The next day.
Konoha Ninja Academy.
After mentioning something to Hikari last night that might or might not have counted as a proposal, she had run into the bedroom like the wind.
He didn't know if Hikari counted as having agreed, but Kakashi was taking it as a yes anyway.
Early this morning, Kakashi arrived at the Ninja Academy.
Today was the day of Naruto's enrollment. He had previously promised Naruto that he would take him to enroll in his father's name.
"Lord Hokage..."
"Lord Hokage..."
"Lord Hokage..."
There were many parents with their children at the entrance of the Ninja Academy. Seeing Kakashi, they all greeted him.
And Kakashi responded with a smile.
"Big Brother Kakashi is so popular."
"Is it because Big Brother Kakashi is the Hokage?"
Holding Kakashi's somewhat rough hand, Naruto looked up at him with envy.
"Yes and no."
"Some people come up to say hello specifically because I am the Hokage, while others greet me simply because I am Kakashi."
Kakashi guided Naruto through the crowd, teaching him as they went.
"Eh?"
Naruto didn't quite understand what Kakashi meant.
"In short, as long as Naruto behaves a little better and listens, many people will like Naruto too."
Seeing that Naruto didn't grasp the deeper meaning, Kakashi explained simply.
"Is that so?"
Naruto was a bit unconvinced.
"Lord Hokage, you're here for Naruto's enrollment."
Just then, a voice rang out nearby.
Fugaku Uchiha.
"Ah, it's Fugaku. What a coincidence."
Looking at the familiar figure, Kakashi's expression remained unchanged as his gaze shifted to the black-haired little boy hiding behind the man, looking at him nervously.
"This is my son, Sasuke."
"Say hello to Lord Hokage."
Fugaku Uchiha patted his son's shoulder.
"L-Lord Hokage..."
Facing the village's Hokage, the six-year-old Sasuke was still a bit nervous.
"Naruto, make sure to get along well with Sasuke from now on."
Kakashi gently nudged Naruto forward.
The little blond looked curiously at the peer opposite him.
White and tender.
Looks a bit like a girl.
Sissy.
Subconsciously, Naruto had already labeled Sasuke in his heart.
But out of respect for Kakashi being right there and his earlier teachings, Naruto put on a smiling face and reached out his hand to Sasuke.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Naruto Uzumaki."
"The man who will become Hokage in the future!"
Sasuke looked at his father, then steadied his nerves, walked up to Naruto, grasped Naruto's hand, and spoke:
"I am Sasuke Uchiha. Please take care of me from now on."
This guy has a head full of yellow hair.
Doesn't look like a good person at all.
I heard before that there's a little blond delinquent in the village who graffiti on the Hokage Rock all day. Is this him?
Sasuke criticized him inwardly and also slapped a label on the little blond before him.
"You two must help each other in the Ninja Academy."
Watching the two destined rivals and best friends before him, Kakashi felt a bit emotional.
The reincarnations of Indra and Asura were meeting once again.
Under the influence of himself, this butterfly, where would their future path twist and turn to?
"Yeah, I'll cover for Sasuke!"
Hearing Kakashi's words, Naruto patted his chest generously.
However, just as the words left his mouth, Naruto's gaze subconsciously shifted to the surroundings.
A young couple with a pink-haired little girl passed by them.
"Hey, how long are you going to hold on?"
Seeing Naruto staring blankly while still gripping his hand, Sasuke's lips twitched.
Does this guy have some kind of weird fetish?
"Ah-haha, sorry, sorry."
Naruto quickly retracted his hand and scratched his head, laughing awkwardly.
"Since we're here, let's go together."
Kakashi looked at Fugaku Uchiha before him.
"Since Lord Hokage invites us, naturally we will join."
Fugaku Uchiha's humble yet dignified attitude made Kakashi raise an eyebrow.
If he didn't know the actual situation between the Uchiha clan and this man, he might have truly believed that Fugaku Uchiha was just as serious and rigid as he looked.
"Let's go, Naruto."
Kakashi pulled Naruto along and led the way into the Ninja Academy.
In the time that followed, Kakashi completed the enrollment procedures for Naruto, took an admission photo in passing, and then left.
He only looked back once at the classroom where Naruto was assigned before leaving.
Unlike the classrooms in his previous life, the desks in the Ninja Academy seated three children together.
Naruto, Sasuke... and a pink-haired little girl.
Kakashi rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
Compared to Naruto and Sasuke, those two reincarnated cheats, people like Hiruzen Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze, and Sakura Haruno were the true pinnacle of normal ninja.
If he were to teach Naruto and Sasuke in the future, it would naturally be easy.
After all, their growth systems were too clear: one forms Rasengans, the other charges up Chidori.
As for Sakura Haruno...
It just so happened that Tsunade was in the Hidden Leaf. Later, after everything settled, he could mention it to her.
After all, this was a genius who went from a weak Genin to Kage-level in just three years of grinding.
Whether it was Tsunade or Sakura, Kakashi, as the Hokage, had no reason to let them slip away.
Among the Konoha 12, only these three would become top-tier experts in the future.
If Neji Hyūga hadn't died, maybe he could have too.
It was a pity the Caged Bird Seal bound his talent.
Kakashi had no intention of interfering with the Hyūga clan's Caged Bird Seal.
Look at Ao from the Hidden Mist; he got lucky and obtained a Byakugan from the Hyūga main house, using it immediately without a single side effect.
If the Caged Bird were removed, Hyūga clan members on missions would become the primary targets of other ninja villages.
In fact, the war three years ago was triggered by the Hyūga Byakugan.
Removing the Caged Bird would do more harm than good, not just for the Hyūga clan, but for the Hidden Leaf as well.
And honestly, the treatment of the Hyūga branch house was actually quite good.
In the original work, aside from Neji—because his father, Hizashi Hyūga, died in place of Hiashi Hyūga—there weren't really any examples of the branch house resenting the main house.
After all, they lived under the same roof. If they were too harsh on the branch house, a rope might just find its way around the main house members' necks while they slept at night.
No one was a fool; this logic was naturally clear.
Thinking of this, Kakashi turned and left.
Right now, the Uchiha matter was the priority.
According to Itachi Uchiha's efficiency, the collection of the list of the hawkish faction was almost complete.
The current situation was only missing a fuse to detonate the explosive that was the Uchiha clan.
Before that, he needed to arrange his manpower to avoid any accidents.
Kakashi did not go to the Hokage Building, but instead arrived at a dark underground base.
The Anbu base.
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