The Ninja Academy Was Full of Talent

"Yi, I want to challenge you again today." Minato Namikaze turned to Uchiha Yi, his gaze earnest.

To Minato, Uchiha Yi was both a friend who understood him and a rival.

He knew there was a huge gap between them, but every time he trained against Yi, he discovered his own weaknesses and picked up a few tricks from him.

For Minato, who came from an ordinary family, that was a rare opportunity.

Sometimes Yi even offered him advice, and Minato learned a great deal from it.

So Minato had come straight over to book another match with him.

"Sure! But you'll have to wait a little." Yi didn't refuse.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was bound to take notice of Minato. Sarutobi Seiichiro had probably already reported him to Hiruzen.

If it weren't to find promising talent, why would a Jonin like Sarutobi Seiichiro come to the Ninja Academy to teach the elite class?

Hiruzen Sarutobi might be a schemer who suppressed the children of many clans to one degree or another, but during his time as Hokage, he treated ninja from ordinary families well.

Sarutobi Seiichiro led Yi and the others to the training grounds. Their year wasn't the only one there; the two years above them had come too.

Yi quickly found Uchiha Mikoto's class. Under their teacher's direction, they had already begun combat training.

The weaker students went first, though. Yi felt that even Minato might be able to beat them.

Then Yi spotted the students in the year above Mikoto's. The Ninja Academy currently ran a four-year program, so they were this year's graduating class. Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga, the Hyuga Clan Leader's two sons, were in that class.

So was Hiruzen Sarutobi's eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke.

It was the strongest class in the school.

Of course, the third-year class that Mikoto belonged to was formidable too. It had Nawaki, Mikoto, and this generation's Ino-Shika-Cho: Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka.

The second year had fewer standouts by comparison, but it still had Shibi Aburame, who would one day become a pillar of Konoha.

The Uchiha Clan's future leader, Uchiha Fugaku, had graduated from the Ninja Academy just last year.

"All right, stop looking around. Our class's combat training is about to begin, so give it your best. Don't embarrass yourselves in front of all these people." Sarutobi Seiichiro brought his students to their assigned field and warned them earnestly, "Students from the other first-year classes may challenge us later. Whatever you do, don't lose to them."

Yi was in Class One, the so-called elite class.

In an event like this, they qualified for a field of their own. The other first-year classes could only challenge them if they wanted to attract attention.

"Yes!"

"Good. The first sparring pair is Shimura Xiangyang and Nara Shikagawa."

At Sarutobi Seiichiro's announcement, the two students stepped onto the field. After making the Seal of Confrontation, they began fighting at his signal.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the Ninja Academy with Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya.

Given their abilities, the students had no chance of noticing them if they didn't want their presence known.

"Hey, old man, that's your son, isn't it? He looks just like you!" Jiraiya teased, pointing at Sarutobi Shinnosuke, who had stepped onto a training field.

Hiruzen shot Jiraiya an exasperated look. The nerve of him, calling his teacher an old man.

He wasn't even forty yet. How did that make him an old man?

Still, when he looked at Sarutobi Shinnosuke, his eyes filled with approval.

Shinnosuke might not be quite as gifted as Orochimaru, but he was more talented than most. He had also inherited Hiruzen's Five Natures Chakra. Once he learned Hiruzen's Five Nature Transformations, he would become a pillar of Konoha.

My bloodline really is strong.

His gaze shifted to the brothers, Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga. According to Shinnosuke, both were powerful, no weaker than he was.

They certainly lived up to the Hyuga Clan's reputation. It was just a pity that the clan clung so tightly to its old ways. Even as Hokage, Hiruzen found it hard to interfere in its affairs.

Between the Caged Bird Seal and the division between the Main Family and its branches, there was little Hiruzen could do. Whenever he needed access to the Byakugan's power, he had to negotiate with the Main Family. At least the seal meant he didn't have to worry about another village acquiring the Byakugan.

The thought that other villages might have obtained the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu left Hiruzen heartsick.

Heaven knew he truly hadn't wanted to see the Uzumaki Clan wiped out!

If the entire Uzumaki Clan had moved to Konoha, he couldn't imagine how powerful the village would have become.

"Orochimaru, how is your search for Nawaki's teammates going?" Tsunade smiled when she spotted Nawaki in the distance.

Her little brother got along well with others.

Unfortunately, she couldn't arrange for this generation's Ino-Shika-Cho to be Nawaki's teammates. If she could, she wouldn't have to worry about his safety.

"Still looking." Orochimaru folded his arms and shook his head slightly. He had no objection to Tsunade entrusting Nawaki's training to him. In fact, he was quite fond of the boy.

Nawaki had considerable talent for both Earth Release and Water Release.

That was why Orochimaru had to choose his teammates with care.

"What about choosing an Uchiha?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Orochimaru without warning.

"An Uchiha?" Orochimaru frowned. Nawaki might not bear the Senju name, but Senju blood ran through his veins. Add an Uchiha to his team, and things would get interesting.

Hiruzen's gaze settled on Uchiha Mikoto in the distance. "Since Kagami's death, the Uchiha Clan has fallen into considerable turmoil. We need to help the faction close to Konoha grow stronger as soon as possible. Uchiha Mikoto is the Second Elder's granddaughter and a leading figure among the younger generation of the peace faction. Taking her as a student would benefit both Konoha and the Uchiha Clan."

Then Hiruzen added, "And there's Yi. I hope one of you will take him as a student. His talent is no less than Kagami's, and he, too, has inherited the Will of Fire. He needs someone to watch over him."