The clamor of the graduation exam finally passed, and brand-new forehead protectors were handed out to every qualified graduate.
Roy ran his finger over the cold Leaf emblem on it; this thing declared the definitive end of his childhood and also meant he had officially stepped into the meat grinder known as shinobi.
The announcement of team assignments caused a stir in the classroom, along with cries of both joy and sorrow.
"Team 7: Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, Kakashi Hatake. Instructor Jonin…"
Hearing this grouping, Obito froze for a moment, then let out a heart-wrenching wail, clearly unable to accept being placed in the same team as his rival.
Rin's face was filled with bewilderment, caught between two companions who were like oil and water; her future already seemed bleak.
Only Kakashi remained leaning against the window, as if the name called had been a stranger, having nothing to do with him.
Roy listened quietly.
This outcome was exactly the same as the story he remembered.
The gears of fate were still turning in their predetermined direction. He hadn't intervened, nor could he.
For now, he was merely an insignificant spectator, still far from being able to influence the larger picture.
"…Team 11: Roy, Tokuma Hyūga, Yakumo Kurama. Instructor Jonin, Minato Namikaze."
When his own name was called, Roy slowly raised his head.
Tokuma Hyūga, that proud opponent he had defeated using strategy during the graduation sparring match.
Yakumo Kurama, a name he had only seen on the roster. The Kurama clan was renowned for powerful genjutsu, but it was said that this generation had a thin bloodline, with most members being frail and sickly.
This was a very interesting combination. A Hyūga skilled in observation and close combat, a teammate who might possess powerful genjutsu but was physically weak with clear shortcomings, and himself, a secret weapon disguised as a tactical mind.
And most crucially, there was that name—Minato Namikaze.
He had succeeded.
With a carefully calculated, perfectly executed victory, he had secured the optimal choice given the current circumstances.
After the announcements ended, Minato Namikaze appeared at the classroom door.
He still wore that gentle smile, his sunny blond hair instinctively inspiring goodwill, a stark contrast to the tense, serious atmosphere in the classroom.
"Members of Team 11, please follow me."
The three followed Minato to the school rooftop. The view was wide, overlooking much of Konoha, and the afternoon wind felt pleasant on their faces.
"Alright, consider this our formal introduction." Minato leaned against the railing, his smile unwavering. "As per tradition, let's start with self-introductions. Tell us your names, what you like, what you dislike, and your future dreams."
"I'll go first." Minato began, breaking the silence. "My name is Minato Namikaze. What I like is my wife's cooking. What I dislike… well, nothing in particular for now. My dream is to become a great shinobi who surpasses all previous Hokage, earning recognition from everyone."
His words were filled with confidence and approachability, easing the initially tense atmosphere considerably.
Tokuma Hyūga spoke second, his words as concise as his personality.
"Tokuma Hyūga. I like training. I dislike sweets. My dream is to gain recognition from the main family." This was a wish typical of a branch family member; it sounded simple, but carried significant weight.
"I… my name is Yakumo Kurama." A timid voice spoke up. It was a girl who looked much frailer than her peers, with long black hair and a sickly pale complexion. She seemed very uncomfortable in this setting, nervously clutching the hem of her clothes. "I like painting… I dislike exercise… My dream is… is to become someone useful to the village."
Her voice was soft, marked by a clear lack of confidence.
It was Roy's turn. He stepped forward, showing the gentle smile he had practiced countless times, the one best suited to winning favor.
"My name is Roy. What I like is reading books and quiet environments. What I dislike is war. My dream is to protect everything I cherish, in my own way."
This was a perfect answer.
It expressed a longing for peace, fitting for his identity as a war orphan, yet also showed a sense of responsibility without appearing weak. The words "in my own way" left ample room for interpretation, seeming both goal-oriented and modest.
Minato looked at his three students, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.
A Hyūga with a solid foundation and resilient character; a Kurama with unknown potential needing guidance; and a clear-headed, goal-oriented individual who had displayed astonishing tactical wisdom during the graduation exam—a budding commander.
This team had more potential for growth than he had anticipated.
"Good." Minato clapped his hands. "Starting tomorrow, we are comrades. But before that, there's a small test."
He took out two gleaming silver bells from his tool pouch.
"The test is simple." Minato's smile took on a meaningful edge. "By noon tomorrow, take these two bells from me. Whoever fails gets no lunch and will be tied to a wooden post. Oh, and one more thing." He jingled the bells in his hand; the clear sound instantly froze the atmosphere.
"There are only two bells, but three of you. That means at least one person will be eliminated and sent back to the Ninja Academy."
As his words fell, Tokuma's brow furrowed deeply, while Yakumo's face paled even further. This was a brutal rule with a one-third elimination rate.
Only Roy remained calm inside.
He knew the true purpose of this test.
This wasn't about testing individual strength at all; it was about testing teamwork. Minato Namikaze, a man who valued the concept of "comrades" above all else, would never approve of a selfish person who only knew how to fight alone.
The crux of the matter wasn't about snatching the bells. It was about how to make these two teammates, who had vastly different personalities and still harbored some wariness toward him, understand the essence of cooperation.
…
The next morning, Training Ground 11.
Minato leaned against a large tree, leisurely reading a book, seemingly unconcerned about the upcoming test.
Tokuma and Yakumo hid in a nearby thicket, observing with serious expressions.
"What do we do?" Yakumo whispered. Her stamina was poor; just getting here had left her slightly out of breath.
"Minato-sensei is a jonin, and known as the 'Yellow Flash' for his speed." Tokuma had already activated his Byakugan, but he couldn't track Minato's precise movements at all; he only saw a blurry, massive mass of chakra. "Acting alone, we have no chance. We probably can't even touch his cloak."
"Then… cooperate?" Yakumo suggested tentatively.
Tokuma fell silent. He glanced towards Roy in another grove nearby. During the graduation exam, he had lost to that person's strategy. The thought of following the commands of someone who had once defeated him stirred resistance and reluctance within him.
As they hesitated, Roy emerged from the trees. He didn't try to hide; he walked straight toward the thicket where the two were hiding.
"We need a plan." Roy spoke, getting straight to the point.
Tokuma frowned. "What scheme are you cooking up now?"
"This isn't a scheme; it's the only choice." Roy's tone was calm. "The point of Minato-sensei's test isn't whether we can grab the bells, but whether we understand how to fight as a team. The fact that there are only two bells is a trap—it's designed to make us fight among ourselves for a spot."
Yakumo Kurama nodded thoughtfully, finding this reasoning sound.
Tokuma remained skeptical. "How do you know?"
"Because of what Sensei said and did." Roy's analysis was clear and composed. "Yesterday, he emphasized that we are 'comrades,' yet he only brought out two bells—that contradiction is intentional. Besides, haven't you noticed? From start to finish, Sensei hasn't looked at us once. He's just been reading. He's waiting for us to make our own choice. Whether to become three individuals fighting separately, suspicious of each other, or to become a unified unit moving forward together."
His words hit the nail on the head, directly pointing out the crux of the issue.
Tokuma fell silent.
He had to admit, Roy's argument made a lot of sense. He recalled Minato-sensei's smile and words from yesterday; they did consistently emphasize the importance of "comrades."
"Alright." He finally spoke, setting aside his inner reservations. "Tell us. What should we do?"
Roy looked at the two before him: one skilled in reconnaissance and close combat, the other possessing unknown genjutsu abilities.
His own team was right here.