"What's the point of knowing all this?" Sasuke asked. His tone, though, was no longer sharp—just a genuine question.
"Of course it matters. From what I know, one of the jōnin is a woman skilled in genjutsu," Naruto replied. "And she's most likely the one assigned to lead Team 8."
"Genjutsu?" Sasuke frowned. "Didn't you just say the higher-ups want Team 8 to specialize in reconnaissance? Why would they assign a genjutsu specialist to lead them?"
"That's true… genjutsu doesn't really sound useful for scouting," Sakura added, a little puzzled.
"Heh, don't worry. Iruka-sensei will introduce our jōnin instructors this afternoon in class. But I already snuck into the office and stole a copy of the assignment list!"
With that, Naruto pulled out a folded paper from his pocket.
It was an official chart of the team assignments. At the top of Team 7's column was a name—Hatake Kakashi.
"So that's our teacher?" Sakura leaned in, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I can't wait. I wonder what kind of person he is."
Sasuke, however, only skimmed past Team 7 and fixed his gaze on the name listed as Team 8's instructor.
Yūhi Kurenai.
A completely unfamiliar name.
Konoha was full of clans, some large and prestigious—like the Hyūga and the Ino-Shika-Chō trio—and some obscure, like the Yamashiro, Aoyama, and Nohara families. To Sasuke, this Kurenai was a nobody.
Naruto didn't pick up Sakura's excitement. Instead, he thought to himself: Your teacher, Sakura, will be my cheap old man's student, the most reliable Hokage-to-be—Hatake "Fifty-Fifty" Kakashi, the Sixth Hokage.
"Who's Yūhi Kurenai?" Sasuke asked.
"Asuma's girlfriend," Naruto answered casually. Hopefully the Third isn't spying on me with his crystal ball while having dinner.
"Asuma?" Sakura repeated in confusion, scanning the list again. "Sarutobi Asuma… the same surname as Lord Hokage?"
"That's right." Naruto's eyes swept over them. "Asuma leads Team 10, made up of the second-generation heirs of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio—Shikamaru, Chōji, and Ino.
Which means the Hyūga, Inuzuka, Aburame, Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans are all under the Hokage family's direct circle."
"These clans are the Hokage's staunchest supporters. So the team arrangements make perfect sense."
"Naruto, how do you know so much?" Sakura asked nervously. It was her first time brushing against the politics of adults, and it unsettled her.
Sasuke, though, stayed calm. He hadn't forgotten his true concern. He studied the list thoughtfully before looking up.
"So you're saying our team was assigned with a specific purpose too?"
"Congratulations, Sasuke-kun. Correct." Naruto snapped his fingers. "Noble kids go with nobles. Commoners go with commoners."
At that, Sasuke's eyes dimmed, fixing coldly on Naruto. "That's it?"
"Of course not." Naruto suddenly smiled.
The look made Sasuke's scalp prickle. "What are you staring at me for?"
"Uchiha Sasuke," Naruto said with a grin. "The Uchiha clan's battle power was legendary. And me? I'm from the Uzumaki clan."
"You may not have heard much about them, but it doesn't matter. All you need to know is—the Uzumaki were just as strong."
"And unfortunately…" Naruto paused, letting his gaze sweep over a stunned Sakura and a wide-eyed Sasuke. He lowered his voice.
"…my clan was wiped out."
"This isn't the 'commoner class,' or the 'fallen nobles' class. This is the rare bloodline class. Well… except for Sakura."
He didn't mention the Nine-Tails—not yet. The timing wasn't right.
Sakura froze, her hands trembling slightly on her lap. For the first time, the truth pressed down on her. She had thought being placed with Naruto and Sasuke was just luck, and she'd felt a little proud—though her ninjutsu and combat skills were weaker, her theory scores were first, and she still ranked third overall.
She had always believed that with effort, she could close the gap.
But now, faced with the brutal truth, her pride and self-confidence dissolved in silence.
She was just the extra. The ordinary one. Between Naruto and Sasuke, she was the one without any defining trait.
The crushing contrast stole her appetite and left her body cold, her stomach twisting like she might vomit.
"Sakura."
A hand suddenly rested on her shoulder, pulling her back from the spiral.
She lifted her head sharply—Naruto and Sasuke were both watching her. But their faces blurred as tears welled up.
"I'm fine," Sakura said, though her trembling voice betrayed her. She forced a smile, but when a tear splashed onto the table, even she was startled.
The dinner ended abruptly. The intelligence sharing was cut short.
After leaving the restaurant, Sakura gradually calmed down. She apologized for losing control earlier, and both boys brushed it off. In a strange way, it brought them closer.
"Let's make this intelligence sharing a regular thing," Naruto suggested. "It'll benefit all of us. But the content must never be leaked outside."
"I agree!" Sakura raised her hand, smiling brightly.
"…Fine." Sasuke gave a short nod.
Naruto knew it was the right move. Not only did this give them deeper insight into the village, it also helped build a sense of belonging within their little trio. If trust grew and pointless conflicts faded, their future together would be much smoother.
Just as Sakura was about to leave for class, Naruto suddenly called out.
"Sakura."
"Hmm?" She turned back, puzzled. "What is it?"
Naruto didn't answer—he only tilted his chin toward Sasuke.
"Lord Sasuke has something to say to you."
Hearing that, Sasuke shot Naruto a cold glare.
"Sasuke?" Sakura's heart skipped a beat, her body tensing.
Sasuke turned his head away, sulking for a long while before finally muttering, "…We're comrades."
Sakura froze in place, stunned. Only after a long pause did her eyes grow misty again.
"Don't cry, Sakura," Naruto said with a warm smile. "Sasuke's right. You're not ordinary. You're our comrade."
"Honestly, being ordinary isn't such a bad thing. If we had the choice, both of us would have wanted normal lives too. But…"
Naruto spread his hands helplessly.
"…things never go the way you want."