Kakashi Hatake stopped dead in his tracks in the marketplace. His visible eye, usually half-closed and indifferent, widened into a glare so sharp it felt physical. A suffocating wave of killing intent erupted from him, washing over the crowded street.
The civilians who had been gossiping instantly fell silent, their faces draining of color as they felt the pure pressure of an elite Jonin's rage.
Without a word, Kakashi took a step toward the merchant who had spoken.
Kakashi's Internal Monologue: I have tolerated the village's whisper campaigns. I tolerated the lies that drove my father to suicide. I tolerated the Hokage hiding the truth. But I will not tolerate them turning my father's memory into a punchline. I will not let them brand me as a coward who renounced his own blood.
Before Kakashi could take a second step, Tenzo grabbed him from behind, locking his arms around Kakashi's torso.
"Kakashi, don't do it!" Tenzo hissed, sweat beading on his forehead beneath his mask. "It's a manufactured rumor! Everyone knows you wouldn't say that!"
"Yugao, help me hold him!" Tenzo yelled to their third squad mate.
Yugao Uzuki rushed forward, stepping between Kakashi and the terrified civilians. "Captain, please! If you attack a civilian over a rumor, it validates the slander! You have to ignore it, or you'll play right into whatever political trap this is!"
Kakashi's body trembled violently. His eye was bloodshot. The sheer malice of the rumor—the idea that he was too weak to avenge his father and officially disowned him out of fear—was an insult designed to break his psychological restraint. He had suppressed his hatred for the village elders to prevent a civil war, and this was his reward: public humiliation.
Slowly, painfully, Kakashi forced his chakra back under control. He relaxed his stance, though his fists remained clenched.
Seeing him stabilize, Tenzo didn't take any chances. "We're going home, Kakashi. Yugao, go to the Hokage. Explain the situation and request immediate administrative leave for the squad."
Yugao nodded quickly and vanished using the Body Flicker technique. Tenzo practically dragged Kakashi away from the marketplace.
***
The Hokage's Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his massive oak desk, taking a slow, deep drag from his pipe. His brow was furrowed so deeply it looked permanently scarred. Yugao stood at attention before him, having just delivered the report regarding the marketplace incident.
Hiruzen's Internal Monologue: This is Jin Uchiha's counter-attack. The Forest of Death ambush failed, so he is escalating the psychological warfare. By targeting Kakashi's breaking point, Jin is attempting to force one of my strongest assets to either desert the village or retaliate against the administration. I am already dealing with the Military Police strike; I cannot afford an elite Jonin going rogue.
Hiruzen exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. "Administrative leave is granted," he told Yugao. "You and Tenzo are to remain with Kakashi at his residence. Keep him grounded. You are dismissed."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Yugao bowed in relief—happy to avoid the civilian dispute patrols—and exited the office.
Moments after the door clicked shut, it was violently kicked open.
Danzo Shimura stormed into the room, leaning heavily on a cane. His face was pale, a stark reminder of his near-death experience and chakra exhaustion from the previous night. Despite his injuries, he had rushed to the Hokage's office the moment his intelligence network reported the Kakashi rumor.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, the village's two senior advisors, trailed in behind him, looking equally grave.
"Hiruzen, the situation is critical," Danzo demanded, skipping all pleasantries. "Kakashi Hatake's psychological profile is entirely unstable. The Uchiha are pushing him toward defection. Transfer him to Root immediately. I will apply the necessary conditioning to ensure he becomes a loyal, unquestioning weapon for the village."
Danzo's single eye burned with avarice.
Danzo's Internal Monologue: With my Root forces decimated by Jin Uchiha last night, I desperately need high-level assets to rebuild my power base. Kakashi's emotional vulnerability is the perfect excuse to finally claim him.
Koharu adjusted her glasses, nodding in agreement. "Danzo is correct, Hiruzen. Kakashi is a liability in his current state. A transfer to Root is the safest option for the village's security."
Homura chimed in, "It is a logical containment strategy."
Hiruzen's expression darkened. A vein throbbed in his temple.
Hiruzen's Internal Monologue: They are fools. Danzo orchestrated an assassination attempt against me years ago. Giving him an elite fighter like Kakashi while his own private army is ruined is political suicide. I will not hand over my best operative to a rival.
"Enough!" Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk. "I will not authorize it. Kakashi carries the Will of Fire. He belongs in the light, not in the shadows of your decimated black-ops division. The transfer is denied. Drop it, Danzo."
Danzo's face twisted in fury. He slammed his cane against the floor. "Hiruzen, your sentimentality will destroy this village! You will regret this!"
"I am the Hokage, Danzo!" Hiruzen roared back, asserting his absolute authority.
Danzo ground his teeth. 'The Hokage.' The title he had coveted his entire life, the title Hiruzen constantly used to shield his own weakness.
"Fine," Danzo sneered coldly. He turned his back on his old teammate and limped toward the door.
"Wait, Danzo," Hiruzen called out, his tone shifting back to cautious diplomacy. "Jin Uchiha is manipulating the board. We need to formulate a joint strategy to handle the Uchiha's political offensive."
Danzo paused in the doorway, looking back over his shoulder with a look of absolute contempt.
"My forces were annihilated last night while you stood by," Danzo stated, his voice dripping with venom. "I am severely injured and require extensive medical recovery. I have no resources to assist you. Deal with the Uchiha yourself."
Danzo smirked mockingly. "After all, you are the Hokage. Act like it."
He stepped into the hallway and slammed the heavy oak doors shut with a resounding crash.
Hiruzen sat in silence, the echo ringing in his ears. Danzo had officially abandoned the unified front. The Hokage was on his own.
He glanced at Koharu and Homura, who were standing awkwardly in front of the desk. Hiruzen suppressed a sigh. He knew his two advisors possessed zero tactical acumen; they were bureaucrats, not strategists. Asking them for a solution was a waste of breath.
"Go home, both of you," Hiruzen said dismissively, waving a hand. "Just try to manage the civilian rumors. I need to think."
Koharu and Homura exchanged offended glances, stung by the Hokage's blatant disregard, but lacking any alternative solutions, they quietly left the room.