As the last of their classmates departed, the once-bustling classroom grew still.
The air finally felt light again, and Haruno Sakura exhaled in relief. Those dagger-like stares she had received from her jealous peers moments ago could've "killed" her if glares truly had power.
Now that only four of them remained — herself, Naruto, Sasuke, and Menma — the tension melted away, replaced by a rush of excitement that filled her chest.
For Sakura, this was a dream come true — no, three dreams come true all at once.
Handsome Sasuke-kun.
Noble Naruto-kun, the Hokage's son.
And brilliant Menma-kun, the top student in the entire Academy.
Just standing in the same team as these three was enough to make her feel like the luckiest girl in Konoha. The air around her even seemed sweeter, as if the universe itself was blessing her good fortune.
Sakura couldn't contain the bright smile that tugged at her lips.
Meanwhile, Naruto was equally pleased with the outcome — but for a completely different reason. Unlike the Naruto from the original timeline, who would've spent his energy trying to impress Sakura, this Naruto was focused and confident.
To him, being on a team with Sasuke and Menma wasn't just exciting — it was an opportunity. A chance to grow stronger alongside two of the most talented shinobi in their generation.
Even Sasuke felt the same way, though he would never show it. His expression remained calm and composed, the cool exterior of the "Uchiha heir" never faltering.
As for Menma, he quietly observed the trio with an unreadable smile.
This team assignment had caught him off guard, yes, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
The only curious variable was Haruno Sakura.
From what Menma remembered of the original events, there had never been a solid reason for her inclusion on Team 7 — at least, not from a tactical standpoint. The only plausible explanation had been speculation: that Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen had intentionally placed Sakura with Naruto and Sasuke to balance their dynamics, or perhaps to keep Naruto grounded through emotional ties.
It was a reasonable theory.
But in this altered reality, things were different. Menma had no real connection with Sakura, and Naruto's closest bond was with Hinata Hyūga, not Sakura.
So why had the Hokage still placed her here?
Menma frowned slightly. Maybe the Third wanted a female teammate to maintain balance within the group. Still… out of all possible candidates, why her?
The thought felt trivial, yet it lingered in the back of his mind.
Naruto's cheerful voice soon broke the silence.
"Haha! I was really hoping we'd end up on the same team! I even asked Gramps the Third about it, but he didn't tell me anything. Guess he wanted to surprise me!"
His broad grin radiated genuine joy.
Though Naruto's status as the Hokage's son had changed his circumstances, his warm-hearted and optimistic nature hadn't faded a bit.
Menma found himself smiling faintly. In that moment, he realized that despite all the differences between timelines, Naruto still carried the same energy — the same Ashura-like spirit of love and perseverance.
It reminded him of something he'd been quietly pondering.
If Naruto still bears the essence of Ashura's reincarnation, then what about me?
Menma's gaze softened. It was possible that he wasn't the reincarnation of Ashura at all — that the cycle of Indra and Ashura remained unbroken, and Naruto alone carried that legacy forward.
But it didn't matter. Whether he bore Ashura's chakra or not, Menma had long chosen his own path.
"Well then," he said, smiling mildly, "let's do our best together."
"Humph." Sasuke crossed his arms and looked away, the faintest flicker of acknowledgment in his eyes.
Sakura, on the other hand, nearly bounced in her seat.
"Y-Yes! I look forward to learning from all three of you!"
Her words tumbled out quickly, her face glowing with enthusiasm. To make sure it wasn't a dream, the 12-year-old quietly pinched her thigh beneath the desk — and winced. The sharp pain confirmed it.
It's real.
She inhaled deeply, her excitement barely contained.
Naruto clenched his fist, his usual fire returning.
"I can't wait to see who our jōnin sensei's gonna be! I hope it's someone really strong!"
Sakura blinked. "Wait, Naruto-kun, you don't know? The Hokage didn't tell you?"
She found it strange. Naruto was the son of the Fourth Hokage — surely he'd have some insider information, right?
Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Ehh? I asked the Old Man, but he just smiled and said it was a secret! Tch, he's worse than Iruka-sensei. I swear, one of these days, I'm gonna pull on his beard for that!"
Sakura giggled behind her hand, though she quickly covered it, trying to look composed.
Sasuke remained quiet, deep in thought. Of all of them, he was perhaps the most serious about who their teacher would be.
He wanted someone capable — someone who could truly help him grow strong enough to confront the one he sought vengeance against. His elder brother, Itachi Uchiha, the prodigy who had graduated at seven, entered the ANBU by eleven, and slaughtered his entire clan single-handedly.
'I need a teacher who can help me reach that level… someone worthy,' Sasuke thought.
Meanwhile, Menma had already guessed the answer.
The identity of their instructor was almost certain — and he knew that Hatake Kakashi was the only shinobi in Konoha suited for this assignment.
Not just because of skill or strength, but because of trust. The Third Hokage held Kakashi in high regard — not just as a jōnin, but as a man once trained by the Fourth Hokage himself.
Menma's lips curved slightly.
So even in this altered world, fate corrects itself.
And he was right — Kakashi was already nearby, observing them from the shadows. The "Copy Ninja" was known for his laid-back attitude, but when it came to his duties, his sense of vigilance was unmatched.
'He'll wait at least another hour,' Menma thought as he leaned back in his chair. Typical Kakashi — always testing first impressions.
Time passed slowly.
An hour slipped by… then nearly two. The sunlight filtering through the classroom windows had begun to fade, turning golden.
Sakura shifted impatiently, her patience wearing thin.
"Why hasn't our sensei shown up yet? Did he forget we even exist?" she muttered, forcing a polite smile that barely masked her irritation.
Naruto groaned dramatically, dropping his head onto the desk.
"Man, this guy better be worth the wait…"
Sasuke scowled in silence, his dark eyes narrowing.
Only Menma remained calm, arms folded and expression serene.
Because he already knew — the real test hadn't even begun yet.