Hidden Secrets Ch.2
THE NEXT DAY
Everyone in Iruka's class lined up at the front of the class. They were performing the final jutsu for their exam, Shadow Clones. "Alright Tenten, show me what you can do!" Iruka said encouragingly. The chocolate eyed girl stepped forward, performed the hand signs and shouted, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" In a puff of smoke, a second chocolate eyed girl was standing next to the other. "Hey, she's cute!" Tenten joked. Iruka looked at the clone and smiled at the original. "Very good Tenten! Excellent job!" he said. Tenten smiled and summoned her clone away. Lee stared at the girl in awe. "She performs that trick so well." Lee fidgeted a bit, afraid of his turn. Truth was Lee wasn't the best at chakra control…. Actually, he was the worst in the class. However, what he couldn't do with chakra, he made up in strength. He was by far the strongest and fastest in the class. He watched as each student took their turn, until he heard the dreaded words.
"Okay Lee. You can do this. Remember to focus your chakra, alright?" Iruka said Lee shook himself from his daydream and nodded to his Sensei. He took in a deep breath and focused on the jutsu. He did the hands signs and shouted, "SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!" The room fell silent. Lee didn't want to open his eyes, but he did. To nobodies shock, there was no clone. Suddenly, the room broke out in laughter, mocking the black haired boy. Lee stood there in embarrassment; he knew this would happen, it always happened.
"Haha, probably for the best! Two Lees would be unbearable!" said one boy. "Is he just stupid? How hard is it to make a clone? I mean, seriously?" whispered one girl to another. Lee looked over in Tenten's direction. She didn't laugh, in fact she looked sympathetic. Then Lee looked over on the other side of the line to the "genius." He simply smirked, and rolled his pupil-less eyes. "I knew it. He's not cut out for a ninja. Iruka-Sensei will fail him. Because, that's what he is, a failure." Neji thought. "Alright! That's enough! Settle back down!" Iruka shouted, trying to calm the class down, "You're all being very disrespectful!" by now, the class had gone quiet again. "Good. Moving on…" Lee stood there with head hung low, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone.
"Last but certainly not least, Neji Hyuga," His Sensei said. Neji stepped forward. He did the signs, closed his eyes, and in a puff of smoke, there was a second Hyuga in the room. Everyone gasped. "He didn't even have to say the words!" said one boy. "He is so smart and cute!" said a little girl. "Not bad for a little squirt," said a boy who chuckled. Neji took the praise silently and stepped back in line. Iruka gave the boy a reassuring smile and congratulated him. "Excellent job Neji! That was very well done!" He said. The small boy gave him a slight smirk, showing that he had appreciated the compliment.
"Very well, Neji was the last one. Now as you know, I have been spending the past year grouping you all into teams of 3 and assigning you to Senseis. I've spent a lot of time organizing and interviewing different Jonins, and I believe I've made the right decisions. Now, go take your seats, and I will be announcing the teams in a few minutes," Iruka said, while returning to his desk. The students took their seats, and sat in silence. "Oh man. I really screwed up again! It is time for me to make a promise to myself! Even if I cannot mold chakra, I will still be a splendid ninja! I will work hard! I will not stop when times get tough! For that is my nindo, my ninja way!" Lee thought to himself. He looked over at the Hyuga in his class. "How great would it be if Neji was on my team! He can be my eternal rival! And we will work harder and support each other so that we can get stronger!" After 30 minutes of sitting in silence, Iruka finally stood up holding a box of forehead protectors.
"Alright, I've got good news! You've all passed! As of today, you are all officially Genins!" Iruka said happily. All of the students cheered jubilantly, except for Neji. He sat in his chair, showing no emotion…as usual. Lee stared in awe, shocked that he had somehow managed to pass. Once the new genins had settled back down, Iruka announced their new teams. One by one, the 30 students' names were called, and assigned their teams. The newly formed teams stood next to each other at the front of the room, and waited for the others. Neji listened very carefully to the names Iruka called. He wasn't picky, probably because he didn't like anyone in his class, however there was one person in particular that he couldn't stand, and he prayed that he wouldn't be with that person.
"Iruka-Sensei, if you call my name, and then his, I promise that I will punch you." Neji thought. He knew he was going to be the last to be called, after all, the top student of the year always had their team called last. And there was no doubt that he would be last to be called. "Iruka-Sensei, just call his name please! This is the last team before mine is called! Please just say his annoying name." He thought again. Two seats to Neji's left and one row up sat Tenten, the chocolate eyed, brown haired little girl. She watched the Hyuga from the corner of her eye. "Dear Lord, please please PLEASE let me be on his team! He is so cute, and strong, and talented, and I have the BIGGEST crush on him! All the other girls will be so jealous!" She thought to herself, trying to hold back a giggle.
Iruka announced the team. "Now for team 9. Katsu Yamada, Aika Nakamaura, and lastly…" "Lee, Lee, Lee, please. I refuse to tolerate such a failure." Neji mentally begged. "WAHOO! YIPPY! TAKE THAT AIKA! Guess who's got two thumbs and is on Hyuga Neji's team? THIS GIRL RIGHT HERE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! YESSS!" Tenten silently cheered. Lee, however, was just about to fall out of his chair, "I'm fine with whoever, but I would much appreciate having Neji on my team!" "Muchio Watanabe," Iruka said. If Neji wasn't so well behaved, he would have smacked his head on the desk, but instead his eyes went wide with disbelief. "Damn it. I'm going to murder Lee I just know it. *sigh* alright calm down Neji, perhaps our new sensei will knock some sense into him…"
"Now, for the last team, Team 10. Your new Sensei will be Maito Gai," Iruka said, smiling at Neji, who remained emotionless. "Rock Lee," Lee stood up and walked to the front, slightly embarrassed from his earlier performance. "Tenten," The little girl stood up and walked happily to the front, making sure to stick her tongue out at Aika. "And lastly, this year's top student, Hyuga Neji!" The class cheered, and again, the Hyuga took the praise in silence. He stood up and stood next to the other two members of his team. "Neji, in honor of your achievements, you may put on your forehead protector first," Iruka said holding out a shiny new, forehead protector with a black band. Neji was offered to choose the color beforehand and decided black would be best. The Hyuga stared at the piece of metal attached to fabric, and stared back to his Sensei. "No thank you," he said. Everyone gasped. How could he give up such a splendid opportunity? Iruka was shocked, "Are you sure Neji? It's a great honor." The Hyuga turned picked up the protector and simply let it linger in his hand, which rested at his side, "Yes. I'm sure." He said, secretively gesturing to the bandages on his forehead, by pretending to remove a strand of hair from his face. Iruka gave him an understanding nod, "Alright then, you may now put on your forehead protectors! Now, your new senseis are waiting for you outside. Make sure you come back and visit me! I know every one of you will have successful ninja lives!" And on that note the students cheered, put on their forehead protectors and left the class.