Kakashi's Change

"Another day's work was over."

The moonlight was hazy as Hiruzen Sarutobi finished the day's work and headed home.

Although today's work could hardly be called smooth, not only because of the news that fellow Jiraiya had brought back, but also because of the bastard thing that fellow Jiraiya had done.

But he had to admit that after Jiraiya's fooling around, his mood seemed to have improved quite a bit.

"Especially that child, Kitagawa Gen. He really seems quite good."

Thinking of Jiraiya's evaluation, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help laughing. Konoha needed the growth of fresh blood far too much.

Moreover, he longed even more than Jiraiya to see a new "Minato Namikaze" appear!

"I just don't know whether that child can learn Flying Thunder God. But even if he can't, it's no big deal."

Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered inwardly. This was not because he looked down on Kitagawa Gen, but because Flying Thunder God was far too difficult.

In all those years, it naturally could not have been only Minato Namikaze who had tried to learn it, but after the Second Hokage, only he had succeeded.

"With that Purple Lightning, plus enough combat experience, he won't be any worse than anyone else."

Hiruzen Sarutobi hummed a little tune in his heart as he walked home. But as he walked, he noticed a signal from an Anbu hidden in the shadows.

He looked up and saw a little fellow holding a large pot, glancing around near his front gate.

"Naruto?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a little puzzled. Without showing anything, he waved for the Anbu to withdraw, then put a kindly smile on his face and walked over.

"Ah, Grandpa Hokage, I finally found you!"

The moment Naruto heard the voice, he immediately grew excited. He ran over carrying the large pot, and Hiruzen Sarutobi reached out and rubbed Naruto's head.

"What is it, Naruto? Why are you looking for me so late?"

"Here, here."

Naruto lifted the large pot and handed it over, saying with a face full of smiles.

"Grandpa Hokage, this is for you."

"What is this?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat puzzled, while Naruto scratched the back of his head and smiled.

"This is soup I made with my own hands. Grandpa Hokage, try some."

"Soup?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt an inexplicable touch of emotion. Holding back his thoughts, he smiled and asked.

"What made you think of bringing it to me?"

"Mm, it was that guy Gen. He said I should respect the old and care for the young, so..."

"Gen?"

Hearing Naruto's answer, the smile on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face grew even brighter.

The power of an example was extremely important!

Although that kid Kitagawa Gen had always liked taking advantage of Naruto before, he also knew that the kid truly was poor.

On top of that, Naruto himself did not mind, and had even gained a friendship. Looking at it now, this was a good thing.

"You've grown up."

Thinking this, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and took the pot from Naruto's hands.

"Thank you, Naruto. I'll be sure to properly taste the fruits of your labor!"

"No need to be polite."

Naruto shrugged and smiled indifferently. Then he seemed to remember something, and only then did he purse his lips somewhat unhappily.

"Oh right, Grandpa Hokage, there's one more thing."

"What is it?"

"That bastard Gen tried to talk me out of bringing it afterward, but I didn't listen to him, so he told me to pass on a message to Grandpa Hokage. He said you had to look carefully before saying anything."

Look carefully?

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a little puzzled. He casually opened the lid of the pot, and then his face turned green.

The pot was filled entirely with brightly colored mushrooms!

"Y-you... where did you get these?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked in a trembling voice, while Naruto shrugged, not understanding.

"The forest behind the mountain. There are tons of them there! And they don't cost any money. They definitely look delicious too, right?"

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Naruto speechlessly, then turned to look at the pot in his hands. He finally understood.

That kid Kitagawa Gen had noticed the problem but could not talk him out of it, so he had simply given up and dumped the problem on him, hadn't he?

That kid was a good person, but his personality really was just as Jiraiya said. There was a bit of nastiness to it.

"Hey, Grandpa Hokage."

Just as he was thinking, Naruto blinked those big, sparkling eyes of his at him.

"Hurry up and try it. This is the result of me simmering it for ages."

"..."

For a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt as though the mood had already reached this point, and wondered if he really should take a sip.

"You brat, what have you gotten up to this time?"

The next day, in a Training Ground in Konoha, Kakashi stared with dead-fish eyes at Kitagawa Gen, whose face was full of innocence.

"Don't make that face, all right? Do you know? Late last night, the Hokage convened a meeting and stressed that the Ninja Academy needs to strengthen cognitive education, especially regarding all sorts of messy poisonous things.

"He even specifically kept me and Lord Jiraiya behind together, telling us to strengthen our disciples' education, especially in terms of improving their sense of responsibility. Do you dare say this has nothing to do with you?"

"..."

Kitagawa Gen smiled awkwardly. In truth, this really could not be blamed on him. He had jokingly mentioned it to Naruto, and in the end, that kid had taken it seriously.

The moment he turned around, he had started wondering how to do it. Kitagawa Gen had helplessly tried to persuade him, but found it was no use. Besides, this was a failure of education!

So he stopped trying to persuade him. To avoid having the blame fall from the sky, he did not forget to forcibly make Naruto remind Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He just had not expected Hiruzen Sarutobi's reaction to be a little big.

"Honestly..."

Seeing that Kitagawa Gen did not speak, Kakashi helplessly covered his face and sighed.

"The Hokage was already dissatisfied with some of the Ninja Academy's conditions. Didn't you see it yourself when you graduated? They actually attacked their own people?

"Now I don't even know what you've gotten up to again. Konoha really has been turned upside down by you."

"Hey, hey, hey, Teacher Kakashi, in all fairness, can you blame me for what happened at graduation?"

Kitagawa Gen was a little unhappy, but he also felt guilty, because both of these matters seemed closely related to him.

Shaking his head, he immediately changed the subject.

"All right, let's not talk about that, Teacher Kakashi. How are you feeling now?"

"I'm fine, I guess. There shouldn't be any problems anymore."

Kakashi did not seem to want to continue this topic either. He shook his head as he spoke, then touched the eye covered by his forehead protector.

"It's just that this Sharingan always feels a little strange. It's probably because of that guy."

The Sharingan felt a little strange?

Kitagawa Gen glanced at Kakashi. He felt this probably did not have much to do with Obito Uchiha, but that this eye really was about to react!

In his memory, it was after Kakashi took a Tsukuyomi from Itachi Uchiha that he slowly began to explore the secret of this Sharingan of his.

This time, even if the degree was not deep, it really was not impossible for this matter to have been brought forward!

"Mangekyō Sharingan, huh..."

Kitagawa Gen thought inwardly. Although he had no ideas about this eye, having such an eye would also make it easier to deal with Kenji.

Besides, with the corresponding exclusive mission, maybe he could even obtain something from it!

"All right. I troubled Lord Jiraiya to guide you during this period. Now that I'm back, I'll need to catch up with your progress."

While Kitagawa Gen was thinking, Kakashi shook his head and spoke again.

"Also, I heard you plan to apply to become a chunin?"

"Yes. I think I can give it a try. Although my mission count may be a little lacking, I think there's no problem with my ability."

"Indeed. I also think there's no problem. After all, when I was your age, I think I was already a jonin."

"..."

"Don't mind it. The times are different. Still, you need to keep working hard."

"..."

Looking at Kakashi's exposed eye curve into a crescent moon, Kitagawa Gen truly did not want to speak anymore.

You'd have been better off not saying that.