An Unexpected Team Assignment, Ryusuke's Importance

Just as Nara Shikamaru had analyzed, Ryusuke had also considered who his teammates might be.

Then, he used the process of elimination.

Excluding himself, the most important people in the class were the Nine Small Powerhouses.

Among those nine, Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Choji Akimichi were certain to be placed together.

Just as Nara Shikamaru had said, their fathers were too famous. The entire Shinobi World knew of the Ino-Shika-Cho combination.

Sarutobi Hiruzen would never give up on cultivating the next generation of Ino-Shika-Cho.

This was obvious from the fact that he had arranged for his own son to serve as the Jonin Instructor for the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho.

After excluding Ino-Shika-Cho, among the remaining six Small Powerhouses, Naruto and Sasuke had special identities, so Sarutobi Hiruzen likewise would not split them apart.

Of the remaining Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, Hinata, and Sakura, all of them were highly skilled at sensory techniques.

But among those four, Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino all came from major clans. Putting them in the same team and assigning an outstanding jonin to lead them would satisfy their fathers.

Therefore, among the Nine Small Powerhouses, Sakura was the one most likely to become Ryusuke's teammate.

But if that happened, Team 7, with Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha, would have an empty slot.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen truly put Ryusuke and Sakura together, would he really arrange for Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha to have an ordinary girl as their teammate?

Of course, Ryusuke had another guess: Sakura would still be assigned to Team 7, while he would team up with two classmates of average grades.

Or... he could join the Anbu!

No matter which it was, Ryusuke did not care.

Graduation meant the plot had begun, and a new round of the fated battle between Asura and Indra had already started.

The fated battle between the two Children of the Sage would throw the Shinobi World into chaos.

No matter who his teammates were, Ryusuke was confident that he could grow stronger quickly.

While Ryusuke and the others chatted, more and more students entered the classroom.

Naruto's appearance also greatly surprised many people, but no one mocked him as a group.

Unfortunately, that iconic scene was gone.

Since he did not have a girl he liked, although Naruto still could not stand Sasuke Uchiha's cool act, he did not leap in front of him and, with the classmates' assistance, perform the "kiss of the century" like in the original story.

Ryusuke found that deeply regrettable.

Once all the students had arrived, Iruka soon entered the classroom as well.

"Congratulations. From this moment on, you are genin."

Looking at the classroom full of students, with barely anyone missing, Iruka, who had accompanied them for six years, wore a gratified expression. Suppressing his reluctance to part with them, he held up the roster and smiled. "But you still have much to learn. Before you can stand on your own, you will need to form groups of three and study under your Jonin Instructor to learn how to become true ninjas."

"Alright, now for the team assignments. Team 1..."

One name after another came from Iruka's lips.

The students whose names were called showed either excitement or disappointment.

Before long, it was time for Team 7.

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

When Iruka called out the final name, Ryusuke and the others' expressions shifted slightly.

Sakura, who had thought she had won, had worn a smile ever since the team assignments began. Now, it instantly froze.

Nara Shikamaru rubbed his chin, somewhat surprised. "I actually guessed wrong. Looks like the upcoming assignments will be interesting."

Ryusuke was equally surprised.

Could it be that he really would be teamed with two ordinary classmates?

Was the Top Student title really worth so little?

Or was Sarutobi Hiruzen planning to recruit him into the Anbu?

The names Iruka called next made Ryusuke and the others' expressions shift again. Only Hinata wore a delighted look.

Iruka continued, "Team 8: Ryusuke, Aburame Shino... Hinata Hyuga."

"Team 9..."

"Team 10: Nara Shikamaru, Choji Akimichi... Yamanaka Ino."

"I didn't expect... my analysis to be wrong in so many ways."

Resting his chin on his hand, Nara Shikamaru looked toward Inuzuka Kiba, who was playing with Akamaru and seemed not to care at all who his teammates were. There was a trace of pity in his eyes as he thought, Poor guy. Was he abandoned?

Not counting the already extinct Uchiha Clan, there were six shinobi clans in the class.

Just as he had analyzed, the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho had not been separated.

But the Inuzuka, Aburame, and Hyuga children, who had been very likely to form a team, had only ended up with the Aburame and Hyuga members together.

Inuzuka Kiba had not been assigned to a team with Sasuke Uchiha either.

The only people who could be on his team were other civilian students.

With only one shinobi clan member on the team, it meant that Inuzuka Kiba's Jonin Instructor would not be a particularly renowned jonin in the village.

Unless someone from his clan voluntarily applied to become Inuzuka Kiba's Jonin Instructor.

Either way, it meant Inuzuka Kiba had been "abandoned."

Even Ryusuke had not expected that he would replace Inuzuka Kiba.

This was the strongest sensory team of the new generation!

Its importance was clear from Sarutobi Hiruzen assigning Yuhi Kurenai as Team 8's Jonin Instructor.

If Sarutobi Asuma from the original story had not died and had lived until Boruto, then he and Yuhi Kurenai, as a married couple, would have been the teachers of the heirs to the six great clans: Ino-Shika-Cho, Aburame, Inuzuka, and Hyuga.

With connections like that, even if Sarutobi Asuma could not become Hokage, he could still swagger through Konoha without restraint.

In Ryusuke's eyes, Team 8, like Ino-Shika-Cho, had been the least likely team to be broken apart.

Yet unexpectedly, Sarutobi Hiruzen had Ryusuke replace Inuzuka Kiba.

The boldness of so clearly offending the Inuzuka Clan greatly surprised Ryusuke.

Did the Third Hokage truly think so highly of his potential?

Or had Sarutobi Hiruzen secretly watched his training over the past few years using the Crystal Ball Technique?

Could the Crystal Ball Technique even spy on scenes inside a house?

Thinking that Sarutobi Hiruzen might have seen him secretly practicing that ninjutsu at home, Ryusuke's heart sank.

"Team 12..."

After calling the final name, Iruka set down the roster. He gave one last look at the scene he would never see again after school began, and a trace of sadness flashed through his eyes. Yet he still smiled as he instructed, "Those assigned to the same team, remember to get along well with your teammates. From now on, you will be comrades fighting side by side."

"Your Jonin Instructors will come and take you away shortly. I hope that the next time we meet, you will already be outstanding ninjas."

With that, Iruka quickly walked out of the classroom.

No one cared about Iruka's departure, nor could anyone understand how he felt at that moment.

All the students were looking forward to their upcoming lives as ninjas, discussing who their Jonin Instructors might be and whether they were strong.

"Congratulations, Hinata."

Ino said with a face full of envy, "I didn't expect you and Ryusuke to be on the same team."

At that, Hinata could not help lowering her head and twisting her fingers together.

If one looked closely, they would see the corners of her lips slightly curled upward, unable to conceal the joy in her heart.

Sakura, meanwhile, looked like a defeated dog.

It just so happened that she was seated directly behind Nara Shikamaru.

Looking at the back of this "strongest brain," Sakura nearly awakened her second personality on the spot and punched Nara Shikamaru into oblivion.

His analysis had raised her expectations to their peak, only for a bucket of cold water to be dumped over her.

That kind of letdown hurt... it hurt so much!