мοrι ηo κο 『森の子』

Ten || Meeting

》Dιsсlαιмεя: I own no Canon characters that shall be used within this story。Only the OCs, as well as the setting in which the beginning of this tale has taken place。 All other things within the Narutoverse belong to none other than the marvelous, Masashi Kishimoto! READ ONWARD, LOVELIES!! ( ' ▽ ' )ﾉ《

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Three years had seemingly flown by for Midori, Tenten, and Aoi. In that amount of time, their sensei, Anko had taught them many skills and abilities. Within that time spent honing them, Midori had improved her taijutsu to the point of barely passing, while Aoi had learned only a small portion of self-control with her fuming attitude. Tenten's ability to use ninja weapons had significantly improved as well.

They were now preparing to face their sensei for the final time to receive their squads. Unable to remain calm in their seats, the two pre-teens, and teen---in Aoi's case---continued to stare at the doorway and at their fellow classmates.

The blonde peered over at her dark-haired friends, a nervous smile spread across her lips. "I wonder who we'll be put into a squad with," Midori said, causing Aoi to cross her arms and bow her head, her eyes closed.

"If it's Neji or that one kid I had to fight, I'll be sure to give Anko-sensei an ear-full," said Aoi, glancing around the room for two said boys, only spotting the one: Neji. "After his rude attitude towards you when you two had to fight, I'd probably try to kick his ass before an enemy's."

Tenten and Midori shared concerned glances before nodding in agreement.

"I mean, he acted all high-and-mighty, like he knew your entire life story," Aoi continued, her eyes boring through the back of Neji's head. "I wish I could have been the one to fight him in your place back then; I would have taught him a lesson." Flames burned in the young girl's blazing blue eyes as she popped her knuckles and stood from her seat. "Ugh! Just thinking about his ugly smirking makes me so ... so ma---"

"A-Aoi-chan," interrupted Midori, causing the ravenette to look over at her. "Anko-sensei might get angry if you do anything brash before she gets in here."

Aoi mumbled a curse under her breath as she placed herself on her seat in defeat, then grabbed the end of her black scarf and fiddled with it.

Almost as soon as she'd done so, Anko had entered the room, a clipboard in her left hand. "As you all know, today's the day that you'll be graduating," she said, placing the chart on the podium behind her. "Though, I realize some were not able to survive my simple teaching methods."

The kids within the room blanched at the sarcastic woman, remembering the countless times she had put them through hell.

Noticing their expressions, Anko laughed maniacally before shaking her head. Snatching up the clipboard, she examined it thoroughly. "I'm pretty surprised by these scores. I half expected more of you to fail." Shrugging, she sighed. "Well, I suppose it can't be helped, so once I call off your squad number and names, I want you all to go upstairs to receive your official Leaf Village forehead protectors."

All of the students, except for a few, were attentive in their seats as they anticipated their names being called off and with which of their peers they'd be teamed up with. Midori, Aoi, and Tenten shared one final look of "let's hope we don't all get separated" before looking back down at Anko.

"Squad 1: Hitoshi Akumano, Dai Kono, and Ayane Yoshida," announced Anko, causing the three students to rise from their seats and exit the room ...

After fifteen minutes of the students' names being called off, it was down to six students in the room: Aoi, Midori, Tenten, Neji, the boy Aoi had fought, and a strange boy at the front of the room with shiny shoulder-length black hair. Midori and Aoi looked at one another with a worried expression before Anko caught their attention once more.