*Ding*
[Hidden Quest reward, reveal Naruto's parents early 1/2]
*Ding*
Reveal the history of the Uzumaki to Naruto early.
Chakra reserves increase(Large) - (Quasi Kage>>>High Kage)
Knowledge of every one-handed hand seal
Feeling his chakra surge once more, Kakashi let out a long, relaxed breath, savoring the vibrant energy humming just beneath his skin. The drastic spike in his reserves—leaping from barely Kage-level to the high-Kage tier—felt like a jolt of ice-cold water on a sweltering summer day, utterly refreshing.
The knowledge of one-handed seals poured in slowly, locking into place in his memory like it always belonged, a skill that would come in handy as a surprise tactic or if locked in bladed combat as an effective strategy.
"Want to learn some jutsu?"
Kakashi got the reaction he was expecting as Naruto sprang up off the grass and stood at attention like a Marine from his first life.
-Time Skip 2 years-
Standing in the Hokage's office, Kakashi and all the potential Jonin senseis stood watching this year's graduation class through the Hokage's crystal ball, watching as the Genin hopefuls performed the academy's jutsu to varying degrees of success and failure.
The occasional talented student, often the clan's heir, would make the Jonins smile, hoping to get a talented student. When it was Naruto's turn, Kakashi stopped leaning on the nearby wall and watched with a smile as his little protoge passed with flying colors, managing to raise his rank of dead last, all the way to rookie of the year. Not that Kakashi was surprised, he trained him after all.
Kakashi watched as Naruto grabbed a headband and walked out calmly, a complete contrast to his cannon counterpart. This Naruto was much taller, looking around 14, and he was taller than everyone except Shino. That, along with his clothes, skill, and subdued and kind demeanour, Naruto looked like a mini Minato with whiskers, and the girls in his class noticed his changes over the last couple of years.
Blowing out a ring of smoke, Hiruzen smiled softly as he watched Naruto in the glass ball, another blonde figure overlapping his for a few moments, as Naruto accepted the congratulations around him with a modest smile, rubbing the back of his head.
The smile that had formed slowly waned as Hiruzen watched the young Uchiha take his headband and return to class, before brooding in a corner, ignoring a pink-haired girl trying to congratulate him on passing.
"Kakashi, what do you think of him?"
Kakashi had anticipated the question, but he allowed a contemplative hum to fill the silence, buying himself a moment to decide just how much of his true feelings he was willing to reveal about the boy.
"Mm, he's a handful. Plenty of talent, but he's driven by the kind of obsession that eats a person alive. It's starting to affect his mind as much as his body. If he doesn't learn to slow down soon, he's going to burn out before he ever becomes a Chunin."
Hiruzen nodded, already thinking along the same line concerning the young Uchiha.
"Sasuke sees what Naruto has achieved and thinks he's falling behind on a path he was never meant to walk alone. He's punishing his body for not being as good as 'him'—for not having that natural, lethal perfection. Every defeat is just a reminder of what he lost."
Hiruzen let out a sigh that sounded like the dying embers of a fire. He rubbed his temple, the weight of the Uchiha massacre pressing down on his aging shoulders.
Most of the assembled Jonin tensed at the mention of one of Konoha's most infamous S-Rank missing-nin, the blood-stained Uchiha district still a vivid scene in their eyes, the bodies of men, women, and even children as young as a week old, brutally and totally snuffed out like candles.
"Maa, everyone... you're all acting like we can change what's already happened. The past is the past." Kakashi spoke up, drawing the attention of the Jonin. "Why not focus on the new leaves? If we actually pay attention, they might just surprise us."
His words acted as a quiet anchor, grounding the room. The Jonin gradually untensed, shaking off the bloody memories of the district and refocusing on the flickering images of the Genin—the village's fragile, living future. The heavy air in the office seemed to circulate again, the normalcy of their duty providing a much-needed shield against the weight of the old days.
"So, have you decided on my team?"
Kakashi asked the Third, not really minding that the others were listening in with no little amount of interest.
Having watched Kakashi control the atmosphere of the room, Hiruzen smiled and wished that he'd take this damn hat from him already, but he knew, deep in his weary bones, that Kakashi would refuse it.
"I have."
Hiruzen nodded and slid three academy reports over to him, and Kakashi read them over.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
"I would have assigned Hinata Hyuga to your squad, but it was brought to my attention that Kurenai was picked to watch over her by Hiashi."
The mentioned Kunoichi nodded, confirming the Hokage's words.
"And I have no desire to break up the Ino-Shika-Cho duo, leaving Sakura Haruno the only viable option for your team 7."
Kakashi nodded at Hiruzen's words as he set down the three files and picked up a comprehensive report on the whole class, having read everything he needed to in them.
"The rookie of the year and the number two with the kunoichi of the year, though only by a slim margin. It would seem that Naruto isn't the only one who has improved well over the last two years."
"Look at these scores," Kakashi chuckled, his eye crinkling as he scanned the Academy rankings. "The Hyuga girl is practically breathing down Sakura's neck. If she didn't treat every taijutsu spar like she was apologizing for existing, she'd probably be sitting at the top."
He flipped the page, noting the steady climb of the others—Shino, Kiba, Ino, and Choji. Even the village's favorite cloud-watcher was showing some life. "And look at Shikamaru. Actually putting in some effort, rare for a Nara this young. Though I'm willing to bet that's less about 'ambition' and more about the terrifying lady he has for a mother. Fear is a great motivator, after all."
That got a few chuckles out of the Jonin as they nodded along, some of them having wives, girlfriends, or moms that can be scary when they want to be.
Hiruzen internally nodded in approval, Kakashi having managed to ease the lingering tense atmosphere with a few light jokes.
Hiruzen let everyone get out their playful remarks and light jokes before he began announcing teams.
-Same as canon-
"You'll be expected to pick them up at the academy at 10 am to pick up your teams; all of you are dismissed except Kakashi."
Hiruzen waited until they all left before sealing off the room for privacy and had the Anbu guard against anyone spying.
"How strong is Naruto?"
"I've put in the work," Kakashi said, leaning back. "Thirty months of drilling. We spent the first six just catching up on what the Academy missed, but since then, he's been a sponge. He's using Wind and some Fire nature techniques in tandem with his clones. His movement—Body Flicker, tree walking, water walking—it's all fluid. I've drilled the Substitution into him so hard he does it instinctively without seals. He's even asking about fuinjutsu lately."
Kakashi's eye crinkled. He was low-balling it, and he knew it. With those chakra reserves and that toolkit, Naruto wasn't just a Jonin; he was a nightmare for anyone below the Elite Jonin rank. "He's ready. Probably more ready than any of us were at his age."
-Chapter End-
Tell me what you thought of the chapter. Did you like it? I'm trying to make the improvements of power realistic and give the mc(Kakashi) appropriate rewards. And now that I'm on the topic of rewards, what do you think of rewards outside the Naruto verse? I won't be giving Kakashi Ki from dragon ball or anything, but maybe techniques like Kaio-Ken turned into a taijutsu chakra technique like the 8 gates? Just an example. If not that's completely fine and understandable, just lmk.