Game of the Year: A Naruto Quest

@Vesvius

Well, vote wasn't close, and I wanted to get this update out. So.... vote closed. And here!
***
"I think," you say slowly and carefully, picking each word the same way you would pick a kunai from a discount vendor, "that we're not ready to fight or steal anything important yet. And we definitely will not get anything time sensitive until we're more seasoned. But it'd be silly not to use us where we're best."

"So….?" Ino drawls, nudging you in the side. "What're you thinking?"

You shrug. "I"m not sure. Maybe there's this, I don't know, war beast? Something big and dangerous that the village needs captured. And we have to get it!" Despite your reserve, you can feel your imagination running away with you. You can see it in your mind's eye: you and your team- Ino and Jabari of course- hunting down a beast of war that looks just like a dinosaur for some reason and subduing it with your powerful skills. "And after we get it, we'll have to present it directly to the Daimyo! Only he would know how to best utilize such a weapon, right?"

Your friends nod in agreement, but perhaps no one is as solemn in their nod as Ino's mom. She's looking at you all with the a very serious expression that only comes into being when the person wearing it is trying very hard not to laugh. You're not sure why; sure, you may be hyping it up a little too much in your head, but the idea itself is sound!

...why does it still feel like you're forgetting something annoying?

But you can't dwell on it for too long. With the emergency over, Inoichi is back at the restaurant in minutes, and the party wraps up soon after. You're all sent on your seperate ways with a reminder to still show up to turn in your official paperwork before Monday, when you'll be meeting at the Academy for team assignments.

As always, the day ends with you walking Ino home. She throws her arm over your shoulder like normal and almost skips as she walks. "Thanks for coming tonight!" she says. "It still would've been great if you hadn't, but you coming made it way better."

You nod in response. "It was fun," you answer. "After I was done carrying things of course."

Ino chuckles and blows a strand of hair out of her eyes. "Please," she jibes. "You know you love it. And if you don't, I'll make you soon. You're going to be carrying all sorts of things on missions for me after all!"

A shrug is all you can answer with. "Maybe by the time we're on missions together you'll be more willing to carry your own things."

"Why would I do that?" Ino asks. She seems perplexed. "I mean, it's not like I'm going to get tired of you carrying my stuff over the weekend!"

"Over the weekend?"

"Yeah. I mean, team assignments are Monday. And we're obviously going to be put on the same team! So get used to carrying my bags, Dai old buddy old pal!"

You give her a long look. "Um, Ino?" you ask. "I'm actually pretty certain we're not going to be on the same team."

Ino stops short. "What?!" she almost yelps. "That's insane! Why wouldn't we be on the same team?!"

"Well," you say slowly. "We're two of the top three students in class. If they're trying to balance the teams it would make a lot more sense for us both to get weaker teammates." There are more reasons, but none that you really want to say while Ino has her arm over your shoulder. It's a position that can easily change into a headlock if she's displeased by something.

"All the more reason for us to get teamed up!" Ino fires back. "They could put us on harder missions right away! And we work like really well together! Like scary good! It'd be stupid for them not to put us together!"

You're pretty sure she's wrong. "It'd be awesome," you allow. "But just don't get your hopes up, alright?"

Ino shakes her head, slapping you upside the face with her ponytail. "It's not getting my hopes up! It's just common sense! Now hurry up and take me home! The faster I get to sleep, the faster I get my paperwork done! And the faster that's done the faster we can get to doing awesome missions!"

You sigh, but do as she asks, walking her to her door and bidding goodnight to the Yamanakas in short order before making your way home. You spend the next few days doing something you don't do too much of: taking it easy. Sure, you take the time to fill out your official registration paperwork and turn it in at the Tower, but aside from that you don't do much that's strenuous at all. Just some light training, focusing mainly on your draw speed, and a few tweaks to Endless Sword that take up about seventeen hours. Barely anything at all.

Monday morning finds you back at the Academy, sitting in your usual seat between Ino and Yui, waiting for the rest of the class to trickle in. They do so slowly, by themselves, in groups, or in pairs. Each newcomer gets a greeting and another round of congratulations by Iruka-sensei- who is not looking good. It looks like he got into a fight with a trio of weed whackers in between Friday and today. And he's alone, which is strange in and of itself. Mizuki-sensei's normally lounging around somewhere. You wouldn't have thought he would miss this for anything.

But that's not the only strange thing. No, what's more bizarre is that sitting in the back row of the class is one Uzumaki Naruto, bouncing up and down eagerly. Huh. You had thought he'd failed. You've got a few other memories about him being an actual ninja, so you knew he'd pass somehow, but it's still a surprise to see him there- with a headband proudly displayed on his forehead to boot.

You don't comment on it, but you're not the only one who noticed. To your surprise it's Shikamaru who takes the initiative. He comes in, spots Naruto, and trudges over to him. "Yo Uzumaki," you hear him say. "You do know this is only for students who graduated, right?"

In answer Naruto snaps his thumb against his headband, causing a clang to echo through the room. "Yeah!" he says. "And I graduated! See?"

Shikamaru waits for more, but when Naruto doesn't say anything else, he just shrugs. "Whatever," he replies, and drops into his seat between Naruto and Chouji.

"Huh. So he graduated," Sakura mutters to Jabari. "How did that happen?"

Whatever Jabari's answer would have been, you don't get a chance to hear it. Iruka-sensei stands up and calls for your attention. "Once again," he states, "I would like to congratulate you all on passing your final exams and becoming full fledged shinobi of Konoha! It's not an easy task to accomplish, but each and every one of you sitting here did it!"

"But," he continues. "Graduation is only the beginning! Now that you're all officially genin, you will be assigned in teams of three to a Jounin Instructor who will serve as your team leader and further your education as ninja! Treat your Jounin as you would treat me! Each and every one of them is one of Konoha's best, and they will do their best to make you one as well!"

"Now, when you hear your name, find your teammates! After all teams are announced you'll be given some time to eat and talk with your new team. Eat quickly though! Your time ends when your sensei arrives to collect you!"

"Now, let's begin. Team One: Tao Itsuo, Eguichi Fuki, Ito Tobio! Your sensei is Tenmondai Kabemori! Dismissed!"

On and on Iruka-sensei goes, listing your classmates and dismissing them. With each group, the room gets less and less crowded but somehow more and more tense as those still waiting get closer and closer to the edge of their seats.

It's not till Team Seven that things get interesting. "Team Seven: Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hinata, Uzumaki Naruto! Your sensei is Hatake Kakashi! Dismissed!"

Huh. You're pretty sure that Hinata wasn't on Team Seven back in the original story. So how did she end up there this time? Maybe your existence knocked her grades down a little? Whatever the case, the girls seems to be near fainting, as per usual. Naruto looks outraged to be on Sasuke's team- dodged a bullet there- and Sasuke looks… Sasuke-ish.

"Team Eight," Iruka-sensei continues, "Aburame Shino, Haruno Sakura, Hiruma Jabari! Your sensei is Inuzuka Gaku! Dismissed!" And that's definitely new. Who the fuck is Inuzuka Gaku? At least Sakura and Jabari seem happy enough with their placement.

"Team Nine! Koizumi Shinsuke, Shirai Kairi, Yoneda Unagi! Your sensei is Shimizu Akon! Dismissed!" No real thought on that one. Good thing you avoided Kairi though. You're not sure you could have handled her watching you at all times.

But the pool of teammates is getting dangerously small. There are only three teams left to be announced by your count, most of your friends and some people you'd rather avoid still in the running. You're starting to get a little nervous.

"Team Ten! Akimichi Chouji, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru! Your sensei is Sarutobi Asuma! Dis-"

Iruka-sensei's words are cut off by Ino's angry yell. "The FUCK?!" she roars. "How- why- I- No! That doesn't make any sense!"

Iruka-sensei shakes his head in disappointment. "Ino-chan, you should know that you won't always get put on assignments with your very best friends. Instead you'll get put where your skills are most useful. And that's-"

"Bullshit! My skills are-"

"Yamanaka Ino," Iruka-sensei intones. "These teams were composed by your academy teachers, ratified by the jounin instructors, and approved by Hokage-sama himself. Do you think you know better than Hokage-sama?"

There's really no way to answer that. Ino just sputters, and you take the opportunity to pull her back down to her seat. "It'll be alright," you mutter. "It could be much worse. I mean, Shikamaru and Chouji are solid guys! And at least you weren't-"

Iruka-sensei takes advantage of the interruption by speeding through the rest of the teams. "Team Eleven: Satomura Daisuke, Yokota Mariko, Inuzuka Kiba! Your instructor is Yuuhi Kurenai! Team Twelve: Shinsato Ren, Hazakura Yui, Fujiwara Hibachi! Your instructor is Nara Reina! Dismissed!"

His words are rushed, as if he knows what they're about to unleash. And sure enough, Ino's cry is echoed."The FUCK?!"

It comes from you. It comes from Yui. It comes from Jabari, and Sakura, and Ino again. And most especially, it comes from Mariko, who is purpling with rage. "I am not going to be on a team with that guy!" she roars.

Iruka gives her a level look. "Do I need to remind you who made these teams once again?"

Again, the protests die. But this time the class doesn't remain in it's seats. Ino storms off, not meeting anyone's eyes. Mariko sits in the back of the room, glaring daggers at the back of your head. Shikamaru… well, he looks like nothing of note has happened. And as for you…

Fucking Mariko. On your team.

How does Daisuke handle this news?
[] There must be some mistake. Go talk to Iruka-sensei now, and try and change his mind! He's always listened to you in the past before. This time will be no different.
[] Ino does not look happy. She needs you now. Go find her before she gets too far away.
[] You may not like one of them, but you have a team now. You should make the best of it. Go find Kiba and Mariko, and have lunch.
***