When Kakashi disappeared from the classroom in a swift shunshin, I sighed. Here we go, I thought, knowing exactly what was coming next. I looked at my 'teammates'. Sakura still seemed stunned and resentful from the slap, while Sasuke maintained his usual facade of indifference, though I noticed his gaze flickered briefly towards me before he stood up.
Without a word, I stood up too and headed for the door and the stairs leading to the roof. Sakura and Sasuke followed in silence, keeping an awkward distance. The short walk was silent, charged with a strange tension after the events in the classroom.
We reached the rooftop, bathed in the midday sun. Kakashi was already there, leaning casually against the railing, reading his ever-present orange paperback, Icha Icha Paradise, as if he'd been waiting for hours. He gave us a lazy glance over the top of the book when we arrived.
"Wow, you took the full five minutes," he commented with feigned surprise. "Sit down."
We sat on the steps facing him: Sakura choosing a spot as far from me as possible but near Sasuke, Sasuke ignoring both of us, and me simply observing our new sensei with my Six Eyes. I analyzed his calm but incredibly dense and experienced chakra; this man was in another league compared to Iruka or Mizuki.
"Alright kids, let's start with introductions," Kakashi said, snapping his book shut with a soft click and putting it away. "Tell me your name, likes, dislikes, hobbies, and dreams for the future. The usual."
"Hey, Sensei!" Sakura protested. "Why don't you give us an example first? So we know how to do it."
Kakashi looked at her with his single visible eye, which seemed to say, 'Seriously?'. He sighed dramatically. "My name is Kakashi Hatake. Things I like and things I hate… Nah, I don't feel like telling you that. My dreams for the future… never really thought about it. As for my hobbies… I have lots of hobbies." He gave us an eye-smile. "Your turn. Let's start with you, pinky."
Sakura, slightly flustered by the non-information, gathered herself. "Right! I'm Sakura Haruno! What I like is…" she glanced sideways at Sasuke with a blush, "…Kya! And my hobby is…!" another glance at Sasuke. "My dream for the future is…!" she shrieked excitedly, looking at Sasuke again. She quickly concluded, "And what I hate is Naruto!"
At least she's consistent, I thought ironically. I kept my face impassive.
Kakashi nodded without visible reaction, though his internal thoughts, barely perceptible even to my Eyes, seemed to register the dynamic. "Alright. Next, you, Mr. Broody."
Sasuke shot him a glare for the nickname but replied in his usual cold tone. "My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I hate a lot of things, and I don't particularly like anything. What I have is not a dream, because I will make it a reality: I'm going to restore my clan and destroy a certain man."
An awkward silence settled. Intense and predictable, I thought. Sasuke's chakra vibrated with determination and hatred as he said it. Kakashi simply nodded again, his visible eye revealing nothing, but I noticed a quick analysis in his gaze. "Okay…? And finally, you, blondie with the new look."
My turn. I kept my voice calm and clear, projecting confidence. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki. My hobbies are training and trying different kinds of ramen. My favorite food is Ichiraku ramen. And my dream for the future is to become Hokage, the greatest one ever."
It wasn't a lie. Despite being a new soul in this body, the dream of being Hokage resonated with me. Not so much for the recognition the original Naruto craved, but for the challenge, the idea of leading, of protecting, of having the strength and authority to change things. Deep down, who wouldn't want to be the respected, powerful leader of their own village? Denying it would be hypocrisy.
Kakashi watched me more closely this time. I could see the calculation behind his visible eye. So this is the kid, he seemed to think, reconciling my calm attitude and my declaration with the reports he'd surely received from the Hokage: the Jinchūriki who stole a forbidden scroll, defeated a traitorous Chūnin with massive Kage Bunshin mastery overnight, and who supposedly awakened a strange new dōjutsu. Definitely not the 'dead last' and 'hyperactive idiot' his Academy records described. His visible eye curved slightly into something that might be genuine interest disguised as laziness. "Hmm, Hokage, eh? And training as a hobby… Well, well. Alright, three very distinct personalities."
"Okay kids, listen closely," Kakashi continued, his tone turning a bit more serious. "Introductions were fine, but tomorrow we'll do something more important: a survival test."
"Survival test?" Sakura asked. "But Sensei, we already did lots of tests at the Academy!"
Kakashi chuckled. "Oh, this has nothing to do with what you did at the Academy. This is a special test that I will conduct. And there's a small detail: of the 27 graduates this year, only 9 will be accepted as Genin. The other 18 will be sent back to the Academy. In other words, this test has a failure rate of over 66%." His gaze hardened. "So, if you don't come prepared to kill me, you won't stand a chance."
I saw the panic in Sakura's chakra and the tension rise in Sasuke's. I already knew what the test was about: teamwork. But I kept a serious expression, as if processing the information.
"Oh, and one more thing," Kakashi added with a smile. "I recommend you don't eat breakfast tomorrow. You might… puke. You have the details on this sheet. See you tomorrow at 5 AM at training ground number 3. Don't be late."
With that, Kakashi disappeared in another shunshin, leaving us alone on the rooftop with the ominous warning hanging in the air.
I didn't wait a second. I had things to do. Ignoring my stunned teammates, I vaulted cleanly over the railing. Just before hitting the ground several meters below, I activated a thin layer of my Wind Cloak around my feet. I landed with the softness of hitting a trampoline, no impact, no pain. I need a catchy name for this, I thought as I deactivated the chakra and resumed my walk.
I headed for the Hokage Tower. As I walked, I noticed the villagers' stares and whispers continued, but the tone had shifted slightly. Thanks to my new clothes and the ninja headband, the comparison to the Fourth Hokage was more evident. There was more curiosity and awe in their gazes, and less direct hatred. Look what good presentation can do, I reflected with an ironic smile. Superficial, but useful.
I quickly reached the tower and went up to reception. The young kunoichi on duty looked up.
"Excuse me, I have an appointment with the photographer for the ninja registration photo. May I go up?" I asked politely.
She blinked, clearly surprised by my tone and appearance, but quickly regained her professional composure. "Uzumaki Naruto, right?" she asked, checking a list. I nodded. "Yes, the photographer is waiting for you upstairs, in the photography room. You may proceed."
"Thanks," I replied, and headed where she indicated.
The photographer was a somewhat stressed middle-aged man. "Young ninja? Quick, you're already late!" he said hurriedly as soon as he saw me. "You were supposed to take the picture yesterday. Good thing I had an opening today, otherwise, I don't know what you'd do!"
"Yeah, well, thanks for the trouble and for waiting," I said, trying to be conciliatory.
I quickly got into position in front of the neutral background. The flash popped. "Ready? Let's see…" The photographer checked the digital camera. "Hmm, not bad. You came out serious. Well, I suppose it'll do."
He showed me the small screen. Not to brag, but honestly, I looked good. The dark clothes, the headband, the intense gaze of the Six Eyes (though he surely didn't notice the detail)… Yeah, a radical change from Naruto's previous photos. Now this is a ninja ID, I thought with a hint of satisfied arrogance. I was now officially a Genin of Konoha in this world.
The photographer handed me the necessary papers. "Take these to the Hokage to get them stamped," he instructed.
Papers in hand, I headed to the Hokage's office. I took a deep breath before knocking and entering. Hiruzen was there, buried under his eternal pile of paperwork, but he looked up and smiled when he saw me.
"Ah, Naruto. I thought you might not make it today after all," he said with gentle humor. "Did you have trouble with your new sensei?"
"Well, when your sensei leaves you waiting nearly three hours past the agreed time, things get a bit delayed," I replied with a sigh of feigned exasperation. "Kakashi Hatake, right?"
Hiruzen chuckled. "Yes, Kakashi is… special. He has his own methods and his own pace. But I assure you he's an excellent shinobi and a good sensei for you and your team. You'll learn a lot from him."
"I hope so, Gramps," I said, approaching the desk and leaving the registration papers. "Brought these."
Hiruzen took them and reviewed them quickly, pulling out a seal. As he did so, his expression turned more serious. "So, Naruto? I'm sorry to be insistent, but it's necessary. Tell me, how are you really doing after what happened last night?"
His tone was the Kage's evaluating the situation, but beneath the surface, my Eyes perceived the genuine paternal concern in his chakra.
I became serious too. "Well, Gramps, I won't lie. I feel… a lot of things. Angry, disappointed… but also strangely calm." I paused, choosing my words. "I'm angry, yes. Angry because you never told me the truth about the Kyuubi. I asked you a thousand times why people hated me, why they looked at me like that… and you always dodged the question or said you didn't know. That hurts." I looked at him directly. "But at the same time… a part of me, a part that feels… new, clearer since last night, tells me you probably did it because you thought it was for the best. That you wanted to protect me. That if you'd told me sooner, being the impulsive kid I was… maybe I would have broken or done something even stupider."
Hiruzen put down the seal and looked at me intently, his eyes filled with deep sadness and some guilt. "Naruto… forgive me for not telling you sooner. But understand, please… you can't just tell a small child, 'Hey, you have a beast of unimaginable power sealed inside you that destroyed the village and killed countless people, including the Fourth Hokage'." He sighed, the weight of years of difficult decisions marking his face. "I planned to tell you when you became Genin, when I deemed you mentally prepared. I had to be sure the revelation wouldn't affect you negatively, that it wouldn't consume you with hatred or fear. It was… a very delicate balance."
I nodded slowly. "Yes… I understand better now, Gramps. I think I understand."
A small smile eased the Hokage's features. "I'm glad to hear that, Naruto. Truly." But his expression turned serious again. "However, that brings me to another matter. Considering your astonishing demonstration with the Kage Bunshin last night and the awakening of your eyes… I'm concerned about this drastic change in your general attitude that both Iruka and I have noticed. And furthermore… whispers have reached me of a certain… rather physical confrontation in the classroom today. Can you explain what's happening, Naruto?" His gaze was piercing, worried, but also alert. He was analyzing, seeking to understand the new individual before him.
Time to use my cover story. "Well, Gramps… I think it all started yesterday, after… these eyes awakened." I pointed to my eyes. "Since then, it feels like my head is going much faster. Like I was living in a kind of fog before and now everything is sharp, clear. I can think and analyze things much better, it's like everything is… easier to understand."
"When Sakura spoke to me like that today, trying to hit me like always…" I continued, trying to sound reflective, "I couldn't stand it. All the memories of how she treated me, how she hit me or scolded me for nothing… came back, and my mind, this new mental clarity, simply analyzed that she didn't like me, that I didn't have to put up with that. That I didn't deserve it. It was… an almost instantaneous reaction, based on this new way of seeing things."
Hiruzen listened intently, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "A new mental clarity, you say…? Hmm." He fell silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on mine. "Based on what you described last night about your dōjutsu… heightened perception, chakra analysis, near-intuitive understanding… It's possible. It's possible that the activation of such a potent ocular power, combined with the emotional shock of the Kyuubi revelation, triggered… a kind of accelerated mental awakening." He murmured, more to himself than to me. "As if your mind was forced to mature rapidly to process all that new sensory and emotional information. And that new perspective makes you re-evaluate your past relationships and behaviors in a new light… perhaps seeing toxicity or falsehood where before you only saw… well, whatever you saw."
I nodded, as if his theory made perfect sense to me too. It was a plausible explanation within the bounds of this world.
"That could be it, Gramps. It feels like that."
"I see…" Hiruzen said, his tone becoming firmer. "Naruto, if that's the case, then you have a very powerful tool in your hands, but also a very dangerous one. That clarity can lead to arrogance. I've seen many users of powerful dōjutsu fall because of their pride, believing themselves superior, unable to see their own flaws. I don't want that to happen to you. Don't isolate yourself. Use those eyes well, not just to analyze chakra, but to truly understand people, their hearts, their motivations. Do you understand?"
I could see the sincerity in his chakra, the genuine concern beneath the Kage's warning tone. It wasn't just a speech; he genuinely cared about me, like a grandfather. I smiled, this time with more warmth. "Yes, Gramps. I understand. And thank you."
Hiruzen returned the smile, the tense atmosphere relaxing noticeably. He seemed relieved by my answer. "Good. Very good, Naruto." He stood up from his chair. "Well, enough serious topics for today. How about we go celebrate your official graduation with a good bowl of ramen? It's on the house."
The offer, this time, felt different. It wasn't just a formality, but a gesture of connection. "I'd love that, Gramps. If you're not too busy, of course," I replied, showing a consideration the original Naruto rarely would have.
Hiruzen chuckled again, clearly noticing the change. "The paperwork can wait a bit. Let's go."
As we were leaving the office, I saw a fleeting nostalgic expression on Hiruzen's face. Probably thinking of Kushina, I guessed, remembering his promise to take care of Naruto. Maybe he didn't do everything perfectly, but he did what he could. And now… now I'm here to make sure things go better. I just smiled and followed the old Hokage, ready to share a bowl of ramen and, perhaps, start building a different kind of relationship.
And well, here's another chapter, hope you like it. Any doubts or questions, leave them in the comments; I'll answer if possible. Remember to leave your power stones, that motivates me!