The next day.
The atmosphere in the Ninja Academy classroom was completely different from yesterday.
The children who had passed the graduation exam were excitedly wearing their brand-new Konoha headbands, gathered in small groups, discussing the upcoming team assignments and their Jonin instructors.
The classroom door was pulled open, and Uzumaki Naruto walked in with his head held high. The metal headband on his forehead sparkled in the sunlight, and he had an unprecedentedly bright smile on his face, walking with a spring in his step.
"Look! It's Naruto!"
"Didn't he miss the exam?"
"He actually managed to get a headband?"
"Could Iruka-sensei have let him in through the back door?"
"There seemed to be a lot of commotion last night. My dad said it seemed like he stole something, making a huge scene..."
"Shh! Keep it down!"
The whispers inevitably reached Naruto's ears, but he just puffed out his chest even more, cherishedly stroking the headband on his forehead, his smile never fading.
This was the proof that Iruka-sensei acknowledged him; he didn't care what others said!
Hinata sat by the window, her pure white eyes calmly scanning over Naruto.
She could clearly feel that, after the events of last night, the deep-seated self-doubt and confusion within Naruto had dissipated significantly, replaced by a firmer determination to prove himself.
[It seems Iruka's 'Talk no Jutsu' is pretty good; Naruto has regained his confidence.]
[As for the 'back door' thing... in a way, they're not exactly wrong, since the graduation method was indeed quite special.]
She stopped focusing on Naruto and turned her gaze toward the podium.
Iruka Umino walked in, bandages still wrapped around his back. His face was a bit pale, but he seemed to be in good spirits.
He scanned the classroom, his gaze lingering on Naruto for a moment with a sense of relief, before he began announcing the team assignments.
"We will now begin the team assignments."
..."Team 7: Uchiha Sasuke..."
Upon hearing this name, Sakura began praying frantically in her heart.
[Pick me, pick me, pick me!]
"Sakura Haruno, Uzumaki Naruto."
"Yes! Wait, why is this dead last in the same class as me? Oh well, at least Sasuke is here, hehe."
"Tsk, how pathetic."
Ino looked on with disdain, looking down on Sakura's behavior.
Well, truth be told, she also really wanted to be on the same team as Sasuke.
"Team 8: Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Shino Aburame."
"Holy crap! How did I end up in a team with this monster-strength girl?!"
Kiba quickly covered his mouth, but it was too late; everyone had heard him.
Hinata: #
[I think you're looking for a taste of my fist.]
"Team 10: Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, Ino Yamanaka."
"Tsk, what a drag..."
Once the list was finished, the classroom was suddenly filled with various voices.
Sakura's screeching, Ino and Sakura's bickering, Shikamaru's complaining about things being a 'drag', Kiba breaking into a cold sweat because Hinata glanced at him, and Shino pushing up his sunglasses in silence.
Naruto, meanwhile, was glaring unhappily at the cool Sasuke beside him, then looked at Sakura who was fawning over Sasuke, and muttered.
"Why do I have to be on the same team as this stuck-up Sasuke..."
Sasuke had no reaction. His mind was filled with revenge, and it was impossible for him to play house with Sakura. He was indifferent to the team assignments, only feeling it was a bit of a pity not to be in the same team as Hinata; he had never had the chance to compete with her, nor had he seen her make a move many times.
He couldn't even manage to copy anything.
Hinata was not at all surprised by this assignment result.
Being grouped with Kiba and Shino was a relatively ideal choice.
Kiba was straightforward, and Shino was calm and meticulous; they weren't the types to pry too much into her secrets.
Searching would be useless anyway; that would just be wishful thinking.
As for the Jonin instructor, if she remembered correctly, it should be Kurenai Yuhi, who specialized in Genjutsu, had a gentle personality, was easy to get along with, and was very beautiful.
Hinata prepared to continue keeping a low profile, completing necessary missions, and using the rest of her time to Cultivate and study her newly acquired Forbidden Jutsu. She quickly planned out her next strategy.
Hokage Office.
Standing before the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi were the three Jonin: Kakashi Hatake, Kurenai Yuhi, and Asuma Sarutobi.
"That concludes the team assignments for this year's graduates, as well as the students each of you will be instructing."
The Third exhaled a puff of smoke, his tone becoming a bit more serious.
"Additionally, there is something you need to pay special attention to."
He informed the three of the appearance of the 'Mysterious Rag Man' last night, who had briefly taken and then returned the scroll of seals.
"Although the scroll was only missing for a few minutes, making it theoretically impossible to learn any Forbidden Jutsu, this person's movements were bizarre and their motives unclear. To be able to easily take the scroll from Naruto and evade the initial search, their strength cannot be underestimated."
The Third said in a deep voice.
"In your upcoming missions and instruction, if you find any clues related to this person, or if your subordinates show any abnormalities, you must report it immediately."
"Yes!"
The three Jonin responded in unison, their expressions growing a bit more solemn. A mysterious figure who could come and go as they pleased in Konoha with a goal aimed directly at the scroll of seals was indeed cause for vigilance.
Kakashi's only visible eye narrowed slightly, his thoughts unknown.
Kurenai Yuhi's brow furrowed slightly as she instinctively glanced out the window.
Asuma rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
Back at the Academy classroom.
After Iruka finished announcing the assignments, he had each team wait for their Jonin instructor to come and claim them.
The three members of Team 8 gathered together.
"Yo! Shino, we're in the same group from now on!"
Kiba seemed very excited, and Akamaru barked twice in his arms.
"Please look after me." Shino said succinctly.
Hinata walked over at this moment, and Kiba immediately became a bit awkward.
"Uh... that thing, I was just talking nonsense, don't mind me, um.. anyway, we're a team now, please look after me."
"Mhm."
Looking at Kiba and the silent, reliable Shino before her, Hinata felt that this combination wasn't bad; at least they weren't annoying.
Uh.. actually, bugs are pretty annoying and gross. She really didn't know how Shino could stand having countless bugs crawling all over his face.
Her thoughts had already drifted to how to modify the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu she had memorized last night.
She could perhaps try using Clones to Cultivate. If this path worked, then her cultivation speed would increase many times over.
She could also learn the Flying Thunder God; if used well, that thing was much more sinister than the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Its potential was even higher than the Kamui Dimension, being incredibly sneaky.