Team RWBY & Ozpin emerged from the establishment, stepping onto the bustling streets of the village. The sun hung high in the sky, casting warm light over the tiled rooftops and wooden structures. The air smelled different—fresh yet tinged with a nostalgic essence neither of them could place.
Yang looked around, taking in the scene. Her sharp, lilac eyes observed the passing civilians, shinobi leaping across rooftops, and market vendors calling out their wares. "So, we're in Konoha..." she murmured, stretching her arms behind her head. "Feels kinda like Mistral, but with fewer cobblestone roads."
The group moved in formation, their steps in sync as they made their way down the crowded streets.
Breaking the silence, Ruby turned her gaze toward their mentor. "Professor Ozpin?"
Ozpin responded with a thoughtful hum, his hands resting atop his cane as he continued walking.
"Where are we going?" Ruby asked.
Without breaking stride, Ozpin gestured ahead. "There."
The team followed his gaze to a large red building, its architecture more structured and refined than the rest of the village. A distinct symbol resembling "Fire" was displayed just below four massive stone faces carved into a mountainside. The figures loomed over the village, their expressions solemn and wise.
Weiss furrowed her brows. "That building... what is it?"
Ozpin didn't hesitate. "It is the Hokage Tower—the heart of this village's leadership. We're going to have a meeting with the Hokage."
Team RWBY exchanged puzzled glances.
"Hokage?" Blake echoed, her golden eyes narrowing.
"A title given to the strongest shinobi in the village," Ozpin explained. "The one who governs and protects its people."
Earlier, while they were eating, Ozpin occasionally asked the ramen guy general information about Konoha, which included the location of the Hokage building.
Weiss crossed her arms. "But why? What does their leader have to do with Rinko?"
Ozpin slowed his pace to a stop before turning to regard them. His ever-composed face held an unusual weight, his green eyes glinting with something unreadable.
The team stopped just behind him.
"We are not simply trapped in a nightmare." Ozpin said carefully.
A heavy silence followed his words.
Blake frowned. "What do you mean?"
Ozpin's grip on his cane tightened. "This is not just any illusion. This is his memory. A moment from his past—one that we are now reliving."
A chill ran down Weiss' spine. "Rinko's memories? How could you be so sure, Professor?"
Ozpin exhaled softly, his gaze drifting to the villagers around them, oblivious to their presence. "Because the details are too vivid. Too consistent. Nightmares twist reality, bend the familiar into something distorted and grotesque. But here... everything follows logic. A structure. This place exists as it once did for Rinko. We are experiencing something real."
Yang's expression darkened. "So what? That means whatever happened here... it actually happened to him?"
Ozpin nodded. "Precisely."
A heavy silence settled over the group as the weight of his words sank in.
Team RWBY exchanged uneasy glances, processing the revelation.
Weiss tightened her jaw. "This isn't right..."
Her voice was steady, but the tension in her posture betrayed her emotions. She clenched her fists, frustration simmering beneath the surface.
"I mean... wouldn't it make more sense for the setting to be in Atlas, not wherever this is?" She gestured around them, her sharp cerulean eyes scanning the unfamiliar village. "This is strange... We've been together since childhood. And when Rinko returned to the mansion, he used to brag about his adventures outside of Atlas—everywhere he had been. But never once did he mention Konoha."
Weiss' words held a sharp edge, a rare uncertainty creeping into her voice. The Rinko she knew wasn't someone who hid things from her. If this place was truly part of his past, why had he never spoken about it?
"That's because..." Ozpin paused, his voice unreadable. His grip on his cane tightened just slightly.
"This isn't Rinko's memory," he finally said. "At least... not the Rinko you knew."
Weiss' breath hitched.
Her mind reeled at his words. 'Not the Rinko I knew?' The phrase echoed in her head, sending a cold shiver down her spine.
She exhaled sharply and forced herself to regain composure. "What do you mean?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice level.
Ozpin didn't respond immediately. His gaze lingered on the streets, watching the passing villagers—people who moved as if they belonged to a past long gone. His expression was unreadable, yet his silence spoke volumes.
Ruby, noticing the tension, hesitated before stepping forward. "Professor?"
Finally, Ozpin sighed. "I'll elaborate later," he said, his voice calm yet firm. "But for now... we go to the Hokage."
His tone left no room for argument.
Weiss clenched her teeth but didn't push further. Not yet.
Yang exhaled through her nose, placing a reassuring hand on Weiss' shoulder before glancing at the massive building ahead. "Alright. Let's get moving, then."
Blake remained silent, but her narrowed amber eyes flickered between Ozpin and Weiss, absorbing everything.
With renewed urgency, Team RWBY followed their mentor toward the looming red tower in the distance, unaware of the truths that awaited them inside.
But Ozpin's answers didn't truly give her an answer to the first question she asked: What does their leader have to do with Rinko?
Hokage Office
Minato Namikaze let out a quiet sigh as he placed his brush down, completing the last stroke of his paperwork. The Hokage's office was bathed in the warm glow of late afternoon light filtering through the windows, casting soft shadows on the polished wooden desk. Stacks of neatly arranged documents sat beside him, a reminder that a leader's work was never truly done.
Just then, a firm knock echoed through the room.
Minato lifted his gaze from the papers. "Come in," he called, his voice calm but authoritative.
The large wooden door creaked open, and a shinobi stepped inside, his uniform crisp and posture straight. Behind him, a group of unfamiliar figures followed—five individuals clad in unusual attire, a stark contrast to the standard shinobi garb.
The Jonin gave a slight bow. "Hokage-sama, these guests request an audience with you."
Minato's sharp blue eyes flickered with curiosity as he took in the visitors. His gaze briefly landed on the tall man in a green suit who carried himself with a composed, almost regal air, his cane resting lightly against the floor. The four young women beside him radiated a different kind of presence—battle-hardened yet cautious, their expressions shifting between curiosity and wariness.
Minato arched an eyebrow before his lips curled into a polite, welcoming smile. "I see. Thank you."
The Jonin bowed again before quietly excusing himself, stepping out and closing the door behind him with a soft click.
Now alone with the strangers, Minato leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers together atop his desk.
His voice was warm yet firm. "Well then," he said, his sharp gaze settling on Ozpin. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
Ozpin cleared his throat, offering a polite nod. "Thank you for granting us an audience, Lord Hokage." His tone was measured and respectful yet purposeful. "We are travelers, though our presence here is... rather unorthodox."
Minato's brow furrowed slightly, his fingers tapping against his desk. "I see," he said, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "And what exactly brings you to Konoha?"
Ozpin met Minato's gaze steadily. "We are looking for someone," he said. "A man—a friend of mine. Kakashi Hatake."
Minato's fingers stilled. His relaxed expression shifted ever so slightly, though he quickly masked it with the composed demeanor of a Hokage.
"Kakashi.." he repeated, his tone carefully neutral. "May I ask why?"
Team RWBY exchanged glances, picking up on the shift in the atmosphere. Weiss, still confused, took a step forward. "Professor Ozpin, what does Kakashi Hatake have to do with finding Rinko?" she demanded.
Ozpin did not answer her immediately. Instead, he kept his gaze on Minato, watching the Hokage's reaction closely.
"You knew him, didn't you?" Ozpin asked. "Kakashi Hatake."
Minato's blue eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Yes," he said after a brief pause. "He was my student." His gaze hardened slightly. "But I must admit, I find it strange that outsiders, whom we don't even know, have come here asking about him."
Ozpin's gaze never faltered. "I can assure you, we are his friends."
Minato's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Ozpin carefully. His instincts screamed at him to be wary. "You speak as if you truly know him... which I completely doubt." His voice carried a quiet intensity. "I'm afraid I can't let you get to him."
And then, in a blink, Minato vanished.
A streak of golden light flashed across the room, and before anyone could react, Minato was in front of Ozpin, his kunai aimed precisely for the old wizard's heart.
Clang!
A green glow erupted from Ozpin's cane as he whispered a spell under his breath, conjuring a shimmering barrier just in time. Minato's kunai met the magical force with a sharp impact, a ripple of energy spreading outward from the point of contact.
The air tensed.
Minato's eyes widened slightly—only for a brief moment—before he quickly regained his composure. He leaped back, landing lightly on his feet, his stance firm yet fluid, ready to strike again if necessary.
"Professor!" Team RWBY yelled in unison as they immediately reached for their weapons.
But before any of them could move, Ozpin calmly raised a hand, signaling them to stand down.
Ruby and the rest hesitated, but Ozpin didn't turn away from Minato.
The Hokage hadn't moved either, his sharp blue eyes locked onto the barrier that had effortlessly stopped his attack. His fingers tightened around the kunai. He was fast—one of the fastest in history—but this man had reacted instantly, without hesitation.
"You're no ordinary traveler," Minato finally said, his voice measured.
Ozpin smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. The room was silent, the tension between the two men hanging thick in the air.
Minato glanced at the glowing green energy still pulsing around Ozpin's cane. "That's not chakra."
"Indeed," Ozpin confirmed. "It's something far older, from a world unlike yours."
Minato studied him carefully. He hadn't gone for a killing blow—only a warning strike. He had wanted to test Ozpin, to gauge his speed and reaction. And in that brief clash, he had learned two things.
One: Ozpin wasn't defenseless.
Two: He wasn't hostile.
Minato slowly exhaled, lowering his kunai—but he didn't sheath it just yet.
"You must understand," he said, his tone quieter now but still firm, "Kakashi is important to this village. I will not let strangers, no matter how powerful, approach him with unknown intentions."
Ozpin nodded. "And I respect that."
Minato's expression didn't change. "Then why seek him out? What do you want from Kakashi?"
Ozpin took a breath, his voice calm yet unwavering.
"He's in great danger."
Minato frowned slightly. "Explain."
Ozpin tightened his grip around his cane. He could see the sharp intelligence behind Minato's eyes, the way the Hokage was already calculating the weight of his words. The Fourth Hokage wouldn't act on mere speculation—he needed proof, logic, and reasoning.
"Kakashi is being manipulated by something we call a Grimm," Ozpin said, his voice steady but firm. "It's a creature that preys on emotions—on pain, suffering, and regret. This particular one is known as a Nightmare Grimm, and it has latched onto his mind, feeding on his memories. If we don't intervene soon, it will consume his spirit entirely."
Team RWBY exchanged uneasy glances, unsure what they were hearing.
Minato's frown deepened. He had just assigned Kakashi to monitor Kushina last week as his Anbu mission—he had seen his student, spoken to him. If something was wrong, he should have known.
"I find that hard to believe," Minato admitted, crossing his arms. "Kakashi is one of my most capable shinobi. If he were in danger, he would have come to me."
Ozpin gave a knowing nod. "Perhaps under normal circumstances, yes. But.. It's the truth. Sooner or later, he will die if not treated immediately."
Minato's jaw tightened as he studied Ozpin, his blue eyes sharp and unreadable. Every instinct in him told him to be cautious. He was a leader, a protector—he couldn't afford to trust outsiders blindly, especially when it came to his people.
But something about Ozpin's words clung to him like a shadow. A terrible, inescapable truth.
'Sooner or later, he will die if not treated immediately.'
Minato didn't want to believe it. He refused to believe it.
Minato stared hard at Ozpin, his piercing blue eyes searching for even the slightest sign of deception.
He found none.
And yet, his hands curled into fists at his sides, his mind racing through every possibility, every outcome.
Kakashi was strong—one of the most capable shinobi in the village.
If something was truly wrong, he should have noticed.
He should have felt it.
He knows he's suffering from the deaths of his teammates, which is why he only gave him the simple task of guarding Kushina.
And yet...
A sliver of doubt crept into his thoughts.
Kakashi had suffered so much.
Minato had seen the pain in his student's eyes for years. The loss of his father, his teammates—each tragedy carved deep wounds into his soul. Kakashi had endured it all, burying his emotions beneath duty and precision.
But even the strongest minds had limits.
If what this stranger said was true, if some unknown force had latched onto his student's pain...
No.
He needed proof.
Minato pressed his lips into a thin line, his voice measured but firm. "If what you say is true, then what exactly do you plan to do with him?"
Ozpin's grip on his cane loosened just slightly before he offered a small, knowing smile. "We'll save him."
The room fell silent.
Minato's sharp gaze flickered over to Team RWBY. Their weapons were still drawn, their stances tense but not aggressive. They were young, but their eyes told a different story—each of them had seen battle, had fought for their lives before. They weren't ordinary travelers.
And neither was their leader.
The aura Ozpin carried reminded Minato of Hiruzen Sarutobi—the weight of knowledge, of experience, of a man who had seen countless cycles of war and peace. There was wisdom in his eyes, but also grief, as if he had witnessed more suffering than he cared to admit.
Minato exhaled softly. He still didn't fully trust them. But if there was even the slightest chance they were telling the truth... he couldn't ignore it.
The Fourth Hokage turned on his heel and walked toward the large window behind his desk.
His gaze swept over the village below—children laughing in the streets, shinobi moving from rooftop to rooftop, shopkeepers calling out to customers.
Konoha is at peace.
And yet, his student was supposedly dying under his very nose.
Minato closed his eyes for a brief moment before speaking. "If you're lying to me, I will know." He turned back to face them, his expression unreadable. "And if I find out you mean to harm Kakashi in any way..."
Minato's voice was calm, almost eerily so. "You won't leave this village alive."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"Lord Hokage," Ozpin said smoothly, not a hint of fear in his voice. "I assure you, our only goal is to free Kakashi from this Nightmare."
Minato's gaze flicked to Team RWBY, but his posture remained relaxed—completely confident in his ability to end this confrontation before they could even blink.
"Very well," he finally said. "If what you say is true, then I'll need more than just your word. Prove to me that Kakashi is in danger."
Ozpin's smile didn't waver. "Then take us to him."
Minato considered the request for a long moment. Then, with a small sigh, he turned to the side of the room, where a single Anbu-masked shinobi had been silently waiting the entire time.
"Bring me Kakashi," Minato ordered.
The Anbu bowed slightly before disappearing in a swirl of leaves.
Minato looked back at Ozpin and Team RWBY, his sharp blue eyes unreadable. "You have one chance," he warned. "If I see even the slightest indication of deception, I will act."
Ozpin gave a small nod. "Understood."
The room fell into silence as they waited.
Somewhere, far from the Hokage's office, a lone silver-haired shinobi stood atop a quiet rooftop, his covered with an Anbu mask.
Something felt... wrong.
Kakashi Hatake closed his eyes and exhaled softly.
A storm was coming.
[End]