Mizuki, the foxgirl with the back problems, held up a hand. "Uhm. Uzumaki was to remain uncaptured. Some of those, such as Sakura Haruno, were taking a makeup test in which they had to capture him in order to pass. How can she have captured him and he escape? Shouldn't one of them fail?"
The Hokage raised an eyebrow at the foxgirl, mainly wondering why she was so stubborn about not wearing a bra. Also wondering how long it would be before Anko turned around and belted Mizuki for using her head as a boob-rest. "Because we are ninja. Finding creative ways to accomplish the objective should be encouraged. They did."
Mizuki might have complained further but that was when Anko Mitarashi decided that having her head used as a boob-rest was not going to be tolerated. This ended with Anko belting Mizuki with sufficient force that the foxgirl didn't get back up for the remainder of the speech.
"Therefore," the Hokage continued now that he wasn't going to be interrupted, "the winners of the contest are the following teams."
Iruka Umino glanced at Naruto with a pitying look as he stepped forward and unrolled the scroll. "Anko Mitarashi and Kurenai Yuhi. Mikoto Uchiha. Hanabi and Hinata Hyuga. Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka-"
"Wait, we have to share?" asked Sakura, appropriately aghast.
"Of course not," said Iruka. "You're twelve. So is Naruto. Ages on everyone else runs from nine to sixteen. Mostly you're entirely too young for that sort of thing."
"I must have missed something," said Satsuki Uchiha. "What exactly did they win?"
"All of them that were trying to graduate the Academy did," said Iruka. "Also, all of those trying specifically for Naruto are engaged to him. When Naruto reaches chunin, you can all start dating at that point and decide who is going to be the official fiancee. Until then, you're just going to be genin and should concentrate on surviving and building skills to where you can make chunin."
"Ah," said Satsuki, sharing a look with her big sister. Their mother might lose interest by then.
Naruto eeped at the looks being exchanged by the various girls. Fighting spirit was being emitted. This could not end well.
"There are a few rules," said Iruka, holding up a small stack of pamphlets. "I call your attention to the first rule that there are to be no disfigurations, crippling, permanent physical damage, killings, or other means of disposing of rivals that would compromise the abilities of your fellow kunoichi or civilian women to perform their professional duties."
"Why is everyone looking at me?" asked Anko Mitarashi.
"Not everyone is," pointed out Iruka.
Sakura considered this, staring at the ice in her glass as if trying to find an answer there.
"The way I see it," said Ino Yamanaka, "what Iruka-sensei said was that only one can marry Naruto."
"Not true," said Sakura. "It's not specifically against any laws. That's why I was reacting like that when the Hokage gave that verdict. It's more usual for a single wife and a concubine or two - that's what the Fire Daimyo does for example."
"Oh?" asked Ino. She shrugged slightly. "Whatever. We only have to worry about it after Naruto reaches chunin. The way I see it - what we do until then is position ourselves to be the ones still on the field at the end."
"Cooperate?" asked Sakura.
"But of course," said Ino, flipping her hair back. "You'll need someone with clan resources to assist you, and that's me. Any competition between the two of us should be put off until MUCH later when the competition is thinned."
Sakura nodded, but was thinking that couldn't possibly work and was about to say so.
Ino, however, grabbed Sakura's hands in her own and pumped them. "Great! Between you and me we have got this locked!"
Mikoto Uchiha sat back on her cushion.
"You're not seriously going through with this, are you?" asked Satsuki.
"Why not?" asked Mikoto. "He's cute."
"Not the point," said Satsuki.
"He's an Uzumaki," pointed out Mikoto.
"What does THAT have to do with anything?" asked Satsuki.
"Something I suspected and have been able to confirm is that he is Kushina's daughter," said Mikoto. "Kushina Uzumaki was a friend, we were on the same genin team. She also had the Uzumaki bloodline of stamina, longevity, and immense chakra reserves. What is one of the primary problems of our Sharingan?"
Satsuki looked bewildered, so it was Itachi who broke her usual brooding silence. "The Sharingan drains chakra. Outside the Main House, the Uchiha using it are typically unable to use it for the length of time of a full battle before becoming exhausted."
"So, yes," said Mikoto. "I have personal reasons, I have clan reasons, and I have reasons involving an old friend to want to see Naruto-kun brought into our clan."
"He's way too young."
"So are we."
"He's not even passed his test to become a genin."
Kurenai shrugged.
Anko sighed. "Well, we can sell the engagement off when the price is right."
"So that was your plan?" asked Kurenai.
"Well, of course, why else would we be after that boy?" Anko stared at her friend. "You weren't after him, you were against the idea from the start."
"True, but that doesn't mean that I approve of selling the boy off like that," said Kurenai. "Well, come on. We'll have to see how the teams are chosen. We might end up with a genin team that's older than we are."
"Yeah, that might be a bit awkward," admitted Anko.
Watching Kurenai walk away, Anko decided that maybe it would be best if she arranged that Kurenai DID get together with the kid. It would be something to tease her friend about for YEARS. Now, how to do it?
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(Posted Thu, 18 Jul 2013 16:40)
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