Uchiha residence.
"Mamoru, aren't you ready yet?"
Sasuke's impatient call drifted up from downstairs, echoing clearly through the stairwell.
"Coming!" Mamoru shouted back.
He scooped the cold metal forehead protector off the table, muttering, "What a pain. Why do I even have to wear this thing?" even as he looped the strap around his neck and tied it.
He shifted the protector a few times to keep his neck comfortable, thinking that at a critical moment, it might just save his life. Next he fastened his ninja-tool pouch. When his fingertips brushed the buckle, he remembered something, turned, and yanked open the drawer. Inside lay a crystal Kunai of unusual design, clear blue, scattering flecks of light.
Tenten had given it to him as a graduation gift. He'd teased that the flashy thing was utterly impractical, sending the girl into such a fury she'd stormed off with bared claws.
His fingers lingered on the cold crystal for a second before he slipped it carefully into the pouch.
"If you don't get down here, I'm leaving." Sasuke called again, voice even colder.
"On my way!"
Mamoru dashed out of the room without another second's delay.
—
Today was the graduates' orientation, every new Genin had to attend.
Already the clamor outside the classroom could be heard.
The moment Mamoru stepped inside, he swept his gaze across the room and quickly locked on his target.
There was Naruto, standing in the aisle, excitement and cocky pride written all over his face. The forehead protector on his brow glinted like cold metal.
So it had played out after all, Mizuki's scheme exposed and Naruto passing Iruka's test.
Sasuke, heading for a seat, reached the aisle first and collided with Naruto.
"Move, idiot." Sasuke's icy voice rang through the classroom, lofty as ever.
"What did you say, Sasuke!" Naruto bristled like a stepped-on cat, craning his neck to glare.
"Need me to repeat it?" Sasuke arched a brow, contempt in his eyes. "Don't block the way, you're in the way."
"Damn it! Quit acting so high-and-mighty!" Naruto waved a fist, face flushed. "I'll knock you flat!"
Watching, Mamoru thought these two were natural enemies, they'd locked horns already.
"I heard you didn't pass the exam, Naruto?" He stepped between them, deliberately teasing.
"Hey… can't you see this?"
Instantly distracted, Naruto pointed proudly at his forehead protector, voice rising. "Starting today, I'm a real ninja. Man, this thing really suits me. Hahaha!"
Hands on hips, he laughed so hard his teeth showed.
"Really?" Mamoru gave an exaggerated shrug and walked toward his usual seat.
"Thought you'd have to repeat. I was planning to come comfort you, by laughing at you."
"Hmph, too bad you'll never get the chance." Naruto's nose was in the air, practically floating.
Shikamaru wandered in, hands in pockets, eyes half-lidded with sleep.
Seeing Naruto, he scratched his head lazily. "Huh, why are you here? Today's orientation is for graduates."
Naruto shoved his forehead almost into Shikamaru's face, rapping the protector. "Don't you see? Look. I'm a graduate too."
Shikamaru eyed him, muttering, "Naruto, you didn't just pick that up somewhere, did you?"
Naruto jumped, shouting, "Of course not! Iruka-sensei gave it to me himself!"
"Whatever."
Shikamaru waved dismissively, already bored, and shuffled toward the empty seat beside Mamoru. Before he could sit, a commotion erupted at the door.
Sakura and Ino burst in together, jostling, both yelling, "Made it!", then doubled over, panting from the race.
At the sight of his crush, Naruto's eyes went round, his goofy grin blooming.
Sakura's gaze swept the room, lit up, and she sprinted, straight toward… Naruto?
Ecstatic, Naruto leapt up, flustered. "G-good morning, Sakura."
"Out of my way!"
Without even looking, she yanked him from his seat. Off balance, he crashed into the aisle with a yelp.
"Ouch, brutal." Mamoru chuckled.
"Scary woman." Shikamaru agreed.
Ignoring Naruto's groans, Sakura clasped her hands, cheeks pink, and spoke softly to Sasuke, "G-good morning, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke only gave her a cold glance, no reply.
Gathering courage, she asked, "Um… may I sit next to you?"
The question detonated like a bomb in still water and the classroom exploded.
"I want to sit beside Sasuke!"
"I got here first, it should be me!"
"Let me have that seat!"
More and more girls crowded in, faces red as they fought for the precious spot.
The center of the storm, Sasuke himself, sat expressionless, eyes closed, as if the uproar had nothing to do with him.
Mamoru muttered, "Talk about favoritism based on looks."
Ino strolled up and towered over Shikamaru. "Shikamaru, give me this seat."
He glanced up lazily and waved toward other empties. "There are plenty of chairs."
"I want this one, next to Mamoru." Ino planted her hands on her hips, leaning in. "Up. Now."
Shikamaru rose slowly, muttering, "Fine. So pushy…"
He moved to the seat behind Mamoru.
Ino sat, instantly sweet. "Morning, Mamoru-kun."
"Morning." Mamoru answered with a polished smile, thinking, 'You sure know how to work it.'
Just then, noise from the front row caught his eye.
Naruto had climbed onto a desk and was crouching nose-to-nose with Sasuke, the two glaring, sparks flying, neither willing to back off.
The Sasuke-fan girls shrieked in chorus.
"Hey, Naruto! What do you think you're doing!"
"Get down! That's rude!"
"Stay away from Sasuke-kun!"
The yelling only made Naruto more stubborn and he leaned even closer.
At that tense moment, while everyone watched their faces, an accident happened. A student in front of Sasuke, talking with a friend, enthusiastically threw an elbow, which jabbed Naruto square in the rear.
"Whoa!"
A yelp tore from Naruto as he lurched forward, arms windmilling, completely off balance.
Under the stares of a classroom frozen in shock, as though time itself had stretched into slow motion, his lips landed on Sasuke's.
For a heartbeat, the room sank into dead silence. The air solidified, time stopped. Everyone gaped, certain they'd witnessed the impossible.
"Pfft—hahahaha…"
A single stifled laugh, like a pebble dropped into still water, shattered the suffocating hush.
Mamoru doubled over, clutching his stomach, tears streaming.
Sasuke and Naruto snapped back to their senses and sprang apart like lightning.
"Ugh… Naruto, I swear I'll kill you." Sasuke scrubbed his mouth, face livid, eyes blazing.
"Waaah! My mouth's rotting! Ptui, ptui!" Naruto leapt back as if scalded, spitting frantically, features crumbling.
Only then did Naruto sense the ominous shift. He looked up to find Sasuke's fan club circling him, faces dark, eyes glinting with murderous promise.
"Wait! L-let me explain! It was an accident, an accident, I swear!" He flailed, pleading innocence.
The girls weren't listening. Someone lunged first. Naruto was yanked to the floor and a hail of fists and feet followed.
—
When Iruka walked in clutching the roster, he found Naruto slumped at his desk, bruised and swollen, while the room reeked of rage, embarrassment, and barely stifled giggles.
Iruka studied the wreckage of Naruto's face for two silent seconds, sighed, and looked away. The kid never gave him a day's peace.
He declared, clearing his throat to quell the chatter, "Congratulations, you're full-fledged ninja now, but you're still only Genin. The real test begins today."
He swept his gaze across the suddenly sober class. "From now on, you'll be organized in three-man teams under a Jonin sensei."
A buzz erupted as everyone traded whispers, mentally calculating possible teammates.