One of the Five Generals of Konoha: Hatake Kakashi.
After ten days of bitter battle during the Cloud campaign, he finally returned in triumph.
Having handed over the Raikage's body to the Intelligence Division and completed his debriefing in the Hokage's office, Kakashi joined Might Guy and Yamato his longtime comrades for a private meal, leaving their students behind.
The war with the Hidden Cloud had cost them more familiar faces. Soon, a new batch of names would be engraved on the Memorial Stone.
In the private room of Konoha Yakiniku Q, the red glow of the charcoal brazier lit their slightly fatigued faces. The three of them had rushed straight back to the village after the final battle with the Raikage. It was no surprise they were exhausted.
Beef sizzled on the iron grill, fat dripping onto the coals and flaring up into tiny sparks.
The tension from the battlefield hadn't entirely left them. No one picked up their chopsticks.
How long could moments peaceful dinner last?
It was Kakashi, the unspoken leader of the trio, who finally broke the silence.
"While we still have time off, let's forget those troublesome brats for a bit. Let's drink."
He opened a bottle of sake, casually pouring for the other two. "Anyway, it's a win. Taking the Raikage's head is a pretty big achievement, no?"
Yamato and Guy perked up slightly, raising their heads to look at their old friend.
Kakashi raised his cup. "To making it back alive."
Their three porcelain cups clinked together with a crisp note.
Yamato took a sip, a hint of regret in his tone. "Who would've thought... Lord Orochimaru has really returned to Konoha."
Guy downed his cup in one gulp and started piling grilled meat onto his plate. "Well, he is one of the Legendary Sannin. Any word on what the Hokage's planning to do next?"
As Kakashi poured another round, he said nonchalantly, "Guy, those Cloud shinobi you took down... there's something wrong with their bodies."
"They weren't real Cloud shinobi. They were some kind of bio-weapons in disguise."
"What?!" Guy's eyes widened. Even he realized something major was amiss.
"Someone wanted to start a war between our nations?"
"The Hokage suspects it was that mysterious killer from the Akatsuki, along with that plant-like creature, Zetsu," Kakashi said, draining his cup. "Our intel says the Raikage got information about Naruto from that masked man."
Yamato looked shocked. "So the Akatsuki really are as evil as they sound. Does the Hidden Cloud know the truth?"
"We've already sent the intel to the new Raikage. What those muscleheads decide next... whether they seek revenge against us or against Akatsuki, that's up to them."
Kakashi thought to himself: If they walk straight into a trap they already know exists, then they deserve whatever comes. Hopefully, the new Raikage has more brains than brawn.
Guy sighed, "For the Raikage to die on the Land of Fire's soil over something ... what a waste."
Despite being an enemy, Guy had developed some respect for the Fourth Raikage, who'd chosen to stay behind and cover his comrades' retreat.
Yamato glanced at him and said seriously, "The intel from the masked man was real. Even if he could choose again, the Raikage still would've come."
"Kakashi-senpai said it best he died for ambition, not honor."
Trust Yamato, Kakashi's number one fanboy, to recall everything his idol said word for word.
Kakashi stayed silent. Honestly, he'd just said that in the heat of battle to shake the Raikage's focus. He hadn't expected it to leave such a mark.
Still, if Jiraiya hadn't sniffed out the Hidden Cloud's trap in time, Konoha's losses would've been far worse.
Guy nodded. "Yeah... You're right. Heroism isn't for the battlefield."
"Your hero is my enemy. I get it."
They sipped and chatted as the fire dimmed and their shadows stretched long across the walls.
They were all about eight-tenths drunk by then.
Guy stood up with a flushed face and raised his cup. "To that idiot Raikage!"
Their cups clinked once again, sake flying into the air like crystal rain.
Yamato raised one hand with his drink and covered his face with the other, bawling, "I really thought this time I'd make it into the Five Generals! I, Yamato, also have the makings of a Hokage!"
"I'm gonna wipe out that masked bastard's entire family!" Kakashi yelled, chugging the last of his drink, face red and eyes wet. "Gekkō Hayate didn't deserve to die!"
"He was going to propose after this mission!"
In a dark, hidden cave...
Uchiha Obito sneered, "Now the Five Great Nations will be caught up in war."
Black Zetsu looked at him with theatrical admiration. "Obito, you're brilliant. Not even Madara could compare."
Uchiha Madara? Just a rotting corpse in a grave. Don't mention him in my presence.
Obito scoffed. "A few small tricks. We've already captured six of the nine Tailed Beasts. Deidara and Sasori are useless."
Zetsu, who already disliked Deidara, nodded. "Right? They're the only ones who failed. Total trash."
"But no matter. The One-Tail is in Konoha now. We'll grab both it and the Nine-Tails together."
Zetsu quickly chimed in, "Was that part of your plan too? Truly impressive, Obito."
Obito basked in the praise, but something felt off. "Wait... aren't you supposed to be Madara's will? Should you be saying that?"
Zetsu didn't miss a beat. "That just proves even if Madara were alive, he'd admire your brilliance."
"Hmph. The Shinobi World will know true peace through me."
And you'll help usher it in, Zetsu thought, smiling to himself. Still the same gullible fool.
As the king of intel, Zetsu changed the topic. "By the way, Uchiha Itachi's been silent too long. He's probably really dead. That leaves Konan as the last mole inside the organization."
"What are you going to do about her, Obito?"
Obito thought for a moment. "The idiot duo said Jiraiya attacked them and was last seen heading toward Amegakure. Maybe he's meeting Konan. Keep an eye on that."
"Catch the thief red-handed, huh? Smart as always," Zetsu said flatteringly.
"Enough bootlicking. Get to work," Obito snapped.
Zetsu muttered to himself: Flattering an idiot is a delicate balance...
He shifted topics again. "What about the One-Tail and Nine-Tails in Konoha? Besides their Jinchūriki powers, Konoha's forces are already dangerously strong. Don't forget even Itachi fell there."
Obito waved his hand dismissively. "No need to worry. We'll let Nagato go first."
In the Tower of Amegakure.
Rain tapped steadily against the windows.
Pain stood by the glass, gazing out at the endless gray.
Konan stood beside him, her face troubled, eyes fixed on Nagato's frail figure hooked up to a complex life-support system.
"Nagato... that man claiming to be Uchiha Madara is making moves without your approval..."
Nagato replied calmly, "His plan is solid. Only the One-Tail, Eight-Tails, and Nine-Tails remain. Konoha and the Hidden Cloud are the toughest to deal with."
Konan frowned. "But for him to act on his own he doesn't see you as the real leader."
After a long silence, Nagato said, "Then let's give him the Eight-Tails. Let him prove himself."
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