---
Not long after, the teacher arrived.
He took out a piece of paper and started reading the team assignments.
"First Team... Second Team..."
"Team Three: Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, and Ebisu."
The teacher continued reading the names.
Genma Shiranui and Ebisu, who had been laughing, finally fell silent.
Finally, Kyouhiko's name was mentioned.
"Team 7, Ryomine Kyouhiko, Yuhi Kurenai."
Yuhi Kurenai glanced at Kyouhiko and blinked.
Fortunately, it was just the two of them.
Although Kyouhiko and Guy were strong due to their hard training, their fierce rivalry earlier had made young Kurenai feel uncomfortable.
The Ninja Academy teacher continued his announcement.
"Team 8..."
Kurenai grew anxious.
"Huh? Why only two people?" she muttered.
Kyouhiko turned to Kurenai and whispered, "Don't worry; I'll ask the teacher about it later."
"Uh, okay."
Kurenai nodded, holding back her curiosity.
Outside the classroom.
"Teacher, why does Team 7 only consist of two people? Usually, there's a leader and three members, right?" Kyouhiko asked.
The Ninja Academy teacher looked puzzled, scratching his head. "I'm not sure either. You'll find out after meeting your Jonin instructor this afternoon."
"Huh?"
Kurenai was genuinely confused, unable to grasp the situation.
The teacher quickly left, leaving Kyouhiko and Yuhi Kurenai staring at each other.
They were at a loss for words.
Of course, Kyouhiko had a hunch, but he wasn't certain yet.
There was a young genius who was unlucky and troubled. Despite becoming a Chunin last year, his style and personality made it hard for him to get along with his teammates.
Hatake Kakashi.
Could it be him?
At two in the afternoon, every class gathered at the Ninja Academy. Downstairs, other ninja who hadn't graduated were in class, while they waited for their mentor ninja to arrive.
Kyouhiko sat in his place, pondering the future.
He had already learned part of the existing system.
There seemed to be some advantage to being on a team with Kakashi.
It was just...
Kyouhiko didn't know who their Jonin instructor was.
Namikaze Minato, perhaps?
He thought while absentmindedly turning his head.
At that moment, Kurenai finally couldn't hold back.
"Kyouhiko, I, I want to ask you something."
She was one or two years older than Kyouhiko, and they weren't very close.
But as teammates, they had to get to know each other.
Kurenai stood and observed.
"Are you training your finger dexterity?"
Kyouhiko stopped his kunai game.
"What's up?"
Kurenai pointed at the kunai moving between Kyouhiko's fingers with curiosity.
Kyouhiko was a little surprised, then chuckled.
"It's just a habit."
"A habit..."
Kurenai nodded, and without saying anything further, a bit of admiration appeared in her eyes as she looked at Kyouhiko.
It took years of training to form a habit like that. It must have involved struggles she couldn't understand.
No wonder he and Might Guy had something in common.
She thought to herself.
Kyouhiko didn't know what Kurenai was thinking.
He was considering—
Would getting close to her help him gain more opportunities?
Not long after.
Knock, knock!
There was a knock at the door.
Moments later, the door opened, and Kyouhiko looked up, almost laughing.
A young man with silver hair and vacant eyes behind a mask entered and sat down, trying to appear calm.
Yuhi Kurenai opened her mouth wide.
She blinked, her face full of disbelief.
"You're not our team leader, are you?!"
Kyouhiko whispered a reminder.
"Kurenai, Kakashi was only promoted to Chunin last year; there's no way he's a Jonin."
"Oh, right."
Kurenai's mind was chaotic. She hadn't grasped the situation and looked confused.
Kyouhiko stood by, holding back his laughter. So it really was him!
"Kakashi, you're feeling down, aren't you?"
Kakashi glanced at him, then looked straight ahead without answering.
Tsk.
Kyouhiko resisted the urge to tease him and sat quietly, keeping the classroom atmosphere calm.
The Kakashi in front of him now was at least equal to a major boss, clearly not someone to toy with lightly, unlike Might Guy.
As he continued thinking, footsteps were heard outside the classroom.
Slow but sure!
Let's see who our teacher is.
The three of them looked at the door at the same time.
Could it be their teacher?
After waiting for a long time, the footsteps suddenly stopped, as if heading to another class.
A look of confusion appeared on Kurenai's face.
"Our teacher suddenly disappeared."
Kakashi said calmly, "As ninjas, we just need to wait."
Kyouhiko glanced at them and smirked a bit.
If Kurenai's perception was correct, their teacher might have a sense of humor, wanting to observe their personalities and abilities.
Who was he?
Outside the door, Jiraiya sighed.
At his age and position now, he still had to mentor a team of new graduates.
Honestly, it was all because of the old Hokage's orders.
He quietly observed the situation inside.
"That girl is smart and talented in genjutsu, perhaps suitable to be trained as a medical or support ninja."
"The silver-haired kid is indeed hard to approach; no wonder no one wanted him."
"As for the last one, he seems tough to handle. I'm just asking for trouble!"
Jiraiya rubbed his chin, recalling the incident at the Hokage's office yesterday.
"Lord Hokage, I was just planning to travel, but you ask me to take on students? You're doing this on purpose!"
"The village needs it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
Jiraiya was silent for a moment, then asked, "Are these three kids special?"
"There's Hatake Kakashi."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
Jiraiya was silent for a long time before responding, "Isn't that kid already a Chunin?"
"Take a look."
Sarutobi Hiruzen handed over a document.
Jiraiya took it and saw a list of complaints about Kakashi from other ninjas, with no team willing to accept him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted one of the Sannin to help train Kakashi.
Jiraiya remembered Sakumo's suicide, sighed, and turned his gaze to the table.
Among the stack of papers, he found a resume.
Jiraiya picked it up.
It was Kyouhiko!
He read it carefully.
A Senju descendant.
Over a year ago, his parents died, and since then his personality changed. He became a bit reserved and didn't fit in well with his classmates.
A war orphan.
Jiraiya held the paper, staying silent for a moment.
A resilient child with a strong character...
"If it's not decided yet, add him in. I'm interested in this kid."
"You know him?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed a bit surprised.
"A resilient and intelligent kid. I think he has potential, like Minato."
Jirai
ya said.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, him, Kakashi, and one more... choose yourself."
"No problem."
Jiraiya replied, pointing to the profile that had caught his interest.
"This one will do."
---