Watching their classmates being led away in teams, Yūgao Uzuki began to feel restless.
"Hey, hey, Shin-nii, what kind of person do you think our leading Jonin will be?"
"How should I know? Look, Yūgao, I don't mind you treating me like a know-it-all, but can you stop treating me like a prophet? I know Ninjutsu, but I really don't know any divination magic."
"I'm just curious."
"Please make sure to squash that little person of curiosity in your head. A Ninja must have patience; we'll know soon enough."
Higashino Shin remained composed, though he mentally dismissed his previous guess. After all, he was the top student among this year's graduates, having achieved a perfect score.
No matter how muddled the Sandaime might be, there was no way he would hand him over to the Uchiha.
Even if he were willing, his good friend Danzo Shimura would never agree.
"Good grief, Monkey, you've changed. If you won't give me this year's top graduate, fine, but to give him to the Uchiha instead?"
After a while, a middle-aged Ninja finally walked in. He had a lean build, wore the standard green vest, a Ninja cap with a metal Forehead Protector, and had medium-length brown hair.
It seemed that black and brown hair were the most common in Konoha; yellow, white, red, blue, and purple were all anomalies.
Yūgao Uzuki said in surprise, "Oh, Uncle Kumomi, what are you doing here? Oh my, could you be our...?"
"Yes, you guessed right. Team Three: Higashino Shin, Yūgao Uzuki. Follow me."
Indeed, the newcomer was Gekko Yun Jian, the father of Gekkō Hayate, a long-time Family friend of the Uzuki Family, and a Senior and friend to the Higashino couple.
The three families all knew each other. At the same time, the Gekko and Uzuki families were the kind that could barely be called a Family—they could be considered commoners—and were staunch supporters of the Hokage faction. Thus, the selection of a leading Jonin in Konoha was never random.
Seeing that the leading Jonin was Gekko Yun Jian, Higashino Shin had already guessed who the final teammate would be.
Sure enough, as the two followed Gekko Yun Jian to a secluded training ground, a familiar figure jumped down from a tree.
Gekkō Hayate!
His appearance had changed somewhat; he wore a Ninja cap like his father. Aside from his height and age, he already matched the image in Higashino Shin's memory.
This really was... a father-son duo on the battlefield.
Yūgao Uzuki was extremely surprised. "Hayate-nii, how can it be you?"
It seemed she hadn't known beforehand that Gekkō Hayate would be joining this team. After all, there was no need to seek the opinion of a rookie Genin for such matters.
Higashino Shin asked curiously, "You graduated a year ago, why are you alone? Where are your teammates?"
"Well, it's a long story." Gekkō Hayate said with some helplessness. "About six months after graduation, our team went on a C-rank mission and encountered a Sunagakure Rogue Ninja."
During wartime, except for perhaps fewer from Kumogakure, plenty of Rogue Ninjas from every village were active throughout the Ninja World. Encountering one was quite normal.
"So? Did your teammates die in the line of duty?"
Gekkō Hayate shook his head. "Not exactly. We killed the target, but... sigh, my teammate Yusong suddenly ran over to search the body. We couldn't stop him in time, and an Explosive Tag blew off his leg, leaving him crippled. He can't be a Ninja anymore.
My other female teammate was terrified and quit the mission squad. I recommended her to Aunt Sakura's Cryptanalysis Team; she has quite a talent for that."
This 'Sakura' was Uzuki Sakura, Yūgao's mother, a functional Chunin belonging to the Konoha Intelligence Analysis Division.
Higashino Shin hadn't expected things to be so absurd. It went to show that the Ninja World was no place for the thick-headed; some ruthless people would leave 'gifts' on their bodies even after death.
Only a Protagonist Halo could block such things. For instance, without a Protagonist Halo, Naruto could be sent to heaven by a simple Explosive Tag trap. Nawaki, you agree, right?"
Nawaki: "???"
After hearing this, Higashino Shin and Yūgao Uzuki both tilted their heads and looked at Gekko Yun Jian, who was about to become their leading Jonin. Their meaning was clear: they hadn't expected him to be so unreliable.
Gekko Yun Jian was a mature Jonin; he could easily tell someone was looking down on him.
"What are you looking at? I wasn't the one leading the team back then." He glared at the two of them, shaking off a scapegoat that didn't belong to him, then solemnly warned, "Hayate's experience serves as a reminder for you. As a Ninja, you must remain vigilant at all times, or you'll lose your life very easily."
"Since that incident, I've had Hayate Cultivate at home for a few months while waiting for you to graduate. After all, the three of you grew up together and are familiar enough with one another."
For an official Konoha Jonin to interfere in his own son's team placement, Konoha would grant such a small favor.
After all, Higashino Shin had been the top student every year. Since Shisui graduated, he had been in a league of his own, maintaining a lead so great that others couldn't even see his taillights.
The Hokage's side would certainly pay attention to such a Genius. Arranging for childhood friends to be teammates after graduation ensured their bonds would be as solid as possible—it was simply perfect.
"Alright, enough small talk. Now, Team Three of this year's graduates is officially established. Each of you, introduce yourselves."
Yūgao Uzuki didn't quite understand. "Uncle Kumomi, do we really need introductions? You should be very familiar with us."
"This is procedure." Gekko Yun Jian's expression turned stern. "Also, I am now your leading Jonin and direct superior. Address me by my title during work.
Pay attention from now on. While on missions, you can call me Teacher or Captain, but you absolutely cannot call me Uncle or Father. That counts as an information leak that enemies can seize and exploit.
Most importantly, obey orders!"
The young girl shrunk her neck, not daring to resist, and honestly confessed, "My name is Yūgao Uzuki, age 9. I like viewing flowers, and my dream is to own a large private garden."
"My name is Gekkō Hayate, age 10. I like the feeling of growing together with friends, and my dream is to become a swordsmanship Great Master."
"My name is Higashino Shin, age 9. I like to Cultivate. As for my dream, it's to protect my comrades in Konoha."
This dream was very politically correct, but the right of interpretation belonged to Higashino Shin. Protecting Konoha comrades was correct, but who counted as a comrade was still defined by Higashino Shin.
Gekko Yun Jian was naturally very familiar with the three of them, given the relationship between their families.
"Very well. Normally, there is a test before a team is officially formed, and those who fail are not allowed to graduate. Given my understanding of you, this test can be skipped.
However, I still need to check your strength to facilitate planning for future missions. Now, each of you report the abilities you excel in."
Yūgao Uzuki: "I excel in Konoha Style Swordsmanship, as well as low-to-mid-level Wind Release Ninjutsu and Genjutsu."
Gekkō Hayate was similar to her: "I also excel in Konoha Style Swordsmanship, as well as low-to-mid-level Wind Release, Water Release, and Genjutsu."
Their Wind Release and Water Release had both been taught by Higashino Shin, though he hadn't taught them too much, mainly reminding them to focus on Nature Transformation Training.
As long as their mastery of nature transformation was deep enough, learning the corresponding Ninjutsu later would be very simple, and they could even develop Ninjutsu suited to their own combat systems.
However, as they were ordinary Ninja without any Bloodline enhancements, their progress couldn't compare to those with 'cheats'; they needed a considerable amount of time to refine their skills.
As for Genjutsu, it was a component of their respective families' ancestral sword styles.
When it was Higashino Shin's turn, he thought for a moment and said, "I suppose I'm an All-rounder Ninja. I'm decent at Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, Medical Ninjutsu, and Sensory skills. Um... I also know a bit of Fuinjutsu."
He wasn't bragging. Over the past year, he had indeed studied basic Fuinjutsu theoretical knowledge and runes, primarily because they were useful for developing defensive Ninjutsu, so he had learned some along the way.
The three of them stood dumbfounded. What kind of god-tier statement was that? Were those even human words?
Gekkō Hayate and Yūgao Uzuki were even more surprised. We all grew up together; it's true your strength is great, and Medical Ninjutsu is understandable, but what on earth are Sensory and Sealing?
Gekko Yun Jian gave Higashino Shin a deep look. Before taking on this team, he had specifically contacted his old friends Higashino Jiro and Uzumaki Yuwa.
Based on Jiro's letter, he thought he already had a sufficient understanding of Higashino Shin. But now it seemed that the information from his old friend, who had been on the front lines for a long time, was outdated. He had no idea what kind of monster his own son had become.