16 Resistance

Page 1/3

Kakashi didn’t notice the change in Naruto’s expression. From the moment he entered, his attention had been quietly fixed on Haruna. These past ten days had been the busiest he had experienced in years. The appearance of the celestial dome and the ensuing crisis left no room for Kakashi Hatake to remain on the sidelines; he had to protect the village he cherished. Over these ten days, Kakashi had averaged less than two hours of sleep per night. Although he longed to inquire about the brown-haired girl’s condition, he never found the opportunity for a proper conversation until today, when he finally met Haruna again—and once more became her instructor.

Kakashi wished deeply to connect with Haruna. Among the three, he believed his intentions were the purest and most sincere. Not long ago, he had met with former students he had once forced to repeat three grades; these children had now embarked on various promising futures and expressed their gratitude. They said that Kakashi’s criticism had made them recognize their shortcomings in team spirit as ninja. Naturally, Kakashi felt comforted by their progress, but he also knew there was one person who still had not escaped the shadow he had cast—Haruna.

His harshness back then had been a calamity for the girl. Whenever he heard whispers behind her back about her being mediocre, aloof, and cold, each rumor felt like a poisoned arrow aimed at himself, for he knew Haruna was not cold at all. On the contrary, at the beginning, she was a girl with a soft, shy smile—a tender willow branch, a fresh bud in spring. The silver-haired jonin had never forgotten the day they first met. Her two teammates had been quarreling, and Haruna sat beneath the shade of a tree, unable to mediate. When Kakashi appeared seemingly from nowhere, she gave a somewhat embarrassed, helpless smile. But as her guiding jonin, he had coldly averted his gaze and already judged the fate of that team. He had labeled them as utterly lacking ninja aptitude.

As time passed and Haruna repeated grades, she grew increasingly silent and withdrawn. How much of her current personality was his doing? Every time he saw her, Kakashi felt a surge of guilt and a desire to make amends. Yet in the past, Haruna avoided him; if he spoke more than a few words, she would look frightened. He wanted to help but didn’t know how. But if she wanted to grow stronger, this was his comfort zone. No matter what happened, he would spare no effort to protect and support her.

...

“Not bad, everyone’s been very caring,” Haruna replied politely.

Hearing this courteous answer, Kakashi was unsure whether to feel awkward or something else. Haruna remained distant toward him.

The Third Hokage calmly observed between them. “Kakashi is one of Konoha’s finest young ninja, with extensive mission experience. He masters many ninjutsu techniques and can teach you regardless of your chakra nature.”

And he has changed, Kakashi silently added to himself. He was no longer as extreme or cold as before, and he was eager to become her protector and guide. Compared to him, Jiraiya’s rapport with female students always felt somewhat unreliable, and Asuma... well, none seemed as suitable as himself. He knew Haruna’s situation best.

The Third Hokage then introduced Asuma’s credentials. “You’ve probably never met Asuma, right?”

“Asuma Jonin is Shikamaru’s instructor. I often hear Shikamaru mention him,” Haruna replied, nodding politely toward Asuma. “He says you’re a bit difficult but responsible and dependable.”

“Ah, that Shikamaru...” Asuma smiled helplessly upon hearing his student’s name. Because of their mutual acquaintance, the initially awkward atmosphere grew warmer.

Kakashi furrowed his brow: Could Haruna be choosing Asuma?

Page 2/3

Naruto frowned too: Why bring up Shikamaru? Isn’t he under the training of the “Perverted Sage”? By the way, Naruto felt Kakashi wasn’t a good fit either. Kakashi spent all day teaching Sasuke, and Sasuke seemed to flaunt himself whenever girls were around, which was annoying. The Perverted Sage was still the best choice.

Naruto stared at Haruna, silently hoping she would pick the Perverted Sage.

“Now that we’ve covered the basics, Haruna, who would you like as your teacher?” The Third Hokage asked kindly.

Haruna’s gaze swept over the three powerful men. When these people had chosen disciples before, they wouldn’t spare her a glance; now she was free to choose. If she wished, becoming the Hokage’s apprentice wouldn’t be difficult.

Her life was growing stranger by the day.

Seeing her ponder, the Third Hokage prompted, “Jiraiya?”

Haruna shook her head.

Naruto’s expression immediately fell.

The Third Hokage remained expressionless. “Asuma?”

Haruna shook her head again.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

So it was only Kakashi left.

The Third Hokage looked toward the silver-haired jonin in surprise. He had thought Haruna held a poor impression of Kakashi, yet here she was, still choosing him as her teacher. Could it be that despite being rejected twice by Kakashi, she had always admired his reputation? That was plausible. Kakashi was, after all, a young prodigy admired by many—serious and commanding, increasingly reliable. It was natural for a young girl to like him.

Moreover, as the Copy Ninja Kakashi, his name was known throughout the Five Great Nations.

Since all options were from their own camp, Kakashi would do.

But if they were to be together, he needed to remind Kakashi that Haruna and Naruto were future spouses and that he should maintain social distance from his female student.

The Third Hokage thoughtfully planned for the younger generation’s marital happiness.

“The choice is Kakashi, then,” he declared.

Kakashi’s heart trembled slightly.

He hadn’t expected Haruna to give him a chance.

All year, watching Team Seven grow, he always recalled the girl’s dim eyes.

Nothing like that would ever happen again.

He had awakened and now yearned to help Haruna reach a brighter future.

So, he would start by showing her his first truly reassuring smile.

Kakashi curved his eyes in a smile. “I will—”

“I won’t choose Jonin Hatake either,” the girl’s clear voice interrupted with certainty.

!!!

The room fell silent in shock.

The Third Hokage frowned in confusion. If she rejected Kakashi too, what was Haruna planning? Did she want to choose the Hokage himself but was too shy to ask?

Kakashi’s smile faltered.

He had already prepared his approach and a tailored training plan for her.

He thought he would earnestly be her teacher, bearing the responsibility to protect and guide her.

Kakashi Hatake had everything figured out.

Yet... she didn’t want him.

The famed Sharingan user, former Konoha Anbu captain, was rejected without hesitation.

Haruna didn’t even glance at the silver-haired jonin—she wasn’t aware Kakashi wanted to be her teacher.

Page 3/3

Or perhaps she simply didn’t care.

Why hope for someone who had already refused her twice?

Kakashi finally realized she had never truly looked at him and thus never noticed his quiet attention.

She didn’t care about him.

Nor about his desire to protect or make amends.

Haruna instead actively negotiated with the Third Hokage: “May I choose any jonin from Konoha as my instructor?”

The Third Hokage’s mind raced, wondering if Danzo and others had bypassed him to secretly win over Haruna. While pondering, he calmly replied, “In principle, that’s allowed.”

Anyone often rejected by leaders knew that “in principle” was always followed by a “but.”

Yet before the Third Hokage could say “but,” Haruna spoke first.

“Then may I choose Jonin Might Guy as my instructor?”

!!!

Everyone was stunned again.

Guy?

Kakashi, Asuma, and Guy were contemporaries and got along well. They knew Guy was a formidable taijutsu master.

But why would Haruna choose Guy?

Guy was a taijutsu specialist, weak in ninjutsu and genjutsu, and his personality was rather, well, rough.

Though they respected each other as lifelong rivals, Kakashi felt something subtle when the brown-haired girl ignored him entirely to choose his friend.

Could it be because she feared him?

Yet looking at Haruna’s calm profile, Kakashi found no hint of hesitation.

When Haruna rejected Jiraiya, Naruto’s spirits plummeted.

When she rejected Kakashi too, he was first disappointed, then resigned.

At least it had nothing to do with Shikamaru or Sasuke.

But when Haruna gave her final answer, Naruto was stunned and blurted out, “Super thick-browed teacher?!”

“Haruna, why would you choose him?”

In Naruto’s mind, Might Guy was a strange dresser—a weirdo. Though powerful, he seemed totally mismatched with Haruna.

Haruna shouting youthfully in green tights... ugh.

Naruto shook his head, trying to banish the image.

However, Haruna had once been in the same class as Neji and others, so she must know the thick-browed teacher well.

Could it be... Neji?

That cold, aloof guy was even less likable than Sasuke.

But he was so distant and had no special ties with Haruna; he probably didn’t flaunt himself.

Naruto worried silently.

Under everyone’s gaze, the girl pursed her lips and gave a polite smile.

“Because I think Teacher Guy is very strong and our personalities match well.”

“I really regretted not becoming his student back then.”

“So I don’t want to miss this chance.”

That was a lie.

The real reason Haruna chose Jonin Might Guy was that no one in Konoha suited her better at this moment.

She was certain that under Might Guy’s tutelage, she would gain a strength even the Hokage could not ignore.

Kakashi watched her smiling profile.

Not becoming his student was truly no cause for regret.

Was it?