Kakashi—Shredder in Kakashi's body—stood in the doorway of the classroom, watching his new students. Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno were all seated, each in their own world. The weight of the situation hit him again. He wasn't just a random ninja now. He was their sensei. Kakashi Hatake.
A strange sense of responsibility settled over him. He wasn't sure what he had expected from this moment, but it definitely wasn't this.
Naruto was the first to notice him, as expected. The loud, energetic boy raised his hand eagerly, calling out, "Hey! Are you our new teacher?"
Kakashi pushed the door open with a small smile. "I am. Kakashi Hatake," he replied in a calm voice, trying to appear as confident as the original Kakashi always did.
Naruto jumped up in excitement, bouncing on his feet. "Awesome! I can't wait to start missions! So, when do we go out on our first mission?"
Kakashi suppressed the urge to sigh. The kid had as much enthusiasm as the real Naruto. "Before we start any missions, I want to talk to you all about something important," Kakashi said. "Meet me on the roof. Let's go."
Once on the roof of the academy, the wind gently ruffled their hair, and the sound of the bustling village below seemed distant. Kakashi stood before them, trying to look as cool and composed as possible. He had to ask them the question that would reveal what motivated each of them, what they were fighting for. It was something Kakashi had often wondered about, even as a young ninja. Now, he had to do it with their future in mind.
"Alright, before we get started with missions," Kakashi began, his tone light but serious, "I want to know something. What are your dreams? What is it that keeps you moving forward?"
Naruto's eyes lit up immediately, his usual fiery determination in full force. "My dream is to become Hokage!" he exclaimed, his voice full of unyielding passion. "I'll be the greatest Hokage, and everyone in the village will acknowledge me! I'll never give up, no matter what!"
Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. That sounds just like him, he thought. He had heard this dream before, and yet, hearing Naruto say it with such intensity still made Kakashi feel a sense of pride for the boy.
Then his attention shifted to Sasuke, who stood with his usual cold and stoic demeanor. Sasuke's face was unreadable, but Kakashi could sense the darkness that lingered in his words.
"My dream…" Sasuke started, his voice quiet but chilling, "is to kill someone."
The air seemed to thicken. Naruto blinked in confusion, and Sakura's eyes widened, a hint of shock on her face. The weight of Sasuke's words seemed to hang between them, filling the air with a heavy silence.
Kakashi remained unfazed, though internally, he was assessing Sasuke's words. He had known that Sasuke had a tragic past, but hearing him say something so bluntly—so coldly—was unsettling.
Finally, Kakashi turned to Sakura. She had been unusually quiet, watching both boys with wide eyes. She fidgeted slightly before speaking, her voice softer than the others.
"Well, my dream…" Sakura hesitated for a moment, her cheeks flushing. "I want to be strong, so I can help protect my friends. And… um, I guess... I just want to be noticed. I want to be someone who matters."
Kakashi watched her carefully. Her dream was simpler than the others, but there was a sincerity in her voice that he appreciated. Every ninja had their own reason for fighting, and her desire to protect those she cared about made sense, given her shy yet caring nature.
"Thank you all for sharing," Kakashi said after a moment of silence, his voice thoughtful. "Your dreams are important, and they will guide you in everything you do as ninjas. Keep those dreams close to your heart, and remember them on every mission you take."
He paused, glancing at each of them in turn. "As for me…" Kakashi's voice softened, and he adjusted his headband. "My dream is simple. I want to live a peaceful life. To be able to sit under a tree, enjoy a cup of tea, and read my books in peace. That's all."
Naruto grinned, his energy unshaken. "Hah! I get it! You just wanna relax, huh, Sensei?"
Sasuke said nothing, but there was the faintest flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps curiosity or even mild disbelief at Kakashi's unorthodox dream.
Sakura blinked, her face flushed from her earlier hesitation. She smiled shyly. "That sounds... nice, Sensei."
Kakashi chuckled softly beneath his mask, feeling a strange sense of connection with his team already, even if they were far from what he expected. "We all have our reasons for becoming ninjas. Just remember that your path won't always be easy, but it will be worth it."
The students nodded, and as they stood there, the quiet moment of reflection gave way to a sense of unity. Kakashi had his team now, and he was ready to lead them forward, one step at a time.
"Alright," Kakashi said with a playful grin, his eyes glinting behind his mask. "Let's get started. We've got a long road ahead of us."