Chapter 68

Tsunade stood tall before Kakashi in her war tent, her sharp amber eyes betraying the weight of responsibility she bore. The glow of a single lantern cast flickering shadows on the canvas walls, a somber reminder of the looming battle ahead. Kakashi stood at attention, uncharacteristically serious, his mask pulled tight and his one visible eye calm and calculating.

"You will serve in the Third Division, Kakashi," Tsunade said firmly, her voice like steel upholstered in smooth velvet. "You have your choice of the best short- and mid-range fighters from our Village. Tomorrow, you will meet the nominations from the other Villages."

Kakashi gave her a curt nod and reached into his flak jacket, pulling out a folded piece of paper. "I anticipated this, Hokage-sama. I've already prepared a list of names."

"Oh? You knew?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she took the paper from his hand.

"I had a suspicion," Kakashi admitted, his voice low and steady. "It's the right decision. The Third Division needs specialists, and these are the shinobi I trust to stand beside me. My choices aren't all from Konoha, either."

Tsunade unfolded the list, her sharp eyes scanning the names. She read aloud, her tone measured. "Sakura Haruno. Might Guy. Rock Lee. Kimimaro Kaguya. Suigetsu Hozuki. Chōjūrō of the Mist..." She trailed off, her lips tightening slightly as she reached the bottom. "Interesting. A bold selection. I'll run these names by the Raikage, though I imagine he'll have strong opinions about more than a few of them."

Kakashi's single visible eye didn't blink. "They're the best for the mission, Hokage-sama. I trust their skills implicitly, and we'll need their collective abilities if we're going to stand a chance against Akatsuki."

"Good. Your instincts have never failed us before, Kakashi. I'll make sure they're ready for deployment." Tsunade nodded, folding the paper neatly and placing it on her desk.

Kakashi inclined his head in respect but hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Tsunade-sama, there's something else—"

"Save it," Tsunade interrupted, raising a hand to silence him. Her tone softened just slightly as she regarded him, her gaze lingering on the weight he carried on his shoulders. "We've both been through enough wars to know what needs to be done. Focus on leading your team, and let me worry about the rest."

Kakashi nodded, but his mind was already spinning with strategies and contingencies for the battles ahead. The weight of war settled on both their shoulders, a silent acknowledgment of the sacrifices yet to come.

As Kakashi turned to leave, Tsunade's voice stopped him. "Kakashi..."

He glanced over his shoulder, his eye meeting hers. There was a flicker of something unspoken in her expression—a brief moment of vulnerability from the woman who bore the burden of Hokage. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by the unyielding resolve of the leader she would be for Konoha.

"Take care of them," she said simply, her voice soft but firm. "All of them."

Kakashi nodded once, and with that, he stepped out of the tent, the weight of his responsibilities heavy on his mind. Tsunade watched him go, her fingers brushing the folded list on her desk. The war loomed ever closer, and the decisions she made now would shape the fate of the world.

Kabuto moved through the dim alleys of the Village Hidden in the Sound, his footsteps soft but purposeful. The transformation he'd undergone—or rather, was currently undergoing—had gradually reshaped his very being. His silver hair now framed a pale, angular face, his yellow, serpentine eyes glinting with a mixture of intelligence and malice. The oversized hood of his brown cloak draped over him, adorned with snake-like designs, further emphasizing his eerie resemblance to his former master, Orochimaru. His movements were fluid and inhumanly silent, his new snake-like appendage coiling and uncoiling behind him like a living shadow.

He pressed himself against the damp stone wall of a narrow alley, his cloak blending seamlessly with the darkness. His breathing was measured, the faint hiss of his exhalations barely audible. Kabuto scanned his surroundings, his reptilian pupils narrowing as he ensured no one was following. The village he'd once helped to create felt foreign to him now, its inhabitants oblivious to the web of chaos he was preparing to unleash.

A voice broke the silence.

"Kabuto, are your preparations ready?" Tobi's distorted tone cut through the air like a blade.

Kabuto turned slowly, his hood obscuring most of his expression, but the faint curl of his lips betrayed his confidence. Tobi stood before him, the swirling orange mask and signature Akatsuki cloak casting an imposing figure in the dim light of the alley.

"They are, Madara-sama," Kabuto replied smoothly, the honorific dripping with feigned respect. His tone, however, carried a hint of something Tobi couldn't quite place—mockery? Amusement? It was enough to set him on edge.

"Good." Tobi's lone visible eye scrutinized Kabuto, narrowing slightly. "And Sasuke will not come with us?"

"No, my Lord," Kabuto assured, his voice a blend of silk and steel. "But we won't need him. I have someone of a similar vintage in my collection. Someone that will be a surprise to you, Madara-sama."

Tobi's visible eye flickered with suspicion. The way Kabuto spoke his name grated on him. "For your sake," Tobi warned, his voice low and dangerous, "I hope it's a pleasant surprise."

Kabuto's thin smile widened ever so slightly, but he said nothing more. His snake-like tail twitched behind him, a subtle display of anticipation. Tobi turned, his figure dissolving into the vortex of his space-time jutsu. With a flick of his cloak, Kabuto followed, vanishing into the rippling void.

Sakura, Hinata, and Ino stood together in the building that had been assigned to the Communication Division, their work nearing completion. The room was filled with glowing seals and intricate arrays etched into the walls and floor, forming a network of relay points that hummed faintly with chakra. In the center of it all stood Ino, her face a mixture of pride and apprehension as she stared at the clunky helmet sitting before her.

Sakura adjusted her gloves and inspected the final seals on the console. "It's done. We've built something that's going to change the way we fight this war. Ino, with this setup, your telepathic powers can reach every corner of the battlefield. You'll be able to connect all of us—every squad, every division. You'll keep the Alliance united and informed, no matter what else happens."

"I get it, I do. It's just... I feel strange not being out there with you two. While you're risking your lives, I'm going to be stuck here, sitting in this room." Ino reached out to touch the odd helmet, hesitating for a moment.

Hinata stepped forward and squeezed Ino's hand, her pale lavender eyes filled with quiet reassurance. "Ino, don't think like that. You have the most important role of us all. You're the one who's going to keep us together, keep us coordinated. Without you, there is no Alliance. Even your father admitted you were the right person for this task."

Sakura nodded, her expression softer than usual. "She's right, Ino. You're indispensable. And..." She hesitated for a moment before reaching into her pouch and pulling out a three-pronged kunai. She pressed it into Ino's hand. "Take this. I know it's not the same as being there with you, but this kunai has my Flying Thunder God seal. If you're ever in trouble, I'll be there in a flash. Always."

"That was corny," the blonde smiled, but her words had no bite. Ino blinked, her lips trembling slightly as she looked down at the kunai. "Sakura..." she whispered. "Thank you. That means a lot."

Hinata smiled at the exchange, her heart swelling with admiration for her friends. "And Ino, while I might not be able to physically teleport to you like Sakura-chan can, I'm with you in spirit. Plus," she added with a playful smirk, "if you ever want to share some stories about Sakura when she was younger telepathically, I wouldn't mind."

Sakura groaned and crossed her arms, though there was no malice in her voice when she said, "Hinata, those stories are not all suitable for wartime."

Hinata laughed lightly, her eyes twinkling with affection as she glanced between her beloved and her friend. She felt a sudden warmth in her chest—a mixture of love and gratitude. These two women, her closest companions, gave her the strength to face what was coming.

As the three stood together in the quiet hum of the Communication Division room, a palpable sense of resolve blanketed them. The war loomed on the horizon, and though each of them had their own role to play, they knew one thing for certain—they were in this together.

The three-pronged kunai clattered to the floor with a metallic resonance, the sound filling the small room and drawing the attention of its occupants. Naruto stood in the center of the group, his hands steepled in frustration. On the dilapidated couch sat Yugito and Bee, their expressions ranging from resigned to contemplative. Guy and Aoba perched on bar stools, their eyes fixed on Naruto, waiting to see what would happen next.

A pink flash illuminated the room, and Sakura appeared, her White Light Chakra Sabre unsheathed and raised in a defensive stance. Her sharp green eyes scanned the room before landing on Naruto. Recognizing the familiar faces, she relaxed and shook her head, sheathing her blade.

"Naruto," she said, her voice firm but warm, "this line is for emergencies only."

"This is an emergency," Naruto shot back, his own voice seeped with his feelings of desperation. "Kisame infiltrated the island. He was hiding in Samehada, Yugito's sword. He's dead, but before he went out, he sent a message. We've been compromised."

Sakura froze for a moment as the gravity of Naruto's words sunk in. Her gaze turned to Yugito, who gave her a small nod of confirmation, and then to Bee, who remained characteristically nonchalant but alert. Guy's typically jovial expression hardened, while Aoba frowned deeply.

"Naruto, I understand the urgency, but you can't just call me here like this. There are protocols, plans for extraction. We have an established international command structure we need to—
She trailed off and met Naruto's eyes gravely. Sakura's grip tightened on her blade.

Naruto stepped forward, grabbing her hand with an earnest look in his eyes. "Sakura, you don't understand. They've got six Tailed Beasts—six! Tobi knows how to use them, maybe better than we do. If we don't fight, if we stay here hiding like the Raikage wants us to, the Alliance doesn't stand a chance."

Sakura hesitated, her eyes flickering between Naruto and the others. She turned her attention to Yugito, who stood and stepped forward, her piercing eyes locking onto Sakura's.

"Please," Yugito said, her voice steady but weighted with emotion. "I could never live with myself if the people I care about died while I stayed here, hidden away as if a decorative doll." She paused for a moment before adding, "Nice to meet you, by the way. I'm Yugito Nii. I'm dating your teammate. The angsty one."

The corners of Naruto's mouth twitched upward in a tentative grin, but Sakura's expression remained stoic as she processed the information. After a beat, Bee broke the tension, leaning forward with his usual swagger.

"Two, eight, and nine," Bee rapped, his grin spreading wide. "It's full-fledged Jinchuriki showtime!"

Sakura sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You all know this is mutiny, right? Direct defiance of the Raikage's orders. You're giving the proverbial middle finger to the leaders of basically every notable country on this continent."

Naruto's determination only grew stronger. "I don't care about politics. I care about protecting our friends, protecting everyone who's fighting out there while we sit here twiddling our thumbs. This war isn't going to wait for us. How many of you need to die before the Kage see reason?"

Yugito nodded in agreement, and even Guy gave a small smile of approval. Aoba hesitated but eventually inclined his head. It was a unanimous consensus.

Sakura studied the group, her gaze lingering on Naruto. Finally, she sighed. "Fine. I'll help. I thin you're right, for what it's worth. I don't think the Raikage will act directly against me, my Flying Thunder God is indispensable to the war effort. But, seriously, If we're doing this, we need a plan—and we need to make sure it doesn't get us all killed."

Naruto grinned, his energy infectious. "Now that's more like it!"

Bee leaned back, his grin never faltering. "The Jinchuriki trio's got the flow, time to hit the battlefield and steal the show!"

"Let's make this count." Yugito crossed her arms, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

And with that, their fateful decision was made. Not by any one of them individually, but as a group through collaborative discussion.