Chapter 3

The classroom was still buzzing with low chatter as the students waited for their new sensei to arrive. All eyes turned toward the door when it suddenly burst open, slamming against the wall. In walked Tsunade, exuding confidence and authority, dragging Kakashi Hatake behind her by the back of his vest as he slid across the floor, still engrossed in his orange book.

"Tsunade-sensei?" Naruto muttered, his eyes widening.

"I told you we're late, Kakashi," Tsunade said sternly, ignoring the confused stares of the students. "Quit being lazy and get moving."

Kakashi, not even looking up from his book, offered his usual calm reply. "I was just about to get to it. No need to be so forceful, Tsunade."

"Yeah, yeah," she grumbled before turning her attention to the class. "Alright, my team—Naruto, Shizune, Rin—come with me."

Before anyone could react, Kakashi lazily raised his free hand and added, "Team 7, you're coming too. Let's go."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, wondering what was going on, while Sakura looked surprised but quickly stood up, excited to follow Sasuke anywhere. Sai, meanwhile, simply offered a polite but empty smile and trailed behind them.

As the two teams filed out of the classroom, they were led up the stairs to the roof of the Academy. The open air was crisp, the sunlight bright overhead, and the faint sounds of Konoha bustling below filled the silence. Tsunade released Kakashi at last, dropping him onto the rooftop with an unceremonious thud.

"Alright," she said, crossing her arms and looking at both teams. "We'll be using this time to introduce ourselves."

Kakashi pushed himself up, brushing dust off his vest before settling into a casual stance, book still in hand. "It's important for you all to get to know each other and your sensei. So let's begin."

Tsunade motioned for her team to start first. "You three—introductions. Name, likes, dislikes, and dreams for the future."

Naruto jumped up immediately, grinning from ear to ear. "I'll go first!" He puffed out his chest with pride. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki! I like ramen—especially Ichiraku's—and I don't like waiting for it to cook. My dream is to become the Hokage and have everyone in the village acknowledge me!"

Tsunade smirked faintly, impressed by his determination. "Alright, next."

Shizune stepped forward, her tone calm and collected. "My name is Shizune. I like learning new medical techniques and taking care of people. I dislike senseless violence and people who don't take training seriously. My dream is to become a great medic-nin like Tsunade-sama and help as many people as I can."

Rin followed, smiling warmly. "I'm Rin Nohara. I like spending time with my friends and helping others with medical ninjutsu. I dislike when people hurt those I care about. My dream is to bring hope and healing to the battlefield, just like I was taught."

Kakashi, hearing Rin's voice, glanced at her briefly, his one visible eye softening for a moment before he returned to his usual aloof demeanor.

Tsunade nodded in approval before turning to Team 7. "You're up."

Sakura stepped forward eagerly, brushing her hair back and shooting a glance at Sasuke. "My name is Sakura Haruno! I like..." Her eyes flickered to Sasuke. "...certain people. I dislike Naruto when he's being annoying. My dream..." She blushed, smiling dreamily.

Tsunade rolled her eyes but didn't interrupt, though Shizune and Rin exchanged knowing glances.

Sasuke stepped forward next, his expression stoic and voice flat. "My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I don't particularly like anything, and I dislike a lot of things. My dream isn't a dream—it's a goal. I will restore my clan and kill a certain someone."

The air grew tense as Sasuke finished, and even Rin's smile faltered slightly.

Finally, Sai stepped up, his voice emotionless. "I am Sai. I like drawing. I don't have any dislikes yet. My dream... I don't have one either." He gave a polite, hollow smile, which only made Sakura frown and Sasuke ignore him entirely.

Kakashi shut his book with a snap and looked at both teams. "Well, that was... enlightening."

Tsunade crossed her arms again. "Now that introductions are done, it's time for the real test."

Naruto blinked. "Test? What test?"

Kakashi's visible eye curved into an amused arc. "The test to see if you're actually worthy of being genin."

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap, and Naruto jumped to his feet. "What?! But I already passed the Academy!"

"Not quite," Tsunade said, smirking. "Come back to Training Ground Three at sunrise tomorrow. That's where we'll see what you're really made of."

Kakashi nodded. "Bring your A-game. Oh, and you might want to eat something... or you'll regret it."

As both teams exchanged glances, the weight of their sensei's words settled on them. Whatever this "test" was, it wouldn't be easy.

As the sensei departed, leaving the two teams behind with instructions for their test, Naruto turned to his teammates with a bright grin. "Hey, since we're a team now, how about we get to know each other better? We could grab some food!"

Shizune and Rin exchanged smiles, nodding in agreement. "That sounds great," Rin said, her voice cheerful.

"I could use a good meal after all the excitement," Shizune added. She then glanced toward Team 7. "What about you all? Want to join us?"

Sasuke, who had been leaning against the railing with his usual aloof demeanor, scoffed lightly and walked away without a word. Sai gave his trademark empty smile. "I appreciate the offer, but I find such gatherings... unproductive. However, it's nice that you all can bond over such trivial things." With that, he turned and followed Sasuke.

Naruto frowned at Sai's back. "What's his deal?"

Sakura hesitated for a moment, glancing at the new girls before nodding. "Sure, I'll come. Might as well see what you're all about," she said, though her tone made it clear her curiosity was more for Rin and Shizune than Naruto.

Naruto practically jumped into the air with excitement. "Yes! Sakura's coming!"

Shizune and Rin giggled at his antics, finding his boundless energy infectious. "Well, lead the way," Shizune said with a smile.

Naruto puffed out his chest. "Follow me! I know the best place in the whole village!"

As the four walked through the streets of Konoha, Rin took in the sights with wonder. "It's amazing how much everything has changed. I don't even recognize some of these places."

Shizune nodded, her expression a mix of nostalgia and sadness. "It feels familiar, but... different. Like it's a whole new world."

Sakura glanced at them curiously. "You two are kind of mysterious. Where are you from, anyway?"

Rin hesitated, exchanging a quick look with Shizune. Before either could answer, Naruto interrupted. "They're from somewhere really special! You'll see—they're gonna blow you all away during the test tomorrow!"

Sakura arched an eyebrow but didn't press further.

It wasn't long before they arrived at Ichiraku Ramen. Naruto pushed aside the curtain with enthusiasm, announcing their arrival. "Old man Teuchi! I brought some new customers!"

Teuchi poked his head out from behind the counter, beaming. "Naruto! Good to see you! And welcome to your friends. Take a seat!"

As they settled onto the stools, Ayame appeared from the back, her cheerful smile lighting up the shop. "Hey, Naruto! You're back already? Who are your new friends?"

Naruto proudly gestured to the girls. "This is Shizune, Rin, and Sakura! We're all gonna be ninjas together!"

Ayame laughed. "Nice to meet you all. What'll it be?"

Naruto ordered his usual, and after some deliberation, Shizune and Rin decided to try it as well. Sakura, slightly hesitant, eventually ordered a small bowl.

As they waited for their food, the four began chatting, with Naruto enthusiastically recounting his pranks and adventures around the village. Rin and Shizune listened with amusement, while Sakura rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling at a few of his stories.

When their ramen arrived, the group ate in relative silence, the delicious food drawing their attention. Shizune and Rin were quick to compliment Teuchi, who looked pleased.

"This place is amazing!" Rin said between bites.

"I can see why you like it so much, Naruto," Shizune added.

Naruto grinned, his cheeks puffed with noodles. "Told you it's the best!"

Sakura, though quieter, found herself enjoying the meal and the company more than she expected. Despite her initial reservations, she couldn't deny there was something endearing about Naruto and his new teammates.

As they finished their meal and stepped out into the cool evening air, Naruto stretched his arms over his head. "Alright! Time to rest up for tomorrow! We've got a big day ahead!"

Shizune and Rin nodded, their smiles unwavering. Sakura gave a small nod, glancing at them. "Good luck tomorrow," she said, her tone softer than before.

As they parted ways, Naruto couldn't help but feel more excited than ever. For the first time, he felt like he was truly part of something special.

As the morning sun rose, Naruto, Shizune, and Rin stood in the training grounds, waiting for their sensei to arrive. Naruto paced back and forth, fidgeting with anticipation. "Where is she? Tsunade-sensei said not to be late, but now she's the one who's late!"

Shizune chuckled softly, watching his restless movements. "Patience, Naruto. She probably has her reasons."

Rin sat cross-legged on the ground, her hands resting on her knees. "Tsunade-sensei isn't one to rush. If we're waiting, there's a reason for it."

Before Naruto could respond, they heard footsteps approaching. To their surprise, it wasn't Team 7 arriving as they'd expected, but Team 8—Kiba, Hinata, and Shino.

Kiba grinned, Akamaru perched on his head. "Yo, Naruto! What are you doing here?"

Naruto blinked, confused. "What we're doing here? What are you doing here? This is supposed to be our training ground!"

Kiba shrugged. "Our sensei told us to meet here this morning. Guess we're all here for the same thing."

Hinata gave a shy wave to Naruto but stayed quiet, while Shino adjusted his sunglasses and remained as stoic as ever.

Before the conversation could continue, two figures dropped down from the trees—Tsunade and Kurenai.

"Good, you're all here," Tsunade said, crossing her arms as she surveyed the two teams. "Let's get started."

Kurenai stepped forward, her voice calm but commanding. "This isn't your typical training exercise. This is the real test to determine if you're ready to be genin."

Tsunade nodded. "Both of your teams will be competing in a two-on-two elimination battle against the other teams—Team 7 and Team 10. The team with the most knockouts wins. The losing team... goes back to the academy."

Naruto's eyes widened, his jaw dropping. "What?! We're fighting against the others? That's not fair!"

Kiba smirked. "Bring it on. I've been waiting to prove Akamaru and I are the best."

Hinata looked uneasy, glancing between her teammates and Team Tsunade. Shino remained silent, his demeanor unreadable.

Shizune and Rin exchanged glances, their expressions calm and unreadable. They knew the true nature of this test, but they wouldn't reveal it to Naruto or Team 8.

Tsunade and Kurenai seemed to notice their composure and smirked slightly before Tsunade turned to both teams. "You have some time to strategize. Use it wisely."

Kurenai added, "The first round starts in thirty minutes. We'll meet back here."

With that, the two sensei vanished, leaving the two teams standing in the clearing.

Naruto turned to Shizune and Rin, frustration evident on his face. "What the heck is going on? Why are we fighting the others? I thought we already made it!"

Shizune gave him a small smile and patted his shoulder. "Tsunade-sensei has her reasons, Naruto. You'll understand when it's over."

Rin nodded, keeping her tone neutral. "We just have to trust her. Focus on the task at hand."

Naruto crossed his arms and huffed. "Fine. But I still think it's weird."

Meanwhile, Team 8 huddled together, strategizing among themselves. Shizune and Rin shared a knowing look but said nothing, keeping the true nature of the test to themselves.

As Naruto's determination began to build, he clenched his fists. "Alright, no way are we going back to the academy! Let's show them what we've got!"

Shizune and Rin smiled at his enthusiasm, preparing themselves for the challenge ahead. They would let Naruto figure out the test's true purpose on his own, knowing it would be a crucial step in his growth as a ninja.

As Team Tsunade huddled together, Naruto looked at his teammates, scratching the back of his head. "Okay, so if we're going to do this, I need to know what you two can do. What kind of skills are we working with here?"

Shizune smiled warmly, taking the lead. "I was trained extensively in medical ninjutsu, so I can heal injuries in the middle of combat. I'm also proficient with poisons, which I can use on weapons or in jutsu to disable opponents."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Poison? That sounds... kind of scary, but awesome! What about you, Rin?"

Rin hesitated for a moment before answering, her tone modest. "I'm also trained as a medic-nin, but I was never as skilled as Shizune-senpai. I used to be a support fighter—helping others in battle when needed. I'll be honest, though... I'm rusty with hand-to-hand combat. It's been a while."

Naruto grinned, his energy infectious. "That's perfect! You two can stay back and heal while I go in as the target dummy. I'm great at taking hits! If they can't take me out, they'll wear themselves down, and then you two can clean up."

Rin chuckled softly. "Target dummy isn't exactly a strategy, Naruto."

Shizune nodded in agreement. "We need to be smarter about this. We don't know what the others are capable of yet."

As they continued discussing their plan, Shino, standing nearby with Team 8, adjusted his sunglasses and stepped forward. His voice was calm and measured. "If I may interject, I have a proposal."

Naruto blinked in surprise. "Huh? What do you want?"

Shino ignored Naruto's tone and addressed all three of them. "I believe this test is not as straightforward as it seems. Tsunade-sama and Kurenai-sensei are cunning individuals. They wouldn't pit us against our peers for no reason. There is likely a hidden objective."

Shizune's and Rin's expressions flickered briefly, but they said nothing, maintaining their silence about the true purpose of the test.

Shino continued, his tone steady. "If we work together, we might uncover this objective more quickly. I suggest combining our efforts. I'm willing to act as the overall group leader to ensure cohesion between our teams. If my hypothesis is incorrect, we'll still benefit from a unified strategy."

Naruto frowned, crossing his arms. "Wait a minute! Why should we follow your lead? What makes you think you're better at leading than us?"

Shino adjusted his glasses, his voice unwavering. "This isn't about being 'better.' It's about efficiency. I have studied tactics extensively, and my logical approach can minimize unnecessary risks."

Shizune placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, her calm voice breaking the tension. "Naruto, he might have a point. If we can work together with Team 8, it could give us an advantage."

Rin nodded. "He seems to have thought this through. We can give it a try."

Naruto huffed but eventually relented. "Fine. But if you're wrong, Shino, don't blame me when I end up carrying everyone!"

Shino inclined his head slightly. "Duly noted."

With that, the two teams began collaborating, forming a preliminary strategy while keeping their eyes on the forest surrounding them. The challenge ahead would test not only their skills but also their ability to adapt and trust one another.