I realize that this chapter SUCKS, but I promise, the next chapter's gonna be much more worth reading! But, anyway, please review, I love 'dem feedbacks. ^_^
DISHCLAIMEH: I don't own Naruto, k?
"And finally, Uzumaki Naruto, Aburame Shino and Hyuuga Hinata... Yūhi Kurenai wishes to meet you at Training Ground 8, okay?" Iruka finished, looking up from the paper to address the three. Shino and Hinata nodded, while Naruto grunted affirmatively.
"Okay then, as of now, you are all official genin, and have each been assigned to your teams. I'm very proud to have been your sensei, and I wish you luck in the future!" the scar-nosed sensei proclaimed happily, smiling widely at his class. A chorus of "Arigatō, Iruka-sensei!" rang throughout the classroom, and the new ninja all got up to leave with their teams. Naruto looked over at his new team-mates and grinned. He got a shy smile from Hinata and a slight nod from Shino in return.
"Naruto! Can I have a word with you quickly, please?" Iruka called, as the blonde-haired ninja was just about to leave, stopping him in his tracks, and causing him to grumble softly. Undoubtedly he was going to be lectured by his former teacher one last time...
"We will wait for you." said Shino quietly as he passed, Hinata nodding in agreement. Naruto smiled appreciatively, and turned to face Iruka as the door slammed shut.
"What did I do wrong this ti-" began Naruto, but was cut off as Iruka pulled him into a hug, a hand patting his back comfortingly.
"Uzumaki Naruto... I'm so proud of you." he said, an even wider grin replacing his previously softer smile. As the genin was released from his teacher, he wiped his eyes with the back of his orange sleeve, and looked up at his sensei, his eyes moist. Iruka chuckled and swiped at his nose.
"T-thanks, sensei..." Naruto said thickly, stuttering momentarily as he tried to contain the emotion that threatened to burst forth. 'Is this what it's like to be praised by a parent?' he wondered, biting his bottom lip.
Iruka studied him for a moment, smiling affectionately. "Well, Naruto, I don't want to keep your new sensei waiting... but promise me, you'll let me buy you Ramen tonight, and in return you'll tell me how it all went?" he offered, clapping his hand on Naruto's shoulder.
All hints of the orange-clad ninja's sentimentality quickly disappeared, and his face lit up. "Hell yeah, Iruka-sensei! Thanks a bunch, I'll see you tonight!" he exclaimed, and waved before racing out of the door, slamming it shut behind him.
Iruka shook his head, chuckling. He sure was gonna miss that knuckle-head.
"Ah, you have arrived, Naruto-kun." Shino said softly, as the boy in question approached them. Naruto grinned, and put his hands behind his head. "Sorry, Iruka-sensei had something he wanted to talk about." he replied. He looked around, taking in the sights of the training grounds, as the gentle breeze ruffled his blonde, spiky hair. Broken and bent kunai littered the grassy floor around various training dummy's, which looked as if they'd taken a fair beating over the years. Small, wispy clouds littered the deep blue sky... no doubt Shikamaru was watching them somewhere.
His blue eyes finally rested on the Leaf Ninja Academy in the distance, and he smiled fondly, reminiscing in his mind as though he had graduated years ago.
"There is no problem, Naruto-kun, it is just good that you are here now. Perhaps now our new sensei will reveal herself..." the Aburame kid prompted, adjusting his sunglasses.
"How did you know I was here?" came a soft, slightly amused voice. Naruto quickly spun round to look at Hinata, who was sitting on a large, grey stone. Except that, now, an older woman was standing beside her, a hand on the heiress' shoulder.
She was fairly tall and light-skinned woman of slender build. She had long, black, shoulder-length untamed hair, and very unique eyes that were red in colour, with an additional ring in them. She wore make-up consisting of red lipstick and purple eye shadow. Her outfit consisted of a red mesh armour blouse with only the right sleeve visible. Over this she wore a very broad material which resembled bandages with a pattern on it similar to those of rose thorns. Her hands and upper thighs were also wrapped in bandages and she wore the Konoha forehead protector and regular shinobi sandals.
While Naruto almost fell backwards in surprise, Shino kept his calm, collected composure, and Hinata simply twiddled her fingers together nervously.
"Hinata-san was able to sense you a while ago, I believe... and my kikaichū were able to sense your chakra, meaning that I was alert to your presence as well." Shino explained. Hinata mumbled a soft "Yes...", while Kurenai nodded slightly, impressed. She walked around the rock Hinata was sitting on, and stood before all three genin, smiling down at them.
"Well, now that we're all here, let's start with introductions, shall we? My name is Yūhi Kurenai. I will be your new sensei! My favourite foods are takowasa, vodka and shochu. My least favourite food is cake. I enjoy evening drinks, and I dislike those who undermine others." Kurenai stated pleasantly. "Now, tell us a little about yourself." she said, gesturing to the bug-boy with her hand.
"My name is Aburame Shino. My interests are studying my clans techniques, and entomology... the study of insects." he explained to Naruto, noticing his confused expression. "I dislike people who do not realise that all life, no matter how small, is important. My favourite foods are wild grass salad and winter melon. I dislike tofu balls, and strong smelling foods." he finished, and turned to Hinata expectantly.
Hinata was a little startled at being addressed so suddenly, but nevertheless quickly introduced herself. "My n-name is Hyuuga Hinata. I l-like..." her voice trailed off as she quickly glanced at Naruto and blushed, though he seemed not to notice. Shino and Kurenai did, however, but did not press her on it. "... and I dislike p-people who berate others for lack of ability. My favourite foods are zenzai and cinnamon rolls, and I don't like crabs or shrimp." she mumbled, falling silent immediately after she finished.
Kurenai nodded, and smiled softly. "And you, blondie?" she said, looking at Naruto.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto! I like Ramen and learning new jutsu, and I dislike people who look down on others, and a certain duck-butt head! My favourite foods are Ichiraku Ramen, and Red bean soup! I hate fresh vegetables!" he made a face to indicate his disgust, which made Hinata giggle a little. "And I'm gonna be the Hokage someday!" he finished proudly, grinning widely.
Kurenai nodded thoughtfully. "Well, good luck with that, Naruto. You'll need a lot of training before you can rise to the ranks of the Hokage, though... do you think you can do it?" she challenged, returning his grin. Naruto's grin turned into a determined smile that caused Hinata to blush deeply, and Shino to raise an eyebrow.
"You bet I do! I'll do anything to achieve my dream, and finally people will quit thinking I'm worthless!" he proclaimed, giving his new teacher a thumbs up. She, in turn, chuckled lightly.
"That's what I like to hear! Now, I'd say that today was good enough for just meeting each other, so you may spend the rest of it as you please. However, please meet me here, at 7 AM sharp tomorrow, okay?" finished Kurenai, and disappeared in a puff of smoke without another word. The three new genin looked at each other for a few moments.
"Hey, you guys, we could, y'know, go and get lunch!" offered Naruto, almost drooling at the thought of the Ichiraku Ramen waiting for him.
"I-I'd love t-to, Naruto-kun!" squealed Hinata, pouncing on the opportunity to be closer to her crush. Naruto looked at her and smiled appreciatively. Shino, however, walked over to Naruto silently, and clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Another time, perhaps, I have clan business to attend to elsewhere." said Shino, actually sounding a little regretful. Naruto nodded and shrugged, placing his hands behind his head and grinning.
"Another time? I'll hold ya' to that!" exclaimed the blonde ninja, who then turned away, and began to walk slowly off across the field to Ichiraku's. Hinata squeaked, and bowed quickly to Shino as she quickly followed after Naruto.
Neither had seemed to notice the kikaichū beetle the Aburame had planted on Naruto's shoulder.
"For the purpose of understanding my new team-mates a little more..." the bug-user reassured himself, unsure whether spying on people using insects was considered 'creepy'.