Author's note: and finally, chapter 5 is out. this chapter's theme seems to be "lyssanja eating her words".

Chapter 5

The Battle Plan

At 8:10 in the morning, exactly ten minutes after he left the faculty room to proceed to his advisory class, Umino Iruka strode back to his cubicle mechanically—much like a zombie, one hand clutching a styro of steaming coffee. He sat back on his grey office chair looking dazed.

Beside him, Mifune Ebisu, adviser for Class 1 – F, took one look at him and snorted sympathetically. "Uzumaki Naruto happened to you, huh?"

Iruka was much too disoriented to even comprehend his colleague's words.

Ebisu, however, didn't notice, and also didn't care. "I can't say I don't pity you, Iruka. He's the worst thing that happened to me since, well, ever." He chuckled mirthlessly, shaking his head, and clapping his co-worker on the shoulder. "That boy is a teacher's worst nightmare. What did he do now? Convince his classmates that you're sick and to visit you in the hospital?"

Iruka finally managed to reply with a, "They booted me out."

Ebisu had the grace to look surprised before frowning. "What?"

"The whole class, they threw me out." Iruka downed his coffee like a shot of alcohol. "They just pushed me out and barred the door."

Ebisu snorted again and shook his head. "Typical. Those runts are such barbarians. They just do whatever they want, without a care for whoever they may inconvenience with their irresponsible actions! Really, all of them are the same!" Ebisu's voice dripped with bitterness; a year spent with 'the little monsters from hell' was still imprinted permanently in his mind's eye.

"Well not all of them," Iruka muttered as he took another swig of coffee. He leaned back into his chair. The faculty room was mostly empty, except for him and Ebisu, as well as a three or four others. The massive room was quieter than the usual. He could grow to like this, he thought with an inward grimace.

Ebisu, not aware of Iruka's mental ramblings, begged to disagree with the benevolent teacher. "I don't think I've ever met an F student who showed as much courtesy as dog poop left on the streets."

"Haruno Sakura," Iruka replied promptly, "handed me this coffee and apologized. Before slamming the door on my face."

Back at the classroom, Shikamaru stood in front of his classmates, an unfamiliar wave of resignation washing over him. He could grow accustomed to this, he thought wryly. This was a classic example of the reluctant leading the blind. Or, in his case, the sly man (with layers upon layers of ulterior motives) leading the happily ignorant. All of Class F was leaning forward in their chairs, their eyes rapt with uncharacteristic attention. For once, the whole class of good – for – nothings was united towards achieving a single goal, and everyone was fired up.

Shikamaru let the lull last a little longer before speaking up, "It's time, guys. Tomorrow we will rally against Class E."

The boys rang out a wild war-cry, pumping their fists into the air.

Despite himself, Shikamaru was amused. 'Quiet down," he said, knocking them back down a little. "You don't expect to march tomorrow and win without a plan, do you?"

Shikamaru sighed, muttering a quiet "idiots" under his breath, his good mood diminishing. He waited a moment for the embarrassed laughter to die down before once again sighing and continuing, "The first battle will begin tomorrow after class. By then, most teachers will be outside after their respective classes are out for the day. It is crucial that we get most of the advisory teachers to facilitate the battles. It is imperative that we get Hatake – sensei, Iruka – sensei, and Asuma – sensei to smooth out the progress of the battles. Ibiki – sensei too, if anybody has the guts. I have checked the faculty timetable, and luckily, Hatake – sensei's last class is with B. Iruka – sensei will be with us, of course, and Asuma – sensei will be going out of Class E.

"I have divided you guys into three groups. The first group's mission is to stop Asuma – sensei from going back to the faculty room after the classes. You have to corner him at the hallway between Wings E and F. The second group will likewise stop Hatake – sensei's progress at the hallway between A and B. The third will cage Iruka – sensei here in the classroom."

"I have a question," a girl asked. "We are supposed to 'capture' these teachers all at the same time, correct?"

Shikamaru nodded.

"Then how are we supposed to coordinate with all three groups?"

Shikamaru stared at the girl pensively. "What is your name?"

If the girl was offended at Shikamaru's absolute ignorance of her identity (despite their one year's worth of being classmates), she didn't show it. Instead, she replied, "Shimada Minami."

"Ah!" Shikamaru exclaimed in surprise. "You're the one who's good with Mathematics, yes?"

At that, the Shimada girl beamed in pride.

"But then again, you suck in kanji."

And at that, the Shimada girl deflated.

"Aa," Shikamaru said, noticing his classmate's dejection, "my bad, my bad. I've put you in the second group. You can lead that team." He then proceeded to hand out a sheaf of papers to the class. "That's the list of your groupings. First group, you can choose your own leader. I myself will personally handle third group."

Shimada Minami once again raised her hand. Shikamaru's eyebrow twitched in barely concealed annoyance. A vein throbbed in his forehead. "You have a question, Shimada–san?"

"Not a question exactly, Nara-san, but Haruno – san isn't on this list," quipped Shimada.

"Ah, yes. Well, since the last exam we took was the placement exam, it would be reasonable to say that Haruno – san's scores would not be at its best. It would be better for her to take the Summons Exam to boost her scores.

"Now if no one has anymore questions, I will now explain the finer details of the plan. Listen up, people. It is essential that we get to our positions before Class E manages to disperse into their individual places. We cannot engage in individual battles. Herd as much people as you can into the corners," Shikamaru further explained. "And please put forth decent teamwork. You have to bring down as many Class E students as you can."

Sakura sat back in her own seat, twiddling her thumbs, staring idly as Shikamaru drew furiously on the blackboard. They were supposed to be having their homeroom advisory class that hour, but Shikamaru had determined that their battle plans were a more important topic for discussion than sweeping assignments and what – not. Truthfully though, Sakura had already lost her enthusiasm for Shikamaru's proposed war.

Yes, Ino's challenge had fuelled her competitive side, and piqued her curiosity. It was, after all, the first time they would—if heaven allowed it—meet on the opposite sides of the battlefield after their admission at Konoha Academy. But then again, no amount of challenge, or anything else for that matter, could lighten up the darkness inside her heart.

At the thought, Sakura felt herself being swallowed up in a fresh wave of despair. Shikamaru's exclusion of her in the plans was like a slap in the face that came a close second to Sasuke's rude brush – off. It was like a blaring hint that she didn't belong in Class F.

For a moment, Sakura was tempted to divulge to Shikamaru about—

"Hey, Sakura – chan! You 'kay?"

Sakura blinked. Naruto's face swam into vision, causing Sakura to back away instinctively. "Uh," she said nervously, "I'm sorry, I've been spacing out a lot lately." She smiled sheepishly. "What was it you were talking about?"

"It's time for PE, Sakura – chan," Naruto said, a heavy frown marring his generally cheerful face. "You're supposed to change your clothes at the gym."

"Oh right." Sakura faked a laugh to hide her discomfort, before dashing off to the general direction of the gym. She really wasn't in the PE course, but oh what the heck.

At 4:10 in the afternoon, exactly ten minutes after his last class, Umino Iruka once again strode back to his cubicle mechanically—very much like a zombie. He sat back on his grey office chair in a daze.

Beside him, Mifune Ebisu, class adviser for Class 1 – F, took one look and snorted in annoyance. "What now?"

Iruka was in too much a daze to even comprehend his colleague's words.

Ebisu was miffed. "What the heck is your problem, man?"

Iruka finally managed to reply, "They looked like they wanted to eat me."

Ebisu frowned. "What?"

"The whole time, they were looking at me like I'm some tasty morsel or something. And that Nara kid, he looked at me real speculatively, like he was planning how to corner me or something."

"Start making sense, man. What are you talking about?"

"They're planning something," Iruka muttered feverishly. "I'm starting to fear for my life."

If Ebisu thought that his colleague was being overly dramatic, his snort said it all. "What happened to you?"

Iruka stared Ebisu in the eye before replying earnestly, almost comically, "Class F happened to me."

i have taken to visiting the story traffic page. i'm vain that way.