Team 11

"It seems even the heavens are helping me!" Hyuga Gen felt an indescribable joy in his heart. He truly hadn't expected to be placed in the same team as Uchiha Izumi.

Under normal circumstances, it was impossible for members of the Hyuga and Uchiha clans to be assigned to the same team. Everyone knew the two clans didn't get along; they looked down on each other, and being on the same team would hardly be conducive to cooperation.

Hyuga Gen had held no hope of being grouped with Uchiha Izumi, yet the very thing he deemed impossible had actually come to pass.

He had originally expected to be placed in a reconnaissance squad, just like in Shippuden, paired with a bug user and a dog walker—the perfect scouting trio.

To his surprise, that wasn't the case. Could it be that there were no bug users or dog walkers in his year? He hadn't paid much attention, but it seemed his class didn't have any; he wasn't sure about the others.

"I wonder what the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was thinking? What reason could he have had for putting me and Uchiha Izumi in the same team?" Hyuga Gen felt a flicker of curiosity.

Regardless, this was great for him, as he wouldn't have to keep watch in Konoha every single day. Originally, he had planned to stay in the village until the night of the Uchiha massacre to ensure he wouldn't miss the chance to save Uchiha Izumi.

Now, he didn't need to worry as much. Since they were on the same team and would be going on missions and returning together, the chances of missing that window were significantly reduced.

Of course, what Hyuga Gen didn't know was that it wasn't the heavens helping him, but rather Uchiha Itachi, who had recently joined the Anbu, inadvertently doing him a favor.

"Alright, that concludes the team assignments. You may get to know each other before heading home. Your new team leader will arrive tomorrow, so be prepared," he said before turning and walking away.

Today was graduation day at the Ninja Academy. The final and most important exam had been held in the morning, and the team assignments had begun in the afternoon.

The final test was the Clone Technique; as long as you succeeded, you basically passed. This was no challenge for Hyuga Gen, though some in the class failed and would likely be held back or advised to give up the ninja profession.

Even though it was effortless for him—his chakra control was good enough to perform it perfectly—Hyuga Gen still held back, aiming for an above-average result.

"You, don't tell me you pulled some strings?" Uchiha Izumi teased as she looked at Hyuga Gen, finding the coincidence too strange.

"Do you think I have that kind of ability? You're overestimating me," Hyuga Gen retorted with a huff.

Ninja team assignments were generally handled directly by the Hokage. After all, ninjas were the village's vital defense force, and it was only natural they were treated with importance.

It was difficult for an ordinary person to even see the Third Hokage, let alone influence his decisions. Once a decision was made, it was rarely changed.

"H-hello, my name is Tōyama. We'll be on the same team from now on, so please take care of me," a person said, approaching them with a nervous and hesitant tone.

Tōyama felt inexplicably anxious, realizing both his teammates were from prestigious Konoha clans. At the same time, he felt his luck was decent; his safety had just increased significantly.

This boy named Tōyama was from the next class over. During graduation, three classes had been combined for the assignments, resulting in eleven teams in total. The three of them happened to be members of Team 11.

There were six classes in this year's cohort. The students who passed from the other classes were also divided into eleven squads, making for twenty-two teams in total, with about seventy people in all.

"Hello, I'm..." Hyuga Gen and Uchiha Izumi both greeted him and introduced themselves briefly, and with that, the three of them were acquainted.

Through their conversation, Hyuga Gen learned that Tōyama's family ran a business selling various lamps. Was he named Tōyama because his family made lamps? Hyuga Gen found that a bit amusing.

However, he learned that they had changed their surname to "Tō" (Lamp) only after starting the business, supposedly to make it easier for customers to remember. Hyuga Gen thought his ancestors had quite the business acumen.

One shouldn't underestimate the power of a name; when people wanted to buy lamps, they would think of that name and naturally head to their shop.

As a team, it was necessary to understand everyone's strengths. When asked, Tōyama stammered and couldn't say much, and Hyuga Gen understood immediately.

It was only natural; if he weren't at the bottom, he wouldn't have been assigned to this team. Hyuga Gen had already guessed as much.

After all, ever since Uchiha Itachi left, the top spot in the class had fallen to Uchiha Izumi. Previously, she and Itachi had always been the top two.

Uchiha Itachi had always been first—first in the class, first in the grade, and first in the school. His prowess was terrifying. Uchiha Izumi had been second in the class, though her exact rank in the grade was unknown.

Since Itachi left, she had held the top spot in the class. With Hyuga Gen's above-average skill and a "tail-ender" like Tōyama, the team's strength was somewhat balanced.

"From now on, we are teammates and partners. Dinner is on me tonight; let's celebrate," Hyuga Gen said.

"No, no, let me treat you both. If there's anything I don't do well later on, please point it out and help me," Tōyama said hurriedly.

Hyuga Gen couldn't be bothered to argue; he didn't care who paid. Thinking back to his previous world, he had always tried to dodge the bill when eating out because he was broke, but now, money was no object.

After school, the group headed to the Haidilao hot pot restaurant. As for why they chose this place, it was because most gatherings in Konoha now took place at one of two spots: Haidilao or the Yixia BBQ Restaurant.

The name "Yixia" was derived from one character each from the names Hyuga Gen, Yu Zhihui, and Hyuga Natsu. It had opened around the same time as Haidilao, just a few days apart.

"This hot pot place is great. I wonder how the owner came up with this idea; it's truly brilliant. I'd really like to meet them," Tōyama exclaimed after they found a seat.

Uchiha Izumi glanced at Hyuga Gen. You've already met him; he's sitting right in front of you, she thought, though she kept it to herself.

"What's so brilliant about the owner? It's just a restaurant," Hyuga Gen said dismissively.

"It's not that simple. Just the fact that he invented hot pot is impressive. Why didn't anyone else think of it before? And the decor..." Tōyama went on about everything he knew, clearly a huge fan of the owner.

Hearing someone praise him like that, Hyuga Gen felt quite pleased. He nodded along as he listened, occasionally adding a word of agreement, while Uchiha Izumi watched him with a strange expression.

Hyuga Gen had intended to pay the bill, but he hadn't expected the kid to have already settled it. He was quite sharp.

With their bellies full and the meal coming to an end, it had been a joyous time. However, someone else might not be so happy; they might lose sleep tonight.

"Tomorrow, who will our team leader be?" Lying in bed, Hyuga Gen felt a sense of anticipation.