June 27th
The war fronts had finally settled, and a soothing lack of news regarding large-scale confrontations began to spread throughout Konoha. For the past few days, the village had not witnessed the familiar, grim influx of mangled shinobi and body bags returning from the borders. Slowly, Konoha began to regain its original liveliness. Hope bloomed among the citizens that the First Shinobi World War was finally drawing to a close, freeing them from the constant anxiety of losing their loved ones. Moreover, with rumors circulating about an imminent alliance between Kumogakure and Konoha, the villagers began to breathe a collective sigh of relief, assuming peace was finally guaranteed.
Summer had just arrived, dressing Konoha's sprawling forests and ancient trees in vibrant green leaves. Shopkeepers reopened their storefronts along the bustling streets, the Uchiha Police Force patrolled the sectors with their usual regularity, young children played tag in the alleys, and the older youths continued to attend the Ninja Academy.
Since the onset of the war, the Ninja Academy had undergone a drastic structural transformation. The majority of the young, capable Chunin who once served as instructors had been drafted to the frontlines. Consequently, assistant teachers were completely eliminated, and the primary instructors were replaced by elderly, retired shinobi carrying irreparable battlefield injuries. The academy's original roster of 250 teaching staff members had been brutally stripped down to just 60 individuals.
This skeleton crew was stretched to its absolute limit: exactly one instructor was assigned per classroom. With ten classes per grade across a five-year curriculum, fifty teachers covered the academy's fifty active classrooms, leaving the remaining ten staff members to manage the overwhelming burden of logistical paperwork and scheduling.
Inside one of the second-grade classrooms, a young, blonde girl with her hair tied back in two high ponytails sat at her wooden desk. Wearing a green kimono over a grey mesh shirt, she stared out the window in a daze, completely tuning out the lecture as her mind drifted back to the fateful moment she first encountered her future sensei.
***
A few weeks ago, before Tobirama and his inner circle departed for the Land of Hot Springs, Senju Tobirama formally introduced Sarutobi Hiruzen to Tsunade and two other hand-picked Academy students.
"Tsuna-ja," Tobirama began, his stern face softening slightly. "Once you graduate from the Academy, you will learn under one of my top disciples. This is Saru—ahem, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Saru, this is Tsunade. I am certain you two are already aware of each other."
"Yes, Sensei," Hiruzen bowed respectfully.
"Heehhh~ Sarutobi-ojisan?" Tsunade tilted her head, peering up at him.
"Ojisan?! Uncle...?" Hiruzen's posture slumped, a comedic wave of depression washing over him as he muttered internally, 'Aren't I still young? Am I really old enough to be called "uncle" already?' Aloud, he forced a strained smile. "Haha... ha. It has been a while, Tsunade-hime."
"Does this mean I am officially a Genin now?!" Tsunade exclaimed with pure excitement, throwing a small fist into the air. "Heheh! In the end, I beat you to it, Kaito!"
"No, Tsuna-ja," Tobirama interrupted indifferently, his tone matter-of-fact. "You will fulfill the entire five-year curriculum before you are permitted to become a Genin."
"HAAAHHH!!!!??? Why?! Tobi-ji!!" Tsunade whined, stomping her foot at her grand-uncle.
"There is no alternative. I will not allow it," Tobirama replied, unyielding. "Furthermore, Kenichi and Atsuko would never permit you to graduate early either, so erase the thought from your mind entirely."
Tsunade huffed, knowing from experience that she could never bend Tobirama's iron will once he made a decision.
"Eeeeeeeh….. Hmph! Baka Tobi-ji!" she yelled at the Second Hokage, sticking her tongue out before spinning around and sprinting back inside her house.
"Haaah~" Tobirama massaged his temples, letting out a long, exhausted sigh. "Saru... my apologies for her behavior. My brother spoiled her entirely too much. She will come to understand the weight of the ninja world sooner or later."
"Hahaha! Tobirama-sensei, to think there is actually someone in this world even you cannot handle!" Hiruzen laughed heartily.
Tobirama's eyebrow twitched for a fraction of a second before he fixed a sharp gaze back on his student. "Saru... tell me, why did you specifically select those three children to be your future disciples?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped laughing, thoughtfully stroking his chin as his demeanor shifted to that of a true commander.
"That kid, Orochimaru... he is an absolute genius, but I sense a profound loneliness and an underlying darkness creeping within him. I believe it is my duty to guide him onto a righteous path, helping him find hope and warmth through the Will of Fire. As for Jiraiya... he certainly isn't the most talented when it comes to Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, but his Taijutsu, raw strength, and physical stamina are remarkable for an Academy student. Plus, he is a total buffoon sometimes; I've simply taken a liking to the boy's spirit, hahaha! As for Tsunade, she is undoubtedly a natural genius as well. I believe structuring a squad with three members of equal potential and drive will fan the flames of their competitive spirits, drastically expediting their physical and spiritual growth."
"Hmm. I see," Tobirama murmured, nodding slowly. "The choice is yours, Saru. But let them enjoy their youth in the Academy for a few more years. Teach and guide them in the afternoons whenever your schedule is clear. Once they officially graduate as proper Genin, you may form your team."
"Yes, Sensei!" Hiruzen replied with a salute.
***
Back in the present, Tsunade pulled herself out of her daydream, still staring idly out the second-grade classroom window.
'Hmph! So what if you forbid me from graduating early?!' she thought, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. 'The second I graduate, I'll immediately apply to take the Chunin Exams! Just watch me, Baka Tobi-ji! I'll make you regret holding me back!'
Though Tsunade had matured slightly over the past few months, a stubborn streak of childishness and a desire to be pampered by her family remained. Furthermore, after witnessing her father's severe battlefield injuries firsthand, a deep curiosity regarding Medical Ninjutsu had ignited within her. Every single day upon returning home from the Academy, she buried herself in medical scrolls, meticulously studying human physiology and chakra pathways.
Without realizing it, she had already discovered the definitive path she wished to carve out for her future.
***
Meanwhile, across the courtyard in a fifth-grade classroom, Uchiha Kaito was also staring blankly into space, watching the birds glide over the courtyard as the summer wind rustled the emerald leaves. Kaito had long since mastered the Academy's entire curriculum, effortlessly satisfying every prerequisite required to graduate and become an official Genin of the Leaf.
In truth, Kaito's combat prowess had already surpassed the average Genin level. Thanks to Minami's rigorous training during her off-duty hours, combined with the lethal pointers Shinichi and Fukashi had left behind before deploying to the Land of Rivers, Kaito was a formidable young shinobi.
His combat style specialized in long-distance Ninjutsu and intricate shurikenjutsu. Initially, Kaito had wanted to become a master swordsman just like his older brother, Shinichi. However, during their practical sessions, he discovered that a blade didn't flow naturally in his hands. Instead, Kaito possessed an unnatural, fluid aptitude for the Kusarigama—the chained war sickle. Upon recognizing his hidden talent, he immediately abandoned Kenjutsu to learn specialized Kusarigama-jutsu directly under Fukashi's tutelage.
'I wonder what Nii-chan is doing out there right now…' Kaito thought as his dark eyes gleamed with eager anticipation. 'Next year! Next year I'll finally become a Genin. When that time comes, I'm going to train and go on high-level missions right alongside him!'
"Kaito-kun! Would you care to demonstrate the Henge no Jutsu for the class?"
A low, authoritative voice shattered Kaito's inner monologue.
Standing at the front of the classroom behind a wooden podium was an elderly, gray-haired instructor in his late fifties. His eyes were narrowed into sharp slits as he held a textbook in his right hand, a massive blackboard framing him from behind.
Tsk! Kaito inwardly clicked his tongue, slowly rising from his desk and making his way down the aisle.
"Of course, Sensei."
Stopping at the center of the podium, Kaito breathed out slowly and executed a seamless, lightning-fast sequence of hand seals.
Henge no Jutsu 変化の術 (Transformation Technique)
With a sharp puff of white smoke, Kaito's form vanished, replaced by a flawless, mirror-image copy of the elderly instructor.
'! As expected of the Uchiha bloodline…' the teacher noted silently, thoroughly impressed.
"Excellent work, Kaito," the instructor announced to the room as Kaito dispelled the smoke. "That was a textbook execution of the Henge no Jutsu, performed with virtually zero chakra fluctuation. To an untrained eye, it would be impossible to distinguish between the two of us. Everyone, take notes on Kaito's demonstration and strive to perfect your form. Thank you, Kaito."
As Kaito turned to walk back, the old instructor stepped into his path, leaning down to whisper discreetly into the young Uchiha's ear.
"I am well aware that you are lightyears ahead of the curriculum, brat. But try to set a proper example for the rest of your peers, alright? You wouldn't want your brother, Shinichi, returning from the front lines only to hear that you've developed a lazy, arrogant attitude in class, would you?"
Kaito's posture stiffened for a fraction of a second. Gritting his teeth, he let out a sharp snort and nodded begrudgingly.
"Hng! Yeah, I get it."
'Genius though he may be, he's still just a brat at the end of the day,' the veteran chuckled inwardly. 'I truly wonder what kind of monster this kid will grow into once he leaves these walls.'
Turning back to the blackboard, the instructor resumed his lecture. Behind his desk, Kaito sat up straight, at least putting up the polite illusion of listening diligently to the lesson.