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Konoha 11: Neji, Tenten, Lee, Ino, Chōji, Shikamaru, Naruto, Sakura, Hinata, Kiba and Shino
The Konoha 11 (木ノ葉の11人, Konoha no jūichinin, English TV: Hidden Leaf 11) was the collective nickname of four Konoha Genin teams, led by Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yūhi and Might Guy. They are teamed together in the anime for missions important to the village that cannot be assigned to more experienced ninja. During the Chūnin Exams, despite being fresh out the Academy, Team 7, 8, and 10 were capable of competing for the rank of Chūnin earning them the moniker the Rookie Nine (新人9人, Rūkī Nain), with Team Guy formed a year ahead of time. The name "Konoha 11" stems from the fact that because of Sasuke Uchiha's defection, there are only eleven members left of the original teams. All of the Konoha 11 are now prepared to kill Sasuke in order to prevent him from initiating any potential war. Despite Sai having replaced Sasuke in Team 7, he is not considered a member.
Team Kakashi
Main articles: Team Kakashi, Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha
Team Kurenai
Main articles: Team Kurenai, Kurenai Yūhi, Hinata Hyūga, Shino Aburame and Kiba Inuzuka Team Kurenai, also known as Team 8, was a ninja team led by Kurenai Yūhi. Its members are Kiba Inuzuka, his ninken Akamaru, Hinata Hyūga, and Shino Aburame. The team specialises in tracking and locating through the use of the Hyūga clan's Byakugan, the Aburame clan's bugs, and the Inuzuka clan's dogs as well as Kiba's own heightened sense of smell. When Kurenai became pregnant in Part II, Kakashi Hatake took over as the squad leader on some of their missions.
Team Asuma
Main articles: Team Asuma, Asuma Sarutobi, Shikamaru Nara, Chōji Akimichi and Ino Yamanaka Team Asuma, also known as Team 10, is a generation in the Ino–Shika–Chō Trio (いの しか ちょうトリオ, Ino–Shika–Chō Torio). As such, the three team members are good friends and have exceptional team work, although they tend to bicker from time to time. All three members of Team 10 are skilled at stalling opponents. They were led by Asuma until his death in Part II. Kakashi led them temporarily after that to help them avenge Asuma's death. The team is assumed to still be active, although without a permanent leader.
Team Guy
Main articles: Team Guy, Might Guy, Rock Lee, Neji Hyūga and Tenten Team Guy was a team led by Might Guy and was formed a year before the other main Konoha teams of the series. They specialise in close-quarters combat with all of its members using some sort of physical attacks. Guy waited a year before entering them in the Chūnin Exams, though none of his apprentices were promoted at that time.
Trivia
- In Japanese, the English term Rookie Nine is also used. It is still written in kanji, though. These kanji would usually be pronounced as Konoha Kyūnin.
- Each team in Part I had at least one member from a clan in Konohagakure. Team Kakashi had one Genin from the Uchiha clan, Team Kurenai had one all three Genin from the Inuzuka clan, the Hyūga clan, and the Aburame clan, Team Asuma has three Genin from the Yamanaka clan, the Nara clan, and the Akimichi clan, and Team Guy has a Genin from the Hyūga clan. However this pattern ended when Saskue defect from Konohagakure. Though it is later revealed that Naruto was from the Uzumaki clan in Uzushiogakure.