#either way Kabuto is pulling the scary big brother act

[dark-elf-writes]

Oooo does that mean Naruto is the only one being taught by Kakashi? Like a Minato apprentices kakashi pre Obito and Rin situation? Or do Sakura and Sasuke get passed by association too.

Bc on one hand, you can have a bunch of team seven angst where Naruto is excluded/singled out even more because he proved he was more skilled and also made them look bad. A classic “you got me in trouble” situation. And maybe it makes kakashi like them even less bc not only did they leave Naruto behind, but them “punishing” Naru for it reminds him of the villagers that tormented his father.

But on the other hand, if S&S don’t become genin with him, he would need new team members which could include Kabuto.

Ooooo I like both ways.

Like I adore the thought, even if it’s just in their minds, that they’re only Genin because Naruto chose to be kind enough to hold out a hand. To throw those bells at their feet as a challenge and a promise. To look them in the face and tell them in all but words that they fucked up and owe him a chance to be seen as their equal rather than just the dead last. There would be… a lot of tension there as they lashed out at Naruto. There would be so many days where Naruto comes home and shatters in the arms of whatever member of his family is there waiting for him. Kabuto in particular would be pissed because it would be like looking in a mirror. The knowledge that even Naruto is stuck in this vicious cycle with him and doomed to be failed by his team over and over again. Team seven would often have a certain medic nin watching them with a placid smile and rage in his eyes.

But I also like the thought of there being consequences. They didn’t pass the test, didn’t listen to their teammate who was very clearly coming to them with a plan, chose to turn their back on Naruto and leave him at the mercy of a Jonin they didn’t really know. Even if Naruto could grow to trust them after that, Kakashi absolutely would not.

(In that moment when Naruto throws the bells at their feet and flashes his fangs, Kakashi sees a different body on the ground. Cold. Dead.

The future if this child doesn’t have a team that would stand for him just as much he would stand for them. Those that break the rules are trash but those that abandon their friends are less than trash, after all.)

And Naruto apprenticing under Kakashi? Being paired in an older genin team that included Kabuto who would watch his brother’s back until his dying breath? They would be absolute terrors.