Just as Ryun was about to start his verbal persuasion mode, Instructor Koda ran into the classroom and called out ten students including Ryun and Kushina.
Those called away were all top performing students. Seeing these people, Ryun instantly thought of many things.
'Could it be... are they forcing this?'
Ryun was surprised. He thought Konoha might use a group of elementary students to fill the manpower shortage.
And that was indeed the case...
There were three classes in sixth grade. Sarutobi Hiruzen called out thirty students at once.
He intended to have this group graduate early to relieve the pressure Konoha was facing.
Currently a large number of low rank missions had no ninja to do them, and the Konoha higher ups were getting desperate.
They unanimously agreed that 'livestock' did not need to be raised for the full duration, releasing them a few months early was also acceptable...
"Since you have all mastered the throwing technique and at least one of the three basic techniques, I declare you can graduate early!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said cheerfully, even personally awarding the Konoha forehead protectors to the elementary students.
"From now on you are honorable Konoha ninja!"
As Sarutobi Hiruzen's words fell, the students all cheered excitedly.
"..."
The one who appeared 'happiest' was Ryun. The moment he received the Konoha forehead protector, his 'teary-eyed' emotional display greatly pleased Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Haha! I thought you didn't want the forehead protector?" Sarutobi Hiruzen joked.
This was teasing Ryun for refusing early graduation over half a year ago.
"How... how could that be..."
Ryun gave an awkward laugh, then directly copied and pasted words a certain 'little sun' had said to him before:
"Many ninja have been sent to the Land of Rain battlefield. Konoha urgently needs more people to carry out missions now. I want to help share some of the village's burdens..."
"Good good good! Good kid... I'm very pleased you can understand Konoha's difficulties!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Ryun's shoulder with a smile. He truly did not expect Ryun to have this level of awareness at such a young age.
This was the child his beloved student (Orochimaru) had taken a liking to. Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly found this brat particularly pleasing. Perhaps he could focus on nurturing him in the future...
After everyone left the principal's office, Ryun's expression instantly changed. Seeing the cheerful Kushina next to him, he could not help but curl his lips:
"Why so happy? You'd think you found money..."
"Haha, of course I'm happy to become a ninja... Huh? Weren't you just happy too? Why suddenly..."
As Kushina spoke, she suddenly noticed his strange behavior.
"Happy my ass... After tomorrow, I guarantee you won't be happy anymore!"
"Why wouldn't I be happy after tomorrow? Also, so you weren't happy? Then why pretend to be happy?" Kushina tilted her head full of confusion.
"I felt like it... You ask too many questions." Ryun glared at her.
"???"
Kushina scratched her head, completely not understanding what Ryun was thinking.
"What a strange guy..."
The thirty early graduates returned to the classroom to pack their bags, then went to a spacious lecture hall.
Konoha was very efficient. They planned to assign teams the same day as graduation!
'Please let me be on Ryun's team...'
Kushina clasped her hands together praying silently. She did not want to go on missions with anyone else.
"Namikaze Minato, Dekai, Uchiha Mei, you three are one team!"
The instructor read out Minato's name first.
"Minato actually got paired with two students from other classes!" Ryun was very surprised.
As names were called one after another, Kushina grew more and more nervous.
"Silly girl, why so nervous?"
Noticing the girl's unease, Ryun could not help but laugh.
"How can I not be nervous? Anyway I don't care, if I don't get assigned to you today, then I... I'll go tell Grandma Mito. I don't want to team up with others." Kushina whispered.
"You're something else..."
Ryun gave her a thumbs up. Kushina was the type with backing. If she really went to Mito, it would just take one word...
"Uzumaki Kushina, Inuzuka Ran, Uchiha... Mikoto, you three are one team!"
Team assignments at this time were not as refined as later. With medical ninja severely lacking, there was no concept of assigning one per team either. Also Tsunade was still on the Land of Rain battlefield and had not proposed decisive reforms yet.
When Kushina heard her name and the Uchiha surname, her face instantly lit up with joy.
But when Mikoto's name was called, her smile immediately collapsed as she lost all motivation.
"Haha... Not being on the same team is fine. There's plenty of time after missions anyway, cheer up..." Ryun comforted with a smile.
Soon the instructor read Ryun's name. His teammates were one from the Sarutobi clan and another from the Aburame clan.
The thirty students were divided into ten teams. Due to the war, high level combat power was scarce so they temporarily had no designated jōnin sensei.
These thirty were just meant for labor. After teaching the three man teams the process they could accept missions themselves. Konoha planned to have them endure hardship for months to relieve pressure before assigning sensei.
After leaving the academy, Ryun and Kushina walked together straight to the Senju compound. Along the way Kushina complained loudly with deep resentment, clearly very dissatisfied with the team assignments.
"It's fine. You got put in the girls group, and even Mikoto is with you. Konoha must have looked into your social connections." Ryun patiently soothed her mood.
Ryun had no complaints about the assignments. His original plan after graduating was going to the Land of Rain battlefield. Over the past half year he exchanged several letters with Orochimaru, who always invited him there at the end.
After many times, Ryun considered going to temper himself through battle. So he made a promise with Orochimaru to go there after graduating as a genin.
His strength had limited growth over six months with little real combat, so he considered testing his blade on the battlefield!
Kushina seriously thought about Ryun's words. The grouping was not unacceptable, she was just unhappy about not being with Ryun.
Her ideal three man team was: herself, Ryun, and Mikoto.
But Konoha rarely put two same clan members together, so Kushina's wish was impossible.
"But I really wanted to team up with you, to complete missions together..." Kushina said dejectedly, openly expressing her feelings.
"Hahaha..."
Ryun could not help laughing loudly, then pulled her close by the shoulders.
"You're just my little follower right? Always sticking to me every day."
Kushina did not resist the intimate contact, instead enjoying it.
"You're my follower and little brother, isn't that common knowledge?"
Kushina giggled, even actively wrapping her left arm around his waist.
The two were affectionate the whole way, extremely lovey dovey.