About two days after I witnessed Naruto pass and get his head protector, I found myself tiredly sitting in a back seat in our classroom for the last time. Today was the day that we were assigned to ninja teams.

But I was so tired. I spent the last two days avoiding my parents. Or, more specifically, my father.

Sure, I went home after getting ramen with Naruto and Iruka-sensei, but that doesn't mean that I didn't still hide from my father.  I sighed, and looked around me as other students filed into the room.

I was the first one here, but after me, the first kid to get here was a boy with raven-black hair, and eyes that were just as dark.  If I remember correctly, his name was Uchiha Sasuke.  The reason I say "if" is because I didn't really mind the what the other students were doing too much.

After a few others entered the room, Naruto came waltzing in, a devious grin on his face.  He plopped down and rested his head on his arms.

I blocked out the voices that were asking Naruto why he was here, and pretty much minded my own business, until I sensed a murderous intent hanging in the air.  I looked around, until my eyes landed on Naruto and Sasuke.  I stifled a laugh to see them, lip-locked.  But as my gaze wandered, it settled on the girls glaring at Naruto.  I shook my head, chuckling at the situation.

Naruto better learn how to defend himself quickly.  Or else I don't know what'll happen to him!

A while after the beating had commenced, Iruka-sensei strode into the room.

He immediately jumped into his speech. 

"From this day forward, you are no longer mere students of ninjutsu, but full-fledged Shinobi.  But, among the ranks of Shinobi, you are mere novices, lowest of the low.  Your greatest challenges all lie ahead.  The next step is the assignment of official duties to you all on behalf of our village.  We will begin by dividing you into three-man cells.  Each of which will be monitored by a Jonin, a more senior ninja, who will guide and coach you as you become familiar with your various assignments."

Iruka-sensei paused as he let this information settle in.  I looked around, trying to figure out who I would be on a team with.  There were 30 students in the room, including me, so that guaranteed that I would for sure not be left out of a team.  Then I thought about the meaning of Iruka-sensei's words.  A three-man cell as a team...so that would imply teamwork...it would be a good idea to keep that in the back of my mind.

"I made the selections so that each cell's abilities would be approximately equal."

Iruka-sensei listed off many teams.  The following three were the ones that I took a note of:

Cell Seven:  Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto, and Uchiha Sasuke.

Cell Eight:  Aburame Shino, Hyuga Hinata, and Inuzuka Kiba.

Cell Ten:  Akimichi Choji, Nara Shikamaru, and Yamanaka Ino.

Iruka-sensei hadn't called my team yet, so I guessed that I was going to be in cell eleven.  I was right.

"In Cell Eleven, we have Utagawa Toshihiko, Yumoto Yusuke, and Yumoto Ayana."

Iruka-sensei placed his clipboard on his desk. 

"OK, everyone.  I'll be introducing your senior ninjutsu instructors this afternoon.  Until then, you're dismissed!"

With those words, Iruka-sensei walked out of the room.

Almost instantly I saw two shadows looming over me.  I looked up to see two identical sets of eyes and strawberry-red hair.  I offered the two a warm smile, and stuck out my hand.

"The name is Utagawa Toshihiko.  Am I correct to assume that you both are to be my teammates?"

They both nodded, ignoring my hand.  I let it drop to the table.  Their intensely greenish-blue eyes stared directly into mine, before the girl, who I assumed was Ayana, cracked a small smile.

"You don't seem to be as brutally mean as everyone says you are." 

Her words surprised me slightly.  "Oh."

Her brother elbowed her in the side.

"Be nice! He IS our new teammate, after all!"

I chuckled at his words.  "And do you know exactly what it means to be someone's teammate?"

They both stared at me blankly, a question evident in their eyes.

"It means that we work together.  We go through things together.  And above all, at least for me, I am willing to put both of your lives above my own.  I don't want to see my teammates die in front of me if it's not necessary.  So," I stuck my hand out, the palm facing the floor.  "Are we going to act like a team, and work together, no matter how the stakes are pitted against us?"

The twins glanced at each other before smiling widely.

"Deal!"

They put their hands on top of my own.

"Well, let's make this a really fun time as we grow, eh?"

They both nodded eagerly, before Ayana stopped, thinking.

"Toshihiko, would you like to eat lunch with us?"

I smirked slightly.  "Sure.  Lead the way."

I followed my new teammates out of the classroom.