Chapter 12 The Harsh Truth

"What's the point of knowing all this?" Sasuke asked, but his current tone was less confrontational and more inquisitive.

"Of course, it's meaningful. From what I know, there is a female Shinobi who is good at Genjutsu among the Jonin." Naruto said, "There's a high chance she will lead Team Team 8 this time."

"Genjutsu?" Sasuke frowned, "Based on what you said before, the higher-ups seem to want to nurture Team 8 as a reconnaissance team. Why did they assign a Jonin who is good at Genjutsu to lead the team?"

"That's true. It seems like Genjutsu wouldn't be useful for reconnaissance, right?" Sakura asked, also a little confused.

"Hehe, Iruka-sensei will introduce our Jonin Instructors in the classroom this afternoon. But I sneaked into the office and stole the team assignment list!!"

As he spoke, Naruto pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket.

The paper clearly showed the team assignment details for four Genin Teams, with the name 'Hatake Kakashi' written at the top of Team 7's list.

"Is he our Jonin Instructor?" Sakura stared at the name curiously, "I'm really looking forward to meeting him. I wonder what kind of person he is."

Sasuke glanced briefly at Team 7's section before his eyes settled on Team 8's Jonin Instructor's name: Yuhi Kurenai.

It was a completely unfamiliar name for him.

There are many big and small clans in Konoha, some of which are powerful clans such as Hyuga and the Ino-Shika-Cho, and some small clans that you have never heard of, such as Yamakura, Aoyama, and Nohaka clans.

Naruto didn't respond to Sakura's comment, and thought to himself, 'Our future teacher will be the disciple of my cheap father, the most reliable future Hokage, and the Rokudaime Hokage, the lazy Hatake Kakashi.

"Who is Yuhi Kurenai?" Sasuke asked.

"The girlfriend of Asuma, the Jonin Instructor of Team 10." Naruto replied, wondering if Sandaime was using his crystal ball to spy on him while eating.

But thinking that Sandaime wouldn't be so perverted, and not sensing any watchful eyes, he didn't worry too much about it.

"Asuma?" Sakura was confused, but quickly found the name on the team list, "Sarutobi Asuma… He has the same clan name as Hokage-sama?"

"Yes." Naruto said, looking at the two of them, "The Team 10 led by Asuma is the younger generation of the three major clans in the village, the Ino-Shika-Cho, that is, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino."

"So, the younger generation of the six clans, Hyuga, Inuzuka, Aburame, Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi are all disciples of the Hokage-sama's family."

"And these six clans are staunch supporters of Hokage-sama, so it's not surprising they were grouped this way."

"Naruto, how do you know so much?" Sakura looked at Naruto and asked nervously. It was her first time encountering such adult matters, and she felt a little overwhelmed.

Sasuke, however, remained calm. He still hadn't forgotten his original goal and stared at the list thoughtfully. Then, he looked up at Naruto and asked, "So, you think there is a hidden purpose for assigning us to the same team?"

"Congratulations, Sasuke-kun, you got it right." Naruto snapped his fingers, "Nobles are in the same team as nobles, and civilians are naturally in the same team as civilians."

Hearing this, Sasuke's eyes darkened as he glared at Naruto, "That's it?"

"Of course, there's more than that." Naruto suddenly smiled as he looked at Sasuke.

Sasuke felt a chill run down his spine from being stared at by Naruto, and asked unhappily, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Uchiha Sasuke." Naruto said with a smile, "The Uchiha Clan is known for its powerful combat capabilities, and it so happens that I'm from the Uzumaki Clan."

"You might not have heard of it, but that doesn't matter. You just need to know that the Uzumaki Clan is also very strong."

"And…"

Having said that, Naruto glanced at Sakura, who had a dazed look on her face, and Sasuke, whose pupils were shaking. After a few seconds of silence, he lowered his voice and spoke, "Unfortunately, my clan was wiped out."

"Our team isn't just a commoner team or a fallen noble team, but the team of rare bloodlines." Naruto said, "Except Sakura, of course."

He didn't reveal the truth about the Kyubi just yet, after all, it was not appropriate to say it now.

Sakura sat there in a daze, her hands on her lap trembling slightly. She was at a loss now. She originally thought that this team division was just her pure luck.

At the same time, she also has her own little pride. Although her Ninjutsu and practical results are not as good as Naruto and Sasuke, her theoretical results are the first in class and her overall rank was third.

Although there is a certain gap between her and her two teammates, she believed that as long as she works harder, she could catch up to Naruto and Sasuke.

However, when faced with the stark reality, her pride and self-esteem silently dissolved.

It turned out that she was just a backdrop, an ordinary person. In Team 7, she was the one without any special traits. Both Sasuke and Naruto had unique backgrounds and talents, while she...

The realization made her lose her appetite. She felt like she had fallen into an icy pit. Her stomach churned uncontrollably and she wanted to vomit.

"Sakura."

Suddenly, a hand was placed on Sakura's shoulder, pulling her out of her spiraling thoughts.

She looked up to see both Sasuke and Naruto staring at her. For some reason, their figures became increasingly blurred.

"I'm fine," Sakura said, but the tremble in her voice betrayed her.

Forcing a smile to cover her embarrassment, just as she wanted to say something else, she was startled by her own tears falling onto the table.

The unexpected turn of events interrupted their meal and halted the information sharing.

After leaving the BBQ restaurant, Sakura had calmed down. She apologized to the two for her earlier outburst, and both Naruto and Sasuke reassured her it was fine, bringing the trio closer.

"Let's make these information-sharing sessions a regular activity in the future. It'll benefit all of us." Naruto suggested, "But the contents must remain absolutely confidential."

"I agree." Sakura raised her hand in agreement, smiling brightly.

"Yeah." Sasuke nodded, which was considered as indicating his consent.

Such sessions were indeed beneficial to them. Not only did they gain deeper insights about the village, it also increased the three people's sense of camaraderie within their small group.

Naruto thought that with more trust and fewer unnecessary worries among them, their future days together would be much smoother.

Just as Sakura was about to turn around and head back to the classroom, Naruto called out to her after a few steps.

"Sakura."

"Hmm?" Sakura turned to look at Naruto in confusion, "What's wrong?"

Naruto didn't say anything, but just pursed his lips at Sasuke, who still wore his usual stoic expression, beside him.

"Young Master Sasuke has something to say to you."

When Sasuke heard Naruto calling him 'Young Master', Sasuke shot him a cold glare.

"Sasuke?" Sakura suddenly tensed up.

Sasuke turned his face away proudly, and spoke after a long time, "We are companions."

Sakura stood there in a daze. It took her a while to react and her eyes turned red again.

"Don't cry, Sakura." Naruto comforted her with a smile, "Young Master Sasuke is right, you are not ordinary, you are our companion."

"Actually, there's nothing wrong with being an ordinary person. If we had the choice, he and I would prefer an ordinary life, but..."

As he said so, Naruto spread his hands helplessly, "You know, things don't always go as we wish."