"Team 7…"
The division of squads quickly reached Team Seven.
When he saw the names written on the list, Iruka's lips couldn't help but curl into a faint smile as he read aloud: "Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno…"
"Alright!!"
Before Iruka could even finish announcing, Naruto jumped up and cheered excitedly.
Meanwhile, sitting on the other side of Sasuke, Sakura's face turned to despair: "I can't believe I'm in the same team as Naruto!"
"And… Sasuke Uchiha!"
Throwing a glare at the loud Naruto who had interrupted him, Iruka shouted the third name.
"…Alright!!"
In that instant, Sakura, who had been filled with hopelessness about her future, suddenly cried out in joy just like Naruto had moments before.
At the same time, sighs of disappointment echoed throughout the classroom.
Haruma immediately noticed the change, many fiery gazes from all directions were cast upon him.
It was obvious that those female classmates who had hoped to be in Sasuke's team had now shifted their attention to Haruma.
After all, the first-ranked student was always the center of attention; unless someone truly loved another, who would ever settle for second place?
"Team 8…"
After announcing Team 8's lineup, Iruka's gaze dropped slightly down the list. His face revealed a flicker of surprise before he called out the first name: "Haruma…"
Hearing his name paired with that all-too-familiar squad number, a light flashed in Haruma's eyes.
"Shino Aburame, and…"
After speaking the second name, Iruka glanced toward the nervous Hinata sitting beside Haruma, "Hinata Hyuga"
"…That's wonderful!"
The moment Hinata heard her name, she clenched her small fists tightly, her pale lavender eyes shining with unrestrained excitement for the first time.
"Abandoned, huh?"
Watching Kiba Inuzuka with the white puppy perched on his head, Shikamaru muttered silently in his head.
The sensory-focused team he had speculated about had indeed been formed. But instead of pairing Kiba with Hinata and Shino, it was Haruma who joined them.
This revealed that Haruma had already earned the recognition of Konoha's higher-ups. If this squad distribution had been decided by the Hokage himself, then it meant Haruma had even caught the attention of the Third Hokage.
Which meant the one Haruma had replaced, was the sacrifice.
Being unable to team up with other clan heirs would inevitably weaken Kiba's position within his family. Unless he could surpass his peers by becoming a Chunin, or even a Jonin, earlier than anyone else, it would be difficult for him to gain influence within his clan.
And the loss of not being in a team with other ninja clan heirs?
The greatest loss was safety.
If a squad consisted of three heirs from major clans, Konoha would inevitably assign an exceptionally strong Jonin as their instructor in order to prevent a generational gap.
But if Kiba were grouped with two civilian-born Genin, what he would lose would not only be status and influence in his family, but also security and access to resources.
Thinking of this, Shikamaru couldn't help but feel pity for him: "What a poor guy."
"Team 10…"
By now, the division was drawing to a close.
Looking at the Team 10 roster, Iruka read without surprise in one breath: "Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akamichi, Ino Yamanaka."
"I guess.... Shikamaru guessed it completely right."
Ino said as she out a soft sigh. Glancing past Haruma toward Hinata, she said, "Hinata, I'm so jealous that you get to be in the same team as Haruma."
Hearing this, Hinata lowered her head with a shy smile.
At this moment, her joy surpassed even the thought of receiving praise from her father, though, truthfully, she had never been praised by him before in her life. And as her younger sister Hanabi grew, her father and the elders only became more disappointed in her.
"Team 12…"
After announcing the last group, Iruka lifted his gaze and swept it over the students he had taught for six long years. His eyes carried both pride and sorrow as he said,
"The squad assignments are complete. In a moment, your Jonin instructors will come and take you away. I hope that when we meet again, each of you will have become shinobi worthy of making your teacher proud."
With that, Iruka fought back the sting of tears, clutching the roster tightly as he walked out of the classroom.
No one noticed the feelings in Iruka's heart. They barely acknowledged his departure, already too full of anticipation for the ninja lives awaiting them.
It was like children leaving home for the first time, eager to see the world beyond, never once considering what their parents might be feeling.
"Team 3, come out."
Not long after Iruka left, a Jonin in a green flak jacket appeared at the classroom door and called to the students.
"Team 5, follow me."
"Team 11…"
One after another, Jonin appeared, each taking away their three students.
Gradually, only a dozen or so students remained in the room.
"Team 10, come out."
At that moment, Asuma Sarutobi, with his beard and a cigarette hanging from his lips, appeared.
Ino stood up reluctantly, turning to Haruma, "Haruma, I'm leaving. Remember to visit us when you can."
"Mm. If there's time, Hinata and I will come find you," Haruma replied with a nod.
"See you."
Shikamaru and Choji also waved to Haruma and Hinata before leaving with Ino.
Soon after, Kurenai Yuhi arrived, not keeping Haruma's team waiting for long.
With long black hair and ruby-like eyes, the kunoichi entered the classroom, casting her gaze across Haruma, Hinata, and the ever low-key Shino. Smiling gently, she said,
"Team 8, I am your Jonin instructor. Come with me."
Hearing this, Naruto and Sakura, who had been filled with eager expectation, instantly revealed expressions of disappointment.
"Yes, sensei."
Haruma and Hinata responded politely, rising to their feet and leaving the classroom.
Seeing their courtesy, Kurenai's first impression of them was very favorable.
Unlike Kakashi, who took Team Seven to the rooftop, Kurenai led them out of the academy and toward one of Konoha's training grounds.
Every Jonin instructor, upon receiving their students, would conduct a survival exercise, traditionally, the bell test.
The reason Kakashi delayed Team 7's test until the next day was simply because he was late and didn't have time that afternoon. It also conveniently gave them time to gather information and prepare.
But Asuma and Kurenai were not like the lazy Kakashi.
Especially Kurenai, she had only just been promoted to Jonin not long ago. For her, being entrusted with the Hyuga clan's heiress and the academy's top-ranked student was an honor she could scarcely treasure enough. How could she ever think of treating them harshly?
And so, once they arrived at a training field, Kurenai leaned casually against a wooden post, gazing at the three of them with a gentle smile.
"Let's begin by introducing ourselves. Tell us what you like and dislike, the ninjutsu you excel at, and your future dreams…"
She gave them a demonstration first:
"My name is Kurenai Yuhi. You may call me Kurenai-sensei from now on. The ninjutsu I excel at is genjutsu. I like shochu, vodka, and takowasa with mustard. I dislike cake. And my dream is to become an even stronger kunoichi and raise a family one day."
When she finished, Kurenai's gaze fell upon Haruma.
Back when she had received Team Eight's files from the Third Hokage, the student she had been most curious about was Haruma.
It wasn't just because he had consistently ranked first in his year from entrance to graduation.
It was also because, even as early as his fourth year, when he was only ten, he had already mastered basic sensory techniques, basic genjutsu, and even intermediate chakra transformation.
As a Jonin, Kurenai understood all too well what it meant for a student at that level to have mastered such skills.
It meant that his chakra nature must include Yin Release.
And his chakra control was exceptional.
In other words, he was a genjutsu prodigy yet to be fully developed.
For that reason, Kurenai held high expectations for Haruma's future. Perhaps, she thought, he might even help her surpass Kakashi, Asuma, and even the students of Might Guy.