Black Aria

V

Being part of the Hyuuga family was a great honour. Even if you were from a minor branch you still had the respect of the major branch and Hinata-sama or Neji-sama would always be willing to help train you in the family techniques and the Byakugan. However, in Hyuuga Akito’s case, being part of the Hyuuga family was a constant reminder of how much of a failure he was. At twelve years old it was to be expected – no required – that he have a fully developed Byakugan. His cousin had their s appear at twelve and while some didn’t want to keep the Byakugan active or couldn’t because they had plans to be something other than combat-ninja, they still had the honour of having a Byakugan.

Akito, at twelve, hadn’t had one inkling of being a carrier of a Byakugan.

And his cousins made him feel that sting time and time again.

So he’d pushed himself through the Academy, studied and trained his ass off and come away with the highest marks of his class. It had gotten him labeled as a know-it-all failure and had alienated him even more from his family. Even his parents couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him, blaming each other. Their fighting had become so intense that by Hiashi-sama’s decree, they were to live in separate houses.

And while Hinata-sama and Neji-sama and Hanabi-sama were always ready to play with Akito, he knew they would rather be somewhere else than be seen playing with a Hyuuga clan failure.

So to be placed on a genin team headed by the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi was the worst thing that the Hokage could have done to him. No. Akito shook his head. That wasn’t the worst thing. The worst thing was that he was stuck on a team that included the Academy’s aptly dubbed ‘idiot’ and one of the most popular girls in school. Being trained by Naruto-san would be a godsend compared to living with Akabane Ryouji and Hirumi Haruko. Akito sighed, pupil-less eyes on his two teammates and wondering what, exactly, the Hokage had been thinking while she made team assignments.

While Akito was seen as the smartest of his class and thereby being ostracized to the point of wanting to commit suicide, his teammates were nearly to the opposite end of the spectrum.

Ryouji had the rebel look going for him from his wild black hair to his mirth filled green eyes. He always had an ‘I’m game’ grin plastered to his face and was constantly wearing obnoxious clothing. Lime green pants and a pink tee-shirt covered by a patchwork and duct tape jacket, followed by a dark blue choker that should have been a dog collar in another life. His hitai ate was tied haphazardly around his thigh and goggles had somehow adhered themselves to his head.

Haruko was nice to the point of cruelty. Originally from Amegakure, her family had moved to Konoha three years ago because her mother had been offered a better paying job as a nurse at the hospital. Haruko had the tendency to make a simple white like into a full-blown epic, which made her the Academy’s own gossip girl. She was shallow and far too concerned with what colour her hair should be (which was dyed purple at the present moment) than with what she could, and should, be learning.

Which, basically meant Team Four was made of epic fail.

“Hey, hey, where’s sensei, eh?” Ryouji asked.

“Late.” Haruko said with a sniff. “He’s not e very good sensei if he’s late.”

Akito rolled his eyes, even though the gesture was useless. Did they even know who their sensei was? Naruto-sand was probably watching them right now, deciding whether or not to bother with hem. After all, the three of them had no hope of even making it to chuunin let alone complete a mission higher than D rank.

“So if he doesn’t show,” Haruko began, “what do we do?”

“We can go find someone to bother.” Ryouji said brightly. He turned to Akito and nudged him. “Right?”

“Don’t be an idiot.” Akito replied, looking away from the other boy.

Ryouji frowned and folded his hands behind his head. “You’re an ass. Oh. Wait. I know you. You’re Hyuuga Akito, the only one without a Byakugan, right?”

Akito didn’t bother to answer. Haruko began to laugh and the Hyuuga boy wanted to punch her. However, Ryouji was quick to throw his arm around the taller boy’s shoulders and grin.

“We’re gonna be the best team ever!”

Akito shrugged Ryouji’s arm off and settled for glaring uselessly as Haruko fluffed her hair. “We aren’t even a team yet. Our sensei isn’t here. Besides, I heard that he was some failure ninja himself and went crazy.”

“Are you that starved for attention?” Naruto asked from behind Haruko. The girl yelped and whirled, grey eyes wide at the sighed o the man behind her.

“I- I-“ Haruko stuttered.

“Save it.” Naruto said, straightening to clasp his hands behind his back. “Just because you’re younger and a girl doesn’t meant I don’t get to wallop you.”

“You can’t!” Haruko said, fuming.

“Of course he can,” Akito said with a slight sneer. “He’s our sensei.”

“WHAT?!”

Naruto sighed and looked toward Akito. “They always like this?”

The Hyuuga boy shrugged, flushed, and looked away from his sensei. Ryouji grinned widely and bounced over the blonde jounin, saluting him before rocking back on his heels.

“You’re, like, the coolest shinobi ever!” Ryouji blurted. All my class ever asked Iruka-sensei about was you!”

“Good for me.” Naruto replied blandly. “It’s too bad you three aren’t even qualified to be genin.”

“Wh-what?”

“Yes we are!” Haruko shouted. “We passed the test; we have hitai-ates! We’re genin!”

Akito saw something dangerous flash in their sensei’s eyes. The Hyuuga boy swallowed nervously and stepped forward, feeling braver than he felt. “Why aren’t we qualified?”

Naruto actually seemed to ponder the question. “Well, you’re a Hyuuga and don’t have a Byakugan. Ryouji’s uncontrollable and an idiot, and Haruko only appears cares only about appearances.”

The worst part was that Naruto had answered with a smile. The three genin just stared at their sensei, unable to speak.

“However,” Naruto continued “if you can prove me wrong by noon, I’ll tell the Hokage that you’re ready.”

Ryouji glared at the taller man and shoved a finger toward their sensei’s mouth. Akito wondered if the black haired boy knew just how close his finger was to Naruto’s teeth. “We’ll prove you wrong! Just watch!”

Naruto’s smile became just shy of creepy. “All right. I want you three to find me the Whistling Stone.”

“Fine!” Ryouji snapped. “Let’s go!”

Both he and Haruko disappeared in a puff of smoke to begin their search, leaving Naruto and Akito alone. The brunette boy looked up at his sensei, frowning.

“There’s no such thing as a Whistling Stone.” Akito said quietly.

Naruto placed his hand comfortingly on the genin’s head. “And since you’re the only one who realized that, you’re going to help me.”

Akito tried not to beam in joy.