Could it be that he really forgot? Hey! That's actually possible," Naruto said, folding his arms with a frown before grinning mischievously. "If that's the case, I'll go straight to the Old Man—uh, the Third Hokage—and ask him to give us a teacher who's actually reliable! What do you think, guys?"
Sasuke's face stiffened.
He clearly wasn't amused by Naruto's carefree attitude. If they had to wait any longer, he might lose his patience altogether.
Only nma remained calm, leaning back slightly as he replied in a casual tone, "Maybe sothing ca up. Missions and duties can be unpredictable. It's normal for shinobi to get delayed."
Naruto blinked for a mont, then nodded seriously—clearly taking nma's offhand comnt as solid wisdom. "Ohh, that makes sense!"
He was about to continue speaking when—
Creak.
The door suddenly slid open.
"!?"
"Eh?"
A tall man stepped through the doorway, wearing the standard Jōnin flak vest of Konohagakure. His silver hair stood upright, defying gravity, and a forehead protector covered one eye.
Even before he spoke, the lazy air around him gave him away.
The man was none other than Hatake Kakashi—the Copy Ninja, fad throughout the shinobi world.
"Yo," Kakashi greeted mildly, his lone visible eye curving upward into what might've been a smile. "So, you're Team 7, huh? I'm your Jōnin instructor. First impression—hmm, not bad. Let's move sowhere else. We'll need to get to know each other properly."
Without waiting for their replies, he turned and walked right back out.
nma stood up instantly, moving in sync as if he'd anticipated the mont. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura exchanged startled glances before hurrying after him.
The five of them climbed the stairs until they reached the rooftop, the wind brushing across the training field below.
Kakashi leaned casually against the railing, arms folded. His gaze swept across his four new students before he spoke again in that sa relaxed, unreadable tone.
"Alright, introductions. We'll be spending a lot of ti together—missions, training, maybe even a few years if you don't get yourselves killed—so we'd better know each other a little."
Sakura blinked, confused. What does he an, 'if we don't get ourselves killed'? Is this guy serious?
Her suspicion toward Kakashi's reliability only deepened, though she tried her best to maintain her polite smile.
Before she could speak, Naruto stomped forward, hands on his hips. "Hold on! Before we start, shouldn't you be the one explaining yourself first, Brother Kakashi? Why were you so late? If you don't tell us, I'll complain to the Third Hokage myself!"
"Eh? Naruto-kun, you know this teacher?" Sakura asked, surprised.
Sasuke's dark eyes flicked toward Naruto as well—he hadn't expected that either.
nma, however, wasn't surprised at all. In this tiline, Naruto Namikaze—the son of the Fourth Hokage—was well-known across the village. Being the child of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki gave him both privilege and expectation.
And Kakashi Hatake had been Minato's most trusted student. Of course, he'd know Naruto.
Naruto puffed out his chest proudly. "Of course I know him! Brother Kakashi was one of my dad's subordinates! I just didn't know he'd end up being our team leader. I thought we'd get soone new!"
Kakashi scratched his cheek lightly. "Ah, yeah… that was the Third's idea. He told not to say anything beforehand."
His tone shifted slightly as he continued, "Anyway, na's Hatake Kakashi. I'm a Jōnin of the Hidden Leaf. I don't have many things I like, and what I hate most are those who ignore the shinobi rules. If you plan to stay under my command, rember that."
That faint cold edge in his tone made the air tighten for a mont.
Even Naruto, usually the loudest, straightened up under the weight of Kakashi's words. Sakura fidgeted nervously, glancing at Sasuke, while Sasuke remained silent, eyes unreadable.
"I get it, Brother Kakashi," Naruto muttered, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.
Kakashi's expression softened slightly. "Good. Now then—your turn. Introduce yourselves. Oh, and yes, that ans you too, Naruto."
"Eh? Oh! Right!" Naruto blinked, then grinned widely. "I'm Namikaze Naruto! My favorite thing is Ichiraku Ran! I don't really have anything I hate. My dream is to beco the greatest Hokage in history—stronger than all who ca before !"
Kakashi's visible eye curved again, this ti with genuine amusent. So much like the Fourth…
"Next," he said, turning his gaze to nma.
nma smiled faintly. "I'm Uzumaki nma. There's nothing in particular I like or dislike. My dream is to make everyone acknowledge ."
The tone was calm, but the intent behind his words felt heavier—colder.
Because for nma, that "acknowledgnt" wasn't about friendship or admiration. It was about power—the kind of recognition that ca when you left others with no choice but to respect you.
To nma, ideals like "justice" or "morality" were luxuries. In this world, only strength dictated truth.
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