Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
I would like to say that given that there are only three teams and I hate the Sasuke, Naruto relationship, therefore I am putting Narurto on team 8 and shifting Kiba to team 7. Truth be known I HATE SASUKE, he is an arrogant egocentrical, spoiled brat who has everything handed to him and expecting everything to be that way and not have to work for it.
I would also like to note that I have read S'TarKan's story Team 8. I am borrowing one jutsu from it but I had started writing this story before I read that story so any similarities are just that similarities. I recomend TEAM 8 as a story it is very good and well written. My thinking is that Naruto would be a good addition to team 8 and Kiba would give team 7 a heavy hitter and a scout on the team.
So enjoy the story.
Chapter 8 – Team selection
Naruto arrives early to class. Shikamaru notices him and asks "why are you here?"
Naruto quickly explains as he is noticed by a certain dark haired girl, "I graduated, see Shikamaru. See, a regulation headband." Shikamaru just shakes his head and puts a 'what-ever' look on his face.
Hinata's heart soars with his words, 'I am glad we will not be separated, congratulations Naruto.'
Naruto walks over and takes a seat close to Sasuke, but not noticing that he was there. Sakura and Ino both enter the room somewhat out of breath. Sakura notices Sasuke and smiles, Naruto noticing Sakura thinks, 'there Sakura, hey she is smiling at me.' As she approaches he says, "hey Sakura."
She shoves him out of the way exclaiming "out of the way." Naruto is left on the floor nursing a bruise on the head and one in the ego. Sakura starts to prattle on to Sasuke who seems to want to ignore her. Naruto jumps up on the desk in front of Sasuke, eyeing him. 'What do they see in him? He is not so great.'
Sasuke notices him and just says "what loser?" This infuriates Naruto even more, looking at Sakura then back at Sasuke.
The girls are gathering near the desk and start yelling "stay away from our Sasuke."
Another student bumps Naruto who then accidently kisses Sasuke. Both realize this and stat coughing and spitting at this incident. But the girls are not happy that Naruto took Sasuke's first kiss, as they wanted that privilege. Naruto feels a strong killing intent.
Looking over at the girls they are all mad and Sakura is cracking her knuckles. "Naruto…" The girls proceed to pummel him.
In the Hokage's office the Hokage has several Jonin assembled and starts to talk about the teams "There goes Naruto again in the middle of trouble as usual." A group of Jonin looked on as Naruto was pummeled by the girls in the class. The crystal ball then moves on to Sasuke, as he contemplates who is being shown.
"May I have Naruto on my team?" Kurenai asked. "As there seems to be some bad blood between the Uchiha and Naruto, also it would help my team out having someone with his attitude and abilities if what Iruka said was correct."
Sarutobi pondered the information for a moment. "Ok, are you are sure? He can be quite a handful." Kurenai nods.
"Kakashi, would you have any problems with trading Kiba Inuzuka for Naruto?" Kurenai asks.
"No not really, heck it might even improve their chances of making the cut. Sasuke will be enough of a handful without having the Uchiha's biggest enemy on the same team. I am not even sure that he knows why he does not like Naruto. And as of right now Naruto only likes two Uchiha and they are both dead. He is like a nephew to me so please be good to him as he has a special spot in my heart. Also I would not like to show favoritism as I have done some training of Naruto and he would ruin my test too boot." Kakashi added.
Iruka enters the classroom. "Ok settle down. We will now place you on teams." The students started to get seated. "Team 7 will be Kiba Inuzuka, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha. " Kiba and Sasuke rolled their eyes as Sakura cheers. "Next, team eight will include Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame, and Naruto Uzumaki" Hinata looked very happy, Shino impassive, and Naruto slightly let down by the news. "Team 10 is Ino Yaminaka, Choji Akamichi, and Shikamaru Nara." Ino also looked less than pleased with her team.
"Why do I have to get stuck with you and food boy?" Ino asked Shikamaru, "why not Sasuke?"
"Luck I guess," Shikamaru quipped. 'Why is it that jerk Sasuke? What is it with him anyways? Oh well, who can figure out girls?'
Hinata looking at Naruto as he disappointingly stares at Sakura "I am glad we are on the same team, Naruto-kun," she exclaims quietly.
Naruto turns and changes his sad face in an instant to a great big grin "You know it Hinata. We will be the greatest team." She knows this is an act, trying to cover for him not being on the team with Sakura. "Yea, at least I don't have to be a team with that jerk Sasuke." 'I suddenly feel killing intent' Hinata closes her eyes as Sakura who has moved behind Naruto, slams her fist into the back of his head which bounces off the desk.
"What did you say, Naruto?" Sakura angrily asks.
His head slowly rises from the desk with blood flowing from his lip and nose, "Um, um, please S… Sakura…" Hinata starts to whisper.
"Please refrain from injuring my teammate before we have gotten to know him Haruno," Shino interrupts. Shino speaking causes Sakura to immediately go back to her seat without apologizing, but also she returns a few shades paler than she left.
As Sakura returns to her seat saying quietly "what a weirdo, glad I am not on that that team." Kiba just nods and giggles as Sasuke gets up and starts to leave.
"You are free to do as you like until you are to meet your new Jonin teachers after lunch. Good bye and good luck." Iruka says as he leaves the room.
Naruto wipes the blood of his lip and nose and looks around confused. "Huh? What happened?"
"Um….Um…." Hinata starts to stutter and pressing her index fingers together while blushing.
"Sakura is what happened. She hit you on the head. Would you like to eat lunch together as a team?" Shino says nodding to Hinata, she nods a thank you. "I know I do not speak much but I would like to get to know my teammates some before we meet our new sensei. Would this be acceptable Naruto? I know you from how you act in class but I would like to understand, I mean know you better."
Naruto scratching behind his head "sure that sounds great, this is a first. Well other than Iruka sensei, uncle Kakashi and the old man. I mean… they will take me out to Ramen occasionally, I like it, and the ramen especially, the pork, the miso…"
"Shall we go?" Shino interrupts. All three get up and head out to one of the practice fields on the academy grounds.
Hinata bows her head holding a large bento box, "I have made enough for all three of us." She offers blushing slightly "if that is ok with you."
Naruto looks at her questioningly, and then bursts into a big grin "wow that is great! Did you make this yourself, Hinata?" She nods, "wow you're incredible. Believe it." Hinata turns bright red.
Hinata hands a small box to each of them on the blanket that was holding the three lunches.
"N… Naruto-kun?" Hinata quietly asked.
"Yes Hinata?"
"I am sorry a about what my clan did. I am glad to see you again." 'I am so happy.'
Naruto looking confused he then looks down. "I know the clan did not want me but we will have plenty of time to talk about that later." Looking away for a minute to hide his sadness, he then turned to Shino. "So what can you do with your bugs now? I have not seen or talked to you, like you talk that much anyways" he grins, "in a couple years."
Shino looked at Naruto impassively, "I have improved my control of them, I do apologize for them attacking you last time but I was low on chakra and they were very hungry."
Naruto grinned and scratched the back of his head. "That is ok, I forgive them. But boy did I wake up feeling drained." Munching on the lunch, "boy Hinata, this is great, not quite ramen but great." This made Hinata blush an even brighter red.
"Arigato, N... Naruto-kun." Hinata replied. They finished lunch without much more being said. They headed back to the classroom. When they entered they saw the other students sitting as teams, quietly chatting amongst themselves.
Naruto sat down in between Hinata and Shino. She noticed that he had an angry look on his face, looking at Sasuke, 'I wonder why he doesn't like him, I personally can't stand how the girls all fawn over him. I know his clan was wiped out by his older brother but he treats people like they are nobody. I hope Naruto and I can patch up our friendship since the clan can no longer forbid me to see him.' Hinata blushed at the idea of rekindling her friendship with Naruto and possibly tell him how she really feels about him.
"Earth to Hinata…" Naruto caught her attention by waving his hand in front of her eyes. "Our Sensei is here. Let's go, Shino is down waiting for us with her." She wakes up from her daydream, and looks down to see Kurenai standing next to Shino. The both got up and headed down to Kurenai. She led them to the top of the academy to a couple of benches in the arboretum.
"I am Kurenai Yuuhi. I will be your Sensei. I would like to know a little about you, as I am sure your teammates would too. Please tell me your likes, dislikes, hobbies, and the like. I will go first. I am Kurenai Yuuhi, I like genjutsu, I dislike arrogant people who are full of themselves, and I have several hobbies, of which I will not elaborate. I know Hinata, so you can go next."
"Ano… I am Hinata Hyuga, of the Hyuga clan. I like… "She turned red and looked directly at Naruto, "friends, I dislike being weak and those who pick on the weak. My hobbies include pressing flowers. My dream is to be acknowledged by my father and someone else." Hinata bowed to her team mates.
Kurenai looked at Naruto and nodded. "I am Naruto Uzumaki, I like ramen especially that from Ichiraku's. I hate the three minutes it takes to fix instant ramen. My hobbies include tasting different ramen and studying plants. And my dream is to be Hokage, so that I will be respected by everyone. Believe it!!"
Kurenai nodded to Shino. "I am Shino Aburame, I like quiet. I dislike the needless killing of insects. My hobbies include collecting and categorizing insects. I wish to become the head of my clan."
Kurenai smiled. "Good, I hope this team will work well together, I do have a test that will require you to be at training ground 14 in the morning say about 9 am. Also I would like to talk to Naruto alone. After which you can catch up with him it should be only a few minutes. "
Both Hinata and Shino got up to leave, Hinata though hesitating to leave as if she wanted to talk to Naruto. "Hinata I will only be a minute I will get you when we are done here so you can wait at the top of the stairs." Hinata bowed and walked off.
"Um, Sensei? Why did you want to talk to me?"
"Naruto, I know about you and what you carry." Naruto had a look of fear on his face and started to back away from his teacher. She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and a relaxed smile. "Relax Naruto, I do not fear you and I do not harbor you any ill will, other than your taste in clothes." This immediately got him somewhat angry, but knowing that there were two reasons he wore orange, one he liked it and two it made him show up in a crowd. "I know you contain the Kyubi, and yes I said contain, not are."
He relaxed a little as Kurenai continued. "There are a few reasons I wanted you on my team. One you were slated to be on the team with Sasuke Uchiha, whom you seem to have problems working with. I know you know Hinata, and I am sure you can work better with her than him. Also I noticed your fascination with one Sakura Haruno. I can tell you have a crush on her, drop it now, because I do not see her changing anytime soon. And she is rather abusive to you no matter how nice you are to her. Two, I need a close in fighter with a huge chakra reserve, that would be you. Someone who can cause a major distraction if we get in trouble and know how to get away with little or no effort, you I know can do that. I have heard the stories of how you have been able to escape from ANBU members when they chase you. " This brought a giggle to Naruto.
"I know you have worked with the Inuzuka did they help you work on your sense of smell?" Naruto nodded. "I would like you to take the roll as guardian and all around helper in the team. That would be learning your first steps to becoming the Hokage. With your shadow clones you can help the team out in so many ways. Knowing that you have protected Hinata on numerous occasions made the choice of you even easier. I would also like you to get some different clothes for when you are on missions, but you will have to pass my test tomorrow before we talk about you changing your attire."
Naruto looked surprised, "what do you mean pass? I thought the exam was for that."
Kurenai smiled, "it is for those who are capable of becoming Genin. You and your teammates will have to prove you can be a team to me so that we can become a team. I will see you tomorrow morning. And don't worry about being the vessel of the Kyubi, I think of it as asset and hope you will too. You are a special person in the village. You are protecting us from it. So your secret is safe with me. See you tomorrow Naruto."