The Ninja Academy, founded by the Second Hokage, was designed to be the premier institution for cultivating young ninja.
In reality, however, the current curriculum was far from perfect.
After all, the school hadn’t been established for all that long.
For Senzan’s generation, aside from basic ninjutsu and general shinobi knowledge, there were barely any specialized courses.
Unless a student possessed overwhelming natural talent—like Minato Namikaze—or had the backing of a major clan with private foundational training like the Sarutobi or Nara, they were largely left to figure things out themselves.
The political landscape of the village was just as shifting.
The Senju clan, who once stood at the absolute pinnacle of the Hidden Leaf, had quietly faded from prominence.
The Uchiha, on the other hand, were flourishing—though Senzan figured the Third Hokage likely already had them penciled into a little black book for a future ‘restructuring.’ The Hyuga, destined to become the village’s number one clan down the line, were currently keeping their heads down and playing it safe.
As for Senzan’s own Gekko clan, they were firmly in the ‘declining’ category.
If it weren’t for Senzan actively propping them up, the clan name would have already faded into obscurity.
Openly, Senzan was firmly aligned with the Hokage’s faction.
Much like Minato, despite only holding the rank of Chunin, his unparalleled stealth abilities made him highly valued by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
It was worth noting that the current Hiruzen was still in his prime, maintaining an absolute, iron grip over the village.
Considering all of this, Senzan decided that playing teacher for a while might not be such a bad idea after all.
“Did you notify him?” “Yes, Lord Third.
It’s just…” “Spit it out.” “Is it really wise to have him teach the students?
He’s only fourteen.”
In the Hokage’s office, the Anbu operative from yesterday was delivering his final report.
He was clearly skeptical about Gekko Senzan’s appointment as a teaching assistant.
Hiruzen chuckled softly.
“So what if he’s fourteen?
Need I remind you he is the current head of the Gekko clan?”
“But he’s only a Chunin.
Even as a clan head…”
Hiruzen raised a hand, silencing the operative.
He slowly stood up and walked over to the window, clasping his hands behind his back.
“Do you honestly believe he’s just a Chunin?” Hiruzen mused.
“That boy has incredible talent, but he’s far too lazy.
More importantly, he is an absolute master at hiding his true depths.
On paper, Nara Suzaku led the Takigakure mission, but Senzan was the undeniable core of the operation.
Only his Transparency Jutsu could have infiltrated the village so flawlessly to secure intel.”
Hiruzen had his own read on Senzan.
He was absolutely certain the boy was an unpolished gem, destined to shine brightly in his own right.
The next day, at the Ninja Academy.
The students filed into their classroom, buzzing with gossip.
They had all received a notice about a brand-new course added to their schedule: Ninja Concealment.
As for who the teacher was?
A total mystery.
The goggle-wearing prince of the Uchiha, Obito, threw an arm casually around the young genius’s neck.
“Got any idea who the new teacher is?”
“No.
And kindly get your arm off my neck.” Kakashi was thoroughly unamused.
If they weren’t in a classroom full of people, he would have loved nothing more than to punch Obito to the floor.
“Tch, you’re always so boring, Kakashi,” Obito huffed, pulling away.
“Man, where is the teacher anyway?
What kind of instructor is late on the very first day?”
Grumbling, Obito strolled over to his seat.
But the moment he spotted Rin Nohara, his entire demeanor flipped into a dopey, lovestruck grin.
What none of them realized was that every single movement in the room was being closely watched.
Senzan had actually arrived well before any of them.
He was simply maintaining his Transparency Jutsu, completely hidden from sight.
Consider it a little welcoming gift for his new students.
He just hadn’t expected his very first class to be Kakashi’s batch.
Looking at the young Kakashi and the future architect of the Fourth Great Ninja War, Obito Uchiha, Senzan couldn’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia.
Arriving in this era early had its perks.
He got to see things others couldn’t, and more importantly, do things others only dreamed of.
Take, for instance, what was about to happen next.
Kakashi was sitting quietly at his desk, minding his own business, when his mask was suddenly yanked violently downward.
“Whoa!
Kakashi!
You actually took your mask off?!”
Obito’s shout instantly sent shockwaves through the classroom.
Kakashi was just as startled.
He had distinctly felt a hand snatch his mask.
He immediately reached up to pull it back into place, but a second later, the fabric was forcefully ripped clean off his face.
In an instant, every single eye in the room locked onto him.
The young genius’s face flushed beet red.
“He’s so handsome!
I had no idea Kakashi was this cute under there!” “Oh my god, I want to marry him!”
The girls in the class absolutely erupted.
Even Rin’s eyes were practically sparkling.
She had always thought Kakashi was cool, but seeing his actual face?
Yeah, she was completely smitten.
‘Damn it!’ Left with no other choice, Kakashi grabbed the collar of his shirt and stretched it up over his nose, his eyes darting furiously around the room to find the culprit.
“Hahahahaha!
Kakashi!
Completely missing the room’s actual reaction, Obito’s confidence skyrocketed.
He hopped up onto his desk and began laughing triumphantly.
“I knew it!
I’m definitely the best-looking guy in class!”
But in the very next second, Obito was struck by a devastating force from behind.
He launched into the air like a rocket, flying straight toward the podium.
“Gaaah!
My butt!” he shrieked mid-flight.
Thud!
Obito slammed into the floor, curling into a tight ball and rolling around as he clutched his backside in absolute agony.
Kakashi froze, staring at Obito’s undignified suffering.
He felt like he had seen this exact scenario somewhere before.
‘Wait…
isn’t that my dad’s ultimate taijutsu secret technique?
A Thousand Years of Death?!’
Did his father sneak into the classroom?!
The room erupted into laughter, mostly because Obito looked absolutely ridiculous.
“Hehehe.
Do you find this funny, everyone?”
An unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed through the room, cutting through the laughter.
“On the battlefield, concealment is your most vital lifeline.
If you fail to stay hidden during a mission and are discovered by the enemy, it often places your entire squad in a fatal position.
The purpose of this class is to teach you how to remain completely unseen.
I am your substitute teacher, Gekko Senzan.
It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
As his voice faded, Senzan slowly materialized, sitting cross-legged right on the teacher’s desk with a wicked smirk plastered across his face.
In his hand, he casually twirled Kakashi’s torn mask.
“I knew that voice sounded familiar,” Kakashi deadpanned, staring at the teenage teacher.
“Senzan-nii-san.
It really is you.
Ripping my mask off…
don’t you think that’s taking a joke a little too far?”
“Hahaha, is it?” Senzan’s smirk widened into a full-blown Cheshire grin.
“Did you enjoy your welcoming gift?
Here, I got you a replacement.”
He tossed a brand-new mask right at Kakashi’s face.
It was neon rainbow-colored.