I'll have to go over all the chapters at one point because apparently I'm a formatting slob and I still don't have a beta reader. Please, someone take pity on me.
On another note: Thank you guys so much! We're almost at 100 reviews and I still can't believe it. Once we hit the 100 there's a tiny treat for you: I've put together a list of random facts about the people that turn up in my fic, with the full intention of turning some of them into oneshots.
EDIT: after the resounding NO to the new formatting, here the fixed version:D
And let me just say: WOW – we hit the big 100 literally over night! Thank you all so much! Chapter 19 is in the works right this very moment. You know me, the second it's done I'll post it because I simply have to show you.
While Hisana likes to think of team 7 as her biggest problem, that's not actually true.
In fact, those annoying, antsy children have turned into a real team. They still fight, but just last week she caught Sasuke laugh out loud at his team's hijinks.
It was summarily pressed down, as soon as Sakura and Naruto realized what exactly they were hearing, but it was most definitely the first care-free, child-like laugh Hisana has ever heard from her cousin. It's been two years. She's never heard him genuinely laugh for two whole years. The realization hits her rather hard.
But no, her most pressing problem is currently one of her own making.
"So, graduation," Shiki says apropos of nothing.
"Please don't," Hisana groans. "I don't want to think about it until I have to."
"That's uncharacteristically short-sighted of you," Shizuha muses, "Is there something bothering you in particular?"
Yes, but she's not even sure what it is. The one thing labeled 'Graduation' in her head – capitalized and everything – has always been team 7's graduation. In turn her own has completely blindsided her.
"I am very nervous," Shizuha confesses. "I have tried observing our classmates to estimate which of them might be our possible teammates, but there are several unknown variables yet."
Shiki waves her concerns away.
"You're worrying too much. I already know mine of course, but there's not much you could do even if you knew. Just … relax and let it happen."
While not great advice, it's pretty much the only advice they get. Ito-sensei, too, only told them good ninjas were flexible in mind as well as in body, and they should remember that once they were paired off. Which basically equates to 'shut up and get along'.
There is a certain truth in Shiki's words as well though: she'll get who she'll get. It's not as if she knows any jounin that could potentially be her teacher or as if she knows any other of her classmates by name.
Her friends even garner a certain amount of entertainment of her inability to call them anything but 'that blonde chick', 'that Hyuuga' or 'that other Hyuuga'. Is she self-centered? Probably.
Turning her attention towards this amorphous mass of unknown faces is therefore an exercise in futility. There's no way she can match names and faces, much less how good any of them perform in any given subject. She's not even sure anymore if she's still on top of her class.
"You are," Shizuha assures her. "It is likely that you will be paired with the worst performing student and someone in the middle field."
That is exactly how it went down with team 7 in the manga, so the probability is indeed high; but for whatever reason Shizuha's tone suggests otherwise, which immediately makes all of Hisana's alarm bells go off.
"You know something."
"I know nothing."
Yes, sure, of course.
Whatever Shizuha may know or not know, graduation is rapidly approaching, and Hisana has no more luck getting her to spill as the day comes closer.
"You know what is making me nervous?" Shiki finally says, two days before their last weekend, "That Inomaru has been talking incessantly about his new 'grown-up genin outfit'. It makes me feel inadequate."
"So Shiki-chan does possess female pride," Shizuha remarks, which only earns her a half-hearted whack.
"No, it just makes sense – we're officially ninja now and if we don't look the part they won't take us seriously. But I don't want to go shopping."
"Then ask your mother," Hisana points out, "She'll be happy to do it for you."
There's some grumbling about still being dressed by her mother, but she knows that's not really an argument against the general Nara-laziness. "I also doubt," she adds, "that anyone will take you seriously with your work moral, no matter how you dress."
"Can't even argue with that."
She can't deny that she's also a little nervous. On the one hand, she'll only meet a bunch of kids that she'll have to lug around for the next however many years – on the other, from any mission onwards now there's a legitimate chance she'll die.
The more childish part of her – the one who still thinks it's just so cool that she's living in a manga – is hung up enough over the thought of her very own genin team, that she's actually losing sleep over it.
The only one more excited about the whole thing than her is Naruto.
"Nee-chan," he breathes, eyes comically wide, "you're going to be a real ninja now! You got to tell me what it's like!"
He wriggles closer to her, in the process shoving Sasuke out of the way, who collapsed right next to her after their Friday endurance training.
"You already know what it's going to be like," she protests. "A surprise practical part and a written one about pretty much everything. Afterwards I'll go and try not to get myself or my team killed."
There's a little noise coming from Sakura and then the girl is suddenly right in her face.
"It's more than that! It's an honor to serve the village. And you'll get a team – a proper team!"
There's a moment of silence as the kids let that sink in. Sakura is the first to collect herself.
"Uhm, does that mean we're not meeting for training anymore?"
Technically it does. Officially, team 7 is her school project of sorts; after graduation she'll have other duties.
"Well …," she says instead, "I don't know about training. But as long as I'm home you could still see me in the evenings. And I want you three to keep up with your training, even if I'm not around. I'm sure you could ask Genma-senpai to help you out a little."
"That's right," Sasuke snorts. "He still hasn't gotten that promotion, has he? He's going to need some more extras on his CV."
And because Sasuke is scarily often right about people, that's exactly how it goes.
With team 7 in good – good-ish – hands, she can properly focus on her own problem. Or rather, panic.
It does strike her as bizarre that the last-minute cramming for a ninja graduation exam is the same as for all other final exams she's ever taken anywhere, even though she's more than confident about her own abilities for once.
When Monday comes she just wants to get it done already.
Her class is scheduled for exams around mid-day; she wishes that would mean sleeping in, but she's too nervous to sleep and Sasuke still has school, so she might as well walk him there.
During the course of the weekend her cousin has gotten suspiciously quiet; not the usual Sasuke-quiet where he still can't keep the snarking to himself, but really quiet. She only really realized on Sunday evening, when she closed her books for good and noticed that he'd been home the whole day and she hadn't heard a peep of him. Her head was far too full of facts and figures for serious conversation though, so she decided not to ask at least until the end of the exam.
On the way to the Academy he's still completely silent and dragging his feet.
"Hisa-nee?" he finally asks, two streets away from their destination, "What you said on Friday … you're not really going to die, are you?"
Her first instinct is to say 'No, of course not', because you're supposed to reassure children like that, aren't you? But then again, she doubts that Sasuke of all people would be satisfied with empty promises and platitudes.
"Probably not," she settles on. "I'm going to be a genin, they aren't going to send us on dangerous missions for a while. Also, I'm an Uchiha; we're kind of a rare commodity."
He winces, but it's the truth. A truth he's going to be hearing for the rest of his life.
"There will be my jounin teacher who's supposed to watch out for me. But there's always a chance I'll die. We're ninjas."
It's as simple as that. While he doesn't seem happy with her answer, it does seem to satisfy him in a grim sort of way. In front of the gates he hesitates briefly, but in the end he simply gives her a stiff wave and a 'good luck', before purposefully walking away.
Idiot, she thinks fondly. But at least he's trying.
Too much time is a problem she very rarely faces. It's nice to simply wander the streets of Konoha, with at least four hours to kill. Going home is not an option; she's afraid she might crack open her books again. She considers going to bother Genma, but there's no guarantee that he's home and she might possibly be a little afraid of his man-cave, too. Instead she seeks out the little tea house Sasuke and her like to visit because her cousin likes their home-made senbei crackers.
It's still early, but the village is already bustling with merchants and ninjas alike. It's nice to sit down and simply watch them for once, instead of being part of it.
The owner, an elderly lady that everyone only calls Baa-chan, quickly ushers a tired-looking waitress her way, a cup of her preferred genmaicha tea already on her tray.
"You're in luck," the girl says as a greeting and puts down the steaming cup in front of her, "the water's just stopped boiling."
It's still cool outside; soon it's going to be too warm for tea, but right now the hot cup is more than welcome to warm her hands. She orders some mochi and settles down to people watch. Briefly she wonders what the others are doing – Shiki is probably still asleep, Shizuha might be up and studying – but she discards the thought when her mochi arrive. Strawberry, her favorite. Of course absolute peace never lasts long in Konoha.
"GOOD MORNING, HARDWORKING CITIZENS OF KONOHA! CAN I TROUBLE YOU FOR MY MONTLY SWEET INDULGENCE THIS VERY FINE MORNING?"
Hisana nearly chokes on her mochi. Two years, she thinks, I've managed to avoid him for two years. Why now?
A shadowed figure strikes a dramatic pose in the doorway.
"Dear god …," Baa-chan echoes from somewhere. "Is it that time again?"
"Indeed!" Gai cries out. His indoor-voice is only slightly less deafening than his outdoor-voice. "I have come for my favorite treat in all of Konoha – your delectable strawberry mochi!"
Hisana glances down at her own plate and despairs.
"Why?" she whispers to a nearby waitress. "Why here?"
"Darling, I've been asking that since I've started here ten years ago. He's only here once a month, because apparently he can't eat sweets like a regular person. You just got unlucky."
Ten years, she thinks. She appears to be incredibly lucky actually, or she would have run into him far sooner.
Maito Gai is a hulk of a man, and as he approaches the counter he dwarfs everyone he passes. Hisana has only ever seen one person look like that and it had been a body-building champion on television.
He looks incredibly impressive and while most ninjas in the manga appeared to cringe away from his personality, the civilians seem to do it out of sheer fear of his humongous muscles. He turns around, to flash a thumbs up and … - she nearly chokes for a second time, this time even without the mochi.
Gai's face is actually rather normal, but his eyebrows are decidedly not. She briefly remembers what her sister used to call 'statement brows', before – no, just no. The weirdest thing about Gai is, in fact, that he would look completely normal, if it wasn't for his – really very shiny – bowl cut and the incredibly unfortunate spandex. His nice guy pose does not magically make rainbows or beach scenes appear, but his teeth are indeed very white.
Hisana fights the urge to avert her gaze in second-hand embarrassment and instead carefully hides her face behind her mug.
Please hurry with the mochi, she thinks. Hurry and make him go away. Baa-chan seems to have similar thoughts and Gai is served politely but unusually quickly; in a matter of minutes three neatly packed mochi are shoved into his arms and a pair of waitresses with fixed smiles frog march him to the door.
"What lovely, prompt service! The youth is still strong in you, Baa-chan – I will return next month!"
Maybe she exhaled too loudly in relief. Maybe Gai can smell fear like a shark. Or maybe she really is unlucky. Whatever it is, it makes Gai turn towards her with the accuracy of a heat seeking missile just before he reaches the door.
"WHY HELLO!" he cries, outdoor voice already back in service, "AREN'T YOU GENMA-KUN'S GIRL?"
She's not sure if Gai's definition of 'being someone's girl' is the same as everyone else's, but she's too shocked to agree or deny either way. One of the waitresses has grabbed onto his arm, desperate enough to try and bodily pull him out of the establishment. She might as well be a bug on his jumpsuit, as easily as he simply drags her along to make his way to Hisana's table. Oh dear god.
"You are acquainted with Genma-senpai?" she grits out, half-afraid she'll start stuttering in horror. Up close Gai is even bigger and his spandex even more embarrassing; sitting down her face is about level with his crotch. The situation feels more and more bizarre and horrifying.
Gai takes her question as an invitation to sit down and unpack his mochi.
"One cup of green tea, please!" he addresses the waitress, who visibly sags in defeat.
From somewhere in the kitchen she can hear Baa-chan's wail of despair before it tapers off and she barks at someone to 'get that god forsaking tea already'.
"Genma-kun and I were part of a most youthful team!" Gai informed her. "Together with Ebisu-kun and our esteemed Sensei Akimichi Chouza!"
Two common acquaintances. How in the world did she manage to evade him for so long? Does today make her more lucky or unlucky?
While she ponders this, Gai has spied her last half eaten mochi.
"Ahhh, you also know the wonders of Baa-chan's youthful strawberry mochi! You have good taste!"
He takes an oddly dainty bite from his own mochi.
"I look forward to this every month," he confides, "My rigorous training plan does not allow for more indulgence – but that makes it all the more special!"
Baa-chan herself brings Gai's tea, apparently only to cast Hisana a pitying and apologetic look. 'My bad' it seems to say as she puts down a glass of chilled grape juice down in front of her.
"On the house," she promises. She does love Uchiha privileges, Hisana thinks, happily eying the dark red drink. If she were anyone else, she's sure Baa-chan would have kicked her out alongside Gai, since it's actually her mere presence that keeps the jounin here.
"I've heard of your … special … training," she admits.
"So the Sublime Green Beast's reputation precedes him," Gai trills in delight. "My greatest aspiration is to inspire young ninjas to enjoy their youth to the fullest! It is always a joy when my voice reaches yet another ear!"
He flashes another thumbs up and grin. There's mochi stuck between his teeth.
"Today the graduation exam is held," he suddenly remarks, "Are you not participating?"
"My class is scheduled for 12 o'clock."
"Marvelous! Genma-kun spoke highly of you; if you've worked hard, I'm sure you will succeed!"
She wonders if one grows numb to Gai's histrionics over time or if it's a skill acquired through hard work. She'll have to ask Genma.
"I'm not actually worried about that," she confides, for reasons unknown. "It's more what happens after."
Apart from the aura of kookiness that seems to surround him, Gai mannerism makes him seem almost harmless. He feels … trustworthy, somehow. She briefly remembers how Gai's team would turn out and feels just the slightest bit justified in spilling her guts to him. More than she would telling Kakashi, at least.
The jounin's enormous eyebrows furrow in thought and he downs the piping hot tea in one gulp. Steam is coming out of his nose, but he doesn't seem to notice.
"Joining a genin squad is a momentous and joyous occasion that only happens once in your life – twice if you're lucky!" he finally pronounces. "Even if there is conflict and differences in opinions, teamwork will always prevail against enemies and disagreements alike! The genin team is the family of all those who never had family; you will learn to love them."
After this unexpectedly profound judgment, he swallows the last tiny bite of his sweet and flashes another nice guy pose.
"Yosh! Such unexpected, youthful talk over delicious strawberry mochi! I must go now, there is a mission I need to prepare for." He casts her a somewhat guilty look. "I admit to procrastinating; I would have missed my 'first Monday of the month' visit otherwise."
He swivels around to address the entire tea house once more.
"GOOD BYE, YOUTHFUL CITIZENS! WISH ME LUCK AS I GO OUT AND REPRESENT OUR NOBLE VILLAGE!"
"Good luck," Hisana tells him faintly, and then the Sublime Green Beast of Konoha is gone and the room has gotten a lot quieter, and just a little dimmer.
This needed to happen; I didn't even know how much I actually needed this to happen until I wrote it.