Kakashi, Are You Repeating the Year?

Not long after, the teacher arrived.

He pulled out a sheet of paper and began reading the team assignments.

"Team One... Team Two..."

"Team Three: Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, Ebisu."

The teacher continued reading from the list.

Genma Shiranui and Ebisu, who had been laughing just moments ago, could no longer force a smile.

Finally, Kyohiko's name was called.

"Team Seven: Kyohiko Yoshimine, Kurenai Yuhi."

Kurenai Yuhi looked toward Kyohiko and blinked.

At least it was only one of them.

Although both Kyohiko and Guy worked very hard and were likely quite strong, the sparks that had flown between those two earlier were simply too much for the young Kurenai Yuhi to handle.

The academy teacher continued down the list.

"Team Eight..."

Kurenai Yuhi grew anxious.

Wait?

Why were there only two of them?

Kyohiko looked at Kurenai Yuhi and whispered, "Don't worry, we'll ask when we get outside."

"Uh, okay."

Kurenai Yuhi nodded, suppressing the doubts in her heart.

Outside the door.

"Teacher, why is Team Seven only two people? Usually, it's one jonin leader and a three-man squad, right?"

Kyohiko asked.

The academy teacher looked awkward, scratching his head as he said, "This, I don't know either. Once you meet your jonin leader this afternoon, you should understand."

"Huh?"

Kurenai Yuhi looked bewildered, completely unable to grasp the situation.

The academy teacher quickly used Body Flicker to make his escape, leaving only Kyohiko and Kurenai Yuhi to stare at each other.

Now it was their turn to be dumbfounded.

Of course.

Kyohiko had a theory in his heart, though he wasn't sure if it was correct—

There was a jinxed, high-pressure genius who had become a chunin last year, but whose personality and style made it impossible for him to maintain good relationships with his teammates.

Kakashi Hatake.

Was it him?

At two in the afternoon, the various teams gathered inside the academy. Downstairs, the students who hadn't graduated yet were still in class, while they had to wait for their jonin leaders to arrive.

Kyohiko sat in his seat, contemplating his future direction.

He had already figured out some of the system's mechanics.

Being on the same team as Kakashi seemed to have some benefits.

The only thing was—

He didn't know who the jonin leader would be.

Minato Namikaze?

He spun a kunai unconsciously while he thought.

At this moment, Kurenai Yuhi finally couldn't hold back.

"Kyohiko-kun, I, I have something I'd like to ask."

She was a year or two older than Kyohiko and they weren't in the same class, so they weren't very close.

However.

Since they would be teammates from now on, they needed to get to know each other.

Kyohiko stopped the kunai.

"What is it?"

"Are you practicing finger dexterity with that?"

Kurenai Yuhi pointed curiously at the kunai dancing like a flower between Kyohiko's fingers.

Kyohiko was slightly taken aback, then let out a dry chuckle.

"Just a habit, that's all."

"A habit..."

Kurenai Yuhi nodded and said nothing more, though the gaze she turned toward Kyohiko now carried a hint of respect.

To cultivate a habit required years of grueling training, and it surely contained hardships and bitterness she could not fathom.

No wonder he and Might Guy shared a common language.

She let her imagination run wild.

Kyohiko had no idea what the young girl was thinking; he was simply pondering—

Would drawing closer to her help him fleece more wool?

Before long.

Knock, knock!

The door was rapped.

The next moment, the door opened. Kyohiko looked up and nearly burst out laughing.

The silver-haired boy with a mask walked in, eyes narrowed, his expression stiff as he sat down, feigning indifference.

Kurenai Yuhi's mouth fell open.

She blinked, her face full of disbelief.

Then...

"You aren't supposed to be our jonin instructor, are you?!"

"Hmph."

Kakashi turned his head away, remaining silent.

Kyohiko whispered a reminder.

"Kurenai, Kakashi only just promoted to chunin last year; he couldn't possibly be a jonin."

"Oh, right."

Kurenai Yuhi's thoughts were in a tangle; she hadn't grasped the situation yet, her face a mask of confusion.

Kyohiko sat to the side, pursing his lips to suppress a laugh.

It really was him!

So.

"Kakashi, does this count as being held back a grade?"

"..."

Kakashi shot him a glance, then stared straight ahead, ignoring his question entirely.

Tsk.

Kyohiko stifled the urge to mock him and sat up straight, maintaining the terrifyingly quiet atmosphere of the classroom.

According to the monster level classifications from his past life's games...

The Kakashi before him was at least a boss-level difficulty to clear, certainly not on the level of Might Guy or Kenji, who could be handled with mere talk-no-jutsu.

He would have to proceed slowly!

He wondered who their teacher would be.

As Kyohiko pondered, a series of footsteps sounded outside.

All three pairs of eyes locked onto the door.

Could it be their teacher?

After a long wait, the footsteps came to an abrupt halt, as if they had moved on to another classroom.

A look of confusion appeared on Kurenai Yuhi's face.

She whispered, "Our teacher just disappeared."

Kakashi said coolly, "As ninjas, we just need to wait."

"..."

Kyohiko glanced at them, his mouth twitching slightly.

If Kurenai Yuhi's sensory perception wasn't wrong—

Then their teacher must have a rather twisted sense of humor, intending to use this to observe the personalities and abilities of the three of them.

Who could it be?

When they eventually met and had to introduce themselves, how should he respond?

Kyohiko began to think rapidly.

Outside the door, Jiraiya let out a sigh.

Unexpected.

At his age and status, to have to personally come out and help lead a team, and a group of fresh graduates at that.

Truly.

It's all the Old Man's fault!

He secretly observed the situation inside.

"The little girl is quite sharp, skilled in genjutsu, and seems to have potential in sensory perception... perhaps she could be considered for training in medical or support roles."

"The silver-haired brat isn't easy to get along with; no wonder no one wants him, he's a troublesome fellow."

"As for the last one."

"Tsk, he doesn't look easy to handle either. I'm just asking for trouble!"

Jiraiya rubbed his chin, recalling the situation from last night.

Inside the Hokage Building yesterday.

"Old Man, I just planned to travel outside the village recently, and you want me to lead students? You did this on purpose!"

"The village needs you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

Jiraiya curled his lip, and after a few seconds of silence, he said, "Are the three kids you want me to lead special?"

"Kakashi Hatake is among them."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

Jiraiya fell silent instantly, and only after a long while did he say, "Isn't that kid already a Chunin?"

"Take a look."

Hiruzen Sarutobi handed over some papers.

Jiraiya took them and saw that they were filled with complaints from other ninjas about Kakashi; right now, almost no team dared to take Kakashi, and everyone was passing the buck.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could certainly have made a forced assignment.

However...

The Old Man wanted him, one of the Sannin, to help mentor the boy.

Thinking of Sakumo, who had committed suicide, Jiraiya sighed inwardly. He didn't immediately refuse, his gaze sweeping across the desk.

Then.

He noticed another resume in the pile of papers.

Jiraiya picked it up.

It was that child!

He read it through carefully.

It detailed the situation of Kyohiko.

A descendant of the Senju.

Over a year ago, the child's parents passed away, and since then, his personality had changed drastically—becoming somewhat reclusive, eccentric, and failing to fit in with the others in his class.

An orphan of the war, huh!

Jiraiya gripped the paper, silent for a moment.

The Second Shinobi World War was how they, the Sannin, had made their names, but many ninjas had also lost their lives under their command and leadership.

Such a hardworking child, this personality...

"The other two aren't finalized yet, right? Add him. I'm a bit interested in this kid."

"You know him?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly surprised.

This child...

Although he graduated early today, he didn't have a very deep impression of him, only remembering that his Substitution Technique was very proficient and his taijutsu was quite good.

"A very hardworking, very smart child. I believe he has the same potential as Minato."

Jiraiya said.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment, then nodded gently: "Fine, then it's him, Kakashi, and who else? It's all up to you."

"Doesn't matter."

Jiraiya replied, then scanned his eyes over the list and picked the one that looked the most agreeable.

"Let it be her."