Kakashi looked on at the building before him, having been summoned here this morning. He was standing at the building of The Hokage as he had been called in and summoned to be here and was told to cancel the planned meeting with his Team today.
One of The Monkeys of Hiruzen Sarutobi, The Sandaime, The Third Hokage of The Hidden Leaf Village had appeared in his home with a message containing his seal informing him to report to the Building where he was at now.
It had been only three days since they had returned from The Mission to Wave, a simple C escort task that had been turned into an A Ranked Mission but they had succeeded. Kakashi was curious as to why he had been summoned, everything had turned out all right, his team of Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno and Naruto Uzumaki had survived with no meaningful injuries. Why had he been called to here?
Deciding not to ponder anymore over why he was here he went into the building and went to the room where he was told to go to.
He entered and found to his surprise that he was not the only one here, as the room was crowded and full.
Many were there, almost any ninja of note was in the room. From Sensei's to Proctors to Clan Heads to those who ran security and more. All of them were here and each had the same question over why they were here having been summoned.
Kakashi made his way to a spot in the room and stood beside three other Jonin sensei's. Many of the ninja in the room were chatting amongst themselves wondering what had happened and what was the urgency of this meeting as it had been unexpected.
A door in the side of the room opened, and in stepped The Sandaime and as one all in the room stopped their talking as the room became utter silence. Sarutobi, adorning the robes and the hat that marked him as Hokage entered the room and walked across it to the desk in the center of the room assigned for him only. His face was neutral and betrayed no emotions as he made his way to the desk.
Sarutobi took his seat at it and looked on at them. Although old, his eyes still had his sharpness inside of them. That which only came from years of experience.
"Good day to you all, I am sorry for the inconvenience and suddenness of this." He said to them.
"Lord Hokage," Hiashi Hyuga, head of the now most prominent Clan in Konoha spoke. "Is there something you wish to discuss with us? Has something happened, we've received no word regarding anything regarding The Village, The Land of Fire or any of the other nations."
"No, no it's nothing like that," Sarutobi assured him. "There has been no catastrophe that has struck or any matter that concerns The Village. Although I hardly believe I need that to happen to have a visit from my friends." He said lightening the mood but became serious. "I have brought you all here on a personal matter."
Soft murmurs whispered through the crowd who looked on at him. Some wondering what he meant whilst others believed that he might announce his retirement once again and that someone would become The Godaime after he had stepped down from Hokage.
Sarutobi looking on brought his hands up holding them before his face and shut his eyes and spoke up.
"I am no longer the young man I once was before, I am in the twilight of my life." He said to them. "I have many memories, some good and some less than favorable but everything I have done has been for The Leaf which was taught to me by my Sensei and his Sensei before him with The Will of Fire. There's very few things in my life that I regret doing as I can hold my head high over my accomplishments, including being The Sandaime of Konohagakure my beloved home."
The gathered crowd was silent as they listened. He had retired and stepped down over twelve years ago, but forced to take up the mantle after the tragic incident that lead to the death of The Yondaime.
"But I assure you, I am in perfect health and not planning on dropping dead anytime soon!" He quickly said breaking the mood with a joking smile. "I still have plenty of years to spend here and with you all. But as the years have gone by and body becomes more and more wrinkled and my hair turns grey with each passing day," He said in a jesting tone before turning serious. "I feel as though something is missing in my life despite all I have done, something that I attempted once but feel the need to do so once more so I can have a clear conscience in the back of my mind. And after debating it over these past few months, I have come to an conclusion over what I shall do."
"And what is that?" Ibiki Morino asked outloud. Sarutobi was revered and feared worldwide both by his friends and by those who were his enemies and opposed The Leaf. Handpicked by The Nidaime personally to take his place. Had lead Konoha to prosperity through the warring periods, had vanquished many a foe with his power. He had accomplished everything there seemed for him to have done. What more could he desire to do?
"I have decided to train a ninja again." Sarutobi announced to them all at last.
The group murmured many caught off guard as this was most unexpected news and not what they were planning on hearing from him. The God of Shinobi, he would become a Sensei once again?
"So that's what this is all about." Kakashi softly said to himself as that was why they were here.
"Hokage-sama, it's been almost forty years since you was a Sensei." Ebisu spoke up.
"Yes," Sarutobi replied as he in his youth was The Sensei of three of the most Legendary Ninjas to grace The Elemental Nations. Those who had been given the title of Sannin by Hanzo of Amegakure because of their skills having been taught personally by himself. "And I feel before my time on this place is over that I shall train one more person and pass down everything I know to them."
The news came as a shock to them, not since what had happened before with his team had Sarutobi trained anyone.
"Who is it Sir? Who will it be?" Asuma asked speaking up to his Father.
"After some thought, I have decided it shall be one of The Genin who have recently graduated the past two exams, one of them I shall train."
The group murmured once more at the news. This was a great opportunity for them. Being The Hokage's student was not only a great honor, but a wondrous opportunity to learn from him.
"This is quite the development Hokage-sama." Kakashi spoke up as he looked on at him. "I must say that whoever you pick can learn very much from you."
Although there was a chance for everyone, one stood out clearly in most minds. The one who was in Team 7 and under Hatake Kakashi.
Sasuke Uchiha…the survivor of the prestigious Uchiha Clan who helped founded Konoha with The Senju and who possessed The revered Sharingan Kekkai Genkai having activated it in his last mission he had returned from. It was clear that he'd be the most logical choice for him to pick.
Sasuke was head of his class, aced every test, completed every mission and performed every Jutsu he had been taught flawlessly with no error, he would be the perfect choice to be Sarutobi's pupil.
"Indeed, though my standards and expectations have not fallen since the day I stepped down as Sensei long ago." Sarutobi replied to him.
"I'm very sure that Sasuke will be a wondrous student for you Sir." Kakashi said to him and Sarutobi raised an eyebrow. "There is no one better than you who can teach him the ways of the Ninja."
"Kakashi, either you possess a future seeing ability that I'm unaware of, or you believe I've already made my choice for it." He said and Kakashi looked on at him a bit confused.
"What do you mean? Surely you intend to train Sasuke, out of all of them, he's the best."
"I have not made my decision yet and it maybe Sasuke it may not be Sasuke. This requires examination and focus as for who it will be" Sarutobi said frowning at how they thought they knew his methods. "The person shall not be announced until tomorrow, before the sun reaches its midday peak then I shall chose who it shall be my final apprentice."
That made things more interesting as smiles adorned the face of Hiashi, Tsume Inuzuka and the parents of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Even the stoic head of The Aburame Clan looked intrigued. The chance that their offspring could possibly be trained by him, this would greatly benefit their families and spread their name with the prestige of being the student of Sarutobi.
"Please don't try to curry favor with me, any of you, this choice is mine and mine alone." Sarutobi said as he could read what they were thinking. "Attempts to try and barter and have me pick one of your students or family members will be meaningless. As I have mentioned I have not decided who it shall be I will train. You are all dismissed as I have much preparations to make for tomorrow." He said to them and slowly the assembled group left the room their thoughts filled with the news that they had been told of.
"Who could it be, the chance to learn under Sarutobi himself?" Might Gai inquired his curiosity peaked as they stepped outside. "Ah, if only to be in my youth as a Genin once again, I could have the chance to do so myself." He said as he shook his head
"If its not Sasuke, then it'll most likely be Shikamaru, or perhaps even Neji." Kurenai Yuuhi said referring to the students of Kakashi, Asuma, and Gai. "All three are amongst the elite of their classes."
Asuma lit a cigarette and took a puff. "Don't know, but I dread if Shikamaru does find out he'll be turning under him."
The Jonins left the news of his announcement fresh in their minds, that would likely soon spread like wildfire.
The next day didn't come soon enough but it eventually did.
Many of the village had turned out having heard of the news and seeing just who it would be that would be his final student as anticipation hovered in the air.
One of them was filled to the brim, becoming more hyperactive than usual as he could barely control himself and didn't even want his usual servings of Ramen he was so excited over it.
"Where's Sarutobi at?" Naruto Uzumaki grumbled as he was on a roof, the blonde orange clad Future Hokage said as he looked on. He had heard the news and wasn't going to miss this for anything. One of his idols, the man he looked up to was going to take on a new student? This was unbelievable and he had to see it happen with his own two eyes.
"Who knows, it could even be me who becomes his student!" He said with a grin at he had a chance like everyone else. He leapt around the rooftops trying to locate him as he didn't want to miss this occasion.
It seemed everyone was on edge for the announcement of this.
Sarutobi stepped out of his home and looked on at the sky as it was now midday. "Well can't keep them waiting any longer." He mused with a half smile as he stepped down the stairs. He had spent the last day and a half in mediation, deep in thought as he in his mind envisioned those who could possibly be his student. This choice was not an easy one, as he had to make sure that the person he selected would live up to his standards and carry on The Will of Fire. After many hours and forgoing supper, he had come to his decision and now only needed to find the one who he would select.
He walked through the streets of Konoha and many stopped what they were doing and watched on as he walked the streets amongst them.
"Oi! Old Man, over here!" Naruto minutes later having found him, called out from the back of a crowd who had gathered as he looked on trying to get his attention but wasn't heard due to the gathering. "Hey, let me through!" He said trying to push his way though the crowd but to no avail. He growled in irritation, no way was he going to see who he picked or who was going to be announced as it at this rate!
He looked and spotted a tall tree nearby where Sarutobi was heading towards to. He grinned as he saw his opportunity to get to him and headed towards it.
A distance away, Sakura Haruno was seated at a bench. The Rookie Genin and third member of Team 7 had not gone with the crowd to see who it was as she wasn't all that interested to be honest. "It'll likely be Sasuke-kun who gets it anyway," She mused to herself as it seemed reasonable that Sasuke her teammate and crush would be it. "He is the best out of us all, no wonder Hokage-sama would pick him." She said as she sat there. "It'd be a great honor to be his student." She said to herself.
As she looked, she spotted an orange blur out of the corner of her eye and recognized it instantly as only one person wore that color.
"Oh no," Sakura said dread filling her as she looked on at what he was doing. "This can't end well." She lamented as she watched as Naruto shimmied his way up the tree. He was likely going to fall and break his neck the baka was.
As Sarutobi continued on the crowd kept a respective distance away from him so not to interfere with him
Sarutobi came to a stop, he sensed it. The person who would be the most qualified to be his student was near, he could feel it. "I feel the time has come to announce my choice." He said outloud and the crowd bristled with anticipation. He looked on scanning the crowd looking for the person who it would be.
The Genin that had graduated and from the year before stood there at attention, except for Shikamaru Nara, who looked ready to take a nap whilst standing up and Chouji Akimichi who was checking his BBQ Chip bag for crumbs unaware of what was going on.
In the tree in which he was directly under , Naruto got ready to call out to him and get his attention when a surprising voice startled him.
"Naruto, what are you doing up here?!" The familiar voice shouted and he turned and saw Sakura making her way up.
"Huh? What are you doin' up here?" He asked in response as he looked on at her.
"Don't try and change the subject, get down from here before you fall off."
"I'm not gonna fall, besides I'm trying to get to Sarutobi and see who he's gonna pick," He said and looked back at the scene
"Naruto quit fooling around." She chastised him as she got on the branch with him. "C'mon let's get back on the ground and see what happens." Sakura told him. Naruto ignored her and leaned over peering through the branches as they were directly underneath the assembled crowd, she frowned as he was likely going to fall off and land on his head if he kept this up and she stepped forward to grab him and drag him back down if she had to.
A creaking sound suddenly caught her attention and Naruto heard it as well and both of their eyes widened as it came from the branch that they were standing on.
Sakura had overestimated how much the branch could hold as her additional weight combined with Naruto's proved too much for it as it creaked and groaned under pressure and cracked and broke leaving the two in the air for a brief moment before gravity kicked in and they fell.
Naruto managed to catch himself luckily hooking his legs on a branch to keep himself from falling and reached his hands out to grab her but was too short to reach and he missed her and Sakura fell down below.
"AAAHHHH!" Sakura shouted as she fell plummeting downwards.
"Oops." Naruto said and sweated as he looked on at what had happened as she was gonna kill him.
Sarutobi looked on his eyes scrutinizing the crowd before him, all stood at attention doing their best not to show any emotion or signs of nervousness as he was about to make his choice.
His eyes came to Sasuke and stopped on him for a second looking at him and he smirked in return, believing himself to be the chosen one he would pick. Murmurs from the crowd shared his sentiments, some expecting it, others grumbling that he got the opportunity.
"AAAHHHH!" A screaming sound was heard and that drew the attention of everyone in the area at the loud noise.
Sarutobi lifted his head looking up and saw a mess of pink hair falling down below to the ground right in front of him.
Sakura slowly opened her eyes seconds later, as she saw that she was unharmed and that she was on a barrier jutsu. Sakura turned her head and saw Sarutobi who had cast it right before she hit the ground preventing her from harm.
Gasping she pulled herself up off the ground an embarrassed look on her face as all eyes were on her after her display and what had happened. Some looking at her with incredulous expressions as if she was insane over what she had just done.
"Way to go forehead girl." Ino Yamanaka jeered a smug smile on her face at how Sakura had humiliated and embarrassed herself in front of The Hokage and the entire village just now.
"I'm so s-sorry!" Sakura apologized profusely to him. "Naruto, he was! And I was trying t-to, I didn't mean to!" She said as she bowed her head over and over to The Hokage hoping he wasn't angry that she had interrupted his announcement.
Sarutobi watched her display interest in his eyes as she had landed before him right in front of Sasuke who had a look of annoyance on his face at her antics as she had interrupted it right as he was about to announce him.
After several moments of watching on as she continued to apologize as she continued he put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down an amused look on his face at her display.
"Sandaime-sama, I believe you were about to announce who was going to be under your tutelage." Kakashi said breaking the mood having not expected that out of Sakura, Naruto yes, but never would he believe Sakura would pull a stunt like that at such a big moment.
"Ah, yes. And I believe I just now know who it is I shall train, the person who shall be my Fourth Apprentice and I see them clearly who is worthy of it now." He said with a smile as he looked on.
Many of the gathered shinobi glanced about trying to figure out who it was he saw as it could be anyone. But none of them realized or noticed that his eyes the had never left the person who had appeared in front of him
"I have chosen my apprentice," Sarutobi announced to the village as he stood beside the selected person he had deemed worthy to be it. "Sakura Haruno!" He proclaimed and lifted her hand up signifying his choice.
"W-What?" Sakura said her eyes widening at the announcement.
"What?" Kakashi said as well at the unexpected announcement.
"What!" Sasuke shouted not believing what he had just witnessed
"What?!" Naruto exclaimed poking his stick covered head out from the branches at what he had just heard before he slipped and fell off.
"WHAT?!" Ino shouted loudest of all her voice echoing throughout the entire village