"Owl, your sensory perception is unbelievable."
Deep within the Land of Lightning, inside a secluded mountain cave.
Kakashi stared in amazement at Hakken, who was calmly chewing on a rabbit leg. At first, when their first target had been utterly destroyed and the culprit vanished without a trace, he'd thought it was just a coincidence.
But now he was sure.
Every time they were about to encounter an enemy, the boy before him would always provide precise information—numbers, strength, even the enemy's route of movement.
Thanks to this uncanny, almost supernatural perception, they had already intercepted and destroyed more than seven supply convoys.
"No matter how well someone hides, the aura of their soul can't be concealed."
Hakken tore the rabbit leg in half and tossed one piece to the nearby Itachi, speaking in his usual calm tone.
This was the world of Naruto, where all energy stemmed from chakra and the forces of nature.
But Hakken was a shinigami. Though not the kind that existed as pure souls in another world, he possessed an extraordinary sensitivity to the fluctuations of souls. In this world, he was the only one of his kind.
Still, the Naruto world wasn't without jutsu connected to souls. The Dead Demon Consuming Seal was one such example—capable even of summoning the shinigami of this world.
Both are shinigami… does that make us colleagues?
Lifting his gourd, Hakken took a long drink and grinned. He truly wanted to see what kind of being the shinigami of the ninja world was.
"Abilities tied to the soul, huh?"
Kakashi let out a bitter smile and shook his head. He really couldn't wrap his mind around it.
"Why are you blushing?"
Hakken's gaze shifted to Itachi, who sat beside him looking awkward with the rabbit leg still in hand.
"Eat up," Hakken said, puzzled. "We've got a battle ahead. I'm eating too, aren't I?"
Itachi nodded silently, his expression complicated as he looked at the meat. He had clearly seen Hakken take a bite of that same rabbit leg just moments ago.
...
Bang!
In wartime, unless one side's strength is utterly overwhelming, the struggle is never one-sided.
As Konoha ramped up its war preparations and the Uchiha Clan led the remaining ANBU along with several smaller clans to the battlefield, a sharp cracking sound echoed from the Raikage's office in Kumogakure—the desk had shattered.
"Bee! What the hell are you doing?"
The Raikage glared at Killer Bee, who stood there looking as carefree as ever. Rage burned across his rugged face. He had entrusted the border war with the Land of Fire to his younger brother while he returned to deal with the Iwagakure negotiation team. It had only been a few days—yet their defensive line had been breached!
Konoha shinobi had infiltrated the Land of Lightning and were wreaking havoc!
In that instant, even the talks with Ōnoki had soured. The Land of Earth's delegation seemed to be watching to see how the war would end, and the agreements that had been settled now dissolved like smoke.
The Shinobi World—the Five Great Nations, the Five Great Villages—were not isolated from each other. Every shift in power rippled across the entire world.
"Bro, it's really not my fault."
Killer Bee shrugged helplessly. Who could have predicted that Konoha, in its current state, would still manage to form an elite strike team and launch a surprise attack?
They'd just changed Hokage. Based on Konoha's usual behavior, a defensive retreat would've made the most sense. So why would they take the offensive instead?
No one could've seen it coming.
And to make matters worse, they had no intel whatsoever on this mysterious elite team.
"Stop making excuses, Bee."
After venting his anger, the Fourth Raikage forced himself to calm down. Now wasn't the time for blame.
"From the information we've gathered, we can confirm the identities of two members of that assault squad."
"Kakashi Hatake—son of Konoha's White Fang, rumored to possess a Sharingan."
"Kakashi Hatake is manageable, but the other one—Shisu Uchihai—he's trouble. His genjutsu and Body Flicker Technique are a real pain to deal with."
The Raikage stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with killing intent.
"I already know why they've entered our territory—to sabotage our supply lines and ease the pressure on Konoha's main front."
He crossed his arms. "A new supply convoy is about to depart. You'll blend in with them."
Infiltrate the transport team and strike when they least expect it!
Don't underestimate Bee.
Raised under the guidance of the Third Raikage, he wasn't just a brute—he had his own methods.
"Bee, you're the perfect Jinchūriki. The Eight-Tails can help you resist genjutsu, so this time…"
"It's all on you."
The Raikage patted his brother's shoulder before returning to his seat. "That old fox Ōnoki is sharp. If I leave the village, he'll assume Kumo's at a disadvantage and demand outrageous terms at the negotiating table."
"But don't worry—I've arranged some backup for you. With the two of you together, that so-called elite squad won't stand a chance. Once we pull out that thorn, Konoha will have nothing left to rely on. Then our counterattack will show them what true war really means."
"Bee, do you understand?"
Hope flickered in the Raikage's eyes as he looked at his younger brother. He had talked so much, all to drive some sense into him.
If only Killer Bee could finally stand on his own, the Raikage's burden would be so much lighter.
"No."
Unfortunately, that wasn't the answer he'd been hoping for. Killer Bee's odd personality left him utterly uninterested in such talk, and so he gave a blunt, single-word reply—apparently unfamiliar with the concept of subtlety.
"Get out! Now! And remember to use the Transformation Technique—don't let anyone recognize you!"
The Raikage's roar echoed throughout the office and beyond.
...
Land of Lightning.
At the quiet end of a remote road, several figures landed on the ground.
But as soon as they did, the sword-wielding youth in the center frowned and raised a hand.
"What is it, Ken-san?"
The young man beside him, holding an explosive tag, paused mid-motion as he was about to set it down.
Hakken shook his head, his gaze sharpening.
Jinchūriki—often regarded as the ultimate weapon of any ninja village.
In the shinobi world, the tragic childhoods of Naruto and Gaara had shown just how painful that fate could be.
But there was one village that was different.
In Kumogakure, their Jinchūriki weren't despised or shunned—they were admired.
"There are ten of them in total," Hakken said.
"Six Chūnin, two Jōnin, and two… Jinchūriki."
Jinchūriki!
At that moment, Itachi, Kakashi, and Shisui all grew tense.
They knew exactly what that meant.
And beyond the two Jinchūriki, there were still two Jōnin and six Chūnin—a team configuration that could only be described as elite among elites.
A troublesome enemy indeed.
But in Hakken's eyes, something else flickered—hope. A chance to end the war ahead of schedule.
And more than that…
Placing a hand over his pounding chest, Hakken's eyes burned with excitement.
"Finally, two worthy opponents!"
A madman—through and through.
Kakashi's mouth twitched as he sighed deeply. The mind of a lunatic was truly beyond his comprehension.