Hatake Kakashi

Konoha, Third Training Ground.

A young man with long white hair, a black mask, his left eye covered by his forehead protector, dressed in a black skintight combat suit beneath a green jonin vest, stood with both hands in his pockets as he looked at the three students before him, who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy and looked like complete nobodies. He spoke calmly.

"I am your jonin instructor, Hatake..."

"You're Kakashi-sensei, right?" Extra A interrupted Kakashi impatiently.

"Skip the pleasantries and get started already!"

Heh...

These brats.

Kakashi's expression did not change as he continued, "The test you will be taking has a failure rate of sixty-six percent..."

A short while later, Kakashi looked coldly at the trio of extras before him, who were still bickering and had even begun turning on one another. Something like an unpleasant memory seemed to flicker through his eyes.

"You have all failed!"

Kakashi looked down at the stunned trio with icy eyes.

"Go back to the Ninja Academy and start over!"

"But..." Extra B wanted to argue, but under Kakashi's frigid gaze, he ultimately swallowed his words.

Although Kakashi had not deliberately released any pressure, the immense gap in their status and strength still left him afraid to say more.

The trio of extras left dejectedly. Even on their way back, their voices blaming and accusing one another continued to reach Kakashi's ears.

Kakashi sighed inwardly, tilted his head slightly, and said calmly toward a patch of woods, "You've watched long enough. You can come out now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sasuke emerged from the concealed bushes.

Uchiha Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke?

Seeing who it was, Kakashi narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing.

"Sorry. I was training here earlier, and by the rules, I should have left as soon as the test began."

Sasuke explained calmly.

"But when I saw that the examiner was a senior, I got curious and couldn't help staying to observe for a while."

"You know me?"

Kakashi was slightly surprised. He and Sasuke should never have met before.

"Mm." Sasuke nodded, his voice devoid of emotion. "I often heard my father mention the fame of Hatake Kakashi, the Copy Ninja. He said that Senior Kakashi's use of the Sharingan was even better than that of many Uchiha clansmen. You truly lived up to your reputation as one of the most renowned Heaven Talents of your generation."

Kakashi was silent for a moment before saying, "Clan Head Fugaku must have said more than just that, didn't he?"

"Of course! My father also told me some other things about Senior Kakashi."

Just as I thought!

Kakashi thought to himself.

He was not an Uchiha clansman, yet he possessed the Sharingan. Any ninja clan guarded its Kekkei Genkai, secret techniques, and ultimate arts closely and strictly prohibited them from being passed outside the clan.

The Uchiha clan head probably had not said anything kind about him to Sasuke.

Did Sasuke come before me to express his dissatisfaction because I had Obito's Sharingan?

Though that was what Kakashi suspected, he had no intention of handing over the Sharingan because of Sasuke's displeasure.

It was Obito's keepsake, carrying the promise between him and his closest friend.

Though he had broken that promise...

Yet contrary to Kakashi's expectations, Sasuke did not express any dissatisfaction over his possession of the Sharingan. Instead, he said something else.

"My father said that although Senior Kakashi is not an Uchiha, according to the rules, your Sharingan should have been reclaimed. But Father heard that the Uchiha in question had fought exceptionally bravely in his final battle, and that Senior Kakashi was his close friend. In the end, Father chose to respect his last wishes and suppressed certain voices within the clan."

Sasuke spoke calmly, casually extending a favor with his words.

"Is that so?"

Kakashi touched the forehead protector covering his left eye, a look of remembrance appearing in his gaze.

His possession of Obito's Sharingan had once caused quite a stir in Konoha. Later, however, the matter had suddenly died down for reasons he never understood. He had assumed it was because of his teacher.

But judging from Sasuke's words, the late Uchiha clan head had also played a vital role in it.

"Thank you."

Kakashi wanted to say something more, but in the end, all that came out were those two simple words.

Sasuke did not continue discussing the matter. Instead, he looked in the direction the trio of extras had departed and asked, "Their abilities and skills were already enough for them to become ninja. Why did Senior Kakashi eliminate them?"

"Because they lack the spirit of teamwork, and they do not understand the meaning of comrades."

Perhaps Sasuke's earlier words had had an effect, because Kakashi was noticeably more talkative.

"And those who do not know how to cherish their comrades are not qualified to become ninja. Even if they barely become ninja, those who think only of completing missions and understand neither teams nor comrades will one day cause an irreparable disaster."

Just like I once did...

A shadow of sorrow passed through Kakashi's eyes as he silently added those words in his heart.

"Indeed, teamwork is very important for ninja."

As though he had not noticed the change in Kakashi's expression, Sasuke nodded seriously.

"Senior Kakashi values teamwork so highly. I imagine you must have been someone who deeply valued comrades in the past."

At that, a bitter smile appeared beneath Kakashi's mask. "Quite the opposite. I was not."

"Mm." Sasuke nodded lightly and smiled. "Then it seems Senior Kakashi's teacher, the Fourth Hokage, really was the gentle, easygoing, and considerate teacher the rumors described."

"My teacher truly was an outstanding person. He was the one who taught me the meaning of comrades."

Kakashi nodded, agreeing with Sasuke's words. But then Sasuke shifted the topic and continued, "Senior Kakashi eliminated those students at the very beginning because they lacked teamwork."

"Yet the Fourth Hokage did not eliminate Senior Kakashi just because you did not understand teamwork. Instead, he led by example and taught you the meaning of comrades through his actions."

Kakashi froze, a look of astonishment flashing across his face.

"A teacher passes on knowledge, teaches skills, and resolves doubts. That is why I say the Fourth Hokage was a good teacher worthy of great respect."

"Of course, I'm not criticizing Senior Kakashi." Seeing Kakashi's astonished expression, Sasuke added, "After all, isn't there a saying?"

"Rotten wood cannot be carved!"

Sasuke stopped while he was ahead. Seeing that Kakashi still seemed deep in thought, he directly took his leave.

His purpose in coming today had merely been to leave a deep impression in Kakashi's mind. Judging from Kakashi's expression, he had achieved that goal. Anything more would only have been excessive.