A/N: Two chapters in one day? I must be feeling very generous seeing as I plan to finish up the last one and post it up.
I figured, reviews will come when they want to but it won't stop me from asking for you to kindly leave one and let me know that you guys are still enjoying the story. I have so much that I want to do for it and have a lot of things already planned.
Please, review!
Disclaimer: Do not own Naruto or Inuyasha.
Upon entering the door to their Academy classroom, Kagome smiled brightly. Sure, she was there pretty early but she felt like something exciting was to happen today. She just knew it! 'Maybe, I'll be on Asuma-nii's team!'
Walking further in and spotting Shikamaru snoozing at his usual seat, Kagome grinned and took off towards him. Just as she was about to pounce on him like she usually does, Shikamaru opened his eyes and caught her in mid-leap. Looking at him in shock, Kagome smiled sheepishly as she looked into Shikamaru's bored gaze.
"You'd think you'd learn how to be a little more subtle, Kags," He deadpanned as he let her go before leaning back into his usual position. "Geez, what a drag. I should have left the house a little later."
Ignoring his earlier comment in favor of his more recent one, Kagome gaped at him. "What? And miss the naming of our squads? I know you're lazy, Shika but that's a little too far. Don't ya think?"
"Yeah," Shikamaru said, "What of it?"
Kagome stared at him a little longer before laughing. "Good to know you'll never change, Shikamaru."
As she laughed, Shikamaru just grumbled to himself after realizing he won't be able to doze off any longer.
Sasuke had always been the first to arrive to the academy. More so because he couldn't stand being in the empty compound for longer than he had to. So, instead of staying for breakfast in his home, he left early to grab it on the go before heading to their usual classroom.
So, imagine his surprise when a little after he arrived a few of the dead lasts showed up as well. Shikamaru Nara, the lazy one. Choji Akimichi, the eater. Kiba Inuzuka, the hothead. They all showed up one after the other. All that needs to happen is for the knucklehead to show up next.
Just as the thought entered his brain, the student door slid open and while he was expecting Naruto - he wasn't necessarily surprised to see Kagome. While she wasn't a dead last, she was always seen with them.
Taking her in, Sasuke watched as she skimmed the classroom and grinned brightly at seeing Shikamaru. Pushing the urge to glare down, he watched as she approached the shadow user in a fake display of stealth before being caught mid way into her pounce. Gritting his teeth, Sasuke tried to figure out why he even had those sorts of feelings rising in him. He barely spoke to the kunoichi and when he did, it could barely be called a conversation.
Turning away from the slightly irritating scene, Sasuke turned back to his thoughts no matter how dark they were. At this moment, they were more welcoming than the feelings he just experienced all because of the newest female addition.
A half hour went by and little by little, the rest of the newly assigned Genin trickled in. Kagome had taken her spot next to Shikamaru and Choji and decided to watch the shinobi and kunoichi alike walk in with their headbands. While stealing some of Choji's chips without him seeing, Kagome took it upon herself to go through each student and determine whether they will pass the final test that will be given to them when assigned to their teams.
As she went through the mental lists, Kagome realized that there will be one team with four ninja in it instead of the usual three. 'Could it be because of me?' Kagome thought in realization.
Just as the thought crashed in on her, the door slid open once more and in came her favorite knucklehead. All smiles and confidence, Naruto came crashing in with a headband tied around his forehead.
Turning his head, Shikamaru raised a brow at the sight of his friend coming in. "Eh, what gives? I thought you didn't pass, Naruto," Shikamaru said bluntly.
Kagome gave her friend a slight glare but before she could jump to Naruto's defense, said blonde decided to do it himself.
"Yeah? Well, I did pass. Believe it! I'm one step closer to becoming Hokage!" Naruto exclaimed as he stated his usual line causing Kagome to laugh.
Naruto, catching sight of his best friend moved towards her only to be stopped when what felt like a stampede came from the hallway. Turning from his spot, he watched as Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka both came through the door only to get stuck in the middle as they fought their way in.
"Out of the way, Ino-pig! I got here first!"
"No way, Forehead! I won't allow you to get the seat next to Sasuke just because you believe you were ahead of me!"
"Grr, Ino Pig!"
"Forehead Girl!"
Kagome sighed at this and watched as Naruto's eyes narrowed at hearing his crush speak about wanting to be near Sasuke Uchiha. Knowing something was about to happen, Kagome moved to stop him however Shikamaru put a hand on her arm.
"He doesn't need you to protect him all the time, Kagome. Allow him to make his own mistakes and deal with the consequences," He said seriously causing Kagome to look at him strangely before nodding her head.
Turning to watch the scene transpire, Kagome watched as the guy behind Naruto decided to yawn and stretch which caused Kagome to wince as she watched the Rookie of the Year and Dead Last's lips touch completely.
Biting down on her lip as screams from the fan girls floated around the room, Kagome tried her hardest to hold in her laugh at what had just transpired. Shikamaru was shaking next to her and she knew he was fighting hard to do the same.
Watching as they sprang apart and proceeded to try and wipe their tongues out, Kagome felt a chill go down her spine as the temperature seemed to drop in the room. As the kunoichi in the room suddenly blocked her path and appeared from behind Naruto, Kagome decided now would be the best time to step in.
Disappearing from her seat and appearing next to Naruto, Kagome grinned at the girls before grabbing onto his arm and rushing him to the back of the room. As she let out the breath she was holding, Kagome glared at Naruto. "Seriously? What were you thinking, knucklehead?"
"Hey! That's knucklehead ninja, now! See? I got my headband. I'm an official shinobi, believe it!" Naruto exclaimed to Kagome and she smiled softly.
"I do, Naruto. I always knew you could do it. It doesn't matter how or when, just as long as you're there with us all," Kagome stated to him before sharing a smile with Naruto.
"Alright, shinobi," The class tuned down when Iruka's voice floated throughout the room. "Welcome to your first day as official Genin. Now, while it is only the basis level of shinobi, it is no less important. You all will be put on a three man squad that is led by a third level shinobi known as a Jounin. You will be trained together as a squad and will take on tasks and missions that are required of you."
Kagome listened intently in hopes of figuring out her dilemma. 'He failed to mention anything about a four man squad… is that a good thing?'
"Squad Seven," Iruka spoke up, "consists of Naruto Uzumaki," Kagome looked hopeful that she would be on his team, "Sakura Haruno," both Sakura and Kagome deflated while Naruto at least looked a bit happy though he did turn to see Kagome looking down, "and Sasuke Uchiha." Naruto turned back in shock while Sakura cheered for her luck.
'Then I better be on Shikamaru's team!' Kagome thought with determination as she watched Sakura and Ino argue about Sakura's luck.
Shikamaru turned to her, his face scrunched up in confusion and slight disgust. "What's the big deal anyways? What do they see in a guy like that? He's not so special."
Kagome opened her mouth to retort, her eyes dancing in laughter before Ino stepped in. "You're so clueless, Shikamaru. Don't you get it?"
Shikamaru glared at Ino for her question. "No, I don't because I'm not a girl."
Kagome laughed at that especially when Ino paused before sighing. "You are so full of yourself," Kagome looked at her in confusion, "jealousy is a terrible thing. I'd hate to be on your squad."
Kagome wanted to retort that it wasn't so bad but Shikamaru turned to her with a smile. Narrowing her eyes, Kagome just turned back to the front as she waited for her name to be called.
"Squad Eight. Hinata Hyuuga," Oh, I forgot! Kagome turned to the girl in question, her eyes swimming with sympathy as she knew that the Hyuuga wanted to be with her friend, "Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame." That sounds like it would be an interesting team…
"And Squad Ten." Kagome tuned in for that as she knew that this was Asuma's team number. "Ino Yamanaka," No! "Shikamaru Nara," - "Hah! What was that about hating to be on my team?" Shikamaru mocked Ino. - "And Choji Akimichi."
'Hah, the InoShikaCho Squad. I see what they did there.' Kagome thought with a slight smirk. Then, Kagome gasped before turning to face Iruka again. "Wait a minute," Kagome spoke up causing the whole class to turn to her as they too realized the same thing, "what about me? I wasn't assigned a squad."
Iruka looked at her and smiled softly. "That's right. Kagome, your squad will be consisting of two other members who did not go through the Academy. You are to report to the Hokage when I dismiss you all."
"But," Kagome stuttered out as she sat back down with a defeated look on her face, "then who is my sensei? My teammates? Everyone else is with someone they know."
"I know how you must feel Kagome but your results were off the charts. You wouldn't have fit in any of the squads assigned here," Iruka answered as he placed the clipboard down and walked a few steps closer to the class and Kagome. "Trust me when I say that you will get along with this squad even if you, yourself, do not believe so."
Kagome looked at him and heard the sincere honesty coming in through his words. Nodding, Kagome looked down before she felt Shikamaru's hand on her shoulder. Smiling softly, she nodded at her friend to let him know that she will be fine.
"Alright class, for the last time," Iruka spoke proudly, albeit a little sadly, "you are dismissed."
All at once the class cheered as they met up with their squad members and spoke of who they got as a Jounin leader. Kagome stood up and with one last look at the class, disappeared from the classroom.
Sarutobi sat within his office awaiting for the girl that held so many mysteries between her innocent smile. Hearing the knock, he gave the visitor his consent to enter.
Watching as the small girl walk in with a nervousness that was unbecoming of her, Sarutobi knew of her weariness at not having a team that went through the same things as she did. Little did she know, the team she is assigned to is much more similar to her.
"Kagome Higurashi," Kagome looked up at the call of her name, her eyes clashing with the wizened ones of the Hokage. "There is much you do not know. Things that have been kept from you in hopes of it not triggering."
At the one word, Kagome knew he was speaking of the past she forgot. She looked at him with slight betrayal in her eyes. 'I knew it, they did keep some things away from me.'
"Take a seat, young one. Your team will be taking a while to arrive."