Uchiha Mai sat bored in the back row by the window, waiting for the village to announce the team assignments. The back row by the window—the legendary "Protagonist's Seat." To squeeze every drop of value out of his "Style Points," Mai had even calculated his seating arrangement.
The young Kurenai Yuhi was still pursuing her "male god" relentlessly, dragging a chair over to sit right next to him.
Seeing this, Asuma could only lick his wounds in the corner, numbing himself with the thought that Kurenai was still young and didn't know any better.
For the past month, Asuma hadn't dared to pick a fight with Mai. On the contrary, Mai had cornered him several times. After all, a bet was a bet: the loser had to be a training partner for a month.
Listen to me, let me see your progress!
Lately, Mai had been testing plenty of new moves on Asuma. The "fearless campus boss" was forced to go home every day with a face swollen like a pig's head.
Faceless Chunin instructors filtered in and out of the classroom, calling out names from clipboards. One by one, students left with their new captains until the room grew increasingly empty.
Kurenai rested her chin on her hand, sighing. "Mai-kun, when will it be our turn?"
"Soon," Mai replied dismissively.
"Mai-kun, wouldn't it be wonderful if we were placed on the same team?"
"That's not for us to decide."
Assignments were predetermined by the village; neither the students nor the captains had a say in the matter.
Dismissed twice in a row, Kurenai puffed out her cheeks in a pout. "Mai-kun, can't you say more than three words? Tell me, what kind of person do you hope our future captain will be?"
Mai feigned deep thought for a long time before answering: "Doesn't really matter who it is."
"Hmph!"
Seeing him continue to be so aloof, the little girl let out a cold snort. Fine, I'm ignoring you. I won't say another word until you apologize!
It's a promise!
Heaven be my witness, Mai wasn't trying to be mean. It was just that Kurenai's questions were entirely devoid of substance.
To him, the initial team assignment for a fresh graduate wasn't actually that important. Unless you were part of an elite legacy squad like the Ino-Shika-Cho or the "Konoha 12," most teams didn't last long.
Based on mission requirements and casualties, squads were constantly broken up and reorganized.
Usually, a standard Genin squad was led by a Chunin. Their job was to teach cooperation and help the kids adapt to a cruel world. But if the village needed an elite strike force, those captains would be reassigned, and a senior Genin might be promoted to take over.
Mai knew that with his system, he'd be a Chunin in no time. Who his captain was didn't really matter—unless he was put into an elite track from the start. That was a possibility, and a likely one, but so what?
In this era, Mai didn't recognize many of Konoha's Jonin. Standard Jonin might be stronger than him for now, but they weren't "plot characters," meaning they wouldn't yield high Style Points. He could run into a dozen nameless Jonin just taking a stroll. Jonin? Big deal.
The classroom continued to empty until only six people remained: Uchiha Mai, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, Might Guy, Rin Nohara, and Uchiha Obito.
There were age gaps between them, and theoretically, they shouldn't have graduated in the same year. However, the Academy at this time wasn't strictly regulated.
It was like a rural school where grades 1 through 6 might share a space, and the divisions were blurry. Essentially, if you were strong enough after 4 to 6 years, you graduated.
This was why Kakashi, three years older than Hayate Gekko, was considered a peer. Even if Kakashi graduated days after Hayate entered, they were technically "classmates" for a brief window.
The six of them waited for another half hour. Just as Mai was losing his patience and considering clearing some space to practice his dance moves, the door creaked open.
A young man with bright blond hair entered. He wore the standard green flak jacket of a Konoha Jonin. He was handsome—almost half as handsome as Uchiha Mai—and possessed a gentle, approachable aura.
Mai's pupils contracted. Isn't that Naruto's dad, Minato Namikaze?
In the original timeline, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin were in a squad led by Minato. But right now, Obito was still a half-wit, Rin was average, and Kakashi was already a Chunin. Mai hadn't expected them to be grouped together from the start.
Is this the "Will of the Universe"?
Minato Namikaze gave a shy, somewhat awkward smile, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry to keep you all waiting.
On the way here, I ran into an old lady who needed help crossing the street. After that, I met a grandmother who was lost. Once I got her home, I found a black cat stuck in a tree..."
Captain, I'm stuck in a tree.jpg
Mai: "..."
Great. All the classic excuses Kakashi uses in the future? Minato just used them all in one go.
Coming from Minato, however, Mai actually believed it. Minato was known as the "Little Sunlight"—honest, reliable, a bit of a dork, and a top-tier youth of Konoha.
His image was leagues higher than the future Kakashi, who lied through his teeth.
"Now then, I'll call out the names. Please follow me."
Minato pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and read: "Uchiha Mai, Asuma Sarutobi, Rin Nohara, Kurenai Yuhi, Might Guy, Uchiha Obito. Is everyone here? If you're not here, please raise your hand."
Mai: "..."
Kurenai leaned in and whispered to Mai, "He's a little bit of a dork, isn't he?"
Mai nodded in agreement. Minato definitely had his "airhead" moments.
Minato realized his slip of the tongue and flushed slightly. "It seems everyone is here. Please follow me to the training field."
He hurried out of the classroom to escape the awkward atmosphere, and the students followed the "Little Sunlight" outside.
Mai's mind was racing. A standard Konoha squad consists of three members plus a captain for small-unit coordination. Why did he call out six names?
Once they were lined up on the field, Minato cleared his throat and glanced inconspicuously toward the Hokage's office, nodding slightly.
He then looked at the group. "While you are all excellent students, I have some bad news. My team already has one member. Only two of you will be able to join my squad. The other four will be eliminated and will not be able to become ninjas."
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