Chapter 3
Ira stood with her arms crossed as she looked at the three fresh academy graduates in front of her. Uchiha Sasuke, someone she knew quite well, since they basically lived together, the one with Indra's chakra impression.
Uzumaki Naruto, another someone she knew fairly well, but wasn't really allowed to approach before today, also the one carrying Kurama and Ashura's chakra.
Hyuuga Hinata, who felt so much like her late uncle that she believed she was his own daughter.
Her genin team, her students .
She had picked them on her own, carefully selected from her observations and academy files. All three had potential, and prowess that she could help them grow into. How long had it been since she had students of her own? Ira was always first and foremost a teacher, she adored children.
"Hello, my name is Otsusuki Ira and hopefully I will be your Jonin instructor," she introduced herself with a small smile, ignoring Sasuke who muttered 'Uchiha' when she said her name. He had been trying to get her to take up the name since a year now.
"HEY! I remember you! You're the weird lady who wanted to check my stomach at the Hokage's office!" the little blonde terror yelled, pointing a finger at her. She winced at the loud volume.
"Yes Naruto, I remember as well." she replied quietly, "So. Introductions first, after that we'll do a test to determine your skill level and if you're fit to be a genin"
"Huh? What do you mean? I'm already a genin 'ttebayo!" right, they definitely need to work on the volume.
"Until I pass you, no you're not, and speaking out of turn isn't really helping your chances here," she said with a raised brow, looking at him expectantly. When she didn't get any snide remarks, she nodded and turned to Sasuke. Hinata was shy and lacked self-confidence, she wouldn't put such a child in the spotlight first.
"Sasuke, you can go first."
"You go first," he mumbled and she hid a smile, from what she found out, he was actually a pretty goofy child, but had been buried under layers of trauma and grief, she was happy he was opening up again.
"Alright. My name is Ootsusuki Ira, my favourite colour is white, I like reading and teaching. I don't tolerate bullying, and I'll do my best to train you to be the ninja's you can." she said looking at all of them one by one. She gestured to Sasuke to go on.
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke, my favourite colour is ... blue? I like to train and eat tomatoes. I hate lies, and I want to be a ninja who can keep others safe."
Ira's eyes softened as he said the last bit. For a long time, his only goal had been to kill his brother and get revenge, but once they got closer, he confided in her and told her he doesn't want to lose any more precious people.
"Good, Hinata, you next."
The girl addressed looked down and started playing with her fingers, "M-my name is H-Hyuuga Hinata, my favourite colour is p-purple. I like cooking and m-meditation, I want to b-be strong enough to protect my precious people." she finished shyly and Ira smiled at her. She knew better than to interrupt a child while speaking, and Hinata's whole demeanour spoke of being talked over and disregarded, she wasn't about to make that worse.
"That's good, meditation huh? You must have amazing chakra control by now, very useful." she praised and the other girl looked upwards to look at her, a hesitant smile on her face. "Next, Naruto"
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto! My favourite colour is orange, I love ramen and eating different kinds of ramen. I hate waiting for the three minutes it takes for ramen to cook, and I'm gonna be the Hokage one-day' ttebayo!" he finished by pointing his thumb to his chest. Sasuke was looking at him with a scowl, and Hinata with ill-concealed admiration.
"Good, all of you have admirable dreams and a good determination. Before we start with the test, I have some rules I expect you to follow."
"What rules 'ttebayo?' the blonde asked frowning.
"Number one, no interrupting when I'm talking," she said looking directly at the blonde who gulped. She could hear Sasuke snicker. "Number two, no bullying, no matter how harmless you think it is, also, no shouting unnecessarily and using spiteful language around comrades. Number three, following instructions of the team leader when I'm not there, and in no case leaving one of your teammates behind," she said seriously, "We four are a team and will work and train together. No training without informing me, overworking doesn't make you stronger, it'll wear you out. I will make appropriate training schedules as I learn about your skills, clear? "
All three nodded and she smiled, "Great. Now, I have prepared an individual test for the three of you, once you complete it you will officially be a member of team 7."
The three children perked up at that and listened attentively.
"Hinata, your task is to track down the Jonin Mitarashi Anko and have her give you the scroll I gave her, with your Byakugan it should be easy enough. But she is a jonin and aware of this task so you'll have to put in effort. Don't worry, I have informed her to keep the level of difficulty for a genin. You have until five in the evening for this, understood?" she asked once she finished explaining and the young girl nodded, determination in her eyes.
"You can start now," she watched as the Hyuuga left the ground before turning to Naruto. "Hmm, I have heard a lot about your pranks and how no one can catch you, so your job is to sneak into the public library and get a book on chakra control from the Chunin section. It's above your clearance level so don't get caught," she explained with a wink.
"B-but- but isn't that wrong? Iruka-sensei says not to sneak into places!"
"Well yes, but as shinobi, we do a lot of infiltration missions so not getting caught is a great skill to have," she replied, "And besides, it sounds fun doesn't it?" she added with a mischievous smile and the other boy nodded, "Yes! I'll get it the fastest 'ttebayo," before running off.
Ira sighed, he didn't even wait to listen for the time limit, she really has her work cut out for her, doesn't she?
"Now, Sasuke, since your main area of expertise is genjutsu and taijutsu, your task isn't as 'fun'. You need work on behaving acceptably around others. So your task is to volunteer at the academy today. You'll be an assistant instructor for second-year taijutsu and genjutsu class," she ignored his look of betrayal and continued, "If the teacher tells me you performed satisfactorily, you'll pass as well."
"Why do you hate me?!" the Uchiha pouted and she grinned, patting his head affectionately, "Chop chop, only thirty minutes till the class starts," she said ruffling his hair.
When the other boy started walking sulkily from the ground she called out, "We'll have cherry tomatoes along with dinner if you pass!"
There was no verbal reaction, but she saw him perk up a little as he walked faster.
What adorable children.
She leaned against a tree and watched the clouds drift by once all of them had left.
"Ma, Ira-chan, enjoying your new team?" a new voice spoke and she sighed, Kakashi got on her nerves like no one else, he annoyed her to the point all she wanted was to kick his stupid face.
"Yes, they're very well rounded, and not just mine yet unfortunately. For some reason I have to share them with you," She still wasn't completely okay with the fact she couldn't be their Jonin sensei alone yet. Yet .
"Ah, you know the reason. It's a surprise that they agreed to let you have them at all, the last Uchiha, a main branch Hyuuga, and .... Naruto. The Hokage must've worked hard to convince the council." he spoke, whipping out his orange book.
"Hn."
"Oh! You're even starting to speak Uchiha, so cute."
Ira counted to ten to keep her patience in check, "Why are you even here Kakashi? From what I know, you have no interest in the team whatsoever." that wasn't true, Kakashi always looked at Naruto with a mix of sadness and longing, but she wasn't about to point that out.
"Mm, just observing. It's pretty unorthodox to give individual tasks for the exam. Most Jonin test their teamwork and fighting skills." he said and she rolled her eyes, "You can't just put three vastly different individuals together and expect them to figure out how to work as a team, they're twelve. And traumatised." she emphasised, looking at where her genin had just left from.
"First they need to know what each of them excels in. Once they train and spend time together they'll feel more comfortable around each other, then it is my job to incorporate the sense of teamwork and comradeship. You can't force such things, they'll fall apart easily that way." she finished with a shrug, when she didn't get a reply she turned to look at the copy-nin. To her mild surprise, he was watching her with an intense gaze, looking a bit shocked and overwhelmed. She couldn't help the blush that travelled up her neck.
"What? Your brain short-circuited or something?!" she snapped, glaring at him.
He finally seemed to recover from his momentary shock and smiled at her, "No no, just trying to figure you out. Every time I feel like I know you, you say or do something that brings me back to square one," he said casually, not looking up from his book.
She looked at him for a second, cheeks flushed pink, before kicking him in the stomach without preamble. She didn't even feel bad when he made a vaguely choked sound, and shushin'd away before the other could say anything.
Once she reached home she held her head in her hands, oh my god that was totally uncalled for. Ira hoped she wouldn't have to see him ever again after today. She sighed in embarrassment before getting started on a nice early dinner for her genin. They needed to celebrate their first day as team 7 of course.