Playing As Gojo Satoru in Naruto

Although Team 7 left a bit earlier than Hatake Satoru, it didn't matter—Satoru could teleport.

So when Kakashi opened the door, Hatake Satoru was already sitting at the table, having finished two puddings.

"Huh?"

Hatake Satoru tilted his head, biting a spoon, and looked toward the door at Kakashi, who was holding a small box.

"Wow! This is Kakashi-sensei's house? Is Satoru gonna live here too?"

"This place is huge! Why were you staying in that little dorm before?"

Before Kakashi could respond, Naruto popped his head out from behind, carrying another stack of stuff.

"Don't just peek around! This is our teacher's house, you know."

Sakura quickly pulled Naruto back behind Kakashi, but she couldn't help glancing curiously at Hatake Satoru too.

He still had that weird eyepatch on and was chewing on a spoon.

So he really is Kakashi's brother. He really lives here.

"This place looks exactly the same as before, doesn't it?"

Sasuke, stuck in the back, squeezed forward with some effort.

It still looked the way it had when he came looking for Itachi and Shisui—everything was in the same place.

After the Uchiha massacre, Sasuke had been moved out, and his current home wasn't in the old Uchiha district anymore.

All the memories with his brother and family had been sealed away.

Now, seeing Hatake Satoru still sitting in the same spot, his mind flashed back to Shisui and Itachi also sitting there, the three of them happily chatting.

While taking off his shoes, Kakashi looked back at Sasuke and raised an eyebrow.

"You've been here before?"

"Oh, yeah. Itachi and Shisui used to come over sometimes, so Sasuke came along once too~"

Hatake Satoru got up and took the boxes from the three kids, setting them to the side.

He glanced casually inside—it was just some personal stuff. Kakashi was probably getting ready to live between two houses again.

But that was how they used to live anyway, so Satoru didn't really care.

"...?"

But right after he said that, Kakashi's movements suddenly froze.

His face broke out in a cold sweat. He had only asked casually, but Satoru's answer had totally stepped right into Sasuke's danger zone.

You're not supposed to bring up stuff like that in front of a kid whose whole clan got wiped out!

Wasn't that basically just ripping open his wounds?

Kakashi still remembered Sasuke's dream—he had said he was going to kill a certain man.

That man was probably Itachi.

Kakashi shifted his gaze toward Sasuke.

But Sasuke didn't say anything, just kept his mouth shut and wore his usual annoyed face.

"Alright, let's head inside already. It's getting crowded here in the entryway."

Kakashi quickly had the kids take off their shoes and shoved Satoru further into the house.

Sasuke had almost replied naturally just now—his memories hadn't been changed, after all.

But then he swallowed his words. Itachi was a rogue ninja now. It was better not to bring him up.

"You even came here before…"

Compared to Itachi and Shisui, who Naruto barely remembered, he didn't really care about them.

But the fact that Sasuke had been here before still bugged him a little, and he pouted.

He and Satoru were supposed to be close, but he had never been invited over!

Why did Sasuke always get ahead of him in everything? So annoying!

"There's no need to compete over something like that, you big idiot."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow and muttered under his breath.

Even though they were teammates and low-key rivals, coming to someone else's house like this felt totally unnecessary.

"Tch."

Naruto made a face at Sasuke, pressing his lips together.

The three kids had come to deliver something to Kakashi, so they also stayed for dinner at the Hatake house.

Naruto, full of excitement, bragged to Hatake Satoru about what had happened in the Land of Waves—about Haku, Zabuza, and some others.

Sasuke and Sakura would occasionally jump in to stop Naruto from stretching the story too far.

"Yeah, yeah… that's pretty amazing."

Hatake Satoru had been behind the scenes the whole time, so he knew everything that had gone down.

As for Naruto's excitement, he just casually nodded along like a pro.

Is this what it means to be a next-level teacher?

Kakashi watched from the side for a bit, then realized Satoru was totally zoning out. He quietly took notes with a look like, "Got it."

After dinner, Sakura was sent home by Kakashi. It was getting late, and her family would worry.

As for Naruto and Sasuke—who didn't have this thing called "family"—they naturally stayed over at the Hatake place.

"They'll probably have a quiet stretch coming up, just some easy D-rank missions."

"But the Jonin and the Hokage are already starting to prep for the Chunin Exams."

"I'm planning to recommend those three to take part."

Naruto and Sasuke were passed out all over the tatami, sleeping messily. Kakashi pulled a blanket over them.

"So I'll need your help with the written test stuff—cheating tips and whatnot."

Hatake Satoru rested his chin in his hand and tilted his head slightly, a question mark practically floating above him.

"Cheating, huh—Kakashi, your sense of ethics is a bit shaky~"

"Whatever works. Just don't let them hand in a blank paper. You're probably really good at this kind of thing anyway."

Guess the more of a teacher you are, the better you know all the tricks.

...

Meanwhile, in the Land of Water, Kirigakure Village.

Hozuki Mangetsu and Shisui were flipping through stacks of papers on the table.

"You guys really don't hold back, huh? Just went ahead and wrote to the Hokage to sign up for the Chunin Exams?"

Just a couple years ago, relations were super tense, and now they're talking diplomacy like it's nothing—sending letters and planning visits.

Not sure if that's gutsy or just reckless.

Biwa Juzo stood beside the Mizukage's chair, looking down at the genin files and pulling out one that didn't seem right.

Shisui leaned over, curious.

"I think it's a great chance. We've already started growing thanks to the tourism boom."

"Kirigakure has always been closed off, acting like a lone wolf. If we don't take the first step, no one else will."

"Someone has to break the ice."

The boy in the Mizukage's chair had lost all signs of childishness from a few years ago. His tone and decisions were slowly becoming those of a reliable leader.

Hozuki Mangetsu turned his head and smiled slightly, showing a row of sharp, shark-like teeth.

"Cut the grown-up act. Why did you sneak your own file into the list of ninja applying for the Chunin Exams!?"

"…Sorry."

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