The Hokage's office was quiet, save for the rustling of papers and the soft crackle of the pipe in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand. The Third Hokage sat at his desk, reviewing mission reports, his sharp eyes flicking through the documents with practiced efficiency.
A soft knock interrupted him.
"Enter," he said.
The door slid open, and Kakashi Hatake stepped inside, his posture relaxed as always, hands in his pockets.
"Yo," Kakashi greeted casually.
Hiruzen exhaled a small puff of smoke and gave him a knowing smile. "I assume you've completed the final test for Team 7?"
Kakashi nodded. "Yep. Passed them earlier today."
The Hokage leaned forward slightly. "And? What do you think of them?"
Kakashi tilted his head. He had thought about this for a while. In the original timeline, he had called them "a bunch of idiots" after the bell test. But now, things were… different.
"They're rough around the edges," Kakashi admitted, "but they have potential. Naruto is reckless, but he's got heart. Sasuke is skilled but too focused on strength. Sakura is smart but still hesitant to act. They'll need time, but they're a good team."
Hiruzen smiled slightly. "You sound more invested than I expected."
Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "Well, it'd be a waste not to give them my best."
The Hokage studied him carefully. "And yet, you chose not to use the traditional bell test."
Kakashi's expression didn't change, but he felt a small tension in his chest.
"It didn't feel right," he admitted. "The bell test was useful, sure, but it was designed to create division before unity. I wanted to take a different approach."
Hiruzen nodded slowly, puffing his pipe. "Interesting. And how do you plan to proceed with their training?"
Kakashi thought for a moment. In the original story, Team 7 had been thrown into menial D-rank missions, barely getting any real training before the Land of Waves mission forced them into a life-or-death situation. That had been a turning point. But if he could, maybe he could prepare them before that mission.
"We'll start with the usual D-ranks," Kakashi said, "but I'll be pushing their training earlier than usual. They need to understand real combat before we face something serious."
Hiruzen chuckled. "Impatient, are we?"
Kakashi shrugged. "Just being realistic. If they're going to survive in this world, they need to be strong."
The Hokage regarded him quietly. After a moment, he exhaled and nodded. "Very well. I trust your judgment. Do what you think is best for them."
Kakashi nodded. "Understood."
As he turned to leave, the Hokage's voice stopped him.
"Kakashi."
He glanced back. "Hm?"
Hiruzen's gaze was thoughtful. "You've changed."
Kakashi blinked. "Oh?"
The Hokage smiled. "You seem more... determined. As if you've found something worth fighting for again."
Kakashi didn't respond immediately. His mind drifted back to his students—Naruto's eager grin, Sasuke's quiet intensity, Sakura's growing confidence.
He exhaled softly. "Maybe."
With that, he left the office, already thinking about how to make sure Team 7 would be ready for whatever came next.