"White, how long until I recover?" Zabuza lay on the bed, asking the girl beside him—the same one who'd taken him away under the guise of a Mist ANBU.
"About a week," she answered.
"Oh? Then Kakashi and that old man live a few days longer. When I'm ready, I'll kill him. Even with Sharingan, he won't survive."
"Oh really? You're that confident?"
"Hm? Who's there—" Zabuza grabbed for his blade, White tensing beside him.
"My, my. You plan to kill me, yet you can't even recognize my voice?" Kakashi was suddenly at the foot of the bed.
"When did you—" Zabuza's eyes flickered with despair. If Kakashi had come to kill him, he wouldn't stand a chance—neither would White.
"Relax. I'm not here to fight. I came to ask you to cooperate with me. Interested?" Kakashi asked casually.
"Cooperate? Don't mock me. You want to use me. Still, if the benefits are good enough, maybe that's not so bad."
"There are benefits. I'm just not sure you have the guts."
"What do you want?" Zabuza's patience wore thin.
"It's similar to your past ambitions—but by different means."
"You mean you want Konoha?"
"No. I want to *protect* Konoha."
"Heh. I've no interest in that."
"You misunderstand. With other villages around, threats remain. To me, that's a problem."
"So you're even more ambitious than me—you want to swallow all the ninja villages."
"Not swallow. Unite. If things go on like this, the shinobi world will be replaced by something else. To survive, we must stand together against an outside force."
"You're certain there's an enemy beyond? Shinobi aren't so easy to topple."
"It's not that simple. I still don't know who the masked man really is."
"Masked man?"
"He calls himself Uchiha Madara."
"What? He's dead!" Zabuza inhaled sharply.
"I said, there's no proof yet. But he's tied to Madara somehow."
Zabuza smirked. "You've piqued my interest. When you've unified the Five Nations, I'll claim a daimyo's seat for myself."
"Heh. As long as you don't cause harm, that's fine."
"Very well. White and I will be your subordinates—for now."
"Good. In about half a month, Konoha will host the Chūnin Exams. Come then." With that, Kakashi left Zabuza's hideout.
…
"Look, Sasuke! I climbed to the top too!" Naruto waved proudly. Sasuke didn't answer. His eyes were on the trunk, carved words: *Tonight, at the riverside. Hatake Kakashi.*
"Kakashi? When did he… what does he want with me?"
He arrived at the spot quickly. "What do you want?"
"You came fast. I'm here to tell you something you don't know."
"What is it?" Sasuke frowned. He didn't understand the silver-haired man.
"You haven't forgotten your brother killing the clan, have you?" Sasuke's face darkened. Kakashi went on, "Even a genius like him, even with Mangekyō Sharingan, could not alone slaughter the entire clan."
"What do you mean?" Sasuke's brow furrowed.
"Don't you think it all happened too suddenly?"
"That man said it was to test his capacity," Sasuke spat.
"Doesn't that sound flimsy? Have you considered another possibility?"
Sasuke stiffened. "You mean… someone *made* him?"
"You could put it that way. But don't hate him—he had no choice. If he hadn't, the entire village would have been destroyed. You understand?"
"You think I'll just believe this?" Sasuke's voice was cold.
"Of course. Itachi leaving you alive proves it. If he hadn't, you'd be dead already."
"So you came just to say this?"
"No. I'm not done. Have you thought about why the Uchiha suddenly planned a coup?"
"…Someone must have pushed them." The words slipped out, and Sasuke froze. "It was all… someone's conspiracy."
"Exactly. Just like the Nine-Tails attack."
"The Nine-Tails? Wasn't that natural? It's sealed in Naruto now." Sasuke looked startled.
"That's only the surface. I came to tell you—I'll make the man behind this pay."
"I didn't expect that from you. You want my help? I can't even beat my brother. How can I help?"
"Heh. Because you're like me—you have the Sharingan, and your chakra nature is lightning. Take this." Kakashi tossed him a scroll. "Read it, then burn it. Watch." His hands blurred through seals—*Chidori.* A piercing chorus of birds filled the air. Sasuke gaped. "Such strong chakra… I can *see* it."
"This technique is Chidori. Its sound is like a thousand birds. It's in the scroll. Next comes awakening your Sharingan." Kakashi slowly lifted his headband, revealing his crimson eye. Its spin locked onto Sasuke—who collapsed.
"Sasuke, are you okay?" Sakura's worried face hovered.
"Huh? Where am I?" He sat up.
"You fainted by the river. Kakashi-sensei carried you back."
"Kakashi…" Sasuke remembered his words. His chest filled with a strange surge—some longing, some conviction. He unrolled the scroll and studied it. "So that's it. The technique is so fast, you can't see counters without Sharingan. No wonder he forced mine awake."
"Everyone, we've stayed too long. Time to head back," Kakashi said.
"Not at all. You've helped us so much. With the bridge safe, we can't thank you enough." With Zabuza gone, the corrupt merchant vanished as well—no more obstacles.
"Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, let's go home." Kakashi led his students back toward Konoha, quietly pleased—he now had Zabuza under his command.
//Check out my Patreon for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[[email protected]/Razeil0810](http://[email protected]/Razeil0810)