Chapter 17

Minato was inside his apartment resting. He had just returned from a meeting with the Hokage and his mood could not be worse. He had been called in to become a Jonin instructor for the upcoming genin. He had suspected that he would be chosen for this, and he didn't mind considering his favorite little student happened to be graduating this year. What he didn't expect was just how the Hokage was going to decided the genin squads and who he would be stuck with.

Flashback

The Hokage stood within his office to the right of his desk. He had just packed up his pipe and was analyzing the Jonin in front of him. Along with Minato, stood Aburame Shibi, Inuzuka Tsume, Akamich Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Nara Shikaku. All of which graduated along side Minato in the academy, and where all relatively pleasant. Except maybe Tsume, she could tend to be hostile and crazy.

Minato could help but think back to one time when Kushina and Tsume fought… wow that was… never mind.

The Hokage took a long inhale of smoke before addressing the group. He seemed to be waiting for something but what Minato could have guessed. Then their was a knock on the door.

"Come in." The Sandaime said with a big exhale of smoke. Turning their attention towards the door, the six Jonin saw someone they did not expect walk in and fall in line.

"Glad you could join us Orochimaru." The Hokage continued. "Hope I wasn't interrupting anything important. "

"As a matter of fact…" Orochimaru began.

"Glad to hear it. Now, I have called all of you here because I have chosen you seven to be Jonin instructors for the upcoming genin. Almost everyone was taken back by the hokage's statement, even Orochimaru.

"Sensei you can't be serious. I don't have time to train genin, there is too much research to be done." Orochimaru blurted out forgetting his place. It was odd that the Hokage had chosen to have Orochimaru be a genin instructor. The man was anything but supportive, and had zero patience.

"I am very serious. You have lost yourself in those books Orochimaru. You need to remember what it means to be a shinobi of this village. What better way than this?" The Hokage asked rhetorically.

The snake sage gave a few grumbles of distaste but said no more. The Hokage's choice was final, even the snake head knew that much. Seeing that the argument was over the Hokage turned back to address the rest of the gathered Jonin.

"Now I will assign you the usual squad of three. We will start with Shibi-san…" Sarutobi started. Minato sort of zoned out until the Hokage got to Orochimaru's squad. "Orochimaru, You will have Mitarashi Anko, Hyuga Hizashi and Seishin Tenzen."

"What?!" Minato blurted out.

"Is there a problem?" The hokage responded.

"I figured I would have Tenzen." Minato replied putting both of his hands to his chest. Orochimaru could help but smirk at Minato's misfortune. Even the sannin assumed that the last of the Seishin would be in the yellow flash's squad.

"I'm sorry Minato, but I can't have you favoring one genin over the others. It wouldn't be fare." The wise Hokage countered.

"Then why is Orochimaru-sama getting Mitarashi Anko?" The ever analytic Shibi asked.

"Anko is a special case. She has become so enthralled by Orochimaru that I fear she may not wish to learn from anyone else. While Tenzen is more of an open book." The Sandaime said confidently. "Also, Orochimaru has had some dealings with Tenzen already. In fact by student has taught Tenzen a few things in the past."

Minato was quite pissed about the whole situation. What makes the Hokage think that Orochimaru won't show special treatment to Anko. She is practically his clone. From what he heard Orochimaru had already signed the young girl to the snake contract.

"No need to worry sensei I teach all three of the equally." Orochimaru said with a devilish grin creasing his face.

"Good. Now Minato, you will have Nohara Rin, Hatake Kakashi, and Uchiha Obito." The Hokage said thinking the discussion about Tenzen was over. "And Shikaku you will have: Yuhi Kurenai, Maito Gai, and Sarutobi Asuma."

Minato supposed he couldn't complain too much. The Hoakge did place him with the classic: top of the class and deadlast combo. He knew that this grouping was only given to the most trusted and skilled of Jonin instructors. Even the Sandaime himself had such team.

"Now you are all dismissed. You meat your teams tomorrow at 9am sharp." The Hokage finished sitting his chair and packing up his pipe once more. Everyone left the room in an orderly fashion. Once outside they closed the door and turned to address one another.

"Well Minato looks you got the stacked team." Tsume said with a slight chuckle in her voice.

"Why do you say that?" Minato asked cocking his head to the side.

"Hatake Kakashi." Shibi said flatly. To which Minato only cocked his head to the other side.

"Hatake Kakashi is a beyond a prodigy. His father has been training him since he was four, and he is undoublty one of the best shinobi to come out of the academy since… well… you." Shikaku said putting his hands on his hips.

Minato was surprised. He knew that Kakashi was good, but he figured Tenzen could easily go toe to toe with him.

"Not to mention you have the one Uchiha in the whole graduating class." Choza added chuckling lightly.

"I hear he's not to bright though." Tsuma continued. "He was dead-last after all."

"So was Jiraiya-sama." Shibi countered in his monotone voice.

Minato didn't like talking about his soon to be students like this, so he remained quite while the others went on-and-on about the different graduates in their squads. He always thought that the true nature of a shinobi wasn't always found in the academy. He remembered how Shikaku was very close to being dead last, even though he was one of the most intelligent and powerful shinobi he knew.

"It doesn't matter what rank they were in the academy." Orochimaru said pulling Minato from his thoughts in surprise. "Now that we are stuck with them it is our job to make them into shinobi that will show our enemies the strength of the hidden leaf."

Though his reasoning was wrong. Minato, for the most part agreed with Orochimaru. It no longer mattered what they did in the academy if was the job of a Jonin instructor to prepare their students for the life of a shinobi.

"Easy for you to say you have that Tenzen kid Minato's been training for years." Tsume said folding her arms across her chest. "And the only Hyuga."

Minato could tell that the others weren't going this discussion go. But, he could tell that Orochimaru's point had made in impact on the others, even though they were going to complain. Maybe Tenzen being with Orochimaru wouldn't be such a bad thing. After all, he was one of the legendary sannin. With his mind at ease he shifted his body to leave.

"Well I'll see you all tomorrow." Minato said holding up his hand and waving once. But before he could Orochimaru spoke up.

"I'll walk with you." The snake Sannin said falling in step with the yellow flash. Orochimaru was full of surprises today. First with the comment, now with acting like a human being. They took a few long steps away from the others before Orochimaru revealed why he was walking along side him.

"Look Minato, what ever you've been doing Tenzen is working. So if you wanted to still teach him I have no problem with it. After all, we both know I will show some more… lets say initiative with training Anko, and the Hyuga will undoubtedly train with his clan." The Sage once again surprised Minato with his logic and honesty. There was no way that he wouldn't show favoritism towards Anko. After all, she was his clone.

"Thank you Orochimaru-sama. I will help Tenzen with training when I have downtime from my own genin." Minato said sounding respectful and slightly indifferent. Orochimaru nodded his head in understanding I moved to walk away, but Minato quickly put his hand on the snake's shoulder to stop him.

"However, may I ask that you show Tenzen and the others what it means to be a leaf shinobi? And help them to understand what being in a squad means." Minato asked with a uncharacteristic blank stare of determination.

Orochimaru was taken back by the seriousness in Minato's voice. He had never seen this side of the blonde boy. He had thought him to be a blabbering idiot just like his once squad mate. The Sannin quickly shook the shock aside and nodded his head once more in understanding, then walked away.

End Flashback

Though the situation wasn't perfect. Minato assumed that it was just fine as it was. Tenzen would be learning under one of Konoha's most powerful and brilliant shinobi. Not to mention the Minato still got to tutor Tenzen and help him when he had the spare time. Thinking about Tenzen being a full-grown shinobi brought a smile to his face. The suddenly, pulling him from his thoughts, there was noise at the door. The dead bolt then turned and the door flew open. In walked Kushina with several bags in her arms, and Tenzen with the biggest smile on his face.

"There you are sensei, I came by earlier but you weren't home." Tenzen said is grin plastered to his face. Then the energetic boy moved his hands to his forehead and adjusted his brand new Hitai-ate. "Check it out."

Minato had already known Tenzen passed but his face still exploded with excitement.

"That's awesome!" Minato exclaimed. "I told ya you would pass."

Tenzen just folded his arms across his chest and nodded his head with pride. He deserved to fell proud. He was officially a shinobi of Konohagakure.

"So in honor of his newest triumph I thought I would make him his favorite." Kushina said from the kitchen where she began putting away her newly bought groceries. Kushina had somehow, very carefully, moved into Minato's apartment. Although Minato was happy that she lived with him. He couldn't help but wonder how all of her stuff got here without him noticing.

"Really nee-chan?! You mean it?!" Tenzen shouted practically bouncing with excitement. Then when Kushina nodded her head happily in confirmation, Tenzen pumped his fist in the air with a loud 'ya-hoo' along with shiro.

After dinner consisting of Kushina's newly famous miso ramen, which was just like any other ramen but with WAY more beef, Tenzen was sitting on the couch holding his stomach and watching Seinfeld. He always that the people on this show lived such weird lives. Why didn't Kramer eve aspire to be a shinobi. He was clearly built for it, both physically and mentally. However, Tenzen was drawn away from his show by a conversation Kushina and Minato just started.

"So how did you're meeting with Hokage-sama go?" Kushina asked blowing on her tea before taking a small sip. Minato took his last bite of the cookie he was eating before he answered.

"Good. It's as you thought." Minato responded swallowing his cookie roughly. Kushina beamed at his news. She put he tea cup down and practically jumped across the table.

"Really?! You're going to be a Jonin instructor?!" The fiery red-head hollered. Tenzen heard this came flying into the room.

"OHMYGODSENSEI! Does this mean you're going to be my jonin instructor?!" The white haired ball of energy shouted over excitedly.

Minato rubbed the back of his head nervously. He could even stand to look Tenzen in the eyes. He knew the boy would not be happy with the arrangement. Kushina eyed the blonde jonin suspiciously. She knew something was up, her lover was like an open book, always with his emotions on his sleeve. Tenzen, however, did not catch on to his sensei's discomfort.

"This is so exciting! Who else is in our squad?" Tenzen asked bouncing from foot to foot. Minato laughed nervously, afraid to tell the boy the truth. Kushina leaned in closer becoming even more suspicious.

"Minato, what's going on?" Kushina asked her face skewed into a puzzled stare. Minato just rubbed the back of his neck and looked down to the floor. Tenzen finally caught onto Minato's reluctance and had a puzzled look as well.

"You see the thing is…" Minato started, but Tenzen cut him off.

"You are my Jonin instructor… right?" Tenzen said his glee slowly being crushed by his sensei's pause. Minato cleared his head and took a long, deep breath.

"No Tenzen, I will not be your Jonin instructor." Minato finally said looking into the boys intense yellow eyes. At first the boy looked crushed and appalled. Then his face quickly took a to red anger.

"What do mean you're not my Jonin Instructor?!" Tenzen hollered rhetorically, shooting his hands to his side. Kushina also looked disappointed. She knew this meant that they would be seeing less of the boy because of his commitment to his squad. Minato stole a quick glance at his lover and closed his eyes in disappointment.

"I'm sorry Tenzen, but it wasn't my decision." Minato countered gently trying to sooth the boys anger. "Hokage-sama is only doing what he think is best."

"The old man did this! Why would he do that?" Tenzen shouted his anger only growing with knowing the Sandaime made the decision.

"He is afraid that if I had you in my genin squad I would show favoritism, and help you out more than the others." Minato said before he put a hand on the boys shoulder. "But, I promise that even though you are not in my squad I will still be here for you. Whether that be for training, or just to be here."

A smile crossed Kushina's face. She couldn't but love when Minato acted this way with Tenzen. It was by far the cutest thing ever, and it also made her a little hor… never mind. Shook herself out of her thoughts and got back to the situation at hand.

"Ill always be here for you to Tenzen." Kushina added moving across the room, and got down to the boys level to give him a tight hug.

Tenzen demeanor softened after the reassurance of his sensei, and Kushina's comfort. He was truly afraid that he wouldn't be able to see Minato or Kushina again. But, as always, his sensei was right. It's not like they are leaving or anything. They would still live in this apartment. Which Tenzen just noticed they both live in now. When the hell did that happen?

"You okay with this Tenzen?" Minato asked making sure his student understood that nothing would change between the three of them. They would always be a family. Even if the weirdest family ever.

"Yeah it's fine, but if you're not my sensei, then who is?" Tenzen asked looking up to his blonde haired sensei. Kushina also looked up at the man with a puzzled look on her face.

Once again Tenzen hesitated, but not out of fear of hurting Tenzen. But rather, he was afraid Kushina would kick his and the Hokage's ass for putting Tenzen with, who she calls, 'The Pedo Snake'.

"Well… it's _" Minato said with the last part being to quite for the two of them to hear.

"What?" Tenzen asked his screwed into a face of confusion.

"Orochimaru." Minato repeated but once again the two didn't hear him.

"Who is it?!" Kushina exclaimed fed up with his childish antics.

"It might be Orochimaru-sama." Minato finally said rubbing his neck once again. Afraid to look up at the raging fireball that was Kushina.

"Really?! Cool?!" Tenzen hollered in excitement. But, Kushina was anything but pleased. She did not want her little Tenzen being taught by that creepy, digusting, pedo, snake freak.

"Are you saying that you are allowing my Tenzen-kun to be taught by Orochi-douche_face." Kushina said with her voice low and menacing. Tenzen grabbed his chin as in thought.

"I've never heard that honorific before." Tenzen stated completely ignoring the raising inferno of female rage. "What does it mean Minato-sensei?"

"Tenzen…" Kushina started staring into the pure fear of Minato's eyes. Tenzen looked up at Kushina only to look into the face of death itself. Both Minato and Tenzen shivered. Kushina slowly turned her head towards Tenzen and the boy nearly crapped himself.

"Please go to our bedroom, and watch TV." Kushina continued through her teeth. Tenzen's body was frozen in horror. His mind said get the hell out of the, but his body wasn't listening. Kushina's face shifted to something even more ferocious when the boy didn't move.

"Bedroom! Now!" Kushina yelled pointing her finger in the direction of the bedroom.

Not having to be told another time Tenzen sped off to the bedroom, grabbing Shiro off the coffee table. He hardily even noticed that he put chakra in his feet out of pure fear. He flew threw the doorway, closed the door, and jumped under the covers of the bed.

From his hiding place within the safety of the beds comforter, Tenzen could hear Kushina yelling at Minato. He could only pick up on a few words. Like: 'snake-pedo' 'shit head', and Kushina's favorite word, 'bitches'. He also heard her use the honorific she had used for Orochimaru earlier. Tenzen couldn't understand why Kushina was so upset. But, there was no way in hell he was going to ask. The usually just caused more harm than good. Once, Jiraiya said that it had something to do with a 'period', and Tenzen thought he might be right. The minute he said it she hit him so hard he didn't wake up for three days. Tenzen was just glad that no other girl he knew had a 'period'.

Kushina had yelled at Minato for so long that Tenzen actually fell asleep. When Kushina walked in she expecting a thousand questions from the boy, but instead found him curled up into a ball with Shiro in his arms. She thought for a minute, but decided to leave the two of them where they were and just crawled into bed with them. It's not like Minato was going to sleep in bed tonight, and she had become comfortable with sleeping with a partner. So, she reached over to Tenzen untied his new Hitai-ate and placed it one the nightstand. Then crawled deeper into the covers.

When she finally got comfortable she looked down to Shiro, who had his eyes wide open. It seemed as though the pup was awake this whole time. She petted the pup lightly on the head where Jiraiya had put the seal to make him small.

"Go to sleep." Kushina said lightly so to not wake Tenzen. Then with that command the small white puff of fur closed his eyes. Kushina was amazed that the seal could still hold up even while the pup was asleep and his chakra system slowed. Then, BAM! Shiro popped back to full size and scooted Kushina to the very edge of the bed. Now it made sense why he wasn't sleeping. So, to compensate for the loss of bed, Kushina rapped her arm around the large wolf. Kushina wiggled for a bit before finding a comfortable position, then let the darkness take her.

End Chapter 17

So now we find out what the genin squads are, and Tenzen is not with Minato. How will Tenzen adjust to learning from Orochimaru? How will he get along with his squad? Find out next time.