The next day.
Inside a classroom at the Ninja Academy, people were bustling about.
Today is the class assignment ceremony for the newly Genin. The boys and girls who have just graduated are tying their newly Forehead Protector in their favorite positions.
Some Forehead Protector properly on the forehead, some are used as belts, some are armbands, collars, and even some are worn on the thighs—they're worn all over the place.
The energetic and passionate young men and women were sizing each other up, eagerly anticipating their assigned teammates.
Each grade has more than one class, and most people only feel that the faces are familiar, but they don't know them or can't call them by name.
When there are many people, they tend to cluster together and form their own small circles.
They were divided into several groups, almost entirely based on their classes.
Only three people did not integrate into any group, as if they were isolated in their own little world.
The three were Natsuri, Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto.
Neither Natsuri nor Sasuke Uchiha are the type to hide in a corner; Naruto, on the other hand, is simply there wherever his comrades are.
The unusual trio in the center of the classroom drew the attention of others, but no one pointed at them or tried to strike up a conversation.
For various reasons, the three were all celebrities at the Ninja Academy. After the people around them recognized them, they stopped staring at them and instead glanced at them out of the corner of their eyes.
As the school bell rang, a teacher from the Ninja Academy walked in and began a lecture.
"Congratulations, students! From today onwards, you are officially members of..."
The teacher's long and passionate speech would normally have made the impatient boys and girls drowsy, but today everyone's patience was greatly enhanced, and unusually, not a single person fell asleep.
Just because no one is sleeping doesn't mean people enjoy hearing these kinds of platitudes.
Giving a speech on stage.
Chatting in the audience.
Fortunately, this teacher lacked experience and only spoke for nearly an hour before reaching the end of his speech.
As a teacher, when students graduate, I usually offer more of my own experiences and heartfelt wishes, which may sound serious and unappealing.
Everyone present eagerly anticipated the start of their ninja life, and each believed themselves to be the protagonist of the era, a favorite of fate.
A new chapter in the Shinobi World awaits them to turn.
It is only years later, after the deaths of peers they knew for various reasons, that the survivors truly understand the cruelty of reality.
And how important and valuable the seemingly boring content that this teacher presented today is.
"... Alright, that's enough. Let's begin announcing the group assignments. Everyone, pay attention."
The teacher took out the roster he had been holding, cleared his throat, and began to speak.
"First up is the first class..."
When a name is called, the teacher will emphasize it and elongate the last syllable to ensure that everyone can hear it clearly.
Unsurprisingly, Neji, Tenten Rock Lee are in the same class, while Natsuri, Naruto, and Sasuke Uchiha are in the same class.
"Hey, Natsuri, did you hear that? We're still in the same class! I just don't know why that arrogant Sasuke Uchiha is in the same class as me too!"
Naruto was actually quite happy to be in the same class as Natsuri and Sasuke Uchiha, but it was impossible for Naruto to admit that he was happy to be with Sasuke Uchiha.
Teenagers in their early teens, entering puberty, are always particularly concerned about their image, which often leads them to say one thing and mean another.
Upon hearing Naruto's statement, Sasuke Uchiha gave him a disdainful look and added a special nickname.
"Idiot Naruto!"
Considering that these three were the only three students to graduate early, and their goal was to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams, the possibility of them being temporarily paired up with other unfamiliar people is extremely low.
Naruto isn't stupid; it's just that as his life gets better and better and he makes more and more friends, he's completely given up on using his brain.
Naruto no longer needs to consider the feelings of others or bear everything alone, gradually reveals his true nature.
When Ren first met him, the Naruto who was always observant and forced to mature completely disappeared.
As more and more names were called out, the volume of conversation in the classroom also increased.
Some were happy to be assigned reliable teammates, while others were nervous and awkward when assigned teammates they liked.
Yeah, there were more awkward conversations.
After all, they are teenagers, and vague feelings of attraction towards the opposite sex are common among most people.
"... Alright, that concludes the group assignments. Is everyone clear on this?"
"Understood!" ×N
The teacher was not surprised by the inconsistent and scattered answers.
Seeing that no one raised any questions, the teacher concluded.
"Now, wait for your mentors in the classroom."
Each trio has an instructor, unlike in the original work where there are only a few classes and each instructor is Jonin.
Most Genin instructors are Chunin, and you can't refuse them. Kakashi, the troublemaker, is one of the few who can refuse his students.
In the original work, the squads led by the Jonin were all carefully selected; they were either from influential backgrounds or extremely outstanding.
The instructors who arrived one after another all took their students away. Half a day passed, and only Natsuri and his two classmates remained in the classroom, ignored by everyone.