Kakashi Masters All Elements, Rewrites the Ninja World for Rin!

Five days later — Konohagakure, Hokage's Office.

"Hokage-sama, this is the mission report from the Rōran investigation."

Minato stood respectfully before the Third Hokage, handing over the document that recorded the details of the mission.

The report thoroughly outlined the cause and resolution of the Rōran incident, highlighting the performance of Kakashi and the others.

Of course, there was no mention of Naruto or Yamato.

Because, even Minato himself no longer remembered that they had ever been there.

"Well done. You performed admirably, Minato. You've met my expectations."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with satisfaction as he reviewed the report.

For a while now, he had been torn between Minato and Orochimaru as candidates for the next Hokage.

Orochimaru, his most gifted student, had once seemed like the obvious successor.

But since the end of the Second Great Ninja War, Hiruzen had sensed a chilling change in him—his compassion waned, and his curiosity toward life twisted into something more… detached.

Even their once-close relationship had grown distant.

To Hiruzen, a Hokage needed more than power or intellect. He had to carry the Will of Fire — to protect the village and its people, to cherish life.

Orochimaru had begun to drift too close to Danzō's ideology. A dangerous proximity.

Perhaps the Root suited him better than the Hokage's hat.

Minato, on the other hand, was a different story.

Talented, certainly. But more importantly, he understood people. His heart burned with the Will of Fire. Whether in missions or daily life, he approached everything with warmth, intelligence, and a sense of responsibility.

Minato even treated him, Hiruzen, with the respect due to a mentor — but without blind deference.

If Minato became Hokage, Hiruzen felt confident he could step back gracefully, offering his wisdom as an elder, rather than clinging to power.

"Hokage-sama?"

Minato's soft voice broke Hiruzen's thoughts.

"Ah? Oh. Ha, forgive me. An old man tends to drift into thought."

Hiruzen chuckled and folded the report. "So, Minato, was there something else?"

"Yes. Hokage-sama, based on Kakashi Hatake's outstanding performance during this mission—and his strength and tactical awareness—I would like to formally recommend him for promotion to Jōnin."

Minato's tone was calm and serious.

Within Konoha, promotion from Chūnin to Jōnin wasn't given lightly. It required not only strength and merit, but also endorsement from a Jōnin-ranked ninja.

After all, a rogue with Jōnin-level strength but the wrong ideology could bring ruin to the village.

"Kakashi…"

Hiruzen's fingers tapped the desk thoughtfully.

"Very well. Submit the written recommendation, and have Kakashi complete the application. I'll personally authorize it."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama. I'll see to it right away."

Minato bowed again before respectfully exiting the office.

The moment the door closed behind him, he vanished in a flash—reappearing at the Konoha training grounds.

He already knew where to find Kakashi.

Meanwhile, in the training ground…

Kakashi stared at the swirling blue Rasengan in his hand with a deadpan look that practically screamed midlife crisis—despite the fact that he was barely a teenager.

"Y'know, it looked way cooler when Naruto did it..."

After the whole Rōran fiasco, the system had unexpectedly notified him of a new jutsu: Wind Style: Rasenshuriken—copied and successfully logged.

He'd barely had time to process the how, but he figured Naruto must've tossed one around during the chaos.

Naturally, being the copy ninja, he was thrilled.

This was the kind of high-tier jutsu he'd dreamed of analyzing—one that fused nature transformation with a chakra shape so complex it could make a calculator sweat.

He'd been up all night running the numbers.

But now?

Well…

No matter how many times he pumped chakra into the Rasengan, the transition to Rasenshuriken just wouldn't click.

Probably because he still had the Hundred Healings Mark active, and dumping all his chakra into a flashy move kind of defeated the purpose of a life-saving emergency stash.

He thought back to Naruto in the original timeline—even that chakra monster could only throw two of these things in Sage Mode before hitting E.

In comparison, Kakashi's attempt was more like waving a sparkler around and hoping it would explode into a fireball.

"Good morning, Kakashi."

Minato's warm voice cut through his mental monologue.

"Huh? Oh—hey, sensei."

Kakashi blinked, quickly dispelling the Rasengan like a kid hiding evidence of a failed science experiment.

"I just came from the Hokage's office," Minato said. "I've recommended you for promotion to Jōnin. Just fill out the paperwork, and it's official."

"…Huh?"

Kakashi stared blankly.

Did he just say Jōnin?

"This is… fast," Kakashi muttered. "I thought I'd at least have time to grow a goatee first."

Minato blinked. "…Do you not want it?"

"It's not that," Kakashi said, scratching the back of his head. "I just… I don't know if I'm ready."

His tone dropped slightly.

After all, in the original timeline, right after he made Jōnin… things happened.

Terrible things.

Minato, however, smiled gently. "You've met every requirement, and then some. The way you handled yourself in Rōran—you showed tactical brilliance, selflessness, and incredible resolve. That's what a Jōnin is."

Kakashi was silent for a beat.

Then sighed. "Well, when you put it like that, how can I say no?"

"Besides, now I can boss other people around. That's always been my dream."

Minato chuckled, unaware of how sincere Kakashi might've been about that last part.

Still, he was pleased.

He respected Kakashi too much to play favorites, but this was also a small gesture of appreciation.

Not just for the mission.

But for saving his life.

The Rasengan? Kakashi had mastered it even before Minato got the chance to teach it.

So this—this was the least he could do in return.

All while staying true to principle.

Because that was what leadership meant.

And that was why, someday, Minato would wear the Hokage's cloak himself.