Teammates

Chapter 22: Teammates

The next morning.

Uchiha Takashi woke Kagami up.

"You know where Konoha's training grounds are, right?"

Kagami nodded.

"I know."

The training grounds near the Uchiha compound belonged to the Uchiha Clan, while Konoha's training grounds belonged to the village. Simply put, one was private, and the other was official. Although both were called training grounds, their locations were clearly different.

After Kagami got up and started his morning routine, Uchiha Takashi didn't rush to his post. He stood beside Kagami, watching him wash up, and said, "Your instructor and your teammates will be waiting for you at Konoha's training grounds. Since you know the location, you can go by yourself later. I won't take you. Oh, right, I heard your instructor this time is from the Anbu. People who come from places like that are usually very strong, but their methods and mindset might not be so good. When you're with that instructor, remember, some things you can learn, and some things you shouldn't."

"Okay, Father."

From the Anbu? Kagami was a little surprised. He had thought they would just assign a random Jonin as his instructor. He hadn't expected someone from the Anbu. What was the Anbu? The Anbu were the eyes and sword of the Hokage. People from the Anbu could essentially be considered the Hokage's people. In that case, the Third Hokage seemed to value him quite a bit.

Soon after, after finishing breakfast, Kagami and Uchiha Takashi left together. After walking for a short while, they parted ways.

Although Konoha's training grounds weren't very close to the Uchiha clan compound, Kagami had woken up early. Even though it took some time to walk, he still arrived at Konoha's training grounds well before anyone else. This time, unlike when he first enrolled, when Sasuke and Kiba Inuzuka had arrived before him, he was the first one there.

Kagami didn't see anyone, so he didn't idle. Since it was a training ground, he started practicing.

A moment later, a young boy walked over. At this age, twelve years old, to become a genin, he had black hair that was slightly long, reaching his shoulders. He wore a light blue outfit and a carefree smile as he walked up to Kagami.

"Are you my future teammate? I just saw, your shuriken skills are amazing! But why do you look so young? I'm Saito Daisuke, and you are?"

Kagami put away the shuriken he was practicing with and replied politely.

"My name is Uchiha Kagato."

"Snap!"

Saito Daisuke clapped his hands together, his eyes widening in surprise as he looked at Kagami.

"Uchiha Kagato? I've heard of you! You're the one who graduated from the Ninja Academy in just one year, right? That's amazing! If we can be teammates, doesn't that mean Lord Hokage thinks I'm a genius too, and that's why he put me on your team? Hahaha."

Kagami stared blankly at Saito Daisuke, saying nothing, but inwardly he sighed softly and made a judgment.

This guy's an idiot.

"Don't you think so, Kagato?"

Saito Daisuke pressed Kagami.

Kagami put on a smile.

"Yes, it must be."

A few minutes later, the last member of their three-person team arrived. As Kagami expected, it was a young girl who looked slightly older than Saito Daisuke. She also had black hair, reaching her elbows. Her features were quite pretty at first glance, but not exceptionally so.

"Hello, let me introduce myself. My name is Suzuki Genji. And you two?"

The girl was clearly not as carefree as Saito Daisuke. She introduced herself very politely as soon as they met.

Saito Daisuke frowned and thought for a moment.

"Suzuki Genji? I haven't heard of you, but since you're on our team, that means you're a genius too, right? If you're a genius, then there's no problem."

Even among those who graduated in the same year, it was unlikely that everyone knew each other.

Kagami smiled slightly and replied politely.

"Hello, my name is Uchiha Kagato."

Suzuki Genji nodded slightly.

"I see. Then, please take care of me in the future."

Saito Daisuke's face couldn't help but turn red. This was the first time he had been asked something like this by an attractive person of the opposite sex. In the Ninja Academy, he had always been alone.

"N-no problem, leave it to me!"

Kagami sighed inwardly.

Poor kid, never been in love.

But he still replied with a smile.

"It's the same for me. Please take care of me in the future."

The three met for the first time, and after introducing themselves, they got to know each other.

"Hasn't the teacher arrived yet?"

Suzuki Genji looked around, asking somewhat curiously.

Kagami shook his head slightly and remained silent.

Saito Daisuke suddenly exclaimed with realization.

"Oh, right! The teacher isn't here yet!"

Kagami: "..."

Suzuki Genji: ""

Immediately, Saito Daisuke spoke again, his voice full of irritation.

"This teacher is really something else, showing up later than his students?!"

Kagami wanted to defend the unknown teacher.

"Well, maybe he ran into some unexpected situation on the way," Kagami offered.

Saito Daisuke wasn't buying it at all and was about to retort when someone else spoke before him.

"You're absolutely right!"

With white hair, a black mask, and a Konoha forehead protector worn askew to cover his left eye.

"The teacher really couldn't help it. I was helping an old lady cross the road, so I got delayed. Oh right, let me introduce myself, I'll be your instructor from now on. My name is Hatake Kakashi."

Saito Daisuke clenched his fist, not believing Kakashi's story one bit.

"Who would believe that! You late teacher!"

Kagami looked at Saito Daisuke, finding it a bit amusing.

Straightforward, impulsive, and thoughtless. Does Konoha often produce people like this? First there was Obito when he was young, then Naruto, and now there's this Saito Daisuke.

Kakashi naturally ignored Saito Daisuke's words and walked up to Kagami and the others.

"You've all graduated from the Ninja Academy, which means you've learned most of what the academy taught. However, this doesn't mean you're qualified to be genin! I want you all to remember this from now on: before you can become genin, you must undergo a test."

Suzuki Genji asked.

"Teacher Kakashi, are you talking about the bell-grabbing test?"

Kakashi glanced at Suzuki Genji.

"You know quite a bit. That's right, the test you'll undergo is to snatch the bells from me. Only those who manage to get a bell can become genin."

Saito Daisuke burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, grabbing bells, isn't that super easy? Great, watch this, Teacher Kakashi, I'll snatch the bells from you in the fastest way possible! Oh right, Teacher Kakashi, where are your bells?"

Kagami, Genji, Kakashi: ""

Kakashi took his right hand out of his pocket and pointed to the bells on his waist.

"They're here. However, as you can see, there are only two bells in total, which means..."

Kakashi smiled slightly, then his expression turned extremely cold.

"This means one of you three will be eliminated and sent back to the Ninja Academy to study!"

Kagami showed no reaction to this statement; he already knew.

Saito Daisuke, however, was startled, his eyes wide.

"N-no way."

Suzuki Genji also appeared a bit surprised but didn't say anything.

Kakashi's aura at this moment was chillingly cold, devoid of any warmth.

"I'm not joking. One of you must return to the Ninja Academy to study today. So, who will it be? And, are you ready to begin?"