"Zetsu, where's Kira now?"
"I can't get close enough to investigate. All I know is what I heard from the Mist ninja—he's still somewhere in the Land of Water."
"Forget it, we're leaving Kirigakure."
"Obito, after everything you put into controlling this village, you're just going to throw it all away?"
"And what if I don't? The Mizukage already took a beating, and trying to control him again is nearly impossible. On top of that, the Three-Tails Jinchūriki got wrecked by Kira and is still unconscious. Even if I wanted to, I can't use him."
"…Obito, are you scared?"
"Like you're not? If you're so fearless, why don't you go say hi to Kira yourself and see if he slaps you into paste."
"But what about the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan?"
"Then we'll just have to come up with another way…"
The masked Uchiha Obito stared down at the fog-covered Kirigakure, frustration burning in his eyes.
He had spent years manipulating Yagura, turning the village into chaos, pushing its people to the edge. Everything was perfectly set—one last spark and Kirigakure would've torn itself apart. That was how he planned to avenge Rin, to bury his anger once and for all.
But then Kira appeared out of nowhere, knocked Obito unconscious for days, and when he woke up, the entire village was changing—fast—and for the better.
One man destroyed years of planning in a single move.
Pathetic… absolutely pathetic.
"Red Sun Society… Kira…"
Half-submerged in the earth, Black Zetsu's expression twisted with fury.
If Obito had spent ten years building this plan, Black Zetsu had worked for a thousand.
If the Infinite Tsukuyomi failed, everything he had done—every scheme, every manipulation—would be wasted.
Unforgivable.
"He has to die. No matter what, Kira must die…"
Black Zetsu sank back into the earth, repeating that thought like a curse.
Obito disappeared into a swirling vortex.
Kirigakure finally fell quiet again.
"Kakashi, I'm telling you, you read those steamy romance books all day, but did it ever occur to you to actually try falling in love yourself?"
"One girlfriend, a family, start your own life—doesn't that solve everything?"
"Girlfriend?"
Kakashi nearly slipped off the branch he was walking on.
"Yes! You're a good-looking guy. There have to be at least a few kunoichi in the village who like you. You're not into any of them?"
"You're not getting any younger, you know. Other guys your age already have kids old enough to make soy sauce runs."
"Even if you don't think about yourself, at least think about continuing the Hatake family line!"
"And stop hanging around Guy all day. That guy's gonna be single and shouting about youth until he dies. You're really gonna end up like him?"
Naruto kept rambling nonstop.
"Are you my mother?"
Kakashi's head felt like it was full of buzzing flies.
"I am your first student, so yeah, your personal life kind of matters."
"You should worry about your own life first."
"No need. My future wife is already waiting for me back in the village."
Kakashi froze.
That sentence hit him right in the chest.
Before he ever became a teacher, he'd already heard about Naruto's school life—from perfect grades, to being the teachers' favorite… and most of all, walking around every day with the Hyūga clan's little princess.
Just hearing it again made Kakashi—professional, elite jonin, and long-time bachelor—feel like coughing blood.
So unfair. So completely unfair.
"…Should I really be finding a girlfriend?"
For the first time in years, the thought actually crossed Kakashi's mind.
He'd spent so long drowning himself in missions, clinging to the past, never stopping long enough to think about anything else. And whenever he did have free time, he spent it sparring with Guy—the human dumbbell.
His life really was a mess.
But before he could think any further—
Naruto suddenly stopped walking.
"What is it?"
Kakashi frowned.
Naruto tilted his head forward, signaling him to look.
Just a normal stretch of forest. Trees, leaves, stillness—
But Kakashi's instincts started prickling.
He couldn't see anything clearly… but something was wrong.
This kid's danger sense is stronger than mine… and I'm the teacher.
Kakashi felt his pride take another hit.
"Lightning Style: Thousand Needle Rain!"
Crackling—!
Thin, needle-like bolts of lightning rained down from above, covering the area like a net.
Whoosh!
Naruto and Kakashi split instantly, moving in opposite directions.
"They're aiming for Naruto."
Kakashi dodged the attack and prepared to move toward him—
but a tall masked ninja landed in front of him, blocking his way.
"Seriously? The skin tone, the headband—anyone can tell you're a Cloud shinobi. What's the point of wearing a mask?"
Kakashi felt personally insulted.
"…Wait. Turui?"
One more look, and it clicked.
Cloud jonin Turui—ninjutsu and sword specialist, one of the few who escaped Minato's Flying Thunder God during the Third Ninja War. A terrifying opponent.
"Ah, nope, not me. You've got the wrong guy."
Turui scratched his head, voice serious.
Kakashi stared at him flatly.
That tone. That gesture. That brain cell count.
Yep. 100% Turui.
"You sure aren't worried, Hatake Kakashi."
"Why would I be?"
Kakashi smiled casually.
"Your student—"
"Actually, you should be worried. Your men might not be doing so well."
AAAHHH!
A bloodcurdling scream echoed from the woods.
Turui's expression turned dark.
That was definitely one of his subordinates.
"Damn it! They can't handle one seven-year-old? I knew they were slacking off in training!"
He shot forward instantly.
Kakashi followed right behind him.
A few seconds later, they arrived beside a stream—where a Cloud ninja was face-down in the water, smoke rising off his charred body like overcooked barbecue.
The other five Cloud shinobi were frozen in fear, staring at Naruto like he was a demon.
"Come on, why'd you stop? I've still got like 98 more things I haven't tried yet. Don't tell me that's all you've got."
Naruto grinned, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Turui landed and narrowed his eyes.
"A seven-year-old kid… and you still couldn't handle him?"
"M-My lord, he—he's a monster, not a kid…"
"He's still a Genin! You're all top Chūnin, and you got wiped out by one Genin? Do you guys even train?
Kakashi dropped beside Naruto, relieved to see him safe.
Naruto grinned and pointed at the furious Turui.
"Hey, mister! Don't underestimate Genin from Konoha! When we go all out, even Jonin better watch out!"
He cracked a smile. "Wanna test that theory?"
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