The two girls were standing in front of the Hyuuga compound. Still holding hands. Looking at the redhead, Hinata speaks. "I didn't get the chance to give this to you because of Mizuki, but I also got you a graduation present. Just let me run in and grab it for you."
Haruka smiled at her girlfriend and said, "Okay, I'll wait right here for you." Hina-chan nods and runs inside. A shiver runs up Haruka's spine. She turns and sees a red eyed crow staring at her. Something is off about it. It squawks at her and then flies away. She turns back to the entrance and sees Hina-chan running back to her with a box in hand. The girl holds it out for her, and she gently grabs it. It's about two and a half inches wide and seven inches long. She unwraps the box and removes the lid.
Inside are two six inch long senbon. They each had a little symbol tied to the ends. One is a red Hyuuga clan crest and the other is a lavender swirl. "They're chakra metal, and are meant to tie up your hair and act as weapons."
Hinata loved that Haru-chan had long hair but she knew it would be a hazard in the field, so this was a good solution that didn't involve the girl having to cut her hair.
"They're beautiful, can you teach me how to put my hair up with them?" Hinata nods, she had planned to do that anyways.
"I'll stop by your apartment early tomorrow and help you with it."
"Okay… I love you Hina-chan."
"I love you too Haru-chan." The girls hugged one another and shared a quick kiss.
"I'll see you tomorrow Hina-chan, thank you for the gift."
"See you later Haru-chan."
***
The next morning Hiruzen found himself meeting with several of his elite jonin, they were here to become sensei. Normally only regular jounin are in the pool to become sensei, but that only applies to the second through tenth academy. For the first academy elite jounin are in the pool to become sensei and get first pick of the students. Most elite jounin also have stricter standards on what it takes to be a ninja so most students from the first academy end up in the reserve forces. But those who pass their jounin-sensei's test will be allowed the privilege of being trained by the best of the village. The sensei also only takes on one team during their career unless specifically requesting another. The team will be allowed to stay together until they all reach the rank of jounin.
Iruka was in the room with them along with the principal of the first academy, Yoshihido Aoba, and Kazuto, the man in charge of the ninja academies. They were there to advise the jounin on who would fit well together on a team. Some of it was unnecessary, for example it was already a foregone conclusion that they would be creating another generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and they did not need the instructors to tell them that they compliment each other.
After having read their files two jounin in particular were arguing over who would get a certain girl.
"I'm telling you, Kakashi, I should have her because I can take her Genjutsu much farther than you ever could."
"And I'm telling you, Kurenai, she has no talent in it and it would be better if I train her in Ninjutsu. She has huge reserves and would make a great Ninjutsu specialist."
Hiruzen can't recall ever hearing elite jounin argue like this over the dead last of a graduating class. He turns to Iruka and asks. "You were the girl's sensei, what do you think?"
"Haruka might not have talent in Genjutsu but she has a real passion for it, and I think we should nurture that. More than anything though, I think she needs to be put on the same team as Hyuuga Hinata."
"And why is that?" It was Asuma speaking this time.
"I saw it last night when they helped me apprehend Mizuki," The jounin had all been informed about what happened the previous night, "The two girls already have impeccable teamwork and would require a lot less work to make a fully functioning team. They barely even need to verbalize what they're doing for the other to react."
That had been enough to convince them, the two girls would be put on a team together, so then who should their third member be? That was the question echoing through the minds of the people in the room.
"We could do the traditional team of the top two students with the dead last." It was Yoshihido who spoke. That team composition typically fails horribly. In the best cases the teams are horribly out of balance and ultimately fall apart. And in the worst cases Konoha is left with the Sannin.
Hiruzen speaks, "What other options are there?"
Kazuto responds looking down at the files of the remaining graduates who hadn't been put in teams yet. "The only students left are Aburame Shino, Haruno Sakura, Inuzuka Kiba, and Uchiha Sasuke."
Iruka speaks again. "Sasuke is the only one who will work. Shino and his insects are afraid of Haruka as is Kiba's ninken Akamaru. Not only that but the two girls can't stand Kiba because he constantly mocks Haruka."
"What of Sakura then?" Kakashi was the one asking this time.
"She despises the other two, and Hinata seems to hate her just as much."
Kurenai spoke next. "So why does Sasuke work?"
"He doesn't care about them, but they don't annoy him and they're strong. He likes strength and will be happy he's not being held back by weaklings. They are neutral to him and don't seem to mind him. They just don't like his fans."
Hiruzen nodded and said, "Alright then we'll pair those three as a team." He didn't really want to create another top bottom team, the nickname for the team format, but this one seems to actually mesh so maybe it would work. "The last three will be put together as the last team."
Kakashi turns to the Hokage, "So who is getting Haruka?"