Naruto: The Life Changer

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The sad thing was that, regardless of academic standings, Naruto was highly likely to be put on the same team as Sasuke. The Ino-Shika-Chō were to be reformed in this generation by the three Clan Heirs. A tracking team was to be formed comprised of the Heirs of the Hyūga, Aburame and Inuzuka, leaving Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura and Naruto as a Heavy Assault team. No other teams were expected to pass the real Genin test.

"We'll see how thing pan out at graduation." the Hokage said aloud, "Things are not set in stone as of yet, so do your best and I will be willing to hear who you would like to be teamed up with, as well as the reasons why."

"Eh?" Naruto looked confused.

Sarutobi decided to elaborate. "When graduation rolls around, the Academy Sensei sends me a list of proposed teams based on compatible abilities and skills. I am also required to consider requests from the parents of students for specific team assignments." he explained, "I then gather the Jonin-sensei and I have to hear requests from them for specific students they might wish to have included on their teams. The entire thing is a then a question of compromise between Academy scores, parental requests, the Jonin-sensei requests as well as reality."

"Reality?" Naruto frowned.

"Do you know a tradition about what happens with the Rookie of the Year, Top Kunoichi and Dead Last?" Sarutobi asked.

"They're put on a team." Naruto scowled, "I'm the Dobe, Sakura-chan is the Top Kunoichi and Sasuke-teme is the Rookie of the Year."

"How did you find out about that?" the old man asked curiously. It wasn't exactly a secret per se, but it was usually concealed from Academy Students so they couldn't fudge their scores to get on or off a specific team.

"I heard about it." Naruto shrugged, "The civilians were talking about who 'Uchiha-sama' would be teamed up with."

Not for the first time, the Sandaime felt like throttling the civilians who had loose lips.

"Well then, now that you know about it, let us explore the reason for it." the Hokage sighed, "The original reason the tradition was started was so that the two students who excelled could help bring up the skills of the Dead Last. Over the years, it was instituted as a immutable facet of the Graduation process, which is a ridiculous thing to do."

"I can see why it was done the first time, but why as it made a permanent arrangement?" Naruto frowned as he considered it.

"Because it proved to be an effective setup, at first anyway." Sarutobi replied, "The first dozen years produced very good shinobi that went on to advance to chunin and then Jonin. After that…the wars interfered. People died too soon, before they had a chance to prove themselves or learn more. The entire system was ultimately proven to work…by me."

"Huh?" Naruto looked confused.

"My students…Orochimaru, Tsunade and Jiraya…the so-called 'Densetsu no Sannin' were the most powerful shinobi of their generation." Sarutobi explained, "They were strong enough, together, to hold off Sanshōuo no Hanzō (Hanzō the Salamander), an S-Rank Shinobi from Amegakure once they reached Jonin. Whenever I try to abolish the tradition, the Academy points to them as a defence against it, despite Orochimaru's subsequent descent into insanity and betrayal."

"Wow…" The look of amazement on Naruto's face was utterly unfeigned.

"To apply 'reality' to this situation, it is very rare that three Shinobi of such potential are put on the same team, so it is actually a very silly tradition to keep up." Sarutobi continued, "Moreover, you and Sasuke do not get along. What about Haruno Sakura? What do you think will happen if she is added to the mix as she is now?"

Naruto knew he was being asked for an honest opinion of her, leaving his crush aside. "Sakura-chan will likely Fangirl over Sasuke and put me down, hoping to gain Sasuke's approval." he said reluctantly. He liked Sakura, but knew how she would act. He wasn't blind to her faults.

"I agree that it's a likely scenario." Sarutobi nodded, "Now think about how teamwork will suffer with that kind of group dynamic. Not a pleasant scenario, is it?"

"I have got to get my grades up!" Naruto moaned.

"On occasion, the grade angle is ignored in favour of balance." Sarutobi sighed, "You may not have noticed, but it is rare that the Rookie of the Year, Top Kunoichi and Dead Last are wholly of Shinobi or Civilian origin. Still, the consensus is to group those from Shinobi Clans together as they are generally superior to those from civilian families. There are exceptions, such as Jiraya, Higurashi Tenten and Rock Lee."

"I've met Tenten." Naruto nodded, "She did mention someone called Lee. Isn't he the one who was given an exemption to graduate despite the fact he can't use nin- or genjutsu?"

Sarutobi noticed the slightly bitter way Naruto said that and internally winced. Aloud he said, "Yes. He is an exceptional Taijutsu user, just as Tenten is well on her way to being an expert Weapon Mistress, with nigh-unparalleled skill with Shurikenjutsu. Jiraya is one of the most powerful Shinobi on active duty at the moment and was the person who taught the Yondaime Hokage all he knew. So you see, there is no bias against civilians in Konoha; just a bias against anyone who doesn't pull their own weight."

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