Chapter 18

Kabuto Yakushi paused, his pen hovering mid-air as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the laboratory. The quiet, rhythmic sound was out of place in the normally isolated space. Slowly, he straightened, his keen eyes flicking toward the door. When the footsteps stopped, the door slid open, and Kabuto immediately rose, bowing low.

"Hokage-sama," he greeted, his voice smooth and deferential.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped into the room, his presence commanding without effort. But Kabuto's gaze didn't linger on the Hokage for long. His attention shifted to the figure trailing just behind him. She was young, perhaps sixteen, with a composed air that belied her unnatural stillness. Her eyes, pitch black with the telltale mark of Edo Tensei, were a stark contrast to her otherwise vibrant appearance.

The girl's straight brown hair framed her face in a neat chin-length bob, her purple cheek markings adding an odd symmetry to her otherwise youthful features. She wore a long-sleeved black top and a light purple apron-skirt that hung over black shorts. Red stockings climbed her legs to her thighs, matched by a small red bracelet on her wrist.

Kabuto's eyes narrowed slightly, curiosity flickering behind his glasses. He inclined his head toward her before returning his attention to Hiruzen.

"Kabuto," the Hokage said, his voice calm yet firm, "this is Rin. A young medic-nin. Her presence here is to remain as secret as yours. Starting today, you will teach her everything you know — and she'll also attend the lessons I'm giving to you and Nono.

Hiroto Sarutobi leaned against the wooden post of the veranda, a steaming cup of tea in his hand. The courtyard before him buzzed with the laughter and shouts of children, Konohamaru and Naruto lost in their world of make-believe. Konohamaru was crouched low, hands flashing through a series of hand seals that bore no resemblance to actual jutsu, while Naruto held an invisible scroll aloft, bellowing orders with the authority of a self-proclaimed Hokage.

"What do you think they're doing this time?" came his wife's voice, low and teasing, from beside him. She leaned closer, her shoulder brushing against his arm as she craned her neck to watch.

Hiroto watched as Konohamaru leapt into the air with a battle cry, landing in a heap of flailing limbs. Naruto doubled over in laughter before launching his own overdramatic attack roll. Hiroto exhaled slowly, savoring the moment. "I've no idea, darling," he said, his tone laced with amusement.

His wife chuckled, a soft, melodic sound that stirred something in him. "Whatever it is, it's working. Konohamaru hasn't been this carefree in years. Less sulking. Fewer tantrums. Even his teachers are noticing."

Hiroto nodded, taking another sip of his tea. "Naruto's been good for him. And it's freed up Ebisu, too. The poor man's finally off babysitting duty and back to doing what he does best."

She turned to him with a curious smile, her head tilted slightly. "Ebisu?"

"Konohamaru's 'elite tutor,'" Hiroto explained with a wry smirk. "Also his undercover bodyguard. One of my best Anbus. He's been shadowing the boy for years, pretending to be a strict, bookish teacher while secretly keeping an eye out for threats. I think the man nearly cried when I told him I'd take over full responsibility. He's already back on infiltrate and assassinate missions. Poor Iwa nins."

His wife laughed, shaking her head. "Well, Konohamaru's lucky to have you now. You've given him what he really needed. A father who's actually here."

Hiroto glanced at her, the softness in her tone tugging at him. He set his tea aside and reached for her hand, letting his fingers trace over hers. "It's been good for me, too," he admitted, his voice low, thoughtful. "For all of us."

A triumphant yell broke through their quiet moment as Naruto and Konohamaru collapsed onto the grass, clutching their sides as they laughed uncontrollably. Hiroto's lips quirked into a rare smile as he watched them.

"You've been smiling more," his wife whispered, leaning into him. Her hand slid up to his shoulder, her touch warm and firm as she began to knead the tension there. "And we've had more time for us. Haven't we?"

Hiroto raised an eyebrow, glancing down at her with a hint of amusement. "Oh? And what exactly are you trying to say?"

She leaned closer, her lips brushing against his ear as her voice dipped lower. "I'm saying… that you've been so focused on Konohamaru, I think you've forgotten there's someone else who needs your attention." Her hand moved from his shoulder, slipping beneath the collar of his shirt to trail along his neck, her fingers warm against his skin.

Hiroto chuckled, setting his cup down with an exaggerated sigh of mock surrender. "And here I thought I retired to relax."

His wife laughed, her voice soft but rich with mischief. "Oh, darling," she murmured, pressing a kiss to his jaw, "I think you're about to learn a whole new kind of work-life balance."

The sound of children's laughter drifted in from the courtyard, but Hiroto's world narrowed to the warmth of his wife against him and the promise in her touch. Retirement, he thought, wasn't just the best decision he'd ever made—it was turning out to be downright perfect. Well retirement - he was still a regular jounin, the Sarutobi Clan head, and an external consultant for the Anbus. And maybe…he thought, as he watched Naruto and Knohamaru play…maybe he would even take a genin team ? Children were so cute in innocent… — —

"Hit them in the balls!" Naruto bellowed, throwing his hands in the air like he'd just announced the grand strategy to win every war.

Konohamaru gasped, his eyes as wide as dinner plates. "The… the balls?"

"Yes, the balls!" Naruto yelled, crouching down and jabbing a finger at Konohamaru's chest for emphasis. "Right in the family jewels. You want to stop someone in their tracks? You don't aim for the stomach, the arms, or the head. You aim for the center of their universe!"

Konohamaru nodded furiously, his heart pounding. This was the kind of wisdom Ebisu didn't teach. "But," Naruto continued, holding up a finger as if preparing to share the true forbidden art, "if you really want to mess someone up, you don't stop there. You go for the combo move."

"The… combo?" Konohamaru asked, trembling with awe.

Naruto grinned like a devil and leaned in close. "First, you fake like you're surrendering. Hands up, tears in your eyes—make it look real. Then—BAM!—pocket sand! Right in their face. Then you scream their crush's name. Loud. They're coughing, they're blind, they're confused, and that's when you hit 'em where it counts. HARD."

Konohamaru's jaw dropped. "That's… genius!"

He was practically vibrating with admiration. "Big bro, you're… you're amazing. How do you know all this?"

"Years of practice, my little disciple," Naruto said, folding his arms smugly. "You think I survived Konoha's bullies by being nice? No way. These are the tricks of the trade. Passed down from mischief-maker to mischief-maker. I'm just the best at it."

Hiruzen stood alone in his laboratory, the soft hum of the lamp above providing a warm, steady light over the workspace. A vast improvement over the glaring neon tubes that had once dominated the room. Down here, the world outside might as well not exist, and that suited him fine.

He had sent Nono back early tonight—a decision that had its perks. Naruto would no doubt be thrilled to spend more time with her, his growing attachment to her unmistakable. "Roommate," the boy called her, but even Hiruzen could see what she'd become to him. A mother figure, in all but name. He smiled faintly. It was one of his better decisions. "Nono-san", "Uncle Jiraiya" and "Student Konohamaru". The boy was happier. Still dysfunctional — that took a lot of time — but happier. The Hiruzen part of him felt content.

On the metal slab before him, a white sheet stretched over what most would assume was a corpse. He glanced at it briefly before his eyes shifted to the unassuming clay pot on the counter. Sealed within was a fraction of the Kyubi's chakra. It pulsed faintly in his senses, raw and endless, a reminder of the resources at his disposal. With the natural energy it generated, it could sustain five Edo Tensei resurrections. It was already fueling Nono, Rin, and the slumbering Tobirama. So, two and a half - three when Tobirama sensei was awake. Only three.

Shin… After a few days back, Sai friend's had requested to return to eternal sleep. Sai hadn't taken it well, but it was going better.

Strange, how some souls clung to death even when offered a second chance.

There was Shin, then there was Tobirama. The man had practically burst into action the moment he'd been reanimated, his joy at being of use to the village almost infectious. Almost. Not everyone shared his enthusiasm, though. Hashirama and Mito had smiled kindly, warmly, and refused to stay. Gabriel wouldn't have cared, would still have used them — but the Hiruzen part of him…

And Minato… a sigh escaped him. He'd tried, of course. Bringing back the Fourth Hokage had been an obvious choice, but the Shinigami's stomach held him fast. No surprises there, but it didn't make the failure any less bitter.

His gaze lingered on the clay pot. Perhaps some of this chakra could be better used. Maintaining Edo Tensei resurrections was practical, but he was playing a larger game now, one that required more… experimental solutions.

"I hope this works," he muttered, pulling the white sheet from the slab.

Beneath it lay an identical version of himself.

Hiruzen—or Gabriel—stared at the clone. Naked and unmoving, it looked… alive. The craftsmanship was flawless. Every wrinkle, every line of his face was there, a perfect recreation of his body.

Flesh clones were messy work. He'd used two prisoners as raw materials, and even now, the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. But necessity rarely left room for morality, and the results spoke for themselves. And it was quite poetic - how the two "scientists" who "studied" children — butchers, really — from Root had finished. He leaned closer, his sharp eyes taking in the details: the texture of the skin, the faint calluses on the hands. Every inch of it was perfect, disturbingly so.

There were still tests to run, precautions to ensure it would survive what came next. He adjusted his glasses, his expression a mixture of grim focus and satisfaction. Three weeks - maybe four ?

Kakashi Hatake stood before the Hokage, his posture loose—this time more from exhaustion than his usual casual demeanor. The aftermath of dismantling five Root hideouts back-to-back clung to him—scratches on his armor, the faint tang of ash on his gloves, and a heaviness in his visible eye that even he couldn't conceal. Root operatives had fought hard, but the mission was done.

And, if Kakashi were honest, done more smoothly than he had anticipated. The Hokage's plan had been nothing short of brilliant. Of the nearly two hundred Root operatives—including civilian assistants and spies—one hundred and seventy had been neutralized without a single drop of blood spilled. They were now undergoing psychological evaluation, pending integration into ANBU. The remaining operatives, however, had proven far more difficult—either too broken by Danzo's conditioning to rehabilitate, or severed from his Mother Seal entirely, making them unpredictable and dangerous. One of his subordinates, Hare, had nearly been blown to bits by one of Danzo's posthumous "screw you" traps—a final reminder that the old bastard's pettiness extended well beyond the grave. Kakashi had been so enraged that he'd marched straight to Ibiki, the poor soul stuck interrogating Edo Tensei Danzo, and asked, deadpan, if he could deck the reanimated corpse.

Ibiki, naturally, had said no. Rules and dignity (Kakashi had laughed at Ibiki using this word — and if he did not knew Ibiki better, he would have swore the man was cracking a joke) and all that. Kakashi had walked out grumbling about bureaucracy and muttering that if Anko had been in charge, she'd not only have let him but probably offered to hold Danzo down for him. Not that Danzo needed to be held - but Anko would still have choked him while Kakashi hit the bastard.

But he hadn't lost Hare—not even a single agent had so much as a scratch (well, what counted as scratches for Anbus), let alone a missing toe. An impressive feat.

Thanks to Jiraiya's seals on Sai during Danzo's fall, most of the operatives had been captured within the village, and the intelligence from Danzo's reanimated corpse had led them to the rest—scattered across outposts hidden with meticulous care. Each hideout told its own story of Root's cruelty, but one facility in particular lingered in Kakashi's mind: a laboratory for human experimentation on children. They had dismantled the operation and saved what lives they could, but walking away from that place had left a weight even Kakashi found difficult to shake.

Kakashi sighed…Could not have gone better — a bit like a goodby present. This operation marked a turning point for him. It would be one of his final missions as an ANBU captain, a role that had defined him for years. A decade, even. In just a few weeks, he would leave behind the mask of ANBU and step into a new responsibility, one that seemed no less daunting—becoming Naruto's sensei.

He delivered his report with practiced efficiency, every detail sharp and precise, his voice steady despite the weight of what he described. When he finished, he gave a crisp salute.

"Good work, Kakashi," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, nodding approvingly as he set the report aside. "You've done the village proud."

Kakashi smiled behind his mask. His Kage was congratulating him!

"There's another matter," the Hokage began, his voice just casual enough to make Kakashi suspicious. "As you know, we're lacking an ANBU Commander. Hiroto's decision to quit will come in effect tomorrow. And you're actually the ANBU Vice-Commander. What do you think about replacing him?"

Kakashi's visible eye widened slightly, though his posture remained as relaxed as ever. Inside, however, he groaned. More work. Of course.

"Ah," he said after a beat, scratching the back of his head. "That's… quite a responsibility. I'm honored, Hokage-sama, truly honored, but I'm afraid I'm not the right man for the job."

"Oh?" The Hokage leaned forward, resting his chin on his interlaced fingers. "And why is that?"

Kakashi hesitated. Did he dare ? Well…The Hokage appreciated Naruto's pranks, and he had tolerated Jiraiya for decades ? So…

"Well, you see," Kakashi said, his voice perfectly straight, "my mask maintenance is extremely time-consuming. If I were ANBU Commander, I might have to settle for lower-thread-count fabric, and frankly, I'm not sure Konoha is ready for that."

The Hokage's lips twitched. "Kakashi, your mask survived S-rank battles without so much as a wrinkle. Try again."

"Well…" Kakashi paused, as if searching for something that might actually work. "I think I might be cursed. Strange things keep happening—birds landing on my shoulder, dogs showing up when I try to meditate. One of them even talks. A pug, of all things. Suspicious, no?"

"Extremely," the Hokage said, raising an eyebrow. "Next?"

Kakashi sighed theatrically. "Fine. In that case, I've been experimenting with my culinary skills. ANBU duty would severely limit my ability to perfect my soufflé recipe."

The Hokage chuckled, shaking his head. "I could spend all day listening to this, Kakashi, but let's get to the truth. If I ordered you to take the position, you'd do it. And you'd excel. But I won't force you. So, tell me: why don't you want the job?"

Kakashi's demeanor shifted slightly, the teasing edge softening as he met the Hokage's gaze. "It's not that I don't want it. I'm honored, truly. ANBU is my family. I would love to be their Commander. But…" He hesitated, his voice growing quieter. "I'd rather be Naruto's jonin sensei. For…For…I owe that to him. And to Minato-sensei."

The humor drained from the Hokage's expression, replaced with a thoughtful look. He studied Kakashi for a long moment before exhaling. "Alright, Kakashi. Let's make a deal."

Kakashi tilted his head. "A deal?"

"You'll act as provisional ANBU Commander for the next two weeks," Hiruzen said firmly. "The genin exams are scheduled for then. Afterward, I'll assign Naruto's team a jonin. If you think my choice isn't up to the task, you can tell me, and I'll appoint you instead. If not, you'll remain ANBU Commander. Fair?"

Kakashi considered. Two weeks? That was nothing. And when the time came, it would be easy to claim the role of Naruto's teacher. Nobody else could handle Naruto and Sasuke—and whoever the third wheel ended up being—better than him. He just had to say "Nope. I'm better".

"Deal," he said simply.

Hiruzen smiled, his amusement returning. "Good. And Kakashi?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama?"

"I look forward to hearing about your soufflés in two weeks."

Kakashi saluted, turning to leave, his lips quirking beneath his mask. He'd secured his path, and for now, all he had to do was endure. Two weeks. Easy. Probably.

Right?

Speculation time, now !
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I'm eager to see you speculate on what will happen next - discussions make me happy ! I'm still publishing advanced chapters for the Jonin Tier, which includes access to four exclusive advanced chapters. Plus, one new chapter is released every Saturday (Chapter 23 comes out soon!). I've also added a new option with 's latest feature—you can now unlock early chapters individually! Currently, Chapter 18 and Chapter 19 are available here for direct access. There will still be exclusive chapters available in advance for Jonin Tier members, not available for non- members.