Chapter 1
A/N: This chapter might be a bit slow since I'm doing more set up. Also it is set in the present time now but most of this chapter will be told through Ayato's flashbacks. Also, I decided to change the ages of Itachi and Shisui to fit my story better. I know they graduated the academy before 13, but I don't really want to write a story about 8 year olds. Thanks for being understanding!
Disclaimer: I donut own Naruto.
Ayato walked through the halls towards the hokage's office. There was probably another mission all lined up for him. He knocked on the two large doors waiting for permission to enter.
"Enter," The voice of the hokage called out.
Ayato stepped into the room. The sight he saw repulsed him, "Ah, gross!" He pinched his nose.
Hiro was standing next to the hokage's desk, "Oh dad look, there's a rat in your office."
The two rivals glared daggers at each other. Ayato was about to make another witty comeback when her heard the hokage sigh.
"You two never change do you? Hiro you're dismissed, I need to speak with Ayato," The old hokage said.
"Alright, try not to catch any diseases," Hiro spat as he started to exit the room.
Ayato kept his mouth shut. Dammit, if only his father wasn't standing right there, I'd throw a kunai right at the cocky bastards head!
Once the door closed Ayato spoke up, "What is it you wish to speak to me about?"
The third hokage stood up from his desk and looked out the window, "There is a whole class of students about the graduate the academy. I need a few more Jonin to become senseis."
"You want me to be a sensei?" Ayato was actually shocked. Never in his life did he think he would ever be chosen to become a sensei.
"Yes, I was quite shocked too when your old teammates suggested you become a sensei," The hokage said looking out over his village. "They have told me about how you have befriended one of the girls in this class and have been meeting with her frequently for quite a few years now. They say she even calls you sensei."
The hokage smiled. He'd known Ayato since the boy was a genin in Hiro's class. The boy had a bit of a brash personality and a foul mouth. He was always working hard to become stronger, mostly so he wouldn't fall behind to Hiro. He liked to goof off with his friends and go to bars on his off days. He wasn't really someone you would want to leave your children with. But his teammates brought up a good point that he has changed ever so slightly since meeting the girl. He has much more patience than before. He has never been easy on her or anyone else, which is great when training the future shinobi of Konoha. After long thought, the hokage decided it was worth a shot.
Ayato felt a bit embarrassed by the hokage's words. This girl was damaging his reputation, making him seem like some big softy.
"So, what do you think about becoming a real sensei to this girl and two other genin?"
* Flashback*
Ayato was heading home after some lunch with his friends when he passed the orphanage like he does every day, except this time was different. In passing, a frantic old lady came running up to him.
"Oh, Mr. shinobi please help me, one of my children have gone missing!" The old lady had tears forming in her eyes.
"You need to go the hokage's building and file a missing person's report then," Ayato said and started walking again.
She grabbed his arm with more strength than he expected from the little old women, "Please! No one has seen her since yesterday morning! She is just five years old! She is probably scared and hungry. What if something horrible has happened to her? Oh please you have to find her!"
Ayato could already feel his patience growing thin, "Listen grandma, like I said you have to file a report."
"Please!" the lady got on her knees to beg him to find this lost child.
Ayato notice people were starting to stare at them, watching this strange exchange going on. "Alright, alright. I'll help just this once. Next time you have to fill out a report."
"Thank you so much. Let's see, well I already said she is 5 years old and she is about this tall," The old lady stuck out her hand to give a height. "She has very bright blue eyes and brown hair. Her hair is usually in a low braid. Her name is Jayne Kushinada."
"And do you have any idea where she might be?" Ayato asked.
"I've been looking all over the city and so have the children. Nobodies seen her," The old ladies face was full of worry.
"Alright well I will start looking. In the meantime you need to file a report," Ayato said as he started walking away. This was troublesome and annoying. The last thing he wanted to spend his day doing was looking for some brat that ran away from home. This kind of stuff would be considered D rank, C tops.
It took him until evening when he came across a little girl with her legs dangling in the river. She fit the description. He started to approach her when he noticed something in her palms. A small, marble-sized ball of water was floating in her hands. Impressive for a five year old. He stood there and watched the girl, her face full of concentration. She let out a deep breath and the water lost its shape collapsing in her tiny hands.
"Hey, go away! You are distracting me!" The little girl turned in his direction.
He raised an eyebrow. He didn't think she'd notice at this distance.
"Are you Jayne Kushinada?" He asked.
She narrowed her eyes at him, "hm, no"
Ayato's eyebrow twitched. It was obviously her. Then he had an idea, "Well that's too bad. What am I supposed to do with that large gift I was supposed to deliver to her?"
Her eyes suddenly perked up, "wait, I am Jayne!"
Ayato smirked. Children were so simple,
"But you just said you weren't. How do I know you aren't trying to steal the present?"
"I was lying! I didn't want a stranger to know me!" She jumped up to her feet.
"Oh good, because I was lying too. I am here to bring you back to the orphanage," Ayato tried to contain his laugh as the girl suddenly grew very angry.
"What?! No! I don't want to go back. I'm going to live out here," She plopped back down onto the ground.
He raised an eyebrow, "oh really? What are you going to do for food?"
"I will hunt my own food!"
"What about clothing?"
"This is all I need."
"It will get really dirty and smelly."
"I will wash them!"
"What will you wear when you wash them then? And when they are drying?"
She paused, "I will hide in the bushes!"
He couldn't help but laugh. What a ridiculous child. "Alright then, what about when it's raining?"
"I like the rain."
"You will catch a cold, then what?"
"I will train myself to not get sick!"
"Well, all of those sound like terrible ideas. Come on, you need to get back to the orphanage. That old lady was going crazy looking for you," Ayato said once he was done messing with the kid.
"No!" The girl got up on her feet again after scooping up some water in her hand. She formed her little water marble then yelled, "Take this!"
The water marble dispersed immediately after it left her hand. Her face suddenly turned red.
"Man, I'm embarrassed for you," Ayato smirked.
"Shut up grass head!" She yelled.
"Grass head?" Ayato patted his head. His hair was green. Short in the back with some side bangs that flopped over his hitai-ate, partially covering his left eye.
"Yeah! You're hair looks like droopy grass!" The girl said pointing at his bangs.
Here came the famous eye twitch again, Ayato's patience was now gone, "You little brat! And here I was being nice! Let's go" He quickly grabbed her and threw her tiny body over his shoulder.
"Put me down!" She yelled, pounding her fists into his back.
"Stop moving!" Ayato shouted.
"Never!"
And that was the start of the strange friendship between the two. She continued to run away for a couple weeks, Ayato always being the one to drag her back. Soon she started running away on purpose just to hang out with him. She always begged him to train her to be a ninja and every time he said no. He didn't want to train a little kid who doesn't know the first thing about being a ninja. He promised her he'd maybe teach her a thing or two when she got older. Ayato decided that if she wanted to meet up with him they should do it like normal people would and actually make plans. So they did, once a month they would get together to meet. Once she started at the academy a couple years later they didn't see each other as often but when they did she would show him everything she had learned. She improved a lot. She was a smart girl towards the top of her class. About 3 years ago Ayato was sent on an S-rank mission to Kumogakure to do some undercover work. Relations were horrible between the two nations and his mission wasn't ended until a couple weeks ago after the death of Hizashi Hyūga. He still hasn't see her since he left three years ago.
"Ayato?" The voice of the third hokage brought him back to reality.
"Sure. I'll do it," Ayato said, "who are my other two genin?"
"I haven't made any final decisions yet but after the discussions with the academy instructors, I want Shisui Uchiha on your team as well," The hokage walked over to a stack of papers.
No way, an Uchiha on my team? They're damn strong! Ayato just nodded. That left one more spot.
"This is where the tricky part comes. Fugaku Uchiha requested that his son be placed on a team with Shisui because he believes they are great influences on each other and will become some of the strongest Uchiha in their clan. We usually try not avoid putting clan members on the same team together, especially if they are an Uchiha or Hyūga. We don't want to overpower teams. Normally I would just say no but because of the strained relationships we've had with the Uchiha since the nine-tails attack, I'm not sure what to do," The hokage seemed torn.
Dang, two Uchiha's? I'd be the luckiest sensei in all of Konoha. "I see"
"I'm hoping if I go through with Fugaku's request, he'll ease up on me. The last thing I want is to give them another thing to be angry about," The hokage stared at the academy sheet of the two Uchiha boys. They were the top two of their class. Ayato's team would definitely have an unfair advantage. Maybe it will inspire the other teams to work harder.
The hokage continued with another thought, "Both Itachi and Shisui get along well with the girl. The instructors say she is one of the few Itachi will interact with outside of Shisui. Shisui has a pretty outgoing personality." A small smile grew on his face, "He has the will of fire, just like Kagami."
Ayato sighed as the Hokage started to think about his old teammate. "Well, you are the hokage, not Fugaku. Whatever you decide is word."
The hokage looked back at Ayato. He knew Ayato could handle this team. "You are dismissed. I will let you know my decision soon."
"Yessir," Ayato left the office.
He placed his hands behind his head as we walked casually through the village towards his apartment.
"Hm, Ayato-sensei doesn't really sound that bad."
