Teammates

The next morning.

Uchiha Takashi woke Kagato.

"You know the Konoha training grounds, right?"

Kagato nodded.

"I do."

The training grounds near the Uchiha Clan belonged to the Uchiha Clan, while the Konoha training grounds belonged to the village. Simply put, one was private and the other was official. Although both were called training grounds, they were obviously in different locations.

After getting out of bed, Kagato began washing up. Uchiha Takashi did not hurry off to work today. Instead, he stood beside Kagato, watching him wash while speaking.

"Your instructor and teammates will be waiting for you at the Konoha training grounds. Since you know where it is, you can go there yourself later. I won't take you. Oh, right. I heard that your instructor this time came from the Anbu. People who come from a place like that are usually very strong, but their methods, temperament, and so on may not be ideal. As you follow that instructor, remember this: there are things you can learn, and things you must not learn."

"Yes, Father."

He came from the Anbu? Kagato was slightly surprised. He had assumed they would simply assign some Jonin as his instructor, but he had never expected someone from the Anbu. What was the Anbu? The Anbu were the Hokage's eyes and blade. Anyone who came from the Anbu could basically be considered one of the Hokage's people. From the looks of it, the Third Hokage valued him quite highly.

Soon, after finishing breakfast, Kagato and Uchiha Takashi left together. They had not walked far before they went their separate ways.

Although the Konoha training grounds were not particularly close to the Uchiha Clan's territory, Kagato had gotten up early. Even though the journey took some time on foot, he still arrived at the Konoha training grounds early. Unlike when he had just entered the academy, when Sasuke and Kiba Inuzuka had arrived before him, he was the first to arrive this time.

Kagato saw no one, but he did not stand around doing nothing. Since he was already at the training grounds, he began practicing.

After a while, a boy walked over. A newly graduated Genin should have been twelve years old. He had slightly long black hair that reached his shoulders and wore a light-blue outfit. Grinning broadly, he walked up beside Kagato.

"Are you my future teammate? I just watched you for a bit, and your shuriken are really impressive. But why do you look so young? My name is Saito Daisuke. What's yours?"

Kagato put away the shuriken he had been practicing with and replied politely.

"My name is Uchiha Kagato."

"Smack!"

Saito Daisuke suddenly clapped his hands, widened his eyes, and stared at Kagato in surprise.

"Uchiha Kagato? I've heard of you! You're the student who graduated from the Ninja Academy after only one year, right? That's amazing! Since we can become teammates, doesn't that mean the Hokage thinks I'm a genius too, and assigned me to the same team as you? Hahaha!"

Kagato stared blankly at Saito Daisuke without saying anything, but he sighed inwardly and reached a conclusion.

This guy's a complete idiot.

"Don't you think so, Kagato?"

Saito Daisuke pressed him for an answer.

Kagato put on a smile.

"Yeah, that must be it."

A few minutes later, the last member of the three-person squad arrived. As Kagato expected, it was a girl. She looked slightly older than Saito Daisuke, and she also had black hair, though hers reached her elbows. Her features were quite pretty at first glance, though she was not exceptionally beautiful.

"Hello. Let me introduce myself. My name is Suzuki Genji. What are your names?"

Unlike Saito Daisuke, the girl was clearly not boisterous. She politely introduced herself first upon meeting them.

Saito Daisuke frowned and thought for a moment.

"Suzuki Genji? Never heard of you. But since you can be assigned to the same team as us, that means you must be a genius too, right? As long as you're a genius, there's no problem."

Even if they had graduated in the same class, it was obviously impossible for everyone to know one another.

Kagato smiled slightly and replied politely.

"Hello, my name is Uchiha Kagato."

Suzuki Genji gave a slight nod.

"I see. Then I'll be counting on both of you from now on."

Saito Daisuke could not help blushing. This was the first time such a pretty girl had asked him for a favor. At the Ninja Academy, he had always been alone.

"N-No problem! Leave it to me!"

Kagato sighed inwardly.

What a poor kid. He's never even been in love.

But the smile on his face did not change as he replied,

"Same here. I look forward to working with you."

The three of them met for the first time and introduced themselves to one another. They could be considered acquainted now.

"Hasn't the teacher arrived yet?"

Suzuki Genji looked around and asked curiously.

Kagato shook his head slightly without speaking.

Saito Daisuke, meanwhile, suddenly realized it.

"Oh, right! The teacher hasn't arrived yet!"

Kagato: ""

Suzuki Genji: ""

Then Saito Daisuke spoke indignantly.

"This teacher is unbelievable. How can he arrive later than his students?!"

Kagato felt compelled to defend the unknown teacher.

"Well, the teacher might have run into some unexpected trouble on the way."

Saito Daisuke did not buy it at all and was just about to argue with Kagato when someone else spoke first.

"Exactly right!"

The newcomer had white hair and wore a black mask. His Konoha forehead protector was tilted diagonally, covering his left eye.

"I couldn't help it. I stopped to help an old lady cross the street, so I was delayed. Oh, right, let me introduce myself. I'll be your instructor from now on. My name is Hatake Kakashi."

Saito Daisuke clenched his fists, clearly not believing a word Kakashi said.

"Who would believe that?! You're a teacher who was late!"

Kagato looked at Saito Daisuke, finding him rather amusing.

Blunt, impulsive, and thoughtless. Did Konoha produce this kind of person often? First there was Obito when he was young, then Naruto, and now there was this Saito Daisuke.

Kakashi completely ignored Saito Daisuke's words and walked over to Kagato and the others.

"You've all graduated from the Ninja Academy, which means you've learned most of what the academy teaches. However, that doesn't mean you qualify to become Genin! I want you to remember this from now on. Before becoming Genin, you still have to pass one more test."

Suzuki Genji asked,

"Teacher Kakashi, are you talking about the Bell-grabbing test?"

Kakashi glanced at Suzuki Genji.

"You know quite a lot. That's right. The test you're about to face is taking the bells from me. Only those who obtain a bell can become Genin."

Saito Daisuke laughed loudly.

"Hahaha, grabbing a bell? That sounds easy! Fine, watch me, Teacher Kakashi. I'll take the bell from you as quickly as possible! Oh, right, Teacher Kakashi, where are your bells?"

Kagato, Genji, and Kakashi: ""

Kakashi pulled his right hand from his trouser pocket and tapped the bells at his waist.

"Here. But I'm sure you've noticed that there are only two bells in total. In other words..."

Kakashi smiled slightly. Then his expression turned icy.

"In other words, one of you three will be eliminated and sent back to the Ninja Academy to repeat your studies!"

Kagato showed no reaction to those words. He had known this long ago.

Saito Daisuke, however, was frightened and widened his eyes.

"N-No way."

Suzuki Genji also looked somewhat surprised, but she did not say anything.

Kakashi's presence was chilling now, utterly devoid of human warmth.

"I'm not joking. One of you must return to the Ninja Academy and repeat your studies today. So, who will it be? And are you ready to begin?"