Naruto
Petals in the Wind
Chapter I
Naruto was walking down the streets of Konoha on his way to the Ninja Academy. Today he would find out what Team would be placed on. This team would be his team for the duration of his genin career.
Just last week he failed the genin graduation exam and yet after proving himself capable as a ninja by helping to stop a criminal from stealing a forbidden scroll he was granted the rank of Genin. Thus now he would be placed on a team and learn the ways of the shinobi on a different scale.
Naruto arrived at the academy and made his way to room 103 the room of class 1-A. Upon entering the room he made his way to his usual seat next to Uchiha Sasuke one of his closest friends and sat down.
Naruto had a small number of friends among them were Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuga Neji, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Yamanak Ino. Normally most people would consider Naruto an idiot and would question Naruto's friends especially Neji and Sasuke. Sasuke and Neji were among the smartest students in their class and both of noble descent Neji was a Hyuga ans Sasuke was an Uchiha both noble clans of Konoha.
Naruto was a clanless orphan, sure he was called Uzumaki but no one was sure of how he was tied to the clan. Naruto sat down next to Sasuke and sighed.
"Dobe." Sasuke said in greeting.
"Teme. Nice to see you in a good mood." Naruto said.
Sasuke wasn't known for being nice but that was a front, something to keep people away. Sasuke lost his whole clan to the betrayal of his brother who killed his whole clan and left Sasuke alone.
"Good to see you made it Naruto." came Neji's voice from behind Naruto and Sasuke.
"Hey Neji." Naruto said smirking.
"So how do you think they will team us up?" Neji asked.
"Don't know honestly." Sasuke replied.
Just then the door slid open and two girls tried to enter at the same time.
"I win." They both said at the same time.
"As if billboard brow I was at least one centimeter ahead of you." Ino said.
"No way Ino-pig my toe crossed the threshold before you." Sakura said.
"Don't they ever get tired of arguing." Naruto said deadpanned.
"Move it Naruto I'm sitting next to Sasuke." Sakura said.
"I'll move if you can tell me three things about Sasuke that isn't common knowledge." Naruto told Sakura.
Sakura looked at Naruto then to Sasuke then slumped her shoulders and walked away. Ino saw this and walked over to them to speak.
"How can you be so firm yet casual when dealing with Sakura?" Ino asked.
"Simple really she is a fan girl living in a fantasy world with her being the main character. It's up to the rest of us to remind her she isn't." Naruto replied.
Ino while she was also a fan girl of Sasuke wasn't delusional like Sakura was. In truth the only reason Ino competed with Sakura for Sasuke was to try and push Sakura to better herself, yeah it didn't work.
The door opened once again but this time it was Iruka that walked through the door.
"Hello everyone." Iruka greeted. "I want to congratulate everyone here once again for making it this far. Now I am sure you are all excited to get started on your paths as shinobi but remember no matter where your path leads as long as the Will of Fire burns in your heart you cannot fail. Now please listen for your name and team."
Naruto was praying for a team he could work with.
"Team Seven will be Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuga Neji, and Uchiha Sasuke." Iruka called out.
Naruto let out a sigh of relief, he dodged a bullet there.
"Team Eight will be Hyuga Hinata, Yamamoto Tenten, and Haruno Sakura. Team Nine Will be Rock Lee, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino. Team Ten will be Akimichi Choji, Nara Shikamaru, and Yamanaka Ino." Iruka finished the list.
All in all everyone seemed happy with their teams except Sakura who was glaring murderous at Naruto. Naruto didn't seem fazed by the glare.
"You are all dismissed until one o'clock when you will meet your Jonin Squad Leaders." Iruka said dismissing his class.
Naruto who was still sitting by Sasuke and Neji spoke up.
"Let's ditch this place and go eat off campus." Naruto suggested.
"Where did you have in mind?" Neji asked.
"Well the only places that don't immediately throw me out are Ramen Ichiraku and Yakiniku Q so either of those will work, though Yakimiku takes longer to prepare food." Naruto said.
"I never understood why you're hated so badly just because you were born on the night of the Kyubi Attack." Neji said.
"There's more to the story than that but I can't talk about it here." Naruto said.
Neji and Sasuke were smart and both had the highest marks in the academy among The male population. So both knew when Naruto said he couldn't talk about it it was serious.
"Let's stop by Jiji's office on the way to lunch. I'll tell you both there." Naruto promised.
So the trio left the classroom and academy altogether and made their way to the Hokage Tower. Upon arrival Naruto, Neji, and Sasuke made their way to the Hokage's Office and knocked to enter.
"Enter." came the raspy aged voice of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Naruto, Neji, and Sasuke entered the office to see the aged man behind a large desk filling out a form from the ever present bane of all Kage paperwork.
"Ah Naruto, good to see you again . And you brought Neji and Sasuke with you. I take it you are here for something." Hiruzen said.
"I want to tell Neji and Sasuke about It." Naruto said plainly.
"Naruto, once you do that it will affect your relationship with them." Hiruzen said.
"I know Jiji but they're my teammates and friends they deserve to know." Naruto said.
"Well I can't stop you from telling them it is your secret to tell to who you feel is worthy of your trust." Hiruzen said.
"What are you talking about Hokage-sama?" Neji asked.
"Fourteen years ago the Kyubi attacked Konoha. The official story is that the Kyubi was killed by the Yondaime. However this is false. The Kyubi is a Chakra Beast and can't be killed by normal means. Thus the Yondaime was forced to seal the Kyubi away, but not just anything could hold something as powerful as the Kyubi. So the Yondaime sealed the beast into a new born infant, me." Naruto explained.
"That explains a lot. All the glares, the sheer scorn directed at you." Sasuke commented. "How were you able to stay strong through it all?"
"I had people who saw past the fox." Naruto replied. "So you don't hate me after learning about the fox sealed inside me?"
"Why would it? We knew you from the start before we knew about the fox. While we were told to avoid you we saw you for who you were, nothing more." Neji replied.
"Dobe, if we abandoned you over something like this after getting to know you for as long as we did then we aren't worthy of being called your friends." Sasuke replied as well.