Hiruzen muffled a yawn, it was much too early to be awake with no village ending problem at his age. It was a young man's game to be awake so early but with the revelations last night a few changes needed to be made.
Every year a meeting of Jonin and the Hokage was held regarding the graduating class at the academy. The majority of years this took a few minutes at most, but this year was special to say the least. For the first time in generations the new crop of graduates had a representative from every major clan in the village. It was almost like they planned it to make his job harder. So, this year's meeting was going to take a good bit longer as he couldn't just assign the teams at random or based on grades like he would want.
He was happy that Naruto had taken the first step on his path to become Hokage but couldn't he do it a year earlier. He rubbed his temples and tried to massage the headache away. Naruto was dead last in the academy while Sasuke Uchiha was the rookie of the year. This was usually an automatic placement but with both of them possessing one of their village's founders bloodline, it was too risky to put them on the same team. One accident and both bloodlines could be gone forever.
Soon the Jonin began entering his office and gave their respect to him. He honestly wished he would've brought a camera when he let the news break. For multiple years he had been receiving complaints and 'advisements' against Naruto being let into the academy to become a ninja. He had briefly thought about trying to keep his status under wraps until he was stronger but Naruto keeping a secret, especially one such as the Wood style, was laughable.
"I call this meeting to order." And the room went quiet as he spoke. "It is time to choose this years genin teams, but some new discoveries are going to make this year slightly different." He said, hiding a small smile.
"Sir" A newly promoted but accomplished genjutsu master spoke up. "What new discoveries are you talking about, it's been less than a day since the graduation ceremony."
A few faces of the Jonin realized that the 'discovery' and incident with Naruto last night were probably related and the majority of them had dark looks on their faces. Hiruzen felt it was best to rip off the band aid now rather than let it simmer. "Naruto Uzumaki has proved himself and as such is to be considered graduated from the academy this year."
The room exploded with noise, no one caring that they were in the presence of the Hokage anymore. Most of them had just been told the 9 tailed fox was now a ninja of the Leaf. Certain comments could be heard even above the noise of the crowd. "He was already given special treatment in the academy. Now you pass him from the academy?" "We all know he failed the final exam." "You can't let that monster be a ninja."
Hiruzen was tiring of this, he let his chakra leak out and scowled that the group. The newly promoted shrunk under his glare and chakra, forgetting that even though he was an old man, he was still the strongest in the village.
His son Asuma Sarutobi was used to this kind of thing. His father letting his chakra flare wasn't as scary as it used to be. He could still vividly remember when his father caught him smoking the night he became a Chunin. Back in his prime, now THAT was scary. Hearing that Naruto had passed was a pleasant surprise. He knew the kid pretty well since the kid visited his dad as much as he could over the years. He was energetic but from the records he had seen he was probably the worse genin in history. His father hadn't told him anything so he took a long drag of his cigarette and waited to hear what happened to the kid.
Kurenia Yuhi had only heard the rumors about him, never having met him herself, and she didn't like what she heard. Habitual prankster and underachiever, not a good combination. If she was picked to train him she could probably do it, with a few select genjutsu you could do anything, she smiled at the thought.
"Now before I get started, I want to give you the option to decline, I don't want to have to force anyone to be his sensei if I don't have to. Who would not be opposed to having Naruto placed on their team. To his surprise more than he would've thought volunteered. Normally this would be a good thing but in the village there were only about 3 Jonin he considered to be qualified to be able to protect him, and one of them decided not to show up. "Good that makes it much easier."
"Sir, you haven't told us what he did to prove himself. Last night I understand he was the one to steal the forbidden scroll, so how did that action earn him the position of genin?"
"Yes well, I will remind you that while this information is not forbidden within the village, you are forbidden to share the news to anyone outside the Leaf. Naruto Uzumaki has shown the ability to use the Wood style."
You could hear a pin drop in the room, well you could if Asuma hadn't inhaled his cigarette when he heard the news and was coughing his lungs out. The rest of the room was in shock from hearing that the Wood style was in the hands of perhaps the worst ninja in the village.
"Well, that's interesting." Kakashi Hatake broke the speaking silence from the windowsill reading his ever-present series. "As interesting as it is it does make team placements more of a headache."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was annoyed, he broke the moment too early by showing up late. He wished to see the look of horror on their faces a bit longer before he got back to business. "Special Jonin stay, everyone else you are returned to your duties. Kakashi, nice of you to finally join us instead of merely listening in from the window."
He stepped into the office from the window and shut his book. "If I had known it would be so interesting I would have shown up early." He received doubtful expressions at that statement. "Unfortunately it does mess up placements pretty badly if I'm not wrong. He is dead last in the year but mixing those bloodlines might not be a good idea.
Hiruzen had to agree, Kakashi had all but begged him to let him teach Naruto when he graduated, and now that didn't seem likely. With Sasuke Uchiha passing with flying colors he needed to be on Kakashi's team. But the Mokuton and the Sharingan on the same team this early was too much of a risk. There was only a few ninja he would trust with such a responsibility of having either of them on their teams and he was out of options. Kakashi and Guy were the strongest the village had to offer but Guy already had a team and now Kakashi was out of the equation as well.
Kurenai Yohiu might be an option but she was freshly promoted to special Jonin and while strong in her own right was still fresh and hadn't lead a team of genin yet. That left on option and there was no one else he trusted more than his son. "Asuma will be his sensei, I will be getting angry letters from their heads but the trio might need to be split up. Placements will be delayed until Monday so I can rearrange teams. You are all dismissed while I fix this mess."
As he walked out Asuma shook his head, this was going to be a nightmare but not for him. Thankfully his wallet would survive his team, Choji's appetite was quite large and now it was someone else's problem. He wondered where his team might want to eat at not knowing his hubris and the terror his wallet would later endure.
BREAK end flashback
Naruto ran through the streets towards the academy, thankfully this should be the very last day he would ever spend in that godforsaken place. He would just slip in the back and no one would notice him.
But as got close he could see Iruka sensei locking the door. He pushed himself and made it just in time to hear the click of the lock. Panting he looked up at his former teacher with a knowing look on his face.
"Good of you to finally show up Naruto but you are late and missed the team placements." Naruto was about to protest but Iruka stopped him from even starting. "Luckily I expected this to be honest, you got lucky Naruto, it was delayed until Monday to rework the teams, so make sure you aren't late. Because if you are so help me I will drag you back to the academy kicking and screaming."
Naruto fell on his butt and laid out on the ground and breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he was going to wait a few days until he met the lucky Basterds he was going to be stuck with.
Naruto walked down the street excited for the days to come. He had passed the academy finally and now had a chance to achieve his dream. "I think this deserves some more ramen if you ask me." The long walk to Ichirakus passed extremely slow though because of the unusual looks that were being thrown his way. He was used to the hateful glares and the mutterings, they were just life for him. What he wasn't used to were the curious looks and glares that looked almost hungry, like someone had hit the jackpot. Wierdos he thought, and sped up. As he arrived he pushed those thoughts away and focused on one of the only safe spots he had in the village. Teuchi and his daughter Ayame had never looked at him hatefully and always welcomed him and wanted to talk to him. He knew at first it was because of how much he spent here but now it seemed like he could relax and be himself. "10 bowls of pork ramen and keep em coming."
Teuchi smiled at the young boy "Still celebrating from last night huh Naruto?" as he got more noodles ready.
"Believe it, and what better way than more ramen." Showing off his impressively large smile.
"Well then lets get you fed, huh Naruto, its not everyday a young man becomes a ninja now is it?" Teuchi pushed a large bowl in front of him and Naruto dug in. "So, Naruto tell me about how you passed. I couldn't get a word in last night between Iruka and how much you were eating."
Naruto quickly finished off the broth in his second bowl and excitedly began to retell the story. Needless to say the ramen shop owner could barely believe that he could use such a legendary style, but Naruto was never one to lie. "That's amazing Naruto, your ramens on me today as a graduation gift."
Naruto beamed "Thanks Teuchi-san" as he got started on another bowl. Naruto knew that he needed to grow up a little bit, even he could admit that. Before it was a cry for attention and for someone to care about him but now he had somewhere where he belonged.
After a hearty and filling lunch of waaaaay too much ramen Naruto headed towards one of the training grounds. He knew he still had a bit until they met with their sensei but he couldn't stand to sit still and do nothing for all that time. He wanted to train, only he had no clue what he was doing. Once he got to the empty field he realized he really should have paid more attention. Slacking really hurt him in all departments and he needed to get up to speed before he really embarrassed himself. He couldn't practice shuriken because he only had 1 pair but he could train his body. He might not be able to do much in less than a week but hey, it was better than nothing.
Hokages office-
"You called for me Hokage-sama." Knelling with his head down.
"Yes, Tenzen I did, you can take off your mask. This won't require it." Hiruzen spoke looking out on the village. "I'm sure you've heard the fact that we have a new Mokuton user in the village now."
"Yes sir, I have." He said in the usual robotic ANBU way.
"You are the only other person alive with experience in the wood style, so if you don't mind, I would like for you to teach him the basics if you can. He has already shown a surprising amount of skill but lacks any basic control over his bloodline." Hiruzen wondered, if he could already make dozens of clones at a time, what would it be like if he had formal training. He might have another Hashirama in his hands. Tenzen nodded "Of course sir, I have a decent idea where to start."
The Hokage smiled "Perfect, instead of your codename, you are to use the name Yamato when he asks." He paused and huffed "It seems like Naruto is heading for some last-minute training, you are free to act how you please, dismissed." The newly named Yamato hurried out and headed to the training field. It was rather exciting for him, a new wood style user, the first natural one in many years. Even though his abilities weren't natural, he felt a kinship with Naruto already.
As he arrived at the training field what he saw almost made him laugh. A small orange blur was running himself ragged, desperately getting in that last little bit of training before he met his new team. He wondered what he should try to get him to learn. He was taught in a harsh unforgiving environment under Danzo, he shivered, he knew he couldn't make him go through anything like that.
A light bulb went off in his head. He knew just how to start off his training, lets see how much affinity he really has.