Morning in the Hidden Leaf Village
The first rays of sunlight peeked through the trees, casting golden streaks across the stone-paved roads of Konoha.
It was an oddly peaceful morning—birds chirping on rooftops, elderly villagers sweeping their doorsteps, and shop owners preparing for another busy day.
Satoru took a deep breath, savoring the crisp morning air mixed with a faint trace of dew.
Stretching his arms, he stepped out of his tiny, rickety apartment and headed straight for Kakashi's house.
Even after living in this world for over a week, he still couldn't help but admire Konoha's beauty and vitality.
However—
Something felt… different today.
He noticed several girls sneaking glances at him.
Some merely peeked before quickly looking away when he caught them, while others were bold enough to meet his gaze directly.
A bead of sweat rolled down Satoru's temple.
"…Should I get a mask or something? I'm not used to this level of attention."
In terms of romance, he wasn't the type to be careless.
"Well, whatever. Thinking about it won't change anything."
Quickening his pace, he ignored the lingering stares and continued toward his destination.
A Warm Breakfast
The moment Satoru arrived at Kakashi's house, the rich aroma of simmering broth wafted into his nose.
"Ohhh, this smell… absolutely divine!"
Stepping inside, he was greeted by an amusing sight—his three little students bustling around the kitchen.
Obito, gripping a massive pair of chopsticks, stirred the broth with a level of focus as if his life depended on it. Gai was beside him, furiously chopping vegetables at breakneck speed, yet every cut remained precise and clean. Kakashi carefully adjusted the flame, his movements so practiced it was clear he had been doing this for a long time.
Leaning against the doorframe, Satoru crossed his arms and smirked.
"Good morning, my dear students!"
All three turned to him and greeted in unison:
"Good morning, Sensei!"
But then—
They all froze, staring at him with wide eyes.
Obito blinked rapidly before pointing at him.
"Sensei… did you use beauty products or something!?"
Satoru: "…"
Gai nodded sagely, rubbing his chin.
"Now that you mention it, Sensei does look more handsome than usual."
Kakashi, ever the observant one, studied him carefully before muttering:
"His complexion looks better… and his eyes are sharper, more refined."
Satoru scoffed, patting Obito's shoulder with exaggerated confidence.
"Haha! You guys just never paid close enough attention! I've always been one of Konoha's top-tier handsome men!"
The three kids: "…"
"…Is something wrong with Sensei today?"
Planning the Training Regimen
After a few moments of playful banter, the four of them sat down for breakfast.
Between mouthfuls of ramen, Obito excitedly asked:
"Sensei! When's our next training session!?"
Satoru slurped up his noodles before answering nonchalantly:
"Every other day. Training nonstop isn't effective—you need time to absorb what you've learned."
His gaze swept over the three boys, his tone suddenly serious.
"But don't think that means I'll go easy on you. I expect progress. I don't want weak students."
Obito clenched his fists.
"I'm not scared! Give me any test you want, and I'll prove that I can keep up with anyone!"
Gai's enthusiasm flared up as well.
"YOSH! I will not fall behind either! We won't disappoint you, Sensei!"
Kakashi remained silent, but he gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
Satoru glanced at the silver-haired boy, noticing a subtle difference in his demeanor.
He wasn't as distant as before.
It was a small change, but one that warmed Satoru's heart.
The Harsh Reality of a Low-Paid Teacher
After finishing breakfast, Satoru pulled out a small cloth pouch, counted the coins inside a few times, then set it on the table with a heavy sigh.
"…This is my share. I'm almost out of money for the month."
The three kids stared at the tiny pouch, then back at him in disbelief.
Kakashi frowned.
"…Sensei, is your salary really this low?"
Satoru let out a dramatic sigh.
"Intern teachers, kid. Did you think I'd be rolling in cash?"
Kakashi stared at the pathetic pouch for a few moments before turning to the other two.
"…Both of you, pitch in as well."
Obito made a face.
"What!? But I'm saving up to buy kunai!"
Gai puffed out his chest and declared:
"Money doesn't matter! What matters is the bond between comrades! YOSH!"
Obito immediately shot back.
"Don't act all noble, Gai! You're just as broke as I am!"
Satoru chuckled, shaking his head.
"Alright, alright, enough arguing. The important thing is that from now on, we'll be eating together, living together… like a small family."
The three kids quieted down.
Then, almost simultaneously, they smiled.
Maybe… they really were a family.
Handsome Satoru's Street Presence—Causing a Stir in Konoha!
After cleaning up, the four of them stepped outside, making their way toward the academy.
Obito nudged Satoru with an eager grin.
"Sensei, look! Some of the girls are staring at me!"
Satoru glanced toward the side and indeed saw a group of young kunoichi glancing over. Some whispered among themselves, while others blushed and quickly looked away.
Obito puffed out his chest.
"Haha! I must be too cool for them to ignore!"
Kakashi, ever the realist, doused his excitement with cold hard truth.
"…They're looking at Sensei, not you."
Obito: "…"
Gai, meanwhile, started doing handstand push-ups in the middle of the street, attracting even more attention.
Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Gai, can you just… act normal for once?"
But before anyone could say anything else—
A calm yet authoritative voice called out from ahead.
"Satoru-sensei, you're early today."
Turning toward the academy gates, Satoru's eyes landed on a beautiful woman standing at the entrance…
(To be continued in Chapter 22 – The Mysterious Female Teacher and a Hidden Affection!?)