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Everyone was gathered in the academy classroom one last time, impatiently waiting for Iruka-sensei to arrive and assign them their genin teams. For the most part, everyone had sat down in a seat or gathered in little groups, chatting amongst themselves. The biggest group of genin graduates was the Sasuke-kun Fan Girls Club. Ino and Sakura were arguing over who would be lucky enough to end up on the last Uchiha’s team. Loudly proclaiming why they were the obvious choice to end up on a team with Sasuke, while a few other girls were giggling and fantasizing about ending up on a team with the reclusive heir.
Naruko had been watching this spectacle of teenage hormones for the last ten minutes. ‘What the hell is wrong with them, it’s like they're possessed. Sasuke this, Sasuke that. Is he drugging them!?’
Turning in her seat, she leaned across her desk, head resting in her open palm and stared at Uchiha Sasuke. The last loyal Uchiha and the heir to the once great clan that had helped form our village.
With his fan girls acting up again, Naruko truly cannot comprehend what makes them behave in that way. ‘What the fuck do these girls see in this grumpy, anti-social boy, when he literally ignores their (and pretty much everyone else’s) existence to be fighting each other on a daily basis.’
Eventually, Sasuke feeling her stare and catching it from the corner of his eye, couldn’t remain silent any longer. “What are you staring at, Dobe?”
“I don’t get it…why does this,” she poked his cheek with her index finger of the hand she wasn’t leaning on and then gestured behind her, “cause that.” Behind her, every girl except Naruko and Hinata were crowded together growling and threatening Naruko for bothering ‘their’ precious Sasuke-kun, with the leaders, Ino and Sakura, being the loudest.
Kiba, another clan heir, that was quite jealous of the attention Sasuke gets, cut in to tease the orange wearing blonde, “What’s wrong, Naruko-chan, feeling left out?”
Snorting, Naruko pulled back from the Uchiha to look at the feral boy sitting in the row behind her, “Not in the least, dog boy. It just doesn’t make sense! There are literally 20 other boys in this class, why is almost every single girl obsessed with him to the point of acting like that!” Naruko put her arm down and leaned back to give the Uchiha a quick up and down with her eyes, “I don’t see it.”
“SHUT UP, NARUKO-BAKA! It’s called having a crush! I’m sure a dumb tomboy like you would be clueless when it comes to anything related to the heart.” Sakura cut in, feeling proud to knock that blonde knucklehead down a peg.
Ino was quick to join in, “EXACTLY! The simple fact that you don’t like Sasuke-kun proves that there is something wrong with you.”
Naruko didn’t even turn around to address the rabid crowd of pre-teen girls, “If there is anyone here that has something wrong with them, it’s certainly not me. I mean look at the bunch of you, growling and barking like a hoard of bitches in heat, it’s disturbing. Plus, I never said I don’t have a crush on someone.”
Sasuke turned to Naruko with his eyebrow raised, “So, you have a crush on me?”
“Ew, Teme, no. I just said I don’t understand why they are obsessed with you and that it doesn’t make sense to me…Are you even listening?” For some reason, the raven haired avenger felt a pang of disappointment in his chest at her quick denial.
“So, who do you have a crush on Naruko?” Kiba was quite interested to know. If Naruko was different from the other girls like she claims, then surely she had a crush on him, the up and coming soon-to-be Alpha.
No one was prepared for the bomb Naruko so carelessly dropped on her peers, “Oh that’s easy, Choji.”
Every set of eyes in the classroom widened before swinging to the chubby boy in the back row. Choji was clearly just as shocked as the rest of them as he dropped his bag of chips and didn’t even attempt to catch them. Just stopped eating and stared at his blonde friend completely perplexed.
Kiba, clearly disappointed that he lost to Choji jumped up from his seat, “What’s so great about that fa-”
Naruko jumped up from her seat and to her crush's defense, “Watch it, dog-breath! Don’t be mean to Choji because your ego is bruised. Plus, aside from Shino, Choji is clearly the best choice!”
Now Shino and Choji were astonished, if anything, aside from being clan heirs, Shino and Choji often thought of themselves as the last choice. No matter the subject of choice. It was an unspoken truth that while Naruko wasn’t the most popular or well-liked individual, she was definitely the prettiest girl in class. She hid it well with her tomboy attitude and clothes, but subconsciously everyone knew if she ever embraced her feminine side, she would be the most sought after girl. That’s probably the main reason the other girls of the class disliked her so much. Jealously and envy was often the ugly green monster that reared its head among pre-teen girls.
Ino, the first to recover from her shock, stepped in, “Wow, Naruko, I knew you were stupid but seriously, you think Choji and Shino are better than Sasuke-kun…ha! You truly are an idiot.”
“At least I’m not two dimensional like the rest of you. Every day you fight and bicker with each other over Sasuke like he’s a prize instead of a human being. Aside from his looks, his name, and his grades, can you actually say you know anything about him? He’s never spoken to any of you or given you the time of day! For as long as I’ve known him, Choji has been kind to me. He offers me food any time I see him. He includes me in games when others ignore me or exclude me. He even praised me when I did something right during shurikin practice!” She could see Ino gearing up to say something insulting so she quickly cut in, “And you know what Ino, who cares if Choji is not the most handsome boy in class, he’s 13 years old! If anything, I think he’s cute and I’ve seen what his dad looks like, he’s big and strong and just as kind as Choji is now. If Choji grows up to look anything like his dad, then that’s just a bonus for me!”
During her speech, Naruko had walked up the steps to stand behind the still shocked Choji and when she finished she was quick to swoop down and hug the other boy from behind, while planting a sweet kiss on his cheek. “Don’t worry Choji, I don’t expect anything from you and I’m not looking to date anyone for a few years but if I had to choose anyone, it’d be you!”
With a blush staining his cheeks, Choji finally gathered the courage to speak up, “Thanks Naruko-chan, I think you’re cute too.” Naruko was still hanging onto him from behind and Choji couldn’t help noticing the very quiet Nara next to him, “Naruko-chan, I’m kind of surprised you didn’t pick Shikamaru.”
Since Choji wasn’t pushing her off, Naruko decided she'd stay right where she is, arms wrapped around his shoulders, and put her chin on top of his head where his head piece held his hair down. “Well, right now, Shika’s in third place!”
Finally Shikamaru moved from his slouched position and got involved in their group discussion, “What do you mean by ‘third place’?” It was troublesome for the lazy Nara but at least he seemed to be in consideration.
Naruko, still comfortably cuddled up to Choji, contemplated her answer. “Well, I have a top three! Obviously it’s not a priority right now, but if I did have to pick someone, Choji is my first choice, Shino is my second, and Shika’s my third!”
Kiba, and a silent Sasuke, were pissed. How the hell were they not even on the list and yet, those three losers were above them!
“How the fuck is Shino better than me?!”
“Everyone is better than you, dog breath! You might have loyalty but it’s selective and temperamental, plus you’re rude and inconsiderate!” From the top of his hood Akamaru barked in agreement, “Thank you, Akamaru. Anyway, Shino is almost as great as Choji! He’s really nice, super smart, and very patient! He might be different from others but he’s never ignored me! Anytime I have a question he carefully explains the answer until I get it. He’s level headed which balances my hyperness. Not to mention he’s one of the better ninja’s of our group. From what I’ve pieced together, he’s already started to revolutionize his clan’s bug jutsu and he’s always looking to improve!” Finally detaching herself from Choji she moved across the room to the ever silent Shino. She stopped in front of him and put out her hand, silently asking for permission. Shino, curious to see what she’d do, took her hand. Naruko, using her superior strength, tugged Shino from his seat until he was standing in front of her. She quickly wrapped her arms around his waist, “And the best part, he’s tall!”
Once again, Naruko left the room of pre-teens speechless while she enjoyed some quick cuddles, something she secretly craved. Shino was very surprised to be considered a top contender, especially when his clan was often overlooked and sometimes just outright avoided. His hive buzzed in content from his happiness and her warm chakra being so close to them. Shino, not used to physical attention, reached up and gently petted the head of blonde hair resting against his shoulder. With Naruko practically purring against him, Shino spoke up, “To be honest, I did not put much consideration into relationships, why? Because as you said, we are young and it is not a priority…I believe I will have to say you are my first choice as well, Naruko-chan. My hive is content and I believe the clan would be agreeable as well.”
“Does this mean I’m in your top three?”
“You are currently my one and only choice, why? Because I have not considered another and your words flatter me.” Shino patted her head again.
Naruko just giggled and nuzzled her face into his chest.
For the girls of the Sasuke-kun fan club, many of them were confused and jealous of the small blonde. Not only did Naruko dismiss their beloved Sasuke-kun as the best boy material in class, but also insulted him by not evening putting him in her top three. Yes, this meant less competition for them, but it also seemed unfathomable that she could like someone other than the Uchiha heir. Of course with their Sasuke blinders on, to them it was unrealistic to crush on another boy. But somehow, the part that made them the most jealous, was seeing Naruko cuddle up to not one but two of her crushes! Sasuke never allows them to get that close, or compliments them!
Unlike his fan girls, Sasuke was very pissed off. With all the attention Naruko gives him, picking fights and issuing challenges, how the hell is he, Uchiha Sasuke, not her first choice, let alone in her top three! He should be the only guy she looks at that way, not these lazy, fat, weirdos!
Finally, Sakura, ignoring her angry inner-Sakura screaming how unfair it was that Naruko got to cuddle up to Shino looking happy and content, found her voice, “Cut it out, Naruko-Baka! If this is some elaborate prank to get Sasuke-kun’s attention, it’s not going to work!”
Sasuke’s eyes narrowed further because it is working.
“Wrong again, pinkie-chan!” Not wanting to take advantage of Shino’s kindness, she carefully pulled away and turned around to confront the angry Haruno. “If I was doing this to get anyone’s attention, it’d be Shika-chan!” Fox-like grin on full display, Naruko looked past Sasuke and completely ignored Kiba to lock eyes with a very-much-awake Nara. Dark brown eyes watched her give him a toothy smirk and knew he’d been outsmarted. “Troublesome woman.” Leaning back in his seat, Shikamaru opened his arms invitingly, “Do I get a hug too?”
“Yes!” Running up the steps, Naruko jumped into Shikamaru’s lap and got comfortable. Sitting sideways, she faced Choji, who’d been in the middle seat of their row, and loosely wrapped her arms around Shikamaru’s neck. “Hi Shika-chan, I’m surprised you’re not asleep.”
Shikamaru wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her steady and prevent any falls, “Troublesome, you’ve created so much chaos it’s ruining my pre-class nap.” Every girl watching from the sidelines was not prepared for the laziest boy in their class to start flirting with the dead-last. “So Naruko, how are you going to make it up to me?”
The faintest blush formed above those whiskered cheeks and she responded shyly, “I could…join you…you know, for your afternoon nap?”
Since everyone’s eyes were so focused on the flirting pair, no one noticed the brief moment Sasuke’s eyes went from black to red, a single tomoe forming in each eye.
Maybe it was a miracle that Iruka finally entered the classroom and called everyone to settle down.
Many were still reeling from everything that had happened that they all moved quietly to find an open seat. Except Naruko, Sasuke, and Kiba. Naruko was perfectly happy to stay exactly where she was, especially when Choji offered her a chip while giving a friendly smile. Kiba was still standing from his seat in the aisle across from Shikamaru’s seat, mind scrambling to come up with a valid argument on why he was a better choice. And Sasuke…was standing in the aisle behind Naruko, glaring at the back of her head.
Iruka, still not sure what he walked into, finally took notice of his favorite student sitting in a boy’s lap! His first instinct was to jump across the room and separate the two of them. ‘Naruko’s too young for boys!’ He thought but he couldn’t lose it like that in front of his class, so in his calmest voice, his left eyebrow twitching, Iruka addressed the pair, “Naruko, Shikamaru is not a seat.”
“But, Iruka-sensei-”
Before she could try and convince her teacher that Shika didn’t mind being her seat, Sasuke snatched her up by the back of her jacket. As if she were a misbehaving kitten, and plopped her down in the empty seat beside him. He glared down at her, “Shut up, Dobe.”
“Tch. Bastard.” For once, Naruko pulled a page from Sasuke’s book and turned forward, choosing to ignore the broody bastard.
After much drama, Iruka finally got their graduation orientation underway.
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Later during Team 7 introductions, Sasuke is doing his introduction, “Uchiha Sasuke, I hate fan girls and I like very little. I do not have a dream, but an ambition, to revive my clan,” only Kakashi witnessed Sasuke’s gaze drift toward his blonde teammate before staring forward again, “and to kill anyone who gets in my way.” Sasuke, still very much bothered by the events that took place before team assignments, didn’t even realize what he said.