The 112th graduating class of Konoha had spent six full years in the Academy.
Iruka Umino had practically raised them.
Though only a Chūnin, Iruka was experienced. He understood children like Naruto—troublemakers seeking attention, masking loneliness with pranks.
He himself had once been similar.
But—
"Smack."
When a student accidentally shoved Naruto—
And Naruto collided lips-first with Sasuke—
Iruka realized…
He still knew nothing about this vast world.
Ten seconds of frozen silence.
Then chaos.
"I need to rinse my mouth!" Naruto exploded.
The student who pushed him vanished into the crowd.
The girls, meanwhile—
"Sasuke's first kiss!"
"Naruto, how dare you!"
Pandemonium erupted.
Uchiha Kai watched calmly.
Technically speaking—
Sasuke was lucky.
Naruto had ten Shadow Clones active.
The shove happened to send his original body into Sasuke.
Had it been a clone, the experience would still transfer upon dispersal.
Either way—
Their bond was… unbreakable.
Uchiha Kai glanced at Hinata.
"Uchiha Kai-kun?"
"Nothing," he replied mildly. "In this vast world, anything can happen."
Anything.
Even Sasuke becoming someone's princess.
Above the Classroom — Observation Deck
A small peephole in the wall.
Several jōnin stood inside:
Asuma Sarutobi
Kurenai Yuhi
Genma Shiranui
And their prodigy peer, Hatake Kakashi
They were the new team leaders.
Kakashi had just peeked through the hole.
His expression froze.
"What's wrong?" Asuma asked.
"…Complicated," Kakashi replied.
He had confirmed Naruto's identity.
He had a mission to monitor Uchiha Kai.
He had Sasuke—Itachi's younger brother.
Now—
He also had accidental boy-on-boy first kisses.
Perhaps he truly didn't understand the new generation.
Though, recalling Obito…
Maybe this wasn't that shocking.
Better to pretend he saw nothing.
Team Assignments
Iruka wiped his eyes.
"Three-man squads. Led by jōnin."
He warned them:
"Some of you may stop at Chūnin."
"Some may remain Genin forever."
"Some may fail and return to the Academy."
"I hope none of you do."
"Become the ninja you wish to be."
He began reading names.
Most students were background characters.
Then—
"Team Seven: Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Kai, Uzumaki Naruto."
"Your instructor: Hatake Kakashi."
[Uchiha Revival Path]
Silence.
[Uchiha Izuna]: Fugaku… you let your son become a ninja?
[Uchiha Fugaku]: I wanted him in the Police Force.
[Uchiha Fugaku]: But Uchiha Kai couldn't be persuaded.
[Uchiha Fugaku]: Sasuke grows stronger chasing him.
[Uchiha Fugaku]: Strength is what matters.
Pause.
[Uchiha Fugaku]: Also… if Sasuke and Uchiha Kai are in the same team…
[Uchiha Fugaku]: I can watch him through the livestream.
[Uchiha Fugaku]: If the Third Hokage tries to brainwash him—
[Uchiha Fugaku]: I'll correct it immediately.
[Elder Madara]: So you requested the team arrangement?
[Uchiha Fugaku]: Yes.
Madara wasn't particularly concerned about Sasuke.
But—
[Elder Madara]: Uzumaki Naruto… the Nine-Tails jinchūriki.
[Uchiha Fugaku]: Correct.
Madara fell silent.
He remembered battling Hashirama Senju while controlling Kurama.
Hashirama defeated him—
Then sealed the Nine-Tails into a human.
Madara had always considered that foolish.
A free Nine-Tails at the village gate was a far better deterrent than a fragile host.
That difference—
Was the gap between him and Hashirama.
Back at the Observation Deck
Asuma clapped Kakashi on the shoulder.
"Congratulations. Quite the lineup."
Kakashi stared ahead.
Two Sharingan users.
One jinchūriki.
And Uchiha Kai, who allegedly had Madara's spirit behind him.
He exhaled.
"I'm a fake Uchiha… leading three real ones."
He was a ninja.
Not an exorcist.
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