Chapter 7

The pinkette hesitated for a moment. How many years had it been since Ino called the kunoichi by her real name? Memories returned. Jealousy sparked. Rage resumed. "That's right we aren't. We never were. You were probably trying to make yourself look cool back then. It all makes sense now."

"That's enough," the icy words silenced them all. Naruto sat on top of the middle post in between Sakura and Ino. His face devoid of a smile and there was no book in his hand. The blond looked at Hinata who was still contemplating her decisions. "Well, what's your answer?"

"N-Nar…I mean, sensei," Hinata stammered, shocked at how she almost called him by name. "I still haven't made a decision yet."

"I've been gone for more than an hour," he said, impatiently drumming his knee. "You better give me an answer now, otherwise you all fail."

Naruto could see Sakura's anger, Ino's frustration and Hinata's torment. All three girls were suffering, two from losing their 'love' and one of them a few days away from becoming a branch member should she fail. A tragic affair the latter was. As for the former, he couldn't care less. At least this one had a brain that worked in other departments, her random blushes when he was around otherwise.

Hinata's eyes switched from Sakura to Ino, and vice-versa. Her own heart murmured different opinions. It was so hard! She didn't want either of them to fail. The Hyuga understood how they felt, zealous declarations ignored. She knew exactly how much they pined for the boy they crushed on, for she too had the one she admired and cherished and wanted in front of her. Do what's best for you Hinata. Her father told her to be effective this would be it.

She hesitated.

Neji's face flashed in her mind. Several other members of the Branch side popped up as well. All the short hands they were dealt with. If she chose her own happiness now, she'd be the same as those vicious elders. The same people who removed her status as heiress and deemed her useless. No. She would not be like them. Not now, not ever.

"Sensei," she spoke, her voice ironed. "I've made a decision."

Naruto's eye narrowed at her. She seems more…spine-y. Resting his cheek against his palm, he sighed. "Go on then. I've lost a lot of daylight today."

Hinata sighed to calm her nerves. She looked at both of their teammates and smiled. "I'd like to leave."

"WHAT!" both Ino and Sakura yelled, Naruto widened his eye for a moment.

"Excuse you and your all-seeing clan," the blond said. His tone both surprised and a big angry. Was this girl mad? Maybe she was.

"I… I w-would like to go back to the Academy," Hinata explained. "I…I realize I'm not ready to step out into the world yet. And I'd like you to give Sakura and Ino a chance."

"You can't be serious," he said. Naruto pointed at the two tied up females. "They've been at it since I got here, and you're giving up your chance to become my apprentice? You do realize exactly what will happen to you once you fail."

"Y-Yes."

"And what about your dream?" Naruto was beginning to get annoyed. This display of blind idealism was getting to him, reminded him too much of his old self. "What happens to them?"

"I will find a different way," the Hyuga said. "Maybe if I'm with them, I'll understand them better. And lessen the issues between our houses."

"You foolish girl," he chastised. "Giving up your own dreams for the sake of others…pointless."

"M-Maybe, sensei," Hinata gathered her courage. "But…it's my choice. It's my ninja way. I, I can never give up."

Naruto closed his eye. He remembered their encounter now, clear as day. Snowy weather, bullies, him helping her, getting beaten up and declaring how he would never give up. He converted someone into his fan. This was so wrong. On top of that this girl would be branded with the Bird Cage Seal. For some reason, it got to him. Maybe it was because this girl treated him nicely. Perhaps she represented something he lost.

"Fine," Naruto gave up on her. He could see the tears slowly forming in the corner of her eyes. She began to walk away.

"Wait!" Ino yelled. The blonde Yamanaka sighed and felt guilty now. Hinata, the ditzy girl had just given up so she and Sakura could gain a chance. She did not want to benefit from the credit of others, what if Sasuke heard about this?

"I didn't tell you to talk yet," Naruto said in between. He could see something in those turquoise eyes. Guilt, shame and defiance.

"You're not my sensei yet. I can say and do whatever the hell I want," the jōnin raised an eyebrow at her words. Ino had, if nothing else, spunk. "I'll go back to the Academy too."

"And the plot gets thicker," Naruto couldn't help but sigh. At least Hinata's act had affected one of them. Though if he was a betting man, he was sure the look in Sakura's face meant something else too. "May I ask why?"

"I…" Ino pondered, arranging her jumbled thoughts. "I don't want to become a genin this way. Especially not by making Hinata fail while I walk away scot free."

"Wow," Naruto said making the girl blush with a twinge of embarrassment. A cute guy was complimenting her. "I didn't know you had half a brain in you."

The blush disappeared and a scowl settled instead. Ino grit her teeth at her fellow blond. Still, she was tied up and he was riling her up. It was all just a game. She huffed and looked away. "I'm not falling for that bait. Regardless, I'm not riding anyone's coattails."

Ino only prayed that Sasuke would understand.

Naruto hummed loudly, thoughts languidly scattered. He focused on the last member of the trio.

Sakura's jaded eyes looked conflicted. Part of her was ecstatic, her Inner as she called it, and was jumping in her mind. Ino was out, Hinata was out. Their sensei, weird as he may be, was strong and barely made any effort to beat them all. Sure she was no jōnin, but she was no pushover either. Now she could grow stronger and prove to Sasuke-kun she was worthy of his time.

"Well, pinky," the young jōnin murmured. "What's it going to be? You're going to be my sole apprentice?"

Yes! She yelled in her mind, her other-self agreed wholeheartedly. This was it. The moment she'd been waiting for.

Her gaze shifted to her sensei. His eyed her, refusing to look away. The shade of blue was unique and it was hard not to stare at him. Sakura looked at Hinata who looked mortified, but proud; the Hyuga had made her decision. She looked at Ino who looked torn between sad and annoyed. Yet one thing was very clear. The Yamanaka was not regretting it. That look made the pinkette feel unease.

No. Sakura chanted to herself. They turned down the offer. I have to take this. To be with Sasuke-kun.

The boy's image flashed before her eyes. How he'd look at her as a kunoichi, not a hindrance. How he'd smile at her lone success. How proud he would be to hear she was being exclusively apprenticed. It was then a poisonous murmur reached her ears.

Doubt.

It began to seep into her. What would happen when Sasuke-kun asked of how she passed? How would he respond when he heard that the timid Hinata and sardonic piggy refused, but she took it? Would he look at her with disgust?

"You're keeping me waiting." The jōnin's voice brought her back from turmoil. Did she want this? To pass in this manner?

"I…"

She remembered her parents. The smiles they had when she passed. Their pride in her. It was all she needed to remember.

"I refuse."

Naruto sat there. Nerves overworking at what just happened. He'd underestimated the three. Now I have no choice. He cleared his throat, ridding it of imaginary cobwebs. "Well, I think this is the first time all three graduates refused to be genin. I guess this means I have less work to do. Buh-bye!"

Naruto smiled widely, jumping down from the post and leisurely strolling. His ears picked up the sound in the win and he extended his hand catching a kunai. He sighed, there was scribbling on the wrapping cloth around the handle.

BIG MONKEY IS WATCHING

...

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