Kakashi's Actions

After leaving the Hokage's Office, Kakashi Hatake had trouble understanding Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.

Over the years, his father's suicide, the loss of his close friends, personally killing his friend Rin Nohara, and the deaths of the teacher and teacher's wife who had cared for him during the Nine-Tails' Rampage...

One important person after another had left his life. Kakashi had lost his purpose in life as well, spending every day in confusion.

It had also been Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi who found him and asked him to join the Anbu, to make a contribution to the village.

In the Anbu, Kakashi vented the hatred buried in his heart through missions.

Using the precious Sharingan his close friend had given him, he constantly copied his enemies' ninjutsu in battle. In the end, he earned himself the titles Konoha's Technician and Sharingan Kakashi.

Amid the endless killing, Kakashi felt a little better inside.

Kakashi was also a pitiful person. In the original work, everyone felt that although Kakashi was Team 7's teacher, he had failed to fulfill the duties expected of a teacher.

He seemed to offer Naruto little guidance, at most having Asuma teach Naruto a little about the nature transformation of Wind Chakra.

He was quite attentive toward Sasuke, even teaching him how to use the Lightning Cutter. Based on the Lightning Cutter, Sasuke developed his own Chidori.

As for Sakura, Kakashi's teaching seemed limited to tree climbing and water walking. He was basically just slacking off.

But in truth, it was not that Kakashi had done poorly. It was that everyone else had done too well, making Kakashi seem inadequate by comparison.

One had to know that in the world of Naruto, a teacher and a master were not the same thing.

A teacher usually referred to a ninja assigned to lead three newly graduated ninja.

Their basic job was to lead the three newly graduated ninja through missions, allowing them to quickly accumulate mission experience. Once they passed the Chunin Exams, they no longer needed to carry out missions as a three-person squad.

A master, on the other hand, was someone who imparted all of their ninjutsu knowledge without reservation. They taught not only ninja skills, but also passed down Nindo.

Besides leading their teams on various missions, the teachers of other classes also taught them how to become stronger and work together better according to their individual traits.

These were all things they did not actually have to do.

In other words, every newly graduated ninja had a teacher. But whether that teacher could become a true master depended both on whether the student could move their teacher enough for them to teach without reservation, and whether the teacher was willing to formally take on a disciple.

To a certain extent, Kakashi's interpersonal relationships were distorted and abnormal.

The important people in his life had all left when he was young. No one taught him the right way to grow up. Only his best friend, Might Guy, stayed by his side every day.

Someone who had joined the Anbu while living in loneliness and spent their time grinding away in slaughter would naturally find it difficult to become a master who passed on knowledge, taught skills, and resolved doubts.

I should go see Naruto first. It seems like I haven't seen Teacher's child in a long time. I wonder how he's doing now? As Kakashi thought this, he hurried toward Naruto's home.

"Stop. The area ahead isn't somewhere you can just enter!" The Anbu guarding Naruto stopped Kakashi and spoke to him.

Seeing their attire, Kakashi naturally knew they were Anbu. Meanwhile, he was dressed in the normal uniform of a Konoha ninja rather than Anbu gear.

However, the Third Hokage had not said what identity he was to use—whether he was to protect Naruto as an Anbu ninja or as Minato Namikaze's student, Kakashi Hatake.

"I have come under the Third Hokage's orders to protect Uzumaki Naruto and ensure his basic safety. You may verify this!" Kakashi directly invoked the Third Hokage's orders.

Another Anbu ninja suddenly appeared beside them and said something to them.

The lead Anbu ninja nodded, then said to Kakashi, "Kakashi-senpai, Hokage-sama has already given the order. You will be primarily responsible for Uzumaki Naruto's safety, while we assist. If you need anything, you can communicate with us at any time. We'll conceal ourselves first!"

Kakashi nodded and lay on the rooftop, watching Naruto inside the house.

The Anbu ninja scattered in all directions, hiding in the shadows and keeping watch for any possible danger.

Naruto had already finished eating and returned home.

He suddenly sensed that there were fewer people watching him, but there was now a far more powerful gaze.

Naruto secretly activated Mind's Eye of the Kagura and examined his surroundings carefully. He saw a familiar head of white hair, a forehead protector covering one eye, and a masked ninja.

After deactivating Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Naruto smiled. "So it's an old acquaintance—Teacher Kakashi. Life will be much more interesting from now on."

Naruto did not have any particular thoughts about Kakashi. From Naruto's perspective, Kakashi himself was also a pitiful person. His own umbrella had already been broken, so how could anyone ask him to shelter others from the rain?

Everyone had the right to make their own choices, and Kakashi was no exception.

Naruto would not demand that Kakashi do anything simply because Kakashi was his father Minato Namikaze's student.

Kakashi's status in Konoha was not enough to influence Naruto's treatment. Kakashi might not be a good master, but at the very least, he was a qualified teacher.

After eating his fill, Naruto prepared to sleep. Of course, he was not actually going straight to sleep. He merely pretended to sleep while extracting Chakra.

There was nothing much going on lately. With the Anbu watching him, and now Teacher Kakashi as well, it would be difficult for him to make any secret moves under their surveillance.

He could only choose to quietly strengthen himself.

"Naruto, after eating outside, does he really do nothing at home except sleep?" Seeing Naruto go straight to sleep as soon as he returned home, Kakashi immediately thought of Naruto's treatment in the village over the years.

Though he had heard about it before, seeing it with his own eyes still made his heart ache.

He thought of how he used to be the same—apart from carrying out missions, he spent the rest of his time sitting blankly in his Anbu room, passing the time.

A trace of sympathy flashed through Kakashi's heart. Teacher, I will definitely help you take good care of Naruto.

Before he knew it, Naruto had slept until five in the afternoon. He pulled out Nutritional Cans from beneath the table and began eating them in large mouthfuls.

He replenished the Physical Energy he had consumed by extracting Chakra all afternoon.

Seeing that Naruto could only hide at home and eat canned food, Kakashi felt even worse and wondered whether there was something he could do.

With a flicker, he vanished from where he stood.

Sensing that Kakashi's presence seemed to have disappeared, Naruto was somewhat puzzled. Had Hiruzen Sarutobi called him away for a mission?

After a while, Naruto felt someone knock on his door several times. It seemed to be Kakashi outside.

Naruto walked over and opened the door.

Yet he found no one outside. There was only a package of food on the ground—Konoha's famous barbecue!

There was also a note on top: I hope you grow up healthy.

If it had been the original Naruto, he would definitely have wondered which kind-hearted person had given him such a gift and thanked nature for its bounty.

But Naruto could now sense Kakashi's presence, so he naturally knew Kakashi had done this.

He brought the barbecue in from the doorway and thought, Teacher Kakashi, you're already so much better than them.

This Konoha Barbecue was not cheap. It was said that the reward for a jonin completing an A-rank mission was only enough to eat barbecue a few times, and that was just for single-person meals.

But it was expensive for a reason. The grilled meat restaurant was run by the Akimichi Clan. Not only did it taste excellent, but it was also highly nutritious. It even had the Hokage's endorsement—Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi said it was good after eating it.

Thus, business in Konoha was booming every day, and the restaurant raked in money hand over fist.

"Great, I get an extra meal again today!" Naruto ate the barbecue together with his canned food.

He had managed to score another meal.

"This barbecue really does taste good. Thanks to my buddy Kakashi for the barbecue!" Naruto thought to himself.

After eating and drinking his fill, it was time to train again.

Ah, no, it was time to sleep.

Seeing Naruto's life was so dull—eating, then sleeping; sleeping, then eating—

and apparently having no friends, Kakashi began imagining all the hardships Naruto must have endured over the years.

Though Naruto no longer had parents, he had me now!

Teacher, leave everything to me from now on!

Naruto cultivated until around ten o'clock, then finally went to sleep for real.

He now possessed the complete Uzumaki Clan Physique. His vitality and Chakra far surpassed those of ordinary people, and with the heaven-defying efficiency of the God-tier Chakra Extraction Technique—

the Chakra in Naruto's body increased rapidly every day.

Naruto's own Chakra alone had already reached the level of a normal chunin.

He had only cultivated for a few days. This cultivation speed was practically rocket-powered.

Within a few months, Naruto's Chakra would definitely reach Kakashi's level.

After all, Kakashi was the famous young master of Kidney Deficiency. When his Chakra reserves were full, he could go toe-to-toe with anyone.

When he lacked Chakra, even a stray dog by the roadside could fight Kakashi to a draw.

The most ambiguous power level in the entire series—you could always trust Hatake 50-50 when his Chakra reserves were full!

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