Year 58 of Konoha.
Ninja Academy — Year 6, Class 1.
The classroom was filled with restless energy.
Freshly graduated students, now official Genin, gathered in small groups, their voices overlapping in waves of excitement. Some leaned over desks, whispering eagerly. Others laughed loudly, unable to contain their anticipation. A few sat quietly, but even they couldn't hide the nervous tension in their eyes.
Today was no ordinary day.
It was the day of team assignments.
For these young ninjas, this moment would determine far more than just their teammates. It would shape their future, their survival, and perhaps even their fate in the unforgiving ninja world.
Because in Konoha, not all teams were equal.
If one was fortunate enough to be placed alongside members of powerful clans—like the Hyuga, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, or the Sarutobi clan—their supervising jonin would almost certainly be elite. A strong teacher meant better missions, better guidance, and most importantly, a higher chance of survival.
On the other hand, those from civilian backgrounds or minor clans had far fewer advantages.
Their teachers were usually ordinary chunin.
Their missions?
Catching stray cats, walking dogs, pulling weeds, or occasionally dealing with low-level bandits.
Dangerous enough to die.
Insignificant enough to be forgotten.
Many of the civilian students glanced subtly toward the clan heirs, their gazes filled with hope, envy, and quiet desperation. Some even imagined themselves rising above their circumstances—becoming heroes, earning recognition, and one day ascending to the position of Hokage.
But dreams were cheap.
Reality was not.
Near the window, in a corner seat, a boy sat quietly apart from the noise.
He had black hair, black eyes, and a refined, handsome face. His build was slightly slender, giving him an almost fragile appearance compared to the more robust students around him.
Resting his chin lazily on one hand, he gazed out the window with a distant, contemplative expression.
This boy was Aoki Yoru.
Inside, however, his thoughts were anything but calm.
Twelve years…
It's already been twelve years since I came to this world.
A faint sigh echoed in his mind.
In his previous life, he had been nothing more than a worn-out "civil engineering dog," working endless overtime, day after day, with little rest and even less recognition.
And then—
A bizarre accident.
While working late one night pouring concrete, a muck truck had somehow appeared—on the twelfth floor—and sent him flying.
That was the last thing he remembered before waking up in this world.
Even now, the memory made no sense.
Why was there a muck truck on the 12th floor?
It was a mystery he suspected he would never solve.
Aoki shifted slightly in his seat, his gaze returning to the classroom.
Team assignments…
His expression grew more serious.
I hope the lead teacher is reliable.
I'm only two years older than Naruto…
That single fact weighed heavily on his mind.
Because he knew what was coming.
The Konoha Crush.
Pain's invasion.
The Fourth Shinobi World War.
Each event more catastrophic than the last.
In those battles, even jonin-level ninjas were treated like expendable soldiers. Kage-level fighters—figures who stood at the peak of the ninja world—became little more than cannon fodder.
And him?
A civilian-born ninja with no clan.
No bloodline limit.
No powerful backing.
With this weak body… how am I supposed to survive?
Aoki's fingers tapped lightly against the desk.
His greatest goal was painfully simple.
Stay alive.
He didn't want glory.
He didn't want fame.
He didn't want to become Hokage.
He only wanted one thing—
To survive until the end.
At the front of the classroom, Teacher Sarutobi cleared his throat.
"Congratulations on successfully graduating from the Ninja Academy and becoming proud Genin of the Hidden Leaf Village."
The chatter gradually subsided.
"Under the leadership of the great Third Hokage, Konoha emerged victorious in the Third Shinobi World War, ushering in the peace we now enjoy."
His voice was steady, practiced.
"I hope all of you will take responsibility for the village's future and contribute to its continued prosperity under the guidance of the Sandaime Hokage."
Aoki blinked slowly.
Here it comes…
The speech dragged on.
And on.
And on.
For nearly half an hour, Teacher Sarutobi continued praising the village's history, the Hokage's leadership, and the importance of loyalty.
Some students listened intently.
Others struggled to stay awake.
Aoki, meanwhile, had long since tuned out.
Same speech, different year…
Finally, the teacher paused and took a sip of hot water.
Then—
"Alright. I will now announce the team placements."
Instantly, the atmosphere changed.
Every student straightened up.
Eyes sharpened.
Hearts pounded.
This was it.
Their future… decided in a few simple words.
"Team 1…"
"Team 2…"
Names were called one after another.
Some students cheered.
Others frowned.
A few sighed in relief.
Others fell into silent disappointment.
The classroom became a mosaic of emotions.
Then—
"Team 6: Aoki Yoru, Tanaka Kenta, Shimizu Yui."
Aoki's eyes flickered slightly.
That's me.
He instinctively turned his head.
Not far away, two other students were already looking at him.
Tanaka Kenta.
A boy with a sturdy build, wheat-colored skin, and a rugged appearance. His physique alone suggested strong aptitude in taijutsu.
Shimizu Yui.
A quiet girl with smooth, shoulder-length black hair and fair skin. Her features were delicate and understated, giving her an unassuming presence.
Their gazes met.
For a brief moment, the three simply observed each other.
Then—
They nodded.
Small smiles appeared.
It was a simple exchange.
But it marked the beginning of their team.
Aoki leaned back slightly, evaluating.
Not bad…
All three of them had average academic performance.
No standout geniuses.
No troublesome prodigies.
Just… ordinary.
And that was perfect.
If nothing goes wrong, we'll probably get a regular chunin as our teacher.
Which meant—
Low-risk missions.
Minimal attention.
A peaceful life.
Exactly what Aoki wanted.
He had also noticed something else during training sessions.
Neither Tanaka nor Yui liked to show off.
They didn't boast.
They didn't try to stand out.
They held back.
In a classroom full of loud, overconfident kids shouting about destiny and greatness, that trait was incredibly rare.
And incredibly valuable.
They understand…
The art of staying low.
In this cruel world, keeping a low profile wasn't cowardice.
It was survival.
"Team 12…"
The list continued until finally—
"That concludes the team placements."
Teacher Sarutobi closed the list.
"I hope you will support one another and strive to make a name for yourselves in the ninja world. Your lead instructors will arrive shortly."
With that, he turned and left without hesitation.
The moment the door closed—
The classroom exploded with noise.
Students gathered with their teammates, introducing themselves, chatting excitedly, and speculating about their instructors.
"I hope we get an elite chunin!"
"Maybe even a special jonin!"
"Keep dreaming," someone muttered. "Those teachers go to clan teams."
Laughter mixed with sighs.
Soon, instructors began arriving.
"Team 1, follow me."
Three students stood and left.
Then another teacher came.
And another.
One by one, teams were taken away.
The classroom gradually emptied.
Until only three people remained.
Aoki Yoru.
Tanaka Kenta.
Shimizu Yui.
Kenta scratched his head.
"Why are we the only ones left?"
Yui glanced nervously toward the door.
"Maybe our teacher is… late?"
Aoki said nothing.
But inside—
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
A cold unease crept up his spine.
Wait…
His eyes narrowed.
Team 6…
Not Team 7…
So it shouldn't be… right?
But the more he thought about it—
The worse it felt.
Before reincarnating, he had read the original story.
He knew that Kakashi had once been assigned as a team leader before Naruto's generation.
And what did he do?
He failed them.
Sent them all back.
At least two teams.
Maybe more.
And now—
They were the last team left.
No way…
It can't be that unlucky…
But deep down—
He already knew.
Kakashi Hatake.
A man broken by loss.
His father's suicide.
Killing his best friend with his own hands.
The death of his teacher.
A life soaked in regret.
At this point in time, Kakashi had no interest in guiding others.
Leading a team?
It was merely an obligation.
And whether he accepted students—
Depended entirely on his mood.
Naruto's Team 7 had passed.
But they were special.
The son of his teacher.
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
The last survivor of the Uchiha clan.
They weren't ordinary.
They couldn't be ignored.
But Aoki's team?
Two civilians.
One girl from a nearly extinct minor clan.
No influence.
No protection.
No significance.
If they were sent back—
No one would care.
Aoki exhaled slowly.
Well…
Even if we fail… it's not the worst outcome.
Staying in the academy is safer than the battlefield.
As long as I survive until the end… I win.
Just as that thought settled—
A shadow appeared at the door.
Silver hair.
Half-lidded, lifeless eyes.
A lazy, almost exhausted expression.
As if the world itself bored him.
"Team 6," he said flatly.
"Follow me."
Aoki closed his eyes briefly.
Then sighed.
Of course it's him.
He stood up.
Along with Tanaka Kenta and Shimizu Yui—
And followed Kakashi out of the classroom.
This is going to be troublesome…