Chapter 19: Unexpected Team Assignments—Yagyu's Importance

Just as Shikamaru Nara had analyzed, Yagyu had also thought about who his teammates might be. He used a process of elimination.

Excluding himself, the most important students in the class were the "Konoha 9," the nine strongest students.

Among them, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji were guaranteed to be placed together. As Shikamaru had mentioned, their fathers were too famous—the entire ninja world knew about the Ino-Shika-Cho combination.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, would never miss the chance to cultivate the next generation of Ino-Shika-Cho. This was evident by how he had assigned his own son, Asuma Sarutobi, to guide the new Ino-Shika-Cho.

After ruling them out, Yagyu considered the remaining six of the Konoha 9: Naruto, Sasuke, Kiba, Shino, Hinata, and Sakura. Naruto and Sasuke were special cases, and it was clear that Sarutobi wouldn't separate them.

That left Kiba, Shino, Hinata, and Sakura. Among them, Hinata, Kiba, and Shino all came from prominent clans, and it made sense that they would be grouped together with a skilled jonin leader to satisfy their powerful parents.

Thus, Sakura was the most likely candidate to be Yagyu's teammate.

However, if Sakura was placed in Team 7 with Naruto and Sasuke, that would leave a vacancy. If Sarutobi decided to group Yagyu with Sakura, then someone ordinary would need to fill the third spot on Naruto and Sasuke's team.

Yagyu also considered the possibility that Sakura would still be placed in Team 7, and he might be teamed up with two average students—or even assigned to the Anbu.

No matter the outcome, Yagyu wasn't concerned.

Graduating meant the plot of the story was starting, and the new cycle of destiny between Ashura and Indra had begun. The destined battle between these reincarnations would plunge the ninja world into chaos.

No matter who his teammates were, Yagyu was confident that he would grow quickly.

As Yagyu and his friends chatted, more and more students began to arrive. Naruto's appearance surprised many, but no one mocked him.

Unfortunately, this meant the famous scene didn't happen.

Without a girl he liked, Naruto, though still irritated by Sasuke's cool demeanor, didn't jump in front of him like in the original story. So, there was no "legendary kiss" fueled by classmates.

Yagyu was a bit disappointed.

Once all the students had arrived, Iruka entered the classroom.

"Congratulations, from today, you are all officially genin."

Looking around the room, Iruka, who had been with these students for six years, wore an expression of deep pride. He suppressed his emotions, smiled, and said, "However, you still have much to learn. Until you can stand on your own as ninja, you'll be placed in teams of three under a jonin instructor who will teach you how to become true ninja."

"Now, let's begin the team assignments. For Class 1…"

One by one, Iruka called out names.

As students were called, they either looked excited or disappointed.

Soon enough, they reached Team 7.

"Team 7: Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke… Haruno Sakura."

As Iruka called the last name, Yagyu and his friends' expressions changed slightly.

Sakura, who had been smiling ever since the team assignments started, froze.

Shikamaru rubbed his chin, surprised. "Looks like I was wrong. Things are going to get interesting."

Yagyu was also surprised.

Could it be that he would really be grouped with two ordinary students?

Was the significance of being the top student so low?

Or was Sarutobi planning to recruit him into the Anbu?

Iruka's next words caused Yagyu's expression to shift again, while Hinata's face lit up with joy.

"Team 8: Yagyu, Aburame Shino… Hyuga Hinata."

"Team 9…"

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

"I can't believe it… I got so much wrong," Shikamaru muttered, rubbing his chin. His gaze fell on Kiba, who was playing with his dog Akamaru, seemingly unconcerned with who his teammates were. Shikamaru couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him. "Poor guy, he's been left out."

Excluding the Uchiha clan, which had been wiped out, there were six prominent ninja clans in the class.

As Shikamaru had predicted, the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho had not been split up. However, what seemed like a certain grouping—Kiba, Shino, and Hinata—ended up with only Shino and Hinata together.

Kiba didn't end up in a team with Sasuke either.

This meant that Kiba's team would be made up of ordinary students.

With only one clan heir in the team, it meant Kiba's jonin instructor probably wouldn't be a high-profile leader. Unless, of course, one of his clansmen personally requested to guide him.

In any case, it was clear that Kiba had been "left behind."

Even Yagyu hadn't expected to take Kiba's place.

Team 8 was essentially the strongest sensory team of the new generation!

Its importance was clear when Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Kurenai Yuhi, a skilled jonin, to be their instructor.

If Asuma Sarutobi hadn't died in the original story and had lived to the time of Boruto, he and Kurenai would have become the mentors to the heirs of the six great ninja clans, including Ino-Shika-Cho, Aburame, Inuzuka, and Hyuga.

With connections like that, even if Asuma never became Hokage, he would still have had great influence in the village.

In Yagyu's eyes, Team 8, like Ino-Shika-Cho, was one of the teams that Sarutobi would never break up.

To his surprise, Sarutobi had chosen to place Yagyu in Kiba's spot.

This bold move, which would certainly upset the Inuzuka clan, surprised Yagyu.

Did the Third Hokage really believe so strongly in his potential?

Or perhaps… had Hiruzen Sarutobi been secretly watching him train all these years with his Crystal Ball Jutsu?

Can that jutsu even spy inside houses?

The thought that Sarutobi might have seen him secretly practicing certain jutsu at home made Yagyu's heart sink.

"Team 12…"

After calling out the final team, Iruka put down the list. He took one last look around the classroom, knowing it would be the last time he'd see them all together, a trace of sadness in his eyes. But he kept a smile on his face as he spoke, "Be sure to get along well with your new teammates. From now on, they'll be the comrades you'll fight alongside."

"Your jonin instructor will come to pick you up shortly. I hope that the next time we meet, you'll all have become outstanding ninja."

With that, Iruka quickly left the classroom.

No one paid much attention to his departure, nor did anyone understand Iruka's emotions at that moment.

The students were all too focused on their futures as ninja, eagerly discussing their assigned jonin instructors and speculating on how strong they might be.

"Congratulations, Hinata," Ino said, her face full of envy. "I didn't expect you to be placed in Yagyu's team."

At her words, Hinata immediately lowered her head, twiddling her fingers. A close observer might notice the slight upward curve of her lips, revealing her joy.

Sakura, on the other hand, looked like a defeated puppy.

She sat right behind Shikamaru and glared at the back of his head.

She was so frustrated she almost wanted to awaken her second personality and punch Shikamaru into oblivion.

His analysis had raised her hopes sky-high, only for reality to pour cold water on them.

The disappointment… it was too much!

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