---Konoha - The Kenway Compound---
A day passed. The Kenway Compound, vast as a fortress and quiet as a shrine, housed only two people.
Alaric and Haku moved through the halls like ghosts in a palace. They didn't bother each other much. They met for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, exchanged brief words about seal theory or the weather, and then retreated to their own corners of the estate.
It was a comfortable solitude.
Haku spent his time in the library, absorbing scrolls on advanced chakra nature transformation. Alaric spent his time in the office, wondering what kind of business he could do in this world.
'Hmm… a drop of my blood can cure any kind of illness and disease,' He thought before widening his eyes on some sort of enlightenment. "Well, well, well!"
---Main House Kitchen---
It was noon.
Haku stood in the massive, state-of-the-art kitchen. Sunlight gleamed off the copper pots hanging from the ceiling.
It had been a long time since he had cooked lunch for his sensei. Two years of travel rations and campfires had made him appreciate the luxury of a stove.
He pulled a slab of premium beef from the cold-storage seal.
'Simple,' Haku decided. 'Steak. Garlic butter. Roasted vegetables.'
He moved with the efficiency of an assassin. The knife flashed, dicing potatoes into uniform cubes. The pan sizzled as the steak hit the hot iron.
As he cooked, Haku looked out the window at the sprawling gardens.
'I could have bought a house,' Haku mused, flipping the steak perfectly. 'With the bounty money from Ganri and Kakuzu, hundreds of A rank missions... I could have bought a mansion of my own.'
He sprinkled sea salt over the meat.
'But why leave?'
This place was perfect. It was secure… protected by Alaric's ridiculous array of barrier seals. It was private… no nosy neighbors, no landlord asking questions about why he came home at 3 AM covered in blood. And it was free.
Haku smiled to himself. 'And the rent is just cooking occasionally. A fair trade.'
He plated the food. Two perfect steaks, glistening with juices. A mound of golden potatoes. Asparagus spears charred just right.
He carried the plates to the dining room and set them down.
"Sensei!" Haku called out. "Lunch!"
Footsteps echoed in the hallway. Heavy, rhythmic boots.
Alaric walked into the dining room. He wore his usual white shirt and black trousers, sleeves rolled up. In his hand was a lit cigar, smoke curling lazily around his fingers.
Haku sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "Throw that away, Sensei. We're going to eat. It's not like the tobacco is going to leave you."
Alaric stopped. He looked at the cigar. He looked at the steak. He looked at Haku's stern expression.
He chuckled, a low rumble.
"Fair point."
He snapped his fingers. The cigar vanished into his storage seal.
"Smells good," Alaric said, sitting down.
They ate in silence. It wasn't awkward; it was contented. They were two apex predators sharing a meal in their den.
When they finished, Haku stood up to grab the plates. "I'll get these."
Swish.
Before Haku's hand could touch porcelain, the plates vanished.
Haku blinked.
Alaric was standing by the sink, water already running. He had moved so fast he hadn't even blurred; he had just been there.
"I got it," Alaric said, scrubbing a plate. "You cooked. I clean. Equivalent exchange."
Haku opened his mouth to protest, then closed it. Arguing with Alaric was like arguing with a mountain. You just tired yourself out.
"Thank you, Sensei."
Alaric finished washing in seconds, drying his hands on a towel.
Suddenly, he stopped.
Haku stopped too.
Their heads snapped toward the direction where the front gate was simultaneously.
A chakra signature. Familiar. Urgent.
They walked out of the house, moving swiftly across the courtyard.
At the main gates, a figure was pounding on the heavy timber. The privacy seals prevented the sound from reaching the neighbors, but to Alaric and Haku, it was loud and clear.
Haku opened the small side door.
An ANBU stood there. He wore a Bear mask and a grey flak jacket. He looked winded, as if he had run all the way from the tower.
"Halt," Haku said, his voice cold.
The ANBU didn't waste time. He straightened up, clearing his throat.
"Jonin Alaric Kenway. Jonin Yuki Haku," the ANBU stated monotonously, though there was a tremor of stress in his voice. "Godaime Hokage-sama has requested both of your presence on the rooftop of the Hokage Tower... she's expecting you immediately. Priority Alpha."
Haku turned his head to Alaric.
Alaric's eyes narrowed slightly. Priority Alpha meant village-level threat.
He nodded slowly.
"Let's go."
---Hokage Tower - Rooftop---
The wind whipped across the flat roof of the Hokage Tower.
A group of people stood in a loose circle.
Tsunade Senju, the Godaime Hokage, stood with her arms crossed, her face a mask of fury and worry. Shizune stood beside her, clutching a pig and a stack of files. Iruka Umino looked pale.
Facing them was Team 7.
Naruto Uzumaki, taller now, his orange jumpsuit replaced by a black and orange jacket. Sakura Haruno, her hair short, wearing red. Sasuke Uchiha, a little taller than Naruto, looking bored but alert in his high-collared shirt white shirt. And Kakashi Hatake, reading his book but with a tension in his shoulders that betrayed his seriousness.
The mood was grave. Silence hanged heavy over them.
FLASH.
Suddenly, a blinding platinum-gold light engulfed the center of the roof.
"Gah!" Naruto shielded his eyes. "Who...?"
"Ugh..." Sakura winced, turning away.
The light died down instantly.
Standing there were three figures. The ANBU with the Bear mask, Haku... and Alaric.
Because of the flash-bang entrance, Tsunade and the others didn't realize it was Hiraishin. They just thought it was some flashy Shunshin.
The ANBU immediately kneeled. "Target secured, Hokage-sama." Then he vanished.
"Tsunade!"
Before anyone could speak, another figure flickered into existence beside the Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Third Hokage, now retired, with his civilian outfit.
"Is it true!?" Hiruzen gritted his teeth, staring at Tsunade. He looked around, his eyes landing on the crimson coat. "Oh, Alaric! You're here."
Alaric winked at him. "Yo, old man. Still kicking?"
Hiruzen ignored the jab, turning back to Tsunade. "Is it true? The Sand kid has been kidnapped?"
Haku's eyes widened a fraction. 'Sad kid? Is he referring to Gaara? The Kazekage? That means...'
'The Akatsuki are making a move.'
Alaric stayed calm. He glanced at Sasuke, who was staring at him with intensity.
"Sup, kid," Alaric whispered, his voice carrying only to Sasuke.
Sasuke's eye twitched. "We're in the presence of the Hokage," he hissed back. "Shut up, old man."
Every head turned to Sasuke. He realized his mistake, grunted a classic "Hn," and looked away.
"Hey... what happened?" Naruto stepped forward, his face serious. "Why is Gramps here? And the scary guy?"
Tsunade took a deep breath. She handed a scroll to Hiruzen.
"The Kazekage of Sunagakure," Tsunade announced, her voice ringing out, "has been taken by members of the organization called the Akatsuki."
Naruto froze.
"Gaara..." he whispered.
His thoughts flashed back to the search for Tsunade. The inn hallway. The red clouds.
'It's those guys again? Sasuke's brother... Itachi?' Naruto didn't tell Sasuke about the encounter, he didn't know how to even say about it. He knew of Sasuke's drive for revenge, if he told the Uchiha about it, there'd be another episode about him being broody about it.
Tsunade's brow furrowed. "We have received an emergency hawk. The Hidden Sand has officially requested our help. They are in chaos."
Gasps rippled through the Chunin present.
Hiruzen read the scroll quickly. He looked up, his face grim. He was observing Tsunade. Suna was an ally, but sending forces now... it was risky.
"Tsunade-sama," Shizune spoke up, clutching Tonton. "Don't tell me you're going to send Team Kakashi...? They just reunited. And the enemy is Akatsuki... they're filled with S-ranked criminals!"
"It is a time of emergency," Tsunade snapped, closing her eyes. "I can't be wasting time on personnel selection. Team Kakashi is the most capable unit available on short notice."
She opened her eyes, locking onto Alaric and Haku.
"...And besides," Tsunade pointed. "Jonin Yuki Haku will go with them. He will act as vice-captain of the squad for the duration of the mission."
Kakashi looked at Haku. He remembered the ice mirrors. He remembered the speed… and the amount of missions the ice-user has accomplished.
'Hmm...' Kakashi nodded. 'Alaric's student. An S-class hunter. He'll be a great insurance policy.'
"Before anything," Alaric spoke up, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
He stepped forward, hands in his pockets.
"I guess it's about time for the peps to know about Akatsuki... right, old man?"
Everyone looked confused. Naruto looked between Alaric and Hiruzen.
Hiruzen sighed. He nodded slowly.
"Akatsuki..." Hiruzen cleared his throat. "They are an organization of S-ranked missing-nin. Their goal... is to collect the Tailed Beasts sealed inside Jinchurikis."
Naruto's hands balled into fists. His knuckles turned white.
"...They are monsters," Hiruzen continued gravely. "Each member is powerful enough to destroy a village on their own. I don't like this... but since I've personally seen Team 7's growth, and with Haku there... I won't disagree with Tsunade's decision to send them to Suna."
"..."
"..."
'He didn't tell them the full story,' Alaric noted, raising a brow at Hiruzen. 'No mention of the statue. No mention of the moon plan. Smart. Keep it simple.'
Hiruzen caught Alaric's look and gave a microscopic shrug.
"Then," Tsunade slammed her fist into her palm. "I will now issue Team Kakashi and Jonin Haku a new mission."
She looked at them with fire in her eyes.
"Go to Sunagakure no Sato immediately. Find out what's going on. Report back to Konoha... and then, follow the orders of Suna and provide them with backup! Retrieve the Kazekage!"
"Hai!"
Everyone shouted in unison.
"Alright, everyone," Kakashi turned to his team. "Gather everything you need. We meet at the village gates in fifteen minutes. We need to move fast."
"Ah, ah..." Alaric interrupted, waving a finger.
He sighed. Hiruzen was giving him the look. The 'don't you dare break the plot too much' look.
"I'll help you guys with your journey..." Alaric said casually.
Everyone turned to him.
"This is not the time for jokes, Alaric," Tsunade warned. "If you have a way to go there faster, say it."
Alaric grinned. "The Hi-"
"-Alaric has a way to go to Suna quickly," Hiruzen cut him off loudly. His eyes screamed: Do not tell them you can teleport an entire squad across the continent instantly. It will cause a political nightmare.
"Ah!" Alaric chuckled, pivoting effortlessly. "Right. Yes. I have a summon that flies! Very fast."
Kakashi raised a brow. "It's three days to Suna on foot. Are you sure your summon is faster than us running?"
"Yup," Alaric smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Much faster. Mach faster."
"Then let's just meet at the gates, aye?"
Alaric posed a lazy, sarcastic salute at Tsunade.
"See you there."
Flicker.
He vanished.
"..."
"..."
"Aye?"
.
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