Chapter 44 Kakashi and the Will of Fire (1)
Walking in the dim and damp wooden corridor, both ends of the hallway were swallowed by heavy darkness.
This corridor hovered over a bottomless abyss, and below was the abyss of impenetrable darkness.
And this corridor was just one among countless intersecting and crisscrossing hallways.
Orochimaru stepped steadily into the darkness of the corridor, walking until the end. He then pushed open a door and entered.
In the room, someone was already waiting for his arrival.
"Danzo, why did you call me here at a time like this?"
Orochimaru asked the person sitting in the room.
Officially, he was a new member of "Root" and served as Danzo's right-hand man. However, in reality, he was a nail driven into "Root" by his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, for the purpose of monitoring and restraining Danzo's extremist actions.
Therefore, he had neither the freedom-limiting restrictions nor the cursed seals like other "Root" members. His name was retained, and he didn't live like a mere machine.
"You should take a look at this."
Danzo didn't mind Orochimaru's addressing him as an equal. In fact, he had no power to force Orochimaru to do things he disliked.
Sitting there, Danzo threw a document onto the desk in front of Orochimaru.
Orochimaru sat down, looked at Danzo with curiosity, unable to decipher his true intentions. He then retrieved his gaze and picked up the document from the desk, opening it.
Upon seeing the title on the paper, Orochimaru's expression changed slightly.
—Wood Release Cultivation Project.
"This is a newly established research project in the village, with the goal of cultivating ninja who can wield Wood Release, just like the First Hokage did. I hope to have your assistance."
Danzo's voice was low, and he carefully observed Orochimaru's ever-changing expression.
"Is it for countering the Tailed Beasts?"
Orochimaru regained his composure, quickly understanding the purpose behind this plan.
Both Wood Release and Sharingan possessed the ability to restrain Tailed Beasts.
However, since the death of the First Hokage, Wood Release had disappeared from the ninja world, and there hadn't been a second Wood Release user. Sharingan, on the other hand, had been well-preserved and passed down through the Uchiha clan.
As the leader of "Root," Danzo was one of the most hostile figures toward the Uchiha clan.
When unable to control Sharingan, cultivating a Wood Release user could be an alternative and could be easier to control.
"It's not solely for the Tailed Beasts, but also to deter certain ninja within the village who have ill intentions. For this, we must leverage the power of Wood Release."
Danzo also subtly conveyed that he remained vigilant about the Uchiha clan. If necessary, he would employ extreme measures to limit the clan's growth.
"I see. It's an interesting plan."
Orochimaru's face revealed a smile, his voice with a magnetic hoarseness.
"During the last Great Ninja War, the village lost many excellent ninja. We don't know when the next war will come. This is also for the sake of the village's future. The power of Wood Release to pacify chaotic times will become a blade even sharper than White Fang's."
"I see."
The passing of Sakumo had indeed caused significant damage to Konoha. White Fang, who was responsible for sabotage behind enemy lines during the war, posed a considerable threat to other nations.
Now they needed a weapon that could replace White Fang, a sharp weapon to intimidate other nations and stabilize Konoha's defensive capabilities.
"Does Tsunade know about this?"
To cultivate Wood Release users, they would need to use the First Hokage's remains and extract the necessary cellular energy from the body. With Tsunade's personality, she would definitely not agree to such a sacrilegious act. She might even create a huge uproar during high-level meetings.
Especially because it was her grandfather's remains.
"Of course, she can't know. If she were to find out, things would become very complicated."
Danzo's expression remained unchanged. It was unclear what he was thinking.
"Meaning, Sarutobi-sensei has already agreed to this plan, is that the case?"
Orochimaru pondered for a moment.
Without Hiruzen's consent, he didn't believe Danzo had the audacity to touch Wood Release. Furthermore, relying solely on "Root's" power wouldn't be enough to research the power of Wood Release.
"You understood that so quickly. Truly, you're the most talented among the three Sannin. Your intellect, knowledge, and understanding of ninjutsu are all instrumental in driving this plan forward."
Danzo didn't hesitate to express his admiration for Orochimaru's talent.
"It seems that Jiraya-sensei's decision to have me join 'Root' isn't just for the simple purpose of monitoring you. I understand. If it benefits the village, I'll continue with it."
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, whom he admired the most, developed numerous forbidden techniques through human experimentation. These techniques opened up many paths in the realm of ninjutsu, benefiting many Konoha ninja.
In this village, there were indeed many things that couldn't see the light of day.
And most of these secrets were controlled behind the scenes by "Root."
The enforcers of Konoha's dark deeds.
"Where will the 'materials' come from?"
"Don't worry about that. We've already pre-selected volunteers from the village. They'll cooperate with the experiments when the time comes."
"In that case, I have no reservations."
Orochimaru nodded, indicating his understanding.
"Let the experiments begin next week. I need to review some data and prepare adequately."
After saying this, Orochimaru left the "Root" meeting room with the project document.
As he walked out of the room, Orochimaru looked ahead at the path eroded by darkness, then lowered his head and glanced at the Wood Release project document he had taken from the meeting room, muttering to himself:
"Wood Release... I wonder how many lives will be sacrificed this time..."
Life, indeed, was fragile and cheap.
After contemplating, he raised his head, gazed into the distance, and without hesitation, stepped forward into the darkness.
…
October.
The weather gradually turned colder.
In the forest, a group of four people ran through it.
"Hey, Kakashi, slow down!"
A Leaf ninja dressed in a Jonin uniform shouted loudly at Kakashi, who was leading the way.
Hoping he would heed his words.
Kakashi merely glanced back; the middle-aged ninja who had shouted at him was carrying an injured comrade on his back, panting heavily. It was obvious that he was being slowed down by the injured comrade behind him.
Kakashi stopped, his voice icy as he spoke, "Just drop him here. The three of us will continue to complete the mission."
"W-What? What did you say?"
The Jonin couldn't believe his ears hearing such words from Kakashi, whose face still had a youthful appearance.
He never expected to hear such words from Kakashi.
Kakashi took out a kunai and threw it at the feet of the Jonin, giving him a choice.
His father, Sakumo, chose his comrades during missions and was later vilified by rumors. His suicide also proved his father's guilt and weakness.
So, Kakashi was now walking the path of selecting missions.
A comrade who was severely injured during a mission, unable to contribute to combat and even burdening the team, should be abandoned in advance. Choosing the mission was the correct path Kakashi believed in now.
"You, do you even know what you're saying? You're a Leaf ninja too, how can you utter such words?"
The Jonin understood and shouted in anger.
"Are you really a ninja? Your naive thoughts, perhaps you should go back to the ninja school and start over. Don't forget, completing missions is the true path a ninja should choose."
Kakashi's gaze was cold as he stared at the Jonin.
"You little brat!"
The Jonin clenched his teeth.
Kakashi only gave him a cold look, didn't answer, turned around, and carried the White Fang tanto on his back, proceeding forward alone.
"Captain, look at that guy, he actually said such things! It's so infuriating! A genius, really?"
The Jonin complained unhappily.
"Alright, Kakashi doesn't have ill intentions. Completing the mission is what matters."
The Jounin captain shook his head helplessly. In theory, Kakashi's suggestion was indeed the optimal choice.
However, he couldn't come to terms with so easily abandoning a comrade's life. It didn't sit well with him to casually make such a decision.
"Captain, after we return, let's replace Kakashi. Having him in our team is just a burden."
The Jonin continued his discontent.
"I will discuss it with the Hokage."
"Captain, you've talked to the Hokage many times already, but Kakashi doesn't change. He really isn't suitable for our team's development. Let him go, someone like him isn't fit to be a comrade."
The Jonin sighed in resignation.
The Jounin captain fell silent, hesitating for a moment under the pleading gaze of the Jonin, before nodding.
"Alright, after we return, I will request a transfer from the Hokage to move Kakashi to another team."
"Please do it quickly. I don't feel safe with someone like him as a comrade."
The Jonin carrying the injured team member had reached his limit with Kakashi's cold and heartless attitude towards teammates.
Even a relatively weaker Genin would be better than such a heartless genius Jonin.
…
Hiruzen looked at the transfer application presented by a Jounin, his headache growing.
The request was to transfer Kakashi Hatake to another team. The reason given was that Kakashi was unable to coordinate with his teammates, lacked team spirit, and had caused conflicts among colleagues multiple times.
After reading the transfer application, Hiruzen took out similar transfer requests from his drawer. Without exception, these requests were all for teams Kakashi had been in before.
However, his stays in those teams had all been short-lived. In one team, Kakashi had only been there for a few days before the Jounin leader removed him from the team. The leader believed that having such a genius Jounin on the team would burden the team, hoping Kakashi would develop in another Jounin team.
This was already the fourth... or fifth time?
At this moment, there was a knock on the office door.
Hiruzen called out, "Come in."
A Leaf Jounin entered and respectfully saluted Hiruzen, "Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen placed Kakashi's file in front of him, which the Jounin picked up and read.
"How do you think of Kakashi?"
"Genius."
That Jounin's evaluation was only this word.
"I remember that you had a teammate sacrificed. I want Kakashi to join your team. What do you think?"
After Hiruzen finished speaking, the Jounin's expression changed for a moment, then he composed himself and said, "Hokage-sama, my abilities are insufficient to instruct such a genius. Having Kakashi in my team would bury his potential. Please let him join another Jounin team."
He was well aware of Kakashi's reputation.
Especially recently, among the Jounin leaders, there were rumors unfavorable to Kakashi.
He naturally had heard about these things.
Although his team indeed needed replacements, if Kakashi were brought in, it might lead to the disintegration of the entire team, let alone teamwork.
Hiruzen didn't insist, and let the Jounin leave.
Next, another Jounin came in, and Hiruzen asked the same question. This Jounin also hesitated and politely declined, stating that he lacked the ability to instruct such an outstanding genius Jounin like Kakashi and suggested Hiruzen seek someone more suitable.
The following Jounins who came for the orders also provided similar explanations.
Their opinions were quite unanimous. They expressed that they and Kakashi, such genius Jounins, were incompatible. They lacked the capacity to teach these young geniuses who graduated at the youngest age in Leaf's history and became Jounins.
Clearly, these Jounins had likely exchanged opinions among themselves. They were unwilling to accept such a genius who disrupted team harmony. Even though they were geniuses, they were firmly pushing them out.
"Hokage-sama, I'm willing to accept Kakashi, but if he disobeys orders and disrupts team cohesion, I will remove him from the team."
It wasn't until the twenty-first Jounin arrived that Hiruzen finally found a Leaf Jounin willing to accept Kakashi.
However, the Jounin had a condition.
If Kakashi followed orders and didn't disrupt team relations, he was willing to accept the genius Jounin into his team for missions.
Hiruzen smiled and said, "Rest assured, Kakashi will follow your orders."
The Leaf Jounin forced a smile.
Of course, he knew Kakashi would obey his orders.
In fact, the other Jounins didn't exclude Kakashi because he didn't follow orders; it was because Kakashi always disrupted team relations, resulting in deteriorated relationships among colleagues. That's why many Jounins were unwilling to accept such a genius.
For a Jounin, maintaining good team relationships was a crucial aspect.
Kakashi had broken that agreement, naturally leading to a negative reception.
"I also hope he can be well-behaved in my team."
He didn't expect Kakashi to contribute much to his team; as long as he didn't disrupt team harmony, he would be content.
Hiruzen listened and could only nod in agreement, accepting the Jounin's request.
"To be honest, Hokage-sama, I don't think Kakashi is suitable for a regular team's mission. He's more suitable for places like Anbu or Root."
Before leaving, the Jounin spoke from his heart.
Hiruzen was considering this Jounin's suggestion. Let alone Anbu, Root's strength had been growing over the years.
If Kakashi was assigned to Root, it would be equivalent to handing over a powerful tool to Danzo.
In this matter, Hiruzen was quite clear.
He could rely on Danzo's Root, but only if Root's power didn't exceed his expectations.
And Kakashi's talent was truly exceptional.
Entering the academy at four, graduating at five, becoming a Jounin at six—even if he became a Jounin at ten, Hiruzen wouldn't be too surprised.
Regarding joining Anbu... While Kakashi's talent is indeed astonishing, he hasn't reached the minimum standard for Anbu yet.
Furthermore, Anbu isn't an educational institution. Nobody will hand-hold Kakashi to teach him combat and ninjutsu. This is not conducive to Kakashi's growth at this stage.
However... Regular Jounin teams are rejecting Kakashi as well, unwilling to accept him.
Hiruzen was troubled by this.
Regular teams won't accept him.
Anbu is out of his league.
Root isn't an option.
Should he make him a team leader? His teammates would probably die on missions quite quickly.
Kakashi, who adheres to the principle of prioritizing missions, would definitely be capable of this by now.
Never before has a Jounin made Hiruzen so perplexed. He doesn't know where to place Kakashi. He can only wait and observe for now.
…
In Konoha Village, at the dango shop.
Shiroshi invited Kakashi to eat dango here.
"Kakashi, it's rare to see you. How have you been lately? I heard that you've had conflicts with your colleagues."
Shiroshi held a skewer of dango, took a bite, and smiled at Kakashi sitting across from him.
From Kakashi, Shiroshi sensed a cold and numb aura, and his eyes lacked their usual brightness.
In a way, this gaze was something Shiroshi had only seen in Root ninja.
Nameless, futureless, lifeless—there seemed to be only the mission in their eyes.
Like machines, following predetermined programs.
"It's alright, just a few burdens added to the missions."
Kakashi didn't touch the dango in front of him, speaking in a cold tone.
"They're your teammates. Don't speak of them that way. Teamwork is essential during missions."
Shiroshi sighed.
Indeed, Sakumo's death had dealt a heavy blow to him.
He was still torn between the importance of missions and companions.
This question, from beginning to end, had no standard answer.
Kakashi in this state truly worried Shiroshi.
"I can't cooperate with them at all. They care too much about irrelevant things, often distracted by external information. A ninja only needs to complete missions."
Kakashi said like this.
"Have you heard of the bucket principle?"
"I don't want to hear a lengthy explanation from you. Besides, you've just become a chunin. Do you have the qualifications to lecture me? If you want to lecture me, wait until you become a Jounin."
"..."
This had inadvertently touched on Shiroshi's sore spot.
"Furthermore, if they can still fight, I'll naturally help. But if they can't contribute to the fight, abandoning them is only natural. As a ninja, completing the mission is paramount. When necessary, abandoning comrades is not something anyone can criticize me for."
Kakashi continued with his merciless tone.
"Do you really think that way?"
"The person who chose the companions has already died. I don't want to repeat that person's mistakes."
"..."
His reasoning was sound, leaving Shiroshi without a counterargument.
"But your colleagues do dislike you, don't they?"
"This has nothing to do with you. I'm just adhering to the rules a ninja should follow."
Kakashi said like this.
"Is that so?"
Shiroshi knew that he couldn't dissuade Kakashi from his thoughts on the brink of collapse.
Taking out a bag from his ninja tool pouch and placing it in front of Kakashi, Shiroshi said, "These are specially made soldier pills and some antidotes. Take them. Since you've chosen missions above all else, you need to protect yourself. Because if you get injured in a mission and lose your combat and mobility, your comrades will abandon you."
Kakashi hesitated slightly, looking up at Shiroshi, but he didn't take the bag containing the soldier pills and antidotes.
"What's wrong? Isn't this the path you've chosen? A path completely different from Sakumo-sensei's. It's not the time to hesitate now."
Shiroshi gazed calmly at Kakashi, smiling slightly.
Kakashi quietly put away the bag, saying softly, "Thank you."
"You're welcome. It's something I should do, after all, I've watched you grow up. Now that Sakumo-sensei is gone, it's both my duty and responsibility to take care of you. If necessary, I can talk to Rui and have you join her team for missions."
"No need, that would trouble you too much. I'll take care of myself."
Kakashi shook his head, declining Shiroshi's offer.
Shiroshi didn't say anything and continued eating his dango in silence.
"If there's nothing else, I'll go train."
When Kakashi stood up from his seat, preparing to leave, Shiroshi's voice sounded from behind:
"Kakashi, do you think Sakumo-sensei made the wrong choice back then?"
"Yes, that's why I chose a different path from him."
Having said that, without waiting for Shiroshi to respond, Kakashi's face remained cold as he walked out of the dango shop.
With that statement, he had already rejected the path Sakumo, his father, had taken.
A path that was a mistake.
And now, he was heading toward the path that he believed a ninja should take.
"It seems his psychological issues are even more severe than I imagined. This unpleasant brat. He's completely different from Sakumo-sensei. Are they really father and son? When Sakumo-sensei was in the Konoha Hospital, could he have made a mistake?"
Shiroshi watched Kakashi's figure disappear from his sight, muttering as he continued to eat his dango.
Though Kakashi hadn't been very likable before, he would never have uttered such hurtful words to others.
But maybe it's almost time. Time for him to start doubting the Will of Fire.
Or perhaps, after experiencing these events, his heart had already begun to waver.
The coldness on his face was merely a facade masking his strength.
The conflicting thoughts in Kakashi's mind were inseparable from Konoha's current environment.
A dull and twisted village indeed.
…
"This mission is a B-rank escort mission."
At the entrance of Konoha Village, the Jounin leading Kakashi's team spoke sternly to the three members.
"A B-rank escort mission? That's quite rare."
One of the Chuunin in the team expressed surprise upon hearing the Jounin's words.
Another Chuunin in the team nodded in agreement.
Typically, escort missions were mostly C-rank, but B-rank missions involved combat among ninja.
"So, who is the target we're escorting?"
Kakashi wasn't concerned about the mission's rank; he just wanted to quickly understand the mission details and complete it as soon as possible.
After Kakashi finished speaking, the two Chuunin in the team looked at him and took a step back, showing that they weren't particularly eager to be around Kakashi.
Seeing this, the leading Jounin sighed quietly.
He knew it would be like this.
Including Kakashi in his team was a reluctant decision. On one hand, it was the Hokage's request, and on the other hand, his team's combat strength was indeed lacking.
Adding Kakashi to the team would help compensate for the lack of combat power.
Unfortunately, Kakashi's problem wasn't about lacking strength; becoming a Chuunin at such a young age was quite astonishing.
This also indirectly proved Kakashi's considerable strength, as he wouldn't have passed the difficult Chuunin exams otherwise.
"The merchant convoy from the Land of Demons."
The leading Jounin said.
"Land of Demons? Isn't that far?"
Not only Kakashi but also the other two Chuunin furrowed their brows.
The Land of Demons was a rare neutral country in the ninja world. Its northern border touched the Land of Snow and the Land of Earth, its southern border touched the Land of Sound and the Land of Bears, and to the west, it faced the Land of Water and the Land of Lightning across the sea.
Despite being adjacent to many countries, it didn't share a border with the Land of Fire.
The Land of Demons was several countries away from the Land of Fire, requiring a long journey to reach there.
"No need to worry. This mission doesn't require us to go all the way to the Land of Demons. In fact, we only need to wait for the merchant convoy in the Land of Rain."
Seeing the three's confusion, the leading Jounin explained, "Due to the great distance between the Land of Demons and the Land of Rain, they've hired Iwa ninja to escort them from the Land of Demons to the Land of Rain. As for the latter part of the journey, it will be our Konoha ninja escorting them. The Hokage and Tsuchikage have already discussed this matter in secret; it won't cause any diplomatic issues."
After hearing the Jounin's explanation, the three finally understood.
Indeed, during the early stages of the Great Ninja War, Iwa ninja participated, fighting against the Rain Village a few times. However, Iwa ninja's main force was directed against Hanzo of the Salamander in the Rain Village, and they didn't have much friction with Konoha.
But Konoha and Iwa weren't allies; their relationship had always been lukewarm.
This special task that required ninja from both villages to cooperate in escorting was something that needed prior discussion between the leaders to avoid any diplomatic disputes later.
"If there's no problem, let's set off now."
…
In the Fire Country's dense forest, the Konoha team of four ran swiftly.
"Speaking of which, Captain, why would a merchant convoy from the Land of Demons come to the Land of Fire?"
One of the Chuunin team members caught up with the leading Jounin and couldn't help but ask. The journey was rather boring, so they were looking for conversation topics.
The leading Jounin answered, "Not exactly. This time, the merchant convoy we're escorting is actually settling in our Konoha Village."
Kakashi and the others were astonished.
"Have you heard of the Purple Orchid Pharmaceutical Technology Company?"
"Well, yes. Although it was established recently, the medications developed by this company are much better than those on the market. They're selling well in several neighboring countries and making a significant profit."
"That's right. The convoy we're escorting is a delegation from the Purple Orchid Company. They plan to open a branch pharmacy in Konoha. This matter has already been approved by the Daimyo and the Hokage."
"It's amazing. The company hasn't been around for even half a year yet."
Another Chuunin marveled.
"They're capable, after all. If the medications they developed were just average, they wouldn't have received the approval of the Daimyo and the Hokage."
Of course, the neutral status of the Land of Demons also provided many conveniences.
If the Purple Orchid Company had backing from major countries like the Land of Earth or the Land of Wind, as well as the approval of the Fire Daimyo and the Hokage, they wouldn't get such consent no matter what they said.
It was similar to the Land of Iron opening a ninja tool shop in Konoha; neutral countries didn't participate in the Great Ninja War, and with the Land of Iron's well-established reputation, Konoha was more willing to cooperate.
Moreover, many villages had weapon merchants from the Land of Iron establishing branches, offering high-quality weapons.
The business approach of the Purple Orchid Company was simply the same as that of the Land of Iron.
Good reputation, neutral status, and strong pharmaceutical development capabilities were the key reasons for their approval.
"I heard this company's monthly revenue is incredibly impressive. Probably numbers that ordinary ninjas like us can't even imagine."
"Then let's work hard on the mission."
The leading Jounin encouraged.
"Captain, missions don't pay much."
The Chuunin complained.
D-rank and C-rank missions aside, even with rewards of a few thousand or tens of thousands, after deducting ninja tools, not much money was left.
"Well, there's not much I can do about that. Maybe during normal times, you can find a part-time job somewhere."
"That's impossible. We still need to practice during our free time. After all, ninjas need to strengthen their abilities to qualify for higher-level missions, which come with higher rewards."
Kakashi interjected.
"True, true."
The leading Jounin nodded.
It worked both ways: the lower a ninja's strength, the lower the mission rank they could undertake, and the rewards were barely enough for survival.
Upon reflection, there really wasn't much financial potential in the ninja profession.
It was only when you became a Jounin that things started to look up a bit.
After completing an A-rank mission, you would receive at least several hundred thousand ryou.
And for an S-rank mission, the reward for completing just one was at least several million ryou.
"Alright, let's pick up the pace. We need to reach the meeting point in the Land of Rain as soon as possible. Be careful when we're in the Land of Rain; the environment there can be chaotic."
"Understood."
The leading Jounin finished speaking, and Kakashi and the others felt a sense of urgency.
Although they hadn't ventured deeply into the Land of Rain
…
The Land of Rain, northern border.
When the Konoha ninja team arrived here, it was around three in the afternoon of the second day.
At the entrance of a rainy town, they saw the delegation of the Purple Orchid Pharmaceutical Technology Company from the Land of Demons.
There were a total of twelve carts used to transport medicines, and each cart was filled with precious drugs.
After handing over the mission to the Iwa team, the Konoha Jounin signed the documents, and the Iwa Jounin with three team members left.
Subsequently, the Konoha Jounin turned his attention to the representative of the Purple Orchid Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
He was a short young man, around twenty-three or twenty-four years old. He wore round-framed black sunglasses on his face, a pristine black suit, and held an umbrella.
This young man's name was Gato.
He was the president of the Purple Orchid Pharmaceutical Technology Company, a shrewd businessman with exceptional commercial skills.
In less than half a year, he had transformed from an unknown individual into a highly sought-after international business figure. Kakashi's team didn't underestimate him despite him not being a ninja.
As a representative of the rising stars among businessmen, his head was already priced at five million ryo in the underground market.
For an ordinary person, this was an exceedingly high bounty.
It was likely that as the Purple Orchid Company's capital continued to grow, the bounty on his head would rise even further, reaching tens of millions of ryo.
Due to the sudden establishment of the Purple Orchid Company, many small pharmaceutical companies were on the brink of bankruptcy. This competition for resources resulted in Gato being marked for bounty on the black market, which was to be expected.
"Members of Konoha, tonight we'll rest in this small town. I've already booked accommodations. Shall we set out early tomorrow morning?"
After shaking hands in a friendly manner with the Konoha Jounin, Gato pushed up the black-framed sunglasses on his nose with his finger and smiled confidently.
"That sounds like a good plan. Traveling at night during this time isn't really suitable."
Moreover, the carts contained precious drugs, so a slow pace was necessary.
The leading Jounin and Gato exchanged a few words, and then the convoy slowly entered the gorge.
Here, the rainfall began to decrease, but the road remained muddy and difficult to navigate on foot. Not only was walking challenging, but the convoy also had to slow down to ensure the safety of the drugs inside the carts.
Neither the leading Jounin nor Gato mentioned this. The Land of Rain had been in turmoil for years, unable to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens, let alone allocate resources to road maintenance.
"Captain..."
Kakashi and the other three Chuunin approached, speaking quietly to the leading Jounin.
"Ah, I'm aware."
Since entering the gorge, the leading Jounin had sensed that something was amiss – the atmosphere here wasn't quite right, and a chill was present amidst the rainfall.
Boom!
The explosion was sudden, yet the guards accompanying the convoy and the Konoha ninja remained largely composed.
As flames erupted against the rocky walls, massive boulders tumbled from above.
Kakashi immediately drew his iconic White Fang tanto from his back and skillfully sliced one of the descending boulders in half.
The boulder split, and utilizing the divided halves as stepping stones, he agilely ascended the cliff face.
The Jounin captain and the two Chuunin followed suit, charging forward.
They were met with a hail of shuriken and kunai raining down from above.
Gato stood composedly amidst the group, flanked by two guards dressed in black cloaks who stood as statues in the rain.
Surrounding them were more guards, all wearing matching black cloaks with the Purple Orchid Company emblem on their backs, signifying their affiliation.
After a moment's thought, the Jounin captain felt a sense of relief.
Though the Purple Orchid Company had been recently established in the Land of Demons, it was only a matter of time before it became a pharmaceutical industry giant.
There must be a specialized unit dedicated to training armed personnel to protect their merchandise.
However, considering the number of guards present, it was evident that the total value of these medicines was astronomical – to the extent that an ordinary person couldn't conceive, necessitating such a substantial security detail.
Nonetheless, it wasn't a concern for the Jounin captain.
Their team's mission was merely to safely escort the Purple Orchid Company delegation back to Konoha.
As for the broader business partnership, that was the Hokage's responsibility.
…
Gato stood calmly in the middle of the team. Two black-cloaked guards stood beside him, their expressions unchanged as they stood like pillars in the curtain of rain.
Meanwhile, the black-cloaked guards around them were divided: half of them stayed to protect the vehicles, while the other half collaborated with the four Konoha ninja to eliminate the incoming enemies.
"It's annoying that I can't help but want to fight when we're here. Seems like I overestimated these people too much."
Gato sat on the step of a carriage, unaffected by the sounds of battle that surrounded him.
Since taking over the company, he had faced several assassination attempts like this every month. Yet, he was still alive and well, a testament to the strength of the Purple Orchid Company.
"It can't be helped. After all, the value of this batch of medicine is just too tempting."
"Consider it an entertainment worth watching. Let's finish it quickly."
"Understood."
Developing the company, making it profitable – that was Gato's mission.
Eliminating enemies was their job.
While engaging the attackers, Kakashi quickly deduced their identities through their combat styles. Some were of samurai origin, with knowledge of basic chakra application, while others were wandering ninja, skilled in practical low-level ninjutsu.
For someone who had mastered the White Fang's sword techniques like him, these opponents weren't enough to pose a threat.
But for his two Chuunin companions, there might be some trouble.
Seeing them fight desperately, narrowly avoiding enemy attacks several times, Kakashi just glanced at them. He was confident that the leading Jounin of their team was nearby, ensuring their safety. So, he ignored the intense struggle they were facing.
Instead of concerning himself with that, he focused on swiftly eliminating the enemies and completing the mission as soon as possible.
With one enemy falling after another, Kakashi moved through the rain, his White Fang tanto being continuously cleansed of blood by the downpour. The blood turned red, then white, then red again – in an ever-changing pattern.
The battle ended after about ten minutes.
With only a few minor injuries among them, they managed to defeat all the enemies. Some of the foes who saw the situation turning unfavorable chose to flee, but no one bothered to chase them.
"Mr. Gato, we can continue on our journey."
The leading Jounin wiped the blood off his shoulder, and the pungent smell of blood was faint in the rain.
As Gato pushed up his sunglasses and gave the order to prepare the convoy to move forward, there seemed to be a dispute on Kakashi's side:
"Hey, Kakashi, what's the matter with you? Didn't you see us sending you a support signal just now?"
The two Chuunin who had worked with Kakashi for the first time after the battle ended were quite dissatisfied with Kakashi's indifferent attitude.
Because they had been outnumbered by the attackers, they bore several injuries.
"With your two levels of strength, I believed that even without my assistance, you'd be fine."
Kakashi spoke frankly.
These two individuals had their strengths too, and in a situation where they were surrounded, they were capable of defeating the attackers.
Eliminating as many enemies as possible, considering the circumstances at the time, Kakashi believed it was the optimal choice.
Getting rid of the enemies quickly meant that the safety of the medicine shipment would be out of danger sooner.
"What did you say? Say that again if you dare? Aren't we teammates in the same squad?"
One of the Chuunin grabbed Kakashi's collar.
"I said, I judged that neither of you were in life-threatening situations. The best priority at the time was to eliminate the enemies as quickly as possible. The longer we took, the more danger the convoy would be in. The safety of this medicine shipment is more important than you."
The faces of the two Chuunin turned iron gray, and they looked utterly displeased.
"Alright, you three, don't let your first cooperation end up like this. I was watching too, and I wouldn't let the three of you come to harm."
The leading Jounin smiled apologetically at Gato and then went over to the three, trying to prevent their relationship from worsening further.
"Tch. I can't get along with someone like this at all."
The two Chuunin finally gave up and started tending to their wounds.
"I was just trying to minimize the risk of the mission's failure."
Kakashi turned his head away, seeming to believe that his choice was still the correct one.
The leading Jounin scratched his head, deeply troubled.
He had known it would be like this – Kakashi was more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.
He doubted Kakashi would last long in his squad either.
He truly wished some higher-ranked Jounin would educate this genius troublemaker and then send him on missions.
Otherwise, if things continued this way, a team wouldn't be able to form a good working relationship at all.
"I apologize for the trouble, Mr. Gato. You've witnessed the embarrassing side of our Konoha."
"It seems being a Jounin is not an easy job either."
Gato said with a smile.
The Jounin captain forced a wry smile.
Being a Jounin was indeed not easy.
However, he could understand why Kakashi had turned out this way.
But he realized Kakashi's psychological issues were worse than he had imagined, so he abandoned the idea of trying to correct him.
…
Two days passed, and the Jounin captain successfully escorted the mission's targets to Konoha.
After leaving Kakashi and the others, the Jounin captain went to the Hokage Building to report his work.
"You've worked hard."
Hiruzen smiled at the Jounin.
"It's nothing. Although there were some unexpected incidents on the way, the problem wasn't significant."
"I've already understood the situation."
Hiruzen glanced at the report the Jounin captain handed over and his expression turned serious.
"Hokage-sama, is there anything else you want to add?"
"Kakashi, can't his issues be corrected?"
Hiruzen asked the question he cared most about.
"With my personal ability, I can't correct his problems. I don't know how much longer I can keep him in the team, but Kakashi, in his current state... I'd say a month at most before I need to find a replacement."
The Jounin captain answered truthfully.
Kakashi becoming like this was understandable, but he didn't want a member in his team that disrupted teamwork.
After all, he had to consider the overall interests of the team rather than cater to Kakashi alone.
"I understand. I'll think about it carefully. You may leave now."
"Please forgive me, Hokage-sama."
The Jounin captain bowed to Hiruzen and left the office.
Once the Jounin captain left the room, Hirizen fell into deep thought.
"Should I really place him in the Anbu?"
He's too young.
And his experience is still insufficient.
He doesn't meet the minimum standard for the Anbu.
Moreover, Hiruzen was more concerned about Kakashi entering the Anbu in his current state.
Struggling between the importance of the mission and the camaraderie with his teammates, the answer to this question...
Hiruzen sighed deeply in his heart. He couldn't bring himself to tell Kakashi the answer.
Because telling Kakashi one answer would inevitably negate the other.
And what about Sakumo's death? How could he explain that?
It was a deeply conflicting question.
Or rather, he himself didn't have a reference for the right answer.
"Hokage-sama, Mr. Gato, the representative of the Purple Orchid Company, would like to see you."
A member of the Anbu walked in from outside and reported to Hiruzen.
"I understand. Let him in."
Hiruzen straightened his expression and instructed the Anbu.
Now that the Purple Orchid Company had successfully partnered with Iwagakure and Sunagakure, establishing branch pharmacies in both villages that effectively alleviated the medicine shortage, this commercial partnership was extremely important to Konoha.
He couldn't afford to be impolite in front of a guest.
…
Evening, Konoha Cemetery.
Only Kakashi stood here, before the grave of his father, Sakumo Hatake. He stared blankly at the black-and-white photograph placed there.
The man in the photo gazed at him with a gentle smile, his eyes filled with love for the world.
However, that loving look filled Kakashi with an urge to escape.
He was dressed neatly, yet he gave off an impression of disarray, like a stray dog without a home.
"Father, tell me... why..."
Confusion clouded Kakashi's eyes.
He couldn't understand.
He couldn't fathom what he should do, how he should act now.
His father, who had saved his comrades, abandoned the mission, was insulted and scorned, and chose to end his own life.
So, why did he, who prioritized the mission over comrades, still face rejection?
Kakashi couldn't comprehend this question, couldn't find an answer.
As an outstanding graduate from the ninja academy at the youngest age, this was the first time Kakashi had been so perplexed by a question.
The Will of Fire he had learned should have been based on the idea that everyone in the village was one big family.
Every person in the village was a comrade, a family-like presence, something worth protecting even at the cost of one's life.
But... his father had committed suicide.
Because of his act of saving comrades, the mission had failed.
So, should a ninja prioritize the mission, considering comrades secondary? Wasn't a ninja just a tool for executing missions, and didn't tools require little affection? Therefore, when necessary, the lives of comrades could be discarded without hesitation.
Then, what was the use of the Will of Fire that I learned at the academy? Kakashi was startled by his own heretical thoughts.
Thus, the words "comrades" and "mission" clashed relentlessly in his mind, engaging in the fiercest, most brutal battle.
Suddenly, Kakashi clutched his head, his face contorting.
No more.
Can't hold on.
The pain in his head was about to explode.
Pain was the only thing Kakashi could feel at this moment—unbearable pain.
Which one was the right answer, after all?
Why did they not accept me even though I chose the mission?
If I'm wrong, then Father's approach is right. Why did he choose suicide?
Should I choose comrades or the mission?
What exactly is the Will of Fire?
Tormented by these two conflicting thoughts, Kakashi's will nearly crumbled. He finally couldn't hold on any longer. He dropped to his knees in front of the grave, sweat trickling down his face.
"Ha... ha... My head hurts... so much pain..."
In the woods beside the cemetery, a figure leaned against a tree, revealing only half of his face. The other half was shrouded in darkness.
It was a young male face.
It was Shiroshi.
He leaned against the tree, hands in his pockets, quietly listening to Kakashi's faint murmurs of pain.
After lingering there for a moment, he disappeared from behind the tree, leaving no trace behind.
(Chapter End)