The fifth-grade classroom buzzed with anticipation the morning after graduation. Hanekawa sat at his desk, watching the nervous energy ripple through the room. Team assignments were coming, and everyone knew it.

  "It has to be Rin!" Obito Uchiha clasped his hands together in desperate prayer, his dark eyes squeezed shut.

  Hanekawa didn't bother looking up from his book. Oh, buddy. I hate to break it to you, but the universe doesn't work that way. Also, spoiler alert—

  "Good morning, everyone."

  Shisui Uchiha walked through the door with an easy smile, and the room's energy shifted. Whispers erupted immediately.

  "Shisui?" Asuma Sarutobi straightened. "Wait—are you joining our class?"

  "Seems like it." Shisui nodded, taking a seat. "Though I'm not sure who else is assigned yet."

  "Doesn't matter," Asuma said with satisfaction. "We're all together again."

  Yeah, about that, Hanekawa thought, turning a page. Pretty sure that's not how this works.

  Ten minutes later, their homeroom teacher Eiichiro entered. The classroom fell silent immediately.

  "Congratulations on your graduation," Eiichiro said, his expression serious. "But the world outside these walls is nothing like school. Danger lurks everywhere. Stay cautious in everything you do."

  He'd seen too many graduates die. The survival rate during wartime was brutal—less than fifty percent if you were lucky. The weight of that knowledge showed in his eyes.

  "Team assignments are now being announced," he continued, his tone softening slightly. "Hanekawa."

  Kurenai, Obito, and several others tensed visibly.

  "Yuhi Kurenai."

  "Yes!" Kurenai jumped to her feet, her ruby eyes bright with excitement.

  Asuma's expression darkened. So it's happening, he thought bitterly. Just like Hanekawa predicted.

  "Nohara Rin."

  Rin blinked, processing the announcement. Her gaze drifted to Hanekawa, and a small smile appeared. I'm on his team?

  "The above three comprise Team One," Eiichiro finished.

  "No!" Obito shot up like he'd been electrocuted, his voice cracking. "Why Rin?!"

  The classroom went cold. A dark aura spread from Obito like spilled ink, and his eyes shifted—black magatama spinning into place against crimson red.

  Oh, there it is, Hanekawa thought calmly. The Sharingan activation. Right on schedule.

  "Obito!" Rin rushed over, grabbing his arm. "Obito, calm down!"

  "I'm... I'm fine," Obito managed, staring at his own hands like they belonged to a stranger. The power thrumming through his veins was intoxicating. Strength. Real strength.

  "Your eyes!" Guy pointed, his voice full of wonder. "Obito, you opened your Sharingan!"

  Obito's shock transformed into manic laughter. "I did it! I finally did it! I opened my eyes!"

  Shisui watched with mild confusion. He'd seen plenty of Sharingan awakenings in his clan, but usually they happened during trauma or combat—not during classroom disappointment. Interesting.

  Kakashi and Asuma exchanged glances but said nothing. They'd both seen Shisui's Sharingan plenty of times. Obito was just catching up.

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  Hanekawa remained perfectly still, already calculating the implications. So the power of romantic desperation is real. Good to know.

  "Quiet!" Eiichiro coughed sharply. "Team Two: Uchiha Shisui, Sarutobi Asuma, and Shizune."

  "Senior Asuma, I look forward to working with you," Shisui said smoothly, giving Shizune a respectful nod from across the room.

  "No problem," Asuma replied, satisfied with the arrangement.

  Shizune looked pleasantly surprised. Two powerful teammates? That was more than she'd dared hope for.

  "Team Three," Eiichiro continued. "Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, and Might Guy."

  Guy leaped up instantly. "Kakashi! This is the bond of our youth!"

  Kakashi's eye visibly twitched. No. Please, no.

  Obito's brief joy evaporated. Not only had he failed to get on Rin's team, but he had to watch her become teammates with Hanekawa. And now he was stuck with Guy's endless enthusiasm and Kakashi's cold competence. This is a nightmare.

  The door opened, and a young man with distinctive blonde hair stepped through.

  "Team Three's teacher is Minato Namikaze," Eiichiro announced.

  Rin's eyes widened. "That's Lord Minato! He's one of the most talented ninja of our generation!"

  Obito's mood lifted slightly. At least his teacher was impressive. Maybe he could still prove himself. With my Sharingan, I can catch up to Hanekawa. I have to.

  Kakashi stood without comment. "Let's go."

  "See you tomorrow, Kakashi, Obito," Rin called out, waving.

  After they left, Hatake Sakumo entered—the famous White Fang of Konoha. Asuma practically glowed with pride at being assigned to him.

  Finally, only Hanekawa, Rin, and Kurenai remained.

  "So..." Kurenai ventured carefully. "Is our teacher really Lady Tsunade?"

  "Yeah," Hanekawa sighed. "She's probably still asleep, though."

  Rin's expression faltered. Tsunade? My idol? Late to the first meeting?

  Kurenai, accustomed to Hanekawa's complaints about Tsunade, simply nodded knowingly.

  Thirty minutes later, the door burst open.

  "Hello, you three!" Tsunade strode in with characteristic carelessness, her blonde hair catching the light. "I'm Tsunade, your team leader."

  "You're late, Teacher," Hanekawa said flatly.

  "Don't talk back, kid." Tsunade flicked his forehead with enough force to make him wince. "Come on, follow me."

  She walked out without waiting for a response.

  Great. My teacher is a gambling addict with no sense of punctuality, Hanekawa thought, rubbing his forehead as he followed. This should be fun.

  They ended up on the school rooftop, overlooking the village. Tsunade turned to face them, the wind catching her hair.

  "Introduce yourselves," she said. "Tell me what ninjutsu you know."

  "Didn't you read our files?" Hanekawa asked, unable to help himself.

  "Kid!" Tsunade's hand moved faster than sight, flicking his forehead again. "You talk too much!"

  Rin and Kurenai exchanged uncertain glances.

  "Kurenai, you go first," Tsunade said, pointing casually.

  "I'm Yuhi Kurenai," she announced, standing straight. "I specialize in genjutsu and Water Style ninjutsu. I've mastered Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu."

  Tsunade nodded approvingly. "Good. Not quite at Hanekawa's level, but solid work. Especially the water techniques—they're rare in the village."

  Rin went next, her voice hesitant. "I'm Nohara Rin. I... haven't learned much beyond the Academy Three. Mostly just basic healing techniques." She glanced at Hanekawa, silently crediting him.

  "Medical ninjutsu is always difficult," Tsunade said with a slight smile. "The fact that you've already mastered healing techniques puts you ahead of most."

  Rin relaxed visibly.

  "Your turn, kid," Tsunade said, looking at Hanekawa.

  "Do I have to?" he asked. "You already know what I can do."

  "Your teammates don't," Tsunade replied firmly. "You'll be fighting together for a long time. They need to know your capabilities."

  Hanekawa shrugged and began listing his skills. Fire Style, Lightning Style, Medical Ninjutsu, Swordsmanship, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, Physical Techniques—over forty jutsu in total, each one mastered to a degree that seemed impossible for a six-year-old.

  Rin's jaw dropped. Kurenai's eyes went wide. Even Tsunade, who'd seen his training, looked mildly impressed.

  "Well," Tsunade said finally, "that's... comprehensive. Meet at my place tomorrow morning. We'll take on some missions."

  "Yes, Teacher," Rin and Kurenai said in unison.

  "Dismissed," Tsunade said, then grabbed Hanekawa's arm. "You're coming with me to the Hokage building. We need to pick out some missions."

  As they walked, Hanekawa asked, "Aren't you going to test our strength first? Don't most teachers do that?"

  "With your abilities?" Tsunade shook her head. "You can skip the preliminaries. Besides, I have better things to do than play bell-stealing games."

  Fair enough, Hanekawa thought. I'll take the shortcut.