Team 9

April 5, Year 45 of Konoha.

Inside the classroom, Genma and the others, who had graduated at the same time and received their Forehead Protectors, waited to be assigned to teams.

The atmosphere in the classroom was a little restless.

There was both anticipation and nervousness.

Genma wasn't nervous, just a little excited.

Who would their Jonin leader be?

To be honest, he didn't know much about the Jonin who were active during this period.

The most dazzling of them was definitely Namikaze Minato.

If Minato was the point of reference, others around his age included Uzumaki Kushina, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, Aburame Shibi, Hyuga Hiashi, and Hizashi Hyuga.

Looking at the list, they were all parents of future members of the Konoha 12.

But Genma wasn't sure whether any of them had already become Jonin by this point.

After all, Namikaze Minato was probably only eighteen or nineteen.

As he was thinking about it, the classroom door opened.

The noisy classroom immediately fell silent.

"Team 1: Shiranui Genma, Ebisu, Might Guy. That's everyone. Follow me!"

A young ninja in a Jonin flak jacket announced briskly, then vanished from the classroom.

Might Guy and the other two hurried to their feet and dashed out.

Looking at the three of them, Genma immediately thought of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—and the Three Treasures.

If I get the chance, I'll test the Swordsmen's strength.

One Jonin after another appeared, calling out students and taking them away.

Genma didn't recognize a single one of them. None of them rang a bell.

That is, until Namikaze Minato appeared.

"Team 7: Uchiha Obito, Nohara Rin..."

Before Minato could finish, Uchiha Obito jumped to his feet. "Yes!"

"Kakashi... That's everyone. Follow me."

As Minato finished reading the names, Obito's excited shout abruptly died away. He glared at Kakashi with undisguised distaste. "Damn it, how did I end up on the same team as this guy?"

Genma felt a little wistful.

It was as if he were watching a vehicle called fate rumble right past him.

"Genma, what's wrong?"

Shizune sensed the change in Genma's mood.

Genma turned his gaze away from Kakashi and the others as they left, then said with a quiet laugh, "That Jonin looked really young. He must be an incredible genius, too."

Namikaze Minato might already have earned the name Yellow Flash, but among the kids still at the Ninja Academy, there probably weren't many who truly knew him.

Shizune blinked, her eyes bright with amusement. "He is really young, but I'm sure you'll become even more outstanding than him one day, Genma."

Genma raised an eyebrow. "Of course!"

Surpass the Yellow Flash?

When it came to a ninja's natural talent, Genma couldn't confidently claim he would surpass the Yellow Flash.

But his setup was better than the Yellow Flash's!

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Genma froze.

Hatake Sakumo had appeared in the classroom.

Sakumo smiled when he saw his students, then announced, "Team 9: Kazekaze Genma, Shizune, Yamashiro Aoba. That's everyone. Follow me!"

With that, Hatake Sakumo disappeared.

"Genma, we're on the same team!"

Shizune tugged at Genma's arm.

Genma came back to himself. "Then I'll be counting on you to look after me, Shizune."

Shizune grew a little embarrassed instead, because she knew she couldn't match him in either medical ninjutsu or combat ability.

"Let's go!"

Genma took Shizune along, called to Yamashiro Aoba, and the three of them left the classroom together.

On the rooftop of a tall building,

Hatake Sakumo looked at the three of them as they arrived and smiled. "Let's start by introducing ourselves."

"My name is Hatake Sakumo. Starting today, I'll be your Jonin leader."

"My favorite food is Kakashi's grilled fish. I don't dislike any food. As for my goal as a ninja, it's to protect the village and my comrades."

Yamashiro Aoba, who wore sunglasses, was secretly astonished. As expected of the White Fang of Konoha. I can't believe this legendary ninja is going to be our Jonin leader. It's unbelievable.

After the introductions, Hatake Sakumo called on them directly. "Genma, you first. Introduce yourself the way I just did."

Genma nodded. "Yes, sensei."

"My name is Kazekaze Genma. My favorite food is Shizune's bento. I dislike sashimi. As for my goal as a ninja, I want to become the strongest in the Ninja World. That way, people will listen to reason when I explain things to them."

Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba both turned to look at him.

"Um, you want to become the strongest just so people will listen to you explain things?"

Yamashiro Aoba couldn't understand.

Genma nodded, then asked, "Aoba, if you ran into an enemy and wanted to convince him to surrender by reasoning with him, do you think you could?"

Yamashiro Aoba thought it over, then shook his head. "That would be pretty hard, wouldn't it?"

Genma snapped his fingers. "Exactly. So if we want him to listen while we explain things, shouldn't we first beat him with our overwhelming strength? Then he'll take us seriously and realize that he was wrong."

Yamashiro Aoba pushed up his sunglasses, looking a little lost.

It sounded reasonable, but somehow it also felt strange.

Shizune covered her mouth, laughing quietly. She understood Genma's twisted logic.

Hatake Sakumo smiled, too, then said, "Shizune."

Shizune immediately stopped laughing and answered seriously, "My name is Shizune. My favorite food is Genma's mushroom stew, and I dislike spicy foods. My goal as a ninja is to become a medical ninja like Lady Tsunade and protect my comrades."

As Yamashiro Aoba listened, he couldn't help grumbling to himself: These two are unbelievable. Are they confessing to each other like this?

Noticing Hatake Sakumo's gaze, Yamashiro Aoba quickly cleared his throat before saying, "My name is Yamashiro Aoba. My favorite food is dumplings, and I dislike natto. My goal as a ninja is to become Hokage."

After listening, Hatake Sakumo laughed heartily. "Very good. Now that you've all gotten to know one another a little, I'll announce what comes next."

"The introductory challenge!"

"To get a better understanding of your abilities, we're going to have a sparring match. The three of you will work together, and your goal is to take the Bells from your teacher."

Hatake Sakumo took out a string of Bells.

Genma was curious. Was this tradition common to all of Konoha?

After putting the Bells away, Hatake Sakumo leapt into the air. "Follow me!"

"Let's go!"

Genma called out and used the Body Flicker Technique to catch up first. Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba followed close behind, their figures tearing through the air with sharp whooshes.

The four of them leapt from rooftop to telephone pole, swiftly crossing Konoha's bustling central district before landing in an open clearing surrounded by trees.

Hatake Sakumo hung the Bells from his waist and said to the three of them, "You can discuss your tactics first, then attack."

Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba both looked at Genma.

Yamashiro Aoba spoke up. "Genma, any ideas?"

Genma considered it. "I trained with Kakashi under our teacher before, so I'm a little familiar with his style. Of course, with our abilities, it'll be very difficult to defeat him, so we'll have to use a trick."

"If our goal is just to get the Bells, I'll take the lead and draw as much of our teacher's attention as possible."

"Aoba, you'll be our second attacker."

Yamashiro Aoba was secretly surprised, but nodded.

Genma asked Shizune, "Shizune, did you bring your Sleeve Arrow?"

Shizune nodded, but hesitated. "Isn't that too dangerous? The Sleeve Arrow is loaded with a special neurotoxin."

Genma smiled. "Don't worry. Sensei Sakumo won't be that easy to hit. He's an elite Jonin, after all."

It was a bit like encouraging filial impiety, but this was the White Fang of Konoha.