A Test?

"No, Sasuke, don't misunderstand."

Naruto said with a headache, "I really don't have my own training method."

But Sasuke simply didn't believe him.

And now Sasuke was so upset that he no longer wanted to be a ninja.

Seeing that the two had talked for so long without reaching any conclusion, Teacher Iruka tentatively asked, "How about you return to the classroom first? Once Teacher Mizuki informs the Hokage, we can let the Hokage make the decision?"

"That works," Sasuke quickly said.

The Hokage represented absolute authority in Konoha.

If the Hokage ordered Naruto to become a ninja, Sasuke didn't believe Naruto would refuse.

Thus, the three of them returned to the classroom.

After a while, the students gradually arrived.

Naruto sat beside Hinata, his hands behind his head as he gazed up at the ceiling, enjoying the peaceful moment.

Teacher Iruka entered the classroom and began assigning teams.

Before long, Teacher Iruka had finished reading the team assignments.

Hinata said somewhat dejectedly, "I'm not on the same team as Naruto..."

"Don't worry, Hinata. Even if we're not in the same class, we can still keep in touch anytime," Naruto said, reaching out to rest his hand on the little girl's soft, fragrant shoulder in comfort.

After spending so many days together, Hinata had practically become immune to these little gestures.

She was still somewhat shy, but she no longer had such an exaggerated reaction as fainting.

Just then.

Sakura Haruno suddenly raised her hand and asked Teacher Iruka, "Ahhh? Teacher Iruka, why don't I have a team!?"

Beside her, Ino covered her mouth and snickered.

Although Ino wasn't assigned to the same team as Naruto.

Broad Forehead didn't even have a team.

Who was stronger and who was weaker was obvious at a glance~

Teacher Iruka raised his hand and rubbed his brow before saying to Sakura Haruno, "Sakura, you originally had two teammates, but their situations are a little special, so... let's wait for the Hokage's decision."

The Hokage would decide personally?

Hearing this, Sakura Haruno felt an inexplicable sense of honor.

Naruto understood Sakura Haruno's feelings.

It was like graduating from a vocational school and being assigned a job. Everyone else got sent to assembly lines or construction sites.

But then your teacher told you that a national leader would personally arrange your job.

That was absolutely an honor!

Time passed bit by bit.

The members of the other teams were all called away by their respective jonin.

Looking at the empty classroom, Sakura Haruno felt somewhat excited.

Because she had never imagined that her prospective teammates would actually be Naruto and Sasuke!

Both were extremely popular students at the Ninja Academy.

Naruto, in particular, was so handsome that it was impossible to resist him.

If Sakura Haruno had to find a word to describe Naruto.

It would be: the spitting image of the Fourth Hokage!

Anyone who knew understood the weight those four words carried.

Just as Sakura Haruno shamelessly sat beside Naruto, intending to begin pestering him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed open the door and entered.

Teacher Mizuki and Teacher Iruka followed behind him.

When Sasuke and Sakura Haruno saw Hiruzen Sarutobi, they both excitedly stood up.

After all, aside from appearing once during enrollment season every year.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was normally impossible to see.

And Hiruzen Sarutobi was known as the strongest Hokage in history.

He was also the current ruler of Konoha, the foremost of the five great ninja villages.

His strength was self-evident.

It was said that Hiruzen Sarutobi also had three extremely terrifying disciples.

It was just that all of his disciples had left Konoha...

Even so, that still proved how astonishing Hiruzen Sarutobi's ability to teach was.

Otherwise, he would not have been called the Professor of Ninjutsu.

If he could become Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple...

Sasuke's eyes became fervent at the thought.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi directly ignored Sasuke's gaze and greeted the three of them first.

Then he asked Naruto, "Little Naruto, why don't you want to be a ninja anymore?"

Naruto had long since prepared his answer to this question. "Because I don't want to be restrained."

With just that one sentence from Naruto, Hiruzen Sarutobi found the root of the problem.

Being a ninja required following orders and accepting restraints.

Naruto had a personality that preferred peace and quiet. Perhaps that was the reason.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said to Naruto, "Little Naruto, both your parents were ninjas, and they both sacrificed themselves for Konoha. They would also hope that you could inherit their will..."

He was starting to play the emotional card!

Sakura Haruno and Sasuke both became curious upon hearing that.

Naruto Uzumaki...

He had always been alone.

And people said Naruto was a monster.

That he had no family.

"Could it be that Naruto has parents too?" Sasuke muttered.

Naruto's mouth twitched, and he immediately smacked Sasuke on the head. "What are you talking about? How could I have come into existence without parents?"

Sasuke fell silent for a moment, then said shamefully, "Sorry."

Sakura Haruno also forcibly swallowed the words she had just been about to say.

Good thing Sasuke was faster than me.

Otherwise, I would've been the one getting hit.

Sakura Haruno thought this to herself.

In response to Hiruzen Sarutobi's emotional appeal.

Naruto shook his head slightly. "No. I don't want to end up like them, with both of us sacrificing ourselves. Maybe it's because I'm a selfish person."

Holding her face in her hands, Sakura Haruno mindlessly praised him, "As expected of Naruto. Being able to easily admit your own shortcomings takes courage and resolve..."

Naruto: "..."

Girl, don't force the praise.

It's embarrassing.

Sasuke had not expected Naruto's answer either.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's prestige was so great.

And Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted Naruto to become a ninja.

Yet Naruto had refused him.

Sasuke had originally thought Naruto wouldn't refuse Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He had still underestimated just how stubborn Naruto was...

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a headache coming on after hearing this.

He knew that he himself bore part of the responsibility for Naruto's personality.

At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know what to do either.

Sasuke had also finished analyzing the situation.

Naruto didn't want to become a ninja because he feared trouble and didn't want his training rhythm disrupted.

And Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted Naruto to become a ninja because Naruto was a genius.

So Sasuke came up with a fairly good solution.

Sasuke stood up and said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Lord Hokage, how about letting Naruto serve as our team's instructor?"

"What?" Hiruzen Sarutobi instinctively shook his head. "No. Little Naruto may be powerful, but he lacks experience, so he can't do this well."

But Sasuke's eyes lit up upon hearing that.

The Hokage had praised Naruto as powerful?

Just as expected!

Naruto Uzumaki had already become this powerful?

Sasuke said excitedly, "Lord Hokage, experience is accumulated little by little. I believe in Naruto's strength. He has the ability to guide us well!"

Sakura Haruno also wanted to be on the same team as Naruto, so she echoed him from the side. "That's right, Lord Hokage. Naruto-kun is really strong~"

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."

Were children these days all this stubborn?

But it seemed this was the only way.

Let Naruto make his own decisions. If he wanted to take missions, he could take missions.

If he didn't want to take missions, he could rest.

That would satisfy Naruto's desire for peace.

And it would also let Naruto become a ninja, so he would not disappoint Minato and Kushina.

But naturally, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not agree right away.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and said, "Fine. Since you two insist so strongly, I'll give you a chance."

"If Naruto can pass my test, then he will become the instructor of your Team 7!"