Kakashi found the meeting boring. He had discussed with Shikaku beforehand to make sure the Hokage wouldn't change the 'Konoha rookie 9' teams without him knowing. Kakashi wanted the students he had in the past.

Despite trying really hard to hide it, it was obvious Iruka was uneased when he got to Shikamaru's name. The boy was the son of Shikaku, who was evidently present for the meeting. Iruka was probably intimated. Meanwhile, Shikaku didn't even flinch at his son's name, his expression staying the same, ever-so serious yet relaxed. Kurenai held her breath, as if Iruka would say something bad.

Kakashi understood why all of this when Iruka talked.

"He is very intelligent, when he wants to apply himself. Motivation is an issue."

Asuma frowned, and Kakashi realized that even if he hadn't lived a past life like Kakashi did, Asuma had figured out his Genin students.

"So, with Shikamaru and Choji, I'll face motivation issues, mostly? I mean, they are made to collaborate." Everyone looked at him. Asuma laughed. "What? Ino-Shika-Cho was always led by a Sarutobi." He looked at Shikaku. "Am I right? I'm assuming I'll be their team leader."

Shikaku smiled. "Of course. That's one of the teams we settled on."

Iruka shrugged, continuing on with his list. Suddenly, Kakashi listened very closely.

"Uchiha Sasuke. Not as impressive as Itachi, but still very good. Highest score in all competitions."

Minato looked at Kakashi. "Even if he has his clan around to help him with his Sharingan, I thought you would be well-placed to teach him a thing or two as well."

Kakashi felt himself blush behind his mask. He wasn't called Kakashi of the Sharingan for nothing, but it felt weird that Minato would ask him this. He wasn't sure if Fugaku would like the choice of sensei, but Kakashi was happy to have Sasuke in his team. Maybe Shikaku had to work hard on this one. But this time, he wouldn't let the boy leave Konoha for any reason, whether it be to get revenge or not.

Realizing they were waiting for him to say something, Kakashi just nodded with his usual nonchalance.

Iruka continued.

"Then, we have Uzumaki Arashi and Naruto."

Everyone stayed silent when hearing the names of the Hokage's children. Minato broke the silence quite fast.

"I want them separated. I thought of having Arashi with Sasuke and one of the girls, either Sakura or Niko."

Kakashi frowned, feeling the panic fill his body. He looked at Shikaku, trying to be subtle about his disagreement, but enough for the Hokage's Advisor to pick it up. Shikaku knew who was on his team in his previous life, and looked uneasy with this divergence from it.

"Uh, I probably misunderstood you, Lord Hokage, I thought it was the opposite. Did I mix your sons up? I thought it was Naruto with Kakashi, Arashi with Yamato."

Shikaku played naïve, clearly. He would never mix the boys up. He knew Naruto well enough to not confuse him with Arashi.

Minato looked at his assistant with a look even Kakashi didn't know how to interpret.

"I changed my mind."

Kakashi exchanged a look with Shikaku. The Hokage clearly had no idea about this, but Kakashi didn't want to be stuck with Arashi. Not that he didn't like him, but he and Naruto had that special bond.

Kakashi looked at his former sensei. "With all due respect, would you mind if we looked at my team formation later in private?"

Minato looked exasperated, but nodded. Kakashi was pushing him and making Minato, Shikaku and himself look bad.

To prevent the Uzumaki conflict from going further, Shikaku skipped to the next student on Iruka's list.

"To finish the formation of Team Ino-Shika-Cho, we have Yamanaka Ino. Iruka?"

"Yeah. Ino is fierce. She's a little obsessed with Sasuke and Sai, so not being on their teams will help. She's book smart and good at leading others."

It made sense to Kakashi, because her father was Inoichi, the leader of Torture & Intelligence.

Iruka finished presenting the report of another student Kakashi didn't know and will probably not be in the next Chunin Exam. Then, Minato talked.

"We have the intel team with Asuma, which will be Team 10. Kurenai in tracking, Teams 8. I'll sort my sons' places with Kakashi, Shikaku and Yamato. We thought of having Yamato with Sai because he'll trust you more than anyone here since you worked with his brother Shin. It leaves us a few students to consider for the remaining teams."

Yamato immediately asked for Tsubane, which Kakashi expected due to her apparent ability to use Wood Release. It left Kakashi the door wide open to confirm Sakura on his team. He didn't know who Niko was, but didn't want her at all.

The academy teachers and all the jonin left, leaving Kakashi with Yamato and the Hokage.

"What was that, Kakashi?" Minato immediately asked, as if he had forgotten that Yamato was there.

"I didn't want you to look bad or anything, but I thought I could have Naruto in my team."

Yamato shrugged. "I don't mind either Naruto or Arashi. I'm not familiar with them, though. I just overheard that one's personality is after his mother, the other his father, but I don't know which is which."

Kakashi let a laugh slip his mouth. They didn't even look alike!

Minato continued. "You're too close to Naruto. I thought it could be a good thing to change it the other way around."

Kakashi had known Naruto for more than 25 years, while Arashi didn't even exist in the previous timeline. Arashi only knew Kakashi from the times Minato invited him to eat with his family. Arashi didn't even know Kakashi was the Hound Anbu tasked to look after him when he was a young child, while Naruto had figured it out as soon as he could talk.

Kakashi decided to plead. "Please, Minato, trust me and Shikaku. I know how to handle Naruto. How to get to him, how to motivate him. Yamato doesn't know one more than the other, so it wouldn't change a thing for him. Besides, from what I've heard them saying during dinner when you invited me, Arashi is closer to Sai than Naruto, and Naruto and Sasuke are very close, it'll only make sense to have them like that."

Shikaku seemed pleased with Kakashi's arguments. Minato sighed.

"I guess you know what you're doing and it's another one of your decisions I don't understand but always seems to be the right thing to do. Shikaku, do you think there is an issue with having Naruto with Kakashi and Arashi with Yamato?"

Shikaku didn't seem to know where to place himself, but said, "Kakashi presented valuable arguments that I think we should consider."

Minato nodded and with another sigh, said, "Ok then, you win. Team 7 is composed of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura, Team 6 is Arashi, Sai and Tsubane. You're both dismissed. Shikaku, how long until my next meeting?"

Kakashi left before Shikaku could even look at his schedule.