On the rooftop.
After Naruto finished shouting, he bent over, panting heavily, his face flushed bright red.
It felt like all the frustration that had been bottled up in his chest for years had finally been released.
[Ding! Detected that the host has begun guiding problem students. Problem Student Discipline System activated!]
A mechanical voice suddenly echoed in Kakashi's mind.
[System Description: After successfully reforming a problem student, a corresponding Character Card will be generated. The host may equip Character Cards to gain ability bonuses.]
[Current Problem Students:]
[Uzumaki Naruto (Inactive)
Issues: Lack of self-confidence, extreme desire for recognition
Potential Rating: SSS]
[Uchiha Sasuke (Inactive)
Issues: Emotionally closed off, obsession with revenge, late-stage chūnibyō symptoms
Potential Rating: SSS]
[Haruno Sakura (Inactive)
Issues: Insecure and sensitive, overly dependent on others, love-struck
Potential Rating: S]
[Beginner Tutorial Mission Triggered:
Help Uzumaki Naruto firm his resolve and boldly declare his dream.]
[Mission Complete!]
[Rewards Obtained:
D-Rank Character Card: Uzumaki Naruto ×1
System Points: 100]
[Problem Student Uzumaki Naruto activated. Current Rank: D]
Kakashi was momentarily stunned.
Problem Student Discipline System?
The name was… painfully straightforward.
But thinking about it, Team 7 really was a collection of problem children.
Naruto was ostracized by the entire village because of the Nine-Tails, desperately craving acknowledgment.
Sasuke had lived through the night of the Uchiha Clan's annihilation, burdened by hatred and revenge, his heart tightly sealed.
Sakura came from a civilian family, had average talent, was insecure and sensitive, and had pinned all her emotional value onto Sasuke.
In the original story, Kakashi failed to truly resolve these issues—and in the end, Sasuke defected.
But now, things were different.
Kakashi walked over to Naruto and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Good. That was full of spirit."
Naruto turned his head. His eyes were still red, but his smile was brighter than the sun.
"Heh, of course!"
Sasuke watched Naruto quietly, his eyes flickering slightly.
This dead last… feels different.
Sakura, meanwhile, looked at Kakashi with a thoughtful expression.
This man was nothing like the other jōnin she had seen.
"Alright," Kakashi said. "Next."
He looked at Sasuke.
"Black hair."
Sasuke was silent for a moment before speaking coldly.
"Uchiha Sasuke. I don't have many things I like. I have many things I hate. As for my dream… no, my ambition—"
"I want to restore the Uchiha Clan. And kill a certain man."
Naruto shivered. "K-Kill someone? Who?!"
Sasuke didn't answer, only stared into the distance, eyes filled with cold resolve.
Kakashi sighed inwardly.
Uchiha Itachi…
The deepest obsession in Sasuke's heart.
But this wasn't the time to reveal the truth.
He walked up to Sasuke and said calmly, "Killing someone isn't that simple."
Sasuke lifted his head sharply, hostility flashing in his eyes.
"That's none of your business."
"Of course it's not," Kakashi replied casually, hands in his pockets.
"But let me ask you this—do you have the strength to do it?"
Sasuke fell silent.
"The man you want to kill must be incredibly strong, right?" Kakashi continued.
"Strong enough that you think about revenge every day. Strong enough that it's become your only reason for living."
Sasuke's fists clenched tightly.
"So," Kakashi narrowed his eyes, "can you beat me right now?"
Sasuke looked up abruptly, his gaze sharp.
"I'll ask again," Kakashi said evenly.
"If you can't even beat me, what right do you have to kill someone even stronger?"
Sasuke gritted his teeth and said nothing.
He knew the answer.
"Revenge isn't something you can just talk about," Kakashi said, turning his back to him.
"Revenge without strength is nothing but self-destruction. If you want to kill that man, then first become stronger than him."
Sasuke lowered his head, a heavy pressure radiating from his body.
But Kakashi could clearly feel it—the fire in this boy's heart was burning even hotter.
Sasuke didn't need his hatred denied.
He needed guidance—so that revenge wouldn't consume him.
"And finally…"
Kakashi turned to Sakura.
"It's your turn."
"I–I'm Sakura Haruno!" Sakura immediately stood up straight.
"The person I like is—"
She stole a glance at Sasuke, her cheeks turning bright red.
"It's Sasuke-kun! The person I hate is that idiot Naruto! And my dream is… I want Sasuke-kun to notice me!"
"Hey! Sakura! Why do you hate me?!"
Naruto protested angrily.
Sasuke completely ignored her confession, still lost in thought.
Kakashi looked at Sakura in silence for several seconds.
"Sakura Haruno."
"Y-Yes!" She grew nervous.
"The dream you mentioned just now," Kakashi said calmly,
"is wanting Sasuke to notice you. Is that correct?"
"Yes!"
Sakura nodded eagerly.
"Then let me ask you something," Kakashi continued.
"If one day Sasuke dies, what will you do?"
Sakura's face turned deathly pale.
"That's impossible… Sasuke-kun won't—"
"In the shinobi world, people die every day," Kakashi interrupted.
"Even the Hokage can die in battle. Can you guarantee Sasuke will never face danger?"
Sakura bit her lip, unable to answer.
"If Sasuke dies, your dream disappears," Kakashi said slowly.
"And if Sasuke doesn't like you, your dream disappears as well."
"Basing your entire life on someone else is the most foolish thing you can do."
"I…"
Sakura's eyes reddened.
"Your biggest problem," Kakashi said, looking at her steadily,
"is that you don't have yourself."
"Your likes belong to others. Your dreams belong to others. You live as if it's all for someone else."
"So tell me—what is the meaning of Haruno Sakura's existence?"
Sakura froze.
No one had ever asked her that.
Her parents thought a girl just needed a good marriage.
Her classmates saw her as ordinary.
And even she herself felt that—aside from liking Sasuke—she wasn't good at anything.
"I…" Her voice trembled. "I don't know…"
"Then go find it," Kakashi said, turning away.
"Find your own path. Find the meaning of Haruno Sakura's existence."
"And if you can't," he added flatly,
"then there's no reason to be a shinobi. Go home and get married."
Sakura clenched her teeth, tears pooling in her eyes.
But she didn't cry.
Kakashi nodded silently.
The seed had been planted. Whether it would grow depended on her.
"Alright," he said, clapping his hands as his expression relaxed.
"That's enough for introductions."
"Now for business."
"Tomorrow morning at five, assemble at Training Ground Three."
"And remember—don't eat breakfast."
"Eh? Why?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, a dangerous smile appearing.
"Because tomorrow, we're doing a survival exercise."
"Survival exercise?" Naruto tilted his head.
"Yes," Kakashi said, holding up two fingers.
"Only those who pass can officially become genin. Those who fail go back to the Ninja Academy."
"Elimination rate: 66%."
"What?!"
Naruto jumped up.
"But we already graduated!"
"Graduation only means you're qualified," Kakashi replied calmly.
"Whether you become genin or not is up to me."
"In other words," he continued,
"out of the three of you, at most one will remain."
Naruto's face went pale.
"You're… joking, right?"
"I never joke."
Kakashi turned and walked away.
"See you tomorrow, brats."
"Wait!" Naruto shouted.
"What if none of us pass?!"
Kakashi didn't even look back.
"Then all three of you can go back and retake the course together."
"No way!!!"
Naruto yelled, clutching his head.
Sasuke silently watched Kakashi's retreating back, his expression solemn.
Sakura stood there biting her lip, Kakashi's words echoing endlessly in her mind.