A/N: Updates will occur on regular Thursdays, come rain or shine. Thank you all for reading, and I hope you continue to enjoy the story as it unfolds! Now, on with the story.

New Teammates, Trouble Ensues?!

The stone amphitheater glistened. Several melted stones girded the exterior of the amphitheater, forming a line facing in the direction of the center of the village. Students sat around, talking animatedly as they gesticulated. Most of the seats remained standing. White stone shimmered in the light of the sun.

Naruto took a seat at his usual spot. Sighing, he looked forward.

Shikamaru brushed by, a faint grin crossing his face. "Hey, Naruto-kun. Looks like you pulled it off after all."

"Shikamaru, I want you in my team!" Naruto declared, extending one hand.

"Doesn't work that way." Shikamaru yawned. "It's a pain, but the Ino-Shika-Cho team happens every generation. If it was up to me, I'd ask to switch you out for Ino," he whispered, leaning closer. He winked. Pausing only a moment, he hurried forward.

Naruto sighed. No Shikamaru. I'm gonna feel awful today. He sighed after a moment. Well, at least I'll only have to deal with someone like that one more day. His gaze turned to Sasuke.

Sasuke set her books down heavily at Naruto's table.

Naruto blinked in shock. "Huh?" he asked intelligently, looking up at the girl.

Clearing her throat, Sasuke glanced away, her books settling on the table.

"Oh!" Hearts in her eyes, a pink-haired girl rushed forward, her body spinning. "Come on! Move, Naruto! I want to sit next to Sasuke-kun!" she stated, her furious eyes belying her calm tone.

"You're annoying, Sakura-san. Sit down elsewhere." Sasuke spoke flatly, her voice deepening slightly as she spoke.

Sakura deflated. She turned, her shoulders slumped, and sat down at another table.

"You're very cruel," Naruto hissed, his expression souring as he stared at Sasuke.

"Would you prefer that I showed her my true form? No, on second thought, you probably would, you pervert," Sasuke remarked, her lips turning upward in amusement. "Ero-nin."

Naruto's eyes widened. "That's not—you take that back!" he demanded, standing upright and slamming his hands against the stable.

"Sit down and shut up!" Iruka bellowed, his voice echoing through the amphitheater.

Naruto's teeth gritted. He sat down, staring murderously at Sasuke. "That was an accident," he declared sullenly.

"I'm willing to acknowledge the possibility. Hence the fact that I'm not dueling you instead of sitting here. However…" Sasuke paused. Her black eyes narrowed as she looked up from her books. "You're not sitting with us, number one."

"But I want to sit here." Kōju smiled faintly. She held out her books toward the end of the table. "Besides, you're anxious not to have your secret revealed, right?"

Sasuke blinked. "Well." Her eyes glanced downward. "Fine. Sit down and quit bothering me already."

Kōju sat. Her green eyes turned to Naruto, studying his face silently. Her arms folded, the neutral grey robes pushing up on her arms.

Sakura's head slumped.

Sasuke exhaled. "As I was saying, I want to declare a truce." She ran her finger along the side of the notebook. "I don't want to keep fighting over stupid things. Your theft was an accident. I forget about it, and you forget about what you learned." A flush crossed her face as she glanced at Naruto's hand.

Naruto blinked in confusion. "What?"

"This—" Sasuke touched the side of her chest briefly. "Don't speak a word of my true nature. My wish is to avoid—"

"Yah!" Kiba launched himself forward, his arm shooting out toward the figure.

Naruto's eyes widened. "Sasuke! Get back; he's—"

Sasuke's mouth opened.

Kiba's elbow slammed into the back of Sasuke's head.

Sasuke's head shot forward.

The crowd fell silent.

"Finally got a hit in on you, bastard!" Kiba declared, grinning broadly.

Naruto gulped slowly, looking up at the figure with wide eyes. He tasted a faint hint of mint, fresh and plucked from the garden.

Sasuke's black eyes narrowed. Slowly, she removed her lips from Naruto's lips.

Kōju's eyes glinted, unnoticed by the others.

"YEAH!" Ino shouted from the back of the classroom.

A drop of sweat ran down Shikamaru's forehead. I'm stuck with a yaoi fangirl. I have an interesting few years ahead of me, don't I? he thought to himself.

A chill wind filled the air.

Huh?! Naruto turned around, his eyes wide. I sense something bad!

"Naruto… you're really…" Sakura cracked her knuckles fiercely, preparing for battle.

Sasuke blurred in front of Naruto, putting up her hands defensively. "It wasn't his fault," she stated, her cheeks still flushed.

Sakura blinked. "But," she stammered, shocked by the woman's words.

"That guy, on the other hand." Sasuke turned. She stared coldly at Kiba. "Hope you're ready, mutt. You just made me lose my precious first kiss."

Kiba gulped.

Iruka sighed. "Take it outside, you two. I'll need you both to speak with me after regarding team assignments."

Ten minutes passed.

Kiba returned, wiping at wounds on his body.

Sasuke returned, her body pristine and unmarked by wounds.

Iruka's eyes widened. "Kiba, you're late for your team!"

"But I—"

"Run fifty laps around the edge of Hidden Leaf!" Iruka ordered, his face stern. He glanced at Sasuke. "On the other hand, you got here on time for hearing your team."

Sasuke returned to her seat. Her cheeks flushed as she glanced sideways at Naruto, and then quickly looked away again.

Naruto swallowed.

Kōju's eyes glinted again.

"Team Seven…" Iruka coughed quietly.

Kōju leaned forward.

"Is…"

Naruto tensed. Is this finally it? Am I getting picked?

"Uzumaki Naruto…"

Please let me be in another team, Sasuke prayed silently, her heart pounding. My heart—I don't know how to react around him.

"Hatake Kōju…"

Naruto threw his fist up in the air. "Yes!"

A small smile played across Kōju's lips. She adjusted her robe.

"And Uchiha Sasuke."

Sasuke sighed wearily.

Naruto groaned.

Kōju smiled broadly. "AWESOME!" She danced in her chair, her small hands rising.

"Hey! How can you land Sasuke-kun with such losers? I haven't even seen that girl in here before!" Sakura shouted furiously. Though she looks pretty cute, there's no way she's a genin. Plus, she's way too young to be a genin—how can you compare someone like that with a genius like Sasuke-kun?

Iruka sighed. "It's necessary to attempt to balance the strength of the teams to begin with. Hatake-san here is the first place in this year."

Kōju's cheeks flushed slightly. Saying it like that is embarrassing, isn't it? She concentrated on the table.

No way. Naruto blinked in shock as he stared at Kōju. But I haven't ever seen her before, after all. Besides that last exam.

Sakura gasped. So she really did earn her place? Wow! That's just completely crazy!

"Your Sasuke-kun was second place, and Naruto-kun was dead last. In this way the teams are balanced in strength rather than overwhelming in power. Two strong sticks can make up for one weak one." Technically, counting in the extra-credit bonus, Naruto was somewhere in the bottom fourth of the class rather than dead last, but as Hiruzen had pointed out calling attention to this fact might draw claims of corruption by the 'demon fox'. Iruka looked upward after a moment. "Team Eight…" He continued in the same way until all the teams had been outlined. "Each of your teams will have a jōnin instructor. You'll be introduced some time later today, probably around five or so." Iruka shrugged diffidently. "At that time, please be present here. For today." He reached into his pocket.

A series of coupon books spilled out of the pocket.

Sasuke blinked.

Shikamaru frowned. "I see. These books probably only work if you have three of 'em, right? What a drag."

"You're correct. You can attend any attraction in Hidden Leaf—and remember, Hidden Leaf is well-noted for its businesses. There's just one slight problem. All three of you have to decide on something together. This is a team-building exercise, to encourage support between you all. Remember this and press on in this manner."

The students dispersed, talking with some enthusiasm.

"Here. Take mine; I'm gonna go train." Sasuke tossed the book toward the pair.

"Hold up!" Naruto declared, shaking his fist. "Don't start acting like you're better than us!" He gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing. It's that arrogance I hate, anyway.

Kōju knelt. Her fingers picked up the coupon book from the dust of the amphitheatre.

"I'm not better than one of you." Sasuke's eyes drifted toward Kōju. She paused. Her lip curled upward. "Well, one of you, anyway, and it's for this reason that I have to get stronger."

"Shut up! You should join us. We're supposed to be a team!" Naruto declared, fuming in rage. It was stupid, anyway. Thinking I would work together well with her, how stupid of me!

Sasuke whirled around. Her eyes narrowed. "Don't talk like you know me. In fact, don't speak to me with such an imperious tone. Do you really think you have the right to address me like that? You don't know a thing about me!"

"I don't know a thing about you. You're right." Seething anger spread from Naruto's body.

Kōju swallowed faintly. "Er, Naruto-san..." she started, holding out a hand.

"But how should I know, anyway? You kept to yourself in the academy all the time! Even if I wanted to be acknowledged by you—no, even if I wanted your acceptance—you were always alone!" Naruto shouted, his eyes narrowed.

Several other students turned in surprise at the outburst.

Sasuke stiffened. Her eyes darkened slightly. Her body shook as she stared into space.

Naruto's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Huh?

Kōju leaned forward, her hands outstretched, placating the pair. "You've both said too much, I think."

"No. He speaks correctly." Sasuke looked downward. Her face grew stony. "I am always alone, as he says. But it is not a path I chose for myself."

"Then choose a new one." Kōju smiled. She leaned forward, extending a hand in friendship. "You can always choose a new one. I don't think I'd be angry at you for that action. You'd be happier with friends, wouldn't you?"

"It's not possible for you to become my friends. You're just stones impeding my path. If you get in my way, I'll kick you to the roadside without a second thought." Sasuke's face grew more immobile, less expressive.

Naruto gritted his teeth. "Why, you!"

"Well, tell you what. Naruto-kun, where do you want to eat?" Kōju asked with a smile.

"Ichiraku's would be nice." Naruto frowned, considering. He forgot entirely Sasuke's infuriating words. "But then again, if we have the coupons, I can eat at any place in the village at all, but I don't know what I'll like." He paused. "You've eaten at a lot of places, haven't you?"

"Many upon many." Kōju winked quietly. "I can pick out something you'll probably like. I have confidence in that much at least."

Naruto nodded. "Okay. I'll trust you on this one."

Kōju inclined her head. She flipped through the book. "Let's see—Ah! This one is very good!" She pointed out the coupon book. "All right. Sasuke…san, the place is called Reika Reika Paradise, so we'll be eating there for about an hour or so. We'll leave a seat open, and since the book covers three entrees per team, you can drop in any time you like. Of course, if you don't show up either, you won't get any of the food."

Sasuke frowned. "Like I'd join you idiots," she muttered. "I already said it. I'm going to go train!" She leapt away into the trees.

Naruto scowled. "That woman." He sighed after a moment. He turned back to Kōju. He didn't need to force a smile; this person had already shown him a genuine personality. "Why did you help me?" he asked after a moment.

"Seeing unhappiness and injustice are for me the worst things in the world. I hate them more than I hate anything else. So, for me, at least, I can't abide seeing unhappiness." Kōju exhaled quietly. "It really is that simple."

"Oh." Naruto looked downward. It's got nothing to do with me, then.

The pair stood up and began walking to the ice cream shop.

Wakefulness

The white-washed table shone. The blinds on the stall blew open, revealing a set of equipment behind the counter. Light reflected off the shining implements. A square box behind the counter contained previous delights made in the place. The interior of the tent cooled the pair, cold through the work of the ice cream.

Scowling, the woman handed the pair two boxes. Muttering something under her breath, she receded into the back of the room.

Naruto glanced after the woman, silent. He understood a lot more about the villagers' reactions after learning that he was indeed the bearer of the demon fox.

Kōju's face lit from its typical dour composition. "MOCHI!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the strawberry box.

Naruto giggled quietly. The serious young genin suddenly transformed into a bright young girl as she spun around the box, like a central axis. "You just wanted to come here for this, didn't you?"

"Well, it was this or that cookery downtown, and, well, that only has udon noodles and vegetables or something like that."

Naruto made a face.

"That's what I thought, too. So I said Mochi for sure." Kōju smiled broadly. "Come on. Sit down! You're making me all anxious."

Naruto sat down. He critically inspected the mango Mochi. "Hrm." He pulled open the box at the tabs.

Mochi rested on the plates. Sunlight poured through the blinds of the stall.

Kōju sighed. "Ah. Strawberry is the best. Do you like mango?" she asked, leaning over the table.

"Well, it's not the worst. Kind of a new sensation." Naruto shrugged his shoulders. "I don't think I'd pick it over ramen again, though."

The pair paused in their speech. Several moments passed as the pair silently ate mochi ice cream.

"You seriously think she's gonna come?" Naruto glanced up at the sun, which had risen swiftly in the sky. "It's been like fifteen minutes."

"Sasuke-san has a very poor sense of direction." Kōju shrugged. "Or something. I'm sure she'll come along, because that's closer to her true nature than training."

Naruto blinked. Hm? What's that supposed to mean?

The blinds lifted swiftly. Sasuke stepped into the stall, breathing hard. "You morons," she hissed, her eyes blazing.

Kōju blinked in confusion.

"You didn't tell me where the place was. I got lost twice on the way here because I didn't have my coupon books." Sasuke sat down at the counter, her face slightly red.

"Oh, but I thought I'd seen you in here before." Kōju smiled.

"That's not it. I don't like sweet things." Sasuke glanced away, her cheeks flushing. "It's not like I wanted to come here, anyway!" She turned to the server. "Coffee, please."

Naruto blinked. Kōju-san was right.

"Well, let's hurry up and finish. We still have a lot to do today, after all!" Kōju remarked, grinning. "Besides, if we're lucky, we can get in some training."

"You have to savor food, idiot." Sasuke lifted the coffee-toned ice cream ball to her lips. "Otherwise it's really no good."

"Can't you just get more later?" Kōju questioned.

"Typical ojō-sama. Savor what you have before it's gone." Sasuke tilted her head backward.

Kōju smiled. "Your words aren't misplaced. But they show a little more of your true personality." She sipped the glass of milk. "What you really think of this situation, and your feelings toward us." She swallowed the remainder of the Mochi.

"You. Just. Ugh." Sasuke sighed quietly. She studied the ball, rolling around the Mochi on her tongue. "It's not like. Ugh! Just. Uh." She stared at the plate, swallowing after a moment. "It's not like that. Someone put too many fairytale notions in your head."

Kōju shrugged. "I happen to believe that the real world can be like that." Stiffly, she took a bite of the ball, casting the remainder of the balls into the box.

Sasuke sighed. Great, now she's in a huff. Well, whatever. She glanced at Naruto, who gorged himself on the ice cream balls. Being with these guys might not be terrible.

Naruto grinned after a moment. "I just keep getting hungrier." He scooped out another plate.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Moron. She swallowed the bite of vanilla ice cream.

The group walked out from the shop after roughly thirty minutes total.

"Where next?"

Wakefulness

Books littered the floor, depicting gaudy colors and titles embossed in careful, flourishing calligraphy. The small wooden bed squatted flatly in the corner of the space, covered in a crimson blanket. The blanket depicted a red mangrove, the leaves spreading outward.

"Naruto-kun's apartment. I've organized the other two already; hopefully they will appreciate the deed." The broad-shouldered man smiled. His baby-blue eyes flickered back to the room. "Though likely he will be the most trouble in convincing." He adjusted his long linen robes. Reaching downward, he uncapped and tipped back a bottle of water. His steel glasses glinted in the light. The green garb, fabric sewed tightly together, draped over the massive shoulders tightly.

The white-haired man yawned. He raised one hand over his mouth as his mask shifted. "Well, that's about as expected. Thank you for cleaning up the room, Mura-san. Though she is my precious daughter, she can't be bothered to clean."

"Yes. Well, I skimmed through some of the novels to make sure they weren't the same as that Come Come Paradise." Mura paused. Heavily, he inspected the book again. "But you have done well at finding her something without such perversions. Do you have any idea who wrote them?"

"Some Senju person." The white-haired man shrugged. "Or someone using that pseudonym. I hadn't looked into it—but she seemed happy with them." He leaned against the doorframe. "Are you going to meet them at the location?"

"I expect they'll be busy." Clapping his hands together, Mura bowed. "Thank you, Kakashi-san." He turned and walked out of the room.

Wakefulness

Water splashed over the edge of the hot spring. The stone surfaces dripped with water. Various ofuda making offerings to the heavens and the earth marked the doors, blocking away the shadows beyond the firelight. A mixed bath filled the main section. The bubbles rose through the bath. The faint scent of minerals wafted through the air.

Kōju descended, sighing quietly. "Fu fu. Wonderful." She ducked her head under the water

Sasuke growled deep in her throat. I don't enjoy this at all, stupid. Tossing aside her clothes, she descended into the water.

Naruto sighed quietly. He stared up at the sky, his eyes bright.

"So." Sasuke hesitated. It was a stupid question, the question of a girl, not a fighter. "Do you have anyone you like?"

"Yep!" Kōju smiled happily. "Definitely you two." She pointed at Naruto and Sasuke in turn.

Sasuke blinked. "Er. That's not actually what I meant," Sasuke stated, a drop of sweat running down her face.

Naruto tilted his head to one side.

"To have a relationship with in the form of romance, right?" Kōju asked solemnly. "I know what that is."

Sasuke frowned. She tapped her finger against her chin. "But three people can't get into that type of relationship."

"That's stupid," Kōju replied, a grin crossing her face.

Naruto's eyebrows rose. "Ehhh?!" he demanded, his body tensing.

"If I like you two, and you two like each other, and me, of course, then there's no problem, right?"

Sasuke reached upward. Her fingers gripped the edges of her nose. "Naruto, do you want to explain to her why that's completely impossible, or are you still too stunned by it?"

Naruto shook his head slowly from side to side. Despite her age, she's a pervert.

"What did you have in mind, anyway?" Sasuke asked wearily. "Some kind of 'living in sin' arrangement?"

"No, no! I thought we could start out with dates and maybe… Maybe a little peck on the cheek?" Kōju questioned, pressing her fingers together. "Romantic things like that."

Naruto exhaled. He leaned back in the pool. That's better, I guess. Still, it's a little worrisome. He paused, staring up at the sky. At least the stars are out tonight.

"What did you think I meant?" Kōju asked, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Never mind." Sasuke's cheeks flushed slightly. Thank the Vizier she didn't know that much, after all. She looked downward into the water. "What exactly gave you the idea, anyway?"

"This series! Black Current!" Grinning, Kōju slapped the cover of the book.

Sasuke frowned. She reached forward, inspecting the slightly waterlogged pages.

Naruto frowned. "Is that a perv series?"

"It seriously discusses alternative relationship styles!" Kōju declared firmly, losing her temper slightly. "Just because most people hold up monogamous heterosexuality as the golden standard doesn't mean that everyone believes that's the only way."

Sasuke flipped through the pages. "Well, there aren't any graphic depictions of sex, and the characters seem relatively realistic. It feels like a standard shōjo series, if one doesn't count the fact that the two main groups are a group of two guys and a girl and a pair of girls." She frowned quietly. "Though I only know that from glancing through a few on occasion!" she added briefly, her face slightly crimson.

Naruto grinned. "Only from that, eh?"

A sly smile crossed Kōju's face. "Then you don't mind if I leave a few copies on the mission?" Yes! I can program her to accept such things!

Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed. For some reason, even though the onsen is hot, I feel a chill. "Yes. Yes, I do mind," she replied flatly. "And of course I don't know about such things! It's not as though I regularly read shōjo series!" she barked at Naruto.

Naruto trembled slightly as his thoughts returned to the series. "Two guys?"

Kōju shrugged. "It's very romantic."

That makes considerably more sense. I see. Since her family was like that, she would read about such things. Sasuke nodded slowly.

A rustle sounded from the bushes. The leaves bobbed up and down.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

Kōju gulped. "Is that a stalker?"

She's one to talk. Naruto gestured to the others rapidly, forming Leaf sign language.

"Hello, everyone." Mura stepped out from the bushes. His glasses glinted as he looked up at the group. He smiled, brushing down his linen robes. "I'm sorry—it's past five, and I came here looking for you. I should have arrived earlier."

Naruto gulped.

Kōju tensed.

Sasuke lifted her hands in a fighting stance.

"Who're you?" Naruto demanded, his expression serious as he stared at Mura.

"And can't you consider a lady's modesty?" Kōju asked, trembling slightly.

"I'm sorry, again. It seems I have forgotten my manners." Mura bowed. "I am the jōnin instructor who will attend to you all."

Sasuke looked Mura up and down. Her lip curled upward. He really doesn't resemble a jōnin.

This guy probably is a jōnin, but I can't help but feel that he's a little strange. Kōju sighed.

He's huge! How's this guy supposed to gather information? Naruto wondered, his eyebrows furrowing.

Mura sighed, accurately reading their reactions. "By the way, Uzumaki-san."

Naruto blinked in surprise. Huh? Why's he talking to me?

"You do know how to read expiration dates, don't you?"

Naruto blinked in confusion. "What on earth is that supposed to—" A sudden gastric tremor ripped through Naruto's body. Naruto groaned. "Sorry, guys!" he complained, leaping out of the hot spring sans clothing.

Sasuke's eyes widened. Her cheeks flushed. "Idiot! At least put on boxers or—"

Naruto rushed into the restroom.

Mura's brow dripped with sweat. He sighed quietly. "I'm surprised he lasted that long."

"What do you mean?"

"All the milk in his apartment went bad two weeks ago. They sold him that despite knowing that the expiration date had passed. We've replaced everything, of course, but…" Mura sighed. "Such an ungodly action."

Kōju's eyebrows furrowed. I stand corrected. This guy is definitely a jōnin.

Water dripped over the edge of the hot springs.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. This guy is worthless trash. Going through someone else's possessions? "Turn around. I need to get dressed again."

"As we are both men, there's no trouble, right?" Mura remarked in a smooth voice.

"But I need to get dressed too." Kōju turned away, her cheeks flushing.

Sasuke felt a brief thankfulness at Kōju's words; the girl had empathy for her.

Mura turned away delicately.

Sasuke pulled on her jacket quickly, tightening the bandaging around her large chest. "Now. What was that about, sir?"

Kōju hurriedly pulled on her small robes as well.

Mura coughed. "Well, we have to prepare things properly. While we're on the topic, your weapons weren't organized at all; I have taken the time to put them in order by type."

Sasuke's eyes widened in rage.

"Also, I took the liberty of buying you a new book of the series, Kōju-san."

Kōju's eyes sparkled with happiness.

"You had no call to snoop around," Sasuke stated in a calm yet cold voice.

"I did. Had I not done so, you would have lived in a situation of complete disorder. On earth as in heaven, one must live in order."

Kōju smiled. "Thank you! A new one came out?" Kōju cradled her arms closer around the book.

"It was released from on the road, apparently. The publishing company kept it quiet. After all, the author is most likely a Senju."

"What is this about?" Sasuke questioned quietly, her eyes narrowing.

"All that passed before today is on a lesser rank than what lies ahead." Mura hesitated slightly. "There are things I must discuss with all of you."

A groan came from the restroom.

Mura sighed. "Though it will take a few minutes, probably." Kneeling, he picked up Naruto's clothing.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

Kōju swallowed.

"There's something the village hasn't told you about. I'll answer to that charge, too." Mura sighed after a moment. "Regarding your training as ninja, something else must be answered to."

Sasuke frowned. "What?"

"We'll discuss it over dinner." Turning, Mura walked into the building, dragging behind him Naruto's clothing.

Kōju pressed her fingers together nervously.