"Since you're pregnant, you should just stay put and stop moving around so much."
Early in the morning, just after waking up, Kakashi spotted Hikari and Kurenai busy at work in the kitchen.
"None of your business!"
Hikari shot a glare back at Kakashi. She glanced at Kurenai's protruding lower abdomen, then down at her own still-flat stomach, a flash of dissatisfaction crossing her face.
"Actually, I was thinking of making some breakfast for you, Kakashi, and Hikari wanted to join in," Kurenai said, turning to look at Kakashi with a gentle smile.
"I'll hire two nannies later; there's no need for you to do these things yourselves. Just focus on a peaceful pregnancy."
While he spoke, Kakashi had already finished dressing.
"Eh? Aren't you going to finish breakfast before you head out?" Kurenai asked, looking a bit surprised to see Kakashi already draped in his Hokage robes.
"Sorry, Kurenai. I've arranged a final trial for the Ninja Academy this afternoon, and I need to supervise it personally. If I leave now, the timing will be just right."
Kakashi gave Kurenai an apologetic look, then pushed open the door and departed.
"Honestly, what a guy... and here you were, getting up so early just to cook for him," Hikari remarked, hands on her hips as she looked toward the door with annoyance.
"It's fine, don't worry about it. Kakashi's work is more important," Kurenai replied with a relaxed smile.
Today was the last day for Naruto's year at the Academy. To mark the occasion, Kakashi had intentionally thrown a curveball. In addition to the standard written exam and physical fitness test, Kakashi had added a cross-country trek.
Because of this, Naruto hadn't been dragged out of bed by his ears by Hikari early this morning.
In a temporary camp established not far outside Konohagakure, hundreds of Leaf children were being urged out of bed by their respective teachers. Among them, naturally, were the "Rookie Nine," including Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke.
Inside the main tent, a dozen screens and several staff members responsible for the trek were busy at work.
"How is everything looking?" Kakashi asked as he strode into the tent, glancing at the dozens of surveillance feeds displayed on the screens.
"Lord Hokage!"
"All seventy-eight surveillance points have been set up. The eight hundred ninja responsible for student safety have reached their positions. Vice Head Kato from the Medical Department has arrival with the medical corps and is standing by. Furthermore, all obstacles have been double-checked. Captain Uchiha of the Police Force has also brought his men to prepare for any unexpected incidents."
Listening to the report, Kakashi nodded as he watched the little "radishes" huddling together in the crowd on the monitors.
This outdoor trek wasn't just a whim on Kakashi's part. It was something he had arranged after considering Tsunade's previous assessment of Sakura Haruno: She's too cowardly.
Even with exceptional talent, if she maintained that kind of personality, she would be destined for death the moment she stepped onto a real battlefield. Thus, Kakashi arranged this activity to toughen her up, and to allow the rest of the students to temper their character as well.
If the results were good, the Ninja Academy could continue to hold these outdoor treks in the future. Flowers raised in a greenhouse are destined to wither when they face the wind and rain. Rather than letting them face sudden devastation in the future, Kakashi didn't mind cranking up the difficulty for these brats himself.
"In that case, let's begin," Kakashi commanded, taking a seat in front of the monitors.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" the staff member replied, immediately exiting the tent to relay the order.
"Sakura, Sakura! Don't be scared! I'll definitely protect you, believe it!" Naruto chirped, leaning in close to Sakura with a look of absolute confidence.
"Um, okay..."
The seven-year-old Sakura tightened her fists, nodding somewhat hesitantly. This was her first time facing a situation like this. Seeing Naruto beside her, her fluttering heart actually settled down quite a bit.
"You should worry about yourself first, loser."
An untimely voice drifted over, making Naruto turn around in annoyance. He saw a boy his age with a small dog perched on his head looking at him mockingly.
"Kiba, you jerk!" Naruto glared at the guy who was raining on his parade.
"Woof!" Akamaru barked from atop Kiba Inuzuka's head.
"Teaming up is not allowed for this activity. If anyone is caught reaching the finish line as a team, their score will be voided, and there's a high chance they'll be held back a year."
At that moment, a boy with pineapple-style hair walked over.
"Eh? Shikamaru, how did you know that?" Naruto asked in surprise. It wasn't just Naruto; Kiba and Sakura looked equally shocked.
"Hah? It was posted on the school bulletin board. Didn't you guys read it?" Nara Shikamaru retorted.
"Oh, no! I'm doomed! Kakashi-niichan is being way too mean!" Naruto wailed, clutching his head.
The Principal of the Ninja Academy was the current Hokage, and Kakashi was the fourth person to hold that title. Even someone as brainless as Naruto knew that this was all Kakashi's doing.
"Hmph! Even so, there's no way I'm losing to anyone!" Kiba pumped his fists, psyching himself up.
"Sakura, don't worry! Even if that's the case, I'll still protect you! At worst, I'll just eat my breakfast properly from now on. Kakashi-niichan definitely won't let us fail!" Naruto recovered quickly, puffing out his chest and promising Sakura again.
"I'd advise you not to count on that. Otherwise, you'll just drag Sakura down with you," Shikamaru deadpanned from the side. "Lord Hokage isn't the type to show favoritism just because it's you, Naruto."
Others might not know, but having inherited his father's brilliance since childhood, even at seven years old, Shikamaru had vaguely sensed the new Hokage's decisive and vigorous style through the recent changes in the village. This was especially evident given that his father had essentially been "sidelined."
Furthermore, the story of Kakashi leading eight hundred men to charge the Cloud Ninja's lines wasn't exactly a secret. Among the retired ninja who had survived but left due to injuries, there were several who loved to use that event as bragging rights. Phrases like "Back then, I followed Lord Hokage; we killed anyone in our way, gods or men" were common.
Nara Shikamaru could piece together the character of the Fifth Hokage just by analyzing these threads. How could a man like that let personal feelings interfere with official business?
"Ahhh, how could Kakashi-niichan be so heartless!?" The previously confident Naruto began wailing again.
"It's okay, Naruto. I can do it on my own," Sakura said. Seeing Naruto wailing on her behalf, she felt a bit touched and instinctively tried to comfort him.
She was Lady Tsunade's apprentice, after all. How could she rely on others for something like this? It must be said that sometimes, one's status can provide a significant boost in confidence. Tsunade's status in Konoha allowed her to walk with her head high anywhere, and even Kakashi had to consider Tsunade's reaction before acting. Under the halo of being Tsunade's disciple, Sakura—who had been an ordinary civilian student not long ago—secretly cheered herself on.
Just then, Iruka, who was in charge of the "little radishes," blew the whistle around his neck, signaling everyone to be silent.
Back in the monitoring room, Kakashi watched Naruto and Sakura on the screen, looking thoughtful. By reading their lips, he could easily tell what they were saying. Sakura's shift in mindset was a pleasant surprise to him.
Should I say... as expected of the female lead?
This trek was a mere walk in the park for a proper ninja, but for Academy students—especially first-years—it was quite a challenge. If they maintained the attitude that they were just out for a stroll, they might as well pack their bags and leave.
The trek began, and countless little radishes charged out like the wind.
The total distance was ten kilometers, making it a twenty-kilometer round trip. For people of the Shinobi world, this wasn't particularly long. Don't be fooled by the fact that these students were only seven; if placed in Kakashi's previous world, they could probably take down an adult in a few moves.
Wading through water, climbing, mud pits, dense forests. Everything was carried out under surveillance and before the eyes of the safety ninja.
But no matter what, these students were still children. When the first student began to drop out due to exhaustion, the standby ninja and medical personnel immediately escorted them off the field. With the first came the second, and then the third.
Instead of discouraging the remaining students, the sight of their peers dropping out seemed to give them a shot of adrenaline. They gritted their teeth and pushed toward the finish line.
To Kakashi's relief, none of the Rookie Nine from this year had dropped out; they were all still hanging in there. Even Hinata was persevering.
Character and willpower. To a ninja, these often didn't seem important—there were no jutsu in the Shinobi world that required "character." As long as one was strong enough and had the techniques to defeat the enemy, that was sufficient.
But in Kakashi's eyes, that wasn't the case. Character and will represented Yin Release. The most representative figure of this was that guy, Obito Uchiha.
As much as he hated to admit it, it was the truth. At the moment he became the Jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails, if he hadn't possessed enough will and his love for Rin Nohara, Obito would have died instantly from the Ten-Tails running rampant inside him.
Watching the pink-haired girl finally stumble across the finish line on the screen, Kakashi nodded slightly.
This assessment wasn't scored solely on whether one reached the finish line, but on the student's performance during the trial. If someone was forced to withdraw due to an accident or total physical exhaustion, they could still receive an "Excellent" rating. However, if they had strength left but stopped or gave up halfway, they would be held back a year immediately.
Kakashi never expected a single assessment to give Sakura the kind of resolve she had in the original series—where, after experiencing so much, she could brainlessly charge even at Six Paths Madara. (Though she did end up getting skewered by a black rod made of Truth-Seeker Orbs in the end.)
"Arrange the follow-up work," Kakashi ordered the standby staff. "Ensure that every student is in a stable condition."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" The staff member nodded and left immediately.
Watching the group of students on the screen lying on the ground cheering, looking like exhausted dogs, Kakashi smiled.
It wouldn't be long before his own child was born.
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