---
Looking at it this way, it did seem appropriate for these three to be assigned under his guidance.
However, the problem lay in their personalities. Just thinking about it gave Kakashi a headache—especially the cold and distant Uchiha Sasuke, and the inscrutable Iori Ye Dou...
"No one truly likes being alone, Kakashi. You should understand that better than most," said Sarutobi Hiruzen with meaning in his voice. "No matter how well someone hides it, humans are social creatures. Even ninjas."
"That's why the shinobi of Konoha continue to fight—for peace, for the safety of the village—even at the cost of their lives."
Kakashi was about to speak when Hiruzen gently cut him off.
"Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Iori Ye Dou… all three of them are products of the last great war. They've known pain. They've experienced loss."
"It's this shared suffering that will help them understand one another. Pain binds people, Kakashi. It creates empathy. It forges unbreakable bonds."
He continued, "Other jōnin might not be able to handle a team like this—but you can. Because you understand their pain better than they do. Only someone like you can guide them down the right path, even if that path is steep."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth beneath the mask, hesitated, then finally nodded.
"I understand, Lord Third."
---
[Graduation – Team Assignment Day]
The next morning.
Ye Dou woke early, dressed quickly, and stepped out of his modest home toward the Ninja Academy.
Unlike most days, he didn't send a shadow clone in his place—he went himself.
Today mattered.
Today, the new genin would learn which jōnin would guide their squads moving forward.
On the road passing the Uchiha district, Ye Dou happened to cross paths with Uchiha Sasuke. The two glanced at each other briefly before looking away. Without exchanging a word, they continued walking side by side—one on the left, one on the right—toward the Academy.
At twelve years old, the boys had shed some of their childish features. Though their faces still bore the softness of youth, their cold, distant auras and striking appearances already made them the center of attention—especially among the girls in their class.
Still, few dared approach them. The two walked in peace.
By the time they arrived at their classroom, they realized they were the last ones to show up.
Compared to their first year, not much had changed. Most of the students in Class A still looked and acted the same as when Ye Dou first met them. But now, each wore a Konoha forehead protector—on the forehead, the arm, the waist. Wherever it was worn, it symbolized a rite of passage.
They were no longer students. They were shinobi of Konohagakure.
Inside the classroom, Uzumaki Naruto was as energetic as ever, parading around and proudly showing off his forehead protector.
During the final exam, he had failed the Clone Jutsu—the most basic requirement for graduation. It had been his weakest technique since day one.
But thanks to Iruka-sensei's intervention, and the events involving Mizuki and the Forbidden Scroll, Naruto had succeeded in learning the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu. His efforts had earned him a second chance—and he passed.
The unexpected joy of being recognized made him ecstatic. He showed off his forehead protector to anyone and everyone—Ye Dou included.
"Hey, look! You see this, losers?"
Naruto grinned broadly and pointed to the protector on his forehead. "I'm a ninja now! Believe it! This future Hokage is on the rise!"
Ye Dou said nothing and walked past him, completely unfazed.
Inuzuka Kiba, however, was quick to respond.
"Cut it out, Naruto! I'm the one who's gonna be Hokage! I'll make sure every villager has a dog of their own!"
"Pfft!" Naruto scoffed. "A guy who sleeps with his dog every night wants to be Hokage? What a joke. Other villages will laugh at us!"
"Say that again, you idiot!" Kiba snapped, sleeves rolled up, ready to throw down. "You barely graduated! You're still dead last!"
"Oh yeah? Bring it on, dog-breath!"
As the two were about to start a scuffle, Nara Shikamaru sighed heavily from his desk, head resting on his arms.
So troublesome…
This genius with an IQ over 200 was known for his laziness. Almost everything was too much of a bother for him.
"Shikamaru, don't lie around like that. If a teacher sees you, they'll think you're slacking off," Chōji said between bites of chips.
"That's the point," Shikamaru muttered. "If I ever start taking things seriously, then you should worry."
"You two…" Yamanaka Ino sighed, rubbing her temples. "Can't you act normal for once?"
She had only one prayer in mind—that she wouldn't end up on the same team as them.
But deep down, she knew the odds.
"The ninja teams are squads of four, including the sensei," Ino said, trying to distract herself. "What if we all end up separated after this?"
"It's possible," Chōji mumbled.
But Shikamaru knew better.
The Ino-Shika-Chō formation had existed for generations. The Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans had been allies since the Warring States era, their combined techniques forming one of Konoha's most reliable tactical units.
Unless something drastic happened, the three of them would be on the same team.
The only real question… is who our jōnin sensei will be.
Shikamaru opened one eye and stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Of course, after Ino brought it up, the entire class buzzed with speculation.
"I don't care who it is," someone said from the back.
"Yeah," another added, "as long as it's not Kakashi-sensei…"
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