A mature team is not always the strongest, but it is always the most balanced.
Konoha's long tradition had a familiar pattern.
Every team needed a chuunibyou member, preferably one loudly declaring that he would become Hokage.
Then came the arrogant prodigy, usually a handsome boy with a tragic past.
And finally, there was the heroine, included whether she was necessary or not.
Of course, the heroine had to know medical ninjutsu, or she would not qualify to join the team at all.
And if a messy, overly dramatic love triangle existed, the village welcomed it even more.
Once, this kind of setup was rare.
But with Tsunade's medical reforms, it was slowly becoming the norm throughout Konoha.
Hayashi had been thinking about these things because he was unusually curious about his soon-to-arrive teammates.
His mind drifted as he lay on a stone bench he shaped using Earth Release.
Just as he was mentally adding unnecessary drama to his life, a familiar voice sounded beside him.
"Hayashi, what are you doing?"
Minato's head leaned into his field of vision.
Hayashi was sprawled on the bench, while Minato stood just beside him, looking down.
If Minato leaned forward even a little more, their faces would have accidentally touched.
Impulse could be dangerous, Hayashi reminded himself as he turned his gaze aside.
"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to stay away from the battlefield for now?"
"I'm just here to see you off."
Minato smiled warmly, then sat at the edge of the bench.
Their strange posture attracted the attention of nearby shinobi.
And since both were considered among the village's more handsome boys, their presence drew even more glances.
"I haven't seen you around lately. I wanted to ask you about the Rasengan," Minato continued.
"I've been hiding from Nawaki recently," Hayashi replied, shifting slightly to give Minato space.
Minato let out a strained laugh.
"Nawaki is… persistent."
He lay down beside Hayashi.
"What happened?" Hayashi asked.
"He couldn't find you, so he started pestering me. Every day he asks me to summon a toad to deliver letters to Jiraiya-sensei."
"Is that so bad? It's just one letter," Hayashi said.
"It's not the letter," Minato sighed.
"I can only use the Summoning Technique a few times before my chakra runs low.
Then Nawaki just sits there staring at me as I meditate to recover.
He does this repeatedly.
Being watched like that is exhausting."
Hayashi's expression froze.
"A sister complex really is terrifying."
"But it should be fine now," Minato said.
"We're heading to the battlefield today.
Nawaki can't join us, so he won't be able to bother us as much."
"True. I wonder when Jiraiya-sensei will return," Hayashi said with a quiet sigh.
"By the way, where are your new teammates? I don't see them."
"They're not here yet. We still have time before departure."
Hayashi closed his eyes, deciding to sneak in a quick nap.
"Who are they? You're the captain, so you must know."
"I didn't tell you?" Hayashi said lazily.
"One is from the Hyuga clan, and the other two are twins from the Taki family."
Minato looked genuinely surprised.
"There's actually someone from the Hyuga clan on your team."
"Why is that strange? Their Byakugan makes them very useful on the battlefield," Hayashi replied.
"That's true… but you're from the Uchiha clan," Minato said cautiously.
The implication was clear.
The Uchiha and Hyuga clans often competed for influence, and their relationship was rumored to be strained.
"Is that common knowledge now?" Hayashi asked.
"Jiraiya-sensei told me," Minato said.
Hayashi nodded.
It seemed Jiraiya had already started teaching Minato political matters.
"The relationship between our clans isn't as bad as people say," Hayashi explained.
"During the Warring States period, the Uchiha defeated the Hyuga.
Later, the Hyuga served as vassals to the Senju for a time.
These things are recorded in our clan."
Minato blinked with interest as Hayashi continued.
"Uchiha pride is well-known.
To be direct, they can be arrogant.
Most clan members don't even see the Hyuga as rivals.
Since they don't acknowledge a defeated clan as competition, there's no real conflict."
"Then why does everyone believe there's tension?" Minato asked.
"I don't know who started the rumor.
Orochimaru-sensei said the rumors began spreading after the Senju clan declined."
Minato fell silent.
More and more, he realized how dark political currents could be beneath Konoha's surface.
Hayashi continued calmly.
"Still, our relationship with other clans isn't exactly friendly either.
So having a Hyuga assigned under an Uchiha is unusual."
He sighed lightly.
Koharu was the one who personally arranged the team, but only she knew her true intentions.
"Then this Hyuga must be from the Branch Family, right?" Minato guessed.
"Not at all. She's from the Main Family."
"That's impossible. Main Family members rarely serve on the battlefield."
"Rarely, but not never.
You saw Hyuga Tenkū earlier.
He's the head of the Main Family."
"That's true… but he was surrounded by Branch Family guards," Minato said.
"Normally yes," Hayashi replied.
"But this time, I don't know what the Hyuga clan is thinking."
"You sound like you aren't from a major clan yourself," Minato muttered under his breath.
"What's her name?" he asked.
"Himeji. Hyuga Himeji.
Do you remember her? That genius we met back in our second academy year."
Minato blinked.
"Her? I remember you completely overwhelming her in training.
And didn't you lecture her a lot afterward?"
"It wasn't that harsh," Hayashi said, caught off guard.
He distinctly recalled giving serious advice, not humiliating her.
But hearing Minato's version made him reconsider how it must have looked to others.
"This is why our clans aren't close.
You're the one stirring trouble, Minato," he thought silently.
"But she really is a handful," he added aloud.
"A very serious one."
"Captain Hayashi, talking behind someone's back isn't very admirable."
A girl's voice drifted toward them.
Hayashi froze.
Minato stopped breathing.
Slowly, Hayashi turned his head.
And there she was.
Hyuga Himeji.
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