After the graduation exam ended, the graduates had to return to their classes for team assignments.
After the team assignment, only after being approved by the leading Jonin could they be truly considered as Genin.
Strictly speaking, this was the graduates' final exam.
Because if they couldn't get the approval of the leading Jonin, they would really be sent back to the academy to repeat the year.
However, this situation was very rare. Unless their character was particularly bad, this generally wouldn't happen.
After breakfast, Minato left a clone at home, while the main body went to the school to secretly observe Nawaki's team assignment.
This was his first time doing serious infiltration work. Minato also felt for the first time that he looked like a proper ninja, rather than a berserker who flashed into the enemy camp alone to wipe everyone out.
In the classroom, as the teacher finished reading the list, the team assignment results were also clarified.
As expected, the Ino-Shika-Chō of this generation: Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka were in the same class.
Nawaki's companions were a boy and a girl, a standard two-men-one-woman squad, but both teammates were extras he had never heard of...
After the teacher left, the students stayed in the class full of expectation, waiting for the arrival of their leading Jonin.
Soon, a Sarutobi clan Jonin walked into the classroom: "Team 6, come with me."
The Ino-Shika-Chō trio stood up and left the classroom with him.
Nawaki and his team were Team 7, which was the same as Naruto.
Sometimes Minato would also sigh with emotion. These two looked similar, had similar personalities, and similar life experiences, but their fates were completely different.
The ninja world never lacked hot-blooded idiots like Naruto, but apart from the two cheats, Naruto and Hashirama, other people basically didn't have a good end. It could only be said that this was the reality for most.
Just as he was thinking, a slender figure appeared at the classroom door.
"Team 7, come with me."
The visitor's voice was gentle, his appearance was handsome, and his light blue long hair was draped over his shoulders, carrying a kind temperament.
How could it be him?
Seeing the visitor clearly, Minato frowned instantly.
The visitor was none other than Tsunade's first love in the original work, Dan Katō!
Short-lived ghosts gathered together?
Minato thought subconsciously.
Then he felt that this thought was too hellish, and hurriedly threw it to the back of his mind.
Minato found it hard to evaluate Dan Katō.
In the original work, the first thing Dan Katō said after meeting Tsunade was that it was too dark and he wanted to walk Tsunade home.
Walk Tsunade home?
Minato was deeply impressed by this plot, because he really wanted to ask at that time, if they encountered danger, who would protect whom?
Then he actually turned around and mentioned his dead sister to Tsunade, whose brother had just died.
Minato wasn't sure if he was judging a gentleman with a petty mind, but the other party did give him a feeling of having ulterior motives.
If he hadn't rushed to the battlefield to help Tsunade immediately after the Impure World Reincarnation was released, Minato might not be indifferent, but disgusted.
And the most crucial thing now was... what was the reason for him to become Nawaki's leading teacher?
Judging from the performance of the two when they first came into contact in the original work, Tsunade should be relatively unfamiliar with Dan. At least they wouldn't have the relationship of a younger brother's leading Jonin.
Is it the butterfly effect?
Or ulterior motives?
"Eh? It's Big Brother Dan!"
Suddenly, Nawaki's voice in the classroom interrupted Minato's thoughts.
Big Brother Dan?
Do these two know each other?
Minato looked away, focusing his attention on Nawaki.
A Jonin's senses were keen, and staring for a long time could easily be detected by the other party.
"Long time no see, Nawaki."
Dan Katō showed a gentle smile, and then led the three out of the classroom.
The group came to a training ground, briefly introduced themselves, and then Dan Katō began to test the strength of the three.
Jingle...
A pair of bells appeared in Dan Katō's hands, and Minato in the dark was speechless.
Snatching bells was a Konoha tradition.
From this point of view, the other party's political background should have a certain connection with the Third Hokage's faction.
"Next, your goal is these two bells in my hand."
Dan Katō smiled gently. "Time limit is one hour. Those who don't grab a bell won't have lunch!"
"Hmph, watch me!"
Nawaki snorted lightly, flashed with a Body Flicker, and appeared in front of Dan Katō. The speed was so fast that Dan Katō's eyes lit up.
"Nice Body Flicker, but the purpose is too obvious."
Saying that, he reached out and pressed, capturing the fist Nawaki threw, and threw him away with the momentum.
However, just at this moment, Nawaki's body seemed to flip sideways uncontrollably, and then violently did a scorpion kick, his heel slapping heavily on Dan Katō's face!
Slap!
Dan Katō covered his face and took a step back, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes.
Did he just get slapped in the face with a heel by a Genin?
Although there was the factor of holding back, wasn't that kick just now a bit too abrupt?
Minato's mouth also twitched, not knowing what to say.
"Big Brother Dan, you are so slow!"
Nawaki flipped over and landed, looking speechless. "Not even as fast as Minato's clone reaction. Can this also be considered a Jonin?"
"Sorry, I underestimated the enemy. The angle of that kick just now was very tricky."
Dan Katō wasn't angry either, just smiled apologetically. "You said Minato's clone is...?"
"Minato Namikaze, my sister's disciple, is the most genius guy I've ever seen!"
Nawaki's helpless tone carried a hint of pride. "That guy is two years younger than me. I challenged him many times, and I never even won against a Shadow Clone."
"Eh? Minato Namikaze? Is it that handsome little blond boy with blue eyes I know?"
Hearing this, the girl in the team said with shining eyes, "So Nawaki, you know him? Can you introduce him to me?"
"Uh—"
Nawaki hesitated for two seconds. Thinking of Kushina's terrifying appearance with red hair flying, his mouth twitched. "Sorry, no."
"..."
Tsunade's disciple...
Dan Katō was stunned. "Is it the genius rumored to have awakened Wood Style?"
"Ah, that's right!"
Nawaki nodded heavily.
Dan Katō sighed with emotion, "I see. No wonder he was accepted as a disciple by Tsunade Hime. Nawaki, you seem to admire him very much?"
"Mmh—"
Nawaki thought for a while and said seriously, "I've never seen anyone as perfect as him!"
One sentence made Minato, who was observing in the dark, feel embarrassed.
Hearing this, Dan Katō's expression was also a little subtle.
Then he suddenly showed a gentle smile, with just the right amount of curiosity in his tone: "To be praised by Nawaki like this, it seems that Minato-kun is indeed not simple. I really want to appreciate his elegance."
"Haha, that guy is usually very busy, either training or cooking, basically never going out." Nawaki said carelessly.
This guy, sure enough, has a problem.
His speech is a bit too deliberate...
Minato narrowed his eyes, leaving a Wood Clone to merge into the tree trunk of the training ground.
Then he went all the way to the Root base and found Orochimaru who was doing experiments.
"Senior, please help me investigate someone." Minato went straight to the point.
"Who?" Orochimaru was a little curious. Who could make Minato pay special attention?
"Dan Katō."
"Oh—"
Hearing this name, Orochimaru nodded knowingly. "Your love rival."
Minato: "???"