"Alright, everyone, return to your seats. The team assignments are about to begin."
The "Century Kiss" was just a brief interlude.
Umino Iruka soon appeared at the classroom door, putting an end to the commotion.
The girls, still fuming from the earlier scuffle, reluctantly returned to their seats.
Uzumaki Naruto, now sporting a swollen face, sat behind Izayoi.
Beside him was Haruno Sakura, who, unable to sit next to Uchiha Sasuke, had claimed the seat behind him instead.
As Umino Iruka walked to the podium, the noisy classroom gradually quieted down.
All eyes were on him, filled with anticipation.
After scanning the room and seeing that none of the students he had taught for six years had been eliminated, a proud smile appeared on Umino Iruka's face.
He then composed himself and spoke with a smile, "Congratulations on successfully graduating. From now on, you are officially ninjas."
After a pause, he raised the clipboard in his hand and continued, "However, you are still rookies in the ninja world. Before you can stand on your own, you will be grouped into teams of three, each led by an experienced Jonin Instructor for further training."
"Now, let's begin the team assignments. Team One…"
Without further ado, Umino Iruka started calling out names.
As each name was announced, sighs could be heard throughout the classroom.
These sighs came from the girls.
Although Izayoi had already been "claimed" by Hinata, who ranked in the top three of their class, many girls still harbored secret feelings for him and hoped to be in the same team as him.
Now, they were neither in the same team as Uchiha Sasuke nor grouped with Izayoi, which felt like a stroke of bad luck.
However, the remaining girls grew both nervous and excited.
Each team consisted of two boys and one girl, and with only ten girls in the class, every name called meant a higher chance of being grouped with Izayoi or Uchiha Sasuke.
"Team Six…"
Soon, it was time for Team Six. Umino Iruka read out the names: "Minako, Sawano Genichi, and… Kiba Inuzuka."
Hearing this name, a glint of sharpness flashed in Izayoi's eyes, and his lips curled into a subtle smile.
The results were out! Hiruzen Sarutobi had chosen to invest in Izayoi over Kiba Inuzuka and Aburame Shino, the top student.
Clearly, Izayoi's consistent performance as the top student, surpassing the other ninja clans, had made Hiruzen see the potential in him to become a pillar of strength and an elite fighter.
While the Inuzuka Clan had impressive connections, their combat prowess relied heavily on their Ninja Beasts, making it difficult for them to produce Elite Jonin-level fighters.
Unlike the Aburame Clan, which possessed a variety of bizarre and highly lethal insects, much like the Uchiha Clan's Three-Tomoe Sharingan, making them nearly invincible in one-on-one combat.
Between these two clans, Hiruzen had chosen to let go of the Inuzuka Clan.
And only the Inuzuka Clan would have no complaints.
After all, the Leaf Village was not short on sensory ninja clans. Aside from the Hyuga Clan with their Byakugan, the Aburame Clan was also skilled in scent detection. Moreover, they possessed a nearly extinct, yet potentially revivable, insect—the Micro-Scent Bug.
This type of insect possesses a sense of smell a thousand times more powerful than that of a ninja dog.
Just by sniffing an object with someone's scent, it can accurately locate the person even if they are hundreds of miles away. It's truly extraordinary.
In terms of attack, it has nanoscale poison bugs that can cultivate elite jonin, making even shadow-level experts wary.
Although the Inuzuka Clan's status is relatively low, they are still one of the ninja clans.
Izayoi never expected that Hiruzen Sarutobi would have the audacity to choose to invest in him and offend the Inuzuka Clan.
Little did he know, Hiashi Hyuga played a significant role in this.
Years ago, when Hizashi Hyuga sacrificed himself for the village, Hiruzen already felt indebted to the Hyuga Clan.
Now, with Hiashi Hyuga personally visiting, merely requesting that his daughter be placed in the same team as the top student, such a small request was something Hiruzen couldn't possibly refuse.
He had already considered investing in Izayoi but was hesitant about how to arrange it.
Hiashi Hyuga's arrival simply helped him make the decision. "Team 7: Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto..."
"Yay!"
At this moment, Umino Iruka had already announced Team 7.
Upon hearing that he was in the same team as Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto cheered, while Sakura looked utterly despondent, feeling as though her future was bleak.
However, the next name Iruka read out completely reversed the situation.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"Yay!"
Sakura stood up, raising her hands in jubilation.
Then, like a victor, she turned to Yamanaka Ino with a triumphant expression.
Seeing this, Ino and the other female classmates gritted their teeth in frustration.
"Team 8: Hyuga Hinata, Aburame Shino, and... Izayoi."
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Hearing that she was in the same team as Izayoi, Hinata, in a rare moment of excitement, grabbed Izayoi's arm and said, "That's great, Izayoi-kun! We're in the same team!"
"Yes, it seems our luck is good today."
Izayoi, who had already guessed the outcome, smiled and nodded.
This team assignment indeed pleased him.
After six years, Izayoi had grown accustomed to having Hinata by his side.
He didn't want to be separated from her either.
"Team 10: Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Choji, and... Nara Shikamaru."
After reading the last name, Umino Iruka put down the clipboard in his hand, took one final look at the students he had accompanied for six years, and instructed, "Those whose names were called, remember your team and teammates. Your jonin instructor will come to find you shortly. Do not leave the classroom until then."
With that, Iruka left the classroom.
No students bid him farewell, as everyone was now eagerly anticipating the start of their ninja careers.
Little did they know, another challenge awaited them.
"Team 3, come out."
Only a few minutes after Iruka left.
A middle-aged man in a green vest appeared at the classroom door, his stern and authoritative demeanor instantly silencing the room.
The members of Team 3, as if transported back to their first day of school six years ago, nervously stood up and followed their jonin instructor out.
"Team 5, come out. I'm your jonin instructor."
"Team 1, come out."
"Team 9, come out."
"..."
One after another, Jonin appeared at the classroom door, each taking away three students.
In no time, a large portion of the classroom seats were left empty.
At that moment, a woman with a striking figure, dressed in ordinary clothes instead of the green flak jacket, appeared at the classroom door. She had long, black, curly hair and a pair of red eyes that scanned the remaining students. Her gaze eventually settled on Izayoi and Hinata, and she smiled, saying, "Team 8, come out. I am your Jonin Instructor."
After speaking, she turned and left.
"I'll go ahead, see you later."
Izayoi bid farewell to Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto, then walked out of the classroom with Hinata.
As for Aburame Shino, the top student with an extremely low presence, he had already disappeared without a trace.
(End of Chapter)