š HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! šāØ
š„ Let's welcome our newest adventurersā¦ āļø Emersonjuan Ramosrobles! āļø and āļø Trippy āļø šā”ļø Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!
***********************************
The next morning, the classroom of the Konoha Academy was filled with excitement and anticipation. One by one, the newly graduated genin arrived, taking their seats.
Each of them wore their freshly awarded Konoha headbands with pride, the symbol of their new status as shinobi.
The chatter was lively, filled with whispers and speculation about who would be on whose team. Some students were thrilled, while others nervously tapped their fingers against their desks.
"Man, I hope I get put on a cool team," Kiba said, grinning as he scratched behind Akamaru's ears. "Someone strong, you know? Maybe Sasuke or Naruto."
Shikamaru groaned, leaning back in his chair. "Tch. No thanks. Getting paired with either of them sounds like a pain."
Choji, munching on a bag of chips, laughed. "You just don't wanna work hard."
"Exactly."
"I hope I'm with Sasuke-kun!" Sakura said, clasping her hands together with stars in her eyes.
"I won't lose to you, Forehead!" Ino shot back, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. "I'll be on his team for sure."
"Yeah, yeah, dream on," Sakura huffed.
Naruto smirked from his seat, arms crossed. "Man, you guys are too focused on Pretty Boy over there. You should be hoping to be on my team instead."
Sasuke scoffed, shooting Naruto a sideways glare. "In your dreams."
Naruto grinned. "Funny, 'cause I'm pretty sure I was the top scorer in the class."
Sasuke's eye twitched. He hated being reminded of that.
Shino adjusted his sunglasses. "Team placements are most likely predetermined based on compatibility and balance. It is illogical to expect specific pairings."
Hinata, sitting quietly, glanced at Naruto with a small mischievous smile. She along with Sakura and Ino already knew about the team arrangements. She and Ino were very jealous of Sakura for getting selected to be on the same team as their master.
Meanwhile, the tension in the air kept building, the excitement only growing stronger as they all waited for their teacher to arrive.
Then, the door opened.
Iruka Umino, their instructor, stepped inside, his warm yet authoritative presence immediately commanding the attention of the class.
"Alright, settle down," He said with a smile.
The students quickly quieted, all eyes on their beloved teacher.
Iruka took a deep breath before speaking. "First of all, congratulations. Each and every one of you sitting here today has proven yourself worthy of becoming a shinobi of Konoha. You worked hard, pushed through the challenges, and showed your determination."
His gaze swept across the room, lingering on certain studentsāSasuke, Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and even Hinata. Then, he continued.
"Being a ninja is not just about strength or talent. It's about teamwork, trust, and perseverance. You will be sent on missions, face real danger, and experience things that no ordinary civilian ever will. Some of you will excel, others will struggleābut what matters most is that you do not give up. Always rememberātrue strength lies not in fighting alone, but in standing together."
The students sat in silent admiration. Iruka had always been strict but fair, and this speech carried a weight that resonated with them.
With a nod, Iruka smiled again. "Alright, let's move on to the team assignments."
The tension in the room shot up instantly. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for.
Iruka picked up the list and began reading.
"Team 10: Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka. Your sensei will be Asuma Sarutobi."
Shikamaru groaned. "Troublesomeā¦"
Choji grinned. "At least we're together."
Ino sighed, shaking her head. "These two... do I really have to be paired with these guys."
Iruka ignored their chatter and continued.
"Team 8: Kiba Inuzuka, Akamaru, Hinata Hyuga, and Shino Aburame. Your sensei will be Kurenai Yuhi."
Kiba grinned, nudging Hinata. "Looks like we're together, huh?"
Hinata blushed slightly but nodded, stealing a glance at Naruto. Her acting was so great that even Naruto was mistaken for a second.
Finally, Iruka reached the last team, the one everyone was waiting for.
"Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. Your sensei will be Kakashi Hatake."
Gasps echoed throughout the room.
The reactions were mixed.
Sakura's eyes widened, then sparkled. Naruto and Sasuke on the same team? This was perfect for her!
Naruto smirked slightly, his arms crossed in amusement. He had already heard about this arrangement yesterday, so it was no surprise to him.
Sasuke, on the other hand, clenched his jaw in frustration.
Naruto.
Again.
No matter how hard he trained, Naruto was always one step ahead, winning against him in ways that felt infuriating. He had thought becoming a genin would finally give him the opportunity to surpass Naruto by taking on more missions and proving his strength. But now they were on the same team?
Sasuke clicked his tongue. This wasn't what he wanted.
Meanwhile, throughout the room, disappointed sighs filled the air. Many of the girls had been hoping to be placed on Naruto or Sasuke's team, and now they had lost their chance.
Iruka, sensing the mood, clapped his hands together. "Now that the teams have been assigned, I want to give you all one last piece of advice."
The students looked up.
"Respect your sensei. Listen, learn, and grow. Becoming a ninja is not the end of your journeyāit is only the beginning."
With that, Iruka gave them a warm smile. "Good luck."
Then, with a final nod, he left the classroom.
One by one, the team leaders began to arrive.
The first to enter was Asuma Sarutobi. With his laid-back posture and a cigarette in his mouth, he scanned the classroom and called out, "Team 10, let's go."
Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino stood up.
Naruto grinned. "See you guys later."
Ino, however, had something else in mind. Before leaving, she walked right up to Naruto, leaned in close, and wrapped her arms around him in a quick but suggestive hug.
She whispered into his ear, her breath warm, "Don't miss me too much, Master."
Then, with a wink, she pulled away and skipped after Asuma, leaving Naruto chuckling...
Next was Kurenai Yuhi. She stepped inside with elegance, her crimson eyes scanning the room before resting on her new students.
"Team 8, follow me," She said with a small smile.
As Hinata passed Naruto, she swiftly leaned in and whispered softly, "I'll miss you, Naruto-sama."
Then, before he could react, she gave him a quick, daring hug.
Kiba and Shino looked surprised, while Kurenai raised an eyebrow in amusement.
As they walked away, Kurenai smirked at Naruto. "You really are something, aren't you? A true heartbreaker."
Naruto simply shrugged with a playful grin. "What can I say, Big Sis? Women just can't resist me."
Kurenai chuckled. "Oh, I know."
With a teasing wink, she turned and left with her team...
In the end, only three students remained.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
And they were waiting for their teacher.
Minutes passed... Then more minutes.
Sakura sighed. "Where is our sensei?"
Naruto leaned back in his chair, completely relaxed. "If I had to guessā¦ probably running late on purpose."
Sasuke scoffed. "Typical."
Sakura groaned. "Ugh, I hope he's not weird."
Naruto chuckled. "Oh, he's weird, alright."
The wait continued... And continued... And continued...
Sakura's patience was wearing thin, while Sasuke simply crossed his arms, silent but visibly irritated.
Naruto, however, seemed completely unbothered, occasionally flashing his signature smirk.
Eventually, Sakura snapped. "How long are we supposed to wait?!"
Just then, the door creaked open.
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
šØ Want to read chapters before anyone else? Head over to Patreon for early access and exclusive perks!
š If you're enjoying the stories and want to help keep them coming, your support means everything. Join us and stay ahead!
š Patreon: patreon.com/Myth_Valley
ā Or support directly: buymeacoffee.com/myth_valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! š„šāØ