Chapter 3: First Days
The first week of the academy was mostly just introductions between teachers and students. Some simple math and history lessons were mixed in. At the end of the first week, the teachers held an exam to test personalities, this was odd and unusual, to say the least for the academy.
Iruka at the end of the exams made an announcement to the class. "This year we decided to split you into your teams early based on personality, we believe this will cause you all to have higher scores on average as all aspects of this class will be focused on team assignments. If one of you fails all three from your team fail."
Outraged cries soon filled the room.
"WHAT IF MY TEAMMATES ARE STUPID GIRLS!" One boy shouted louder than the rest.
The misogynistic behavior set off a large portion of the girls. In particular, two blondes yelled the loudest, one being Naruko and the other being the Yamanaka heiress Ino. The insults kept getting more and more personal until it got to the point the teacher's voice raised.
"ENOUGH!" The now visibly angered Iruka belted out
This seemed to calm everyone down or at least scared most of the students in a way only their parents could do. Though still watching cautiously the young teacher Iruka turned his back and began writing names, one by one all the names of the students appeared on the blackboard at the front of the class.
"Now for your team assignments."
Most if not all of the students listed in the first six teams were civilians or less notable shinobi families.
"Team 7 will contain; Senju Naruko, Senju Sakura, and Uchiha Sasuke." The teacher said with a worried tone.
as the teacher went continuing on to list all of the other students and their team numbers a moment of recognition went over the face of Ino. Quickly after realizing that the twins would be on the same team, she was furious. Raising her hand into the air she didn't even wait to be called on before speaking.
"why is it that you put twins on the same team together, is it a bias because they are Senju? Is that why they are with the Uchiha as well?"
The words of the obviously jealous blonde girl caused murmurs to fill the classroom, Some students even went as far as to stare at the two. These words seemed not to faze Sakura though she was hurt by the words of someone she considered a friend. Naruko on the other hand was staring daggers into her, some of the more keen-eyed students and most teachers could see the splinters of where she was cracking her desk. Someone even swore her eyes turned red briefly causing that student to request to use the restroom.
Iruka frustrated that it was too soon in the year to be bickering would speak after the brief moment of silence thinking over the Yamanaka heiress's words.
"they have complimentary personalities. This is why we had the test we did this week."
The class as a whole once again returned to being quiet. Defeated Ino sat in her seat pouting going as far as to look away from the teacher.
"If you are happy or not, either way, we will be assigning seats to sit teams together," Iruka said.
Later that day just before lunch Naruko and Sakura chased down Sasuke before he did as usual and ate alone in the indoor training ground. The girls being either unheard or ignored continued to chase down Sasuke, before they knew it they were at the grounds they tried so hard to avoid.
"If we are to pass together I want us to be ahead of all the other students," Sasuke said with a determined voice.
"Sasuke are you suggesting we train during lunch?" Naruko asked confused.
Sasuke flustered that Naruko would think he suggested something so stupid would stammer. "I mean... wait no.. we still eat lunch and talk. Just in private so we can plan."
Sakura would have a moment of realization and ask. "Do you think we'll be against our classmates?"
Sasuke just simply nodded before proceeding. "I think they want to instill danger in us while we are still in our first year. Why else would they make us sit next to one another, they want us to work together at all times, against our fellow students. We need to find someone to train us after school on a daily basis, no more self-study like my parents and brother wanted."
Naruko would have an idea and blurt it out immediately. "Why don't we ask Tousan and Kaasan Sakura? Didn't they say they were legendary salmon or something like that?"
Sakura sighed before sitting on the ground and opening her bento. "You mean sannin." She stated as she grabbed her chopsticks.
Sasuke would also sit down on the ground surprised. "Would your parents actually do that?"
Naruko would sit down as well before laughing out the answer to Sasuke's question. "Tousan has already told us he would sensei our senseis when we graduate, whatever he means by that. So it must mean he wants to teach us too"
Sakura and Sasuke would join in on the laughter getting a joke that was missed entirely by Naruko leaving the blonde confused. Watching them laugh you could swear she was a dog with the way her head would tilt from one side to the other. This set the tone for mostly jokes and funny stories to be told over their lunch together making their friendship a little more enjoyable.
That afternoon at School when Itachi came to pick up Sasuke due to it being his day off didn't expect to see him running down the street away from the Uchiha district. The two girls running with his younger brother seemed to be the Senju girls, or 'enemies to the Uchiha' as their father labeled them, though Itachi struggled to see how two young girls were a threat at the current moment. Continuing to tail the three children Itachi noticed that some very specific older Uchihas stared at Naruko in particular, one even called her a demon before getting 'removed' by an ANBU, at least Itachi told himself it wasn't an execution and just a removal he knew better. Though why would the ANBU be enforcing a punishment for a harmless insult?
Eventually without realizing he was at the Senju estate and spotted. A white-haired man stood beside Itachi, reaching onto his shoulder and baring down his grip.
"Did Danzo or Fugaku send another one after my daughters" The voice of now noticeable Jiraiya shocked Itachi.
"No, I am just watching my brother. and what does my father want with the girls sir?" Itachi tried to keep from showing his fear and for the most part it worked.
"Easy kid, no need to tense up. Just know your father wants to kidnap one of my girls and let's leave it there. I would like you to leave our family home until you are ready to pick up Sasuke, Alright"
Itachi gulped loudly knowing if he didn't leave he was going to be forced to. "Sorry for the bother sir. It won't happen again, I hope to join the ANBU soon so I will keep an eye on my father Master Jiraiya" Itachi instantly after his statement ran away from the scene, scared of his interaction with Konoha's spymaster.
The Jiraiya that confronted Itachi would pop into smoke, meanwhile, the kids on the ground were approaching the real Jiraiya. Giving his best smile towards the kids Jiraiya would grab Naruko and Sakura into a tight hug, looking concerned towards Sasuke while the girls couldn't see. Pulling back Jiraiya let out a hearty chuckle and spoke.
"I see you girls brought home Sasuke, I knew you two liked him after meeting him at the party but bringing him back home after school this soon into the start of the academy."
Naruko would speak. "They said something about putting us teams during the first year this time or something ya' know and we like got Sasuke"
"you say that like you don't care," Sasuke said with a depressed look on his face.
"No! It's not like that ya' know it's just I didn't know what to say!" Naruko panicked.
Sakura just giggled at the chaos that was unfolding in front of her. This dynamic caught Jiraiya's attention as Sasuke was clearly messing with Naruko, making Sakura happy and having Naruko play into it.
A/N: Sorry for the late and short chapter, I've been working on a Tabletop roleplaying game. Most of the time has been spent on making concepts or research, I didn't even tell my friends until today that I wanted to make one. (I'm not promoting it just informing readers.)