Naruto - Team 9's Journey Chapter 1

Chapter One: Memories and Team Nine

The Academy classes had end for the day as the young Koji Uchiha stepped outside, the sun was setting as he stretched his arms in the air. He wanted to get back to the clan compound soon, he knew that with what happened to his brother his father didn't like him to be away from him when outside of the Academy. He had only taken a few steps out before he felt a hand grab his shoulder, looking back he saw the blonde Toshiro Yamanaka, it would be a lie to say he didn't find Toshiro annoying and full of himself. "What do you want Toshiro?"

"Oh come on Uchiha can't a friend hold back and talk?" he asked with a smug smile on his face as he stared into Koji's eyes.

Koji was silent as he gripped the Yamanaka's hand and forcefully removed it from his shoulder. "Friends? You have done nothing but torment me since...what happened to my brother!" Anger was clouding Koji's judgement as his hand gripped tightly in a fist and shook. But he began to think about what Shisui would want for him and what he would do as he opened his fist. "I'm going home Toshiro...I suggest you do the same." He said as he turned away.

From the door of the Academy most of the class had seen the exchange but did nothing to help either of the boys. Ino was the force one out and smacked her cousin over the back of the head, other students slowly made their way in different directions. But one ran after Koji, once she finally caught up to him she took a deep breath. "Koji....I'm sorry Toshiro did that." Riku Sarutobi mumbled as she looked up at the taller boy.

"Riku? You don't have to be sorry, you did nothing wrong." he answered as he smiled softly at her. "Why did you run all the way out here after me, your family lives in the other direction."

"Well I wanted to make to sure you were okay Koji." She brushed her black hair back as she looked him in the eyes. "I figured I could walk home with you."

Koji paused once she said that, he may not have known everything going on with his clan but he knew it wouldn't be for the best of the Granddaughter of the The Third Hokage just walked into to the compound alone. "No don't worry about it Riku."

"But Koji..." she tired to argue but was interrupted.

"Riku what are you doing out here?" A taller man appeared out of a flash of smoke. A cigarette in his mouth and a full beard on his face.

"Uncle Asuma I was making sure that my friend was okay." Riku answered.

Asuma looked down at the young Uchiha he knew who he was and gave the kid a smile, "Well thanks for keeping her company but Riku you know better, my brother has his rules and you should get home."

Riku mumbled and looked down, "Yes sir...bye Koji." she waved before she ran off.

Asuma gave the kid a nod, "Keep your brother in your heart kid and make your path in this world."

Koji watched as the man left with Riku, 'I will always keep Shisui in my heart, he was always my biggest supporter.' He keep walking with his hands in his pocket. His thoughts almost completely focused on his brother, it was nearly two years ago he suddenly died. All evidence pointed to he killed himself, but some believed that Itachi murdered him for the Mangekyo Sharingan. Koji wasn't sure what to believe he knew his brother wouldn't kill himself for no reason, but he also knew Itachi and knew he wouldn't just murder him. His thoughts were disrupted by a strange noise, climbing up a fence he saw an animal locked in a tiny cage. Having seen it he got over the fence and picked up the cage, "Don't worry little one I will get you out." he said now seeing that the animal was a badger. Looking around he got back over the fence and walked towards an open area, he released the lock as the creature dart out of the cage but it stopped. It turned back and looked to give the kid a nod.

Koji stared back not expecting something like that, but now the sun had set and he knew the was going to get it from his dad as he rushed back to the compound.

Walking through the area something felt off, no one was around and it was silent. Koji heard a small bell and turned seeing no one, "Hello?" he asked hoping someone will answer.

"Go home." A voice said to him.

Koji was not about to wait to find the voice as he rushed home and opened the door, closing it he regained himself. As he looked at the table for a split second it looked like Itachi was sitting there but to his shock it was his brother Shisui.

"Shisui!...How?!" Koji asked stunned as he felt to his knees tears in his eyes.

Shisui stands and walked towards his younger brother, "Listen Koji...I don't have a lot of time...I need you to listen to me." he spoke softly as he places a hand on the younger brothers shoulder. "I won't be coming back Koji...I...have a friend relaying this message. Please be better then me, I want you to be the best for this village. Be above this 'Curse of Hatred' that the Uchiha suffer from, don't live life for revenge. Live to protect those you love."

"I will Shisui! I promise!" Koji cried as tears fell from his eyes as he hugged the leg of him. "Please just don't leave, I need you!"

"Goodbye."

Once Koji heard those words the world went black.

---

Koji shook his head in the classroom, he had been thinking back and daydreamed about the day the Uchiha clan was massacred. Today was the day teams were being selected, he was hoping he was placed with people he got along with since he would be with these people for years to come, the door was pulled open as Ino and Sakura forced their way through the door both declaring that they were first. The two of them keep going at it until Sakura rushed down and shoved Naruto out of the way wishing Sasuke a good morning.

Toshiro walked in next a rose in his hand as he gave it to Hinata, "Looking beautiful." he stated as he walked passed her and took a seat next to Koji. "Doesn't it just bug you how all the girls go for Sasuke?"

Koji just shrugged, "It really doesn't, I know Sasuke he doesn't care...he only has one thing on his mind."

More girls began to fight about who was going to sit next to him, the only two to not join in was Hinata Hyuga and Riku Sarutobi. As the pair talked quietly to each other. His attention was pulled back to the girls all of them were staring at Naruto with the look of murder in their eyes. "What happened?" Koji asked.

Toshiro couldn't help but laugh, "The weirdo just got pushed onto Sasuke and their lips touched!"

Once things had settled down and everyone had taken their seats Iruka came in and began to speak, "As of today you are all ninjas, to get here you all faced difficult trials and hardships. But that is nothing what comes next will be far more difficult, now you are Genin and will be place in three man squads. It's squad will be lead by a Jounin an elite ninja."

It wasn't long until again Ino and Sakura were arguing about who was going to be on Sasuke's team, Riku overheard these and laughed at the two of them for arguing about something dumb. "So Hinata who do you want on your team?"

Hinata mumbled under her breath but she was looking at Naruto the whole time. Riku smiled and gave her a pat, "I will hope for you as well."

"We like to balance the squads based on skills and abilities, so I will now begin to list off the squads." Iruka stated. He began to list off the various teams.

"Team Seven. Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno..." Naruto stood up and cheered out loud once he had heard this, "and Sasuke Uchiha." Naruto slumped down and Sakura stood up and cheered this time.

"Next up Team Eight. Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame."

"Team Nine. Toshiro Yamanaka, Koji Uchiha, and Riku Sarutobi."

Toshiro leaned over to Koji, "Man look at that we got ourselves a hottie."

Koji rolled his eyes as he looked at Riku and gave him a smile.

Again Sakura was taunting as Shikamaru began to speak up, "I don't get it what do you see in a guy like that he's not so special."

"You are so beyond clueless Shikamaru don't you get it?" Ino grumbled.

"No I don't get it because I'm not a girl." he retorted.

"You are so full of yourself, jealousy is a terrible thing I'd hate to be on your squad." Ino smirked.

"Now for Team Ten. Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi. Those are all the squads."

Naruto shoot up and pointed at Sasuke, "Iruka-Sensei why does a great ninja like me have to be on the same squad as a slug like Sasuke?"

Iruka looked at him a bit annoyed, "Sasuke had the best scores in the class...you Naruto had the worst." Most people in the room laughed at the poor kid. "To create a balanced group we put the best student with the worse student."

Sasuke mumbled something to Naruto and he only seemed to get more angry, "What did you say?!"

"Knock it off Naruto, sit down!" Sakura shouted.

"After lunch you will meet your new Jounin teachers, until then class dismissed."

Most students fanned out with their new teammates, Riku quickly scooped up the empty seat next to Koji, "Seems like the three of us are going to be the best team." she laughed softly.

"With beauty like yours no one can stop us." Toshrio gave a little wink as Riku laughed nervously at it.

"So do you guys have any plans for lunch?" Koji asked.

"Yeah that is lunch with Riku." Toshiro laughed.

"Sorry Toshiro but if we are going to eat it will be as a team." Riku declared as she held up a small basket. Both Koji and Toshiro looked at her confused. "What? I'm the Granddaughter of the Hokage I know what to plan for at times."

 "Fine I guess I can put up with Koji this one time." Toshrio grumbled as he leaned back.

Koji looked at Riku and gave her a nod, she smiled as she removed three bentos one for each of them.