Chapter 1

"All right, settle down class. Since all of you have graduated from the Ninja Academy, it is time to put you into your three-man groups. Once your team is announced, you may leave to the designated waiting area. The first team to be announced, Team 7, will consist of Sasuke Uchiha...", all the girls held their breath when Iruka-sensei called Sasuke's name. While the villagers despised him, all their daughters were infatuated with him. Too bad none of them were his type. Stupid, shallow, snobby, and borderline anorexic. Not exactly how he envisioned his future wife. All except one, though. The only girl that didn't seem infatuated with him. The only one he had payed any attention to over the years. Barely, but he did. The way she was so invisible made her perfectly clear in his eyes, though he never really thought about her, he was just curious. Hinata...

"...Hinata Hyuga, and Naruto Uzumaki." All the girls simultaneously sent death glares towards Hinata, who seemed like she was trying to disappear into her thick eskimo coat. She always was a shy one, another thing that caught his attention.

'Hmm,' he thought, 'stuck on a team with the strangest girl in Konoha and the loudest idiot in the world. I can't decide if this is going to be interesting or troublesome...'

Suddenly Naruto shot up onto his desk and shouted, "What!? Sensei, why do I have to be on the same team as that pretty boy loser!? Why can't I be on Sakura's team?" Sasuke's veins began to bulge, and he jumped rigght up to Naruto.

"Who are you calling a loser!? I actually finiahed my classes!" Sasuke threw back.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean!?"

"Boys, settle down! Naruto, the teams are set up so that they balance out. Sasuke, the #1 Rookie, with the highest scores, had to be put with the ninja who failed all his classes and graduated by pure luck, ergo, you!" All the kids laughed as Naruto became frustrated over this little news, and their laughter could be heard down the hall as the three new teammates left for their designated waiting area, which was the Hero's Memorial Stone, near the training field.

'Yep, definitely troublesome...' Sasuke thought. They arrived early, and so they each went off to do whatever it is they each do. Naruto decided to use the local wild life as target practice, while Hinata shyly picked some herbs and mushrooms, and stored them in an intricate little purple bag. Sasuke pulled out one of his training scrolls, but found it difficult to concentrate. Every few words he read, he felt compelled to look up at Hinata, and everytime, by some cosmic coincedence (or an author with an overactive imagination), he would catch a glimpse of her backside as she reached down to pick some herbs. This sight would not only cause Sasuke to lose his place, but would elicit a very powerful, primal reaction in his body that he didn't understand, and if he didn't (or did) know any better, he'd swear he heard a slight growl in his stomach.

'What is it about this girl that drives me mad? This is quite an exhilerating feeling, I wish I could understand it better.', Sasuke thought. Just then a little red toad hopped out of the water and began nudging Hinata's leg. Picking it up, she timidly exclaimed, "Aww, h-how cute!" The toad then proceeded to hop out of her hands, onto the memorial stone, and expand to about the size of two humans. As they looked out in awe, out of its mouth jumped a tall, spikey blonde haired ninja with a white, decorated cape.

"Good morning, my new disciples! My name is Minato Namikaze, and I'm one of the best Jonin around, so feel honored! How are all of you on this fine day?" The eccentric ninja exclaimed, giving a thumbs up sign. When none of them answered, he continued, "Hmm, ok. I was hoping to apeal to you younger kids with my performance, but I see that may have backfired. Allright, how about we each take turns telling a little about ourselves. I'll go first. As you already know, my name is Minato Namikaze. I have developed several powerful jutsu that have earned me the nickname 'The Yellow Flash of Konoha' and while I don't personally read the books, I know the author of the 'Make-Out' series. Ok, you, with the black hair and the blue shirt, you're next." Minato said, pointing to Sasuke.

"Umm, well my name is Sasuke Uchiha. My ambitions include rebuilding my extinct clan, and becoming the greatest Hokage this village has ever seen. My hobbies include reading, fishing, and chemistry. Also, I love ramen."

"Very good. Next is...you, the bluenette with the big coat."

"M-My name is H-Hinata Hyuga. I-I am h-heir to t-the Hyuga b-bl-bloodline. I enjoy coo-cooking, m-making medicine, and some other things. I-I'm r-really not that interesting..." Hinata stuttered out. The way she bit her lip when she hesitated was quickly picked up on by Sasuke, who found it very cute. Again, he heard that strange growling.

"Ok, good. And finally, you, with the spiked blonde hair."

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I'm very outspoken, but can be quite cunning when I need to be. I like weapons, and things that go boom! Also, I might be an orphan, but don't expect me to be begging for any help. And I'm pretty good with a lockpick."

'Soo,' Minato thought, 'I've got a Tailed Beast Host, a self-esteem deficient mess, and a traumatized orphan. Why do I always get stuck with the emotional baggage group?'

"Allright, this has been an enlightening game. I expect all three of you to be here tomorrow morning at 9:00 sharp. I won't accept anybody being late, and make sure you don't have any breakfast." With that said, and a smile, the new sensei disappeared in a puff of smoke. As soon as he was gone, Naruto ran off to wherever it is he goes. Sasuke ran up to Hinata as she was leaving.

"Hey, Hinata! I was wondering if, you know, since we're teammates and all, if you wouldn't mind me walking you home?" Sasuke asked nervously, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

"Umm, s-sure...if i-it's n-no trouble..." she replied, turning red and pushing her index fingers together.

"Oh, no trouble at all! I live nearby you, actually. Come on, let's go!" And so they went on their way to the Hyuga mansion. They talked and laughed together, till by the end of the journey, Hinata's stuttering lessened, just a tad bit.

"Well, here we are. Good night, Hinata-chan. And just a word of advice, eat breakfast tomorrow, trust me." And with a puff of smoke, Sasuke was gone to his own mansion, leaving a perplexed Hinata behind.

'D-Did he...j-just call m-me...Hinata-CHAN!?'

Sasuke gathered up all his ninja equipment, and realized something.

'I need to go buy some better stuff! Maybe I'll ask Hinata to go with me tomorrow.' With that happy thought, Sasuke descended into his unconcous mind, where he was met with the same dream he had been having for almost 4 years now. A maze of sewers, with an ominous growl echoing throughout...