Disclaimer: not mine, but for the OCs
warnings: male/male, un-betaed
Chapter 5
Sasuke glared at the scroll with his new mission orders hard enough to make the messenger waiting for his confirmation break into a nervous sweat. Uchiha's temper was as infamous as the Godaime's nowadays, what with him incinerating anything pink that crossed his way and officially declaring blood feud on the Hokage's apprentice.
"Tell Hokage-sama I'll be there." the black haired Jounin finally growled, dismissing the messenger and closing the door.
Just what was the Godaime planning now, ordering him to become a Jounin instructor for the newest batch of Genin? Sasuke was unsociable, short-tempered and impatient with idiots. If they didn't hand him a team of geniuses he would clearly eat them for breakfast.
He walked through the empty halls of the main house, feeling as empty and cold as them. Four years ago he had hoped to breathe life into this house once more. He had made plans to look for a wife and start a real family with as many children as possible.
Stopping in front of a brightly painted sliding door, he leaned his forehead against it, lightly tracing the lovingly calligraphied name with shaky fingers. The room's intended owner had never set foot into it, Sasuke had not known how to approach the other shinobi with his offer, how to explain his belief that without him there would be no way to bring life back to this house of the dead.
Agony raced through his heart and he whispered brokenly: "Naruto, you idiot."
If only the idiot hadn't run away, if only Sasuke had known, if only… A growl escaped his throat, anger causing his hands to ball into fists. If only he had slit the traitor's throat before she opened her big mouth and destroyed all his plans for the future in five minutes flat.
Stepping back from the door he turned around and entered his own room, efficiently shedding his clothes and lying down on his bed.
He knew the Hokage wasn't happy that he had officially declared blood feud on Haruno, but it was the only way to keep her legally away from him. If there was an official record of blood feud between two shinobi they were not allowed to work together in any way, shape or form.
Sasuke had made it excruciatingly clear the first time he had come back from a mission badly hurt to the whole hospital staff that he preferred bleeding to death to being touched by that vile woman. It didn't matter to him that she was the best medic-nin next to the Godaime. She was the reason that he had to live in this grey, dull world without even the chance of redemption.
Tiredly he closed his eyes, praying for sleep that usually evaded him these days. He really didn't know how long he could bear to live like this anymore.
"I come bearing gifts." Genma announced as he entered his apartment, balancing several food containers in his arms.
Naruto took one sniff of the food's aroma and grinned widely. "Ichiraku ramen!" he exclaimed happily.
The older man put the food down on the table and greeted his lover with a short kiss on the lips. "After you couldn't stop talking about how much better Ichiraku ramen was than any other food in the world, I thought I'd pamper the poor, involuntary, new Jounin instructor a bit."
He loved as his lover hit him lightly on the arm for his teasing comment.
"The old hag has become more devious than I thought possible." the blond remarked during his task of inhaling his favourite food.
Genma raised one eyebrow in question.
"I'm not allowed to fail my Genin team, which means I will have to stay here and play babysitter for at least two years." Naruto complained with a frown on his unmasked face, pouting unconsciously at the unfairness of it all.
"Then it's just as well that I volunteered to become one of the Jounin instructors this year, too. That way you won't be alone in your misery of teaching newbies how to survive." the brunette commented lightly in passing.
He was surprised when his lover actually halted in his worship of all things ramen and looked at him with wide, astonished eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. Sooner or later I wouldn't have been able to decline the post anyway, so why not now, when I'll actually get something out of staying in the village?" Genma joked, sending the blond a smouldering look that boldly stated what it was he hoped to get out of staying in Konoha.
"You're incorrigible. Don't you dare complain when the brats get on your nerves later." Naruto finally replied, a small smile playing on his lips again.
"Never, we will simply start a new self-help group, Jounin instructors anonymous. Meetings once a week at Ichigo's with a price for the best story and the worst students." Genma exclaimed, eliciting full out laughter from Naruto.
The light mood carried over into the bed-room where Genma saw to it that his younger lover had no time to spare for thoughts about what tomorrow would bring.
Kakashi strolled into the Academy early. He was curious about the other two Jounin that had been volunteered for the post of Jounin instructor by the Godaime.
This would be the second time this week that he had been not only on time but early for a meeting. If he wasn't careful he might hurt his reputation.
He was surprised when upon entering the designated room his eye met the dark gaze of the last Uchiha.
"Sasuke, I never knew you were interested in taking on a Genin team." he greeted his former student cheerfully, his eye crinkling into a happy u-form.
"That's because I'm not, Kakashi." Sasuke grunted annoyed, glaring up at the faces of the freshly baked Genin who already sat on their seats, eager to know their team assignments.
"That makes you number two, so who's the third poor "volunteer"?" Kakashi asked amusedly. What was the Godaime thinking, letting Sasuke loose on a team of young Genin?
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, a little bird told me to be early if I wanted to know who else was ordered to take a team of little Genin. Since there are three of us, I just wondered who the last one is." the silver haired Jounin explained quietly, his one eye roaming the room.
He was interrupted by the entrance of Iruka, Genma and a couple other Jounin, one of which wore a blue mask on his face and was quietly talking to Kakashi's old friend.
Before Kakashi could walk over to his friend and inquire about the other Jounin's identity, Iruka cleared his throat and said: "As I told you yesterday, you will be divided into teams of three and assigned one of the Jounin instructors behind me. When I say your name and team number, please stand up and come to the front so your Jounin instructor can lead you to your team's training grounds."
Looking at the eager, young faces and back at his list, Iruka started: "Team 1 under command of Kino Jun: Uehara Taro, Oda Haru, and Uwasaki Shin." The three called Genin stood up and followed their Jounin instructor out.
Iruka took a deep breath and continued, knowing just how hard two of the present Jounin would take his announcement: "Team 2 under command of Uzumaki Naruto: Saito Amaya, Takehara Isamu and Misato Kiyoshi."
Ignoring the eyes he could feel burning his back, Naruto took a deep breath and stepped forward, thankful for his lover's whispered: "Good luck!"
Scrutinizing the three Genin that had come to the front he nodded friendly at Iruka before leading his new team out of the Academy and to the Hokage tower.
He knew it was mean not to say anything to them, but if he couldn't let them fail the only other way to get out of this post was if the Genin decided to quit out of their own volition. And Naruto was determined to help them come to that decision as quickly as possible.
There were no hold ups in the tower and Naruto led his team straight into the Hokage's office.
"Team 2 as ordered, Godaime-sama." Naruto announced mockingly, his azure eyes glaring daggers at Tsunade.
Tsunade nodded at Naruto and then eyed the group of three children she would promote to full Genin status shortly. She had read their Academy files and had been quite impressed by their proficiency.
"Usually a Genin team has to pass one last test before they reach full Genin status, a test that is determined by their Jounin instructor. Since I have reason to believe that your Jounin instructor would let you fail simply to get out of his involuntary post, you will be promoted to full Genin status without having been tested for suitability.
Since I am making this exception for you I expect you three to be up it and to perform accordingly. I hereby instate you as Genin of the Leaf under the command of Uzumaki Naruto.
Uzumaki, take your team out of here and start training."
Naruto simply turned and left without a word, his three Genin following behind like little ducklings.
TBC