Class Assignment

Everyone in the graduating class at the Konoha Ninja Academy was dumbfounded. Naruto and Sasuke were just as stunned.

While everyone was still in shock, a voice came from behind Naruto. "I got here first, Ino Pig." It was Sakura.

Ino's voice rang out. "Forehead Girl, I think you just bumped into someone."

Sakura looked ahead and saw Naruto's white Hokage Cloak. Realizing she had bumped into him, she bowed and apologized. "Sorry, Naruto."

Sakura glanced around the classroom, wondering why everyone was so quiet. She looked up—and saw Naruto and Sasuke kissing. She let out a startled scream.

Naruto and Sasuke finally snapped out of their daze and began retching. Every girl in the classroom glared viciously at Sakura and Ino, who were suddenly surrounded by an overwhelming sense of hostility.

Naruto was utterly crushed. Now he finally understood why he'd felt so uneasy all day.

Although he knew most of what would happen in this life, he hadn't paid much attention to the anime in his previous life. His girlfriend had dragged him along to watch most of it, so he'd forgotten nearly all the unimportant details. Naruto bitterly regretted not watching the whole story properly.

Naruto glared at the people who had bumped into him, but when he saw Sakura and Ino looking so pitiful, he could only sigh helplessly. "It's fine, but I hope you won't do anything like that again. It affects other people."

Hearing Naruto say that, Sasuke could only shoot Sakura and Ino a glare before heading back to his seat. Naruto, meanwhile, had no choice but to lead the still-dazed Hinata back to her seat.

Of everyone there, Hinata was undoubtedly the most devastated. There was only one thought in her mind: Naruto-kun's first kiss is gone. That should have been mine! Waaah...

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, the elite jonin who had gathered around the Third Hokage's crystal ball to spy on the graduating class were just as stunned.

The Third Hokage cleared his throat, and once he had everyone's attention, he said, "I'll tell you about the students in the teams you'll be responsible for."

Kurenai asked, "Lord Third Hokage, do you have any instructions for us?"

The Third Hokage nodded. "Several future clan heads from the great families are graduating this year, so I need you elite jonin to serve as their instructors."

Asuma clenched his cigarette between his teeth. "Just tell us how you've assigned everyone." The Third Hokage nodded. "Asuma, you'll be in charge of Team 10. Your students are Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi."

Asuma looked slightly surprised. "Oh, so it's the three great clans of Ino-Shika-Cho. That'll be interesting."

After showing Asuma what the three students looked like, the Third Hokage continued, "Kurenai, you'll be responsible for Shino Aburame, Kiba Inuzuka, and Hinata Hyuga of Team 8."

Kurenai sounded uncertain. "The Hyuga Clan's young lady? Am I really up to the task?"

The Third Hokage looked at her. "I believe you can do it. Have confidence in yourself."

Kurenai steeled her resolve. "I will, Lord Third Hokage. You can count on me."

The Third Hokage showed Kurenai the three students as well, then turned to Kakashi. "Kakashi, you have the most important assignment."

Kakashi looked a little surprised. "Oh? Who do you want me to be responsible for, Third Hokage?"

The Third Hokage looked at Kakashi. "You'll be responsible for the future Hokage of Konoha. That's the decision I made with the two advisors and Danzo." Everyone present was astonished.

The Third Hokage continued, "Kakashi, you must pass the Will of Fire on to these two children. I believe they'll become the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha of the future, and lead Konoha back to the top of the world."

Kakashi asked in surprise, "May I ask who these two are, Lord Third Hokage?"

The Third Hokage said slowly, "You'll be in charge of Team 7: the Fourth Hokage's son, Naruto Uzumaki; Sasuke Uchiha of the Uchiha Clan; and a girl named Sakura Haruno. The two I meant are Naruto and Sasuke. Sasuke has already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. As for Naruto..."

The Third Hokage paused to consider his words, then said, "Naruto is quite special. I'd better tell you everything now, so you won't be caught off guard."

Kakashi was confused. He's the teacher's child. Other than being the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, what could be so special about him?

Before Kakashi could finish the thought, the Third Hokage continued, "Naruto has the most unusual bloodline. It has undergone Bloodline Reversion. He possesses all the abilities of the Uzumaki Clan, and has awakened the Sage Body, the White Eye, and the Sharingan.

"So you must pay special attention to him. Make sure he doesn't take a single wrong step. He is the hope of Konoha's future. That's why, Kakashi, I hope you'll agree to become their instructor."

The Third Hokage looked at Kakashi expectantly. Kakashi immediately felt the weight of the responsibility, and still couldn't make sense of what the Third Hokage had said. He wasn't the only one confused; the elite jonin listening in were just as baffled.

Seeing the look on Kakashi's face, the Third Hokage smiled knowingly. "As for why Naruto has the White Eye and the Sharingan, that's related to his bloodline. These are Naruto and Sasuke's files. After you've read them, remember that you must never reveal their contents."

The Third Hokage handed everyone a file containing information on Naruto and Sasuke. After reading them, they were all utterly astonished.

Only after everyone had recovered did the Third Hokage say, "What you've learned is Konoha's greatest secret. You must never reveal it. Understood?"

"Understood," they all replied. The Third Hokage nodded, then looked at Kakashi. "Kakashi, what's your decision?"

Kakashi looked at the Third Hokage seriously and replied, "I, Kakashi Hatake, am willing to become Team 7's instructor. I'll make sure to teach them teamwork and the Will of Fire."

The Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction. "Good. It's settled, then."

Back in the graduating class, Iruka came in and addressed all the students. "Although you're all now shinobi of Konoha, you're still the lowest rank: Genin. So you'll be divided into teams of three, each led by an instructor jonin who'll teach you from their experience and train you in ninjutsu. All right, we'll start assigning teams now."

Every student silently prayed that they'd be placed on the same team as the person they liked.

Iruka announced, "Team 7: Sakura Haruno, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha."

Sakura immediately turned to Ino, beaming. "I won!" She was thrilled.

Hinata, sitting beside Naruto, said wistfully, "I didn't get to be on the same team as Naruto-kun."

"It's all right, Hinata," Naruto reassured her. "We're just not on the same team. It's not like we'll never see each other again, so there's no need to feel sad."

Cheered up by Naruto's reassurance, Hinata smiled. "That's right. As long as I'm in Naruto-kun's heart, that's all that matters."

Seeing that Hinata had perked up, Naruto smiled and took her hand, hoping to comfort her a little more.

Ino said enviously, "I can't believe Sakura got put on the same team as Sasuke and Naruto. I'm so jealous."

Shikamaru, sitting beside Ino, said helplessly, "I really don't understand why you girls like guys like that."

"That's why nobody likes you," Ino retorted. "I'd never want to be on a team with someone like you."

Just after Ino finished speaking, Iruka continued, "Team 8: Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame, and Kiba Inuzuka. Team 10: Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi."

Ino had just finished telling Shikamaru she didn't want to be on his team when she heard they'd been assigned to the same one. She was devastated, while Shikamaru beside her laughed at her without a care in the world.

The team assignments were complete. The instructors came and took Teams 8 and 10 away one after the other.

Only Team 7 remained, waiting for their instructor. Sakura impatiently asked, "Sasuke, why hasn't our Guidance Teachers shown up yet?"

Sasuke didn't answer. He simply rested his chin on his hands, elbows on the desk, his expression cold. Naruto had been asleep with his head on the desk ever since Hinata left. Looking at her two teammates, Sakura felt utterly exasperated.

When Sasuke didn't answer, Sakura knew he still hadn't accepted her. With a helpless sigh, she shook Naruto. "Naruto, wake up."

Sakura shook him awake, and Naruto mumbled blearily, "Hinata, is it time for dinner?"

Hearing that, Sakura's temper flared. "All you ever think about is food, Naruto!"

Naruto scratched the back of his head, puzzled. "Oh, it's you, Sakura. What is it? Why are you so angry?"

Seeing Naruto's expression, Sakura lost her temper. She asked helplessly, "Naruto, why do you think our Guidance Teachers haven't shown up yet? The other teams left hours ago!"

Naruto knew about Kakashi's habit of being late, so he could only say, "Maybe he's pondering the meaning of life. Don't worry, he should be here soon."

Naruto turned to Sasuke. "By the way, Sasuke, I'm coming over to your place for dinner tonight. Did Aunt Mikoto make my favorite?"

"I don't know," Sasuke replied coldly. "I left early this morning. You can ask her yourself later."

Seeing Sasuke's cold expression, Naruto complained, "Sasuke, if you keep acting like this, you'll never get a wife. Look at me—I already have Hinata. You're still single. Don't keep looking so cold, as if someone owed you a few billion and never paid you back."

Sasuke remained cold. "I don't need a fool like you worrying about me."

Naruto angrily pointed at Sasuke, unable to get more than "You... You..." out. In the end, he still couldn't do anything to him.

With a helpless sigh, Naruto said, "Ah, I miss the old Sasuke. You're as cold as ice now. It's really annoying. You'll never get a wife acting like this. Uncle Fugaku and Aunt Mikoto must be heartbroken."

Sasuke was riled up too. "You're looking for a fight, aren't you? If you want one, I'm always ready."

Naruto waved his hands. "No, thanks. We've been fighting for seven or eight years. Let me rest for a few days. I've been trying to get on Uncle Hiashi's good side lately. He hasn't been letting Hinata go out much because he wants her to work hard on the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. I need to keep Uncle Hiashi happy so he'll let Hinata go on more dates with me, so I don't have time to spar with you lately."

Hearing that, Sasuke said haughtily, "Do whatever you want. I can train by myself without you." Then he ignored Naruto, who could only look helpless. Sakura, standing off to the side, felt as if she were just in the way.

She watched Naruto and Sasuke interact with envy. When will I be like Naruto? When will Sasuke care about me like that?

Just then, the classroom door slid open, and all three of them looked toward the entrance.

A young man in his early twenties walked in. He had silver hair, a tilted Forehead Protector that covered one eye, and a mask over his face. Naruto recognized him as Kakashi, their Guidance Teachers.

Kakashi looked at the three students in the classroom. "My first impression of you is pretty good."