Kakashi turned to look at Haku.
"Haku, are you alright—"
Before he could finish, swish, swish, swish! Dozens of figures landed around the courtyard.
They were all Konoha ANBU.
At their head stood the ANBU captain.
"Kakashi-sensei! What happened just now? We detected the chakra fluctuations of an S-rank sealing technique!"
The ANBU captain swept his gaze across the courtyard.
He immediately spotted the four Root operatives lying on the ground, their limbs twisted at grotesque angles, bloodstains splashed across the earth, and clear traces of a fierce battle everywhere.
His expression changed sharply.
"These are… Root ninja? Why are they here? And in this state…?"
Kakashi replied calmly, "Five people claiming to be from Root broke into my residence earlier. They said they were here to investigate Haku's identity and intended to take him away, suspecting him of being a spy. I asked whether they had orders from the Hokage. They couldn't produce any."
He continued evenly, "So I suspected they were enemies impersonating Root, attempting to abduct my student during the post-war chaos in Konoha. I stopped them. The last one activated the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing in an attempt to drag us all down with him. I had no choice but to throw him into the air and let the seal detonate at high altitude."
The ANBU captain listened in silence, his expression complicated.
He looked again at the four Root operatives on the ground. Despite their injuries, their uniforms and equipment were unmistakably standard Root issue.
"I understand," he said after a brief pause.
He knew very well how deep this matter ran.
"I will report this directly to Hokage-sama. As for these individuals…"
His gaze fell on the incapacitated Root ninja.
"We'll take them back for verification and investigation. Hokage-sama will handle the rest."
Kakashi nodded.
"Sorry for the trouble."
The ANBU captain waved his hand.
"Take them."
Several ANBU stepped forward at once, lifting the four Root operatives and carrying them away.
The ANBU captain turned back to Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei, are you alright? Does your student need to be taken to the hospital?"
Kakashi shook his head.
"No need. I can handle it."
"Understood. We'll take our leave."
The ANBU captain nodded, and the squad vanished in a series of Body Flickers.
The courtyard finally fell quiet again.
Kakashi supported Haku as they went inside.
"Alright. It's finally peaceful. Let's treat your wounds first."
Haku nodded weakly.
"Kakashi-sensei… I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble…"
Kakashi smiled faintly.
"Silly kid. This isn't your fault. That old geezer Danzo—who knows what kind of madness he's gotten into again. Once you recover, remember not to go easy on them next time."
He retrieved a medical kit from the cabinet and began treating Haku's injuries.
"Bear with it. It might sting a bit."
Haku shook his head.
"I'm not afraid of pain… it's just…"
"Hm?"
"Kakashi-sensei… have I brought you a lot of trouble…?"
Kakashi paused and looked at him seriously.
"Haku, listen to me. You're my student. Protecting you is what I'm supposed to do. Don't ever think of yourself as a burden. Do you understand?"
Haku's eyes reddened slightly. He nodded.
"I understand… thank you, Kakashi-sensei."
Kakashi continued bandaging his wounds, his movements steady and gentle.
---
Several days later.
Hokage Office
The Third Hokage sat behind his desk, his expression grave.
Standing before him were the two advisors, Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado.
"Hiruzen, the matter involving Danzo must be dealt with," Utatane Koharu said in a low voice.
"Five Root operatives acted without authorization and attempted to seize Kakashi's student without a Hokage order. This is a serious overreach."
Homura Mitokado nodded.
"And they even activated the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing. If Kakashi hadn't reacted in time, the damage to the village would have been unimaginable."
The Third Hokage took a long drag from his pipe.
"I know."
"But Konoha has just endured a major war. Our losses are severe."
"We can't afford more internal strife right now."
He looked at them.
"Danzo claims those five acted independently, without his knowledge."
Utatane Koharu sneered.
"Of course he would say that."
"But Root operatives don't act on their own. Everyone knows this came from him."
The Third Hokage fell silent.
He understood perfectly well that Danzo was lying.
But for the time being…
"I will issue a warning to Danzo," he finally said.
"I will order him to restrain Root."
"As for further investigation…"
He shook his head.
"Root has already suffered heavy losses. Let this matter end here."
The two advisors exchanged looks, then nodded.
Just like that, the Root incident was suppressed.
Utatane Koharu picked up another report.
"There's a more troublesome issue. The body of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, has been found. He's been dead for over a month."
Homura Mitokado added, "Which means Orochimaru killed him before the Chunin Exams even began, then impersonated him to command Sunagakure into attacking Konoha."
The Third Hokage frowned.
"What's Sunagakure's response?"
"They sent an envoy yesterday," Utatane Koharu said. "Along with a letter from the newly appointed acting Kazekage. They claim they were deceived and manipulated by Orochimaru as well, and have formally requested to re-establish the alliance."
The Third Hokage pondered.
"They sound confident we'll agree."
"Precisely," Homura Mitokado said.
He lifted two more documents.
"Kumogakure and Iwagakure have also sent diplomatic notes."
The Third Hokage's expression darkened.
"What are they saying?"
"They're condemning Konoha for 'defiling the dead,'" Homura Mitokado replied coldly. "They accuse us of using Edo Tensei to resurrect the First and Second Hokage, claiming we're secretly researching forbidden techniques in preparation for war."
Utatane Koharu continued, "Kumogakure demands we make Edo Tensei public and submit to joint supervision by the Five Great Nations. Iwagakure is even worse—they're calling for sanctions and a reduction of our mission quotas."
The Third Hokage slammed his hand on the desk.
"Bastards!"
"They know full well Orochimaru was the one who used Edo Tensei!"
"They're exploiting our weakness!"
Homura Mitokado sighed.
"They don't care about the truth. Konoha has just suffered a devastating blow. To them, this is the perfect time to apply pressure."
Utatane Koharu looked at the Third Hokage.
"Hiruzen, we have to make a choice."
"Do we accept Sunagakure's request to renew the alliance, or reject it?"
The Third Hokage remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he spoke.
"Accept it."
"Re-establish the alliance with Sunagakure."
"And transfer part of our C-rank and B-rank missions to them. Let them share some of the burden."
The two advisors nodded.
"A wise decision," Utatane Koharu said. "With Sunagakure as an ally, Kumogakure and Iwagakure won't dare push too far."
"And Sunagakure needs missions to recover their economy, while we need allies. It benefits both sides."
Homura Mitokado asked, "What about Kirigakure? They haven't stated their position."
The Third Hokage shook his head.
"They're mired in internal chaos under the Blood Mist policy. They won't have the capacity to interfere for now."
"Still…"
His eyes narrowed.
"Send someone to probe their stance. If possible, try to draw them closer."
"Understood."
The Third Hokage stood and walked to the window, gazing out over Konoha.
"The consequences of this invasion run deeper than I expected."
"It's not just damage to the village—it's disrupted the balance of power across the entire ninja world."
"The coming days will be difficult. We can't delay any longer. Find Jiraiya as soon as possible."
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado joined him at the window.
"Orders have already been issued," Utatane Koharu said. "Konoha will endure. We still have the foundation left by the First and Second Hokage."
"And the younger generation," Homura Mitokado added. "People like Kakashi."
The Third Hokage nodded.
"Yes… the future of Konoha rests with them."
---
Meanwhile.
On the outskirts of Konoha, within the drifting morning mist.
Two figures clad in black cloaks patterned with red clouds walked slowly along a forest path.
The fog curled around them, their silhouettes indistinct and eerily quiet.
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