Author's Note: The Team Poll is now Closed! Thank you for voting! Now, I put the Pairing Poll on my Profile. Please continue to vote for your favorite Pairing! And, I'm still taking requests on Kyuubi's stories! By the way, if anyone wants to be a Beta (and for those that don't know what that means, it means an editor) I'm currently looking for one. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 4: Inu Meets Kitsune Hiding in Shadow

"Team 7," Iruka called. "Uchiha Sasuke, Abarame Shino, and Yamanaka Ino under Hatake Kakashi."

None of the three reacted. It was like they all didn't care. However, Sakura gave Ino the stink eye.

"Team 8," Iruka continued. "Nara Shikamaru, Uzumaki Naruto, and Inuzuka Kiba under...Mor-Morino Ibiki."

Iruka gave the three a sympathetic look, and they all tensed in nervousness. However, Naruto and Shikamaru were relieved that they were together.

"Hey wait," Kiba yelled. "Why am I with the mute kid and lazy bones?!"

"Well, Naruto-kun is the Rookie of the Year and Shikamaru-kun is floating at the middle of the class. You, however, are at the bottom of the class. This is part of the reason. However, it also looks that you three were selected by Morino-san himself, so you'll have to ask him..."

The classes' jaws dropped. The mute kid was Rookie of the Year and the three of them were hand picked to be a team by their Jonin.

"Anyways," Iruka said. "Team 10 is Hyuuga Hinata, Akamitchi Choji, and Hurano Sakura. Alright everyone. We will now break for lunch. After lunch, please return here to meet with your Jonins. Please take this time to get to know your new teammates. Again, I'm proud of you all, and I hope for the best for you all."

Iruka smiled and left, leaving his former students to fend for themselves.

"Were would you like to eat," Shikamaru asked.

Naruto shrugged.

"Should we have lunch at mine," he asked.

Naruto thought about it for a little bit and nodded.

"We could finish our Shoji game," Shikamaru said as he started to gather his stuff.

Naruto's smile widened.

"Hey," Kiba said as he walked up. "So...Would you two like to have lunch with me?"

"I thought you didn't want to be paired with the "mute kid" and "lazy bones"," Shikamaru asked.

Kiba reddened in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry," Kiba said. "I didn't mean to be rude. I just wanted to be on a team with Hinata. I've had a crush on her for the last couple years, but she's so shy that I can't even talk to her."

Naruto opened up his drawing book and drew a dove with an olive branch, then he showed it to Kiba.

"Huh," he asked intelligently.

"He means he forgives you," Shikamaru said. "The dove is a symbol of purity and the olive branch is a symbol of peace. Together they resemble starting over, so in essence, forgiveness."

"Oh," Kiba said. "Thank you."

Naruto smiled, and hid behind Shikamaru.

"Is he okay," Kiba whispered.

"He's just shy," Shikamaru said. "Once he get's to know you, he'll start communicating more."

Kiba nodded.

"So, would you like to come over for lunch," Shikamaru asked.

"Only if you come to mine for dinner," Kiba said. "My mom would love to meet y'all."

"Deal," Shikamaru said.

Once the three got to Shika's, Naruto and Shikamaru immediately went to the Shoji board.

"So, tell us about yourself," Shikamaru asked.

"Well, I like my partner Akamaru," Kiba said. "I like long walks, training, and pranks. I hate people who hate dogs, people that abandon their pack, and cats. I also want to succeed my mom as Clan Head."

"I hope you don't mind, but I'm gonna speak for Naruto," Shikamaru said.

"That's okay," Kiba said.

"Okay," Shikamaru said. "This is Naruto. He like drawing, Shoji, training, gardening, art, and cooking. He dislikes people that judge others before getting to know them, traitors, and being the center of attention. He dreams to one day be able to talk again; if only a select few people."

"Wait, so he can speak," Kiba asked.

"Yeah," Shikamaru said. "He just has select mutism. He hasn't spoken since he was five years old though."

"Wow," Kiba breathed.

"Anyway," Shikamaru said. "I'm Shikamaru. I like cloud watching, sleeping, Shoji, and looking through Naruto's drawings and paintings. I dislike work, noisy people, and bullies. I my dream is to live a happy and simple life."

"So, what do you think Ibiki-sensei will be like," Kiba asked.

A crash was heard as Inoichi and Shikaku entered the sitting room.

"Did you say Ibiki-sensei," Inoichi chocked. "As in Morino Ibiki?"

"Yeah, why," Shikamaru asked.

"He's the Head of T&I," Shikaku explained.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru groaned.

"What's the T&I Department," Kiba asked.

Naruto quickly drew a picture of someone being tortured.

"Oh," Kiba said paling.

"Yeah. The Torture and Interrogation Department is no joke," Inoichi said. "I should know. I used to be the Head Interrogator."

Naruto's jaw dropped and Kiba exclaimed, "Seriously?!"

Inoichi nodded, "Yeah. But what is Ibiki doing with kids?"

"Iruka said that he hand picked us to be his team," Shikamaru said.

"Well that's odd," Shikaku said. "What's he going to do with an tracker, a show user, and Chalk wielder?"

"I guess we'll just have to see," Shikamaru said.

The trio just got back to class, and they seemed to be right on time.

"Yo," a scared man said as he walked towards them. "Are you Team 8?"

"Are you Morino Ibiki," Shikamaru asked in response.

Ibiki chuckled and said, "Meet me in my office."

After that he vanished in a puff of smoke.

"What do we do now," Kiba asked.

Naruto put a finger on his chin for a moment then smiled and dragged them out of he building.

Naruto didn't let go of them until they were in front of a boulder formation behind the Hokage Mountain.

"Hey, what are we doing here," Kiba asked.

Naruto held his finger to his lips and Kiba quieted down. Then the pushed a small bump on one of the boulders. However, something unexpected happened... A door pushed open to a tunnel. Naruto smiled and took hold of their hands again. He dragged them through several tunnels until they stood in front of a large office. Naruto walked into the room and sat down on the large couch. Shikamaru automatically sat on Naruto's right, leaving Kiba to sit on Naruto's left.

Not a second later, Ibiki walked into the room. For a minute he started, but then his expression smoothed over.

"I see you made it," he said. "Congratulations! Your officially Genin!"

"Huh," Kiba said. "I thought we were already Genin!"

"Troublesome," Shikamaru said. "This was the Jonin's Genin Exam wasn't it?"

"Exactly," Ibiki said chuckling.

"Well, once again, Naru, you saved the day," Shikamaru said.

Naruto just blushed in embarrassment.