I, Konoha's Sage of Life

"Sensei… how could you say that? I'm not weak at all!"

Obito looked aggrieved.

Sure, he had been defeated quickly, but that was only because Kurenai had hidden within her clone and ambushed him, working with Asuma's shadow clone to take him down. If it had been a direct confrontation, he wouldn't have lost so easily.

"Think about what I said carefully..."

Kyoichi walked over to Asuma and formed a few seals. Chakra gathered in his hands, glowing a bright green.

Rin gasped in astonishment. "Sensei, you actually know medical ninjutsu—you're using the Mystical Palm Technique!?"

"Of course. Why would I fake that?" Kyoichi shot her a look.

Such an overreaction! Thanks to the system's assistance, while he wasn't an expert in any single field, he was proficient enough in every area of ninjutsu.

Minato grew even more impressed, while Kakashi bit his lip so hard it almost bled.

This guy...

He was skilled in so many disciplines, yet he could still hone his taijutsu and ninjutsu to such an extraordinary level. How did he manage to train like that?

Was it possible… that I'm the weak one?

Kakashi felt a knot of frustration.

From a young age, he'd been praised as a genius, growing up surrounded by admiration and awe. He had never doubted his own talent.

But ever since he encountered Kyoichi, Kakashi increasingly felt like he was… useless.

Sure, he had decent taijutsu, kenjutsu, and ninjutsu, but none of them stood out. He couldn't even break through the defensive formation created by Shisui's team without resorting to a barely-practiced ninjutsu with his blade.

For the first time, his thoughts turned to his father, Sakumo Hatake.

The Hatake clan had a history as samurai. Their kenjutsu had been passed down through the generations until Sakumo fused it with chakra and taijutsu, creating his own style that became renowned across the ninja world.

Maybe… my father's way of the blade was the right path all along!

A realization flashed through Kakashi's mind.

In his grief over Sakumo's death, he had completely rejected his father's way of life. But now, faced with reality, he had to admit—his father's kenjutsu was far superior to the haphazard methods he had cobbled together himself.

"Kakashi," Minato said, his tone serious, "I had high hopes for all of you, but you've really let me down. Watching your battle just now, I even questioned whether you deserve to be a ninja at all. Perhaps you should return to the Academy, just like them, and start over from the basics."

Kakashi's fists clenched. He wanted to retort but found himself unable to argue.

He had lost.

The mission was incomplete. Excuses were meaningless.

Meanwhile, Asuma scratched his head awkwardly, sneaking a glance at his teacher. He hesitated but ultimately said nothing. He knew the truth—Kakashi had held back.

If this had been a real battle, Kakashi absolutely could have killed him.

Of course… Kakashi himself would have died as well.

But even so, Asuma was just a genin, while Kakashi was a chunin. Given that, there really wasn't anything worth bragging about.

"Minato-sensei, don't be too harsh," Kyoichi said, adopting a conciliatory tone. "Sending a chunin back to the Academy would be a bit extreme. Why not simply demote him and give him another chance to take the exam?"

"Does he deserve to be a ninja?" Minato retorted sharply. "A chunin is supposed to coordinate their team's efforts and strategize effectively. Did he accomplish any of that? High mission success rates mean nothing if no one wants to be his teammate!"

Minato's harsh words weren't entirely his own. Earlier, during the battle, Kyoichi had suggested this tactic to him as a way to confront Kakashi's issues head-on and help him overcome his emotional barriers.

Minato couldn't refuse such a selfless offer. Kyoichi had no personal stake in this—he had no ties to Kakashi or Sakumo. He was simply acting in the best interests of the village.

And Kakashi was undoubtedly a genius.

If he could understand their intentions and resolve his inner conflict, the village would gain a top-tier jonin sooner rather than later.

Of course… this was mostly Minato's interpretation.

Kyoichi's actual reasoning was much simpler. Kakashi was stubborn, like an iron rod that needed heating and reshaping over time. This confrontation was just one step in that process.

After all, if Kakashi decided to pursue the path of kenjutsu, neither Minato nor Jiraiya could guide him. Eventually, the responsibility would fall to Kyoichi.

Investing in a "fat sheep" early on was the smart move.

---

Kakashi, meanwhile, was grappling with his emotions. His mind was filled with thoughts of his failure and Minato's scolding.

Kyoichi sighed theatrically. "Kakashi used to be on my team. During missions, he always led from the front lines. For my sake, give him one more chance."

"Is that true?" Minato looked genuinely surprised.

Kyoichi wasn't lying—technically. A couple of years ago, they had been grouped together in a temporary chunin squad for a mission. Still, the way he framed it made it sound much more significant.

"Alright," Minato relented. "Kakashi, you have two choices: give up your chunin rank and retake the exam with your team, or keep your rank and leave my squad. We don't need you here."

Kakashi hesitated, his emotions roiling. He clenched his fists tighter.

Give up his rank? That rank had been earned through battlefield missions.

But… walking away felt even worse.

After a moment, he made his decision. "I'll take the exam."

"Good. This is your last chance," Minato said firmly. "Thank Kyoichi for speaking up on your behalf. I'll arrange for the exam tomorrow."

"Don't worry," Kyoichi said lightly. "I'll be there."

He wasn't worried at all—in fact, he had no intention of attending in person. A shadow clone would suffice.

Kakashi wasn't stupid. Losing to Minato was one thing, but today's loss to Shisui's team was due to his underestimation of them and overestimation of himself. Tomorrow, he wouldn't make the same mistakes.

"Thank you." Kakashi bowed deeply, his voice sincere.

The gesture caught Kyoichi off guard. He vaguely remembered their past mission together—back then, he had just been promoted to chunin. Now, only a couple of years later, he was already a jonin.

"No need for thanks," Kyoichi replied nonchalantly. "I used to admire you as a genius. I don't want to see you waste your potential. Minato-sensei, we won't disrupt your training any further."

"Kyoichi-san, thank you!" Minato said, his tone full of gratitude. Without Kyoichi, this situation could have spiraled out of control.

Kyoichi merely smiled and left with his team.

As they walked away, Rin couldn't help but notice the strange expressions on Kurenai and the others' faces. She wanted to ask about it, but Minato's continued lecture soon distracted her, leaving the mystery unsolved.

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