Chapter 19: Departure
Kakashi crouched by the crib, looking at the sleeping, golden-haired baby. He carefully reached out a finger and poked little Naruto's cheek.
Soft.
So tiny.
Staring at the newborn, Kakashi slowly stood up. Jiraiya, who was standing nearby, chuckled.
"What? You're not going to tease him anymore?"
Kakashi shook his head.
"We have a mission tomorrow. We should rest early today."
"You too, Jiraiya-sama."
Jiraiya didn't say much to that.
Although he had complained about being called back for a ridiculous mission, he was taking it very seriously.
After all, it concerned the true culprit behind the death of his student, Minato Namikaze.
"Yeah, I know." Jiraiya nodded.
Kakashi bid Jiraiya farewell and left alone.
Naruto was only a month old. He hadn't yet experienced the prejudice directed at him, so he was relatively safe.
But once he got a little older...
Kakashi walked alone through the Konoha streets, his gaze fixed on the dim road under the streetlights, his heart a little heavy.
If he were anyone else, what did it matter how Naruto's life turned out?
Everyone has their own fate, their own path.
But... he was Kakashi.
Minato Namikaze's student.
Kakashi didn't know how the Kakashi from the original story could have ignored Naruto for twelve years.
But some things just had to be done.
The reason was simple.
He was Kakashi, Minato Namikaze's student.
That identity alone wouldn't allow him to ignore Naruto's existence.
...
The next day.
When a fully-equipped Kakashi arrived at the mission rendezvous point, two men were already waiting.
Aburame Shibi, wearing a high-collared sweatshirt and sunglasses, with a special cloth-covered container on his back.
Hyūga Hizashi, wearing a Jōnin flak jacket and a forehead protector, his eyes a pure white.
"Shibi-senpai, Hizashi-senpai."
Kakashi greeted the two men respectfully.
"Mm."
Aburame Shibi gave a curt reply. Hyūga Hizashi nodded at him in a friendly manner.
Both Shibi and Hizashi were men of few words. Kakashi found a corner to sit and wait for Jiraiya to arrive.
"I heard you reforged the White Fang. Work hard."
"Don't let down your father's name."
Aburame Shibi looked at Kakashi, taking the rare initiative to speak.
"Yes, Shibi-senpai."
Kakashi looked at his senior and nodded.
Aburame Shibi was a calm and collected man. Like most of the Aburame clan, he was quiet, but he was also extremely skilled at observing clues to create the most favorable situation for himself.
Kakashi had been on a mission with him before.
The mission to Rōran in the Land of Wind had been completed by Minato Namikaze, Kakashi, Aburame Shibi, and Akimichi Chōza.
While Kakashi and Shibi were talking, Jiraiya arrived.
"Everyone! Long time no see."
Jiraiya immediately greeted the three warmly.
"Jiraiya-sama."
Even Jōnin of Shibi's and Hizashi's caliber had to bow to Jiraiya.
"I assume the Hokage has already briefed you. This mission concerns the mastermind of the Nine-Tails attack."
"I won't waste any more time."
Jiraiya didn't bother with idle chatter. He took the mission scroll from his robes, spread it out in front of them, and opened it.
"Five hundred years ago, during the Warring States period, the Uchiha clan was at war with the Senju, Uzumaki, and Sarutobi clans. To fight them, they created an 'Uchiha Weapon'."
"It forced the three great clans to join forces just to seal it."
"Our mission objective is to investigate whether this Uchiha Weapon has broken its seal."
"With her hatred for the Uchiha, it's highly possible she is the culprit behind the Nine-Tails attack."
Hearing Jiraiya's words, Aburame Shibi was calm, his sunglasses hiding his eyes. He asked simply:
"Where is the destination?"
Jiraiya took out a map of the shinobi world and pointed to an island next to the Land of Fire.
"According to the archives, the one called 'Uchiha Mumei,' the Uchiha's Strongest Weapon, was sealed in the Land of Whirlpools, guarded for generations by the Uzumaki clan."
Hyūga Hizashi's expression was calm. He had also looked into his clan's archives after being assigned the mission yesterday and had indeed found records of that world-shaking battle from 500 years ago.
"The Uzumaki clan was wiped out during the Second Shinobi World War. Who knows if those bastards from Kumo and Kiri ever found Uchiha Mumei."
Hizashi's voice held a trace of melancholy.
As another ancient clan, he felt a sense of sorrow for the Uzumaki's fate.
"Regardless, we have to go see."
"There's no time to waste. We leave now."
As Jiraiya finished speaking, the four headed for the Konoha main gate.
Kakashi acted as the rookie, staying silent from beginning to end, just following the three men.
He wasn't overthinking it. He just wanted to get through this mission, go back, and research the nature and shape transformation of Fūton.
As for Uchiha Hikari?
Let her stay in the ground and be an old zombie.
...
Kakashi's group were all Jōnin. Jiraiya was a Kage-level powerhouse, and an outstanding one at that.
So, the four of them traveled extremely fast.
Within 24 hours, they had reached the coastline of the Land of Fire. The Land of Whirlpools was just across the sea.
The Konoha border patrol was already waiting for them. They had prepared a boat, dry rations, and some essential medical supplies for Jiraiya's team.
"We appreciate this."
Jiraiya thanked the garrison, and without stopping, he led Kakashi and the others toward the Land of Whirlpools.
Kakashi had been preparing to row, but with the roar of a diesel engine, the small wooden boat shot forward at full speed toward the island.
The technology tree in this world...
Kakashi was speechless, staring at the wooden boat that was completely mismatched with the engine.
They have engines like this, but they still haven't formed a modern, large-scale military force...
"You seem interested in this, Kakashi-kun?"
Hyūga Hizashi, at his side, seemed to notice Kakashi's confusion and asked softly.
"I am."
Kakashi didn't hide his thoughts and replied frankly.
"It's just a 'curious contraption.' If you're interested, Kakashi-kun, just treat it as a hobby."
"There's no need to spend too much time on it."
Hizashi's answer fit Kakashi's stereotype of the Hyūga clan perfectly.
Traditional. Ancient.