"Enter."
At the Hokage's voice, Ken pushed the door open.
The office was quiet, heavy with the scent of ink and aged parchment. Morning light spilled through the wide window behind the desk, illuminating the stacks of paperwork piled high across it.
Ken stepped inside.
Someone else was already there.
A silver-haired boy stood near the wall, arms resting at his sides. He wore standard combat gear, clean and precisely arranged. There wasn't a wrinkle out of place.
His eyes were cold.
Detached.
It was none other than Hatake Kakashi.
From their posture, it was clear they had been speaking moments earlier—or rather, Hiruzen had been speaking while Kakashi listened in silence.
When Ken entered, Kakashi's gaze snapped toward him.
It swept over him once.
Then shifted away.
Hiruzen looked up from his desk.
"Ah. You're here, Ken."
Ken stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen studied him quietly before speaking.
"Before we begin, allow me to make introductions."
He gestured lightly toward the silver-haired boy.
"This is Hatake Kakashi. Though young, he has already established himself as a genius. His ability needs no explanation."
Ken turned toward him.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. I'm aware of him."
Kakashi acknowledged the greeting with a short nod.
Silence followed.
Not uncomfortable.
Just empty.
Noticing it, the Hokage cleared his throat.
"Do not underestimate him, Kakashi," Hiruzen said evenly. "He is a capable shinobi. Not only is he proficient in Earth Release, but he has already begun developing a technique that requires no hand seals."
Ken already knew the Hokage would be aware.
The technique had been used against Asuma. If Hiruzen hadn't heard about it, that would have been far more troubling.
Still, Ken reacted exactly as a child should.
His eyes widened slightly. His posture straightened. A trace of pride flickered across his expression, mixed with clear happiness at being noticed.
No one questioned it.
After all, he was only ten.
He bowed again.
"No, Hokage-sama. It's just a small project. It's still in its early stages, and I don't know how long it will take to complete."
Hiruzen nodded, seemingly satisfied.
"In any case," he continued, "the reason I summoned you both today is to ask your thoughts on forming a team together."
Ken turned his gaze toward Kakashi.
The silver-haired boy's expression didn't change, confirming he had already been informed.
Ken understood immediately what this meant.
Whatever course events were supposed to take before no longer mattered to him. He had never intended to follow a story that wasn't his own.
Kakashi was a recognized prodigy. Despite the controversy surrounding the White Fang, Hiruzen still considered him firmly under his protection.
Being placed on the same team made one thing clear.
The Hokage was taking responsibility for Ken as well.
Refusal was unnecessary.
"I would be glad," Ken said calmly, "to have a talented junior like Kakashi as my teammate."
Hiruzen's smiled.
The Hokage had presented it as a choice.
But it wasn't really one.
This was simply how the decision was delivered.
"Good," Hiruzen said.
He tapped his pipe lightly against the desk.
"You don't need to worry about your instructor. I've selected someone suitable."
His gaze shifted between the two boys.
"Report to Training Ground Seven tomorrow morning."
Ken and Kakashi bowed in unison.
Then turned and left the office.