Ryuichi POV

Two years went by pretty quickly, most of my time went into shinobi training, I had come a long way in my training. My skills in fire jutsu had grown significantly; I had mastered the Phoenix Fire and Fire Bullet Jutsu, reducing each to just two hand seals. Most notably, I could now perform the Great Fireball Jutsu with a single hand seal, creating a fireball as immense as my father's. This achievement meant a lot to me—it was a sign that I was beginning to approach his level, though I still had a long way to go.

With my growth in medical ninjutsu, I felt increasingly confident about my abilities. I was at a point where I could undertake missions as a field medic without anyone doubting my competence. To add to my arsenal, I decided to learn the Chakra Scalpel technique, which I saw as a promising offensive tool. When I eagerly told Tsunade-sensei about my plan, she laughed, clearly amused.

"You know," she said, still chuckling, "the Chakra Scalpel requires incredibly high chakra control. So high that it's nearly impossible to use effectively during combat, where your focus is constantly split." Her laugh quickly faded, replaced by a look of serious contemplation. "But," she added thoughtfully, "if there's one person who could pull it off, it's you, Ryuichi." She patted me on the back, giving me a rare look of encouragement.

Encouraging as her words were, mastering the Chakra Scalpel in combat was anything but easy. The technique demanded a level of concentration I found hard to sustain in the chaotic atmosphere of battle. However, I was determined. To bridge the gap, I committed to using the Chakra Scalpel throughout my day, incorporating it into even the simplest of movements. The goal was to make the jutsu muscle memory, to be able to rely on it instinctively rather than having to concentrate consciously in the middle of a fight.

While my progress in ninjutsu and medical techniques was steady and satisfying, fuinjutsu was another story entirely. Despite my hard work, I struggled in this area, especially when compared to Fuyumi. She was leagues ahead, her mastery over fuinjutsu something I could barely comprehend. While I was still refining basic sealing techniques, she had already learned how to create intricate barriers and even store jutsu within her seals.

Kushina tried to reassure me, reminding me that most people took far longer to achieve what I had in fuinjutsu. But it was hard not to feel a pang of frustration whenever Fuyumi demonstrated skills that felt so far beyond my reach.

Despite our friendly rivalry, Fuyumi and I were growing closer. We sparred in taijutsu nearly every other day, and in those countless matches, I learned to understand her better. Fuyumi was still quiet and guarded, rarely opening up about herself. I suspected her life outside the village had left scars she wasn't ready to share. I respected her silence, knowing that when – or if – she was ready, she would tell me herself.

I was practically bouncing as I made my way to the academy, excitement bubbling in my chest. Today, I'd finally be assigned to a genin team. This was the moment I'd been looking forward to—joining a team meant I'd soon be going on missions, training under a jonin sensei, and, best of all, gaining actual combat experience. So far, my closest taste of battle had been sparring sessions with Kakashi, and those weekly duels at the clan compound, while thrilling, were just a glimpse of the real thing. I'd learned a lot from those sessions with Kakashi, but my father always said, *"A jutsu is only as powerful as the creativity of its user. It becomes complete when you use it in ways that no one else can imagine."*

As I reached the academy doors, I took a deep breath, trying to temper my excitement, and slowly opened the door to the classroom where teams would be assigned. I'd arrived a few minutes early, unable to wait any longer. My eyes swept the room, quickly landing on Kakashi, who was seated in his usual spot. Oddly, though, Fuyumi sat beside him today, the two of them looking about as comfortable as cats in water. Their awkwardness was almost palpable.

I grinned, unable to resist teasing them. "You two seem comfortable," I remarked, folding my arms as I leaned against the door.

They turned in unison, giving me identical looks of mild annoyance and confusion, their expressions practically saying, *"What on earth are you talking about?"*

I sighed and took a seat beside them. "My sarcasm is lost on you peasants," I muttered, earning a synchronized eye roll from both of them.

After a pause, Fuyumi glanced over at me. "The teacher who's supposed to assign the teams is late," she said, her voice calm but curious.

"Wonder what's holding them up," I replied, glancing towards the empty teacher's desk. The room buzzed with low chatter as we waited, and while we tried to act casual, I could tell we were all equally eager. The thought of fighting alongside actual shinobi, facing opponents with different skills and strategies—it was exactly what I needed to refine my jutsu in ways that simple sparring couldn't achieve.

Each second of waiting only sharpened the anticipation as we exchanged glances, wondering what our future teams might look like and what kind of challenges we were about to face.

Meanwhile in the Hokage's office

Minato stood confidently in front of the Hokage, his voice steady as he proposed, "I'd like to request Ryuichi, Rin, and Obito for my team, in line with the typical Team 7 formation."

Kushina, however, had other ideas. Without hesitation, she smacked her palm firmly on the Hokage's desk, her eyes blazing. "The norm for Team 7 is to pair the rookie of the year, the best kunoichi, and the dead last, Minato. So logically, that would place Kakashi in your team while Ryuichi joins mine," she argued, her voice as unyielding as her stance.

Minato, unfazed by her intensity, met her eyes calmly. "But let's be fair here—it's more than reasonable to assume Ryuichi would have claimed the rookie title if the Hokage hadn't granted him the genin rank directly."

Kushina didn't waver. "That may be true, but for a straightforward assault team, Kakashi is just as well suited as Ryuichi. Besides, I've got different plans for him." Her answer caught Minato off-guard, his eyebrow arching with intrigue. "Kushina," he asked, his tone challenging yet curious, "what exactly are you planning for Ryuichi?"

She could feel the weight of all eyes in the room, each person anticipating her response. While Minato's choices made sense, her own vision went beyond a conventional team structure. Instead, she had requested two unlikely candidates to join her—a girl ranked second among the kunoichi, selected for her high chakra reserves despite her less-than-ideal chakra control, and a student who was technically a senior, having failed the previous year due to struggles in ninjutsu. Her intentions were unconventional, to say the least.

"I want to form a first-response team," she declared boldly.

The Hokage, who had been silently observing, coughed, visibly surprised. Whispers and murmurs rippled through the room, disbelief clear on their faces. "Kushina," the Hokage said, his voice calm but pointed. "You understand that first-response teams face some of the most dangerous situations in the field. Their survivability rate is… well, it's no secret that the odds are heavily stacked against them. Are you sure placing such gifted genin in such a high-risk team is wise?"

Kushina nodded, unwavering. "Hokage-sama, I'm are the ideal candidates for this type of operation."

"What makes you so certain?" he asked, a mixture of curiosity and concern in his tone.

She gestured at Ryuichi's report. "We don't need much explanation for the boys, But the girl…" Kushina paused, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. "There's something about her no one else has noticed yet—not even herself."

A buzz of intrigue filled the room. Minato leaned forward, interested in the revelation. "And what's that?" the Hokage asked, matching the anticipation in the room.

Kushina flashed a grin. "She's a sensor."

The Hokage's eyes widened, and he leaned back in his chair, considering her words. Having a young sensor would indeed be a rare and valuable asset, especially for a first-response unit. Ryuichi, as Tsunade's protege and a budding ninjutsu master, already held a high level of prestige. If Kushina's hunch was right, and she could refine these three into a functioning first-response team, it would not only strengthen Konoha but also provide a much-needed edge in situations requiring immediate action—a responsibility most shinobi were wary to take on due to its high risk.

Kushina looked at the Hokage, unwavering, as he took a long draw from his pipe, the smoke swirling in the air as he weighed her reasoning. Creating a specialized first-response team came with its share of challenges, but the potential rewards could be incredible for Konoha, a village that often found itself in need of a nimble, quick-acting unit to address sudden threats. After a moment, the Hokage exhaled, his gaze thoughtful, balancing Minato's sound argument against Kushina's unorthodox but enticing proposal.

Back at the academy

The classroom door swung open with sudden urgency, and the instructor practically stumbled in, his face flushed from running. He paused, hands on his knees, drawing in a few ragged breaths before managing to stand up straight. "Apologies for the delay," he said, his voice still shaky as he addressed the students. "There were… some unsettled matters regarding team assignments." He smoothed out a slightly crumpled list and took a deep breath, preparing himself for the task ahead.

One by one, he began to call out names, assigning teams. With each set of three, a jonin entered the room to escort their newly assigned genin, the energy in the room growing tenser with every passing moment. The students sat up straighter, glancing at each other in anticipation. This was the day that would shape the next phase of their lives, defining the missions they'd go on, the skills they'd hone, and the bonds they'd form. Ryuichi, however, found himself hoping for a specific team arrangement, one that would allow him to grow as a shinobi without the extra weight of Kakashi's complicated friendships.

Then, he heard a familiar name ring out through the classroom. "Kakashi Hatake! Obito Uchiha! And Rin Nohara!" the instructor announced. "You're assigned to Team Seven under Minato Namikaze."

Ryuichi exhaled a quiet sigh of relief, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Thank goodness I dodged that bullet, he thought. Glancing over at Kakashi, he fought back a grin—his friend looked as stoic as ever, his impassive expression masking the intrigue Ryuichi knew he felt about the new team dynamic. He liked Kakashi well enough, but being thrust into a team with Kakashi, Obito, and Rin? He could already see the complex web of friendships, rivalries, and budding emotions that would ensue. That wasn't a battlefield he was interested in entering.

But as he turned his attention back to the front, he noticed something strange. The jonin who had come to collect Team Seven—the blond, calm-eyed man with the relaxed, confident stance—was startlingly familiar. Ryuichi's eyes widened, recognition stirring something deep within him. He knew this face, even though they'd never met; it was the same man he'd seen in his recurring dreams, standing against the monstrous force of the Nine Tails with an intense, determined gaze.

He didn't realize he was staring until he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. Fuyumi had noticed his intense expression and had leaned in with a concerned whisper, her touch steady. "Are you okay, Ryuichi?" she asked, her quiet voice filled with genuine worry.

Ryuichi blinked, snapping back to reality. Realizing how absorbed he'd been, he forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah," he replied with a slight shrug. "Just… wondering when we'll get our team assignments." He kept his voice light, brushing off her question with ease, hoping to shift her attention away from his obvious distraction.

Fuyumi gave a small nod, though her brow remained furrowed as she studied him. She knew that there was more to his reaction, but she respected his choice to keep it to himself. After all, Ryuichi had always shown her the same courtesy. There were parts of her past, especially from outside the village, that she kept tightly guarded. She knew Ryuichi sensed it, yet he never pressured her to share. In that quiet understanding, he'd given her a rare freedom—to speak or to remain silent without judgment. She would extend him the same respect, however long he needed.

A sudden voice interrupted her thoughts as the instructor called out, "Ryuichi Uchiha, Fuyumi Uzumaki, and Haru Hyuga!" The instructor's gaze swept over the three of them, his voice resonating through the classroom. "You've been assigned to Team Nine under Kushina Uzumaki."

As soon as the announcement was made, Kushina entered the room in her shinobi attire, her vibrant red hair swinging and a confident grin on her face. She looked like she belonged on the battlefield, her presence instantly filling the room.

"Eh, Kushina-san, you're our sensei?!" Ryuichi exclaimed, his usual calm completely overtaken by surprise.

Beside him, Fuyumi's eyes widened, her mind flashing back to their conversation the day before. She'd asked Kushina if she knew who her sensei would be, but Kushina had only giggled mischievously and replied, "You'll see." Now, everything made sense.

"Surprise!" Kushina said with a big smile, giving them an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "I know, I know, it's a lot to take in, but we're going to make an awesome team, believe it! I can already tell each of you has what it takes."

With a quick wink and a grin, she added, "Now, Team Nine, meet me at Training Ground 9 in 15 minutes. Don't be late!" And with that, she vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving behind only a faint scent of jasmine and the buzz of excitement hanging in the air.

Ryuichi turned to Fuyumi, his eyes wide with surprise. "Oi, Fuyumi—did you know about this?"

Fuyumi shook her head, a small, amused smile on her face. "Nope. Kushina-sama never mentioned a thing."

"Seriously?" Ryuichi asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Fuyumi just shrugged, her smile widening. Ryuichi slumped back in his seat, crossing his arms with a sigh. "Great… This is going to be a drag. Kushina-san is a great teacher, but she's got a temper. She'll probably have us running laps for the smallest mistake." He let out a small groan, but then his eyes brightened with curiosity. "By the way, do you know anything about our third teammate? The instructor mentioned his name—Haru Hyuga."

Fuyumi thought for a moment before shaking her head again. "No, this is the first I've heard of him. I haven't seen or heard of a Hyuga in our class, either."

Ryuichi furrowed his brow. "Hmm, he must be one of the seniors who graduated this year. I caught a few unfamiliar names when they announced the teams."

Fuyumi raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Ryuichi, do you even remember most of your classmates' names?"

Ryuichi paused, caught off guard. "...No, but that's beside the point. It's too troublesome to remember the names of unremarkable people," he added with a dismissive wave.

Fuyumi chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Can't argue with that logic."

"Anyway," Ryuichi said, standing and stretching his arms, "we'd better get going. Don't want to keep Kushina-san waiting."

A playful gleam appeared in Fuyumi's eyes. "Race you to the training ground?"

"Oh, you're on," Ryuichi replied, the challenge sparking his competitive side.

In an instant, they broke into a sprint, barreling out of the academy like two streaks of lightning. The streets of Konoha blurred around them as they dodged obstacles and surprised villagers, laughing and pushing each other forward. To onlookers, it seemed as though a streak of red and a streak of black had burst into the village, racing neck and neck.

Ryuichi scanned the training ground until he spotted Kushina standing confidently by the edge of the clearing, her vibrant red hair gleaming in the sunlight, and beside her, a black-haired boy with a calm presence. As they approached, Kushina waved energetically, her enthusiasm radiating.

"What took you guys so long?" Kushina asked, hands on her hips with a playful grin.

"We were just having a friendly race, Kushina-sama," Fuyumi replied politely, her cheeks a little flushed from their sprint.

Kushina's grin widened. "I love the enthusiasm! You guys are already full of energy—just what I like to see in a new genin team!" She paused before motioning toward the boy next to her. "Before we jump in, though, I want you guys to meet your third teammate: Haru Hyuga."

From a single glance, Haru bore all the distinct features of the Hyuga clan. His hair was a deep black, straight and neatly framing his face. His pale lavender eyes, the signature trait of his clan, were serene but gentle, reflecting a thoughtful nature. Unlike the typical sternness associated with the Hyuga, Haru had an inviting calm about him, and as he looked at them, he gave a friendly smile.

"Hey, guys," Haru said with a polite bow and an easy smile.

Ryuichi replied with a simple "Hello," while Fuyumi responded with a nod. Observing her reserved response, Ryuichi couldn't help but notice how much more guarded she seemed around others, compared to the relaxed way she acted with him and Kushina.

Kushina clapped her hands, drawing their attention. "Alright, let's start with introductions!" She stepped forward confidently. "I'm Kushina Uzumaki, your jonin sensei. I like ramen…and my boyfriend, equally!" She gave an exaggerated wink that made Ryuichi raise an eyebrow in surprise, curious about who this mysterious boyfriend might be. Kushina chuckled and continued, "I specialize in kenjutsu and fuinjutsu. My short-term goal is to turn you guys into the best genin team in Konoha, and my long-term goal…" she paused dramatically, her gaze steady, "is to become Hokage!"

The trio's reaction was varied: Ryuichi and Fuyumi looked at her with surprise, clearly impressed by her lofty aspirations, while Haru's eyes lit up with an almost starstruck admiration, a wide grin spreading across his face.

Kushina smiled at their reactions and gestured toward Haru. "Alright, Haru, how about you go next?"

Haru stood straighter, nodding. "Well, I'm Haru Hyuga. I really like dango!" he proclaimed with a hint of pride. "My goal is also to become Hokage, and," he added more seriously, his hand touching the seal on his forehead, "to remove the cursed seal of the Hyuga clan."

Kushina nodded thoughtfully. "That's a strong goal, Haru. Very admirable." She then turned to Fuyumi with an encouraging smile. "How about you, Fuyumi?"

Fuyumi hesitated for a moment, her gaze dropping slightly. "I'm Fuyumi Uzumaki," she began quietly. "I like ramen… and what I like most…" She trailed off, a small blush rising on her cheeks as she looked down, muttering so softly that only Kushina could hear, "…is Kushina-san."

Only Kushina caught the words, her heightened jonin senses picking up the whisper. Kushina's grin grew into a wide, beaming smile, clearly flattered, while both Ryuichi and Haru exchanged a quick, confused glance, wondering what had made Kushina so pleased.

"Fantastic!" Kushina said in utmost satisfaction, her excitement evident. Then she turned to Ryuichi. "Alright, your turn, Ryuichi."

Ryuichi straightened, running a hand through his hair. "I'm Ryuichi Uchiha. I like my family and tomato dishes… but I can't stand bell peppers." He paused, his expression turning serious. "My goal is to become strong enough to protect the people I care about."

Kushina nodded approvingly. "That's a noble goal, Ryuichi." She looked over her three students with a sense of pride already forming. "Now that we've gotten to know each other, it's time to talk about something very important."

The three genin shifted their attention to her, intrigued.

"The reason for the formation of this team," Kushina began. "In Konoha, each team has a specific purpose or specialty—a type of shinobi work they are especially skilled in. This could be reconnaissance, tracking, infiltration, direct combat, and so on." Her eyes sparkled with a knowing look as she continued. "Our team was formed with a particular purpose in mind… and that is to be a first-response team."

The trio exchanged puzzled glances, their curiosity growing.

Kushina took a moment, letting the room settle before speaking, her gaze shifting from one curious genin to the next. "Well, it's not too surprising that you guys haven't heard much about first response teams," she began. "They aren't exactly something most genin aspire to join. A first response team, as the name suggests, is the first line of action, arriving immediately after any sign of trouble or an unusual incident. This means our missions could range from a simple false alarm to dangerous S-rank jobs where we're in hostile territory with no backup in sight."

Ryuichi and Haru exchanged uneasy looks, both of them feeling the weight of her words, while Fuyumi's eyes narrowed in focused thought. The reality of what they were signing up for began to sink in, each of them grasping the seriousness of their new team's purpose.

"Now," Kushina continued, her tone becoming more solemn, "you're probably wondering why you three were chosen for such a role."

Ryuichi broke the silence, his curiosity outweighing his nervousness. "Why were we chosen, Kushina-san?"

Kushina raised a brow, her usual lightheartedness flashing back as she crossed her arms. "First of all," she corrected, "I'm sensei to you now, Ryuichi." Her firm, yet playful smile widened as he and the others groaned, embarrassed. "And second—" she glanced at each of them with a knowing look, "that's for you all to figure out."

The genin collectively let out exasperated sighs, rolling their eyes. Fuyumi muttered something under her breath, making Haru chuckle, while Ryuichi shook his head with an amused smile.

Kushina clapped her hands, instantly commanding their attention again. "Alright, now that we've got that settled, I want to get a clearer picture of each of your abilities. I may know some of you from before, but I need to see how you work together. So—how about a little friendly sparring match?"

The three genin straightened up, any lingering reluctance replaced with anticipation.

"A spar?" Fuyumi asked, her expression both excited and serious.

Kushina nodded. "That's right. Show me what you've got. Think of this as a way to see where you stand, both individually and as a team."

=chapter end=