New Team Seven

In the early morning, Sen woke up from his sleep.

After washing up and stretching his legs, the injuries he sustained from sparring with Minato yesterday had already mostly healed thanks to his Uzumaki Physique.

After breakfast, he pushed open the front door and saw a figure in the mist, head bowed in thought.

"Mikoto, is that you?"

Hearing Sen's voice, Uchiha Mikoto turned her head to look at him.

It hadn't even been a month since they last met, yet Sen felt her gaze was much more complex this time.

Water droplets from the mist still clung to her hair, suggesting she had been waiting here for a long time.

But the feeling passed in an instant, and Uchiha Mikoto's face shifted into a gentle smile.

She walked quickly towards Sen and greeted him, "How have you been lately? I heard you guys are graduating early, so I came to see you."

"It's just graduating early, not like I'm disappearing forever. You greedy cat, you didn't even come to see me at noon," Sen said, noticing the forehead protector she wore. "It looks like Mikoto is already a qualified Genin."

Mentioning the forehead protector seemed to dim Uchiha Mikoto's eyes slightly.

She said slowly, "I came to see you because I'm going to the battlefield tomorrow. Konoha and Sunagakure have already had minor skirmishes. You're smart, you must have guessed this already, right?"

Seeing Sen nod, she sighed and continued, "Although Grandpa arranged for a very powerful Jonin to assist, and the clan head also assigned Fugaku's squad, who have completed many missions, to accompany me, I'm still very worried."

"It's alright, I believe in you. You'll survive," Sen said, not worried at all. After all, Uchiha Mikoto should have lived for a very long time.

"I'm not worried about that," Uchiha Mikoto shook her head and sighed. "Don't you really know the clan head's intentions?"

Seeing Sen still hadn't reacted, Uchiha Mikoto said with a hint of frustration, "Fugaku is the clan head's son, so this is considered a clan arranged marriage... Never mind, I just wanted to see you.

You should buy more things you'll need for the battlefield soon. Prices have been rising ridiculously. I heard from Grandpa that you'll all be on the front lines within a year at the latest."

As she spoke, she reached into her wallet for money, but then gave a wry smile halfway through, "Why am I giving you money? You're much richer than I am."

Uchiha Mikoto came back to her senses, shook her head, and thought bitterly:

Worry truly makes one flustered.

Seeing this, Sen felt a pang of sadness. In his eyes, Uchiha Mikoto had always been a gentle and lovely person.

Furthermore, in the ninja world, there was almost a male-dominated hierarchy, and it was rare for a woman to admire a man younger than herself.

Mikoto's actions and personality clearly showed she had made a great effort.

Sen placed his hand on her hand that was reaching for money, patted it, and comforted her, "I'll be waiting for you to come back."

He smiled and reassured her, "Don't rush to change the subject. This arranged marriage you mentioned... I don't want you to go."

Hearing his words, the worry on Uchiha Mikoto's face vanished. Even though it was a misty morning, she didn't feel the cold at all.

"Mhm, I believe you," Mikoto smiled like a blooming flower. She looked at Sen reluctantly and said, "I have to go to the assembly point. Don't forget what you said."

"Mhm, remember to tell me when you get back, and I'll make something delicious," Sen replied simply and reassuringly.

Having received the answer she wanted, Mikoto disappeared around the corner, looking back twice.

Leaving behind a heartbroken Sen to sigh:

Being too outstanding is also a sin.

And what about Kushina? She's even younger, and with her personality, can she be submissive? She'd probably break my legs.

Wait, what am I thinking? Since I'm already this outstanding, why not follow the example of my predecessors from my past life and have a harem?

If I can have a harem, what does it matter if my legs are broken? I could have both broken!

A month later, the graduation exam.

The exam content was unbelievably simple: ten shuriken, hitting six targets on a wooden post meant passing.

These young boys and girls, about to be sent to the battlefield, were still unaware of their fate as "cannon fodder," excitedly signing up for the exam.

In the morning, almost everyone passed this effortless exam with ease.

At noon.

Sarutobi Hiruzen even personally led the higher-ups to the academy to give a speech, injecting the final dose of "Will of Fire" into these future cannon fodder.

Most students had never seen the Hokage before, and now he was right in front of them, naturally making them extremely excited.

"Is that the Hokage-sama? He doesn't seem to have any airs about him."

"Indeed, he looks kind and benevolent. He feels so approachable! It's great to be able to work under him!"

Sen rolled his eyes. Kind and benevolent?

Would someone truly kind and benevolent send you to be cannon fodder?

Among the many people here, only a few teachers wore worried expressions. Everyone else had fake smiles on their faces, as these students were merely pawns in their political games.

On stage, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and asked, "You are all outstanding graduating students of this cohort. From now on, you are Konoha Genin."

"Do you have the confidence to protect the village and your families?!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

The cheers from below layered one on top of the other.

Sen didn't have time to pay attention to this; he was more concerned about the team assignments that afternoon, wondering which team he would be placed in and who his Jonin leader would be.

After lunch, the afternoon was for team assignments.

The list came out quickly. As Sen listened to Murashita Ryukawa, his face was filled with disbelief; the team he was assigned to made no sense at all.

Murashita Ryukawa on the stage announced, "Team Seven: Uchiha Sen, Uzumaki Kushina, Namikaze Minato!"

When Murashita Ryukawa announced this roster, Sen was completely stunned.

Two geniuses who tied for first place, plus the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki – this setup was too luxurious, too unreasonable!

Had Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō changed their ways?

As he was pondering this, Murashita Ryukawa on stage finished reading the names on the list and said, "Wait here. Your Jonin leaders will be here to pick you up soon."

The students quickly quieted down with anticipation, all wanting to leave a good impression on their future Jonin leaders, as this concerned their future ninja path.

As time passed, many had already been picked up, leaving only Sen's team and a team from the Hyuga clan.

After several teachers came and went, none of them were the teacher responsible for Team Seven, making a few of them feel uneasy.

Kushina, in particular, was growing increasingly anxious. Just as Kushina was looking around eagerly, a beautiful figure walked in.

"Sister Tsunade!" Kushina exclaimed in surprise.