"Come in!" As Kakashi called out, Ishikawa stepped into Kakashi's house for the first time.
"If you want to learn Enclosing Jutsu, you need first to understand what sealing techniques are. Here's the foundational material—take a look." Noticing Ishikawa curiously glancing around, Kakashi led him straight to the bedroom and pointed to a row of scrolls and books.
As Ishikawa looked over, he realized the bookshelves contained not only knowledge on sealing techniques, but also detailed theoretical analyses on chakra, Five-Attribute ninjutsu, and even customs and practices of various countries!
Though only basic-level information, this was the kind of knowledge usually reserved for Chunin and Jonin. For Ishikawa, who had no clan or family background, this was incredibly valuable!
But...
"Teacher, you're not planning to have me study sealing techniques all on my own, are you?" Seeing Kakashi turning to leave, Ishikawa couldn't help but speak up.
Sure, it was nice to be trusted, but wasn't this a little too casual?
"I still have to make dinner. If you have questions, jot them down and ask me later," Kakashi replied without looking back. "Oh, and do you want saury?"
"Hehehe, thank you very much for your hospitality, teacher." Ishikawa's eyes lit up, and he accepted without hesitation.
Getting a taste of the legendary Kakashi cuisine wasn't something just anyone could experience!
"Wait—could that be...?" Just as Kakashi walked to the door, Ishikawa suddenly let out a surprised exclamation, causing Kakashi to turn around instinctively.
Following Ishikawa's gaze, Kakashi saw two photo frames on the bedside table.
One was clearly Team 7—the current lineup, including Ishikawa. The other...
"That was my teacher—the Fourth Hokage of Konoha," Kakashi said softly. His eyes clouded briefly with sorrow before he sighed and turned away toward the kitchen.
"So my teacher's teacher was the hero who once saved the village—Konoha's Fourth Hokage." Ishikawa feigned excitement as he exclaimed, but wisely didn't press further.
Minato's team had always been a sensitive subject for Kakashi. Now wasn't the time to dig deeper—he'd wait for a better opportunity.
Casting a glance at Kakashi busily working in the kitchen, Ishikawa set aside his wandering thoughts and dove into the ocean of sealing knowledge, determined to enrich himself.
That night, when Ishikawa finally left Kakashi's house, his face was tired but satisfied. It was already ten o'clock in the evening.
He'd gained a great deal. Not only had he grasped the basic concepts of sealing techniques, but Kakashi had also patiently answered all his questions.
Also... Kakashi's grilled saury was delicious—his cooking skills really did live up to the praise from Nohara Rin.
After washing up back home, Ishikawa continued practicing the Mystical Palm Technique with Nohara Rin following the arrival of Time-Space.
---
The night passed peacefully.
There were no missions after the morning briefing the next day, so after much coaxing, Ishikawa brought his two younger brothers over to Kakashi's house.
To his younger brothers, that foundational knowledge was an absolute treasure trove. How could Ishikawa keep all the progress to himself?
Kakashi only grumbled a little before agreeing. He didn't want too large a gap to develop between Taro, Jiro, and Ishikawa either—it wouldn't be good for the team's long-term growth.
---
Day 3.
Hokage's Office.
"You want them to start accepting missions above C-rank? Kakashi, isn't that a bit premature?" Hearing Kakashi's request, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, couldn't help but hesitate.
He acknowledged Ishikawa's talent and had even planned to invest in the boy's growth. But with two other teammates dragging things down, jumping straight past D-level missions seemed a little too reckless.
At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a trace of regret—for not realizing Ishikawa's potential sooner, and for having paired him with teammates of such average capability...
"Hokage, Team 7 is developing rapidly. I believe D-rank missions are no longer of any training value to them. I still stand by my previous proposal." Kakashi remained firm. He had his own views on Ishikawa and his two teammates.
After observing them for a while, he was sure of Taro and Jiro's mediocrity—but so what?
Ishikawa possessed exceptional talent and was also the older brother of the other two. His continuous progress would push them to chase after him, encouraging further growth.
C-rank missions not only offered higher pay but also provided better training value. Completing one a month while using the remaining time for focused training was far more productive than being stuck in endless D-rank chores...
"Very well, then. There's a C-rank escort mission to and from the Takumi Village. I'll assign it to your team." Seeing Kakashi's unwavering resolve, the Third Hokage finally nodded in agreement.
With Kakashi leading, safety wouldn't be an issue. That previous run-in with the Raikage and Nokizaru Group had been an unfortunate outlier. It wasn't like every C-rank mission would end in disaster, right?
"Thank you, Hokage." After receiving the mission scroll, Kakashi thanked him sincerely and left to meet the client.
"It seems Team 7 already has the strength and potential to participate in the Chunin Exams two months from now… I wonder if that boy Ishikawa can truly make the leap."
"This is the only Chunin Exam being held this year. To prepare for next year's Joint Chunin Exam, we've decided to cancel the one scheduled for the second half." Watching Kakashi's silhouette fade into the distance, the Third Hokage murmured with quiet anticipation.
Whether Kakashi could successfully lead the new Team 7 next year would depend entirely on Ishikawa's promotion to Chunin—he was the key.
---
Team 7 Assembly Point.
"A C-rank escort mission?" Taro and Jiro were overjoyed when they heard Kakashi describe their new assignment!
Compared to yesterday's exhausting, near-death D-rank delivery mission, this was a major upgrade.
"I've already arranged for the client to meet us at the village gate in thirty minutes. Go home, pack up, and regroup." Kakashi kept it short and to the point. Ishikawa and the other two immediately nodded and rushed off to get ready.
"Takumi Village(The village of Artisans), huh? This is perfect!" Back home, Ishikawa's eyes lit up as he pulled out most of his savings.
In the ninja world, nearly every hidden village—including those in the Five Great Nations—purchased their weaponry from the Takumi Village.
Their reputation for high-quality products at fair prices was no exaggeration, and Ishikawa fully intended to make the most of this trip...
It was also a great chance to test out his newly acquired knowledge of Enclosing Jutsu. He could practice the technique during the journey, then use it to store whatever he bought.
"Sorry, Rin. Looks like I won't be able to witness your Chunin promotion right away!"
After donning his ninja gear, Ishikawa sighed. He left a note on the door to mark that he'd gone on a mission, then locked up and left.
---
At the same time that Ishikawa set off for the Village of Artisans, events in the Rin Time-Space during the Third Great Ninja War began to unfold.
"The third individual match of the Chunin Exam: Nohara Rin versus Hatake Kakashi! Both candidates, please step forward!"
As the examiner's voice rang out, the entire arena erupted into noise...