Chapter 3: Kakashi, Does This Count as Being Held Back?
Before long, the teacher arrived.
He took out a piece of paper and began reading the team assignments.
"Team One… Team Two…"
"Team Three: Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, Ebisu."
The students who had been laughing earlier—Genma and Ebisu—suddenly stopped.
Finally, it came to Kyōhiko's name.
"Team Seven: Ryōmine Kyōhiko, Kurenai Yūhi."
Kurenai blinked at Kyōhiko.
Thankfully, it was just one other person.
Although both Kyōhiko and Guy trained hard and were strong, the sparks between them earlier had been too much for young Kurenai to handle.
The academy teacher continued announcing:
"Team Eight…"
Kurenai panicked.
Wait, why only two of them?
Kyōhiko leaned toward her and whispered,
"Don't worry. We'll ask after class."
"Uh… okay."
Kurenai nodded, suppressing her doubts.
---
Outside the classroom:
"Teacher, why does Team Seven only have two people? Normally it's one jonin leading three genin," Kyōhiko asked.
The teacher scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh, I don't know either. When you meet your jonin leader this afternoon, you'll understand."
"Huh?"
Kurenai was completely lost.
The teacher vanished with a Body Flicker, leaving Kyōhiko and Kurenai staring at each other, dumbfounded.
Kyōhiko had a guess though.
A certain unlucky, high-pressure prodigy, who had become a chunin last year but failed to handle team dynamics properly.
Hatake Kakashi.
Could it be him?
---
2 PM.
The new genin gathered inside the academy.
Other classes were still in session downstairs, while they waited for their jonin instructors.
Kyōhiko sat quietly, thinking about his future path.
By now, he had figured out a bit about the system's rules.
Being on Kakashi's team might have benefits…
But who would the jonin be?
Minato, maybe?
As he twirled a kunai absentmindedly, Kurenai finally spoke up.
"Kyōhiko-kun, may I ask you something?"
She was a year or two older, from a different class, so they weren't close.
But since they'd be teammates, it was necessary to get familiar.
Kyōhiko paused the kunai.
"What is it?"
"Are you training your finger dexterity?"
She pointed curiously at the kunai dancing across his fingers.
Kyōhiko blinked, then chuckled softly.
"Just a habit."
"A… habit?"
Kurenai nodded, but her eyes carried a touch of respect.
Forming such habits took years of bitter training.
No wonder he and Guy understood each other.
She filled in the rest with her imagination.
Kyōhiko, however, was just thinking—
Would getting closer help him reap more benefits?
Knock knock.
The door opened.
A silver-haired boy in a mask walked in stiffly, eyes half-lidded, pretending to act casual.
Kyōhiko nearly burst out laughing.
Kurenai's jaw dropped, eyes wide with disbelief.
"You're not… our jonin leader, right?!"
"Hmph."
Kakashi turned away, silent.
Kyōhiko reminded her quietly,
"Kurenai, Kakashi only became a chunin last year. He can't be a jonin."
"Oh, right…"
Still confused, Kurenai frowned.
Kyōhiko held back his laughter.
So it really was him!
"Hey Kakashi, does this mean you've been held back?"
"…"
Kakashi just glanced at him and stared forward without replying.
Tch.
Kyōhiko suppressed his urge to tease further, sitting properly in the unusually quiet room.
By game standards, Kakashi was already a boss-level character.
Definitely not someone you could talk down like Guy or Ebisu.
Patience was key.
Better to see who their teacher was.
Footsteps echoed outside.
The three turned toward the door.
Was it their jonin?
But the footsteps stopped, moving away to another classroom.
Kurenai frowned.
"Our teacher just… disappeared."
Kakashi said flatly,
"As ninja, all we have to do is wait."
"…."
Kyōhiko twitched at the corners of his mouth.
If Kurenai's perception wasn't wrong, then their teacher was deliberately observing them, testing their reactions.
Who could it be?
And when introductions came, how should he present himself?
Outside the room, Jiraiya sighed.
To think, at his age and status, he'd be stuck leading a bunch of fresh graduates.
All thanks to that old man!
He observed silently.
"The little girl is sharp, skilled in genjutsu, with sensory potential… maybe suited for medical or support training."
"The silver-haired brat… no wonder no one wants him. A real handful."
"And the last one… tch, also looks difficult. Am I just asking for trouble?"
He stroked his chin, recalling yesterday.
In the Hokage's office, the day before:
"Old man, I was planning a journey outside the village! And you dump students on me? You did this on purpose!"
"The village needs you," said Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Jiraiya scowled.
"Are these three kids really that special?"
"One of them is Hatake Kakashi."
Jiraiya fell silent.
"…Didn't he already become a chunin?"
"Take a look."
Hiruzen handed him papers.
They were full of complaints from other shinobi about Kakashi.
No team wanted him.
Of course, the Hokage could have forced an assignment, but better to have one of the Sannin handle him.
Thinking of Sakumo's death, Jiraiya sighed.
He glanced at the files again—
and found another name.
That boy.
The file described Kyōhiko.
A descendant of the Senju.
His parents had died over a year ago.
Since then, he had become withdrawn and strange, not fitting in with classmates.
A war orphan.
Jiraiya grew quiet.
During the Second Great Ninja War, the Sannin had risen to fame, but countless shinobi had died under their command.
And now, this child was working so hard…
"…The other two aren't locked in yet, right? Add him. I'm interested."
"You know him?" Hiruzen asked, surprised.
He barely remembered the boy, just his skilled substitution technique and decent taijutsu.
"A hardworking, clever kid. I think he has potential like Minato," Jiraiya replied.
Hiruzen nodded after a pause.
"Alright, then him, Kakashi, and one more. You choose."
"Doesn't matter," Jiraiya said.
His eyes swept the list, and he chose the one that looked best.
"Her."
---
(End of Chapter)