The New Generation of Geniuses

"Now, we will assign everyone a serial number based on the order of registration. These numbers will be randomly shuffled to form teams. The names and serial numbers of each team's members will be displayed on this electronic screen. Please organize yourselves into your respective teams accordingly..."

Dan Katō stood on the high platform, turned around, pointed to the large black electronic screen on the wall behind him, and announced in a loud voice.

On the screen, the red serial numbers and names of the participants flickered rapidly across the black display. After nearly ten seconds of what looked like garbled code, the members of the ten teams were finally set.

There were two hundred and sixty-seven applicants this time, enough to form eighty-nine teams. Among the first ten teams, only Sarutobi Asuma was listed, grouped with Akado Taku and Gekko Kazuhiko. Seeing Sarutobi Asuma clench his fists with an excited expression, it was clear that he not only knew these two teammates but also held their strength in high regard.

Next, Uchiha Obito, Anko, Ibiki, Shiranui Genma, Might Guy, Uchiha Obito, Hyuga Xiangning, Sato Hideaka, and others were assigned their teams. Unfortunately, among the classmates, only Uchiha Obito and Might Guy were grouped together, as were Anko and Shiranui Genma. The rest were scattered, leaving everyone else with total strangers as teammates.

Having unfamiliar teammates made Yuhi Kurenai extremely nervous. Although she had been told to be as brave as Uzumaki Kushina, for a seven-year-old girl, making the decision to face such a situation alone was already no small feat.

After all, among those who signed up were not only seniors around twelve years old but also some predecessors who had graduated but failed to become genin. Their ages generally ranged from fourteen to eighteen, and their experience, physical strength, and height were all "staggering" deterrents!

"Asuma, among those who signed up for this year's competition, are there any contestants with strength around the level of a chunin?" Sato Hideaka asked, approaching Sarutobi Asuma while the electronic screen was still organizing the teams.

The world always produces a few geniuses, especially in Konoha, where talent abounds. For example, Kakashi Hatake became a chunin at six, created the Chidori around age eight, and promoted to jonin at twelve; Uchiha Itachi became a genin at seven, a chunin at ten, captain of the Anbu at thirteen, and wiped out the Uchiha Clan at fourteen...

Such a resume was undeniably brilliant, but Sato Hideaka refused to believe that in a massive village like Konoha, there were no other geniuses besides them. While he was confident in his own genin-level strength, he did not want to be arrogant or blind; knowing more about his opponents meant a better chance of winning!

"Hmph, why should I tell you? Don't forget, we're competitors...!"

Sarutobi Asuma turned his head away and snorted with a haughty air.

Sato Hideaka shook his head and added, "But we are classmates. Besides, if we can learn about our opponents in advance, we can consciously stay away from them when we enter the Forest of Death. That way, our overall passing rate will be higher... You wouldn't want our classmates to be eliminated right at the start, would you?"

The classmates gathered around, and upon hearing that some of the examinees seemed to possess chunin-level strength, they immediately crowded around Sarutobi Asuma to ask questions. After all, the strength of a chunin was simply too overwhelming, and no one wanted to be quickly eliminated just because they ran into a powerful enemy.

"Why would someone with chunin strength be in a genin test? Ah, we definitely aren't a match for a chunin. Asuma, just tell us, and we'll avoid them... maybe we can make it through in the end."

"Yeah, yeah. If we run into them as soon as we enter and don't know their strength, we'll definitely be eliminated if we blindly rush in."

"..."

"Alright, alright. I'll tell you!"

Sarutobi Asuma was annoyed by the classmates crowding him. Since they were classmates and the opponents were all strangers, a natural sense of solidarity formed, and he felt embarrassed to hoard his information.

"Look at this girl..."

Sarutobi Asuma pointed his finger at a girl with long, straight black hair who looked like a porcelain doll, with the fan crest of her clan on her back. He said with a grave expression, "Her name is Uchiha Kaoru. She's twelve this year and is the granddaughter the second elder of the Uchiha Clan dotes on most. She awakened her single-tomoe Sharingan at eight and her double-tomoe at ten. She excels in Fire Release and shurikenjutsu. She's a genius with strength comparable to a chunin..."

Everyone followed his finger and saw a girl who looked as exquisite as a porcelain doll, her eyes like deep, clear pools. She was slightly frowning, standing calmly in the area where the Uchiha Clan had gathered. Like a black tulip, she exuded an air of cold detachment.

As if annoyed by the noisy environment, the girl's slight frown caused the surrounding Uchiha clansmen to clear a bit of space for her, making her appear quite authoritative!

"This girl doesn't look that strong. Is she really as powerful as you say?"

"Yeah, yeah. She looks so cute. I actually think that big guy full of muscle next to her looks more powerful."

The boys' misguided comments made Sarutobi Asuma roll his eyes. He continued, "Believe it or not, this girl is definitely the greatest genius of our age group, second only to Kakashi Hatake. As for why she didn't participate in the genin test before, it might have something to do with her grandfather..."

"And that is Hyuga Ningbo of the Hyuga main family. He's eleven this year, awakened his Byakugan at eight, and is proficient in Gentle Fist. He has already mastered the sixty-four palms of the Gentle Fist, and I heard he has even mastered the secret technique 'Rotation' passed down through the Hyuga main family!"

"Not only that, but there's also Uchiha Kenichi, the grandson of the third elder of the Uchiha Clan. He's an extremely cold and arrogant guy who just awakened his double-tomoe. He excels in Fire Release ninjutsu and the Uchiha Clan's kunai throwing techniques. There's also Inuzuka Jin of the Inuzuka Clan, Shimura Masao of the Shimura Clan, Akimichi Shinichi of the Akimichi Clan, Yamanaka Sanae of the Yamanaka Clan, and Nara Kinji of the Nara Clan..."

"All the people I mentioned above, in addition to the basic Three Body Technique, reconnaissance and anti-reconnaissance skills, trap setting, and kunai throwing, are also highly proficient in their family's secret ninjutsu. You could say that everyone has strength that cannot be underestimated..."

Sarutobi Asuma slowly listed the top figures in this genin test. Sato Hideaka was shocked to discover that the slightly more powerful, genius-level figures were all descendants of Konoha's major clans. Clearly, they had basically monopolized the talent.

The electronic screen had finished assigning all the teams. Sato Hideaka whispered a few words into Yuhi Kurenai's ear, quietly telling her his plan, and then handed a note he had just written to Hyuga Ningxiang in the crowd. Under her misunderstood, joyful gaze, he could only speechlessly point to the paper in her hand before walking toward his own team.

Arriving at the designated location for his team, Sato Hideaka realized that his other two teammates had already gathered. One was a fierce-looking, muscular man, and the other was a gloomy man with a scar on his face...

Seeing Sato Hideaka, who didn't even reach his waist, the muscular man cursed, "Brat... you're number 137, Sato Hideaka? Damn it, my teammate is actually a little brat? I'm here to participate in a genin competition, do I have to take care of a kid like you? What a waste of my teammate slot."

"Koji, don't you think this brat will drag us down if he follows us?" the gloomy-faced man said in a sinister tone from the side.

"Once we're inside, just ditch him. Tch, we aren't professional babysitters..."

Seeing their attitude toward him, Sato Hideaka shrugged and smiled indifferently, because from the very beginning, he had no intention of teaming up with these two completely untrustworthy guys... Teaming up with people who mutually repel, suspect, and lack trust in each other was worse than having no teammates at all!