The classroom buzzed with excitement the moment Iruka-sensei walked in holding the team assignment list. Every student straightened up, pretending to be calm, while their hearts hammered like tailed-beast drums. This was the day—the day they officially stepped into the shinobi world.
Iruka scanned the room with a small smile, clearly entertained by everyone's nervous expressions.
"Ino, you really are smart," he praised. "As you said earlier, the top three graduates this year are all in Team 7. Naturally, their Jōnin leader will be someone truly extraordinary."
The class leaned closer.
Iruka raised his voice slightly, as if announcing royalty:
"Kakashi Hatake—Konoha's genius ninja! The Copy Ninja who has copied over a thousand jutsu!"
A wave of gasps exploded.
"He's famous even beyond the Five Great Nations!"
"He trained under the Fourth Hokage, right?!"
"My cousin said even ANBU members fear him!"
Jealousy burned hotter than Amaterasu.
Because following such a legendary Jōnin didn't just mean training—it meant surviving long enough to brag about it. Anyone under Kakashi's wing could practically feel their combat power skyrocketing.
Iruka chuckled when he sensed the boiling envy.
"There's no need to react like that. No one becomes a Jōnin leader unless they're elite. Every squad leader in this village is exceptional. The only thing any of you should worry about…" He tapped the roster. "Is not being dead weight on your own team."
The laughter that followed did not ease anyone's nerves.
"Alright then, next is Team 8's leader…
Yuhi Kurenai!"
Some girls squealed—Kurenai-sensei was pretty, after all.
"Team members: Inuzuka Kiba!
Aburame Shino!
And… Haruno Sakura!"
Kiba and Shino remained expressionless, acting as if fate itself couldn't surprise them.
Sakura, however, went pale.
"Wh–what?! Me? With Kiba and Shino?"
She looked at her new teammates with the expression of a princess handed two potatoes.
"Neither of them looks strong… Iruka-sensei, can I switch teams?"
Iruka pretended not to hear her and continued.
"Next… Team 10's Jōnin leader—Asuma Sarutobi!"
Naruto's eyes widened.
"Asuma-sensei?!"
A small warmth filled his chest. Asuma had helped him before. In Naruto's eyes, Asuma was a rare adult who treated him kindly.
Iruka read on:
"Nara Shikamaru!
Akimichi Choji!
Yamanaka Ino!"
Shikamaru yawned, not caring.
Choji happily munched chips—freedom at last, since graduating meant no more hiding snacks.
But Ino shot to her feet.
"WHAT?! Why am I stuck with THE sleep machine and THE eating machine?! My life is over!"
Choji blinked innocently.
"Munch… Ino, are you mad about something?"
"Isn't Shikamaru and I enough?" he asked.
Shikamaru tilted his head lazily.
"Troublesome…"
Ino glared.
"Don't I know what kind of people you two are?!"
Despite her outrage, this outcome was expected.
The Ino–Shika–Cho trio had existed for generations. Their parents' formation was personally witnessed by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi himself.
And who was leading them?
Hiruzen's son, Asuma.
Coincidence? Absolutely not.
Ino sighed in defeat.
Naruto leaned over. "Asuma-sensei is amazing! But he has to teach you three…"
Ino snapped. "Naruto! What is that supposed to mean?!"
Naruto crossed his arms.
"Ino, you're good. But one guy only eats, the other only sleeps. It's a waste of Asuma-sensei's talent!"
Ino paused.
Then nodded so seriously the room shook.
"You know what? For once, you're absolutely right!"
Choji: "…"
Shikamaru: "Tch."
Soon after, the newly formed teams moved to their designated classrooms to meet their squad leaders.
---
Team 7's Room — Where Tension Freezes the Air
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata sat in awkward silence.
Naruto and Sasuke sat as far apart as humanly possible—if someone placed a mountain between them, they'd still complain it wasn't enough.
Whenever their eyes met, they scowled and turned away with synchronized hostility, like twin cats seeing each other across a fence.
Hinata quietly observed, sweating a little.
She expected this.
But… this was far worse.
She wanted to sit next to Naruto—but her courage cracked like dry leaves. So she settled at the desk closest to him instead.
She bowed her head slightly.
"N–Naruto-kun, please take care of me."
Naruto instantly brightened.
"Haha, Hinata, you too!"
"I'm super annoyed I have to be on a team with that emo sasuke guy, but when I heard you were with us—I was SO HAPPY!"
Hinata's heart melted into a warm puddle.
Her cheeks flamed red.
She knew he meant it—everyone saw Naruto literally jump out of his seat earlier.
"I… I'm very happy too, Naruto-kun…"
Sasuke stared at them.
Was this… flirting?
In front of him?
His irritation skyrocketed.
"Hmph. Don't flatter yourself, dobe. I never wanted to be in the same team as you."
Naruto snapped back instantly.
"What did you say, you chicken-breasted emo?! I came first in the graduation exam!"
"Don't look at me like you're about to cry! I BEAT YOU!"
Veins popped on Sasuke's forehead.
"You dare say that again?!"
"It's TRUE! I won the ninja competition last year!"
"That was LAST YEAR! This year you haven't beaten me yet!"
They stood up simultaneously, the table legs shrieking against the floor.
Naruto cracked his knuckles loudly, sound sharp like fireworks.
"Let's go then! Let's fight before Kakashi-sensei comes!"
Sasuke scoffed.
"I'll show you reality."
Hinata panicked.
"W–wait! Naruto-kun, Sasuke! You'll leave a bad impression! Please stop!"
But the moment those two locked eyes, their sanity vanished.
Tables slammed.
Chairs flew.
They lunged forward like two enraged wild animals.
"NAARUUTOOO!!"
"SASUKEEE!!"
Chakra surged, their movements blurring into afterimages. Fists and kicks collided, shaking the air.
And then—
Tap. Tap.
Two casual footsteps.
Before anyone registered what was happening—a blur dashed between them.
A hand caught Sasuke's arm.
Another caught Naruto's leg.
And with the same effort one would use to toss laundry—
BAM!
Both boys slammed into the wall.
Hinata squeaked in terror.
"Th-that person…"
---
Enter Kakashi Hatake — The Legendary Sloth
A silver-haired man now sat lazily on the teacher's desk.
He flipped pages of a bright pink book titled "Kissing Paradise", completely absorbed.
He acted as if stopping two supercharged graduates was something he did while half-asleep.
Naruto jumped up angrily.
"HEY! WHO ARE YOU?!"
But Sasuke froze.
Because for a split second—he hadn't even seen the man move.
This wasn't normal strength.
This was terrifying.
Naruto and Sasuke might have just graduated, but their combat power already rivaled a typical Chūnin. Ordinary Jōnin would need effort to separate them.
Yet this man…
Did it like picking up trash off the ground.
Sasuke's spine tingled.
Kakashi finally closed his book with a lazy snap.
"Well… how should I put it?"
He glanced at the three with one eye open—calm, uninterested, as if he'd rather be anywhere else.
"I guess I'm your Jōnin leader."
He paused.
"You've probably heard my name."
Standing up, he placed a hand in his pocket.
"Kakashi Hatake."
Silence.
Naruto's jaw dropped.
Sasuke's eyes widened.
Hinata gasped softly.
It was really him—
The legendary Copy Ninja.
The elite Jōnin feared even by enemy nations.
The man rumored to have missions completed while reading romance books.
His unruly silver hair.
His mask covering half his face.
The headband slanted to hide his Sharingan.
Everything matched the rumors.
Kakashi sat back down, reopened his book, and completely ignored their stunned expressions—as if meeting his students was the least important thing happening in his day.
The trio exchanged looks.
For the first time since entering the room…
Even Naruto didn't dare act out.
Team 7 had officially met their teacher—
And their chaotic journey was about to begin.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)