Team 7

Others naturally could not see through Sasuke's inner thoughts at this moment.

Especially those infatuated girls.

They looked at Sasuke with eyes full of worship and admiration.

They simply believed that this coldness was one of Sasuke's greatest charms.

There were also some boys who looked at Sasuke with very unpleasant expressions. It was not for any other reason, but simply due to the nature of adolescent boys. Even in the original story, Naruto was not the only one like this; it was only because Naruto was the protagonist and expressed it so explicitly that he drew attention. In reality, no matter the world or the era, a student like Sasuke was absolutely the type of person most boys in the class would "reject."

Including Kiba Inuzuka, Neji Hyuga from the grade above, and Rock Lee—did they not all want to defeat Sasuke?

In the world of youth, this was an extremely normal thing.

Of course.

In this life, Naruto would naturally not be bored to that extent.

Moreover, if it really came down to a one-on-one fight.

The current Naruto could truly trample Sasuke with ease. Not for any other reason, but simply because Naruto had just experienced a life-and-death struggle three days ago. For a ninja, whether or not one has been through a deathmatch makes a world of difference in the strength they display. The person remained the same, and the things they had learned to control were the same, but a single battle could bring about such a stark disparity.

The thoughts of the boys and girls in the classroom were almost written on their faces.

Iruka, standing on the podium, appeared to have an unchanging expression, but in his heart, he was secretly shaking his head.

"Alright, next, I will announce the team groupings. Three people to a group. When you hear your name, call out 'here.' Shortly, your guiding ninja will come to take you away. Do you understand?"

"Yes, teacher!"

"Mm, very good. First, Team One: Shin Shimazaki, Shohei Matsuoka, Hiro Nagano."

"Yes!"

"Team Two: Rin Uesugi, Goro Inui, Mura Tadano."

"Yes!"

"Team Three..."

Although many girls hoped to be on a team with Sasuke, and those ordinary civilian ninjas hoped to be grouped with classmates who had excellent grades or even came from prestigious families, these people were destined to be disappointed. While the graduation grouping appeared very fair and impartial, in reality, these so-called team assignments had been predetermined long ago.

Who could be on a team with whom.

Who could not be on a team with whom.

There were invisible rules limiting all of this.

It was almost impossible for a ninja from a prestigious family to be on a team with civilians.

Ninjas with special identities.

Were almost impossible for ordinary people to reach.

And most importantly, one could tell from the guiding ninjas assigned after the grouping. Ordinary teams were led by Chunin, but some more special teams were almost all led by Jonin, or even the strongest among the Jonin. When watching the original story in his past life, Naruto had always thought that every graduating class in the Hidden Leaf Village was led by Jonin. Later, he realized, what did a Jonin represent?

Not to mention the world-destroying battles that came later.

Looking back from the passing of the Third Hokage to the subsequent Great Ninja Wars.

A Jonin represented the highest combat power of a ninja village.

You couldn't expect the shadow of a village to go to the battlefield every day, could you?

No matter which ninja village it was, including the Five Great Ninja Villages that represented the highest combat power, it was impossible to have so many Jonin acting as babysitters for rookie ninjas who had just graduated!

In times of war, Jonin were the representatives of combat strength.

In times of peace, Jonin were also the reliance for completing various high-level missions and earning rich rewards for the village!

Therefore!

Teams that could be arranged to have a Jonin as a leader.

Were absolutely the most special, or in other words, the existences the village valued the most.

Not to mention Ino-Shika-Cho; they had always been the most steadfast supporters of the Hokage faction, so their guiding Jonin was the Third Hokage's own son—Asuma Sarutobi.

Hinata Hyuga was the young lady of the Hyuga clan.

The Inuzuka clan, where Kiba Inuzuka belonged, also held a high status and played a significant role in the Hidden Leaf Village.

Not to mention Shino Aburame.

He was not only part of the Hokage faction.

Among the Anbu members trained by Danzo, there were also experts from the Aburame clan.

The team composed of these three was also led by a Jonin. Although Kurenai Yuhi had only just been promoted to Jonin, she was, after all, a Jonin recognized by the Third Hokage (a ninja's promotion must be acknowledged by the Hokage, followed by the signing of the corresponding promotion order).

The team from the previous year composed of Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten was led by Might Guy, who at least for now appeared to be the representative of the strongest combat power in the Hidden Leaf Village. Neji was also from the Hyuga clan. Tenten seemed ordinary, but just by looking at the quantity of ninja tools she used and her indifferent attitude, you could tell that even if the family Tenten belonged to didn't have any powerful experts, it was absolutely a "wealthy" clan! That's right, the kind of pure "wealthy" clan!

As for Rock Lee, it was because he had gained Might Guy's favor.

And this must have happened before he entered the Ninja Academy, or at the very latest in this timeline, before graduation. Otherwise, looking at Rock Lee's performance—only knowing taijutsu and no ninjutsu—it would have been impossible for him to graduate from the Ninja Academy, let alone be on a team with Neji and Tenten.

And then, back to the team Naruto was on.

Perhaps Sakura Haruno really was the most simple and mediocre existence in the original story.

She possessed a chakra control ability that sounded impressive on paper.

Yet, it served no real purpose.

The family Sakura Haruno came from was also truly the most ordinary. Later on, it seemed she was valued by Tsunade and taken on as a disciple, though whether that was because she truly believed Sakura had talent or because of Naruto, only heaven knew.

As for why she was assigned to the same squad as Naruto and Sasuke.

It was likely precisely because of Sakura Haruno's mediocrity.

It wasn't that she was indispensable.

It was just that among this group of ordinary graduates, Sakura Haruno happened to be the one drawn.

To put it bluntly.

The vast majority of graduates currently sitting in this classroom were considered mediocre by the village. The squads they formed were almost all led by Chunin. Wanting to be in a squad with a genius? Hoping to be led by a powerful Jonin?

One could only say that these people were living in a dream.

"Next is Team 7!"

After announcing the previous six squads of cannon fodder in one breath.

The long-awaited Team 7 finally arrived.

It did not deviate from the original plot.

It was entirely within Naruto's expectations.

"Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno!"

These were the three names Iruka spat out directly.

"Ah!!!!?"

The girls in the class who had been hoping to be in a squad with Sasuke all wore expressions of obvious regret, and at that moment, every single one of them looked at Sakura Haruno—who wore a face of joy and excitement—with a mix of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

That big-forehead girl actually got to be in a squad with Sasuke!?