Disclaimer: I have plans to steal the rights to Naruto from Kishimoto.
Problem: Plane ticket to Japan is too much

Soft footsteps pattered into the room as Hinata entered with her head bowed. Even though she had graduated and risen to Genin, a celebratory time for most children, all she could think was that Naruto had failed, and so would be held back. The very thought that she would no longer be able to play with her friend/secret crush devastated her.

Even so, she couldn't help but look to the door each time it opened up, hoping to see a mop of blond step through. Aside from Ino's customary race with Sakura, no such event happened. She had given up about five minutes before class was to officially start and laid her head on her arms.

Wait, who was running down the hall so fast…?

SLAM!

"Made it in time, y'know!" A panting, familiar voice reached her ears, and she dared to hope once more, looking to the door to see familiar golden hair and blue eyes, the latter scanning the room until they connected with her own. Naruto grinned his megawatt grin and waved.

"Hey, Naruto, the hell are you doing in here? Today's team assignments, so only graduates are allowed!"

The blond's grin turned smug as he looked over to Kiba, jabbing a thumb to his forehead. "I know that, you prick! Take a look and tell me I didn't graduate!"

Even as Kiba studied for one second before nodding and flashing his friend his own grin and a thumbs up, Hinata couldn't help but really take in what had replaced Naruto's goggles.

A real Leaf forehead protector.

A small gasp escaped her lips even as a smile took its place on them. Naruto bounded up to her and sat down in the empty spot to her left. "Hey, hey, Hinata, look! See?" He adjusted the plate on his forehead, getting some light to glint off.

"Y-yes, I do." The heiress nodded, and shut her eyes as her smile widened. "Congratulations, Naruto."

The blond only chuckled in response and rubbed a finger under his nose.

"Alright everyone, settle down! Naruto, you were cutting it close there; I saw you run into the room." Iruka smiled slightly as he waved off Naruto's apology. "Now, for those students that are in this room, congratulations. You are officially ninja!" Faces lit up and some kids cheered. "But even then, you're Genin: lowest of the low. It only gets tougher from here on, so be sure to do your best!

"Now, for team assignments. Team 1: …"

Naruto tuned most of Iruka's words out, half-heartedly listening to the names so that he would know who his teammates would be. It would take a few minutes to hear it. "Team 7: Uzumaki Naruto," the blond shot to attention, and Hinata seemed to lend more of an ear next to him, "Uchiha Sasuke," Naruto groaned and slammed his head on the desk, grasping his scarf, "and Hyuuga Hinata." The heiress gasped as her face lit up as red as her benchmate's scarf, and Naruto's head shot back up, a grin present as he turned to his friend.

"Hey, hey, Hinata! We're on the same team, y'know! Ain't that awesome?" he asked quietly, as the Chunin in the front of the room finished off teams (and some fan girls moaned in despair).

The young girl looked over to the whiskered boy shyly, before averting her gaze to her hands. She nodded as a smile took place on her lips. "Y-Yes; I'm happy we're teammates…"

"Heheh!" Naruto's eyes shifted over to the Last Uchiha, and his face turned sour. "Sucks though that we're on the same team as that jerk. We don't even need 'im, y'know! Either of us could kick his ass."

Hinata looked to her friend in shock. "Eh? But…he's Rookie of the Year…"

"So what? Grades don't mean nothin'—"

"Ahem."

Naruto flinched and turned to see Iruka staring at him. "Er… Sorry, Iruka-sensei…"

Their eyes remained locked for a second longer before the Chunin addressed the class as a whole. "Now that you know who your teammates are, I suggest you use this opportunity to get to know each other better. You're all free to head out for a lunch break; meet back here by 1:30 this afternoon to meet your Jonin instructors." The scarred man flashed one more congratulatory smile before collecting his things and leaving, prompting the kids to mingle about.

"Hey, Hinata, you wanna get some lunch at Ichiraku's?" the blond of Team 7 asked his friend.

The girl smiled and nodded, before pale lavender eyes turned to the pair's third teammate a couple seats ahead of them. "Sasuke, would you like to join us?" Even as the Uchiha turned to look at them, Naruto pouted. Hinata, in a rare display of exasperation, rolled her eyes skyward. "He's our teammate, Naruto; we should be nice."

"Don't wanna, y'know!" Hinata giggled at his answer.

Sasuke studied his teammates as he thought over the Hyuuga's offer. He was…well, he wouldn't say happy, but more content with being on the same team as the heiress. This was mitigated by being on the same team as the class clown. The fool couldn't even make a decent clone as far as he knew (strangely, that was his only problem jutsu). After a moment, he shrugged. "Why not; I'll come." He deadpanned at Naruto gaping. "Hinata does have a point; we are on the same team, loathe as I am to admit it. We can use this time to get to know each other's strengths and weaknesses."

The blond continued his gape, until Hinata tapped his shoulder. This shook him out of his shock, and he sighed, shrugging himself. "Fine, I guess. C'mon; I'll pay!" He grasped his friend's hand, sending blood to her face, and rushed out of the room, leading Hinata out. Sasuke smacked his face and followed.

Soon enough, once the trio were seated at the ramen stand's counter, Ayame came out holding a pad and pen, smiling. "Naruto! Good to see you!" The blond grinned back. "Who're your friends?"

"This is Hyuuga Hinata," he slung an arm around the girl next to him, eliciting a small squeak from her that Ayame found herself cooing internally at. Naruto pointed a finger at Sasuke, who was on Hinata's other side. "That prick there is Sasuke." The Uchiha snorted. "We're all on the same team, y'know!"

"That right?" Sasuke watched as the waitress reached over the counter and poked two fingers into Naruto's forehead. He squeezed his fist tightly at the sight.

"Hey, quit it!" the blond laughed out, swatting at his big sister's hand.

The brunette grinned. "So what am I getting you?"

"Start me off with a large miso!" Naruto thrust his fists into the air.

The older girl nodded as she wrote the order and turned to the younger. "And you, miss Hyuuga?"

"Ah, erm…" She scanned the overhead menu quickly, before turning her eyes back to Ayame. "Vegetable, please, with extra noodles?"

Ayame sent black eyes to the Last Uchiha, who locked with his own before opening his mouth. "Vegetable as well, with extra tomatoes."

Once the orders were finalized, the waitress nodded. "It'll be a few minutes, so sit tight." With one last smile, she headed to the back to get the orders to her father.

"So," Naruto turned to address the two next to him after swallowing, some minutes later, "who do you think is gonna be our sensei?"

"I don't care one way or another, just so long as they can hold their own." Sasuke swirled his noodles around, not looking up from the bowl. "I would want someone ANBU level, but that's a pipe dream."

"I would be happy with Miss Kurenai." When Hinata saw the questioning glance both boys sent her way, she elaborated. "Miss Kurenai was one of my tutors while we were in school. I heard she was recently promoted to Jonin, which means she would be eligible to take a team."

Naruto nodded as he polished his bowl off. "Sounds awesome!"

"What's her specialty, if any?"

The heiress blinked, before turning to the Last Uchiha. "Genjutsu, I believe." She smiled, amused. "Perfect for you, Mr. Uchiha?"

Sasuke's visage shifted into amusement as he locked his gaze on Naruto. "You're rubbing off on her."

The blond chuckled and jumped from the stool as he laid money for the three bowls. "Ya think? C'mon, let's go find out!" He ran out of the shack, his teammates behind him, all off to begin their ninja careers.

Yeah, yeah. Hinata and Naruto on the same team. I like it.

Actually, I haven't decided on an instructor yet, so leave me suggestions. Anyone is open game: Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma. Hell, even Spec. Jonin like Anko are possible.

It's also a very real possibility that the team's first (real) mission won't be Wave. Prior experience taught me I'm bad. *glares at RoaP drafts* I'm trying; cut me some slack.

I'm still fishing for TV Tropes recommendations for…either story now. It'd give me plenty of motivation to continue writing.

Gracias por leer!