More friends
Kyoko hummed as all of them finally succeeded in getting the leaf exercise down. It took longer than she had thought and half way into the second year of Academy for them all to master sticking thirty leaves to their bodies. While in Naruto's case, it was the opposite it still took a while to cut the amount to only one leaf. Naomi, Shino, Torune and Naruto had at one point asked why she and Hinata were not moving to tree walking.
Kyoko had then rubbed his chin and made Naomi sit on a three legged stool. Kyoko explained they were a team that held the stool up like the legs. If one leg was broken the stool would fall too and there really would not be much progress. Naomi, Naruto, Shino and Torune's eyes had then gotten a very determined glint in them and had pushed themselves to master the leaf control exercise. Now they were talking Iruka sensei into helping them.
Iruka, "Ah, Naruto - kun, everyone, why are you in such a hurry to learn the tree walking technique. Your leaf sticking exercise is the most advanced among the students already. You all hold the top six slots in that particular area."
Naruto grinned, "We do? Cool, dattebayo."
Iruka nodded, "Yes, you do."
Naomi, "That's cool and all but we want to learn more."
Shino nodded, "Many Shinobi get hurt."
Torune, "While on missions, either because of enemy shinobi or to protect the client."
Hinata fiddled her fingers, "We want to learn Iryo - jutsu, Iruka - sensei."
Kyoko, "In order to learn healing techniques we must first learn chakra control. I wanted us to know all the different stages before applying to learn at the Konoha hospital."
Iruka's eyebrows went up, "I see, you all have made up your minds, then."
They all nodded looking very serious about their decision and Iruka hummed agreeing to help them. They were now practicing tree walking after school, because Iruka had to focus on classes during school hours. While doing so, they were found by a senior student who had been eyeing Kyoko for a while. Tenten had heard about this female prodigy in the junior class who out shown all the boys in every field. It had impressed her a lot and she was very curious about this junior of her and went searching.
Tenten saw her with other kids with Iruka - sensei running up a tree? What in Kami's name was going on here? She observed them for a few minutes and saw Naiko Kyoko who was walking gingerly. Wait a minute! Naiko - san was walking up a tree, she was walking. Tenten was a bit dumbfounded and slowly approached them. Iruka - sensei smiled at her and greeted her making the others look at her.
Tenten, "How.. I mean.. What are you doing?"
Naruto chirped, "We are learning tree walking dattebayo. Who are you?"
Tenten, "My name is Tenten, Bofuri Tenten. Nice to meet you."
Kyoko smiled, "Naiko Kyoko, call me Kyoko."
Naruto, "Uzumaki Naruto, call me Naruto."
Hinata, "Hyu.. Hyuuga Hi.. Hinata, you can c.. call me Hinata."
Naomi, "Uchiha Naomi, call me Naomi, Bofuri - san."
Shino, "Aburame Shino, call me Shino."
Torune, "Aburame Torune, call me Torune."
Tenten perked up, "Call me Tenten then. Tree walking is an advanced chakra control exercise right?"
Iruka, "You got that right, Tenten - chan. Are you interested in learning?"
Tenten, "Can I?"
Kyoko, "There's another tree over there."
Tenten beamed and Iruka explained to her how tree walking worked and she started to run as well. The group started to practice together after that with Tenten dragging her best friend Lee into it. Lee was known for having almost no chakra and yet when he did tree walking he got it done in one go. They were all flabbergasted by it, even Iruka - sensei, then Kyoko asked Lee, stay standing for a few minutes. Unfortunately, Lee could not do longer than two minutes making Kyoko hum in thought.
Naruto nudged her, "What are you thinking Kyoko - chan?"
Kyoko, "Lee has the least amount of chakra in the group making it easier for him to practice the chakra control exercises. Lee you should try water walking next, I have a feeling you'll get it down too."
Iruka spoke sternly, "I'll supervise you on it tomorrow. Don't even think about doing it on your own."
Lee gave a sheepish laugh, "Yes, Iruka - sensei."
Naomi, "Oh yeah, Lee is at the bottom of the class in your group right? Well if you can water walk, you can collect extra credit which will move you from the bottom."
Shino, "Yes, the credit score for learning advanced technique successfully is pretty high."
Hinata, "T... That's why we are at top. Followed by Sasuke - san and Ino - san."
Lee's eyes sparkled, "Thank you for this, Tenten - chan."
Tenten flushed, "No worries, we are friends right?"
Tenten knew Lee had been worried he would be getting booted out of the Academy just because his scores were poor. But if he got the credit score which would make his over all score better then, he could become a shinobi. They still had a few years to improve Lee's score, they would get there and graduate together.
Tenten, 'Take that Neji, Lee will pass.'
Kyoko, "Tenten - chan, Lee - kun, we are going to Ichiraku after this."
Naruto, "Want to join us?"
Lee, "You want us to join you?"
Hinata, "You are cool. I thought since you were classmates with Neji you might not like us. I was wrong, you are both really nice."
Tenten almost squealed, 'My kouhais are so adorable.'
Tenten coughed, "We would love to, Ichiraku sells delicious ramen."
Shino, Torune and Naomi smiled at their new friends and Naruto turned to pester Iruka - sensei to join them as well. With the combined effects of Naruto, Hinata and Kyoko's teary, expectant eyes Iruka folded. He convinced himself he was hungry as well as he left, he did not fold to civilian children who were not even Genin. From their hiding spots the ANBU in charge were snickering at how easily Iruka gave in to the children.
Mizuki though was glaring at the group, 'What a pain!'
Inu eyed him, 'Oh ~ What do we have here?'
Snake nodded, 'Will keep an eye on him.'
Naomi eyed her new friends, 'They are nervous.'
Kyoko cleared her throat, "Hey Tenten - chan, Lee - kun."
Tenten, "Yeah?"
Lee, "What is it Kyoko - chan?"
Kyoko, "After mastering water walking we were planning on going to the hospital to apply."
Lee, "Apply? Oh you mean for lessons on Iryo - ninjutsu?"
Naruto nodded, "Yes, did you know there are only two Shinobi medics, dattebayo?"
Iruka blinked, "Wait, that can't be right. There's Yakushi - san and his son and.... Oh dear."
Naomi, "That was our reaction too, Sensei."
Hinata, "So we are all applying to become medic nin or at least, learn Iryo - ninjutsu."
Iruka frowned, "Still that is not normal, only two certified medic Shinobi? Something is wrong here, you kids eat, I need to go."
Shino, "Wait, Sensei."
Torune, "If you plan on snooping."
Kyoko, "Be very careful."
Iruka eyed the children before him, "How long have you all suspected?"
Hinata, "Ever since we went to meet Yume - san."
Kyoko, "You should talk to mom, if you plan on investigating. She's already on the case."
Iruka, "I think I will. Will you kids be okay?"
Naruto grinned pointing, "Don't worry Iruka - sensei. The ANBU nii - sans will keep us safe."
Iruka looked at where he was pointing and saw Otter, well the kids will be safe. He left after paying for his ramen and one bowl for each of them. Naruto was grinning brightly at that and they got back to enjoying the warm and delicious noodles. Kyoko took a bowl at one point and gave it to the ANBU who took it without complaint. Naruto ordered one for Inu nii - san saying he was the coolest and his favorite ANBU.
The group then decided to come up with a training plan for themselves. They would meet up after classes to train in chakra control or in other areas. It worked for them most of the time and during weekends they went to eat outside. At one point Tenten and Lee were dragged into their sleepover routine although they were not allowed to do sleepovers at the orphanage. They made due by having the day off from training and going on picnics at different areas.
That was Hinata's idea, the shy girl was starting to become less and less nervous between Naomi, Tenten and Kyoko. Around the end of their second year, Naomi brought Sasuke along who looked at them nervously. As it turns out, Naomi's Uncle, Uchiha Fugaku wanted Sasuke to have a normal life and stop obsessing over training like his brother. It was not just Fugaku, neither Mikoto nor Itachi wanted Sasuke to loose his innocence as early as they had.
To the three of them Sasuke was their innocent sunshine and they wanted him to have the childhood they could not have. But Sasuke, sweet little Sasuke was hell bent on wanting to become a shinobi like his brother. It made Itachi both proud and worried, he had to do things he did not like to get where he was after all. Their parents understood that and Fugaku had gone to talk to his niece. Naomi listened to what her Uncle told her and agreed to help, what Sasuke needed was balance.
Naruto was surprised, "Naomi - chan, why is Sasuke - kun here dattebayo? Did something happen?"
Naomi, "Oh no, Naru - chan, nothing happened. Uncle just wanted him to stop training all day and take a break."
Hinata, "Oh, t.. then welcome, Sasuke - san."
Kyoko, "We were going to catch fish by the river and have a barbeque."
Tenten, "Here, I got extra fishing rods."
Sasuke took one, "Thank you."
Lee, "You can sit next to me if you want."
Sasuke sat down, "Sorry for the intrusion."
Kyoko, "Do not worry about it Sasuke - san. Friends are always welcome."
Sasuke gave them a shy smile and slowly started to talk to them getting comfortable enough to have a challenge with Lee. Kyoko smiled as she worked on the portable barbeque stand, she had found it in the store room. Today was Lee's birthday and they had decided to have a barbeque to celebrate it this year. Sasuke it seemed was getting along really well with both Naruto and Lee and was laughing and having fun.
Shino, "We are back."
Torune, "With our famous fruit and honey cake."
Tenten, "Great, I got the candles here. Come on Lee time for you to blow the cake."
Lee, "Coming."
They sang the exaggerated birthday song as Lee blew the candle grinning from ear to ear. He received gifts from his friends, a turtle hoodie from Naruto, a new pair of shoes from Kyoko, a scarf from Hinata, a set of kunai from Tenten, a beginners first aid set from Torune, training gloves from Shino and shuriken from Sasuke and Naomi. Lee rubbed his eyes as he thanked everyone for the birthday and Naruto pat his back in understanding.
Naruto remembers the first birthday he had celebrated at the Sarutobi compound. He was expecting to spend it alone again but Jiji had surprised him with a party. All his friends were there too, to wish him and give him gifts which had him tearing up as well. Kyoko - chan had given his a book on seals by Uzumaki Sango, Naomi - chan had given him a new set of kunai while Hinata had given him a scarf. Shino and Torune had worked together on their gift and given him a clothes set which was not a hoodie.
It had made Jiji chuckle in amusement, Naruto remembered fondly eating the cake. Lee was happy with his gifts and that made everyone else very happy. Lee though hugged Naomi extra hard saying her gift for bringing Sasuke and letting them become friends was the best. Naomi had turned red and hit him for making it sound so weird while Sasuke blushed. He was also very happy to make friends with everyone, they were fun to be with and even invited him to join training with them.
Sasuke nodded, 'The best part is that, there are no fan girls here.'
Naomi, "So what do you think?"
Sasuke, "I think your friends are nice Naomi nee - chan. I would like to spend more time with all of you."
Naomi smirked at him, "Good then, stay back after class tomorrow. We are training together."
Sasuke blinked then nodded, "Okay, I will."