Chapter 22. Senju Yuna, Senju Ryu
With the Hokage's speech concluded, Iruka-sensei stepped forward, gesturing to the students. "Everyone, follow me. Your new classroom is ready."
Excitement sparked through the group as they trailed Iruka down the hall. Today wasn't just an ordinary class day; it was the beginning of the elite class, and each student felt the weight of what it meant to be part of this select group.
The classroom they entered was nothing like their usual one. This room was larger, outfitted with desks spaced out for movement, target boards along one wall, and filled book stands at the back.
Every seat seemed carefully arranged, as though anticipating the presence of each student who had earned a spot.
Naruto spotted a seat near the middle and took it eagerly, noticing that Hinata had chosen the spot beside him. He gave her a cheerful smile, which she returned with a soft, shy one of her own.
A few rows away, Sasuke chose a seat at random, but as soon as he sat, Ino and Sakura hurried to take the seats on either side of him, both throwing him a quick smile. Sasuke glanced at them but stayed silent, already focused on what lay ahead.
Around them, the other students quickly filled the seats. Shino, Choji, and Shikamaru found their own places, nodding to each other as they settled in. The rest of the class buzzed with quiet energy, excitement mixing with curiosity and nerves. Naruto and Sasuke's sleepiness faded in the lively atmosphere, and they both began to take note of the unfamiliar faces around them.
Naruto's gaze soon fell on a group of three students he immediately recognized from his memories of the anime: Neji, Tenten, and Lee. They looked slightly different from what he remembered, but there was no mistaking them.
Neji's calm, intense gaze and his big, pale eyes caught Naruto's attention first. Naruto couldn't help but think Neji looked surprisingly cute with his serious expression and striking white eyes. Beside him was Tenten, whose playful smile and bright eyes made her look friendly and adorable. Naruto thought she was even cute in real life than he'd imagined.
Then his eyes drifted to Lee. Lee's bowl cut and thick eyebrows made him stand out, but despite his plain looks, he carried a certain charm with his determined expression. As young as they all were, each of them had a cute presence that added to the excitement of this new class.
Sasuke, meanwhile, noticed Lee as well and raised an eyebrow in confusion. He remembered that Lee couldn't use ninjutsu, and he wondered how long would Lee stay in this class.
The classroom looked empty as it was very big, but it would fill up after next month's test.
Iruka-sensei scanned the room, his expression serious. "Don't start celebrating just yet," he cautioned, drawing the students' attention. "You may have been selected for the elite class, but that only means your training will be much harder. You'll have to work for the title of shinobi, and only after graduating can you truly be proud of it."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "This elite class will span five years," he continued. "That applies to everyone—even those of you who were called up from the second or third year of the academy. And unlike before, every year won't have two semesters. There will be only one exam at the end of the year."
Iruka-sensei continued his explanation, addressing the structure of the elite class. "For this program, students were selected from the first to the third year of the academy. We didn't include fourth- and fifth-year students, as that would extend their time in the academy to nine years, which is simply too long—and costly, too."
He paused, then added, "Initially, the Hokage intended to include only first- and second-year students, but after receiving multiple requests from parents and some Jonin, he decided to add third-year students as well."
Few third-year students exchanged glances, a hint of annoyance in their expressions. Five more years of training before they could graduate felt like a setback, even if this was an elite program.
Iruka's gaze swept over the eager faces. "Your first year will be led by none other than Might Guy, a Jonin renowned for his taijutsu skills. The curriculum will cover basic ninjutsu, such as the Clone Jutsu and Transformation Jutsu, along with a few theory subjects. Additionally, you will be required to complete five missions by the end of the year. That's the syllabus for your first year."
Excitement bubbled up among the students as they whispered to each other, thrilled at the thought of going on missions. Sasuke, however, crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow knowingly. He could already guess what these "missions" would entail—catching runaway pets, cleaning up the academy grounds, and other mundane tasks.
Naruto, on the other hand, wore a puzzled look as if something felt odd about these missions. But his expression softened with relief as he considered learning the Transformation Jutsu. With that skill, he could finally change his appearance and buy whatever he wanted without getting those hateful looks of the villagers.
Naruto's mind wandered briefly as he recalled how once original Naruto tried to ask the Third Hokage to teach him the Transformation Jutsu, only to be turned down. Hiruzen had explained that without learning how to mold chakra first, it would be impossible to perform the technique. That memory made him even more determined to master the basics now that he was in the elite class.
Iruka-sensei brought the class back to attention. "I'll be your homeroom teacher for this elite class," he said firmly. "It's my responsibility to guide and support each of you in your growth, so don't hesitate to come to me if you need help."
The students nodded, feeling reassured by Iruka's words. He then looked around the room and continued, "Now, let's begin by introducing ourselves. Each of you, stand up and state your name."
One by one, the students rose from their seats.
"Naruto Uzumaki."
"Sasuke Uchiha."
"Choji Akimichi."
"Sakura Haruno."
"Ino Yamanaka."
"Hinata Hyuga."
"Shino Aburame."
"Shikamaru Nara."
"Neji Hyuga."
"Rock Lee."
"Tenten."
"Akira Oto."
"Tomi Ryu."
"…"
"…"
As the introductions continued, Naruto and Sasuke noticed two students who caught their attention—a pair of twins sitting beside each other.
Yuna, the younger twin, was irresistibly cute with her short, blond hair and sparkling eyes. She had a petite frame and exuded a warm, friendly charm.
Ryu, the older twin, had warm eyes and a determined, cute face that almost rivaled Sasuke's looks. His presence caught the attention of the girls, breaking Sasuke's fangirl club's focus for the first time.
Soon younger girl stood up, "Senju Yuna," she introduced herself, giving a small, respectful bow.
Then her elder twin brother rose beside her, his gaze steady. "Senju Ryu," he announced.
Naruto's eyes widened slightly at the name "Senju," while Sasuke narrowed his eyes, intrigued by these new classmates.
[ Name: Senju Yuna
Title: Last Senju, Senju Twin, Genuis Senju
Level: 12 {Genin}
HP: 340
Chakra: 3145 ]
------
[ Name: Senju Ryu
Title: Last Senju, Senju Twin, Genuis Senju
Level: 14 {Genin}
HP: 360
Chakra: 3260 ]
'More than 3000! Unbelievable,' Sasuke thought, his eyes narrowing as he observed the status window of the twins. Their chakra reserves were astonishing—far beyond what any average shinobi could dream of.
Meanwhile, Naruto couldn't help but wonder, 'How are the Senjus still alive?' He briefly feared that someone like Danzo might want to use them for his experiments, a thought that made him uneasy for twins.
The twins were descendants of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Hidden away by Tobirama himself in a small, remote village to protect them from danger, they had returned to Konoha to restore the Senju clan's name.
Despite their parents rejecting the idea of coming back to the village, the twins were determined. Their sneaky return, however, had also prompted the Senju elders to return to Konoha, drawn by the need to protect their young heirs.
Now, the once-mighty Senju clan had only five surviving members. The weight of their legacy hung over the twins, making it clear that they were more than just students—they were the last hope for a clan that had almost faded into history.
As introductions continued, Yuna and Ryu exchanged a glance as they observed Sasuke, their eyes sharp with curiosity. 'So that's a member of the Uchiha clan', they thought, silently acknowledging the young heir of one of the most powerful clans in history. Their determination only grew stronger as they realized their goal—'We will begin as strong as the First Hokage and restore the Senju clan to its former glory.'
Across the room, Rock Lee couldn't take his eyes off both Sasuke and the Senju twins. Clenching his fists tightly, he steeled himself. 'I'll prove that hard work can rival genius,' he thought, his competitive spirit ignited by the presence of such powerful shinobi.
The other students were quietly discussing the significance of the names "Uchiha" and "Senju," murmuring among themselves.
"Hey, isn't Senju the last name of the First and Second Hokage?" one of them whispered.
"Yeah, to think the Senju clan is still alive..." another added, incredulous. "I heard they were wiped out due to the First, Second, and Third Shinobi World Wars…"
Some of the students were focused on Sasuke, who had become the center of attention. 'So that's the last Uchiha, they thought. The famous Uchiha clan now has only one member left.'
Everyone had their own thoughts as introductions completed. They quietly chatted with each other as they processed the new dynamics of the class. Some were focused on the legendary names of Uchiha and Senju, while others were more interested in the upcoming taijutsu training
Iruka-sensei, sensing the rising excitement in the room, clapped his hands to regain control. "Alright, enough chatter," he said firmly, catching the class's attention. "We need to head to the training grounds now. Guy-sensei will begin your taijutsu training."
The mention of Guy-sensei's name brought an immediate shift in mood as the students stood, preparing to follow Iruka to the next phase of their rigorous training.
End of the chapter. __________________________________________________________________________________
Power stones, please.