Alright, so...I'm trying to get myself writing again. Starting an entirely new project probably isn't the best way to do it, but what the hell.
So here's what I got, and I need to know if it's cool. Seriously. You see, I've never written anime fanfic before.
Well...I've written some, but only short pieces with original characters...you know, stories set in a particular anime's world, but not featuring the main cast themselves.
I always worry about portraying canon characters correctly. It's kind of hard for me to write their thoughts and dialogue. I can deal with my own creations, 'cause I made 'em...but...
You get the idea.
But this concept's been clawing at my brain for a while now, and I need to set it free. I also think I've got a good enough grasp of the Naruto cast to make this work.
I'm not sure, though. So what I'm asking is...if you think, like, Naruto's portrayed as totally off-kilter, or Sakura's completely wrong, then please tell me. If you think the tone and feel's not true to the series, then tell me too.
Granted, this story is - or will be - an AU. But I don't consider that an excuse, because...well, if characters ain't recognisable as themselves, what's the point?
It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair. The first day of his new life as a ninja, the first step on the road to becoming Hokage...and now this.
Stuck in a room for hours and hours and hours, just because some stupid jounin couldn't be bothered to show.
Oh, sure, Sakura-chan was here...but so was Uchiha Sasuke. That meant Sakura-chan refused to even look at him. She just spent all her time mooning over the bastard. It just wasn't fair. Maybe Sasuke was using some kind of evil genjutsu technique to attract all the girls. Or something.
Why did they have to team him up with SASUKE, of all people? Yeah, Iruka-sensei had given that whole explanation about the teams being balanced...and Sasuke was the number one student or something while he was dead last, but...
It just wasn't fair.
Naruto sighed, slumping face-down on the desk. "This is BOOORIIING," he cried, drawing out the last word.
Sakura turned to glare at him. "Naruto," she growled, in a tone of strained patience, "I'm sure our sensei has a reason for being late."
"Teaching us is his JOB," Naruto whined, "what kind of lousy ninja just...just..."
"Jounin are important people," Sakura replied, "maybe something happened that needed our sensei's attention."
Privately, though, she wasn't so sure. A part of her actually agreed with Naruto, but she wasn't going to admit that. Especially not in front of Sasuke-kun.
"Aw, Sakura-chan, Sakura-chan, quit defending him," Naruto yelled, "we've been sitting here for HOURS!"
"Three hours, forty-eight minutes, and six seconds," came a bland voice.
Both Naruto and Sakura whirled at the sound - the first coherent sentence Uchiha Sasuke had said in all that time. The dark boy stared back at them, impassively.
"See, see," Naruto exclaimed, "even the bastard is sick of waiting!"
"Idiot," Sasuke muttered. However, he didn't deny the claim.
Sakura clenched her fists, struggling to keep her anger in check. She wanted to pound Naruto's face in. How dare he insult Sasuke-kun? But if she did that, Sasuke might think she was violent...like Ino. So Sakura had to be ladylike.
Besides, the orange idiot had a point.
* * *
Teaching wasn't a prestigious job...not in a Hidden Village.
Leading a genin team wasn't so bad, because that still involved field work. Genin were still ninja, just of low rank.
But an Academy Teacher trained children. Children too young to do anything useful, too weak to learn anything but the basics.
As a result, most Hidden Villages considered teachers to be...somehow less than their front-line counterparts. Academy posts were only given to second-rate ninja, or those retired due to age or injury.
The Third Hokage...felt differently.
Sarutobi knew how hard it was to teach. He knew how difficult it was to maintain the right balance of harshness and compassion. He knew, too, how important teachers were. He knew this because he was a teacher himself.
Long before he became Hokage, Sarutobi was known as "The Professor". Not because of his mastery of techniques, as many assumed. No, he originally earned the name for his successes as a teacher, an educator, an instructor.
He was the one who built the Leaf's Ninja Academy into its present form. Before him, there was little in the way of a cohesive curriculum. The old established clans largely trained their own children...and those not born into a large ninja family were left to fend for themselves with only minimal instruction.
Sarutobi changed that. He was a teacher.
And that was why he was listening to the man in front of him. Any other village leader would probably have crucified the young chuunin for insubordination. The Hokage, however, just sat and listened.
Sarutobi knew the Academy Teacher's concerns were valid, and that his words were motivated out of genuine concern for his student.
Besides, Umino Iruka had a point.
"Hokage-sama," Iruka argued, "I must insist---"
Sarutobi tilted his head, giving the chuunin a significant look. Iruka stopped, mollified...and stepped back from the Hokage's desk. He looked somewhat embarrassed. Apparently, he hadn't meant to invade his superior's personal space quite like that.
"I understand your fears," Sarutobi replied, "about the choice of jounin-sensei for Team Seven. And I agree. However, my hands are tied. He is the best possible choice."
Iruka scowled. "But Naruto..."
"Naruto-kun deserves a kind jounin-sensei, one who understands his situation. Unfortunately," Sarutobi sighed, "the Village Council doesn't see it that way. The Council's primary concern is keeping Naruto...contained. They want a jounin capable of handling him in case of any...incidents."
Iruka's expression hardened, his voice turning cold. "Someone who can kill him."
The Hokage winced, but met Iruka's stare. "Yes."
"That's ridiculous," Iruka objected, "Naruto's not a demon. He shouldn't be persecuted just because..."
"I know that," Sarutobi interrupted, "but they don't. And you...you used to think of him as a demon too, didn't you, Iruka-kun?"
Iruka averted his eyes. "That was...before I really knew him."
"Still, you understand the problem," Sarutobi continued, with a hint of weariness.
Iruka didn't answer.
After a pause, the Hokage spoke again. "It's not just a question of ability, or any experienced jounin would do. The Council also wants someone...reliable."
"Someone WILLING to kill him," Iruka hissed.
Sarutobi released a breath, shoulders slumping. "I wanted to assign Kakashi to Team Seven," he whispered.
In that instant, Iruka was struck by how old the Hokage really was. For a moment, Sarutobi looked his age, weak and frail. That troubled Iruka, but he pushed the thought aside.
Instead, he asked, "Kakashi?"
"Hatake Kakashi," Sarutobi explained, "he would have been good for Naruto."
The name was familiar to Iruka. Of course it was. Everyone knew Hatake Kakashi - the infamous Copy Ninja, disciple of the Fourth Hokage, and one of the most dangerous jounin of the Leaf.
Iruka frowned. "So...why can't he be Naruto's sensei?"
Sarutobi raised his head. "Because the Council believes he would be too sympathetic towards Naruto-kun...and too loyal to me."
"Too loyal?"
"I do not want Naruto dead, and Kakashi would never go against my wishes. But there are factions in the Council who want Naruto...that is..."
"That's treason," Iruka snarled.
"No," Sarutobi said wearily, "that's politics."
"So this," Iruka said, pointing to the printed list of team assignments, "this is their choice? Him?"
"Their choice," Sarutobi confirmed, "approved by the rest of the Council. But it isn't as bad as it sounds, Iruka-kun. I do trust him, myself. He's not the one I would have picked, but..."
"You...you trust him? But, but," Iruka protested, "he's Orochimaru's student!"
"He was Orochimaru's last apprentice, yes," Sarutobi said, shaking his head, "but he is not the same as Orochimaru. He is his own man, not a slave to his master. And while he might not be loyal to me, personally, he is a shinobi of the Leaf. He will not mistreat Naruto-kun."
Iruka sighed. "I hope you're right, Hokage-sama. I really do."
* * *
Naruto flailed his arms, trying desperately to keep his balance. He should have picked another chair to stand on. His current perch had a wobbly leg, which made things just a little difficult. But he'd only discovered that halfway through, after shifting his weight. The sudden swaying had nearly spelt disaster.
It would have ended very painfully for Naruto...if Sakura-chan hadn't caught him. Naruto thanked her profusely for the save, and offered to buy her ramen...but she brushed off his gratitude with an angry lecture on safety.
To be honest, Naruto felt he deserved it. But it still hurt to be scolded in front of Sasuke. He knew the bastard was laughing at him. Sasuke was all quiet and stuff, but Naruto was sure the bastard was laughing anyway. Sasuke was evil. The bastard wasn't even lifting a finger to help.
This was all Sasuke's fault, too. Naruto had started by placing a blackboard eraser over the classroom door, hoping to prank their jounin-sensei as he walked in.
But Sasuke had sneered in that irritatingly superior way of his, calling Naruto an idiot. According to Sasuke, a jounin would never fall for a simple trap like that.
So Naruto made a better trap.
With a grunt, Naruto extended his arm, slapping the last explosive tag in place. The script-laden note adhered to the doorframe, and Naruto felt the familiar tug of chakra as it armed.
Climbing carefully off the chair, Naruto ducked round a razor-sharp spiderweb of wire, crawling on his belly. Once clear, he got to his feet, grinning proudly. "How's THAT, huh? Huh? I told you, I make the best traps ever, dattebayo!"
Still seated at his desk, Sasuke raised his head. The other boy blinked once, twice, three times, and then said in a dry voice, "Your left tripwire is two degrees out of place."
Naruto whirled, jaw dropping. "What? WHAT? No it ain't!"
"Idiot," Sasuke muttered.
Sakura watched her teammates argue, unsure how to respond. It was wrong to build a death-trap for their sensei...wasn't it? But her voice in her head insisted: Well, he deserves it, doesn't he? Making us wait for him. It's almost five hours now!
FIVE HOURS!
And Sasuke-kun likes the idea...
Sasuke-kun's moods were hard to read, because he was so cool like that. But Sakura noticed he hadn't stopped Naruto from setting the trap, and even seemed to be egging Naruto on.
Meanwhile, Naruto broke off his verbal sparring with Sasuke, and went back to work. The orange-clad genin wiggled his way back into the heart of his creation. Easing his way atop the chair, he reached for the errant tripwire.
Moving slowly, Naruto slipped a hand into position. Adjusting the wire would be difficult, since the trap was already armed. It was still possible, but it required a great deal of care and precision. His eyes narrowed in concentration...
...then snapped open as a kunai flew past his head, close enough that the blade sliced off a few strands of hair.
That wasn't what shocked him, though.
Naruto's eyes widened in terror as the throwing knife hit the tripwire.
He didn't even have time to swear.
Sakura climbed out from behind her desk, coughing painfully. She cracked open her eyelids, and immediately regretted it. The smoke didn't just smell, it also stung. She wasn't sure what Naruto had used, but it was more than regular explosives.
She couldn't see Naruto, but there was another shape moving in the classroom, visible through the fumes. It was Sasuke-kun, his hands flickering through a rapid sequence of seals. "KATON," he yelled, "GOUKAKYUU NO JUTSU!"
The Uchiha spit a massive fireball, illuminating the smoke-filled classroom. It was then that Sakura realised what Sasuke was doing. There was someone standing at the back of the classroom, someone Sakura didn't recognise. However, she saw the threat - he had to be the one who threw the kunai, the one who triggered Naruto's trap.
Goukakyuu was a powerful jutsu...though Sasuke-kun was very strong, so Sakura wasn't surprised that he could use such a technique.
But Sasuke's target easily evaded the attack, treating it like it was nothing. The flames incinerated tables and chairs, scorching the rear wall of the classroom. Yet the intruder was unscathed.
Just as Sasuke ended the jutsu, another figure burst from the smoke: Naruto. The boy was burnt and bleeding from his own trap, but the injuries didn't seem to faze him.
Naruto roared, screaming an inarticulate battle-cry...which quickly turned into a yelp of surprise. Their attacker didn't dodge Naruto's tackle, or kawarimi away. He simply snatched the blond genin out of the air, spun round, and released him...sending Naruto flying straight at Sasuke.
The two boys collided with a painful crunch of bone.
Sakura steeled herself, forming the seal for bunshin.
Then she froze, mid-motion. "Sensei?"
The older ninja laughed, bringing his hands together in mock applause. "Very good, Sakura-san. I was wondering who would be the first to realise."
As the smoke cleared, Sakura took a good look at their jounin-sensei. He wasn't as old as she expected. His hair was grey, but not with age. He was still a teenager, only three or four years senior to Team Seven. He wore the standard armoured vest of high-ranking ninja, but over a white short-sleeved shirt and purple bodysuit, not the usual uniform.
There was a groan from floor level, then Sasuke's voice: "Get off me, idiot."
"Fine, fine," Naruto groaned, "it's not like I wanted to molest you. Our sensei's a pervert..."
The jounin arched an eyebrow. "What was that, Naruto-kun?"
"I said," Naruto shouted, as he untangled himself from Sasuke, "you're a PERVERT! You attacked us! You're the kinda sick paedophile that likes tormenting kids, aren'tcha? HUH?"
Their sensei smiled, gesturing to the door. Or what was left of the door, anyway. "You were setting a trap for me, Naruto-kun. How was I supposed to react?"
"You were late," muttered Sasuke, shooting a murderous look.
The jounin-instructor adjusted his glasses. "Was I? No. I was here before you, actually. I'm disappointed...none of you saw through my stealth genjutsu. We'll have to work on that."
"You were here," Sakura asked, "watching us?"
"See," Naruto grumbled, "he's a pervert."
Team Seven's sensei shrugged, spreading his hands.
Sasuke folded his arms. "If you were really watching," he challenged, "prove it."
The jounin smirked, reaching into his vest. His students tensed, wary of another attack. But when his hand emerged, it was clutching a small notebook, not a weapon. With a casual flick of the wrist, he tossed it to Sakura.
Mystified, Sakura opened the book. Almost immediately, Naruto appeared behind her, craning his neck, trying to read over her shoulder.
"You...wrote down everything we did," Sakura mumbled, "everything we said. And...these notes..."
She looked up. "Sensei, are these ANBU codes?"
"Close," the jounin replied, "it's medic-nin shorthand. Psychological and psychiatric evaluations."
"You were testing us," Sasuke said, flatly.
"A shinobi," the jounin answered, "must always look underneath the underneath."
"That doesn't make sense," Naruto complained.
Both his teammates turned to glare at him.
"So," Sakura said, finally, "did we pass?"
"Please, Sakura-san. There are more outcomes than just 'pass' or 'fail. But for now, yes. I'm Yakushi Kabuto, your jounin-sensei."
Kabuto sketched a little bow, eyes gleaming behind his glasses.
"Welcome," he said, "to Team Seven."
As a note, Sasuke is supposed to be...slightly less intense at the start of the story than he is in canon. That's intentional, because his background here...is somewhat different.
I'm pitching him as only slightly better adjusted, though, 'cause Sasuke isn't Sasuke without the antisocial angst and obsession.
I don't have a name for this project yet, though in my head I usually refer to it as 'Naruto: Infernal Affairs'. Movie reference aside, tho, that won't work as a permanent title... =P
-- Acyl
So here's what I got, and I need to know if it's cool. Seriously. You see, I've never written anime fanfic before.
Well...I've written some, but only short pieces with original characters...you know, stories set in a particular anime's world, but not featuring the main cast themselves.
I always worry about portraying canon characters correctly. It's kind of hard for me to write their thoughts and dialogue. I can deal with my own creations, 'cause I made 'em...but...
You get the idea.
But this concept's been clawing at my brain for a while now, and I need to set it free. I also think I've got a good enough grasp of the Naruto cast to make this work.
I'm not sure, though. So what I'm asking is...if you think, like, Naruto's portrayed as totally off-kilter, or Sakura's completely wrong, then please tell me. If you think the tone and feel's not true to the series, then tell me too.
Granted, this story is - or will be - an AU. But I don't consider that an excuse, because...well, if characters ain't recognisable as themselves, what's the point?
It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair. The first day of his new life as a ninja, the first step on the road to becoming Hokage...and now this.
Stuck in a room for hours and hours and hours, just because some stupid jounin couldn't be bothered to show.
Oh, sure, Sakura-chan was here...but so was Uchiha Sasuke. That meant Sakura-chan refused to even look at him. She just spent all her time mooning over the bastard. It just wasn't fair. Maybe Sasuke was using some kind of evil genjutsu technique to attract all the girls. Or something.
Why did they have to team him up with SASUKE, of all people? Yeah, Iruka-sensei had given that whole explanation about the teams being balanced...and Sasuke was the number one student or something while he was dead last, but...
It just wasn't fair.
Naruto sighed, slumping face-down on the desk. "This is BOOORIIING," he cried, drawing out the last word.
Sakura turned to glare at him. "Naruto," she growled, in a tone of strained patience, "I'm sure our sensei has a reason for being late."
"Teaching us is his JOB," Naruto whined, "what kind of lousy ninja just...just..."
"Jounin are important people," Sakura replied, "maybe something happened that needed our sensei's attention."
Privately, though, she wasn't so sure. A part of her actually agreed with Naruto, but she wasn't going to admit that. Especially not in front of Sasuke-kun.
"Aw, Sakura-chan, Sakura-chan, quit defending him," Naruto yelled, "we've been sitting here for HOURS!"
"Three hours, forty-eight minutes, and six seconds," came a bland voice.
Both Naruto and Sakura whirled at the sound - the first coherent sentence Uchiha Sasuke had said in all that time. The dark boy stared back at them, impassively.
"See, see," Naruto exclaimed, "even the bastard is sick of waiting!"
"Idiot," Sasuke muttered. However, he didn't deny the claim.
Sakura clenched her fists, struggling to keep her anger in check. She wanted to pound Naruto's face in. How dare he insult Sasuke-kun? But if she did that, Sasuke might think she was violent...like Ino. So Sakura had to be ladylike.
Besides, the orange idiot had a point.
* * *
Teaching wasn't a prestigious job...not in a Hidden Village.
Leading a genin team wasn't so bad, because that still involved field work. Genin were still ninja, just of low rank.
But an Academy Teacher trained children. Children too young to do anything useful, too weak to learn anything but the basics.
As a result, most Hidden Villages considered teachers to be...somehow less than their front-line counterparts. Academy posts were only given to second-rate ninja, or those retired due to age or injury.
The Third Hokage...felt differently.
Sarutobi knew how hard it was to teach. He knew how difficult it was to maintain the right balance of harshness and compassion. He knew, too, how important teachers were. He knew this because he was a teacher himself.
Long before he became Hokage, Sarutobi was known as "The Professor". Not because of his mastery of techniques, as many assumed. No, he originally earned the name for his successes as a teacher, an educator, an instructor.
He was the one who built the Leaf's Ninja Academy into its present form. Before him, there was little in the way of a cohesive curriculum. The old established clans largely trained their own children...and those not born into a large ninja family were left to fend for themselves with only minimal instruction.
Sarutobi changed that. He was a teacher.
And that was why he was listening to the man in front of him. Any other village leader would probably have crucified the young chuunin for insubordination. The Hokage, however, just sat and listened.
Sarutobi knew the Academy Teacher's concerns were valid, and that his words were motivated out of genuine concern for his student.
Besides, Umino Iruka had a point.
"Hokage-sama," Iruka argued, "I must insist---"
Sarutobi tilted his head, giving the chuunin a significant look. Iruka stopped, mollified...and stepped back from the Hokage's desk. He looked somewhat embarrassed. Apparently, he hadn't meant to invade his superior's personal space quite like that.
"I understand your fears," Sarutobi replied, "about the choice of jounin-sensei for Team Seven. And I agree. However, my hands are tied. He is the best possible choice."
Iruka scowled. "But Naruto..."
"Naruto-kun deserves a kind jounin-sensei, one who understands his situation. Unfortunately," Sarutobi sighed, "the Village Council doesn't see it that way. The Council's primary concern is keeping Naruto...contained. They want a jounin capable of handling him in case of any...incidents."
Iruka's expression hardened, his voice turning cold. "Someone who can kill him."
The Hokage winced, but met Iruka's stare. "Yes."
"That's ridiculous," Iruka objected, "Naruto's not a demon. He shouldn't be persecuted just because..."
"I know that," Sarutobi interrupted, "but they don't. And you...you used to think of him as a demon too, didn't you, Iruka-kun?"
Iruka averted his eyes. "That was...before I really knew him."
"Still, you understand the problem," Sarutobi continued, with a hint of weariness.
Iruka didn't answer.
After a pause, the Hokage spoke again. "It's not just a question of ability, or any experienced jounin would do. The Council also wants someone...reliable."
"Someone WILLING to kill him," Iruka hissed.
Sarutobi released a breath, shoulders slumping. "I wanted to assign Kakashi to Team Seven," he whispered.
In that instant, Iruka was struck by how old the Hokage really was. For a moment, Sarutobi looked his age, weak and frail. That troubled Iruka, but he pushed the thought aside.
Instead, he asked, "Kakashi?"
"Hatake Kakashi," Sarutobi explained, "he would have been good for Naruto."
The name was familiar to Iruka. Of course it was. Everyone knew Hatake Kakashi - the infamous Copy Ninja, disciple of the Fourth Hokage, and one of the most dangerous jounin of the Leaf.
Iruka frowned. "So...why can't he be Naruto's sensei?"
Sarutobi raised his head. "Because the Council believes he would be too sympathetic towards Naruto-kun...and too loyal to me."
"Too loyal?"
"I do not want Naruto dead, and Kakashi would never go against my wishes. But there are factions in the Council who want Naruto...that is..."
"That's treason," Iruka snarled.
"No," Sarutobi said wearily, "that's politics."
"So this," Iruka said, pointing to the printed list of team assignments, "this is their choice? Him?"
"Their choice," Sarutobi confirmed, "approved by the rest of the Council. But it isn't as bad as it sounds, Iruka-kun. I do trust him, myself. He's not the one I would have picked, but..."
"You...you trust him? But, but," Iruka protested, "he's Orochimaru's student!"
"He was Orochimaru's last apprentice, yes," Sarutobi said, shaking his head, "but he is not the same as Orochimaru. He is his own man, not a slave to his master. And while he might not be loyal to me, personally, he is a shinobi of the Leaf. He will not mistreat Naruto-kun."
Iruka sighed. "I hope you're right, Hokage-sama. I really do."
* * *
Naruto flailed his arms, trying desperately to keep his balance. He should have picked another chair to stand on. His current perch had a wobbly leg, which made things just a little difficult. But he'd only discovered that halfway through, after shifting his weight. The sudden swaying had nearly spelt disaster.
It would have ended very painfully for Naruto...if Sakura-chan hadn't caught him. Naruto thanked her profusely for the save, and offered to buy her ramen...but she brushed off his gratitude with an angry lecture on safety.
To be honest, Naruto felt he deserved it. But it still hurt to be scolded in front of Sasuke. He knew the bastard was laughing at him. Sasuke was all quiet and stuff, but Naruto was sure the bastard was laughing anyway. Sasuke was evil. The bastard wasn't even lifting a finger to help.
This was all Sasuke's fault, too. Naruto had started by placing a blackboard eraser over the classroom door, hoping to prank their jounin-sensei as he walked in.
But Sasuke had sneered in that irritatingly superior way of his, calling Naruto an idiot. According to Sasuke, a jounin would never fall for a simple trap like that.
So Naruto made a better trap.
With a grunt, Naruto extended his arm, slapping the last explosive tag in place. The script-laden note adhered to the doorframe, and Naruto felt the familiar tug of chakra as it armed.
Climbing carefully off the chair, Naruto ducked round a razor-sharp spiderweb of wire, crawling on his belly. Once clear, he got to his feet, grinning proudly. "How's THAT, huh? Huh? I told you, I make the best traps ever, dattebayo!"
Still seated at his desk, Sasuke raised his head. The other boy blinked once, twice, three times, and then said in a dry voice, "Your left tripwire is two degrees out of place."
Naruto whirled, jaw dropping. "What? WHAT? No it ain't!"
"Idiot," Sasuke muttered.
Sakura watched her teammates argue, unsure how to respond. It was wrong to build a death-trap for their sensei...wasn't it? But her voice in her head insisted: Well, he deserves it, doesn't he? Making us wait for him. It's almost five hours now!
FIVE HOURS!
And Sasuke-kun likes the idea...
Sasuke-kun's moods were hard to read, because he was so cool like that. But Sakura noticed he hadn't stopped Naruto from setting the trap, and even seemed to be egging Naruto on.
Meanwhile, Naruto broke off his verbal sparring with Sasuke, and went back to work. The orange-clad genin wiggled his way back into the heart of his creation. Easing his way atop the chair, he reached for the errant tripwire.
Moving slowly, Naruto slipped a hand into position. Adjusting the wire would be difficult, since the trap was already armed. It was still possible, but it required a great deal of care and precision. His eyes narrowed in concentration...
...then snapped open as a kunai flew past his head, close enough that the blade sliced off a few strands of hair.
That wasn't what shocked him, though.
Naruto's eyes widened in terror as the throwing knife hit the tripwire.
He didn't even have time to swear.
Sakura climbed out from behind her desk, coughing painfully. She cracked open her eyelids, and immediately regretted it. The smoke didn't just smell, it also stung. She wasn't sure what Naruto had used, but it was more than regular explosives.
She couldn't see Naruto, but there was another shape moving in the classroom, visible through the fumes. It was Sasuke-kun, his hands flickering through a rapid sequence of seals. "KATON," he yelled, "GOUKAKYUU NO JUTSU!"
The Uchiha spit a massive fireball, illuminating the smoke-filled classroom. It was then that Sakura realised what Sasuke was doing. There was someone standing at the back of the classroom, someone Sakura didn't recognise. However, she saw the threat - he had to be the one who threw the kunai, the one who triggered Naruto's trap.
Goukakyuu was a powerful jutsu...though Sasuke-kun was very strong, so Sakura wasn't surprised that he could use such a technique.
But Sasuke's target easily evaded the attack, treating it like it was nothing. The flames incinerated tables and chairs, scorching the rear wall of the classroom. Yet the intruder was unscathed.
Just as Sasuke ended the jutsu, another figure burst from the smoke: Naruto. The boy was burnt and bleeding from his own trap, but the injuries didn't seem to faze him.
Naruto roared, screaming an inarticulate battle-cry...which quickly turned into a yelp of surprise. Their attacker didn't dodge Naruto's tackle, or kawarimi away. He simply snatched the blond genin out of the air, spun round, and released him...sending Naruto flying straight at Sasuke.
The two boys collided with a painful crunch of bone.
Sakura steeled herself, forming the seal for bunshin.
Then she froze, mid-motion. "Sensei?"
The older ninja laughed, bringing his hands together in mock applause. "Very good, Sakura-san. I was wondering who would be the first to realise."
As the smoke cleared, Sakura took a good look at their jounin-sensei. He wasn't as old as she expected. His hair was grey, but not with age. He was still a teenager, only three or four years senior to Team Seven. He wore the standard armoured vest of high-ranking ninja, but over a white short-sleeved shirt and purple bodysuit, not the usual uniform.
There was a groan from floor level, then Sasuke's voice: "Get off me, idiot."
"Fine, fine," Naruto groaned, "it's not like I wanted to molest you. Our sensei's a pervert..."
The jounin arched an eyebrow. "What was that, Naruto-kun?"
"I said," Naruto shouted, as he untangled himself from Sasuke, "you're a PERVERT! You attacked us! You're the kinda sick paedophile that likes tormenting kids, aren'tcha? HUH?"
Their sensei smiled, gesturing to the door. Or what was left of the door, anyway. "You were setting a trap for me, Naruto-kun. How was I supposed to react?"
"You were late," muttered Sasuke, shooting a murderous look.
The jounin-instructor adjusted his glasses. "Was I? No. I was here before you, actually. I'm disappointed...none of you saw through my stealth genjutsu. We'll have to work on that."
"You were here," Sakura asked, "watching us?"
"See," Naruto grumbled, "he's a pervert."
Team Seven's sensei shrugged, spreading his hands.
Sasuke folded his arms. "If you were really watching," he challenged, "prove it."
The jounin smirked, reaching into his vest. His students tensed, wary of another attack. But when his hand emerged, it was clutching a small notebook, not a weapon. With a casual flick of the wrist, he tossed it to Sakura.
Mystified, Sakura opened the book. Almost immediately, Naruto appeared behind her, craning his neck, trying to read over her shoulder.
"You...wrote down everything we did," Sakura mumbled, "everything we said. And...these notes..."
She looked up. "Sensei, are these ANBU codes?"
"Close," the jounin replied, "it's medic-nin shorthand. Psychological and psychiatric evaluations."
"You were testing us," Sasuke said, flatly.
"A shinobi," the jounin answered, "must always look underneath the underneath."
"That doesn't make sense," Naruto complained.
Both his teammates turned to glare at him.
"So," Sakura said, finally, "did we pass?"
"Please, Sakura-san. There are more outcomes than just 'pass' or 'fail. But for now, yes. I'm Yakushi Kabuto, your jounin-sensei."
Kabuto sketched a little bow, eyes gleaming behind his glasses.
"Welcome," he said, "to Team Seven."
As a note, Sasuke is supposed to be...slightly less intense at the start of the story than he is in canon. That's intentional, because his background here...is somewhat different.
I'm pitching him as only slightly better adjusted, though, 'cause Sasuke isn't Sasuke without the antisocial angst and obsession.
I don't have a name for this project yet, though in my head I usually refer to it as 'Naruto: Infernal Affairs'. Movie reference aside, tho, that won't work as a permanent title... =P
-- Acyl