"All right, thank you."
Standing in the Ninja Academy's assembly hall, Shin'un thanked the ninja before him and accepted the forehead protector and ninja identification bearing his photo with both hands.
"Congratulations. You've become a Genin, an official ninja."
The ninja in front of him, who was responsible for handing out forehead protectors, congratulated Shin'un with a smile.
After thanking him once again, Shin'un put away his newly received forehead protector and ninja identification, then left the assembly hall through the other side.
Creak.
As soon as he pushed the door open and stepped outside, Shin'un saw the place packed with excited academy students who had just received their forehead protectors. One by one, they adjusted the forehead protectors in their hands and clumsily put them on their foreheads.
Shin'un had no interest in doing that. He would wait until he got home to figure out where to wear his forehead protector.
He was, however, somewhat interested in his ninja identification.
Taking the ninja identification he had put away out of the ninja tool pouch behind him, Shin'un began examining it closely.
"Hmm..."
"Name: Hirakawa Shin'un. Sex: male?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Ninja registration number: 06532."
After studying it carefully for quite a while, Shin'un found that, aside from his personal information, the only thing worth noting on the identification was his ninja registration number.
Shaking his head, Shin'un stopped looking at the identification and reached behind him to put it back in his ninja tool pouch.
"Shin'un!"
Kushina leaned close to Shin'un's ear and shouted, giving him quite a fright.
After calming his startled heart, Shin'un turned and asked:
"What?!"
The corners of Kushina's mouth curled up as she said with a smile:
"What?"
"I heard you turned down Shiina Kō's invitation to go on a date?"
Hearing Kushina's words, Shin'un looked at her in confusion.
"Why do you have to stick your nose into everything?"
"Besides, with how tense things are in the Shinobi World right now, isn't it perfectly normal for me to turn something like that down?"
With that, Shin'un looked toward Shiina Kō, who was watching them from a distance with a flushed face.
"Shiina Kō herself hasn't even reacted much. What are you coming over here for?"
Kushina promptly rolled her eyes at Shin'un's words.
"What's it to you?"
"Shiina Kō likes you so obviously that anyone could tell."
"I'm bored out of my mind every day. Can't I try to get you two together?"
"Just imagine, if you two actually became a couple, I'd feel such a sense of accomplishment!"
After saying that, Kushina looked Shin'un up and down.
"I don't even know what Kō-chan likes about you."
"You have an effeminate face, you're shorter than me, and you smell nicer than a girl like me every day with that floral scent. Put it all together, and you're practically sleazier than Chōza."
After hearing that, Shin'un couldn't take it anymore and immediately argued back.
"How many times have I explained this? I smell like flowers because my family runs a flower shop. Those scents are practically marinating me. You think I want this?"
"Boys usually develop later than girls. Is it so strange that I'm not as tall as you?"
"As for being effeminate..."
Shin'un thought for a long while but couldn't figure out how to refute that.
It was mainly because Kushina's standards of beauty were very strange.
She called Minato Namikaze, a sunny, caring, family-oriented guy, effeminate.
She called Uchiha Fugaku, a traditionally handsome, cold-faced Uchiha, effeminate.
Even Akimichi Chōza, with his broad build and fleshy, fierce-looking face, could be called effeminate by Kushina.
It was utterly ridiculous.
"Did you need anything else?"
Shin'un sighed, gradually gave up thinking about it, and simply started to leave.
"Hey, don't go."
Seeing that Shin'un was about to leave, Kushina hurried to stop him.
To show he was serious, Shin'un frowned and said:
"I really have to go. We're graduating today and starting missions tomorrow. I need to prepare."
Hearing that Shin'un had something serious to do, Kushina pursed her lips and gave up on her plan to keep him there for a date with Shiina Kō.
"Fine, I won't waste any more of your time."
"Don't worry. I'll give you a surprise at tomorrow's team assignments."
Kushina waggled her eyebrows, then turned and left.
Although Shin'un found it strange, he had no idea what Kushina was scheming, so he could only turn and leave.
Early the next morning.
Shin'un stood at the entrance to his family's flower shop, looking helplessly at the two people before him.
"Shin'un, make sure you stay safe!"
That was Shin'un's mother, wiping away tears as she looked at him, reluctant to part.
"I'm telling you, once you're out there, don't foolishly believe everything other people tell you."
"Don't get hotheaded and charge to the front."
"If things look bad, quietly fall back behind everyone else."
"Only come out once you've confirmed it's safe."
Those were the instructions Shin'un's father whispered into his ear.
Hearing his parents' worried words warmed Shin'un's heart.
"Don't worry, Mom, Dad. I'll stay safe."
After saying that, Shin'un looked up at the sky. It was getting late, and if he delayed any longer, he might miss the gathering time at the village entrance.
"Mom, Dad, I'm off."
Glancing at his parents on either side, Shin'un turned and left.
Since time was tight, Shin'un jumped straight onto the rooftops and headed directly toward Konoha's main gate.
Before long, Konoha's enormous gate appeared before Shin'un.
His parents' instructions had delayed him a little.
By now, a large crowd had already gathered in the open area in front of the gate.
Some were ninja squads heading straight to the front lines in the Land of Rain.
Others were Genin like Shin'un, who had only graduated yesterday.
Since everything was kept simple during wartime, all the rookie Genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy would be divided into three-person teams here.
Their assigned team leaders would then take them directly out on missions.
Shin'un found his class and joined them.
After a short wait, Mizukawa Masaru approached from a distance with the team assignment roster in hand.
Without wasting any words, he took his place and immediately began reading out the assignments.
"Shikaku Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka will form Team 3."
"Minato Namikaze, Yamamoto Kōsuke, and Edogawa Konan will form Team 6."
"Hirakawa Shin'un, Shiina Kō, and Uchiha Yūichi will form Team 7."
"..."
Soon, Mizukawa Masaru had divided everyone in the class into three-person teams.
Putting away the roster in his hand, Mizukawa Masaru looked at the children before him, who weren't even half his height.
"In a little while, each team's leader will come here and take you directly out on missions."
"Everyone, please treasure your lives."
After giving those final instructions as their teacher, Mizukawa Masaru turned and left.
Watching Mizukawa Masaru's retreating figure, the previously fairly quiet group erupted into a hubbub.
Those assigned teammates they liked cheered, gathering in groups of three to celebrate.
Those who weren't satisfied with their teammates were somewhat disappointed, but they still gathered to get acquainted.
Shin'un was different.
The moment he heard that his teammates were Shiina Kō and Uchiha Yūichi, Shin'un sensed something was wrong.
How could it be such a coincidence?
Of the dozens of people in the class, Shiina Kō was one of the only teammates Shin'un didn't want.
Remembering what Kushina had said when they parted yesterday, Shin'un immediately raised his eyebrows.
Turning toward Kushina at the back of the group, he saw her looking at him with a smile.
"Sure enough, she's the one behind this."