Four years had passed since Arashi returned to the Uchiha compound, a place that still echoed with the absence of his beloved brother, Shisui. Three years ago, the Uchiha who had sought refuge outside the village were allowed to return, and Itachi, hailed as a hero for saving the Hokage, remained as dedicated to his duties as ever. Since the passing of Yagami Uchiha last year, Arashi's world had shifted once again. Yet, through it all, he had continued to grow, both physically and mentally.
As Arashi picked up his tanto, his thoughts drifted to Shisui. 'He's alive, he's alive,' he repeated to himself, the mantra a comforting reminder amidst the lingering uncertainty. 'But not today.' Today was about celebrating a new beginning.
He dressed quickly, strapping on his ninja gear with a surge of excitement. Today marked his graduation from the academy and his placement into a genin team. After a quick breakfast of ramen, he tied his forehead protector around his head, a symbol of his dedication and the start of his journey as a shinobi.
"This is it," he whispered, a determined glint in his eyes as he left the house.
He knocked on the door of Mikoto's house, and she greeted him with a warm smile. "Good morning, Arashi."
"Hey, Mikoto-san, is Sasuke ready?" Arashi asked, eager to begin the day.
She nodded. "He's already ahead; you better hurry up and catch up."
"Thank you," he bowed respectfully and took off running towards the academy. He soon caught up with Sasuke and Naruto, who were walking together.
"Hey! You guys!" He greeted them with a wave, and they fell into step beside him.
"I'm so excited to become a shinobi," Arashi said, his voice filled with anticipation. "I hope I'll be on the same team as you two."
Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "Me too!"
"That probably won't happen," Sasuke interjected, his tone pragmatic.
"What? Why not?" Naruto questioned, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Because then our team would be too powerful," Sasuke explained. "They have to balance things out. We're the three best in our class; I doubt they'll put us on the same team."
"Man, that's so unfair," Naruto pouted.
"Yeah, Sasuke's right," Arashi agreed. "But we'll be fine anyway." He offered a reassuring smile, his confidence unwavering.
Soon, they arrived at the academy and settled into their usual seats, their chatter filled with a mix of excitement and nerves. Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Naruto, move your ass; I want to sit on the other side of you!"
Arashi turned to see who was speaking and spotted a pink-haired girl making her way towards them.
'Sakura...' he sighed inwardly, bracing himself for the inevitable drama.
"Woah!" Sakura exclaimed, unceremoniously pushing Naruto's head down as she swiftly maneuvered towards Sasuke.
"Sasuke-kun, can I sit next to you?" she pleaded, her eyes wide with adoration.
Sasuke's eye twitched in annoyance. 'Sakura...'
"Sakura, Naruto's sitting there," Sasuke replied, thwarting her attempt to usurp Naruto's seat.
"This Sasuke! He's always acting so cool. I've had enough!" Naruto declared, dramatically standing atop his desk.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke questioned, his tone flat.
"Let's go one-on-one! I'm going to beat you right here, in front of Sakura," Naruto proclaimed, his voice booming through the classroom.
"Naruto, quit being annoying and sit down," Sasuke admonished, unimpressed by Naruto's theatrics.
Naruto and Sasuke locked eyes, the air crackling with tension.
"Kick his butt, Sasuke-kun!" a chorus of other girls in the room cheered, adding fuel to the fire.
Just then, another student, engrossed in recounting a story, gestured wildly with his hand, accidentally bumping into Naruto from behind.
"Huh?" Naruto's eyes widened as he lost his balance.
"Wha..." Sakura gasped, unable to believe the scene unfolding before her.
Smooch!
Naruto's lips landed squarely on Sasuke's in an accidental kiss, sending shockwaves through the room.
"Wahahaha!" Arashi burst into laughter, clutching his sides as he nearly fell over.
"You idiot, I'm going to kill you!" Sasuke exclaimed, frantically wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Yuck! My mouth is rotting!" Naruto cried out, desperately trying to cough away the taste.
A sudden shift in the atmosphere caught Naruto's attention. 'Huh? I sense something bad.'
Naruto turned slowly to find Sakura clenching her fists, her face contorted in rage.
"It wasn't my fault, I swear!" Naruto insisted, shaking his head vigorously.
"Annoying," Sakura retorted, her glare burning a hole through Naruto.
"Both of you are so annoying," Sasuke declares, turning away with a frown.
Sakura's face falls, her heart sinking. She dejectedly returns to her seat beside Ino.
"Jeez, Sakura, you blew it," Ino comments with a smirk.
"I know... Sasuke hates me," Sakura mumbles, her voice barely a whisper.
"With that forehead of yours, I'm surprised your headband even fits," Ino snarks, her eyes closed in a smug expression.
"Grr! Look who's talking, Ino-pig!" Sakura snaps back, her cheeks flushing with anger.
"What? Did I upset you, billboard brow?" Ino retorts, their usual bickering resuming.
The two girls lock eyes, the tension palpable.
"Hmph. I've got better things to worry about," Ino declares, turning away with her arms crossed.
Her gaze drifts towards Arashi, and her cheeks redden as she catches him laughing and chatting with his friends. She quickly looks away, hoping he hasn't noticed her staring.
Sakura observes Ino's bashful behavior and smirks inwardly. 'Cha! Ino-pig is always trying to mess with my head.'
'That's just Ino for you, clueless about love,' Sakura thinks to herself, a smug smile playing on her lips. 'She goes after the best-looking guy, even if it's not Sasuke. Not like me. I'm all about Sasuke, and that's why he'll choose me over anyone else, cha!'
Both Ino and Sakura let their minds wander, lost in their own fantasies about their imaginary boyfriends.
A few minutes later, the classroom fills up as the other students arrive and take their seats. Iruka-sensei steps in front of the class, holding a sheet of paper.
"As of today, you are all officially shinobi, but still genin," he begins, his voice carrying a sense of gravity. "You've faced trials and hardships to get here, but that's just the beginning. What comes next will be far more difficult. Now, all of you will be grouped into three-person squads led by a Jonin, an elite ninja."
Ino and Sakura exchange puzzled glances. 'A three-man squad?' they wonder, their minds buzzing with possibilities.
"Well, someone has to be on Sasuke's team," Sakura mutters, a hint of desperation in her voice.
"Yeah, right, like you'd ever be with Sasuke," Ino retorts, a smirk playing on her lips.
"What? You want me to believe you'd be with Arashi?" Sakura fires back, the tension between the two girls escalating.
"Grr!" Ino and Sakura continue their bickering, their voices rising above the classroom chatter.
Naruto, meanwhile, is lost in his own thoughts. 'I want to be with Sakura and either Arashi or Sasuke, but mostly Arashi,' he ponders.
Arashi shares a similar sentiment. 'I'd like to be with Naruto and Sasuke. If that's not possible, then maybe Ino? Or Shikamaru and Choji. But Kakashi-sensei told us that's not likely.'
Iruka-sensei clears his throat, effectively silencing the room. "We aim for each squad to be evenly matched, so we've set them up that way. Now, I'll announce the teams."
The students hold their breath, the anticipation palpable.
"Now, Squad 7," Iruka-sensei announces, glancing at his sheet of paper.
"Naruto Uzumaki."
Naruto's eyes widen, his ears perking up.
"Sakura Haruno."
"Yay!" Sakura's excitement quickly turns to despair. "I'm doomed," she mutters under her breath.
"And Sasuke Uchiha."
"Yay!" Sakura jumps up, her joy overflowing. Naruto, on the other hand, frowns and turns away.
"That's not fair! Why do Naruto and Sasuke have to be on the same team? That's completely unfair!" several students protest, their voices echoing through the classroom.
"Sorry, guys," Iruka-sensei responds with a sheepish smile. "This squad was formed directly by the Hokage."
Shikamaru, ever the observer, chimed in from his seat beside Ino, his head propped up by his hand. "At least you're not simple-minded like the other girls who are losing it over Sasuke."
"Yeah, I'd rather be on the same team as Arashi-kun," Ino replied, a dreamy look in her eyes.
"Huh? Arashi?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "He's not that special. A lot of people avoid him because of his Rinnegan, even though he learned how to turn them off."
"You're so clueless, Shikamaru," Ino retorted, annoyed. "Don't you get it?"
Shikamaru shrugged. "No, I don't get it. Because I'm not a girl."
Ino rolled her eyes. "You're so full of yourself. Jealousy is a terrible thing. I'd hate to be on your squad," she huffed, closing her eyes in frustration.
"Now, Team 10," Iruka-sensei's voice rang out. "Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara."
Ino gasped. "Did you say something about hating to be on my team?" Shikamaru teased, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Shhh!" Ino hissed, silencing him with a glare. She leaned forward, eager to hear the next name.
"And Choji Akimichi."
Ino's shoulders slumped in disappointment. 'So I won't be on Arashi's team?'
"Those are all the squads," Iruka-sensei concluded. "This afternoon, we'll introduce you to your Jonin senseis. Until then, take a break." He placed the sheet of paper behind his back, a knowing smile on his face.
As the other students mingled with their new teammates during the break, Arashi approached Iruka-sensei, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Iruka-sensei, what about my team? Aren't I in any squad?" Arashi inquired.
"Yes, you'll be in Team 2," Iruka responded.
'Team 2? That's Itachi's old team. Could it be...?'
"Team 2 consists of two of my previous students who graduated last year, so they're already ahead of you," Iruka continued. "But you'll meet them soon, along with their new sensei. Just stick around until the afternoon, and you'll find out."
"Well, okay," Arashi conceded, a mix of curiosity and anticipation bubbling within him.
Iruka-sensei hurriedly left the room, and Arashi followed, his mind racing with possibilities. 'I can't wait to meet my new team.'