It was the evening of the most recent Konoha genin exam and the Hokage was sitting in the council chambers with the clan heads the civilian council and the Jonin who volunteered to take a team.
"Alright just before we make a start on putting the teams together I have an act regarding the genin that I wish to put in place or at least run a trail with the genin who pass their final tests" said Hiruzen.
"I wish to place the genin teams in housing together so that they become better acquainted with each other forming stronger bonds to strengthen their teams also due to this the genin would quickly develop a sense of responsibility needing to pay for their own food and rent" said Hiruzen, all the clan heads looked a little unsettled as did Kurenai but she was seen by no-one except Anko who stood beside Kurenai and was also feeling unsettled but kept it hidden much better.
"Now I am in no way suggesting banning the children from seeing their parents just suggesting that they live with their teammates to improve bonds between them" said Hiruzen.
"That does sound like a reasonable thought but what if the members of one particular team hate one another?" questioned Hiashi.
"It is for that reason that we are going to ignore traditional team assembly and form teams that would work well together both in terms of complementary skills and personalities" said Hiruzen the clan heads nodded at his logic and reasoning.
"Now I would like to put the matter to a vote and given this is a shinobi matter the civilians do not get a say" said Hiruzen.
"WHAT" screeched Mebuki Haruno.
"Like hell we have no say my daughter is one of the graduates" screeched the pink haired woman standing up.
"SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP I AM IN CHARGE HERE AND YOU ARE ONLY HERE BECAUSE I HAVE ALLOWED IT" yelled Hiruzen, Mebuki quickly sit down and shut up.
"Alright Ninja Council all in favour of the Genin Housing Act?" questioned Hiruzen, all of the clan heads raised their hands signalling their agreement.
"Ok so which ever teams pass their final exam will now be place into housing together" said Hiruzen.
"Now as for the teams let's get started with deciding who's teamed up with whom" said Hiruzen as he handed a pile of folders around the table, before some were handed to the Jonin standing near the doorway.
"Hokage-Sama" said one of the civilians a fat man balding and would be round enough that if he tripped everyone would get out of the way of the 'bolder'.
"Yes what is it?" questioned Hiruzen.
"What is its Name doing here surely it couldn't have passed the academy" said the man.
"To whom would you be referring" came the cold and venomous voice of Kurenai she could see who the man was talking about.
"Second from the bottom surely it must be a mistake" said the man. In the blink of an eye the man had snakes biting on his neck and Kurenai was standing behind him with a kunai at his neck.
"I'm so sorry would you like to call my son an It again or would you prefer to keep your head" said Kurenai in an icy cold tone.
"Yes please do call our child an It again my snakes are every so hungry and you look like just the type of meat they like" said Anko from across the room, her sleeve being the origin of the snakes.
"What are you two saying the child he is talking abou-" began Mebuki only to be interrupted by Kurenai holding a second kunai to the pink haired howler monkeys throat.
"Anko and I adopted Naruto six years ago but he told us to keep it a secret so that you stupid villagers wouldn't try and disrespect us for caring for him" said Kurenai.
"Why would you care for that Daemon It-ugh" said the fat merchant before his throat was slit by Kurenai's Kunai.
"Come on you assholes, give me an excuse" dared Kurenai.
"ENOUGH Civilians get out now" ordered Hiruzen most got up and left grumbling.
"Alright now that that's settled let's decide on the teams" said Hiruzen.
#Next morning in the Konoha Academy#
Naruto sat at the back of the room and for once he wasn't sitting alone Gaia was next to him, both had just got there and were waiting for team assignments, Gaia had only been in Konoha a week but already knew who she didn't want to be put on a team with, She knew Naruto and her would be put together but they were both trying to work out who their other team member might be.
"What do you think Hinata maybe?" questioned Gaia.
"No I don't think so, maybe Kiba" said Naruto.
"I hope not" said Gaia.
Before either could suggest another person the door opened to reveal Iruka with a clipboard in his hands and an evil smirk on his face, Naruto did not like that look, Iruka waltzed into the centre of the room where he began an 'I'm proud of all of you' rant/ lecture which almost everyone tuned out.
Half an hour later after Iruka finished his rant everyone's attention was drawn to him for an announcement.
"Alright everyone now before I get to the team placements I would like to announce the rookie of the year" said Iruka the class went dead silent.
"Alright the Rookie of the year is" said Iruka pausing for dramatic effect.
"Naruto" said Iruka, the whole class then erupted into roars of disbelief the Sasuke fan club claiming that there was no way that 'Naruto-Baka' was better than their 'Sasuke-Kun'. Naruto simply ignored the whole deal he could care less but it would require surgery.
"EVERYONE ENOUGH" yelled Iruka.
"Naruto is Rookie of the year he scored best on the graduation exams nothing can change that" said Iruka the class slowly quieted down, once everyone had quieted down Iruka spoke again.
"Alright now on to the most important part team placements now please remain quiet and just listen for your name now Team 1…" said Iruka as he looked down at the clipboard in his hands Naruto zoned out until he heard either Gaia or his own name called.
"Team 7 Naruto Uzumaki" said Iruka making Naruto instantly pay attention.
"Gaia" said Iruka making Naruto smile at his only friend in the Konoha academy.
"And Sasuke Uchiha" said Iruka both Naruto and Gaia looked down at the dark haired boy who unnoticed by all but Gaia and Naruto was breathing a sigh of relief.
"WHAT I'M NOT WITH MY SASUKE-KUN THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT" Screeched Sakura. As she finished a black rose petal flew past her face and where it had brushed against her on her cheek the skin split, in the next three seconds a small tornado of black and red rose petals was flying around the annoying girl.
"Shut it Pinkey or you'll become bloody" threatened Naruto cracking his knuckles making Sakura shut up.
"Team 7's sensei is Kakashi Hatake" said Iruka, Naruto sighed he had heard about Kakashi from his Kaa-san and Kaa-Chan Kakashi was always two hours late for anything short of an A-rank mission or summons from the Hokage.
"Alright moving on Team 8 Hinata Hyūga, Ino Yamanaka and Shikamaru Nara the sensei Kurenai Yuhi" said Iruka and before he moved on the rose petals that had still been violently spinning around Sakura broke off into three groups each surrounding the members of team 8.
"If any of you three piss of my Kaa-Chan your bodies will never be found" Declared the blond/ red head in an icy venomous tone all three nodded their heads violently quickly. Everyone noted that Naruto's Nodachi had disappeared when the rose petals first appeared.
"AHEM moving on Team 10 Shino Aburame, Kiba Inuzuka, Choji Akimichi and Sakura Haruno and your Sensei is Asuma Sarutobi" said Iruka, the class was half expecting Naruto to threaten one or all of them but to their surprize nothing.
"Ok well everyone your sensei's will be here in an hour I suggest you use the time to at least become civil with those on your teams" said Iruka walking out of the room .
"Sasuke-kun would you like to go out to lunch with me as you know this wi-" said Sakura.
"No get this into your thick pink head I hate you I hate everything about you, you are annoying obnoxious and stupid leave me alone" said Sasuke getting up and walking out of the room, Naruto looked at Gaia who looked back at him and the two nodded and got up following Sasuke, once the three got outside Naruto spoke.
"Sasuke you want to come to lunch with me and Gaia you know so we can get to know each other better?" questioned Naruto before Sasuke could respond Gaia sweetened the deal.
"And get away from your fan girls for a while" said Gaia.
"Deal" said Sasuke, the trio walked out of the academy grounds and headed toward Ichiraku's ramen.
"Sorry Sasuke but there's little to no choice of restaurant when I'm with anyone" said Naruto.
"Why?" asked Sasuke.
"Let's just say that I'm not liked around the village and it's not for my pranks and leave it at that for now" said Naruto, Sasuke grew curious of why but simply filed it away for later.
After about ten minutes of walking the trio walked into a little ramen stand.
"Teuchi-Oji Ayame-Nee I'm here" called Naruto.
"Naruto it's good to see you, who are your friends?" questioned an elderly gentleman behind the counter.
"These are my teammates Gaia-Chan and Sasuke" said Naruto happily before jumping up onto a stool.
"Oh so this is the Gaia you told us so much about" said a girl a few years older than the trio of ninja as she walked out of the back room.
"Yep" said Naruto smiling.
"Alright so what'll you have?" asked Ayame.
"I'll have the usual" said Naruto, Ayame nodded before turning to Gaia, who looked at the menu thinking quickly.
"Can I get a pork ramen please" said Gaia Ayame nodded then finally turned to Sasuke.
"I'd like a chicken ramen please" said Sasuke.
"Coming right up" said Ayame as she walked into the kitchen with her father and the two began to cook the trio's ramen.
"Look Sasuke" said Naruto drawing his attention to the blond boy.
"I know that you're hiding a lot from everyone just like I was and I'm not asking you to stop I'm just asking that you drop the asshole act while we are on a team together" said Naruto, Sasuke for the most part looked shocked.
"H-H-How" was all Sasuke managed to stutter.
"The eyes are windows to the soul when one tries their hardest to hide their own pain away they become good at telling peoples intentions from the eyes alone" said Naruto.
"I can see self-loathing in your eyes whenever you say something snide, I can see pain in your eyes when you push someone away, but most of all I can see longing when you see people happy together" said Naruto, Sasuke looked about ready to bolt.
"We are teammates we need to know that we can trust you and for you to know you can trust us" said Naruto.
"We want to know that you have our backs and we want you to know we have yours" said Gaia breaking her silence. Sasuke looked at Naruto then to Gaia and back again several times.
"Thank you" said Sasuke nodding.