Kakashi POV
Naruto…
Watching him, observing his actions, I find myself thinking more and more often that he reminds me far too much of them… Minato-sensei. Kushina-san.
Naruto inherited a lot from both of you. From his mother - first and foremost - her personality and boundless energy. That reckless kindness, that straightforward nature, that habit of charging forward even when the odds are stacked against him… I've seen all of that before. And it wasn't just his character. Naruto's chakra reserves are clearly inherited from Kushina-san - far too large for his age and level to be a coincidence.
As for Sensei… it's even more obvious. Naruto is almost his reflection: blond hair, blue eyes, that sharp, piercing gaze that never misses details. Sometimes, when he goes quiet and simply looks ahead, it feels as if Minato-sensei himself is standing there for a brief moment.
Only recently did I realize the most important trait Naruto inherited from his father. And it's not speed or genius - it's his observation skills and mental flexibility. He notices more than people expect, draws conclusions quickly, learns not only from his own mistakes but from others' as well. And most dangerously, he adapts. He doesn't blindly imitate - he adjusts to situations and opponents, searches for weaknesses, and turns them into advantages almost instantly. That was always Minato-sensei's true strength. And that is exactly why I keep my distance.
Still, I'm glad we continued the mission to protect Tazuna-san. If not for it, who knows how long it would've taken me to see this side of Naruto. At first, I genuinely feared he'd grow into yet another hopeless pervert - especially after he used that… disgraceful technique on me during the bell test. But after our clash with Zabuza, things fell into place. For Naruto, those techniques aren't just foolish antics. He uses them deliberately - to distract, to disrupt, to steal a moment. Crude, ridiculous, but effective. And that's the unsettling part.
I once believed this team would need a long time to truly come together. Naruto keeps proving me wrong. From the very first day, he started building a bond with Sasuke - not with words, but through action. Training together, constant rivalry, a shared drive to grow stronger. Gradually, it turned into trust. The only weak link remained was Sakura. She's intelligent and capable, but her fixation on Sasuke and unjustified hostility toward Naruto threatened the team's balance. I was already considering a serious talk with her if things didn't change.
This mission changed that. Sakura became more restrained, more attentive, and most importantly - she began to look at Naruto differently. Not as a nuisance, but as a teammate. That alone was enough to stabilize the team.
On the sixth day in the Land of Waves, I was at Tazuna-san's house explaining the Shadow Clone Technique to Sakura. Our client had already finished work for the day, and Naruto and Sasuke had gone off to train together. I was in the middle of explaining why the technique created by the Second Hokage was considered dangerous when the front door creaked open and Sasuke stepped inside.
They finished earlier than usual, I noted, turning toward him and then I saw his eyes. Red. With a clearly formed tomoe in each.
"…Sasuke, did you awaken the Sharingan?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes. During training with Naruto," he replied calmly, nodding. He tried to remain composed, but couldn't quite hide the faint smile.
"Wow! Sasuke-kun! I'm so happy for you! They're beautiful!" Sakura immediately chimed in, as usual overwhelming him with praise.
"…"
For once, Sasuke didn't brush her off. His mood must have been genuinely good.
"Where's Naruto?" I asked.
"Resting. He said he'll be back soon."
I nodded. "Then congratulations, Sasuke. You've awakened your clan's dōjutsu. Seems your training with Naruto paid off and significantly."
Remarkable. Awakening the Sharingan during ordinary training. I understood the catalyst perfectly: rivalry. Sasuke had begun to feel that Naruto was no longer someone he could simply ignore. Not a threat - not yet, but a reference point. Someone worth watching. Naruto wasn't pushing him or trying to prove anything. He simply kept moving forward, training, making mistakes, recognizing them, correcting them. Day by day, it forced Sasuke to pay attention. He couldn't ignore Naruto's explosive growth.
The Sharingan awakened not in battle, not in a moment of desperation, but in the process itself - the result of constant pressure, focus, and the desire not to fall behind.
I didn't delay. Taking the matter seriously, I explained how his dōjutsu worked: its strengths and weaknesses at this stage, the limits of a single tomoe, and the chakra strain involved. For now, it mainly enhanced perception - reading movements, reactions, intent - but careless use would exhaust him quickly. Control mattered more than ambition.
About an hour later, Naruto finally returned.
"Kakashi-sensei… I need to tell you something."
I turned toward him, immediately sensing the weight behind his words. "I'm listening."
Naruto POV
"I think I just ran into the guy in the mask. The one who took Zabuza."
"…?!" Tazuna visibly tensed.
"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked.
"He wasn't wearing the mask, so I can't be completely sure. But my gut tells me it was him."
"Don't tell me you beat up some random civilian on suspicion," Sasuke said coldly.
"Naruto… you didn't do anything stupid, right?" Sakura asked carefully.
"Hey! What do you take me for?! I didn't hit anyone!" I snapped.
"Alright," Kakashi said calmly. "Start from the beginning."
After my spar with Sasuke, I was exhausted and lay down in the grass. Must've fallen asleep. Then suddenly, someone touched my face… I explained everything in detail.
"And why do you think this… 'strange' guy who wears women's clothes is that masked shinobi?" Sakura asked.
"I said I'm not completely sure. But his build was similar. He was gathering medical supplies for someone important to him. And the way he moved…"
"The way he moved?"
"Habits are hard to hide. He moved silently - like a real ninja."
Silence filled the room.
"Kakashi-sensei… if it really was him, I don't want to fight him."
Sensei looked at me carefully. No judgment - just quiet sadness.
"Haku seemed kind. He could've attacked me at any moment, but he didn't. If we meet again, I don't want to fight him just because we're on opposite sides."
"So what are you suggesting?" Kakashi asked. "Abandon the mission?"
"What?! No!" Tazuna blurted out.
"No," I shook my head. "I have an idea. One that lets us finish the mission without unnecessary fighting."
"Go on."
"Zabuza and Haku are hired ninja, just like us. Even if we defeat them, Gato will simply hire more. So why not eliminate the problem at its source?"
Silence again.
"It's a good idea," Kakashi said. "But difficult. We don't know where Gato is, and we don't know his forces. Splitting up could weaken our defense."
"I thought about that," I said. "That's where my shadow clones come in."
I laid out the plan.
"When Zabuza attacks again, I'll create multiple clones. I'll stay behind to protect Tazuna's family. Sasuke can handle Haku. You take Zabuza. Sakura stays on guard. One clone will assist and relay information, while the others search for Gato. Once they find him, you'll know instantly. We're not risking the core mission."
"…?!"
Everyone stared at me.
"It's a solid plan," Kakashi finally said. "We'll try it."
The room fell silent. Tazuna swallowed nervously. Sasuke crossed his arms. Sakura glanced at me — without skepticism.
The decision was made. There was no turning back.