"Psychic Shadows of the Hidden Leaf

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Hokage Office

"These are promising candidates. Do you have the confidence to train them into capable shinobi?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, watching Kaitan as he folded the information scroll and put it away.

"Without a doubt," Kaitan replied confidently.

From his tone, it was evident he recognized the lack of exceptional talent in this generation of students. Reflecting on his own graduating class—full of prodigies like Kakashi, Obito, Rin, Genma, Kurenai, and Asuma—it was hard not to compare. This year, Iruka seemed to stand out, but only marginally.

Though Iruka had the potential to become an excellent teacher, he wasn't particularly exceptional as a student. His theoretical scores were strong, but his combat performance remained average at best.

"Very well. The students are waiting. Don't keep them any longer," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Kaitan bowed and left the Hokage office.

As he exited, one of Hiruzen's assistants raised a concern. "Lord Hokage, isn't Kaitan a bit young to be leading a team?"

Hiruzen, his gaze steady, replied, "Ability determines leadership, not age. He has proven himself capable in both intelligence and the field. Trust him."

The assistant nodded, silenced by the Third Hokage's confidence.

---

Ninja Academy

"I wonder who our teacher will be," Mibu Shinobu said, his voice filled with anticipation. His head was wrapped in a cloth, giving him an unusual, somewhat secretive appearance.

"I hope it's Lord Mito Menitis!" Thorny Iron Wire exclaimed while skillfully spinning a shuriken in his hand. His admiration for Konoha's master of ninja tools was clear, and he dreamed of learning advanced weapon techniques under him.

Meanwhile, Umino Iruka sat quietly, lost in thought. If only Father were still alive, he would've led this team… He was jolted back to reality when Mibu and Thorny nudged him.

"As long as I can learn and improve, I'll be happy," Iruka said with a small smile, masking his lingering sadness. After his father's death, he had resolved to study harder and pursue a new dream: becoming a teacher who could nurture the next generation. But first, he needed to gain real-world experience as a shinobi.

Ta-ta!

The sound of footsteps echoed as someone approached. The three Genin immediately turned toward the classroom door with eager anticipation.

A young man entered. His head was completely wrapped in bandages, leaving only his chin and nose visible. A Konoha forehead protector was tied over his eyes, adding an air of mystery.

"Umino Iruka, Thorny Iron Wire, Mibu Shinobu," the young man called out.

"Here!" they responded in unison.

"I am your captain, Kaitan. From now until Lord Hokage assigns otherwise, I will lead this team. Are you ready to begin your journey as ninja?"

"Yes!" the three replied with determination.

"Good. We'll meet tomorrow morning at Training Ground 98. Don't eat too much beforehand—I'll provide something… interesting. That's all for now. Rest well, because starting tomorrow, your free time will be limited."

With that, Kaitan formed a quick hand seal and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Whoa! He vanished so suddenly!" Mibu exclaimed.

"Is it some kind of teleportation technique?" Thorny speculated.

"No, it's the Shadow Clone Jutsu," Iruka explained. "It's a high-level technique, usually reserved for Jōnin."

"A Jōnin? Our captain is a Jōnin?" Mibu's excitement grew.

"I think so. Did you notice how young he looks?" Thorny added.

"Let's ask him tomorrow," Iruka said, already looking forward to what lay ahead.

---

Konoha Streets

"Time flies," Kaitan mused to himself as he walked through the village. "I've spent so much time in the analysis unit, but I've never led a proper team before."

Stretching his arms, he thought about the task ahead. Unlike the infamous bell test conducted by Kakashi, Kaitan wasn't interested in gimmicks. His priority was assessing his team's true abilities and determining how to guide their growth.

He couldn't help but reminisce about his old comrades.

"Kai's passion, Kakashi's sharpness, Rin's warmth… we had such a strong group back then," he thought. "Now, I'm the one responsible for training the next generation."

Lost in thought, he wandered toward Ichiraku Ramen. Smiling, he pulled out a handcrafted rose woven from dried leaves and entered the shop.

"Calamus, look what I brought you!" he said cheerfully.

However, his confident entrance was met with two familiar faces turning to look at him.

"Oh? Dragonfly has found true love!" Might Guy exclaimed, giving him a thumbs-up and flashing his trademark grin.

"Impressive," Kakashi added dryly, his face partially obscured by his mask.

Behind the counter, Ayame giggled as she accepted the rose. She placed it in a vase alongside others Kaitan had previously made.

"Haha, what are you two doing here?" Kaitan asked, taking a seat.

"Celebrating Kakashi's return from a mission in the Land of Snow," Guy replied. "We thought we'd grab some ramen to mark the occasion!"

Kakashi nodded, though his demeanor remained subdued.

"The Land of Snow? That's so far away! I've heard it's a beautiful place covered in ice and snow. Did you bring back any souvenirs?"

Kakashi sighed. "Souvenirs? I nearly became one. It's not as peaceful as it sounds."

"Oh? Did you run into trouble in such a small country?" Kaitan teased.

"Don't underestimate them," Kakashi warned. "The Snow Ninja have developed chakra-enhancing technology, and nearly all of them can use Ice Release. It's no wonder I barely made it back."

Kaitan nodded, sensing Kakashi wasn't exaggerating. "Technology, huh? Sounds like something Konoha should look into."

Changing the subject, Kakashi asked, "What about you? Still buried in the analysis unit?"

"Not anymore," Kaitan said, slurping his ramen. "I just got assigned a team. Starting tomorrow, I'll be leading three fresh graduates."

"Ah, the baby class!" Guy exclaimed, laughing heartily.

"...Don't lump me in with them," Kakashi muttered under his breath.

Kaitan chuckled. "Yeah, they're green, but I see potential. I just hope I can shape them into something worthwhile."

The three friends continued their meal, reminiscing about old times and sharing stories of their recent experiences. As the night wore on, Kaitan felt a renewed sense of purpose. Tomorrow, a new chapter would begin—not just for his students, but for himself as well.

---

The next morning, Kaitan arrived early at Training Ground 98. Standing amidst the dewy grass, he waited for his students to arrive. With the sun rising behind him, he felt ready to take on the challenge of molding the next generation of Konoha's shinobi.

The Dragonfly Class was about to take flight.

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