The Story Begins

"My lord, the Shinobi World has undergone enormous changes. Will Orochimaru still launch the Konoha Crush Plan?"

"He will. Even if he doesn't come, I'll find a way to make him come."

The ocean's mutation had caused drastic climate changes, which in turn led to resource shortages. Human society was like a powder keg, needing only a fuse...

Orochimaru was well suited for that role. Of course, if he truly did not want to get involved in conflict, then Ōnoki would have to make a move instead.

Ōnoki had obtained the Box of Bliss, and his ambitions had gradually swelled to an unimaginable degree. Believing he had completely mastered the Box of Bliss, he harbored grand ambitions of unifying the world.

The Demon felt that it was time to harvest this world...

A year later, at the Ninja Academy.

"Everyone, the graduation exam will now begin. This time, the test is the Clone Technique."

Hearing the teacher's words, Naruto Uzumaki cupped his face in both hands, his brows slightly furrowed as he wondered about something.

The strangely familiar scene before him gave Sasuke a peculiar feeling. The gears of fate have begun to turn.

Neji had specifically taken leave and stood in the classroom corridor. He looked up at the Crows flying past the window, a trace of mockery flashing across his face. "So-called fate... Father, if my destiny has long been decided, then at this very moment, am I a bird that has escaped its cage, or a fool who has entered an even larger cage?"

The Clone Technique posed no difficulty whatsoever for Sasuke. Before long, he graduated successfully with a ninja headband in hand.

Neji smiled and congratulated Sasuke.

"Thanks. Why are you here?"

"Didn't some brat do the same thing last year?"

"Shut up!"

"Come on, let's celebrate at your place. I'll cook myself. You're in for a treat."

"Keep that blessing for yourself." Though Sasuke spoke with disdain, he followed every step of Neji's way.

Neither of them mentioned what had happened at the Ninja Academy. They instinctively ignored Naruto Uzumaki's existence; the less attention they paid to the protagonist, the less they would be affected by the protagonist's halo.

In any case, by the day of team assignments, Naruto Uzumaki was already sitting in the classroom with his headband on, looking full of himself.

Sasuke deliberately arrived late, since he needed to avoid a certain "iconic scene."

"Don't worry, Hokage won't be able to kiss you..."

Before Black Shadow could finish, Sasuke cut him off. "Shut up! Don't mention his name to me."

Sasuke rarely showed such emotional agitation. It was as though he had recalled the Byakugan boy outside the school gates earlier, wearing an absurdly delighted grin.

The manga's plot was simply too sick-minded. Yet someone always "inadvertently" brought it up. He really had chosen his friends poorly!

Iruka stood at the front and began assigning teams. As expected, Ino-Shika-Cho were placed together. It was an unspoken rule, and their Jonin instructor was Sarutobi Asuma.

Hinata, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame were placed in a group, with Asuma's fiancée, Kurenai Yuhi, as their Jonin instructor.

The children from shinobi clans had all been arranged quite clearly.

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

As Iruka's words fell, Sakura Haruno visibly brightened, while Hokage and Sasuke frowned at the same time.

Hokage slapped the desk and pointed at Sasuke. "Why do I have to be put on the same team as this guy?"

"Because Sasuke has the best grades among this year's Ninja Academy graduates, while Hokage, you came in last. This arrangement is meant to..."

Iruka had only gotten halfway through his explanation to Hokage when Sasuke interrupted him. "Teacher, since Hokage has an issue with me, and I also don't particularly want to be on a team with him, please seriously consider rearranging the assignments."

Sasuke had never wanted any involvement with Hokage in the first place. Since Hokage had conveniently offered him a way out, he naturally seized the opportunity and went along with it.

Iruka was utterly confused. Though he was a teacher, the graduation team assignments were decided by those above him. What right did he have to comment on them?

Hokage possessed a certain clear-eyed stupidity, but that did not mean he could not hear Sasuke's disdain. Though his instinctive sixth sense had already made him resistant to Sasuke, hearing Sasuke say it so bluntly immediately set him off.

"You bastard, you're awful!" Hokage shouted without regard for the setting.

Sasuke had no desire to get tangled up with Hokage. "You were the one who said first that you didn't want to be on a team with me. In that case, is there anything wrong with my suggestion?"

After saying that, Sasuke ignored Hokage and turned to Iruka.

"Sasuke..." Iruka was somewhat displeased. He had not expected the usually obedient and quiet top student to cause him trouble now.

Iruka felt that Hokage had merely been trying to draw attention, just as he did with his usual pranks. Iruka himself had done the same in his student days—deliberately acting like a clown and desperately craving attention—so he could empathize with Hokage. He had assumed Sasuke would not hold it against Hokage.

Unfortunately, Sasuke and Iruka were not on the same wavelength.

Perhaps from Iruka's perspective, Hokage was pitiful, and all his actions carried a childishly awkward sort of charm. But why should Sasuke force himself to endure all of it?

Who said Sasuke wasn't still a child too?

Hokage was a pitiful child, but wasn't Sasuke one as well?

The root cause of Hokage's miserable childhood lay with Minato Namikaze and Konoha's higher-ups. Hokage disrupted order to gain attention, so why did Iruka take it for granted that Sasuke should accommodate him?

Because Hokage's background was pitiful, everyone else was supposed to give in to him?

—Sasuke knew his current thoughts were somewhat extreme. However, when it came to Hokage, this extreme mindset was the most suitable one. It could effectively prevent him from being "moved" without realizing it.

Iruka said he would report the matter of reassignment to Hokage, and the issue was temporarily left unresolved.

After leaving the school, Sasuke ran into Neji again. "Have you been this idle ever since graduating?"

Neji smiled warmly. "The economy is bad, and the number of mission commissions in the village has plummeted. Many shinobi are practically half-unemployed. Besides, I really wanted to see that kiss of the century. What a pity..."

Sasuke fell silent and refused to converse with Neji.

On the day the Jonin instructors came to collect their teammates, Team 7 was still Team 7, just as expected.

The atmosphere was indescribably awkward. Sasuke remained expressionless, while Sakura, unusually, did not put on her fake, coquettish sweet-lady act. With a cold face, she did not sit anywhere near Hokage or Sasuke, instead taking a seat far away beside Ino.

"Sakura, why are you so unhappy?" Ino asked quietly.

Sakura: "..."

Ino said, "Did you argue with Hokage?"

Sakura said, "No!"

Ino said, "Oh, then why were you arguing?"

Sakura: Are you an idiot?

Hokage sat restlessly in his seat, occasionally sneaking glances at Sakura. Sakura had no desire to pay him any attention and seemed utterly fed up with him.