Mamoru flashed a grin. "Hey, Shikamaru, want to team up with pops? With me around, every mission's a breeze."
Shikamaru propped his cheek on a hand. "Hard pass. You're more trouble than you're worth… and stop calling yourself pops."
Beside them Ino clasped her hands, eyes shining. "Mamoru-kun, I want to be on your team."
Mamoru answered without hesitation, "Forget it. We're not happening."
Ino pressed, "Why not?"
Mamoru only smiled. Anyone who'd read the manga or watched the anime knew the Ino–Shika–Chō trio were Hiruzen's pets, splitting them was unthinkable.
And he himself? Probably shunted into some generic 'background-character' squad.
Not that he cared much. As long as no one got in his way, it was okay.
"Ino, the teachers decide, not us." Shikamaru said flatly.
"But miracles happen." Ino insisted, fists clenched.
Shikamaru shrugged.
Up front Iruka raised his voice. "To balance skills, the faculty assign teams. I'll read the list, starting with Team One."
He lifted the paper. "Team One…"
Each name drew soft gasps, relieved exhales, or excited glances.
"…Team Seven: Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke."
Reactions split the room between joy and despair.
Sakura lit up, beaming.
Iruka continued, "Team Eight: Uchiha Mamoru…"
Mamoru straightened, surprised. 'Team Eight? Not what I expected.'
"Hyuga Hinata."
"Y-yes." A quiet voice squeaked.
"Aburame Shino."
The sunglasses-clad boy merely nodded.
Mamoru's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Interesting lineup.
When Iruka reached Team Nine, he called Kiba's name. Mamoru figured his presence had displaced the guy.
Last came the inevitable Ino–Shika–Chō: Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji.
Ino shot her new teammates a look of pure disgust, but fate was sealed.
"That's it for assignments!" Iruka closed the roster.
Naruto, desperate to be with Sakura yet allergic to Sasuke, exploded.
He sprang up, pointing across the aisle. "Iruka-sensei! Why does someone as awesome as me have to be with this guy?"
Iruka said patiently, arms folded, "Sasuke graduated top. You finished dead last. Balancing talent requires this arrangement."
Laughter rippled through the room, loudest from the girls.
Sasuke smirked. "Try not to drag me down, dead-last."
"What'd you say, bastard?!" Naruto lunged.
"Cut it out, Naruto!" Sakura snapped, wedged between them.
Her patience snapped, forehead bulging, she hammered his skull. "Enough already!"
"Ow-ow-ow! Sakura, quit it!"
All fight drained from Naruto.
"Silence!" Iruka shouted.
"Your Jonin instructors arrive this afternoon. Dismissed!"
He strode out without a backward glance.
The instant the door clicked shut, the room erupted in chatter.
Sasuke leaned against the window frame, absently jabbing his chopsticks at the bento box.
He muttered, disgust dripping from every word, "Didn't expect to be stuck in a three-man team. Those two will only drag me down."
Mamoru sat beneath the window, back against the wall and legs crossed, happily working through the lunch Sasuke had prepared for him.
He said, lifting his chopsticks to point at Sasuke, "I get how you feel but you can't bad-mouth the system. Teams exist to cover one another's weaknesses and to teach Genin how to fight together. Ninjas die easily, every extra pair of hands is extra insurance."
Sasuke shot him a sidelong glance. "Hearing that from you is downright surreal."
Mamoru raised an eyebrow, stretching his tone in theatrical fashion. "Oh, Sasuke, forget those incompetents. You don't need the weak, finish the mission solo, right?"
"Hn." Sasuke turned away with a sharp snort.
"Tsundere." Mamoru murmured, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
When the boxes were empty, the two relaxed over cups of matcha.
A faint scrape sounded outside and someone crept along the rooftop. An instant later, Naruto burst through the window, slamming the unsuspecting Sasuke to the floor. Pinning him with his full weight, Naruto fumbled for rope, trying to tie Sasuke's wrists.
"Naruto, you idiot!" Sasuke thrashed, jerking an elbow back to break free.
"Hold still, dammit!" Naruto lost his grip and the captive twisted away.
Sasuke rolled clear, smoothly flipped Naruto onto his stomach, and had him trussed in seconds, only to hear beside him. "That's a fake."
Mamoru's calm voice cut in.
With a puff of smoke, the bound "Naruto" became a log. Five more Narutos crashed through every window and before Sasuke could react, they dog-piled him. After losing three Shadow Clones, the real Naruto finally pinned Sasuke and sealed his mouth with tape.
Mamoru sipped his tea, content to watch the show.
He teased, "That fond of Sasuke?"
"Wh-what?!" Naruto sprang up, cheeks scarlet. "Like him? Never!"
"Then why'd you kiss him? Pretty indecent, don't you think?"
"Sh-shut up! I- it was an accident!" Naruto gagged at the memory.
When he recovered, he formed hand seals and transformed into Sasuke, clasping his hands in plea. "Please, Mamoru, don't untie him yet."
Mamoru asked, amused, "Planning something fun?"
"It'll be hilarious."
The disguised Naruto vaulted out and nearly slipped off the roof.
A ridiculous sight that left Mamoru chuckling.
Once the prankster vanished, Mamoru crouched beside the bound boy. "Need help, Sasuke?"
"Mmm!"
Gagged, Sasuke nodded, then shook his head wildly.
"So… yes or no?"
"Mmmph!"
Rip—
Mamoru tore the tape away.
"Mamoru, you jerk! You just watched!" Sasuke roared.
"Thought you could handle it. My bad." Mamoru shrugged, not sorry in the least.
Sasuke growled, "I can handle anything. Just wait, Naruto..."
"Want me to cut the rope?"
"No!"
Sasuke snapped, released himself with a basic jutsu, and vaulted out the window, eyes scanning for Naruto.
Nothing.
Mamoru leaned on the sill, watching him leap roof to roof. No doubt Sasuke was off to settle the score.
After lunch break ended, Mamoru returned alone. Neither Sasuke nor Naruto showed up, round two was still under way.
The newly formed Genin teams clustered in threes, chatting excitedly.
Mamoru dropped into an empty seat and propped his feet on the desk.
A black-haired boy in shades said, "Hello, I'm Aburame Shino. We're on the same squad, pleased to work with you."
Mamoru answered with a nod, "Likewise."
A timid voice piped up.
"Um… Ma-Mamoru-kun. I-I'm Hyuga Hinata. N-nice to meet you." Hinata faltered, cheeks pink.
Mamoru laughed. "Relax, I don't bite."
The moment their eyes met, Hinata flustered and looked away.
'Poor kid's shy.' He thought.
These two were the quiet types, he doubted he'd exchanged ten words with them before.
To break the ice he turned to Shino. "Nice shades, where'd you get them?"
"These?"
Shino tapped the frame and suddenly, several identical pairs appeared between his fingers. "Part of my collection. You can have one."
"Seriously?" Mamoru's eyes lit up and he sprang from his seat.
He clapped Shino's shoulder, grinning. "Man, you're amazing."
"It's nothing." Shino replied, though the slight upturn of his lips betrayed his pleasure.
"Haha, thanks. I'm keeping it." Mamoru slipped a pair on and twirled them appreciatively.
He pushed the sunglasses up his face, deliberately sliding the frame down so the lenses tilted and revealed a sliver of the eyes behind them. The look made him even more roguish. With these, he wouldn't have to bother hiding any changes in his eyes ever again.