Kakashi narrowed his eyes, sweeping his hand forward as he parted the thick wave of vegetation in front of him.
"How far ahead did you say it was?" Kakashi muttered, partly glancing back at Kyojiro.
The man had dressed himself in completely inconspicuous clothing—a dark cloak, ragged and dirty enough to pass as a poor man's garb. He wore long, wooden-textured pants in response to the chilly winds that always accompanied the Land of Water. His fiery hair had been tied up in a messy bun using a vine from a passing tree he had casually snatched.
His once fair and spotless face was now marked with countless smudges of dirt and gravel, as if the Uchiha hadn't been living under even remotely acceptable conditions.
Overall, if Kyojiro didn't have such a distinct tuft of fiery hair, he could have easily passed off as a beggar. Right now, he looked closer to a fallen noble than anything else.
Kakashi himself was in a far better state—wrapped in a clean black cloak that covered his figure, his white hair dyed a dull brown, and a purple tattoo painted beneath his eyes. Even his prized mask, the one item he was never willing to part with, was gone—at Kyojiro's request.
The white-haired Hatake had constantly warned him that removing it would attract unnecessary attention, but Kyojiro wouldn't listen.
So here they were: two ninjas—one looking like a fallen noble, the other a surprisingly handsome beggar—traversing through vegetation dense enough to trap an elephant.
"By what I heard from the locals," Kyojiro whispered, his voice low, "when the vegetation becomes this dense… it means the lake is close by."
Kakashi nodded, weaving his way through the jungle with fluid precision. His eyes scanned every inch of the environment, alert as ever. Even though senior said it should be safe… I should still check.
Even though Kakashi rarely got nervous, he was still a teenager—and teenagers were susceptible to ghost stories.
He glanced up for a moment. Gigantic trees stood around them like ancient titans, their enormous trunks casting long shadows on the ground. Vines thicker than rope hung overhead in twisting patterns.
Amidst that eerie image, something pure stood out—something untouched by fear.
The moon.
Kakashi felt his nerves ease, even if just for a moment.
But reality wasn't done with him. Goosebumps rose across his arms as his heart trembled involuntarily. His eyes widened. Something… something is close by.
And then it happened.
Huge tremors shook the ground. Kakashi crouched instantly, stabilizing himself as the earth rumbled beneath him. He looked back in worry, only relaxing when he saw Kyojiro also lying low and unmoving, perfectly calm.
Good… senior's fine, but what is happening?
The shaking intensified. Rocks bounced across the soft forest floor like toys on a trampoline. The mighty trees trembled as their roots strained, and the thick vines above them whipped in chaotic spirals.
Kakashi was on complete edge—the worst part wasn't the shaking itself, but the silence.
Absolute silence.
No insects. No birds. Not even the rustle of distant animals.
It was as if the entire area had turned into a dead zone.
The only reason he didn't panic was because of one thing—no, one statement.
Kakashi… the closer we get to the lake, weird things might happen. Don't panic—I am here.
Kyojiro's earlier warning echoed in his mind.
Suddenly, a hand pressed onto his shoulder. Kakashi turned instantly, only to find Kyojiro's blindfolded face inches away.
"Shush. We're here."
Despite the thousand questions running through his mind, Kakashi simply nodded.
The earthquake finally subsided. Both men stood and continued deeper.
It took another minute before they emerged into a clearing.
Kakashi's eyes widened the moment he saw it. A vast, ever-stretching lake lay before them, tranquil yet unnaturally still.
The waters rippled gently, as if someone had dropped a massive boulder at its center. The shimmering surface reflected the pristine beauty of the full moon hanging above.
Kakashi inhaled softly. The scent of fresh leaves, soil, and berries drifted through the air.
"This… is truly beautiful, senior," he whispered.
Kyojiro stepped forward, a faint smile on his face. "I know."
But when Kakashi turned, Kyojiro's expression had shifted—serious, firm.
"What is it, senior?"
Kyojiro leaned closer, whispering, "From now on… whatever happens, don't panic. And if the worst comes, use the kunai Minato gave you."
Kakashi's eyes widened. You knew about Sensei's kunai.
He didn't voice it. Instead, he stepped back and let Kyojiro proceed.
Kyojiro stared at the rippling lake, his face growing solemn. Now or never, Kyojiro.
'Full concentration breathing.'
He took a deep breath, lungs expanding to their maximum. The sensation alone brought a faint upward curl to his lips. It was as if his bones had been reforged in celestial metal.
"How I missed this…" he murmured.
Facing the open lake, he filled his lungs once more, then shouted with full force:
"Isobu! In the name of the Sage of the Six Paths… come out. Right now!"
His voice echoed across the water like a thunderous command.
Kyojiro braced himself. A shiver crawled down his spine.
He felt it—no, he felt everything.
The ground trembled, as if a walking calamity was approaching. The world shook beneath its weight. The water, once serene, raged violently like a dying ocean.
Kyojiro clenched his fists. The sensory output was overwhelming—bottomless chakra, ancient and suffocating, filled with wrath.
A rage unlike anything he had ever encountered.
The lake split open.
First came the jagged spikes.
Then the enormous shell.
And finally, the gigantic behemoth rose—the Three-Tails, towering in the center of the lake like a myth made real.
Kakashi instinctively reached for his black band, almost lifting it to reveal his Sharingan.
Because before him stood the creature that had once taken something dear from him.
And he would not let history repeat itself.
...
Well , well, well.. here it is- the three tails :).. Thanks for reading
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