Minato looked at Kazuki.
"Kazuki-kun, you choose first."
Kazuki smiled.
"Then I won't be polite. I'll take Team Seven."
Seven.
That number really shows up everywhere.
This year's Team Seven…
Was the team that would shake the world.
Obito — originally the weakest — would one day become Madara's pawn… and eventually one of the main villains of the entire ninja world.
Kakashi would become a central figure in Konoha's future.
And Rin…
Kazuki's eyes narrowed slightly.
Would his presence change their fate?
If Obito never got crushed at Kannabi Bridge…
Would he still walk down that dark path?
If Kazuki controlled the Three-Tails inside Rin…
Could he prevent that tragedy?
What about Sakumo Hatake's suicide?
The ripple effect was enormous.
The more Kazuki thought about it—
The more interesting it became.
Minato sighed when he heard Kazuki choose Team Seven.
That had been the team he liked the most.
For some reason, hearing Kazuki choose them left him feeling strangely hollow.
Like something important had just slipped away.
Still, Minato smiled.
"Alright. Then I'll handle another team."
Kazuki glanced at him.
"What about you?"
"I'm fine with whatever's left. Go meet your students first. Oh—here."
He handed Kazuki a book.
"New Shinobi Instructor Guide."
"Give it a read."
Kazuki casually flipped it open.
First page.
The Will of Fire.
"Where the leaves fly, fire burns. The fire illuminates the village, and new leaves sprout."
Kazuki rolled his eyes.
Of course.
He glanced at the cover.
Author: Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Naturally.
The man probably recited that line in his sleep.
He must've carved it into every tree in Konoha.
Their ideological marketing department was top-tier.
Kazuki flipped to the next section.
How to be a proper instructor.
First, you must possess the ability to teach.
Second, you must have tolerance and moral integrity.
Lead by example.
Influence students to become better shinobi.
Kazuki snorted inwardly.
So now even professional killers had to double as moral role models.
Interesting.
The next section covered training methods.
Graduates must complete survival exercises.
Out of thirty graduates, only ten pass.
The rest return to the Academy.
Apply pressure.
Create urgency.
Conduct a bell test in the wilderness.
Force teamwork.
Demonstrate battlefield-level strength.
No bell? No lunch.
Classic psychological warfare.
Start with D-rank missions.
Then C-rank.
Veterans guiding rookies.
Kazuki blinked.
This… felt very familiar.
Very Naruto.
"Guess I should meet them."
Kazuki stood outside the classroom door.
Inside, he heard a soft girl's voice.
"Obito, why hasn't our teacher arrived yet?"
That had to be Rin.
"I don't know," Obito replied.
Kakashi's calm voice followed.
"Maybe he's helping an old lady cross the street."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Obito snapped.
Kazuki almost laughed.
Helping grandmas cross the street?
That excuse was terrible.
Obito really thought everyone bought that?
No wonder Kakashi roasted him constantly.
Kazuki stepped in.
"Ahem. Hello. I'm your instructor."
The moment he saw them—
He paused.
Wait.
They're tiny.
These kids looked like elementary schoolers.
Maybe fifth or sixth grade at most.
Shinobi training really started early.
Rin stood up immediately.
"Hello, sensei!"
She thought to herself:
He's kind of handsome…
Obito, wearing goggles, glanced at Kazuki and muttered,
"Hello, sensei."
Internally, he thought:
He looks kind of dumb. Like Kakashi.
Kakashi, masked as always, simply nodded.
"Hello, sensei."
Kazuki nodded back.
"Alright. Let's start with introductions."
The three of them replied in unison.
"Sensei, you go first."
Kazuki raised an eyebrow.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Team Seven, huh?
Let's see what kind of storm you three are going to bring into my life.