Kakashi: Damn! Why Me?!

Naruto smoothly passed the Three Basic Techniques examination that followed.

Nothing like Mizuki trying to deceive him ever happened.

As Naruto neared graduation, he had still been looking forward to Mizuki coming to find him.

After all, he could have played along with Mizuki-sensei and freeloaded a ninjutsu or two from the Forbidden Jutsu Scroll.

Who would have thought that several months earlier, Mizuki-sensei had been taken away by the Anbu for investigation after secretly colluding with the rogue ninja Orochimaru behind the village's back.

But thinking about it, Mizuki never had the chance to deceive him anyway.

By now, the village basically all knew that he was the Fourth Hokage's son.

Although his reputation might not have been great after all the demolition work he had caused around the village over the years,

the Villagers of Konoha had merely kept their distance from him. They did not hate him like in the original story, nor had there been situations where people refused to sell him things.

What Naruto did not know was that the Villagers had not caused much trouble purely because Naruto's strength was too terrifying.

Back when Naruto was six or seven, he had swung huge trees around with frightening force, leaving a deep impression on the Villagers. One swing of that club would probably have sent an entire family straight to their funeral banquet...

Who would dare pick a fight with Naruto?

It was also because of this that Mizuki could not find an opportunity to drive a wedge between the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki and the village.

"Ugh..."

The thought of being unable to freeload some ninjutsu made Naruto feel like he had suffered a huge loss.

When he had traded for ninjutsu before, he had genuinely wanted to learn his dad's Flying Thunder God Technique, but the problem was that he simply could not understand it!

Those densely packed Sealing Technique formulas made his head spin just like math problems.

Still, he had memorized them. He would see whether he could learn them when he got the chance in the future.

Naruto had also been extremely tempted by the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags Technique, but the Third Hokage refused to let him learn it no matter what.

He said he was worried Naruto would end up blowing all of Konoha away.

Naruto got angry just thinking about it now.

Was he really that lacking in self-awareness?

Naruto's sighing caught Sasuke's attention.

"Didn't you do well on the exam?"

"How could that be!"

Sasuke's question immediately made Naruto anxious.

His theoretical grades at the academy might have been poor, but he was first in actual combat. How could he possibly have done badly?

Only after hearing Naruto's answer did Sasuke relax, though a trace of worry soon appeared on his face again.

"Do you think we'll be assigned to the same team?"

He thought being assigned to the same class as Naruto would be the best outcome. The others were simply too weak...

"See that pink-haired girl?"

Naruto pointed at Sakura, then continued speaking to Sasuke.

"I, Naruto, have calculated it with a pinch of my fingers..."

"You, me, and that pink-haired girl will most likely be assigned together."

Hinata, who had been listening in with her ears perked up, dimmed.

I can't be assigned to the same team as Naruto-kun...

"Hyuga Hinata, Aburame Shino, Inuzuka Kiba, you three, come out with me."

At that moment, the wavy-haired Yuhi Kurenai pushed open the door, called out the three names, and left the classroom without looking back.

Upon hearing her name, Hinata left the classroom while looking back every other step, utterly reluctant to go. If Naruto had not encouraged the little girl, she probably would not have wanted to walk out that door at all.

As the jonin took away their respective students, the once-packed classroom gradually became empty.

Only Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura remained in the classroom...

"What!?"

"You want me to be Naruto's team jonin!?"

Inside the Hokage Office, Kakashi showed a rare hint of emotion.

Seeing his obvious reluctance, the Third Hokage smiled awkwardly.

It was not as though he had not asked other jonin over the past few days, but every answer he received had been a refusal.

Naruto's ability to cause trouble in the village was known by everyone in Konoha.

At first, the jonin had all agreed to firmly reject taking Naruto, that little troublemaker.

Of course, that was as long as Kakashi and Might Guy did not know.

After being rejected by the other jonin, the Third Hokage naturally turned his attention to his dear subordinate, Kakashi Hatake.

Besides...

Naruto was, after all, the son of your teacher. Whether for public or private reasons, you should not refuse, right?

"How about... I go back to the Anbu?"

Kakashi said with difficulty, but the solemn expression on the Third Hokage's face told him that was definitely impossible.

He had actually sensed the Third Hokage's intentions long ago. Back when he had been asked to look after Naruto, he had vaguely felt that something was off.

The two remained deadlocked for a long time. In the end, Kakashi accepted the assignment with a sigh.

Kakashi headed toward the classroom where Naruto and the others were, his dead fish eyes making him look like a man who had lost all his dreams.

Click—

As the classroom door opened, Naruto caught the scent of dead fish on Kakashi from far away.

Did all middle-aged men end up looking like Kakashi?

"I am your team jonin—Kakashi Hatake."

"Please take care of me from now on."

The moment Sakura saw Kakashi, she finally confirmed that she had been assigned to the same team as Sasuke. Inwardly, she was already wildly pumping her fists and cheering.

Awesome!

I really got assigned with Sasuke!

I have a huge chance!

That brat Ino can go eat shit!

Sasuke gave a slight nod in respect. He had heard of the genius Kakashi in the village.

He was fairly satisfied with this jonin.

Hearing Kakashi's words, Naruto twitched his mouth and said with a strange expression, "Uncle Kakashi, we already know each other so well. There's no need to be so formal, right?"