Chapter 1: The Long-Awaited Starter Pack After Thirteen Years
Inside Konoha Hospital.
The harsh fluorescent lights above swayed slightly, casting a cold glow over the sterile white walls. The pungent scent of disinfectant hung so thick in the air it was nearly suffocating.
On a long bench in the corridor, Kakashi sat with a young boy at his side.
His exposed "dead fish eye" looked dull, expression blank. From time to time, his gaze drifted toward the hospital room across the hall.
It was impossible to say how much time passed, but eventually, the sound of footsteps echoed from the room. In an instant, Kakashi stood up from the bench.
"Are they okay?"
His voice betrayed his concern as he turned to the medical ninja emerging from the room.
"They're stable now," the medic confirmed with a nod—though his expression quickly shifted to one of reproach.
"But Kakashi-senpai, wasn't that a bit excessive? I know it's your first time serving as a jonin instructor, but they're still just kids!"
"…"
Kakashi inhaled sharply. He opened his mouth, as if to defend himself, but the words refused to come.
"This wasn't his fault—don't blame Kakashi-sensei."
The boy next to him stood and spoke up in his defense.
He looked to be around thirteen, with jet-black hair and a handsome, clean-cut face that exuded sincerity. Head lowered, he added softly,
"If someone's to blame… blame me instead."
"…"
Kakashi's face turned even more expressionless, but the medic sighed.
"What a good kid... Kakashi-senpai, even if it was an accident, you still need to take responsibility. And take care of him—he's worth the effort."
With those parting words, the medic gave a polite bow and left the hallway, leaving behind a stunned Kakashi and the boy.
"Kakashi-sensei… what do we do now?"
After a moment of silence, the boy looked up.
"Also… did I pass?"
"Pass…?"
Kakashi nearly laughed from frustration. He glared at the boy.
"A squad is made up of three people. You're the only one left. How is that passing?"
He was beyond exasperated. Never in a million years had he expected that his first team since leaving the ANBU would end in such disaster.
Three students. Two in the hospital, their condition still unknown. Only this kid—Kitagawa Gen—was left standing.
It made him seriously question whether he'd made a mistake by leaving ANBU.
"Kakashi-sensei… even just one person is fine, right?"
Gen blinked innocently and spoke with utmost sincerity.
"I heard from Guy-sensei that when you graduated, you were alone too. Couldn't teammates be added later? Besides… we did get the bells."
"Please stop talking—and those bells? I gave them to you on purpose!"
That was the last straw. Kakashi, who had been mentally preparing to explain everything to the Hokage, snapped.
All three students had shown promise. Their teamwork wasn't bad either. Gen, especially, stood out. Despite not coming from a notable clan, he had far greater skills than most of his peers. That's why Kakashi decided to throw them a curveball.
He let them get the bells.
And then dropped the final challenge:
"There are only two bells. Decide who gets them."
That's when things went off the rails.
Gen had immediately handed the bells to the other two and simply sat down in silence.
If that was all, it might've been fine.
But the other two?
They started fighting. Seriously fighting.
To the point where Kakashi thought they were trying to kill each other.
Even he had been stunned, wondering if these kids were secretly part of Root. After all, that sort of "survival of the fittest" attitude reeked of Danzō's teachings.
But no—they were just regular academy students. And now, thanks to their deadly earnestness, both had ended up hospitalized.
"The whole point of the two-bell test is to examine trust and sacrifice within a team," Gen said with a wronged expression.
"I even gave up my own bell to show my willingness to put the team first. What else do you want from me, Kakashi-sensei?"
"…"
Kakashi was at a loss for words. Before he could recover, Gen pressed on.
"I didn't expect things to go that far. I really do care about them. You see… Guy-sensei once told me something important."
"What did he say?"
Kakashi rubbed his temples, still battling a pounding headache, but now he was curious what Guy had told the boy.
"He said it was something he heard from his best friend."
Gen's expression turned serious, his voice steady.
"He told me, 'Those who break the rules are trash… but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash.' I truly believe that. That's why I kept urging them to work together. I didn't express myself clearly enough, and that's on me… but I really want to become a ninja who protects the Leaf—and my comrades. I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei."
"…"
For a split second, Kakashi genuinely wanted to slap himself.
What the hell am I doing?
He'd known that Guy and this boy had a close relationship. He'd even seen them train together. But now he was beginning to think… maybe it wasn't a bad idea to train this kid one-on-one?
It wasn't right to let two fools ruin the future of such a promising talent.
He really didn't want to be waking up in the middle of the night, regretting this whole mess and hating himself for it.
"…Go home for now."
"Eh?"
After a pause, Kakashi finally spoke. Gen was visibly confused. Kakashi clarified:
"Go back and rest. I need to report everything to the Hokage. But be prepared."
He stopped there for a second. Then, taking out a copy of Icha Icha Paradise, he began flipping through it as he walked toward the exit.
"If everything goes the way I think it will… your days of easy schooling are over."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Watching Kakashi's back as he walked away, Gen's eyes lit up with excitement.
Finally… finally…
After thirteen long years…
He finally received his starter reward!
[Main Mission Stage 1 Complete: Become a Ninja]
[Starter Pack Acquired]
[Side Quest Complete: Become Kakashi's Sole Disciple of This Year]
[Reward Obtained: Kakashi's Kenjutsu (Swordsmanship)]