Kapitel 18: The Slightly Unexpected Team 7

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**Looking at the lively and energetic faces below him, Iruka smiled outwardly, but he sighed inwardly. Despite all the warnings he'd given over the past six years, emphasizing the dangers of becoming a ninja, none of the children seemed to grasp the gravity of it.**

**"It's hard to understand unless you've experienced it yourself," Iruka thought. As a Chunin, he knew this all too well. These children, full of confidence and dreams, had no idea how many of them would survive even a year or two as shinobi. But Iruka had done his duty as their teacher. From here on out, it would be up to them and their efforts.**

**"Now, I'll announce the teams," Iruka began, gathering the attention of the classroom. "As you all know, to better complete missions, shinobi usually form teams. The size of a team is generally three to five people. Since you've just graduated, the village will also assign an experienced Jonin to lead you. When I call your name, respond, and your team leader will come to take you. Understand?"**

**"Yes!" the students replied in unison.**

**This was the moment everyone had been waiting for, but it was also the most nerve-wracking part. No one wanted to be on a team with someone mediocre. These fresh graduates understood the importance of good teammates.**

**Even Sasuke Uchiha, who had always seemed indifferent in the original story, felt differently in this life. If possible, he wanted to be on the same team as Menma Uzumaki. This wasn't just because Menma had displayed incredible strength over the past six years—though Sasuke acknowledged it silently. It was also due to Sasuke's own obsession, born from repeated failures. He needed to surpass Menma, not just in one aspect, but in everything. If he couldn't even best a peer, how could he ever hope to defeat his 'genius' brother?**

**Sasuke glanced at Menma, thinking he was being subtle, but Menma noticed immediately. With his current level of perception, Menma could easily sense when someone was paying special attention to him. He could also guess what Sasuke was thinking.**

**Menma wouldn't mind being on the same team as Sasuke. After all, Sasuke held an important position in Menma's future plans. But whether or not it would happen was out of his control. His very existence was a major divergence from the original timeline—after all, the Fourth Hokage didn't have two sons in the original story. Menma was curious about how the Third Hokage would handle the team assignments in this altered timeline. Of course, some team assignments were practically set in stone, like Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino.**

**In the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans, if there were three students of the same age, they would always be placed on the same team. This had been the tradition for decades, and their fathers' team had been highly respected in the shinobi world.**

**Other ninja clan members were often assigned similarly. The idea of 'fair and just' team assignments was something of a joke. Mediocre students were never paired with geniuses. Even Sakura Haruno, who seemed average on the surface, had exceptional theoretical knowledge and chakra control. In the original story, she became Tsunade's apprentice and learned most of her techniques in just three years, proving how talented she really was.**

**Sakura's placement on Team 7 with Naruto and Sasuke might have seemed like luck, but it wasn't something just anyone could achieve. After all, Jonin were the elite of a ninja village. Getting assigned to lead a team of fresh graduates was not a role given lightly. It was reserved for those who the village considered the next generation of shinobi. Different Jonin led different teams based on the unique qualities of the students.**

**Kakashi Hatake led Team 7 because he had the Sharingan and was a direct subordinate of the Fourth Hokage. Asuma Sarutobi led Team 10 because the Ino-Shika-Cho trio had always been closely allied with the Hokage family, and Asuma was the Third Hokage's son. These assignments weren't made at random; they had deep-rooted reasons. Ordinary students had little chance of teaming up with members of prominent ninja families unless they displayed extraordinary talent during their time at the Academy. If not, they would be placed on a team led by a regular Chunin and would likely remain Genin for most of their careers.**

**As the names for the teams were called, everything seemed to go according to the script. Ordinary students were grouped together and assigned to Chunin instructors, sealing their likely fates in the shinobi world. Menma paid little attention to these announcements until Team 7 was called.**

**"Team 7: Uzumaki Menma," Iruka's voice rang out, causing Menma to focus intently. This was the moment that could change everything. Iruka continued without pause. "Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Naruto Namikaze!"**

**The classroom erupted in whispers. Even Menma was momentarily stunned.**

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**The unexpected class configuration shocked everyone. A team of four? Menma didn't even know what to say, and the other students in the class were equally stunned. In their understanding, graduation teams should consist of three members plus a team leader. So why was there suddenly a team of four?**

**All eyes widened as they looked back and forth between Menma, Sasuke, and Naruto, surprise evident in their expressions. Even Shikamaru, usually so indifferent, raised an eyebrow in surprise.**

**As for Sakura Haruno, the usually unnoticed girl, she couldn't contain her excitement when she heard the team assignment.**

**"Yes! Yes! Yes!!!" Sakura cheered, barely able to contain herself. Not only would she be on the same team as Sasuke—the boy she had a crush on—but also with Naruto, the son of the Hokage, and Menma, the top student at the Academy.**

**Her excitement was understandable. After all, who wouldn't want to be on a team with the best students in the class? However, her cheers quickly attracted envious and jealous looks from the rest of the class, mostly from the girls but also from some of the boys. Everyone wanted to be on a team with the top students. Sensing the 'hostile' gazes, Sakura shrank back into her seat, forcing an awkward smile and clamping her mouth shut. She had no doubt that if she kept cheering, the others would pounce on her in a fit of jealousy.**

**'Don't mind me, don't mind me,' she muttered under her breath, trying to disappear like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.**

**Naruto and Sasuke, meanwhile, exchanged glances with Menma, each with a different look in their eyes after the initial shock wore off.**

**"Heh! We're on the same team, Sasuke, Menma, and Sakura. Let's all get along!" Naruto said with a wide grin, giving a thumbs-up to the group. Despite the different circumstances in this timeline, Naruto was still his cheerful, optimistic self. Although his relationship with Hinata was much stronger than in the original timeline, he still had a soft spot for Sakura.**

**But the rest of the class wasn't taking it so well.**

**"That's not fair, Iruka-sensei!"**

**"Why are Menma-kun, Sasuke-kun, and Naruto-kun on the same team?"**

**"This doesn't make any sense! Four people on one team?!"**

**"Teacher, please explain!"**

**The classroom erupted into chaos, the students voicing their disbelief. They might have overlooked the four-member team if it weren't for the fact that the three top students had been placed together. Menma and Sasuke were always the top two in their class, and while Naruto struggled with theory, he was still in the top five overall. The team configuration was too unfair for them to accept—unless, of course, they could switch places with Sakura. This thought only increased their resentment towards her. Sakura could feel their 'resentment' and began trembling in her seat.**

**"Ahem, quiet down, everyone."**

**Iruka coughed a few times, tapping the podium lightly to regain order in the classroom.**

**"The team assignment for Menma, Naruto, and Sasuke was arranged personally by the Hokage. So, stop your complaining."**

**"Huh? The Hokage himself?"**

**"Well, that makes sense. They are Sasuke-kun, Menma-kun, and Naruto!"**

**"But still... why is Haruno Sakura on the team?!"**

**"I don't get it!"**

**The class slowly quieted down, but not without lingering frustration. Menma, meanwhile, began to calm down after his initial shock. Should he be impressed by the strength of the original plot's inertia, or by the Third Hokage's ability to maintain order in this timeline? Either way, the team assignment made sense. If anyone in Konoha was suited to lead Menma, Naruto, and Sasuke, it was Kakashi Hatake—no one else was as qualified.**

**'So, this is how it's going to be. No problem,' Menma thought, letting out a small sigh. He nodded calmly to Naruto, who was beaming, and glanced back at Sasuke, who quickly turned away, crossing his arms with a characteristic scowl. Menma couldn't help but find it amusing—Sasuke's tsundere nature was clearly showing.**

**Despite the students' outbursts, the decision for a four-person Team 7 was final. Iruka, for once, put on a stern face and used his authority as a teacher to silence the class.**

**"Team 8, Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame."**

**"Team 9..."**

**"Team 10, Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi!"**

**After Team 7's announcement, the rest of the class assignments proceeded without any surprises. Except for Menma's presence in Team 7, everything followed the original story.**

**"That's it for your class assignments. If your name was called, stay here and wait for your instructor. I wish you all the best of luck in your ninja careers."**

**Iruka gave a final, meaningful look to the students he had taught for six years before turning and leaving the tiered classroom.**

**Not long after Iruka's departure, various Konoha shinobi entered the room, calling out the teams they would lead.**

**"Team 1, follow me."**

**"Team 3."**

**"Team 11."**

**"Team 5."**

**The classroom quickly emptied as the graduates stood up one by one, following their instructors out.**

**Finally, when Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi took away Teams 8 and 10, the large classroom was left with only four people: Naruto, Sasuke, Menma, and Sakura.**

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