In truth, Danzo had overestimated Kakashi. Even if Kakashi was willing to carry out the assassination of Jiraiya, the man was still one of the peaks of the shinobi world. Even back when one of his former students had severed his arm, Jiraiya was never someone Kakashi could simply kill on command. Kakashi had gone all out, but the result was only severe injury.
But Danzo had achieved what he wanted. Kakashi had shown the world exactly what he was: a mad dog that would bite anyone. The day after Jiraiya's incident, Uzumaki Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha performed a formal ritual of severance, publicly cutting ties with Hatake Kakashi. Ordinarily, such a dramatic display wouldn't have been necessary. But Naruto and Sasuke were too famous, and so was Kakashi's infamous name. Without a clear statement, misunderstandings would spread too easily.
Jiraiya, gravely wounded, never returned to Konoha. If he had died, he could have been brought back with honor. But he was still alive, and that was the problem. Oh, you're alive? the village's logic implied. But you wander around taking students, causing chaos during wartime, doing nothing while comrades die, and now you want protection? Even Konoha itself couldn't say that out loud. So Jiraiya never returned.
The one who picked up his half-dead body was Orochimaru. "As far as I'm concerned," Orochimaru said lazily, "he's just a toad. Even dead, he's useful as snake food."
As for the mad dog Kakashi, no one knew where he went.
Danzo felt as if even fate was helping him. The assassination of Jiraiya had originally been a reluctant decision. But since Jiraiya hadn't died, only been crippled, Danzo considered it a partial success. Now only one thing remained for Kakashi. Kill the Third Tsuchikage and end the war, or eliminate Mizukage Mei Terumi, a future threat to Konoha.
Danzo hesitated. Then he chose. The Third Tsuchikage. The Land of Earth was too close to Konoha. Too dangerous. Too stubborn. Onoki had survived wars longer than most nations remembered. Even the death of his son did not weaken him much, and his granddaughter Kurotsuchi was rising fast. But old monsters should be put down early, especially one who had once used Dust Release to swallow Konoha's war reparations during the Third Great War.
If Onoki died, the alliance would collapse into chaos. Naruto and Sasuke would then become the strongest deterrents in the region. Mei Terumi was sharp, but not strong enough. Kurotsuchi, still too young. Let them serve as training experience. Whether Kakashi could kill the Tsuchikage did not matter. Even if he failed, injuring him would be enough. Once the Tsuchikage fell, the Water-Fire-Wind-Lightning-Earth alliance would collapse. That alone was victory.
Danzo kicked the mad dog at his feet. The man twitched violently, barely conscious. Danzo didn't speak. He simply wrote on paper: Kill the Third Tsuchikage. I will give you the antidote and freedom.
The man nodded frantically.
Another note: Repeat your mission.
The man mumbled, "Kill Tsuchikage... kill Tsuchikage... no single survivors... no single survivors..."
Danzo watched him for a long moment. Once, this man was the Copy Ninja Kakashi. Now, just this.
Danzo leaned forward slightly. "Kakashi, I truly intended to let you go once. But you walked into your own fate." He continued, voice calm, almost conversational. "Jiraiya's situation is settled. He lives, but it doesn't matter. The Six Paths Sealing Technique: Five Elements has already erased the others. Mei Terumi, Onoki, the Raikage, Kazekage, all gone. Only four people know the truth." He paused. "Even with Sharingan, Uchiha Obito cannot bring them back." He sighed. "You were once remarkable. A shame you are no longer of Konoha. Hiruzen once told me you had the potential to become Hokage. I lost a bet with him over that." A faint, nostalgic tone. "If you were still Konoha's Copy Ninja, perhaps Naruto would inherit a brighter village. Such a pity, that Obito didn't die in the war."
Danzo waved his hand. Go. The paper fell. And Kakashi did not hear a word. He only repeated, "Kill Tsuchikage... no survivors... no single numbers..."
Step by step, the mad dog staggered forward. Perhaps this would be the last time.
It took far longer than expected. Seventy-two hours had already passed. Obito's condition was unstable. Once, his body had been mostly mechanical, refined into a puppet-like structure. Now, he was forced back into flesh. It was agony. His movements were trained reflex, but adjusting to a human body again took time. If not for Deidara's anxious gaze, he might have reverted to a puppet immediately. But he didn't.
"So the Otsutsuki matter is resolved?" Obito asked faintly.
Nagato explained briefly. He did not comment on Konan's blindness. "Technically, yes. But the origin of the God Tree is still unknown."
"Have you seen it?" Obito asked, slowly relearning how to walk.
Deidara immediately shouted, "You're leaning sideways! Yeah!" Obito almost stumbled. Some laughed. Kakuzu and Hidan were especially satisfied that they were not the only ones struggling with new bodies.
"If even he's like this, we're fine," Kakuzu muttered.
Deidara finally asked, "Konan, when will that guy wake up?" He meant the remaining unconscious companion.
Konan stood slowly. Deidara instinctively helped her. She couldn't see, but she could still feel. The fluid sphere around the patient had shrunk significantly. Deidara guided her hand carefully.
"He's healed a lot already."
Konan smiled faintly. "I see." She turned toward him. "Don't worry. He'll wake soon. But he won't be fighting in his original body anymore." A small joke.
And then he woke. Everything that had happened before was crystal clear in his memory. So when he saw Konan, he wanted to believe it was all a dream. He stood abruptly and hugged her tightly. No hesitation. No warning. Just desperation.
Konan froze. Then relaxed. So warm. She was glad he couldn't see her face.
"Kita..." he whispered. His voice trembled.
Konan smiled. "Seriously, what's wrong with you?"
He was crying. Hot tears fell onto her neck. Konan blinked. She didn't remember the last time he cried like this. This idiot. And yet she felt something tighten in her chest.
"You didn't cry even when we fought Hanzo back then," she said lightly. "Now you're crying this hard?"
"...Do you think I'll never come back?"
"Sorry... I'm sorry..." he sobbed. "I was wrong... I won't leave you again... I'm sorry..."
Konan exhaled slowly. Then smiled. "Idiot. I'm still here. This isn't a dream."
For once, she didn't feel like the one protecting everyone. And he didn't feel like the one standing behind her. They were just together. And that, perhaps, was enough.