Kaze no koibitō

3

Naruto sighed for what seemed the millionth time that night. He'd been going over the files of the students and what was expected of a chuunin teacher for a couple days now and he was not happy. The students were fine; he'd get to know them later. It was the class curriculum that bothered him. It seemed that every hidden village insisted on teaching history and other book related topics over practical things. He scowled and leaned against the wall. He was going to change that with his class, consequences be damned. Knowing that you were responsible for teaching children how to be ninja, even if it was just the basics, was a huge burden. He wouldn't send them off half-cocked.

He looked around at all the scattered files and picked up one of particular interest. It was the requirement for the graduates. Same as Konoha. Henge, Kawarimi, Bunshin. Despite their boast of quality shinobi, Suna had low starter standards like their ally. True their numbers were lower because only the best of the academy were accepted, but his class wouldn't be like that. Pulling out a blank scroll Naruto began to scribble furiously on the parchment. His class plan would break rules and tear down barriers and if Gaara didn't like it then let him try to stop him. Uzumaki Naruto always proved his detractors wrong.

Naruto straightened himself out as he walked toward Gaara's office. Clad in his beige pants, black shirt, and battle coat with his chuunin vest beneath, he cast quite a shadow. He nodded his head to the receptionist and knocked on the door. He tugged on his vest again and smiled. Temari had wanted to be the one to present it to him, but Gaara reserved the right of the headband for himself alone. A monotone voice bade him to enter and Naruto stepped inside. Gaara took in his friend's appearance and nodded approvingly.

"While I appreciate the change of color, I don't think your father would have approved of you tearing the sleeves off his coat."

"Yeah, well, it gives me a better range of movement. Besides, a sleeveless trench coat looks cool."

Gaara sighed and walked around his desk. He presented Naruto with his headband and bowed to him. Naruto took it with a smile and bowed to his friend. The two straightened up and each took a chair. As Gaara made his way back to his comfy leather chair, Naruto tied the headband around his arm. He liked his hair better down anyway.

"Congratulations new chuunin of Suna. I am proud to welcome you into our ranks."

"You don't need to say all that Gaara."

"Shut up idiot, I'm obligated to. Now where was I? Oh yes."

The speech continued on for nearly five minutes in Gaara's drawling monotone and Naruto was sure by the time it was over that the former jinchuuriki had only said the speech to make him mad. His eye twitching madly, he tried to keep his voice calm.

"Is that all Kazekage-sama?"

Gaara frowned and the sand behind him swirled up.

"I thought I told you not to call me that."

"I thought I asked you not to say all of that spiel."

"Yes, well, that is my right. On to other topics. I assume you are prepared for your class?"

"Yes."

"You've read the curriculum? Read the files on your students?"

"Yes."

"I can trust you not to teach them frivolous things like that Oiroke no Jutsu of yours?"

"They're children Gaara. I wouldn't teach kids that jutsu."

'Not what I heard.'

"All right then. Chuunin Uzumaki, welcome officially to the Suna ranks. And Godspeed and good luck with those little brats, you're going to need it."