A Story of Resolve.
Nothing to gain, nothing owned.
0o0o0
Hearing the door creak open, Naruto immediately turned around in his seat, ready to get a good look at his new instructor. About damn time. This guy was about seven hours late, and if Naruto had to judge by the ridiculous hair sticking out past the door, he just got out of bed ten minutes ago.
I hope we don't always have to wait on this guy. Naruto thought, but quickly dismissed the notion as silly. Nah, this was probably a one time thing.
As the door opened further, Naruto noticed that his new teacher's face was concealed by a little orange book in his hand, one that Naruto remembered quite well from the old man's office desk.
Naruto still blushes from that little memory. It's not my fault for looking. They really shouldn't make those books orange. It makes you think something awesome might be inside. Though Naruto would never admit it, there were times when the contents of that book kept him up at night. Because of that erotic novel, Naruto had so many questions about the world around him. How are babies made exactly? Can two women make a baby? Can two men? Can you catch a disease? What's a libido? Is it edible? How can a beast have two backs?
It was pretty damn confusing.
Thump.
Naruto's healthy imagination was interrupted by the sweet sound of a chalky eraser hitting hair. He looked up in time to see the eraser fall from his teacher's head to the floor. Naruto mentally cheered, feeling a rush at the success of his brilliant prank. When I think about it, Iruka-sensei never fell for that trick! And this guy's supposed to be some hotshot Jonin? Naruto could still see the cloud of chalky dust hanging around the man's bushy silver hair.
Serves him right. Naruto thought, struggling quietly to contain his laughter. Instead of laughing, Naruto just sent a victorious grin in Sakura's direction, absolutely positive that she was loving this. Instead of admiring his brilliance, he found her looking at that bastard again! Feeling neglected, Naruto did his best to push down that familiar feeling, and went back to admiring his handy-work. The eraser propped above the door had fulfilled it's purpose, falling directly onto his sensei's head. A classic for pranksters everywhere. That's what you get for reading porn instead of seeing your students!
Justice served, Naruto chanced another look at the man's face now that the book was out of the way. Naruto was disappointed to see that the little orange book did nothing more than cover one eye of this guy. Just one eye? No wonder he couldn't dodge the eraser. Naruto couldn't remember all the details, but missing an eye messes up something with vision.
Death prescription? No. that's not it. Wait! Debt perception! Yeah, that's it! He can't manage his money! No wait, that makes no sense...
Unable to find the right term, Naruto immediately changed his course of action to something he was more familiar with.
"Haha! I can't believe you fell for that trick!"
He gloated.
0o0o0
Uchiha Sasuke was very unhappy with the current situation. Although he schooled his features to show no sign of emotion, his eyes seemed to betray him, a little anger and frustration shining through.
This was not how he had thought his genin career would start, and the first major flaw he found was in his genin counterparts. The teammates he wanted were serious, focused, and confident in their own skills. He had hoped he would end up on a team with Aburame Shino and Nara Shikamaru. Both were smart and extremely skilled, and even though the Nara lacked focus, he was still more competent then half the graduating class. He wanted teammates that could handle themselves.
Instead of a quiet, reserved Aburame, he got the polar opposite. He got Uzumaki. The idiot was a danger to himself and others. Pent up energy and nowhere to put it. He failed the exams several times before, and he controlled his chakra like a newborn controlled it's bladder.
That being said, Sasuke could understand and even respect Naruto's need to prove himself. While his past was a bit of a mystery, the idiot didn't deserve half the crap he had to put up with, and a little respect from fellow shinobi could change people's opinions.
The sad truth was that Naruto was just too unstable, too emotional, to be an effective shinobi.
The Haruno was another issue altogether. Completely unimpressive in almost all fields, with the exception of problem solving and academic prowess. She had high mental capacity, but she was terribly lacking in physique and combat skills. Good chakra control, but hardly impressive with such a low reserve to work with.
She seemed to have focus, but only when he wasn't around to really see it. Sasuke himself seemed to be the biggest distraction for her, and he honestly had no idea why. He tried his best to keep people at arms length, but that seemed to inspire some girls his age to try harder to talk to him.
It was pretty damn confusing.
Nara had a bloodline that gave him tactical strength, and an IQ exceeding two hundred. As far as Sasuke knew, the Haruno clan had no bloodline to speak of, or anything that could give her an edge. Nara was a genius, she was just lucky that hard work was enough for her to pass.
In the real world, hard work just isn't enough.
If his first issue was with his teammates, then the second problem just walked through the door. His new Jonin sensei has arrived. Approximately five and a half hours late, this supposed Jonin seemed very unreliable.
Thump.
Very, very unreliable.
Sasuke watched, barely containing his surprise, as this elite ninja dusted off his vest with one hand, the chalk from Naruto's stupid eraser prank settling around him. His new sensei slowly lowered a bright orange book from his face. Hopefully a book of strategies and jutsu.
As Sasuke took his first look into the eye of his new combat instructor and squad leader, he didn't bother to hide his displeasure. He's missing an eye. Without depth perception, he can't accurately judge distances.
Is this some sort of joke? Uchiha Sasuke, top rookie, gets a hyperactive outcast, an obsessive girl with no physical attributes, and a crippled Jonin? How did this happen?
This has to be a mistake.
0o0o0
Sakura was beginning to get nervous. Where was her new sensei? It's been five hours and twenty one minutes since the last team leader had gathered his team and left, leaving the new Team 7 alone in the academy classroom.
Team 7. Her team. It all seemed so surreal. There were times when Sakura felt as though she would be in the academy forever, but it had finally happened. All those late nights studying had finally paid off, and she had proven her worth! She was a ninja, a kunoichi, and the first ninja of her entire family, no less!
And to top it all off, she's on a team with Sasuke!
Top rookie of our class! Skilled in both Ninjutsu and Taijutsu! Impressive chakra reserve and control for our age group! Has the ability to one day wield the legendary Sharingan!
and...
A totally cute butt! Sakura fought down the blush creeping to her cheeks as the thought crossed her mind.
Bad Sakura! She thought to herself. Bad, bad! Sasuke is more than an pretty face. Don't objectify him!
Feeling calmer already, Sakura's thoughts drifted to her other teammate. Naruto.
Where to begin with Naruto? It was a question Sakura asked herself everyday since the first day of the academy.
She still hasn't found an answer.
He was loud, annoying and rude. He had no respect for authority, and his cocky attitude was bound to get him killed one day.
He also had a crush on her. One part of her liked the attention, but ten other parts of her hated the source of it. He was just so stupid and immature. He was constantly pulling pranks on people, and his brash nature was too much for any sane human being to deal with on a daily basis.
Lucky me.
Worst of all, he was impossible to understand. Why does he act this way? What possesses him to do these things?
She didn't know, and Sakura hated things she couldn't figure out.
She was never nice to him. She was never openly mean to him either, but she avoided him whenever possible. She gave no hint of returning his misplaced affections, but he still tried to woo her with his non-existent charms.
It was pretty damn confusing.
So lost in her thoughts, Sakura was completely unaware that her teacher had arrived. It took a sudden noise to bring her attention back to the matter at hand.
Thump.
Sakura watched in abstract horror as the man responsible for her safety and training wiped chalk off his shoulders with one hand. Naruto's stupid prank had worked! Sakura did her best not to make eye contact with Naruto, the last thing she wanted to do was encourage him.
She chanced a quick look over at Sasuke instead, and she could tell that he wasn't too impressed with their new instructor. In fact, he seemed to be glaring pretty hard at the guy. Wondering what was so interesting, Sakura returned her attention to her new sensei.
She wasn't impressed either.
This is our teacher? Some frizzly haired slowpoke reading a boo- wait a minute, is that...porn? Our sensei's a pervert? Things can't possibly get any worse.
The pervert lowered his filth and Sakura got her first good look at his face. Nothing but a lazy eye stared back.
Things got worse.
0o0o0
Kakashi was not sure what to expect when he walked into the room. The eraser was no surprise to him, but moving seemed like a waste of energy, so he didn't bother. Besides, he needed to finish this chapter...
...what a naughty miko you are, Kikyo-chan! There, done.
Besides, getting hit with the eraser would be a good way to start off his mind games. He will need to throw them off balance, make them think he is less than his reputation.
Oh what fun!
Kakashi went through the motions of cleaning off his vest, more for show than anything else. Lowering the book, Kakashi took a lazy glance at his team.
This is strange, Kakashi thought to himself, they seem surprised by my appearance. Do they not know what their sensei looks like?
Another second passes, and Kakashi begins to have a strange feeling in his gut.
Have they not heard of me? The feeling gets stronger.
Do they have any idea who I am? The feeling intensifies.
No, they don't.
All of his deeds and exploits mean nothing to this team. Out in the world, he is known as a shinobi who has learned a thousand jutsu.
In this old classroom, he's just a porn enthusiast with a missing eye.
Kakashi can finally identify that feeling in his gut.
It's hope.
Could this be a fresh start for him? An opportunity to make a different impression?
Is this his chance to remake himself into something better? Something human?
If so, where does he start?
It was pretty damn confusing.
Better make a good first impression.
"My first opinion of you three is...I don't like you."
Nice one.
oooo
Words of Resolve:
That rambling mess barely considered a chapter? Yeah, that was chapter 2.
To be honest, I'm still pulling most of this stuff out of thin air. I have a vague idea of where this might go, but nothing has really clicked yet.
The only thing I'm really sure about is the fact that it will probably be the greatest thing ever.
Next chapter will contain actual dialogue between characters! I know it sounds risky, but it's a chance I'm stupid enough to take!
-Resolve