YEAR 66 since Konoha Established
May 31st
It's never easy. And yet he pushed onward. Even as his body screamed and his muscles creaked in protest of every movement, he moved. The putrid smell of human remains in the middle of horrific decomposition surrounded him as he slowly swam through the chest deep swamp. He pushed past bodies of his comrades that had been killed not five days ago. A huge battle had taken place here, and they not only pushed Kumo to the border of the northeastern area of the Land of Fire, but they took more than half their troops in a single battle that hadn't even lasted a day. Kakashi shivered violently from the mix of cold weather and freezing, dirty water, but remained quiet and emotionless as he swam slowly. He moved past uprooted logs and remains of jutsu that had destroyed large portions of the swamp. His mission was simple. Find the enemy camp, locate the general leading, and assassinate him.
His superiors suspected their forces to be around 60 or so, more than enough for a Shinobi of his caliber to infiltrate and assassinate without it being a suicide mission. They would be scrambling, hungry, and disorganized. Perfect for infiltration, but it wouldn't be easy. They would be paranoid and twitchy, and anything could and would set them off. He had to be careful.
It wasn't much longer before he spotted two Kumo Shinobi. Both men stood on a high branch of a tree that seemed the tallest in the area. Kakashi dipped lower into the water, barely allowing his chin above water. He swam slow, pushing himself into against what remained of a tree and peaked from behind it. The Shinobi were rather vigilant. Their eyes constantly scanned the surrounding area as the stood back to back. But they were tired, obviously drained from being out here for so long. He didn't know how long, but he would.
He took a breath and dove underneath the surface. Moss and foliage would cover him, so he swam as fast he could without using chakra so it wouldn't be easy to spot him. He swam until he was directly underneath the branch and his Sharingan blazed to life to confirm his targets hadn't moved.
A Kunai sprang from underneath the water and hit the part of the branch directly between them from underneath. The explosive tag began sizzling as the Shinobi panicked and looked down to see just what they heard, but they either smelled gunpowder or heard the sizzling because both jumped out of the way right before the explosion. No matter if they did either he sprung out of the water and stabbed the one that had jumped to the right through his chest.
His partner was faster than Kakashi had anticipated. He landed on the side of a nearby tree and pushed off it like a bullet, anger gripping his features. He grabbed the dead Shinobi and spun them around as gravity began taking ahold once more. The man's anger fizzled out and he sheathe his sword to grab ahold of his teammate. Kakashi let him, he had no choice. Gravity had kicked in and he was losing control. He nearly smacked into the tree with his back, but turned around and stabbed it with a Kunai to break some of his momentum.
"You tree hugging bastard!" The Shinobi held his partner in his arms, tears streaming down his face and his anger was back. He set his friend down, unsheathe his sword and ran for what seemed as fast as he could. Kakashi couldn't have known the man could move so fast that he appeared as a blur. But it didn't matter. He was faster. He leaped back to avoid being sliced in half. The tree took the hit for him, and he sliced nearly half the dense tree that hadn't so much as shook. The tree stood sturdy and strong, and he was grateful for it because of what followed next.
The man rushed him with a war cry and swung his sword with dizzying fury, each attack meant to destroy. Kakashi dodged, ducked, and blocked but was unable to strike back himself. The man had so many weak spots, so many openings from wide swings. He was too angry to focus on defending himself but he was too fast for Kakashi to get a strike in without taking a hit himself. Instead of rushing to finish him quickly, he waited. Metal clashed against metal, and sliced through the air. Each clash made his bones rattle and each missed slash felt like a wind Jutsu. But, even anger fizzled out, and it wasn't long before his movements began to slow.
Kakashi took advantage without hesitation. The Shinobi tried to decapitate him and he missed, Kakashi ducked. But didn't wait for him to attack again. He slashed at the muscle beside his armpit with a Kunai, and didn't wait for his arm to fall before smashing the back of his fist into the man's face, sending him falling to the ground.
He hit the ground hard. Kakashi leapt after him. He wasn't done. The man had other plans and slapped his hand on the ground that rose above the surface of the swamp. Lightning cackled and shattered the earth beneath him, allowing him to sink beneath ground and into the water.
He won't escape Kakashi. Lightning chirps within his hand. Chidori! Faster than lightning could strike, the man was dead and another part of the swamp was destroyed.
Water pooled into the cracks of the broken land that had been above the surface of the water. Kakashi tore his hand out of the man's chest, looking at his dead eyes staring up back at him. Another dead. Within a second, he was gone with the Body Flicker. He used Genjutsu on the man a second before he died with the Sharingan. He knew their ranks, where other sentinels would be located, and knew that their base was nothing but a pile of sticks. Most of their remaining Shinobi were sick from eating poisonous berries.
His mission had changed from infiltration and assassination to massacre.
A single Shinobi survived, and told the story that would give him a flee on sight order from anyone under the rank of Jounin Captain.
XxX
June 4th
Kakashi made it back to base four days later, filthy, stinky, and bloody. He's allowed to bath before speaking to the commander. He took it. Water was easy to come by as they stationed themselves along a river that led back toward the village. He made his shower brisk, ready to ease himself into bed once he met his commander.
The meeting was standard, though the shock that emanated through the tent as the commander and other high ups looked upon him in surprise when he reported his actions where enemy lines had been. Kakashi could still remember just how quiet it had been. He'd been dismissed shortly afterwards, ignoring the whispers that he heard before he was away from the tent.
He ignored his surroundings as he walked toward the tents that he shared with 30 other men. Silence would be hard to come by, but after a mission like that he's willing to fight to get it. He goes inside and sees that only two people are lazing in their bunks, both quiet and quite far from one another. He remembers them. He knows that they aren't really friends. They see him and nod in acknowledgment but say nothing as he walks past them. He drops onto his hard bunk. He's hates sleeping on it, but it's better than lying on the dirt ground if he laid all his covers under him.
He's quick to sleep.
XxX
October 27th
Their campaign to drive Kumo out of the Land of Fire ends when winter hits.
Kumo waited for the weather to shift. They had to. Once winter fully hit, they were hit hard and pushed 300 miles back from the border. Iwa had been the main forced that drove behind their hard collapse at the border. As some point, the two lands struck a deal and Iwa sent its Explosion Corps that severely weakened their military. Their strength went from 12,000 strong to a mere 3,000 from several attacks planned by both villages. It took less than 3 months to drive them away from the border. The only reason they hadn't been driven further was because support from the Daimyo's palace came in time and drove the Corps back a hundred miles away. It was short lived. The daimyo had called his small army back to guard him, and the only thing they could rely on was supplies sent by Konoha to help them fend off any more invasions.
Their medical corps were spread too thin to send any more support. All but 115 of their medics were killed, and even more died when winter strolled in.
Kakashi had been promoted during this time, becoming a leader of his own camp. It had only been the result of their commander dying during one of their full retreats when enemy Shinobi targeted him specifically. Every battle they were forced to retreat, Kakashi had been there. Struggling, hungry, and exhausted but alive. His constant presence boosted morale, and he found himself the unofficial leader until it was made official.
He doesn't think he's cut out for it. He's the only section leader to leave his tent and fight alongside the soldiers he commands. It gained him respect and admiration from his subordinates, but it made him too weak to properly do his job. He handed other responsibilities that weren't fighting or battle related to a woman that had been on the frontlines just shy a year of him. In his opinion, she was far more suited for his position than he was. He was a foot soldier, and nothing more.
For two months, all 2,500 or so remaining Shinobi wait for the next attack. Winter hasn't been kind. Without enough medics and equipment to properly treat the sick, the bodies pile up and further dwindle their numbers. They waited for an attack that had never come. They were dying anyways, and it was likely that Kumo knew it. Iwa left the Land Of Fire after their campaign, probably to regroup and fight on their own border as Konoha forces over there threatened to break threw. Kakashi hopes they will. Something like that might give them the break they're hoping for.
Starving and tired, Kakashi watches silently from a vantage point as a supply chain comes into his camp. They're Genin, and they all look just as tired as he does. But they have more energy. They sit down the boxes of labeled goods one at a time, ranging from food to weapons and the in between. It's not much, but with less Shinobi it'll help. They leave as fast as they came. They have many more supplies on their wagons so he knows that they'll be hitting other camps before the day is over.
XxX
October 28th
The next day, the mail arrives.
He gets the usual mail from Minato, and almost doesn't read it. He's glad Minato cares about him, but it's been so long since it's changed his mood. Surrounded by death from years on the frontline has changed him. He's not the same brat Minato had to try and raise when his father died.
He reads the mail, and his mouth parts slightly. Reports of Kumo preparing for a large assault had been reported by Jiraiya. And Hiruzen was coming out of retirement for one last time. He was on the way here.
Kakashi isn't told when, but he doesn't wait to tell his subordinates. He knows better than anyone what morale can do, he's been on the frontlines too long not to. When he tells them that the second God of Shinobi was coming out of retirement to help push Kumo out of Fire Country the Shinobi cheer, and the ones that don't are visibly happy and relieved. Even while retired, Hiruzen was unmatched by anyone that wasn't Minato. If they succeeded, it would display power on a level that would shake both Iwa and Kumo.
7 tense days fly by and the Third Hokage arrives with 2,000 Shinobi and 200 Anbu members as well as high ranked officials. Kakashi knows his place, he thrived in it. He's no longer running the show. Hiruzen is set up near the back of the camp facing Konoha and Kakashi reports to him.
Inside the room with them are the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and band of other officers Kakashi doesn't bother trying to remember. They all seemed to be talking, but paused to acknowledge his presence as he kneels on one knee. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Lord Third. I hope your travels were smooth."
Kakashi doesn't raise his head from the ground, but he knows Hiruzen is smiling softly. He always does. "Young Kakashi," he acknowledges. "There were, but I see yours have been rough."
Down to business, he decides. "We've been brutalized. Without recon support, we've been nothing but sitting ducks for every attack."
Shikaku Nara is the type of man to gain the attention of a whole room when he spoke. He wasn't one who looked out of the ordinary from any other Konoha Shinobi. He had long, black, spiky hair that sat high in a ponytail and a sharp beard. His two eyes showed her knew war. He'd participated in the Second Shinobi War, but gained world fame in this one. He's known as the most intelligent Shinobi in Konoha history. His genius plans were some of the reasons that Kakashi had been able to lead the Shinobi here away from the enemy that highly outnumbered and outgunned them.
So, when he speaks, naturally the entire room listens and turns to him. "You've drawn detail to that in your reports, Kakashi. Your adaptability and quick thinking were vital for the lives of those who've taken your orders." He turns and holds up previous reports Kakashi has sent in throughout the tough months of early winter around for all to see. "Iwa sent in there Explosion Corps to push you back all the way here. But it was nothing more than a power play. They could've wiped you all out, but they didn't. And it's bothering me."
Kakashi raises his head. That was something he didn't know. "They could've eliminated us?"
Hiruzen answers before Shikaku could open his mouth, a grim expression on his face as he nods. "Yes, all reports suggest that while you faced significant resistance, for the most part, you were able to get away with a significant amount of our Shinobi every time you ordered a retreat. Every attack dwindled your forces by nearly half, but every escape most were able to escape unharmed. Even the medical team, and those are the main targets during retreats." Hiruzen hadn't wanted to believe it when Shikaku brought up a pattern but when he looked into it himself, it couldn't be mistaken. It seemed like a trap, one Kakashi, as much of a prodigy as he was, was leaping right into.
Hiruzen had decided than that jumping into the battlefield was necessary. He sensed trouble. It took convincing Minato, the council, and even his own wife but he was able to be medically cleared to step on the battlefield and wasted no time to get here. And he was glad he did.
Shikaku tucks the papers under his arm as he speaks. "We've already sent Anbu ahead to scout. They're able to distinguish chakra by nature. If Iwa is hiding within their ranks in masses, we'll know. That'll also be an opportunity to know just how many of the enemy we have to deal with."
It's a solid plan, he thinks. "I have a question. Are we waiting for Kumo to attack us? In my opinion, we should attack them before they attack us. It'll be our own surprise attack they won't be expecting."
"That wouldn't be a bad idea, if our own Shinobi weren't exhausted." For the first time since Kakashi entered the room, Inoichi, a man with a stern look to him that Kakashi knew to be easygoing in times of peace but serious in times of crisis and a long blonde ponytail with small bangs that framed his forehead, speaks. "Even before I got here, I could sense the chakra levels of everyone here. They're lower than the average Chunin, for the most part, and while I won't pretend that Shinobi haven't fought in worse conditions it's obvious Kumo is planning something big. They've circled around Konoha just to get to the Daimyo. I refuse to ignore it. We have to remain cautious."
Kakashi understands that but he's adamant. It's less likely that they'll have to retreat with Lord Third present, but if they're surprised again then they'll receive major casualties regardless if they survive the assault or not. He believes that attacking is the best option at the moment.
"Why don't we call for reinforcements then? Surely-"
Choza Akimichi makes a sound as he shakes his head. He's a man on the larger side, a requirement to use his Clan's techniques. He has red, wild hair that falls down to his lower back and Akimichi face paint in a specific pattern that adorns his face from the bottom of his eyes to the skin beyond his cheeks.
"I already asked when I saw the reports you sent in. We can't afford to give up anymore Shinobi. Our other fronts need them."
Annoyance settles around Kakashi, but he says nothing. He's been so busy with his own battles lately that he disregards the reports from other fronts. He doesn't regret it now, knowing that he can't rely on them.
"Didn't you read the reports?"
Kakashi shakes his head.
Shikaku snorts. "They don't provide much information anyways. The front that's directly facing Iwa has managed to push them out of Kusa, but rumor has it that Gari of the Explosion Release and Han of the Steam Release are heading to that front. We've stationed Shibi-San and Fugaku-San on the frontlines just in case. The Clan Heads should be able to hold it down just fine."
Kakashi nods. He's heard whispers of those names before, especially Han. It was rumored that he was a Jinchuriki, but it hasn't been confirmed. Any Shinobi that has ran across him has died, so no redirect reports could be made. But the other name's got his attention now. Gari of the Explosion Release.
"What do we have on the Gari man?"
"Not much." Shikaku admits. "Iwa has kept their Kekkei Genkai a secret. We don't even know how they are able to do Explosion Release. All we know is that he's the leader of the Explosion Corps."
That's not what Kakashi wants to hear. But it's not like it matters. He knows he's gotta deal with it.
Without warning, he grips his left pants legs in front of him and pulls it up. Immediately, everyone in the room reacts to the disgusting injury on his leg. It covered the front of it, and went up a little past his knee and around the left side of his leg. Courtesy of an Explosion Release user.
"This is a scar I got during one of our retreats." He explains.
"That's not a scar, Kakashi." Hiruzen is angry. It still looked like a fresh wound. He knows from reports that Kakashi is more than reckless, but he didn't think it was to the extent that he wouldn't get himself healed when he got hurt. "You need to get that healed. Now." His voice holds no room for debate.
Kakashi doesn't pay it any mind. "I didn't get it healed for a reason." Before anyone can say anything to tell him how dangerous that is, he lifts his headband off his left eye and lets it sit normally on his forehead. His eye opens and reveals the Sharingan. He sees every minute detail of everything in the tent in a red hue. He can see chakra as a color, and he sees the residue of another, foreign chakra on his leg. "I've yet to break down what nature transformation they're using to create the Kekkei Genkai but I know one element is Earth. The other could be Lightning, Fire, or a combination of the two. Wind could even be mixed in."
Inoichi hums and says, "The residue of chakra will get washed off if he gets it healed with chakra."
Hiruzen doesn't like it, despite that fact. "It's dangerous to keep such an injury. Look at it, it could become infected."
"I've kept my eyes on it, Lord Third. I've went to the medics every other day to make sure it hasn't gotten infected and I've used non-chakra alcohol and antibiotics just to be safe." Kakashi looks into the Hiruzen's doubtful eyes. "I'm perfectly fine, Lord Third."
Shikaku sighs, muttering underneath his breath. "Let's move on for now, Lord Third. He walked in here just fine, and we'll get a Medic to check him out after this to be sure of his claims. We still have other matters to discuss."
Hiruzen sighs tiredly, wondering if he's gotten softer with older age. He hopes not, but discards the thought for later. "Right," he says and hold out his hand. One of the other chiefs silently give him a huge stack of papers and files. "While I'm here, I'll take over your responsibilities, Kakashi. I'd like you to find out whatever you can about the Explosion Release Jutsu, and then get it healed. You have five days."
Kakashi knows the old Hokage is only going along with it for now, so he doesn't argue. "Yes, thank you, Lord Third."
"Thank you for doing the best you can, Young Kakashi. You're dismissed."
He bows his head once more before getting to his feet and pushing past the tent to leave. The whole time, he feels several eyes on his leg, so he makes his gait as smooth as possible. It doesn't hurt badly because of the pain medication he's been taking, so it's more than easy.
As he leaves, a team of Anbu fly past him and he pauses to turn around. They're heading back into the direction of where Lord Third was, no doubt reporting their findings. He debates going back, he's curious as to what they've found. But he knows that Hiruzen wants him to heal, so he decides to keep walking.
Since his upgrade from grunt to captain, he's been given his own room. He's glad he no longer has to share it with anyone else. Too many walk past that era and it makes him antsy. He's often seen captains being assassinated in their sleep, and while he's not afraid of death, he'd rather be alive than dead.
"Captain." Kakashi turns to see who's spoken to him, and he didn't expect it to be Yugao.
"Yugao, you're well?" She's been injured for the better part of a two months. He hasn't had the time to keep up with her recovery, but he's remembered her. She's the one who saved him, after all.
She kneels and looks to the ground. "Captain, I am well. I'm ready to begin serving under you again."
Kakashi knows how dedicated of a person she is. Ever since the last captain was killed and he was appointed, she'd followed him into battle at his side. Each fight, and each retreat. When he faced a member of the Explosion Corps, she had been the reason he escaped with his life when he got injured.
"I'm no longer in command here. Lord Third has come out of retirement just to help us push Kumo out of our land."
She's surprised to hear that. Her face shoots up from the ground and her eyes are wide. "Really?"
He nods. "He's just arrived earlier today." Kakashi holds out a hand for her to use. "You can get up. I'm no longer in charge."
She's looks at his hand, her eyes still wide but now filled with uncertainty. "I..." she lowers her head back the ground, and her voice grows softer. "I didn't want to follow you just because you were in charge. I want to follow you because I admire you. Even at our age, when the title of captain was thrust upon you you didn't waver. You stood tall and took such a task without flinching. So many of us are alive because of you. Including me."
All around, those who hear the conversation stand and pay attention. Kakashi's never realized how much these people respected him. He doesn't hear a single rejection, even from the older men and women, all agree with her. He doesn't know what to say.
"If possible, I'd like to serve directly under you." She stares back into his eye, her own filled with hope and expectation. "I'll ask Lord Third, you won't have to worry. All I ask is that you allow me to continue fighting by your side."
Kakashi can see the admiration in her brown eyes. She's not doing this out of anything like love. He would've denied her then. She wants to fight by his side because she respects him above anyone else.
"I'll accept, if you stop bowing."
Her eyes light up and she takes his hand. "Thank you." She says as he helps her to her feet. "I won't let you down."
XxX
October 30th
Shikaku looks at a copy of the request sent in by not only Yugao Uzuki, but Kakashi as well. She wants to be his right hand.
"I don't find anything wrong with it." Inoichi says, being the first to see the request. "Every Shinobi here, regardless of age respects Kakashi for what he's been able to accomplish."
The Third Hokage hums then nods his head. "I agree. Even though I have taken command, his position as Captain has been earned." He stamps the request letter. "What are her skills? Do they compliment Kakashi's well?"
"They do." Shikaku says, flipping through a stack a paper in his hands until he finds her file. "It says that she excels in Kenjutsu, Medical Ninjutsu, and she's a Sensory Ninja. Kakashi's skills are well rounded and they both are around the same age. This could work."
"Now that that matter has been discussed, I'd like for us to turn our attention to our forces as a whole." Inoichi pulls out a chart written in good detail on a sheet of paper. "Of our 2,500 Shinobi, 750 of them are non-critically injured or sick."
Hiruzen is impressed with Inoichi, but he thinks about how much this will affect their ranks in the upcoming battle. "You've gathered an impressive amount of information quickly."
"I've been working throughout the day and nights I've been given. The enemy has a force of over 8,000 over 3 times our amount, and from the chakra I've been able to read a majority of them are healthy."
"Shouldn't that be impossible?" Choza asks. "They've been on an intense campaign that Kakashi's been able to force them into without them getting too far. It's obvious that since Iwa is no longer in our land that their campaign wasn't supposed to last this long. Iwa forces isn't used to cold weather like Kumo's are. This was supposed to end in the first two or three months."
"There's things we should and shouldn't assume." Shikaku says as he leans against the wall and puts one of his hands into his pockets. "We should assume that they've been well rested by Iwa's help, and that Iwa was driving that campaign for the most part. But I don't think we should assume that Iwa left because they couldn't take the cold or that the operation wouldn't last long."
"Explain in further detail, Shikaku-San." Hiruzen says, intently listening.
"They should know that getting to Konoha by going through our forces wouldn't be the way to go about things. Even with both countries working in sync, they don't have a single Shinobi that can beat Minato. If they bring the fight Konoha with exhausted Shinobi, they'll lose. The majority of the Uchiha and Hyuga have been pulled from the frontlines, but if the village is being threatened we won't hesitate to release them. Even with Fugaku on the frontlines himself, besides Minato, we have a Jinchuriki, several clan heads and the entirety of the Hyuga."
"Well, doesn't that explain why they circled around Konoha?" Choza asks. "It's obvious they plan to either kill the Daimyo or capture him for ransom."
"It does, but that's not the only thing it explains. It also explains what they plan to do with the Daimyo." Shikaku smirks. "It's as you said. They plan to capture the Daimyo. If they can't defeat Konoha then the next best thing would be to capture the Daimyo and force us to make a decision that could put a wedge between Konoha and the Daimyo's family. It could destroy the Land Of Fire."
He stuns the others in the room with his statement. Shikaku's been thinking about this since he's got here. Every action they've taken has to have been for a reason. If they circled around Konoha to get to the capital city, then their target was obvious. But he's still doesn't have a clue as to how they plan on doing it.
"We must tell the citizens and the daimyo and his family to evacuate at once." Inoichi says, panicked slightly.
"No, we need to use him as bait." Shikaku says, and for the second time he stuns the room.
"Shikaku-San, what a dangerous plan. That could destroy the Land Of Fire as well." Hiruzen says.
"We must be prepared for the consequences." Shikaku says. "But I admit, it's risky. If anyone from the palace found it, we'd be in trouble. But if we bait our enemy, we'll be able to predict their movements. It'll give us a far better chance since we are so outmatched in firepower."
Hiruzen thinks of Shikaku's words. They have merit, but they're dangerous. If the Daimyo turns against them then they won't be able to effectively wage war against any country. But if the daimyo was to be captured, their hands would be forced anyways. It's too much of a decision to make on the spot, but he's glad Shikaku's brought it to his attention.
"Inochi."
"Sir?"
"I'd like you to contact the intelligence and communications department back in Konoha. I'd like an audience with Minato and whoever he deems necessary to hear it."
Inoichi nods. "It'll take a couple of hours, but I can get it done. Anything else, Lord Third?"
"Nothing else."
With a nod, Inoich sets off to follow orders. All that remain in the room are Hiruzen, Shikaku, and Choza. Shikaku smirks. "Things are getting interesting. Whoever's behind this project is smart."
Hiruzen knows that look well. A challenger Shikaku has acknowledged has appeared. "Indeed."