Konoha’s Black Plague

Class Division

"Hey, Bai Ye, who do you think our instructor will be?"

Zhiyi leaned over and poked Bai Ye, who was slumped over his desk, dozing off while the teacher wrote on the blackboard.

"When was I ever assigned to the same team as you?" Bai Ye grumbled, eyes half-lidded with irritation. He'd been moments away from a solid nap. His gaze drifted over to the ridiculous sunglasses on Zhiyi's face. Sunglasses indoors? In class? Is that some bizarre Aburame clan tradition?

"We agreed to grow together and be each other's little angels, and now you want to betray me?" Zhiyi clutched his chest in mock heartbreak with one hand while dramatically pointing at Bai Ye with the other, trembling like a betrayed lover in a tragic play.

Bai Ye's eye twitched. "??? If I end up on your team tomorrow, I swear I'm filing for reassignment."

He turned away in disgust. Zhiyi might act all stoic and bug-clan mysterious in public, but in private, he was a menace. Bai Ye silently cursed being seated in the back row with him. Maybe a move to the front would suppress whatever chaotic spirit Zhiyi carried.

"You're the last of us six to graduate. I think so highly of you, and you don't even appreciate it?" Zhiyi whined, poking Bai Ye in the side again. Bai Ye sighed. He still couldn't understand why this guy clung to him like a leech.

"Aren't the others all stronger than me? Shouldn't you be teaming up with them?"

"Maybe, but I think you've got the most potential," Zhiyi said, for once dropping the act. "We all come from clans. You're the only one who's come this far by sheer will alone."

That quiet admission startled Bai Ye more than any of Zhiyi's antics.

"I don't care who my instructor is," Bai Ye muttered after a pause. "Anyone's fine. I just want to get some rest before training after school."

Zhiyi shrugged, sensing the conversation was over—for now.

Across the room, Uchiha Yue was sneaking glances at Bai Ye when she suddenly felt her right ear being pinched. Her whole body shuddered. A soft, almost inaudible whimper escaped her lips.

"Don't bully me... someone might see…"

"Afraid your little crush will notice?" Yuyan whispered smugly, lips brushing Yue's ear. "I'm doing this for your own good. You were totally spacing out, practically floating out of your body."

"N-No I wasn't~" Yue weakly protested, her face reddening.

"Hmph. Chances are slim we'll be on the same team," Yuyan continued, lowering her voice even more. "But if you call me 'good sister' nicely, and I end up on your lover's team, I might switch with you."

Yuyan's teasing breath tickled Yue's ear, short and warm. Flustered beyond reason, Yue murmured, "G-Good sister~"

Yuyan immediately slapped a hand over her mouth, stifling laughter. Yue, realizing what she'd just said aloud, buried her face in her hands, feeling her heartbeat thunder in her chest.

"Hehe… bullying you is still my favorite. But it sucks that after graduation, we'll be apart more often. Missions, training, less time for this."

Yuyan gently stroked Yue's burning cheek. The mischief in her eyes dimmed into something more somber.

Being a ninja was dangerous. One mission could be their last. Yue noticed the shift and, without a word, intertwined their fingers, holding on tightly, exchanging warmth and silent promises.

At the front of the class, Yui listened attentively to the lesson. Meanwhile, Lu Xin from the Nara clan looked like the very soul had drained from his body—classic Nara laziness.

After school, Bai Ye went alone to the hospital to visit Guy. Zhiyi and Yue didn't join him this time—they had their own training to handle.

"Dad, you're back from your mission," Bai Ye said as he entered the hospital room, spotting Duy peeling an apple at Guy's bedside.

"Bai Ye, you're here," Duy greeted him with a bright smile. "Kai told me what happened. You did well." He gave Bai Ye a thumbs-up.

"But Guy was injured because of me…" Bai Ye looked down, guilt twisting in his stomach.

"No shinobi walks away unscathed. Protecting your comrades is never wrong," Duy said, setting the apple aside and ruffling Bai Ye's hair. "Never apologize for doing your best. It would disrespect your own efforts—and Guy's."

Bai Ye swallowed his guilt but said nothing. He knew deep down that he still wasn't strong enough.

Not wanting to burden them further, he left soon after, intent on improving himself.

On the way out, he caught a glimpse of a pale figure with a long face and eerie, serpentine eyes.

"...Orochimaru? What's he doing here?"

Bai Ye narrowed his eyes as the Sannin passed by. It was the third original Naruto character he'd encountered directly, after Guy and Duy. When he first reincarnated here, he was eager to meet all the characters he admired—but reality had dulled that excitement.

He didn't hate the villains. People fought for different reasons, each believing in their own truth. He didn't approve of everything they did—but he understood it.

Still, he was just a student. He couldn't stop them, not yet.

His focus now was on saving Duy… and maybe Zhiyi and Yue.

He didn't know when they'd die—or if they were even destined to die now that he was here. His presence might've already changed the timeline.

After all, he was the one who applied for early graduation today. The others had already chosen their own paths.

He couldn't help but think about team formation tomorrow.

Ideally, he wanted to be grouped with Lu Xin. A tactical genius from the Nara clan would be invaluable. His second choice was either Zhiyi or Yuyan—both were perceptive ninja, useful for reconnaissance and early warning.

Otherwise, he'd end up like Kakashi and need to train ninja hounds to compensate for his own lack of sensory ability.

"Alright... 3,000 reps of each drill tonight. I can't afford to oversleep again when the instructor shows up."

At his secluded training spot, Bai Ye revised his regimen with renewed determination.

The next morning, the team placements were announced:

"Team Three: Uchiha Yue, Hyūga Yuyan, and Bai Ye.

Team Five: Senju Yui, Aburame Zhiyi, and Nara Shikakoto.

The rest of you will accompany me for a practical demonstration of the Clone, Transformation, and Substitution techniques."