Team 7!

The next day, at the Hokage's Office!

Hiashi stood quietly to one side, watching the Third Hokage. He had just explained Tenka's request to become a Jonin squad leader.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

The Third Hokage tapped the desk again and again, weighing the pros and cons.

It would have been easy enough if the request were ordinary, but Hiashi wanted him assigned to a more troublesome squad.

The Third Hokage and Hiashi had the same person in mind for a troublesome squad: that boy.

But both their identities were far too special. One was the Fourth Hokage's son, while the other was someone he could not afford to provoke.

Originally, the Third Hokage had planned to assign Kakashi to lead that squad, but now Tenka had suddenly made this request!

It meant the Third Hokage had to rearrange things. More importantly, he had to consider whether Tenka should really lead that squad.

"Third Hokage, we are doing this for Konoha's sake!"

"You know Tenka's bloodlust is too heavy. Hizashi and I are both worried that he will become a machine that knows only Slaughter!"

"Once that happens, no one in Konoha would be able to stop him, right?"

"So we thought of having him lead a more troublesome squad, hoping it could temper his bloodthirsty nature!"

"Otherwise, I would rather have him lead Hinata. Tenka's mastery of the Gentle Fist is the greatest in the Hyuga Clan's history."

Hiashi's words plunged the Third Hokage into silence. He had no choice but to consider the matter seriously!

If Hyuga Tenka truly lost himself to Slaughter and went berserk, could he stop him?

If that happened, it would unquestionably be a disaster for Konoha—a hellish one!

But that squad was too special: one Nine-Tails jinchuriki and one surviving Uchiha Clan member!

Could Hyuga Tenka really lead them well? Especially that Uchiha boy!

"There is one question. Does Hyuga Tenka understand the Sharingan?"

Hiashi immediately understood. If the Third Hokage was asking that, it meant he was relenting. Hiashi promptly replied.

"Third Hokage, you know that the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan have been rivals since the Warring States era!"

"As old rivals, how could we possibly not gather information on the Sharingan?"

"As the old saying goes, the one who understands you best is always your enemy!"

"Please rest assured. I dare guarantee that no one understands the Sharingan better than the Hyuga Clan!"

"Good!"

"Then I understand. I will make the arrangements. You may return."

"Yes. Thank you for the trouble, Third Hokage."

Hiashi spoke politely before turning and leaving!

He had not been boasting. The Hyuga Clan had always studied their old rivals, the Uchiha Clan!

For no other reason than that they were both dojutsu clans, yet the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan could evolve!

The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could not. The reason they had always researched the Sharingan—

was to find a path for the Byakugan's evolution!

Their understanding of the Sharingan was truly far from shallow!

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the day the classes were assigned. At the Ninja Academy, Iruka held the roster and announced the teams!

"Team 1..."

"Team 2..."

"Team 6..."

"Team 7: Second Pillar, Haruno Sakura, and Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Team 8: Hyuga Hinata, Kiba Inuzuka, and Aburame Shino!"

"Team 9..."

"Team 10: Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Yamanaka Ino!"

"That concludes this round of team assignments!"

"Iruka-sensei, Sakura is one thing, but I'm so outstanding! Why do I have to be in the same team as this guy?"

Before Iruka could offer any further instructions, Naruto began shouting at the top of his lungs!

Uh...

Naruto's words left Iruka with a face full of black lines. What gave you the illusion that you were outstanding?

"The teams were arranged to balance their overall strength. Sasuke ranks first in regular grades, Sakura ranks first in theory, while Naruto, you rank dead last in every area!"

What Iruka meant was that Naruto was the one dragging Team 7 down.

Yet Naruto completely failed to catch that. As for the guy who had stolen his first kiss that very morning—

and caused all the girls to beat him senseless, his love rival—Naruto was utterly displeased!

"I don't care! I don't want to be on the same team as him! Iruka-sensei, switch me!"

"Idiot!"

Sasuke looked utterly disdainful and turned away, unwilling to look at that fool.

"Naruto, the team roster has already been finalized. It cannot be changed!"

"Besides, these are the assignments personally decided by Lord Third Hokage. That is enough from you!"

Iruka flew into a rage and launched into a torrent of spit-filled scolding. Naruto shrank into a ball like a quail, thoroughly frightened!

Watching Naruto tremble and finally fall silent, Iruka muttered inwardly.

Lord Hokage was right. With Naruto around, this team is going to be truly troublesome!

But... is it really all right to let that person lead this team?

If Naruto causes too much trouble and angers him, won't something really happen?

Iruka was deeply worried. That person had only returned two days ago and had already caused such a huge incident!

He did not know why the Hokage had made such a decision, nor could he change it!

"Team 7, come outside with me!"

"The rest of you, stay in the classroom. Your squad leaders will be here shortly!"

Still uneasy, Iruka decided to give the three of them some instructions, especially Naruto...

"Iruka-sensei, did you call us out here because you have some ninjutsu to teach us?"

The moment they got outside, Naruto saw Iruka looking as though he wanted to speak but hesitated, and he could not help asking.

"No!"

"You three, listen carefully!"

"Absolutely, absolutely do not anger your squad leader, or the consequences will be severe!"

"Especially you... Naruto. Once you anger him, even Lord Hokage will not be able to stop whatever he wants to do!"

Iruka's expression was extremely solemn and earnest. Sasuke and Sakura both tensed up. Anyone Iruka-sensei warned them about so seriously was definitely not easy to get along with!

No other teams had received this warning. Their squad leader clearly seemed special!

"Iruka-sensei, are you joking? Even Grandpa Third can't stop him?"

"Grandpa Third is the Hokage, the strongest person in Konoha! What could possibly be beyond him?"

"Naruto, I'm not joking!"

"Just remember this: do not provoke him!"

"Keep that temper of yours under control, Naruto. Stop fooling around!"

"All right, hurry back!"

"They should already be there!"

Iruka turned and left after saying that, leaving the three children to return to the classroom with varying expressions!

Meanwhile, in the teachers' office, the squad leaders for this year had gathered!

"Kakashi, that person hasn't arrived yet, so we're leaving first. You... take care of yourself."

Asuma lightly patted Kakashi on the shoulder, then headed for the classroom with Kurenai Yuhi!

Inside the classroom, Tenka looked at the noisy crowd below, and irritation rose within him!

His killing intent leaked out uncontrollably, and the classroom instantly fell silent!

Every student looked at Tenka on the platform, trembling in terror!

"Team 7, come with me!"

Cold and utterly emotionless... was this person really a teacher?