[IC] Naruto - Squad Thirteen's Journey

[vancexentan]

The day was just like any other at the cool village of Konohakagure. The market was open, kids played in the tall buildings and the grounds below laughing, and people socialized. Ninja went about their daily duties and fought for their right to exist. Menial and dangerous jobs alike it hardly mattered to anyone as long as you were on your path to be the fine shinobi you were destined to be. To live, experience, fight, and understand life was the greatest beauty of the world. Be it in the woods of the fire land or the sands of the wind. Be it the rocks in the Iwagakure or the Kirigakure's waves and mists. This was what it meant to live. To understand. to BECOME the best you could have possibly ever become. That was also a part of the Will of Fire. After all how many people could truly say they were happy with their lots in life. However for the Konohakagure's newest ninja class this is what their teacher would always say, "The best life is one lived with emotion, true feelings and love, for yourself and nature and man as a whole. All because life ends does not mean it won't continue. Make your mark on the world." Mina Sensei always encouraged them to do their absolute best and leave nothing back. She was a bit eccentric but she dearly loved her students and hated if they failed. She'd personally help them and now she was seeing them off into the hands of different jonin throughout the village. The children raised in the academy were truly ready for what was to come. The world was a cruel harsh place and it was not to be trifled with but hey she can't do much now could she? The pink haired teacher smiled at her class sadly as she stood before them. "So everyone it's finally the day you graduate...I'm all so proud of you..." Mina said quietly.
---
Earlier...
Mitsuhide woke up in the morning to his mother, a medical ninja of the chunin rank, calling him down to have some breakfast before going to school. Mitsuhide groaned in annoyance of course this was the big day but WHY did it have to be so freaking early!? It was such a pain in the butt to get up everyday walk up to Mina and Hiyato Sensei and practice and practice AND PRACTICE! Nothing but practice day after day of studying and when he finally got out most of the kids were too exhausted to do much, he was always ready to do whatever however which made the situation worse. Mitsuhide got up and stretched rolling his arms around in a circular motion and took off his sleeping clothes off, which were dark green and had pictures of dogs on them which made him feel like a little boy inside, and picked up his normal clothes, and went to get a bath. There was no need to show up stinky and he liked the water it made him feel clean. Like a creek washing away the grime of the previous day's mud slide that fell into the river. Not that he was dirty he may be the wood boy but he wasn't a dirty boy. Maybe he was being a bit to philosophical about it but regardless he made sure to clean every part he could and he had cleaned his clothes the day before hand. After washing off Mitsuhide grinned to himself in the mirror and knew this would be one of the last times he'd seen himself as a student and not a ninja. It was...kinda of scary and weird but he'd grow into it! He knew he would! By his grand father the first he would succeed as a ninja! But as he was staring at himself smiling his mother called again. "Gesh mom stop being so impatient I'm coming!" Mitsuhide said quickly as he finished dressing himself and rushed downstairs to his awaiting food. It smelled great and it turned out his mom had made some fish Sandwiches just for him! His mom gave him a big grin and nodded at him, "You look great baby, just make sure you don't let Mina get your hopes up with with good for nothings ok?" she said hugging him tightly and she kissed him on the check with a smile. Mitsuhide blushed and wasn't sure if he should smile or try to push his mom away. In the end he hugged her back, "Thanks mom and I love you...so very much... if only dad wasn't away on a mission I'd like to see him today but I'm going to be a genin today and I won't look back!" his father was a jounin with a great amount of skill and was high prized by the village; Mitsuhide hoped he would be taking him as a pupil this year but he said he was not selected to lead a squad. That REALLY sucked in Mitsuhide's opinion but what could you do? "All well better eat better eat before things get cold". Mitsuhide said as he sat down to eat all he could while he and his mom chatted about training him further in his skills which he promptly said he'd train with his new crew and his sensei but his mom insisted and he obeyed...and he always obeyed because she was SCARY when she got pissed. After eating he said one more goodbye and left the house chatting with various people in the village on the way to class and he had almost arrived late. When he arrived he took his usual seat next to Sora Nara and above Shina Uchiha, the alpha bitch of the class just like the rest of the Uchiha police forces...Mitsuhide sat in his usual corner and listened to Mina speak and as usual his heart flared with respect for his teacher. Mina was such a pretty and wonderful woman and he thought of her like a long lost aunt. Then there was uncle Hiyato...
===
Mina Sensei (hair color different):
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[King Kindred]

Today is the day. It was what Arashi kept telling himself ever since he woke up this morning. This was the day in which he would no longer be an Academy Student. He would be Arashi Uchiha, Genin of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. He was honestly more than excited. He's been waiting for this day for as long as he could remember. To think that this was the first step he'd have to take in making a better name for his clan. He woke up earlier than usual and knew that his father would be walking in any moment now to make sure that he wasn't still sleeping. He was just now finishing up the make-up line that he put around and under his eyes. His father always wondered why he did it as it wasn't typical of a shinobi of their clan to do such. Arashi thought it was cool and his dad stopped bothering him about it so he figured it was all good.

As soon as he was putting the pencil down his father walked in to see him facing the window. "I'm ready." He said without turning around. He only knew his father was there because he heard the door open. His father nodded and walked back to his own room. "Today is the day." Arashi repeated for the tenth time this morning. He picked up his writing book and his bookbag before heading out of his room and heading downstairs. His mother was setting the table for breakfast and he grabbed a rice patty and started for the door.

"You're not staying to eat?" She asked him kind of startled by him rushing for the door.

"No, mom! Today's the day. I'm graduating! I'll eat this on the way!" He ran out of the door and jumped off of his porch.

She sighed, but then smiled. She loved seeing him happy, but was worried about the pressure his father put on him. He didn't show it, but she was sure it had to be affecting him.

Arashi ran through the village and thought to himself, "Don't get too excited. Don't activate the Sharingan." It shouldn't be too hard to control himself. He had some self control. "It shouldn't be a problem. Today is the day."

----------------------

Arashi arrived at the Academy and immediately made his way into the class. He looked around at the students in his graduating class. Most of them were already there and he thought he had gotten there early. He moved through the class and made his way to his seat. The people he usually sat between hadn't arrived yet. It gave him some time to think about it all and take it all in. He pulled his book out of his backpack and started writing while waiting for things to start.

-----------------------

Arashi stopped writing when their sensei started to speak. He could tell she was sad. She had grown attached to her class and he was sure most of them had grown attached to her as well. He knew that he did. When she said that she was proud of them he whispered to himself, "Today is the day."

[McHaggis]

.

[vancexentan]

As Mitsuhide continued to listen to Mina he looked over at the girl next to him and smiled at her. Sora Nara she was the youngest of two siblings of the Nara clan. While neither were heir to the household they were still very prominent in the village. Sora has passed most of her tests with ease despite her more laid back attitude, come to think of it a lot of Nara didn't do much. "So Sora are you ready to move up in the world? I'm so pumped for this it isn't funny." Mitsuhide said to her quietly as Nara looked over him with indifference. "Yeah woooo....yeah. Genin at last... like it's really that big of a step. Once you hit the next level then it's the time to celebrate for now we're basically going from glorified school children to glorified delivery boys and girls. Despite a few of us being special like you Mitsuhide." Nara grumbled to him impatiently as she turned her eyes back to Mina.

Mitsuhide however was welcomed by a less than pleasant voice of his 'great pal' Shina Uchiha. She had short cut bluish black hair which was strange for the Uchiha. She had a slender figure and was somewhat pale. In regards to why her hair was different from other Uchiha? Who knew maybe it was some sort of genetic thing. The point being Shina and himself got along together like cats and dogs...that were hyped up on an anger causing genjutsu...while in them middle of a war. "Pah like you're any right to call yourself a genin. You're only in because of your ninjutsu and your family ties. Your genjutsu is garbage and your taijutsu is slightly above so. Unlike me I'm all sorts of better than you. G-" Shina was about to coutinue when Mitsuhide glared at her, "Oh yeah like the glorified police man's daughter is going to preach to me. Just because your an Uchiha doesn't mean squat princess now shut up before Mina tells us to shut up." Mitsuhide grumbled towards Shina quietly who glared back at him with annoyance. Shina Uchiha was one of the most best all rounders in the class excelling at most things. Her genjutsu was top notch, her taijutsu was great, and she knew how to use a jutsu with the best of them. The only real problem of hers was her big mouth and her lack of team spirit. Mitsuhide had topped her in Ninjutsu however, being one of the best in the class with a great stamina pool helped greatly, and it helped that Mitsuhide while not the best was still extremely competent in how he employed what he did have. Proud of his accomplishments and his family Mitsuhide was more than happy to get ready to take his headband. It was for the future of the Senju that he'd become the best ninja ever surpassing his grandfather and Great Uncle the first and second hokage.

===

Takumi was grinning ear to ear with a smile plastered on his face. He was from some no-name clan called Hoshita with specialty being medical ninjutsu. He was a hard worker and he didn't slack off however he was still towards the bottom of the class. Takumi was more or less cut out to be a medical ninja and a genin as far as most of the class was concerned. Despite that he had a genuine heart and was hopelessly on the bright side of things. He nudged Sadao with his shoulder. "Hey dude you ready for this? I'm certainly ready I've never been more ready for anything in my life. I mean really we all get to be ninja now! ALL of us!" Takumi said happy to be included in this whole thing.

===

Mia Ayami sat in her seat staring down at Mina Sensei as she fidgeted nervously in her seat next to Arashi. She was of a clan of ninja dating back to when the village was founded not too long ago. Though not nearly as famous as the Hyuga, Uchiha, or Senju. Her clan was few in numbers and strong in spirit...except for her it seemed. She was always unsure of herself despite the fact that she was in the upper half of the class. Great with genjutsu, and a top of the class chakra control expert she stood out among peers who could actually appreciate her skills. Heck even Mina was impressed with it and that was speaking highly considering the Uchiha in the class. She however didn't like taijutsu and ninjutsu wasn't her greatest strength as her attitude seemed to lean towards being shy. She never had many friends except for Takumi, Korra, and Satoshi. "Ummmm....thank you sensei..." she tried to say to Mina but her voice wasn't heard as she kept too quiet for anyone not nearby to hear.

[King Kindred]

Arashi looked from Mina Sensei to his side when he heard the barely audible Mia Ayumi speak. She was thanking their sensei for saying that she was proud of them. Mia was a nice girl, but she was really shy. He didn't even understand why. When it came to genjutsu and chakra control she was a genius and even better than some of the top notch students in the class. Then again skill doesn't always correlate to confidence. He hoped that becoming a genin would give her a bit of confidence and less social anxiety. Maybe he could start that by talking to her. For all he knew she could be one of his squadmates.

He whispered over to her saying, "Hey, Mia. Can you believe it? We're finally going to become genin. This great, big journey ahead of us. A story waiting to be told. Maybe a story with you as the star. Yeah, I can see it now. The Great Mia Ayumi: Mind Over Matter." He gave her a genuine smile showing that he really meant the words that he spoke. He hoped that she didn't think that he was pulling her leg or something. He really wanted her to be confident and he believed that she truly could be a powerful kunoichi. Anything was possible really. Even the seemingly pathetic student could prove to be a rather powerful shinobi. He never judged books by their covers. That was the first thing he taught himself when he started writing. People didn't read books for the cover. They read them for the story inside.

[vancexentan]

"Me..me!? But I'm just...Mia. I'm not brave like you, nor am I as fearsome as...as Takumi, I'm certainly not smart like Sora, I'm not special like Mitsuhide, I'm not as skilled as Shina...heck I'm not even as pretty as our sensei. I'm just me. I'm positive you'll go farther than little scrawny me Arashi kun." Mia admitted but with a slight smile on her face. One of the kids nearby looked over at her friend Arashi. She tapped her desk patiently as she looked at him. "I'm fine with just being Mia. I'd rather run a store than be a ninja but it's family tradition and I'll keep to it. Please don't get yourself worked up over me of all things." Mia said politely as she kept looking at the table.

[King Kindred]

Arashi knew what it was like to do something because your family wanted you to and being pushed to do so. He wants to be a ninja without a doubt, but the forceful training that he went through was something he didn't like. He also knew that things could be dangerous if you didn't put your all into something. Pull back just a little and you'd be sure as dead. He lost distant cousins that way in battle. He definitely didn't want that to happen to one of his classmates.

"Just don't hesitate out there. Alright, Mia? I'd hate for you to die for not giving it your all. I'd hate for any of you all to die. Hopefully one day you'll be able to retire and open up your shop." He had only been paying attention to Mia and wasn't aware of anyone staring at him.

[vancexentan]

"D-d-die? Who said anything about dying? I'm not going to die...Is it reall-" Mia's sudden panic was shut down as Korra in front of the two of them turned around slightly and whispered that he was just trying and failing to cheer her up and that he shouldn't read too much into it. "Alright lover boy say nice job wooing your damsel and making her panic now why don't you both calm down and listen to Mina Sensei?" she grumbled.

[King Kindred]

Lover boy? He could understand why Korra thought that, that was what was going on. He sighed and whispered down to Korra and said, "It's not like that." He probably couldn't defend himself in this situation against her. He then turned to Mia and said, "Sorry, Mia. I'm sure everything will be fine." It would be, right? He really did hope so. He wouldn't know what would happen if one of his comrades died. He knew that it was most of the time inevitable, but as long as he could do something to prevent it he would.

[McHaggis]

.

[vancexentan]

"Well Mitsuhide is always a good team player so maybe him. Then again Shina is a badass through and through. Maybe Kurani of Clan Aburame. Korra's got a smart brain on her and so does Sora. Anyone is fine with me maybe even the other Takumi. Him and his little furry buddy could be useful." Takumi said referring to the Inuzuka Clan's Takumi. While Hoshita's clan Takumi was strong willed Inuzuka's Takumi was a very strong ninja in terms of taijutsu. He had a ferocious spirit to overwhelm anyone in his path and he had some strange fixation on wolves as he always compared himself to them. "What about you anyone special your eyeing?"

[ViolentViolet]

The girl had gone to bed the night before tired and bruised from a rough training session with three of her cousins, battered but feeling the stinging of her growing stronger with every fight. She’d been able to get passed all three of them several times before they overpowered her and brought her to the point where her father and mentor had called off the match and sent her to eat and sleep, one bruise forming darkly on the left side of her jaw. The training session had been long that day, meant to tire her out so that she would sleep a long while before school the next morning because otherwise she most likely wouldn’t sleep much at all before tomorrow by keeping herself awake and training overnight training regardless. Her room was simple enough, but large and extended and full of books considering her age and place, though most were out of her age groups normal reading level and genre pool, but she wasn’t the normal child.

The following morning the girl woke early, following through with her usual pattern of waking, showering, dressing and eating breakfast before heading to school. Today she wore her usual outfit of a pair of denim pants and a long sleeve shirt, the fabric black with a dragon embroidered into the back with purple thread, fire and flowers along the sleeves and the hems of the shirt. On her feet were her leather boots, worn and thin enough for her to channel her chakra through them when she fought or practiced her techniques. Her hair was loose today, unlike the normal day when she would tie up and back the long strands of red, purple, and black; the softly curling waves cascading over her shoulders and down her back, the ends swaying as she walked toward the school. The red silk ribbon over her head was tied in a bow by her mother’s doing, making her daughter look more like the young lady she was for her first day with her new team after graduating. She was supposed to find out who it was that she would be working with for the next several years, though the young Hyuga wasn’t very excited for it.

The prospect of new sparring partners was something she enjoyed, because those at the compound were beginning to become a bore for her to fight and she wasn’t getting any better against them. The Princess of Hyuga walked into the classroom just before class started and made her way to her seat in the very center of the room, aware of the stares she got from several others in the room. Shizuka turned her gaze on each other them in turn before coming to a silent seating on the chair while she waited for the teacher to talk again and not long afterward she could hear the idle chatter of those around her. She chose not to engage because more often than not she ended up screwing everything up when she spoke and decided it was best that she not speak to anyone until her team was decided.

[vancexentan]

Suddenly Mina "Now everyone as you know a large group of genin from the leaf village's previous class did not complete the chunin exams, so you will be starting up in squads starting at number 10 and up. This is to avoid any conflict with teams who already have the first digits. But don't let yourselves worry too much about the last class, do what you can to succeed in your own right as ninja. You have been chosen to replace the old ninja generation and to prove that the choice that the daimyo made to remove samurai as the protectors of the village was the correct one. So don't give up, keep your chin up, and keep that positive attitude. Now everyone come and please come and get your head bands...I apologize for not bringing them yesterday but we have to keep with tradition and give'em out today." Mina said initially inspirational but then reduced to childish laughter and a smile. Mina grinned at all of the students as they started coming down one by one. It was more than clear that she was proud of their accomplishments. Though she did lament the fact that two ninja dropped out of the class leaving them with an uneven number.

Mitsuhide grinned and smiled from ear to ear as he nudged Nara to move. Sora gave a annoyed grunt and glared at him, "Yeah what is it?" Sora asked patiently. "COME ON!!! Move it Sora!" Mitsuhide said in her ear as she glared at him angrily and just stared at him like he was the most annoying object in the world. "Fine fine I'm going..." she said tiredly yawning and getting up she fell behind Mia Ayami from the row across from them leaving him next to the Uchiha girl...he disliked the Uchiha for a number of reasons besides the fact that they were untrustworthy and a danger to the village. His parents told him that his grand father Hashirama had quarreled with the Uchiha before the founding of the village and a certain Uchiha almost destroyed their village. Their sharingan also creeped him out a bit though. I mean who enjoyed messing with someone's head? That sort of thing was wrong! "What's wrong are you scared Mitsu? Just like a Senju to be a wimp!" Shina said frowning at him in disproval. It seems the rivalry will never die...Mitsuhide and Shina had almost always failed in doing anything when they worked together and it infuriated both parties. Shina was one of the most versatile ninja in the academy. Mitsuhide had the whole wood style of the first hokage thing going with him and both ended up simply ignoring the others in the class when it came down to it in favor of making the other look bad. In fact the two had nearly gotten into a fist fight once over how to use jutsu properly.

Mitsuhide grunted and frowned back getting in her face, "Really? THIS coming from you of all people? What's your constant fixation on poking at me like I'm some sort of wild animal? It's probably to detract from the fact that you're out of shape?" Shina looked at Mitsuhide with a face that would shatter his own face like glass if it could. Regardless Mitsuhide moved forward as Shina did and the head bands in front of them all of them showing the same symbol on all of them but some where red, blue, and black. They each were custom made to fit the young shinobi who would be receiving them. "Man I can't wait I'm so excited! I hope me and Shin and Kora all get placed on the same team!" said Takumi Hoshita as he talked with Mia who was in front of him. Mitsuhide respected Takumi but he was one of the lowest ranked in the class and really he'd prefer to get with a group a little stronger than what Takumi was probably going to get. Heck in Takumi's eyes he only saw that Mia liked him as a friend despite the fact that she had a crush on him for god knows how long. How oblivious do you get when a girl makes a lunch for you two weeks in a row?

Moving on Mitsuhide looked at the whole class but only one thought came to mind. "I hope my team doesn't have Shina on it. If it does I'll quit being a ninja and be a farmer instead. Oh who am I kidding it's not like mom would let me do that..." Mitsuhide muttered to himself as he advanced in line and received a black one. He stood there for a second and looked at Mia who was jumping up and down giggling along with some of the other girls despite her shyness and he heard how Shin boasting that he'd be Hokage some day. All dreams may come true but they could always fail miserably. Mitsuhide hoped the best for his class mate in achieving that dream. Personally all that paper work seemed dull in comparison to being a jounin...Mitsuhide looked down at the headband and sighed it was finally time to leave his old self behind. The academy student, the wandering child, and the sarcastic wise guy. All of them had to make way for a new professional version of him. Not that they'd be gone completely but he had to move up on the world and not stay in his own shell. Mitsuhide opened his eyes and studied it for a moment looking at it like it was a poisonous bug. "Hey Mitsu are you ok?" Mina asked worried about the boy's health he was always so talkative and rambunctious she expected more out of the kid...Mitsuhide grinned and shook his head, "Sensei don't worry, I'm ok. I was just thinking about stuff and how the world's going to change a lot from now on." Mitsuhide finally moved out of line and put on the small forehead protector on as a bandanna covering his hair and only the black tips were pushed out. He gave a high give to one of his fellow classmates and hugged one of his closer friends before going back to his seat.

[McHaggis]

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[King Kindred]

The time had finally come and thankfully so. Not only was he getting out of this awkward situation, but he was also about to get his headband. The first sign that showed people that you were finally a ninja even if it was a genin. Most didn't care about the status of genin since it didn't really warrant much. It wasn't until you became a Chuunin that most usually respected you. Maybe he and his squad could change that. They could be the first genin squad that could outclass a group of Chuunin. He could dream big, couldn't he? He knew that he had the potential for it. Not only was he a Uchiha, but he was also one that had awakened his clan's Kekkei Genkai at such an early age. He was pretty rare and some would even consider him a prodigy for it. If only they knew what he had to go through just to be able to unlock it.

Arashi made his way into the line when Mina told them to line up. He was in front of Mia, but wasn't close enough to the front as he wanted to be. When it was his turn to get his headband he was more than excited. He picked up one with black cloth. He always preferred that to the typical blue. He gripped it in his hand and started to shake as if it he were nervous or scared. No one would have seen him act like this before and it concerned Mina Sensei. She reached for his shoulder with a concerned look on her face saying, "Arashi... Ar--."

He cut her off by looking at her with a determined smile. "I couldn't be better, Mina Sensei. I made it. I'm a genin." He was glad that he had cut his bangs the night before or else he would have had to put his headband somewhere other than his forehead. He wanted to wear it proudly so that everyone could see that Arashi Uchiha had finally started his journey as a shinobi. He tied it around his head and finally made it back to his seat still with a smile on his face.

Reality hadn't completely sunken in with him though. Unlike the others he didn't think much about who he would end up pairing with in his squad. He knew that he wouldn't be in the same squad as another Uchiha. That would be too stacked in their favor. He just hoped that he and his squad would get along and get stronger together. Maybe they could help him with his goal of changing the way people viewed the Uchiha clan.

[vancexentan]

"Hey Sadao lookin' good big guy! Then again I look better." Mitsuhide said with a chuckle as he gave a thumbs up to the Hatake. He didn't know him all that well but hey everyone get's one right? "Don't worry I'm only messing with you shorty. Some friendly razzing before we go our separate ways and stuff. Hey maybe you'll get paired up with Shina I'm sure that'll be a fun group." Mitsuhide said as he patted on the back as Shina tied a blue headband around her head and smacked Mitsuhide on his before sitting back down and left Mitsuhide rubbing his head.

[McHaggis]

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[vancexentan]

"It's a joke big guy. I was just messing with you jeez. I mean come on I know not a lot of guys chat with you and stuff but it's graduation. You're suppose to mingle and mess around with others. If you got one day not to be a silent hermit in the corner now's the day." Mitsuhide said simply as he shrugged at the comment regarding them being teamed together. He didn't exactly know Hatake all too much and he was as far as he was aware a quiet guy. "I mean it's possible. But I wouldn't count on it all to much. But yeah if you don't have Shina you probably won't get me either remember I'm top of the class in ninjutsu. My best guess you'll be paired with Sora and Mia. But hey whatever happens good luck dude."

[McHaggis]

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[ViolentViolet]

The girl listened as the teacher called the students down, congratulating them on graduating and she passively followed after the initial swarm of students eager to get their headbands and show off their skills and talk to the other students. Shizuka hadn't often spoken to other students here, only really saying anything to those she must for certain training sessions and to answer questions directly asked of her. The girl stepped forward, passing other students already milling about to take her headband from the woman who had spent her time teaching them. "Thank you. You have assisted in teaching me valuable lessons I could not have learned in the compound." She said to the woman with a slight bow and stepped away again, tying the black-purple band around her left thigh before standing and looking around again. Her pale purple eyes flowed around the room, finding a few that she had always thought were interesting to watch though they settled quietly on a pair not too far away that stood talking to each other, one seemingly uncomfortable.

She was alone in a crowd of people, few bothering to glance her way and non trying ti initiate conversation with her either though with a deep breath she stepped forward again and walked toward Mitsuhide and Sadao as they spoke together. She had interacted with them a few times, though the Hakate had always been interesting to watch fight and the one she would prefer to speak with or be on the same team as. "Congratulations on graduating." The Hyuga spoke quietly, though there was little softness in her voice as she bowed her head slightly in greeting. She didn't stand close enough as to suggest friendship or familiarity, but not so far away as to not be able to converse with the two males.