Trickshot

Chapter 4

-Sarutobi-

Frowning, Hiruzen looked over the various test results from the academy graduation exam. Of the twenty-one students, nineteen had passed the test to be assigned onto a Genin team. The clan heirs, several civilian born, and Naruto. Given the number, the teachers had decided to recommend that Naruto be held back and not given a team 'as he has shown a history of failing at shinobi arts before, and the number of teams where teamwork would be possible is limited'.

The civilian born all still openly treated him like a monster due to the influence of their parents which would cause issues if any were on his team. Then there the team requests he'd received from various Jonin or council members.

Kurenai Yuhi had requested Kiba Inuzaka, Hinata Hyuuga, and Shino Aburame for her to train as a tracker team.

Kakashi had asked to teach Sasuke Uchiha as well as Naruto Uzumaki with many on the council requesting that he train Sasuke and leave Naruto unmentored.

His son had asked for a team and many on the council had put forth to have a second iteration of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio trained.

Of all those the only one he felt was remotely feasible was Kurenai's and that was just for the team composition. He was still a little hesitant to let her teach after what happened with the Kurama girl.

"But, then again, she has been mentoring young Hinata for some time." He sighed and signed off on that team as well as three teams composed of civilian born applicants.

And then there were seven.

Naruto Uzumaki.

Sasuke Uchiha.

Shikamaru Nara.

Ino Yamanaka.

Choji Akamichi.

Sakura Haruno.

And Sai, no last name.

The last one practically screamed of Danzo's influence. A young boy, orphaned, and put into the academy partway through the final year but blowing through the various tests? A young man who never seemed to show any emotions unless pushed? It was ROOT all over again, but he didn't have any proof.

Pulling over the reports, written by the teachers he'd placed at the academy personally and knew he could trust, he started to read, skipping over Naruto's as he was already aware of the boy's ability.

Sasuke Uchiha. High scores across the board. Driven to the point of obsession with getting stronger. Started year with poor teamwork and social skills but has begun to spend more time with classmates who he feels would help him get stronger. Needs a sensei who can help him grow but won't kowtow to Council or genin demands.

Shikamaru Nara. Highest academic and tactical scores. Third lowest passing physical score. Shows unusually intense amount of 'Nara laziness'. Seems to believe he can outthink any problem without having to train his body. Needs a firm handed sensei who can help him develop proper work ethic.

Ino Yamanaka. Middling academic scores, second lowest passing physical score. Obsessed over male classmate Sasuke Uchiha, often heard arguing with other female classmates about him. Seems to think he would be able to save her if she was ever in trouble, so focusing on dieting to 'look pretty' has taken higher priority to her over training. Needs a firm handed sensei to bring out potential and correct bad habits.

Choji Akamichi. Middling academic and physical scores. Prone to complaining if he's made to put down his food and focus on training. Seems to believe he doesn't have to try too hard so long as he has strategies of one Shikamaru Nara. Needs a Sensei who can motivate him and improve low self-esteem while fixing poor work ethic.

Sakura Haruno. High theory and academic scores. Lowest of the physical ability passing scores. Obsessed over male classmate Sasuke Uchiha, often heard arguing with other female classmates about him. Seems to think he would be able to save her if she was ever in trouble, so focusing on dieting to 'look pretty' has taken higher priority to her over training. Excellent chakra control but very small reserves. Needs a firm handed sensei to bring out potential and correct bad habits.

Sai. Perfect academic scores, high physical scores. Low teamwork scores as he shows an inability to properly interact with his peers. Multiple fights have broken out when he gave another student an insulting nickname thinking it made them friends. Needs a sensei who can help improve his personal skills.

"Kakashi would be horrible for any of them." He sighed as he finished reading the reports. The man had failed so many students, not to mention his chronic lateness and other issues. No, he wasn't letting Kakashi near any of these kids, especially with the ongoing need to correct faulty education they'd already had.

"Hmmm, a firm handed sensei huh?" he looked at the reports before growing a mischievous grin he'd to his grave swear he never got from Naruto. "Oh, this just might work." As he worked on writing notices for the two full teams, he sent one more notice. He was sure they'd say yes but it wouldn't hurt to make sure.

"Oh, this will be most interesting." Hiruzen snickered to himself, sure he'd made the correct team assignments.

-Naruto-

"Morning Kiba. Morning Ducky." Naruto nodded to the two prideful idiots he considered his friends.

"Dobe." Sasuke grumbled, even as the twin swords Naruto had enhanced for him were on the Uchiha's back. In all honesty, Naruto was used to him acting like a tsundere cat twenty-four seven.

"Sup dude." Kiba grinned, grinning like a happy golden retriever while Akamaru barked eagerly.

"So, who do you think will be on a team with who?" Naruto asked as he sat by the two, tuning out Ino and Sakura arguing which of them would be teamed up with Sasuke due to 'true love' and all that other nonsense the delusional duo liked to spout.

"Morning everyone." Iruka Sensei walked into the classroom with a nod, a stack of files in the man's hand, probably the team assignments. "I have to say I'm incredibly proud of all of you for graduating. You've trained hard and are ready to become full Genin of Konahagakure. I'll be reading out your team assignments and once they're all stated, you'll be free to disperse until lunch. I'd encourage you to spend that time with your teammates to be so you can get used to each other if you're not already close friends. You're to come back after the lunch period to meet your senseis. Understood?"

"Yes sensei!" most of the class nodded in one as Iruka nodded and began calling out teams. The first three were all composed of civilian born Ninja who Naruto didn't really know that well given how they ignored him whenever they could.

"Team Seven." Iruka continued, "Sakura Haruno," the pink haired harpy perked up, batting her eyelashes at Sasuke who grimaced "Ino Yamanaka," the blonde started trying to outdo Sakura "and Choji Akamichi. Jonin Sensei is Anko Mitarashi." Naruto could swear he could hear the sound of shattering glass as the two girl's fantasies were destroyed around them.

"What?" Shikamaru leaned forward confused, "But I thought we'd be a new Ino-Shika-Cho trio?"

"The Hokage stated he felt that would be a poor idea." Iruka shook his head, "Your fathers are all famous for their teamwork, yes, but that means most of their strategies are known. People might still struggle against them but you three are nowhere near as strong yet. That same formation would just make you three predictable and easy to defeat, a liability we can't risk in the field."

"Makes sense." Sasuke grunted, doing his best to appear cool and aloof even if Naruto was positive that the Uchiha was crowing with joy on the inside to not be on a team with any fangirls.

"Team Eight." Iruka continued, "Will be Kiba Inuzaka, Hinata Hyuuga, and Shino Aburame. Jonin Sensei will be Kurenai Yuhi."

"Way to go bro." Naruto grinned at Kiba who had a happy expression at being on a team with his crush.

"Team Nine is still in circulation." Iruka pulled out the second to last file "So team Ten will be Sasuke Uchiha, Shikamaru Nara, and Sai. Jonin Sensei is Sarutobi Asuma."

"The son of the Hokage?" Sasuke blinked in surprise, all three of them expecting that Kakashi person to train Sasuke given the Sharingan.

"Wait, what about Naruto?" Kiba frowned, noting that everyone else was already on a team and Naruto's name still hadn't been called.

"I was getting to him Kiba, don't worry." Iruka assured as he opened the last file "Naruto, as there weren't enough graduates to make a final team, the Hokage reached out to a Jonin who agreed to take you on as an apprentice. You might acquire teammates should other teams have members graduate or drop from the Corp. But until that time you are to be the personal student of Tsume Inuzaka."

With that, Iruka released them all to wander the village until lunch. "Hey guys, want to eat together?" Kiba looked at his teammates and Sasuke's, "I got some of my dad's muffins?" Naruto perked up at that, stomach rumbling eagerly. Kiba's dad may not be a Shinobi but the man both the best baker Naruto had ever met and the only nurse who didn't make his hospital visits hell.

"T-thank you." Hinata stuttered as Shino gave a silent nod.

"What a pain." Shikamaru grumbled, running a hand down his face, "But I know my mom would just complain if I don't eat with you lot." Naruto noticed Sai had silently come over, perking up slightly at the mention of muffins.

"Hnnn." Sasuke grumbled at the invitation he hadn't asked for.

"Stop complaining ya grumpy tsundere." Kiba didn't even bat an eye as he brought out a thermos "I brought tomato soup too."

"…Fine." Sasuke relented, snagging the thermos as he took a sip.

"I'm surprised they didn't have you and Naruto on a team under your mom Kiba." Sasuke commented as the seven walked out of the academy to go get lunch, the Ichiraku ramen stand decently close to the academy.

"Probably worried about favoritism or something." Kiba shrugged, "They can't make that sort of complaint about Naruto though since the civilian council wouldn't let mom adopt him."

"What?" Hinata spoke up, white eyes wide in surprise at that little tidbit.

"The civilian council really doesn't like me." Naruto shrugged, "Can't say it isn't mutual at this point. I'm just more surprised that they didn't have Sharingan Kakashi teaching Ducky here."

"Think it's because I don't have my Sharingan yet?" Sasuke frowned, that tidbit still rubbing Naruto's friend the wrong way.

"I doubt it." Naruto shook his head, "Everyone knows it'll manifest eventually. I'd say it's probably more an issue with that Kakashi guy himself. So instead, you're being trained by the son of the Hokage, someone who'd once guarded the Daimyo himself."

"Seriously?" Shikamaru blinked in surprise, having not heard that tidbit.

"I hang out with the Hokage a lot." Naruto gave a sheepish grin, "He's essentially my Jiji at this point. He likes to brag about what his son has achieved. Almost as much as he complains about how exasperating his grandson can be given the kid keeps trying to 'assassinate' him and trips over his own scarf pretty much every time." His friends all snickered at that mental image as they entered the best ramen shop in Konoha, the Ichiraku's happily treating them to a feast like conquering heroes.

AN: So yeah, next chapter you'll get to see the four (or would it be three and a third?) teams interreacting with their senseis. I'm trying out new ideas I've not seen before here and I like to think I'm making something fun.

AN2: I'll also be having Naruto and Tenten meet in the next couple chapters so get ready for that.