Unexpected Teammates

A classroom that had been specially cleared out served as a waiting room, and the graduates had gathered inside.

There were four such classrooms. This was Waiting Room A, with nearly fifty people waiting here.

The jonin instructors would come in order and take away groups of three students for individual tests to become genin.

Only by passing would they truly become official ninja.

If they failed, they could only return to the Ninja Academy.

In theory, they would still have another chance to take the test, but this was the first wartime preparation period in more than a decade.

If they failed the genin test now, they would only be able to join practical combat drills with the younger students. Only after passing a selection of two hundred people could they become genin.

By then, although they would also be genin, they would lose the precious opportunity to receive guidance from a jonin instructor and be sent directly to the battlefield.

After all, there were only so many jonin. During wartime, they could not possibly have as much time to train students as they did in peacetime.

Based on the passing rates of previous years, around seventy percent of students would successfully pass the test and become genin.

Though the pass rate was not low, it was by no means something students who had merely coasted along could easily achieve.

Of course... it was not as low as the one-third some jonin claimed.

Just as the students were nervously discussing who their jonin instructor might be, whether they could pass, who they would be grouped with, and so on, the door opened.

The classroom fell silent, then the students breathed sighs of relief.

"What the heck? I thought the jonin instructor had arrived. It's not."

"Ha, that kid is the last one here, right? Good thing he got here before the teacher."

"Huh? I remember everyone in this year's graduating class, but I've never seen him. And isn't he too young? Is he even ten?"

"Oh? I think I've seen him at school... He should be a lower-grade student, and not just one year below us."

The students looked at Satoru, who had pushed open the door and entered, and began murmuring among themselves.

"Did he come to the wrong room? Lower-grade students should be going to the main hall."

"Ha! Satoru! Come over here!"

As the students wondered, they heard a delighted voice calling out to the younger student who had entered.

"My sister really didn't lie to me—you actually came!"

Nawaki stood and waved at Satoru. Satoru grinned helplessly and had no choice but to lower his head as he walked toward Nawaki.

What a miscalculation... I chatted with Choza and the others for too long. Everyone's already here. I'd wanted to avoid drawing attention.

Satoru muttered quietly, but Nawaki heard him and laughed.

"Haha, Satoru, you've got that all wrong. You're so much younger than us—you'd stand out no matter when you arrived!"

"I told you, you're a true genius. Your brilliance won't be buried!"

Nawaki grew excited. This was his junior disciple, after all. Yesterday, his sister Tsunade had already told him about Konoha's higher-ups' decision.

"Our village's talent discovery system won't overlook you!"

"..."

Satoru stared at Nawaki speechlessly, itching to complain that his sister had meddled too much.

"Hey, senior, stop making people jealous of me. Can't you see the strange looks the upperclassmen are giving me!?"

Nawaki froze, then quietly turned around and looked over the room.

"Hmm, it seems like they don't believe me."

"Of course they don't!"

Satoru shrank into his seat, trying his best to keep a low profile. He even brought out his special weapon against Nawaki.

"Senior... I learned how to turn into a turtle."

"..."

Nawaki silently covered his mouth.

Click!

The classroom door opened again, and a young man with long, straight black hair... wearing a jonin Combat Vest, walked in.

Orochimaru, one of the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's three prized disciples, a man known as a genius.

It was not merely that he had been called a genius in his youth. Even among the elite of the jonin, Orochimaru was considered a genius. That showed just how weighty that title was.

"Wow! It's Lord Orochimaru!"

One student was overjoyed and whispered.

"Lord Orochimaru is actually taking students this year? Who will be lucky enough to get picked?"

Orochimaru swept his gaze over the anxious students and revealed a meaningful smile.

"Student Nawaki. Student Mitokado Satoru. You two, step forward and come with me."

"..."

The students in the classroom fell silent.

What was going on? Only two people?

They knew a little about Nawaki, but Mitokado Satoru...

Nawaki and Satoru exchanged a glance, then stood and walked toward Orochimaru at the door.

"Why is it just us two? Shouldn't there be three people?"

"I don't know... When I got the news yesterday, the third person hadn't been decided yet. Could it still not be settled?"

The students silently watched as Satoru, who was far younger than them, and Nawaki walked toward the door together. They now fully understood Nawaki's earlier claim that Satoru was a "genius."

If Nawaki's words did not count, did Lord Orochimaru's words count?

At the door, Orochimaru watched the excited Nawaki and the oddly expressioned Satoru with great interest.

Nawaki had known Orochimaru for a long time. After all, Tsunade and Orochimaru were both disciples of the Third Hokage.

As for Satoru...

He had long heard of this man's great reputation.

This was the first time he had truly met Orochimaru.

"Hmm... I believe you both have questions. But there's no rush. I'll take you to meet your other classmate."

Orochimaru curled his lips, his vertical pupils narrowing slightly as he turned and headed outside the school.

"Follow me."

Satoru and Nawaki exchanged another glance and silently followed—they were both very interested in the classmate Orochimaru had mentioned.

Orochimaru led Satoru and Nawaki to an open area, where a child was already waiting.

"A girl?"

Satoru raised his brows, his attention drawn to her clothing.

There was a fan emblem on it.

"Uchiha..."

"Let me introduce her. This is Uchiha Mikoto, a sixth-year student this year—in other words, a member of next year's graduating class."

"Mikoto's parents are merely ordinary Uchiha clan members, not ninja... but Mikoto's ninja talent is unexpectedly excellent."

Orochimaru introduced the girl who had turned to look at them. His expression carried approval.

"She cannot receive the Uchiha clan's full support, but such talent should not be buried. She will become an outstanding ninja."

When Uchiha Mikoto saw Orochimaru approaching with two boys, a faint blush rose to her face.

"Teacher Orochimaru, and the two of you, hello..."

"..."

Satoru and Nawaki looked at each other.

This... was an Uchiha?

One of those Uchiha clan members said to be arrogant and overbearing, whose reputation in the village had nearly been ruined?

It seemed that staying away from the Uchiha clan was not without its advantages.

"Mikoto, this is Nawaki, a student from last month's graduating class. And this is Mitokado Satoru, two years below you... But don't underestimate him just because he's young."

Orochimaru introduced Satoru and Nawaki to Mikoto.

Although Satoru knew that Orochimaru was still a decent young man at this point, he still found this version of Orochimaru deeply unfamiliar.

He was more used to the Snake Uncle with the long neck and tongue, swaying around all day, playing dress-up and acting like a parasite beast.

"Uh... Senior Mikoto, I'm Satoru. Please take care of me."

"I'm Nawaki. Please take care of me!"