The next day, at the Ninja Academy.
"Today's graduation exam will be: the Clone Technique. When I call your name, come to the front to be tested."
The Academy only taught three jutsu: the Transformation Technique, the Substitution Technique, and the Clone Technique. Graduation exams always picked from one of these three.
"Haruno Sakura!"
As the top performer in written exams, it was only natural she'd go first.
"Clone Technique!"
With a release of chakra, a perfect copy of Sakura appeared beside her. Unlike Shadow Clones or Solid Clones, this was just an illusory decoy—useful only for misdirection during combat.
"Perfect!" Iruka praised with no hesitation.
"Next: Uchiha Sasuke."
"Perfect!"
…
Soon, it was Naruto's turn.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof!
Two identical Narutos appeared on stage.
Iruka looked at the two clones with a complicated expression. Over the past few years at the Academy, Naruto had barely interacted with him at all—they'd exchanged fewer words than you could count on one hand.
But as a teacher, Iruka still maintained his professional attitude:
"Excellent. Next."
His emotional knot remained untied.
Just as Naruto had thought when he first entered the Academy—whether that knot was ever resolved didn't really matter to him.
If someone wanted to treat him kindly, fine.
If not… also fine.
"Thank you, sensei," Naruto said respectfully before returning to his seat.
---
Time passed, and soon Iruka announced the list of students who had passed and began distributing forehead protectors.
Half the class failed.
Even with only three jutsu to learn, many students still couldn't pass.
Not everyone was born to be a shinobi.
Even in the original timeline, Naruto wouldn't have passed if he hadn't stolen the Scroll of Seals and learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Granted, the real reason he failed back then was the interference of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
---
With graduation behind them, the next step was team assignments.
Teams were assigned in groups of three students, each led by a jōnin. This tradition dated back to the time of the Great Ninja Wars—an old and well-established custom in Konoha.
---
"Team One…"
…
"I-I hope I'm on the same team as Naruto-kun…"
Hinata sat in quiet anxiety, hands clasped, heart full of hope.
Unfortunately, that hope would likely be crushed.
You'd think team placements were based on test scores, right?
Not exactly.
Hinata's team—formed with Shino Aburame and Kiba Inuzuka—was a recon-focused unit.
And Team 10? A carefully arranged Ino-Shika-Chō formation.
---
Then came Team 7…
"Team 7: Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura."
A full team of Uchiha might be too unstable.
But one Uchiha, especially with Sharingan's natural control over tailed beasts, made strategic sense.
Especially when paired with a member of the Uzumaki clan, whose chakra chains could similarly restrain tailed beasts.
Some even speculated that Sakura's family wasn't ordinary either.
---
There's a theory: after the Second Hokage died, the Senju clan intentionally "faded into the crowd," changing their names and assimilating with the villagers—hence the disappearance of the Senju name.
According to this theory, Sakura carries Senju blood, which is why Tsunade later accepted her as a disciple.
If that theory is true, Team 7's makeup is:
Uchiha
Uzumaki
Senju
Naruto didn't know if it was true. But the Senju… were definitely gone.
---
Sasuke glanced toward Hinata with a trace of regret.
If it were possible, he would've liked to have Hinata on their team too.
As one of Naruto's training partners, Sasuke respected her abilities—especially her Byakugan, which was an invaluable asset in reconnaissance.
But fate wasn't on their side.
Sure, he was on the same team as Naruto… but he also got…
Sakura.
Sasuke stared at the girl with pink hair.
Haruno Sakura?
Wait… she's in our class?
---
At the same time, hearing that Naruto and Sasuke were on Team 7 caused a visible shock in Hinata.
Before she could stop herself, her palm slammed down on the desk.
CRACK!
In stunned silence, the class watched as the desk split into pieces from the impact point outward, collapsing into a pile of wood fragments.
…Hinata's not turning into that violent version of herself from Infinite Tsukuyomi, is she?
> Though honestly, that Hinata was kinda hot too…
The boys all thought the same thing:
Uh oh. The Hyūga princess caught it from him…
---
Soon, one by one, the jōnin came to collect their teams.
"Team 8, follow me."
The speaker was a red-eyed woman in her mid-twenties—Yūhi Kurenai, who had just been promoted to jōnin.
This marked the final test of the team assignments.
The true genin exam, conducted by the squad leaders themselves.
With a historical failure rate of 66%.
Hinata reluctantly said her goodbyes to Naruto and left with her teammates.
---
Objectively speaking, Hinata could have been a strong addition to Team 7.
A composition of Uzumaki, Uchiha, and Hyūga—two frontliners and a sensor—made more sense than a full recon squad.
---
As more and more jōnin arrived, the classroom gradually emptied until only Team 7 remained.
Sasuke and Naruto sat in awkward silence, locked in a quiet staring match.
Sakura tried to break the ice.
"So… um… what's taking our sensei so long? Could something have happened on the way?"
Sasuke: …
Naruto: …
Silence.
"…Haha."
Sakura forced a smile, but inwardly she was screaming.
"Ughhh… Sasuke won't talk to me! This is so awkward! And this was such a perfect chance!"
---
Naruto shot Sasuke a look.
You take care of her.
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
No way.
She's annoying.
You deal with her.
Naruto continued to motion with his eyes:
What if she turns out to be your future wife?
Sasuke glanced at Sakura again—just once.
Nope. Too weak. Not even cute.
He rejected the idea three times in a row—without hesitation.
If Sakura knew… she'd probably cry.
But it was just too funny.
---
While the two boys were having their silent exchange, the classroom door creaked open.
A man walked in—mask covering his face, white hair, slouched posture, and lazy, droopy eyes.
He looked the three students over and said:
"Now, how should I put this…"
"My first impression of you guys is—"
Before he could finish, Naruto interrupted:
"Hey, we meet again, Mr. Anbu."
---
"Yo."
Kakashi lifted a hand in greeting, his tone casual.
He looked at Naruto's all-too-familiar smile and face—and for a brief moment, his dead-fish eyes softened into a small smile.
"Not bad."