MiX but less serious

BACKGROUND: someone explains to Hurizen why it'd be good for no one's mental health to give Kakashi a team with Naruto (sensei's son), Sasuke (sibling and cousin to former team Ro teammates + peak projection material), and Sakura (direct parrallel to Kakashi without either realising + peak Rin projection material). Hurizen actually LISTENS and the sensei get swapped. Alternatively the job of assigning jonnin sensei to gennin is the role of a different person, and not the ninja president. Maybe they collaborate with Shikaku or whoever is actually in charge of the jonnin at the time.

Reasons:

Team 7: Kurenai

Probably one of the more stable jonnin out there and (compared to others) doesn't have potentially triggering relationships/memories connected to any of the three

(I think her dad died on the night of the Kyuubi attack? But my HC is that he was lowkey a dick so she wasn't all that choked up about it)

Sasuke is an Uchiha and Sakura has a genjutsu aptitude. Considering Kurenai is a genjutsu master which, yk, isn't nothing, I have a feeling she'd be able to help them advance those skills pretty well

(HC that half of Kurenai's stubbornness and dedication towards mastering genjutsu stemmed from a determination to be better at the technique than the Uchiha and there's no better motivator than spite)

Meaning she has enough understanding of the Sharingan to help Sasuke

(At least more so than the average non-Uchiha/Sharingan possessing shinobi)

Uchiha elders can suck it from their grave because guess who has the last heir to the clan teaching them genjutsu, huh? <3

Thus, Kurenai is arguably the best person in Konoha after Kakashi to help Sasuke with his eyes. And when it gets past what she can teach him she ropes in the aforementioned jonnin as a mentor.

Both to help Sasuke advance his abilities and to get the damn council off of her back.

Moaning about how the last Uchiha needs the copy-nins help to master his almighty Kekkei Genkai. yeah yeah whatever, we've heard it all before you useless old creti-

Probably happens sometime during the chunnin exams. Most likely post-prelims when Kakashi begins one-on-one training with Sasuke for the match against Gaara a-la cannon.

Sasuke has not had the experience that is having Kakashi as his jonnin sensei for six months prior to this and has only seen the man - for the first time - interacting with team 8 at the prelims. This plus Kurenai's introduction and immediate reassurance that no this was NOT bloodline theft don't worry Sasuke, makes him much more amenable to Kakashi and his teaching then in cannon

Thus effectively taking the tutoring place that Orochimaru normally would

Sasuke: Hmmm I've got the choice between this creepy snake guy that violates every rule that *Kurenai-sensei layed out about stranger danger, who says he'll make me stronger but hasn't shown proof he has experience that would help me with my eyes and his underlings were defeated by a bunch of gennin VS a lazy weirdo who actually has a Sharingan eye which is slightly suspicious, but Kurenai-sensei says it wasn't a bloodline theft and he has her stamp of approval and reassurance he's actually pretty strong despite his loser appearance. What a tough decision

*yes i think he would eventually begin to address her as Kurenai-sensei as opposed to just her name without the suffix. Unlike cannon with Kakashi

I know in my soul she'd deal with his emo phase and feed him some sound logic

She would be a fantastic role-model for Sakura who looks up to the older kunoichi with stars in her eyes

Discovers Sakura's chakra control + genjutsu aptitude and proceeds to basically pounce on the girl and dub her her apprentice/heir

With her sensei's being a genjutsu master, having an Uchiha as a teammate, a best friend who's a Yamanaka, and overall excellent chakra control, Sakura becomes a genjutsu menace

Kurenai would raise her confidence levels and self worth exponentially. When Sakura begins to feel insecure about the gap between her and her teammates skillset she feels comfortable enough to tell Kurenai about it

Kurenai who reassures her that heavy hitting jutsu isn't the only measure of a strong shinobi. What matters isn't how flashy or eye catching a jutsu is, what matters is that they are effective

Understands the frustrations and struggles that come with being a kunoichi and helps her young gennin bypass them

Just an overall good adult figure for Sakura to connect with and rely on

Finds the Sasuke infatuation cute for all of three seconds before (literally and figuratively) beating it down from an obsession to a regular crush

Doesn't have the same history with Naruto as Kakashi or the few others that know the full truth behind the Kyuubi attack and the boy's identity, but at the same time I don't think Kurenai would hold the same animosity towards the boy as most of the village does

Some slight apprehension which is sadly a given, but after knowing Naruto for one (1) afternoon it completely vanishes

Sometimes Naruto's boundless energy can be overwhelming but Kurenai exceptionally fond of him no matter what

Absolutely refuses to take shit from the people that badmouth him

After finding out the full story around Naruto's birth (she's his sensei. There's no way it isn't disclosed to her) this increases tenfold

Also realises that Naruto probably has a natural aptitude for fuinjutsu if he were to try it. Thus she tracks down someone with a known fuinjutsu skillset (I firmly believe Kurenai is the type to go the extra 100000 miles for her students) to help him

Maybe Raidou? A fellow jonnin plus his former status of guard to the fourth and additional knowledge of the Hirashin

And what a shame if he insinuates something or 'accidentally' drops a hint, huh? It's hardly as if he disobeyed direct orders and told the boy! Naruto figured it out by himself!

She is going to teach that boy how to cook or so help her. Kurenai absolutely refuses to let one of her students die of sodium poisoning of all things

After a solid month of teaching team 7 "good grief" becomes her new favourite phrase lol

Whilst they might not become the melee powerhouses of physical destruction they evolve to be in cannon. Under Kurenai's tutelage Team 7 becomes a trapping, interrogation, and infiltration team of exceptional prowess

Drills their teamwork and ability to work together

In particular I love the idea of Sakura learning genjutsu that's more long distance or works with the senses/surrounding environment to compliment Sasuke's Sharingan which is more effective at a close range

As well as Naruto using fuinjutsu to help with stealth and breaking and entering

(there is NO ONE on this planet that will convince me that Naruto doesn't have fantastic stealth abilities. That boy managed to sneak around and graffiti the HOKAGE MONUMENT without being noticed)

Overall close relationship with her team, even after graduating gennin

However fondly exasperated she gets she loves them, a feeling that is very much reciprocated by the team

(If Asuma remains team 10's sensei, team 7 and team 10 banding together trying to figure out what the hell is happening between their sensei shenanigans)

I would kill to see gennin them trying to 'intimidate' Asuma a la shovel talk style

AS WELL AS THEM ATTEMPTING TO BABYSIT MIRAI HELP 😭

Team 8: Kakashi

Rubbing my hands together I have SO MANY opinions about this one guyss. I might even end up making a separate post

Guy that actively tries to be the weirdest person in the room at any given time is put in charge of three gennin that are often perceived as the weirdest people in the room at any given time without them realising

Abilities align so so much better. Team 8 who is designed with tracking and hunting in mind suits Kakashi's skillset perfectly

Plus I think he'd be more willing/find it easier to train them given they aren't a constant walking trauma trigger for him

I am not immune to the Hatake have wolf traits trope. Even if never officially confirmed it's cannon in my mind.

I say that because this would mean Kakashi helping Kiba train his senses, learning how best to utilise the canine traits he inherited due to being an Inuzuka and use them for hunting

Maybe helping Kiba would also unknowingly help Kakashi? The more he helps the boy improve his canine instincts and skills the more Kakashi has to reach into his own, forcing him to get over his previous long distance relationship with them

Picks up a habit from his sensei's ninken, when giving chase aims for the ankles/tendons to prevent someone being able to run away

AKAMARU AND THE NINKEN INTERACTING PLEASE I BEG PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEEEEEE

They would be such a fun duo. A similar lowercase/UPPERCASE dynamic to Kakashi and Naruto, except Kiba can be a touch more sardonic than Naruto at times it'd be real funny for him to pull no punches with Kakashi

The boy's reactions to Kakashi being consistently late are very much on par with Naruto and Sakura's

Physically CANNOT say no to Hinata. Local internationally feared jonnin crumbles and instantly gives in whenever one of his gennin says please and looks at him with slightly watery eyes

As far as Kakashi is concerned, with no due respect, Hiashi can use the stick up his ass to go fuck himself because that's his kid now

Sharingan-Byakugan comparisons and similarities lets gooo

Helps Hinata hone her precision and focus specifically. As well as her sensing and searching skills

But he doesn't shy away from teaching Hinata how to use the Byakugan to it's full extent in a fight either

Much like Kurenai with Sakura, Kakashi impresses onto Hinata that the effectiveness of a jutsu will always be more important than how impressive it looks

I can't explain why but I feel like he'd be really good at advising her on how to improve the trigrams technique

Strangely, I do think he would help improve her confidence. Not in a hypeman extreme you go girl!!! Gai way, or even a more toned down but no less steady Kurenai way

But his overall laid-back nature and consistent belief that Hinata can achieve her family technique would boost the girl's opinion of herself. Even if he were to decide that she isn't cut out for them, his decision to search for something that would suit her instead of just giving up or harshly shutting her down would do wonders

One of the few that isn't unnerved by Shino's mannerisms and demeanour. Even if he isn't quite sure how to adjust to his gennin's precipitous nature to begin with

Both because he's familiar with the Aburame clan and it's techniques, and because the calm and peaceful silences and straightforward (but not pointed *looks in Kiba's direction) questions are nice

Kakashi focuses on Shino's stealth and using his clan abilities as subtly and effectively as possible so by the time you notice it's too late

Possibly introduces (subjects) him to Anko who can help with perhaps utilising some more poisonous insects

Or maybe the person he ropes in (forces) to help is Genma. Who, in addition to being able to help with poisons, would also be able to help Hinata with the Hyuuga water needle jutsu (yes i know its anime only but hear me out) and the precision and aim that's required to utilise it

Though i think the jonnin would be on board the second he realises he has a chance to fuck with Hiashi (hc that Genma has an absolute loathing for the Hyuuga clan head)

Overall I think Kakashi would be more at peace with team 8 than he is with team 7 in cannon due to them not being a constant trigger for his PTSD as previously mentioned

Sets the ninken on them more than once for giggles and calls it evasion training

Clocks Hinata's crush on Naruto instantly. Though i cant decide if he'd keep quiet about it to see where it goes or lightly tease her about it whenever the opportunity arises

Their reaction to the ichaicha novels omg. Hinata goes bright red. Kiba's absolute disgust. Shino's silent but deafening disappointment

‼️I NEED TO SEE KAKASHI AND HIASHI DRIVING EACH-OTHER UP THE WALL‼️

As well as Kakashi frantically dodging Inuzuka attempts to adopt him into the clan like its his job

(Takes a hot minute and Tsume grilling him about why he appears so adamant to ignore his heritage to get to that point, plus the assurances that he's taking his role of training Kiba seriously, but the comedy is endless once they do)

(Kuromaru looking much more similar to a wolf than a dog + Kakashi opting to have ninken rather than wolf summons. I am staring so hard.)

one day I'll elaborate further on my Hatake-Inuzuka clan bond HCs

Overall i genuinely think team 8 would be a fantastic fit for Kakashi. They would become an absolutely incredible hunting and tracking team, fearsome without a doubt

Creating a full post instead of just abrupt HCs one day i promise