Last year, Might Guy still took Rock Lee's team.
According to Might Guy, Rock Lee's talent was far inferior to Naruto's, but he was diligent enough to be considered a genius of effort.
Once, Naruto overheard a conversation between Iruka and Might Guy, where Iruka was confusedly asking Guy why he changed his mind about teaching Rock Lee and his two teammates.
And Guy said this: "Naruto is like a sponge; he can quickly absorb anything you teach him.
But Rock Lee... he needs someone to tell him that even without natural talent, he can forge his own path through hard work.
I will tell Naruto about this, although it's regrettable, youth is full of unexpected twists and turns. But I believe both Naruto and I will burn our youth brightly in our respective teams.
After all, Naruto is my most prized disciple!"
Compared to Naruto, Rock Lee truly needed Might Guy's guidance more.
Rock Lee was just like Might Guy in his youth; not only did they look similar, but their experiences were also quite alike.
Initially, Might Guy didn't even qualify for the Ninja Academy. He was only accepted as an exception after demonstrating astonishing perseverance by running five hundred laps around the school while holding a banner.
And Rock Lee also lacked talent in Ninjutsu, and his Taijutsu was currently quite a bit worse than Naruto's.
Naruto had no objections to this.
The next day, during the team assignments, Naruto sat in his seat, listening to the people around him discuss who would be placed on which team.
The result of the team assignments was no surprise to Naruto.
The heirs of the Ino–Shika–Chō three clans were destined to be grouped together; this was a tradition the three clans had maintained for centuries.
The title of the Ino–Shika–Chō combination was not necessarily passed down only after the previous generation died.
However, it was generally the heirs of the three clans who inherited the Ino–Shika–Chō name.
Calculating twenty years per generation, the 16th generation of Ino–Shika–Chō had already been passed down for over three hundred years.
And the supervising Jonin, Asuma Sarutobi, was naturally the choice.
The Sarutobi Clan had historically served as witnesses to the Ino–Shika–Chō combination, plus Asuma's father, the Third Hokage, had witnessed Inoichi and his teammates form the previous Ino–Shika–Chō.
This arrangement both maintained the ancient alliance and consolidated the power of the Hokage faction.
Members of the Inuzuka, Aburame, and Hyuga Clans—Kiba, Shino, and Hinata—who excel at tracking and reconnaissance, would be assigned to one team.
Naruto pondered this internally.
Kurenai Yuhi, who would lead the team, was Asuma's lover, ensuring close cooperation between the two elite teams.
These six clans were staunch supporters of the Hokage, so this arrangement was not surprising.
Finally, there was the Ninja squad led by Kakashi as the supervising Jonin, with members being himself, Sasuke, and Sakura.
This configuration appeared balanced, but actually held deep meaning.
Sharingan Kakashi could both guide Sasuke in developing his Bloodline Limit and look after the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, who lacked parents during childhood.
After all, Kakashi was Minato's disciple.
"They really went to great lengths..."
"Naruto, do you think we'll be assigned to the same team?"
Ino leaned closer to Naruto, her golden ponytail swaying gently with her movement, her eyes filled with obvious anticipation.
"Stop dreaming."
Shikamaru lazily picked his ear, mercilessly pouring cold water on her hopes.
"You're definitely going to be on a team with me and Choji. It's the Ino–Shika–Chō tradition, don't even bother thinking about it."
"Can't I even think about it?"
Ino glared angrily at Shikamaru, though she knew the truth perfectly well herself.
As the heir to the Yamanaka Clan, forming a team with the Nara and Akimichi was the mission of family heritage.
But the thought of not being able to see Naruto every day made her feel inevitably disappointed.
"It's alright, Ino."
Naruto gently took her hand, and the warm touch made Ino pause slightly.
"Even if we aren't on the same team, we can still meet in the Village, right?"
He gave a comforting smile, his blue eyes appearing exceptionally clear in the sunlight: "The training ground, Ichiraku Ramen, or even your family's flower shop... As long as we want to meet, there will always be countless reasons."
Shikamaru watched the scene, shaking his head helplessly, but refrained from saying anything else to spoil the mood.
He muttered inwardly.
Even though she knew the team assignments couldn't be changed, she was still swayed by her emotions; even though she understood this was predetermined, she still needed gentle comfort from others.
Women are such a drag.
"Tch."
Shikamaru clicked his tongue softly and turned his gaze toward the window.
White clouds drifted lazily by. Instead of pondering these bothersome interpersonal relationships, it was more practical to think about how to improve the Shadow Imitation Technique.
Just as Naruto finished comforting Ino, Hinata, who was sitting to his left, also asked expectantly.
"Naruto-kun, do you think we can be assigned to the same team?"
She spoke softly, her pale fingers nervously twisting together, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
"I'm also looking forward to being on the same team as Hinata."
Naruto replied with a smile, his gaze gently resting on her.
Noticing Hinata's eyes light up at his words, he changed the subject and patiently explained: "However, I think the areas of expertise for Hinata, Kiba, and Shino are all reconnaissance.
The three of you will probably be grouped together and trained as a future reconnaissance squad!"
He paused, his voice softening further: "I don't think the nine of us will be split up and assigned with the other students in the class."
Although Hinata was a bit disappointed, she obediently nodded after hearing Naruto's serious analysis. Yet, in those white eyes, a hint of hard-to-detect yearning still lingered.
Hearing Naruto's words, Shino was the first to react. He adjusted his sunglasses, and the lenses flashed with a reflection:
"In that case, Naruto, you think you'll be assigned to a team with Sakura and Sasuke?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, that should be the case."
Naruto shrugged, giving a helpless smile.
"They wouldn't possibly assign me to the same team as Yūsuke and Jirō, right?"
Mentioning the names Yūsuke and Jirō made the few people present burst into laughter.
These two guys were the ones who mocked Naruto the most over the years, and also the two who got beaten up the worst.
They were either chased and bitten by Kiba's Akamaru, or tricked and spun around by Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique. In the most tragic instance, Yūsuke even had his eyebrows burned off by Sasuke using the Great Fireball Technique.
"That's true."
Choji stuffed a potato chip into his mouth and mumbled his agreement.
Even Shino, who was usually humorless, slightly curled the corner of his mouth: "Indeed, a combination like that would be too inefficient."
Just as Naruto expected, the students were soon taken away in groups of three by Jonin wearing Ninja vests.
The classroom gradually emptied until only Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura remained.
Naruto got up, walked to the front row, and naturally sat down in the empty seat next to Sasuke.
Sunlight streamed through the window onto the two boys, outlining distinctly different profiles.
One was brilliant like the morning sun, the other cool like moonlight.
"Sasuke, looks like we'll be a team."
Naruto said with a smile.
"That's not bad."
Sasuke nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the window, but his tone conveyed approval.
He genuinely thought being on the same team as Naruto was a good thing.
Over the years, Naruto's strength and potential had long earned the Uchiha's recognition.
Sakura, who had quietly moved to the front row, listened to their conversation, excitedly twisting her fingers.
The two strongest and most handsome guys in the class were on her team!
Sakura cupped her cheeks.
She heard Naruto could cook, and his personality was cheerful and considerate—he was the ideal type... But Ino was pursuing Naruto!
Wait, there's also Sasuke!
She seemed to envision herself standing between the two handsome boys, unable to choose, and couldn't help but let out a giggle.
Naruto and Sasuke simultaneously glanced at Sakura, who had suddenly burst out laughing, exchanged a knowing look, and then tacitly looked away.
Sakura-bro is daydreaming again?
Great, it's the Koto Sakura, one of the strongest Genjutsu in the Ninja World.
Lady Tsunade, I've caught up to them.
Just as Naruto and Sasuke simultaneously turned their heads.
The classroom door was gently pushed open.