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The process of catching cats was always tedious and frustrating.
Before that incident, Kagaya had no fondness for these endless cat-chasing days. He didn't want to waste his limited time on such trivial tasks. But after the incident, he realized that, despite the boredom, there was a certain warmth to those moments.
November, Konoha Year 55.
After struggling through September and October, Kagaya's team finally paused their cat-chasing saga.
"You've been doing D-rank missions for a while now, and I know you're all fed up," Kakashi said, looking at the trio with a hint of amusement.
Saito Daisuke spoke listlessly, "Kakashi-sensei, just tell us—who are we helping catch a cat today, and where did it run off to?"
Suzuki Genji's usual smile was gone, replaced by a soft sigh as she turned her head.
As for Kagaya, ever since Kakashi became their instructor, he'd been aloof, occasionally rolling his eyes. His dissatisfaction was the most obvious.
Kakashi clapped his hands, signaling them to perk up. "Hey, hey, I know you're tired of it. So, I'm pleased to announce that our team has received a C-rank mission today."
Kagaya's spirits lifted instantly. A C-rank mission! These missions carried a slight risk of injury, but the danger was still minimal. More importantly, unlike D-rank chores, C-rank missions often involved combat.
"What's the C-rank mission, Kakashi-sensei?" Kagaya asked.
C-rank missions typically involved escorting, subduing wild animals, or investigations.
Kakashi held up a piece of paper. "This mission is to take down a beast outside the village."
Kagaya and Daisuke exchanged glances, then both jumped in excitement.
Subduing a beast was one of the tougher C-rank missions, and most crucially, it guaranteed combat.
For Kagaya's team, who'd been catching cats for nearly two months, this was cause for celebration.
"Alright, calm down. Let's get ready to move out," Kakashi said.
The beast they were tasked with eliminating was a fierce tiger just outside Konoha's main gate, posing a threat to passersby, prompting someone to issue the mission.
A short while later, they reached the gate. Suddenly, someone approached Kakashi's group. "Yo, Kakashi, where you headed?"
The man had long bangs covering the right side of his face and wore standard Konoha attire.
Kagaya frowned slightly, vaguely recognizing him. 'Kamizuki Izumo, I think?'
"Yeah," Kakashi replied. "I became an instructor recently, and I'm taking them on their first C-rank mission."
He gestured to the three behind him.
Izumo's gaze followed, landing on Kagaya's team. "I remember hearing you've got a famous kid in your group. What was the name? Oh, right—Uchiha Kagaya, wasn't it?"
Kakashi walked over to Kagaya, patting his shoulder. "This is the guy."
Izumo smiled, unsurprised. "Figures. Among the three, he's clearly the youngest. Probably the only genin this young in all of Konoha right now."
Kakashi scratched his head, thinking. "Uh, yeah, I guess so."
Izumo chuckled. "Alright, take your students and get to that first C-rank mission. Make sure to keep them safe."
Though meant as a playful jab, Kakashi's expression turned serious, his voice firm. "I will!"
As they left the gate and walked along the road, Daisuke sidled up to Kagaya, whispering, "Hey, Kagaya, don't you think Kakashi-sensei's been through something? Every time the topic of comrades comes up, he gets all serious."
Kagaya glanced at Daisuke. "How would I know? But I hope you never go through what he has."
Daisuke rolled his eyes. "Didn't you just say you don't know? Now you're hoping I don't have his experiences, like you do know. So, do you know or not?"
Kagaya turned his head, looking away as he walked, drawling, "I. Don't. Know."
"Tch."
As time passed, they drew closer to their destination. They'd veered off the main road outside Konoha, entering a dense, uninhabited forest.
Kakashi held a map. "Looks like the target's active area is just up ahead."
Daisuke was thrilled. "Hey, Kakashi-sensei, we're almost there? Alright! Kagaya, Genji, don't do anything. Leave that beast to me!"
Kakashi glanced back, teasing, "Don't regret it later."
Daisuke laughed confidently. "No way! I, Saito Daisuke, will take down that tiger terrorizing travelers!"
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed, clear and piercing, reaching their ears.
Daisuke's face lit up, and without hesitation, he charged toward the sound.
Genji hesitated briefly before following him.
Only Kagaya and Kakashi frowned.
Kagaya couldn't help but speak. "Kakashi-sensei, that roar…"
Kakashi shook his head. "They've already rushed off. We can't abandon them. Didn't I teach you? Never abandon your comrades."
Kagaya nodded, chasing after Daisuke and Genji.
The roar was unmistakably a tiger's, but Kagaya detected a hint of anguish in it.
Was the tiger in danger?
Whatever awaited them up ahead was likely more than just a tiger.
More troublingly, ever since hearing the roar, Kagaya felt an unshakable unease. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd forgotten something critical from this period—something or someone important.
A sense of extreme danger gnawed at him. He didn't understand. This was just a routine C-rank mission. In his previous life, a tiger would be too much to handle alone, but in the ninja world, such beasts were insignificant. With Kakashi, an elite jonin who ranked among the best in the ninja world, this should be a straightforward task with no real peril.
Kagaya tried to reassure himself, but the inexplicable sense of danger grew stronger, almost making his hair stand on end. If he were alone, he'd turn and run without a second thought. But he wasn't alone. For his teammates, he had to grit his teeth and press on.
When Kakashi and Kagaya caught up to Daisuke, the three—Daisuke, Genji, and Kakashi—immediately went on guard, staring ahead.
Kagaya, however, froze. As a transmigrator, one thought consumed him: It's over. Completely over.
Before them lay a tiger, dead in a pool of blood, clearly killed moments ago. Beside the corpse stood a figure in black, wearing a red-patterned, single-eyed mask, with a sword at their waist.
Kagaya's breath nearly stopped. He knew exactly who this red-patterned masked figure was. During the Nine-Tails attack, they wore a yellow-patterned mask. After the Akatsuki's formation, it was a red-swirl mask. In the Fourth Great Ninja War, it was a white, three-tomoe mask.
And during the Uchiha massacre, it was this red-patterned mask.
Uchiha Obito… or rather, Uchiha Madara.