AN: Hey everybody, welcome to part 4 of this story. I'm really glad at the positive reception my choice in characters are getting and want to go over more about the pairing options for Naruto and Yakumo. I would prefer Yakumo be paired with someone not from Konoha and I know I want Naruto to be.
Pairing ideas for Naruto are: Yugito Nii, Samui, Karui, Guren, Temari, and Princess Koyuki
For Yakumo, ideas are: Omoi, Gaara, Haku, Sai, or Chojuro.
The reason I'm not pairing Naruto with Yakumo with each other is that I'm planning on having the five-person team have a sibling like relationship. Granted this might change and I'm willing to listen to arguments for this pairing or any others, just be sure to list your reasoning as to why you want a certain pairing.
AN2: One of the poll winners was for Naruto, the one where another entity is placed into Naruto instead of Kurama by a bored/mischievous entity. A new poll is up with options for what entity is placed in him, so I'll do a couple updates of whatever story I feel like while people vote on that before starting the next cycle.
An Overheard Conversation
Chapter 4
-Naruto-
Rolling his shoulders, Naruto worked to get used to the weight of his new sword that Kisame-Sensei had insisted he carry with him at all times if he was to learn to be a kenjutsu master like his clan were supposed to be. Beside him was his other new friend Yakumo who Itachi-Sensei had brought to their large house yesterday. Itachi had explained that she was a little weak but that he was going to go find Tsunade to get advice on how to train Yakumo in the use of medical arts to strengthen her body and wanted Naruto to work on his sealing skills to make body reinforcement seals for her. Until those were ready though, their senseis had tasked Kimmimaro and Naruto with looking after their new friend, a duty Naruto planned to take seriously.
"Alright, you three ready for your first day?" Kisame asked as he walked the trio to the Academy for the first day of the year they would spend there before becoming official Genin.
"Hell yeah!" Naruto grinned widely, pumping a fist in the air, "We're going to kick so much ass!"
"Remember what Itachi and I told you kids?" Kisame pressed.
"The academy is full of incompetent imbeciles and they might try to teach us incorrectly." The trio parroted in sync "Be ready to share with you or Itachi what we're taught after each day so you can fix anything our Chuunin instructors mess up."
"Very good." Kisame ruffled the hair of Naruto and Kimmimaro, much to the blond's protest and the albino's silent acceptance, Yakumo just got a smile and nod. "Now Naruto, are you using the shadow clones to train and catch up like Itachi told you to?"
Remembering the awesome Jutsu his sensei's had shown him, Naruto grinned "Yep! I know Itachi Sensei told me not to overdo the clones till he knew my limit, so I made fifteen. Five are working on chakra control, five are going through those sword Katas you showed me, and five are studying seals."
"Kid…most Jonin would find fifteen Shadow clones overdoing it." Kisame deadpanned.
"I'm special." Naruto smirked.
"Remember Naruto, you are the one who said it, not Kisame-Sama." Kimmimaro deadpanned as Naruto processed what he said and stuck his tongue out at his friend who, while usually composed, did enjoy slipping an occasional verbal dagger out in the same respectful tone. Yakumo just giggled.
"Alright brats, behave." Kisame tried to look composed but was clearly laughing at them, "Here's your lunch." He handed them each a sealing scroll, "Stick together and I'll pick you up once the academy lets out."
"Thank you Kisame-San." Yakumo smiled at the large shark man.
"We will do so Kisame-Sama." Kimmimaro gave a small bow to their sensei.
"Hoorah!" Naruto laughed, having picked up the phrase from the swordsman. With that, the trio entered the academy, Naruto and Kimmimaro making sure to flank Yakumo, both keeping a close eye on their female teammate. As soon as they stepped into the classroom Naruto felt their Chuunin instructor, Mizuki, glaring at the trio. The other one, Iruka, felt more stiffly neutral.
"Alright everyone, take your seats." Iruka called out as the various chatting academy students all rushed to find spots. Naruto, Kimmimaro, and Yakumo took a row together in the back. "To start today, we'll be going over elemental nature types that exist in the shinobi world." Iruka spoke began once everyone was seated and roll was called, "Who here knows the five base natures?"
"I do dattebayo!" Naruto's hand shot up eagerly, forcing his smile to remain as his classmates began laughing and calling out insults about him which Mizuki made no effort to stop and Iruka didn't seem to put in as much effort as he would if someone else was being insulted.
"Alright, let's give Naruto a chance. So Naruto, what are the five base elemental natures?" Iruka turned to him as he managed to get the class to settle down.
"Fire, earth, water, wind, and lightning." Naruto listed off with a grin as most of the class gaped "Fire beats wind, wind beats lightning, lightning beats earth, earth beats water, and water beats fire."
"That's…right." Iruka looked surprised "How?"
"Kisame-Sama and Itachi-Sama taught us about the elements already." Kimmimaro explained, "After finding our elemental affinities."
"You already know your elements?" Iruka looked stunned while Sasuke growled in envy.
"I am a lightning element." Kimmimaro nodded.
"I have a water element." Yakumo added, shifting awkwardly at all the people focusing on her.
"I have three elements dattebayo!" Naruto threw a peace sign "Fire, Earth, and Wind!"
"T-Three elements?!" Kiba yelled out, "He's bluffing…right?"
"Nope." Naruto grinned, liking how everyone was stunned.
"It is true." Kimmimaro nodded, "Kisame-Sama had a most amusing reaction."
"A-anyway." Iruka coughed, "Yes, what Naruto said about the base elements is correct. Now, prepare to take notes as I'll be explaining about the various sub-elemental combinations." Sighing, Naruto slumped in his seat as his teachers began another boring lecture, having to fight to stay awake as they droned on and on.
Glancing out the window, Naruto looked over all the trees and thought about how he would normally have slipped out by now to do a prank on the village. He jerked when he felt a hand squeeze his and looked over to see Yakumo smiling at him. Returning the smile, Naruto focused back on the lecture, wanting to make his teammates and his senseis proud of him. Eventually, the boring morning lectures came to a close as the class was let out into the field for lunch before physical activities in the afternoon. Sitting with his friends, Naruto and the others unsealed their lunch scrolls as hot bowls of fresh ichiraku ramen appeared causing all three of them to grin, even the usually stoic Kimmimaro. While Itachi may love his sweets and Kisame may live his Sushi, Naruto and his two teammates all shared a passionate love of Ramen. They were halfway through their lunch when it was sadly interrupted.
"Hey!" turning, the trio saw Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka walking over, both of them sending a disgusted look towards Naruto who felt ashamed of himself at wilting at their gaze, not seeing his friends take note of his reaction. "What are you two even doing with this loser anyway? You'd best do yourselves a favor and ditch the dead last dobe. I'm sure Sasuke-Kun would accept having you around!" the two began to instantly fangirl.
"Not going to happen." Yakumo frowned at them as Kimmimaro nodded sagely, "Why would I ever want to be around Duck-butt-Teme when Naruto-Kun and Kimmimaro-Kun are actually fun to be around?" Naruto started to give his brunette teammate a grateful smile before Sakura began screeching so loud he was surprised the nearby glass didn't shatter.
"How dare you insult Sasuke-Kun!" she shouted, rearing back for a punch, "Shannaro!" there was a loud meaty whap of knuckles meeting skin but no cry of pain. Sakura stood there gaping as did Ino as Naruto snarled, the pink haired academy student's fist caught in his palm. "Let go of me you dumb dobe!" Sakura ordered and before, he likely would have acquiesced. But Yakumo and Kimmimaro were his friends, they were nice to him, and his senseis had told them to look out for each other.
"Nobody," Naruto growls out, unknowingly leaking out killing intent which drew the attention of various instructors and other the other students who hadn't already taken note "hurts my friends."
"I said let go!" Sakura screamed as she threw a punch with her other hand at Naruto's face this time only for it to be caught as well. Growling at the girl he had before seen as a crush, Naruto began to twist her arms back, still squeezing her firsts.
"That's enough Naruto!" feeling a hand grab his collar was the only warning Naruto had before he was thrown back, his body tossing aside his Ramen bowl as Mizuki scowled down at him. "That's it, you're out of here. You aren't to come back today and I'll be seeing the Hokage about having you removed from the academy for good after this stunt."
"She attacked Yakumo!" Naruto growled, getting back to his feet in an instant.
"I didn't see that." Mizuku just smirked.
"But I did." An Anbu dropped down from a tree as Mizuki paled, "Hokage Sama has been worried about the standards for teaching at the Academy and it would seem he was right. Mizuki, this is your one warning. Keep up this behavior and you will be dealt with. Uzumaki, good work." The Anbu nodded to him as Naruto beamed at the praise. A Pale and shaking Mizuki led a stunned Sakura and Ino away from the group.
"Well done Naruto." Kimmimaro nodded to him, "Itachi-Sama and Kisame-Sama would approve."
"Thank you Naruto-Kun." Yakumo gave him a hug. As they sat down, the trio noted that Naruto's remaining lunch was dumped onto the ground. Before his friends could start trying to offer him some of theirs, or him deny the offers, a new voice spoke up.
"Um…can I join you?" turning, they saw Hinata from their class shuffling awkwardly, holding a large bento box, "I have more than I can eat."
"Sure." Yakumo smiled, "It will be nice to have another girl around. My boys are great, but they can be rather silly."
"Hey." Naruto pouted and as Kimmimaro just slurped his noodles.