"Don't worry, Lord Third. I'll take good care of these three brats."
In the Hokage's office, Kakashi spoke calmly after skimming the three files in his hand.
Uzumaki Naruto—Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. The primary objective: protect the vessel of the Kyūbi. That much was obvious.
Uchiha Sasuke—last surviving member of the Uchiha Clan. His brother, Uchiha Itachi, was an S-rank missing-nin. Sasuke himself was an elite among the current Academy graduates. Exceptional talent. A true prodigy.
Kakashi understood why the Hokage emphasized keeping an eye on the first two.
But…
Moonlight Shigure? Was there something special about this kid?
All he saw was that the boy had developed his own sword technique.
Kakashi, whose father was once feared as Konoha's White Fang, had no reason to be impressed. His own kenjutsu was top-class—though he'd stopped using the blade after his father's tanto broke.
The Third Hokage watched Kakashi's indifferent glance at Shigure's file, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"This brat is no ordinary child. Kakashi, don't underestimate him."
"Oh?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Then I'd like to see for myself just how talented a kid must be to create his own sword style before graduating."
The Sandaime chuckled. "Swordsmanship may not be his only talent."
Kakashi didn't comment. "Well then, Lord Third, it's time I met my new team."
Whether he truly heard the Hokage's last remark remained unclear.
Konoha Ninja Academy
Inside the classroom, Shigure leaned against his desk, watching Naruto set up a makeshift trap.
Childish antics like these weren't his style—but they were mildly entertaining to observe.
"You really think a jōnin's going to fall for that?" he asked.
"Idiot!" Sasuke muttered coldly.
If a jōnin could be caught by something so basic, what kind of sensei would they even be?
Before Naruto could argue—
Click.
The classroom door slid open.
"You're late!" Naruto was about to yell, but—
Thump!
The chalkboard eraser he'd balanced on the doorframe fell... and hit Kakashi squarely on the head.
Sasuke's mouth twitched. It actually worked? On a jōnin?
Maybe this guy got in through the back door...
"Is this your welcome gift?" Kakashi asked, brushing dust from his hair. "How... creative."
He didn't seem bothered at all.
"Follow me," he said simply.
Naruto flashed Sasuke a smug grin, practically bursting with pride.
"See? I told you it'd work!"
Sasuke was speechless. This was their instructor?
Rooftop
The group relocated to the school rooftop. Shigure found a comfortable spot and sat down, clearly anticipating something.
Standing across from them, Kakashi folded his arms. "I'll be your instructor from now on."
"So, let's start with some introductions. Tell me your name, age, hobbies... and your dream for the future."
Shigure didn't wait for instructions to finish.
"Moonlight Shigure. Twelve. I like eating, drinking, and having fun. My dream is to never have to work a day in my life."
Kakashi blinked. Then gave a light nod.
"Nice. Solid dream. Very relatable."
It was the kind of answer that said everything and nothing at once.
Naruto grinned, ready to jump in next—but Sasuke beat him to it.
"Uchiha Sasuke. Twelve. No particular hobbies. No dreams... but if I had a goal, it'd be to kill that man."
His tone was cold. Dead serious.
Shigure gave Sasuke a sideways glance.
The effects of Itachi's 'Revenge-Drive no Jutsu', huh…
Naruto pouted. "Hey, I was gonna go next!"
Kakashi sighed internally. Sasuke's bloodlust was deeper than expected.
"Alright," he turned to Naruto. "Your turn."
Naruto stood straight, serious for once.
"Uzumaki Naruto! Twelve years old! My hobby is eating Ichiraku Ramen—and I'm gonna be Hokage someday!"
Kakashi gave an approving nod.
Just like the reports said: impulsive, loud, but determined.
"Good. Now... on to the next step."
He gave the trio a mysterious smile.
"But we'll need a change of scenery."
Soon, they arrived at an open training field on the edge of the village.
Kakashi reached into his pouch—and pulled out two small bells.
The bell test was about to begin.
"Even though you've all graduated from the Academy, that doesn't mean you've passed in my eyes."
Kakashi's tone was flat, his expression unreadable.
"As your prospective jōnin instructor, my approval is the final test. Only if I recognize your abilities will you officially become Genin."
He raised a hand and jingled two small bells for the trio to see.
"If I don't accept you... back to the Academy you go."
He let that hang in the air for a moment before continuing:
"See these bells? Your task is to take them from me before noon."
Then he smiled.
"But—there are only two bells."
The implication was clear.
Two bells. Three students.
One person would fail. Or... would they?
Kakashi hadn't said the ones who grabbed a bell would automatically pass. Nor did he say only two could make it. It was all part of the test.
"Any questions?" he asked lightly.
Silence.
"Good," Kakashi nodded. "Then let's begin."
He pulled out a familiar orange-covered book from his pocket and flipped it open.
It was his beloved Icha Icha Paradise.
As always, he looked nonchalant—but there was a hidden sharpness beneath the lazy exterior.
Naruto leaned toward Shigure and whispered urgently, "Shigure! There are only two bells! We need to act fast—if Sasuke gets them both, we're done for!"
So his plan was to leave Sasuke behind and have just him and Shigure pass?
Sasuke shot Naruto a sharp glare. That idiot was clearly in cahoots with Shigure. If those two teamed up, he'd be the one left behind.
Absolutely unacceptable.
Without another word, Sasuke's expression hardened—and then he moved.
Flash.
He burst forward in a blur of speed.
Kakashi blinked. So Sasuke's the first to move? I thought he'd be the type to observe and analyze first...
Even Naruto was stunned.
"So fast...!"
He'd always known Sasuke was top of the class, a natural genius. But until now, he'd never felt that overwhelming difference firsthand.
In a flash, Sasuke closed the distance to Kakashi and launched a fierce punch.
Bang!
Kakashi caught it one-handed, but the force of the blow rang out with a solid thwack.
This wasn't just ordinary Academy sparring—Sasuke's taijutsu was at the upper limit of Genin-level combat.
Formidable for someone his age.
...
TN:
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