Chapter 6 - A New Team
That morning, the flames of youth burned brighter than the sun.
Guy watched as his beloved protégé Lee battled valiantly against the raging river currents. The boy's bowl cut was plastered flat against his head from the water, but his eyes blazed with fiery determination as he pushed forward against the powerful rapids.
Meanwhile, young Naruto was struggling mightily just to keep from being swept away downstream. The boy thrashed about frantically, barely keeping his head above water.
"Come on, Naruto!" Guy bellowed encouragement from the riverbank. "Do not let the flames of your youth be extinguished!"
He winced in sympathy as Naruto coughed and sputtered after swallowing another mouthful of water. Those new leg weights Guy had given him were intended to build strength through adversity, but perhaps they were proving too burdensome for river training. Still, Guy had faith Naruto's passionate spirit would prevail!
As he watched his students battle the rapids, Guy suddenly sensed a familiar chakra signature nearby. He glanced up into a sturdy oak tree on the river's edge to see none other than his eternal rival Kakashi perched nonchalantly on a high branch, nose buried in one of those inappropriate novels he was so fond of.
"Kakashi, my rival!" Guy called out jovially with a wave. "Have you come to join us in our vigorous training this fine morning?"
Kakashi didn't even look up from his book. "Not a chance," he replied in his usual bored monotone. "Just passing by."
Guy laughed heartily. "Of course, of course! I would not expect Konoha's esteemed Copy Ninja to partake in such simple training." He flashed his signature gleaming grin. "Perhaps you are here to evaluate my students instead? Young Naruto shows much promise, though his skills are still unrefined."
At this, Kakashi finally glanced down to observe Naruto's struggle against the raging river. Though his expression was hidden behind that mask as always, Guy sensed his interest was piqued.
"Ah, your student there seems to be having some trouble."
"Nonsense! Naruto is simply embracing the river's wisdom at his own youthful pace," Guy insisted. Though even he had to wince internally as the rapids plunged the ragged blond boy under again. His spluttering cries for help were growing fainter.
"Hmm, doesn't look too wise from this angle," Kakashi commented lightly, turning a page in that inappropriate book of his. "But far be it from me to question your teaching expertise."
Guy bristled at his rival's mocking tone. What would he know about imparting the exuberance of youth to blossoming students? Ever since losing his teammates, Kakashi had become far too cynical and detached. He needed someone to reignite the fiery passion buried beneath that cool attitude!
Perhaps someone like Naruto...
An idea sparked suddenly in Guy's mind, nearly blinding him with its brilliance. Of course! Getting to nurture his old sensei's son would be the perfect way to rekindle Kakashi's lost flames of youth. And clearly the lad needed ample guidance if he was to overcome his difficulties with ninjutsu.
"Ah, but Naruto will make a splendid ninja one day, won't he? Why, I'll wager you're considering him for your genin team even now, my rival!"
Kakashi shrugged noncommittally, nose already buried in his book again. But Guy was certain he had seen a gleam of intrigue in that single visible eye. Could his rival truly be evaluating Naruto as a potential student? What fun that would be, for the two eternal rivals to train the boy! It would stoke the fires of youthful competition to new heights!
Before Guy could speculate further, a strangled yelp drew his attention back to the river. Naruto was struggling mightily as the rapids dragged him under once again.
"Fret not, Naruto!" Guy bellowed. "I will save you with the power of youth!" And he leapt forward to fish his sputtering student from the raging currents.
He faintly heard Kakashi sigh in exaggerated resignation from the tree. No doubt Guy's bold heroics had reawakened his rival's long-dormant fires of youth! This was surely the start of a rekindled bond between eternal rivals.
And Guy had a feeling it was all thanks to one unpredictable, spirited genin-to-be - Naruto Uzumaki! Yes, Guy mused, though Naruto still had far to go, the Will of Fire burned brightly in him. Perhaps one day he would even surpass Lee, given the proper guidance.
Guy hauled a sputtering, sopping wet Naruto onto the rocky shore. The boy collapsed to his knees, coughing up what seemed like gallons of river water.
"I'm sorry, Bushy Brow-sensei," Naruto wheezed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "I failed again."
Guy let out a booming laugh and clapped Naruto on the back, nearly knocking the boy flat on his face. "Nonsense! Those leg weights are meant to push you to your limit. You are learning to draw strength from adversity."
Guy flashed his signature Nice Guy pose, teeth pinging. "Let this setback stoke your flames of youth into an inferno!"
Naruto managed a weak grin in return. "You got it! I'll kick that river's butt next time, believe it!"
Glancing up, Guy noticed the first rays of sunrise peeking over the treetops, washing the training grounds in a warm golden glow. His bushy brows shot up in alarm.
"Ah, I nearly forgot! I must depart at once for a very important meeting with Lord Hokage himself!" Guy declared. In truth, he had overheard Asuma and the lovely Kurenai discussing a briefing for elite jounin instructors last night while at their jounin poker night. But his students didn't need to know the minor details.
"Lee! Naruto! Continue sparring and fan each other's youthful fires in my absence!" Guy ordered.
"Yes Guy-sensei!" Lee shouted enthusiastically. But Naruto just groaned louder than the river rapids.
Not wasting another second, Guy leapt into the trees, bounding from branch to branch with gusto. He scanned the forest below until he spotted that unmistakable gravity-defying silver hair.
"Kakashi, my rival!" Guy shouted as he dropped down in front of the masked ninja, who didn't even glance up from his inappropriate romance novel. "Let us make haste to the Hokage's tower together and see who can arrive with the most dynamic entry!"
Kakashi turned a page idly. "No thanks. I'm not in any rush."
Guy laughed heartily and slapped Kakashi on the back, eliciting an exaggerated sigh from his rival. "Playing it cool as always, eh Kakashi? Then I shall give you a head start."
And with that, Guy scooped up a protesting Kakashi and took off sprinting down the road toward the heart of the village. Various villagers pressed themselves flat against buildings to avoid the green-and-silver blur rocketing by.
"Put me down, Guy," Kakashi said in a bored monotone, nose still buried in his book.
"Nonsense, my rival!" Guy bellowed over the roaring wind. "The power of youth propels us forward!"
Guy grinned widely, envisioning the look of shock on the other elite jounins' faces when he arrived at the Hokage's office with his hip cool rival in tow. Thanks to his future star pupil, Naruto Uzumaki, his and Kakashi's eternal rivalry burned brighter than ever! Yosh! What vivid new adventures awaited them?
When they arrived at the Hokage Tower, Guy kicked open the door to the office with a dramatic, "Dynamic Entry!" sending the wooden door flying off its hinges. He strode into the room with Kakashi still slung under one bulging arm, striking his signature Nice Guy pose as his voice boomed out.
"Greetings, fellow jounin! Kakashi and I have arrived to fan the fires of our youth!"
Guy paused, blinking as he took in the room. He was met with stares from Asuma, Kurenai, and the handful of other jounin instructors gathered before the Hokage's desk. Kurenai had a hand over her face, and Asuma's cigarette was dangling precariously from his lips.
Lord Third Hokage sat behind his desk, fingers steepled together as he surveyed the scene Guy had interrupted. After a weighty pause, Hiruzen cleared his throat.
"Yes, thank you for, ah, bringing Kakashi here on time, Might Guy," the Hokage said diplomatically. "However, this meeting was only for jounin senseis who will be taking on new genin teams this year. As you already lead a splendid team, I'm afraid it does not concern you."
Guy blinked, brows furrowing beneath his severe bowl cut as he processed Hiruzen's words. After a long moment, realization struck him like one of Lee's punishing kicks.
"Of course, Lord Hokage! How foolish of me to assume!" Guy exclaimed, laughing boisterously. He released his captive rival, who calmly brushed himself off before returning to his book.
"Please accept my sincere apologies for the unnecessary disruption," Guy went on, bowing so low his hair nearly swept the floor. "I was simply overzealous at the thought of stoking my eternal rival Kakashi's latent fires of youth by bringing him here in time."
As he stood, Guy blinked back the tears threatening to spill from his round eyes, overcome by melancholy at being excluded from this meeting of splendid jounin mentors. Though his face remained frozen in his signature Nice Guy grin, inside his fiery passion was dampened to mere embers.
"Well then, I shall take my leave and let you all carry on!" Guy declared boldly, doing his best to keep the tremor from his voice. His feet felt suddenly leaden, weighed down by disappointment as he turned to trudge from the room.
It was then that Lord Hokage called out gently, "Might Guy, wait."
Guy paused, one foot still awkwardly hovering in the air mid-step. He slowly pivoted to face the village leader once more, brows furrowed in confusion beneath his thick black bangs.
"If you wish, you may stay and observe our discussion," Hiruzen said kindly. "Your experience with students may prove insightful."
At the Hokage's gracious offer, Guy felt the dampened embers in his heart reignite into a blazing inferno. Tears of joy streamed down his face in twin waterfalls.
"Lord Hokage, you honor me greatly!" Guy blubbered, dropping to his knees as emotion overwhelmed him. "I vow to fan the flames of each new team with my passionate wisdom!"
Kurenai shook her head, red eyes downcast, while Asuma let out a muttered "Oh boy." But Lord Third merely chuckled, accustomed by now to Guy's dramatic displays. Even Kakashi glanced up briefly from his questionable reading material, single visible eye crinkled in vague amusement.
As Guy sprang eagerly back to his feet, Lord Hokage gestured for him to take an open seat. Grinning so wide his teeth pinged brightly, Guy dragged a stool over with great enthusiasm, the loud scrape echoing through the sudden silence. Once settled, he clasped his hands together, quivering with anticipation as a giddy academy student awaiting the start of lessons.
Lord Hokage cleared his throat, drawing the assembled jounin's attention. "Now then, let us begin assigning this year's genin teams."
Guy leaned forward eagerly, neck strains as he awaited the chance to share his passionate wisdom with these blossoming shinobi guides.
Kurenai spoke first, her melodic voice like a soothing night breeze. "If I may, I would request Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno for my squad. Their skills show much promise for genjutsu."
Guy nodded thoughtfully, impressed by his fellow jounin's discerning eye. Yes, pairing the prodigy's visual prowess with the girl's precise chakra control did seem an ideal match. Perhaps he would suggest Sakura tie back that long pink hair during training, lest it hinder her movements or get singed by an errant fire jutsu.
"A splendid pairing, Kurenai! Your wisdom will nurture their youthful flames splendidly!"
Kurenai offered Guy a gentle smile before turning her ruby gaze back to Lord Hokage. Always so graceful and composed, mused Guy, the very epitome of the elegance of springtime itself!
Asuma spoke up next in his gruff yet jovial tone. "Well, if we're shaking things up, I'd like Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka for my squad. Keep the Ino-Shika-Cho tradition going, right?" He let out a hearty laugh.
But Lord Hokage simply closed his eyes and shook his head, taking a long draw from his ornate pipe. The smoke wafted up in lazy swirls, framing his wrinkled face in shadow.
"No," Hiruzen said firmly. "I believe it is time we pushed these heirs beyond the confines of their clans' traditional formations. They each have untapped potential we must draw out."
Guy's bushy brows shot up in surprise. Break apart the longstanding Ino-Shika-Cho trio? Why, that went against generations of coordinated teamwork! Surely Lord Hokage did not intend...
But Asuma merely grimaced around his cigarette and muttered, "Yes Lord Hokage, you're right of course." Though his sunken eyes held a glimmer of reluctance.
Admirable restraint, mused Guy. Clearly Asuma was maintaining composure despite his fiery Sarutobi spirit yearning to protest this decree!
Kurenai's soft melodic voice drew Guy's gaze her way. "Perhaps placing Shikamaru with someone highly motivated, similar to Guy's student, Rock Lee, would compel him to push his abilities further?" she suggested gently.
Guy nodded along vigorously, nearly toppling off his stool in enthusiasm. Oh, what brilliant sense his fellow jounin possessed! Her idea to pair a genius of hard work with the lazy Nara heir was pure mastwork. Whoever they chose, Guy was sure their passionate efforts would surely ignite the boy's latent fires of youth!
Lord Hokage continued down the list, assigning the remaining genin to various veteran jounins. But when he reached Naruto Uzumaki's name, the wizened man set his pen down thoughtfully.
Guy sat ramrod straight on his stool, quivering with anticipation as Lord Hokage's gaze lingered over Naruto Uzumaki's name. This was the moment he had been waiting for! Surely the wise village leader was considering who would be best suited to nurture the lad's fiery spirit. And Guy already knew just the hip and cool ninja for the task!
Unable to contain himself any longer, Guy leapt to his feet, arm extended dramatically as he declared, "Lord Hokage! I humbly suggest that my eternal rival, Kakashi Hatake, take young Naruto under his guidance!"
He flashed Kakashi a gleaming grin and thumbs up. "With Naruto's passionate determination combined with Kakashi's refined talents, their youthful fires are sure to ignite into an inferno of self-improvement!"
Kakashi's single visible eye widened in dismay over the top of his questionable literature. But before he could issue one of his trademark bored protests, the office window suddenly shattered in a cacophony of breaking glass.
"Guy-sensei!"
Like a green bullet, Guy's beloved protégé Rock Lee came sailing feet-first through the open window frame. He tucked and rolled gracefully across the office floor before popping up in front of Guy with a wide, sparkling grin.
"Lee! What brings your spirited self here?" Guy asked, clapping the boy proudly on the back.
Lee quivered with excitement. "Naruto and I have been searching everywhere for you, Guy-sensei! When you did not return from your important Hokage meeting, we decided to come find you ourselves and continue our passionate training!"
Guy threw back his head and laughed heartily. "Such dedication to the power of youth! I am honored!" His chest swelled with pride at his students' tireless devotion.
Just then, a spiky blond head poked itself upside-down into view in the empty window frame. "Hey Bushy Brow, see if you can grab that guy's funny hat for me!" Naruto called out with a fox-like grin, pointing at the Hokage's conical hat atop the desk.
Lord Hiruzen calmly moved the ornate hat out of the hyperactive boy's reach with a mildly exasperated sigh.
"Naruto, please come inside properly and wait in the hallway with Lee until we finish our discussion," the village leader admonished. But his tone held more amusement than true irritation.
"You got it, Gramps!" Naruto agreed cheerfully. He then proceeded to attempt crawling through the window head-first, only to get stuck when his waist couldn't fit through the narrow frame. His legs flailed comically in the air as he tried in vain to wriggle himself free.
"A little help here?" the trapped boy yelled. Lee dashed over eagerly and grabbed Naruto's head, pulling with all his youthful might until the blond boy finally popped free and crashed to the floor in a messy heap of tangled limbs.
"Phew, thanks Bushy Brow!" Naruto said, flashing a relieved grin and thumbs up. "Man, that was a long climb. I gotta get that wall-walking thing down if I wanna be Hokage someday, believe it!"
Guy beamed at his two students. "Such spirited youth on display here!" He turned back to his fellow jounin, who were all staring at the chaotic scene with expressions ranging from shock to vague interest. Even Kakashi had glanced up from his questionable reading material, single visible eyebrow quirked.
"You must forgive the interruption!" Guy boomed. "When the fires of youth call, one cannot ignore their passionate plea!"
Lord Hokage merely chuckled, evidently accustomed to such disruptions. "Quite alright, Might Guy. Perhaps fate brought them here for a reason."
His knowing gaze drifted over Naruto, as the two boys sauntered out of the office, the door slamming shut behind them.
Guy watched his pupils' leave display with a joyful grin. Though unconventional, their exuberance brought life to the normally staid Hokage's office. Truly the flames of youth burned passionately in those two!
Now, what were they discussing before their magnificent arrival? Ah yes, Naruto's placement…
Ino leaned her elbows on the table, only half listening as her mother prattled on about preparing properly for meeting her new genin team today.
"Remember to mind your manners around the jonin instructor," Mrs. Yamanaka said as she gathered up the empty breakfast plates. "First impressions are important."
"Mmhmm," Ino mumbled through a mouthful of rice, gaze fixed out the window where early sunlight was just starting to peer over the rooftops. She was itching to get out of here and meet her new teammates. After all their years training together at the academy, it was finally time to put those skills to use as real shinobi!
"Sit up straight, dear," her father added, not even looking up from the newspaper in his hands. "And fix your hair."
Ino shot him an irritated look, swallowing her food quickly. "My hair is fine, Dad!" she protested, reaching up a hand self-consciously to smooth back her long platinum ponytail. Honestly, parents could be so nagging sometimes.
"Remind me why we have to meet our teams so late?" Ino's mother asked as she returned from the kitchen and took her seat again at the table. "I thought team assignments were the day after graduation exams, not weeks later."
Ino shrugged. "Daiske-sensei said they had to delay everything because of what happened with Iruka-sensei and Naruto."
Her mother pursed her lips disapprovingly. "Ah yes, that boy is nothing but trouble. At least they didn't pass him during the graduation exam. Imagine if he was a genin."
She knew most of the village adults didn't like Naruto because was such a prankster. She remembered vividly the countless times the Hokage Monuments would have crazy mustaches on them. But they didn't know half of his annoying jokes.
Ino viciously speared a fish cake with her chopsticks, imagining it was Naruto's face. Ever since their time at the academy together, the obnoxious prankster had been a thorn in her side. He was always pulling stupid stunts for attention while she actually worked hard to be a great kunoichi.
At least she wouldn't have to worry about him anymore, since he didn't graduate. Bye bye Naruto!
"What did happen exactly?" her father asked, peering at Ino over the top of his newspaper.
"I'm not sure of the details," Ino admitted. "Just gossip mostly. Something about Naruto stealing some big scroll and Iruka-sense came to find him, but then Mizuki-sensei fought them. They all got beat up pretty badly."
Her parents shared a look that said 'just as we suspected.' Ino resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Still, sometimes adults could be so dramatic when it came to Naruto's antics, as if he was a monster or something. Though even she had to admit, stealing an important artifact did seem beyond the scope of his usual mischief.
"Anyway," Ino said, eager to change the subject, "I heard Sasuke graduated top of our class, so he's pretty much guaranteed to be the rookie of the year. But there's no way I'll let billboard brow Sakura beat me out on overall scores."
She tossed her long ponytail confidently. Just picturing that annoying pink-haired girl trying to impress her precious Sasuke made Ino bristle. Like Sakura would ever have a chance with him! This was her time to shine.
Her father chuckled, eyes crinkling kindly over his newspaper. "Now, now, it's not good to be jealous of your classmates, sweetie. I'm sure you all have your own strengths."
Ino huffed loudly, crossing her arms. Why did dads always take the other person's side? Before she could retort, the antique clock on the wall chimed the hour with a shrill ring. Ino's eyes went wide.
"Oh no, I'm gonna be late to meet my team!" she exclaimed, leaping up from the table and grabbing her empty dishes. "See you guys later!" She dropped the plates in the sink haphazardly before sprinting for the door.
"Have a good day, dear!" her mother called after her.
Ino slipped on her sandals in record time, not even bothering to properly fix the ankle straps in her haste. If she was late for her first ever team meeting, her new sensei might make them all run laps or do pushups!
As she dashed down the quiet village streets bathed in soft dawn light, Ino's earlier irritation melted away, replaced by jittery excitement. This was it - her first big step toward becoming a real kunoichi!
The village seemed oddly hushed and empty so early in the morning. Only a few shopkeepers were out prepping to open their stores, eyeing Ino curiously as the blur of purple and blonde raced past. But she didn't have time for distractions. She had to make it to the academy pronto!
Ino's sandals skidded loudly on the polished floor as she careened around the last corner and nearly crashed straight into the closed sliding door of their old classroom. Fumbling awkwardly with the handle in her haste, Ino finally managed to shove the stubborn door open, dashing inside in a whirlwind of energy.
"I'm here!" Ino yelled breathlessly, hands on her knees as she gasped for air after the all-out sprint. "Sorry I'm la—" Her words abruptly died on her lips as she took in the empty classroom. She blinked in confusion. Was she...early? But the clock had said...
Realization struck Ino like a lightning bolt. "Ugh, it was still set to civilian time!" she groaned, smacking herself on the forehead. How could she have been so oblivious? Of course ninja kept earlier hours. Her father had probably reset the clock as a prank to make her think she overslept.
Ino crossed her arms with an irritated huff. Now she was stuck here ridiculously early with nothing to do but anxiously await the others. This was so not how she had pictured her first day as an official kunoichi starting out.
Slumping into her old seat, Ino resigned herself to waiting impatiently for her new team to arrive. She propped her chin in her hand and gazed absently out the window as the morning sunlight crept across the yard and peaked rooftops. Despite her annoyance at being tricked, Ino felt a thrill of anticipation. This was it, the first step on the path to realizing her shinobi dreams.
Everything was about to change.
Ino leaned back in her seat with a dramatic sigh, eyes fixed on the empty yard outside. This waiting around with nothing to do was so dull! She should be out there right now running drills with her amazing new team, not stuck here in this stuffy old classroom.
A sly grin crept across Ino's face. Well, if she was forced to be here early, she may as well have a little fun in the meantime! Performing a few quick hand signs, Ino murmured "Transformation Jutsu!" Her blonde ponytail shimmered as she took on the appearance of Iruka-sensei.
Ino admired her work in the window's reflection. The scar across the bridge of Iruka's nose looked so real, and his stern teacher expression was spot on. This disguise was perfect! Now to have some fun before the others arrived.
Snatching a piece of chalk, Ino strode to the front of the classroom. She stood with her back straight and hands on her hips just like Iruka-sensei always did when lecturing them. Clearing her throat, Ino adopted his serious tone.
"Ahem, good morning class! Today's lesson will be on, uh..." She glanced around frantically for inspiration. Her eyes landed on the chalkboard where someone had scribbled a lopsided heart around Sasuke's name. Got it!
"Today's lesson will be on the key principles of seduction!" Ino announced in her best stern teacher voice. "This is crucial knowledge every young kunoichi should have."
She began scrawling ridiculous nonsense on the board about "batting eyelashes 101" and "flirting body language", hoping her silly lecture would rile up Sakura. Ino could just picture the look of shock on Miss Billboard Brow's face when her precious sensei started spouting such nonsense!
Ino had to press a hand over her mouth to hold in a giggle at the thought. This was going to be so good! Now she just needed an audience to witness her brilliant prank.
Right on cue, the classroom door slid open and Shikamaru slouched inside, muttering "How troublesome" under his breath. Ino quickly schooled her features into Iruka's serious scowl. Finally, it was showtime!
"Ah, Shikamaru! So glad you could join us," Ino said in Iruka's voice. "Please take a seat and pay close attention. Today's lesson is vital for all shinobi."
Shikamaru eyed her dully for a moment before shrugging and trudging to his old desk in the back row. But instead of sitting, he promptly folded his arms and rested his head on them, closing his eyes to doze off.
Ino felt her eye twitch in annoyance. Typical lazy Shikamaru, not caring about anything! Well, if he wouldn't participate in her brilliant prank, then he'd just have to become part of it instead.
Grabbing an apple from her bag, Ino chucked it at Shikamaru's head as hard as she could. It struck him right in the ponytail with a loud thwack!
"Ow! What the heck Ino?" Shikamaru grumbled, sitting up to glare at her indignantly.
Ino put her hands on her hips and fixed Shikamaru with Iruka's sternest teacher glare.
"How dare you speak to your sensei that way! Five laps around the schoolyard for your disrespect!" she ordered.
Shikamaru just slouched lower in his seat, regarding her through half-lidded eyes. "Oh come on Ino, I know it's you. You're not fooling anyone with that lousy transformation jutsu."
Ino bristled, irritation flaring. Just what was that supposed to mean, lousy transformation? Hers was flawless!
She opened her mouth to retort sharply when Shikamaru continued in his usual bored drawl, "First off, you're holding the chalk wrong. Iruka-sensei always holds it between his first two fingers."
Ino glanced down and realized he was right - in her haste, she had grabbed the chalk in a clumsy fist. She quickly adjusted her grip, but Shikamaru wasn't done yet.
"Second, you keep playing with your ponytail. Sensei doesn't have hair that long."
Ino hastily dropped her hand from where she had been twirling her ponytail absently. Okay seriously, since when did Shikamaru pay that much attention to tiny details like how Iruka held his chalk?
"And most obvious of all," Shikamaru droned on, "you're still wearing your own sandals."
Cheeks burning now, Ino peered down to see he was right again. She had forgotten to transform her stylish purple sandals along with the rest of her appearance. Ugh, so much for flawless!
Before Ino could spit back a retort at the infuriatingly observant boy, the classroom door slid open again. She whirled around, Iruka's stern scowl still plastered across her face. But then she froze, eyes blowing wide at the sight of the real Iruka standing in the doorway.
The chunin instructor was still heavily bandaged around his torso and arms, looking like he had come straight from the hospital. But that wasn't what made Ino's jaw drop in disbelief. Iruka's face was decorated in a mess of spiraling doodles and scribbles done in black marker - curling mustaches, floral motifs, and what looked suspiciously like ramen bowls.
Clearly Iruka had no idea, as he smiled kindly at Ino disguised as him. "Ah Shikamaru, you're the first one here I see. And, ah, hello me." His eyes then landed on Ino's crude chalkboard scribblings and he frowned in confusion. "Seduction principles? That's certainly not today's lesson..."
Unable to hold it in any longer, Ino burst out laughing at the ridiculous sight of her poor teacher. She released her transformation jutsu, shifting back to her usual appearance as she doubled over clutching her stomach.
"I'm so sorry Sensei, I was just messing around since I got here early," Ino gasped out between fits of laughter. She pointed a finger at her teacher's canvas of a face.
Iruka's eyes widened as understanding dawned on him. He scrubbed a hand over his face, grimacing when it came away smudged with marker. "Naruto. No wonder why the nurse looked at me weird," he muttered, shaking his head wearily. But a small smile still tugged at his lips.
Shikamaru sighed loudly from his seat. "What a drag. Can we just get on with the team assignments before she pulls any more troublesome pranks?"
Ino shot Shikamaru an irritated look, but she was still struggling to contain her giggles. It seemed being early today had its advantages after all. This was certainly an end to her academy days she'd never forget!
One by one, her classmates trickled in over the next twenty minutes. Ino drummed her fingers on the desk as she waited impatiently for class to start, where Iruka-sensei would finally give them their team assignments. After her little prank got foiled, there was nothing to do but sit here bored out of her mind.
She perked up a bit as the door slid open and Sakura wandered in. Ino gave her pink-haired rival a critical once-over. Same old giant forehead as always. She smirked to herself. At least there was one thing she'd always have over Billboard Brow.
"Morning, Ino Pig," Sakura said breezily as she claimed a seat. "Surprised you're here early for once. I figured you'd still be fixing your hair and makeup."
Ino bristled. Just who was Sakura calling Pig? She was the one with an airplane landing strip of a forehead! But Ino swallowed down her irritation. She was a shinobi now, she wouldn't stoop so low to Sakura's level.
"Nice to see you too, Sakura," Ino forced out sweetly. "That red dress is really working for you. Really highlights your hair."
Sakura blinked, like she wasn't sure if it was a real compliment or an underhanded jab. Before she could respond, the door banged open loudly. Both girls turned, expecting to see their fellow classmates arriving. But instead, none other than Naruto Uzumaki came barreling through shouting "Dynamic Entry!"
Ino's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. What was the village prankster doing here? Hadn't he totally bombed the graduation exam?
Naruto skidded to a halt when he saw the room wasn't empty like he'd expected. Grinning widely, he pointed at the shiny new leaf emblem on his forehead protector.
"Check it out! Your future Hokage is officially a genin now!" he crowed loudly.
Sakura's eye was twitching dangerously. "Naruto you idiot, what are you shouting about? Everyone knows you failed the exam!"
But Naruto just kept grinning. "Nuh uh, I got this from Iruka-sensei in the hospital! He said I graduated because I'm super awesome and beat up Mizuki!"
Ino stared at him in disbelief. While the entire class knew about Mizuki and his betrayal, there was no way Naruto of all people had beaten a chunin. She glanced at Sakura and they shared a look that clearly said 'As if.'
Naruto seemed oblivious to their skepticism. He cracked his knuckles eagerly. "Just you wait till I show off my amazing new skills! I'll kick way more butt than Sasuke, believe it!"
Iruka rapped his knuckles sharply on the podium, drawing the class's attention. "Alright everyone, settle down. Before we begin team assignments, I have a few parting words for you all."
The chaotic energy in the room tempered as students turned their focus to their teacher. Ino sat up a bit straighter, ready to soak in every last bit of wisdom Iruka-sensei had to impart.
"I want you to know what a privilege it's been nurturing each of your unique skills over the years," Iruka began, his voice edged with uncharacteristic emotion. "I've watched you all grow from rambunctious kids into capable genin ready to serve our village. I would not trust the future of the village to no one but you."
Iruka's earnest brown eyes roamed over the classroom, meeting each of their gazes in turn. Ino felt her own eyes grow hot and prickly. She quickly dabbed at them with her sleeve before any tears could fall. She wouldn't embarrass herself by crying on their first official day as shinobi.
"Remember, true strength doesn't come just from jutsu, but from believing in yourself and your comrades," Iruka went on passionately. "Never abandon an ally or stray from the Will of Fire burning within us all. I could not be more proud of you."
Sniffling sounds echoed through the room as Iruka's inspirational words struck a chord. Ino spotted Choji wiping his eyes with his scarf while Hinata's pale eyes glistened. Even stoic Shino was discreetly dabbing at the corners of his eyes behind his high collar and dark glasses.
Ino stiffened as she felt Sakura's scrutiny on her. No way would she let her rival see her getting choked up too! Swallowing hard, Ino kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, willing the telltale wetness to recede before it spilled over.
Meanwhile, Naruto was bawling loudly, tears and snot streaming down his whiskered cheeks. "I'll...never...forget you...Iruka-sensei!" he blubbered.
Ino wrinkled her nose. Ugh, so gross and overdramatic as always! Leave it to Naruto to turn their emotional farewell into a spectacle.
But to her surprise, Iruka just smiled fondly at the wailing boy. He walked over and placed a gentle hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I can't wait until you're Hokage, Naruto."
At his teacher's earnest words, Naruto seemed to cry even harder, practically howling as he scrubbed at his cheeks with his jacket sleeve. Ino had to stifle a laugh despite herself. She really would miss Naruto's ridiculous antics around here, even if he drove her nuts sometimes.
One by one, other students began sharing their own memories and well wishes. Shikamaru drawled on about wishing they could have spent more time cloud gazing instead of studying. Choji lamented he'd miss Iruka treating them all to Korean barbecue. Hinata whispered a nearly inaudible thank you that left her beet red.
When it came around to her, Ino took a steadying breath. "You've taught us so much, Iruka-sensei. I'll do my best to make you and our village proud." She hoped those simple words conveyed just how deeply grateful she was for his dedication over the years.
Iruka's eyes crinkled around the edges. "I have no doubt you will all grow into splendid shinobi."
For a while, they sat and laughed, relishing in each other's company. But everyone knew what was to come.
Iruka finally cleared his throat gruffly before glanced down at his notes. "Now then, I'm pleased to announce this year's genin teams..."
Iruka cleared his throat and glanced down at his notes. "Now then, I'm pleased to announce this year's genin teams..."
Ino leaned forward eagerly in her seat. This was the moment she had been waiting for all morning! She just knew she would be paired with Sasuke, and then their natural chemistry would blossom into romance. It was fate!
"Team 1," Iruka began. "Fuki Suzume, Taiki Ura, and..."
As Iruka listed off the members of the first few teams, Ino bounced her leg impatiently. Come on, just get to my team already! She had a swooning Sasuke to impress.
"Team 6," Iruka continued. "Kouji Mimura, Kaito Yamada, and Misaki Sato."
Ino sighed loudly. Was he really going to drone on about every single team? This was so not helping her blossoming love life!
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of zoning out during the unimportant teams, Iruka said, "Team 7. Naruto Uzumaki..."
Ino grimaced. Ugh, poor Naruto. No doubt his team was doomed with him on it.
"Shikamaru Nara."
Ino had to stifle a laugh. Oh man, lazy genius Shikamaru stuck on a team with loudmouth Naruto? She did not envy them. Or their poor jonin sensei.
"And Ino Yamanaka."
Ino's grin evaporated. Wait...herself? On a team with those two knuckleheads? No way! This had to be some kind of mistake.
She leapt to her feet indignantly. "What do you mean I'm with Naruto?" Ino yelled, pointing an accusing finger at Iruka. "There's no way I'm on a team with him! I'm supposed to be with Sasuke!"
At this outburst, the other students swiveled around to stare at her. Out the corner of her eye, Ino noticed Sakura trying and failing to contain a smug grin. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and irritation.
Iruka held up his hands placatingly. "Ino, please sit down. The teams have been decided by Lord Hokage himself based on your individual skills and dynamics." His tone left no room for argument.
With a huff, Ino threw herself back into her seat, arms crossed sullenly over her chest. This was so unfair! Not only was she separated from her precious Sasuke, she was stuck dealing with a lazy slacker and class clown instead. How was she supposed to impress Sasuke and become a great kunoichi with teammates like them?
As Iruka finished listing the remainder of the teams, Ino's gaze drifted longingly to where Sasuke sat brooding by the window. So close, yet so far now! All her hopes of being on his team and winning his heart had been cruelly dashed.
Meanwhile, Naruto was shouting excitedly about finally being a real ninja while Shikamaru just muttered "How troublesome" under his breath. Ino sank lower in her seat. This was a disaster! Her new team was already off to the worst start imaginable.
Turns out, Ino did cry on her first day as a kunoichi after all.
Naruto slumped over the desk, chin propped in his hand as he stared out the classroom window longingly. Waiting around for their mystery sensei was so boring! He had been ready to kick butt as an official ninja since the moment he got his hitai-ate. He glanced over at the clock on the wall - they had been waiting for almost two hours now! Some elite jounin he was turning out to be.
"This is so boring!" Naruto complained loudly, flopping back on the desk dramatically. "When is this guy gonna show up?"
"What a drag."
Ino complained, inspecting her fingernails. "He better not keep me from lunch or I'll give him a piece of my mind."
Just then, Naruto's stomach grumbled.
Speaking of lunch.
Naruto dug through his backpack for the cup ramen he had packed. As he waited impatiently for the water to boil, the savory aroma filled the classroom, making his mouth water. At last, he could finally dig in!
Naruto slurped the noodles noisily, bits of broth splattering everywhere. Ah, nothing like ramen to lift the spirits! He offered the cup to his despondent teammates. "Hey guys, want some? Can't adventure on an empty stomach, ya know!"
Shikamaru grimaced at Naruto's lack of table manners, while Ino recoiled in disgust. "Ew, as if! Do you have any idea how many calories are in that stuff?"
Naruto just shrugged and happily finished off the cup in a few giant gulps. Their loss! As he leaned back in his chair, patting his now pleasantly full stomach, inspiration suddenly struck. A wide, mischievous grin split Naruto's face. Oh, this was going to be good!
If their sensei wanted to be late, then he'd just have to pay the price with a brilliant prank from the master himself!
Naruto dug through his backpack and procured some sticky tape and glitter left over from his last masterpiece prank. Unfortunately he didn't have time to rig up something truly epic, but this would do for some harmless payback!
Whistling cheerfully, Naruto taped the glitter packet above the classroom doorframe. There, perfect spot! Now when their sensei finally decided to show up, he'd get a sparkly surprise dumped right over his head. Naruto had to slap a hand over his mouth to contain his snickering just picturing it.
"Ugh, what are you up to now?" Ino demanded, hands on her hips as she watched him. But Naruto just waved innocently.
"Oh nothing, just passing time!"
Right on cue, the door slid open and a tall figure with gravity-defying silver hair stepped inside. Naruto watched gleefully as the packet of glitter upended right over the man's head, coating his hair and mask in shimmering gold sparkles.
"Yes! Got ya!" Naruto cheered, doubling over in loud laughter and pointing at the glittery sensei. Revenge complete! Beside him, even Shikamaru cracked a smile.
But when Naruto peered more closely at the man brushing glitter off his vest in dismay, a jolt of recognition shot through him. That masked face with one bored eye...it was the same ninja Bushy Brow-sensei had been talking to during training the other day! What crazy luck!
Still snickering to himself, Naruto leapt up and enthusiastically introduced himself to their tardy sensei.
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki and I'm gonna be Hokage someday, believe it!" He jabbed a thumb at himself proudly before pointing back at his less enthused teammates. "That's Shikamaru the human pillow, and Little Miss Sparkles over there is Ino!"
Ino shot Naruto a withering look at the unwanted nickname while Shikamaru just yawned loudly.
"Hmm, first impressions?" The man's cool voice oozed boredom. "I'd say you're all a bunch of idiots."
Naruto bristled, leaping to his feet. No one insulted the future Hokage! "Hey, who're you calling an idiot? You're the one who was super late!"
At first, he'd thought Kakashi-sensei seemed pretty cool albeit a little slow, considering he fell for that prank. And any friend of Bushy Brow's couldn't be all bad. But now, as Naruto fumed, he was beginning to think otherwise.
The jounin just eye-smiled, clearly unbothered. "Meet me on the roof in five minutes." And with that, he disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
Naruto grumbled under his breath as they headed upstairs. Just great. He was stuck with a jerk for a sensei! And to think, Naruto had been looking forward to finally going on awesome missions. Why couldn't he just join Bushy Brow-sensei and Lee's team?
Naruto dragged his feet as he followed Shikamaru and Ino up the stairs to the academy roof. Great, not only was he stuck with a lazy bum and a mean girl for teammates, now their sensei thought they were all idiots! This was so not how he imagined starting his ninja adventures.
Bursting through the exit door with his usual gusto, Naruto shouted "Alright sensei, we're here, believe it!"
The silver-haired jounin glanced up briefly from his questionable orange book. "Yo."
Naruto flopped down on the steps, arms crossed sullenly. This guy clearly couldn't care less about them. Some mentor he was turning out to be.
"Okay, let's begin with introductions," the man drawled, snapping his book shut. "Tell us your name, likes, dislikes, dreams for the future, that sort of thing."
When they just stared at him blankly, he eye-smiled. "I guess I'll go first to show you how it's done." He leaned back casually against the railing.
"I'm Kakashi Hatake. I have some likes and dislikes. My dreams..." He waved a hand airily. "Well, I have lots of hobbies."
Naruto's eye twitched. That told them absolutely nothing! Was this guy for real?
"Alright, you first Blondie," Kakashi said, pointing at Ino.
Ino flicked her ponytail over one shoulder. "I'm Ino Yamanaka of the Yamanaka Clan. I like flowers and Sasuke..." She giggled at that last part. Naruto pretended to gag.
"I hate Naruto!" Ino declared with a huff. Naruto opened his mouth to protest, but she just kept prattling on about how her dream was to impress Sasuke and own her own flower shop someday. Yeesh, what did girls even see in that stuck up jerk Sasuke?
When Ino finally finished, Kakashi nodded. "Good. Brooding One, you next."
Shikamaru groaned loudly. "This is such a drag. I'm Shikamaru Nara. I like watching clouds and playing shogi. I hate doing work. My dream..." He yawned widely. "Actually nevermind, this is too troublesome."
Kakashi's one visible eye regarded Shikamaru flatly. Naruto couldn't blame him - the guy was basically a walking pillow!
Finally, it was Naruto's turn. He sprang to his feet, puffing out his chest confidently. "My name's Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm gonna be Hokage someday, believe it!"
He jabbed a thumb at himself, grinning widely. "I like cup ramen, pulling pranks, and training super hard so I can kick butt! I don't like stuck up jerks who think they're better than me." Naruto shot a pointed look at Ino, who huffed and turned away.
"And my dream is to become the greatest Hokage ever so everyone will finally acknowledge me!" Naruto finished, fists clenched with determination.
Kakashi just blinked at him lazily. "Right. So I've got a slacker, a boy-crazy fangirl, and a hyperactive troublemaker. Fantastic." He pulled out his book again, effectively dismissing them.
Naruto's shoulders slumped. Clearly their sensei thought they were all just a waste of his time. An uncomfortable knot formed in Naruto's stomach. Maybe the man had already heard how he couldn't even perform basic jutsu properly.
Swallowing down his self-consciousness, Naruto plastered on a cocky grin. "So, Kakashi-sensei, when do we start doing super cool ninja missions?"
Kakashi turned a page in his book. "Eager, aren't you? Don't get ahead of yourself. First you have to pass my test tomorrow."
Naruto frowned in confusion. "What d'ya mean test? We already did the whole graduation exam thing."
Kakashi snapped his book shut, meeting Naruto's gaze evenly. "Yes, and of all the academy graduates, only a handful will actually become genin. The rest get sent back for more training." His single eye curved upward. "Out of all jounin sensei, the test has a 66% failure rate, you know. None of my previous teams have passed."
Naruto felt his heart drop into his sandals. 66% failure rate? Fail and get sent back? None of his previous teams have passed? No way, he had to prove himself! Naruto shot a panicked look at his teammates. For once, even Shikamaru appeared unsettled by this news.
Kakashi leaned down and patted Naruto on the head, ruffling his already unruly blond hair. "Ah, don't sweat it. I'm sure you'll probably pass...maybe." He laughed lightly as if enjoying some private joke.
Naruto swatted the hand away, fuming. How dare this smug jerk mock him right to his face! He'd show Kakashi just what he could do, believe it!
"Bring it on sensei!" Naruto yelled, shaking a fist defiantly. "I'll take any test you throw at me, no problem. And when I pass, you're treating us all to ramen!"
Kakashi just chuckled again before disappearing in a swirl of wind and leaves. Naruto immediately rounded on his teammates. "Come on guys, we totally got to start training for this mystery test!"
But Shikamaru shrugged, already making his way back downstairs. "Too troublesome. I'm going cloud watching."
Ino followed right after. "And I'm going to find Sasuke!" she declared dreamily.
Naruto was left alone on the roof, excitement already ebbing away. Some team this was turning out to be. And now he had to prove himself all over again to their aloof sensei. He idly fingered his leaf emblem hitai-ate, the engraved metal warm from sitting in the afternoon sun.
Kakashi's words echoed in his mind. 66% chance of failure. Naruto shook his head stubbornly. No way was he going back to the academy after finally graduating! He would just have to train twice as hard to make up for his team's lack of enthusiasm. Failure was not an option.
Squaring his shoulders, Naruto leapt from the roof and hit the ground running. Bushy Brow-Sensei and Bushy Brows Jr. had left for a mission this morning, so he was on his own. But that was fine! He had a whole afternoon ahead for solo training before he dragged his unmotivated teammates out to prep for Kakashi's test tomorrow. Just thinking about the challenge made Naruto's blood pump with anticipation. This was his shot to show everyone what he could do!
With a determined grin, Naruto sprinted off toward the training grounds. Bring it on sensei!
Author's Note:
Hey everyone,
First off, thank you so much for the support. It means the world to me, all the kind reviews. You know who you are, so thank you!
Secondly, I wanted to take a moment to address some of the feedback and comments I've received about my portrayal of Naruto in this fanfiction. It's been an incredible journey writing this story, and your thoughts mean a lot to me.
Firstly, this Naruto isn't dumb lol. Even in canon, despite everything Naruto went through, he was portrayed as unyieldingly perseverant, not giving up no matter what - sometimes to the point that he's blinded by his own weaknesses and is over confident. I don't see why that would be any different in this universe. Despite all the isues he faces, Naruto's use of "believe it" is literally personifying who he is. Don't say it's unrealistic, when in canon he literally did so. These aspects are key to staying true to his character as seen in the original series, and this unyielding spirit is something I want to carry through in my story. His optimism isn't just a trait; it's a testament to his character's strength and resilience, which is what Naruto as a whole is about.
Now, about the issue with Naruto's chakra not being recognized earlier: I've portrayed it as a mix of several factors. In the context of my story, Naruto's teachers perceived him as a slow learner, and with their attention divided among many students, his unique problem slipped through the cracks. Additionally, considering the potential dangers of jutsu, the academy's curriculum is designed to focus on theory in the early years. This means that Naruto's inability to use jutsu wouldn't have raised alarms until the final year of the academy, which is when my story picks up.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi's role, or the lack thereof, in Naruto's early struggles - this is both a narrative choice and a reflection of the original series. In canon, Hiruzen does provide for Naruto but largely leaves him to fend for himself (remember the apartment at age 4?). This lack of intervention is consistent with that portrayal. Hiruzen, like Iruka and many others, is unaware of the full extent of Naruto's difficulties, assuming them to be part of his slower learning curve. This oversight allows me to explore Naruto's journey from a different angle, one where he must navigate his challenges more independently.
This story is a fanfiction, a creative reimagining of the Naruto universe. It's about exploring new possibilities and examining what could happen under different circumstances. There are plenty of fics out there where Naruto is an OP badass right off the gate. If you like that, good for you, but that's not this story.
That's not to say Naruto won't ever be OP in this story, but he's gonna have to work for it. The entire premise of this story is Naruto being handicapped and forging his path regardless due to sheer willpower and perseverance. You may not like how I set it up, but just don't read it if you don't find it believable.
Anyways, if you read this far, thank you for joining me on this adventure. Your engagement and passion for the Naruto universe are what make writing this story so rewarding. This chapter didn't have much, but it's just a bunch of set up.
Stay tuned for the bell test... but a very different kind...
Make sure to follow, favorite, and review! ;)
