At the same time—
Inside the Hokage’s office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat before a crystal ball while using the Telescope Technique to observe the graduating classroom at the Konoha Ninja Academy.
Several instructors stood nearby.
Among them were Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhi.
The remaining instructors were mostly Chunin assigned to ordinary teams.
As the crystal ball displayed the classroom, Asuma immediately noticed a familiar figure.
“That’s the top rookie this year?”
His eyes shifted toward Sasuke Uchiha.
“The last surviving Uchiha…”
Even among the instructors, Sasuke’s reputation was already well known.
Talent.
Clan prestige.
And the political implications surrounding the Uchiha massacre.
Kakashi silently observed Sasuke as well.
His thoughts drifted unconsciously toward another Uchiha.
Itachi Uchiha.
Once, Itachi had served beneath Kakashi during ANBU operations despite being far younger.
And even then—
Kakashi understood clearly that Itachi’s talent was abnormal.
Now, seeing Sasuke sitting quietly by the window, Kakashi could vaguely sense a similar loneliness.
Soon, the crystal ball’s perspective shifted again.
This time toward Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto was loudly provoking Sasuke again as usual.
Several girls immediately surrounded him furiously after he accidentally disrupted their view of Sasuke.
Hiruzen sighed helplessly.
“That child really never changes…”
Kakashi’s gaze softened slightly while looking at Naruto.
Memories surfaced involuntarily.
Minato Namikaze.
Rin Nohara.
Obito Uchiha.
“The teacher’s son…”
The crystal ball shifted once more.
This time—
A boy slept quietly at the back of the classroom with his head resting on the desk.
Yoruha.
Unlike Sasuke or Naruto, nobody paid attention to him at all.
No one greeted him.
No one approached him.
Even several instructors barely remembered his existence after glancing once.
To them, Yoruha was simply another average academy graduate.
But the Third Hokage’s eyes lingered on him noticeably longer than before.
“…Still sleepy because we interrupted him repeatedly last night?”
Nearby, Kakashi quietly noticed Hiruzen’s reaction.
His visible eye narrowed subtly.
“So it really is him…”
“The one who created that monstrous destruction.”
From the crystal ball alone, Yoruha looked completely ordinary.
Quiet.
Withdrawn.
Unremarkable.
Nothing about him resembled the terrifying existence from last night.
Inside the classroom, Yoruha slowly opened his eyes after hearing sudden shouting nearby.
He looked up calmly.
A familiar scene unfolded before him.
Naruto had accidentally kissed Sasuke after being bumped forward.
The classroom exploded instantly.
Girls screamed in horror before swarming Naruto violently.
Meanwhile, Sasuke’s expression darkened as he repeatedly wiped his mouth in disgust.
Yoruha stared silently for a moment.
“…So the famous scene still happened.”
Back before transmigrating, he might have found the moment nostalgic or amusing.
But now—
He felt almost nothing.
Perhaps inheriting Akainu’s overwhelming willpower and combat mentality subtly changed him.
Or perhaps overwhelming strength naturally distanced him emotionally from ordinary childish interactions.
Either way—
The scene no longer interested him.
Naruto was quickly beaten black-and-blue by the furious girls for “stealing Sasuke’s first kiss.”
A truly unforgivable crime in their eyes.
Yoruha simply lowered his head again and returned to sleep.
Not because he lacked rest.
Rather—
He genuinely lacked hobbies now.
Most ordinary entertainment felt strangely meaningless after gaining such overwhelming power.
Inside the Hokage’s office, Kakashi finally saw Yoruha’s face clearly.
“…He’s actually quite handsome.”
Then Kakashi frowned slightly.
“But nobody in class interacts with him at all.”
That part felt strange.
Objectively speaking, Yoruha’s appearance was second only to Sasuke among the boys.
Normally, such looks combined with strength would naturally attract attention.
Then Kakashi realized the reason immediately.
“He never revealed his abilities.”
“If he actually displayed his true strength at the academy…”
“…he would probably overshadow Sasuke entirely.”
At the academy, students naturally admired talent first.
And Yoruha possessed absurd hidden strength.
Yet someone capable of casually rejecting direct recruitment from the Hokage clearly did not care about popularity.
Kakashi found himself becoming increasingly interested in him.
Unfortunately—
Kakashi had unknowingly misunderstood one important thing.
His assigned team still consisted of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura Haruno.
Yet his attention had already drifted heavily toward Yoruha instead.
Eventually—
It became time for official team assignments.
Inside the classroom, Yoruha finally lifted his head from the desk fully.
He lazily wiped imaginary drool from the corner of his mouth before looking toward the podium.
Iruka Umino stood there holding the sealed assignment list.
The moment Iruka saw Yoruha awake, his emotions became complicated again.
Who could have imagined—
The most invisible student in class would secretly possess the most terrifying strength among all graduates?
Iruka still felt regretful.
Yoruha revealed his abilities too late.
All official Jonin assignments had already been arranged beforehand.
Most premium teams were reserved for important individuals:
Naruto.
Sasuke.
Clan heirs like Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, Ino Yamanaka, and Hinata Hyuga.
Even Sakura’s placement carried balancing intentions due to Naruto and Sasuke’s personalities.
Iruka especially understood Naruto’s importance better than most people.
Years ago, Naruto’s terrible grades and constant misbehavior nearly drove Iruka insane.
Yet the Third Hokage personally intervened multiple times to encourage patience with Naruto.
No ordinary student received such treatment.
Any other academy child consistently scoring zeros and refusing discipline would likely have been expelled already.
Iruka sighed inwardly.
“Yoruha…”
“If your true strength had been revealed earlier…”
“…you absolutely would’ve received elite guidance.”
He glanced once more at the finalized Jonin assignment sheet.
No changes.
Meaning Yoruha still likely remained assigned under a Chunin instructor.
What a waste.
With Yoruha’s hidden talent, Iruka genuinely believed he could eventually become one of Konoha’s pillars.
Perhaps even a future Jonin commander.
After calming himself, Iruka finally addressed the class.
“Next…”
“I will announce the official team assignments.”
The classroom immediately became noisy.
Excitement filled the room.
Iruka opened the list.
“Team One…”
Yoruha’s name was absent.
“Team Two…”
Still absent.
The announcements continued.
Eventually—
“Team Seven.”
The classroom quieted slightly.
Iruka read calmly:
“Haruno Sakura.”
Nearby, Naruto immediately clasped his hands together excitedly.
“Please let me be with Sakura-chan!”
Iruka continued:
“Uzumaki Naruto.”
Naruto instantly jumped up.
“Yes!”
“Sakura-chan and I are together!”
Meanwhile, Sakura’s soul nearly left her body.
“…Why Naruto…”
She collapsed dramatically onto the desk in despair.
Then Iruka finished the final name.
“Uchiha Sasuke.”
Sakura instantly resurrected.
“Yes!!”
“Sasuke-kun is in my team too!”
Naruto’s face darkened immediately.
“…Why is it this bastard again?!”
Meanwhile, Sakura proudly turned toward Ino Yamanaka provocatively.
“Hahaha!
Sasuke-kun is on my team!”
Ino gritted her teeth furiously.
“You forehead girl…!”