147. Team 7 Assembles!
Yagami searched his memories, and though a few hazy scenes with Kushina surfaced, they were remnants of his past life. They held little emotional weight for him now.
What the Third Hokage said was true, but it didn't matter. Yagami had no intention of playing a serious role as a coach. With Kakashi assigned to guide the three children of Team 7, Yagami felt his involvement could be minimal. If he was in the mood, he might check on them; if not, staying out of sight would suit him just fine.
Suppressing a sigh, Mingfeng followed Kakashi to the ninja school.
At the school, all the other Genin of Naruto's cohort had already been taken by their respective Jōnin instructors. Only the trio of Team 7 remained, waiting idly.
"Sasuke, why hasn't our guide Jōnin arrived yet? Did he forget or something?" Haruno Sakura asked, turning toward the stoic Uchiha. Though she tried to sound composed, her awkwardness betrayed her embarrassment.
Sasuke glanced at her briefly with a cold expression before looking away. His demeanour screamed aloofness, a true reflection of the Uchiha Clan's legacy of stoicism.
"Don't mind him, Sakura—Sasuke's like that with everyone, not just you. Don't take it personally," Naruto chimed in, hands behind his head. His casual response managed to defuse the tension, lightening the mood.
Naruto's cheerful tone and easygoing attitude contrasted sharply with Sasuke's cold exterior. Though the Sage of Six Paths had worked to restore some semblance of the original plot, the changes that had already occurred were irreversible.
The Uchiha Clan was still intact, thriving as a formidable force in the ninja world. Naruto's life, while still marked by challenges, had been fundamentally different thanks to the presence of Jiraiya and Sasuke.
Sasuke's circumstances had also evolved. The existence of the Uchiha Clan had accelerated his development rather than hindered it. Unlike the original timeline, where Sasuke only had a one-tomoe Sharingan at this point, he now possessed three tomoe in each eye, granting him significantly greater power.
Despite spending much of his time in the academy, Sasuke's training at home had given him an edge. Many Chūnin-level instructors at the school would struggle to match him in combat.
This rapid growth extended to Naruto as well. Under Jiraiya's guidance, he had already mastered summoning and was proficient with the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, his signature technique. Regular sparring with Sasuke had honed his taijutsu, leaving him far ahead of where he would have been in the original timeline.
In short, while the story remained ostensibly the same, the characters' power levels and circumstances had shifted significantly.
From a treetop outside the classroom, Yagami and Kakashi observed the trio.
Through the Byakugan, Yagami analyzed Naruto's condition. His sharp gaze confirmed what he suspected: the Eight Sign Seal was indeed damaged, allowing Nine-Tails' chakra to leak. However, contrary to Konoha's fears, this leakage wasn't due to malice from the Nine-Tails.
Instead, the chakra leakage was a result of Naruto and Kurama gradually syncing and forming a bond. Kurama's chakra wasn't threatening to overwhelm Naruto; rather, it was merging with his own, paving the way for Naruto to become a perfect Jinchūriki.
Yagami smirked faintly. "Ah, so that's what Third Hokage is worried about. The damage to the Eight Sign Seal let the Nine-Tails' chakra leak, and they panicked, thinking it might try to devour Naruto. How shortsighted."
He continued observing, unbothered. The Third Hokage's paranoia and desire to involve the Uchiha were nothing more than baseless precaution in Yagami's eyes.
Through the combined powers of the Sharingan and Byakugan, Yagami entered the sealed space within Naruto and sensed Sasuke's pupil power interwoven with the Nine-Tails. It seemed that with Sasuke's assistance, Naruto had initiated independent contact with Kurama.
However, Kurama didn't seem like a fox easily swayed by Naruto's determination and optimism. Yagami speculated silently, Could it be that the Sage of Six Paths manipulated Ashura's chakra?
This thought made him wary of the Sage's involvement. Despite his proximity to the Ōtsutsuki lineage, Yagami knew better than to disrupt the delicate balance the Sage seemed to maintain. As long as his actions didn't drastically alter Naruto's path, he figured there wouldn't be significant consequences.
Forget it, he thought, shaking his head internally. With the Sage of Six Paths looming as the invisible hand guiding the narrative, I'll just focus on my role and let the plot god handle the rest.
"The power of the Nine-Tails is too great, and the Akatsuki organization remains a persistent threat. Naruto—"
"Don't start with that," Yagami interrupted Kakashi, casting him a sidelong glance. "You've really bought into the Third Hokage's rhetoric, haven't you?"
Yagami eyed Kakashi knowingly. He wasn't sure if Kakashi had ever fully grasped the political intricacies behind his father's death. As the future Sixth Hokage, Kakashi ought to have developed a certain level of awareness. After all, his loyalty to Konoha had long driven him, even to the extent of fiercely protecting his comrades, like Might Guy.
Kakashi said nothing, his usual reticence taking over. Ever since learning that Obito had been responsible for the Nine-Tails incident and the deaths of Minato and Kushina, Kakashi's demeanor had shifted to a solemn quietness.
"If we're being clear," Yagami began, "Team 7's leadership is officially yours. Unless something extraordinary happens with Naruto, I won't interfere. My role is limited to Sasuke's training."
Without waiting for Kakashi's response, Yagami moved decisively, dragging him toward the classroom door.
Upon arriving, Yagami was unsurprised to find Naruto's handiwork—a crude trap set at the doorway. Some things about the boy would never change, regardless of how much else evolved.
Yagami wasted no time. As soon as he opened the door, a bolt of lightning flashed forth, obliterating the blackboard into fine powder.
The mischievous grins on the faces of the three Genin froze instantly, replaced with wide-eyed expressions of disbelief.
"Se-Senior Yagami!" Sasuke stammered, quickly standing up and straightening his posture.
To Sasuke, Yagami was more than an ordinary figure. While they weren't officially master and student, Yagami had mentored Sasuke for a period, leaving a lasting impression.
Naruto's reaction was a mix of apprehension and respect. His partial familiarity with Yagami was one factor, but it was Kurama's response within him that truly froze him. If even Kurama was uneasy, Naruto wasn't about to act recklessly.
As for Haruno Sakura, she was thoroughly shaken by the sudden display of power. The remnants of the lightning left her stunned into silence.
"Well, it seems you're all excited about your future ninja lives!" Yagami remarked dryly. "Even setting traps for your instructor—interesting thinking, at least."
His tone wasn't harsh; instead, there was a hint of approval. After all, this was the ninja world. Such tactics were part of the profession, and Yagami didn't mind the attempt. However, the simplicity of the trap left him unimpressed.
"Senior Yagami, are you going to be our guide, Jōnin?" Sasuke asked with barely concealed excitement.
Sasuke's enthusiasm was understandable. The Sharingan was a powerful kekkei genkai, but its development required proper guidance. Having Yagami as a mentor could significantly aid his growth.
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