Iruka wasn't sure what to think of Naruto. He was an alright student. He got average grades which was weird since he always seemed to be shoving himself into every single assignment he gave him. Iruka wanted to like him but he couldn't stop seeing the fox.

He had only had him for a week but it was still driving him crazy.

But Iruka had more pressing matters… Sasuke. He wasn't sure how to handle this. Something like this had never happened. To be orphaned is one thing but it's another to lose everyone. Iruka wasn't a psychiatrist.

But he couldn't just watch his student struggle. As his teacher, it was his responsibility to look out for his students' well-being. And it doesn't help that a lot of the kids aren't taking it seriously. Sasuke was already a bit of a recluse.

He didn't have very many friends so this was obviously taking its toll. He tried to hide it but Iruka knew the face of someone who's struggling.

Iruka laid on his bed, his mind swimming too much for sleep. At some point, he'd have to sleep but he could put it off a little. He had to figure out what to do.

But again, he didn't know what to do. He could try maybe talking to him, seeing if he needed someone. He just needs to reach out somehow. But he didn't want to force him into talking. He wasn't sure what to do.

He was incredibly tired so he got up to make some tea. He put it on the stove and kept it at a low burn. Iruka smiled at the fond memories of making tea with his mother. Trying different flavors and seeing which ones their favorite. Discussing small talk like it was some sort of business meeting.

She'd ask if there were any cute girls and Iruka would profusely say no. They'd talk about, friends, they'd talk about problems…

He missed her so much.

Iruka went to the table and sipped the tea slowly, running through the memory for some hidden inspiration, just waiting to hit him.

Friends.

Sasuke needed friends.

Talking to an adult isn't the same as talking to a peer. When you're talking with friends, you feel more comfortable. You feel like you can speak your mind. It's not the same with authority figures. You feel like you owe it to them to tell them what's wrong.

The worst part about losing his parents was feeling so alone. Like no one cared. He'd mess up just so someone would pay attention to him. Just so there was a reason.

Iruka mulled it over.

He cleaned up the tea and sat back in bed. Making friends. He could do that. Sasuke probably wouldn't like it but socializing might do him some good. But how was he gonna force him out of his shell.

Iruka grimaced as a thought slowly protruded its way into his mind. Forgive me Sasuke, but we're gonna have to do a group project.

...

Sasuke sat in his seat watching the clouds gently roll by. He would pay attention in class if class ever decided to start. Their teacher just kept rambling on and on about something like teamwork. The clock ticked at what felt like an unnatural pace every single scratch of pencil made him feel like he was about to burst.

"Point is, we are going to have a collaboration exercise. You'll pair up in three and put your deduction skills to the test. You will have to find and retrieve a scroll hidden somewhere in the forest and bring it back before noon. Ready?"

"This sounds like a group project," Shikamura interjected. It was a little surprising since Shikamaru didn't speak all that often.

"That's because it is a group project-"

Sasuke listened to the entire class groan in unison. Sasuke wasn't too thrilled with the idea either. He knew none of these kids and didn't like any of them.

"Like I was saying, it is a group project. One of the most important parts of being a ninja is knowing how to cooperate together."

"May we choose are groups?" Ino asked innocently. Sasuke knew what this was going to lead to.

"Nope! I'll be choosing the groups today."

Sasuke sighed and looked out the window. As long as he didnt get partnered up with one of the girls, he was fine. He didn't like girls fawning over him even though he wasn't that strong. It was bothersome.

"As long I don't get paired with the demon kid," a voice snickered behind him. Sasuke closed his eyes and clamped his hands together, slightly praying he doesn't either.

"First group. Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Choji."

Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief and looked at his teammates. They seemed fine enough. Though Choji was pretty fat.

"Second group. Ino, Sakura, and Hinata."

Sakura and Ino glared at each other. Sasuke felt a little pity for Hinata, being stuck with those two.

He went on for a bit. Just listing off names as kidd either cheered or groaned. Finally, after what seemed like forever he called the last name.

"...and Naruto."

Sasuke grinned slightly as he heard two students groan and complain.

Sasuke glanced at the back of the class. He looked as uninterested as Sasuke felt. He didn't react to his different teammates. He was just… silent.

Freaky.

"Now, go. You've got three hours. Oh, and be careful where you step."

Sasuke got up from his seat and made his way to the door. Shikamaru put his arms around his back and took a more leisurely walk, which annoyed Sasuke. They only had three hours. Choji chatted with Shikamaru and ate chips gingerly. Going that slow is gonna get someone killed.

Apparently, neither of his teammates cared about doing a good job. Idiots.

Sasuke rushed out the door before Shikamaru and Choji could catch up.

Finding the scroll was easy. Getting the scroll, that was different. Sasuke stared at the scroll hanging gently from the tree. It was tied by a single piece of rope.

Thing was, this scroll had several different booby traps set up in front of it. They seemed to be interconnected and if one went off, the others would follow. At least, that's what Shikamaru had told them.

He was actually really smart when he got around to the whole doing stuff.

Choji was stilluching away at chips as the group huddled together deciding what to do.

"If we set off all the traps, then we can just grab it." Chojo said.

"But what if there's another trap we haven't accounted for and it goes off without us noticing." Sasuke said. It was stupid to jsut do stuff without knowing what you're doing in the first place.

"He's right. This is a ninja we're dealing with. We can't rush into this just yet."

Shikamaru looked at the tree again, the scroll dangling from it, blowing slightly in the wind.

"Hey Sasuke, ya think you could cut the rope holding the scroll?"

"Yeah, I guess. Why?"

"I have an idea."

...

Iruka felt a jutsu come undone. Someone had fallen for the trap. He walked through the forest, coming upon the tree. The scroll laid in the middle of the restrictment curse.

Obviously, someone hadn't paid attention during class.

How someone could be stupid enough to just into something and take the scroll was beyond him. Probably dragged their frozen teammate somewhere else.

Iruka picked up the scroll and felt his body immediately freeze. He looked behind him, his shadow leading behind a tree. From behind it popped out Sasuke, Shikamaru and Choji. They'd just tricked him.

"That was a good plan, Shikamaru." Sauske grinned as he grabbed the scroll from his hands.

Good, he was making friends.