The border of the Land of Water lay shrouded in silence.A gentle breeze rustled through the forest canopy, stirring the dew-laden leaves and weaving a soft rhythm of swishing sounds through the trees.
Amidst this tranquil backdrop, two figures appeared—one tall and stern, the other calm and silver-haired.Kakashi had successfully extracted Senju Tobirama from the nightmare that was the Hidden Mist Village.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.The tension of battle had faded, leaving behind only the weight of exhaustion and unspoken thoughts.Tobirama's expression was calm, but his face bore faint signs of fatigue; even his sharp gaze seemed dimmed by the mental strain of the genjutsu.
He turned slightly, eyes lingering on the young shinobi beside him."You…" he began, voice low and uncertain, a rare hesitation breaking through his usually cold demeanor.
But Kakashi didn't allow the silence to stretch.He spoke with casual steadiness, as if to ease the tension."Lord Hiruzen received intelligence suggesting you were in danger, so he sent me to assist."
At the mention of Hiruzen's name, Tobirama's expression hardened instantly.A sharp exhale escaped him—a short, cold snort."Hiruzen… that old fool. What sort of 'intelligence' could he possibly gather that wasn't already outdated or flawed?"
He was ready to continue his scolding, but halfway through, he stopped himself.For all his irritation, Tobirama knew it was pointless to dwell on such trivialities now.He turned away, letting the moment pass in silence.
Hiruzen and Danzo…Those names alone filled his mind with equal parts disappointment and unease.
Kakashi, however, paid no mind to the elder's tone.Without responding, he crouched slightly and began preparing another Flying Thunder God scroll—his hands moving methodically, his focus calm.He acted as though Tobirama's criticism hadn't even registered.
Just as the silence between them threatened to settle too heavily, Tobirama spoke again.This time, his voice carried an unfamiliar trace of sincerity.
"…Thank you, Kakashi."
He had almost called him kid, the way he used to address young shinobi long ago.But he stopped himself.This one had already earned a name.
Kakashi blinked once, pausing in his work. His reply was composed, respectful, but touched with quiet humility."Lord Second, I only fulfilled the mission assigned by Lord Third. Completing a task—that's the basic duty of a shinobi."
His tone was simple, but his words carried weight. There was no pride, no false modesty—just truth.
Tobirama studied him for a moment, then slowly averted his gaze."…Even so, I still owe you my gratitude."
A brief pause followed before his voice grew colder, though not cruel."But don't misunderstand. My stance toward you will not change because of this."
He looked directly at Kakashi, his eyes sharp and analytical once more."The Sharingan inside you is a double-edged sword. Its corruption is subtle, insidious. It makes you a greater risk than any ordinary shinobi—and that risk must always be contained."
"If, in the future, you are treated unjustly, then let my words here serve as an apology.But understand this clearly—" his tone lowered to a measured calm—"my actions will never change. Everything I do is for the protection of the Leaf."
Not for the shinobi world.Not for sentiment.Only for the village.
Kakashi nodded silently, his calm expression betraying neither offense nor resentment."I understand, Lord Second."
The unflinching composure in Kakashi's reply stirred something faint inside Tobirama.He did not dislike the boy—on the contrary, he respected his restraint.It was simply rationality that forced him to remain cautious.
After a long silence, Tobirama exhaled softly."Even so… for the upcoming Five Kage Summit," he murmured, his voice quieter now, "I still believe you and Tsunade are the most suitable to serve as the Hokage's guards."
That was the closest thing Tobirama Senju would ever say to trust.
Kakashi inclined his head. "Understood."
With that, Tobirama said no more. His mind was already shifting elsewhere—to the layers of illusion he'd encountered in the Mist, to the strange resonance of Sharingan chakra he'd felt intertwined with something older, darker.He needed to investigate—before that cursed power spread any further.
He reached for the scroll again, ready to open the spatial gate back to the Leaf—
But then, a sudden rustle interrupted them.The sound of hurried footsteps—snapping twigs, panting breath—echoed from the depths of the forest.
"Kakashi! Lord Second! Are you two alright?!"
A voice rang out before the figure emerged from the shadows, crashing through the undergrowth with his usual lack of subtlety.Jiraiya burst into view, white hair wild, his forehead protector glinting beneath the sun.
His tone carried forced levity, but the strain in his face betrayed the truth—he had been worried.
Kakashi let out a quiet sigh of relief, while Tobirama's brows furrowed at once.When his eyes landed on the Sannin, his expression turned sour."Jiraiya…? So that fool Hiruzen hasn't gone completely senile after all."
He muttered under his breath, though his gaze softened ever so slightly.
If Hiruzen had sent only Kakashi, it would have been reckless—bordering on idiocy.A single Sharingan wielder, trapped between Danzo and Obito, could easily have turned the wrong way.Had that happened, the village might have lost both a hero and its most dangerous asset.
But this—sending Jiraiya in secret, as backup—It meant that Hiruzen still had a trace of strategic sense left. Perhaps his mind hadn't dulled as much as Tobirama had feared.
Still, Tobirama clicked his tongue in irritation."Testing his own student with a mission like this… that kid hasn't learned a thing," he muttered.Yet beneath the annoyance, there was something else—relief.
At least, in the most critical moment… Hiruzen hadn't made a fatal mistake.
Tobirama's brows twitched. The sight of Jiraiya, grinning even in the middle of chaos, seemed to drain his patience immediately.
It was precisely this smiling, self-proclaimed "handsome" fool that irritated Tobirama more than anything.
"Is there something funny?" Tobirama asked sharply, his tone dripping with disdain.
Jiraiya froze mid-step, his grin vanishing as fast as a candle's flame in the wind. For a moment, he looked like a student caught skipping class."N-no, sir," he stammered awkwardly, straightening his back as if that would help.
Kakashi, watching the exchange, couldn't help a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Noticing it, Jiraiya's face grew even redder. Here he was, the teacher of the Fourth Hokage, and yet in front of the Second Hokage he felt like a boy being scolded again.
After an uncomfortable silence, Jiraiya cleared his throat."Right, uh… maybe we should, you know, leave before anyone catches up again?"
Tobirama gave a curt nod, suppressing his irritation. "Fine. Let's go."
Kakashi activated the Flying Thunder God seal, and with a sharp burst of light and air pressure, the trio vanished from the forest——leaving behind only drifting leaves and a faint hum of chakra residue.
But as the breeze passed, a single fallen leaf turned to ash upon touching the ground.
From the shadows, a phased Obito emerged, one crimson eye glowing through the darkness as he stared silently in the direction they'd vanished.
Hidden Leaf Village — Hokage's Conference Room
The air was thick with tension, though a quiet sense of relief lingered now that Tobirama had returned alive.
Inside the chamber stood Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Tobirama himself. Three generations of master and disciple gathered in one room—a sight that was both awe-inspiring and deeply unsettling.
Kakashi bowed respectfully. "Mission complete. I'll take my leave."
But Tobirama's deep voice halted him."Kakashi. Stay. You'll listen to the next arrangements."
The room fell silent.
Hiruzen glanced at his former teacher in mild surprise. Tsunade's brows furrowed slightly, concern flickering across her face.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya grinned and clapped Kakashi's shoulder."Haha! Looks like Lord Second's finally dropped his guard around you, Kakashi. Progress!"
Before the last syllable left his mouth, a killing intent colder than steel filled the room.
Jiraiya froze, feeling Tobirama's glare sear through him.
"You?" Tobirama said icily.
"Ahaha… It's nothing! Just, you know, happy times, heh…" Jiraiya stammered, immediately shutting up.
Kakashi said nothing, quietly returning to his spot.
When things finally settled, Tobirama began his report. His tone was calm, but every word struck like a blade."The Hidden Mist is in ruins. Danzo has completely seized control. The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, is now nothing more than a puppet."
He looked toward Hiruzen."So, now you and your pupil each control a village. No more competition over who gets to be Hokage, hmm?"
Jiraiya tried to chuckle. "Heh… well, when you put it that way—"
A flicker of killing intent instantly silenced him again. Even Orochimaru muttered under his breath, "Idiot."
Ignoring them, Tobirama continued."The genjutsu I encountered there was unlike anything I've seen before — a recursive illusion, layered through multiple Sharingan resonating together. It drew power from the accumulated resentment of the village's dead. Likely a perverse evolution of Shisui Uchiha's Kotoamatsukami."
Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with intrigue."Fascinating. A fusion of genjutsu and spiritual malice… truly, the Sharingan curse is mutating beyond imagination."
Hiruzen, frowning deeply, murmured, "Then the massacre at the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Water… that must also have been Danzo's doing."
Tobirama nodded. "The Land of Water is effectively his domain. But now is not the time for open war. With the Five Kage Summit approaching, our priority is containment — a blockade to isolate the infection."
The council agreed.
Then Tobirama turned to Kakashi once more."The invitations for the Hidden Sand and Hidden Cloud Villages — you will deliver them yourself."
Kakashi nodded. "Understood, Lord Second."
He left silently, vanishing into the corridor beyond.
The room fell quiet again. The weight of Tobirama's authority pressed down like a storm about to break.
Tsunade finally spoke, unable to contain herself."Second Grandfather… do you acknowledge Kakashi now?"
Tobirama didn't even look up. "As long as he bears that eye, I can't."
Cold words—but beneath them, a glimmer of conflicted respect.
Then his gaze fell on Hiruzen. His tone hardened like steel."To be Hokage, one must have both ability and decisiveness. Monkey—look at Danzo. His actions are ruthless, but they get results. Your hesitation breeds weakness."
Hiruzen lowered his head, silent.
The tension was suffocating.
Sensing it, Jiraiya instinctively began inching toward the door — but froze when Tobirama's voice cut through the air again.
"Jiraiya."
The Sannin straightened, sweat beading on his temple. "Y-yes, Lord Second?"
"You seem rather idle lately."
"Idle? No, no, I've been busy training Naruto and keeping an eye on Kakashi's condition—"
"Good," Tobirama interrupted flatly. "Then you'll find this mission suitable."
His gaze sharpened like a blade."You are to leave immediately for the Hidden Rain Village… and deliver an invitation to the leader of the Akatsuki."
The room went deathly still.
Even Jiraiya — the man who laughed in the face of danger — felt his breath hitch at the weight of that command.