The Tale of an ordinary ninja

The academy grounds were abuzz with excitement as newly graduated genin gathered to meet their teams. Tsunade, though thrilled about her future as a shinobi, found herself distracted. Memories of Akira's heartfelt confession the previous evening played in her mind, bringing a blush to her cheeks every time she recalled his nervous yet endearing expression. She'd hardly slept, her heart racing as she contemplated the fact that she now had a boyfriend. Despite her usual disciplined nature, she rushed through her morning, skipping breakfast in her eagerness to meet Akira before heading to the academy.

As she approached the training grounds, she spotted Akira waiting for her under the shade of a tree. His pink hair caught the early morning sunlight, and he was holding a small bento box in his hands. He noticed her approach and smiled softly, though his cheeks turned a light shade of pink.

"Tsunade," he said, "did you have breakfast?"

The question was simple, but before she could answer, her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl. Tsunade's face turned red as Akira chuckled. "You didn't eat, did you?" he teased gently, his laughter kind rather than mocking.

"Stop laughing!" she huffed, punching his arm lightly. "I just… I wanted to see you before going to the academy."

Akira's cheeks flushed a deeper pink at her admission, and he looked away shyly. "I figured you might skip breakfast," he said, holding up the bento. "So, I made some extra for us to share."

Tsunade's embarrassment melted into gratitude as they sat down together. Akira opened the box to reveal a neatly prepared meal—rice balls, tamagoyaki, and grilled fish. "You made this?" she asked, impressed.

Akira nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. I wanted to make sure you had something good to eat before your big day."

They ate together, chatting about her excitement for becoming a genin. Tsunade shared her curiosity about her team and her growing interest in medical ninjutsu. Akira listened intently, occasionally offering words of encouragement. Time seemed to slip away, and before they knew it, the academy beckoned.

Tsunade stood, brushing off her clothes. "I should go," she said reluctantly. Akira got to his feet as well, giving her a small, encouraging smile. "You'll do great," he said. Then, gathering his courage, he quickly hugged her.

Tsunade stiffened for a moment before relaxing into the embrace. "Thanks, Akira," she said softly. As they parted, she felt her confidence swell. With one last wave, she made her way to the academy, feeling calmer than she had that morning.

The academy assembly hall was filled with excited chatter as the new genin awaited their team assignments. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, stood at the front, commanding attention with his authoritative presence. "Congratulations on this important milestone," he began, his voice steady and inspiring. "This is the beginning of your journey as shinobi. Remember the Will of Fire—the strength of our village comes from the bonds we share. Protect one another, work hard, and strive to become the best shinobi you can be."

After the Hokage's speech, the academy principal explained the logistics of team assignments. As the genin rushed to check the team lists, Tsunade was stopped by Hiruzen himself. "Tsunade," he said, smiling, "you won't find your name on the list. You're in a special team, and I'll be your jonin sensei. Follow me."

Tsunade's eyes widened in surprise. "You'll be my sensei?" she asked, her voice tinged with awe.

Hiruzen chuckled. "Yes. Come with me. I'll introduce you to your teammates."

When they arrived at the training grounds, Tsunade noticed two boys already waiting. The first had alabaster skin and long black hair that framed his narrow face. His golden, snake-like eyes carried a quiet intensity. The second boy stood in stark contrast, with unruly white hair, a goofy expression, and red streaks on his cheeks.

Hiruzen gestured toward the pale boy. "This is Orochimaru," he said.

Orochimaru nodded politely. "It's nice to meet you, Tsunade," he said, his voice calm and measured. "I've heard a lot about you."

Tsunade smiled. "Nice to meet you too, Orochimaru. I've heard about your talent."

The Hokage then turned to the white-haired boy. "And this is Jiraiya."

Jiraiya grinned widely, his eyes lighting up as he took in Tsunade's appearance. "Well, well," he said, leaning forward dramatically. "Looks like I hit the jackpot. A beautiful teammate—what are the odds?"

Tsunade's smile disappeared, replaced by a scowl. "What did you just say?"

Ignoring her growing irritation, Jiraiya continued, "Maybe after training, you and I could—"

His sentence was cut short as Tsunade's fist smashed into his face, sending him flying. He landed in a heap, groaning in pain. Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable, while Hiruzen sighed heavily.

"Jiraiya," the Hokage said, "you really need to learn when to keep your mouth shut."

Jiraiya sat up, rubbing his swollen cheek. "Sheesh, no sense of humor," he muttered.

The Bell Test

Hiruzen tied two silver bells to his belt. "The goal is simple," he explained. "You must retrieve a bell from me before the timer runs out. There are only two bells, so one of you will fail. The person who fails will be tied to the post and watch the others eat lunch."

The genin nodded, readying themselves. Orochimaru slipped into the shadows with a predator's grace, while Tsunade climbed a nearby tree to scout for an opening. Jiraiya, however, stood in the open, cracking his knuckles.

"I'm going straight for it!" Jiraiya declared, charging at Hiruzen.

Hiruzen sidestepped effortlessly, tripping Jiraiya and sending him sprawling. "Too direct," he said.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru launched a precise strike from behind. Hiruzen deflected it but was impressed by the boy's speed. Taking advantage of the distraction, Tsunade leaped from her perch, aiming a powerful kick at the bells.

The Hokage blocked her, but the combined effort forced him to move defensively. Orochimaru seized the opportunity to snatch one bell.

"Tsunade, now!" Orochimaru called.

Tsunade sprinted forward, her hand brushing the second bell. Hiruzen attempted to deflect her, but she managed to grab it just before the timer rang.

Jiraiya sat up, realizing he was the only one without a bell. "No way!" he yelled. "That's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair," Hiruzen replied. "You failed to use strategy or teamwork."

Jiraiya was tied to the wooden post as Tsunade and Orochimaru opened their lunchboxes.

"Hey! You're really going to eat without me?" Jiraiya complained.

Tsunade smirked. "You lost, remember?"

Fuming, Jiraiya muttered, "Whatever. Who cares what a flat-chested girl like you thinks?"

Tsunade's smile froze, and her fists clenched. She stormed over and punched him so hard that the post wobbled.

Orochimaru sighed. "Some people never learn."

Hiruzen chuckled softly. "This team will be… challenging."