Chapter 55: The Squad

A sliver of red light appeared on the eastern horizon, gently infusing the azure sky. A new day gradually approached from afar.

A figure walked towards the largest training ground within the Uchiha clan. The person was Uchiha Toshiro. His attire didn't differ much from the previous day, except for a newly added short sword hanging from his waist.

Due to the special circumstances of their group, they didn't need to attend the ninja academy's team placement meeting. They received the notice last night to gather directly at the training ground today, where they would meet their instructor and teammates.

With the sky just beginning to brighten, Toshiro arrived to find the training ground empty. Unperturbed, he leapt onto a tree, sat cross-legged on a treetop, and began his meditation practice for the day while waiting for his teammates.

Time passed slowly~

"Hey! Am I the first one here?"

After about half an hour, a seven or eight-year-old girl arrived. She had a sweet, round face adorned with lovely dimples and a pair of large, sparkling eyes that seemed full of mischief. She wore a purple cotton Uchiha long-sleeved shirt, paired with ninja trousers and sandals.

"I didn't expect my teammate to be you!"

"Hey! Is that Toshiro?"

Hearing the voice, Toshiro immediately looked up and confirmed, "Ah! It's me! The other teammate is here too!"

Glancing towards the entrance of the training ground, Toshiro leapt down from the treetop and stood beside her. She was Uchiha Yen, the genius girl who graduated alongside him.

Their other teammate also revealed himself. Yen and Toshiro knew him; he was a ten-year-old boy named Uchiha Zhe, a fifth-year student at the Ninja Academy and two years older than Toshiro and Yen.

Seeing him, Yen's eyes lit up, and she skipped over, grabbing his right arm playfully, "Zhe, I didn't expect you to be my teammate. I'm so happy!"

Toshiro felt a chill run down his spine seeing her expression. He knew all too well, despite Uchiha Yen's sweet and innocent façade, she was actually a crafty little demon. When playing games like Werewolf, she often manipulated and outwitted her friends with ease, frequently coming up with mischievous ideas that left her companions complaining in anguish.

Toshiro, with his adult mindset, had avoided such pranks several times, leading to a somewhat adversarial relationship between them. However, they often found surprising harmony when teaming up to play tricks on others.

Uchiha Zhe's background was also noteworthy. Rumors among their peers suggested that Zhe's and Yen's parents knew each other and were once teammates. Their families did not oppose them playing together.

"Could this be an arranged marriage, shinobi style?" Toshiro wondered. Such arrangements were not uncommon in clans with bloodline limits.

"It's Yen and Toshiro! Haha! Didn't expect it to be you two!" Zhe scratched his head in surprise, looking somewhat silly.

[Does he seem a bit dense, or is it just my imagination?] Toshiro thought.

Before they could converse further, another figure suddenly appeared before them. The newcomer was tall with broad shoulders. His bronzed face had piercing eyes and a finely groomed goatee. Though handsome, his features carried a masculine aura. He wore a green ninja vest and, upon arrival, rubbed Yen's head affectionately.

"Uncle Shige, are you our guiding teacher? This is great!" Yen exclaimed with a wide smile, clearly delighted.

Toshiro had heard of Uchiha Shige being the brother of the clan leader, Uchiha Jumon, and holding an important position in the police force, leading the team that took on high-difficulty missions from the Hokage.

"Ninjas should act like ninjas. You can't be as mischievous as before."

"I understand!" Yen replied, albeit reluctantly.

Yen, Toshiro, and Zhe stood in a line like soldiers awaiting inspection.

Shige hadn't expected to be assigned as a jounin-sensei one day. Despite them being clan juniors, he secretly vowed to protect these children well.

"Though you might know each other, let's do self-introductions. Who'll go first?"

"Me! Me!" Uchiha Zhe jumped out eagerly.

"I'm Uchiha Zhe, ten years old. I like sukiyaki and dislike seeing tears. My dream is to become the first Uchiha Hokage!"

"Oh! Ambitious! But to become Hokage, Zhe, you must work even harder!" Shige encouraged him like a true teacher without making any negative comments.

"I'm Uchiha Yen, eight years old. I like flower arranging and dislike being teased. My dream is to be a pretty bride and then a good mother!" She glanced shyly at Zhe, showing a longing expression.

[Kids here mature so early? She's only eight and already dreaming of being a bride? And the way she looked at Zhe, is she in love? That doesn't match her usual character!] Toshiro thought, surprised by Yen's romantic gaze.

"Yen's dream is nice too. But, to be a good mother, you should act more ladylike!" Shige teased.

"Is it my turn? I'm Uchiha Toshiro, eight years old. I like quietly reading books and soaking in hot springs. I dislike trouble. My dream is to see different sceneries, taste delicious foods from around the world, and meet beautiful ladies to befriend!"