Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Rewarding Assignment ❯ A Lesson in History ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Shikamaru and Naruto are chosen for the...honor...of receiving a genin team, and said genin receive a little lesson about the prowess of their soon to be senseis.

Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Martial Arts / Adventure | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 06.05.2007 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.9K | Visits: 244 | Status: Work In Progress

A/N: Hello, everyone! Welcome to the wonderful world of my fanfiction, A Rewarding Assignment (title subject to change). This is uraharastrawberry, and his little brother. I am a big fan of Naruto, but my only previous experience in writing fan fiction is in Bleach, another awesome anime/manga. Please, write as many reviews as possible. I am eager to know what I need to improve on, but be warned! Flames that aren't constructive, and are just mean will make my little brother cry. You wouldn't want that on your conscience, would you? Making a little boy cry?

Warning! Eventually, this story will probably contain spoilers for the manga, somewhere after the three years later stuff begins. Will also eventually have character deaths.

Oh…and I don't own Naruto.

Iruka-sensei's voice rang out through the stiflingly hot classroom. Although the chuunin had grown slightly older in the thirteen years since Uzumaki Naruto had graduated from his class, he wasn't old enough by a long shot to retire from teaching. However, just like old times, despite the fact that Iruka's voice was loud and clear as he discussed the Rookie Nine, very few students were actually listening.

Raizen Hikaru was not one of those few. The merchant's son could name ten things off of the top of his head that would be more fun to do on a hot summer day like this, and none of them involved learning about the feats of the legendary Rookie Nine. Hikaru had long since chewed his pencil to a stub, and was now occupying himself by attempting to straighten his unruly brown hair without attracting Iruka's attention. He sighed to himself, knowing that as soon as the current lesson was over, they would be forced to hear about the Konoha Eleven. Was he the only one who thought the two were basically the same thing?

Unfortunately for Hikaru, his inward sigh had manifested externally as well. Iruka, an old hand at recognizing which students were beginning to doze, pounced on the bored boy.

“Hikaru-san, perhaps you can tell us the role Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, Nara Shikamaru, Aburame Shino, and Uchiha Sasuke during their first Chuunin Exam?” Iruka's question snapped Hikaru out of his boredom. However, even though the boy was glad to have something relatively interesting to do, he still didn't appreciate being forced to answer in front of the class.

“Sure, Iruka-sensei,” said Hikaru, barely concealing a yawn. “After the sand village launched their attack, Naruto the Whirlwind, Nara Shikamaru, and Haruno Sakura went off in pursuit of Sasuke the Betrayer, who was chasing Gaara of the Desert. Shikamaru stayed behind to fight off some Sound-nin. Then Aburame Shino fought Kankuro to pretty much a draw.” Iruka sighed as he saw hands go up.

“Sorry class, we're not going into a debate right now over who won the fight,” said the chuunin exasperatedly. He saw the hand of Aburame Haruka go reluctantly down, and let out a smile. He knew that the normally quiet girl had been itching to defend her older brother, but he also knew that the ensuing discussion could go on for hours.

“Please continue, Hikaru,” said Iruka.

The boy nodded.

“The Betrayer caught up with Gaara of the Desert, and they started fighting. Soon the Whirlwind and Sakura caught up and joined the fight. Sakura and the Betrayer were defeated, and the Whirlwind beat Gaara alone.” Hikaru let out a loud yawn, making no attempt to conceal it this time.

Honestly, thought the boy,is there anyone who doesn't know about the Rookie Nine? Hikaru, although still annoyed from having to make such a, from his view, pointless speech, couldn't help but take some pleasure from the look on Iruka's face when the chuunin realized that he would not be able to rebuke his pupil for not paying attention. After a short glare, Iruka went back to the lesson.

The chuunin continued to explain how Sasuke had left the village to join Orochimaru, the legendary Sannin. He also gave a brief overview of the final battle between Orochimaru and the Konoha Eleven, led by the famous Uzumaki Naruto. He told of the sacrifice of Sai's life, and the near fatal injuries of Inuzuka Kiba and Yamanaka Ino. Finally paying attention, Hikaru could not understand how Iruka could possibly make such an intense, exciting battle sound so incredibly boring.

“And then,” said Iruka, “Naruto came upon Orochimaru attempting to perform the immortality jutsu, and take Sasuke's body. I'm sure you have all heard the story of how he interrupted the process, and killed Orochimaru. To this day, the trauma of the failure of the technique has left Sasuke in a coma. He is in a maximum security hospital even as we speak.”

Iruka saw a hand up in the front row. He recognized the raven-haired, pale-eyes girl as Hyuuga Hanako. Fondly remembering how her older sister Hinata had almost never been bold enough to ask questions in class, the chuunin called her name.

“I was wondering, Iruka-sensei,” said the short, thin youth, “How did the Whirlwind feel? He had been chasing after the Betrayer that whole time, only to land him in a coma. Did he feel sad, or guilty at all?”

Iruka's smile faltered. He remembered all to well the depression that had taken over the young Uzumaki's life after that fateful battle. The long, sleepless nights spent in the hospital by the Uchiha's bed. The sorrow that had only been overcome by the realization that a certain Hyuuga girl's feelings for him went beyond mere friendship. However, before Iruka could find a way to put those long weeks into words, another voice rudely interrupted his own.

Come on, Hanako-chan!” It was the voice of Kotami Kiyo, a tall, wiry boy with brown hair. “How would Iruka-sensei know that? You make it sound like he's best friends with the Whirlwind!” The class had a good laugh at that. The idea of their sensei being affiliated with one of the Hidden Leaf Village's most famous and powerful shinobi was funny to almost all of them.

After the general laughter had died down, Haruka let out a laugh that could easily be distinguished from the mirth around her. She was clearly laughing at, and not with, someone.

“Kiyo-kun, you baka,” said the normally silent Aburame girl. “Don't you know anything?” Kiyo looked bashful. He could tell by Haruka's tone that he had said something stupid. “Don't you know that Iruka-sensei taught all of the Rookie Nine?”

Iruka took a moment to admire the flabbergasted look on Kiyo's face before responding.

“That's true, Haruka-san, I did. However, before you call others bakas, you should remember that not everyone has a sibling in the Rookie Nine to remind them of these things.”

Hanako perked at hearing this.

But I do too, Iruka-sensei!” The Hyuuga girl pouted at being semi-ignored. “Hinata-nee chan is one of the Rookie Nine! I have a sibling in the Nine just like Haruka-chan!” Haruka retreated into her coat which, although not as voluminous as Shino's, served adequately to cover her ears, and block out some of the noise that the annoying Hyuuga was making. For the umpteenth time, she wished that Hanako was as quiet and shy as Shino told her Hinata had been.

Iruka could see the telltale signs that Haruka was getting annoyed, and knew that the class needed to focus on their subject matter.

“All right, everyone,” said the teacher. “Settle down. As you all should know, your examinations are tomorrow. Some of you will become genin, and be assigned to a squad. If you want to pass, you had better pay attention.”

Of course, there were no history questions in the final exam, but Iruka saw no need to mention that to his now attentive class.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

A/N: OoOo section break inspired by one of Lifethane's stories. Lacking Sight or War of the Eyes, can't remember which. Both are awesome.

The Fifth Hokage's office was filled with the sounds of sneezing. Most affected were Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Shino, but everyone let out at least one sneeze. After the fit was over, the assembled Rookie Nine(A/N: I realize that there are only eight, but I like the sound of `Rookie Nine' better than `Rookie Eight') looked at each other. Shino, after he attempted to regain his composure, was the first to speak.

“Odd…” said the bug-user, while straightening his glasses. “There must be a large amount of dust in here…”

“No way, Shino,” said Naruto loudly. “Somebody's probably talking about us.” Naruto was met by annoyed glances from Shino and Shikamaru. Kiba laughed loudly.

“You baka, you don't believe that superstition, do you?” Kiba gave a feral grin as he ran his hand through his messy hair. Naruto glared at him.

“I'm a baka? What are you talking about, dog-breath…”

“What did you call me, frog-boy…”

Shikamaru sighed. All of this trouble over something as stupid as a sneezing fit, thought the lazy shinobi. He tried as best as he could to tune out the argument between Kiba and Naruto, and tried focus on the clouds outside. His concentration was broken, however, by the crunching of Choji's potato chips.

Shikamaru bit back a grimace. His friend's crunching irritated him, but Shikamaru knew he was eating because of the stress. He couldn't blame Choji, either. Shikamaru knew that he definitely didn't want to be one of the “winners” of Tsunades little lottery.

Suddenly, a loud voice cut through the chattering that filled the room.

“Is this any way for the infamous Rookie Nine to behave?” Shino snapped to attention, but not all of the others were as proper. Namely, Naruto.

“Old Lady Tsunade, I don't think we're infamous,” said the blond-haired young man. “Isn't just plain old `famous' a better word?” Tsunade scoffed.

“Whatever…” The Fifth Hokage strode towards them. “I have selected two of you. It was completely random, so my likes…” Tsunade glanced towards Sakura, “And dislikes…” She looked at Naruto pointedly, long enough that even he got the point, “Had nothing to do with the decision.”

Everyone in the room became silent. They all prayed for the names that followed to belong to someone other than them. Tsunade smirked, taking her time carefully, to prolong their suffering.

“Nara Shikamaru, and Uzumaki Naruto.”

Shikamaru sighed deeply.

“Troublesome…” Shikamaru wasn't willing to go to the trouble of vocalizing all of his feelings, by his thoughts were racing. He knew, though, that there would be no way to escape this duty.

Naruto, however, felt no such compunctions.

“No way, Old Lady Tsunade,” said the loudmouth. “I need to train more with Ero-Sannin! Some of the Atatsuki are still out there!” Tsunade silenced him with a wave of her hand.

“Too bad, Naruto. You and Shikamaru, starting tomorrow, are going to finally live up to your responsibilities as Jonin of Konoha. Tomorrow, you each will receive a genin squad!”

A/N: Well, that was the first chapter. I hope you all like it. If you do review, and tell me what you liked. If you didn't like it, review anyway. Tell me what you didn't like, and I will try to work on it. Just, please make up something you did like, so I will feel better. Thank you!

Coming up: Shikamaru and Naruto receive their squads. How will the genin react to their famous senseis?