Chapter 8: Genin Teams

The Hokage sat at the head of the table looking at sheets of paper in his hand. To his left there were the teachers of the academy including Iruka-sensei. To his right there sat a few of the strongest Ninjas Konoha had to offer. It was a selection of three Jonins, that had just entered the room. 

"Iruka, those are the Jonins I want to assign to the graduates of your class." Hiruzen, the third Hokage said, pointing at the Jonins on his right. Iruka recognized the three shinobi's.

The first was a kunoichi named Kurenai Yuhi, a sensor type with a specialization in Genjutsu focused around plants. After the incident five years ago, she was regarded as the strongest Genjutsu user in the hidden leaf. 

The second was the son of the third Hokage, Asuma Sarutobi, a former member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, that were ought to serve the most important people in the land of fire, the daimyo, as bodyguards. He is an experienced user of Chakra blades and possessed not only powerful fire Jutsus, but also Wind, which was a rarity in Konoha.

The last guy, however, was the most interesting and strongest of the Jonins at the table, but also the one, that caused Iruka the most worries- the copy ninja, Kakashi of the Sharingan. While he was a renowned and powerful shinobi, Iruka heard rumors that Kakashi never let a single Genin keep his status after graduation. Iruka heard, they were all sent back to the academy and that their level of skill didn't even matter in this procedure. 

"But Lord third, don't we need 4 shinobi's to lead the teams? I have twelve students graduating this year after all." Iruka discerned and looked at the Hokage.

Hiruzen's expression grew dark. "You're right, but the last Jonin I wanted to appoint has unfortunately passed away on his last mission."

"So who'll be the last one then?" Kurenai asked.

"I don't have anyone in mind yet." Hiruzen replied.

"Maybe it would be easier to decide on one, if we did the arrangement of each team first." Asuma suggested.

The Hokage sighed. He really hadn't anticipated the recent casualty. "Iruka, the people from your class are supposed to become Team 7 to 10, right?" Iruka nodded.

"The first pick should be quite obvious." Kakashi said.

"Yeah. I'm planning to make a team out of the heirs of the Akimichi, Nara and Yamanaka clan this year again, just as the tradition demands." Hiruzen announced and earned silent approval from the other shinobis. It was already proven, that their clan Jutsus combined very well. "Asuma, I'd like to have you as their team leader."

Hiruzen's son smiled. "I'm not going to disappoint you, Lord third." 'I guess I can consider myself lucky. They won't need much guidance from me in terms of Ninjutsu.'

"Here are copies of their report cards." Iruka gave Asuma, three sheets of paper, that not only included his future students graduation exam score, but also an evaluation of their not tested ninja skills and social skills, they displayed during their time at the academy. 

"I suppose you're also creating a balanced, combat focused team this year?" That was Kakashi.

"I will, as it's almost a tradition at this point to throw the top and bottom scorer in one team." Hiruzen said and looked at the paper in front of him.

"This year has Sasuke Uchiha as the top scorer and Naruto Uzumaki as the bottom scorer." Iruka stated.

"The last Uchiha and the Nine-Tails, huh. What a fitting match." Hiruzen said. In the future, there might be the possibility for Sasuke to control the Nine-Tails. "Iruka, who would be a fitting kunoichi to complete their Genin-squad?"

"We still have Hinata Hyuga, Sakura Haruno and Ieri Suzumiya. While Sakura excels at theory and had the highest score on the written exams, Ieri is barely average in everything related to strategic and rational thinking. She is specialized in the usage of kunai and already knows a few Fire Release techniques, whereas Sakura isn't able to perform a single Jutsu she hasn't learned in the academy. As for Hinata Hyuga- I don't think she would be a fitting last member because of her attitude towards Naruto. She's barely able to talk with him, without stuttering and blushing. 

Between the other two, I think Sakura would be the better choice. For being a civilian, she has great potential and studied hard to keep her top spot in theory. She might get affected by her new teammates in a positive way."

"Alright. Kakashi, I wish to assign you with the task of being their leader."

Kakashi sighed. "I have no obligations." He was the perfect choice for that team after all. If Sasuke was to awaken his Sharingan, he could help him master it. If the Nine-Tails became out of control and decided to go on a rampage, he was the one, who was most likely to avoid most casualties. And last but not least, would Kakashi train the son of his own former sensei.

"Then it's decided." Hiruzen said and asked Iruka "Who are the remaining graduates?"

"That would be the additional to Hinata and Ieri, the heir of the Inuzuka Clan, Kiba Inuzuka, the heir of the Aburame clan, Shino Aburame, a member of the Hatake Clan, Nero Hatake, and a civilian, Yatora Soma." Iruka listed the name.

"Nero Hatake?" Kakashi asked, as a member of his clan was mentioned.

"No surprise to me, you don't know him with the amount of time you spend with your family members." Asuma mocked his old friend.

'Right, I didn't really talk to any member of my clan after that Incident.' Kakashi thought.

[A/N: So for anyone wondering why there are other members of the Hatake clan in this world, let me enlighten you. It was stated, that Sasuke was the last Uchiha and that Tsunade was the last Senju. But what never was stated is, that Kakashi was the last Hatake. Of course it is a possibility that he is, considering we never saw any other Hatake, besides his dead father, but it is a more likely possibility, that Kakashi and his father just were the only known ninja's. If you agree with me her, than I would appreciate that, but if you don't agree with me on this topic, than you are allowed to consider the fact, that there are other living members of the Hatake clan as AU (:]

"So we have a user of the Byakugan, a Ninken-owner and an Insect tamer. Hmmh." Hiruzen thought for a moment and then turned his eyes to Kurenai. "I would like you to be their sensei. You are a sensor type and the three of them possess some qualities of sensors too. I hope you can guide them, to be the best version of themselves."

Kurenai nodded. She was honored to already be assigned a Genin Team after she just recently made the cut and became a Jonin.

"That means, that by default our last team consists of Nero Hatake, Ieri Suzumiya and Yatora Soma." Hiruzen concluded. He sighed. "Now, we just have to find the right man for this job. Any Ideas?"

For a short amount of time, complete silent filled the room. Then one of the teacher besides Iruka spoke up. "Maybe it'd help to recall us the abilities of the three. That way we can easily pick the most suited." He sent an accusing glare over to Iruka.

"Right, right." Iruka cursed himself for not coming up with the idea himself, before roughly summarizing their abilities. "As I already said, Ieri is specialized in Kunai and the long to mid distance usage of Fire Release. Yatora excells at Kenjutsu and Chakra control. He is able to utilize Lightning Release as well and his mastery over the shuriken is no joke either. Nero fights with a white light chakra saber and is able to utilize Wind and Fire Nature, albeit still on a very low level. He's also very talented in the usage of Fuma Shuriken and other massive projectiles."

"Is that so?" Kakashi asked. "Then I'm proposing Genma Shiranui as their team leader."

[A/N: Genma's abilities are not confirmed, as all of his fights happened off screen. I could argue now, that he has to be strong, but I won't. If you want to comprehend my decision to, why I portray Genma the way I do, I highly recommend the video 'How strong was Genma? (Minato's strongest bodyguard)' on YouTube from the channel DygoKnight. If you don't think that Genma is how I show him at all, than consider this AU]

"Genma Shiranui, hmh?" The Hokage thought about it, but he was disrupted by one of the academy teachers. 

"A team led by a special Jonin?! And then you also want to put him as the team leader of the second strongest graduate, that was only beaten by an Uchiha. Hokage, I'm against this suggestion."

Hiruzen looked at Kakashi, expecting him to argue for his point.

"Oh, please. You really think that he's incapable, because he is 'only' a special Jonin. Genma is about as strong as I am. He just never had the drive to reach the Jonin rank." Fortunately for Kakashi, Asuma argued in his stead.

"But there's still no reason for him to be the leader." The teacher had already lost the debate and he knew it. A statement of a Jonin about another Shinobi's strength was no joke. He only tried to argue back, because he didn't want to look spineless in front of the Hokage.

"Are you serious?" Asuma looked annoyed. "He was a bodyguard of lord fourth and has more completed missions than I do, namely over 900." Asuma bend slightly forward in an attempt of intimidating the teacher in front of him. "If that's still not enough reason for him to be appointed as a squad leader, I'm going to tell you why I think he's perfectly fitted for those Genin. His specialty and the reason for his rank as a Special Jonin is his prowess in Bukijutsu."

Now Kurenai, Iruka and Hiruzen understood as well, why Genma was the most suited person for this job. 

"Hey, could you summon Genma in my office tomorrow?" Hiruzen asked one of his assistants behind him. "All of you are dismissed. Kakashi you stay here. We still need to talk for a bit."