Iruka's POV
The classroom was a storm. Graduates fresh from the Academy were buzzing , laughing, shouting, full of boisterous energy. Iruka Umino stood at the front, proud and exhausted in equal measure.
"These kids…" he muttered, lips curling into a faint smile. "They're finally shinobi."
His chest swelled with warmth. He'd drilled them, scolded them, encouraged them. Some had struggled, some had coasted, but today they sat here wearing real hitai-ate. Konoha's future.
But he also knew the truth. Some of them would not survive to adulthood. That was the shinobi world.
Iruka cleared his throat, pulling a scroll from his desk. "Alright, listen up! Time to announce your squads."
The room settled, excitement sparking. He began reading names.
"Team 8: Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame. Jonin sensei: Yuuhi Kurenai."
Cheers from Kiba, a quiet nod from Shino, Hinata sneaking a glance at Naruto.
"Team 10: Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi. Jonin sensei: Sarutobi Asuma."
Shikamaru groaned, "What a drag…" Ino yelled, Choji munched chips happily.
Iruka smiled faintly. Team balance, Ino-Shika-Cho tradition. It all fit.
Then he glanced down at the next line. His brows knit.
"Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno. Jonin sensei…"
He blinked.
"…Hatake Kakashi."
The class exploded.
"What? Naruto with Sasuke?!"
"Lucky pig, Sakura!"
"Wait, Hatake? As in that Kakashi?!"
Iruka didn't react immediately. He was too busy staring at the name, lips pressed tight.
Hatake Kakashi? Really? They're giving him a team?
His chest tightened. He knew Kakashi. Everyone did. "The Copy Ninja." Genius of a thousand techniques. ANBU captain at thirteen. The student of the Fourth Hokage himself.
Kakashi of the Sharingan.
But also…
The man who's never passed a single genin team.
Iruka's gut twisted. Why them? Why Naruto of all people? That man eats genin alive.
He almost wanted to argue. But the assignment was sealed. And then, as if fate itself mocked him, the door slid open.
Silver hair. Slouched posture. One eye visible, bored, as if he hadn't just walked into a storm of whispers.
"Yo."
Iruka's jaw clenched. That bastard actually came early…
The room froze. Every graduate felt it — the lazy presence that was somehow suffocating, like a blade barely sheathed.
"Kakashi," Iruka muttered under his breath.
Shikamaru's POV
The tension was thick, and of course, it fell to me to break it.
"Oi," Ino whispered. "Who the hell is that cyclops guy?"
I sighed. Troublesome. I knew they wouldn't shut up unless I explained.
"That's Hatake Kakashi," I said, arms behind my head. My voice came out lazier than I felt. Truth be told, I was a little nervous. "Copy Ninja. Veteran of the Third War. They say he's the strongest Jonin in the village."
Gasps spread. I ignored them and kept going. "My dad said there are rumors saying if you see him on a battlefield, you're already dead."
Naruto gawked. Sakura looked impressed. Even Sasuke narrowed his eyes, curious.
The words hung heavy.
And then his eye — that single, bored eye that's not hidden behind the forehead protector — slid toward me.
Just for a second.
I froze. My heart skipped. Sweat prickled the back of my neck.
It wasn't killing intent. It wasn't even malice. It was worse.
It was the way a predator looks at a rabbit and decides whether it's worth the effort.
I snapped my gaze away, suddenly fascinated by the clouds outside the window. "What a drag, what a drag. How I wish I was a cloud." I muttered under my breath.
Rooftop Introductions
Later, we sat on the rooftop. The three brats in front of me fidgeted under the sun. Naruto restless, Sasuke brooding, Sakura stealing glances.
I let them stew, then said: "Introductions. Name, likes, dislikes, dreams. You first, blondie."
Naruto puffed out his chest.
"My name's Uzumaki Naruto! I like ramen, especially from Ichiraku! I hate waiting for it to cook. My dream — no, my goal — is to become Hokage, and make everyone acknowledge me!"
Too loud, too bright. But beneath it, desperation.
Sakura smoothed her hair, stealing another glance at Sasuke.
"I'm Haruno Sakura. I like…" her voice softened, "…a certain someone. I dislike Ino-pig. My dream is…" her cheeks turned pink, "…to be with that someone."
Wasted potential. Sharp mind, wrong focus.
Sasuke's turn. His voice was low, cold.
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke. I like little. I dislike many things. My dream… no, my ambition… is to kill a certain man, and restore my clan."
Silence. Heavy. Too emo, even Naruto shifted a little uncomfortably.
Their eyes turned to me.
I closed my orange book with a snap.
"My name is Hatake Kakashi. I have a lot of likes and dislikes. My dreams, My hobbies… none you need to know."
Naruto and Sasuke frowned. Sakura tilted her head. I leaned back on the railing, letting the silence stretch.
"From tomorrow… I'll decide if you deserve to be shinobi."
The words cut sharper than any blade. Naruto's fists clenched. Sasuke's eyes narrowed further. Sakura bit her lip.
Good.
Tomorrow, I'd show them what it really meant to survive.