Like Madara had anticipated, Katsuro's plan had worked. His clone, while staying with Kakashi, had focussed on the tracking seal that had been placed on the White Zetsu. It had revealed a location where it seemed to stay even now.
Several more hours later the clone unaware of what happened to the original contemplated Rin's fate as he looked at Kakashi absent mindedly continuing to collect the bodies of his comrades carefully.
Shouldn't be too long now…
As if on cue, the original teleported to them, delivering a brief grateful nod that signalled the clone to dismiss itself and transfer its knowledge. The clone didn't have enough chakra to cross the entire distance with Kakashi and instead stayed with him as intended in case of any following danger.
Kakashi noticed the interaction instantly making his way over.
"Is Rin…" Kakashi started, trembling.
"She's absolutely fine. In fact she's going to make a complete recovery. She's just resting in the hospital, but know-" Katsuro smiled. Unexpectedly, Kakashi rushed into the Senju Patriarch, embracing him tightly, tears streaming down his face.
"Thank you," he whispered. Fate had been incredibly fortunate for Kakashi and his teammate. After losing Obito, the weight of his death hung heavy over Kakashi, like an unshaking boulder. If Rin had died, the boy's entire spirit would have crumbled along with his belief in being an honourable shinobi. In his mind, Kakashi swore he would never allow such an event to happen again. He would never break his promise to Obito.
Finally after a while he released Katsuro, and took a step back. He quickly reported what they had done, handing over scrolls and showing him where their Kiri prisoner stayed. The man was unconscious, but fairly unharmed. He was tied up with Wood Style and had chakra inhibiting seals placed on him.
Soon, Katsuro teleported them both back, using each relay point like before. But this time it took even more chakra. Even with his now strengthened pathways, carrying 2 people for such a large distance drained him considerably, and on top of the day's events left him fatigued.
As soon as they got back, Kakashi instantly made his way into the hospital to meet Rin. Her state was a reminder of what she had gone through, but he was happy to see her alive, hugging her intimately and carefully in a way he had somewhat avoided since Obito's death. Katsuro on the other hand, handed their prisoner over to the Torture and Interrogation department which was currently headed by the Yamanaka Clan head. With their specialisation in Mind Jutsu, even with the limited knowledge the Kiri Jonin might have, it would provide much more information. Jonin were almost never captured alive like this, it usually wasn't possible considering their strength. And even if they were, often many would choose death before finding themselves captured. Unfortunately, this particular Jonin did not have the ability to choose.
Katsuro waited while he continued for the report while he continued to recover. Teleporting back over again would use up even more chakra, and he had a feeling his enemy wouldn't be simple. Another driving factor was his need to know what had pushed Kiri to this. His anger had taken a backseat but it was very much still there, waiting to be unleashed.
A few more hours later, he finally received the information he had been waiting for. But, it only did more to confuse him. The memories they had extracted showed that the order for the attack did not come down directly from the village's authoritative body. Instead, it came from a fringe faction mainly made up of figures who used the village's internal strife to exploit the dissent of the treaty. Katsuro had expected perhaps it would be the Kaguya clan leader, as a clan known for its blood thirstiness, instead it was certain elders, and Jonin in high positions, who were likely Mizukage loyalists. The small radical group had taken it upon their own hands, passing orders without the clan faction and other officials' knowledge, that would force Kiri back into the fight, or achieve retribution against Konoha. Katsuro would ensure they would pay, even if this revelation showed it wasn't the village as a whole, they were still responsible for what happened under their banner.
But for now, that would be put on the backburner, right now he had somewhere to be. And thus he departed, in the same Senju Yukata now with his modified sword in its new scabbard in his left hand.
The blacksmiths from Kiri took the opportunity to work on the legendary blade made by their ancestors in stride, the opportunity was too good to pass up on. Even if they had been warned by Kiri higher ups to be as hard to work with as possible, and to not give any secrets away while doing the bare minimum, such a chance did not come twice. They worked on the blade under Katsuro's instructions, with his reputation ensuring they followed his words, and under the view of many blacksmiths all over Konoha, mainly of the Senju and Hatake, they showed their skills. The demonstration alone was providing countless insights and tips for these blacksmiths, showing just how wide the gap was.
Even though it was just a reforging, such legendary blades like the Kiba was a difficult process that took days, even weeks. They had to ensure they kept its abilities while forming it in the image of the Katana Katsuro preferred. Unlike most, if not all other Shinobi who preferred Tantos or straighter Chokutos, Katsuro had always preferred a longer, curved Katana. Its cutting power was greater, but it was longer. Fortunately , Katsuro was a lot taller than most Shinobi at 6'3 and so it worked, and he could use it one-handed meaning it wouldn't disrupt his Ninjutsu. But the amount of metal from both Kiba blades meant that forming a Katana from them was impossible, instead it was longer, wider and heavier creating what leaned towards a Uchigatana instead. As it was completed, it created a sleep blade that oozed of power, when Katsuro raised it, the blade stood even taller than him. From his feet, it would reach up to above his waist, showing just how long it was. The sheer size of it as Katsuro effortlessly hoisted and swung it was intimidating, looking like it could behead several men at once, if he wasn't as strong as he was, he would have been forced to use it 2-handed.
Seeing the efforts of work under the heat of the forge, one of the Kiri blacksmith spoke up,
"This will be the defining work of our lives, reforging the Kiba blades is a true honour and we are happy to say that it is a masterpiece."
The other joined in nodding with happiness and relief as they too shared words. But Katsuro replied, which made them pause, "Yes, such a fine work that he completely reworked the old swords, don't you believe your work deserves a new name?"
In truth they had thought about it too, but as members of an enemy nation, they hesitated in taking part like this even if it would be an honour. Typically, under Konoha's sweet persuasion, they may have already fallen. But Kiri was smart, they had only handed over blacksmiths that had families, and all but threatened them. Konoha had subtly hinted at 'rescuing' their family, but the threat hanging over them had made them hesitate to do anything. But now, under such a monumental occasion, their inner pride as blacksmiths forced them to make their mark on history.
They spoke out the name that came to them naturally as they made the sword, a name that they had to forcibly stop themselves from engraving on the bottom of the blade, a name that reflected both it and its wielder.
"Tenha." One spoke somewhat hesitantly.
"Heaven Breaker huh…" Katsuro fell into contemplation as he admired his companion, "it suits it," he said with a smile. "I guess you'd better engrave the name onto the sword then."
With surprise, they nodded and got back to work, finally completing what had still felt incomplete.
The Heaven Breaker, wielded by the God of Shinobi, which would call down lightning from the very heavens themselves. Yes, even with such a grand name, it suited it just fine, and to match its maiden battle would be against a legend of the previous era.
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