Breath - Team 8 x Reader

Chapter 2 - The Dream Team

"...As of today, you are all ninjas. To get here, you have faced difficult trials and hardships. But that's nothing. What comes next will be far more difficult. Now you are only genin, first-level ninjas.
"All the genin will be grouped into three-man squads; each squad will be lead by a jounin, an elite ninja."

Yesterday came and went, and today was the day you would all receive your new team and teacher assignments. You listened intently to Iruka's explanation, trying to ignore the catty chatting of Ino and Sakura off to the side. Sounds like they're talking about Sasuke again. As usual. You rolled your eyes. Sure, you could acknowledge that the boy was attractive, you weren't blind, but you really didn't get the obsession that 99% of the girls in your class had with him.

"We want each squad to have a balance of strengths and abilities, so that's how we set them up. I will now announce the squads..."
Iruka listed off six different squads at this point, each with three different names in them, none of which being yours. You were starting to get a bit nervous. Just who were you going to end up with? You locked eyes with Hinata, who you were sitting right next to, knowing you were both thinking the same thing.

"Squad 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno--"

Naruto let out a cheer, while Sakura hung her head in defeat.

"...and Sasuke Uchiha."

This time, Naruto and Sakura's actions were reversed.

You looked beside you and noticed Hinata's dejected face. You immediately felt bad for her, but you hoped you'd get to be on the same team with her, if it was any consolation.

"Next, squad 8: Hinata Hyuga--"

"Ah! Y-yes sir." Hinata replied, snapping out of her thoughts.

"Kiba Inuzuka--"

Kiba chuckled.

You crossed your fingers and hoped. Ooh, this is it! Please say my name, Iruka-sensei, please say my name--

"Shino Aburame."

"Oh no..." You hadn't meant for it to be audible, but at least it was quiet. Now it was your turn to feel disappointed. You didn't get to be on a team with your best friend, or your crush. You didn't see how things could get any worse.

Hinata gave you a pitiful look, sympathizing with you. "I'm sorry, (y/n)...we're still best friends, and we can always train and hang out together, when we're not on missions..."

"I know, Hinata. I look forward to it. Thank you for trying to cheer me up." You gave her a genuine smile, which she returned.

"Now, squad 10: Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara--"

You heard Ino and Shikamaru bickering about something in the distance.

"And...Chōji Akimichi."

Chōji said nothing, just kept munching away on his chips.

"...Those are all the squads."

Okay, maybe you were wrong. Things could get worse. Out of all the names that were called, you didn't hear yours, not once. Was there a mistake? Did they forget about you? You wanted to raise your hand and ask, but you didn't want to feel singled out. You decided to wait on it for now, and find out what everyone was supposed to do next.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto piped up, standing up from his seat and pointing at the Uchiha boy. "Why does a great ninja like me, have to be in the same group with a slug like Sasuke?!"

"Hmm..." Iruka began, probably tired of Naruto's shenanigans by now, as was the rest of the class. "Sasuke had the best scores of all the graduating students. Naruto, you had the worst scores!"