Hiruzen's changes and Team 7's inspection

(3rd PoV)

"Kakashi, if you are going to waste time anyway, come with me for inspections about your team."

Hiruzen appeared before Kakashi, clearly displeased about him wasting time.

"... Alright."

First, they went to Sasuke's house. It was neat and clean, just as expected of an Uchiha.

Kakashi sighed thinking about Sasuke.

Not only his once subordinate, Itachi, killed almost the whole Uchiha clan, but the other surviving member, Izumi, was kidnapped mysteriously.

And if that wasn't all, he had to sell almost half of the Uchiha clan compound for learning fuinjutsu from Shiori.

That girl is really ruthless.

"It doesn't seem like Shiori has taught him much fuinjutsu huh."

Afterall, they were easily able to enter his house, unlike Shiori's, where even ANBU guarding her and Naruto can't enter without permission.

Yamato has told him that that house is a headache.

"Sasuke has been going to Inochi for therapy since that incident, though not out of his own will. And taking some girls, mainly Hinata, on dates regularly, though not out of his will. But, that definitely has improved his state. Inochi told me that there is apparently something called mental health. I didn't know that before. I am thinking of creating a mental health division in the hospital after Tsunade arrives."

"Tsunade-sama is coming back?"

"Well, it's just a prediction. But after Shiori-chan actually hit her head, 99% of her predictions have been wrong. And she has started having normal dreams too, she said that she didn't have weird dreams like now before hitting her head."

Kakashi nodded in understanding.

"Anyway, rumours have spread about Sasuke that he might 'pull an itachi' on the village one day. So he is pretty isolated and feared. Naruto doesn't even bother remembering his name, and Shiori has made sure that they keep distance. Apparently, she had a dream that the Uchiha clan was about to control Naruto and wreck havoc using Kyuubi to seize control over the village. That's why, Naruto is not going to be trusting Sasuke anytime soon."

Kakashi was shocked at that detail.

"Was Uchiha clan actually planning that!?"

"I don't know."

Hiruzen shook his head.

In fact, Itachi has informed him that Fugaku had hinted at the possibility.

Uchiha's may be hotheaded, but they aren't idiots. Just killing him and the hire-ups wouldn't allow them to be able to seize power. There is no way other clans will allow that kind of rule.

So, the most likely plan was to have Kyuubi attack from a ROOT base, force Hiruzen into sacrificing himself for sealing Kyuubi again, blame Danzo, who had stolen Shisui's sharingan, and then, Uchiha, the strongest clan of Konoha, and Fugaku, the second strongest ninja in the village at that time after Hiruzen, would save the village and become the Hokage.

If Itachi cooperated with the Uchiha clan and withheld the plans of the Uchiha clan, it might have actually worked.

But, there was a very high chance that Naruto would have died. Maybe the plan was to have Naruto go to 5 or 6 tails?

Fugaku must have had a Mangekyo Sharingan, or he must have trusted Itachi to be able to do it with his own Mangekyo Sharingan.

Good thing that Itachi got rid of Danzo. Hiruzen actually didn't know that Danzo had stolen Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan.

If not for Shiori telling him about the details of the coup according to her dream, her breaking down in tears when she realised that her seer ability isn't invincible, even though it could even see in the past to some extent, Hiruzen wouldn't have known that what pushed the Uchiha clan to finally unite all factions, to agree to coup, was somehow someone getting the information that Danzo killed Shisui and his Mangekyo Sharingan.

It might have been possible that Danzo himself might have leaked this information so that Uchiha clan would become decisive, and giving the him the perfect excuse for exterminating the Uchiha clan.

These things have made Hiruzen decisive, and he has realised that Tsunade returning to the village to become the Fifth Hokage might be due to his death.

Possibly at the hands of his most treasured student, Orochimaru. It isn't a prediction, but a feeling in his heart.

"Kakashi, if Tsunade doesn't return, I will leave the village in your hands. You have the strength to be the next Hokage."

But until Orochimaru is dealt with, he would not let the youngster Hokage sacrifice himself, like Minato. That's why, he must remain the Hokage until then.

Hiruzen knows that Amaterasu wouldn't be enough to kill Orochimaru. Izuna Uchiha couldn't do anything against Second Hokage with that ability, and Hiruzen had taught all his three students the Fire absorption seal that Second Hokage created to deal with Amaterasu.

"Hahaha! Why the gloomy face Kakashi!? Let's see the other students' houses."

Next, they went to the Hyuga clan, where Hiashi greeted them.

"I am going to be Hinata's Jonin-sensei. Do I have to be careful about anything, Hiashi-sama?"

Kakashi politely asked, but Hiashi frowned.

"Your talents are wasted on her, Kakashi. It's best if you focus on the two prodigies. You will be only disappointed by her. Well, do as you wish with her."

Hiashi was disappointed by the situation. According to Shiori's plan, Sasuke and Hinata needed to be apart now. And he had to expel Hinata from the Hyuga clan, so that Sasuke would sympathesize with her.

But, she got Kakashi as her Jonin-sensei. And Kakashi will definitely become the next Hokage.

Hinata and Hanabi are around the same level, despite the three year difference. So, Hanabi is becoming a competitor for being the clan heir.

In his and Hizashi's case, Hizashi was given the Caged Bird Seal at just three years old because they were twins.

For a while, Hinata was continuously getting defeated by Hanabi, so he was able to stall any of his daughters getting the seal by convincing the elders that they must wait until they turn 18, so that the stronger one can be chosen. All while he was planning to give his daughter Hinata to Sasuke to protect both of his daughters.

Afterall, Sasuke is destined to become stronger than the whole Hyuga clan by the age of 16.

But some months back, Hinata began to improve, and was able to match Hanabi. While it wasn't impressive to be equal to someone who is three years younger and hasn't entered puberty which leads to rapid growth, in the eyes of the elders, both sisters are now competitors. And they are eager to eliminate competition.

But with Kakashi becoming Hinata's Jonin-sensei, Hinata's status far outweighs Hanabi's.

He expected Karin to be on Kakashi's team, since Uzumaki chains can restrain Kyuubi. But Third Hokage unexpectedly put Hinata in the team...

If she fails the genin test of Kakashi, it would be perfect opportunity to expel Hinata from the clan.

But knowing that Naruto and Sasuke are on the team, that seems to be unlikely.

'Should I have Hanabi approach Sasuke instead?'

While Hiashi was having these thoughts, Hiruzen and Kakashi arrived at the Uzumaki Palace, but it no one was at home.

Unlike Sasuke's house, Hiruzen and Kakashi decided that it's best to not enter without permission.

"Alright Kakashi. Now, don't make your students wait long."

"Wait a second, Hokage-sama. If you don't mind me asking, why was the traditional team formation, using the top guy, top girl, and last guy wasn't chosen?

I mean, I can understand Naruto and Sasuke, but why Hinata?"

Kakashi knew that having the top kunoichi, Karin Uzumaki, would have been the better choice. Afterall, Uzumaki chains will be able to restrain Kyuubi.

Shiori's team will certainly not be given very difficult missions, so it would have been better to have Hinata on her team instead of Karin.

Atleast, Kakashi thought so. He couldn't understand Hiruzen's thinking.

"Hinata likes Sasuke."

Hmm, okay?

"And?"

"What and? That's all."