Naruto: I am the Hokage

Not long after, the teacher arrived.

He pulled out a sheet of paper and began reading out the team assignments.

"Team One... Team Two..."

"Team Three: Might Gai, Shiranui Genma, Ebisu."

The teacher continued reading.

Genma and Ebisu, who had been laughing earlier, suddenly stopped smiling.

Finally, it was Kyohiko's turn.

"Team Seven: Ryoho Kyohiko, Yuhi Kurenai."

Kurenai glanced at Kyohiko, blinking.

At least it was just one of them.

While Kyohiko and Gai were both hardworking and likely strong, the sparks that flew between them earlier were a bit too much for young Kurenai to handle.

The teacher continued.

"Team Eight..."

Kurenai grew anxious.

Wait?

Why were there only two of them?

Kyohiko looked at Kurenai and whispered, "Don't worry, we'll ask after class."

"Uh, okay."

Kurenai nodded, suppressing her doubts.

Outside.

"Teacher, why does Team Seven only have two members? Usually, it's a three-person team led by a jonin, right?"

Kyohiko asked.

The teacher scratched his head awkwardly. "I'm not sure. You'll probably find out when you meet your jonin sensei this afternoon."

"Huh?"

Kurenai was completely baffled.

The teacher quickly used the Body Flicker Technique to escape, leaving Kyohiko and Kurenai staring at each other.

Now they were the ones left confused.

Of course.

Kyohiko had a guess, but he wasn't sure if it was correct—

There was a certain unlucky, high-pressure genius who, despite becoming a chunin last year, had a personality and style that made it difficult for him to get along with his teammates.

Hatake Kakashi.

Was it him?

...

At 2 PM, the teams gathered in the academy. The younger students were still in class downstairs, while the graduates waited for their jonin sensei to arrive.

Kyohiko sat in his seat, pondering his future.

He had started to figure out some of the system's mechanics.

Being on the same team as Kakashi might have some benefits.

But—

He didn't know who their jonin sensei would be.

Namikaze Minato?

As he thought, he absentmindedly twirled a kunai in his hand.

At this moment, Kurenai finally couldn't hold back.

"Kyohiko, I... I have something I want to ask."

She was a year or two older than Kyohiko and hadn't been in the same class, so they weren't very familiar.

But.

Since they were going to be teammates, it was important to get to know each other.

Kyohiko stopped twirling the kunai.

"What is it?"

"Are you practicing finger dexterity with that?"

Kurenai pointed at the kunai spinning like a flower in Kyohiko's hand.

Kyohiko was momentarily stunned, then chuckled.

"It's just a habit."

"A habit..."

Kurenai nodded, not saying more, but her gaze at Kyohiko now held a hint of respect.

Forming a habit required years of training, and she could only imagine the hardships and struggles behind it.

No wonder he got along with Might Gai.

She let her imagination run wild.

Kyohiko had no idea what the girl was thinking. He was just wondering—

Would building a closer relationship help him reap more rewards?

Soon.

Knock knock!

The door was tapped.

The next moment, the door opened, and Kyohiko looked up, almost laughing out loud.

A silver-haired boy with a mask walked in, his eyes half-lidded as he sat down, trying to appear nonchalant.

Kurenai's jaw dropped.

She blinked, completely stunned.

Then...

"You're not our jonin sensei, are you?!"

"Hmph."

Kakashi turned his head away, not responding.

Kyohiko whispered a reminder.

"Kurenai, Kakashi only became a chunin last year. He can't be a jonin."

"Oh, right."

Kurenai's thoughts were a mess, and she was still trying to process the situation, her face full of confusion.

Kyohiko, meanwhile, was trying hard not to laugh.

It really was him!

So.

"Kakashi, are you being held back?"

"..."

Kakashi glanced at him, then looked straight ahead, refusing to answer.

Tch.

Kyohiko suppressed the urge to mock him and sat upright, maintaining the eerily quiet atmosphere in the classroom.

Using the monster level system from his past life's games...

The Kakashi before him was at least a boss-level difficulty, far from someone like Might Gai or Obito, who could be dealt with through words.

This would require a more careful approach!

For now, he'd wait to see who their sensei was.

As Kyohiko pondered, footsteps echoed outside.

All three pairs of eyes turned toward the door.

Was it their sensei?

After a long wait, the footsteps suddenly stopped, as if they had gone to another classroom.

Kurenai frowned.

"Our sensei... just disappeared."

Kakashi said calmly, "As ninjas, we just have to wait."

"..."

Kyohiko glanced at them, his lips twitching.

If Kurenai's perception wasn't wrong—

Then their sensei was probably testing them, observing their personalities and abilities.

Who could it be?

When they finally met, how should he introduce himself?

Kyohiko's mind raced.

...

Outside, Jiraiya sighed.

Who would have thought.

At his age and status, he'd still be tasked with leading a team of fresh graduates.

Really.

All because of that old man!

He observed the situation inside.

"The girl is sharp, good at genjutsu, and seems to have potential in sensing... Maybe she could be trained as a medic or support."

"The silver-haired kid is hard to get along with, no wonder no one wants him. A troublesome guy."

"As for the last one."

"Tch, doesn't seem easy to handle either. I'm just making trouble for myself!"

Jiraiya stroked his chin, recalling the events of last night.

In the Hokage's office.

"Old man, I just made plans to travel outside the village, and now you want me to lead a team? Are you doing this on purpose?"

"The village needs you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said.

Jiraiya's lips twitched. After a few seconds of silence, he asked, "Are the three kids you want me to lead special?"

"One of them is Hatake Kakashi."

Hiruzen replied.

Jiraiya fell silent for a long time before saying, "But that kid's already a chunin, isn't he?"

"Take a look."

Hiruzen handed over a stack of papers.

Jiraiya took them and saw that they were complaints from various ninjas about Kakashi. No team wanted him, and everyone was trying to pass him off to someone else.

Hiruzen could have forced the issue.

But...

The old man wanted Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, to take on the task of mentoring him.

Thinking of Sakumo's suicide, Jiraiya sighed and didn't immediately refuse. His eyes scanned the desk.

Then.

He noticed a file among the papers.

Jiraiya picked it up.

It was that kid!

He read through it carefully.

The file detailed Kyohiko's background.

A descendant of the Senju.

Over a year ago, his parents died, and since then, his personality had changed. He became somewhat reclusive and eccentric, not fitting in with his classmates.

A war orphan!

Jiraiya held the paper, lost in thought.

The Second Great Ninja War had made the Sannin famous, but it had also claimed the lives of many ninjas under their command.

Such a hardworking kid, with a personality...

"The other two aren't fixed yet, right? Add him. I'm interested in this kid."

"You know him?"

Hiruzen was slightly surprised.

This kid...

While he had graduated early today, Hiruzen didn't have much of an impression of him, only remembering that his Substitution Technique was very proficient, and his taijutsu was quite good.

"A very hardworking and smart kid. I think he has the same potential as Minato."

Jiraiya said.

Hiruzen thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, then it's him, Kakashi, and... who else? You decide."

"Doesn't matter."

Jiraiya replied, then scanned the list and picked the one that stood out the most.

"Her."