Twiceborn: Adventures of the Red-Haired Menaces

Chapter Ten: Introductions

Sighing softly, Sakura swung her legs back and forth, waiting for class to begin and for Sasuke to remove his chin from its perch atop her fluffy red hair. It was strangely comfortable like that – weirdly comfy to sit on the lap of the boy who was so quickly falling into the role of an older brother. Like one of those times in her younger years where she'd so desperately wished for an older sibling to scare away the bullies... like the others she'd seen doing just that.

She had been alone as a young child. So very alone. A humourless smile curled at her lips. Maybe that was why the dam holding back her anger snapped like a twig when it came to that subject. All the memories of her loneliness were coming back to her in full force, and there had been far too much. How hadn't she noticed it before the jump?

Greedily, she clung to the arms wrapped around her middle, sinking back into the precious family she now had. Dimly, she wondered about the upcoming class and what this S class would entail. There had never been a class like that before. Was it some remedial class or something? Her brow furrowed, and she glared at the clock above the board at the front of the room. S-Rank missions were usually the hardest. Was their class the hardest to teach then? Sakura tilted her head, eyes narrowing as the door slid open, revealing a strangely familiar figure who had Sasuke stiffening somewhat. Or were they all being classed as mini-geniuses?

"Right then, settle down, munchkins," the Uchiha who walked in spoke, and Sakura frowned as she tried to place the familiarity. He looked a lot like Sasuke before the jump and after too. Oh. "For those of you who haven't realised, we have four children joining us today. I'm Uchiha Izuna, your sensei for today's lesson, seeing as none of my colleagues took on the daily B-Ranked mission for your class of hellions..." Black eyes flickered over them, and Sakura felt Sasuke hide his face in her fluffy nest of hair. At least the Madara mop was being of some use... "Why don't you introduce yourselves," Sasuke's biological father spoke. "The Nakamura siblings."

A pointed look at the four of them had Kakashi standing up. "Yo." He held up one hand, eyes curling up into a smile. "The name's Kakashi."

At least he didn't say he hated them all, Sakura mused, watching as Naruto all but bounced to his feet next. "Hi! I'm Nakamura Naruto!" he said, smiling with teeth which were almost sparkling. Courtesy of Kakashi dragging him to the bathroom after breakfast with a toothbrush and a bottle of mouthwash. Typical Naruto. Sakura huffed. "Nice to meet you all. Hope we can be friends!"

Silence reigned, both Naruto and Kakashi looking over towards the pair of them along with the rest of the class. "Sasuke," her brother spoke, and Sakura could tell he was already glaring at everyone. Sakura blinked, spying the alarmingly tiny form of her brother's ex-brother. Well, maybe not everyone.

"Hn. Sakura," she grunted, grateful for Sasuke's arms shielding her from the worst of the stares as she introduced herself sullenly to their new class. Were they going to call her a tomato too? Her lip curled at the thought.

Izuna smiled then, looking between the four of them. "Well then, I'm sure your classmates will introduce them in time... but for now, all of you are due in the medical room for a physical – so off you go. You'll be sent back once you're done," he explained, shooing them all towards the door with an alarming amount of urgency, an odd smile on his face as he watched the four of them leave.

Naruto tilted his head. "Uh. Anyone know where the medical office is?" he asked, looking around the corridor for any sort of sign.

Kakashi set off for the stairs. "First floor. We passed it on the way to get up here," he informed them, walking ahead of them as they ventured off towards the medical office. And all the wonders of physical examinations. Sakura supposed she ought to have expected as much. Though physicals weren't usually held until it came time for chakra to be taught. After all, it was usually fairly obvious in a matter of days if someone was unsuited for the shinobi lifestyle. Though occasionally those like Gai and Lee made it through, despite the hardships which came from being unsuited to one or two of the shinobi basics.