Kakashi

Sasuke walked home.

"You can't even be bothered to go through the motions anymore."

"Because there's no point. I don't want to waste time on boring ninja games. Team 7's composition is complicated. If Kakashi really has the guts to send us back to the Ninja Academy for retraining and make us waste another year, maybe I'll think more highly of him." Sasuke's tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Black Shadow keenly sensed Sasuke's negative emotions. "You seem to have a major issue with Kakashi."

"That's right. I loathe anyone connected to Obito Uchiha. Everything he cares about is what I hate!" Sasuke's lips curled slightly as endless malice surged in his eyes. "Besides, Kakashi himself isn't exactly a decent person."

Sasuke hated Kakashi. Part of it was the preconceived disgust Obito had given him, and part of it had deepened after learning about Kakashi's life.

Kakashi was fond of saying, "In the world of ninja, those who break rules and regulations are called trash. But those who don't cherish their comrades are worse than trash!"

Because of that, Kakashi had once failed several graduates for not understanding "unity" and "cherishing their comrades."

But that was exactly the problem. The Ninja Academy had always stressed the importance of missions! The Ninja Code had clear rules on the matter as well!

It was complete nonsense. What students learned at school was the standard answer from textbooks, yet after graduation, the teacher they encountered gave them the exact opposite answer. Worse still, that teacher had very little patience and simply punished them without teaching them first. If they didn't meet his expectations, then back they went for retraining.

Those graduates Kakashi had sent back to school were truly cursed with terrible luck. As ordinary people, they could only follow the village's mainstream ideology and put missions first. After all, the last person to publicly challenge that unspoken rule, White Fang, had long since died.

Kakashi's past was indeed pitiful, but no one else needed to pay for his misery. Living in this rotten world, who wasn't struggling? Who wasn't pitiable?

In the end, it was still a matter of background. What could civilian ninja without any backing do if they were casually sent back to school for retraining? Who would care?

But things were different now. Team 7's fate was not for Kakashi alone to decide. Sasuke and Sakura were nothing much, but Hokage could not be mishandled.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had already reached the point of having no shame. He was openly giving Hokage cheats. Otherwise, with Hokage's abilities, could he really have gotten the Scroll of Seals?

Anyone could see from such favoritism how much the Third valued Hokage. How could Kakashi go against the Third?

The Scroll of Seals was a good thing. It not only represented Konoha's high-level ninjutsu, but also symbolized the upper ranks' strict control over "knowledge."

Ordinary ninja could risk their lives for an entire lifetime and still perhaps never learn a single advanced technique from the Scroll of Seals. Hokage only had to steal it to learn the technique best suited to him.

That was reality. Given Minato Namikaze's achievements, Hokage could steal a few more glances and it would still be fine.

The Third Hokage really went to great lengths. Sasuke thought sarcastically. In truth, he could not understand what the Third had done for Hokage, just as he could not understand what Rasa had done to Gaara.

Their methods of raising Jinchuriki were truly... beyond words. Beyond words in a way no normal person could understand.

Sasuke stayed in the underground chamber for an entire day. Early the next morning, Iruka knocked frantically on the Uchiha residence's door. Sasuke adjusted his expression slightly before opening it.

"Sasuke, the Third wants to see you." Iruka wore a faintly resentful expression.

"Is something wrong?" Sasuke asked coldly.

Iruka's mouth twitched. He took a deep breath. "Sasuke, you and Sakura are both good children. Why did your supervising jonin file a complaint against you on the very first day? Do you know what kind of impact this could have on your futures..."

Sasuke cut off Iruka's endless nagging. "Teacher, you don't need to worry too much."

Iruka: "???"

"I'm Konoha's last Uchiha, and Hokage's identity is even more special. I'm sure you've noticed that too. It won't matter how many times Kakashi complains. The Third Hokage would rather give up Kakashi as Team 7's jonin than send us back to school for retraining." Sasuke spoke with complete confidence.

"The one you should really worry about is Sakura Haruno. She doesn't have as much capital as we do to mess around like this. Iruka-sensei, have you gone to see Sakura Haruno?"

Iruka opened his mouth, then stopped himself. He seemed shocked by Sasuke's blunt realism and wanted to refute him, but he could not say anything, because he knew Sasuke was right.

By the time Sasuke arrived at the Hokage's office, Sakura and Hokage were already there. Iruka had originally intended to plead desperately on their behalf and stop them from being sent back to school for retraining. But remembering what Sasuke had said on the way, Iruka closed his mouth. This was not an occasion for him to voice his opinion; otherwise, he would only look like an overconfident clown.

The moment Hokage saw Sasuke, he was about to shout, but then he caught sight of Sasuke and Sakura's identical cold expressions. All his words instantly caught in his throat.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk with a troubled expression. Kakashi stood to one side. Iruka spoke up. "Third Hokage, all three members of Team 7 have arrived."

Afterward, Iruka gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a slight bow and stepped aside in silence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed lightly twice. "I heard that the three of you disobeyed your supervising jonin's orders yesterday and did not gather at the mission site?"

"Of course not!" Hokage stepped forward to refute him seriously. "The three of us got there early. We waited a long time, but Kakashi never showed up, so we left."

When Hiruzen Sarutobi heard that, his face became troubled again. He had nearly forgotten that Hokage and Sasuke were not the only troublesome children; Kakashi was also an overgrown troublesome child.

"If Jonin Kakashi has objections to Team 7, there's no need to resort to such underhanded tricks. We don't mind changing teachers. Of course, I don't mind returning to school for retraining either." Sasuke made his stance clear on the spot.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "You little brat, you seem very dissatisfied with me?"

Kakashi felt angered by Sasuke's veiled mockery, but he did not know that Sasuke had already held back. After spending years with Black Shadow, Sasuke had learned seventy to eighty percent of that sharp, cutting tone. Dealing with these dull-witted ninja was more than easy enough.

Sasuke nearly blurted out, A bitch is always so pretentious, but ultimately held it back. Konoha's lifespan was already counting down anyway, so he would let them keep pretending for a few more days.

Just as Kakashi was about to say something, Hiruzen Sarutobi cut him off in time. Every one of them was more unruly than the last. Afraid of further complications, Hiruzen Sarutobi settled the matter directly and confirmed Kakashi as Team 7's supervising jonin.