Introductions

As Kakashi spoke, he walked over to the table and touched the two warm cups with his fingers. "The temperature's just right. It's like someone poured the hot water early this morning and waited for it to cool down. We can drink it right away."

After speaking, Kakashi looked around again. There was no sign that anyone else was there or had been moving about.

"Strange... It's almost as if... he knew we'd be coming, knew there'd be two of us, and even prepared hot water in advance."

Hiruzen Sarutobi furrowed his brows. "That's impossible. I decided to make this home visit on the spur of the moment. You know that, Kakashi."

Kakashi nodded.

Hiruzen had called him in for overtime early that morning.

So the home visit really had been arranged at the last minute.

After a moment of silence, Kakashi thought about how he'd often heard of Naruto's pranks, then recalled what had happened when he'd run into Naruto a few days ago.

"A prank? But this kind of prank... is too quiet and too 'thoughtful.' I have to say, I'm getting more and more interested in the teacher's kid."

The Third Hokage chuckled softly and took one last look around the room. His voice carried a trace of emotion. "Anyway, I'm leaving Naruto in your hands. The changes he's shown these past few days have been rather unexpected. Make sure he becomes a successor to the Will of Fire. You wouldn't want to disappoint Minato, would you?"

"Of course."

Kakashi nodded solemnly.

Inside the Ninja Academy.

By the time Iruka had finished announcing the team assignments, it was nearly noon.

The students gradually left the classroom to eat lunch, then returned on time that afternoon to gather again.

For Naruto, the familiar Jonin—Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others—soon arrived and took their respective teams away.

Before leaving, Hinata waved to Naruto, her little face flushed.

Naruto smiled and waved back.

It seemed Hinata had changed the most in this cycle.

Sasuke wasn't surprised. He'd already seen this yesterday.

Sakura, on the other hand, was astonished. When had Naruto and Hinata gotten so close?

Before long, the classroom emptied out, until only the three members of Team 7 remained: Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.

But Team 7's Jonin Instructor was nowhere to be seen.

Two and a half hours later.

Sasuke was visibly growing impatient. He leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed.

Sakura finally couldn't stand it any longer and broke the silence. "By the way... why hasn't our teacher shown up yet?"

Sasuke didn't respond.

Naruto alone propped his chin on one hand, gazing listlessly at the clock on the classroom wall. Hearing Sakura's question, he murmured, "Ten seconds."

"What do you mean, ten seconds?"

Sakura and Sasuke turned to look at Naruto at the same time, confused.

Naruto didn't explain. He simply continued counting down. "Five, four, three, two, one."

The instant he reached "one," the classroom door creaked open.

Sakura and Sasuke both froze, staring at Naruto in disbelief.

"How... How did you know?"

Sakura asked, eyes wide.

Naruto shrugged helplessly. "I heard his footsteps. It was easy to tell."

He said it so casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Indeed, Naruto had plenty of ways to know when Kakashi would show up.

He could use Sensory Ninjutsu to sense Kakashi's Chakra.

Or he could listen carefully to the footsteps in the hallway. Everyone had a different rhythm to their stride, and Kakashi's was particularly distinctive.

But Naruto had used neither of those methods. He'd simply counted the time and made a prediction.

The reason he remembered it so clearly was that, in his memories, Kakashi always appeared at exactly this moment—not a second early or late.

But this time, just like in countless cycles before, there was no outlandish prank-filled entrance like there had been in the first life.

Kakashi calmly glanced at the three students in the classroom, lingering for an extra second on Naruto in particular, then greeted them casually. "Yo, we meet again."

"Yeah, we meet again."

Naruto smiled as he replied, as if he'd expected this all along.

Sasuke and Sakura were completely bewildered.

What did that mean?

Did the two of them already know each other?

Kakashi offered no explanation. He walked straight to the middle of the classroom and said with a smile, "Today's technically our first official meeting... Though I suppose I'm already acquainted with one of you."

"Overall, my first impression of you isn't bad. How about we go somewhere else and introduce ourselves?"

Naruto didn't want to waste time going somewhere else just to introduce himself. He raised his hand. "Teacher Kakashi, let's do it here. I'm in a hurry."

Sakura looked a little surprised.

Naruto was actually bold enough to speak to his newly met Jonin Instructor like that?

No, they must have known each other already.

But judging by their interaction, they didn't seem particularly close...

Kakashi paused briefly, then folded his arms and leaned against the lectern. "Hmm... Here it is, then. Let's start with introductions."

"Teacher, what are we supposed to introduce?" Sakura asked timidly.

"Hmm... Your name, interests, hobbies, dreams for the future—anything like that. Basically, it's just a chance for everyone to get to know each other. As for me, my name is Kakashi Hatake, and I'll be your teacher and Jonin Instructor from now on."

Kakashi explained patiently.

"I'll go first." Naruto spoke up, sounding relaxed. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I'll always love ramen, and I hate things that keep repeating. As for my dream... to be able to do whatever I want after I turn seventeen."

"What a strange thing to hate, and what a strange dream."

That thought occurred to Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura almost simultaneously.

"By the way, what do you mean by 'doing whatever you want after you turn seventeen'?"

Kakashi asked.

Naruto gave him a faint smile. "Take a guess."

"I'm asking because I can't guess."

Kakashi replied expressionlessly, then turned to the next person.

Only then did Uchiha Sasuke lift his dark eyes. His voice was calm, but carried a chill. "My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I hate sweets. I wouldn't call it a dream so much as an ambition. I have to kill that man, and... restore the Uchiha Clan!"

As he said "kill that man," a faint murderous aura seemed to rise from Sasuke, and his gaze grew razor-sharp.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed slightly. A realization flashed through his mind. As I thought...

Last came Sakura's turn, naturally.

Her face reddened as she spoke shyly in a quiet voice. "My name is Sakura Haruno. Rather than something I like... I'd say it's someone I like... Ah!"

As she spoke, her eyes kept darting toward Sasuke beside her. In the end, she got so worked up that she couldn't finish. She covered her face and let out a scream.

The girl was completely immersed in some strange thoughts of her own.

"Ah... Well..."

Kakashi was at a loss for words. He couldn't help pressing his right hand against the Forehead Protector on his brow.

Now he understood exactly what kind of team the Third Hokage had handed him.

Naruto was unpredictable and spoke in riddles.

The Uchiha descendant was consumed by revenge and only wanted to grow stronger.

And the girl was completely lost in romantic fantasies.

Team 7 was probably going to be much more troublesome than he'd imagined.