Team Five

The classroom was buzzing with noise.

The newly graduated Genin, who had just received their Forehead Protectors, were excitedly discussing their upcoming team assignments.

For most of them, this wasn't just about being grouped together. It would determine who they'd spend the next several years with.

Getting a powerful Jonin teacher or a teammate with a Kekkei Genkai could dramatically increase their chances of survival in these times of war.

Nishikawa Tetsu sat by the window in a corner, twirling a pen in his hand. His gaze rested on the rain outside, but his ears sifted through the classroom's noisy chatter.

"I heard quite a few Elite Chunin who just returned from the front lines will be leading teams this time."

"Search GOOGLE TWKAN"

"If only it were Hatake-sama or Lord Orochimaru..."

"Keep dreaming. They're both on the front lines in the Land of Rain."

Tetsu's eyes flickered slightly.

According to his memories from his previous life, Namikaze Minato really was Jiraiya's student.

But at this point in time, the Second Shinobi World War was raging. Jiraiya was one of the commanders at the front. Would he really have time to make a special trip back to the village to lead a few rookies who'd just graduated?

"Quiet!"

Teacher Daikoku walked in with the team assignment sheet, his expression stern. The classroom fell silent at once.

"Because the fighting at the front is growing more intense, once you've been assigned to a team, there will be no adjustment period. You'll be sent straight to the border, where you'll be assigned to either a support or reconnaissance unit."

His words drained the color from the children's faces.

No exercises, no transition missions. They'd be heading straight to the battlefield.

Daikoku began reading the names.

"Team One..."

"Team Two..."

As one name after another was called, some cheered while others looked dejected.

Soon, the list reached Nishikawa Tetsu.

"Team Five." Teacher Daikoku paused. He glanced toward Tetsu in the corner, then looked at Namikaze Minato in the front row. His expression turned somewhat strange.

"Nishikawa Tetsu, Namikaze Minato."

The classroom erupted.

One was an unremarkable student whose grades were average in every subject except written tests, and whose Chakra reserves ranked at the bottom. The other had broken every record and was hailed as a once-in-decades civilian-born genius.

Putting the two of them on the same team was an extreme combination.

Namikaze Minato turned around and gave Tetsu a radiant smile, seeming pleased with his new teammate.

Being assigned to the same team as the future Fourth Hokage wasn't a good thing, Tetsu thought. Still, he politely nodded to Minato.

"And..." Teacher Daikoku looked at the note on the list and swallowed. "Your Jonin instructor is... Lord Jiraiya."

"Boom!"

The classroom exploded.

"Lord Jiraiya?! The Hokage-sama's student!"

"Oh my god, those two are so lucky!"

"Why does a dead-last like Nishikawa Tetsu get to join an elite team?"

Jealous, envious, and astonished gazes shot toward the corner like arrows.

But Teacher Daikoku's next words doused everyone's enthusiasm like a bucket of cold water.

"However, Lord Jiraiya is currently at the front in the Land of Rain and can't return to the village. So the village has assigned you a temporary team leader to escort you safely to the front-line camp."

A temporary team leader?

As everyone wondered who it would be, the classroom's sliding door was suddenly yanked open.

A chill, damp air, tinged with a faint smell of blood, poured into the warm classroom.

A boy of about fifteen or sixteen stood in the doorway.

He wore a dark blue, high-collared shirt beneath a green tactical vest with numerous pockets and several obvious patches. His black hair was disheveled, wet with rain and stuck to his forehead. His eyes weren't the usual black, but—

Scarlet.

Three black Tomoe turned slowly in his blood-red pupils, radiating a suffocating pressure.

Uchiha Fugaku.

He hadn't yet become the future Uchiha Clan Head, but the pride of a scion of a great clan and the bloodlust of a veteran already had these newly graduated fledglings trembling.

The classroom fell deathly silent.

Uchiha Fugaku looked around. His gaze passed over the cowering children without stopping, then settled precisely on Namikaze Minato and Nishikawa Tetsu.

"Team Five, come with me."

His voice was cold, thick with impatience.

The Ninja Academy rooftop.

The rain was still falling, pattering against the railing.

Uchiha Fugaku stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the railing. His Sharingan had closed, returning to black, but his deeply furrowed brows showed just how foul his mood was.

"Skip the introductions. They're a waste of time."

His cold gaze swept over the two of them like a knife. "I'm Uchiha Fugaku, a newly promoted Special Jonin. I'll be leading you for the journey ahead."

His gaze fell on Minato first, softening slightly. "Namikaze Minato, I know who you are. A civilian-born genius. I hope you won't use your Body Flicker Technique to run away when you're in a real fight."

Minato wasn't intimidated by his presence. He stood straight and even had time to scratch his head and smile. "I'll do my best not to hold you back, senpai."

"Hmph."

Uchiha Fugaku snorted, then turned his gaze to Nishikawa Tetsu.

He looked at him as if he were deadweight.

"Nishikawa Tetsu. Below-average Chakra reserves, mediocre Taijutsu. Aside from perfect scores in theory and that somewhat flashy Shuriken technique, you're good for nothing." Fugaku didn't hold back. "Honestly, I don't know what the village was thinking. Taking you along will greatly reduce the team's chances of survival."

Faced with this near-insult from an Uchiha, an ordinary child would've been humiliated or too frightened to speak.

But Nishikawa Tetsu merely looked at Uchiha Fugaku calmly. "Fugaku-senpai."

"Not everyone needs to charge into battle. I may not have much Chakra, but I'm good at analyzing intelligence, setting traps, and... providing basic first aid. That should make up for some of the team's weaknesses."

"Medical?" Uchiha Fugaku raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "A Genin who just graduated knows Medical Ninjutsu?"

"I know a little first aid," Tetsu said, offering no further explanation.

Unlike in later years, when every Konoha team had a ninja trained in Medical Ninjutsu, anyone who knew first aid could be a real asset.

Uchiha Fugaku stared at Tetsu for a while, as if trying to find fear in the civilian boy's eyes. But he failed.

Those black eyes were too calm for a Genin who'd just graduated.

"See that you do."

Uchiha Fugaku pulled a small orange Toad from his robes and casually tossed it to Namikaze Minato.

"This is Lord Jiraiya's Summoning Toad. The instructions are simple: set out at once, cross the Land of Fire border, and enter the Land of Rain war zone to rendezvous with the main force."

As he spoke, Uchiha Fugaku's presence changed abruptly. It was the bloodlust of someone who'd truly killed.

He walked up to the two of them and warned them from above:

"Stone Ninja and Sand Ninja guerrilla squads are active along the border. Once we reach the battlefield, don't expect me to save you like a babysitter. If you can't keep up with me..."

Uchiha Fugaku paused, his eyes cold.

"I'll leave you behind without hesitation. The Uchiha don't carry deadweight."

Namikaze Minato's smile vanished, and he nodded solemnly.

Nishikawa Tetsu glanced down at the few special smoke bombs in his Ninja Tool Pouch and thought to himself, Don't worry. If it comes to that, it's anyone's guess who'll leave whom behind.

"Move out!"

At Uchiha Fugaku's command, he vanished into the rain.

Namikaze Minato followed right behind him, his golden hair leaving a streak in the air.

Nishikawa Tetsu drew in a deep breath of damp air and gathered Chakra under his feet. He wasn't as fast as the other two, but he kept up steadily.