Chapter 8

Tomo pulled open the front door of the large building to find herself suddenly face to face with Osaka. The girl just looked at her keenly, a faint smile across her face. Finally her eyes moved and focused on Tomo.

"Hello…?"

"Hi Tomo. Oh yeah, I was meant to knock on the door."

"Yeah…so what brings you here Osaka?"

"Now then…it was something large. Some sort of…erm…party that's the one. I've been sent to invite you to a party."

They sent you. They actually sent Osaka! "When is this party then?"

"In about ten minutes."

"Wha?! I need to get changed and ready! Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Yukari-sensei came up with the idea about an hour ago."

"Ok Osaka. Wait there. I bet you I get changed into something sutiable in under five minutes. Time me ok."

"Right" said Osaka nodding.

Tomo disappeared and sprinted up the stairs, disappearing into her room. Osaka turned away looking towards the town. She stood unmoving until Tomo suddenly appeared. She slowly turned to face the girl, Tomo looking at Osaka impatiently.

"So how long did I take?" asked a panting Tomo.

"Excuse me?"

"I asked you to…never mind lets just go. You do know where you're going right?" asked Tomo.

"Of course" said Osaka. "Just outside the academy."

Several minutes more then expected the duo reached the 'party'. Less a party then a small jumble of half a dozen or so students and a few teachers. Sakaki stood by a table as Kaori sat drinking from a small cup, attempting to hide the fact she was blushing violently. Yomi and Kagura were busy chatting, while Kimura attempted to walk up to Minamo. The look she gave him was enough to make him decide he was in fact probably thirsty and so it'd be a good idea to move away. Slowly more people turned up.

"Hi" said Chiyo, racing towards Tomo and Osaka, before falling flat on her face. "Ow, ow" she said, as Tomo and Osaka helped her to her feet.

"Chiyo-Chan!" said Tomo excitably. "Erm, what's this party about?"

"It's a celebration of the students who passed the tests of their Jonin" said Chiyo, "It's to congratulate everyone who became Genin."

Tomo looked across at the small group. Ten…eleven…twelve. "So twelve people passed?" she asked. Excellent! More competitors- more people to beat!

"Yes" said Chiyo bowing her head.

"Even you?" asked Osaka pointing to the girl. Chiyo didn't appear offended at the remark.

"Yes" said a beaming Chiyo. "I helped our team- I even got a wound" she said, holding up an arm with a recovering light cut. Osaka backed away in horror.

"Cool, I guess" said Tomo. "But I managed to actually retrieve an object from our Jonin- without even getting hurt. I guess I win huh?"

"I suppose" muttered Chiyo annoyed.

"Great job. Still, you're almost seven years younger then us" said Osaka leaning down. Chiyo grinned happily. Osaka stuck up her thumb, Chiyo following suit.

"That's true."

Yukari, a few beers better off approached the main table positioned just outside the entrance of the academy. She raised a glass and tapped a small spoon against it. Grinning slightly she continued tapping the glass until it suddenly shattered, breaking both her and Osaka out of a stupor. She suddenly looked up as the glass spread across the table. Minamo glanced across at the teacher angrily.

"I jus' wanna congratulate you's on passing the test. Twelve of you…four teams pass. I hope none of you loozers are here. Go on. I'm looking at you Ken" said Yukari, pointing towards the boy. He stood intimidated, under the glare of Yukari. "Go on, get out of here now Ken."

Minamo slowly walked across to Yukari and helped her sit down in her chair. She muttered something about singing before her head fell down and slammed against the table. Quickly Minamo moved in front of the table, hiding the partially comatose Yukari from view. She cleared her throat as Yukari sang a drinking song.

"Welcome. Twelve of you have managed to pass the academy exam and now officially carry the rank of Genin. You should all be proud of yourselves. We all wish you luck as the graduating class for this year of the academy of the village hidden in the leaves."

"Thank you Miss Kurosawa" called out Chiyo. She shrieked as Tomo picked her up and rested her on her shoulders. Gripping onto Tomo's head, she just about managed to smile before Tomo wobbled slightly.

Sakaki and Yomi joined with Tomo, supporting Chiyo who now had the confidence to wave at the small gathering. Kagura offered to lift up Osaka, only for both to fall to the floor.

Minamo waited until the group had finished before speaking again. "As we have managed to get some of the townspeople to attend, we thought it'd be nice to invite you up here one at a time so you can all receive the applause you deserve."

"First up we have our youngest student- in fact she is the youngest student to ever graduate from this academy- Miss Chiyo" said Minamo warmly.

Chiyo walked forwards, before pausing, shivering slightly. Scary to walk in front of all of those people. Sakaki walked up to the girl, and nodded, the two walking towards the table.

"And Miss Sakaki too. A promising user of both genjutsu and ninjutsu!"

The two paused, and Sakaki (following Chiyo's example) bowed awkwardly as the crowd applauded them (Kaori was in a particularly boisterous mood celebrating).

"Mr. Kenji…Masaaki Ohyama." A boy with long black hair was followed by the bespectacled boy name Masaaki. Kenji saluted the crowd, while Masaaki waved politely.

"Koyomi and Miss Ayumu." Koyomi waved as Tomo applauded the two furiously, Osaka slowly turning to the crowd and waving at a snails pace.

"Kagura and the always energetic Tomo." As the two walked up to the front, Yukari glared at the crowd, daring them to say something negative about Tomo. With neither wanting to be outdone, Kagura and Tomo stood gesturing, attempting to look more impressive. Finally Yukari hurled a spoon at the two and they moved off.

"Goro Anno and Kaori." The group of girls cheered the blushing Kaori as she walked to the front. Standing beside the barely moving Yukari, Kimura was applauding so hard he was in danger of wrenching one of his hands off.

"Kaorin, Kaorin" he chanted over and over again enthusiastically. Kaori groaned as she heard the man yelling out her name cheerfully.

"And the final two members of the graduates- Chihiro and Haru Ishii" said Minamo.

As the two final students walked away, Yukari sat bolt up straight. "Now we are going to have the four teams join together. That means you can go Nyamo."

Minamo walked away and waited as Chiyo, Yomi and Kagura joined her. Kimura signalled across to the girls, who reluctantly joined him. A heavyset man with one long eyebrow was joined by Masaaki, Chihiro and Goro- the four ninja who together formed Team two. Team nine was the last to assemble, Kaori, Kenji Tendo and Haru joining with a man simply known as Lie.

"And der we 'ave it" said Yukari, hiccupping violently. "Team two, five, eight and nine. They will spend the next few years working together under the leadershit…ship of the Jonin. Who the hell knows what'll happen after that huh?"

The crowd, unsure how to respond applauded the four teams warmly. A silence fell over them as the Third Hokage stepped forward. He looked towards the gathered teenagers and the older Jonin. A proud look passed across his elderly face as he looked at the small group of Genin.

"It is always a pleasure to see the youth of the village succeed on the first step to becoming ninja. It will be truly interesting to see these young adults, about to step into the world, mature and become the great ninja- and good people we all know they can become. I wish you good luck students. Do your Jonin teachers, your family and your friends well. And try not to get into too much trouble Tomo."

Tomo grinned as the Hokage sat down. Yukari shrieked as she recognized him. Drunk, with the Hokage right next to her. That was all she needed. She was certain he'd scorn her later for getting thoroughly plastered in front of an official town celebration and a group of the townspeople. When they should be celebrating the professionalism of the ninja of the village.

"Miss Yukari, I'd be lying if I said this was the first time I'd seen you drunk. Last time you did in fact come on to me."

"Oh my god" groaned Yukari.

"Don't worry. As a respected member of the village I didn't take advantage of you" whispered the man.

"Oh my god!"

---

With the muted celebrations completed the small gathering dissipated. Kimura led Osaka and the others away, walking away from the academy. All twelve of the passing students had given the building one fond 'last' look- and said goodbye to the nigh on passed out Yukari. Kimura finally came to a stop.

"You should all get plenty of rest tonight. Tomorrow you'll begin performing ninja related tasks. You should meet me by the academy at eight- from here we will be given us first task to perform as a team. Have a good nights sleep. You don't want to feel like Yukari in the morning."

The group nodded and walked away. Sakaki disappeared while Osaka waved a quick goodbye. Tomo sprinted for the building where she lived (not exactly a house as it were). Tomorrow I start my first mission. I know I can do it. But what dangerous task will it be…

Author's note: Whoops looks like some misread my thanks for reading message. Just to prove I hadn't killed it, this was Chapter 8 slightly ahead of my usual update time. On another note, as a writer it's always pleasing to hear people want me to continue- as opposed to another of my stories where I'm merely finishing it with no feedback.