Class Nine

April 5th, 45th year of Konoha.

Inside the classroom, Shiranui Genma and his peers, who had just received their ninja headbands, were waiting for their team assignments.

The atmosphere in the classroom was slightly restless.

There was anticipation, mixed with nervousness.

Shiranui Genma was not nervous, only slightly expectant.

Who would their team leader be?

To be honest, he did not know much about the jonin active during this period.

The most dazzling one was undoubtedly Namikaze Minato.

If one were to use Namikaze Minato as a benchmark, those of similar age included Uzumaki Kushina, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, Aburame Shibi, Hyuga Hiashi, and Hizashi Hyuga.

Looking at this list, they were all the parents of the future twelve rookies.

However, Shiranui Genma was unsure if these individuals had already become jonin at this point in time.

After all, Namikaze Minato should only be eighteen or nineteen years old right now.

Just as he was thinking this, the classroom door was pushed open.

The somewhat noisy classroom immediately fell silent.

"Team One: Shiranui Genma, Ebisu, Might Guy. That is all, follow me!"

A young ninja wearing a green jonin vest announced directly, then vanished from the classroom immediately after.

Upon hearing their names, Might Guy and the others hurriedly stood up and rushed out of the classroom.

Watching the three of them, Shiranui Genma immediately thought of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, as well as the "Lucky Trio."

I'll have a chance to test the strength of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

Shiranui Genma mused to himself.

Following the start, one jonin after another appeared, taking away groups of students.

Shiranui Genma did not recognize any of these jonin; he had no impression of them.

It wasn't until Namikaze Minato appeared.

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

Before Namikaze Minato could finish, Uchiha Obito had already jumped up: "Yeah!"

"...Kakashi. That is all, follow me."

As soon as Namikaze Minato finished speaking, Uchiha Obito's excited voice came to an abrupt halt, and he looked at Kakashi with a face full of disgust: "Damn it, how could I be in the same team as this guy!"

Shiranui Genma sighed inwardly.

It felt as if he were watching a vehicle named "Fate" rolling right past his eyes.

"Genma, what's wrong?"

Shizune sensed the change in Shiranui Genma's mood.

Shiranui Genma withdrew his gaze from the departing group and chuckled softly: "That jonin just now looked very young; he must be an incredible genius."

Namikaze Minato might have already made a name for himself as the Yellow Flash, but among the brats in the ninja academy, there were probably few who truly recognized him.

Shizune blinked, her eyes filled with a smile: "He is very young, but Genma, you will definitely be even more outstanding than him in the future."

Shiranui Genma raised an eyebrow: "That goes without saying!"

Surpass the Yellow Flash?

When it came to ninja talent, Shiranui Genma wasn't confident he could surpass the Yellow Flash.

But his "settings" were superior to the Yellow Flash!

"Eh?"

Suddenly, Shiranui Genma froze.

He saw Hatake Sakumo appear in the classroom.

Hatake Sakumo looked at his students, smiled, and announced: "Team Nine: Kazekaze Genma, Shizune, Yamashiro Aoba. That is all, follow me!"

After saying this, Hatake Sakumo vanished.

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

Shizune tugged on Shiranui Genma's arm.

Shiranui Genma snapped out of his daze: "Then I'll have to ask for your support in the future, classmate Shizune."

Shizune felt a bit embarrassed instead, as she knew that whether it was medical techniques or combat strength, she was not his equal.

"Let's go!"

Pulling Shizune along, Shiranui Genma called out to Yamashiro Aoba, and together they left the classroom.

On the rooftop of a tall building.

Hatake Sakumo looked at the three who had arrived and said with a faint smile, "Let's start with some introductions."

"My name is Hatake Sakumo, and starting today, I will be your team leader Jonin."

"I like Kakashi's grilled fish, I don't dislike any food, and my goal as a ninja is to guard the village and protect my comrades."

Yamashiro Aoba, wearing sunglasses, was secretly shocked: It really is the White Fang of Konoha. I never expected my team leader to be this legendary ninja; it's truly unbelievable.

After the introduction, Hatake Sakumo called out directly: "Kazekaze Genma, let's start with you. Introduce yourself just like I did."

Kazekaze Genma nodded: "Yes, Sensei."

"My name is Kazekaze Genma, I like Shizune's bento, I dislike sashimi, and as for my goal as a ninja, it is to become the strongest in the Ninja World so that people will actually listen to my reasoning."

Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba turned their heads in unison to look at him.

"Wait, you want to become the strongest just so people will listen to your reasoning?"

Yamashiro Aoba expressed his utter confusion.

Kazekaze Genma nodded and then asked: "Aoba, if you encounter an enemy, do you think it's possible to convince them to surrender just by talking?"

Yamashiro Aoba thought for a moment and shook his head: "That should be quite difficult, right?"

Kazekaze Genma snapped his fingers: "Exactly. So, to make them listen to our reasoning, don't we have to use overwhelming strength to knock them down first? Only then will they listen to us seriously and realize their previous mistakes."

Yamashiro Aoba pushed up his sunglasses, his eyes looking a bit dazed.

It sounded logical, yet it felt strange somehow.

Shizune covered her mouth to hide a giggle, having understood Kazekaze Genma's twisted logic.

Hatake Sakumo also smiled, then said: "Shizune."

Shizune immediately stopped smiling and said earnestly: "My name is Shizune, I like Kazekaze Genma's mushrooms, and I dislike spicy food. As for my goal as a ninja, I hope to become a medical ninja like Tsunade-sama and protect my comrades well."

Yamashiro Aoba couldn't help but complain inwardly: These two are going too far, aren't they? Is this their way of confessing?

Noticing Hatake Sakumo's gaze, Yamashiro Aoba immediately coughed lightly and said: "My name is Yamashiro Aoba, I like dango, I dislike natto, and my goal as a ninja is to become Hokage."

Hatake Sakumo laughed heartily after hearing them: "Very good. Now that everyone has a preliminary understanding of each other, I have an announcement to make."

"The assessment mission!"

"To better understand your strength, we will have a sparring match. The three of you will work together, and your goal is the bells in my hand."

Hatake Sakumo pulled out a string of bells.

Kazekaze Genma was curious—was this a tradition throughout Konoha?

Putting the bells away, Hatake Sakumo leaped up: "Follow me!"

"Let's go!"

Kazekaze Genma called out, using the Body Flicker Technique to give chase first, with Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba following closely behind, their figures tearing through the air with a whistling sound.

The four figures leaped and darted across rooftops and utility poles, quickly passing through the core downtown area of Konoha, and finally landed in a clearing surrounded by a forest.

Hatake Sakumo hung the bells at his waist and said to the three: "You can discuss your tactics before you attack."

Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba looked at Kazekaze Genma in unison.

Yamashiro Aoba spoke up: "Kazekaze Genma, any ideas?"

Kazekaze Genma pondered: "I've received training from Sensei alongside Kakashi before, so I'm a little familiar with his style. Of course, with our current strength, it's hard to defeat him, so we have to use tricks."

"If the goal is just the bells, I will be the primary attacker to draw as much of Sensei's attention as possible."

"Aoba, you provide secondary support."

Yamashiro Aoba was secretly startled but nodded.

Kazekaze Genma asked Shizune: "Shizune, did you bring your sleeve arrows?"

Shizune nodded, but hesitated: "Wouldn't that be too dangerous? My sleeve arrows are tipped with a special neurotoxin."

Kazekaze Genma smiled: "Don't worry, Hatake Sakumo-sensei won't be hit by you that easily. He is an elite Jonin, after all."

Though it sounded like a ridiculous overstatement, this was, after all, the White Fang of Konoha.