C7
After a week filled with furtive encounters and watchful gazes, the long-awaited day of team formations finally arrived. For Naruto, the prospect of being on the same team as Hinata outweighed even the irritations of the previous week.
These irritations invariably took the form of Hyuga clan members, always lurking during their meetings. The most persistent and exasperating was Neji, who made a point of being nearby, casting intimidating glares that burned like embers.
However, the week hadn't been entirely frustrating. Naruto had made a promising discovery in Konohamaru, the Hokage's grandson. In exchange for impromptu lessons and some advice on how to be a true ninja, the boy had become his loyal subordinate. Konohamaru, despite his lack of subtlety in hiding, possessed a surprising talent for the Transformation Technique and ambushes.
This combination proved incredibly useful for the Hyuga distractions Naruto planned: harmless trap seals that exploded in colorful ink, covering the target in an unexpected rainbow; sticky glue to trap the unwary; and hilarious transformations that left the pursuers in... let's say, unconventional attire. These tactics allowed Naruto and Hinata to escape curious eyes.
True freedom, however, was found during training, when they would deviate to the safety of the cave, a refuge where they could let loose without the weight of surveillance. Evading those responsible for watching them had ironically become a fun and challenging part of their training.
Naruto also harbored a growing satisfaction with the Hokage for gifting him the Shadow Clone Jutsu. The ability to assimilate the information and experiences of his clones was simply fantastic. He had been surprised to read the jutsu's potential for espionage, a tool that granted him free time to explore the village's vast library in search of new jutsus and creative applications. Visits to the sealing division became more frequent, not only to learn but also to share some insights on seals. In Naruto's opinion, they were almost painfully straightforward. The possibilities were so obvious! And to top it off, the lessons with Konohamaru were invariably "supervised" by an annoying "four-eyes," whose presence was easily circumvented by the strategic use of clones. While the original enjoyed Hinata's company, his clones took care of obligations. A satisfied smile curved his lips as he recalled the ingenuity of his plans.
Snapping abruptly from his thoughts, Naruto was jolted from his contemplation by a thunderous noise that rivaled the roar of a stampeding herd, bursting through the classroom door. It was the dynamic and noisy duo of Sakura, the self-proclaimed "billboard brow," and Ino, the ruthless queen of gossip, locked in yet another territorial dispute over the emo avenger's affections, Sasuke. The whole situation was ridiculous watching the girls fight, and Naruto was getting up, as his anger at the situation clouded his thoughts. To his surprise and happiness, Hinata's soft hand held his, stopping him. Naruto had told her about this problem in his mind, as his thoughts were being tainted by something regarding Sasuke, and she, with her usual sweetness and surprising firmness, had promised to help him whenever he needed it. Maybe, he thought, he has to talk to the Hokage about this situation... or maybe even the grumpy fox sealed inside him, who knows if it would have some creative suggestion. Hinata tilted her head and rested it gently on Naruto's shoulder, who returned the gesture, leaning his head against hers. In that brief moment of contact, the day's problems dissipated, although the gesture did not go unnoticed in the classroom, causing a loud murmur. Ino, momentarily forgetting her pitched battle with Sakura, stopped abruptly, widened her eyes, and pointed an accusing finger at the couple. "Hey! You two... are you dating?!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with shock and disbelief.
Ino's exclamation served as a call to action for the other girls, who immediately crowded around Naruto and Hinata, bombarding the Hyuga with an incessant barrage of questions, as if Naruto were a mere invisible accessory.
Kiba merely scoffed, rolling his eyes. His keen sense of smell had already picked up the unmistakable mix of their scents some time ago, an aroma he recognized as that of partners, but he had preferred to keep his comments to himself.
Shino, true to his observant and reserved nature, simply analyzed the situation with his eyes hidden behind dark glasses. For him, this development was logically expected, given Naruto's behavior in recent weeks.
Shikamaru, on the other hand, was desperately trying to doze off, muttering under his breath about the troublesome and noisy nature of women.
Chouji frowned, annoyed to hear some of the boys whispering insensitive comments about Hinata. They said Naruto "must like meat," referring to the Hyuga as "the chubby one," a completely mistaken perception since Hinata's clothes hid her curves, giving an impression of greater volume.
Sasuke, on the other hand, seemed the most visibly bothered, casting hostile glances in Naruto's direction as if he had stolen something from him. However, he maintained a forced silence so as not to attract the unwanted attention of his army of fangirls.
Soon the commotion was resolved when Iruka shouted at everyone to return to their seats, the moment for team formations had finally arrived.
The news of the team formations hit Naruto like a lightning bolt. His head slammed onto the desk, the impact echoing through the room, almost cracking it. The Hokage couldn't have done this to him, how could he put him on a team with Sasuke, that pretentious emo, and Sakura, the annoying screamer? It was a bad joke. However, during lunch, Hinata's gentle touch was a balm to his frustration.
She not only comforted him with kind words but even let him use her soft thighs as a pillow, a small oasis of peace amidst his inner turmoil. Even though Sakura spied on them from behind a nearby tree, she couldn't completely dissipate the comfort Hinata provided him. What was that in her eyes? Envy, jealousy... hard to say.
After lunch, the return to the classroom dragged on in a sea of boredom and impatience. Soon, the Jonin-sensei began arriving and leading their respective teams, leaving Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura alone in the emptiness of the room. Naruto bowed his head on the desk, the weight of discontent oppressing him. Sakura, absorbed in her devotion to Sasuke, gazed at him with adoring looks, interspersed with sharp, random squeals, as if the mere presence of the Uchiha made her vibrate at a frequency inaudible to others. Sasuke, unperturbed in his characteristic coldness, stared at the emptiness in front of him, as if challenging existence itself.
Two long hours passed, each minute like a rusty nail in Sakura's patience. Since Sasuke had ignored her the entire time, she finally exploded in indignation. "That's enough! This sensei is ridiculously late!" Her shrill cry echoed through the room, jolting Naruto from his nap.
"Hasn't he arrived yet?" Naruto grumbled, lifting his head from the desk, his face marked by the lines of the varnish.
Sasuke merely grunted a disdainful "Hn...", his black eyes fixed on the closed door.
Naruto's irritation boiled over. He stood up abruptly and walked to the blackboard. Wielding a dusty eraser, he placed a piece of paper on it and quickly sketched an intricate Fuuinjutsu formula. With a mischievous smile, he applied a second seal to the opposite side of the eraser and stealthily slid it through the narrow crack of the ajar door.
Sasuke watched the scene with evident skepticism. "That won't work on a Jonin." He crossed his arms, thoughtful, his hands clasped in front of his mouth, as if already predicting the outcome.
Sakura, always ready to agree with her beloved Sasuke, echoed his words with conviction. "Sasuke-kun is right. An experienced sensei wouldn't fall for something so simple."
Naruto just smiled enigmatically. "We'll see." He walked lazily to his chair, sat down, and resumed waiting, a mischievous glint dancing in his blue eyes. Shortly after, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway. The door opened, revealing a tall man with spiky white hair and a mask covering most of his face, wearing the standard Jonin uniform. At the exact moment he crossed the threshold, the eraser plummeted directly onto his head. Upon impact, a small explosion of white smoke enveloped the Jonin, and when the mist cleared, he had vanished.
"Huh... I expected him to catch the eraser..." Naruto murmured, frowning slightly but maintaining an amused smile.
Sakura gaped, her jaw dropping in utter disbelief. "But... what happened to the sensei?!"
Naruto flashed a wide, satisfied grin. "It was just a summoning seal. Our sensei is now eight hundred meters from here, inside the river we use for balance training."
"Summoning seal?" Sakura repeated, confusion etched on her face.
"Yeah," Naruto explained with a nod. "I learned it in the sealing division. They use it for some specific events in the village. The range is limited to a few kilometers, and usually the summoning point is fixed, which restricts its use and makes it disposable. But, as you could see, it's quite useful."