The plan seemed perfect. Sasuke was withdrawn and a loner due to his past trauma. Sakura cared for him and would be an emotional support. Naruto was friendly with anyone and was friends with Sakura. The three had the template for overlapping skill sets that would make them an excellent team. Sasuke and Naruto might even establish a rivalry to push them forward. They would pay back Obito and their sensei, and maybe train legends. It couldn't fail.
However, things didn't go as planned. During their true genin test, Kakashi made a crack about Naruto being dead last, knowing it wasn't true but as a psychological ploy. Naruto felt like he was being discriminated against. He figured out the test, so he had to be the one tied up. If either of the other two were, Naruto would just feed them and pass without the others understanding the meaning of the exam. Sakura was too conditioned to follow orders to listen to Naruto, and Sasuke was too arrogant to think he needed a team.
Kakashi was never invested in the team, not how he wanted to be. He demanded an emotional connection that would make the team work instinctively, but it wasn't there. Kakashi refused to teach them much else until it was. Naruto felt neglected and only did what Kakashi commanded, but nothing more. He wouldn't open up to Kakashi or acknowledge him as a real sensei.
During the Chunin exam finals, Kakashi didn't train Naruto, and Naruto only said he'd expected as much from someone like him. He didn't even know about the trainer Kakashi had arranged nor his justification for dedicating his time to Sasuke. Naruto felt like Kakashi didn't view him as an equal and that he was just there to reinforce the perception that he was a loser and an idiot. He just wanted to train his sensei's son but train him how he wanted to. Naruto rejected everything Kakashi stood for but did it in a way he could never be held accountable for.
He lost all of Naruto's respect when he argued that Naruto wasn't prepared for the Chunin exams. He believed that Naruto couldn't handle criticism from his fellow ninjas and was insubordinate when things didn't go his way. Kakashi believed that his words were true - Naruto should have forgiven Kakashi for their Genin exam, tried to build a genuine relationship with Sasuke, and accepted that teamwork was a vital aspect of Konoha teams. If Naruto couldn't agree with his philosophy, then he didn't deserve to advance. Besides, if Naruto had been promoted to Chunin, he would have left the team, and it wasn't the right time for that. He was meant to stay and be a part of the team.
Sasuke attempted to leave the village, and Kakashi was devastated. He rushed to find Naruto and Sasuke and found the valley in ruins. Sasuke was lying on the ground hurt and injured, and Naruto said nothing before leaving with Jiraiya. Sasuke had a broken arm, leg, ribs, and clavicle, with a severe concussion. Naruto was promoted to Chunin by Tsunade for his success.
Years later, Kakashi hoped to make amends with Naruto and put the past behind them, but Naruto still held resentment towards him. Naruto felt that Kakashi was only a collection of every time he had let him down and nothing else. Naruto accepted that he had to stay on Team Kakashi due to the Akatsuki threat, but Kakashi felt that Naruto was still holding back during training sessions, showing that he didn't fully trust his team.
Kakashi is seated in the Hokage's chair, which has been occupied by his sensei, the Sandaime, Tsunade, and without a doubt, Naruto in the future. He must speak with authority and gravitas befitting the position, while also meeting the gaze of the one who will sit in this chair in the future.
Kakashi has noticed his new verbal tic, where he addresses the Hokage as "Hokage-san," which Jiraiya has attributed to stress. However, if Kakashi were to press the issue, he knows Naruto would retort, "What makes you think you're more worthy of respect than Jiji or Baa-chan?" This confrontation is the last thing he needs while feeling uneasy in this position.
The ANBU who attempted to capture Sasuke mentioned that he had a connection with Itachi. Kakashi assumes the ANBU wanted him to confirm or deny this. However, he didn't get a chance to answer as they were interrupted.
"Naruto, do you have some connection with Itachi?"
"Do you? You were her ANBU Captain."
"Stop changing the subject," Kakashi ordered, and Naruto fought the urge to ask what Kakashi would do if he didn't comply. Naruto knew he was not in the right frame of mind to deal with the Cyclops, and the village didn't need another Hokage in a coma. However, Kakashi needed to watch his fu-
"Calm down," Jiraiya spoke. Naruto and Jiraiya had gotten close during their training trip, and the month away for sage training had strengthened their relationship further. Having no more lies between them, and Jiraiya almost dying, made Naruto let down his defenses, knowing he could trust his Master and Godfather. Jiraiya's deep voice could be soothing, but it wasn't as simple as staying calm or not. Naruto didn't know why he'd get keyed up like this over certain things, but it wasn't as simple as turning it off. It didn't help that Kakashi now occupied a position he wasn't worthy of and had the nerve to question Naruto over what some traitor said. 'Deep breaths, Naruto,' he thought to himself. He could not fight Kakashi and his four ANBU guards, even if they weren't fully ready, and Kakashi's guilt over Sasuke would dull his initial reaction. 'Damn sensory ability,' he thought. He needed to calm down.
"Why are you so concerned with the accusation of a traitor and not, you know, his treason?"
"Something set him off, Naruto. He'd been improving so for him to turn his back on everything, something happened."
"I know," said Jiraiya. "It was in the report that the Uchiha rescued him."
"But it's not just about that," argued Naruto. "It's also about what he said and why Sasuke came to me after killing the advisors."
They had been arguing for twenty minutes. Jiraiya could see that Naruto didn't hold much respect for Kakashi, but he knew this was not the time to play games. With the Gokage summit coming up, they had more important things to focus on. Jiraiya reluctantly ordered Naruto to tell Kakashi what he knew.
"Naruto, tell him," he said. Naruto didn't turn away from Kakashi, but Jiraiya could see the reluctance in his body.
"Itachi was my ANBU guard," Naruto began. "She broke protocol and became my friend. We met a few times during my training trip."
"Why would you betray Sasuke like that?" Kakashi asked.
"You've got to be joking," replied Naruto. He couldn't believe that Kakashi's first concern was the supposed betrayal of Sasuke, rather than the fact that Naruto had put himself at risk and possibly betrayed the village.
"Danzo and the Elders ordered Itachi to kill the Uchiha clan because the leaders were planning a coup. Itachi wasn't a traitor; Sasuke was. Now, save your recrimination for later, Kakashi. You have the information you need, and as one of your only field-ready S-rank ninjas, Naruto's time is better spent elsewhere."
"I think that's my decision, Jiraiya."
"Then make the smart one and wrap this up," said Jiraiya, who was also shocked by Kakashi's first concern being his Uchiha brat.
"Fine. Naruto, what was the nature of these meetings between Itachi and you?"
"We played board games."
"Board games?"
"Yeah. Checkers, Monopoly, and the like."
"You can leave, Naruto."
"Thanks, Hokage-san," Naruto said before departing.
"He holds no respect for me."
"I see. I'm kinda surprised. He tends to find something to respect about everyone, even enemies."
"Or absentee Godfathers."
"That trained the kid properly for years. I explained why I wasn't here, copped to not doing all I could have. He was disappointed but forgave me. You acted like a brat. It wasn't enough to get what you wanted if you didn't get it how you wanted it. You favor that traitor over your other students."
"It's not that I favored Sasuke, even if no one will ever believe me. I know how it looks. I've spent more time developing him than Sakura or Naruto. But it wasn't out of favoritism or because Sasuke was like me or a genius and easy to train. I honestly thought he needed it more. He wasn't like Naruto, he didn't make connections to help with his trauma; he turned inward, and it wasn't healthy. His genin team and sensei could have been a new family. I was trying to solve, what I assumed, was the most immediate and dire problem - a damaged flight risk. All Naruto had to do was try to truly connect. If he had, then we could have moved on."
"I understand that there is no rule that requires you to like your team, Kakashi," she said.
"It was my rule," he replied. "It was my team. I demanded a higher standard for teamwork, and it was on them to meet it. Naruto routinely refused."
"Sasuke did too," she added.
"I'm aware, but truthfully, he didn't know how to connect with people. Naruto just didn't like Sasuke."
"That would have been in their files. You forced Naruto onto a team that you knew he would hate and made everyone assume he was a low-ranking student. You didn't have to teach him, Kakashi. Especially when you didn't teach him anything anyway. Asuma could have helped with his wind manipulation. Kurenai with his chakra control and tracking. You lobbied for him, played on Sensei's soft side to get Minato's boy, and then squandered his time and talent with your bullshit. And you know what's sad? Sensei saw it all. He saw how miserable Naruto was to be with you and Sasuke. He felt guilty he'd done that to his grandson but had no other team to reassign him to. He was glad when I returned and made me promise I'd train Naruto seriously. True, I acted like an idiot at first, but I followed through. That's why Naruto forgave me because I helped him become a better shinobi. I helped him face his challenges. If he'd been stuck with you, he'd possibly be dead already or stuck as a genin. Was your petty revenge worth it?"
"I honestly didn't see it as revenge at the time. I regret that I spoke against him, but in the moment, I didn't think he was ready," said Kakashi.
"At the moment, you wanted to spite Naruto for flouting your beliefs. You didn't care if he stalled his progress because all that mattered was him advancing your way," said Jiraiya, not allowing for Kakashi's delusions any longer. "Also, keep in mind that Naruto never outright ignored your teachings as you did with Minato. He tried to impart the importance of teamwork, but you were all about the mission. Nevertheless, he still trained and prepared you."
"We were at war."
"I guess Suna and Oto were just challenging us to a vigorous spar."
"I didn't know we were going to be invaded."
"That's how war works when you're a shinobi. They don't wave a banner, Kakashi."
"So, I just get labeled as the negligent sensei who favors the genius, even if it isn't true?"
"You're about the only one that doesn't believe it to be true. Maybe that should tell you something."
"That I'm surrounded by idiots," replied Kakashi.
"Yes, it's everyone else that's wrong."
"Is there anything else I need to know about Naruto and Itachi?"
Jiraiya replied with a firm "No" when he was asked if he would tell the person something. When the person asked if he would tell them if there was a reason for his response, Jiraiya explained that it would put the safety of a village he had been protecting for a long time at risk. He then left to find his apprentice, Naruto.
Jiraiya found Naruto and waited for him to finish training with his other teammate, who seemed to be upset. After she left, Jiraiya approached Naruto, who was gazing out into the training ground.
"Hey, kid," Jiraiya said.
"Hey, Sensei. Or do you prefer Kyofu? I never did ask you that," Naruto responded.
"I'm just happy you don't call me Pervy Sage anymore, so whichever you feel is appropriate, Naruto. I won't read into it either way," Jiraiya replied.
"Cool. So, come to scold me?"
"I think I have to rap your knuckles a little. You were pushing it with Kakashi."
"I know and I have no defense."
"We can write it off as stress and Kakashi won't make a thing of it this time but we don't know when Tsunade will wake up and she may not be in a condition to return to the hat when she does. If that's the case, Kakashi will be the Hokage and for someone who wants that job, it isn't smart to make an enemy of him. He could pick someone else."
"I considered that but don't worry, I have a plan."
"Oh, this should be good."
"You'll like it as it literally cannot fail. See, if Kakashi picks someone over me, I'll drag his porn-loving ass out of that office and beat him in the middle of the street. I'll do the same for the person he picks."
"I can't see a single way that awesome plan could fail."
"I know, I'm awesome, dattebayo!"