Kakashi-sensei's recent behavior had greatly relieved Naruto.
At least, that was how it seemed on the surface.
What Naruto didn't know—what he couldn't possibly know—was that Kakashi's sudden change of attitude had a very concrete reason behind it.
Shortly after the preliminary rounds of the Chunin Exams concluded, Kakashi Hatake was summoned directly to the Hokage's office.
The door closed softly behind him.
The afternoon sunlight slanted through the window, illuminating the quiet room in a warm glow. Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, pipe in hand, his expression unusually solemn.
"Kakashi," Hiruzen said slowly, "what exactly are you planning to do?"
Kakashi paused.
"Hokage-sama means…?"
"The matter of Orochimaru," Hiruzen replied, eyes narrowing slightly, "and the power of the Cursed Seal."
Kakashi let out a low sigh.
"It's ironic," he said lightly, though there was no humor in his voice. "To be targeted simply because I'm too outstanding."
Hiruzen shook his head.
"That's not irony at all," he said calmly. "A nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Geniuses are naturally exposed to danger."
He looked directly at Kakashi.
"You, of all people, should understand that better than anyone."
Kakashi fell silent.
"…What do you want me to do, Hokage-sama?"
Hiruzen took a slow puff from his pipe, exhaling smoke that mingled with the sunlight in the room.
"I'm not too worried about Naruto," he said. "That child has no intention of relying on external power to grow stronger. Despite being the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, he instinctively rejects that power. He wants to change his destiny with his own hands."
Kakashi nodded faintly.
"And Sasuke…?" he asked.
Hiruzen's gaze hardened.
"You've seen it too," the Hokage said quietly. "The look in his eyes when he defeated Zaku Abumi in the qualifying rounds."
Kakashi said nothing.
Of course he had seen it.
He had seen it clearly.
Hiruzen sighed.
"He is forcing himself to shoulder the destiny of becoming stronger," Hiruzen continued. "All because he wants to kill Uchiha Itachi. That obsession, that unbearable pressure… it could easily lead him down the wrong path."
There was a pause.
"And besides Naruto," Hiruzen said, "you are the only one who can change him."
"…Me?"
"Yes," Hiruzen replied without hesitation. "If we want to stop Sasuke from being lured in by Orochimaru, then beyond stabilizing his emotions, the most important thing is this—"
"To show him that he can become stronger by staying in Team Seven."
Kakashi's single visible eye narrowed slightly.
"You mean… the Sharingan."
"There is no one more suitable than you," Hiruzen said. "Other than Uchiha Itachi, you are the only person capable of teaching Sasuke how to truly use the Sharingan."
He leaned forward slightly.
"So make him stronger."
Kakashi gave a short nod.
"That's already my responsibility as his teacher."
"I know," Hiruzen said with a gentle smile.
He stood, walked around the desk, and placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder.
"Removing you from ANBU and assigning you as the jōnin leader was the right decision," he said. "Not only for Team Seven… but for you as well."
"Kakashi," Hiruzen added softly, "you've started to see them as family, haven't you?"
"This is good. Very good."
"…Family?"
Kakashi turned his gaze toward the sky outside the window.
Faces passed through his mind—old comrades, fallen friends—until finally, three young figures remained.
Naruto.
Sasuke.
Hinata.
Kakashi had truly kept his promise.
He devised different training strategies for each of them.
And inevitably, most of his focus fell on Sasuke.
"Naruto, Hinata," Kakashi said one afternoon, "I've already given you detailed instructions for your training. From here on, it depends on your own efforts."
He turned to Sasuke.
"As for you… I'll personally handle your training."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"Eh?! Kakashi-sensei, that's not fair! You're clearly playing favorites!"
Kakashi nodded calmly.
"It's normal for you to feel that way," he said. "But this isn't favoritism. You three are simply in different situations."
He glanced at Sasuke.
"Sasuke and I both possess the Sharingan. Our chakra structures are similar, which means there are techniques only I can teach him."
He turned back to Naruto.
"That doesn't mean your training is easier. Everything I've prepared for you is carefully thought out."
"But you don't have to hide just to train him!" Naruto protested.
Kakashi replied seriously, "The Sharingan is a special power and a secret of the Uchiha clan. There's no need for you or Hinata to know about it, and it's something that must remain confidential."
Naruto grumbled.
"Fine, fine! Just go already!"
Sasuke turned and followed Kakashi.
After a few steps, he stopped.
He glanced back at Naruto.
"Naruto," he said quietly, "I hope we meet in the finals."
"If we do… I'll defeat you with my own hands and prove my strength."
Naruto froze—then burst into laughter, clenching his fists.
"Then just wait and see! I'm not losing to you!"
Sasuke nodded once, without mockery this time, and walked away.
Hinata, however, looked troubled.
"Naruto-kun… don't you think Sasuke has changed a little?"
"Huh?" Naruto said. "He's still an arrogant jerk."
Hinata hesitated.
"He didn't argue with you at all… and he looked very serious just now."
Naruto shrugged.
"Doesn't matter. We've never really gotten along anyway."
Hinata sighed.
"I'm worried," she admitted. "With how desperately he wants to become stronger… I'm afraid he might be drawn to Orochimaru's Cursed Seal power."
Naruto smiled confidently.
"Don't worry. That won't happen."
"And even if it does," he added, eyes firm, "I'll stop him."
Hinata looked at Naruto's bright smile, and the unease in her heart slowly faded.
"…Hearing you say that makes me feel better," she said softly.
Naruto grinned and patted her head.
"Alright! Let's start training too!"
Hinata froze.
Her face turned bright red as she stumbled back, heart pounding wildly.
"I—I'm going home to train!" she said quickly. "Kakashi-sensei isn't here, and my father said he wants to personally guide my training…"
Naruto's expression darkened for just a moment.
But he forced a smile.
"That's great! With your dad's guidance, you'll definitely get stronger!"
"Mmm… see you tomorrow, Naruto-kun…"
Hinata covered her face and hurried away.
Naruto watched her retreating figure, feeling a strange mix of jealousy and loss.
"…Whatever," he muttered. "Even if no one teaches me, I'll still get stronger on my own."
It had been a long time since Naruto felt this kind of loneliness.
But he shook it off and threw himself into training once more.
Kakashi taught Naruto various methods to counter genjutsu.
First, disrupting one's own chakra flow to break free.
Second, mastering the basic hand seals for Genjutsu Release.
Third, using pain or external stimulation to stay conscious.
There were other methods, but they were beyond Naruto's current level.
Not knowing his final opponent, Naruto trained relentlessly.
While training alone in a secluded area, he heard the sound of flowing water.
Laughter echoed.
When Naruto looked closer, he saw several young women bathing in the river.
And nearby—
A white-haired, muscular man crouched in the bushes, peeping shamelessly.
Naruto exploded.
"That's disgusting!"
"You perverted scumbag—stop right there!"
Naruto lunged forward—
But the man dodged effortlessly, grabbed Naruto's ankle, and lifted him upside down.
"What?!"
Naruto was swung around helplessly.
"Who do you think you are?!" Naruto shouted.
The man laughed loudly.
"You don't even recognize me? How ignorant kids are these days!"
He struck a ridiculous pose.
"One of the Legendary Sannin! The White-Haired Sage! The Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku!"
"It's me—Jiraiya-sama!"
Naruto stared in disbelief.
"…Why do all the weirdos show up around me?!"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)