NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34: Four man team
Chapter
34: Four-Man Team
As all the other students left the
classroom, the atmosphere finally relaxed. Haruno Sakura, in particular, felt a
wave of relief wash over her. The intense stares from her classmates earlier
had felt like they could "kill" her. Now, seeing only her team left
in the classroom, her nervousness dissipated, replaced by pure joy.
Unlike the original storyline where
her excitement was dampened by Naruto's inclusion in her team, this time,
Haruno Sakura felt three times the happiness. Handsome and cool Sasuke-kun.
Noble Naruto-kun. Excellent Menma-kun. Ah, this is just too perfect!
Haruno Sakura felt the air around
her become sweet. This girl truly felt her luck was unbeatable. She was
extremely happy.
Naruto also thought this team
configuration was great, not because of Haruno Sakura, but because he could be
in the same team with Menma and Sasuke. The Naruto in this life was different
from the Naruto in the original story. Meanwhile, Sasuke shared similar
thoughts with Naruto, though he wouldn't show it on his face.
As for Menma, this division of
classes was indeed a bit unexpected, but it seemed reasonable. The only curious
point was Haruno Sakura. From the original story, there was no concrete reason
for her to join the seventh team. The only reliable reason might have been that
Haruno Sakura was the object of Naruto's affection, so Sarutobi Hiruzen let her
join to appease Naruto's emotions. This was, of course, a sufficient reason,
but it could only be speculation. There was no real evidence in the original
story to prove it.
In this life, Menma had no contact
with Haruno Sakura. The girl Naruto was most intimate with now was Hinata
Hyuga. Sasuke definitely wasn't interested in any girls. Menma really couldn't
think of a reason why Haruno Sakura was in the seventh team.
'Is it just because they need a girl
as a mediator and chose her for the seventh team?' Menma wondered.
"Haha, I thought it would be
best if I could be in the same team with you guys after the class division. I
did ask the Third Grandfather, but he never said anything. I didn't expect the
final result to be in the same team. In the future, I will ask for more
guidance! Sasuke, Menma, oh, and Sakura," Naruto said cheerfully, his
familiar attributes unchanged.
This also made Menma ponder that although Naruto had
inherited all the characteristics of "Naruto" from the original
story, there was likely one thing that wasn't inherited—the reincarnation
chakra of Asura. The brother standing in front of him, Naruto Namikaze, still
embodied the spirit and character of Asura. Of course, there was no way to
verify this at present. The thought flashed through Menma's mind for a moment,
but he didn't dwell on it. Whether Asura's reincarnation was a factor or not
had nothing to do with him now.
"Well, we should learn from each other and improve
together!" Menma smiled lightly and nodded.
"Humph!" Sasuke responded with a typical snort,
crossing his arms.
"Yes, I should learn from all three of you!"
Haruno Sakura nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with excitement as
she glanced at Sasuke, Naruto, and Menma. It felt like a dream come true.
No, to be precise, the fear was just dreaming. Waking up
and returning to reality was the most terrifying thing. Therefore, the
12-year-old Haruno Sakura pinched her thigh subconsciously. The pain
transmitted to her brain made her gasp, confirming that everything was real.
"Haha, I don't know who our team leader will be. I'm
really looking forward to it. I hope it will be a very powerful ninja,"
Naruto said with excitement, clenching his right fist and waving it slightly.
"Eh? Naruto-kun, you don't know? Didn't the Third
Grandfather tell you?" Haruno Sakura asked in surprise.
In her opinion, Naruto was the son of the Fourth Hokage.
The village should definitely arrange a very powerful ninja to lead the team,
and they must know it in advance, right?
"Ah? I asked the Third Grandfather, but he didn't tell
me, just like the class division information. Humph, he kept it a secret. I'll
strip that old man naked... cough cough, I mean, I'll pull the Third
Grandfather's beard," Naruto said with a little resentment.
The identity of the leading sensei was a question that
every graduate cared about. The same was true for the silent Sasuke. He hoped
more than anyone else that his leading sensei would be the top Jonin in the
village, only in this way could he be guided better. After all, the one he
wanted to avenge was a super genius who graduated from the ninja school at the
age of seven, joined the Anbu before the age of eleven, and later destroyed the
Uchiha clan with his own strength—an S-level rogue ninja.
'I hope it won't be a mediocre person,' Sasuke thought
silently.
Menma was more direct. He knew the answer in advance, so
would he still care? The plot might be different, and the leader might also be
different? Then Menma wanted to see who in the entire Konohagakure Village was
more suitable than Hatake Kakashi. Kakashi led Team 7 not only because of his
ability and identity but also because Sarutobi Hiruzen trusted him.
Therefore, Menma was 100% sure that the leader of their
Team 7 in this life was still Hatake Kakashi. And if he remembered correctly,
this famous Jonin had arrived in advance and was now hiding in a corner,
observing them secretly. This was a common way for ninjas to gather
intelligence.
'It will take at least one or two hours...' Menma thought
as he slowly closed his eyes, planning to take a nap.
Time passed little by little. It had been nearly two hours
since the last group of students—Shikamaru and his team—left. Their Team 7
instructor had not even shown up yet. Not to mention Haruno Sakura and Naruto,
even Sasuke showed signs of impatience. Among the four, only Menma sat calmly.
"Why
hasn't our sensei come yet? Did he forget what day it is?" Haruno Sakura,
while mentally screaming in frustration, forced a smile and maintained her
composed demeanor.