Bonus Chapter! Chap 4.1...? Hmm, guess I'll call it that.

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Ch: 4.1

A female of moderate height timidly held her hands in front of her, twiddling her thumbs with uncertainty. She squinted, attempting to blink the sudden dryness from her eye. Her eye always became dry when she was nervous. It was the one tell-tale sign of her anxiety, and it could be so annoying sometimes.

She bit her lower lip and brushed away a strand of onyx hair. Despite playing with her fingers, her hands still managed to shake, trembling against her will. She recalled peeking in the mirror earlier today, and pondering on the fact that she looked so ridiculously out of place. She was dressed like a soldier from head to toe. She wore a bulletproof vest and a black spandex shirt and pants, both with packs for extra supplies strapped around various parts of her limbs. All in all, it felt ludicrous.

She shuffled in her military boots, glancing apprehensively to her right.

Manako wasn't the only one in this empty room. At her side were others dressed in similar fashion to her, garbed in the same military-grade attire. But they actually looked menacing in their uniforms—unlike her. There was an Ogre immediately to the right, standing more than two times her height. She looked fairly innocent and carefree, despite the deadly red horn protruding from her forehead.

Next was someone even more intimidating than the Ogre. A zombie. She stood with a smug look, crossing her arms over her substantial bust.

And the last one was the strangest. It was a Shapeshifter.

Manako blinked her signal eye. Because the Shapeshifter was in fact naked. Or close to it. Silver-white hair cascaded over her caramel skin, covering some of her curvy female anatomy.

Manako's heart began to pound. She looked down, feeling a sudden wave of intimidation. A part of her argued, suggesting that she wasn't good enough to be here—despite having the highest test scores in the training camp.

She sighed, taking in a breath and exhaling. She needed to calm down.

"What the hell is taking so long?" The Zombie girl muttered, frowning.

They were alone in a spacious room. It almost looked like an auditorium. The Ogre girl turned, massive breasts bouncing in the air as she stroked her chin.

"Maybe they had a flat tire?" she suggested, tilting her head innocently.

"Could be." The Shapeshifter yawned and took a seat on her own hair—however that was possible.

The Zombie groaned. Her vest was unzipped and her cleavage was visible, revealing countless lines of stitches. "I don't care what it is. The coordinator needs to hurry up befor-"

A moment later, the door in front of them clicked, then opened. In walked the person just mentioned. Miss Smith entered the room with a steaming cup of coffee in her hand. She was dressed in her usual clothes, black shades obscuring her piercing gaze. But the person that walked in next made Manako unconsciously straighten up.

He had blond hair and blue eyes and strange whiskered cheeks. Even from this distance, she could see his features clearly. He wore a dark, sleeveless shirt and camouflage pants. His hands were in his pockets and a glistening emerald hung from his neck.

He was smiling.

Manako felt her face heat up once he glanced at her. She averted her gaze. He had noticed her staring. His eyes were sharp and filled with experience.

"Ah, whiskers," Ms. Smith commented, taking a sip of her coffee. "Did I ever tell you, you make the best coffee?"

"I'm sure you have," he replied as they stopped in front of them, a clipboard tucked between his arm and torso. The blond male took all four of them in with a sweeping glance, lips twitching upward. The pair then continued to babble on for a few more moments, seemingly forgetting the fact that four Extra-species girls were standing in front of them. This only made Manako more nervous. The zombie girl, however, looked like she was ready to explode.

"Hello?" she said, gritting her shark-like teeth. "We've been waiting here for, I don't know, a while?"

"Oh, of course Zombina," Miss Smith smirked. Her glasses glinted. "Sorry, but we had a flat tire."

"Really." The Zombie deadpanned, then turned away with a huff.

The blond male moved a bit closer. "So these are the girls?"

"These are the girls," Miss Smith confirmed. "They had the highest physical and mental scores in the training camp."

"Hmm," he hummed, eying all of them. Manako shrunk away. "Do you have anything else to say to them?"

Sumike shook her head, raven hair falling over her shoulders. She took another sip of coffee. "Nope, they're all yours."

A grin found its way to the blond's whiskered cheeks. He seemed a bit excited. Manako gulped.

"Alright!" He clasped his hands. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki. And starting today, I'll be your sensei. I'll be training you all for the time being."

Manako blinked her single eye, watching the various expressions on the other girls' faces. She herself didn't know what to think. This was their teacher? She wondered what he would be like—wondered if he wouldn't like her.

"I'll meet you outside in five minutes."

It was hot and humid today. The sun beamed down from the sky above, pelting her mercilessly with golden rays. Manako wiped the glistening sweat from her forehead, shielding her sensitive eye from the yellow star. Perhaps wearing the uniforms had been a bad idea. She looked over to her left and saw the Zombie girl removing her vest as they walked outside.

"That's our sensei, huh?" Zombina grunted, slinging her flak jacket over her shoulders. "He doesn't look special to me."

"Zombina-chan," the Ogre whispered, glancing behind. "Don't say that."

"It's not like he can hear me," she said, peering through the sun. "It's too hot."

The Shapeshifter walked with her arms crossed, naked as the day she was born, dark skin glistening. "I need shade. Why'd they pick today of all days?"

Manako couldn't help but feel left out.

It seemed that they already knew each other in some way. She remembered seeing the three girls at the training camp, but she never really talked to them. She barely talked to anyone, actually. The two months at the camp had been tough. It had been a way to weed out those Extra-species not fit for the team that was being formed. And when the camp was over, Manako had been shocked to find out that she had been selected to be part of this team.

It really is hot, she thought. Her sense of sight was the sharpest, so it was easy to find the best place for shade, and it was only a few meters away.

She took a breath, raising her voice for the first time. "U-Um, maybe we could wait there?"

She tentatively pointed to the tree. The others turned their gazes to it, then to her, as though regarding her presence for the first time. At that, she nearly sagged with dejection.

"Ohhh, good idea," the Ogre girl said.

Once they reached the shade of the tree, Zombina dropped to the ground carelessly, putting her hands over her head and relaxing against the aged, wooden trunk. The Shapeshifter still sat on her hair, and the ogre took a seat on the grass. Manako didn't know what to do, so she also took a seat. She crossed her legs, suddenly feeling a positive change in temperature despite wearing such a tight uniform.

"That Naruto guy better not take too long getting here," Zombina muttered, complaining again. "If he does, I'll-"

Somebody cleared their throat, cutting the Zombie short once more. The sound originated from the top of the tree. Manako glanced upward and was surprised to see Naruto standing on one of the branches. He held a book in his hands, not paying them much mind.

"It's about time you showed up," the blond said casually, jumping down so that he could stand in front of them.

"Wait," the Ogre said, playing with her white hair. "Weren't you just in the building?"

"Oh, that was just a clone," Naruto answered. "I was waiting out here the whole time."

The Shapeshifter perked up, interested. "What do you mean by clone?"

Naruto waved it off, chuckling. "Just forget about that for now. What's really import is the fact that you're here."

They looked at him in confusion. Manako found herself staring again, gazing at his short, yet spiky blond locks, and fondly tracing the whiskers on his cheeks. She had a habit of doing that when she met new people. Their sensei stood in front of them with his arms crossed, attention now fully on them.

"I'd like to congratulate you on being chosen for this team," Naruto spoke, resting his hands behind his head. "You all were the best, when it came to-" he held up four fingers "-durability, stealth, strength, and accuracy."

"So that's what we were being assessed on," the dark-skinned Shapeshifter realized. Manako could tell he was surprised at the girl's nakedness, but he was doing a pretty good job of hiding it.

"Yup." Naruto yawned. He looked a bit tired.

"So how come we didn't know what we were beings tested on?" Zombina asked.

"I thought we were just doing some training at the camp." Tio tilted her head.

Naruto turned to the Zombie and Ogre, shaking his head.

"Well, you're right. You were doing some training. But the training was designed in a way to secretly test those four base criteria."

Manako raised her hand timidly, seeking his attention.

He smiled, then nodded to her.

"S-Sensei," she mumbled. "There's still somethings I don't understand…"

"What don't you get?" Naruto asked.

"Y…you said we were the best, in regards to those four aspects," she began, cheeks burning as everyone's attention fell on her. "B-But out of the four, I can say I only excelled in one of them. Um, accuracy, for instance."

Naruto grinned, nodding once again. "Good eye," he said and winked. "You're the smart one, eh? But, yeah, you're right. You each excelled in one of these aspects. In fact, you were all the best in only one of them. That's exactly why you are on this team."

Manako pondered silently. At the training camp, in three of the four criteria, she felt she had gotten pretty low scores. But because she was a cyclops, she was greatly adept in precision, scoring perfectly on exercises she now realized were related to accuracy. It all made sense. This team was based on individual strengths coming together to make a working unit. It was ingenious.

For a moment, she saw Naruto looking at her, recognition flickering in his sea-blue gaze. She looked away, a wave of heat washing over her. Because when he was gazing at her, he remained eye contact. He didn't avert his eyes at all. She wasn't used to that. When most humans saw a cyclops they could never look them directly in the eye.

"Okay, does everyone understand now?" he asked.

"Yup!"

"Yeah, makes sense."

"I guess I understand."

Manako nodded slowly, mumbling.

The blond male then stroked his chin, pursing his lips. Then he took a seat in the grass, so that he could be more eye-level with the four of them. He crossed his arms around his muscled chest.

"Enough about that," Naruto said. "Since we're going to be a team, how 'bout we introduces ourselves?"

The Zombie, still resting against the tree, rose a brow.

"What do you mean?"

Naruto smirked, seeming to be lost in a distant memory. "Let's see… tell me your likes and dislikes, hobbies, dreams for the future. That kind of stuff. "

They all still looked at him strangely.

So Naruto sighed.

"Fine, I'll go first then." He leaned back and placed his hands behind to steady himself. "So my name is Naruto Uzumaki. I like ramen and meditating. I don't like the three minutes it takes to make Ramen though. I also don't like it when others judge a book by its cover. And hobbies? Well, I write, and I'll be training you guys, I guess. That counts as a hobby, right? Anyway, dreams for the future…" he paused, humming. "I want to find a way back home."

Manako thought about his last words, unable to understand. Find a way home? Was he lost, or something? And why did he like ramen so much?

"Alright, you're turn." Naruto smiled. "You, Zombie."

The Zombie girl looked up, hands behind her spiky auburn hair.

"Well, my name is Zombina. I like horror movies and Zombie apocalypse movies and meat. I dislike being bored, as well as when it's quiet. And I really hate being crushed by heavy things, really annoying." She glanced accusingly at Tio. "Hobbies… same as my likes. And dreams? None."

"Horror movies. Cool?" Naruto stroked his chin. "Next, naked girl."

The Shapeshifter ignored the nickname. Her arms were crossed over her glistening, petite chest. "I'm Doppel, and I love pulling pranks on unsuspecting suckers. I guess you could say that's my hobby too." She shrugged. "That's all."

Naruto grinned. "Pranks, huh? I think I like you already." He turned. "Alright, horn, next."

The dark-skinned Ogre finished eating a bag of candy before smiling brightly. "My name is Tionishia! Or Tio for short. I like Zombina-chan, and going shopping and eating candy and listening to music." She then pouted cutely, wrapping her hands beneath her massive breasts. "I dislike when I can't find clothes that fit me, and when people make fun of my height. Ooh, and a dream of mine is to someday open up a clothing store."

"You're up, smarty."

Manako straightened up, once again feeling a wave of heat as everyone paid her attention. She played with her hands, looking up tentatively.

"A-ah, my name is Manako, and I like going on long runs, as well as testing out new rifles." She swallowed. "I-I dislike being in crowds, and I hate it when people judge solely on a-appearances. My hobbies are, um, the same as my likes. M... my dream is to change the common perception people hold towards cyclops."

"Okay, then." Naruto stood up and stretched. "From now on you will be MON. And the success of this team will be based on how well you all work together."

"Hey, how old are you, by the way?" Zombina asked suddenly.

"Oh, I'm eighteen."

"You're not that older than us!" Tio said happily.

Naruto nodded, then looked at a watch on his right hand.

"I'm sorry about this, but I have to leave," he said. "Training starts tomorrow. Be here at the break of dawn." His eyes glinted mysteriously and seriously. "I suggest not eating any breakfast, because you'll definitely vomit."

Zombina smirked. "Yeah right, like that would happen."

Naruto then began to walk away, turning around with a wave. "I'll see you guys tomorrow, then."

They all mumbled out goodbye as their young sensei left. But Manako couldn't sit still. She got up and went after him.

Something was bothering her.

"U-Uh, s-sensei?" Manako murmured, shuffling nervously.

Naruto paused.

"Manako?"

She swallowed.

"W-why did you keep glancing at me earlier?"

"Ah, you noticed?" Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "Sorry about that, but you just remind me of a friend of mine."

"Oh…"

Naruto clasped his hands behind his head, thinking.

"And hey, let me give you some advice. Don't be scared to open up to your team."

He then smiled warmly, before moving onward.

She looked behind her. Three of of her teammates were talking casually, perhaps beginning to form a relationship.

She clenched her fists and walked back to them.

Manako decided she wouldn't be the outsider.

A/N: Am I the only one who thinks Manako is so adorable? I mean, she is so self-conscious about herself - with good reason. But I think it's kinda cute. I chose her point of view because, well, I thought she was a pretty interesting character.

Note: M.O.N. will not be ending up with Naruto! They are just close friends. In this case, his former students.

So, in terms of the early days of MON, I'm just winging it. If something in the manga appears that utterly decimates my imagination of their first, official team meeting, then oh well; this is fanfiction.

I had this chapter written a while ago [after posting Ch: III], and thought now would be a good time to post it.

Note II: This took place long before Naruto meets Miia, just in case anyone is confused.

M.O.N

Durability - Zombina: Blunt, impulsive, sharp-tongued, lacking inhibition.

Strength -Tionishia: a gentle giant, innocent, and sensitive.

Stealth - Doppel: Naked :/

Accuracy - Manako: Shy, self-conscious, highly-perceptive.

But seriously this time, next up, our favorite Birdbrain.

Later :)