Hokage Building, office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the neatly dressed, battle-ready Team 7 before him and slowly took a puff of smoke. "Kakashi, it seems these three little ones have passed your test."
This Kakashi really was...
Two years ago, he had specifically transferred Kakashi out of the Anbu to become a Jonin instructor, hoping he could free his cold, closed-off heart from the "darkness" of his Anbu days.
Who would have thought that while the man had indeed become somewhat more cheerful, his graduation test pass rate had been zero for two consecutive years? Fortunately, a team had finally passed his test this year.
Judging by Kakashi's expression, something interesting seemed to have happened as well.
The intelligence you gave me didn't say those two kids' teacher was this formidable.
Hatake Kakashi gave the serene Third Hokage a resentful look with his dead-fish eyes, then lightly coughed. "My three students performed exceptionally well. They already possess the strength and qualities of professional ninja!"
The Third Hokage nodded and took another puff from his pipe. "You came at just the right time. There are too many backlogged D-rank missions, so your team's newcomers can take care of some of them."
As he spoke, the Third Hokage pulled out a mission list from a drawer and began reading. "Hmm, help Uncle Kudo in the east of the village look after his son Conan and play deduction games with him. Hmm, this one's not bad."
"Help Master Sanzang at the temple in the west of the village find several lost pets. Hmm, this one's not bad either."
"Yagami Light in the south of the village accidentally lost a notebook. Please help him find it. Hmm... this works too."
"Accompany little Shiro in the north of the village as he plays a role-playing adventure