The Memorial Stone stood quiet and cold. As usual, Kakashi was there, paying his respects to his friend. He never got tired of rambling about his three students.
"Obito," he began, voice low. "Naruto's been training with Lord Jiraiya for eight months now. Honestly, the village feels… empty without its number one troublemaker. But even the brattiest kids have to grow up. I hope he comes back a proper shinobi."
A pause. The wind rustled the leaves.
"Sasuke's been gone for over eight months now. Ever since he attacked me in the Uzumaki clan's mask hall. The village issued a kill-on-sight order. We've found nothing. Just… rumors. Whispers that he's made contact with the Akatsuki. With Itachi." Kakashi's jaw tightened. "If that's true, he'll make an enemy of the entire world. I worry for him."
Another gust. Colder.
"Sakura's been training under Lady Tsunade for over half a year now. When she learned Sasuke had been here… that he'd hurt me… she took it hard. She even said… she'd be the one to end him someday." He sighed, the sound heavy. "Hearing that… I didn't know what to feel."
He stared at the name carved in stone. "Lately, I keep thinking… what if it never happened? Thirteen years ago—no, fourteen now. The Nine-Tails' attack. Would my students' lives be different?"
"Naruto, obviously. He's the most direct victim. But that night… it also made the village turn its suspicion on the Uchiha. It set the stage for everything that followed. Itachi might have pulled the trigger for his own reasons, but Sasuke… he carries that weight of blood and hate."
"And Sakura… caught between them. Forced to change. To grow up too fast."
He straightened slightly. "Speaking of the village's suspicion… Danzō is dead. Died in a mess of secrets. They say someone invaded the Root HQ. Then Danzō just… vanished. Only when the tongue-sealing curses on his men faded did we know for sure."
"Think about it. A man strong enough to rival the Third Hokage. Stronger, some said. Gone. Just like that. No body. No answers." A chill ran down Kakashi's spine that had nothing to do with the wind. "After that, security tightened. The Yamanaka jonin maintain a sensory net over the whole village now. Every Leaf shinobi's chakra is tagged. Anything foreign… we'll know."
He shook his head. "Never liked the man's methods. But Lady Tsunade handled Root's dissolution carefully. Every member was relocated, given a place. But reshaping minds raised in that darkness… it's a long road."
"This world… it's never quiet, is it?" Kakashi murmured to the stone. "I just hope the flames don't rise again. This new generation… they shouldn't have to live through the hell we did."
The breeze picked up. Kakashi placed a small bundle of daisies—bought from the florist on the way—at the base of the stone.
"Year's end. The Daimyo's envoys are everywhere. I'll probably get stuck on some escort mission soon. I'll visit again when things settle…"
He stood, ready to turn and leave.
A voice pierced his mind, urgent. Kakashi! Two intruders! Powerful chakra signatures, just breached the perimeter!
Kakashi's posture snapped to alert. Location? On my way.
No! Inoichi's mental voice was sharp. Stand down. ANBU are mobilizing. Your orders are to evacuate the cemetery immediately!
Why?
They're heading straight for it! Shikaku believes it's no coincidence. They know you. They're coming for YOU!
Who? Kakashi's mind raced. Who knows I'm here?
Unknown! Just move! Get to the Hokage! NOW!
Kakashi understood. Priority one: protect the chain of command. Understood.
A voice, casual and cold, spoke from behind him.
"Yo… Kakashi. Perfect timing."
Kakashi's pupils shrank to pins.
His body moved before his mind caught up. Headband shoved up. Chakra roared. Lightning screeched in his palm as he spun, a blue-white spear of pure death aimed at the voice.
He saw the figure in the spin. Orange mask. Black robes with red clouds.
The same as Itachi… Akatsuki!
His Lightning Blade stabbed forward—!!!
―No holding back then!!!
SHWOOOM!
His hand passed through empty air. No impact. No resistance.
His momentum carried him forward—and his body phased right through the man.
Kakashi's blood turned to ice. This is—?!
"A classic 'Chidori' right off the bat. Well, I get it." The masked man's voice was a low, mocking drawl. "It is your prized little murder trick, after all…"
As Kakashi stumbled past, Obito's hand snapped back. Fingers hooked, vicious and precise, into Kakashi's left eye socket.
―"This eye doesn't belong to you. Give it back."
CRUNCH.
Blood sprayed.
"GAAAH—!!!"
The lightning in his hand died. Kakashi crashed to the dirt, a broken puppet. He clutched his face. Blood poured between his fingers, hot and slick. His skin was sheet-white, sweat beading instantly from the shock and pain.
Kakashi! Your chakra just plummeted! Who is with you?! Inoichi's voice was frantic in his skull.
Kakashi forced his head up, his one good eye swimming. He stared at the figure standing over him. "Sorry, Inoichi…" he gasped, the words thick. "I think… this is it."
Kakashi, HOLD ON! We are inbound!!
The masked man—Obito—produced a small ceramic vial. He carefully, almost delicately, placed the stolen Sharingan inside. Then he turned to face the wreck on the ground.
"Look at you, Kakashi." The voice was flat, devoid of everything but contempt. "The perfect picture of a worthless failure."
"Who… are you…?!" Kakashi choked out.
"Me?" A low, humorless chuckle. "Just another fool your blind sensei failed to see."
The words hit Kakashi like a physical blow. A horrifying possibility, monstrous and undeniable, slithered up his spine and seized his heart with icy claws.
"N-no… It… it can't be… You're…"
"Who I am doesn't matter." Obito cut him off. "What matters is this hopeless world is about to end."
A black vortex swirled into existence around him, ready to suck him away.
THWOOOOOM!
A massive arrow, blazing with violet chakra, split the air!
"Hn!?"
Obito canceled the teleportation, twisting aside.
BOOM!
The arrow blasted past him, obliterating the memorial stone behind him—the one engraved with the name Uchiha Obito.
"A step too late, it seems…"
The newcomer lowered his white hood. A face Kakashi knew all too well emerged from the shadows, having broken through the ANBU cordon.
Obito's voice dripped with cold recognition. "You really are everywhere, aren't you… Sasuke Uchiha."
Beside Sasuke, another figure shimmered. The disguise melted away, revealing pale skin and serpentine eyes.
"Without bringing out Nagato," Orochimaru said, smile sharp, "you won't be leaving today."
The thud of approaching footsteps. Dozens of them. Leaf shinobi were flooding the cemetery perimeter.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. They'll only get in the way.
FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH!
Violet flames ignited on his fingertips. He slammed his palm to the earth.
―Uchiha Flame Formation!
ROAR!
A colossal barrier of dark-red fire erupted from the ground, sealing the entire cemetery in a dome of swirling, impassable flames.
Kakashi, bleeding and broken on the ground, stared up at his former student through a haze of pain. "Sasuke… what are you…?"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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