Dreams

A few days after registration, the day the Ninja Academy opened finally arrived. Hatake Sakumo was busy earning money to support the family, so he did not take the brothers to school this time.

After arriving at the classroom, Karot saw quite a few familiar faces. Though they might all have been meeting for the first time, children were naturally boisterous, and kids with similar personalities gathered together, making the room lively. The most conspicuous among them was none other than Uchiha Obito.

Karot spotted future well-known ninjas such as Sarutobi Asuma, Ebisu, and Yūhi Kurenai.

The arrival of the Hatake brothers immediately drew the attention of the children in the classroom. After all, one was handsome and the other adorable. (Am I the only one who thinks Karot was incredibly cute as a child?)

"Wow, he's so handsome! We have such a handsome boy in our class!"

The girls' shrieks rang in the brothers' ears, though most of them were directed at Kakashi. Karot was already quite used to such scenes.

Kakashi's arrival also put all the boys in the class on alert. The classroom was already so small, with too many wolves and too little meat, and now a dazzlingly charming wolf had suddenly arrived. The meat was even voluntarily coming to feed him. Were they supposed to give up meat and start eating vegetables?

Quite a few boys secretly glanced at the girls they liked, trying to gauge their attitudes toward Kakashi. Obito and Asuma were especially obvious. They really were precocious—little brats who did not understand anything yet already wanted to date.

"Are you Hatake Kakashi?"

Obito suddenly jumped up from his seat and rushed in front of the brothers, pointing at Kakashi as he spoke.

Within Konoha, Kakashi's reputation was even greater than Karot's.

"I'll leave it to you, Kakashi."

After saying that, Karot walked straight to the last row, sat down, and lay on the desk to sleep. After all, getting up early to train and deliver milk was rather tiring. The Turtle School Secret Technique was to eat well, train well, and sleep well. Karot took good advice, so he was sleeping well now.

"Mm. What is it?"

Kakashi replied calmly.

"I'm Uchiha Obito, and I'm here to challenge you."

As he spoke, he pointed his thumb at himself, his gaze occasionally drifting toward Rin. Rin will definitely be captivated by my handsome appearance. Then she'll like me and marry me.

"Boring."

Kakashi said only one word before walking past Obito toward Karot's seat.

Kakashi's cold tone instantly ignited Obito's anger.

"How dare you look down on the great Obito!"

With that, he threw a punch at Kakashi.

Just as the fist was about to hit Kakashi, Kakashi tilted his head aside, grabbed the incoming fist with both hands, and threw Obito over his shoulder, sending his entire body flying.

Bang.

After the sound rang out, Obito was already sprawled on the floor.

"Don't bother me again."

With that, he released Obito's hand and sat beside Karot.

What had just happened in that instant left the watching students stunned. They had heard that Kakashi was a genius, but he had subdued an Uchiha the moment he made a move. His title as a genius was well deserved.

After all, in most people's eyes, the word Uchiha meant strength and genius. However, Obito's status as an Uchiha was still rather watered down at the moment.

"I'm not convinced! Kakashi, let's fight again! I wasn't careful just now, so that one doesn't count!"

After lying on the ground for a while, Obito, his eyes filled with confusion, sprang to his feet and pointed at Kakashi.

"No. You're too weak."

"What?"

Upon hearing the words "too weak," Obito almost wondered whether his ears had stopped working. His face turned red with anger.

Just as Obito was about to make another move, the classroom door was pulled open. A muscular ninja with a scar on his face walked to the front of the room.

"Quiet, all of you."

The classroom instantly fell silent. There was killing intent in his voice, enough to make people afraid.

"Hmm?"

That faint killing intent woke Karot, who had still been sleeping.

He could sense that this teacher possessed an exceptionally large amount of Chakra. He was not weak—he had not reached the level of a Jonin, but he was stronger than a Chunin.

A ninja who had just come down from the battlefield was far stronger than ninjas from Naruto's peaceful era. Those who had survived the Ninja World War's brutal trials were all elites.

Sending such a ninja to serve as a teacher showed just how highly the upper ranks regarded this class of students.

"First, let me introduce myself. I'm your homeroom teacher at the Ninja Academy. My name is Asakawa Koji, and I'm a Jonin. Next, introduce yourselves so everyone can get to know one another."

The moment he finished speaking, Obito immediately raised his hand.

"Teacher, I'll go first."

"Let me go first."

"Alright, then we'll start with you."

Seeing a student respond so enthusiastically, Asakawa nodded.

"My name is Uchiha Obito, and my dream is to become Hokage."

Obito's words set the entire class laughing. After all, becoming Hokage was an unattainable dream for ninety-nine percent of ninjas. They seemed to be mocking Obito for overestimating himself.

"What are you laughing at? I will definitely become Hokage one day. When that happens, you'll be the ones crying."

Obito said angrily.

"I believe in you, Obito. You can definitely do it."

At that moment, White Moonlight, Rin, who was sitting beside Obito, said with a smile. Obito was healed by White Moonlight's smile and quickly replied.

"Rin, don't worry. I won't let you down."

"Quiet, everyone."

"Obito made a very good point. Even if a dream seems impossibly far away, it can still spur us onward, inspiring us to keep moving forward step by step toward it. As long as we head in the right direction, we can achieve it."

Hearing the teacher encourage him as well, a proud expression appeared on Obito's face.

"My name is Nohara Rin. When I grow up, I want to become a Medical Ninja like Tsunade-sama."

"My name is Sarutobi Asuma. I'm the Third Hokage's son, and my dream is to become Hokage like my old man."

After saying that, Asuma wore a smug expression.

"That's amazing! You're actually the Hokage's son."

Waves of flattery rose from the classroom, and Asuma thoroughly enjoyed it.

Only the Hatake brothers had yet to introduce themselves.

"You go first."

Karot said to Kakashi.

"My name is Hatake Kakashi. My dream is to become an outstanding ninja like my father."

Upon hearing Kakashi's introduction, Asakawa showed an approving expression.

"As expected of Sakumo-sama's son. Excellent."

Asakawa truly respected Hatake Sakumo. Just from that introduction, he had taken a liking to Kakashi's personality.

"My name is Hatake Karot. I like food—any kind of food. As for my dream? To become the strongest."

Karot's dream shocked the entire class. They only wanted to become Hokage, while he wanted to become the strongest in the Ninja World.

In that moment, Asakawa seemed to see another figure of Konoha's White Fang, with the same white hair.