Team Eleven
Yamanaka Izumi had never minded her name being last on the class list, never minded her name to be the last to be hastily scribbled at the bottom of the list to sometimes even be missed. Respectfully she would then call out the sensei on their mistake for it to be corrected. Without a doubt sometimes she found it to be unfortunate, to always be called on last, but never did it bother her much. That was at least until the examination to become a Genin began. Worries began to flood her mind and her usual confident demeanor vanished all of a sudden, leaving her in a state of near trembling.
Beside her stood Sen, raven-hair as neat as ever, who placed an encouraging hand on her shoulder. Around her waist, she now wore the newly obtained headband, its shiny metal plate engraved with the Konoha symbol. A symbol of her having passed the required test. Her chosen color was forest green, one that compliments both her hair and eyes.
"It could be worse." The raven-haired had shrugged after she exited the exam room, coming to stand beside Izumi. "Even Uchiha could pass it."
"Sen, don't speak bad about him, he tries." scolded Izumi.
"And you should try passing this exam. Without you, we won't have a team of Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi this year."
The first to be called into the exam room had been Akimichi Chihiro what felt like forever ago. Over the time in the academy, neither Izumi nor Sen had gotten to know the boy quite well, despite being classmates for such a long time. They only knew him to be quite shy, his trait making conversations with him quite difficult.
When he had entered the exam room, the boy had grimaced, beads of sweat forming above his brow. His hand trembled once they gripped the doorknob, almost unable to open it. All most likely from nervousness. When he exited again though, he grinned from ear, accomplishment written on his face for everyone to read. Around his head was wrapped a headband, tied together with a knot on the back of his head.
"Go in there and do it, Izumi," Sen gave her friend a pointed look. "Or I will hunt you down."
Izumi grinned in response. "I thought you didn't run for anyone."
Sen rolled her eyes playfully. "One time I will run for you. Now go." She gave her friend a push towards the door of the exam room, coincentally just as her name was called.
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The exam had not been the most difficult, per say. Once Izumi walked into the room, she was greeted by the sight of three senseis sitting at a wooden table, their expectant gazes focused solely on her. The only one whom she knew was Miyoko-sensei, who was looking as stern as ever with her eyebrows drawn together into a crease, almost glaringly so.
Izumi was asked to perform Clone Jutsu in order to be promoted to Genin. When she first raised her hands in order to them, she felt the first surge of confidence. While doing the hand signs the brunette began to feel even more confident, the trembling of her body decreasing with every move she made. Tiger. Boar. Ox. Dog.
A cloud of smoke puffed up to the right of Izumi, revealing a doppelgänger of hers. Identical red kimono top and onyx shorts dressed the doppelgänger, who also had identical dark brown hair and the same grin as the original did: a perfect replica.
She had done it! Izumi had to refrain from pumping her fist into the air at all the excitement coursing through her body, knowing that none of the senseis had confirmed her success yet.
Miyoko-sensei had watched her with pursed lips, but then nodded shortly after. "You pass." The sensei tilted her head towards the headbands on the table, several colors laid out for the new Genins to choose from.
Izumi skipped over to the table in obvious glee, cerulean eyes quickly taking in the few colors displayed in front of her. Immediately her hand gravitated towards a navy blue, it was the color that caught her eye. With her dominant hand, she reached out and grasped it tightly, the navy material tickling her skin. The metal felt cool against her skin, almost shockingly so, allowing the reality of the situation to settle in further.
Moments later she sat in the classroom beside Sen, with a giddy smile having overtaken her features ever since she had left the exam room. Her headband pooled around her neck, not too loosely yet also not too tight, tied together with a knot and a small bow.
The teams were supposed to be announced and even though Izumi had a suspicion about how exactly her team would be constructed, the prospect of the announcement still made her excited. Most likely another combination of Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka would be created, as Sen had mentioned previously, yet the excitement still prevailed. Despite their fates being prewritten, Izumi remained on edge regardless.
"Team Three: Maito Gai, Shiranui Genma and Ebisu."
"Team Seven: Nohara Rin, Uchiha Obito and Hatake Kakashi."
At the mention of her friend, Izumi perked up, sitting straighter in her seat. Quickly, she deflated again, noticing they weren't on a team together. She should have known, of course, she should have. A little hope had built up in her, a naive one at that. With slumped shoulders, Izumi leaned against the back of her chair, waiting for her name to be called by Miyoko-sensei.
"Team Eleven: Nara Sen, Yamanaka Izumi and Akimichi Chihiro."
Izumi perked up yet again.
"What a surprise." mumbled someone in the room, most likely also rolling their eyes.
"Shut it." hissed Sen in response, head turning violently in order to find whoever spoke.
The brunette couldn't be happier, on a team with her friend. Now she felt absolutely delighted. While again, it was expected, she couldn't help but cheer.
"We did it, Sen!" Izumi threw her arms around her friend, pulling her into a tight hug.
Sen did not resist the hug, arms pressed against her side, and instead allowed herself to be pulled into it by Izumi, only letting out a noise of resignation.
"Go us." She mumbled, lazily pumping a fist into the air once she was able to move her arm.
Us, a team, the thought made Izumi grin.
━━━━
"Sen, do you want to eat together before sensei arrives?"
The two of them stood outside in the school's yard. In her hands, Izumi tightly clutched the bento box she had brought from home, filled to the brim with delicious goods to share. As she asked her friend she subconsciously fiddled with the material of the wrap, almost pulling it apart by accident.
"Nah, I'll go home for the time, take a nap, maybe." Sen waved her friend off before she left.
That was how Izumi found herself to be alone, more or less. Her cerulean eyes wandered around the school's yard, eyes searching for someone to talk to. Strawberry-blonde hair and a chubby figure were what her gaze caught. Chihiro. He sat alone on a bench, about to dig into the bento placed neatly on his lap.
Izumi decided to ask her teammate whether he would want to eat lunch with her. She just hoped he would accept, maybe they could be friends and in extent good teammates too.
"Hello, Chihiro," The strawberry-blonde looked up at Izumi, emerald eyes widening. "I was wondering if you would like to spend lunch together."
"Why?" He blurted out. To say he was nervous was an understatement, he was a nervous wreck from both the outside and inside.
That made Izumi's nerves jingle. "I thought that we could get to know each other, talk a little." Her fingers went to play with the hem of her lavender top.
Chihiro swallowed harshly, beads of sweat beginning to form stop his brow. "S-sure." He moved aside, leaving open space for Izumi on the bench.
The brunette sat down to the right of him, pulling out her own bento to join his. Delicately she settled her food onto her lap, careful not to spill it. Then she picked up her chopsticks, wrapped in a paper decorated with daisies, ready to dig in.
Chihiro beside her continued to eat. Occasionally he peeked over at Izumi, curious about what she was eating.
"Yesterday I made some onigiri. Do you like onigiri?"
Chihiro nodded shyly. "It's not my favorite, but I think it's good."
"It's not my favorite either, but better than to waste the food scraps we have."
"I prefer nutritious food," said Chihiro quietly.
"Why?"
"For my clan's jutsu calories are very important. I, uh, don't like too eat too much," His gentle features contorted into disgust. "So I have to get the energy otherwise."
Izumi nodded, listening intently to his explanation. "I didn't know your jutsu worked like that. Does that work for you? I mean, do you get enough energy?"
Chihiro rubbed his neck sheepishly, a rose blush dusting his chubby cheeks. "It works really well."
Izumi tilted her head to look at the boy. "Do you make your food yourself, or does someone make it for you?"
"My mom makes it. She works as a cook and is really talented." He turned even redder but also began to speak up more.
It made Izumi happy to see the boy move out slightly of his comfort zone, opening up to her.
She gave him a big smile. "If you say so. Where does she work? It makes me eager to try her food!"
"The Akimichi clan's restaurant."
Izumi lit up at the mention of that name. "Oh man, I should have guessed," She let out a soft groan. "I've been there several times with my family. I think the food is divine."
Chihiro was startled at that. "Y-you think so?"
"I know so!" She gave him another smile. "My food may not be divine, but would you like some?" The brunette held her bento box out to him, urging him to take as much as he likes.
"I would like to try." Chihiro smiled back, gingerly reaching out to grab an onigiri before tasting it.
Izumi averted her gaze from him, not wanting to make him uncomfortable by staring while he tasted her food.
"It's good." He mumbled after he swallowed, emerald eyes tentatively wandering over to the other Onigiri.
"Take as much as you want. I don't mind!" Izumi held out the bento towards him again before she set it down in the space between the two.
The rest of their lunch break they spent talking about various topics. While Izumi had to initiate a majority of them, Chihiro also spoke up quite often. I made a new friend. She was happy.
Their talks revolved around the topic of food and recipes (he had promised to bring Izumi some nutritional food recipes for her to try), their respective clan's jutsus and expectations for the team.
"I hope we can all work together." said Izumi.
"I hope so too."
"Hey." A familiar voice announced themselves. Sen strolled onto the meeting place, raising her left hand in a lazy greeting. She seated herself onto the bench beside Chihiro, who grew nervous again.
"Sen." Izumi's face lit up at the sight of her friend.
"Is sensei here yet?"
Chihiro shook his head shyly.
Sen let out a groan. "I'm too early? What a bore."
"Nice to meet you, y'know!" spoke a loud and excited voice, making the three Genins jump in surprise.
There stood their sensei, a woman as cheery as anyone could be, smiling brightly at them with her hands placed on her hips, her bright red hair lying softly against it.
Team Eleven was now assembled.