Team Assignment

"Team Three: Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, Tenten."

"Team Four: Tiancheng Changyang, Jingchuan Lirang, Qiupu."

"Team Five: Lingdou Yiyou, Jietang Qiandu, Pingye Xian."

"Team Six: Uchiha Isho..."

Kotetsu Hagane looked surprised as he carefully reviewed the roster arranged by the Third Hokage once more. Then he gave a light cough and turned to Isho.

"Uchiha Isho, in consideration of your exceptional ability, you'll be the only member of Team Six. This will allow your Jonin instructor to focus entirely on guiding you and help you improve tremendously in every area."

"What?!"

The students in the classroom were astonished. Neji Hyuga, who had apparently passed the exam without Isho realizing it, looked especially envious.

At that moment, he thought that Rock Lee and Tenten would only get in his way. His first choice was to team up with someone strong or work alone.

Did I see that right? Teacher Kotetsu Hagane seemed a little bewildered too. What is the old Third Hokage up to? Am I really that exceptional?

Whatever the Konoha High Command had planned, Isho figured that as long as they weren't plotting against him or putting him in danger, he couldn't be bothered to care.

He'd just go along with it. After all, he planned to kill Danzo before leaving Konoha and see if he could trigger a few more system quests.

At noon, in a quiet spot in the school hallway.

"Isho, it's a bit of a shame, but I really didn't expect you to be a team all by yourself. Lord Hokage must recognize your abilities to have arranged this. You're getting one-on-one instruction from a Jonin!"

Tiancheng Changyang tried to comfort Isho, who didn't look particularly pleased, as he ate his rice ball.

"I still think it's better to have more people."

"Why?"

When Isho paused, Qiupu, who had never been very patient, immediately asked.

"That way, I won't have to work as hard on missions. Otherwise, what if the team leader makes me do everything?"

Just then, a flock of crows flew overhead. The three of them were left with question marks in their minds.

"That's so like you, Isho. You're the only one who wouldn't care about the temptation of being taught one-on-one by a Jonin. You know, every Jonin is busy with missions all day. If you can get their guidance, your abilities are bound to improve by leaps and bounds."

Tiancheng Changyang and Qiupu were the first to recover. That was so Isho.

"I really don't know how you can say something so high-minded. Back then, I..."

Remembering how he'd felt so ashamed that he'd nearly burst into tears, Jingchuan Lirang suddenly covered his face with both hands, as if someone had toyed with his feelings. First came shame, then anger at being played for a fool surged within him.

Even though he'd already taken his frustration out on the wall several times, the anger still hadn't faded whenever he thought back on it. If he weren't sure he'd lose even if he fought with all his might, Jingchuan Lirang would definitely have fought Isho to the death.

"I told you, I was just trying to motivate my classmates. Even if I did lie, it was only a white lie. Besides, I didn't get anything out of it."

As the four of them chatted, the time to meet their Jonin instructors that afternoon soon arrived.

Isho sat in the classroom and waited for a while. Seeing that the instructors of the other teams had already been talking with their students for ages, and that they'd all gone off somewhere to train, he quickly guessed who his own Jonin instructor was—Kakashi Hatake.

Since he hadn't taken a nap yet, Isho had originally planned to make a good impression on his instructor. Instead, he suddenly lay down, rested his head on his arms on the desk, and began his afternoon nap.

It turned out Isho had made the right choice. Nearly half an hour later, a figure finally arrived and unhurriedly slid open the classroom's front door.

"Sorry, I think I might've... gone the wrong... way."

Kakashi, with silver hair, a black mask, and a tight black combat outfit, suddenly stopped short when he realized he no longer needed to come up with an excuse for being late.

Was I really that late? This kid's sleeping like a log.

"Hey! Hey, hey! Class is starting, kid!"

Isho had been lying in a dream, scrolling through videos, when he suddenly felt as if a sage's voice had boomed down from the heavens, shattering the whole world around him.

"So it was a dream. A nice one, though. Anyway, who are you?"

He yawned out of habit and asked groggily.

This kid is nothing like any Uchiha I know. I've never seen a ninja from another clan this laid-back and lazy, either.

Even Kakashi's drooping right eye seemed to have caught Isho's indifferent air. He kept his words brief and to the point.

"I'm your Jonin instructor, Kakashi Hatake. Come with me."

A few minutes later, on a rooftop with just the two of them.

"Right, start by introducing yourself."

"Uchiha Isho. Male, twelve years old, currently single. I live next to the Konoha East Street Ninja Tool Shop.

"My ID... I mean, my identity is that I'm a ninja. My hobbies are sampling all kinds of delicious food and visiting interesting places. I also like pretty young ladies with long hair, fair skin, delicate features, and tall figures.

"As for what I dislike... Well, I dislike being disturbed while I'm sleeping."

Kakashi listened without a change in expression, though his gaze took on a slightly peculiar look as he examined Isho.

*Single... Such a young kid, and already thinking that far ahead. Even your teacher here isn't in a hurry.

He's precocious, and he even has the same taste as me. Is he making fun of me? But that last part definitely is.

"Isho, then. I'll call you Isho. Do you really have no dreams or plans for the future?"

"Become stronger, marry a beautiful wife, and protect my family and Konoha."

*Just how much does this kid like beautiful women? He's not bad-looking himself, so that goal shouldn't be too hard.

He wants to gain power to protect his family and Konoha... Good. His ideals are in the right place.

"Good. One last question. Suppose your comrade is in grave danger on the battlefield, and the enemy is so powerful that you have no chance of winning. You're also carrying information that could save many ninjas in the village. What would you choose to do?"

"I'd use the Summoning Jutsu or some other means to send the information back, then return to save my comrade."

"What if you had to deliver it yourself?"

*That depends on who the comrade is. If it's someone like Mizuki, there's no point saving him.

*Besides, if I can't win, I'll run. Why go back just to get killed? Only the protagonist can make it out alive with a protagonist's halo.

I'm not stupid enough to think I'm the protagonist, even with a system. If I really died, who would I complain to? Besides, I could just find a substitute who can use the Rinnegan to bring him back to life.

Thinking that, Isho held back his snarky response and said what the other man wanted to hear.

"I... might say the mission is more important, but my body would never let me abandon my comrade and escape alone. So I'd choose to save him. What do you think, sir?"

Looking at Isho, who seemed to struggle with the choice, torn between conflicting feelings, but ultimately resolved to save his comrade even if it cost him his life, Kakashi's usually serious face broke into a rare, genuine smile.