The God of Wind:
Arc I: Beginnings:
Chapter 4: A test of patience
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As part of the administrative heart of the village, the Shinobi Academy wasn't very far from the office of their village leader. In fact, it was right next door. That meant it was only a short walk to confront the man responsible for this travesty. Naruto stalked up the aging stairs of the Hokage's Office moodily. He'd made a beeline for that section of the Academy Complex as soon as Iruka let them out for a lunch break before their jonin instructors would come.
Though outwardly calm, a storm of conflicting emotions raged within. What was the old man thinking putting he and Sasuke on the same team? He should know they'd fit like oil and water.
When he reached the second story Kaori–his grandfather's secretary–seemed to be expecting him. The middle-aged woman smiled at him from behind her desk and gave a slight nod towards the double doors to his grandfather's office, her hair-bun bobbing with the motion.
"You can go in, Lord Hokage cleared some time." She said.
It just made him even grumpier. That was just confirmation that Sarutobi was fully aware he'd be upset about this. Naruto couldn't decide what was worse; the fact he was so predictable or being on Sasuke's team. 'Not for long if I have anything to say about it.'
BANG
Were he a bit calmer, Naruto probably would have been embarrassed at the loud noise the door made as he slammed it open. Beyond the double doors was a round office. Set directly opposite was a bank of large windows starting at waist height that looked over the entirety of the village. Behind a large, gleaming oak desk, his grandfather in the traditional Hokage attire of a set of white and red robes and. A diamond-shaped hat sat on his head, painted red save for a small white section emblazoned with the kanji for "fire". It was a mark of his station as Hokage.
The elderly man smoked his pipe as he casual looked over a document. His eyes briefly flicked up to acknowledge Naruto's entrance. He bit his tongue to keep from shouting. "Is there something I can help you with?" The old man asked innocently as he carefully avoided dipping his white robe into the ink well. That did it. All the emotion Naruto was holding back came flooding out.
"What the hell's the big idea putting me on the same team as that jackass? We'll be too busy trying to rip each other's throat out to work together!" Naruto growled. His chest heaved and he could hear his pulse pounding in his ears.
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe, then exhaled a large cloud of blue-grey smoke. Most of it blew through the open window, but some still reached Naruto and made him wrinkle his nose at the terrible smell. He could practically feel his lungs shriveling up with every breath.
"I see. Well, our logic was rather simple. I'd be happy to explain it if you want to sit down" Hiruzen replied. He motioned to a set of comfortable green vinyl chairs placed in the middle of the room around a coffee table. Despite himself, Naruto dragged the proffered chair around and sat in it heavily. He took a few calming breaths. Being overly emotional wouldn't help him here. Once he was settled, his grandfather continued. "The simple fact is you're by far and away the best student in your class, well rounded in almost every area. You're private training has seen to that. So, we placed you with two students with rather glaring deficiencies that you might cover for while they improve."
His brow furrowed in confusion. "I get Sakura, she's not that great physically. But what's the excuse for Sasuke?"
"Hmm, I would have thought that was obvious. Sasuke is the worst at cooperation, you were the best. Thus, we hope that attitude will rub off on him." Hiruzen explained.
"That's stupid, we'll never get along. I can work with anyone else, just not him! Swap him for Kiba, or Shino, anyone! Just-" Naruto began to protest.
"NARUTO!" He froze at his grandfather's shout. He struck a menacing figure with his Hokage hat shadowing his eyes and a thunderous expression on his face. Naruto hadn't seen it since he threw a tantrum with ninjutsu when he was eight. Needless to say, he'd never used his training in such a manner ever again after the tongue-lashing and subsequent brutal training session that followed. Sarutobi pinned him with a hard stare. "That is not the only reason I've came to this decision. You and Sasuke are the last heirs to two of our most important clans. I've placed you under out best Jonin both for protection and so you might flourish. Of course, there are other factors, but they are irrelevant to this. Just so there is no confusion, my decision is final. Let me be clear, I expect you to put aside your personal grievances and work with Sasuke."
There was a note of finality to the words. Immovable and resolute. It was in that moment Naruto remembered something he'd forgotten. No, more like he ignored it. He wasn't just talking to his adopted grandfather; he was talking to the Hokage. The leader of his village, and he was expected to obey. His back straightened and he looked at the old man intently. Hiruzen's eyes softened just slightly. He chomped on his pipe and took a draft. With a deep sigh he exhaled and explained further.
"You've told me you want to be Hokage, correct?" He mused. Naruto nodded. What did this have to do with anything? "Then you should keep this in mind, as Hokage you need to know when and when not to allow personal relationships to interfere. You're not always going to like the people you work with or who work for you. Treat this as an opportunity rather than a burden."
There was wisdom in what his grandfather said. Naruto was too frustrated to receive it. All he knew was he would be stuck with someone he couldn't stand to work with. Worse he was essentially being ordered to drop the issue. It was an anchor around his neck. Rather than lash out, he grit his teeth.
"Understood, Lord Hokage." He muttered sullenly.
Without another word Naruto swept out of the room. He had to eat lunch, after all. Then he had to get back to the classroom for the arrival of the Jonin sensei. He couldn't help but feel as if a Damocles sword hung above his neck. Hopefully it wouldn't fall.
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His jaw ached from the constant grinding of teeth. All in all, today had been terrible for Naruto. It was bad enough he'd been placed on a team with someone he couldn't stand. Worse still, his own grandfather was the one to place him on the team. What made it the worst was his jonin sensei was late. Not just late, he was several hours late. All the other genin had been picked up. For some reason, the name Kakashi Hatake was familiar. Though he couldn't quite place it. That only furthered his annoyance.
He'd had to watch Shikako, Ino, and Choji leave with his surrogate uncle while he was left with his teammates. The air between he and Sasuke was positively frigid. It didn't bother the Uchiha too much, though it was obvious Sakura felt rather awkward.
Naruto glanced over at the pink haired girl, who looked rather downtrodden, and hid a wince. For the first time he thought about how this team placement effected someone other than himself. He'd been so wrapped up in himself he didn't even think of how she must feel. This was supposed to be the most exciting day of their careers so far, and hers had been ruined because of the rivalry between he and Sasuke. She was caught in the awkward air between them. He and Sakura were usually pretty friendly, yet he'd brushed her off when she asked if he wanted to have lunch. Then he'd almost bit her head off when she asked whether he had any idea when their sensei would arrive.
'Speaking of, this is getting a bit old.' Naruto had felt a tingle down the back of his neck for the past several minutes. For sensor types like himself, feeling the chakra of others was easy. He always kept his ability at least slightly active. Right now, it was only on a hair, yet he could easily feel the signature that felt heavily of static electricity. Whoever it was had a powerful lightning affinity. He was almost sure it was their sensei.
Naruto's brow furrowed. It wasn't hard to figure out what the man was doing. Most likely he was gathering as much about the dynamic as he could through smell and sound. Normally he'd have nothing against it. But this was a normal time. Naruto wasn't really in the mood for games.
"Why don't you stop lurking and just introduce yourself." He called loudly. His teammates gave him odd looks.
"Who are you even talking to, have you lost it loser?" Sasuke asked with a sneer.
Instead of being annoyed, Sasuke's insult amused him. It was always nice to get one up on the generally smug Uchiha. "I'm talking to the jonin hovering behind the door. Sorry, I always forget you aren't a sensor." He replied with a taunting smirk.
It was one of his favorite things to mention skills he had that Sasuke didn't. Mostly because it made it so easy to get under his skin.
Sasuke opened his mouth, but before he could speak, the door slid open, and a rather unique man stepped through. His face was almost entirely obscured, with his headband tilted over his left eye, and a face mask covering his mouth and nose. The most eye-catching detail was the shock of gravity defying silver hair on the man's head. He slouched through the doorway and regarded them with a lazy grey eye. Were it not for the dark green flak jacket, and the chakra he could feel from him, Naruto would wonder if this man was actually a jonin. Kakashi gave off the air of someone that simply couldn't be bothered.
"Hmm, you're a bit more interesting than I expected … I guess I don't totally hate you. Meet me on the roof." Kakashi said musingly. Suddenly a column of white, odorless smoke erupted from Kakashi's feet.
The smoke disappeared like mist, and there was neither hide nor hair of Kakashi left. Naruto would give him this if nothing else, Kakashi had certainly mastered the theatrical aspect of being a shinobi. With a heavy sigh, he stood from his spot and cracked his back. He glanced at Sakura. Maybe this was a good time to make up for his snapping earlier. It would be relatively simple to Body Flicker with her to the roof, and he knew from experience it was a rush your first time experiencing it. As he was about to make his way to her, his gaze slid to Sasuke who she'd sat next to. His grandfather's words ran through his head.
'I'm expecting you to set aside your personal differences and work with Sasuke, eh? I guess I don't have a choice … fine old man, I'll try.' With great reluctance, Naruto stepped down the stairs towards his teammates, who had begun to walk down as well. Reaching forward, he seized one of their shoulders in either hand.
"Come on, let's not keep him waiting." He muttered. Before either could react, Naruto activated his jutsu. It was one of a handful he didn't need hand seals to perform.
The world around them turned into a blur of colors and wind. In mere seconds they'd gone from the classroom to the wide-open roof. Twin rows of leafy trees grew under a series of free-standing arches. A pleasant breeze whispered through branches and made them sway.
As soon as they stopped moving, Sasuke jerked away and shot him a glare. For her part, Sakura blinked in confusion.
"Wh-what was that? One second we were in the class, the next we were here!" She exclaimed.
"Body Flicker, a basic speed technique." He explained. His attention didn't linger on Sakura long. Instead, he was drawn to the end of the rood. Past the rows of oak trees, and at the very edge of the roof, Kakashi leaned against a rail nonchalantly. The towering form of the Hokage Mountain rose behind him.
Together the three made their way across the roof towards him. "Take a seat, we'll get to introductions." Kakashi ordered. He motioned to a set of shallow steps across from him. Once they'd settled–with Sakura in the middle and Naruto and Sasuke on either side, well apart–Kakashi surveyed them with a critical eye. "Well, tell me about yourselves. Likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams for the future. The basics."
Naruto glanced to his teammates. Sakura seemed like she wasn't sure how to begin, while Sasuke looked like he'd rather be doing something more productive. Neither was going to volunteer anytime soon. 'Guess I'll get things started.'
"I'll go first!" He said boldly. "I'm Naruto Senju. I like to train and, and sparring. I'm pretty good at ninjutsu and taijutsu, and I'd like to learn more about kenjutsu. I can't wait to start our training, so I can get stronger. My dream is to become Hokage and surpass my father and grandfather. Nothing is going to stop me!"
The silver haired man studied him lazily. To his side his teammates did the same. Had he said something wrong? Naruto shifted in his seat nervously. His face became hot from embarrassment. Hopefully it wouldn't be noticed.
"Well … that was a good example. I guess we'll just go down the line. Next is you, with the pink hair." Kakashi said, pointing to Sakura. The poor girl looked like a scared rabbit.
"Um well, I'm Sakura Haruno. My likes, I mean the person I like–" Sakura froze. Her eyes darted to Sasuke. "Uh, I like trivia games. I suppose the only thing I dislike is Ino. As for my dreams for the future? I'd like to be a good kunoichi like my mom and …" Her eyes trailed to Sasuke again, her face turning crimson.
He couldn't help but cringe. Naruto had known she liked Sasuke, but it was still weird to see her introduction revolve around him. 'That might get in the way more than I thought.'
Kakashi rose an eyebrow but otherwise didn't comment. "I guess that just leaves you, at the end." He said. He pinned Sasuke down with an intrigued stare. If he cared, the boy didn't show it.
"Hnn, my name is Sasuke Uchiha. I don't particularly like anything, and there's too many things I dislike to bother mentioning. What I have isn't a dream because I will make it a reality. I'm going to restore my clan and destroy a certain man." Sasuke said darkly. It didn't take a genius to realize what he meant. Almost everybody knew about the massacre of the Uchiha Clan at the hands of Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's older brother. For once, Naruto didn't feel like making fun of Sasuke for his brooding. When it came to that situation … he understood.
"Alright, my turn then." Kakashi muttered. "My name is Kakashi Hatake. My likes and dislikes? I don't want to talk about it. Dreams for the future? I haven't really thought about it. As for hobbies … I have lots of hobbies." Naruto ground his teeth harshly. The lack of effort the man put into the introduction was irksome. "Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to business. We'll be doing our first mission tomorrow. A survival exercise, of sorts."
For a moment, Naruto forgot his annoyance. Something about the way Kakashi spoke set him on edge. There was a mischievous undertone he didn't particularly like.
"A survival exercise of what kind?" He asked.
The response wasn't what he expected. Kakashi began to chuckle. His mirth sent alarm bells off in Naruto's head. Apparently he wasn't the only one, because Sakura was quick to speak up.
"Hey, that's a normal question, what's so funny?" She asked.
"If I tell you, you won't like it." Kakashi said ominously. His words did nothing to sway them. Naruto glared at the man in annoyance. His antics were getting old. "Oh? You're sure. Fine then. Of the graduating genin in each class, only nine will pass. That first test was merely to weed out those with no potential. To become genin, you're going to have to pass this second test, one with a sixty-six percent failure rate. If you fail, I'll send you right back to the academy." He said.
The words were like ice water, freezing Naruto in place. Another test, one that would take them right back to square one. Was he really serious? It was hard to tell given the man's penchant for beating around the bush. His teammates seemed too stunned to respond. Frankly he was the same.
"Meet me at Training Ground 3 tomorrow at seven in the morning. Oh, and don't bother eating. You'll just throw it up." He told them.
Before any of them could think to respond, the silver-haired man vanished into thin air. The only thing left behind was a whirlwind of emerald leaves. Stunned silence hung in his wake. Naruto's mind was abuzz with many different thoughts, but first and foremost was one thing. He needed to prepare. There was no way he was going to go back to the academy.
Though he was also preoccupied with his dinner with Shikako. He'd certainly have a lot to talk about at the usual haunt.
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The sun had already begun to set when Naruto arrived at Yakiniku Q, and the sky was a deep burnt orange color with whisps of pink cloud. He'd stopped at home after leaving the academy to swap his shinobi clothes for a more an orange t-shirt with the Senju crest–an hourglass made bisecting lines two crescents on either end–on it and a simple pair of pants.
A bell above he door jingled as he walked into the restaurant, alerting the host at his stand. Naruto recognized him immediately, it was Toru, the nephew of the owner. He must've picked up an extra shift because he usually only did evening shifts on the weekend. Toru was a lanky young man with dark hair and tan skin. Ever since Naruto had known him he was always ridiculously cheerful, which was why they got along.
"Hello and welcome t—" Toru paused when he laid eyes on him. He smiled warmly. "Oh, it's you, Naruto. It's good to see you," He greeted.
Naruto returned the man's smile and dipped his head in greeting. "Hey Toru, nice to see you too," He replied. "So, is she here yet?"
Toru nodded with a teasing grin. "Yep, she's at the usual table. So, you two on another of your date's?"
Instead of giving Toru the rise he wanted, Naruto simply grunted in annoyance. The first few times the man had tried to imply he and Shikako were more than friends, he had been really embarrassed. By now he was desensitized to it, though.
"Yeah yeah, give it a rest." Naruto shot back as he passed the host stand. He made his way to the back of the restaurant, and to a booth tucked away in one of the corners. The inside of the restaurant was really cozy. It was dimly lit, and red-tinted lamp shades hung above each of the tables.
Just as Toru had said, Shikako was there waiting for him. There was already silverware laid out on the table with a couple glasses of water. She was looking out the window with her chin propped on her hand, apparently enjoying the sunset. Like him, she had decided to switch out of her usual clothes for a more casual lavender shirt and black pants. She was also wearing a black choker around her neck. She didn't notice his presence until he slid into his seat across from her, lost in thought most likely. Her lazy gaze flicked over to him when the upholstery of the seat squeaked underneath him.
"Oh, hey Naruto, hope you don't mind, but I already ordered for us, I got you your usual yakiniku." She greeted.
Naruto waved it off. "That's no problem, as long as you remembered the glass of mi–"
"Milk, yeah, it's not that hard to remember seeing as how you drink it everywhere you go." Shikako gave him an amused smile. "I can't believe you got that tall by eating only meat, ramen, and milk," She teased.
He felt his cheeks heat up slightly, and under his breath muttered, "I eat veggies too, just not when I go out."
It probably wasn't quiet enough, because Shikako busted out in a fit of giggles. They were contagious, though. Despite his embarrassment he couldn't help but chuckle along with her. Eventually it turned into full blown laughter. Naruto wasn't sure how long it lasted, but by the time they were done, other customers had begun to look at them weirdly. He paid them no mind as he took a sip from his glass of water.
"Anyways, how'd your meeting go?" He asked.
Shikako shrugged. Her cheeks were still slightly pink from her laughter. "It was okay. The three of us already knew each other, so it was mostly a matter of getting to know Asuma-sensei and him getting to know us," She replied.
"Oh? So what did you think of Asuma?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow. He had seen Asuma off and on during his time living with the Hokage. They didn't run into each other often, but he found the man nice enough.
"I don't know, he seems okay. I get the feeling he's laid back," Shikako paused, and adopted an annoyed expression. "Although his smoking is a bit annoying," She commented. "Ah well, no use thinking about it too much."
Naruto nodded in understanding. "Yeah, he gets that from gramps, only instead of a pipe, he prefers cigarettes." He replied. An impish grin worked itself onto his face. "Although, you could always do what I do when one of them smoke in front of me,"
"Oh?"
"Douse him with a water jutsu."
Shikako giggled lightly. "Unfortunately, I don't know any of those, so I'm out of luck." She said. Her giggles faded, and she adopted a quizzical look. "Anyways, how'd your meeting go? I know you drew the short straw with team selection."
"Hmm, it was … annoying," Naruto sighed. "It's bad enough I have to work with Sasuke. Then our sensei was late, and now he sprang a second test on us."
"So you got one of those too? Man, it's such a drag that we have to do more tests. We just got through with a week of them at the Academy," She complained. "Any idea what it will be?"
Naruto shook his head. "He called it a "survival exercise" which could mean anything. Though one thing is sure, he loves playing mind games with us."
After he'd calmed down, Naruto had realized that Kakashi was intentionally winding them up. Whether being late was part of it, he had no idea. One thing was clear, this survival exercise wasn't quite what it seemed.
"Huh, how's that?" Shikako asked with a raised eyebrow.
Naruto paused to take another sip of water before he answered. "First of all, he was late. Then he acted really nonchalant. The biggest thing was how he played up the failure rate. How sixty-percent will fail."
The black-haired girl hummed in thought, mulling over the situation. When she finally expressed her thoughts, she brought up something Naruto hadn't considered.
"It almost sounds like he's trying to mess with your cohesion." She mused, before cheekily adding, "Not that that's exactly difficult with you and Sasuke on the team."
"Oi!" Naruto tried to cuff Shikako on the ear playfully, but she easily dodged it and gave him a teasing grin. He gave an exaggerated sigh. "Well, enough about my problems, did Asuma give you any other information than Kakashi gave us?"
Shikako groaned in annoyance. "Yeah, he told us it would be a capture mission. Sounds like a pain.I hope it I don't need to try too hard." She said,
Naruto rose an eyebrow at that. So it was just Kakashi that was intentionally vague. "Well, either way, you guys shouldn't have much trouble in a simple capture mission." He said reassuringly.
"Yeah, you're probably right, I just don't like all this extra work." Shikako agreed grudgingly. "You'll probably pass too, I don't really see how your teacher could give you a test you couldn't pass, even with teammates."
"You never know," he said with a shake of his head. "Kakashi could have something up his sleeves." Shikako wasn't impressed by his argument. She gave him a look that screamed 'spare me.'
"Please, don't make me laugh. The likely hood of his making a test you wouldn't be able to pass is pretty low. You could have easily graduated two years ago, but you chose not to. Despite how much you might try to downplay your skills; I know better" She shot back. "I checked the scores do you know how high you ranked in overall scores?"
Naruto furrowed his brow and shook his head to indicate he didn't have an idea. To be honest, he never really paid any attention to the scores. He knew he did well, but he was more focused on beating Sasuke. As for why he didn't use all his skills in class … well they didn't translate well to academy curriculum.
"Well, for your information, your overall score from your time at the Academy–and especially the final–was the highest ever," She informed him. His eyes widened at the information.
"Ever?" He asked.
"Yes, ever. That's including the scores of both the Third Hokage, and your father, as well as Itachi Uchiha and your sensei." As surprised as he was to hear his sensei's name on the list-perhaps that's how he had heard of him-Naruto was more surprised to be the highest scoring.
"How's that even possible?" He asked. Shikako shrugged.
"Well, most of them graduated early. They never scored all that perfectly since they were skipping years. You took your time and only did tests you were well-prepared for." Shikako paused and gave him a teasing smirk. "Don't let your head get too big, though. Almost every Elite Jonin or similar in the village could still probably kick your ass big time."
Naruto slumped forward in an exaggerated manner and let out an overdramatic groan. "Ah man, and here I thought I was going to be able to march up to Gramps' office and demand to be Hokage." He cried dramatically.
Shikako let out another musical laugh, and muttered, "Idiot," Under her breath.
He laughed right alongside her. The ruckus they caused with their noise drew the attention of the other customers, but Naruto didn't pay them any attention. He was too caught up in having a good time with his best friend. He had no idea what tomorrow would bring; whether they would pass or fail. All he knew was that he wanted to enjoy the moment and worry about the test later.
Soon enough their dinner arrived. The two tucked in with enthusiasm. While the pace of their conversation slowed, they continued to talk about their days. After they finished their meals they parted with the promise that they'd meet up after their tests to tell each other how it went.
The dinner was exactly what he needed to get out of his funk and prepare for the test the next day. Whatever Kakashi threw at them he'd be ready.
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Hey everyone, hope you enjoyed the chapter. Naruto confronted Hiruzen, and was given his reasons for placing Naruto with Sasuke. Will the two learn to work together, or will their rivalry ultimately doom the team? I hope I did an adequate job explaining why exactly they are still on the same team. I know some people were questioning why the best and second-best students were placed on the same team as it isn't quite as balanced. Aside from plot reasons (I feel for what I want to do, it's best to have the cannon team) there are three reasons why Naruto and Sasuke are on the same team.
- In cannon, one of the reasons for a lot of the tension is Sasuke can't stand the fact Naruto is getting stronger faster because he was always weaker. That's not the case here. Psychologically, Sasuke is more likely to respect and work with someone who he knows is as strong if not likely stronger than him.
- As Hiruzen said, Naruto is incredibly well rounded as a shinobi. He covers both for Sasuke's lone-wolf attitude and Sakura's physical weakness (which Sasuke also does, though Naruto is more likely to encourage and help her overcome that weakness).
- Also as stated by Hiruzen, Naruto and Sasuke are important assets to the village. They can't just be entrusted to any jonin. Of the three cannon jonin, Asuma would be the best choice to teach one of them, but due to tradition he's obliged to teach the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, which means it's better to put all in one squad for protection.
I hope that explains my reasoning well enough. If you want to read Chapter 5 and 6 right away, they are already up on my pa treon. Simply type in the pa treon web address and add /rinnetaicho to find it. Or go to my AO3 profile with the same penname and use the copiable link in my bio.
As always, shoutout to my patrons:
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Odin Darkfeather, Neil Tucker, Chillz90, Kit Arashi, CrusaderMoya, MK3Kratos, Kevin Lopez, MASTERCHEIF1229.
Anyways, that's all for now.
Until Next Time,
RinneTaicho, Signing Off!
