"Hey! Stuck-up Kakashi! You see me, right? Quit pretending to be cool!"
Just as Uchiha Seiji's eyes landed on Hatake Kakashi, Obito came bouncing forward, shouting loud enough for the entire training field to turn their heads. He jabbed a finger at Kakashi, voice brimming with fire:
"Today's the day I prove I'm the real genius around here!"
"Boring."
Kakashi barely spared him a glance before returning to the little book in his hand.
Seiji nodded slightly. Exactly as expected.
At this stage, Kakashi wasn't interested in Obito at all. The prodigy who entered the Academy at five, graduated at six, and became a Chūnin right after—someone perched that high above everyone else wasn't going to be swayed by a loud idiot in less than a year.
It won't be until after Sakumo's death—when the lonely prodigy starts losing his way—that Kakashi finally reaches for a bond… That's the real root of their connection.
"Obito, don't bother Kakashi… I think he's actually one of our examiners." Rin tugged awkwardly at Obito's sleeve, dragging the ignored boy aside.
And then—stage left—came Guy, loud enough to make Obito look subtle.
"Kakashi! My eternal rival!" Gai leapt in with a ridiculous pose and a booming voice. "This year I'll apply for graduation. Let us settle our fates in glorious battle!"
Kakashi raised his head again, eyes narrowing slightly as he sized up Guy's already well-defined muscles. He gave a small nod.
"Hey! Why'd you nod for him and not me?! What's that supposed to mean, huh?!" Obito roared again, flailing his arms. Rin sighed behind him, helpless.
The field devolved into chatter.
"Isn't that Kakashi Hatake? What's he doing here?"
"No clue… but he's dressed like an examiner. Maybe he's back as a teacher?"
"Man… six years old and already graduated. We're sweating over finals, and he's out there doing missions as a Chūnin. Unreal."
Standing beside Kurenai, Asuma exhaled loudly, his voice carrying the smug tone of someone far too clever for the room.
"He's back because the old man set it up. Classic Third Hokage move—use his golden boy's success to 'motivate' the rest of us. Cheap, shallow stunt."
Then he shot a glance at Kurenai, expecting her eyes to widen, impressed with his insight.
Sharp. Mature. She'll eat this up, Asuma thought, keeping his face calm and philosophical.
Instead, Kurenai's eyes lit up in delight.
"Oh, so it was Lord Third's plan? Amazing! Only the Hokage could make the atmosphere this lively so quickly. Normally everyone's so unmotivated when Kakashi-kun isn't around…"
Asuma's face twitched. He looked away, muttering an irritated "tch."
Seiji caught it all, smirking as he whispered inwardly to the white-haired specter sharing his body.
"Well, Tobirama? This is your Academy after all. Look at them—these are Konoha's future."
"That brat is Sarutobi's son, huh? A rebellious one."
"And quit calling me Tobirama, kid. I'm older than your great-grandfather!" Senju Tobirama grumbled, though his eyes betrayed him—bright, hungry, fascinated by the sight before him.
As the second Hokage and first headmaster of the Academy, he carried a unique tenderness for Konoha's children. He remembered his brother Hashirama's words when the village was first born:
"We build this village so our children can be born in peace, grow freely, and live long enough to taste sake with laughter."
Watching the Academy's bustling, spirited students, Tobirama's eyes softened.
So the Monkey and Danzō did well. The children are happy, relaxed. They revere Hiruzen genuinely. With hearts this united, even a little monster like Uchiha Seiji won't hand the Uchiha clan the village on a silver platter. Good. Very good.
Seiji smiled at Tobirama's shifting expression. Konoha right now was unshakable—Sakumo still untarnished, Orochimaru loyal, Madara yet to meddle with Obito.
But strength only masked inevitability. The gears of fate were already grinding. Orochimaru cozying up to Danzō under Hiruzen's watchful eye. Sakumo's towering reputation threatening the Hokage system itself. And perhaps even now, Madara's Zetsu clones were lurking, fixing their gaze on Obito.
The collapse hadn't sounded yet, but the cracks were carved into destiny.
"Silence, brats!" boomed Might Duy's contemporary, Ebisu's future drinking buddy, and today's exam proctor: Ikkaku Umino. He clapped his hands hard, demanding attention.
"Your finals start now! First test: combat! We're doing it tournament style—draw your numbers, step into the ring, win three matches in a row and you get full marks!"
The students buzzed with excitement. But Ikkaku wasn't done. He cleared his throat and dropped the kicker in a low, dramatic voice:
"And those with full marks may challenge Chūnin Kakashi Hatake himself for a graduation exam. Impress him, and he'll report directly to Lord Hokage. That's your chance to shine!"
The field erupted.
"Graduation straight into a personal Hokage recommendation?!"
"That's insane! If I pull this off, I could be Hokage one day!"
Kakashi's sharp gray eyes flicked briefly over the mob of eager students, most of whom were vibrating with ambition.
Seiji's expression didn't change, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
This feels way too familiar. Like a fan meet with a celebrity athlete. Perform well, and you get a one-on-one? Then if the pro likes you, you get scouted into the league? All under Manager Hiruzen's watchful eye?
Ridiculous.
"Alright, then—are you ready?!" Ikkaku pressed his hands on the box of numbers, shouting as his gaze swept over the students.
"READY!!" their voices boomed together.
No one noticed, but in the moment when Ikkaku's eyes briefly met Seiji's, his black pupils rippled.
The twin tomoe of his Sharingan spun quietly into motion.