Read 20+ Chapter's Ahead in Patreon
Inside the Konoha Hospital.
The stark white glare of fluorescent lights flickered gently overhead, casting a cold pallor over the sterile corridor. The sharp, stifling scent of disinfectant lingered so heavily in the air that it felt as if it might choke.
On a bench by the hallway wall, Kakashi sat beside a young boy.
Only one of Kakashi's eyes was visible outside his mask, the dull gaze of his notorious "dead fish eye" betraying a hint of numb weariness. From time to time, that eye drifted toward a nearby hospital room, as if searching for an answer he wasn't sure he wanted to hear.
It was unclear how long they had been waiting when, at last, footsteps echoed from within the room, cutting through the silence of the hospital. Kakashi sprang up at once from the bench.
"Are they alright?"
He turned to the medic-nin who had just stepped out, his voice tinged with urgency.
"They're fine now," the medic-nin replied with a nod. But almost immediately, a look of reproach overtook his face.
"But really, Kakashi-senpai, you were far too harsh. I understand it's your first time as a jonin instructor, but they're still just children!"
"…"
Kakashi's breath caught. His lips parted, as if searching for an explanation, yet not a single word made it past them.
"It was just an accident. You can't blame Kakashi-sensei."
At that moment, the boy beside him stood as well, quietly coming to his defense.
He looked to be around thirteen, with a head of black hair and a clear, well-proportioned handsome face that immediately left a good impression.
Lowering his gaze, he added in a soft voice, "If someone must be blamed... then let it be me."
"…"
Kakashi's expression turned even more blank, but at those words, the medic-nin let out a quiet sigh.
"What a good kid… Kakashi-senpai, accident or not, you need to take responsibility. And more importantly, teach this boy well."
With that, the medic-nin gave a polite bow and took his leave, leaving behind only a dazed Kakashi and the young boy.
"Kakashi-sensei, what should we do now?"
After watching the medic-nin disappear down the corridor, the boy turned to Kakashi.
"And... did I pass the test?"
"Passed...?"
Kakashi nearly laughed in exasperation. He shot a look at the boy and said, "A team is supposed to have three members. Now it's just you. How could that possibly count as passing?"
He was well and truly frustrated. He had never imagined that the very first time he stepped out of the ANBU to take on students, things would go so disastrously wrong.
Of the three students, two now lay hospitalized, their conditions still uncertain. Only this young kid named Kitagawa Gen remained.
It made him wonder whether leaving the ANBU had been a mistake after all.
"Kakashi-sensei, even if it's just one person, it still counts, doesn't it?"
Gen blinked innocently, his tone entirely earnest.
"I heard from Gai-sensei that when you graduated, you were also alone. Team members can be filled in later, right? Besides, we did get the bells."
"Please—just stop talking. And for the record, I gave you those bells on purpose!"
That last part truly broke Kakashi's patience. Just as he was pondering how to explain all this to the Hokage, Gen's words hit a nerve.
Gen and the other two had all performed decently—their cooperation had been better than expected. Especially Gen himself: though not from any renowned clan, his abilities far outstripped those of the average student. So Kakashi had decided to raise the stakes.
He deliberately let them get the bells, and in doing so, pushed them into the true final test—there were only two bells. How would they choose among the three of them?
And that was when things went awry.
"Well, it's over now anyway."
Letting out a dispirited sigh, Kakashi turned to leave, clearly losing any desire to continue. Seeing that, Gen panicked, as if sensing Kakashi's intent to "return the goods."
"I know. Otherwise, there's no way we could've gotten the bells. And I know the true purpose of this test."
"Oh?"
Kakashi tilted his head slightly but didn't interrupt. Gen seized the moment and spoke quickly.
"The purpose of this test was to assess our strategies under pressure, our individual capabilities, and most importantly, our teamwork. I kept telling them that we needed to work together. And honestly, I think we did a pretty good job."
"Your cooperation wasn't bad…"
Recalling the earlier exchange, Kakashi, even with his frustration, had to nod. But soon, he shook his head again.
"But after you got the bells, what did you do?"
Kakashi had handed them the bells and left the choice to them. Gen had, without hesitation, passed both bells to the other two, and then stood silently by.
Had it stopped there, it might have been acceptable.
But the real problem was...
The other two suddenly started fighting—for real. It wasn't some light-hearted scuffle either. They were going at each other like they meant to kill.
Even Kakashi had been stunned. For a moment, he'd suspected they might be from Root, given how that organization was known for its "no-nonsense" methods.
But for this kind of violence to erupt between ordinary Academy students? He hadn't seen it coming at all. By the time he intervened, both were already unconscious—and now lay side-by-side in the hospital.
"The bells. There were only two of them. Wasn't the entire purpose of this exercise to test the trust and sacrifice required in teamwork?"
Kitagawa Gen spoke softly, his voice full of grievance and quiet protest.
"I even handed over the bells to the other two myself. Doesn't that show my resolve and determination already? What more do you want from me, Kakashi-sensei?"
". . ."
Kakashi was momentarily lost for words. He could not think of a single thing to say. Gen immediately pressed his advantage.
"I never expected things to turn out like this. I truly care about them. Because Might Guy-sensei once told me something."
"What did he say?"
Kakashi rubbed his brow, the weight of frustration still lingering, though curiosity was beginning to stir within him. What exactly had Guy said to this boy?
"Guy-sensei told me it was something his closest friend once said to him."
Gen's expression turned solemn, his voice carrying a rare, weighty sincerity.
"That friend said, 'Those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash.' I've always believed in those words. That's why I kept urging Chizuki and the others to work together. I never imagined things would end up like this.
It is also my fault. I did not explain my thoughts clearly enough, and that led to everything that happened. But I truly want to become a shinobi, to protect Konoha and the people I fight alongside. I am sorry, Kakashi-sensei."
". . ."
For one fleeting moment, Kakashi genuinely wanted to slap himself across the face.
What on earth had he done?
He had always known that Guy and the boy had a good relationship and shared a close bond. He had even seen the boy training diligently under Guy's guidance.
But what troubled him more was how Guy seemed to tell this boy everything without reserve.
Even so, in this moment, a new idea took shape in his mind.
Perhaps training this kid alone would not be a bad idea at all.
Surely, he could not let two immature children ruin the future of such a promising young shinobi.
He could already see it. Waking in the middle of the night, reliving this very moment, and slapping himself in bitter regret.
"You should go back for now."
"Huh?"
Kakashi paused before speaking, and his words caught Gen off guard. But Kakashi quickly added,
"Go home and have a good rest first. I need to report the situation to the Hokage. But prepare yourself."
He paused once more. Then, pulling out a copy of Icha Icha Paradise, he lowered his head and began reading as he walked slowly toward the door.
"If nothing unexpected happens, your days ahead will be nothing like the ease of life at the Academy."
"Understood."
As he watched Kakashi's figure recede into the distance, a spark of excitement stirred in Gen's eyes.
At long last—finally—
After thirteen long years, he had received his novice's reward.
[Main Quest: Phase One Complete — Become a Shinobi]
[Beginner's Gift Acquired]
[Side Quest Complete: Become Kakashi's Sole Disciple Among This Year's Graduates]
[Reward Acquired: Kakashi's Kenjutsu Technique]
..
..
[IMAGE]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Chapter End's]
🖤 Night_FrOst/ Patreon 🤍
Visit my Patreon for Early Chapter:
https://www.patreon.com/Night_FrOst
Extra Content Already Available