The morning sun shone through the wide, polished windows of the newly constructed Shinrin Elixirs headquarters. Inside its largest chamber, a domed hall of blackwood and chakra-glass, Kakashi sat alone at the head of a great obsidian table.
The massive meeting room had been prepared meticulously by Mio, his loyal and over-eager assistant. She flitted about in a tight business kimono, adjusting chairs, organizing parchment, and double-checking the seating chart with almost maternal care.
When Kakashi arrived, she clung to him a bit too long under the excuse of checking his condition, her fingers trailing along his chest, brushing his jawline "just in case he was injured." Kakashi chuckled softly. He had gotten used to Mio's antics.
Now the chairs filled quickly as the selected few entered. Tsunade sat gracefully to Kakashi's left, her golden eyes firm. Beside her were Mei, Anko, Kurenai, and Konan, his four other women, all dressed in sleek uniforms tailored for this new era.
They sat with pride and quiet anticipation, already aware of Kakashi's vision, but not its full scale.
Then came Madara, arms folded, his eyes sharp but silent. Hashirama followed, looking somewhat apprehensive as he greeted Madara with a soft smile. Minato entered next, nodding to Kakashi as he took his place.
Tobirama arrived last of the Hokage, already exchanging tense words with the Orochimaru clone, who sat calmly despite Jiraiya's exaggerated complaints nearby.
"Still creepy even without the snakes," Jiraiya grumbled.
"And you're still loud even without relevance," the clone replied.
Shikamaru and Shikaku entered together, followed by Might Guy, who waved enthusiastically at Kakashi. Itachi walked in quietly, taking a seat in the shadowed end of the table.
Next came Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Karin, and Shizune. Shiho, the skilled sealing expert, stood nervously near the corner, clutching scrolls in both arms.
Once all were seated, Kakashi stood. His white and black robes shimmered faintly with woven chakra threads, and his eyes, calm, no longer glowing with godhood but unmistakably divine, swept over the room.
"Thank you for coming," he began. "Some of you already know what I'm about to say. Most of you don't. So let me begin with the truth of our world."
He lifted his hand, and without seals, invoked a powerful genjutsu illusion that enveloped the chamber.
The room transformed.
Images appeared in glowing light, the Shinju tree, the first Ten-Tails, the birth of Kaguya, and the Otsutsuki who arrived before her. Then came Hagoromo and Hamura, the sealing of Kaguya, and the splitting of the Ten-Tails.
The rise of shinobi. The white Zetsu born of human sacrifice, Black Zetsu's manipulation of Madara, the alteration of Uchiha history, and the stone tablet twisted to provoke hatred. The Infinite Tsukuyomi: a plan birthed not by Madara, but by Kaguya's hidden will.
The illusions faded after a long moment.
Everyone was silent.
Naruto clenched his fists. "So… the wars, the pain, everything… it was just a trap."
"All of shinobi history…?" Sakura looked horrified.
"How can so much have been a lie?" Karin whispered.
"It's troublesome, but it makes sense," Shikamaru said as he rubbed his temples.
Madara remained silent, his expression thunderous. Finally, he spoke. "When I first knew this, even I was nothing more than a piece… while I thought I was the player." His fists clenched even though he knew he was still mad at being played by Black Zetsu like this. "Even my actions… my death, my return, it was all engineered."
Hashirama stepped toward him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "But now you know. You're no longer a pawn, Madara. You can choose what comes next."
Kakashi nodded. "And that's why I've gathered you all here today."
The illusion vanished.
Kakashi stepped around the table.
"We can no longer afford to act as nations divided. War comes not from our hate, but from our fragmentation. That era ends now. I intend to create a new order, one that will unite us under one banner."
He raised his hand.
"The United Shinobi Federation."
There were murmurs, shocked glances, and tense silences.
"I will serve as its Supreme Overseer," Kakashi continued. "But no decision will be mine alone. The world will be governed by five pillars, the Council of Five Rings."
He turned and gestured.
"Sasuke Uchiha."
Sasuke stood, arms crossed. "I'll make sure the mistakes of the past aren't repeated."
"Terumi Mei."
"I'll bring diplomacy and balance." Mei smiled gently.
"Nara Shikamaru."
"Figures," Shikamaru sighed. "I guess peace is the most logical outcome."
"Minato Namikaze."
The Fourth Hokage stood. "I once died for peace. This time, I'll help protect it."
"The fifth councilor," Kakashi said, "will be Kazekage Gaara. He'll be officially inducted at the global announcement."
Nods echoed across the room.
Next, Kakashi gestured toward a different section of the room.
"Our new military force, the Central Shinobi Army, will have two Supreme Commanders."
"Uchiha Madara."
Madara raised his chin, pride flashing in his eyes. "I'll carve this world into order."
"Senju Tobirama."
Tobirama's red eyes narrowed. "I'll ensure the foundation remains stable."
"Your deputies will be: Uzumaki Naruto."
"Believe it!" Naruto grinned.
"Senju Hashirama."
Hashirama gave a warm smile. "Let's grow something new."
"Nara Shikaku."
Shikaku bowed slightly. "Strategy is the core of success."
"Raikage A and Onoki will also serve, though they are not present."
Then Kakashi turned.
"The Medical Dominion will be led by Senju Tsunade."
Tsunade nodded proudly. "I'll ensure no life is lost needlessly."
"Her deputies: Haruno Sakura."
"I'll do my best," Sakura said, determination burning in her eyes.
"And Uzumaki Karin."
"Healing's in my blood." Karin adjusted her glasses.
Kakashi looked toward the shy girl still clutching scrolls.
"The Sealing Corps will temporarily be led by Shiho. I'll personally train specialists to join her."
"I-I won't disappoint!" Shiho bowed quickly.
Kakashi stepped back to the head of the table.
"Positions and power aren't the focus of this federation," he said. "Unity is. Our motto will be simple."
He placed his hand on the table.
"One World. One Will. One Future."
A silence passed over the room.
Then one by one, they began to nod.
"I support it." Konan stood.
Jiraiya grunted. "Well… better than watching the world burn."
Anko smirked. "So long as I get a decent title."
"I will eliminate threats from within," Itachi spoke softly.
Kurenai smiled gently. "I'll help raise the next generation."
Guy gave a thumbs-up. "Yosh! I'll train them all!"
Even Madara smirked. "This is better than the dream world I tried to build."
Kakashi smiled faintly. "Thank you. The public announcement will be made within the week. Until then, we finalize the structure."
He looked at his closest allies. His women, his friends, his former enemies now turned comrades. And at the head of it all stood him, a man who had devoured the Sage's soul, the Ten-Tails, and destiny itself, and rewrote the script of the world.
This was only the beginning.
But the foundations had been set. A new world was rising.
And it had one will.
One future.
And one name etched into its heart.
Hatake Kakashi.