Time moved fast.
The mission target was only five or six towns away from Konoha — far for civilians, but barely a warm-up jog for trained shinobi. After days of steady travel, Team 7 finally reached the small village said to be plagued by bandits.
"Let's meet the client first and hear what they know," Kakashi said, waving lazily as he led the way. Though he could've handled this alone, he wanted his students to experience a full mission cycle — the contact, the questioning, the planning. Reliable lessons, from the most famously unreliable teacher.
Behind him, Naruto and the others followed through narrow streets until they reached a larger house at the village's center. Kakashi didn't bother explaining his old war stories on the way; he wasn't the type to fill silence for comfort.
That, of course, was the curse of traveling with Kakashi-sensei — the man could read Icha Icha Paradise through an earthquake.
After a knock and a polite exchange, an elderly man led them inside.
"Oh, thank goodness! Konoha shinobi have finally come!" the man exclaimed, trembling with both age and relief. He introduced himself as the village chief. His thin hands shook so much Naruto thought he might collapse before they even heard the details.
Kakashi raised a hand to calm him. "No need to worry. We'll take care of the bandits. Tell us what you know — how many there are, and whether any shinobi are involved."
The chief frowned in thought. "I'm not sure how many, but I heard they were remnants of a defeated army. They crossed several hills, escaped the ninja patrols, and settled here years ago. There were a few dozen at first… now, hundreds." His voice cracked. "Please, you must help us."
"No problem," Kakashi said easily, eyes crinkling. "A few hundred bandits are just ordinary men. My students could clean that up before lunch." Then, with the faintest smirk, he added, "And if not, I am here, after all."
Naruto stifled a laugh. Sakura didn't even try.
"One more thing," Kakashi continued, his tone sharpening. "Does the leader have a scar on his right cheek and a blind left eye?"
The chief blinked. "That's right! Do you know him?"
Kakashi shook his head. "Not personally. Anyway, we'll rest first, then handle it." He bowed lightly, then gestured for his students to follow.
Outside, Naruto frowned. "You do know him, don't you?"
Kakashi gave a small nod. "A little."
Sakura caught up beside them. "If that's true, why not tell the old man?"
"It's not something villagers need to know," Kakashi said simply. "But you three should."
He slipped his hands into his pockets. "Those bandits were soldiers once — from the Land of Stone. During the last Great Ninja War, their unit was crushed by Konoha forces. Their captain led the survivors through the forests, avoiding our troops until they vanished into the Fire Country. By the time the war ended, they'd already taken a mountain and turned it into their stronghold."
Naruto whistled low. "So they've been hiding here ever since?"
Kakashi nodded. "Konoha's tried wiping them out a few times. The leader's a crafty one — former captain of a thousand-man unit. First suppression failed; he escaped with a few dozen. Second time, he fled with hundreds. Third time, even when we deployed stronger forces, he slipped away again. Everyone assumed he died out there."
A faint sigh followed. "Guess he didn't."
Naruto chuckled. "Lucky bandit."
"Or unlucky," Kakashi murmured. "Of all the people to run into again — it had to be me."
Sakura frowned. "If he survived that long, doesn't that make him strong?"
Kakashi considered. "Once, he might've been Jōnin-level. Now, maybe around Chūnin strength. But don't underestimate him — experience can make up for lost power."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Then how did someone like that escape three times?"
Kakashi's visible eye curved. "Because he's not a fool. And because the teams sent after him were mostly Genin and Chūnin. No Jōnin would waste time on bandits. Missions like that are C-rank at best."
Naruto smirked. "Guess that makes us the unlucky ones this time."
"Maybe," Kakashi said, a faint grin hidden behind his mask. "But luck's a ninja's oldest enemy — and best ally."
The four continued down the dirt road, the faint wind brushing the edges of their headbands. Somewhere beyond the horizon, a forgotten soldier sat atop his stolen mountain, unaware that fate had finally sent Konoha's best procrastinator his way.