Genin Orientation

Early the next morning, just as sunlight streamed through the window and fell across the bed, Naruto Uzumaki had already headed out.

Of course, before leaving, he had also prepared some tea for the two guests who would be arriving later.

Naruto had only discovered it during his third cycle, when he was frantically searching for a way to break the cycle.

As it turned out, the Third Hokage and Teacher Kakashi would actually come to his house for a home visit at this point.

So in every cycle, Naruto would leave something different around the house, to a greater or lesser extent.

Afterward, Naruto made his way to the Ninja Academy at an unhurried pace. By the time he pushed open the classroom door, quite a few of his classmates were already seated inside.

When they saw Naruto appear, many of them looked surprised.

Today was the Genin orientation, not a regular class.

Everyone had seen Naruto fail his exam and not graduate two days ago. So why was he here?

Shikamaru Nara had been lying lazily across his desk, but when he caught sight of Naruto walking in, his eyes lingered on Naruto's forehead for a moment and noticed the Konoha Forehead Protector.

Shikamaru was surprised for an instant, then thought to himself, Something really did happen to that guy.

Inuzuka Kiba was speaking quietly with Choji Akimichi beside him. He looked up, saw Naruto, and couldn't help muttering, "That's weird. Why's Naruto in class today? Didn't he fail to graduate?"

Uchiha Sasuke, sitting not far away, merely glanced at Kiba when he heard that and thought, What an idiot. Did he not see the Forehead Protector on Naruto's forehead?

Naruto paid no attention to the various looks from those around him. His gaze wandered over the classroom, and he noticed Hinata Hyuga sitting quietly in the corner, watching him.

Their eyes met briefly. Naruto paused, then gave her a warm smile and a little nod.

Hinata's face flushed red. She replied softly, "Good morning."

Her voice was so quiet it was almost a whisper. It faded before it could carry very far. Naruto didn't hear a thing, but he didn't think anything of it.

Then Naruto continued to his seat. As he passed Shikamaru, Kiba, Choji, and the others, he greeted them with a simple smile.

Naruto sat down beside Sasuke and said directly, "We might not have much time to train today, but once we start taking missions, we'll have plenty of time."

Sasuke didn't say much. He simply nodded, accepting the suggestion.

Seriously, one day of guidance from Naruto was worth more than ten or fifteen days of training alone.

Though Sasuke was haughty, he could tell whether he was actually getting stronger.

So he followed Naruto's arrangements without complaint.

Not long after, a commotion came from outside the classroom.

Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka rushed into the room one after the other, both eager to sit beside Sasuke.

Sakura spotted Sasuke first, then noticed Naruto already sitting beside him. She froze for a moment, then was about to demand, "What are you doing here when you didn't graduate? Move out of the way!"

But Naruto seemed to have anticipated her reaction. He spoke first. "Didn't you see the Forehead Protector on my forehead? I graduated. And I'm not moving. Didn't you notice Sasuke doesn't even want to sit with you?"

"Huh?!"

"Mm?!"

Naruto's words left both Sakura and Ino stunned.

Sakura was especially baffled. She blinked and pointed at herself, as if confirming with Naruto—or asking Ino beside her, "Naruto... was he talking to me? He must have been, right?"

Watching the scene unfold, Ino remembered how Naruto had also answered Kiba before Kiba had even said anything two days ago.

It had been just like he could predict the future.

Sensing that something was off, Ino wisely decided to keep quiet this time and quickly moved away.

She obediently took the seat behind Sasuke, thinking, Naruto's not someone to mess with anymore.

But Sakura clearly hadn't caught on yet. She still thought of Naruto as the same guy who was always shamelessly clinging to her, so she continued indignantly, "Naruto! Move out of the way! I want to sit with Sasuke-kun!"

Naruto only smiled faintly and didn't respond.

He'd known Sakura wouldn't give up easily, but he also knew someone else would answer her soon enough.

Sure enough, the next second Sasuke said coldly, "Sakura, you're really annoying."

Those few words hit Sakura like a blow. She immediately looked crestfallen and silently found an empty seat wherever she could.

Ino covered her mouth and snickered from behind them, thinking, Sakura's such an idiot. Has she still not realized Naruto's changed? And Naruto's suddenly sitting so close to Sasuke. Something must have happened between them.

Just then, Iruka walked into the classroom.

He swept his gaze around, confirmed that everyone was there, and began explaining what would happen next. "Students who've just graduated from the Ninja Academy will be assigned to four-person squads led by a jōnin instructor. So three of you will be randomly assigned to each squad."

Then Iruka began announcing the team assignments.

When he read out, "Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Uchiha Sasuke, and Sakura Haruno," the mood in the classroom immediately turned complicated.

Some were happy, some were disappointed, and some were both happy and worried.

Ino and Hinata both looked clearly disappointed. Neither had been assigned to the same team as the person they cared about.

Sakura, meanwhile, was both happy and worried.

She was happy to be on the same team as Sasuke, but worried that Naruto was on it too.

Never mind how Naruto had always been following her around before.

Just moments ago, Naruto had embarrassed her in front of everyone. Thinking back to that scene made her feel thoroughly humiliated.

Sakura even thought Naruto would get in the way of her having time alone with Sasuke in the future.

At the same time, Kakashi and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, were making a secret home visit.

They had already visited Sasuke's and Sakura's homes, and now they had arrived at Naruto's place.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi looked around the familiar room, he said to Kakashi, "I'm counting on you to look after Naruto. He's been through a lot these past few days, and I'm a little worried he might... stray from the Will of Fire."

Kakashi nodded somewhat casually and began looking over the room.

This was his first time at Naruto's home. The place was a little messy, with instant ramen cups piled off to one side, but it wasn't filthy. The state of things wasn't unexpected.

However, when Kakashi's gaze fell on the small table in the middle of the living room, he suddenly froze.

Three glass cups sat on the otherwise bare tabletop.

One of them was probably Naruto's usual cup. Some milk residue remained inside.

It looked like he'd used it that morning and hadn't washed it yet.

The other two cups, though, were clean. They looked like they were rarely used, or perhaps had just been taken out.

Even more surprising, faint wisps of steam rose from them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed as well. He paused, looked at the cups, and said without thinking, "Hm? Has someone else been here?"

His first thought was that someone had told Naruto about their visit in advance, or that a visitor had just been there.

But how could that be?

Who would come over to Naruto's place?

Kakashi's half-lidded eye narrowed slightly. He carefully checked the surroundings, then calmly said, "No, Lord Hokage. It doesn't look like anyone's been here."