"Tch!" Naruto sat back down, looking thoroughly annoyed. Being Sasuke's teammate was practically worse than death.
After all, Sasuke was the biggest obstacle standing between him and Sakura!
Lei Dou, meanwhile, had fixed his interested gaze on the pink-haired Sakura.
According to the script, Sakura Haruno's name should have been next. Honestly, although she was a bit boy-crazy early on, she still had potential.
Just then, Sakura seemed to sense his gaze. She suddenly turned and met his eyes.
The instant their eyes met, Sakura visibly froze, a blush rising to her cheeks. Why is Lei Dou looking at me?
Could it be... could it be that he doesn't like that pig Ino anymore and has finally noticed my charms?
"Shimozuki Raito!"
Iruka's voice struck like a thunderclap, shattering everyone's expectations.
Lei Dou froze, then abruptly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Iruka-sensei, did you read that wrong?"
Iruka took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to throw a piece of chalk at him. "I didn't! And I wasn't asking you a question! You're the final member of Team 7!"
For a moment, Lei Dou's brain seemed to crash, leaving his mind completely blank.
I actually replaced Sakura and formed a new Team 7 with Naruto and Sasuke?
Then where's Sakura going? This plot has gone seriously off the rails!
"Team 8: Shino Aburame, Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga!"
"Team 9: Sakura Haruno, Ryoshu Inoue, Jin Watanabe!"
"Team 10: Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi!"
Ino slumped over her desk, looking utterly despondent. "Aww... what a shame. I didn't get to be on Lei Dou's team. I could cry."
Lei Dou had no time to pay attention to Ino's muttering. He was staring at Sakura in shock.
Did this little butterfly flap his wings so hard that he knocked Sakura right out of the main cast?
What kind of grand scheme is that old Third cooking up?
"A special note about Team 9!"
Iruka suddenly tapped the blackboard, his expression serious.
Sakura and her two teammates hurriedly sat up straight.
"Team 9 has a special role. Outside of regular missions, you'll be stationed at Konoha Hospital to assist with its work!"
"Your elite jonin is an experienced medical ninja, so prepare to spend most of your time at the hospital!"
Before Sakura and the others could process that, Lei Dou was already celebrating inwardly.
What a brilliant move!
I've indirectly saved Sakura years of taking the long way around!
Going straight into the hospital for systematic training was an opportunity countless people could only dream of.
With Sakura's limited combat talent, even learning Monster Strength later would only make her a hard-hitting healer. She might as well specialize in medical ninjutsu from the start. Perhaps she would achieve even more that way.
After the team assignments ended, wave after wave of students left the classroom, happily following their teachers.
In the end, only Lei Dou, Sasuke, and Naruto remained in the empty classroom, staring at one another.
Naruto scooted over beside Lei Dou and slumped across the desk, complaining, "Did our teacher fall asleep on the toilet?"
"We haven't even seen a hint of him!"
Lei Dou calmly flipped through his book, a smile tugging at his lips. "What's the rush? Good things are worth waiting for. Be patient."
Being assigned to Team 7 meant he had officially made it onto the Third Hokage's priority watch list.
In that case!
I'll have to put on a proper show and leave a lasting impression on the higher-ups.
"Rest assured, Lord Third. I'll keep a close eye on these three problem children."
Inside the Hokage's office, Kakashi held three thin files, his dead-fish eyes betraying no emotion.
Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Konoha's greatest secret and a priority protection target. That went without saying.
Sasuke Uchiha, the orphaned heir of a prestigious clan, Itachi's younger brother, and a gifted avenger. No problems there, either.
Those two certainly needed a capable babysitter. Kakashi understood that.
But!
How did Shimozuki Raito, the subject of this last file, qualify for this star-studded lineup?
The file mentioned self-created swordsmanship. Kakashi curled his lip.
His father, the Konoha White Fang, had stood at the pinnacle of swordsmanship. Kakashi himself was an expert with a blade, though he rarely used one after his sword broke.
The Third blew out a smoke ring and studied Kakashi's nonchalant expression through the haze.
"Kakashi, don't let your guard down. What makes this boy special may exceed your imagination."
"Really?" Kakashi scratched his head. "Now you've got my interest. A kid who created his own style before even graduating? I'd like to see just how sharp his sword is."
The Third gave a meaningful smile. "Perhaps swordsmanship won't be the only thing that impresses you."
"All right, then. I'll go meet these little terrors."
Kakashi vanished with the Body Flicker Technique. How much of the Third's warning he had taken to heart was anyone's guess.
At the Ninja Academy, outside the classroom door.
Lei Dou rested his chin on one hand, watching Naruto carefully set up his "blackboard eraser trap" above the doorframe.
Although the prank was absurdly childish, it was a classic scene from the original story. Watching it for a laugh wasn't bad.
"Do you really think a jonin would fall for a kiddie trap like that? Try using your brain."
Sasuke folded his arms, his face full of contempt.
If a teacher couldn't even dodge a blackboard eraser, what right did he have to lead them?
"Sorry, everyone. I got a little lost on the road of life!"
Before Naruto could fire back, a hand pushed the door open.
Thud!
Chalk dust flew as the eraser landed squarely on that silver mop of hair.
Sasuke's mouth twitched uncontrollably at the sight. His entire worldview was on the verge of collapsing.
That idiotic trap actually worked?
And on a jonin renowned throughout the shinobi world?
Did this teacher buy his qualifications?
"Hmm... how should I put this? That's quite a distinctive welcoming gift."
Kakashi picked up the eraser and swept his dead-fish eyes over the three of them. "Anyway, my first impression of you... is terrible. Follow me to the rooftop."
Naruto smugly waggled his eyebrows at Sasuke, wearing an eminently punchable expression.
It was as though he was saying, See? You said he wouldn't fall for it, but what happened? You were wrong! Nyah, nyah!
Sasuke turned away with a dark expression. Having an idiot like this for a teammate practically lowered his IQ.
The rooftop was windy, sending the straps of their forehead protectors fluttering.
Lei Dou found a sheltered step and sat down, knowing full well that the "dream interview" was about to begin.
Kakashi leaned against the railing and drawled, "I'll be leading you for quite some time, so let's start with introductions."
"Your names, what you like, what you dislike, your dreams for the future, that sort of thing."
"I'm Shimozuki Raito. My hobbies are eating, drinking, having fun, and sleeping. My dream is to never have to work a day in my life!"
Kakashi had just been about to give an example when Lei Dou jumped in, speaking astonishingly fast.
Kakashi paused, then nodded. "Very good. Very honest. Your dream is the ultimate goal of every working person."
That was as good as saying nothing. Pure, empty waffle.
Seeing this, Naruto eagerly raised his hand, only for Sasuke to beat him to it.
"Sasuke Uchiha. Twelve years old. There's nothing I like, and plenty I hate. My dream... no, my ambition is to kill that man with my own hands!"
The air instantly froze. The young avenger's melodramatic intensity hit them head-on, and Lei Dou silently glanced at Sasuke.
This was the "revenge machine" produced by Uchiha Itachi's extreme approach to education.
"Hey! Sasuke, you bastard! You cut in line!"
Naruto was deeply annoyed at having his thunder stolen.
Kakashi rubbed his temples. This team wouldn't be easy to lead. Each one had more personality than the last.
"All right, blondie. Your turn."
Naruto immediately sat up straight, adjusted his forehead protector, and shouted, "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, twelve years old! My favorite thing is Ichiraku Ramen! My dream is to surpass every Hokage before me and make everyone in the village acknowledge me!"
Kakashi nodded. Just as the intel said: a typical hot-blooded idiot.
"Good. With that out of the way, let's get straight to business."
"Let's move somewhere else. There's not enough room here."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, hiding a devious smile beneath his mask.
Training Ground 7, on the outskirts of Konoha.
On the open grass, Kakashi took out two silver bells, setting them jingling.
The famous Bell Test was about to begin.
"Although you've received your forehead protectors, as far as I'm concerned, you're still only trainees."
"Only those who pass my test deserve to be called genin."
"Anyone who fails can pack up and go back to school!"
Kakashi shook the bells in his hand. Their clear chimes now sounded like a death knell.
"See these? There are two bells."
"Only those who can take one from me before noon get to eat."
"There are only two bells. I shouldn't have to explain what that means, should I?"
Kakashi deliberately left the implication hanging. He was exceptionally good at these psychological games.
He implied that only two could pass, deliberately creating internal competition, while actually testing their teamwork.
"If you have questions, ask now. Otherwise, we'll begin!"
The three remained silent, and Kakashi nodded in satisfaction. "All right. Let's start."
As he spoke, he took a copy of Icha Icha Paradise from his ninja tool pouch and began reading as though no one else were there.
Lei Dou gave that display of swagger full marks.
Naruto leaned over and whispered, "Lei Dou, there aren't enough bells for everyone. Let's strike first and keep that stuck-up Sasuke from beating us to them."
Quite the little scheme he's cooked up. Trying to knock the strongest one out first?
Sasuke shot them a cold glance, alarm bells ringing in his head. Lei Dou and Naruto were thick as thieves. If they teamed up, he would be sent back to school.
I won't let that happen!
Sasuke's gaze sharpened. Without wasting a word, he unleashed chakra through his feet and shot forward like a cheetah.
Even Kakashi looked slightly surprised by the sudden attack.
He had expected the boy to observe for a while first.
"He's fast!"
Naruto gasped. Although he had always known Sasuke was a genius, this was the first time he had truly felt the gulf between them.
In the blink of an eye, Sasuke was already upon Kakashi.
Bam!
Sasuke's taijutsu fundamentals were frighteningly solid. He drove a straight punch forward. Although Kakashi caught it firmly with one hand, the dull impact was clearly audible.
That level of taijutsu was absolutely top-tier among genin.
Over the next few seconds, Sasuke unleashed a storm of attacks, his power steady, his speed astonishing, each move flowing seamlessly into the next.
But to Kakashi, it was nothing more than child's play.
He didn't even close his book. Reading as he casually retreated, he neutralized every one of Sasuke's attacks with a single hand.
Spotting an opening, Kakashi struck like lightning and seized both of Sasuke's wrists.
Sasuke reacted instantly. Using the leverage to spring into the air, he kicked repeatedly at Kakashi's face while wrenching his hands free.
Kakashi had to tuck his dirty book back into his pocket. The kid had some skill.
Just as Kakashi grabbed Sasuke's ankle and prepared to throw him away, Sasuke slyly hooked his fingers toward the bells at his waist!
Kakashi's heart skipped a beat. This brat... he's got some long fingers!
He hurriedly tightened his grip and hurled Sasuke away like a sandbag.
A fraction closer, and the bells really would have changed hands.
Naruto watched, dumbfounded. "Whoa, he almost got them!"
He turned and found Lei Dou calmly watching the show with both hands in his pockets.
"Lei Dou, aren't you worried?"
Lei Dou smiled. "Why would I be?"
"What if Sasuke gets a bell?"
Lei Dou shook his head, his tone relaxed. "I think you should be worried about Kakashi-sensei."
As he spoke, the fight took a sudden turn.
Unable to win with taijutsu, Sasuke's face darkened. "Damn it! Then try this!"
His hands instantly blurred, forming hand seals at a dizzying speed.
A flicker of surprise crossed Kakashi's eyes. "That hand-seal speed... and these chakra fluctuations. Could it be Fire Release?"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
BOOM-!!