Naruto: Choosing from Birth — Chapter 42

Besides, even if he truly became Uchiha Cheng's teacher, he would not easily pass down the Hatake Clan's blade techniques. At most, he would offer guidance on his understanding and experience with swordsmanship.

In that instant...

Countless thoughts flashed through the Third Hokage's mind. Then, under the White Fang's gaze, he nodded lightly.

"Then, Sakumo, what do you think?" the Third Hokage asked politely.

"Fine. I definitely won't let his talent go to waste. I'll help him quickly grow into a Konoha ninja capable of standing on his own."

Hatake Sakumo emphasized the words "Konoha" as he stared at Uchiha Cheng with a complicated look in his eyes.

"Since that's settled, pick two more people from this year's graduates and form a team. Consider it a vacation before the storm arrives," the Third Hokage declared decisively.

Compared to the high-intensity missions the White Fang had constantly been carrying out, training new graduates could indeed be considered a vacation.

"Then, greetings, Sensei!"

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining Swordsmanship Mastery + Ultimate Technique: Mirage Moon Wheel!"

Uchiha Cheng smiled.

Whether the current White Fang would sincerely guide him in swordsmanship training or not did not matter. In the Naruto world, there was no distinction between swords and blades. They could all be called either swords or blades.

He only needed the title.

Once he became the White Fang's disciple, and the swordsmanship he had never displayed before shone brilliantly before everyone...

What would the Third Hokage think then?

Besides, if he could gain a deeper understanding of the sword from the White Fang, could he advance his swordsmanship another step?

Although the Ultimate Technique: Mirage Moon Wheel seemed quite powerful for now, capable of blocking numerous attacks while leveling a small hill...

It was still nothing compared to monstrous techniques like Tengai Shinsei, Super Almighty Push, Chibaku Tensei, and the like.

Just how strong was the Konoha White Fang whom Uchiha Dai Boku had said could surpass his strongest ultimate technique? He was truly looking forward to finding out.

Thus, the Third Hokage and Uchiha Cheng, two old and young foxes, both left with satisfied smiles on their faces.

All that remained was to wait for the team assignments the next day.

Oh, there was one person who left with a dark expression.

Orochimaru!

"I rejected Danzo's offer of cooperation some time ago. This time, I have no choice but to take the initiative and seek him out."

"I need to increase my strength faster. If ninjutsu isn't enough, then I'll use Forbidden Techniques!"

Orochimaru, who had always been proud of his own talent, thought of that little Uchiha. A cold glint flashed through his two startling vertical pupils.

PS: This foreshadowing has been revealed directly through Uchiha Cheng's inner thoughts, so you won't have to rack your brains guessing. When the White Fang first appeared, I only mentioned two lines of foreshadowing concerning his death, yet someone actually noticed it.

The setup for Uchiha Dai Boku wasn't just to bring out plans involving Zetsu, Madara, and the others. It was also meant to let the protagonist naturally obtain extraordinary swordsmanship.

It would create a reasonable crack in the unbreakable trust between the Third Hokage and the White Fang.

A thousand-mile dike collapses from an ant hole!

Mikoto Uchiha will join the team assignments, and there will be some development for her. Then the story will move into the Second Shinobi World War.

There will be no more PS notes after the story goes premium.*

Early the next morning, the students of the ninja academy's graduating class arrived at the classroom early.

They eagerly discussed who would be placed in the same team and which teacher would lead them.

"Hey, I heard the Hokage's three disciples will also become team leaders this time. They're all powerful elite Jonin."

"Really? If that's true, I hope I can become the disciple of Lord Orochimaru, the one who smashed the jar. He was extraordinary from childhood. He's definitely going to be the protagonist of this era."

"Yeah, yeah, that's what I think too. Lord Jiraiya was dumb from childhood and even fell into a huge water jar. One look tells you he's destined to be a supporting character. If he taught us, we'd probably end up as supporting characters at best, right?"

"Shh, what kind of logic is that? But supposedly, after a group of little tadpoles found Lord Jiraiya, he was able to summon a Great Toad. A Great Toad! Tell me, aren't you scared?"

"A Great Toad? How big is it?"

"It's not a matter of how big it is. It's the kind of..."

"Hey, hey, aren't you getting off topic? Where did this gossip even come from?"

"You're behind the times. Haven't you read the Ma Liang the Immortal's Fairy Tales that's sweeping through Konoha right now? Don't you have neighbors? Younger brothers or sisters? You orphan..."

As eight o'clock approached, Nomura-sensei entered the classroom on time with the team assignment list.

The noisy classroom instantly fell silent. One by one, they held their breath and silently prayed to be assigned with familiar classmates. Even more, they hoped for a powerful teacher.

Standing on the podium, Nomura-sensei said with a smile, "Everything that needed to be said was already said yesterday. Here, I will once again wish you a successful graduation and that you become ninja worthy of admiration."

"Of course, the road of a ninja is still long. Today, stronger and more experienced ninja will be assigned to personally lead you through this first stretch of your journey."

"Now, the team assignments begin!"

"Team 1: Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka."

"Team 2: Kushina Uzumaki, Mina Shimura, Nanako Kishimoto."

"Team 3: Minato Namikaze..."

One by one, the team leaders entered as well and took away their students.

Tsunade did not come personally. She merely had someone deliver a message telling the two members of Team 2 to go to Konoha Training Ground Three at ten in the morning. She and Kushina would be waiting for them there.

When Orochimaru entered and took away Nawaki Senju's team, it immediately caused waves of envious commotion.

Some of the children had wanted to heckle him and ask Lord Orochimaru what it felt like to smash a jar as a child. It couldn't be helped. Though it felt like a fairy tale and was surely made up, the real names and appearances described in it made people unable to stop imagining things.

In the end, Orochimaru found them too noisy. With a sweep of his cold gaze, the temperature in the classroom seemed to drop by ten degrees. The entire room immediately fell deathly silent.

It stayed quiet for quite a while.

Only when Jiraiya came in and led away Minato Namikaze's team did the children regain their natural temperament. They forgot things quickly and instead gave Jiraiya an enthusiastic welcome. Of course, waves of boos also rose toward Team 3.

After leaving the academy, Minato could not help blushing as he asked, "Jiraiya-sensei, did you fall into a huge water jar when you were young?"

The cheerful Jiraiya was still immersed in the students' enthusiastic welcome. He thought his image had finally taken root in people's hearts. Hadn't they seen how enthusiastic everyone had been just now?

And they even knew he could summon a Great Toad. As expected, news of his strength had already spread throughout the entire ninja world.

"Me? Fall into a huge water jar?" Jiraiya froze after hearing Minato's question.

"Yes! A fairy tale book says that you fell into a huge water jar when you were young, and Lord Orochimaru smashed the jar to rescue you."

"What kind of joke is that? Who wrote it? I'm going to find him and make him change it. He should throw Orochimaru into the jar instead, or I'll write him into Make-Out Paradise!" Jiraiya shouted.

Minato Namikaze helplessly shook his head. Sure enough, his teacher's way of thinking was as strange as ever.

"Mikoto, who's our team leader? And our other teammate isn't even here. It's all so mysterious. Everyone else has left, and only the two of us are stuck here waiting."

A spirited girl with neat short hair grumbled unhappily.

Her pale left hand, slender as a scallion stalk, supported her fair cheek as she tilted her little head. Her right index finger was hooked through a kunai ring, spinning it wildly in circles. She was clearly someone who could never sit still.

"They should be here soon. Nomura-sensei said our team leader is very strong, and our teammate is strong too."

Mikoto Uchiha brushed aside the bangs over her forehead and answered calmly. She sat upright in her seat, her two jade-like little hands quietly folded over her thighs.

"Mikoto, aren't you anxious at all? We're about to begin our lives as ninja! Don't you have any expectations for the teammates and teacher we'll be spending so much time with in the future?"

At her words, Uchiha Cheng's image instantly flashed through Mikoto's mind. Then she shook her head, feeling it was impossible. He had graduated two years early. "There's nothing to be anxious about. Even if you're impatient, it won't help. We'll know who they are soon enough. Just wait quietly. Continuing to let your imagination run wild won't change what has already been decided."

"I'm going crazy, Mikoto. I'll never be able to reach your level of calm. I think... hmm, you're about to become an immortal! Is this the refined upbringing of a young lady from a great clan?"

Just then, the classroom door suddenly opened, and a familiar voice drifted in.

"Sorry, we're late."*

As Uchiha Cheng pushed open the door and entered the classroom, the Konoha White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, followed behind him.

"Brother Cheng! This is the Ko... Konoha White Fang?"

The short-haired girl playing with her kunai widened her eyes in disbelief when she saw them, instinctively rising to her feet.

She had never expected her teammate to be Uchiha Cheng, Konoha's number one genius, who had graduated early.

And her team leader was actually the Konoha White Fang. That silver hair and the short ninja blade on his back were far too easy to recognize.