Graduation and Team Assignments: A Four-Person Team 7

The air in the office froze.

"What do you know?" the Third Hokage finally asked.

"Everything I should know." Zuo Hao stood in the middle of the office, hands in his pockets, looking far too calm for a twelve-year-old. "And a little of what I shouldn't."

Kakashi's brow furrowed.

The Third Hokage closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When the Third Hokage gave no response, Zuo Hao waved a hand. "I'm leaving, old man."

The next day.

At Konoha Academy, it was time for team assignments.

The classroom buzzed with chatter. The newly graduated Genin gathered in little groups to discuss their assignments, their faces bright with excitement and nerves.

Zuo Hao sat alone by the window in the back row, one foot braced against the edge of his chair and an arm resting on his knee as he looked out at the training ground.

Quite a few girls kept sneaking glances his way.

Sahiro Uchiha. First place in the Graduation Exam. Sasuke Uchiha's twin brother.

He looked almost identical to Sasuke, but their demeanors could not have been more different.

Sasuke was cold, like ice that had never thawed, as if he wanted to shut out the entire world.

Zuo Hao had an easygoing air that was harder to pin down. He seemed to care about nothing, yet somehow seemed to have everything under control.

Not far away, Ino Yamanaka had turned to talk to Sakura Haruno, but her mind was clearly elsewhere.

Every so often, her gaze drifted past Sakura's shoulder to the figure by the back-row window.

"Ino! Are you even listening to me?" Sakura planted her hands on her hips. "I asked who you think you'll be teamed up with!"

"Huh? Oh..." Ino absently smoothed her hair. "I—I hope I'm on a good team with Sa... uh, with everyone."

Sakura narrowed her eyes and leaned closer. "You're not thinking about Sasuke again, are you?"

"No!" Ino's face flushed, but her eyes instinctively went not to Sasuke, but to Zuo Hao.

At the front of the room, Iruka clapped his hands. The classroom fell silent at once.

"All right. I'll announce the team assignments now."

Iruka's voice carried through the classroom. Everyone held their breath.

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

Ino blinked, then turned toward Shikamaru and Choji.

Shikamaru was sprawled over his desk, yawning and muttering, "What a drag." Choji looked up from his bag of chips and gave her a sheepish smile.

Ino managed a smile back, but it did not last long.

She looked toward the back row again.

Zuo Hao.

She wanted to be on Zuo Hao's team.

But Team 10 had been announced, and his name was not on it.

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

Akamaru barked from atop Kiba's head. Hinata twisted her hands together, while Shino adjusted his sunglasses as insects rustled softly inside his sleeves.

"Team 7—"

Iruka paused. He glanced at the list, and his expression turned peculiar.

"Team 7," he said after a deep breath. "Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sahiro Uchiha... four members."

The classroom went quiet for a second. Then it erupted.

"Four?!"

"Aren't teams supposed to have three people? Why does Team 7 get four?!"

"Naruto? Isn't Naruto dead last? How did he end up with two Uchiha?"

"How is that fair? What's the point of Team 7 having four?"

With a sharp smack, Ino shot to her feet.

Brows drawn tight, she stared straight at Iruka. "Iruka-sensei! That's not fair! Why does Team 7 get four people?"

The classroom fell silent again. Every eye turned toward her.

Iruka wore his usual gentle expression. "Ino, that's the academy's decision."

Ino made no move to sit down. Her fingers tightened around the edge of her desk. "Everyone knows teams have always had three members. That's been the rule since the academy was founded. Now there's suddenly a team of four, and we don't even get a reasonable explanation?"

"What's wrong, Ino? Do you have a problem with the four of us on Team 7?"

The voice was unhurried, but it carried a natural pressure.

It was Zuo Hao.

At some point, he had come over to Ino's desk. He stopped beside her and lowered his head slightly, meeting her eyes without looking away.

"Hmm? Why'd you go quiet?"

Ino's heart seemed to stop for a beat, then raced.

Zuo Hao's face was too close.

Thump, thump, thump!

Was this what falling for someone felt like?

Color rushed into Ino's cheeks, spreading visibly from her ears down to her neck.

Close.

Too close.

"I, I..." Ino's voice dwindled until she simply lowered her head.

In the next seat, Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "What a drag. She really does have a crush on him."

Choji looked up from his chips and added with innocent bluntness, "Ino, your face is really red."

"Shut up!!!" Ino whipped around. "I don't have a problem with Team 7. I just think... rules are rules."

Zuo Hao raised an eyebrow, still smiling. "Rules? Then what do you think they should do? Kick me off Team 7?"

"Of course not!" The words flew out of Ino's mouth. Only then did she realize how strongly she had reacted. She bit her lower lip and turned away in frustration.

While the classroom hummed with discussion, the door swung open.

Several adult ninjas filed in.

Leading them was a tall man with a cigarette in his mouth and a beard covering much of his face: Asuma Sarutobi, Team 10's Jōnin instructor.

Behind him came a female ninja with red eyes and curly black hair. It was Kurenai Yuhi, Team 8's Jōnin instructor.

"Everyone here?" Asuma exhaled a plume of smoke and swept his gaze over the room before looking at Iruka. "Are we early?"

"Right on time." Iruka smiled and raised the list in his hand. "Team 10: Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi. Your Jōnin instructor is Asuma."

Asuma lifted the hand holding his cigarette and beckoned to the three of them. "Come on, Team 10."

"Team 8," Iruka continued. "Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga. Your Jōnin instructor is Kurenai Yuhi."

Kurenai's eyes curved with a gentle smile. Her voice was soft but clear. "Team 8, come on out."

Everyone who remained turned toward Iruka.

Team 7 had not been collected yet.

Naruto could not hold back. "Iruka-sensei! Where's our Jōnin instructor? Why isn't he here yet?"

Iruka's expression grew a little awkward.

He glanced at the list, then at the door. "Your Jōnin instructor... should still be on his way."

"Still on his way?!" Naruto jumped up. "The other teams' instructors are all here! Why is ours still on his way? Does he think Team 7 isn't worth his time?!"

Sasuke leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed.

Sakura showed no sign of irritation. Her thoughts were entirely on Sasuke and Zuo Hao as she secretly compared the brothers out of the corner of her eye.

Only Zuo Hao smiled.

He knew who their Jōnin instructor was.

Kakashi Hatake.

Konoha's top technician, the Copy Ninja, a Sharingan wielder who was not an Uchiha.

And a man notorious throughout Konoha for being late.

Zuo Hao leaned against the window frame. The corners of his mouth lifted, and amusement flickered in his eyes.

Kakashi.

He had wanted to meet him for a long time.

Five years ago, the Third Hokage had sent that laid-back man to keep watch over him and Sasuke.

Kakashi himself had never done anything excessive to them. But after that night, every act of surveillance disguised as "protection" had left Zuo Hao with no goodwill toward Konoha High Command.

And now that man was going to be his Jōnin instructor.

Interesting.

"Zuo Hao, what are you smiling about?" Sakura asked from beside him, curiosity and caution in her voice.

Zuo Hao turned to her, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the weather. "Nothing. I just think... Team 7 is going to be interesting."