Third-Person POV

🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃Five days earlier🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃

"Always in your head, aren't you, Hisao?" someone called out to him.

The android did not even realize that he was already outside the Academy. He turned to the direction of the voice and saw that it was Kosetsu Heiwa. She was taller than average height, with a mature yet athletic figure. She had black eyes and long illustrious hair of the same colour, tied in a high ponytail above her forehead protector. She also wore two earrings with a strange black symbol on it that resembled a black, shining sun.

"Hello there, Kosetsu," he waved at her.

"Fancy a drink with me?" she smirked.

"I see. So you don't think they're ready," Kosetsu summed up Hisao's dilemma, sipping on her wine.

Hisao nodded. "I just think it's too soon for them. One C-rank mission gone wrong doesn't mean they know what to expect."

"What about the girl?" Kosetsu asked. "From what I heard she came in from the Anbu Division. She must be a notch above the boys, right?"

"Asami is a different case," Hisao drank some more of his wine. "At any rate, she can't be sent on her own; a full team is required to take the Chunin Exams, after all."

"That's true."

"Well, what about you?"

"Hm?"

"What about your team? Are you going to allow your students to participate?"

"Well, I doubt I could stop Kazue even if I wanted," she remarked, "and Tensho and Jin both seem willing (the former more than the latter). It's as you said, one screw up on a C-rank mission that results in a serious fight doesn't make them ready ... but I'm willing to bet those three have a potential I haven't seen yet."

"If that's what you believe," Hisao stood up from his chair. "There is a meeting for all Jonin that's going to happen soon. The Hokage will be discussing the Chunin Exams further there. Will you be attending it?"

"Heyy," she smiled, standing up, "I was just gonna ask you that. Don't worry, I'll pay."

Stepping outside of the bar, she answered Hisao's question. "Yes, I'll be attending the Jonin meeting, too, if only to hear more about the Exams. They say it's different with everyone held. I imagine you'll be attending it as well to give yourself a clear of idea of what you might be sending them into."

"Indeed," Hisao answered. "I have questions that need answering."

They parted ways after walking about Konoha for a bit.

"I suppose I will catch you on the flip side," Hisao said, waving.

Kosetsu, who was waving back, stopped short. "What?"

✧✧✧

Hisao's home was barely anything to fancy. He lived in a small apartment close to the border of Konoha and only had one room, which was his bedroom.

What's more, the only thing that could be found in his bedroom was a bed, with a lamp beside it, and a bookshelf with two photographs on its top surface, one of them was shattered.

His only means of passing the time were regularly checking his system interface and reading a book series the Hokage had recommended to him, called Makeout by the legendary Toad Sage Jiraiya. Hisao had initially found the text and premise to be surprising but as time went on he actually found the story to be very interesting and was already on the third book called Innocence. This is what he did for the moment being until the time for the council was nigh.

In the middle of his reading, he glanced at the photos on his bookshelf. There were four people standing there. One of them he knew was him when he was younger, the other three were people he could not recognize but could feel almost something of an emotional attachment to them. It sparked an old sensation in him.

Then he glanced at the second photo and this one was of his current team. He stood behind the three rookies, head-rubbing Asami and Yuura who were on his right and left, respectively. Iroko was at the centre and he shot out two very expressive V-signs at the camera.

I've been given nothing but second chances, and that was only because I had failed the first time. But this team I lead now...

He recalled the words of Yuura after the first mission: "even if things didn't go as planned, we survived and came out knowing and understanding more, and we have you to thank for taking us out in the first place. You haven't failed us at all, in fact, we're grateful to have you as a teacher."

And then what Kosetsu said earlier: "It's as you said, one screw up on a C-rank mission that results in a serious fight doesn't make them ready ... but I'm willing to bet those three have a potential I haven't seen yet."

...perhaps they don't need a second chance as I did. Maybe they won't ever. Maybe I just need to trust them that first time.

Upon reaching the Academy in the evening he found to his surprise that Kosetsu was just arriving as well.

"Fancy meeting you here," she said to him.

"What do you mean? We were both planning on coming here around the same time, although I must admit I'm surprised we got here at the exact same moment."

Kosetsu chuckled. "It's just a joke, Hisao."

Hisao felt flabbergasted. "Oh-oh, yes, of course, I see now."

"Ready to go in?"

"Indeed."

There was a surprising amount of jonin present at the council this time around in the underground level of the Academy. Kosetsu recalled there being only as few as ten the last time but here there was close to as many as thirty.

Just how many genin are going to be participating in this year's Exams?

"There's quite a gathering here," Hisao commented.

"I know," she replied.

"Ah, so you two made it after all!!" said a relatively short woman, approaching them. She had long and spiky brown hair and interesting periwinkle coloured eyes. Her expression also made her appear as though she was almost always drunk.

"And here I thought Issun-boshi and I would be the only jonin-sensei's of a rookie team present," she continued.

"Mei Sarutobi," Kosetsu greeted her. "Issun-boshi's here, too?"

"Correct."

Kosetsu and Mei turned in the direction of the elderly voice and saw a dwarf-sized old man sitting rather comfortably on Hisao's head. He had light, balding green hair, wrinkles existing all around his face and virtually closed eyes.

"Issun-boshi!" Hisao voiced his surprise. I barely sensed his chakra!

"Hello there, Hisao, Kosetsu." He hopped off the nindroid's head and onto the ground, revealing his full height to be no more than around three feet. "It's been quite some time since we last spoke."

"Yes, it has," Hisao replied. "How have the two of you been?"

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"Been sober for way too long!" Mei complained. "My landlord forced me to throw out all my booze and has forbidden me to bring in more. I've even had to lay off of drinking outside in order to train my squad for these Exams. A real pain, if you ask me."

"Sacrifices must be made, Mei," said Issun-boshi. "For the greater good."

"Sure thing, Kobito," Mei dismissed him.

"From what you said, can I assume you're recommending them for the Exams?" Kosestu asked.

"Huh? Oh yeah, they're all more than ready!" said Mei. "I'm 90% certain they'll all pass. What about the two of you?"

Kosetsu looked at Hisao then back at Mei. "I'm considering it. But first I'd like to know more about it."

"A wise decision," Issun-boshi remarked. "And you, Hisao?"

"I have yet to decide as of now," Hisao replied. "But I, too, would like to know more about the Chunin Exams before I can make a judgement."

Issun-boshi nodded. "As the sensei of these tadpoles, a great responsibility falls on us. The choice to hinder or support their futures is in our hands. We all must tread carefully. If we make a mistake, it could have lasting consequences for the future."

Hisao mentally agreed.

"All right, gather round, everyone!" Kakashi called out. He stood in a chair behind a desk on the other side of the room. The Will of Fire symbol was hung at the end of the wall on a huge tapestry.

The jonin all gathered together in uniform succession and stood together as a solid group, save for one that stood leaning against a wall.

"Thank you," he continued. "Now, I'm assuming you all know why you're here. It's that time of the year again: The Chunin Selection Exams. An opportunity for genin to become chunin, and with the aftermath of The Fourth Great Ninja War and the outcome of the last Exams, we're in a higher need.

"That being said, I'm not forcing anyone here to recommend any student of theirs they deem unready. The objective of this council I'm hosting is to provide you with the information you need in order to make the decision in your own time. By the time this meeting is adjourned, you have till the end of the week to give me your decision, individually, by meeting me in the Office on the floor above. This is so as not to pressure or shame anyone here. Any questions you have will also be answered here--

"I have a question."

Some jonin were surprised to hear the bass-toned voice, others shook, and Hisao and Kosetsu's attention was caught because of it.

The voice belonged to the one jonin that did not join the others and stood against the wall with a prideful flare. He had spiky burnt orange hair that he wore in a short dad-cut and a huge beard that framed his somewhat youthful face. His eyes, red in colour, were sharp and seemed to pierce through everything. Though he wore the traditional jonin flak jacket he had an added cape with flame designs on it and the symbol of some clan imprinted on it. His build was massive.

Voices from the jonin erupted.

"It's him!"

"Is it really?!"

"He's been away on so many missions, I kinda forgot what he looked like!"

That guy... "Hisao?" Kosetsu asked.

"That is the new Jonin Commander, Kazuki Katsumi, I believe," he answered.

She raised an eyebrow. "Katsumi, huh?" Ah, now I see it.

Kakashi sighed. "Yes, Kazuki?"

"Why now? Why host the Chunin Exams now only three months after the last Exams? Don't you think that's too soon?"

"Under normal circumstances, yes," Kakashi replied, "but the last Exams had proven to produce too few chunin for the Leaf. And with the lack of participants we've gotten these last five years because of the numerous casualties from the War and the halt in the Academy's system to refurbish the economy, it leaves our forces vulnerable. We may be under a period of peace but, not to be pessimistic, who knows how long it'll last?"

"Hmph, you talk as though another threat approaches," said Kazuki.

"One can never be too careful..." Kakashi half-murmured.

Hisao adjusted his shades.

Kazuki scoffed. "Fine then, continue."

Kakashi gave a closed-eye smile. "Now then, what's there to know about these upcoming Exams. For starters, the Sand and Cloud Villages have agreed to send their genin to participate."

"The Sand and Cloud Villages?" Mei asked.

"That's right. I believe they have three teams coming from the Sand and two from the Cloud, in one of each there is a Rookie Genin team. With that being the case, this second hosting will be much larger in scale. As for what challenges you can expect......"

Kakashi then went on to discuss what challenges the genin would experience, the stages and how the final exam would play out. Some jonin took down notes, while others asked questions. Hisao could hear the hesitancy in some of their voices as they wondered if their students (some who had been genin for as long as three years) would be ready.

"Does everyone understand?" Kakashi asked when he had finished explaining everything. "Are there any objections of any sort?"

The group of jonin remained silent. Kazuki did not say anything.

"Very well, then. Then this meeting has been adjourned. As I stated earlier, you have until the end of the week to meet me if you wish to recommend any of your students, however, if anyone would like to recommend them now, you are free to do so. Anyone?"

The group of jonin acted shifty and uncomfortable. No one was willing.

I see... Kakashi thought, until-

"I will!" Hisao called out, stepping out of the group.

Kakashi's eyes widened.

"Hisao?" Kosetsu asked. "But, I thought--"

"That was before," he looked back at her. "But now, I'm certain."

He turned to face Kakashi.

"Are you sure, Hisao?" The Hokage questioned with wonder. "You know your students are still Rookies, right?"

Hisao formed the half-ram seal. "I lead Squad 12. Asami Senju, Iroko Nakata, Yuura Kairi. I, Hisao, recommend all three of these genin for the Chunin Selection Exams."

There were gasps and "Wh-what?"'s of all kinds among the jonin.

"And my squad is number 16," came Mei from beside Hisao, forming the half-ram seal as well. "Sayo Atsuhiro, Baku Hatake, Ken Inuzuka. And now I, Mei Sarutobi, recommend all three."

Even more gasps were sounded.

Issun-boshi, who was on Mei's head spoke next: "And my squad is number 9. Yohei Namaki, Fumino Warai, Daito Odachi. And now I, Issun-boshi Kobito, recommend all three."

Kakashi remained silent. The scenario that occurred just now reminded him too much of the past. Perhaps Hisao would supersede him in the future.

Kosetsu came last. Well then, with the three of you already recommending, how could I not? And besides, it would mean I didn't believe in them. "Finally, I lead Squad 4. Jin Mitarashi, Kazue Katsumi, Tensho Hyu--" "AH, SO IT'S YOU!!"

Kosetsu's declaration was broken by Kazuki. He left the wall and started marching towards Kosetsu. Each of his footsteps left a resounding vibration on the floor.

"At first I thought he had lied to me and didn't actually make it into the Ninja Course since none of the other Rookie Sensei said his name, but, no he did, and it's you that's his teacher!"

He stood towering over her, almost a whole foot, though Kosestu did not seem so intimidated.

"A woman...," he breathed, his eyes glaring.

"Is that a problem?" Kosestu asked with a slight hint of attitude.

"Calm down, Kazuki," Kakashi intervened, standing from his chair.

"Relax, 6th," said the Jonin Commander. "I just want to hear one thing from her mouth." He returned his attention to Kosetsu. "As you can probably tell, Kazue is my son, and as his father it's my duty to know his strengths and weaknesses. Right now, his weaknesses far outnumber his strengths, so if it was up to me, he would go nowhere near those Exams. But you recommended him, so it would appear you know better than the father. Tell me, why do you think Kazue has what it takes to participate?"

"I don't," she replied almost as soon as he had finished talking.

The join tensed up. They couldn't believe someone like her was practically talking back to the most powerful Jonin in the Village.

Veins started popping on Kazuki's forehead. "What?"

"I said I don't believe that Kazue has what it takes either," she continued, "but I still recommended him for two reasons. One: out of the three in my squad he has shown the most resolve, so much so it was almost daunting and Two: I have faith in him. Those two reasons go hand-in-hand, you see. I can guarantee he himself is as brutally aware of his own strengths and weaknesses as you are, and yet he was still more than willing to thrust himself forward. You as his father and I as his teacher doesn't really matter in the end. It's his choice. At the end of the day, all we can do is have faith in him.

"In any case, since you're not his sensei and you have a reputation to uphold, you don't have any right to stop me."

Hisao smiled. Kosestu...

She walked past Kazuki to stand before Kakashi and formed the half-ram seal. "Finally, I lead Squad 4. Jin Mitarashi, Kazue Katsumi, Tensho Hyuga. And now I, Kosetsu Heiwa, recommend all three of these genin for the Chunin Selection Exams."

"Are these your final decisions?" Kakashi addressed the four Jonin-sensei. They all nodded together at the same time.

"Then so be it."

Kazuki, meanwhile, was staring holes at Kosetsu's back. "Kosestu Heiwa. I won't forget this."

He marched out of the room, jonin clearing the way, so at to avoid being in front of him at all costs.

"Well, I can certainly see where he gets his grumpiness from," she commented.

Kazuki impatiently stood alone in an alleyway. But in the next half of a second, there was someone else there.

They were completely clad in black and wore a Gyodo mask.

"How did it go?" they asked.

"Change of plans," said Kazuki, "Kazue has been accepted into the Chunin Exams, and as such you'll be the one to train him, whether he likes it or not."

"Is that so? Guess the original plan went out the window, huh? But why can't you do it yourself?"

"I'm the Jonin Commander: I have too much work on my hands. Not to mention, if word was to get out, expectations would be set high for Kazue since he was trained by the strongest jonin in the Leaf. The tests could be alternated to unfairly challenge him specifically and it would damage my reputation as it means I was playing favourites."

They sighed. "Fair enough."

"If that boy is going to participate, he's going to do it right. I won't have a failure of a son on my hands," Kazuki gritted his teeth. "He WILL pass these Exams. I'm trusting you to train him well."

"Will do."

And they were gone, leaving Kazuki to fume on his own.

🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃Two days later🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃

"Do your best, and remember to look out for each other. That's all. You're free to go," then Hisao said, "but Asami. Could you remain behind for a moment?"

"Ooooh, someone's in trouble!" Iroko whispered to her.

After the two boys were gone, Asami remained with Hisao.

"For the record," Hisao started, "you're definitely not in trouble."

She did not say anything in return.

The nindroid cleared his throat. "As to why I called you back, I've decided I'd like to personally train you for the Exams."

To this, Asami raised her brows. "Why?"

Hisao once again remembered that photo on his bookshelf. "Let's just say, I have a jutsu I'd like to teach you that only you can learn."

She looked back at the exit of the District where Iroko and Yuura left and back at Hisao.

"What about them?" she asked.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry, if I were you," he assured her. "Strangely enough, I believe they'll be just fine. So, do you agree?"

She bowed her head, contemplating.

"I have one request," she said.

Hisao became interested. "And what might that be?"

"That you answer any question about you I have."

"Oh?" I suppose it was only a matter of time until one of them got suspicious. "Very well then. I agree."

She nodded back.

"Now then," Hisao held out his hand, something white beginning to gather around it, "would you like to know a little bit more about this jutsu?"