With that, Iruka began assigning teams and calling out their instructors' names.
"Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi—you all are Team 8. Your Jonin instructor is Asuma Sarutobi," he announced.
"I see. We're all in this together," Shikamaru muttered, glancing at Choji. Choji simply nodded with a content smile.
But Ino groaned dramatically. "Why do I have to be with these two? Sensei, I need a team change!" she protested.
Iruka sighed, already expecting this. "No, Ino. The teams are final. There's no changing them."
"Ahhh!" she wailed like she had just suffered a tragic fate.
"Ino, it's okay," Naruto said, shaking his head.
"The Ino-Shika-Cho formation has to continue, so of course, you three ended up together."
"But, Naruto, I wanted to be with you," she pouted.
"Come here," he called, motioning for her.
As she leaned back toward him, he gently patted her head to console her.
All the boys watching this exchanged glances, their eyes twitching at the casual intimacy.
Karin and Sakura, however, weren't fooled.
They knew Ino was using this opportunity to score points with Naruto.
As expected, they quickly stepped in and separated them before she could push her luck further.
Iruka cleared his throat loudly, giving Naruto and Ino a pointed look. "Can we continue now?"
Ino pouted as she straightened up, while Naruto just smirked, knowing exactly what she was up to.
Iruka sighed and moved on.
"Next, Team 10—Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame, Kiba Inuzuka. Your Jonin Instructor will be Kurenai Yuhi."
Hinata smiled gently even though she was disappointed, not with Naruto, while Kiba grinned, nudging Shino. "Looks like we're sticking together, huh?"
Shino simply adjusted his glasses. "Acceptable."
Kiba rolled his eyes. "Man, at least pretend to be excited."
Iruka continued.
"Team 7—Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Karin Uzumaki. Your Jonin Instructor will be Kakashi Hatake."
Naruto grinned. "Oh? Looks like we got an interesting team."
Karin nudged him. "I swear, if you slack off because of him, I'll drag you to training myself."
Sasuke just scoffed, arms crossed, clearly indifferent.
The rest of the team assignments continued, but the moment everyone was waiting for was meeting their instructors.
And knowing Kakashi... Naruto had a feeling they were going to be waiting a long time.
"So wait here until your instructor picks you up. And Sakura, you can either directly go to the hospital—Tsunade-sama said to head there after collecting your headband," Iruka said.
"Yes, Sensei. I will keep it in mind," Sakura said.
He left quickly, relieved that his duty was finally over.
Soon, all the groups' instructors arrived and took their teams, leaving only Team 7, 8, and 10, with Sakura also present.
"Naruto, let's leave. We know Kakashi will arrive late anyway," Karin suggested.
"No, wait. We will leave after Kurenai-sensei comes," he said.
Hinata looked at Naruto with a small smile. "You're waiting for Kurenai-sensei?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah, at least as her student, I should wait for her."
Ino raised an eyebrow. "I see… but I feel like you're thinking something else and just saying this on the outside."
Naruto shook his head. "Nothing."
That only made her more suspicious.
As if on cue, Kurenai entered the classroom, her crimson eyes scanning the remaining students.
"Naruto, you're still here?" she asked.
"Yes, sensei. What can I do when my instructor is Kakashi?" he sighed dramatically.
"Ahhh," she chuckled lightly. "I see."
Kiba, clearly confused, leaned forward. "Naruto, when did you even meet Kurenai-sensei? And why do you two seem so close?"
Shikamaru sighed at Kiba's cluelessness.
Naruto smirked. "Hey, I was her student before. That means you three should call me senpai," he declared, pointing at Kiba, Shino, and Hinata.
"Don't worry, Hinata," he added with a soft smile. "If you don't want to, then it's okay."
Kiba's eye twitched. "Like hell I'm calling you senpai!"
Shino adjusted his glasses. "Technically, he does have seniority in learning under Kurenai-sensei."
Hinata smiled softly. "I... I don't mind, Naruto-senpai."
Kiba groaned. "Not you too, Hinata!"
Naruto smirked, crossing his arms. "See? Hinata gets it. You guys should show some respect."
Kurenai chuckled. "Alright, alright, enough teasing. Team 8, let's go."
Kiba muttered under his breath but followed, while Shino gave Naruto a subtle nod of acknowledgment.
Once they left, Karin elbowed Naruto.
"Senpai, huh? You're really getting ahead of yourself."
Naruto grinned. "Hey, I gotta enjoy the perks of being awesome."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "You mean annoying."
"That too," he admitted shamelessly.
Karin sighed. "Okay, Senpai, can we go now?"
Naruto smirked. "Yeah, yeah, let's get out of here before we grow old waiting for Kakashi."
Sakura laughed. "That's actually possible with him."
"Naruto, how could you do this to me? Leaving me like this?" Ino said dramatically, as if she were the heartbroken heroine in a tragic romance. If anyone overheard, they'd think Naruto had committed the ultimate betrayal.
Naruto sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine, we'll wait until everyone leaves. Happy now?"
Ino smirked, her plan working perfectly, and chuckled at Naruto's reaction.
Just then, Asuma entered the classroom, his eyes scanning the remaining students. The moment he spotted Naruto, his expression tightened slightly. This was the kid who had somehow pulled Kurenai away from him. But how? He was just a kid. And yet…
Naruto, noticing the sharp glance, immediately understood the meaning behind it. He didn't say anything—just met Asuma's gaze with an unreadable expression.
Five long minutes passed in silence.
Finally, Ino, unable to take it anymore, blurted out, "Sensei, are you here for Team 10?"
Asuma blinked, momentarily distracted from his thoughts. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji—let's go."
He turned to leave, but not before casting one last glance at Naruto. Then, without another word, he walked out, Team 10 following behind.
As soon as Asuma left with his team, Naruto let out a deep sigh.
Karin smirked. "Wow, nii-san, you really have a way of making enemies without trying."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?"
Naruto waved it off. "Nothing. Just an old misunderstanding."
Karin leaned in, whispering dramatically. "You stole Kurenai-sensei from him, didn't you?"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "I didn't steal anyone! She just took an interest in my training, that's all."
Sakura blinked. "Wait… does that mean Asuma liked Kurenai-sensei?"
Karin nodded sagely. "And Naruto, unknowingly or not, got in the way."
Naruto sighed. "You guys are making it sound way worse than it is."
Karin crossed her arms. "Well, you did just sit there in awkward silence for five minutes while he stared daggers at you."
Sakura shook her head. "No wonder he looked so tense…"
Naruto groaned. "Forget about it! Anyway, can we finally leave now?"
Karin smirked. "Oh? You're not waiting for Kakashi anymore?"
Naruto deadpanned. "I refuse to waste my youth waiting for a chronically late man. Let's go eat something."
Karin and Sakura laughed, and the three of them finally left the academy, ready for whatever came next.
Sasuke, being the ever-practical one, had already left earlier, fully aware that Kakashi wouldn't be showing up today.
An hour later,
Kakashi stood in the empty classroom, glancing around as if expecting someone to pop out from behind a desk.
"Hmm... no one's here," he mused, rubbing his chin. "Did they finally give up on waiting for me?"
He let out a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "Kids these days... no patience at all."
After a moment of standing in silence, he turned on his heel and walked towards the door. "Oh, well. I guess I'll just meet them tomorrow or the day after that. Not like I'm in a hurry."
And just like that, he vanished in a puff of smoke, continuing his legendary streak of tardiness.
"Karin, just now Kakashi walked in, saw the empty room, and left," Naruto said.
"At least he showed up today itself. That's some character development," Karin remarked.
"Alright, so where are we headed now?" he asked.
"We're going to the hospital," Sakura chimed in, walking beside them.
"Wait, why?" Naruto frowned.
"Because we made a bet! If Kakashi arrived before noon, you'd help me with hospital duties—no clones allowed. And guess what? He did," she explained smugly.
Naruto groaned. "Seriously? That guy showing up on time for once, and I have to suffer for it?"
Karin raised an eyebrow. "Hold up. That was between you two. Why am I getting dragged into this?"
Sakura smirked, crossing her arms. "Because, Karin, you were so confident that Kakashi wouldn't show up today. You even said, 'If he comes, I'll do whatever you say.' Remember?"
Karin's eyes widened. "Wait, wait, I didn't mean it literally! That was just a joke!"
"A bet is a bet," Sakura said smugly. "And since Naruto's your nii-san, you both are coming with me. No excuses!"
Naruto groaned. "Ugh, fine. But if I have to work, at least let me wear a doctor's coat. I want to look official."
Sakura chuckled. "Deal. But no clones!"
Karin sighed in defeat. "This is why I should stop talking when you two are around..."