Kakashi Hatake

As always, sunlight spilled across the streets of Konoha, and a new day began.

"Lord Hokage." A young man wearing a Forehead Protector, with a conspicuous scar across his face, nervously knocked on the door of the Hokage Office. He pushed it open, saw the familiar brim of the Hokage's hat, and hurriedly bowed. "Chunin Iruka, reporting for duty."

"Oh, Iruka. You're here early." The Third Hokage looked up from the reports he was reading and greeted him with a cheerful smile. "Wait a moment. I have a few things to finish."

After reviewing a few reports and setting them aside, the Third Hokage looked again at Iruka, who stood stiffly with nerves. Unhurriedly, he took a pipe from inside his robes and drew on it. "Relax. I only called you here to ask how things are going. How has your time teaching at the Ninja Academy been? Have you settled in?"

"Yes, I... ah, it's been quite good. I've found I actually enjoy teaching." Iruka instinctively began in the tone of a formal report, but under the Third Hokage's gaze, he relaxed a little and gave an embarrassed smile. "Quite a few of the children at school are mischievous, but their families have all taught them a thing or two. They do take their lessons seriously."

"After all, the war only ended recently. Many villagers still carry its scars." The Third Hokage smoked his pipe and sighed. "That's also why we need the children to study at school. Otherwise, this atmosphere of war and bloodshed might take an entire generation to fade. Only by letting the children spend enough time together can we keep their innocence from disappearing so quickly."

"I've received quite a few reports about you, too. Plenty of them praise your teaching." The Third Hokage picked up several stacks of reports from his desk and spoke with a cheerful smile.

"Oh, I don't deserve such praise." Iruka flushed. "Um, may I ask why you called me here today, Lord Hokage...?"

"Oh dear, look at me getting sidetracked again." The Third Hokage shook his head as he spoke. "I called you here today because I wanted to discuss Naruto Uzumaki."

"Uzumaki... Naruto?" Iruka lowered his eyes. Of course he knew what that name represented.

"Iruka, your parents were heroes of Konoha. They were shinobi who gave their lives protecting the village during the Nine-Tails' Attack." The Third Hokage stood, walked over to Iruka, and patted his shoulder. "And you've come through all that yourself. That's why I'd very much like to know how you see Naruto now."

"How I see him?" Iruka closed his eyes, his expression conflicted. "Lord Hokage, to be honest, I still hate the Nine-Tails. I also know Naruto-kun isn't the Nine-Tails, but... at least for now, I still can't see him as just a child."

"That's how most people in the village see him, too. You must know that." As though he had expected Iruka's answer, the Third Hokage immediately picked up where he left off. "He's very lonely in the village. He has no adults to turn to, just a little boy growing up all on his own. Yet he's never complained to anyone. He's a strong child."

The Third Hokage's words reminded Iruka of himself, stirring his emotions.

He had been the same. The Nine-Tails' Attack had taken his parents from him. Though naturally introverted, he had always maintained a cheerful facade in the village, but only he knew how frightening loneliness could be. Back then, more than overcoming his introversion, he had feared being shunned by others.

If the Third Hokage hadn't helped me back then, letting me feel the village's warmth and the care of my elders after I lost my parents, could I really have come this far, even becoming a teacher at the Ninja Academy to guide others...?

Watching Iruka's expression, the Third Hokage seemed to see right through his thoughts. With a faint smile, he returned to his seat. "Here's the thing. I want Naruto Uzumaki to enter the Ninja Academy this year."

"This year?" Iruka froze. "Unless I've counted wrong, he's only five this year, isn't he? Doesn't the school require children to be seven before they learn Ninjutsu? Exposing a child to Ninjutsu too early isn't exactly..."

"He's nearly there. He'll turn six in the second half of the year. And if you're worried, you can meet Naruto when the time comes. I believe he needs to study at school." The Third Hokage smiled cheerfully at the conscientious Iruka. "But I'm concerned that Naruto will still be isolated by the others there, so I'd like to ask you to look after him."

"...Understood." Iruka fell silent for a moment, then took his leave at the Third Hokage's signal.

He still had questions, but he had no intention of digging for answers. He might not be particularly strong, but he was no fool. The fact that Lord Third Hokage had specifically summoned him meant this matter was important.

Still, he intended to meet Naruto Uzumaki himself before making any judgments. Besides, Lord Hokage had specifically sent the Anbu to summon him, leaving him so anxious about what it could be that he had barely slept the previous night. And it turned out he had only wanted to discuss Naruto's schooling?

"Well?" Once Iruka had left the office, the Third Hokage quietly addressed the empty space behind him.

"At first, he seemed to be wondering why you were telling him all this. But once he heard about Naruto, he focused entirely on thinking about him." A slightly languid voice came from outside the Hokage Office window. "He didn't even notice my arrival. Rather careless for a shinobi."

"Haha, Iruka is an excellent teacher at the Ninja Academy, after all. You haven't seen how good he is at handling those children. You can't judge him by your standards, Kakashi." The Third Hokage laughed, then addressed the white-haired, masked man leaning against the window. "Come on. Let's take a walk."

Kakashi Hatake adjusted the Forehead Protector he used to cover his Sharingan, then appeared beside the Third Hokage with the Body Flicker Technique.

The Third Hokage and Kakashi then walked through the streets of Konoha. Despite the crowds coming and going, few passersby lingered on them, as though they could not see them at all.

"How has it been? Have you gotten used to carrying out missions since leaving the Anbu?" The Third Hokage chatted with Kakashi as casually as if they were discussing everyday matters.

"...It's been all right." Kakashi's reply was rather listless. For the former Anbu Captain, returning to the daily life of a Jonin had not really been an easy adjustment.

"I read your mission reports. Why won't you accept the subordinates assigned to you?"

"I'm more used to working alone. Genin... no, I'm not ready to lead others yet." Kakashi seemed to realize something, and a faint, wry smile appeared on his face. "Lord Hokage, it looks like you have something troublesome in store for me."

"Why would I?" The Third Hokage laughed, then raised his head and pointed his pipe at the building ahead. "We're here. That's where Naruto lives."