Inside the Ninja Academy classroom.
Iruka announced, "Congratulations! From today on, you'll officially be able to hold your own as ninjas. But keep in mind you're still rookie genin, and the real challenges are just beginning. Starting now, you'll be divided into teams of three and assigned to an experienced jonin-sensei for missions."
Hearing about being split into teams of three surprised most students in the classroom, except for Naruto, who already knew this. However, he still didn't know who his teammates would be.
Naruto's first thought was hoping to be teamed up with Sasuke, then Hinata. But he also wanted to be on the same team as Shikamaru and Choji—leaving him super conflicted.
Sasuke let out a Tch! To him, a trio only meant gaining two extra burdens. If it had to be this way, somehow Naruto's annoying face popped up in his mind.
Sasuke shook his head violently. Anyone but Naruto—anyone would do!
Hinata, sitting behind Naruto, cast her gaze toward him. She already knew her sensei would be Shindai. Still, she hoped one of her other two teammates might be Naruto.
A few seats away from Hinata, Sakura and Ino were glaring fiercely at each other over Sasuke.
Shikamaru, sitting in front of Ino, let out a grumble.
Their fathers were the Ino–Shika–Cho trio and were always teammates. It was destined that they would follow the same path.
Shikamaru was happy about being teammates with Choji, but having Ino around felt like a headache.
"To ensure balanced team abilities, your instructors will decide the groupings. I'll begin announcing them now..."
"Now, Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki!"
Naruto looked expectantly at Iruka, secretly hoping for Sasuke, Hinata, Shikamaru, or Choji.
"Sakura Haruno!"
Instantly, both Naruto and Sakura let out disappointed sighs while Sasuke's lips curled slightly upward.
"And finally... Sasuke Uchiha!"
"Awesome!"
Naruto and Sakura shouted joyfully at the same time, whereas Sasuke's expression immediately dropped.
Hinata also felt sad—she wouldn't be in the same class as Naruto.
Next came, "Team 8: Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hyuga Hinata."
Since Hinata had been taken by Shindai, the original Team 8 member Hinata was replaced by another Hyuga clansman instead.
This new addition belonged to the Branch Family of the Hyuga clan and shot a gloomy glance at Kiba and Shino.
Still dwelling on not getting Sasuke as a teammate, Ino muttered bitterly, "How did it end up like this?"
Leaning on his hand, Shikamaru grumbled, "Everyone's so obsessed with Sasuke. What exactly is so great about him? Women… They're all so superficial."
Ino snapped crossly, "It's obvious you just don't understand anything, Shikamaru!"
Shikamaru turned toward Ino and shrugged matter-of-factly, "Well, I'm not a girl."
Ino tugged at her lips in a smirk, "No wonder you're unpopular. I wouldn't want to team up with someone like you either."
The tenth squad: Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi.
Shikamaru teased Ino with a grin, "Guess we're stuck together after all."
Ino covered her head as if despairing for her life.
Iruka glanced at Hinata, "Hinata, you'll form an independent unit. This is how the class divisions work. We'll introduce your Jonin—elite ninja instructors—this afternoon. Until then, everyone is dismissed."
Naruto walked up to Sasuke excitedly, "Sasuke! I knew it—we'll definitely be teammates!"
"Tch!" Sasuke scoffed, clearly annoyed. "I don't want to be on a team with you. You're such a failure."
"What? A failure? When was I ever a failure?" Naruto shot back indignantly.
Sasuke turned his head aside, "Out of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu... you're only halfway decent at taijutsu. How else could you be but the dead last?"
"I'm not a failure! And remember—you've lost to me before too!"
Sasuke replied sarcastically, "Oh right, that time I lost was only because you stole that guy's Ninja-Ware. Someone showed up at school black-eyed and swollen-faced the next day. Guess they got a beating when they went home!"
"You bastard!"
Naruto jumped directly onto the table in front of Sasuke, shoved his face close, and glared angrily at him.
Meanwhile, Sasuke stared back at Naruto with mocking eyes.
Sakura tried to mediate from beside them, "Come on, stop fighting already~"
Someone sitting behind Naruto stood up to go eat lunch but accidentally bumped into Naruto's back while rising.
Naruto involuntarily leaned forward—and finally...
Fate's kiss arrived late but sure—Naruto and Sasuke kissed mouth-to-mouth.
Both Naruto and Sasuke widened their eyes in shock, staring at each other in disbelief, while those around them stared blankly in astonishment.
Sakura had a complete mental breakdown at the sight.
Sasuke's first kiss…was gone just like that? It should've belonged to her!
Hinata watched Naruto and Sasuke kiss, sensing something strange about the whole situation.
Naruto and Sasuke immediately pulled apart, both clutching their throats and dry heaving.
"Naruto! I swear I'll kill you!"
"Agh! I got kissed by Sasuke! My mouth is ruined!"
Suddenly, Naruto felt a chill run down his spine—he sensed murderous intent!
Turning his head sideways, Naruto saw many girls glaring at him fiercely, led by Sakura.
A shiver ran through Naruto's body. Without hesitation, he decided to make a run for it.
Inside the principal's office,
Shindai laughed until tears streamed down his face, "Hahaha! Still just like Naruto! That was amazing! Absolutely brilliant!"
Kakashi and the others silently watched Naruto through the monitor, still causing mischief as always. Then their gazes all shifted toward Shindai. Obviously, it had to be Shindai's influence.
In the afternoon,
Jonin instructors from each team division had already taken their students and left one by one. Now, only Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Hinata remained inside the classroom.
"Man, where are they?! Why are only our Team 7 sensei and Hinata's teacher so late? All the other teams already left with their new teachers! Even Iruka-sensei went home already! Hinata, got any ideas?"
Naruto peeked around the corridor and, seeing nobody there, turned to ask Hinata.
Hinata shook her head: "I don't know either… Naruto, isn't this kinda wrong?"
Naruto wedged an eraser halfway up the door frame, preparing for mischief.
Naruto grinned smugly and said, "What's wrong with it? They should be blaming themselves for being late! I wonder who'll fall for it first—our sensei or Hinata's."
Sakura muttered, "Honestly…" while secretly enjoying the prank.
"Tch…" Sasuke scoffed. "There's no way a Jonin would fall for such a stupid trick."
Just then, someone reached out and grabbed the door handle, pulling it open slightly.
The eraser dropped. Kakashi tried to step back to dodge, but Shindai—who was standing right behind him—blocked his escape and grabbed both of his arms.
The eraser landed right on top of Kakashi's head.
"It's Kakashi-niisan! He fell for it! He totally fell for it!"
"Heh heh, you're the man, Naruto! Knew you'd pull something like this. Total prank master combo!"
Shindai and Naruto high-fived each other in celebration.
Kakashi gave Shindai his signature dead-fish stare. He hadn't started being late on his own—he had actually planned to come much earlier, but Shindai had stopped him.
That's why he was waiting here!
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