Iruka stood at the front of the classroom, looking down at the eager faces of his graduating students. Their expressions brimmed with energy, excitement, and hope.
He smiled, but in his heart, he sighed.
For all their enthusiasm, he saw no real sense of urgency, no understanding of the danger that awaited them outside these walls. Iruka had reminded them many times over the past six years: the life of a shinobi was perilous. But words alone could never prepare a child for bloodshed.
After all, how could they truly grasp it without ever having faced death themselves?
As a chūnin, Iruka understood this too well. He had seen comrades fall, and he knew: many of the faces looking up at him now would not survive one or two years on the battlefield.
Still… he had done his duty as their teacher. He had given them what he could. From here on, their futures rested in their own hands.
"Now," Iruka began, his voice steady, "I will announce the team divisions. As you all know, shinobi carry out missions in small squads. Teams are generally formed with three genin, guided by one experienced jōnin. Your squadmates will be your comrades, and perhaps your greatest test. When I call your name, listen carefully. Your jōnin instructor will come to meet you shortly. Understood?"
"Yes!!" the class shouted, their voices brimming with anticipation.
This was the moment they had all been waiting for—nervous, tense, and thrilling. Everyone understood: no one wanted to be stuck on a team of weaklings. Companions could mean the difference between life and death.
Even Sasuke Uchiha—aloof and detached as ever—could not entirely ignore the weight of this moment.
In the original timeline, Sasuke had been indifferent. But here, things were different.
If possible, he wanted to be placed on the same team as Menma.
It wasn't only because of Menma's overwhelming strength, proven again and again over the past six years. Though Sasuke never admitted it aloud, he respected that strength.
It was also because of his own failures.
Every loss, every moment of weakness before Menma, had carved a deeper obsession into him. He had to surpass Menma. Not just once—not in a fleeting duel. He needed to outshine him completely, in every way. Otherwise, how could he even dream of avenging the brother who had destroyed his clan?
So yes—Sasuke wanted Menma on his team. To rival him. To measure himself against him. To defeat him.
From his seat, Sasuke allowed himself a small, sideways glance toward Menma. To him, it was subtle, hidden. But Menma noticed it instantly.
He didn't even need to look directly. His perception had sharpened to the point where he could sense when eyes lingered on him, especially Sasuke's.
And he could guess what the Uchiha boy was thinking.
Truthfully, Menma didn't mind the idea. In fact, having Sasuke on his team would be useful. Sasuke still played an important role in Menma's long-term plans.
But this wasn't up to him. His very existence had already twisted the original flow of events. The Fourth Hokage had never had two sons in the original world. Menma was the greatest disruption to the story.
So he was curious: how would the Third Hokage arrange the teams now?
Of course, some placements were inevitable.
Take the Ino–Shika–Chō trio. For decades, the children of the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans had been placed together upon graduation. Their fathers had once formed one of the most famed squads in Konoha's history, and that bond passed down through the generations. Shikamaru, Chōji, and Ino would remain together, without question.
Other clans were treated similarly. "Fair and just" assignments? That was an illusion. Clan heirs and village prodigies would always be given priority.
Even Haruno Sakura, who appeared ordinary on the surface, possessed rare qualities: outstanding chakra control and a sharp theoretical mind. Later, under Tsunade's guidance, she would master nearly all of her techniques in just three years. That hidden potential was the reason she, too, had been placed with Naruto and Sasuke in the original timeline.
Team assignments were never random. They were carefully chosen, each with political and strategic weight behind them.
Kakashi Hatake had led Team 7 because of his Sharingan, his history as the Fourth Hokage's student, and his ability to handle unstable yet gifted students.
Asuma Sarutobi had led Team 10 because the Ino–Shika–Chō trio had always been tied to the Hokage's line—and because Asuma himself was the Third Hokage's son.
Nothing was ever coincidence.
Ordinary graduates, unless they displayed exceptional talent during the Academy, were always placed in teams under average chūnin instructors. Their futures would be limited, their lives unremarkable. Few would ever rise beyond genin. Even fewer would reach chūnin, the backbone of the village.
That was the reality of the shinobi world, one rarely shown in the stories of heroes.
"Class 1: Sato Noboru, Tanaka Misaki, and Hoshino Kenta."
"Yes!"
"Class 2: Okada Renji, Shimizu Aya, and Hara Tetsuo."
"Yes!"
"Class 3: Yoshida Reika, Matsuo Daisuke, and Kuroda Minoru."
"Yes!"
The process continued in order. Ordinary names, ordinary teams, ordinary futures.
Menma barely paid attention, uninterested in the fate of classmates who would likely vanish into obscurity.
Until, at last—
"Class 7," Iruka announced, his voice carrying across the room. "Uzumaki Menma."
Menma's eyes sharpened. His body went still.
This was the moment.
Iruka continued without pause.
"Sasuke Uchiha… Sakura Haruno… and Naruto Namikaze."
The words hung in the air.
For a heartbeat, silence filled the room.
Then the class erupted in gasps, whispers, and exclamations.
Even Menma, usually composed, was stunned for an instant. His team—the team that would shape his future—was nothing like the one in the original timeline.