In a special facility within the Hidden Leaf, there lied a headquarters for the Root. The hidden chambers of Root's headquarters echoed with the sound of footsteps as Tsunade strode purposefully through the dimly lit corridor. Her fists were clenched, her jaw set with determination. The air grew thick with tension as she approached the heavy wooden door at the end of the hallway.
Without knocking, Tsunade burst into an office. The former Hokage, now leader of Root, Hiruzen Sarutobi, now the leader of Root, was setting up plans and missions for the next few days. He looked up from his desk, his wrinkled face betraying a flicker of surprise before settling into a calm mask.
"Tsunade," Hiruzen said, his voice gravelly with age. "It's been quite some time. What brings you back to the Leaf?"
Tsunade's amber eyes flashed with anger as she slammed her palm onto the desk, causing papers to scatter and ink bottles to rattle. "Why was it hidden?" she demanded, her voice trembling with barely contained fury.
Hiruzen's brow furrowed, genuine confusion crossing his features. "What are you talking about?"
With shaking hands, Tsunade reached into her blouse and pulled out a necklace. The green crystal caught the light, casting a soft glow across the room. "The truth about my grandfather," she said, her voice dropping to a near whisper.
Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly, recognition dawning on his face. He raised a hand, signaling to the guards stationed in the corners of the room. "Leave us," he commanded.
As the door closed behind the departing guards, Hiruzen leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. "Tsunade," he began, his voice heavy with the weight of secrets, "if this is about what I think it is, I should tell you that even I was kept in the dark until recently."
Tsunade's anger gave way to surprise. "You mean... it was hidden from you too?"
Hiruzen nodded solemnly. "It all started about a week ago," he explained, his eyes distant as he recalled the events. "Minato was attacked by a mysterious figure - a masked shinobi with both a Sharingan and a Byakugan. This person even knew the Flying Raijin jutsu. Minato had to change his jutsu's formula afterwards."
Tsunade gasped, her medical mind already racing with the implications of such a combination.
"When Minato demanded to know who they were," Hiruzen continued, "The attacker claimed to be Madara Uchiha, before he and Minato clashed and both lost an arm."
The room fell silent as Tsunade processed this information. Hiruzen took a deep breath before continuing.
"This led Minato and me to take drastic measures. We... we reanimated the Second Hokage."
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock. "You did what?"
"We needed answers," Hiruzen said, his voice tinged with regret. "And in the course of our questioning, Lord Second revealed something... unexpected. He let it slip that Madara was a woman. Making such a mistake forced him to admit the reason as to why her gender was a secret, that your grandfather had a child with Madara in secret."
Tsunade felt her knees weaken, and she gripped the edge of the desk for support. "But... what about my grandmother? Did she know?"
Hiruzen shook his head sadly. "According to Lord Second, Madara had cast a powerful genjutsu that affected everyone in the village only Lord Second was resistant to it. It only deactivated after her death. That's why your grandfather disappeared - he was ashamed of what he hadn't known, and devastated by the fact that he had killed the woman he loved."
Tsunade's mind reeled with this new information. The grandfather she had idolized when she was younger, the man she believed to be perfect, was suddenly revealed to be as flawed and broken as she felt.
"There's more," Hiruzen said softly. "You have cousins from Madara's side. Two of them are still in the village - Obito and Shisui Uchiha, fifteen and ten years old respectively."
Tsunade sank into a nearby chair, her head in her hands. The necklace dangled from her fingers, "I... I need time to process this," Tsunade murmured.
Hiruzen nodded sympathetically. "Of course. But Tsunade, you should know that this information is highly sensitive. If it gets out that Madara was a woman and had a child with Lord First then people will question everything he did, as a man, as a husband, and as Hokage."
Tsunade looked up, her eyes meeting Hiruzen's. In that moment, she saw not the leader of Root or the former Hokage, but the teacher who had guided her through her early years as a shinobi.
"I understand... " she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her heart.
Hiruzen's expression softened. "I know it's a lot of information to process. Take your time to process it, and then later we can see Lord Second together."
Tsunade nodded, standing up with renewed determination. As she turned to leave, she paused at the door. "Sensei," she said, looking back at Hiruzen, "Thank you for telling me the truth. Even if it hurts."
As the door closed behind Tsunade, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, he knew Tsunade had grieved time and time again but maybe she could turn that grief into something else. Maybe she would meet Obito and Shisui in the following weeks.
Later that day, team Ryoichi gathered at the village gates, meeting up with Obito and Rin.
Everyone was wearing civilian clothes with a spare set of formal clothes given by Ryoichi.
Shisui approached Obito, a grin on his face. "Ready for our first mission together, elder brother?"
Obito laughed, clapping Shisui on the shoulder. "As ready as I'll ever be. Just try to keep up, alright?"
Nearby, Rin stood with her father, Ryoichi. There was an awkward tension between them, years of separation hanging in the air.
"It's good to see you, Rin," Ryoichi said softly. "You've grown so much."
Rin nodded, offering a small smile. "Thanks, Dad. I'm glad we'll be working together on this mission."
Ryoichi smiled, "Yes. I'll be able to see your training with Lady Tsunade in action."
As they set off Obito couldn't help but wonder what item it was that they were going to recover.
The acrid smell of smoke filled Konan's nostrils as she stood amidst the smoldering ruins of the Hidden Waterfall Village. Her eyes stung, not just from the ash swirling in the air, but from the unshed tears she refused to let fall. The once-vibrant village was now a landscape of destruction, buildings reduced to skeletal frames, streets littered with debris and... worse.
Konan's gaze fell upon a discarded doll, its singed fabric a stark reminder of the innocence lost in this senseless violence. Her fingers twitched, longing to pick it up, to salvage this one small piece of humanity from the wreckage. But she remained still, her face a mask of forced indifference.
A few meters away, Sakumo stood straight, his mask spattered with crimson droplets that told a gruesome tale. In his iron grip, he held the collar of a young brown haired boy – their target, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. The young man's eyes were wide with terror and grief, his body trembling as he took in the devastation around him.
"Why?" The Jinchuriki's voice cracked. "Why are you doing this?!"
Sakumo's grip tightened, eliciting a pained gasp from his captive. "Because of you," he said, his tone as cold and unyielding as steel. "Our intent is to capture you, but knowing they'd retaliate I stopped them before they could. It's a necessary evil but with my plans for you it'll be worth it in the long run."
Konan's stomach churned at his words. She wanted to protest, to scream that there was nothing necessary about the carnage she witnessed. But the words died in her throat as Sakumo's gaze fell upon her, the purple rings seeing into her soul.
"You disappoint me, Konan," he said, his voice carrying a lighter tone. "When the time came, you hesitated. Your weakness could have jeopardized our mission."
Konan's fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging crescents into her palms. "I... I couldn't," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackling of dying fires. "They were civilians, children..."
"And that hesitation could have cost us everything," Sakumo cut her off. "In our world, mercy is a luxury we cannot afford."
As if to punctuate his point, a section of a nearby building collapsed with a thunderous crash, sending up a fresh plume of ash and embers. The Jinchuriki flinched, a sob escaping his lips.
Konan's gaze met the young boy's, seeing the pain, the accusation in his eyes. She wanted to look away, to distance herself from the guilt threatening to overwhelm her. But she forced herself to hold his gaze, to bear witness to the consequences of their actions.
"We have what we came for," Sakumo declared, roughly shoving the Jinchuriki forward. "Let's move out. We have a long journey ahead of us."
In that moment, surrounded by ash and ruin, Konan noticed Sakumo's eye twitch in pain. The purple rings disappeared, the eye turning to black. "He must've used too much chakra," she thought. Considering what Sakumo had done it wasn't out of the realm of possibility, he did create a gravitational force from nothing. It pulled so much, decimating the infrastructure of the village, then when there was enough he sent it flying into the village. Sakumo cleaned up whoever was left, but Konan had been too shocked to do much of anything. She had never seen a jutsu as powerful as it, it was like Sakumo was a scorned god.
Her fear of Sakumo had grown more, not for herself but for Nagato and Yahiko. If she failed to cooperate with Sakumo again they'd pay the price, not her. Konan would lose part of her soul but she'd protect her friends however and whatever way she could. She just hoped they'd forgive her for what she'd done.
As the team set out, Anko fell into step beside Obito. "So, Uchiha, heard you've been training with Jiraiya. Learn any interesting techniques? Orochimaru-Sensei taught me many things."
Obito remembered, Anko was Orochimaru's prized pupil, but he was now a rogue Shinobi. "I'm sorry to hear about your sensei, Mitarashi. It must be hard knowing someone you knew very well turn rouge."
Anko's expression turned gloomy, "Yeah, well, he's coming back. He's just doing some undercover work for the Leaf."
"Yeah," Obito knew that Anko was wrong, she was just being hopeful. There was no harm in being hopeful, Obito certainly wished he was.
Kazumi Aburame, ever the quiet observer, adjusted her sunglasses. "We should remain focused on the mission. The Land of Stone is not known for its hospitality towards Leaf shinobi."
Ryoichi added, "That's why we aren't wearing anything to distinguish us as Shinobi, let alone Leaf Shinobi. The gala might not be hosted by someone from Stone but our intentions are still not to start a war with them again."
Obito balled his hands into fists, he hated the Hidden Stone for what happened at Kanabi Bridge. His eyes wouldn't forget, that was the curse of the Sharingan.
Rin looked at Obito and noticed the quiet rage behind his eyes, he had every right to hold anger towards the Hidden Stone, they kidnapped her and Kakashi died because of them, awakening Obito's true power through anguish.
Obito breathed out, he had trained to control his anger, he shouldn't let it overcome him.
The group nodded in agreement, their expressions turning serious as they leapt into the trees, beginning their journey towards the Land of Stone.
On the outskirts of the Leaf, at a cemetery reserved for people of exceptional calibur, Tobirama was walking to a specific tomb. The label of the tomb said Madara Uchiha. Although they knew the chainbreaker wasn't Madara but there was the thought of Madara surviving knawed at him.
There was a special seal on the tomb that only the Hokage and the respective clan heads knew about, five consecutive hand seals, ram, boar, monkey, snake, crane. The tomb door opened, showing Tobirama it was untouched since he'd last been in to examine Madara's eyes. But there was one thing that was different...
The coffin was opened a smidge, Tobirama narrowed his eyes, walking towards the coffin he gently peek inside. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, it was an elderly Madara, it wasn't possible the body would've decayed. Unless this wasn't Madara but a clone.
"What exactly have you been doing all this time, Madara? What was so important to drive my brother to despair?"
The moonlit night cast an ethereal glow over the opulent mansion as Obito and his team approached. Their formal attire rustled softly with each step, a stark contrast to their usual ninja gear. Obito tugged at his collar, feeling uncomfortable in the unfamiliar clothes.
"Your orders?" Ryoichi's voice broke through Obito's thoughts.
The young Jounin hesitated, his mind racing. He glanced at his teammates, their expectant faces making him even more nervous. Taking a deep breath, he decided to voice his uncertainty.
"I... I'm not sure," Obito admitted, his voice low. "This is my first time leading a mission like this. Any suggestions?"
Ryoichi nodded, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "How about we split into two groups? My team could mingle with the guests, gather information. You could lead Anko and Shisui to assess security."
Obito considered the plan, relief washing over him. "That sounds good. Rin, are you okay with that?"
Rin smiled softly, her eyes darting between Obito and her father. "Of course. It'll be good to work with Dad."
As they approached the entrance, Obito whispered to his team, "Remember, we're here for the artifact and information. Stay alert, but blend in."
The group split as they entered the grand ballroom. Obito watched as Rin, Ryoichi, and Kazumi melted into the crowd of well-dressed attendees. He turned to Anko and Shisui, both looking slightly overwhelmed by the lavish surroundings.
"Alright, let's do a sweep of the perimeter," Obito said, trying to sound confident. "Shisui, keep an eye out for any hidden passages or suspicious activity. Anko, focus on the guards - their patterns, weapons, anything unusual."
As they moved through the party, Obito couldn't help but marvel at the extravagance. Crystal chandeliers hung from ornate ceilings, their light reflecting off polished marble floors. Guests in expensive gowns and suits mingled, their laughter and chatter filling the air.
Obito found himself separated from Anko and Shisui in the sea of elegantly dressed guests. Deciding to blend in, he made his way to a table laden with an array of colorful hors d'oeuvres and a large crystal bowl filled with a pungent liquid.
Obito's nose wrinkled as he approached the bowl. The smell was overwhelmingly strong, clearly some kind of potent alcohol. He reached for a glass, more out of a desire to look natural than any intention to drink.
"I wouldn't drink that if I were you..." a deep, gruff voice rumbled from behind him.
Obito turned, his hand pausing mid-reach. "Probably not," he agreed, his eyes meeting those of the stranger.
The man before him was unlike anyone Obito had ever seen. Dark green eyes, almost glowing, peered out from a face of rich, dark skin. Long, jet-black hair cascaded down his shoulders, seeming to absorb the light around it. There was something... off about him, something that set Obito's nerves on edge.
"Sit with me," the man said, his tone leaving no room for argument. A large hand pressed against Obito's back, guiding him towards a nearby table for four.
Obito allowed himself to be led, every muscle in his body tense. He could feel a hint of fear creeping into his mind, but he pushed it aside. If things went south, he was confident in his abilities to handle the situation. Mostly.
As they sat, the strange man's eyes seemed to bore into Obito, searching for something. "You're a Shinobi, aren't you?" he asked, his voice low and gravelly.
Obito's heart rate picked up, but he kept his face neutral. "What makes you say that?" he countered, buying time to assess the situation.
The man's lips curled into what might have been a smile, revealing teeth that seemed just a touch too sharp. "Your posture, your awareness. You may be a teenager but you carry yourself with confidence, like a warrior."
"Relax," the man said, leaning back in his chair. "I'm not here to cause trouble. In fact, I think we might be able to help each other."
Obito's eyebrow raised slightly. "Is that so?" he asked, his curiosity piqued despite his better judgment.
The man nodded, his eyes never leaving Obito's face. "You're surely a Leaf Shinobi here for the artifact, aren't you? The one our gracious host has... collected."
Obito's hand instinctively moved towards his kunai pouch that wasn't there, the thing he could use as a weapon was the utensils in front of him or his left Mangekyou ability, the one that sent things into his dimension. The man noticed Obito's tenseness and chuckled, a sound like gravel shifting.
"There's no need for a fight... yet." he said, tapping the table. "I have no love for our host or their collection. In fact, I came to retrieve an item myself."
"You're a mercenary," Obito said quietly.
The man nodded, "Kakazu the immortal is what everyone calls me. I have information if you're willing to help me get my target."
Obito's mind raced. Could this be the break they needed? Or was it a trap? He decided to tread carefully. "And what exactly is your target?"
Kakuzu's eyes gleamed with an unnatural light. "Let's just say it's the host herself. She's collected a lot of debt, debt my employers are tired of waiting for."
Obito glanced around, taking in the opulent surroundings. "I'm assuming this isn't the first time she's thrown a party this lavish. The more parties like this, the more debt one racks up."
Kakuzu nodded approvingly. "Sharp observation. Yes, our lovely host has a taste for the finer things in life. Unfortunately, her pockets aren't as deep as her desires."
Obito leaned in, lowering his voice. "So, what exactly are you proposing?"
Kakuzu mirrored his movement, his voice barely above a whisper. "A mutually beneficial arrangement. You help me deal with her guards and you can retrieve your artifact. We both get what we want, and we part ways."
Obito's mind whirled with possibilities. Working with a mercenary was risky, but it could provide the chance to get the artifact. Still, something didn't sit right.
"And what happens to the host after you... collect?" Obito asked, careful to keep his tone neutral.
Kakuzu's eyes hardened. "That's not your concern, boy. Focus on your mission, and I'll focus on mine."
Obito felt a chill run down his spine. "A part of my mission is to learn where she got it."
Kakuzu was interested, "What is the artifact? Maybe I'll let you talk to her before I'm off."
Obito breathed slowly, "I don't know what it is persay, the Intel was that it was an item from the First Hokage's age."
Kakuzu's hand tightened, "Something of Hashirama Senju's I'm guessing. How annoying..."
There was a story that Kakazu wasn't sharing, but it's not something Obito would ask about.
Kakuzu grunted, "Fine. You can talk to her after it's all said and done, but I want to be removed from Konoha's bingo book. After all, something of the First Hokage's has to mean something."
Obito folded his arms, "A decision like that isn't mine to make, I doubt my words would have much sway with the Hokage."
Kakuzu chuckled, "If that were true a six man team wouldn't have been sent, and a boy wouldn't be the leader. You're special, that I can tell. You must have some connection to the Fourth Hokage, but I don't really need to know. Just that you'll keep your end of the deal."
With that their conversation was over.
As Obito stood to leave, Kakuzu murmured something. "He's like that one woman from the assassination attempt on his life..."
Obito heard it but couldn't make any sense of it. What assassination attempt? What woman was he being compared to?
For now he bottled his questions, now was a time of regrouping and informing them of their joint ally.
Later, at a campfire, Sakumo Hanma stared into the fire. His right eye discerning images in the flames that weren't there. Visions of a fated mission that had rippled to the current events. Sakumo, no, Kakashi remembered the documents Madara and Zetsu gave him. The documents were regarding the mission that caused a hole in Kakashi's life, no his soul. The last mission of the white fang of the Leaf.
In a dimly lit room in Konoha, Sakumo Hatake stood before a stern-faced Danzo Shimura, his white hair gleaming in the fading light.
"This mission is of utmost importance, Hatake." Danzo's voice was cold and calculated. "The scroll you're to retrieve contains information about the alliance between Sand and Stone. We can't let the scroll get to Iwa, Failure would result in another war breaking out."
Sakumo nodded, his face a mask of determination. "I understand, Lord Danzo. My team and I will not let you down."
As Sakumo left the room, a heavy weight settled on his shoulders. He couldn't shake the feeling that this mission would change everything.
Days later, Sakumo and his team crouched in the shadows outside a formidable Sand fortress. The night air was thick with tension as they prepared to infiltrate.
They moved silently through the fortress, their hearts pounding with each step. Just as they located the scroll, a cry of alarm rang out. They had been discovered.
Chaos erupted. Kunai clashed against kunai, and jutsu lit up the night sky. Sakumo fought fiercely, his legendary skills on full display. But as he turned to check on his team, he saw two of his comrades cornered, about to be overwhelmed.
Time seemed to slow. The scroll was within reach, but his friends needed him. Sakumo's mind raced, torn between duty and loyalty.
"Go!" One of his cornered teammates yelled. "Complete the mission!"
But Sakumo couldn't. He wouldn't. With a steely resolve he abandoned the scroll and leapt to his comrades' aid. His white chakra blade flashed in the moonlight as he cut down their attackers.
"We're getting out of here," Sakumo ordered, his voice filled with both relief and regret.
As they fled into the night, Sakumo knew he had failed the mission. But looking at the grateful faces of his teammates, he couldn't bring himself to regret his choice.
Little did he know, this decision would have far-reaching consequences. The alliance between Sand and Stone solidified, presenting a formidable threat to the Leaf Village, eventually generating the Third Shinobi world war.
Upon their return, whispers followed Sakumo through the streets. Faces that once looked at him with admiration now turned away in disgust.
"There goes the man who doomed us all," a villager muttered.
Even those he had saved seemed to shrink from his presence. The weight of the village's disappointment and fear pressed down on Sakumo, heavier than any burden he had ever carried.
As he walked home, the once-proud White Fang of the Leaf felt his spirit begin to crack under the strain of his choice and its consequences.
This is where Kakashi's memory intersects, to Sakumo's death. That day changed Kakashi, his heart was blackened, bitter and broken from witnessing that event. But then Obito Uchiha gave Kakashi a different outlook, that Sakumo was a hero, even if others didn't think so.
Kakashi helped save Rin, and paid the ultimate price, but it was what his father would have done. He was happy to die like that, or he would have...
Darkness... It was freezing cold. This was death, he was certain.
But the darkness seemed to subside, allowing Kakashi's consciousness to slowly return. The air was damp and heavy, carrying the scent of earth and decay. His eyelid fluttered open, revealing a dimly lit cavern. Pain throbbed through his body, each breath a struggle against the weight of memory.
Kanabi Bridge. The mission. Obito. Rin.
Images flashed through his mind, a chaotic jumble of explosions, falling rocks, and a final, desperate push. He had shoved Obito out of the way, feeling the crushing weight of the boulder on his own body. His final conversation with Obito and Rin. Then... nothing.
As his vision cleared, Kakashi found himself face to face with an elderly woman. Her long white hair cascaded down her hunched shoulders, framing a face etched with deep wrinkles. Her lips were cracked and dry, her skin papery thin. But her eyes... her eyes burned with an intensity that belied her frail appearance.
Crimson irises met his gaze, the distinctive pattern of the Sharingan swirling within them. The woman leaned heavily on a scythe, using it as a cane to support her weight.
"You are finally awake..." Her voice was raspy, like dry leaves rustling in the wind.
Kakashi's instincts screamed at him to move, to escape, to find his teammates. But as he tried to push himself up, a horrifying realization struck him. His right arm... it was gone. Panic surged through him as he struggled to move, his body refusing to obey his commands.
"W-who are you?" Kakashi managed to croak out, his throat dry and raw.
The old woman's lips curled into a knowing smile. "I've been known by many names," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of amusement, "But you may call me Madara Uchiha."
Kakashi's eye widened in disbelief. Madara Uchiha? The legendary shinobi, long thought dead? It couldn't be possible.
"That's... impossible," Kakashi muttered, his mind reeling. "Madara died years ago. And let alone he was a man."
The woman – Madara – chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "Death is not always as final as one might think, young Hatake. And neither is the truth."
She hobbled closer, her scythe scraping against the stone floor. "You have questions, I'm sure. But first, you must save your strength, allow your body to adapt to my gift."
As Madara moved towards a wooden throne, Kakashi's mind raced. How long had he been here? What had happened to Obito and Rin? And why had this woman, claiming to be Madara Uchiha, saved him?
"Your teammates," Madara spoke, as if reading his thoughts, "I am afraid I know nothing of their fate. You were alone when I found you, barely clinging to life."
Kakashi's heart sank. He had to find them, had to make sure they were safe. But in his current condition...
"Why?" Kakashi asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you save me?"
Madara paused, her red eyes boring into him. "I could say it was out of the goodness of my heart but it was not. Seeing you reminds me of a younger me, just less naive. That is why I believe we can benefit from each other's company. If you do not wish that is fine." She slowly closed her eyes, "But your rehabilitation will take time, time for me to bestow training if you like."
Kakashi continued to stare at the fire, it reflected his own burning hatred toward the Leaf and the Shinobi villages. All they sought was war, and all everyone got was death and despair. Good people always suffered and they always would. Sakumo Hatake was the greatest to ever live and he was shunned for being the premier Shinobi of morality.
This world, it was worthless, a sham, it had no right to exist any longer. That's why when Madara spoke of her plan he did not hesitate. Though he questioned her morality, it was above all the only path, or else more death and despair would occur.
Neither he or Madara were innocent, but no one was, they were just the only ones willing to do anything to stop the cycle of hatred. By any means. As long as people could find peace in the world of moonlit dreams he'd be content.