Inside Konohagakure Hospital.
The glaring fluorescent light swayed gently overhead, and the suffocating smell of disinfectant permeated the air.
On a bench in the corridor, Kakashi sat with a young boy next to him.
However, Kakashi's lone visible "dead fish eye" looked particularly lifeless today, and his gaze occasionally flicked toward the nearby hospital room with a hint of unease.
No one knew how much time had passed when the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from within the hospital room, breaking the sterile silence. Kakashi immediately stood up from the bench.
"Are they okay?"
Looking at the medical-nin who emerged from the room, Kakashi asked anxiously.
"They're stable now," the medical-nin nodded, but his expression quickly shifted to one of reproach.
"However, Kakashi-senpai, you were way too rough! I understand it's your first time as a Jōnin instructor, but they're just genin candidates!"
"..."
Kakashi's breath hitched. He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to explain, but no words managed to escape.
"This was just an accident; you can't blame Kakashi-sensei."
At that moment, the boy sitting beside Kakashi stood up and spoke in his defense.
The boy appeared to be around thirteen years old, with jet-black hair and delicate features that naturally evoked a sense of goodwill.
Lowering his head, he softly added, "If you have to blame someone, then blame me instead..."
"..."
Kakashi's expression grew even more vacant, while the medical-nin sighed at the boy's words.
"What a good kid. Kakashi-senpai, even if it was an accident, you need to take responsibility and properly guide this child."
After saying this, the medical-nin politely took his leave, leaving behind a dazed Kakashi and the boy.
"Kakashi-sensei, what should we do now?"
After watching the medical-nin leave, the boy turned to Kakashi.
"Also, did I pass the test?"
"Pass...?"
Kakashi nearly laughed out of frustration. He fixed his eye on the boy and said, "A team consists of three people. Now it's just you. How could you possibly pass?"
Kakashi felt utterly exasperated. He had never imagined that his first time leading students after leaving the ANBU would result in such a disaster!
Three students, two hospitalized with uncertain outcomes, and only this boy, Kitagawa Minamoto, remaining.
This made him question whether he should have left the ANBU in the first place.
"Kakashi-sensei, even if it's just one person, it's still possible," Kitagawa Minamoto blinked and said earnestly.
"I heard from Gai-sensei that when you graduated, you were also alone. Can't teammates be assigned later? Besides, we did get the bells, didn't we?"
"Stop talking! And for the record, I gave you those bells on purpose!"
Hearing this, Kakashi, who had been pondering how to explain this mess to the Hokage, couldn't hold back anymore.
Kitagawa Minamoto and the other two had performed well, showing decent teamwork.
Especially this boy, Kitagawa Minamoto. Although he didn't come from a prominent clan, his abilities far surpassed those of other students. So Kakashi decided to throw in a "final test."
He deliberately let them obtain the bells and then presented them with the ultimate challenge: "There are only two bells. How will you three decide?"
But then, everything went wrong...
"Forget it. It's all over now..."
Sighing in defeat, Kakashi prepared to leave. Seeing that Kakashi seemed to have "buyer's remorse," Kitagawa Minamoto grew anxious.
"I understand. We wouldn't have gotten the bells otherwise. And I also know the purpose of this test."
"Hmm?"
Kakashi tilted his head slightly but didn't interrupt. Kitagawa Minamoto immediately seized the opportunity to speak.
"The purpose of this test was to evaluate our strategy, individual abilities, and teamwork when facing an enemy. I kept telling them to cooperate, and the results show that we did pretty well."
"Your teamwork was decent..."
Recalling the earlier battle, Kakashi nodded reluctantly, though he quickly shook his head again.
"But after you got the bells, what did you do?"
Kakashi had handed them the bells and let them decide on their own. Kitagawa Minamoto had immediately handed the bells to the other two without saying a word, merely watching silently.
If it had ended there, it might have been fine. But the problem was...
The other two kids suddenly started fighting each other, as if they genuinely intended to kill one another!
The scene had even left Kakashi stunned. For a moment, he wondered if he was dealing with members of Root, given their reputation for such "fine traditions."
But for students fresh out of the academy to act like this? Kakashi hadn't seen it coming. By the time he intervened, the two had already collapsed and were rushed to the hospital.
"The two bells were meant to test 'trust and sacrifice' in teamwork, weren't they?"
Kitagawa Minamoto looked aggrieved as he softly explained.
"I even handed the bells to them to show my commitment. What more could you want from me, Kakashi-sensei?"
"..."
Kakashi was momentarily speechless, unsure of how to respond. Kitagawa Minamoto quickly pressed on.
"I never expected things to turn out like this. I really value them as teammates because Gai-sensei once told me something."
"What did he say?"
Rubbing his temples in frustration, Kakashi couldn't help but ask, curious about what Gai might have said to this boy.
"Gai-sensei told me something his best friend once told him," Kitagawa Minamoto's expression grew serious as he spoke with utmost sincerity.
"That friend told him: 'Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum!'
I completely agree with this sentiment. That's why I kept urging Chigetsu and the others to work together. I just didn't expect things to end up like this.
It's my fault for not explaining my thoughts clearly, which led to this outcome. But I truly want to become a ninja, to protect Konoha and my comrades. I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei..."
"..."
For a brief moment, Kakashi genuinely wanted to slap himself.
What the hell have I done?
Although he knew Gai and this boy had a close relationship—he had even seen the boy training with Gai—he couldn't help but feel exasperated. What on earth had Gai been telling this kid?
Still, Kakashi now had a new thought.
Perhaps teaching this boy alone wouldn't be such a bad idea.
He couldn't let the other two kids' failures drag down such a promising talent.
He didn't want to wake up in the middle of the night, haunted by today's events and feeling the urge to slap himself again.
"You should go home for now."
"Huh?"
After a moment of contemplation, Kakashi finally spoke, leaving Kitagawa Minamoto momentarily stunned. Kakashi quickly added,
"Go home and get some rest. I need to report the situation to the Hokage, but be prepared."
Pausing for a moment, Kakashi pulled out a copy of Icha Icha Paradise, lowering his head as he read and walked away.
"If nothing unexpected happens, your days ahead won't be as easy as they were in the academy."
"Y-Yes!"
Watching Kakashi's departing figure, Kitagawa Minamoto's face lit up with excitement.
Finally... Finally...
After thirteen long years, he had finally received his starter rewards!
[Main Quest Phase 1 Completed: Become a Ninja]
[Reward: Starter Pack]
[Side Quest Completed: Become Kakashi's Sole Disciple of This Graduation Class]
[Reward: Kakashi's Swordsmanship]
...