He walked toward the village, not looking back to see if they were following. He knew they were. For the first time in years, the Team 7 memorial didn't feel like a graveyard. It felt like a beginning.
"You..." Kakashi loomed over them, his lone eye narrowed into a lethal slit. "You broke the rules. You fed him. Do you have any idea what the penalty is?" 5 : You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision
"In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum," Kakashi said, his voice dropping the playful facade for something raw and true. "But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum." He walked toward the village, not looking back
In that heartbeat, Kakashi’s final decision wasn't just about passing them. It was about choosing to believe in a new generation. It was about honoring the name on the stone he had just been touching. It felt like a beginning
The midday sun beat down on the three Genin, but the air felt like ice.
"The three of us are one," Sasuke muttered, his voice like gravel.