Chapter 2: New Beginnings
The morning sun crept over Konoha, bathing the village in warm light. Naruto Uzumaki, buzzing with excitement, was already bounding through the streets. Despite staying up all night, his energy was boundless. "Today's the day I start my real ninja journey!" he thought, grinning ear to ear.
His mission was simple: pick up Shizune and Rin from a nearby hotel and escort them to the Ninja Academy. He wasn't entirely sure why they needed to go there, but if it was part of their genin duties, he was all in. He skidded to a stop in front of the hotel, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he waited for the girls to come out.
--
Meanwhile, in the Jōnin lounge, Tsunade leaned back in her chair, her sharp eyes scanning the room. The announcement of genin team placements was imminent, and many of the Jōnin sensei were filing in. It was strange—familiar faces blended with unfamiliar ones.
Her gaze landed on one shinobi in particular. A tall man with silver hair and a mask obscuring most of his face sat in the corner, completely absorbed in a small orange book. Tsunade's brow twitched. She recognized that book immediately—Icha Icha Paradise, one of Jiraiya's infamous creations.
Curiosity got the better of her, and she approached him. "Kakashi Hatake," she said, crossing her arms.
The man glanced up from his book, a visible sparkle of recognition in his single exposed eye. "Tsunade-sama," he said with a smile she could sense even through the mask.
"You've grown," Tsunade said, her tone neutral. "Last I saw you, you were just a kid. Still reading Jiraiya's trashy novels, I see."
Kakashi's eye crinkled in amusement. "Some things never change. But I have to admit, I wasn't expecting to see you today—especially looking like you've walked right out of the war."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "I could say the same. How's the village holding up in this new era?"
Kakashi tucked the book away and leaned against the wall, his expression turning thoughtful. "The village is thriving, but the kids these days... They're strong, but they lack the edge we had growing up. Learning in the Academy doesn't quite compare to surviving on the battlefield."
Tsunade nodded slowly. The war had forged their generation in fire, but the newer one had been shaped in a time of relative peace. "And how about you?" she asked. "Still carrying the weight of the past?"
Kakashi paused before responding. "Some weights are lighter now," he said, his voice quieter. "Especially knowing you're back. I'd been waiting for a long time to see Rin again, but... How is that even possible? You look the same as you did back then."
Tsunade explained the sealing technique Minato had used. "None of us aged while we were inside. Shizune, Rin, and I are just as we were when we entered."
Kakashi blinked in surprise, taking a moment to process her words. "So Rin is... still a genin?"
"She is. She'll be on my team, along with Shizune and a certain troublemaker who brought me back to the village."
At that, Kakashi's eye brightened. "Naruto."
Tsunade smirked. "He's... unique, I'll give him that. But I can already tell he's got a lot of heart."
Kakashi chuckled softly. "That's Naruto for you. Well, I'll have to make plans to surprise Rin soon. I imagine seeing me might be... a shock for her."
"Understatement of the year," Tsunade muttered, though there was a hint of humor in her tone.
With that, Kakashi bid her farewell, leaving her to wait as the final Jōnin made their way in. Tsunade leaned back again, letting her thoughts wander.
A new team, a new era. Let's see if I'm really ready for this.
--
Back at the hotel, Rin and Shizune finally stepped outside, both looking slightly tired but eager to start their day. Naruto waved enthusiastically, causing Rin to giggle softly and Shizune to smile.
"Come on, let's go! We're gonna be late!" Naruto exclaimed, though it was still far too early.
"Thank you for coming to get us, Naruto," Shizune said kindly.
"No problem!" Naruto said, puffing out his chest. "Stick with me, and I'll show you all the cool stuff around the Academy!"
As they walked toward the Academy together, Rin couldn't help but marvel at how different Konoha looked compared to her memories. But something about Naruto's boundless energy and enthusiasm made her feel like this new Konoha might not be so bad after all.
As Naruto guided Shizune and Rin through the halls of the Academy, he animatedly pointed out all the spots where he had pulled his infamous pranks. "See that hallway? That's where I put the paint buckets over the doors! Oh, and that corner? That's where I hid the stink bomb in Mizuki-sensei's desk!"
Shizune covered her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh, while Rin shook her head in disbelief. "You managed to prank your teachers that much? And they never caught you?"
Naruto grinned, puffing out his chest. "Never! I'm the sneakiest ninja in the village!"
Rin smirked. "Either that or they weren't trying too hard to catch you."
"Hey!" Naruto protested, but before he could defend himself further, they entered the classroom.
The room was already filling up with students, and the chatter quickly died down as heads turned to see Naruto leading two unfamiliar girls. Shikamaru, reclining lazily at his desk, noticed the headband tied around Naruto's forehead and raised an eyebrow.
Didn't he fail? Shikamaru thought but decided to keep quiet, knowing the more vocal members of the class would handle it.
As Naruto and the girls took their seats, Rin leaned closer. "So, who are the others?"
Naruto glanced around and began pointing people out. "That's Shikamaru. He's lazy but a genius. Over there is Choji—he's got a big heart and an even bigger appetite. Oh, and there's Hinata. She's super nice—"
Before he could continue, the classroom door slammed open, and Sakura and Ino burst in, arguing at full volume.
"Ino-pig, move it! Sasuke's seat is mine today!"
"Keep dreaming, Billboard Brow!" Ino shot back, pushing past her rival.
Rin sighed audibly, resting her chin in her hand. Just like the girls back in my day. Some things never change.
As Sakura approached Sasuke's seat, she finally noticed Naruto sitting with his new companions. Her face immediately twisted in disbelief.
"Naruto?!" she shrieked, pointing an accusing finger. "What are you doing here? You didn't even graduate! Get out of here before you embarrass everyone—and especially Sasuke!"
As soon as Sakura finished yelling at Naruto, the door to the classroom opened, and Iruka entered, clapping his hands to grab the students' attention. "Alright, everyone, settle down! It's time to begin."
The chatter in the room quieted down, but before Iruka could continue, Shizune politely raised her hand. "Excuse me, sensei," she said, her tone respectful but firm. "If it's alright, may I take a moment to address something?"
Iruka nodded, curious. "Go ahead."
Shizune turned her gaze toward Sakura, her voice calm and even. "Why would you insult one of your allies, someone who might one day need to protect you on the battlefield? Do you think belittling your comrades makes you stronger?"
Sakura blinked, taken aback by the unexpected scolding, before scoffing and crossing her arms. "What do you know? You're just some newcomer. And defending Naruto of all people? He's got no skills, no talent—he's useless!"
Naruto frowned, his fists tightening, but before he could retort, Shizune spoke again, her tone unshaken. "If Tsunade-sama, the greatest medical ninja in history, believes in Naruto enough to let him join her team... and if he mastered a technique powerful enough to kill even the most skilled Jōnin, then I'd say the only thing questionable here is your judgment."
The class fell silent, every pair of eyes on Shizune. Naruto's face turned bright red at her defense, and Sakura's expression faltered. Even Sasuke, who had been sitting quietly, raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"A technique strong enough to kill a Jōnin?" Sakura murmured, her earlier confidence fading.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. Naruto... learned something like that? He glanced at his rival, who was awkwardly scratching the back of his head, a faint blush still on his cheeks. For the first time, Sasuke felt an unfamiliar hint of respect for him.
Iruka stepped in to ease the tension. "Shizune is right. Everyone in this room has earned their place, and you'll all need to rely on each other one day. Dismissing someone without knowing their strengths is a mistake you can't afford to make as shinobi."
Sakura glanced down, her face a mixture of embarrassment and frustration.
Iruka then gestured toward Naruto, Shizune, and Rin. "As for you three, Tsunade-sama will be arriving shortly to meet you after the announcements. Now, let's move on to team assignments."
He began reading off the names. "Team 8: Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame, under Kurenai Yuhi. Team 10: Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka, under Asuma Sarutobi."
As murmurs broke out among the students, Iruka paused and turned to Sakura and Sasuke. "Team 7: Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and..." He hesitated briefly before continuing, "a special case, Sai. Your Jōnin-sensei will be Kakashi Hatake."
Sakura looked relieved, her earlier embarrassment fading slightly at being on Sasuke's team, though she seemed less than thrilled about Sai. Sasuke simply nodded, his thoughts still on what Shizune had said about Naruto.
Iruka finished the announcements and looked at Naruto, Shizune, and Rin again. "You three are part of Tsunade-sama's team, and she'll explain more when she gets here. For now, sit tight."
Naruto leaned back in his chair, grinning widely. "I can't wait to see everyone's faces when Tsunade-sensei shows up!"
Shizune sighed but couldn't help smiling, while Rin shook her head, trying to hide her amusement. The room was still buzzing with curiosity as everyone waited for the arrival of the legendary Slug Princess.