Early the next morning.
Three Konoha shinobi arrived at the public training grounds outside the village.
They were—
Hatake Kakashi.
Sarutobi Asuma.
Kurenai Yūhi.
Someone had already been waiting for them: Sarutobi Asuma.
These four were not only among the most famous Jōnin in Konoha, they had also once been classmates.
"Didn't you call Guy?"
Kakashi tilted his head toward the others and asked Asuma.
"He'd never agree."
Asuma replied indifferently.
Kurenai frowned in concern. "Asuma, aren't you being reckless? Lord Hokage told you not to act rashly, didn't he?"
Even without her saying it, Kakashi already understood why Asuma had called them together in secret.
"My brother and sister-in-law were killed!" Asuma's voice trembled with anger. "How can I just sit by and do nothing!?"
He shouted again, "If you're willing to help me, then come. But even if I have to do this alone, I will take my revenge!"
Shiranui Genma—leaning on his ever-present senbon with his hands on his hips—sighed. "Seems nothing we say is going to change your mind."
Then he turned to Kakashi. "Well, with Kakashi on our side, that should be enough to hold our own. Add the three of us, and I don't think we'll lose."
Kakashi was silent for a moment before repeating his familiar words:
"Those who break the rules are trash… but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash."
Everyone knew then—Kakashi had agreed.
Kurenai was the last to decide, torn with hesitation.
It would still be years before her bond with Asuma grew into what it was in the original story, yet the weight of their shared past as classmates lingered.
"Fine," she finally said. "But if things go wrong, we pull back immediately."
And so, the four who carried the pride of Konoha's youth made their choice—and set out.
Kakashi, once an Anbu captain, knew the barrier structures of the village well. Because of this, they slipped out undetected.
It wasn't until noon that word reached Sarutobi Hiruzen: his son Asuma had gone missing.
Along with him were Hatake Kakashi, Kurenai Yūhi, and Shiranui Genma—all from the same generation.
Hiruzen, in the midst of handling the aftermath of the Uchiha clan's destruction, froze in shock. The brush slipped from his hand, striking the floor.
After a moment of grim calm, he immediately understood what his son intended.
Though anger flared in him, he was not overly worried.
After all, all four of them were Jōnin. Kakashi in particular had earned his name as "Sharingan Kakashi" on the battlefield and was already only a step away from Kage level.
Uchiha Kenya might be strong, but at sixteen he could not possibly surpass Kakashi.
Still, just in case, Hiruzen summoned Might Guy—another of their classmates—and ordered him to pursue with two Chūnin, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki.
He dared not send too many Jōnin.
The Uchiha massacre had already begun to spread throughout the shinobi world. Though unlikely, Konoha could not risk other villages taking advantage of the chaos.
Konoha's elite were needed at home.
Two days and one night later—
Asuma and his team arrived at a small town on the southwestern border of the Land of Fire.
According to Anbu reports, Uchiha Kenya had come here to trade Sarutobi Shinnosuke's head for a bounty.
"This is close to the Land of Rivers," Kurenai said, frowning. "Could he already have crossed the border?"
"It isn't that simple," Asuma replied. "To avoid the eyes of the border guards, you'd need either Hokage or Daimyō approval, or some special jutsu like Flying Thunder God."
"But he's an Uchiha," Kurenai countered. "With the Sharingan, tricking border guards wouldn't be that hard."
"It's unlikely, Kurenai." Kakashi spoke up. "The Hokage already dispatched Anbu to investigate the area before us. Even if Kenya could slip past the guards, he wouldn't escape without leaving a trace. If he left the Land of Fire, we'd know."
"Don't underestimate Konoha's intelligence network," Kakashi added firmly.
And he was right—Konoha was not to be underestimated.
Even with only Hiruzen remaining as an active Kage-level shinobi, the Uchiha had never dared to challenge the village head-on.
That was why Itachi chose his path of blood.
Soon, the four reached the black market's bounty exchange.
Unlike the filthy stall Kakuzu once frequented, this one resembled an antique shop.
"What do you want to buy?" croaked a hoarse voice.
A middle-aged man stepped out, face half-hidden beneath a wide hat.
"We're actually here to ask about someone." Kakashi produced Kenya's bounty slip.
"Konoha shinobi? Looking for Uchiha Itachi… or Uchiha Kenya?" The man's tone was strangely calm.
"You know?" Kakashi's hand froze.
"Of course. With bounties that high, every hunter in the region is after them."
"That makes this simple. You accepted his bounty, didn't you? At least tell us which way he went. Name your price."
Kakashi's voice grew firm. "We know people in your trade don't work for free. How much do you want?"
The man's lips twisted into a sneer. "No need to be so polite, Copy Ninja Kakashi. You've already delivered yourselves."
Kakashi's expression hardened. "No… get back!"
But it was too late.
The man raised his right hand.
"Hadō No. 33 — Sōkatsui!"
A massive violet fireball erupted, blasting forward.
The explosion leveled the antique shop and tore apart several buildings across the street in a single breath!
"So fast… no wonder Shinnosuke lost."
Genma groaned, clutching his burned arm.
"He's… Uchiha Kenya…" Kurenai whispered, trembling.
Through the smoke and rubble, Kenya emerged with a calm smile.
"I knew Konoha would send hunters after me, so I waited here. Didn't think I'd reel in another big catch so soon."
His gaze turned to Asuma.
"So… my brother came as well?"
"You bastard!" Asuma roared, drawing his twin blades.
But Kakashi, sharper than the rest, caught onto Kenya's words. His eyes narrowed.
"The second time? You mean—"
Kenya smiled faintly. "Yes. The Anbu who came before you… they're already dead."
He spread his arms, eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
"Now, it's your turn."