---
"A Jonin instructor?"
"Yes. This is an order personally issued by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Not just me—many elite shinobi like Kurenai and Asuma have also received assignments to guide new genin squads."
At Ye Dou's private training ground, he had just completed a grueling set under Might Guy's intense guidance. As he rested, Might Guy casually mentioned his new role as a sensei.
"Ye Dou, you can't slack off. You must graduate with excellent results if you want the chance to be placed under a skilled instructor."
Might Guy's chest swelled with pride as he spoke.
Becoming a Jonin sensei was a recognition of one's strength, judgment, and character—something that Guy, who was once ridiculed for lacking ninjutsu talent, took immense pride in. To him, it proved that his youth, effort, and perseverance had finally been acknowledged by the Hokage himself.
"And don't get complacent just because you've awakened your dojutsu," he added, turning toward Hyuga Hanabi, who had been quietly watching Ye Dou the whole time.
As the heir chosen by Hyuga Hiashi to lead the main family, Hanabi's potential was extraordinary. She had awakened the Byakugan early and was already being trained in the Hyuga clan's secret Gentle Fist techniques, including the Eight Trigrams Palm.
"Don't worry, Guy-sensei! I'll work twice as hard!" Hanabi responded brightly, then tilted her head. "But… isn't Hatake Kakashi supposed to be an instructor too?"
Like many students at the academy, Hanabi admired Kakashi Hatake.
His legendary resume—becoming a chunin at six, a jonin at thirteen, and having served in the elite Anbu Black Ops—was known to all. Alongside Uchiha Itachi, he was a figure students idolized and hoped to be mentored by.
"Kakashi…" Guy's tone shifted slightly, his expression becoming serious.
Guy saw Kakashi as a rival—one he was determined to surpass no matter how long it took. Because of that, he was more attuned to Kakashi's condition than most.
The truth was, Kakashi had not yet recovered from the trauma of losing his comrades.
His teammates—Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara—had both died during the Third Shinobi World War, and his sensei, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, had perished during the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha. Kakashi was the only one left, burdened with guilt and loneliness.
"Is something wrong with Kakashi-sensei?" Hanabi asked, puzzled.
"No, no. He's just… difficult. Getting into his squad won't be easy," Guy said evasively.
It was an understatement.
When Hiruzen assigned Kakashi to become a Jonin instructor to reconnect with people and leave the darkness of the Anbu, Kakashi failed to pass a genin team two years in a row. His methods were harsh. He used the same bell test he experienced under Minato's tutelage—but unlike his own team, the new genin failed to demonstrate teamwork, and he sent them back to the Academy.
Ye Dou recalled a particularly brutal case: one year, Kakashi was assigned three brothers. During the test, the two younger ones refused to share lunch with their older brother, fearing it would cause them all to fail. The elder brother, understanding their intent, encouraged them to eat.
Their decision was rooted in love and sacrifice—but Kakashi failed them anyway.
In his mind, a true team could not abandon any of its members. He had once used his comrades as bait to complete a mission, and he refused to allow anyone else to make that same mistake.
"I'll work extra hard!" Hanabi said, her eyes sparkling. Clearly, she was even more eager to enter Kakashi's team now.
"Huh? You don't want to be in my team?" Guy blinked, finally catching on.
"Wha—no! I mean, if I end up in your team, Guy-sensei, I'd be honored!" she said quickly.
It wasn't a lie. Though Guy's antics were eccentric—endless push-ups, shouting about youth—Hanabi had come to respect him deeply. Still, deep down, she preferred the mysterious calm of Kakashi over the explosive passion of Guy.
As Guy suddenly wept tears of emotion, Hanabi quietly thought, But if I have to choose… Kakashi-sensei is just more reassuring.
For Ye Dou, however, neither outcome was good.
Whether Guy or Kakashi, both options were troublesome. He had no intention of drawing attention from either of them.
---
[Six-Style Variants]
Spring turned to autumn, and in the blink of an eye, several years had passed since the Uchiha clan massacre.
During that time, Konoha remained relatively stable. Though the village likely still hunted for the unknown shinobi who stole Uchiha Shisui's right eye, their security measures had eased.
Ye Dou was confident—so long as he remained careful, he wouldn't be found.
It was during this quiet period that Ye Dou made another discovery: Uchiha Fugaku had not awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan in this world. That detail made him suspect something unusual.
Was this truly the same world depicted in the Naruto manga? Or was it a divergent one, subtly altered?
There wasn't enough data to be certain. But for now, he had other priorities.
At his private training site, Ye Dou gripped the hilt of his blade tightly with both hands, repeating his slashing motions again and again.
He trained in silence.
Each movement was precise. Each strike refined.
His goal was clear.
He was forging his own path—away from the eyes of the village, away from destiny.
---