Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Chapter 2
It was hard work to stifle the tears as he walked home, and Satoshi only got angrier and angrier as he stomped back to his apartment. How could he have failed? He had tried so hard…!
He didn’t want to wait another year! If he did, Kasumi would be on another team…and he would probably never see her again…
Satoshi sighed. Kasumi. He had been crushing on her since third grade, but she never seemed to notice him. Besides, she called him annoying…
What was he to do?
Satoshi gloomily sat on his window ledge, and was surprised when he saw Daisuke appear outside his windowsill.
“Huh?”
“Shh, Satoshi. Want to know a secret?”
Satoshi’s eyes lit up. No one had ever confided in him before. “What is it?”
“There’s are scrolls of secret techniques in the Hokage’s tower.” Daisuke whispered. The Hokage was the leader of their village, and the position Satoshi aspired to. The name meant Fire Shadow – fitting for a ninja.
“Oh?”
“If you steal one and learn the techniques, than you can pass the exam.” Daisuke winked.
Satoshi nodded. “Thanks for telling me this.” He whispered back. He would do this, and prove to Seiyou that he was worthy to be a ninja!
It was surprisingly easy to sneak into Oak’s tower once Satoshi used his altered transformation technique to become a naked woman. He reached the library and found several scrolls wrapped in black cloth that looked useful, so he grabbed the first one and snuck back out.
Half an hour later, he was in the woods, trying to practice the Shadow Clone technique. After all, if he could make clones then he’d be okay…
That was when Daisuke came along and nearly incinerated him with his flame attacks. Satoshi yelped as he fled, dodging the moves.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I only wanted the scroll, brat.” Daisuke hissed in a laugh.
Satoshi felt something inside him shatter, and the next thing he knew, the clearing around him was filled with clones. Needless to say, that was enough to take Daisuke down… and after he apologized to Leader Oak, the man sighed and said he could become a genin if he really wanted to.
He did! Even if genin were the lowest-ranked ninja, he was still a ninja! And he would work his way up to Hokage! He would!
Needless to say, Seiyou was rather surprised when she was called into private conference with Oak, but she was quite happy that Satoshi had graduated.
He was another’s burden now…
The next day at the Academy, all the students who had graduated converged, proudly wearing their forehead protectors. Satoshi smiled brightly, his new forehead protector glittering in the light. Several students made derisive comments and wondered how he had passed, but quieted down Seiyou coughed at the front of the room.
“Now,” She said quietly, “I will assign you to your teams. As you know, genin are sorted into three-man cells underneath the guidance of a Jounin instructor.”
Satoshi nodded. He wasn’t stupid!
“So… let us begin…”
Satoshi tuned out until he heard his name being called. His eyes lit up, as he realized he was on the same team as Kasumi!
Kasumi felt rather horrified, because she wasn’t completely clueless. She had discovered Satoshi’s crush, but that didn’t mean she had to reciprocate!
Besides, she liked someone else…
“Nakamura Red.”
The student nodded quietly.
Kasumi cheered inwardly, as she cast a glare at Yellow, who was sulking openly. Ever since they had both discovered their crushes on Red, former friends had become rivals in love.
But Red was on her team! Now they could spend lots of time together!
She grinned brightly, as Satoshi seethed. He didn’t like Red. It was probably because Red was popular, but Satoshi decided he was just a teacher’s pet.
Red wore gloves, black ones that went up to his elbows, and black shorts, and a dark red shirt, and he had red eyes.
Why did Kasumi like him?
“Why am I on his team anyways?” Satoshi demanded angrily.
“Because,” Seiyou said mildly, “You were paired so that the teams would have about equal strength in ability. Red graduated from the academy with the highest score, while you, Satoshi had the lowest.”
The students laughed. Red said nothing, still resting his chin on his hands, as Kasumi edged closer to him. He ignored her advances, as Yellow glared from Red’s other side and also edged closer.
As Yellow had been placed on a team with Aogiri and Takeshi, she was none too happy about her situation.
Satoshi fumed quietly. He was not happy either.
“Your Jounin instructors should be here in an hour. Please return here to greet them. Class dismissed.”
With that, the students dispersed.
“Um… Red?” Kasumi asked.
Red glanced at her. “What is it?”
“Since we’re on the same team, can we eat lunch together?” She asked.
Red looked indecisive for a moment, before he shrugged. “Whatever.”
Kasumi cheered inwardly, and happily sat down next to Red, who unpacked his sandwiches while she did the same with her bento. Satoshi stared in disbelief.
This… was so unfair!
He stormed over. “I’m eating lunch with you too! After all, we’re a team!”
Kasumi glared.
“You’re noisy.” Red told Satoshi, but made no further moves as he began to eat his lunch unconcernedly.
Satoshi moved as close to Kasumi as he dared, and cheerfully took out his boxed lunch.
Maybe… maybe, if he could just ignore Red… this team thing might be good!
End Chapter
Completed 3/2/07
Lance: So when do I come in?
Phantomness: Unfortunately, not for a while. I’m a lazy authoress, but I’m not tempted enough to time jump yet.
Red: *Hugs Lance*