"Failure? No, your father achieved great success," Satoru looked at Kakashi. He noticed the boy's gaze gradually turning colder.
"Success? What success? To save comrades, he failed the mission, then his own comrades blamed him, and he gave his life! What did he succeed in?" Kakashi was very agitated. He grabbed Satoru's clothes and kept talking.
Satoru was nine this year, even a bit younger than Kakashi. Being shaken like this felt awkward to Satoru.
But Satoru said nothing and didn't break free.
"I think even if I tell you, you won't understand. I'm White Fang's student. I'm proud of his choice. If you, his son, don't understand him, then I think you're a failure too," Satoru pushed Kakashi away, turned, and left.
Satoru was also deeply affected by White Fang's death. The Third Hokage and White Fang accepted him, and in this world, these two saw his talent and did him an invaluable favor.
"This matter... let's leave it for now. Danzou is involved somehow, but nothing can be done now," the Third Hokage replied with great difficulty, looking at Satoru. Danzou had support from Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, and eliminating him completely in the current situation was impossible.
"Satoru, besides this, regarding your team mentor assignment, have you thought about it?" The Third Hokage took a drag from his cigarette and asked.
"Uchiha Obito's team, Nohara Rin, and Hatake Kakashi is led by Minato, right?" Satoru asked.
"Yes," the Third nodded.
"Kakashi has a rival named Might Guy, right? And his father is Might Duy, the Eternal Genin?" Satoru asked.
"Yes, their team has no mentor yet," the Third Hokage replied.
"Good, then them," Satoru chose Might Guy, Shiranui Genma, and Ebisu as students, becoming their Jonin-mentor.
"Hm, you saw them last two years ago. Maybe gather them first, get acquainted, and tomorrow you can take missions together," the Third said. "Train your students well; they're Konoha's new strength."
"I understand," Satoru composed himself, temporarily turning the page on White Fang's story.
Then Satoru infiltrated Ebisu, Shiranui Genma, and Might Guy's homes. From their belongings, he quickly gauged each of the three's character and abilities.
Years later, Ebisu became Konohamaru's personal tutor and other gifted students'. Later, influenced by Naruto, he became a regular Ninja Academy teacher. Currently, Ebisu's main issue was believing ninja talent was determined by bloodline.
Shiranui Genma would become the Fourth Hokage's bodyguard in the future. He always had something like a toothpick in his mouth.
Actually, it was senbon, and his ability was attacking with that mouth-held senbon.
He was very loyal to Konoha and would become a special Jonin.
No need to mention Might Guy. In the future, he'd be known as Konoha's Noble Blue Beast, the one who, opening the Eight Gates, nearly decided a war's outcome. He was full of enthusiasm and youthful vigor. His only issues were being a bit "brake-less" and not remembering names and faces.
"Seems that's it. These three ninja's future paths are mostly clear. Time to visit them," Satoru wanted to gather all three, so naturally, find them first.
Satoru activated his sensory abilities and easily located all three.
To Satoru's slight disappointment, Might Guy was handstanding laps on the training ground. Shiranui Genma rested there too. Ebisu in black sunglasses seemed to be peeping on someone.
"These three guys will be tricky," Satoru shook his head and approached Might Guy first.
Might Guy wore a green skintight suit, sleeveless for hand breathing. His hands were bandaged, legs apparently weighted. He looked excited yet tired.
"Eh?! Teacher Satoru, what are you doing here?" Might Guy had been Satoru's student back in the Ninja Academy and naturally recognized him.
"Guy, hi. Training again? By the way, I heard your team is getting a new jonin-mentor. He asked me to tell you to gather at the Third Training Ground," Satoru said.
"Ah! I get it! Then I'll run there on my hands!" Might Guy vanished like smoke right then.
"This guy is always so energetic..." Satoru instantly teleported back to Shiranui Genma.
Genma had quite an attractive appearance. He wore a blue headband, a jacket resembling a blazer, and held a senbon in his mouth. He looked sleepy.
"Wake up," Satoru patted Genma on the shoulder. Seeing Satoru, Genma immediately opened his eyes.
"Eh?! Teacher Satoru? Do you need something?" Genma was a bit stunned upon seeing Satoru.
"Assembly!" Satoru repeated the same message to Genma as he had to Might Guy. Genma also dashed off energetically to the Third Training Ground.
"Wow! A beauty!" Ebisu looked much more lecherous at that moment. He wore black "frog" sunglasses and was staring who-knows-where. Even as a teenager, he was already such a pervert that Satoru didn't like it one bit.
Satoru instantly teleported to Ebisu and asked, "What are you staring at, brat?"
"Who the hell are you?! Brat?!" Ebisu flushed upon seeing Satoru.
"Oh, Teacher Satoru? Did you come to peep... I mean, to swim too?" Ebisu was very tense.
"Get to the assembly fast! Your new mentor is waiting at the Third Training Ground!" Satoru had no time to discipline Ebisu; he just passed on the info.
Realizing it was serious, Ebisu immediately got very serious, nodded, and rushed to the Third Training Ground.
Seeing all three head to the Third Training Ground, Satoru naturally used the Body Flicker Technique and, to his surprise, arrived first.
A short while later, all three finally made it.
"Teacher Satoru? Where's our mentor?" Might Guy asked innocently as ever.
"Teacher Satoru, are you our mentor?" Ebisu asked in surprise.
"Looks like I guessed right. Teacher Satoru is our jonin-mentor. But Teacher, two years ago you were still a teacher at the Ninja Academy and a chunin. When did you become a jonin?" Shiranui Genma said.
"Hm, I spent two years guarding the Daimyo. There was no promotion ceremony when I became a jonin, so it's normal you didn't know. The Third Hokage asked me to lead the team. I thought about it for a bit and decided to become your jonin-mentor. Though I really wanted to lead Obito and Kakashi's team, I believe Minato will handle it better," Satoru hid nothing and told them straight.
"Teacher? Why did you choose us?" All three looked at Satoru curiously.
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan