Unlike the original timeline, most of Kakashi's current strength didn't revolve around flashy ninjutsu.
These days, much of his edge came from the Hatake family's blade techniques precise, lethal, and built around locking onto a target before finishing the fight in one clean motion.
There was just one problem.
You don't pull a sword on a bunch of twelve-year-olds during a bell test.
And he hadn't thought he'd need to.
But when you're caught off guard, even the best stumble.
Akio's "steel plate special" had backfired spectacularly. Kakashi's fingers were injured at exactly the wrong moment, giving the three kids an opening they never would've had otherwise.
Faced with that and unwilling to lose face as their new instructor Kakashi made a split-second decision.
A dangerous one.
Fortunately, his mastery of Lightning Release and chakra control was excellent. If it hadn't been…
Well.
Naruto might've needed more than a pep talk afterward.
The test ended abruptly.
Kakashi, voice calm and unreadable, announced that all three had passed. They were to meet at the same time tomorrow for their first mission.
Then he vanished in a Body Flicker.
Akio was fairly certain he'd gone to rinse off his hand.
A glowing notification appeared before him:
Witnessed and significantly altered a main storyline event: Bell Test.
Witness Points gained: 10 (×8).
Akio quickly did the math.
"Changed the Thousand Years of Pain from major to minor deviation, lost 30 points. Turned the Bell Test from minor to major gained 60. So…"
His grin widened.
"Net profit: 30 Witness Points."
Sometimes chaos pays dividends.
Though Naruto certainly wasn't feeling profitable.
He sat on the dirt, both hands clamped over his backside, face shifting between triumph and agony.
"I passed…" he muttered, eyes watery. "…but why does victory hurt so much?"
Sakura was celebrating too until she pivoted and immediately invited Sasuke out.
He waved her off coolly. "It was a dull test. I'm leaving."
Naruto's expression tightened.
"Wait! Sasuke, hold up!"
Sasuke turned slightly. "What? Didn't get enough?"
Naruto hesitated. Then, in a much smaller voice:
"Lend me your jacket."
Sasuke blinked.
Then his eyes widened.
"It went through?!"
Sakura froze. A blush crept up her cheeks as she took a quick step back.
Her irritation, however, wasn't aimed at Naruto.
Internally, she was absolutely furious at Kakashi.
What kind of elite jonin mentor does that?!
Naruto's face burned red. "Quit staring and just"
He vanished mid-sentence.
Sasuke stared at the empty space.
"…The Old Man. He was watching the whole time? Tch."
Inside Akio's dimensional space.
He held the scorched, lightning-punctured spatula head in his hand, expression twitching.
"Kakashi. A little more force and you'd have given the kid lifelong trauma."
Naruto glared miserably.
"This is your fault! You gave me the dumb idea!"
Akio snorted. "You sold me out first, brat. Now come here. Let me see how bad it is."
Naruto hesitated, then shuffled backward.
He was old enough to be embarrassed now.
Akio rolled his eyes. "Relax. I'll use medical ninjutsu with my eyes closed."
After a moment's reluctance, Naruto slowly turned around.
"…Tch. He really didn't hold back."
"Hey! You said you wouldn't look!"
"I've spanked you enough times to know what's there," Akio shot back dryly. "Now stop whining."
A soft white glow formed in his palm.
With his level-nine medical ninjutsu, the pain faded almost instantly.
Naruto's expression melted into stunned relief.
"…Okay. That's amazing."
Later, at Kushina's house.
After hearing the full story, Kushina laughed so hard she nearly choked.
Minato gently patted little Tsukika's head, smiling helplessly.
"Kakashi's definitely more entertaining than he used to be."
Kushina wheezed. "That kid's gotten way more creative since his ANBU days"
Her laughter died instantly when Naruto emerged and silently handed her his pants.
There was a neat, two-finger-wide hole burned clean through the back.
Kushina's expression shifted from amusement to horror.
"I hand-stitched these!"
Akio folded his arms.
He'd always wondered why Naruto insisted on wearing those eye-searing mustard-yellow pants. Now he had his answer.
Though he had to admit, Naruto's current dark red pair looked far better.
Unfortunately, Naruto had inherited his mother's questionable fashion sense.
"That was my favorite pair!" he complained bitterly.
Akio wisely said nothing.
"The bell test is done. Next up should be… the lost cat mission," Akio mused. "That one can play out normally. Easy five Witness Points."
He glanced at his total.
"Nice round number. Maybe the cat'll give me six instead."
He had briefly considered sending Naruto's team after Fat Cat the massive, battle-hardened feline who roamed the outskirts.
Then he'd remembered.
That cat could probably maul Kakashi.
Sending three fresh genin after it would've been a confidence-crushing disaster. Naruto also happened to know the creature personally.
No need to traumatize the kids on their first D-rank.
"After that… Land of Waves."
Akio's smile turned mischievous.
"Oh, this will be fun."
"Old Man! Why are you laughing like that?!" Naruto protested.
Akio blinked.
Was he not allowed to laugh now?
He exchanged a glance with Kushina.
Both burst out laughing.
Even little Tsukika joined in with a giggle.
Eventually, Kushina straightened up.
"Great-Grandpa, Tsukika turns four next month. Minato and I want to start her basic training."
Akio nodded.
With her enhanced vitality, early development made sense. Most children started at five.
"She's starting already?" Naruto murmured.
Tsukika puffed her cheeks. "I'll pass you in no time, big brother!"
"In your dreams!"
Akio's gaze shifted.
When she raised her fists, he noticed something new.
Black gloves.
Not full gloves more like padded knuckle guards. The fingertips were exposed, but the fabric wrapped snugly around her knuckles.
"Kushina," he said slowly, "did you make those?"
She hesitated. "Yes. I meant to make regular gloves, but I ran out of material."
"Material?" Akio stood. "Tsukika, let me see them."
She happily handed them over. "They're really comfortable!"
He rubbed the fabric between his fingers.
Smooth. Flexible. Extremely durable.
"Silk blend? No… something stronger. What is this?"
His lips pressed into a thin line.
This texture felt familiar.
"Let me see!" Naruto leaned in.
Kushina instantly snatched the gloves back.
"Mind your business! They're your sister's!"
Naruto blinked in confusion.
Akio looked from Kushina's slightly tense expression… to Minato's awkward one… to Tsukika happily slipping the gloves back on.
"Kushina," he said quietly, "where did you get this material?"
She stiffened.
"From a fabric shop on the west side. They only had a little left, so I bought it all."
"I'll check it out."
He vanished.
Kushina exhaled deeply in relief.
On the streets of Konoha, Akio sighed.
He could still feel it faintly.
That material carried his chakra signature.
"Kushina," he muttered under his breath, half exasperated, half impressed.
"You're bold".