The classroom buzzed with disbelief.
"Did you see that? Uchiha Mamoru actually looked scared?"
"There's no way… Shigure must've beaten him! But… how is that possible?"
Before rumors could spread further, a cold voice cut through the noise.
"Be quiet."
Everyone fell silent immediately. The voice had come from a boy with gray hair, a mask covering his face, and a sword slung across his back. His aura was utterly different—icy, dangerous, suffocating. The chakra pulsing within him was leagues above his classmates.
Lucien's eyes narrowed. "That one… isn't simple."
A cheerful female voice spoke beside him. "Are you curious about him? That's Hatake-san. The top student in our class."
Lucien turned to see his red-haired deskmate, her white eyes soft and smiling.
"You… You're from the Hyuga clan," Lucien said, embarrassed he still didn't recall her name.
She giggled. "Yes! My name is Hyuga Hongdie. Don't forget it this time." Her smile seemed to melt even the coldest frost.
Lucien nodded politely. "Alright… I won't." Then he asked, "What's that Hatake's full name?"
"Hatake Kusuo," she said.
"…Hatake Kusuo, huh?" Lucien almost sighed aloud. The thought crossed his mind that fate was playing tricks on him—of all people, he was paired with another Hatake.
The Teams Are Formed
Soon, a teacher carrying a clipboard entered and began to announce the teams.
"Akimichi Dotonoki. Yamanaka Yuki. Nara Kazu. You three will form Team 1."
Predictably, the new generation of the famous Ino-Shika-Cho formation had taken shape.
One by one, names were called, until only a few students remained—including Lucien.
At last, the teacher looked down at the final list and said, "In consideration of a certain student's… unusual performance during the graduation exam, I've arranged a special class. Team 7: Uchiha Shigure, Hatake Kusuo, and Hyuga Akaicho."
The class erupted instantly.
"What?! Hinata Akaicho gets paired with Hatake-san?"
"And Uchiha Shigure too? That's two handsome boys in one team!"
"So jealous… why couldn't it be me?"
Meanwhile, Hinata Akaicho clapped her hands together in delight. "My prayers really worked! I got grouped with both of them!"
Lucien raised an eyebrow, silently amused. He could only guess how jealous his classmates must be right now.
Meeting Their Jonin
The three were quickly sent to the principal's office to meet their Jonin leader. When they entered, Lucien froze for a moment, recognizing the man from his memories of the series.
The instructor wore a simple kimono, a Leaf forehead protector, and bore the unmistakable white eyes of the Hyuga clan.
"Byakugan…" Kusuo Hatake muttered under his breath.
The man smiled warmly. "It's our first meeting. I'm the new Jonin of Konoha, Hyuga Hizashi. From today on, I'll be your leader. Please take care of me."
Hinata Akaicho bowed politely, while Kusuo simply nodded coldly.
Lucien inclined his head. "Please guide us, Hizashi-sensei."
But Hizashi's eyes lingered on Lucien's. A flicker of confusion crossed his face. "…Strange."
Lucien understood instantly. His own pale Sharingan glowed faintly, carrying traits uncomfortably close to the Hyuga's Byakugan. Rather than wait for the question, he said calmly, "If you're wondering about my eyes, Sensei… I was simply born this way. I've never felt anything unusual from them."
Hizashi studied him for a moment before nodding. "I see. Forgive me. The Hyuga clan treats matters of bloodline very seriously. I couldn't help but ask."
"It's fine," Lucien replied lightly.
Hizashi's smile returned briefly, but his eyes hardened a moment later as he took out two small bells. Suddenly the air shifted—the kind smile of a father had turned into the commanding presence of a true Jonin.
"Now then," Hizashi said firmly, "your true test begins. This is a trial appointed directly by the Third Hokage himself. The three of you must treat it with the utmost seriousness. Fail here, and you won't qualify as Genin at all."
He dangled the bells.
"Your task: take these from me."
The Bell Test
The three Genin arrived at the Third Training Ground soon after. Hinata Akaicho stood with nervous determination, sneaking glances at Lucien every few seconds, her cheeks pink.
Hatake Kusuo sat calmly cross-legged, his sword resting against his back, expression unreadable behind his mask.
Lucien stood tall, his uniform pristine, Uchiha crest barely visible on his sleeve, his forehead protector glinting faintly. His pale eyes were steady, sharp, filled with the calm certainty of a predator.
Suddenly, Hizashi appeared before them in a blur, his voice carrying the weight of steel.
"You are heirs of noble families. The pride of Konoha. Show me that you can uphold that legacy." His gaze turned cold. "Come at me with the will to win—or return your forehead protectors and give up."
The silver bells glimmered in the rising sunlight.
The test had begun.
P.S. This chapter sets the stage for Lucien's first true team—pairing him with Hatake Kusuo, the cold prodigy, and Hinata Akaicho, the shy yet bright Hyuga. Their new teacher, Hyuga Hizashi, introduces the infamous Bell Test, the trial that will determine if they're worthy of being true Genin.