Upon hearing Kakashi's request, the Third Hokage's expression hardened, and for a long moment, he said nothing.
The atmosphere in the office turned freezing cold.
No one except Kakashi and the Third Hokage understood what was happening — and no one dared to speak.
Even Naruto could sense the suffocating tension in the air.
Sasuke glanced thoughtfully at Kakashi.
After a long silence, the Third Hokage finally took a slow drag from his pipe and said, "In that case, your squad will have four members."
"It's just one more person," Kakashi replied firmly, showing no intention of backing down.
"Kakashi, if anything happens to him, you'll be the one responsible," the Third warned in a grave tone.
"I'll take responsibility," Kakashi said without hesitation.
To his surprise, the Hokage's stern face softened into a smile. "It seems that boy Yoruha is quite lucky."
The truth was, the Hokage had only been testing Kakashi — to see just how much he cared for Yoruha.
What he didn't expect was that the usually distant and solitary Kakashi would defend Yoruha so fiercely, almost to the point of direct confrontation.
Rather than feeling threatened, the Hokage was pleased.
He knew Kakashi's character well. If Kakashi valued someone this much, then that person couldn't be a problem.
Kakashi looked at the Third Hokage, who nodded slightly. "It seems your team's reward will have to be split among one more person."
Kakashi exhaled in relief. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."
The Hokage nodded again. "Go and call him."
With a small nod, Kakashi left with Naruto and the others.
Once they were gone, Iruka finally dared to speak. "Lord Hokage, the Yoruha that Kakashi-sensei mentioned — could he be the same Yoruha who just graduated this year?"
The Third nodded.
Iruka frowned. He couldn't understand why that name alone had created such tension between the two men just moments ago.
That atmosphere was something Iruka had never experienced before.
After all, one was Konoha's strongest active jōnin, and the other was the Hokage — the highest authority in the village.
Kakashi had always struck him as mature and composed.
How could things escalate to the point of conflict between them?
What on earth had Yoruha done to cause this?
"Lord Hokage," Iruka asked carefully, "what exactly did Yoruha do? You don't seem very pleased with him."
The Hokage looked at Iruka. "I'm not displeased with him."
Iruka said nothing, but his eyes clearly showed disbelief.
The Hokage chose not to explain further.
Seeing that, Iruka tried again, cautiously. "Isn't Yoruha under Jōnin Kimoto's supervision? Why did Kakashi-sensei insist on taking him along?"
"That's not something you need to concern yourself with, Iruka," the Hokage replied calmly.
One look at the Hokage's expression, and Iruka knew better than to ask more.
Outside the Hokage's office, Naruto couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Kakashi-sensei, why did it look like you and the old man were about to fight back there?"
Sakura and Sasuke immediately nodded in agreement — they'd both wanted to ask the same thing.
The tension earlier had been so suffocating that none of them had dared to speak.
Even Sasuke sensed there was more to Yoruha than met the eye.
Kakashi glanced at Naruto but didn't intend to tell him anything. "You must've imagined it."
Naruto pouted. "Kakashi-sensei, do you think I'm stupid?"
"You two were seconds away from fighting! Don't tell me I saw wrong."
"And why are you bringing Yoruha with us anyway? You're supposed to be our teacher!"
Naruto was clearly displeased.
After all, Yoruha wasn't even part of their team.
To him, Kakashi's request made it seem like he didn't trust their abilities.
Sasuke, however, saw things differently. He suspected Yoruha wasn't ordinary — that Kakashi knew something about him.
Most importantly, it seemed Kakashi and Yoruha shared a closer connection than expected.
Otherwise, why would Kakashi go so far as to confront the Hokage for his sake?
Sasuke couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
Kakashi was their teacher, yet he'd risked angering the Hokage for someone outside their team.
It almost felt like Yoruha meant more to him than they did.
Sasuke, when not consumed by thoughts of revenge, was simply a proud and somewhat tsundere boy — and right now, that pride was stung.
Kakashi, after a pause, said, "Yoruha has also taken me as his teacher. That makes him my student as well."
"What?!" Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke all froze in shock.
None of them could believe it.
Though they often complained about Kakashi, they all respected his strength — especially after the bell test.
They'd also heard from Shikamaru and the others that Kakashi was one of Konoha's most powerful jōnin.
So despite their grumbling, they were secretly proud to be his students.
But now, hearing that Yoruha had also become Kakashi's disciple — and seeing how protective he was of him — they couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
Naruto burst out, "That sneaky guy! Kakashi-sensei, you must've taught him a bunch of jutsu already!"
"You haven't even taught us anything yet! That's so unfair!"
Sakura and Sasuke didn't speak, but their expressions showed they felt the same.
Kakashi, however, remained calm. "I haven't taught him any jutsu," he said flatly. "In fact, I met him later than I met you."
None of them believed that.
Naruto huffed. "Hmph, sure, Kakashi-sensei. You're lying again!"
Kakashi didn't bother explaining. "Believe what you want," he said simply.
As they talked, they arrived at Yoruha's home.
For Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, this was their first time visiting.
At that moment, Yoruha was inside, studying his chakra.
When Kakashi and the others suddenly appeared, he looked up in confusion.
Kakashi patted his shoulder. "We've received a C-rank mission outside the village. I asked the Hokage to let you come along — it'll be a good experience."
"Outside the village?" Yoruha frowned.
Kakashi nodded.
Naruto grinned. "It's a guard mission!"
For the first time, Sakura took a closer look at Yoruha — and was genuinely surprised.
"This guy's really not any less handsome than Sasuke… how did I never notice before?" she thought.
Of course, it wasn't romantic — just an idle observation about a good-looking boy.
Her feelings for Sasuke were unwavering.
If not for Shikamaru and the others teasing her later, she'd never have confessed to Naruto either.
Sakura had always been clear about who she liked.
Sasuke, meanwhile, kept studying Yoruha, trying to see what made him special — but after a long look, he found nothing unusual.
Aside from being just as handsome as himself, there was nothing remarkable about him at all.
---
Currently at chapter 345 for advance chapters
https:// ko-fi.com/sami27
p@treon. com/Sami_27