[From the Third Great Ninja War to his years in the Anbu, Kakashi's fame skyrocketed, making him the rising star among the younger generation of the ninja world. Even though he operated solo, he was notable enough to be written into Kirigakure's Anbu training manuals.]
[Among his peers, people called him "Copy Ninja Kakashi," not "the son of the Konoha's White Fang."]
[Years later, Kakashi left the Anbu after earning enough salary. Still, real life and Anbu life were worlds apart.]
[So, solitude remained Kakashi's protective shell.]
[The Third Hokage, who knew Kakashi's background well, soon extended an offer — Kakashi became the sensei of a new genin team.]
[It was expected that Kakashi would begin a youthful, lively teaching career. But to Kakashi, what he was searching for wasn't just subordinates — he wanted people he could entrust his life to, people worth raising like family.]
[So when it came to selecting his students, he used a traditional method passed down through generations: the bell test.]
[The rule was simple — three students had to snatch two bells from Kakashi. The one left without a bell wouldn't get lunch.]
[The hidden condition for passing: if the one without a bell managed to sneak food from their teammates, then they would pass the test.]
"Time really flies, dead last."
In the timeline of the Fifth Hokage, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura all smiled warmly as they looked at the glowing screen.
"Yeah, you arrogant Sasuke. In the blink of an eye, we've all grown up."
Call me 'dead last,' and I'll call you 'arrogant Sasuke.' When it came to nicknames, Naruto never lost out.
"Kakashi-sensei, if Sasuke and I hadn't given Naruto our food back then... would you really have made us repeat ninja school?"
Kakashi, his eyes now covered with a black cloth, looked even cooler than before.
He heard Sakura's question and nodded firmly.
"Of course. I won't go against my principles."
That answer didn't sit well with Naruto and Sasuke.
Naruto clicked his tongue. "Tch~ Kakashi-sensei, you're so cold. No wonder you're still single."
Sasuke followed up smoothly, "He was exactly like this back then too. No wonder no one wants him."
The two played off each other so naturally that Kakashi's eye twitched. He couldn't help but talk back.
"Speaking of which… aren't you both still single too?"
At that, Sasuke held Sakura proudly in his arms and said, "Sorry, but I'm not single."
Right on cue, Naruto chimed in, "I just don't know when Hinata will be back from her mission outside the village."
The meaning was more than obvious.
"Ahahaha! Kakashi, you lonely mutt—finally getting a taste of your own medicine!"
Kakashi turned his head expressionlessly to "look at" Obito, who was laughing wildly.
He said coldly, "Laugh all you want. Aren't you the same? A single mutt like me."
"Gah—"
Obito's smile vanished. He crouched down, looking completely crushed.
"Rin... You died so tragically... Kakashi, that bastard, not only killed you, now he bullies me too. When are you coming to take me with you?"
Obito's dramatic wailing left everyone in the office completely speechless.
"You were the final boss of the Fourth Great Ninja War, for crying out loud. Can you stop being such a clown and act like a real boss again?"
"I'm not pretending, you bastard Kakashi. You already know this is the real me."
Kakashi covered his face. "That's exactly why I'm embarrassed."
"Oh, so now you think you're better than me? Acting all righteous and ashamed? When you accepted my Sharingan back then, how come you didn't feel embarrassed?"
"The Sharingan, huh? I can give it back to you right now."
"I. Don't. Want. It."
Kakashi: (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
In the timeline of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze watched with a knowing smile as Team 7's bell test battle played out on the light screen.
The bell test was originally created by the Third Hokage to teach his three students the importance of teamwork.
Back then, Minato had also used this exact method on Kakashi, Rin, and Obito.
Who would've thought Kakashi would apply it so cleverly to his own team?
"I guess... this counts as a kind of inheritance too."
[The bell test is actually a great way to build team cooperation. But during more peaceful times, most shinobi tend to stick to the "mission first" mentality. So, no one ever passed—until our boy Kakashi met the protagonist trio.]
[The four of them met successfully before the exam, and the test itself began the next day, on that glorious day full of... flamboyant energy.]
[Obviously, the main trio—who were still just kids—stood no chance against Kakashi. None of them managed to grab a single bell.]
[And Naruto even became the first victim of the infamous Thousand Years of Death, getting tied up on a wooden stake for some rather questionable bondage play.]
[But the real test had only just begun. Right in front of them, Kakashi revealed the true purpose of the exercise—hinting that teamwork was the only way to pass. He gave them a second chance to try again in the afternoon.]
[Looking at it that way, Naruto's "backdoor deal" with Kakashi via the Thousand Years of Death might've actually paid off.]
[After setting the schedule, Kakashi went full homeroom teacher mode, hiding nearby to secretly observe the three.]
[From the distance, still tied up, Naruto declared: Even if I starve to death, die right here on this pole, I won't eat a single bite of your food!]
[Naruto: …So good~]
[And just like that, Sasuke and Sakura broke the rules and gave Naruto something to eat—showing off the rare and precious spirit of teamwork that "Naruto" is known for. This small act moved Kakashi deeply.]
[The world-weary and pessimistic Kakashi began to change. A little more sunlight crept into his once gloomy heart, steadily growing brighter.]
[Though the deepest knot in his heart remained unresolved, there's a saying: As long as there is breath, the will must not waver. The road is still long.]
[Now with a sense of purpose, Kakashi began to shed his loneliness and darkness, taking firm steps down the path of guiding his students into something great.]
In the fifth Hokage timeline, Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a look.
Then Naruto turned to Kakashi and said, "Kakashi-sensei, how about we do the bell test again?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
He still wasn't fully used to high-level combat without his Sharingan.
If he really had to do the bell test again with those three, he'd probably lose badly.
"I—"
Just as Kakashi was about to decline, Sasuke immediately cut him off and said provocatively, "What's wrong, Kakashi? Don't tell me you're scared?"
"Scared? You think I'm scared?"
Kakashi looked at Sasuke in disbelief. Then he clenched his teeth, and under the expectant gazes of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, he firmly said, "You're right. I am scared."
"Damn it!"
Naruto and the other two were speechless. He had originally wanted to get a little revenge for the "grudge" back then, but didn't expect Kakashi to chicken out first.
"You think I'm stupid or something?"
Kakashi rolled his eyes and continued, "With the strength you and Naruto have now, it's already hard for me to deal with just one of you. Let alone all three coming at me at once."
"Kakashi-sensei, you're scared!"
"Tch, say whatever you want. I'm not giving you guys the chance to beat me up."
ㄟ(▔,▔)ㄏ
*********
Support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 30 early chapters,