Kyōichi, Konoha’s Life Mentor

"Sensei is so slow! I wasn't even late, yet he's late. How annoying!" Obito complained.

Kakashi glanced over, not knowing how to respond.

You're one to talk about being late?

But it was true.

As a jonin, punctuality was an essential professional principle. How could someone be this late?

Could he be observing us from hiding?

He gripped his White Light Sabre, secretly scanning the surroundings.

After a moment, Kakashi's body stiffened. He slowly turned around to look at a tree not far behind him.

"Good afternoon, everyone."

In the next instant.

Minato appeared before their eyes.

So fast!

Kakashi was shocked.

This speed...

Among all the people he had met before, only Kyōichi had such terrifying Body Flicker technique. Now, he had seen the second one.

"Sensei, you're very late!" Obito shouted angrily.

"Haha, actually I arrived very early. I was just observing you all. Clearly, only Kakashi showed vigilance. You two... fail!"

"Huh?"

Obito was dumbfounded after hearing this.

Fail?

The test hasn't even started yet!

"Of course, Rin has medical ninja talent and started learning medical knowledge from a young age. She's the type of ninja we urgently need, so I'll specially approve Rin to pass. But you... Kakashi, Rin, you can vote on whether to keep Obito or not."

Minato's smile was gentle, but his words weren't gentle at all.

He had tried to be stern before, but Kyōichi had told him he lacked intimidation, suggesting he should smile while saying such things instead.

Now looking at it.

Indeed, it was quite intimidating.

Obito was stunned, his mouth moving but unable to form words.

This was something else!

He thought he came for a test, but before it even began, he was already eliminated?

Meanwhile, Kakashi was seriously considering.

Obito...

Indeed wasn't very good.

It wasn't about his strength, but rather this guy's personality was too erratic and unrestrained. Getting him to cooperate would be very difficult, so he seriously considered whether to replace him.

However.

Before he had a chance to speak, Rin quickly said: "Sensei, how can you do this... Obito works hard too, please give him a chance."

"He wasn't late this time, that is indeed quite hardworking," Minato nodded with a smile.

"I, I won't be late in the future either!" Obito panicked.

From the looks of it, this jonin really intended to kick him out.

They didn't doubt Minato's authority.

Because they all knew, to some extent, that Minato was the youngest jonin in Konoha's history and was also the disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Three Legendary Sannin. Removing Obito would only take a word from him.

"What about you, Kakashi?"

"Me? If I had to choose, I definitely wouldn't keep him, but... whatever, I don't care."

Kakashi saw Rin's pleading look and didn't continue.

"Then, let the test begin. The test is very simple - if you can manage to wound me, you pass. The test starts now..."

Minato crouched there, seemingly without any guard.

"Scatter!"

...

"As expected," Kurenai sighed.

Expecting Obito to understand tactics was truly a difficult thing, especially when the orders came from Hatake Kakashi.

From when they first entered the academy years ago, Obito and Kakashi never got along.

Asuma's face darkened as he looked at Shisui, then at Obito who remained in place.

What courage!

They're facing a jonin!

Even when the three of them had planned various tactics and coordinated to their limits, they still couldn't touch a single hair on Kyōichi's head, let alone Obito by himself.

"I must say, his Fireball Jutsu isn't bad at all," Kyōichi smiled.

Obito wasn't without merits.

His Fireball Jutsu and shuriken techniques were well-practiced, and he handled kunai quite well too. 

He just lacked common sense, with poor judgment in various situations.

Simply put.

Others were at the bottom of the class due to lack of talent, but Obito was purely there because he lacked brains.

Unfortunately...

It's extremely difficult to wound someone with just the Fireball Jutsu.

Sure enough.

What he burned was just a substitution.

Rin had no choice but to return to help, while Kakashi didn't hesitate at all, only throwing shuriken from afar as cover.

Shisui asked in confusion: "Why is he hiding?"

"Hm?"

Asuma turned his head, not quite understanding the question.

It was Kurenai who briefly explained: "That's just how Kakashi is, it's hard to explain in a few words."

"Shisui, what do you think should be done in this situation?" Kyōichi asked instead of answering directly.

"With Obito and Rin being held up, as the strongest fighter on the team besides the jonin, he should definitely help them retreat."

"Keep watching," Kyōichi remained neutral.

At this moment, the situation in the field changed.

Minato made his move!

Although Obito and Rin tried their best to resist, how could they be his match?

Just as they were about to lose.

A blade flashed from underground.

Kakashi!

"Such quick sword technique," Asuma was shocked.

This was his first time seeing Kakashi fight at full strength. His speed was impressive and his strikes decisive, completely like a seasoned warrior, nothing like their peers.

But.

It was useless, Minato was faster.

The sound of clashing weapons could be heard even from where they were.

Obito and Rin tried to join the fight, but they couldn't find any openings.

Though they kept attacking, the effect was minimal.

"What do you all think?"

"They're fighting incorrectly."

"No coordination, it's very messy."

"I think so too."

Shisui and Kurenai expressed their opinions in succession, leaving Asuma with nothing new to add, so he just repeated what they said.

In reality.

It wasn't that there was no coordination, but rather there was absolutely no coordination.

Originally, Obito and Rin had some coordination and understanding, but once Kakashi joined, the battle formation became chaotic beyond watching. Forget about utilizing their individual strengths - even displaying their basic abilities was questionable.

Team battles were never about individual showing off—

Unless one was overwhelmingly strong.

Obviously, Kakashi wasn't at that level.

"If you three were to go up, are you confident you could defeat Kakashi's team?"

Kyōichi asked.

"Us? Feels like we could handle it."

Asuma thought for a moment before answering.

Shisui and Kurenai also nodded slightly.

Kakashi was strong, but he was just one person. If they could deal with Guy and Rin first, then turn to face Kakashi, how could one person counter all three of them?

"Minato, let them try next."

"Alright, I'll end this quickly then, so they don't waste too much chakra."

The shadow clone said before dispersing.

The next moment.

On the battlefield, Minato's speed suddenly doubled.

With just a few "clangs," Kakashi, Obito, and Rin's headbands were all knocked off.

"You all fail!"

Minato's face was stern.

Looking at the three of them, finally settling on Kakashi, he said: "If this is what you think being a ninja is about, I suggest you return to the academy. Don't go to the battlefield just to harm yourselves and others."

"..."

Kakashi gripped his short sword, glanced at Obito, then turned away with a cold snort, clearly dissatisfied.

"Not convinced? Fine, perfect timing. I've invited Kyōichi-san and Team One. You can practice with them and see how other teams operate."

Minato was quite harsh.

He was genuinely angry, now understanding why no chunin team would accept Kakashi, forcing the Third Hokage to reassign him to Minato for retraining.

How could someone with this personality work?