Inside Konoha Hospital.
The glaring fluorescent lights swayed faintly overhead, and the suffocatingly thick scent of disinfectant hung heavy in the air.
Kakashi sat on a bench in the corridor with a young boy beside him. Kakashi's visible eye held a numb, dead-fish stare, his gaze drifting repeatedly toward the nearby ward.
After what felt like an eternity, footsteps suddenly echoed from within the ward, shattering the hospital's silence. Kakashi immediately stood up.
"Are they alright?" Kakashi asked anxiously as the medical-nin emerged.
"They'll be fine," the medical-nin nodded, but his expression quickly turned reproachful. "But Kakashi-senpai, you went too far! Even if this is your first time as a Jōnin instructor, they're just children!"
"..."
Kakashi's breath hitched. He opened his mouth as if to explain, but no words came out.
"It was an accident. You can't blame Kakashi-sensei," the boy beside Kakashi stood up and interjected.
The boy appeared around thirteen years old, with black hair and delicate features. He lowered his head and added softly, "Or... blame me instead..."
"..."
Kakashi's face grew even more expressionless, but the medical-nin sighed.
"What a good kid. Kakashi-senpai, even if it was an accident, you should take responsibility. And teach this boy well." After saying this, the medical-nin politely excused himself, leaving behind a stunned Kakashi and the boy.
"Kakashi-sensei, what do we do now?" the boy asked once the medical-nin was gone. "Also... did I pass the test?"
"Pass...?" Kakashi nearly laughed bitterly. He glared at the boy. "A team has three members. Only you're left standing. How can that be passing?"
Kakashi was utterly exasperated. He never imagined that on his first assignment as a teacher after leaving the ANBU, things would go so disastrously wrong!
Three students. Two hospitalized with unknown prospects. Only this boy, Kitagawa Gen, remained unscathed. It made him wonder if leaving the ANBU had been a mistake.
"But Kakashi-sensei, even one person can pass, right?" Gen blinked, speaking earnestly. "I heard from Might Guy-sensei that you graduated alone back then. Teammates can be replaced, right? Besides, we did get the bells."
"Please stop talking. And I let you get those bells!"
The mention only worsened Kakashi's mood, already preoccupied with explaining this mess to the Hokage. Gen and the other two had performed well during the test, showing excellent coordination.
Especially Gen. Though not from a prominent clan, his abilities far surpassed the other students. So Kakashi had decided to unleash his 'ultimate move'—letting them take the bells, only to confront them with the final challenge: There are only two bells. How will you three decide?
Then, chaos erupted.
"Forget it. It's over..." Kakashi sighed wearily, ready to leave. Seeing Kakashi might 'return' him, Gen panicked.
"I know. Otherwise, we wouldn't have gotten the bells. And I understood the test's purpose."
"Oh?" Kakashi tilted his head, waiting. Gen pressed on.
"The test was to evaluate our strategy, individual skill, and teamwork against an enemy. I kept telling them to cooperate, and we performed well, didn't we?"
"Your coordination was decent..." Kakashi admitted grudgingly, recalling the fight, but quickly shook his head. "But what happened after you got the bells?"
Kakashi had handed the bells over, leaving the choice to them. Gen had immediately passed the bells to the other two, then silently watched.
That alone would have been bad enough, but then...
The other two suddenly attacked each other—with genuine intent to kill!
The sight left even Kakashi momentarily paralyzed. He wondered if he was dealing with ROOT operatives; such ruthlessness was their trademark. But seeing academy students act this way? Before he could react, both lay unconscious on the ground, destined for the hospital.
"There were only two bells. Wasn't the point to test 'trust and sacrifice' in teamwork?" Gen looked utterly wronged, his voice barely audible. "I gave the bells to them willingly. Wasn't that proof of my resolve? What more did you want from me, sensei?"
"..."
Kakashi was speechless. Gen seized the chance to press his advantage.
"I never expected this either. I value them deeply. Because Might Guy-sensei once told me something..."
"What?" Kakashi rubbed his temples, still vexed but curious what Guy might have said.
"Guy-sensei said it came from his best friend." Gen's expression turned solemn.
"That friend told him: Those who break the rules are scum... But those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum! I agree completely. That's why I kept urging Kengetsu and the others to cooperate. I never imagined it'd end like this. It's my fault for not explaining myself clearly. But I truly want to become a ninja to protect Konoha and my comrades. I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei..."
"..."
For a split second, Kakashi wanted to slap himself hard.
What the hell have I done?
He knew Guy was close to this kid, he'd even seen Gen training with Guy. But why had Guy told him everything, especially those words?
Yet a new thought emerged: Perhaps teaching this boy alone wouldn't be so bad?
He couldn't let two failures ruin an exceptional talent. The thought of jolting awake at night, reliving this disaster, and slapping himself in remorse...
"Go home for now," Kakashi finally said after a pause.
"Huh?" Gen blinked in surprise.
"Rest up," Kakashi added, pulling out his copy of Make-Out Paradise and flipping it open as he headed out. "I need to report this to the Hokage. But be prepared... your days won't be as easy as they were at the academy."
"Yes, sir!"
Watching Kakashi leave, Gen's eyes shimmered with excitement.
Finally... finally...
After thirteen long years, his newbie reward had arrived!
[Main Quest Phase 1 Complete: Become a Ninja]
[Newbie Gift Pack Acquired]