"Did you just say Naruto Uzumaki!?" Kazuma asked, surprised to see the hero of the war in front of him.
Akira was quiet from the shock.
"That's right kid. The one and only." Naruto answered with his trademark grin.
Akira was still quiet from the shock.
"Hello again Naruto-san." Mizuiga greeted cheerfully as she recognized him from the night before.
Akira was still in shock. His body was still…. then he fainted.
"Akira!?" Kazuma screamed.
Naruto soon rushed over, checking on the boy.
"Are you okay kid!? Don't tap out yet before the training even starts." He said as he tried to wake the young swordsman.
Soon Akira awoke and jumped up, clutching Naruto by the shoulders.
"OHMYGOD! Do you know who are are!?" Akira asked.
"Uh..Nar-"
"Naruto Uzumaki! That's who! You sir are my idol!" The now more zealous genin roared with glee.
"Well it's always nice to meet a fan." Naruto said as he prod Akira off him.
"I can't believe you are our sensei! When do we get to learn Sage Mode?! Or the rasengan!?
"Whoa slow down Akira. We are a long way away from doing all that. Today we are just getting to know each other." Naruto stated.
He beckoned the genin to follow him to the rooftop where his sensei, Kakashi, took his own team about a decade ago. Memories flooded his mind, as he recalled his sensei advising them to introduce themselves. Now it was his turn.
The genin sat down on the stone steps across from Naruto. They were eager to get started and Naruto would be lying if he wasn't also excited.
"Okay. Lets get to know each other. Tell me about yourselves. Your likes, dislikes, hobbies and even dreams for the future." Naruto asked, mirroring Kakashi.
"For example, I'll start. My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I'm a jonin of Konoha. I like my wife and kids, training and my friends. I dislike cowards, arrogance and people who abuse their power. For my hobbies, I usually train, walk around the village or play with my kids. My dream is to become Hokage which isn't far off from now." Naruto said, now smiling with pride.
His ascension to Hokage was certain now. Kakashi was just a placeholder until Naruto was ready. It was made clear during the war that Naruto was indeed the strongest shinobi, but he still lacked the maturity and leadership skills.
"Okay you first Spike." Naruto called Akira who seemed to enjoy his new nickname.
Akira was nervous to say the least. He stumbled in his seat for a second before clearing his throat.
"My name is Akira Nanato. I'm not from any particular clan. I live in the konoha orphanage as my parents died in the war." The boy said as life drained from his eyes. His parents' death took a toll on him. The worst part was he could barely remember them now. He was only three when they died, so Akira has spent most of his life in the orphanage. Naruto could relate to living in that hell hole. Though he was given his own apartment when he was six, he still has bad memories of that place.
"I like training, especially with kenjutsu. I'm not very good with other skills but I'm willing to learn. I dislike people who make fun of others. My dream for the future is to become the greatest ninja swordsmen in history and to reform the Konoha orphanage." The white-haired teen finished.
Next was Kazuma.
"I'm Kazuma Hyuuga of the Hyuuga Clan. I'm, as you may have noticed, a member of the branch family so I usually serve one of the Main Branch members." The boy said with cheerful exposition, though Naruto could tell behind Kazuma's delightful exterior, he did not like the life of a branch house member. It is akin to slavery.
"I like going on trips, usually because I have to as my main job is to be a bodyguard. Also I like - I mean- the person I like …is.." The young hormone raged Hyuuga tried to spill as he glanced over to Mizuiga. The girl was barely paying attention. Akira giggled at Kazuma's flustered face. Naruto felt a tinge of nostalgia.
"I dislike people who oppress others. My goal for the future is too finally unite the Hyuuga Clan." Kazuma finished.
Mizuiga was next.
"My name is Mizuiga Umihito of the Umihito Clan. Our clan is a new addition to the Leaf, we just integrated with the village after the end of the war. I like learning about new cultures and visiting different places. I dislike discrimination and racism. My goal for the future is end the feud between my Clan and the village." The girl spoke with regal diction. Naruto felt bad for the girl as he knew what ignorance and fear can do to people. He hoped the girl for the best and silently vowed to help the girl with her goal. With all their goals.
"Okay! Good! You all have wonderful spirit and rive. I am looking forward to training all of you." Naruto said. He like them. They have morals. They have drive. They may not be well oiled shinobi now, but with time and hard work they will grow to become powerful.
The genin felt good. They got to speak about themselves and get to know each other a little better as well.
Before sending them, all home Naruto informed them that their first assignment will be tomorrow at five in the morning. He planned on using the honored tradition of the bell test. It only made sense! His sensei did it, and his father did it before him. Now it was his turn. He couldn't hide his excitement as he jumped along the rooftops of the village.
XXXXX
The Knonha Orphanage was not a well like place. The staff were underpaid, living conditions were horrible and the Director of the Orphanage, Madam Hokyuki was not a nice lady by any means. She was in her mid-fifties and an ex kunoichi. She was injured from combat in the Third Great Ninja War. The trauma from her time in the war affected how she treated the kids. She would beat them, starve them, and give them chakra draining pills disguised as medicine and vaccinations. She was an abuser in every since of the word.
Akira dreaded her.
He was just returning to his room with all the other kids. They were playing among themselves or casually chatting. Two kids in particular were practicing some transformation jutsu.
This scared Akira as jutsu usage was prohibited within the Orphanage. That was why Akira's skills were not up to par. He had little time to practice and Madam Hokyuki will not allow ninja arts to be practiced unless outside of the Orphanage.
"Hey! What are you two doing!?" Akira asked.
The kids were a boy and a girl. Heno and Ran. They were each about the age of eight and they had come to admire Akira. He was like an older brother to them.
"Big Bro! It's nothing. We were just fooling around." Heno tried to lie.
"Really? Because it looked like you were just casting Justu. Which is not allowed!" The young Genin emphasized.
"We're sorry Akira. It's just so fun using our chakra. Madam Hokyuki doesn't let us do that at all." Ran apologized.
Akira's soft spot for the young girl came to the forefront. He sighed.
"Look. I don't want you two to get in trouble, okay? Just don't do it again." Akira instructed.
"But that's not fair. We wanna be ninja too!" Heno protested.
"You will get your time Heno. But right now, focus on not getting in trouble." Akira said, unaware that Hokyuki was behind him.
She kicked the young swordsman right in the middle of his back. The force of the blow sent him flying against multiple bucks in the room. Many of the children present were shocked. They were used to being abused by Hokyuki but this attack was out of nowhere.
Hokyuki was tall and a tad heavy set. She had long gray hair that was tied up in a neat bun. She had black and white robes draped across her form. Though injured from the past war, she still was a skilled shinobi.
"All children should be within these walls by seven pm every night. It is now past eight. Where were you Akira?" Hokyuki asked, darkness surrounding every word she spoke.
"I was out with my team. I'm officially a genin now." Akira said, resisting the urge to knock the old women out cold.
"Is that so. Well tell your sensei you have responsibilities here as well." Hokyuki warned, as she left the room.
Akira, if he was honest with himself, hated the woman. He hated her with a passion. Hokyuki has done nothing but cause him grief. She beat him, starved him and spat on his dreams.
But he would prove her wrong. That was his goal for himself.
XXXX
"Wow. Naruto Uzumaki huh? You very lucky to have such a strong shinobi as a teacher."
"Yeah, I agree. He is so cool." Kazuma replied.
Kazuma had returned home to the Hyuuga manor and was eating dinner with his mother, Kaiza Hyuuga.
Kaiza was a jonin, and a very powerful one at that. She was a few years older than Naruto at thirty years of age. She had Kazuma around the age of eighteen, which was not uncommon for ninja considering a ninja's mortality rate was constantly fluctuating, In times of war most ninja die around the age of fifteen to thirty. Kaiza's husband Kyaku, was killed by the Main Branch a few years after the war for….reasons.
Kaiza was an extremely talented shinobi. She was even considered for the Anbu, but most branch house members are not allowed to enter the group as their main duty is to the Main Branch.
"What was he like in the war?" Kazuma asked.
Kaiza began to reminisce, to recall the way Naruto fought in the war.
"He was amazing. He showed up out of nowhere when my platoon fought the Third Raikage. His Wind Style: Rasen Shuriken was impressive. Also his Sage mode proved instrumental in defeating the past kage."
"Wow. That is AWESOME! I hope he'll teach us sage mode!" Kazuma said before finishing his food.
Kaiza smiled at her son's excitement. She didn't doubt his skill, though she doubted he could learn Sage Mode as it takes a very large chakra to acquire it.
But then again. He could always improve. At this point, Kaiza's heart grew heavy. She wanted so much more for Kazuma. She wanted him to become a great ninja. But she hated that she and her son were born within the branch house of the Hyuuga. It was a limiting life. A life she did not want for Kazuma.
Her thoughts were shattered by a knock at her door.
"Open up Kaiza!" She and Kazuma heard from behind the door. Kaiza quickly rushed to the door and opened it revealing one angry Fukira Hyuuga.
Fukira was a member of the Main Branch and the one whom Kaiza and Kazuma served under. He was about six feet tall and was in his mid-forties. He had long brown hair, common to the Hyuuga and had on traditional Hyuuga robes.
"What's the matter, Lord Fukira?" Kaiza said, bowing before the man, hiding her irritation.
"Your son was supposed to report to his post today, yet he was a no show. Where the hell was he!?" Fukira asked with great rage.
"I-I'm sorry Lord Fukira." Kazuma fumbled. "I graduated from the academy today, and I had to meet with my team."
"Yes. He is studying under Naruto Uzumaki." Kaiza added, as a matter of fact.
What!? A side branch whelp like him! Fukira thought. This enraged him as he too had a daughter who graduated as well. Fukira thought she deserved the tutelage of the hero and not a low level like Kazuma.
"Fine. Just remember to be there when I call, scum." Fukira spewed before slamming the door and leaving the room.
Kazuma hated when the man came to their home. It always put him on edge. He would insult and beat him and his mother whenever he got the chance. Kazuma figured the only reason why he didn't this time is because Naruto was his sensei, and attacking him and his mom would be an act of treason since he was expected to be Hokage within a few years.
Kazuma vowed to show him the error of his ways, along with the rest of the Hyuuga Clan.
XXXXX
Mizuiga was attending dinner with her father. It was one of the few times she could bond with her father as he had important business to attend to, being a clan head. Saiga kept questioning Mizuiga for every single detail about Naruto, almost as if he was interrogating her.
"He didn't try anything with you did he?" Saiga asked.
"DAD! That is disgusting!" Mizuiga protested.
"You never know with these hidden leaf types. They are all savages." Saiga finished before taking a sip of his tea.
"Father, you cannot lump every Leaf shinobi into the same group. They all come from different clans and backgrounds." Mizuiga defended.
"Look at what that Akimichi man did just a few years ago! He raped a young girl!"
"Dad that was ONE Akimichi of hundreds, that is ONE clan within Konoha. By that logic every Hokage ever was a Hatake because our current one is a Hatake." Mizuiga stated. She did not like this side of her father.
"Just watch yourself when you are alone, okay."
"Dad, I'm a shinobi now too. I can take care of myself."
"No! You are a genin. You are not a seasoned ninja yet."
"Dad-"
"Mizuiga, they hate us!" Saiga finally let go. Mizuiga grew silent. "They have killed us in droves! We have done nothing but tried to live peacefully with the Leaf! But yet they still hate us."
"Dad…I understand that..but-"
"Enough!" Saiga yelled as he got up and left the dining room.
Mizuiga understand her father completely. She saw the way her kin were treated. It was sickening and it hurt. Just last week her uncle Goru was denied to dine in at a restaurant. Her little cousin Yumi was bullied at school for her blue hair. She knew it was hard, but she wanted nothing more than to unite her clan and everyone in the leaf.
That was girl, and her own Will of Fire will see it through.
XXXXXX