Part II: Episode 1
Kakashi sighed as he glanced around the empty Namikaze household. At nearly 30-years-old, he was far too old to be house-sitting, but it was extremely difficult to say no to Kushina. Besides, Kakashi was rather fond of the place and the memories it held. He had moved in officially when he was 15, but really he had been a member of the household for two years before that. He had changed diapers in that house, trained three different Uchihas as well as Naruto, and even learned his sensei's famed Rasengan technique. Or at least, the non-elemental part of it.
He took a peek outside and determined that Minato and Kushina would be arriving home within the next few hours. Even as an ANBU, he had never really learned what their family trips to Suna were for. He knew diplomacy was part of it, but he also knew there was more that he wasn't supposed to know. But Kakashi had dismissed the thought of asking many years ago. As long as they came back safe, it wasn't urgent. There was a knock at the door, much to Kakashi's surprise. He placed his Icha Icha book on the dining room table. Kushina had all forbade the book from their house, but Jiraiya had snuck a copy to Kakashi and he had been hooked ever since.
It was Itachi who was at the door, and Kakashi wasn't particularly surprised to see Shisui standing there either. Like Kakashi, Shisui had his headband tilted towards the left. Beneath his mask, Kakashi smiled at the memory of nearly begging Shisui to take Obito's Sharingan and the boy laughing at the offer before declining. Kakashi tried offering for two years and Shisui turned him down every time.
"This is a nice surprise, how are you two doing?" Kakashi asked as he sat down at the dining room table along with the two Uchihas. As usual, it was Itachi who responded first.
"Haven't seen you in a while, so I figured I'd just stop by and say hi. Also, I wanted to ask Kushina-san something." He responded. Kakashi nodded, his mind flashing back to the time he had (secretly, since Minato and Kushina (and probably Fugaku and Mikoto as well) would have killed him otherwise) taught the two boys how to use the Chidori. He also planned on teaching it to Sasuke at some point and regretted the fact that Naruto couldn't use the technique.
"Well unfortunately, they probably won't be back for a few more hours. Minato likes taking his time walking back to Konoha." Kakashi explained.
"That makes sense. The Land of Rivers is really nice around this time." Shisui responded. The three fell into a comfortable silence, with Kakashi occasionally glancing up from his book to check on the two. Even for them, they were being quiet.
"You two alright?" Kakashi asked. The two boys stammered a bit, clearly not expecting Kakashi to pick up on their behavior. Kakashi laughed. Of course he would pick up on it. He'd known the two boys since they were kids.
"No, not really. It's nothing." Shisui responded, running his hand through his hair. Despite Fugaku's many attempts to curb the behavior, Shisui had always been a man of nervous tics whether it be licking his lips or running his hand through his hair.
"You sure?" Kakashi asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. Itachi and Shisui glanced at each other hesitantly.
"Hey Orochimaru, what's up?" Jiraiya asked in his usual boisterous voice as he strolled into the Hokage's office. Orochimaru and Tsunade both had long since given up and teaching Jiraiya about why it was considered improper to simply burst into Orochimaru's office. After all, Jiraiya had never been one for social cues. It even took almost dying by Tsunade's hands to (somewhat) discourage his peeping ways.
"Yes?" Orochimaru asked. When they were kids, Jiraiya had always annoyed Orochimaru. Now that he was Hokage, however, Orochimaru had discovered he relied on Jiraiya more than he did Tsunade. Jiraiya was his eyes and ears in the world, particularly when it came to less-than-friendly nations. How Jiraiya managed to stay undetected was something Orochimaru never bothered asking.
"Nothing much, just wanted to give you this. I was in the jonin station, thought I'd bring this up." The Toad Sage said as he handed a manilla folder onto the Hokage's desk. Orochimaru didn't have to look to know it was just a series of mission reports.
"Oh, excuse me. I didn't mean to interrupt." A meek voice stated. Orochimaru raised his eyes so that he was looking at the head teacher at the Ninja Academy. With a sigh, he slid Shisui's report underneath the jonin mission reports. It would have to wait.
"It's fine, Iruka, I just had to drop something of. See ya later Orochimaru!" Jiraiya said with a casual wave. Orochimaru responded with a glance that Jiraiya learned decades ago meant good-bye. The Hokage then turned his yellow eyes towards Iruka.
"You're here for this," Orochimaru asserted, sliding an orange-tinted folder to the front of his desk. Iruka nodded and grabbed the folder, opening it to check its contents. The Yondaime had expected the man to be on his way, but a surprised sound from Iruka told Orochimaru that he was in for yet another unwanted conversation.
"Is there something wrong, Umino-san?" Orochimaru inquired, his eyes narrowing slightly. Iruka cleared his throat.
"O-of course not sir. I was just curious as to, um, well you placed Naruto and Sasuke on the same team?" The Chunin asked, sounding as if Orochimaru had somehow personally wronged him.
"I did." The Hokage responded, not quite understanding why this was an issue worth wasting time over. Iruka took a deep, calming breath.
"Naruto and Sasuke often tend to distract each other, sir. I just wonder if putting them on the same team is-"
"Detrimental?" Orochimaru finished. Iruka said nothing, but his expression made it apparent that was his thought. Although he was mildly irritated at being questioned, the scientist in Orochimaru somewhat enjoyed explaining his actions to the less observant.
"Namikaze-kun and Uchiha-kun have a very competitive rivalry, Umino-san. They're constantly using each other to improve their skills and from what I have seen, they've grown quite well as a result. I see no reason to separate them." Iruka looked unconvinced as he continued to scan the paper.
"And what about Akimichi-kun? Why is he on their team?" Iruka asked. Orochimaru half-glared at Iruka. He had already given the answer to this question to Choza several times.
"Balance," was all the Hokage said. Iruka's frown deepened, but he said nothing. Finally he sighed, realizing nothing he could say would change the Hokage's mind.
"Alright. Forgive me, sir, if I offended you in anyway." He said with a bow. Orochimaru nodded slightly and once again, his office was silent. Until Tsunade came in seconds later.
"Where is that idiot at? He's going to be late." Sasuke hissed as he glared out the Academy window. Yamanaka Ino had a similar look of concentration as she took stared out the window.
"Come on, Naruto." She said, willing her crush to appear in the distance. Of the three, only Haruno Sakura seemed unconcerned about Naruto's fate as she sat next to Sasuke.
"Tardiness is such a deplorable trait. I don't know about you, Ino, but I want a Hokage who's on time." Sakura said in her most haughty voice. Ino shot her a look.
"Excuse me, Billboard Brow. Naruto-kun's late because, like a good Hokage, he's working on his diplomatic skills in Suna!" Ino snapped in response. Sasuke rolled his eyes and ignored the two girls as they argued over whose "future boyfriend" was the better Hokage candidate. The girls' arguments were definitely louder than Sasuke's and Naruto's, but lacked the playful spars that would always ensue.
Sasuke groaned as he waited for his best friend and greatest rival to show up. Finally, just barely, Sasuke could see someone in the distance. He couldn't be sure, but from the speed at which he was sprinting, it must've been Naruto.
"Yes! He made it!" Sasuke exclaimed. Ino quickly turned away from Sakura, mid-sentence, to look out the window.
"Yay!" She cheered, ignoring Sakura's comment about Naruto still being tardy. While the rest of the Ninja Academy's graduating class were talking amongst themselves, Sasuke, Ino, and Sakura were crowded around the window watching as Naruto came closer. Unfortunately, it didn't occur to them that Naruto wouldn't think twice about leaping through the window if it meant getting to class in time and only Ino managed to avoid getting tackled when the blond did just that.
"What the hell Naruto?!" Sakura barked angrily. Naruto flashed her a sheepish grin while Sasuke just rolled his eyes. Ino hugged Naruto from behind.
"That was an awesome entrance, Naruto. Totally worthy of the next Hokage." She said, mocking Sakura's voice from earlier. The pink-haired kunoichi simply glared in response. Naruto apologized before looking around.
"Where's Iruka-sensei?" The blond asked, scanning the classroom for his teacher. Sakura shrugged.
"I don't know, he's usually never late." She responded.
"Maybe he's scared of what you and Sasuke will do to him on your last day of class!" Inuzuka Kiba called, causing Naruto to laugh. Then he stopped, his face growing serious.
"Wait, you don't think he's still mad about The Coup thing, do you?" This time, the response came from Nara Shikamaru.
"Naruto, Iruka will never not be mad about The Coup." He said in his usual lazy tone. Both Sasuke and Naruto sighed, knowing that Shikamaru was right. Naruto took his usual place on top of the desk facing Sasuke, while Ino and Sakura sat on either side of the latter.
"So, Naruto, how was Suna?" Ino asked, leaning forward eagerly. At this, Naruto visibly brightened, launching into an account of his latest trip to Suna. He wasn't particularly sure of the details, but every other year, his family always took a trip to Sunagakure. Of course, Naruto had told the class that it was "diplomatic training" for when he became Hokage, but everyone (aside from Ino, naturally) was quick to dismiss the claim.
"Sounds like you had fun. You're lucky you got to take the Genin Exam early. Iruka-sensei made us review for weeks. It was so lame." Sasuke responded once Naruto's story was over. Naruto made a sympathetic face.
"That sucks. Too bad your dad never lets you come to Suna. Gaara is awesome! So are Kankuro and Temari, I guess, but Gaara is the coolest!" Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"You're still on that Gaara thing?" He asked. At this, Naruto groaned.
"I told you, he's a real person! I have the letters to prove it!" Maybe it was out of jealousy from having to share his best friend, but Sasuke had never really believed that Naruto had found a kid to be the next Kazekage. Even if Gaara were real, Sasuke realized he would probably just tease Naruto about it anyway. It was hilarious seeing him fired up.
"Couldn't you just have written them yourself though?" Asked Takamine Tobio as he turned. Accidentally, his elbow brushed into Naruto, pushing the boy forward. When Naruto's lips collided onto Sasuke's both boys quickly jumped back. Sakura screamed, and she might have cried a bit.
"It's okay, Sakura," Ino said, her eyes overly wet as well. "We told ourselves this day might come." Ino made a dramatic show of blinking back tears while everyone else in the classroom laughed.
"What the hell Tobio!" Both Naruto and Sasuke snapped at the brunette who was too busy dying of laughter to respond. Both Naruto and Sasuke turned a deep shade of red as the laughs continued from every genin in the classroom.
Like a gust of wind extinguishing candles, when Umino Iruka stepped into the classroom, all of the laughter stopped. As usual, he glared at Naruto and Sasuke and then glared at Shikamaru before making his way to the front of the class.
"Yep," Naruto muttered. "He's still mad about The Coup." Sasuke sighed as the two boys took their seats, this time Naruto taking care to sit in an actual chair instead of perching in front of Sasuke. Once everyone had settled, Iruka began to speak.
"Hello, students," Iruka began, his voice rather stiff. Even though his hatred was directed particularly towards Naruto, Sasuke, and Shikamaru, Iruka (along with many of the other Academy teachers) had a small amount of disdain for the entire graduating class after The Coup.
"It's been a very...interesting, ride up to this point. Everything else aside, it fails to surprise me that you all managed to make it to this level. Today, once I tell you your assigned 3-man genin squad, you'll be beginning your ninja careers." Iruka sighed, his expression softening. "You all have the potential to be excellent shinobi. If there's nothing else I've learned from this class, it's that you are the future of Konoha, for better or worse. With all that said, I will now begin reading off the 3-man genin cells."
The excitement in the air was palpable as every student in the classroom leaned forward. They watched intensely as the head instructor of the Ninja Academy pulled out a scroll and began reading. There were cheers and boos as some best friends found themselves teamed together while others were torn apart, and that only seemed to increase the anticipation in the room.
"Cell 6," Iruka began. "Will consist of Inuzuka Kiba, Yuri Kawamura, and Kemonouo Sai." In his seat, Kiba inwardly groaned. He got the two weirdest kids in the class, much to his disdain. Well Kawamura wasn't exactly weird, just quiet. Sai, however, was someone Kiba couldn't stand. The boy was arrogant and cocky and the worst part was, he had the skills to back it up. As far as overall skills went, Sai was better than even Naruto and Sasuke which made him easily the best student in the class.
Kiba waved when Kawamura looked up at him and sighed again when the latter turned back to face Iruka. He looked up and saw Naruto giving him a sad look. Kiba was suddenly aware of the sympathy the whole class was giving him and knew it mostly because he'd have to deal with Sai.
"Before I forget, team 6 is to meet their jonin sensei at the Twilight Fields. Now, onto team 7, which will be made up of Hyuga Hinata, Aburame Shino, and Takamine Tobio." Tobio visibly paled and even turned a slight shade of green. Several rows above him, Kiba began to feel less bad about his own team. Hinata, of course was nice enough although Tobio had the biggest crush on her. Shino though. He was a completely different level of weird.
"At least you get to be with Hinata-chan," Ino whispered to Tobio. He thanked her half-heartedly, his mind being busy processing all the ways his life was now completely ruined.
"Squad 8 will consist of Namikaze Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Akimichi Choji."
"Yes!" Naruto and Sasuke exclaimed as they simultaneously jumped into the air. Behind them, Choji gulped. Shikamaru took a deep breath beside him.
"Oh god, Shikamaru, I'm gonna die." Choji whispered. Shikamaru tried to think of something encouraging but nothing came to mind. Naruto and Sasuke were practically the top students in the class (bar Sai, but he was an ass so no one counted him) and Choji was the definite dead last. The Akimichi gave a weak thumbs-up when Naruto turned to smile at him and felt totally crappy when Sasuke turned to give him a disappointed look. Down below, Sakura and Ino made a big show of being crushed by the news that they wouldn't be teaming with their respective crushes.
"And finally, on team 10: Nara Shikamaru, Haruno Sakura, and Yamanaka Ino." Shikamaru groaned and banged his head on the desk. Beneath him, Sakura and Ino looked up and sighed in disappointment.
"Of all the troublesome individuals, why them?" Shikamaru said, just loud enough for Choji to hear him.
"Maybe it's punishment for The Coup," Choji offered. At this Shikamaru turned his head to look at him.
"That's so not cool. Naruto and Sasuke were the leaders! And yet I get teamed with each other and I'm stuck with their girlfriends." Shikamaru laughed, realizing the irony in the entire situation.
"At least they'll just ignore you. Naruto and Sasuke are going to put me through hell." Choji responded after a few seconds. Shikamaru decided that Choji was probably right as Sakura and Ino were already arguing with each other. Shikamaru probably wasn't even an afterthought.
"This is what I get for slacking off with you, Shikamaru." Choji groaned. Unlike Shikamaru, however, Choji never aced extra-credit shinobi tactics tests, which made Choji the class's dead-last. He groaned again before slamming his head into the desk.
"I didn't think it'd turn out like this. If I knew we'd end up in this position, I would've tried harder." At this, Choji scoffed.
"No you wouldn't have. If we had another chance, we'd still skip class, go eat, and look at clouds." Shikamaru laughed at Choji's words.
"Yeah, you're right." The Nara said. He gave Choji another look and then sighed.
"Look, always side with Sasuke." Shikamaru advised urgently, sitting up to look at a very confused Choji. "If you disagree with Naruto, he'll pout for a minute then forget about it. Sasuke though is vindictive as hell. But try to balance it out. If Naruto notices you're taking Sasuke's side on everything, he might just prank you to death."Choji nodded reluctantly as he looked down again at his new teammates.
Iruka said his final good-byes to the class before dismissing them to lunch and wishing them luck on the rest of their ninja journeys. Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Tobio all let out a simultaneous thank-you. They were going to need it.
Author's Corner
Why have none of you told me about the greatness of Once Upon a Time? Like this show is amazing! But anyway, I really hope you guys enjoy the change of pace that's about to happen. I think I'm going to change POVs between the four teams because honestly I love all the teams equally. But if that doesn't really work out then I'll just figure something else.
But anyway, hope you guys are interested in how this is going. So keep giving feedback and stuff, I love you guys and thanks for everything.