0AN: my latest chapter received mixed review. That's a good thing.
I wasn't at the top of my game but that's how you learn and step up!

Chapter 23: School

"… What?".
"Oh! That did it! I just had to want to turn it off! Well, that's obvious in hindsight. Whelp, it's good! I managed to stop feeling the weird girl emotions! Now, can we go get things?"

… No. NoooonoooonooooooooFUCKNO!

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!" I… Well… Not screamed, but the equivalent in our head-space.
"Hmmmm, the fact that you told me to read her emotions? And it didn't stop? And now I stopped it?"
"Moon-moon… You'll have to describe this to me better because WHATTHEFUCK?!"

My ninken didn't even seemed nonplussed when I looked at him.

"Well, after we left yesterday, I could still hear them, right? The girl kept asking question about the blond kid, his father gave her answers that were like the one the Protector told us but… After they went out of my range… Her feeling stayed; you know?"

No, I do not KNOW.

"It was annoying, but manageable. So, I stopped caring about it. But when she got into school it came back harder! It was 'Confusion' and 'Uncertain' but then Naruto came, and it became 'Protection', alright? But it's annoying. That's why I wanted it to stop, and it did! So, it's all good!"
"Okay… And can you… Can you do it again and read her current emotions?"
"Yes. Hmmmm… 'Boredom'. Just like you yesterday."
"Okay, let's roll with it for now. We'll handle this later. That's okay with you?"
"Yup. I'm going back to sleep now. See you at recess! Don't get detention again, there are many things I want to get."

And just like that, my ninken, who had discovered through mind reading the existence of other universes, who had apparently a way to feel the emotions of people far away from him… Curled up in a ball and fell asleep, leaving me thinking of the fallout that I just discovered.

Damnit Moon-moon.

And so, after this little 'heart to heart', life continued.

Mom reluctantly accepted Kiba befriending Naruto. Still, she asked him a lot of pointed questions after each school days.
Kiba, my innocent little brother, didn't thought it weird. In fact, he was delighted that our mother was so interested in his friends.

As for me, I took the Konoha education like a fish in water. Floating belly-up.

At least I didn't have to learn how to read and write again (different language) since mom took care of that but let's not mince words. I'M STILL FUCKING BORED!
Not that it's hard, mind you, I remember my studies all the way to college (not the rest, hated the rest) but having to add 2 and 2 together again… Uuuuugh…

My sensei was surprised that I was good at math. Asshole.

After explaining it, I was given a test that encompasses all that was learn during the standard Konoha cursus. I knew most of it but stopped answering after reaching equations of the first degree. They weren't that hard (2x +1 = 5, please find x) but I wasn't supposed to know that. I looked at the last one before it changed to two-degree equations: 12x = 37 +15x -52. Please fin-fuck that shit.

The last ones were advanced calculus. Like in my old world, everybody's gangsta until the Math start speaking Greek.
My teacher laughed when I simply pointed the 'x' in the equation, confusion plastered on my face.
Since Moon-moon was sharing his senses with me, I understood that he was relieved that I wasn't really all that smart. I'm killing this guy, one day.

Nevertheless, he took the time to explain me the basics. And he was… Quite a good teacher, to be honest. His examples made sense, he balanced the stick and the carrot expertly and was never unfair or biased to anyone. So, I asked him The Question.

"But… Why do we have to learn that? I mean… Calculating the trajectory of a Kunai launched from the top of a tree might seems nice (hint: it's not) but everyone can do that with a bit of practice. Who needs that?"

Sensei looked at me in the eyes then let a small chuckle escape his lips.

"Ah… How nostalgic… You know, young Shinji, if I had a Ryo for each kid that asked me that then I wouldn't have to work here anymore. Nor my future children. So, I'll tell you what I tell each time. But first, a demonstration. Do not worry, it's safe."

My sensei's eyes quickly scanned the room around us, before closing them. I Focused on him and heard some light mumbling. Too fast to be heard if I wasn't basically telling the flow of time to go fuck himself but still couldn't get the meaning, then… Drew a shuriken from God know where. Which, in a flick of the wrist too fast for my eyes… Simply vanished.

Immediately, flashback of my meeting with the old Moron made me focus even more. But no deadly-star-of-pointy-death was going in my direction.

Ping.
Startled by the noise above our heads, I turned my eyes upwards, my head moving slower than my eyes, but I saw…
The shuriken, having collided with the side of the lampshade above us, had changed direction and was now heading toward the door…
Ping.
And rebounded on the freaking handle, changing its direction again. Straight back to the lampshade that was now swinging back in the opposite direction.
Ping.
And straight toward the hand of my sensei, who simply caught it by putting his index finger in the circle at the center of it. All of this while still having eyes still closed.

"Wow… What was…" I stammered. "That was AMAZING!"
Nope, won't blame 'teenage hormones' this time. That was really fucking amazing.

"That was mathematics." Simply told my teacher while opening his eyes, a light smile on his face.

"I looked at my surroundings, then calculated the exact force to throw the exact weight in the exact direction and caught it at the exact time. Now, I'll tell you what I always tell my students.

Mathematic, as its core, is just a tool. So, as a tool, it's up to you how to use it. No one uses mathematics for mathematics' sake. No, you need a reason and I just showed you one. Of course, some talented people can do what I did naturally, or with practice. Kami, Uchiha Itachi, a… 6th year, I think? Seems to be a natural one at that.
But a simple look as his test scores is enough to figure that, while being a genius, he's not at the academic level to explain what he does in spar against his poor comrades.

Some can do what I did without thinking, but everyone can do as much. With the right amount of training.
What they need is time and the will to dedicate this time to train.

Another example, as you know, hitting an enemy kunai with your own and throw it off course is taught here. It's considered a basic skill. But hitting it just so that your kunai and your enemy's' are thrown in a course that will collide with other enemy combatant is… Way harder. But it's something that talent and mathematics can do. It's not easy, it's not always successful, but it's possible.

But, as a tool, you need to decide if you want to use it or not. An example I love to give is my old sensei, when I was a student like you. He was an Uchiha but decided to join the academy as a teacher.
As such, he was well trained in the use of his family famous fire release. But since it's not taught here, he never had to use it.

So, that's why we teach mathematics to our children. It's not that we enjoy seeing our student suffer ('He's lying', Moon-moon told me in our shared headspace) but it's something that can help you if you decide to use it. Like everything we teach you here, we teach it for a reason.

Also, mathematics can help you for other things. I know from your files that you are not the future clan head, but your little brother will have to use it. Monthly results, planning for the next one, organizing supplies and taxes… It is where it shines brighter. And discarding this, your Friend Yamamoto-kun is willing to become a medical-nin. He will also need it, because a wrong dosage, or a gesture badly calculated, will decide the line between medicine and poison.

If you chose to not pursue this way, it's your choice and it's okay. We, the teachers, are simply here to show you that it exists."

"Well…" I said timidly. "I'm sorry but I'm more of an… Instinctive fighter…"
"No worries, but your files showed me that you invented a trick in the hospital, right?"
"Oh that? Yeah, it wasn't really a big thing… I just light a paper on fire…"
"Forgive my curiosity, but how would you describe it to someone who want to learn it?"
"Hmmmm…" I took some time to think about it. "Be angry? Feel the swirl of the thing inside your body, look at the thing you want to burn, and it will burn?"
"If an experienced shinobi, with a greater reserve tried that with that kind of teaching, they'll burn the letter, their house, and the whole district."
"Yeah, I know… I was given quite the lecture…"

"This, young alpha, is the difference a trick and a jutsu. A trick is instinctive, a jutsu… Need to be written down, explained in detail. And for that…"
"You need maths…"
"Correct. Calculations, optimizations, variances from one natural affinity to another… It might seem superfluous but while doing that you facilitate the task of everyone that comes after you. In a way, you won't become stronger by writing them, but you will strengthen those who will read them after. That's why Jutsu's knowledge is so well kept. If I can do what I show you earlier, then everyone can do it. Given time and motivation…"

"I… I see…" I said weakly.

"Also, it can help you in other ways… There was this time when I was just a fresh Chuunin and I was dating the daughter of a civilian. I brought her to the Yamanaka flower shop, then I took a kunai and launched it. It rebounded 7 times. The first six drew a star around us and the seventh cut the string that was holding the bouquet of flowers I bought that was suspended above her head. A bouquet she hasn't noticed but still caught in time. Well, I was banned for life from the Yamanaka store but… Totally worth it. NEVER underestimate civilians' flexibility, young Inuzuka… Best night of my life…"

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY TO FUCKING MUCH INFORMATIOOOOOOOOOOONS! IS EVERYONE IN THIS VILLAGE A PERVERT?
Me included. I'm storing that information for… Later… You never know...

"Anyway, let's stop here for today. You might want to reflect about what I said today… hehehe…"

HOLY SHIT HE'S BLUSHING LIKE MOM AND DAD THAT DAY AAAAAAAAARGH FUCK THIS TOWN!

"But, back to the main point, continue your pursuit of knowledge. You're doing great by the way. I doubt you'll have problems before we start your physical education next year and your interest in history will only help you. Are you going to see your little brother now?"
"Yeah." I controlled my emotions and headed toward the door.
"Since mom is busy, someone has to make sure that he didn't trigger someone to go on a rampage due to his 'Kiba-ness'. Thank you, sensei, but… You never told me your name…"

"…Huh?" was the very intelligent response of my intelligent sensei. One that I was starting to have a suspicion of his family name.

"Oh! Right! I told everyone in the class on the first day of the first year… Huuuum… Sorry, I tend to be… Overenthusiastic when it come to my work…. How could I forget that…? Well, I'm Nara Daisuke. It's an honor, Inuzuka Shinji. I hope you'll keep going forward and don't hesitate to go ask me if you have problems. Especially about science."

I Fucking Knew It. Black hair, black eyes, soft features...
I lazily waved him (you must respect other people culture, right?) and left him to his papers. I went toward the common playground; were everyone was playing.

"Hey, he smells nice too. But somehow I feel like know that smell."

"Well, if he's a Nara then you might have recognized the smell of Shikaku, Shikamaru and Shikako, right? It's not unusual for clan members to have the same smell, especially if they live close to each other. And Kiba spent all his days with the Twins."
"Well… Can't deny that. Oh! Here's Akamaru and Kiba! Let's go get things with them!"

Chuckling internally, we made our way toward the future Konoha twelve. Which, as I noted dutifully days after days, were becoming whole.

Ino and Sakura had joined the group. As I learned later, apparently Shikako had befriend them during their Kunoichi classes and brought them to play. Ino had agreed, just so that she could bug the hell out of her childhood friend, Shikamaru.
Sakura, daughter of civilian, only followed so she wouldn't be alone but was timid as hell.

I also suspected that they were included as a devious plan to have 'two more members for playing shinobi', because Shikamaru and Choji were currently lazily cloud watching and the teams kept their numbers.
I noted that Sasuke was here too. Not playing, but present. He was like Neji in that regard.

He was probably told that, as a noble clan (the Akimichi never cared for that), that playing with 'simple' clans were beneath him.
As was Hinata, still clumsily observing behind her 'Hinata-tree' (patent approved).

I noticed that Sasuke was genuinely smiling, while Hinata's smile was simply sad.

I wondered, for a moment, if I could use my grandfather's 'unofficial godfather' status to have a little talk with Hyuga Hiashasi and forcefully remove the pole dancing bar he had in his ass. I'll die in the attempt, but it would be totally worth it.

And so, I hanged around my little brother's friends. I noticed that Shikako was still wary of me. She'll get used to it.
I wanted to speak with her. Her actions all but screamed that she knew what this little group of future-overpowered misfits will become, but…
There was one thing I had to be sure of before trying to approach her.

And then… With laughter, exams, and detentions (not all mine)… Years passed.
Third year… Fourth year… Our training became more 'ninja like'. We had taijutsu lessons, ninjutsu and genjutsu where weaved between endurance training...

Then, halfway during our sixth year... The Uchiha clan came to an end.

After the massacre. Kiba told me that Shikako tried to keep Sasuke close by. He became cold, distant, angry...
Always staying on the edge of the group. Kiba found that sad but didn't know how to make things better.

As did I. I never even spoke to him. Our words would be hollow. I could only hope that his teammates, the future Team 7, would find a way…

We were given a week of 'rest'. All the village was. Whatever bullshit Madara thought, the Uchiha were mourned by everyone.

No one saw mom during that week.
Shikaku stayed at home to care for her wife. I wonder if mom was with her. Mikoto Uchiha was a dear friend to them.

When she came back home, her first act was to grab me in her arms. Screaming, crying, pleading… That her friend was wrong. That I wasn't like this.
After so many occurrences, the meaning was obvious. I accepted her embrace. My left arm grabbed her around her midsection, while my right one signed Hana and Kiba to come with us.

Both finally came, after a few hesitations, and the Inuzuka family joined together in a fourth person hug. None knowing what to do when The Fierce was crying every tear in her suddenly all-too-human body but… We were here. And that was a start.

After this 'resting' week. We all came back to our occupations. Live resumed.

We were Shinobi, we moved on.

For the first time, we were sent outside of Konoha in a camping trip.

The land of Fire was rich in diversity, and we were led into a forest, where our sensei taught us how to make camp. How to keep a steady watch, how to make a defensive position in the wilderness, and above all…

How to kill our preys.

Ten-ten was a gifted student at that. She was commended for always bringing her preys at the camp.
How her attacks were both stealthy and painless for our food.
And how she didn't appreciate those compliments. At all.

Neji never took an active part of our hunting parties, I guessed that, as a noble clan, he was simply above such trivialities. Still, he participated in the maintenance of the camp and pointed everyone toward the closest game that matched their strength.

The last night we had before we had to head back to Konoha, when everyone was asleep, the teachers played a prank on us and released a small amount of killing intent toward us.
It didn't wake me. Compared to what I already suffered from my own mother and grandfather; this was nothing.
Still, Moon-moon awakened me when Nara-sensei stealthily entered the tent I was sharing with Yama-kun. A bucket of water in his hands.

"Two…Let me sleep…" I said tiredly, not even opening my eyes.

I sensed the confusion of my teacher, who quickly drowned it with his sense of duty and resumed approaching me with his bucket.

"Two with two… Makes four… four and one… Five… I found 'x'. Now please let me sleep sensei… Moon-moon want… to get so many things tomorrow… Again…Uuuuhghh…"

I felt, more than saw him, smile. And then he dropped his bucket of water on Yama's bed, who hadn't noticed anything. Not my problem.

And so, the next morning, almost everyone woke up from a bad night of sleep. Some of them (Yama) because they didn't feel the attack and earned a bucket of cold-water on their head. Some of them (Ten-ten and Rock-lee) felt the 'intent' but not the 'threat' and had a nightmare before being soaked and… Me. Who, despite having noticed the attack, did nothing to warn my teammates. Apparently, I deserved having a drenched teenager share his watery misery with me.

Moon-moon was right. Our sensei loved to see us suffer. Assholes.

Oh, Neji was fine. He had his own tent and the poor assistant teacher (Mizuki, I learned later, who was 'volunteered' after losing some bet of sorts) who tried to play the prank on him had all his tenket-whatever closed. And nose broken. And as such was sent home before us.

Still, years passed by, and I was hit with a deadly curse.

It started innocently enough. I was older than my classmates, but it never really mattered.
Then, with the sharpness of the grim reaper scythe, Unavoidable as Taxes and Unforgiving as a Nara with a grudge… It struck me.

I went through puberty again.

So. For the sake of my XX-chromosome readers, or those XY's who hadn't already experienced this wonderful, magical and memorable experience (and who shouldn't be reading this fic), let's list the common symptoms.

- Voice that either goes too high or too low when you are answering a question? Check.
- Body hairs appearing pretty much… Everywhere? Like, everywhere? Check.
- Growth spurs at random intervals, meaning that you must explain to your mother that you need new clothes because some are too tight? Even the clothes in one newly… Particularly sensitive area? Check.
- Acne? No check. Thanks god.
- Random Act of Boner when you are doing a presentation in front of the class? Check.

But the worst… The absolute worst… The total lack of control over your hormones. When you happen to see certain members of the opposite sex, and you cannot help but stare before you finally understand that you are unsubtly looking at someone's chest? And they noticed? Mother of all Check… Please kill me…

Thankfully, this… Period (Is it a bad word to describe it?) lasted less than my first time going through it.
I gained some new embarrassing nicknames (that I won't tell) but since I pretty much pay them back during taijutsu training none didn't stick.

Thankfully Neji was above that, Ten-Ten and Rock Lee simply found me simply 'weird'.
Yama, knowing the effect brought by puberty since he was 10, was too busy laughing his ass off and writing my reactions as a 'how to not handle this'.

Speaking of him, our life as shinobi took shape in time. After I apologized for not thinking that our teacher would target him, we became close friends.
He was… Not a genius. Not in the 'Itachi' sense. But as far as genjutsu and medical science goes? He was pretty damn good.

According to him, it was only to be expected in his clan.
The Nohara was a dedicated healer clan, but an 'artificial' one. One that formed after the first Shinobi war and not before like the rest.

Before the village era, they were only a small villageless family, gifted in Chakra healing. They accepted everyone that showed proficiency in the medical arts and provided formations, teaching and guidance to all who seek it. No matter who asked.

Every time a battle finished; they came. They would provide succor, they saved everyone that could live. After that, they put their patient to sleep and vanished. But after so many years of slaughter… A Senju shinobi they saved remembered and tracked them. He had fell in love with his savior, a young woman who cried when he regained consciousness, and married her.

After the war ended, the First Hokage went to meet them. As many unaffiliated clans did, they willingly joined Konoha. His ideal of peace and cooperation resonated with them and taught everyone in Konoha the basis of our "medical jutsu".

The 'small family' tried to make the push to become a 'clan'. So that they could choose their own clan marking, one that could very easily be seen on the battlefield.
For one simple reason. One visible reason they tried to negotiate with the Kage of their time.

The Nohara would be allowed to heal without discrimination. When a battle would end, the clan would heal everyone.
Tobirama-sama, always the pragmatic, refused, and the clan stayed a 'family' for years.

And then, came Tsunade-Hime. Daughter of the First Hokage. Genius among geniuses on the medical field.

The Nohara became her assistants and unofficial personal guards. Be it poison, curing, simple mending or anything else, they helped her.
With her talent for chakra manipulation and their knowledge… Konoha survived the second Shinobi war with little but unavoidable casualties.

With the blessing of Tobirama-sama, the Nohara became a fully-fledged clan. One who had the hear of the Hokage.

But Tsunade-Hime left the village after her love was killed. And they lost their voice.

"No one…" Yama said sadly at the end of his explanation about his clan history. "No one really hold it against her, you know. We all know that she'll be back. She HAS to come back."

Yeah, she will. As the Fifth Hokage.

"All right, kids!" Said Nara-sensei at the end of the recess period. "That's… Pretty much it for today. Tomorrow you'll have an individual exam to decide which one of you will move on to the Jonin Corps, which will go to the Genin Corps and… Which one I'll have the honor to have as my student next year…"

Yama steeled himself. He didn't want to become a 'simple' medical-nin, like Hana, but a field-medic. Usually, any shinobi with talent for healing are put int the Genin Corps, join the hospital and do the standard education formation. Which takes almost five years.

Yama wanted nothing of that. He was taught medical science since he could walk and thus wanted to directly join the Jonin Corps, as I do. With that he would directly use his knowledge but in a supporting position.

I hoped that we would be in the same team. With my luck I WILL need a reliable healer.

I already knew it, but it became even more apparent that I would never be the Rookie of the year.
Neji was called a prodigy for a reason.

In academics he always was at the top. His clan education far surpassed mine and, since the loss of the Uchiha last year, he was ordered to be the best. As a message to the rest of the world: 'the loss of one of the founding clans did not cripple us'.

So, in our spars… He stopped pulling his punches.

Let's give some context. To minimize unfair advantages, all students are taught the same basic fighting style and are expected to use it, except for the last training of the week. And those would have a lesser weight in our final assessment.
Since gramps told me about that, I wasn't as surprised or disappointed as I would have been otherwise.
So, against him? I usually get knocked on my ass 10 seconds after we started.

When our clan techniques were allowed, with my Focus, Inner Beast, Moon-moon and every advantage I could stack against him? I would have my ass handed to me in 15 seconds flat.
Which is a massive improvement! Except I couldn't move after.
But, hey! Small steps! Which is how I moved during the rest of the day.

So, I accepted the fact that I will be perpetually second best. Or, as some says: first looser.

Nara-sensei noted that I kept a semblance of good relationship with him despite our 'three-way-rivalry' with Rock-Lee. The dead-last having declared an external challenge with Neji, who ignored him, and I was somehow included by default.

The day of the exam finally came, and we were asked to perform three tasks.
A kata using the Konoha standard, a Jutsu of our choice (I was surprised to learn that the henge was not mandatory, but simply the one that pretty much everyone chose. So I did a simple Inuzuka dash), then finally perform or resist a genjutsu.

I chose the latter, Nara-sensei then got up, did a few hand-seals and asked me to dispel it after I saw what was wrong.

With the help of my cheat-mode, I took all the time I need to observe every detail and informed him that the pocket on his jacket were mirrored, the windows where not in their right place, and his fly was opened.

I then dispelled the probe in my mind with a 'Kai' while my sensei took his seat back. I think I heard him silently closing his fly after.

… Sorry…

So, I was given my headband.

Nara-sensei congratulated me with pride in his eyes. Not that we really doubted I would succeed, mom told me how the final exam usually goes, but because he was proud that the 'potentially mentally crippled kid from that idiotic clan' managed to score so high thanks to his teaching.

After that, the one who failed where sent home to accept the shock and think of their future. Those that wished it could return to the academy, but strangely no one chose that path. I wondered if there was a stigma for failing but dismissed it. That would be extremely stupid.

The one who passed where send back to our classroom to be sorted through the different section of Shinobi's. To wait for the initial sorting to be completed.

Arriving here, I was relieved but not surprised to see the four students that caught my eyes on the first day. I knew they'll make it. Well, a little less for Yama, but still.

The last student arrived after a short while, accompanied by our sensei. He announced that the teams for the Jonin corps, the most elite position of the kindergarten, were decided and he would start with the one that didn't make it.

He took some time to reassure the class that being in the Genin corp was not a statement of failure. The Genin corps where the life and blood and Konoha. They helped the civilians and, to use some crude terms, are the sole reasons the whole system hasn't already collapsed on itself.
Also, with the right efforts and drive, everyone could simply ask to join the Jonin corps again. Thought very few ask for it, simply because they found they enjoyed their new life.

He, again, used himself as an example. He, as a genin, was denied entry to the Jonin corps out of a lack of drive (read: lazy) but with time finally became a Special-Jonin specialized in teaching.

Then, sensei called… Pretty much all the class.

I noticed that no one was truly surprised.
A little bit disappointed, but there was no anger, everyone just… Got up and left.
The speech before apparently hit the bullseye for a lot of them.

And then, in our suddenly too big classroom, only the five of us remained. Which… Kinda perplexed me.

"Is there a problem, Shinji-kun?" Asked my teacher with a small smile.
"Well… Should we be… Six? To make proper teams?"

Yama and Neji didn't react to it, but I saw Ten-Ten and Lee pale slightly.

"There's… Going to be a test, right? To see which one will make the final team and the two others will be sent to the Genin corps?" Ten-Ten timidly spoke.

As a fighter she was the lowest of us. Rock Lee, even as this year dropout and without a proper style, was already above her in pure taijutsu, thanks to his training. Yama was a natural counter to her fighting style; I was fast enough to dodge everything she could throw at me and… Let's not speak about Neji.

"No, worry not my child, your ability to join this elite force have been thoroughly analyzed and you have been deemed worthy. Though I cannot say for certain that your future sensei will not want to judge your strengh by himself… I wouldn't worry. The Jonin that specifically asked to be your sensei will be here soon, and he's not the kind of man that chose his student only to fail them."

I had to try my hardest to not smirk at the future introduction of Kakashi's eternal rival.

"No, we had some promising talent these years, but you five are the only one who made the cut and asked to be in the Jonin corps. Contrarily to what people believe, it's not a popular position outside of clan members, people usually like having a stable and riskless job. My speech before was more about reassuring them about their own choice than really consoling them.

So, this situation, not having enough graduates to have full teams, is the norm. In this case, we simply ask a member of the Genin corps who showed promise to fill in, having more experience and drive they usually pull the other two along with him. But on this time the situation is slightly different. You see we received a…"

"SO, MY TEAM IS HERE AND BEAMING WITH THE POWER OF YOUTH! AHAHAH I'M PLEASED TO MEET YOU! I CAME AS FAST AS I COULD WHEN I HEARD THAT THE EXAMINATION WAS FINISHED! SORRY ABOUT THE DOOR, BY THE WAY! DON'T CLOSE IT TOO HARD!"

And… There he was. Maito Gai.
Green made Man.
And another criminal haircut.
Standing just beside Nara-sensei, who looked like he had the beginning of a headache.

"Gai-san… We were just…"

"AHAHAHAH! VERY WELL! LISTEN MY GENIN I WILL WAIT FOR YOU IN TRAINING GROUND NUMBER 3 IN THREE MINUTES! WE'LL BE DOING SOME STRETCHING EXERCICES THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME ONE-ON-ONE BATTLES SO THAT I KNOW HOW TO MAKE YOU STRONGER!"

"Gai-saaan… Training ground number three is situated at least 10 minutes away at running speed for a standard genin…"

"I KNOW! BUT THEY ARE NOT MERE 'STANDARD'! THEY ARE THE TEAM I CHOSE! FOR EACH MINUTE WASTED THEY'LL HAVE TO DO A HUNDRED PUSHUP! THIS IS THE STRETCHING EXERCISE I TALKED ABOUT!"

"Gai-saaaaaaan… Please wait at least for me to finish my speech and for them to get their bearing back…"

"VERY WELL, I SHALL WAIT! EXCUSE ME, DAISUKE-KUN BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HAD A GENIN TEAM SO PROMISING! I WILL FORGE THEM THROUGH THE POWER OF HARDSHIP! I WILL HELP THEM HARNESS THE POWER OF YOUTH! THEY SHALL BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO BEAT WHATEVER TEAM MY ETERNAL RIVAL CHOSE! NO! THEY SHALL BECOME STRONG ENOUGH IN A YEAR WITH ME TO DEFEAT HIM!"

"Gai-saaaaaaaaaaaan…. Please leave this room, I still need to talk to the other team. Also, indoor voice…"

"YES! I KNOW ABOUT THAT! BUT THE POWER OF YOUTH IS FILLING ME! I SHALL WAIT FOR THEM IN THE TRAINING GROUND!"

And then… In a blink, the Green Beast of Konoha wasn't with us anymore. I looked at the other student. Ten-Ten had fainted, Rock Lee's face was mixed. Fire in his eyes and a single tear coming from his right eye. Neji, weirdly, was impassive…

"Hey, Moon-moon" I asked with our Imprint. "Can you read Neji's thoughts?"

"No need. For the last minute it's all 'Kami what the hell is this' in repeat. I'm not even sure he noticed the guy is now gone."

"So… Hyuga Neji, Ten-Ten and Rock-lee… You have been chosen to be part of team Gai. No number like the rest because he… Doesn't burden himself with that… My condolences… Also, I'm not sure if he'll wait to start his 'three minutes timer' so… Hum Lee-kun? Can you take your little comrade with you to the training ground?"

"YES SENSEI! WE WILL MAKE YOU PROUD! THE POWER OF YOUTH WILL SHINE BRIGHT TODAY!"

Lee… Teleported to Ten-Ten desk and held her in a piggy-back. Then… Vanished. This time we heard the door closing.
Neji calmy exhaled through his nose and made his way to the exit. Always calm, always proper. But then, before exiting the room and closing the door, he sent a final glare of desperation to me.

Please take my place. I don't want to be the Rookie of the Year anymooooooooooooore.

I didn't even need my ninken to understand his thoughts. So, I did the only logical thing.

"Have fun, Neji-kun! Hope we'll keep in touch! And thanks for beating me in the rankings!". I said, waving my hand toward him.

Neji then slammed the paper door shut. Which fell on the ground. Showing him again with the starts of tears in his eyes. Then he vanished.
Silence reigned for a few second in the class.

"So… That was a thing. You guys are lucky." Said our sensei. We both agreed.

"Anyway, as I was saying, your new member will join soon an you'll have a full team. What I was trying to say before…This… Is that this genin came from an unaffiliated clan.
Your future sensei should be awaiting her at the gates to welcome her properly into the village. Please wait while I go fetch them both. And fix the door…"

Nara-sensei then left our classroom and left us with the fallout of this situation.

"Are all… Jonin-sensei… Like this?" Yama asked me, after a few minutes of silence to gather his bearing back.
"Nah, I've heard that Gai-sensei is extremely… Enthusiastic. But I know for a fact that he's a good teacher. His team will go far."
"Man… At least all my teacher in medicine were all from my clan or from the hospital. They seemed to have some modicum of sense…"

Then I smelled two people entering my range. Immediately I held a hand up to notify him that I was focusing.

"Two new smells are here. One is… Sensei? No. Not sensei… Female. The second one… smells like… me?"

And then the newly repaired door opened, and two women entered our classroom.

The oldest one was wearing a Jonin vest. A Nara, again.
She had the same distinct feature of our former teacher. Long and silky black hairs, a slim face with overtly focused eyes, muscles like a professional runner in my old worlds and the Nara-clan Mon in her right shoulder.
You could have taken every physical thing the Nara clan, mix them together, then you'll have her.

The other was… My age. And by that, I mean 16 to 18 years old. Somehow, she looked like the younger version of someone I should recognize...
Blonde, flowy hairs, which was quite rare in Konoha.
Fair skin, smooth face and gentle features, all showing an expression of disgust.
Green eyes, just like mine, looking at me like I should just die.
A back cat on her shoulderWAIT! WAIT! HOLD A SECOND HERE!

"Hello, children, I'm Kyougi Nara, your Jonin sensei. Please introduce yourself and stop releasing killing intent Kasumi-kun. It's annoying. Also, you signed a voucher about that."
"Very well…" The blond girl said and bowed toward us.
"I'm Nekozuka Kasumi. I'll be in your care."

Her eyes locked on mine, with something I could only describe as 'hatred'.

"Until I'm allowed to finally kill you."

OH, WHAT THE FUCK NOW!