Chapter 11: Team 7's First Intelligence Sharing
Iruka walked into the classroom and announced the team assignments. As expected, the classes were divided into groups of three.
"Team 7!"
Naruto froze for a moment. Team 7 was called first on the list? This must have been a decision the Third Hokage made after careful consideration.
But… would it be the same as the original storyline?
This time, Naruto was first in the graduation exam, Sasuke was second, and Sakura was third. If you went strictly by scores, wouldn't putting all three top scorers into one team feel a little unbalanced?
"Sakura Haruno!"
Sakura froze for an instant when her name was called, then tensed nervously.
"Uzumaki Naruto!"
Just as he thought. He had already guessed the result.
Sakura, however, looked rather happy. After all, who wouldn't want strong teammates?
But after the soul exchange, Naruto no longer clung to her. Sakura didn't dislike him; the two simply had a normal classmate relationship.
Even though he aimed to take things easy, his strength left the rest of the class far behind. That aroused Sakura's curiosity—Naruto seemed as though he had suddenly grown up overnight.
Still, curiosity was just curiosity. It hadn't reached the level of affection.
"Uchiha Sasuke!"
The moment the name was spoken, Sakura shot to her feet, unable to suppress her joy.
"Yes!"
"Troublesome," Sasuke muttered in displeasure, snorting coldly.
"Next, Team 8," Iruka's voice continued.
Naruto listened quietly, noticing that the team distribution was no different from the original. Suddenly, he seemed to sense something, and snapped his head toward the back corner of the classroom—only to meet a pair of eyes.
Hinata quickly looked away, her face burning like she'd been caught stealing.
After the assignments, Sasuke didn't leave right away.
"Let's go eat together," Naruto suggested.
"Sure!" Sakura looked delighted. She cast a glance at Sasuke and agreed without a second thought, secretly giving Naruto a big thumbs-up in her heart.
"Not going." Sasuke's rejection was cold and curt.
Naruto wasn't surprised. He stopped walking, turned to Sasuke, and asked,
"You're not satisfied? Planning to go home and train?"
"What's it to you?" Sasuke's eyes were distant and cold.
Anyone else might have gotten angry at such treatment, but Naruto was a transmigrator; he ignored the young Uchiha's prickly pride.
"To be blunt, your attitude is just a waste of time," Naruto said. "We're already teammates, and that won't change."
"So what?"
"So what? Don't tell me you don't even understand this." Naruto tilted his chin deliberately, mocking Sasuke. "Do you even know the power of teamwork?"
"I don't need teammates." Sasuke shot Naruto an indifferent glance, then turned to leave.
"Sasuke…" Sakura, caught in the middle, reached out to stop him.
"Don't bother with him," Naruto said coldly. "He's just an arrogant brat. If you don't want to get stronger and would rather waste time, then by all means, walk away.
Stay a coward forever, trapped in your own emotions!"
"Say that again?" Sasuke whirled around, seizing Naruto's collar.
"I'll say it ten thousand times—it won't change," Naruto locked eyes with him. "I thought you were smart, but you're just trash."
"You—!" Sasuke's face turned icy.
"Stop it, Naruto, Sasuke." Sakura grabbed their arms, trying to pull them apart.
"Aren't we teammates?"
"He's never seen you as a teammate," Naruto said. "He only sees himself. How could someone like that have teammates?"
"I said I don't need teammates!" Sasuke shot back. "I'm enough on my own. Teammates are nothing but a burden."
"Sasuke." Forcing a smile, Sakura tried to ease the tension. "Naruto just suggested eating together. Maybe he has information to share."
"Lately Naruto's suddenly gotten a lot stronger. He must have some good training methods. It wouldn't hurt to listen."
At her words, a flicker of hesitation passed over Sasuke's face. After a brief struggle, he let go of Naruto.
Naruto didn't hold it against him. He'd deliberately provoked Sasuke just to drag him along to the meal.
Just as Sakura had guessed, he had information to share.
The three of them would soon be risking their lives together on dangerous missions. If the other two grew stronger, Naruto could take it easier.
Besides, why stumble into pitfalls if you could avoid them ahead of time?
As he always thought—suffering wasn't treasure, and hardship wasn't a blessing. People just couldn't escape it. If anyone could see the future, they'd never choose to suffer.
The three headed to a barbecue restaurant, ordered a few plates of meat and some juice.
It seemed Sakura was grilling meat herself for the first time, and she appeared a little stiff in front of Sasuke. Sasuke sat with arms crossed, face cold, like he'd only come to listen.
Naruto, drawing on his pre-transmigration experience with group meals, smoothly brushed oil on the grill, then spread a layer of cheese.
The meat sizzling with cheese gave off a rich, creamy aroma that made mouths water.
"Naruto, do you eat barbecue often?" Sakura asked, surprised.
"Mm… I don't have that kind of money. I just hunt a lot, so I picked up a few tricks," Naruto answered modestly.
He placed the grilled meat onto Sakura's and Sasuke's plates, then put another round on the grill.
"Thanks." Sakura's face flushed slightly.
"Th-thanks," Sasuke muttered awkwardly.
After one round of barbecue, the atmosphere between them softened considerably. Sasuke ate quietly, his face still cold, but the tight knot in his brow loosened.
"It's delicious," Sakura said with satisfaction, sipping her juice.
Seeing the timing was right, Naruto didn't keep them in suspense. After wiping his mouth, he stared at them for a while before speaking.
"Do you know the inside story behind the team distribution?"
Sakura shook her head.
"That's decided by the Hokage and the higher-ups, right? Probably based on scores."
Sasuke, unimpressed, asked,
"What does that have to do with us?"
"Of course it has to do with us," Naruto replied. "For a ninja, gathering intelligence is the most important part of a mission. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you'll never lose."
"In the future, we might have to cooperate with or even face other teams. And don't forget about the Chūnin Exams."
"That… makes some sense." Sakura nodded vaguely. "Naruto, do you know the inside story?"
"Of course." Naruto nodded.
"Team 8's members come from Konoha's reconnaissance clans, the second-generation direct lines of the scouting division. Byakugan vision from the Hyūga clan, scent tracking from the Inuzuka clan, insect tracking from the Aburame clan.
This grouping was decided by the Konoha higher-ups, based on each person's traits and personality."