Inside the Hokage's office.
Kakashi had originally come to discuss upgrading the team to B-rank missions—
but before he even opened his mouth, another problem was already unfolding.
"Gramps Hokage!~"
"No."
The Third Hokage rejected the plea without even looking up, expression perfectly flat.
"Ugh! Then I'll have to use my ultimate trump card! This is a ninjutsu I created myself! It definitely deserves a place in the Book of Creation—watch carefully!"
"…"
That voice… Naruto?
Kakashi blinked in surprise.
He created a ninjutsu?
Maybe books really can't be judged by their covers…
Curiosity got the better of Kakashi, and he quietly slid open the office door to see what Naruto was trying to show off.
Inside, Naruto stood proudly with his hands forming seals.
Chakra surged up in a gathering swirl.
Huh. The kid really does have absurd chakra reserves, Kakashi noted inwardly.
He barely finished the thought when Naruto's body suddenly shifted shape.
"Gramps Hokage~~ ❤"
"PUH!"
"—!?"
The Third Hokage toppled backward out of his chair as if struck by a divine punishment.
Kakashi, having sensed danger, quickly clamped his hand over his eyes, adopting a "I saw nothing, absolutely nothing" stance.
And then—
"Naruto!
Do NOT perform this kind of pointless jutsu in front of the Hokage!"
WHAM!
Iruka's punch sent Naruto flying.
Naruto bounced up, indignant.
"How is it pointless!? I knocked Gramps Hokage flat! That means it's an amazing jutsu!"
"Naruto," the Third said sternly, now sitting upright again, "this does not count as ninjutsu innovation."
"No way! Absolutely not! Nobody has ever used a jutsu like this! That makes it original!"
Iruka looked ready to explode, but then he noticed Kakashi quietly entering the room.
Kakashi sighed.
"This is still just the Transformation Technique. You only applied it in… a very stupid way.
People don't use it like that because they don't want to, not because they can't."
"Wh— Who're you!?"
Naruto puffed up angrily.
"You haven't even graduated. Stop interrupting and leave. Don't disturb the Hokage's real work."
Kakashi's tone was cold.
Iruka bowed repeatedly.
"S-Sorry, Kakashi-sensei! Naruto— I'll handle him. So sorry for the trouble!"
Then he dragged the loudly protesting boy out of the office.
Silence fell.
Kakashi and the Third Hokage looked at each other.
Both silently shared the same thought:
If Kushina knew her son turned out like this… we'd both be dead men.
Kakashi's hand trembled slightly as he touched his pouch.
She'd definitely think I was the bad influence…
He forced the thought aside.
"…Kakashi," the Third finally said, clearing his throat, "what brings you here?"
"Ah. Right." Kakashi straightened. "I believe Souma and his team are ready for B-rank missions. I'm here to request authorization."
Combat against actual shinobi.
Normally no new genin squad would be approved for that.
But Souma was not "normal."
The Third considered for a moment.
"Souma should be fine. My only concern is the other two children.
But if you, as their sensei, believe they're ready… then I agree."
He signed a permission slip and handed it over.
Kakashi accepted it, hesitated, then forced himself to speak.
"Hokage-sama… I'm not sure I'll be able to lead Naruto next year. Please remain mindful of him.
That kind of jutsu he showed just now… well… he is creative."
"Cough— Yes, yes. I'll keep an eye on him."
The Third's face flushed.
In truth, he hadn't done that thing in many, many years. Naruto's situation had absolutely nothing to do with him.
Fortunately, the few people who knew the truth no longer lived in the village.
He felt both relieved… and a little lonely.
Kakashi left with a complicated expression.
"Wasn't that the lower-grade kid?" Tenten whispered in the mission hall.
"Naruto," Souma said with a faint smile. "A hardworking and clever kid—just pointed in the wrong direction."
He'd missed the legendary debut of the Sexy Jutsu, and honestly… he felt a little regretful.
What a shame. Would've been hilarious to witness in person.
"What's wrong?" Kasa asked softly beside him.
She rarely spoke when surrounded by people, but she was perceptive enough to catch even slight shifts in Souma's mood.
"Nothing," Souma said lightly. "Just a feeling something interesting happened."
Right then, a flicker of chakra—
Kakashi appeared beside them in an instant.
He handed the authorization slip to Hiraga.
Hiraga checked it, swallowed hard, then reluctantly pulled out the B-rank mission list.
Kakashi clapped Souma's shoulder.
"You pick."
"Me? …Alright."
Souma walked to the list and scanned through quickly.
There were many tasks—missions scattered across the Land of Fire, the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Rivers, and other small nations.
One entry caught his eye immediately.
"Sensei, this one."
"'Assist in capturing a fugitive from the Land of Iron'? Hiraga, what's this?
Isn't this the kind of mission the ANBU usually handles?"
Kakashi frowned.
Normally, chasing fugitives—especially from a neutral nation of samurai—fell under ANBU jurisdiction, not open mission requests.
"This mission wasn't issued by the Land of Iron," Hiraga said. "It was commissioned by the Kiyota Clan within the Land of Iron. The client is currently inside Konoha."
"A clan request?" Kakashi raised a brow.
"The fugitive is probably an outer-branch samurai who stole a weapon or sword technique. Normally the Iron Country would handle it, but the Kiyota Clan is acting independently.
Honestly, it is strange."
Kasa spoke quietly.
"Must be something that can't see the light of day."
She was from the Moonlight Clan—once a samurai family themselves.
She understood the traditions.
If the clan was acting without the government's involvement, something unusual had happened.
Souma nodded. "Agreed. If the fugitive escaped from a clan like that, he's probably strong. This mission could be dangerous. Think carefully."
Silence.
Souma looked at Tenten and Kasa.
They didn't answer immediately.
So Souma smiled.
"You two decide. Whichever you choose, I'll back you."
"I'm interested in Iron Country swordsmanship…" Tenten whispered. "But I worry we might get dragged into something bigger."
"Kiyota Clan," Kasa murmured simply.
Souma chuckled softly. "This isn't something you need to worry about.
You're interested in their swordsmanship?"
Both girls nodded.
Souma turned to Kakashi.
"Sensei, do you want to take it?"
Kakashi's visible eye curved.
"As a Konoha shinobi, this isn't technically any of my business.
But as someone with… past connections, I do have other things to consider.
Given that—there's no need to hesitate. Hiraga, bring us to the client."
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