Finding Our Ninja Way (Book Three)

Picking Teams.

"A team is only as strong as it's weakest link."

-Unknown

It was at this point that all parents and legal guardians had to clear from the stage and fill the seats below. Lady Tsunade was about to announce the groups and it's members that we would all be tied to for-- the rest of our lives. There hadn't been a single person that hadn't thought the exact same questions:

"Will I know anyone on my team?"

"What if I get stuck with someone I hate?"

"What if I'm dead weight compared to my team...?"

For the first time in their lives, all the graduates could feel it. The importance and intensity of whatever lady Tsunade might say. This was their futures after all. Daisuke had already lost count of how many crossed finger's he saw behind the backs of students around him.

The hokage cleared her throat. "Let's get this show on the road." She said in a muffle, followed by a cough, and then raised her voice so everyone in the crowd could hear:

"Teamwork. Nothing is more crucial in the ninja world. Communication. Without comrades, you might as write yourself a death wish. Your teachers, parents, and myself have had many of conferences about this. Our choices were inspired by ability, effort, and

Background. We will NOT reconsider our decisions under any circumstances. You're all no longer kids. In the eyes of an enemy, as long as you wear a leaf forehead protector, each of you young adults are willing to die for your village. If you aren't, then please remove your headbands now." Said the blonde.

Eyes wandered, but no one dare say a word nor flex a muscle. The leaf leader scanned over the faces of all the kids before her, before returning to the paper she's been reading from.

"Good. Then you've all taken an oath to stand by your home and do whatever necessary to ensure it's tomorrow. If everyone is ready then, I will now begin assigning squads. "

There had been only the single sound of someone coughing at the far end of the line. Other than that, only a winding breeze had been heard.

"Squad 3: Leto Uzumaki, Hisoka Aburame, and Toshiro Nara. You've been given sensei Lee."

Leto stared off into space, looking as if in deep thought before nodding with a stern expression. The two whisker's on each of her cheeks now more visible to Daisuke, as he hadn't seen them from afar. Had they always been there? Surely.

Hisoka Aburame, the girl with a thick grey half trench coat with flared top and shorts showed no expression behind her dark rimmed glasses. Her hair was a pale blonde pulled back into a slick, tight ponytail, no longer than the end of her shoulder blades.

Toshiro, the attack tactics master held a somewhat annoyed aura, but focused on the floor in front of him, both hands deep in his pockets.

It was strange, the standard team was suppose to have two males and one girl.. Had they changed it?

"Moving along. Team 5: Arashi Inuzuka, Hiro Hyuuga, and Kamiko Yamanaka. You've been given sensei Shino."

Arashi Inuzuka, the man whose life is his canine companion. His skin was tanned to an almond shade, with light brown hair almost the same shade as his complexion. His hair was short and simple, spiked upward and only at the very beginning front end of his forehead, the rest contained by a black Beenie. Defined jaw line, piercing green eyes, and the two symbolic red upside down triangles on his cheeks. Don't let his looks fool you though, Arashi was a rash bonehead that acted purely on feelings, particularly anger. He scoffed and snarled after hearing his team announcement, so he'd crossed his arms and hadn't continued the tantrum any further.

Hiro Hyuuga, he was a main branch royal, and everything he wasn't suppose to be. Smaller than all the other boy graduates, standing at only 5'4". Incredibly thin frame, pale, short, deep bluish hair, and ironically; thick framed glasses. He was far sighted. The poor, shy boy always wore a face of grief and worry. Daisuke had once heard the Hyuuga's father ridiculing Hiro for disgracing the clan's name with his natural characteristics. Hiro had trouble seeing anything right in front of him-- but was rumored to have the best byakugan within the century. Unlike Neji the rookie, this kid just wanted to stay out of the way. Hiro winced at the calling of his team mates, and tried to not make it obvious that he had no clue who the Inuzuka boy was.

Kamiko Yamanaka, Daichi's cousin. She had luscious neon greenish-blue curls reaching just below the collar bone. The face of a porcelain doll, and the stoic expression to match it. Gorgeous, silent, and even more Eerie than the Aburame girl, Hisoka. Yes, there was something off about that florist... She hadn't showed any interest in the calling

"Team 7..."

Tsunade called two boys the young Uchiha hadn't even heard of, and a Akimichi girl. She had honey blonde hair, and a curvaceous figure. The full figured classmate always had her hair done, nails manicured, and make up in perfect place.

"And now, For the last team. Team 9, Naomi Rock..."

Daisuke couldn't help but lean out to observe her reaction. The taijutsu girl had broken a sweat, and her usual grin looked forced.

The little raven felt his heart begin to race even harder. They hadn't called him yet.. Hadn't Daisuke graduated too?

"Daichi Yamanaka.."

An echoing "YES!!!" Could be heard from a mile away. Multiple hisses for silence then followed, and silence filled the air again.

Daichi Yamanaka was overjoyed, and couldn't help but show it. The artist has had a raging crush on the thick eyebrowed girl since they'd been four. In the pre-academy days, Daichi had just began picking up a paintbrush, and he had an immediate love for drawing. Most kids at that age were preoccupied with eating glue, and squashing bugs. Not Daichi though, who had a passion for drawing the playground, rather than participating in playing on it. Naomi was the only one who found happiness in viewing his canvases... The only way Daichi could see this day as any less, is if the duet's third member was Daichi's mortal enemy--

"Daisuke Uchiha. Team 9's sensei will be Shikamaru Nara."

"NOOO!!! Anyone but him!!!" Heard Daisuke, shouted by the Yamanaka pest, who was again hushed by listeners.

The world froze as our hero retracted to the deep abyss of his own soul.

'My team.. For the rest of my life... Bonded.. Together.... Never to change... Working as one...'

He had been astonished that he and his childhood friend would form yet another bond, one that nothing could ever break.. As for Daichi, Sakura's son soon cringed. The Uchiha would rather have each of his teeth pulled out with rusted plier's than work with that asshole. Daisuke also realized their differences would have to now be put aside from today on, for the sake of team 9. Too bad the boy skilled with paint wasn't so open-minded.

"Your first team meeting will be tomorrow, at the designated place your sensei tells you before you leave today. Our graduation ceremony is now over."