Konoha Village.
Training Ground No. 7.
Minato Namikaze flipped through the graduation records in his notebook, the warm, sunny smile he usually wore looking slightly forced.
Name: Nohara Rin
[Physical Test Score]
[Kunai Throwing Score]
[Three Basic Jutsu Score]
[Tactical Theory Score]
[Overall Evaluation: Low]
Name: Uchiha Obito
[Physical Test Score]
[Kunai Throwing Score]
[Three Basic Jutsu Score]
[Tactical Theory Score: 4]
[Overall Evaluation: Low]
If these two already made Minato frown, then the final profile was enough to give him a headache.
Name: Drake
[Physical Test Score]
[Kunai Throwing Score]
[Three Basic Jutsu Score]
[Tactical Theory Score]
[Overall Evaluation: None]
Staring at that single word — "None" — Minato completely understood its meaning.
It was clear the instructors at the Ninja Academy had simply run out of ways to describe this student.
Which raised an obvious question.
How did someone like this even graduate? Shouldn't he have been expelled long ago?
"Looks like with war approaching, just about anyone can pass now…"
Minato sighed inwardly and forced a friendly smile onto his face.
After all, these three were standing right in front of him, and he had the honor of becoming their squad leader.
No... four people.
Because aside from these three problem children, there was also a genius — Kakashi.
Clearing his throat, Minato spoke.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Minato Namikaze, a jōnin. My goal is to become Hokage. From today on, I'll be your squad leader."
He gestured for them to introduce themselves.
Kakashi crossed his arms, silver hair falling over his masked face, his voice cool and distant.
"Hatake Kakashi. Chūnin. Missions come first. Don't slow me down."
Obito immediately clicked his tongue and glanced sideways at Drake.
"Hey, Drake, did you hear that? He's saying you'll drag him down."
"Oh."
Drake replied lazily, hands buried in his pockets.
"He's mocking you! You're just gonna take that?" Obito pushed.
"It's your turn to introduce yourself," Drake said calmly.
"Ah… right."
"I'm Uchiha Obito. Genin. My dream is to become Hokage too! And I won't be anyone's burden!"
He shot Kakashi with a provocative look.
Sadly, Kakashi didn't even acknowledge him, maintaining his cold, superior stance.
Next was Rin.
"My name is Nohara Rin. I'm a genin. My dream is to be with the person I li—"
Halfway through, she sneakily glanced at Kakashi.
"Your girl's cheating on you."
Drake casually nudged Obito.
"Huh?"
Obito followed his gaze and froze.
Rin… was clearly looking at Kakashi.
And just like that, Obito exploded.
"Rin?! Why are you looking at him?! Kakashi is the type who would abandon his teammates for a mission!"
"Obito! What nonsense are you saying?!" Rin's face flushed red in embarrassment.
"Tch. Clown." Kakashi muttered with clear disdain.
"Obito, he just called you a clown," Drake added casually.
"Kakashi! I challenge you to a duel!" Obito roared, rolling up his sleeves.
"Forget it. You can't beat him anyway. And if you get hurt, wouldn't that just give Kakashi the perfect chance to take Rin out?" Drake muttered.
"…That makes sense! I'll let you off today!" Obito declared, lowering his sleeves and throwing out a final threat.
Minato, as both squad leader and unfortunate witness, observed the entire scene in silence.
His eyes shifted toward Drake.
"That kid…"
Minato knew perfectly well that Obito's anger both started and ended because of Drake.
The dead-last of all dead-lasts… yet strangely sharp.
A shame his brains were never used for anything decent.
"Alright. Same place tomorrow morning. Don't be late!"
With those words, Minato vanished in a flash, using the Body Flicker Technique.
And just like that, Team Nine's first meeting ended in pure chaos.
Kakashi immediately turned and walked away, not sparing them a single glance.
Rin hesitated.
"Um… since we're teammates now, shouldn't we walk together with Kakashi?" she suggested softly.
"Rin, do you know why Kakashi was sent to our team?" Obito reminded her.
"I know..."
She watched his disappearing figure with complicated eyes.
Almost every squad knew the truth.
Kakashi originally belonged to another team. But because he prioritized missions over his comrades' lives, many ninjas refused to continue working with him.
And so, the genius was assigned to this infamous backward squad.
Rin — third from last.
Obito — second from last.
Drake — absolute last.
If war hadn't been looming, the three of them would never have graduated.
Especially Drake.
He was officially labeled the worst student in Konoha's history. No exceptions.
Leaving the training ground, Drake walked with his hands still in his pockets, as relaxed as ever.
Compared to Rin's emotional turmoil and Obito's silent frustration, he couldn't have looked more carefree.
After all, he didn't like Rin at all — so he had nothing to feel conflicted about.
Once Rin went home, only Obito and Drake remained.
The atmosphere finally loosened.
"Drake… I think Rin has changed." Obito said seriously.
"Oh? Or maybe you're just imagining things?" Drake replied, suppressing a laugh.
He almost wanted to tell him the truth — Rin had always liked Kakashi. There was no "change" to begin with.
"Before, it was just the three of us… now Kakashi's here. I feel like I'm going to lose her." Obito sighed.
"Lose her?" Drake glanced at him.
"Did you ever have her in the first place?"
With that, he walked ahead, hands still tucked casually in his pockets.
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