Everyone heads back to class but this time sitting grouped, each close to their own teammates, except for Naruto and Sasuke who make it a point to sit as far apart as possible, yet in the same row of seats, while Shino quietly sits in the middle.
I worry a bit about how the story will play out with Shino taking Sakura's place but honestly, it just seems like an improvement.
Without the love triangle Naruto will no longer be distracted trying to impress Sakura and one-up Sasuke and Sasuke no longer has the Sakura bug attached to him… now he has a whole bunch of bugs that will at least have some during a fight.
A few minutes later, the Jounin teachers start showing up one by one.
Each Jounin showed his face inside the class, called up their team's number, and then left the class with their Genin.
Naruto's teacher Kakashi will surely be the last to show but Kurenai can show up at any time to take my team.
I don't recognize the faces of any of the other Jonin teachers until Asuma shows up.
"Team 9, let's go".
Ino looks at me and I nod to confirm it's who we expected. She smiles and waves goodbye at my team before following Kiba who rushes ahead, taking Shikamaru in her tow, lazily stretching his arms behind his back
Kurenai shows up next.I was ready to get up before her words pause me in my tracks.
"Team 8 you're with me"
The class is mostly empty by this point. Just my team and team 7. Naruto seems to be avoiding looking at Sakura but is still sneaking some glances from time to time.
Then a face I didn't expect to see rears its head through the door.
Mitarashi Anko, holding a dango stick in her mouth in her classic fishnet blouse and long brown cloak. Her hair, purple in a spiky ponytail.
"Yo, Team 10 let's go. I'll take good care of you!"
Anko smiles with a threatening face towards our group.I'm flabbergasted but happy with this arrangement.
We head outside leaving behind Naruto, Sasuke and Shino to wait for the perpetually late-in-life Kakashi.
Stepping inside a nearby training camp Anko sits on top of a tree and stares down at us.
"I'm Mitarashi Anko, special Jonin."
Sakura tilts her head"I've never heard of special Jonin"
"There is nothing really special about it, we are just like regular Jonin in rank however our skillset is more specialized.Recon and investigation in my case. Though I also have some skills in tracking and interrogation."
"That's quite a dark skillset" I comment.
In the original story, Anko had only some minor roles compared to some of the other Jonin.Her main role was as a proctor in the next chunnin exams where she led the 2nd part of the exam in the forest of death.Though to be honest they didn't do much examining... they just left the participants to fend for themselves in the forest, what was she examining exactly?
Her skills are good but she showed a very small variety of jutsu which mostly consisted of a budget Orichimaru snake jutsu toolset.
This leads to my biggest concern, tagging along with Anko means having a manget to that snake-men.
Orochimaru, one of the Konohagakure's legendary Sannin, known for his strength but above all, his intellect and wickedness. Currently defected from the village after getting caught doing unethical experiments in his search for immortality.
While he harbors no ill will towards Anko or Konoha ninjas in general, I need to avoid his curiosity to not end up as a lab experiment or be chosen as one of his potential spare bodies.
"Moving on, introduce yourselves and your skillset. Starting with you Hinata.Tell us all about you."
She is also a bully and probably a sadist….
"I..m Hyuga Hinata, my specialty is the clan specialty. Using the Byakugan as a sensor and the gentle fist technique in close range."
She manages to push her introduction out. I'm proud.
"Next..." - She motions towards Sakura
"Haruno Sakura, all-rounded but my chakra control and strength stand out"
"You remind me of a certain person, only by your age her boobs were already as big as mine. Now for the last one"
"Yuumi Yami, I'm also best at close-range fighting currently."
"I wonder why then a specialized jonin like me these two cute genin ended up being served as lambs to this big bad wolf?"
Anko smiles threateningly with her eyes closed.
"Let the secrets out boy, before I have to force them out"