"Iruka-sensei, why are there only two of us in our group?"
Naruto immediately shot up from his seat when Iruka announced the final team assignment. Throughout the ninja world, it was common knowledge that standard teams consisted of three genin under a jōnin instructor.
Iruka offered the young Namikaze a reassuring smile. "All other graduates have been assigned to their teams, leaving just the two of you. But there's no need to worry—the Hokage has already made arrangements. The third member of your team should be arriving shortly."
"He's a graduate from two years ago. His name is—"
Before Iruka could finish, a figure appeared suddenly on the windowsill beside Naruto. The classroom fell silent as everyone's attention shifted to the unexpected arrival.
"Hello, Naruto," came a gentle voice.
Naruto and several nearby students turned to see a boy with ash-gray hair who appeared slightly older than them perched casually at the window. The newcomer had fair skin and dark, expressive eyes that conveyed a sense of calm assurance.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked, startled by the sudden appearance.
The gray-haired boy smiled warmly. "My name is Shin. We'll be teammates from now on. I hope we can work well together."
"Teammate?" Naruto echoed, still processing the unexpected introduction.
Iruka cleared his throat and gestured toward the classroom. "Yes, he's the third member of your team. Shin, although you aren't part of this graduating class, please come in and take a seat rather than balancing on the windowsill."
"Understood," Shin nodded politely.
Naruto blinked, and in that fraction of a second, Shin vanished from the window. Bewildered, Naruto's eyes darted around the classroom until he spotted Shin already seated at an empty desk in the back row. Naruto's gaze momentarily met Sasuke's, and he could tell the Uchiha had been equally surprised by the display of speed.
"He's so fast!" Naruto thought, impressed despite himself.
Though both Naruto and Sasuke ranked among the top graduates, their skills were still those of fresh genin. Neither had even registered Shin's movement. His capabilities were clearly at least chūnin-level, despite being only two years their senior. This wasn't the typical skill set of someone who had graduated just two years earlier.
"He's so handsome," whispered several female students, their eyes sparkling with interest as they stole glances at the newcomer.
Shin responded to their attention with nothing more than a gentle smile, neither encouraging nor discouraging their interest.
Chiharu also studied Shin carefully. When their eyes briefly met, they exchanged polite nods before she looked away, her expression thoughtful.
After the momentary disruption settled, Iruka resumed announcing the jōnin instructors assigned to each team.
"Team One will be led by Ryōgiya Tokihito."
"Team Two, your instructor will be Mochizuki Sae."
"Team Seven," Iruka continued, "will be under Hatake Kakashi."
"Him?" Ino exclaimed from her seat behind Sakura, unable to contain her surprise.
Sakura turned around, confusion evident on her face. "What's wrong? Is he famous or something?"
Ino's lips curled into a smug smile. "Tsk, you don't even know who he is? And you call yourself the top kunoichi in the class."
Sakura's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at Ino's condescending tone. To avoid disrupting the class further, she bit back a sharp retort and turned away, her shoulders tense with irritation.
"Hmph," Ino gave a satisfied cough, reveling in her small victory.
Despite their constant bickering, the two kunoichi had once been inseparable friends. Their rivalry had overshadowed but never completely erased that bond.
"Hatake Kakashi is one of Konoha's most renowned shinobi," Ino continued in a hushed voice, unable to resist sharing her knowledge. "He's so famous that even ninja from other villages recognize him by his nickname."
"Konoha's Lighning Fang Ninja."
"Lighning Fang Ninja?" Sakura repeated, intrigued. "What's his connection to Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha?"
Having excelled in Ninja History at the Academy, Sakura immediately associated the name with the legendary shinobi who had led Konoha to ultimate victory during the Second Shinobi World War.
"They're father and son," Ino replied, clearly pleased to be the one providing this information.
"I see..." Sakura's excitement grew as she processed what this meant for her team. Their jōnin instructor wasn't just any shinobi—he was renowned throughout the ninja world, surely more skilled than the instructors assigned to other teams.
Meanwhile, across the classroom, Naruto and Chiharu exchanged knowing glances.
"So Kakashi-nii has become a jōnin instructor?" Chiharu whispered to her brother. Having known Kakashi since childhood, they viewed him almost as an older brother. There was a hint of disappointment in her eyes—if Kakashi had been assigned as their instructor, the transition from Academy to active duty would have felt more comfortable.
"Team Ten will be led by Sarutobi Asuma," Iruka announced, working his way down the list.
Naruto leaned forward slightly, anticipation building as he waited to hear who would be guiding his team.
"And Team Eleven," Iruka concluded, "will be under Uchiha Shisui."
"Uchiha?" Naruto frowned slightly. Though Shisui had visited their home when Naruto was very young, he had no clear memories of the man. After Shisui joined the ANBU, Minato had rarely mentioned him in front of his children.
Naruto instinctively glanced toward Sasuke, curious about his reaction, but from his position could only see the back of the Uchiha prodigy's head.
"It's actually him..." Sasuke's eyes widened slightly, a mixture of respect and envy flickering across his features. He had met Shisui on a few occasions and had heard his brother Itachi mention the name frequently with deep admiration.
Though unfamiliar to the new graduates, the name "Shunshin no Shisui" carried tremendous weight throughout the shinobi world—perhaps even greater recognition than Kakashi's. Despite serving primarily in the ANBU, his reputation had spread across the Five Great Nations.
Sasuke had overheard his father, the Uchiha clan leader, discussing Shisui's abilities. According to clan rumors, Shisui's power rivaled or even exceeded that of both his father and brother Itachi. Some claimed he was the strongest Uchiha besides Yoruki, one of the few known to possess the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Like most ANBU operatives, Shisui rarely appeared publicly among the clan, and his missions remained classified at the highest levels. That such a legendary figure would become a jōnin instructor seemed almost inconceivable to Sasuke.
Outside the Academy building, many of the newly appointed jōnin instructors had already gathered, exchanging light-hearted conversation as they waited to meet their genin teams.
"Those two haven't arrived yet," one jōnin remarked, glancing around at the assembled group.
Another laughed in response. "I'm still surprised they've been assigned as instructors. Makes the rest of us look bad by comparison."
"True enough! We might not match those young prodigies, but I'm not going down without a fight!"
Far from the Academy, in Konoha's memorial cemetery, Kakashi stood silently before the hero's monument. His single visible eye reflected the names carved into the polished stone, lost in memories of fallen comrades.
"You're here at this time too."
A figure materialized beside Kakashi, appearing without a sound.
Kakashi acknowledged the presence with a slight nod, not turning away from the monument.
Shisui stepped forward to stand alongside him, his gaze falling upon the same names that held Kakashi's attention. When he spoke again, his voice carried a weight of sorrow and regret.
"Rin, Obito... I'm sorry I haven't come to visit you for a long time."