"You're late, Kakashi!"
"Sorry. I had something to take care of," Kakashi replied as he entered the barbecue restaurant and sat down on the other side of Guy.
He glanced at Yuzuru with mild surprise, clearly not expecting to see him there.
"Kakashi, we've been waiting for you!" Yuzuru said with a gentle smile. "People say I'm always hard to find, but you're the truly mysterious busy one."
"Well, Kakashi works in the ANBU. You can't really blame him," Asuma said, then added curiously, "By the way, Yuzuru, what have you been busy with these past six months?"
"Me? Just doing some medical research and killing time."
At those words, Kakashi glanced at him again but said nothing.
In truth, Yuzuru had been busy grave-robbing lately. Konoha's cemetery was an enormous treasure trove, and before leaving the village, he intended to thoroughly 'explore' it.
"Working in the ANBU must be dangerous, right?" someone asked.
"It's manageable. Thanks to my teacher looking out for me, everything has gone smoothly," Kakashi answered.
"So you're not denying that it's dangerous?" Guy said thoughtfully. Then, as if he had made a serious decision after deep consideration, he declared,
"Kakashi, I'll join the ANBU too and fight alongside you!"
He placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder, his expression solemn.
"…Huh?" Kakashi froze.
"Pfft—hahaha! Are you joking?" Hyūga Tetsu burst out laughing, pointing at Guy.
"Guy, are you serious? The ANBU is all about secrecy!"
"Yeah, that's ANBU, not 'Public Division'!"
"Is my youth not dazzling enough to be accepted by the ANBU?" Guy asked, looking crestfallen.
"No, it's precisely because your youth shines too brightly that the ANBU can't handle you."
"Well… uh… anyway, that's not something I can decide," Kakashi said with a headache.
"Guy, you should really give up on that idea," the others chimed in.
The gathering lasted until sunset. After agreeing to meet again sometime, everyone gradually dispersed.
On the way back to the Hyūga compound, Yuzuru suddenly stopped in a quiet alley.
A figure leaned against the wall in the shadows ahead, arms crossed, as if waiting for him.
Silver hair, black mask, a short blade on his back—it was Kakashi, who had just parted ways with them.
"You should leave that place as soon as possible," Kakashi said calmly.
"Here to persuade me?" Yuzuru replied. "That's not an easy decision to make."
"If you're in trouble, you can ask my teacher for help. He'll protect you."
"You want me to trust someone who's 'always one step too late'?"
Kakashi's expression stiffened instantly.
Seeing this, Yuzuru sighed. "Sorry. I didn't mean to mock your teacher. It's just that some things… even the Hokage can't change, right?"
After a long silence, Kakashi spoke coldly, "You're always like this—never willing to believe in the power of others."
"I'm just used to keeping my fate in my own hands. Besides, that's not something you of all people should say."
Kakashi took a deep breath. "I'm not who I used to be. And you… do you really think Root can give you the power you want?"
With his hands in his pockets, Yuzuru slowly walked past him.
"My affairs are none of your concern, Kakashi. If you don't have the power to change someone's fate, don't offer them your pity so casually."
"Oh, and by the way—thanks for your help. It really saved me a lot of trouble."
"Help?" Kakashi watched Yuzuru's retreating back, confusion in his eyes.
"You'll find out someday."
Inside the Hokage Building, the lights burned brightly.
"So your classmate refused to leave Root?" Minato asked, wearing a gentle smile. His blond hair radiated a warm glow under the lamplight.
"He refused," Kakashi replied flatly, dressed in his ANBU uniform, mask on.
"That's unfortunate. If he were willing to testify, things would be much simpler," Minato said with regret.
"He probably joined Root to break free from the Caged Bird Seal. Orochimaru or Danzō may have promised him something."
As Kakashi spoke, he looked at Minato with a hint of hope. His teacher was well-versed in Uzumaki sealing techniques—perhaps…
"The Caged Bird Seal…" Minato murmured, his voice heavy with complicated emotions. He gave a bitter smile.
"Kakashi, this matter is extremely complex. Even the previous Hokage generations couldn't… I'm sorry. I can't make any promises."
Kakashi felt a sigh echo in his heart.
He understood his teacher well. Minato was not a political deceiver who would make false promises to use people and discard them later. Perhaps it was precisely because of this nature that he now found himself constrained.
If Minato said this, it meant that even with absolute authority, he would not change the Hyūga clan's situation.
"If you don't have the power to change someone's fate, don't pity them lightly…"
Kakashi inhaled deeply. "I understand."
"So… we move against Root?" Kakashi said calmly. "I'm prepared… to kill comrades once again."
Minato fell silent. Sorrow welled up in his heart as an image resurfaced in his mind—the lifeless body Kakashi had once held in his arms.
After a moment, Minato spoke with firm resolve,
"Kakashi, I will protect you all. I swear it—I will protect you."
"Is this your 'final warning'?" Yuzuru murmured, standing by the window of his room in the Hyūga compound, gazing toward the Hokage Tower.
"Kakashi, you've started caring about your comrades again. But do you really think what you're doing will save me?"
"It seems the Fourth Hokage has finally resolved to act against Root. But…"
"There's no time left."
October 10th. Late at night.
Konoha lay as peacefully as ever, bathed in light and bustling streets.
Yet somehow, an unspoken sense of unease had begun to spread through the air.
On the streets, Kakashi walked alongside Guy, hands in his pockets, half-listening to Guy's noisy chatter.
Suddenly, Kakashi stopped and looked up at the full moon overhead.
"What is this? This chilling presence… I have a bad feeling."
"Kakashi! Are you even listening to me? Is this how you treat youth?" Guy shouted, as oblivious as ever.
"Wait, Guy—don't you sense something wrong—"
Deep within the Uchiha district, in the empty courtyard of the clan head's residence, Uchiha Itachi cradled the newborn Sasuke, his eyes filled with affection.
"Waa… waa…"
Suddenly, Sasuke began to cry and squirm uneasily.
"There, there, Sasuke… don't cry…"
"What is this feeling?" Itachi looked up at the moon, unease clouding his expression.
A powerful sense of dread wrapped around his heart, as if something terrible was about to happen.
"What an ominous feeling… and of all times, our parents are both away. Don't cry, Sasuke. No matter what happens, your brother will protect you."
At the Sarutobi clan compound, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, straightened abruptly at his desk and looked out the window at the moon.
"…It can't be."
Feeling the cold aura permeating the air, his heart sank heavily.
Without a word, he stood and began changing into battle attire.
"It's begun."
Within the Hyūga clan grounds, Yuzuru looked up at the moon and stepped out of his room, heading toward the Main House.
In the heart of Konoha, a black-robed figure appeared out of thin air.
He raised his right hand and slammed his palm against the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
"Come forth… Nine-Tails!"
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