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  It was evening and Daichi stairs in his room. He was ihinking about how to move forward for the academic year.

  'Even if the Hokage was watg the test the ces of the team passing are slim… I o make a pn on what to do this year. Should I start ohird step of nature training or should I try something else?'

  Daichi's mind suddenly went to the many quests that were pending and had to be pleted. He opehe system window and opehe quest list. He looked at the ohat are currently active.

  [Quest - Path to the stro.]

  [Quest - Obtaih Cloak.]

  [Quest - Retrieve Ren and Kimiko Uchiha's Sharingan.]

  [Quest - Seek the Hidden Truth of the Neckce.]

  [Quest - Observe and Uand.]

  [Quest - Heal Jin.]

  'Hmm… 6 active quests… Assuming that I remain a student, then the quest path to the stro will be active till the end of Marext year. It'll be pleted when I bee a Genin so that's not a problem… Now for the others…'

  Daichi looked at the sed active quest and recalled the information. 'Atamagai's Cloak. I o find his final work. The one deemed a masterpiece. But I have no clue where to start. During my travels st year I tried to find history boarding the Uzumaki but that was a bust… Something tells me that I'll have to visit the ruins in the Land of the Whirlpool if I want my answers. So that will take time. It's a good thing this quest doesn't have a time limit.'

  Daichi looked at the title of the active quest and frowned. 'I o find the location of Obito's hideout. Not to mention bee strong and skilled enough to fight or evade his and Bck Zetsu's senses. It will take time as well… But no matter the cost, I'll defiake their eyes from his possession.'

  [Quest - Seek the Hidden Truth of the Neckce.]

  Daichi's eyes went to the quest in line. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the title. Ever since he got the quest he had spent many hours ing up with theories on why someone would target the two. 'I have some suspects in mind and several theories that expin their involvement but nothing solid. And I need proof. If I'm going to get to the bottom of this mystery then I'll have to do some things that I'm sure Tsunade sensei wouldn't like… I ck the necessary information and resources… It seems like the others, this quest will also o be put on hold till I'm ready…'

  [Quest - Observe and Uand.]

  Daichi opehis quest and looked at the ditions.

  [ditions:]

  [Observe the Various aspects of Nature such as Land, Water, Pnts, Animals and Is.]

  [Observe and uand at least 7 different types of Creatures.]

  [Observe and uand the creational aspect of Nature. Pnts, Forests, Lakes and Os.]

  [Observe and uand the destructive force of Nature. Raging O waves, Forest fire, Natural lightning strikes, Tornado and Volic lightning.]

  [Explore and uand the different Geologies of the world. Forest, Desert, Frozen Tundra and Volids.]

  Daichi sighed as he looked at the ditions required to plete the quest. 'I have no doubt that this is the most difficult, time ing quest that I currently have… This will take years to plete… The only way I bypass that problem is if I find Dungeons with simir Geologies mentioned in the quest. Not to mention staying in that dimension for aended period of time… I'll also o Observe and uand their aspects… I'll o up my intelligend wisdom stats… Like the others this is also another long term project…'

  At that moment he sensed someone making tact with the barrier surrounding his home. But knowing that Kensei was outside, Daichi didn't pay it any attention. 'Could they be here for me?... Naw. It's too soon. The Hokage might take a few days to think things arding my team.'

  With that Daichi turned his attention to the final active quest. He looked at the tents and sighed.

  [Quest - Heal Jin.]

  'Hmm… This is the ohat has a time limit. So this takes priority. I have a year to find a perma cure… When I used my poisoion skill on him it showed that there oison in his system but when I tried using the normal methods I couldn't find anything wrong. An invisible poison that even Tsunade couldn't detect. Only someone like Orochimaru or Sasori would be capable of creating something like that. And along with Jin's i iing up business in the Land of Rice Paddies… Orochimaru is the prime susped I'm sure he's the ao this problem. I'm certain of it. I o find his hideout and take a look around. But that's going to be a problem sidering I might not be able to leave the vilge for a year… Such a headache…'

  Thinking about it for a few moments, Daichi made a choice. He decided he would plete the quest to heal Jin first and then focus ohers. He would try and find a perma cure but if he couldn't he would look for a way to increase the man's lifespan.

  "Daichi. e on down. There's someoo see you." At that moment he heard his grandfather calling out to him.

  'I wonder who that could be?'

  Daichi got up from his bed a downstairs. He was surprised to see who it was that came for him.

  "Kakashi?"

  A few minutes ago.

  Kakashi Hatake slowly walked through the streets reading his favorite book. It wasn't long before he reached his intended destinatioucked his precious e book ba his poud looked at the house in front of him.

  'This is the pce alright. The st time I was here was with Minato Sensei when I just became his student.'

  Kakashi stepped forward and observed the pbsp;'There's a barrier around the house. But based oel the one currently active is a standard one. As soon as I step he gates the person ected to it will know I'm here.'

  Kakashi stepped forward and a sed ter he was greeted by an old man.

  "Master Kensei. I don't know if you remember me but I came here a long time ago."

  Kensei nodded and recalled a certain memory. "With the te fourth Hokage. I remember. You're Kakashi Hatake. You were so tiny back then."

  The Jonin awkwardly nodded and rubbed his hair.

  "What brings you here Kakashi?" Kensei asked.

  "I came to speak with Daichi. Is he here?"

  Kensei looked at the man and nodded after a couple seds. "What's this about?"

  Kakashi sighed and began his expnation. "I don't know if he told you or not but I was the one who ducted his Genin exam. And based on their duct I decided to fail the team."

  Kensei kept a passive face as he listened. "He told me you were the teacher assigned and that he failed. Didn't tell me the specifid I didn't ask."

  Kakashi tilted his head and looked at the old man. "You don't seem angry that I failed him despite his vast skills."

  Kensei slightly chuckled at that. "Don't take me for an old bitter man Kakashi. I've been a Jonin instructor and was in Anbu. I know how things operate. And I also know your reputation. You're strid have high standards but you're also fair. If you failed his team, then I'm sure you have your reasons and I'm sure they're justified. I don't bme you."

  Kakashi was surprised at that assessment. "Well… there has been a development regarding Daichi's Genin exam results."

  Kensei had a small frown after hearing that. "And what would that be?"

  "He passed. Just him."

  The old man's eyebrows rose as he heard that. "I'll call him."

  Kensei went ahead and called out to Daichi. A few seds ter the boy came out of the house and Kakashi could see the surprise on the child's face.

  "Kakashi?"

  Present Time.

  Daichi k ossibility but he was still surprised. "What are you doing here?" 'I khe Hokage might make a favorable decision but I didn't think it would happen so soon. He made his decision a lot faster than I thought.'

  "Came here looking for you. Walk with me." With those words the man took out his e book, turned around and slowly walked away.

  Daichi turo look at Kensei and the man him. He quickly left the house and ran up to the Jonin.

  "So uh… Where are we going?" Daichi asked.

  "Training ground 3…" Was the only reply from the Jonin.

  Daichi, not wanting to disturb him, kept silent along the way. Both of them navigated through the streets and soon reached the pce where the both of them fought each other ho. Kakashi led Daichi through the small forest and sooopped in front of a kunai shaped stone.

  Kakashi was silent for several minutes and Daichi didn't break the silence. After a few moments the Jonin spoke. "I chose the bell test because it's the test my sensei gave me. And like you I only fought alongside my teammates because I khe real purpose of the test. I used them as a means to an end. But sensei saw through me. A he passed all of us."

  The man then looked towards Daichi. "Teamwork is an important factor. You aplish much with a capable team you trust… You may or may not have been right that the bell test wasn't the correct exam for your team…"

  The boy was slightly surprised hearing that admission. "Is that an apology?"

  Kakashi shook his head. "No. Your team failed when it ted. It may not have been your fault but they failed to pass my exam."

  "Why exactly are we here?" Daichi sighed and finally asked the man.

  The Jonin turowards the stone iraining ground. "Do you know what this is?" Kakashi asked Daichi.

  "The Memorial Stone. An important mo of our vilge. The names of all the shinobi who died in the line of duty are engraved on this stone." Daichi replied.

  "That's right. The names of my closest friends and teacher are on this stone. Eae of them taught me a valuable lesson that has guided me throughout my life."

  Daichi stayed silent as he listeo the man. 'Wish you fot some of the lessons Obito imparted.' He couldn't help but ent in his heart.

  Without knowing Daichi's ihoughts Kakashi tinued. "When you're part of a team, you're part of something bigger. Something more than yourself. Sometimes you might have to make tough choices for you and your teammates that will impact everyone for the rest of your lives. At the same time you'll have to trust that your teammates will have your back if you get into trouble. Trust is a fual element in a team."

  "What are you getting at Kakashi?"

  "The Hokage has made a decisiarding your team." Kakashi turned and looked at Daichi. The air around him became heavy.

  Daichi's eyes slightly widened after hearing that. 'Is this it? Am I being a Genin…? If so then what about the other two? Am I going to be put on a eam or…?'

  After a few seds of silence Kakashi spoke. "If I told you that you could bee a Genin this year but you'll have to work with Seto and Mari as your teammates what would you say?"

  The small excitement inside Daichi died down. He looked down and thought about the situation for a while and had an answer. He looked at Kakashi and spoke with a resolute tone.

  "I'm gonna have to pass that offer. I'll wait another year at the academy and graduate with my cssmates."

  Kakashi looked at the kid and sighed. "You realize that you'll have to bear some humiliation if you go back to the academy, right? You're someone who took early graduation and the teachers call you a prodigy. If you go back while some ordinary students pass then you should know you'll no doubt be mocked by some people."

  "What others think about me won't matter after I bee a Geni year."

  Kakashi narrowed his eyes and looked at the boy. "Why are you saying no? Is your pride so big that you 't work with people who aren't as skilled as you?"

  Daichi shook his head and replied. "I don't care that they aren't as strong as me. Heck, I'd be pletely surprised if they were anywhere near my level. I've seen Genin fight. So I have an idea as to how strong a fresh academy graduate is. I know they're only starting out and they have much to learn and grow. I don't care about their strength. What I care about is their i."

  "So it's because they turned on you?" At this question Kakashi's tourned softer.

  "Yeah. You said it yourself. Trust is a fual element in a team. And… I 't bring myself to trust those two. They didn't think twice about the objectives of the test… People say that trust is earned. Something that's built with time, through trials and hardships. But with their as they destroyed it before the foundation was eve."

  "Why didn't you just lie and say you'll give them another ce or something?" The silver haired Jonin asked the kid.

  Daichi shook his head and spoke. "That might have helped and made me Genin in the short term but in the long term it'll no doubt bee a problem. Saying that I trust them will be a lie and nothing more. I'll sed guess their decisions on missions and I won't be able to trust them to make the important choices. It will lead to one or all of us making the wrong choices and paying the price. I don't want that."

  "I'm gd you were ho… Lord Hokage was right."

  Daichi looked puzzled at that statement. "Wait. If you and the Hokage khat I didn't want to be a part of their team, then why are we here?"

  "Because the decision he made was to pass you and you alone."

  Daichi's eyes widened with surprise. He was curious as to who his eammates would be. "And who's going to be assigned as my eammates?"

  Kakashi chuckled and looked at the boy. "No one."

  "What?"

  "Because of your abnormal strength, skill and talents the Hokage has decided to make you part of a special two man Genin team. You'll be w under me till you bee a in."

  Daichi was shocked when he heard that. 'I didn't see that ing.'

  Kakashi turned serious and looked at his udent. "Daichi, you and I are going to be a team. So from this moment forward you'll have to trust me. And I'm going to trust you… My teammate taught me a very valuable lesson during our st mission. Those who break the rules are trash… But those who abandon their rades are even worse than trash."

  Daichi stood still as he heard those words. 'Wow. This is… so unbelievable.'

  At that moment Kakashi asked him a very important question. "Do you trust me to watch your back?"

  Daichi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He the go and looked at the man. 'Despite what the showed about him and his ck of training of Team 07, Kakashi is a powerful Jonin with a vast arsenal of teiques. And if this is my ticket to being a Genin this year then I'm not pining. Ae whatever faults the man has, I t on him in a fight.'

  "I do. I trust you. And you t ooo… Sensei."

  The Jonin eye smiled and the temosphere around them vanished. "Well then, starting tomorrow Team Kakashi will be on active duty."

  Daichi had a smile on his face. "Yes sensei!"