DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto. Just the characters you don't recognize!

AN: Thank you for reading this story, reviewing, adding to alerts and favorites. I apologize for any mistakes; feel free to correct me.

On The Verge

Of Accomplishment

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his chair smoking a pipe in deep thought. The last few days had been unexpectedly sad. His sister's death was shocking, the investigating troop was uncovering some unusual things. Even though there was a fifteen year difference between the siblings, Hiruzen and Kazumi were quite close in their youth. After she had married the heir of Mazuka clan, Hitoshi, there had been significantly less contact between the siblings though they lived in the same village. The Mazuka clan was a very prominant, albeit a very old fashioned clan in Konoha. The clan was very traditional, opposing any and every modern development the village was implementing. Hitoshi was the exception; he was a splendid jonin who had found a balance between his family and duty.

The unhappy clan was looking for a way to make the couple get on board with their plans when little Yumeko was born. They had apparently decided she would become the ticket needed to get the young couple to obey them. She was being molded into the perfect pawn the clan had imagined for the game they wanted to play.

From the many journals ANBU had found, most of them were Kazumi's who had always written everything so she wouldn't forget, the clan had been against Konoha and was planning on defecting to another village soon. This was openly opposed by Hitoshi and Kazumi which led to their shunning. The couple didn't think they would go as far as to kill them. Hitoshi was killed on a mission Hiruzen hadn't sent him on while Kazumi was killed in her own house.

The ANBU sent to the Mazuka compound after Yumeko's arrival had found a young newly promoted chūnin with a bloody kunai in his hand. The other members had fled Konoha offering him as a scapegoat; they knew politics very well. When the T&I searched for his memories it was found that his brain was dissolved. Hiruzen looked at the investigation reports again for a sign that would open up any new leads but for now Konoha had lost a powerful clan or as everything was pointing to: a clan of traitors. It was then a knock interrupted Hiruzen's thoughts.

Touma Ayuzawa and Hokuto Yamada entered the office with a bunch of papers giving a respectful bow. Both highly professional chūnin, with the former to be promoted to jonin any day, were to oversee Yumeko's entrance exam. Hokuto was a well known academy teacher while Touma volunteered sometimes due to respect for his late mother's occupation. Hiruzen had already informed them of her training background and had ordered them to test her in all years of the academy curriculum. It would be interesting to hear what they had found. He nodded for them to speak.

"The candidate only answered eight of the seventy questions correctly in the theory part." Touma informed.

"It was to be expected given her lack of formal education. But she has high practical skills to make up for it." Hokuto added.

"What do you think we should do now? Are her fighting skills enough to enter the academy or does she need to retake the test next time?" Hiruzen asked.

"Not selecting her would be a waste of good talent." Touma stated.

"It's true, Lord Hokage. She shows very promising skills." Hokuto said.

"What's her level?" Hiruzen questioned.

"Average genin." Hokuto answered.

"Hmm, an interesting situation." Hiruzen mused.

"If I may suggest something, Lord Hokage?" Touma requested.

"Of course, Touma."

"Why not put her in the graduating class and make her focus more on the academics?" Touma suggested.

"Yes. It would give her time to study and it will depend on her whether or not she ultimately passes." Hokuto said.

"This idea has merit. Why not-" Hiruzen was speaking when there was a knock on the door.

First Person POV

"So you'll be in my class from Monday but have to study all years' books in order to catch up?" Asuma asked as we walked towards the dango shop.

"Something like that; but I passed." I repeated. There was a huge line from the shop and I stood at the end when Asuma stopped me.

"My friends would have saved a table, let's go." Asuma said with amusement.

"But there's a huge line. These people have probably stood here for hours." I observed.

"We have bit of a dango enthusiast in our group. She skipped classes today to be the first in line." Asuma admitted looking for his friends. There was a loud 'YOSH' and Asuma expertly dragged me towards the source.

"Yumeko these are my friends." Asuma informed me much to my shock. I was looking at the younger versions of some of the main Naruto characters. I tried really hard not to squeal when Guy, Genma, Kurenai and Anko were introduced and succeeded much to my delight but no one could bring me from my high tonight.

The group attracted too much attention with their loudness but couldn't care less. They were constantly teasing Asuma and Kurenai and watching them turn very interesting shades of red was very amusing. Genma commented on their closeness at unexpected times causing us to either choke or burst out laughing. Sometime later, all attention was focused on Anko and her dango addiction which we all joined. The evening passed with much laughter and sweet dango.

For the first time in this life, I had friends who I could talk to and who included me in return. When they got to know I would be joining their class in a few days, everyone eagerly gave their opinion on the teachers and some of the students interrupting each other. All in all, it was fun and funny.

I did not inform any one of my birthday which was the very next day after my parents' funeral. It felt wrong to celebrate at such a sad time and without them. I was very excited for my very first academy class. I had purchased efficient clothes which consisted of a dark blue sleeveless kimono dress that reached my knee with slits on both sides and a pair of shorts underneath.

Much to my surprise, Hokuto was this class' sensei who made me introduce myself in front of the whole class before starting his lessons on the first day. Halfway through the lesson, Obito made his appearance and no one looked surprised seeing his sheepish expression. Hokuto- sensei looked exasperated before letting him enter.

The next few months I spent at the academy were very scheduled. Attend the academy with Asuma, spend lunch with his friends, come home, run to the library with Anko who was a nerd (which came as huge surprise since she was very much like Naruto in the anime but she was surprisingly shy and insecure), join the group whereever they hung out that day, come home completely exhausted but very happy.

I was surprised to be one of the best at practicals so the afternoon classes were my favorite. Asuma's friends or 'our group' as I referred to in my head, were initially surprised to see me fight well but then accepted it. Obito was late everyday and his excused were little hard to believe if you didn't know it was the truth. Genma and Guy were total opposites; it was really shocking to see Guy in his 'youthful' mode which was in its initial stages but still funny. Especially when Genma sarcastically commented on it and Guy took it as compliments. Since Asuma and Kurenai were the text book definition of just friends, I hung out with Guy and Genma. Anko was rarely seen lately except for the occasional dango indulgence; rest of the time she was found in the Konoha general library. We tried to get her to hang out with us but gave up after a month.

All too soon, the graduation exam was right around the corner. I had long since caught up with the academics and was actually looking forward to the exam. I was just as anxious as the group that we all were going to be separated. Asuma and Kurenai were having it the hardest since Asuma had failed the last time to be with her and now he was afraid they wouldn't be in the same team while Kurenai was not confident that she would actually pass. I tried to assure them that they would do fine but neither were ready to listen.

The day after the test all of us were happy to see that we had passed. It was a very happy Hokuto- sensei who arrived in a room full of nerves and excitement.

"I'm very proud of you all. You will be the ones to represent and defend the village. You all possess the will of fire; make sure it always burns bright."

"It's probably from my old man." Asuma whispered to us.

"It is very youthful." Guy commented loudly in a whisper.

"Now the teams." Hokuto sensei said, getting absolute silence. "Team One will consist of..." And finally "Team Seven Obito Uchiha and Yumeko Sarutobi with a previous graduate." THE HELL?! I ignored Obito's 'Alright' and the group's congratulations.

"Team Eight Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yūhi and Shiro Nara."

"Team Ten Guy Might, Genma Shiranui and Rin Nohara."

"You'll meet with your senseis in the rooms allotted to you after lunch. The list is on the notice board. Once again, congratulations." Hokuto left the room amidst the excitement.

We all had a huge lunch to mark our last day together at the academy. While the four of them had at least one other they were worried I would be left alone. I was touched by the genuine worry they showed; especially after they saw that I would be teamed with Kakashi Hatake.

"I could write a horror story based on him." Genma.

"He is my most hip and cool rival but is very unyouthful." Guy.

"Be careful." Kurenai.

"If they give you any trouble, we'll deal with them." Asuma.

Actually he had grown over protective after an incident with a bully from class. With a last goodbye we all headed to the allotted rooms.

Fifteen minutes later I was sitting alone waiting for anyone to show up. I had seen on the list that Anko was on a team led by Orochimaru. Thinking, there was a Naruto marathon going on in my head. I was going to be in the middle of a war watching many I was close to die; I could die. Right now, the safe civilian life was more and more appealing.

AN: Was this too long? Things get interesting from now on. I hope you liked this chapter. I know the teams are all messed up; I wanted it that way! I only intended to write a couple of paragraphs in the beginning but I just kept typing and liked it...

Next up: Meeting the team and the introduction of a very interesting character who doesn't appear in canon but we all know he was there :) Guess who?

Let me know what you think!