The week following the Genin exams was the longest seven days of Shiro's second life.
While the rest of the village was buzzing with the news of a "traitorous instructor" being taken down by a failing student, Shiro had kept his head low. He spent his mornings in the forest, the rhythmic thwip of his short blade cutting the air being the only sound. He had successfully split five leaves out of ten now. Progress was slow, but it was steady.
On the morning of team assignments, Shiro stood before his mirror, tying his blue headband. He looked at his reflection—the dark hair, the calm eyes, the lean build. He looked like his father, a man who had moved in the shadows so others could live in the light.
Time to see if the old man in the Hokage tower has a sense of humor, he thought.
The classroom was just as loud as it had been a week ago. Naruto was back, wearing a headband and a grin that stretched from ear to ear, currently arguing with an annoyed Sasuke.
Shiro walked in, catching Hinata's eye immediately. She was sitting by herself, her fingers twisting nervously. He walked over and took the seat next to her.
"Hey," he said softly, sliding a small, silk-wrapped package onto the desk toward her. "Congratulations on passing, Hinata."
Her eyes widened, and her face flushed a brilliant pink. "S-Shiro-kun? For me?"
"Open it later," he whispered with a wink. "It's a good luck charm for whatever team you end up on."
"T-Thank you," she breathed, clutching the package to her chest as if it were made of glass.
Iruka-sensei entered the room, a clipboard in hand and a look of pride on his face. The room fell silent. One by one, the teams were announced. Team 7 was the expected disaster: Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. Shiro saw the look of utter despair on Sasuke's face and the manic joy on Naruto's.
"Next, Team 8," Iruka continued. "Hinata Hyuga. Kiba Inuzuka. Shino Aburame."
Hinata wilted slightly. She was happy with her teammates, but her eyes flickered toward Shiro with a touch of sadness. Shiro, however, noticed Iruka hadn't stopped reading.
"And," Iruka's voice took on a slightly more serious tone. "Due to a special recommendation from the Hokage's office regarding the balance of offensive capabilities... Shiro Utsumi. You will be joining Team 8 as a four-man reconnaissance and combat cell."
The room hummed with whispers. A four-man cell was rare—reserved for specialized tactical units.
Kiba let out a loud whistle, grinning over at Shiro. "Looks like I'm stuck with you, Shiro! Akamaru, you hear that? We got the blade-boy!"
Shino simply gave a slow, measured nod from under his hood. "A logical addition. Our tracking skills lack a dedicated frontline specialist. You will suffice."
Shiro leaned back, a small, satisfied smile on his lips. Perfect.
After the break, their new Sensei arrived. Kurenai Yuhi was a striking woman with crimson eyes and an aura of refined power. She looked over her four charges, her gaze lingering on Shiro for a second longer than the others. She knew his father's record. She knew the potential sitting in that lean frame.
"Team 8," she said, her voice smooth but commanding. "Meet me on the roof of the Academy in five minutes. Don't be late."
As they walked toward the roof, Kiba was already boasting about how they were going to be the best team in the village. Shino was correcting his statistics, and Hinata was walking close to Shiro, her hand occasionally brushing against his arm.
When they reached the roof, the wind whipped Shiro's black hair across his face. He looked out over the village, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his short blade.
"Alright," Kurenai said, leaning against the railing. "Before we start our first mission, I want to know three things. Your names, your specialties, and your goals. Kiba, you start."
Shiro listened as Kiba shouted about becoming Hokage and Shino spoke of the preservation of insect species. When it was Hinata's turn, she spoke quietly about wanting to change herself and prove she wasn't a failure.
Finally, all eyes turned to Shiro.
"Shiro Utsumi," he said, his voice level and devoid of the childish bravado the others displayed. "My specialty is Ninjutsu and short-blade combat. I have a high affinity for Wind, though I'm proficient in the Academy basics."
"And your goal?" Kurenai asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Shiro looked at Hinata, then out at the village he was destined to protect—or watch burn, depending on how the next few years went.
"To become a shinobi efficient enough that I never have to rely on luck," Shiro replied. "I don't care about titles or being the best. I just want to make sure that when the time comes, my blade is sharp enough to protect what's mine."
Kurenai smiled. It wasn't the smile of a teacher; it was the smile of a ninja who recognized a kindred spirit. "A pragmatist. I like that. Tomorrow morning, Training Ground 8. 6:00 AM. Bring your gear. We're going to see just how sharp that blade really is."
With the introductions done kurnai dismissed her team and went her way eager to test her team tomorrow and see how they perform. She was also eager to test Shiro and see how he performs and see if he is suitable for genjutsu.