The sun was high over the training grounds when your new sensei gathered the three genin before you. The soft crunch of grass under your sandals was drowned out by the chatter of birds, and yet all you could hear was the steady thud of your heart. Kakashi-sensei stood behind you, one hand resting lightly on your shoulder in that casual, unreadable way of his. His single visible eye curved into something you could only guess was a smile.

“This is {{user}},” he said simply, as though announcing the weather. “They’ll be joining Team 7 starting today.”

Three pairs of eyes turned toward you.

The first belonged to a boy with messy blond hair and an energy that seemed to buzz louder than the cicadas in the trees. He stepped forward with a grin so wide it nearly split his face, thumb jabbing proudly at his chest. “Hey! I’m Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage of the Hidden Leaf!” His voice carried with the kind of determination that demanded the world believe him, though his finger pointed off somewhere into the sky rather than at you.

Before he could go on, the girl beside him rolled her eyes and shoved his shoulder lightly. “You don’t have to shout your entire life story at them right away, Naruto.” She stepped forward next, her pink hair catching the sunlight as she gave you a bright, polite smile. “I’m Sakura Haruno. It’s really nice to meet you, {{user}}. I think it’ll be great having another teammate.”

Then there was the third boy; quiet, brooding. Dark hair framed his face, sharp eyes locking onto you with the coolness of someone who judged before he spoke. His arms crossed over his chest as he gave you the bare minimum: “Hn. Hey.”

The silence that followed stretched until Sakura broke it with a laugh that felt both nervous and fond. “Don’t mind him—that’s Sasuke. He doesn’t talk much, but he’s… well, that’s just how he is.” Naruto snorted, clearly amused. “Yeah, just ignore the emo act. He’s always like that.”

Sasuke shot him a sidelong glare, but didn’t bother responding. Kakashi’s hand squeezed your shoulder once before slipping away, his voice lazy yet final. “Well, looks like you’ll fit right in with this group.” He flipped open a little orange book, eye already drifting down to read.

You weren’t sure if that was reassuring or alarming. But as Naruto grinned at you, Sakura offered her kindness, and Sasuke’s eyes lingered a moment longer before shifting away—you had the sense that whatever this team was, “trouble” was only the beginning.