June 28th - Hokage Office
"They did what!?" A loud, shrill voice echoed throughout the Hokage office.
"They stopped Mizuki stealing the Forbidden Scroll Lord Hokage," came the sheepish reply of the female Anbu."The traitor convinced the young Inuzuka, that he could improve his graduation grade, if he could steal the scroll. But I've got to admit, it was rather impressive how he stole it. No one suspected the Ningen."
"Very impressive indeed," the old Hokage replied. "The security however must be improved Cat. A freshly graduated Genin should never be able to evade our security like this," he sternly reprimanded his Anbu captain.
"Understood Lord Hokage."
"Now how did Iruka end in the hospital?"
"He tracked them down first. I must say, I'm intrigued how he did it. His tracking skill would be invaluable for the Anbu," the Cat masked woman replied.
"That's what happens when Naruto Senju is your student. Iruka was always talented in tracking and as you know, tracking Naruto is excellent training. But Iruka loves teaching too much," Sarutobi answered her question.
"What a pity. But he proved himself to be an adoring teacher. Threw himself between the Fuma-Shuriken of Mizuki and Inuzuka. Saved his life. They both were saved by Senju and Kaguya. They thankfully managed to find them in time. They are…" the purple haired Kunoichi searched for the right word, "strong. Stronger than the average Genin."
"They are. Kimimaru and young Haku too, have great talent. Pure talent comparable to Kakashi, his father Sakumo or my Asuma," the Hokage could feel the mild astonishment of his Captain. 'Understandable. Kakashi is known to the whole shinobi world as our strongest Jonin. Sakumo, however infamous he may have become, was the top candidate to become the Yondaime and Asuma, while not as famous as the others, belongs to our absolute elite and was top of his academy class.'
"And Senju?"
"He is far more talented. I have never seen more talent in a child than I have seen in Naruto. Not in Orochimaru, not in Minato and not in Itachi."
July 1st - The Academy
"That was really stupid Kiba. Even for your standards."
"What that's supposed to mean Shino? I've got tricked, nothing more," came the reply from the hot headed Inuzuka. "How should I have known that Mizuki-Sensei was a bad guy?"
"I'm with Shino on this Kiba. You should have realized that something was off. Why would Mizuki-Sensei send you to steal the Forbidden Scroll, if he wasn't a bad guy. That was beyond stupid." Shikamaru ignored the interruption of his friend and continued "You are really lucky that Naruto and Kimimaro saved you. You could have gotten yourself and Iruka-Sensei killed by your stupidity!"
'I didn't think about that,' Kiba thought to himself. 'Iruka-Sensei could have died while trying to protect me. Me blindly believing a teacher nearly got my other teacher killed.' It was a rather shocking realization for him. Mizuki played with his ego, which was hurt because of his rather bad final grade. It made it easy to manipulate him and nearly ended his career as a Shinobi before it even began.
Seeing the downcast expression of his friend, Choji decided to chime in "Don't be too hard on yourself Kiba. I would have believed Mizuki-Sensei too. He was our teacher after all," he offered Kiba a chocolate bar and continued "I would have gone to Iruka-Sensei or Shikamaru's dad before trying to steal the scroll tho."
"I doubt that you would have done that Choji. He specifically told me not to ask for help to steal the scroll."
"I wouldn't have asked for help. I would have asked, if this was usually done after graduation. Naruto always said that you should always question orders that you do not find logical or doesn't make any sense."
"And sending a Genin to steal a scroll, which is highly protected, does absolutely not make any sense." Shino confirmed. "So what did you say to make Naruto angry at you?"
"Why do you think that! Naruto isn't angry at me."
"Then why does he keep his distance from you today and why did Haku send you a death glare when they arrived," the Nara heir voiced his observations. When Naruto and the other two entered the room, the blond did greet everyone of his friends beside Kiba and Haku sent the dog lover a look which could freeze hell. "Not to mention that Kimimaru watches you as if you would try to hurt Naruto any minute. Considering that you are less emotionally mature than my 5 year old cousin, you did say something troublesome."
"I might have said something bad to him after he lectured me about stealing the scroll and endangering not only the village but also Iruka-Sensei and myself," he replied. 'Calling him an insufferable know it all, not thanking him for his help and telling him that I had everything under control might have been too much but' "He had no right to do it."
"He probably didn't mean it in a bad way. Naruto always has our backs and he probably just wanted to make sure, you would not be manipulated so easily again," Shikamaru admonished his friend. "You better apologize to him." Having said his opinion, Shikamaru laid his head to take a small nap before the teams where assigned. Sadly for him, this was the exact moment Sakura and Ino decided to arrive and as every morning, the two bickered again why Naruto was cooler, stronger and a better future husband than Sasuke and vice versa. "Troublesome."
After getting essentially scolded by his friends, something he became used to in the recent days, Kiba brooded. He knew he messed up, especially after his mother scolded him for several hours for stealing the Scroll. He also knew that Naruto only had his best interests at heart. His pride just wouldn't allow that. Sensing that his human was being stubborn again, Akamaru made a sound to get Kiba's attention.
"You think I'm being stupid too?" Seeing the somewhat scolding look of his best friend he muttered "Yeah I know that I messed up. "I apologize soon."
But before he could do that, the classes only teacher entered the room. As he looked at freshly graduated Genin before him he couldn't help but smile, 'The future of the leaf shines brightly,' he thought to himself as he gazed at his former students. He caught the eyes of his favorite students and saw the concerned looks he got from Naruto and his three friends. To ease their minds he gave them a small nod and smile and saw the relief in Naruto's and Kimimaru's eyes, as well as the smiles of Hinata and Haku.
"Welcome back everyone. Today is the day…" Iruka stopped himself when he saw that no one was paying attention. 'I guess it's one last time,' he thought fondly. "Will you brats shut up!"
This got everyone quiet and focused on Iruka. ' I will definitely miss this.' "Now that I finally have your attention I welcome all of you back. Today is the last time we will be in this constellation. I want to thank you all for the opportunity to teach you and tell you all, that I am very proud of everyone here." Iruka smiled and received smiles in return from his former students, even the otherwise stoic Shino, Kimimaru and Sasuke let small smiles grace their faces.
"Now it is my duty to assign you all to your future Genin teams. As you all know, you will be assigned to 4-man squads consisting of three Genin and an assigned Jounin Sensei. Those Jounin will be your teachers and team captains for the foreseeable future. The teams are the following…"
As Iruka started assigning teams, most new Genin were anxious about their future teams. Most Girls hoped for either Naruto or Sasuke, Choji prayed for Shikamaru and so on.
"Team 7 will consist of Naruto Senju, Haku Yuki and Kimimaru Kaguya. Your Sensei will be Kakashi Hatake," hearing this our 3 protagonists were smiling brightly as Naruto raised his hands to receive the high 5's of his friends. It couldn't be better for the 3. Not only did they have a great synergy to begin with, they also got Kakashi as their Sensei.
"Team 8 will be Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga and Shino Aburame. Kurenai Yuhi will be your Jounin Sensei." Kiba was now noticeably more relaxed being paired with his friend Shino and Hinata, with whom he had a friendly relationship with. 'Thank Kami it's neither Sakura or Sasuke.'
While Hinata was a little down after not being on the same squad as Naruto, she didn't expect to be on the same team as Haku as most teams only had one Kunoichi, hearing that she would team up with Kiba and Shino made her smile. While Kiba and her weren't close they never butted heads and she would admit that Shino was the person she was closest to in the class till Haku arrived.
Shino's thoughts were more simple. 'Hinata's Byakugan, Kiba's sense of smell and my bugs. Our team is supposed to become a specialized tracking team.' This didn't change the fact that he as well was rather happy about being teamed up with two of his friends. He was a little skeptical about his Sensei though. As far as he knows, Kurenai Yuhi was a specialist in Genjutsu and his team wasn't designed that way. 'Maybe she is skilled in tracking?'
"Team 10 will consist of Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka and Chouji Akimichi. Your Sensei will be Asuma Sarutobi." 'How troublesome. We're now expected to live up to our fathers legacy.' Looking at his two teammates, one crying how unfair life is to be separated from her Naruto and the other munching his snacks without a care in the world. 'Tough time for Asuma-Sensei. At least we got the Hokage's son as our Sensei. That ought to be interesting.'
"Why do I have to be teamed up with those lazy buns," wailed the blonde Yamanaka while glancing at the object of her affection. 'It's so unfair. I should be with my Naruto and not that bitch,' she thought while glaring at Haku, who didn't seem to notice it while she apparently teased Hinata. 'At least I've got Shika and Choji. As lazy as they are, it could be worse.'
The last member of Team 10 was happy that he got paired up with Shikamaru and Ino but he wasn't surprised. After all Shikamaru predicted it and Shikamaru was always right. 'Maybe she finally notices me the way I want to be noticed,' he thought while stealing a glance at his childhood friend while blushing. Seeing her looking in the direction of his friend Naruto however put his thoughts to a rest. It didn't make him mad though. He knew that Naruto had no interest in Ino so there would still be a chance for him.
'Fuck my life.' That was the exact thought going around through Sasuke's head, once he realized that Sakura Haruno would be on his team. 'Why does it have to be her,' he thought. As annoying as she is, Ino Yamanaka at least came from a ninja clan. She wasn't completely useless and ever since Naruto arrived, she was off his back. The self proclaimed avenger turned his gaze to his … what was Naruto actually to him?
He was the closest thing to a friend he had but he wouldn't go that far. He did not need a friend nor did he want one. He might respect the blonde, trained regularly with him and only his opinion mattered to him. Turning his gaze towards the 2 Kunoichi next to the blond he knew what Naruto was. A rival to surpass, the Shinobi he respected the most in Konoha and the person he disliked the most. Naruto simultaneously had everything Sasuke lost and all that he wanted.
"Team 11 will be composed of Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno and Sai Kurusu. Your appointed Jounin Sensei will be Genma Shiranui."
"Yosh! True love will conquer everything!" Those were the words Sakura shouted at the top of her lungs. 'Take that Ino-Pig. Unlike you and your precious Naruto, Sasuke and I will be on the same team, go on the same missions where he will rescue me and proclaim his undying love for me.' She couldn't stop swooning and imagine the soon to be blossoming love the Uchiha would have for her.
The last member of the team was a rather pale looking boy with raven hair and black hair. He wore a simple black short sleeved shirt and long black Shinobi pants. On his face was a rather fake looking smile and like usual he was ignored by everyone. 'Just like you planned Master.'
Unbeknown to him, he wasn't unnoticed by all. A very lazy, ponytailed genius had his eyes on him. He, like everyone else, paid Sai no mind. Sai wasn't anything special. He was just an average student. But ever since Naruto mentioned his fake smile, he couldn't help but notice things. That fake smile, the average performance not unlike his and the subtle glances at both Sasuke and Kimimaru and to a lesser degree Naruto and Haku. 'What is your secret?'
After Iruka finished the assignment and left the room, the team's new Sensei's quickly arrived to gather their new team. Every team but the one of a certain Scarecrow. "Why am I not surprised that he would even keep us waiting," Naruto mentioned, slightly infuriated to his two friends after waiting 15 minutes for their Sensei.
"Was there any doubt about that Naruto?" Haku smiled at her crush. "Kakashi is always late. We should have expected to wait after knowing he would become our Sensei. You know how he is," she touched Naruto's arm as he calmed down.
Before Naruto could reply, Kimimaru decided to chime in "How about Ichiraku? If Kakashi makes us wait, we can do it too." The other two agreed to his proposition and headed out to Ichiraku as Naruto could already taste the food of gods.
AN: Hey, it's me. I'm still alive and well. I sadly experienced a severe writer's blockade and then other things grabbed my attention. In addition to that, my old Laptop broke and I lost my drafts for this story. However I recently found an old draft for this story and coupled with the facts, that I once again have more time again as well as the fact that Kimimaru/Haku as well as the concept of !Senju Naruto are still severely underused, I decided to pick this story back up.
I'm not making the same stupid promise again, that the next chapter will soon be posted but I can say, this fic is revived and will be updated in the future.
Thank you for reading this and till the next chapter.