Yūki Minazuki

Yuki carries a weathered, burnished complexion. Dark hair is cropped short above disorderly brows, and his face is set with round, fish-like eyes, wide nostrils, and thick lips framing an oddly small mouth. In the anime he also wears a goatee.

Most of Konoha regarded Yuki as a capable instructor, but Danzo saw a small-minded, envious side to him, one that resented promising genin who eclipsed his own ability. The anime adds a lighter jab through a ninneko, who remarks that Yuki never had much luck with women.

By Danzo's account, Yuki oversaw a string of genin squads across the years, and whenever a pupil outgrew him in skill he would contrive an excuse to send them back to the Academy, a pattern Danzo chalked up to jealousy. His first Team 2 gathered Itachi Uchiha, Tenma Izumo, and Shinko Inari straight out of the Academy. His attempt at a standard welcome speech fell apart against the group's friction, with Tenma envious of Itachi, Shinko scolding Tenma, and Itachi indifferent to the whole affair. Yet the squad still excelled, largely on Itachi's strength; during the Hyuga Affair they were entrusted with capturing an Iwagakure spy because Itachi made them the best Konoha could send, even as Yuki proved unable to rein in their constant squabbling.

A year in, Yuki refused to enter his students in the Chunin Exams, judging Tenma and Shinko unready despite Itachi's clear readiness. Itachi challenged the decision, but Yuki dug in defensively and would not budge. The team was nonetheless honored with guarding the Fire Daimyo during his yearly visit. Yuki, fixed on delivering the daimyo on schedule along roads thought safe, let his guard slip when Itachi flagged an approaching masked man; questioning the seemingly harmless stranger, Yuki was caught in his genjutsu. Itachi drove the intruder off, but Tenma was killed. Shaken, Shinko quit the ninja life, and the two were replaced by fresh graduates Himuka Suzukaze and Yoji Aburame. This calmer lineup, with the silent Yoji and an admiring Himuka, again performed superbly, yet Yuki once more declined to enter them in the exams. Worried Yuki meant to bury Itachi's talent as he had others', Danzo persuaded the Third Hokage to override him and let Itachi sit the exams alone. Itachi passed and became a chunin, leaving the team, Yoji soon departed under Root's shadow, and with Himuka staying and two more graduates added, Yuki went back to leading his squad.