When Kakashi Hatake arrived with his subordinates, the battle was already over.
Four ANBU from Iwagakure lay dead.
Their chests pierced.
Edges scorched.
Lightning Release.
And disturbingly similar to his own Raikiri.
The implication was obvious.
Someone wanted Iwa to believe Kakashi had done it.
Or at least that Konoha had.
The Trap
An Iwa border unit arrived, surrounding them.
"This is an act of war," their captain declared.
Kakashi remained calm.
"We were investigating Kusagakure together. We visited Hozuki Castle. The warden can confirm."
They moved to the prison.
Inside—
Bodies everywhere.
Same wounds.
Same Lightning Release pattern.
The trap was complete.
Konoha Hospital
Kakashi later awoke in Konohagakure's hospital.
Before him stood Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Nearby, Tsunade.
Iwa was accusing Konoha of aggression.
Kakashi recounted everything.
"Do you believe Hyūga Yūma did it?" Hiruzen asked.
"I don't know," Kakashi admitted. "The Wind Release traces match his scale. And some victims show Gentle Fist internal damage."
"But the Lightning Release could have been planted to frame someone," he added.
Tsunade spoke firmly.
"This isn't that simple."
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
If someone was manipulating the great villages into conflict—
Then war might ignite from a single calculated spark.
/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------/
Read more chapters on my Patreon: https://patreon.com/SailorTranslations?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink