Naruto Uzumaki sat on the swing, his lonely figure looking utterly pitiful.
But Kenjiro felt no sympathy for him.
After all, only Kenjiro knew that this guy was about to have everything handed to him on a silver platter.
Naruto and Sasuke—eternal rivals, just like the reincarnated chakra within them, embodying the ultimate extremes of Yin and Yang. Their fates were complete opposites.
Throughout their six years at the Academy, Sasuke Uchiha was one of its most prominent figures.
If not for Kenjiro, he would have been the top student.
In the original timeline, these were Sasuke's peak years, his time to shine.
But after graduation, things took a turn for the worse.
Meanwhile, Naruto, the so-called dead last, was about to start his meteoric rise.
In just a few months, he would surpass even the top students.
Naruto might look pitiful now, but by tonight, he would officially unlock one of the most overpowered techniques—one perfectly suited for both his Sage Body and his status as the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.
The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
Even Kenjiro couldn't help but covet this forbidden jutsu. The more chakra one had, the more useful it became.
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto used his shadow clones to counter Madara Uchiha's Deep Forest Emergence, each clone wielding a Rasengan.
Even the weakest elemental jutsu, when performed by hundreds or thousands of clones, could create the effect of a natural disaster.
Had Naruto mastered even a simple Wind Release: Great Breakthrough during the Chūnin Exams, he wouldn't have needed to resort to farting to defeat Kiba.
A combination of Multiple Shadow Clones and Wind Release: Great Breakthrough would have been enough to eliminate most of the candidates in an instant.
Naruto would eventually be nerfed and suppressed.
But Kenjiro? He wouldn't be.
If he could obtain the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, his strength would undergo a fundamental transformation.
With this thought in mind, Kenjiro's fingers, which had been absentmindedly playing with Hanabi's hair, momentarily paused.
A bold idea crossed his mind.
Perhaps… he could get his hands on that forbidden jutsu tonight!
If his Byakugan hadn't evolved to the golden level, he wouldn't have even considered it.
After all, only he knew that the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique was deliberately placed there for Naruto by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The moment Naruto opened the Scroll of Seals, the first jutsu he saw was this technique, positioned in the most conspicuous spot.
If Kenjiro dared to target the Scroll of Seals or even set foot in that forest at night, Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely take notice.
And then? He'd be facing the Yamanaka Clan's mind-reading techniques.
But Kenjiro didn't need to go anywhere near Naruto.
He didn't even need to be in the same forest.
His Byakugan's long-range vision extended up to eighty kilometers.
The entire Hidden Leaf Village was within his sight.
As long as he prepared accordingly, he could copy the training method for the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique the moment Naruto opened the Scroll of Seals.
With this realization, Kenjiro made up his mind.
-----🍥-----
"…Kenjiro-kun, do you think we'll be assigned to the same team after tomorrow's placements?"
More than half an hour had passed.
Hanabi had fallen asleep in Kenjiro's arms.
After carrying her to her room and laying her on the bed, Kenjiro returned to the sofa.
He casually draped an arm around Hinata's shoulders.
Leaning against him, Hinata gazed up expectantly.
"The chances are slim, but not impossible."
Kenjiro twirled a strand of Hinata's silky hair between his fingers as he explained, "Team assignments are based on balance. You and I have consistently ranked in the top three, so the odds of us being placed together are low."
"But everyone in our class knows we're always together, and the instructors must have noticed as well."
"If the teachers have the final say, they might take our teamwork into account."
Hinata clasped her hands together, silently praying. "I hope we end up on the same team, Kenjiro-kun."
Kenjiro chuckled.
Still absentmindedly playing with her hair, he gently pinched her chin, then her cheek.
He didn't want to disappoint her, but their chances of being placed together were practically zero.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was the one overseeing the assignments, and in the original timeline, the only civilian who ended up on a team with clan heirs was Sakura Haruno—Naruto's crush.
As for the rest of the rookies, Naruto and Sasuke formed one team, the new generation of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio formed another, while the Inuzuka, Hyūga, and Aburame clans were grouped together.
This year, there were no mixed teams of civilians and clan heirs.
At the same time, these clan-based teams were always the ones acknowledged by their Jōnin instructors.
Meanwhile, the teams made up of civilians had an extremely high failure rate.
Had the traditional team structure been ignored, Kenjiro—being the top student—could have easily replaced Sakura in Team 7.
But there was no way Hiruzen Sarutobi would break tradition.
Moreover, Kenjiro was friends with Sasuke. If they were on the same team, what if they ended up isolating Naruto?
A team with two boys and one girl could create a balance, where the girl either mediated or chose a side.
But a team with three boys? That was a recipe for disaster.
Given that the Ino-Shika-Chō trio wouldn't be split up, Team 7's structure was set in stone.
The only other team Kenjiro could be assigned to was Team 8.
But if he were to be placed in Team 8, that would mean either Kiba Inuzuka or Shino Aburame would have to be kicked out.
If they were just ordinary members, that might not be an issue.
After all, Kenjiro was the top student and had proven his worth.
But they weren't just ordinary members—they were the heirs of their respective clans.
Putting clan heirs in a standard squad under a regular Jōnin instructor? That would be a major problem if they ever encountered danger on a mission.
The Inuzuka Clan played a crucial role in both combat and sensory operations, providing ninja dogs as summoning companions. Meanwhile, the Aburame Clan, with their infamous insect techniques, commanded fear throughout the ninja world.
Kenjiro wasn't sure if Hiruzen Sarutobi had the resolve to make such a change.
So, the probability was slim.
But what Kenjiro didn't know was that it wasn't just Hinata who hoped to be on his team—her father, Hiashi Hyūga, wanted the same.
The future father-in-law was already making his move.
-----🍥-----
As dusk settled, Hiruzen Sarutobi placed a specially prepared Scroll of Seals on his desk in the Hokage's office before heading home.
Not long after, a tall, long-haired man in white robes, with a pair of piercing Byakugan eyes, paid him a personal visit.
At the same time, Mizuki approached Naruto.
As night fell, a blond-haired boy in an orange jumpsuit, wearing green goggles, brazenly snuck into the Hokage's office and stole the Scroll of Seals.
Moments later, green-vested figures darted across the rooftops of the central district, moving swiftly into action.
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