The following day at the ninja academy, the twenty-seven graduating students arrived while the others remained at home. As Naruto sat in his chair, spinning a kunai, he noticed a glare from the Uchiha.
"What the hell are you looking at?" Naruto asked in an annoyed tone.
"How did you get so strong? I'm an Uchiha and I received the best training. There is no way someone that isn't from a clan could surpass me." Sasuke said.
"That's the thing, I am from a clan. But my clan isn't from Konoha." Naruto said.
"What are you talking about? How isn't your clan from Konoha?" Sasuke asked.
"My clan is from the Land of Whirlpools. Unlike the Uchiha, it took Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure to take us out. Not to mention, many of us managed to escape, such as my mother. So Sasuke, sit down and stop acting like the Uchiha are a gift from the Gods." Naruto said as he turned away.
Sasuke went to strike the blond, only to have Naruto flash behind him with a kunai to his neck. "It isn't too smart to attack someone while they're armed." Naruto said before he met Sasuke go.
"Naruto, leave Sasuke alone!" Sakura shouted but went quiet after making eye contact with his cerulean eyes.
"Alright, everyone settle down." Iruka said and to his surprise, they all listens up. "I wasn't expecting that. Anyway, listen up for team placements." Iruka said as he began revealing teams one though six.
"Shikamaru, I hope I'm paired with you." Choji said to his best friend.
"Team placements are so troublesome. But I have reason to believe we'll be paired up with Ino." Shikamaru said.
"What makes you say that?" Choji asked.
"Our parents were the the Ino-Shika-Cho, along with our grandparents. It wouldn't surprise me if they repeated the team formation." Shikamaru explained.
"Wow, you're pretty smart." Choji said.
"Alright, team seven will be led by Kakashi Hatake. The members of this team will consist of Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Shino Aburame." Iruka said.
"Yes! True love conquers all!" Sakura shouted while her two male teammates remained indifferent.
"Team eight will be led by Kurenai Yuhi. The members of this team will consist of Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, and Naruto Uzumaki." Iruka said.
"What? How come I'm being paired with him?" Kiba shouted.
"Sit down, Kiba. Naruto had the highest score of the class and you had the lowest. This was the only way to keep the teams balanced." Iruka explained.
"Whatever." Kiba said.
"Looks like we're teammates, Uzumaki. I look forward to testing your abilities." Hinata thought as she looked at the blond.
"Team nine is still in rotation from last year, so. We'll go on to team ten. Team ten will be led by Asuma Sarutobi. The members of this team are Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi." Iruka called out.
Once all the teams were called out, the Jonin sensei started to come and collect their squad. One the Ruby eyed woman, Kurenai arrived, she flinched at seeing Narutk as her student.
"Team eight, please follow me." Kurenai said in her professional tone.
Naruto, Hinata, and Kiba proceeded to follow the Jonin towards an empty classroom. As they entered, the three sat down in the front and waited to hear what the sensei had to say.
"Alright, my name is Kurenai Yuhi and J will be your jonin sensei. I want us to go around and introduce ourselves to each other. Say something you like, dislike, and your dreams for the future. I will go first." Kurenai said.
"My name is Kurenai Yuhi. I enjoy spending time with my friends, I dislike perverts, and my dream is to help all of you become successful shinobi." Kurenai said as she looked at her team.
"My name is Kiba Inuzuka and this is Akamaru. Our hobbies include going for walks and training in the forest. I dislike those who mistreat animals and my dream is to become Hokage." Kiba said with a high burst of energy.
"Okay, your turn." Kurenai said as she looked at Hinata.
"My name is Hinata Hyuga. I enjoy training with my sister and becoming stronger. I dislike weaklings and perverts. My dream for the future is to unite the main and side branch of the Hyuga clan." Hinata said.
"Okay, your turn, Naruto." Kurenai said in a tone that didn't go unnoticed by the other two.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I enjoy lots of things and dislike lots of things. My dreams for the future is to unite the shinobi nations into one and remove the hatred and violence in the world." Naruto said.
"I see. Alright, you're all very different and unique in your own ways. Our squad will be a tracking team. However, the truth is, you aren't genin yet. Tomorrow we will have your final graduation exam and if you pass, team eight will be official. If not, you're being sent back to the academy." Kurenai explained.
"What? But then what was the point of the graduation exam we already took?" Kiba asked.
"Oh, that? That was to see who has the potential to become a genin. Out of the twenty-seven graduates, only a third will move on. This exam has a high failure rate. Now, be at training field eight at five and make sure you don't eat breakfast, unless you want to puke." Kurenai said as she vanished in a shunshin.
"Well, that certainly was interesting." Naruto said in a calm tone.
"Dude, how are you so calm? We still have another test." Kiba said.
"Relax. Make sure you both get plenty of rest and eat dinner and breakfast. I have a feeling that we'll need all of our strength." Naruto said.
"Naruto, why did the sensei act like she knew you already?" Hinata asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Well, she was one of my old teachers from a few years back. That isn't important. I'll see you guys tomorrow." Naruto said as he vanished in a yellow flash.
"I gotta get him to teach me that jutsu." Kiba said.
"Don't be late." Hinata said as she left, leaving Kiba in the classroom.
Kurenai arrived at the dango shop where she found her best friend enjoying a plate of dango. Sitting next to her, Hana Inuzuka, Kiba's older sister was sharing a plate with her.
"Hi, Kurenai. How's it going? Got anyone worth teaching?" Anko asked her best friend.
Kurenai frowned. "Yeah. I've got the roomie of the year, top female, and dead last. I'm. It sure how the team will work." Kurenai said after ordering herself a glass of sake.
"I guess you've got my brother as your student, huh?" Hana asked.
"Thays right, I've also got Hinata Hyuga." Kurenai said.
"I hear she isn't one to be taken lightly." Anko chimed in.
"So, I guess that means you've got the Uchiha?" Hana asked with a chuckle.
"Actually, I got Naruto Uzumaki." Kurenai and instantly, Anko dropped her dango stick as her eyes became shadowed. "Anko, I'm sorry. I didn't mean." Kurenai said but was cut off.
"Haha, it's good. The dango went down the wrong pipe. Haha, anyway. Sounds like you got an interesting team." Anko said with a bright smile, revealing her mask.
"Am I missing something?" Hana asked with a confused expression.
"No, nothing is wrong. Actually, I've got to go meet with Ibiki. I'm suppose to interrogate a few grass ninja." Anko said as she quickly left.
"What the heck is going on?" Hana asked trying to make sense.
"Hana, what do you know about Anko's past?" Kurenai asked.
"Um, aside from her sensei?" Hana asked.
"A few years ago, Anko took on a student and the two became close. Actually, they were each others best friend. At the time, her student was significantly younger. But it was assumed they'd wait until he was older.
A few years back, the two had a falling out and they haven't spoke since. Since that day, Anko's wore this mask of her and has perfectly earned the nickname of the Sadistic queen, or ice queen. I can't keep up anymore." Kurenai said.
"I take it that Naruto was that boy?" Hana asked.
"That's right. I hope everything is okay and that neither of them have any issues." Kurenai said as she chugged her entire sake.
"I need more of this if I'm to deal with it." Kurenai said as she and Hana continued having drinks.
Inside the Hokage's tower, a shouting match was taking place. "You think you're clever? I know exactly why you did this!" Shouted Naruto at the Hokage.
"Naruto, please settle down." Hiruzen said.
"How do you expect me to settle down? I don't know what your game is Lord Third, but it isn't funny." Naruto said.
"Naruto, you've isolated yourself for far too long. I let you get away with it for too long. You're going to stop with your isolation and become close to your friends again. I've had the same conversation with Anko. If you two don't stop, I'll force you two to catch Tora together from next six months." Hiruzen threatens.
Naruto sighed. "Alright, gramps. I'll do it because you've never steered me in the wrong direction." Naruto said he left the office.
"Minato, Kushina, please forgive me for all the wrong I've done. I promise, I'll try to get Naruto back even if it kills me." Hiruzen said as he resumed his paperwork.