Konoha's 12 assemble

With the Joint Chunin Ninja Exams approaching, the Fifth Hokage finally broke free from his intense training regimen after being urged on by the Education Department Head Hayama Shirakumo.

Shazo listened attentively to Hayama Shirakumo arrangements for the exam, including details such as safety, accommodation, meals, monitoring, and exam schedule.

The Fifth Hokage flipped through the lists of applicants from various ninja villages, clicking his tongue in amazement, "You did a good job this morning. There are so many qualified Genin have applied, making up more than half of all the applicants in the entire Ninja World. Not bad, not bad."

Hayama Shirakumo, "This is because the Lord Hokage approved sufficient funding and recruited enough teachers, which enabled us to achieve such results."

Shazo laughed and said, "You can't say that. Simply giving money and people won't get you such a good result."

"Department Head Hayama Shirakumo, it is thanks to your hard work that money and people have been able to play their proper roles, resulting in such impressive achievements."

Thank you for your contribution.

Hayama Shirakumo. He once faced 20 Iwagakure Ninja and was able to calmly use his Swordsmanship to maintain the upper hand, ultimately escaping unscathed.

After being appointed Education Department, he worked diligently and never complained about the amount or difficulty of the work, nor was he ever pleased by praise.

But upon hearing the Fifth Hokage's praise, the powerful Jonin couldn't help but smile.

This is praise from the Fifth Hokage Shazo; no Konoha Ninja could resist it!

Shazo flipped through the registration section for the Five Great Shinobi Villages and couldn't help but laugh, "This is really interesting."

"Sunagakure only sent a small team of Genin participate in the exam. Their decline is even worse than I expected. I restrained myself last time and didn't kill a single Sunagakure Ninja. Did they run out of people to choose from?"

"The Kirigakure can still send out a squad of Genin; their resources are unexpectedly abundant. After self-destructing for so many years, they can still produce excellent Genin; they're as resilient as cockroaches."

"The Ninja Squad sent by Kumogakure and Iwagakure aren't many either; they're even fewer than those from Kusagakure."

Hayama Shirakumo, "Lord Hokage, although the Genin sent by the Five Great Shinobi Villages is not large, they are definitely carefully selected outstanding talents. By the time we enter the third stage, the ratio of their numbers will definitely be reversed."

Shazo saw the detailed registration list and his lips twitched. He said, half-laughing and half-crying, "Haha, you were right this morning. In the end, the Genin from the Five Great Shinobi Villages will definitely win."

As he looked at the familiar names on the list, he couldn't help but keep complaining:

[Deidara of Iwagakure, Ōnoki, you're shameless! This kid already has the strength of Elite Jonin, yet he's signed up for the Chunin Ninja Exams?]

[Darui from Kumogakure, I remember that kid will become the Fifth Raikage in a few years. His teammates are Shi and Samui.]

[Very good, Jonin in three years, no, Elite Jonin, right now they're all Genin?]

[The Genin of Sunagakure are... Ah, it's Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari...]

[Good, good, good, another Shadow about to rise to power.]

The Fourth Kazekage still sent all his children, but this time he probably doesn't have any ulterior motives, given how weak the One-Tail is.

[Is the Genin from Kirigakure) Haku? Hozuki Suigetsu?]

[Yes, I understand. The Fourth Mizukage died three or four years ago, so Momochi Zabuza and Haku returned to Kirigakure.]

[Orochimaru was also trapped in Konoha, and didn't have time to go to Kirigakure to gather materials, which is why Hozuki Suigetsu escaped unscathed.]

[The Kirigakure should thank me, otherwise none of you would have been able to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams.]

Noticing Shazo's strange expression, Hayama Shirakumo, "Lord Hokage, is there a problem with this registration list?"

Shazo shook his head and said, "No problem, it's just that this list is full of hidden talents, which makes me feel quite emotional."

Hayama Shirakumo: "Does the Lord Hokage mean that there's a problem with the Genin from the Four Great Ninja Villages?"

Shazo replied, "It's not really a problem. The Genin they sent out were incredibly strong, practically monsters."

"Fortunately, there are monsters among the Genin of Konoha, and more than one."

Although Shazo found it acceptable, Hayama Shirakumo.

The Fifth Hokage convened the Joint Chunin Ninja Exams not only to reaffirm Konoha's authority over the Ninja World, but also to demonstrate Ninja World 'Konoha potential.

Shazo wanted the Ninja World to understand that Konoha's dominance didn't rely on him alone, but on countless excellent Konoha Ninja, and that there would be even more excellent Jonin in the future.

For a long time to come, Konoha will be invincible in the Ninja World, so the Four Great Ninja Villages must abandon any thoughts of opposing Konoha.

Shazo suddenly asked, "Who do you think will be the final Champion this morning?"

Hayama Shirakumo and said, "I can't say for sure, but they will definitely be selected from the four squads led by Ninja personally appointed by you."

He was referring to the Konoha 12. To avoid hindering the development of these future powerful Ninja, Shazo personally appointed four Ninja Ninja and their instructors Jonin.

Team 3: Tenten, Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, instructed by Jonin Might Duy.

Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Uchiha Sasuke, Sakura Haruno, instructed by Jonin Kakashi Hatake.

Team 8: Hinata Hyuga, Inuzuka Clan Inuya, Shino Aburame, instructed by Jonin Shibi Aburame.

Team 10: Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, Ino Yamanaka, instructed by Jonin Asuma Sarutobi.

Overall, there weren't many changes, except that the instructor of Team 8, Jonin Jonin, was replaced by Shibi Aburame Shazo, who was exceptionally allowed to take care of his son.

Asuma Sarutobi's appointment was a reward for his cooperation in dismantling the Sarutobi Clan.

Historically, the Third Hokage made this arrangement to pave the way for Asuma Sarutobi to become Hokage. However, the Fifth Hokage Shazo, made the same arrangement to imply to all Konoha Ninja that the Hokage had no intention of annihilating the Sarutobi Clan, and that the attack on the Sarutobi Clan would end there.

Therefore, Asuma Sarutobi's girlfriend, Kurenai Yuhi, did not receive any special treatment and remains Special Jōnin.

Not only was she lacking in strength, but as a Genjutsu Ninja, she was also unsuitable to instruct the "reconnaissance team" of Konoha, so Shazo naturally replaced her.

Shazo hesitated for a long time about whether to continue arranging Sakura Haruno in Team 7.

But after reviewing all the graduating class's information, he had to admit that the Pink-Hair girl was the most suitable third person for Team 7.

Shazo didn't consider whether Naruto Uzumaki would accept it.

Having withstood Asura Chakra corruption with a "mask" and reunited with his biological father, Naruto Uzumaki is gradually returning to his true self every day.

In other words, he's becoming more and more like Minato Namikaze every day.

At the age of 12, Naruto Uzumaki's appearance, strength, achievements, personality, tolerance, and affability were all outstanding, and Shazo believed that he could get along well with any teammate.

Shazo's main concern was the issue of Uchiha Sasuke.

After being driven insane by Uchiha Itachi, this kid became sensitive and suspicious, extremely picky about people and things, and found it difficult to get along with others.

Even among teammates, he only accepts Ninja whose strength and status are comparable to his own.

Hinata Hyuga noble family and has great potential, but her strength is pathetic and her personality is too cowardly, which cannot be changed in a short time.

Ino Yamanaka comes from a good background, is very talented, and has a cheerful and generous personality, but she is a member of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and there is no reason to break them up.

Therefore, Sakura Haruno became the only candidate with potential.

Sakura has excellent grades, consistently ranking second in academic subjects, even surpassing Uchiha Sasuke.

Although she came from a very humble background and had significant personality problems, both of these could be changed in a short period of time.

Shazo knew that Sakura Haruno's personality problems stemmed from her rare dual-soul constitution.

Hidden within her is another personality: the Inner Sakura is decisive, resolute, and ruthless, Outer Sakura is insecure, weak, and pretentious. Both personalities are too extreme, likely due to a malfunction in her psychological balance mechanism.

This is an illness, and it can be treated.

Secondly, the problem of being of humble origin can be instantly changed by taking on a master.

Shazo Zuo handed her over to Inoichi Yamanaka and Tsunade, and through a series of psychological interventions combined with medical treatment, they resolved Sakura Haruno's psychological problems.

Although Sakura Haruno failed to achieve the fusion of her two souls, the Outer Sakura gained a firm and decisive quality and richer, more delicate emotions, while the Inner Sakura became calm and focused, only interested in training and battle.

This internal and external configuration can be described as perfect.

Furthermore, during the treatment, Tsunade noticed that Sakura Haruno had quite good potential. Her dual souls made her Spiritual Power strong, and she was also good at precise Chakra control. She was born to be Medical Ninja.

But Tsunade only thought about it; she didn't actually consider taking him on as a disciple.

She now has a leisurely job, a high status, and is surrounded by apprentices and followers in the hospital. At work, she is fawned over and waited on, and after get off work, she goes home to enjoy drinks and gourmet food.

Occasionally, when the elders of the Senju Clan urge Tsunade to have children, which annoys Tsunade, she can find a lover to play mahjong with to vent her emotions.

Life couldn't be better, why add a burden to yourself?

However, no matter how much Tsunade resisted taking on a disciple, she couldn't refuse the Fifth Hokage Shazo's request and could only reluctantly accept Sakura Haruno as her disciple.

There's nothing she can do; after all, Tsunade is the woman who became the Fifth Hokage.

If Lady Tsunade angers the Fifth Hokage, she will suffer a great loss tonight.

The saying "There are only oxen that die from exhaustion, not fields that are ruined by plowing" holds true in the world of ordinary people, but it doesn't apply to the extraordinary world of the Ninja World.

After all, the Fifth Hokage possessed the Swift Style, which he had painstakingly trained in, and had also developed the "Emperor Engine"—that wasn't given to him for nothing!

As Princess Tsunade's apprentice, Sakura Haruno's background is on par with Uchiha Sasuke, since Sasuke is also an apprentice of Sannin, one of the Orochimaru.

After becoming Tsunade's Tsunade, Sakura Haruno displayed Talent in medicine and Superhuman Strength. Under Tsunade's guidance, she developed the Talent of having two souls in one body, which is completely different from the cowardly and incompetent green tea in the original work.

Even the proud and arrogant Uchiha Sasuke had nothing to say when faced with Sakura Haruno, who was his equal in every way and whose personality had changed drastically. He tacitly accepted her as his teammate.

Sakura Haruno's strength has greatly improved, but the gap between her and Uchiha Sasuke is still quite large.

Uchiha Sasuke Orochimaru's apprentice earlier, and under Orochimaru's tutelage, Sasuke was able to build a solid foundation and master various Orochi Style Secret Technique.

As a member of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Sasuke naturally participated when the Fifth Hokage experimented with Kekkei Genkai within the Uchiha Clan.

With his Talent in Lightning Release and Fire Style, he successfully fused the Flame Style Kekkei Genkai, and even induced his Sharingan to Awakening the Futatsudomoe, resulting in a sudden and significant increase in his strength.

Uchiha Sasuke, who graduated this year, bears no resemblance to the Sasuke in the original history whose entire family was wiped out. His clan members did not die out, he was mentally ill but not insane, and his strength was ridiculously powerful.

To be precise, the current Uchiha Sasuke could kill that "top student" Sasuke with just one finger.

But Uchiha Sasuke, despite being second in his grade, wholeheartedly admitted that he was inferior to Naruto Uzumaki in every aspect.

Because of the Fifth Hokage's will, Naruto Uzumaki did not become Jiraiya's Jiraiya, but he was the apprentice of the Fifth Hokage Shazo was of a significantly higher status.

His only disciple.

Shazo valued Naruto Uzumaki highly, and even amidst his busy training schedule, he took time to personally guide him through the basics, teaching him all the Ninjutsu of Wind Style and Lightning Release.

After overthrowing the Third Hokage, Shazo, in the process of purging the Sarutobi Clan, found the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique inheritance scroll and information.

These legacies belonging to Kushina Uzumaki were all returned to Naruto Uzumaki by Shazo, who only used his position as a teacher to read and study them, and to teach Naruto Sealing Technique.

After Naruto Uzumaki mastered the [Adamantine Sealing Chains] through his bloodline power, the Nine-Tails -Kurama within him suddenly became very easy to talk to and particularly willing to communicate with Naruto.

Then, Shazo understood why everyone said that Naruto Uzumaki's Talk no Jutsu- jutsu was invincible.

Within just a few months of starting to communicate, the proud Kurama was won over by Naruto Uzumaki and wholeheartedly recognized Naruto Uzumaki as his friend.

The conquered Kurama became exceptionally considerate, not only willingly providing Chakra to Naruto, but also earnestly helping Naruto control his own Chakra.

With the help of Kurama (the Nine-Tails), Naruto Uzumaki was able to don the Tailed Beast Cloak with nine tails, activate Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, and even attempted full Tailed Beast Transformation.

Of course, that wasn't for a battle, but to let Nine-Tails Kurama, get some fresh air and experience the feeling of freedom.

From that day on, the "Perfect Jinchuriki," Naruto Uzumaki, was born.

Although Uchiha Sasuke had never witnessed the Tailed Beast Cloak, Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, or full- Tailed Beast Transformation, he had experienced Naruto Uzumaki's Wind Style and Lightning Release in actual combat, as well as his massive Chakra and the Nine-Tails Chakra.

After repeated defeats, Uchiha Sasuke, though his fighting spirit never waned, eventually accepted the fact that Naruto Uzumaki was stronger than him.

Sasuke became even more diligent as a result. He pestered Orochimaru for guidance, voluntarily increased his training time, and tried his best to catch up.