"I must be in the same class as Ying… I must be in the same class as Ying…"In the Ninja Academy classroom, Ino clasped her hands together, chanting like a devotee at prayer.
"You're exaggerating, Ino."Perhaps because they both knew that, after the new class assignments, they might not see each other as often, Sakura and Ino were unusually harmonious today.
"It's not an exaggeration at all. If Ying and I aren't in the same Genin squad, there's a huge chance some other girl will get ahead of me."Ino had heard from her mother that many shinobi became successful because they'd served together in the same Genin team.
"Hey… you've got a point."Sakura's eyes drifted toward Uchiha Kage, who was sitting in the back row next to Hinata.Come to think of it… Hinata probably likes Kage just as much as Ino does, right?
"Sakura, look over there!"
Ziiiip!
While they were still chatting, waiting for their assigned Jōnin instructor, a sudden commotion broke out.Unable to tolerate Sasuke's arrogant, domineering demeanor any longer, Naruto jumped onto a desk and glared at him fiercely. But then, a classmate in the front row gave Naruto a push—causing him to accidentally crash into Sasuke's lips.
And the kiss wasn't brief—it lingered.
"Ah! Naruto, how dare you do this to Sasuke!"The classroom erupted into chaos as Sasuke's fangirls shrieked in outrage.
"So Sasuke-kun likes Naruto after all…"Next to Uchiha Kage, little fujoshi Hinata shyly covered her face with her fingers.
"Maybe it's fate," Uchiha Kage murmured, not expecting Naruto and Sasuke's first close contact to happen today of all days.
"Everyone, calm down!"Iruka finally entered, quelling the uproar.
"From now on, you'll be divided into three-man Genin squads and carry out missions under the guidance of a Jōnin instructor…"
Once the class had settled, he began reading out the team assignments.
"…Team 7: Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto."
Two anchors around my neck, Sasuke thought sourly.
That's great, I'm in Sasuke's class! Sakura thought—then winced. Too bad that annoying Naruto's here too. Wait… could it be that Sasuke really does like Naruto?Her skin prickled at the thought of Sasuke's cold indifference to her and every other girl, and the recent occasions when he'd gone home from school with Naruto.No. No way. Absolutely impossible!
"It just had to be this guy Sasuke. I wish I were in Kage's class instead," Naruto muttered openly.
"Hmph, of course Ying has to be in the same class as me!" Ino thought to herself, waving a fist. Naruto could go bother Sasuke—just leave her out of it!
"Team Eight: Uchiha Kage, Aburame Shino, Hyūga Hinata… Team Ten: Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chōji."
"Ah… why…"Ino felt her world collapse.
Me… and Ying-san… not together?!
Across the room, Hinata's heart thumped as shyness and excitement mingled.
Did I just bite my lip? she thought, touching her mouth.
Well, being in a team with Hinata wasn't bad, and Shino was a solid teammate. Uchiha Kage was mildly surprised by the arrangement, but accepted it easily.
"Uchiha Kage… he seems like he could be strong," Shino murmured in the back row, staring at the insect resting on his hand.
"They seem like three very cute disciples."Unlike a certain perpetually late ninja, Yuhi Kurenai was the first instructor to arrive for her team.
Looking over the three young shinobi in front of her, she felt a spark of interest where before she'd been ambivalent about taking on Genin.The Uchiha clan, the Hyūga clan, and the Aburame clan—masters of secret techniques.If trained well, their futures would be bright indeed.
And appearance-wise, they were all pleasing to the eye—especially Uchiha Kage.The Uchiha were just unfairly good at producing handsome boys.
Kurenai's first impression of her team was decidedly positive.
"The teacher's beautiful, too," Uchiha Kage thought, studying her.
That… bandage wrapping is really… no, he meant her skin was pale and flawless.Not quite the size of Tsunade's or mature Hinata's, but Kurenai's figure was impressive.Long hair like a waterfall, a tall, commanding presence, a smooth mature voice—yes, she was the very image of a queen.
"Thank you," Kurenai said with a smile.
Such a polite Uchiha. This handsome boy seemed to have good social grace.
She glanced at Hinata and Shino, quickly noting their shy, reserved natures.
"Now we'll begin the survival drill. Whoever takes a bell from me will get a reward."
Jingle.
The two small silver bells danced in her hand. She smiled at her three students.
She didn't plan to eliminate anyone—just test their skills.
[Obtained Ninja Fragments ×2]
By the end of the exhausting exercise, Uchiha Kage had achieved his goal—sort of. He'd gotten ninja fragments from Hinata and Shino, but none from Kurenai.
Seems neither of us was giving it our all, he thought.
Hinata, meanwhile, seemed… flustered. She kept her knees pressed together, mumbled a goodbye, and hurried home.
He'd wanted to talk with "baby Hinata" a bit more, but—
"Well, as the only one who touched the bell, I'll give you your promised reward."
Kurenai smiled as she stopped him before he could leave.
Though he hadn't awakened the Sharingan yet, this Uchiha boy was clearly the standout among his peers—perfect substitution technique, powerful Fireball Jutsu, even Shadow Clones.
Hinata and Shino had done well, but next to Kage, they were overshadowed.
No wonder teachers liked gifted students. On her very first day, Kurenai found herself already a little biased.
"What reward?" Kage asked, still slightly irritated that he hadn't obtained her fragments.
"What do you like?"Kurenai's eyes lingered on him—the neat hair, the clear gaze, the subtle expressions. There was something magnetic about him. She suddenly felt like teasing him.
"There are many things I like…" he began, automatically thinking of Tsunade and Hinata's generous proportions.
"What's your favorite?"
"Well, bigger is better, but smaller can be cute, too," he said, glancing at her bandage-like outfit. Actually… above average seemed just fine.
"What's big? What's small?"Though in her twenties, Kurenai's experience was almost a blank page—she didn't catch his meaning.
"Do you like more powerful ninjutsu?" she asked.
"Well… yeah."Lightning release was powerful, after all.
"Too bad I don't know any of those. Never mind—consider this your reward."
Stepping closer until they were almost face-to-face, Kurenai leaned in and gave him a light kiss on the forehead.
"Sorry, you're just so cute—I couldn't help myself."
"Oh."
…Why wasn't he shy at all? This was a kiss from a big sister!
Looking at his calm expression, Kurenai felt a twinge of frustration.
"This is for you. Study your ninjutsu well—don't waste my expectations."
Failing to fluster her student, Kurenai felt a little self-conscious. Tossing him a ninjutsu scroll, she vanished in a flicker.