"You've all completed quite a number of missions already, but this will be your first large-scale joint assignment. The purpose is to train your teamwork and coordination." Iruka, temporarily working as a clerk at the mission desk, explained with his usual patient tone.
It was the academy's break period, but as always, Iruka had been pulled in to help with extra work. He sighed inwardly. A shinobi really was like a brick you moved wherever the village needed you. Especially for chunin, the backbone of the Hidden Leaf, duties shifted constantly: sometimes teaching, sometimes fighting, sometimes running errands.
No matter how skilled an individual shinobi was, the reality was simple battles were never won alone. Victory came through cooperation. That was why graduates were always assigned into three-man squads, to cover each other's weaknesses and strengthen their teamwork.
"This mission involves every genin who graduated this year. Make sure you prepare properly," Iruka added with a warm, encouraging smile.
"Got it," Naruto waved casually, already eager to leave.
Once outside the administrative hall, Kakashi unrolled the scroll they had been handed and raised an eyebrow. "A B-rank mission. Bandit suppression."
He closed the scroll with a snap, his lone visible eye narrowing thoughtfully. This assignment was clearly designed to expose the rookies to real danger. The Leaf's academy training was, truth be told, softer than that of other great nations.
The First Hokage had created the shinobi village system to protect children from being thrown onto the battlefield at six or seven years old. But once they graduated, there was no avoiding it. Even as genin, they were shinobi now. Sooner or later, they had to see blood.
"The other squads should have received the same mission. One hour from now, we'll all meet at the village gates," Kakashi instructed.
Naruto and his teammates had no objections.
An hour later, the village gates became lively with chatter. For the first time since graduation, all the rookie teams were gathered together.
Though they all lived in the same village, once they became shinobi, schedules grew chaotic. Missions filled every day, especially for new genin who needed to rack up experience. This large-scale group mission was unexpectedly serving as a reunion.
"Sakura, how've you been?" Ino rushed forward the moment she spotted her best friend and rival.
"Women are such a hassle," Shikamaru muttered from the side, both hands behind his head as he watched the girls chatter excitedly.
"Crunch, crunch." Chōji had no time for conversation, too busy munching on his chips.
"Shikamaru, you can't just dismiss women like that," Shino said quietly, adjusting his dark glasses. His words were surprisingly memorable, though the boy himself remained hard to notice.
"Tch, where's Sasuke? And Naruto? I've been training like crazy. I want to test myself against them!" Kiba boasted, arms crossed and brimming with confidence.
"Woof!" Akamaru barked in agreement from atop his head.
At that moment, a hand reached into Chōji's bag of chips.
"Hm?" Chōji's eyes narrowed dangerously. He turned, ready to glare down the thief only to relax instantly. "Oh, Naruto, it's you."
"Chōji, you've gotten even rounder," Naruto teased, rubbing his friend's belly with his free hand while popping a stolen chip into his mouth. Then he casually offered another to Hinata.
Blushing, Hinata accepted with a soft thank you.
Chōji chuckled and handed the bag to Naruto, gesturing generously. As long as he got the last chip, he didn't mind sharing.
"If you're looking for a fight, we can do it now." Sasuke's cool voice cut through the chatter. He stood before Kiba, face expressionless.
There was no arrogance in his tone. He didn't look down on his classmates after all, with Naruto around, Sasuke's darker edges had softened somewhat. Still, his natural pride was unmistakable, and it rubbed Kiba the wrong way.
"Fine by me!" Kiba growled, gritting his teeth as he prepared to fight alongside Akamaru.
But before they could clash
"Sasuke!!"
Two shrill voices pierced the air. Sakura and Ino came barreling toward him, arms wide for a hug.
Sasuke neatly sidestepped.
Undeterred, the girls immediately crowded around him, firing off questions and praises one after the other.
Kiba's fighting spirit fizzled on the spot. With Sakura and Ino glued to Sasuke, there was no way this duel could continue. Scowling, he backed off with a huff. "Next time, then."
A short distance away, the three jonin instructors watched their students' reunion with quiet amusement.
Asuma took a slow drag from his cigarette and exhaled. "Seeing them like this takes me back to when we were fresh genin ourselves."
"Yeah, it does," Kakashi replied, hands tucked in his pockets.
"Don't you dare get sentimental with us, Kakashi. You graduated in your first year!" Kurenai snapped, rolling her eyes.
"Ahaha, true, true. Sorry about that," Kakashi scratched the back of his head, unbothered.
They were all from the same generation, but Kakashi's monstrous talent had separated him from them almost immediately. By the time they were still classmates, he was already leagues ahead, cold and untouchable.
Back then, Kakashi truly hadn't cared for his peers. He looked down on everyone. It was only after suffering through devastating losses that he finally learned the value of comrades. Without them, he would have nothing.
"You've got it easy with Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata in one team," Asuma remarked, a touch of envy in his tone. "Strongest rookies all lumped together. Must be a breeze for you."
It wasn't envy of Naruto's heritage it was their sheer talent. The top three students of their class had been placed in a single squad. Many whispered about fairness, but no one dared question the Third Hokage's decision.
Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. "They're alright, I suppose. Most of the time, I barely need to lift a finger. They handle everything themselves."
And it was true. From mundane D-rank chores to life-threatening A-rank battles like their clash with Zabuza, Kakashi had often been more of an observer than a commander. His job as their jonin leader had never been easier.
Not that he hadn't earned it. He had been training this trio since their first year at the academy six full years of instruction. The groundwork had been laid long ago.
"My squad's another story," Asuma grumbled, blowing smoke. "All I hear are complaints. Shikamaru says it's too troublesome, Chōji follows his lead, and Ino only cares about other things. I spend half my time just motivating them."
"Compared to that, mine's somewhere in the middle," Kurenai said with a light laugh. "Kiba's enthusiastic, Shino works diligently without complaint, and Sakura… well, she's constantly daydreaming about Sasuke, which drives me a little crazy. But at their age, it's understandable. Romance is far more appealing than missions."
Especially in times of peace.
Asuma glanced up at the sky. "Alright, enough chatter. Let's get moving and wrap this mission up quickly."
Kakashi and Kurenai both nodded in agreement.
The reunion was over. Now, the real test awaited them.
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