hokaga-sama," the group answered together.

"Dismissed," he ordered. The jonin disappeared in record time.

"I hope you did the right thing," a cold, feminine voice whispered from the corner.

"I hope so too."