Andrew stepped into the Hokage's office, immediately noticing that many Jōnin were already gathered. His eyes instinctively shifted toward Kakashi, who stood quietly among them.
Kakashi's Sharingan had been taken back by Obito, and though Danzo had once provided him with a replacement eye, it had been sealed away. Kakashi's chakra reserves couldn't sustain such consumption, forcing him to rely solely on his natural skills. The title of "Copy Ninja" had dimmed, yet Kakashi's strength hadn't diminished completely. In fact, he had begun polishing his clan's swordsmanship, refining his natural talents without leaning on the borrowed Sharingan.
Andrew thought to himself, Without Mangekyō, the Sharingan is mostly for observation and copying. Kakashi may no longer be the same, but he's not necessarily weaker.
Still, Andrew frowned. If Kakashi is here, then surely they won't let him lead Team 7, will they?
The idea unsettled him. He had no desire to become a Jōnin mentor, especially not for the two central figures in the future—Naruto and Sasuke. If the Sage of Six Paths is watching from beyond, what if my interference disrupts his grand design? Would he come after me?
Andrew shuddered at the thought. He knew all too well the scale of the Sage's power. The colossal Susanoo of Hagoromo could rival the Ten-Tails, and the divided senjutsu chakra he gifted Sasuke and Naruto was strong enough to battle Six Paths Madara himself. Even if the Sage had passed on, Andrew would never underestimate such a presence.
"It seems everyone is here," the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, spoke with a smile. "A new batch of Genin will soon graduate from the academy. Before they grow into independent shinobi, they will require the guidance of Jōnin instructors."
Hiruzen revealed a small box containing slips of paper—lotteries to assign the new Genin teams.
Andrew glanced at it, his mind recalling how this moment had played out in his past life. Everything seemed to match, though the Third Hokage's subtle manipulations were plain to Andrew's eyes. Most Jōnin likely didn't notice, but Andrew knew well that Hiruzen was far more calculating than he appeared.
He wants Asuma to inherit something greater… perhaps because Shinnosuke, his eldest, lost his chance? Andrew thought.
Shinnosuke had once been caught in the disaster of the Rain Shinobi war and had been presumed dead. But in this altered world, he was still alive, wandering beyond the village in search of Akatsuki. Because of that failure, Hiruzen now invested his trust in his second son, Sarutobi Asuma. After all, the Ino–Shika–Chō clans held a unique place in Konoha's balance of power.
Andrew frowned. So this is why he gathered us all. Then why bring me here?
Seeing that the box was empty, Andrew crossed his arms. "It looks like nothing here concerns me. Why exactly did you call me, Lord Hokage?"
Hiruzen's smile never wavered. "Kakashi will remain. The rest of you may meet your students."
The room emptied, leaving only Andrew and Kakashi standing before the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen exhaled a thin stream of smoke from his pipe. "Andrew, listen carefully. Uchiha Sasuke has awakened his Sharingan to three tomoe. Kakashi leads Team 7, but there are limits. The Uchiha clan has its own unique fighting style, one that no outsider can truly teach. Since Sasuke has been living away from the Uchiha homeland in the Nightless City, he has received little formal training from his family. Without proper guidance, his Sharingan mastery will falter."
Hiruzen's voice lowered. "Kakashi once had a Sharingan, but Obito reclaimed it. Without it, he cannot show Sasuke the true way of the Uchiha. For this reason, I requested Fugaku send someone to aid Sasuke."
Andrew's eyes narrowed. The words were soft and polite, but he could read the truth between them. Hiruzen doesn't want Sasuke weakened out of kindness. Uchiha strength unsettles him. But the clan has become so influential that he cannot act against them openly. So instead, he pretends to support Sasuke's growth, winning favor with Fugaku while keeping an eye on things himself.
"And let me guess," Andrew said slowly. "You want me to work alongside Kakashi in leading Team 7. Not just to guide Sasuke… but to watch Naruto, isn't that right?"
The Third Hokage's silence was answer enough.
Andrew sighed. So this is it. He places Sasuke and Naruto together, then places me—an Uchiha—beside them under the pretense of helping Sasuke. But the real plan is to keep Naruto in check.
Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, was too dangerous in Hiruzen's eyes to be left without constant surveillance.
Hiruzen's strategy was clear. In the past, Kakashi had been the perfect candidate for Naruto's Jōnin teacher: a loyal shinobi from the Hokage's lineage and wielder of a Sharingan, an eye capable of suppressing the Nine-Tails. But now, without that Sharingan, Kakashi was no longer suited for the role.
The Nine-Tails could not be allowed to run wild. Each time a tailed beast raged, it claimed the life of at least one great shinobi. Konoha could not afford to bleed its champions endlessly. The only powers capable of controlling the Nine-Tails were Sharingan and Wood Style.
Jiraiya had once tried using Yamato's Wood Style to steady Naruto's chakra, but Yamato's watered-down bloodline could never rival the First Hokage's might. The suppression was weak, and they were forced to abandon the attempt.
That left Sharingan. To Hiruzen, it was the only true leash for the Nine-Tails. So he orchestrated things carefully—Naruto and Sasuke on the same team, Kakashi as the official leader, and Andrew as the "supporting hand."
Andrew clenched his fist. The old man fears the Nine-Tails more than anything. But why now? What happened that makes him so obsessed with suppressing Naruto's power?
Hiruzen gave a knowing look. "You'll understand once you spend time with Team 7. Remember, Naruto is Kushina's child. She took care of you once, Andrew. Do not let her son fall into danger."
Andrew blinked, stunned. "Kushina… took care of me? When?"
He thought back. That couldn't be right. Kushina and Minato had perished sealing the Nine-Tails. Minato had trapped himself with the Shinigami, dragging half the beast inside him, while Kushina's chains had restrained the other half. They had gone on to seek the Sage of Six Paths. When did she ever have time to care for me?
Andrew's mind whirled. Either the Third Hokage is lying, or something about this timeline is different from what I knew.
Still, the truth was plain: the Third Hokage intended to use him as both a teacher for Sasuke and a warden for Naruto.
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