Yasu and Kakashi sat on the wooden posts, while Team 7 stood below.
It wasn't that Kakashi forbade them from sitting—it was just that their sore posteriors made it impossible.
"All right. Anyone still doubting Yasu's strength can spar with him individually."
Instantly, the three shook their heads vigorously, like little rattles.
Winning or losing didn't matter; getting beaten didn't bother them.
But Yasu's Thousand Years of Death wasn't just painful to the body—it made the soul tremble.
Team 7 would rather spar with Kakashi than face Yasu.
Seeing no objections, Kakashi nodded in satisfaction.
But suddenly, his expression changed. The normally calm, deadpan eye sharpened into a scowl.
"You three disappoint me. Yasu is your age, yet all three of you couldn't defeat him."
"But… Yasu is just too strong…" Naruto said, feeling wronged. The others nodded in agreement.
"Strong?" Kakashi chuckled lightly. "Yes, Yasu is stronger than you, but remember—you have three of you."
"Naruto, relying on Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu to attack recklessly can easily disrupt your squad formation in a real battle."
Hearing Kakashi single him out, Naruto lowered his head in shame.
"Sakura, though you were the first to organize the teamwork, do you think your tone was appropriate for speaking with teammates?"
Sakura's cheeks instantly flushed red as apples.
Sasuke, not receiving any criticism, lifted his head with pride.
After all, he had seized the only chance to strike Yasu and felt justified in his arrogance.
Kakashi's gaze hardened into a cold smile.
"And the one I'm most disappointed in is you, Sasuke Uchiha, taking opportunity from your teams mistake!"
Sasuke's brow furrowed, annoyance written plainly on his face.
"I… I took the only opportunity to win!"
"Yasu is your age. Does seizing one chance make you proud? And that opportunity came at the expense of Naruto. Sacrificing a teammate for your own gain—how can you be proud of that?"
"But… a ninja must do whatever it takes to complete a mission. Some sacrifice is natural."
Kakashi's anger flared instantly.
This wasn't feigned anger—it was genuine.
"If you act this way, who will ever want to be on your team? No one would dare trust you to complete a mission! If you still think this is right… then leave the team!"
Sasuke trembled, eyes full of resentment.
But the pride of the Uchiha forbade him from bowing. He turned and began to walk away.
Kakashi was surprised but didn't regret it.
For a ninja who didn't value their teammates, no matter how talented, Kakashi would not teach them.
Yasu's lips curved into a small smile.
He had been worrying about how to increase Team 7's affection—but now Kakashi had created the perfect opportunity.
"Kakashi-sensei, you overdid it. Nowadays, ninjas graduate from the academy following a mission-first philosophy. As a teacher, your role is to instill your ninja way in them—not just scold them, or they might stray from the right path."."
Sakura stared at Yasu in disbelief.
Though Yasu was powerful, how could he possibly confront Kakashi? He was still just a kid.
And now, as Kakashi was trying to assert authority, Yasu had just challenged him—a move that could easily get him kicked out of the team, like a second Sasuke.
Sakura had already anticipated the potential fallout.
Kakashi stared at Yasu, his deadpan eye now reflecting a flicker of emotion.
Having spent so long in the ANBU, Kakashi had been surrounded by the darkness of the ninja world.
It was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had pulled him out of the ANBU, fearing Kakashi's growing coldness.
If left unchecked, Kakashi could become a killing machine, void of all feelings.
But hearing Yasu's words shook him to the core.
Ninja inheritance isn't taught solely through scrolls or jutsu—it's the way of the ninja!
Even if some sacrifices occur during missions, as long as the ninja way is passed down, the ninja hasn't truly died.
And what Kakashi wanted to pass on wasn't just his own teachings—it included Obito and Rin as well.
[Ding! Kakashi Hatake affection +3! Current: 79 points!]
"You kid, you... are right, I almost made an irreversible mistake. Wait here and I'll go bring back Sasuke."
[Ding! Sakura Haruno affection +3! Current: 58 points!]
[Ding! Naruto Uzumaki affection +2! Current: 57 points!]
Sakura stared at Yasu in astonishment.
She had expected him to get a scolding. Instead, Kakashi had acknowledged Yasu's point and even prepared to retrieve Sasuke.
Sakura had coveted Sasuke for a long time.
If he could be brought back safely, it would be perfect.
"If Sasuke returns, the Thousand Years of Death grudge is finally settled!" Sakura thought, blushing as she touched her sore spot, then rushed to Kakashi's side.
"Yes! Kakashi-sensei, go bring Sasuke back quickly!"
"Wait! Kakashi-sensei, don't go," Yasu said, holding out a hand to stop him.
The three stared at him in confusion, and Sakura anxiously stepped closer.
If Yasu didn't control Sasuke's life and death, Sakura would have punched him by now.
But remembering Yasu's deadly Thousand Years of Death, she took a cautious step back, one hand covering her injury.
"You said to uphold the ninja way. Why won't you let Kakashi-sensei go?"
"Yeah, Yasu, what are you thinking?"
Yasu coughed awkwardly. "Sasuke is proud. If Kakashi-sensei goes, he might refuse to return—or even if he does, it won't be easy to teach him. I think it's better if I go."
"You're very considerate," Kakashi nodded slightly.
Sakura lowered her head, guilt written all over her face.
"Sorry… I misjudged you, Yasu-kun."
[Ding! Sakura Haruno affection +1! Current: 59 points!]
Yasu's lips curved into a small smile.
A perfect chance to raise affection—he wasn't going to let anyone else take it.
He only wondered how much Sasuke's affection would increase once he let a little of his skill slip.