Kakashi Has Made a Decision
In the rebuilt Uzushiogakure, Naruto Uzumaki narrowed his eyes slightly upon spotting a Flying Thunder God Kunai and an aged sealing scroll resting on the wooden table.
Only a week had passed, yet Kakashi Hatake had already mastered the Flying Raijin Jutsu—a feat that once only Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, had achieved. It was a testament to Kakashi's prodigious talent, the same talent that had propelled him to Jonin rank at the age of twelve. His adaptability and ability to comprehend S-rank techniques placed him among the most elite of Konoha's shinobi.
By contrast, Naruto found his own learning ability frustratingly lacking, relying instead on his father's chakra remnants and the Nine-Tails' power to barely reach the level of a Super Kage.
As he unraveled the seal on the scroll, Naruto's sharp blue eyes skimmed through its contents, his lips curling into an almost imperceptible smirk.
The preliminary pleasantries were nothing but superficial formalities. He and Kakashi were comrades at best—hardly bound by sentimentality. The real substance of the letter lay in its closing remarks, which carried an earth-shaking revelation.
Kakashi, in an unexpected turn of events, had joined forces with Jiraiya to alter the fate of Konohagakure.
It seemed that the guidance Naruto had casually given in their last discussion had planted a seed of doubt in both Kakashi and Jiraiya's minds—enough to push them towards defying the Third Hokage and Danzo Shimura.
Yet, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The revolution brewing within Konoha would ultimately reshape the shinobi world. After all, Naruto's return to the Land of Fire was inevitable.
Uzushiogakure and the Land of Waves were too small in scale—regional powers with limited influence. In contrast, the Land of Fire stood at the center of the entire shinobi system.
Having finished reading, Naruto turned to Minato Namikaze's lingering chakra imprint.
After scanning the contents of the letter, Minato's expression darkened. His brows furrowed, and after a moment of silence, he sighed:
> "I never imagined that even Jiraiya-sensei and Kakashi would stand against Hiruzen. Hiruzen has always been too sentimental, unable to bring himself to act against Danzo."
Naruto's gaze sharpened as he scoffed, his voice laced with disdain:
> "This isn't about nostalgia. The Old Man Hokage can't afford to get rid of Danzo."
His tone turned colder.
> "After orchestrating the Uchiha Clan's downfall, the Hokage's administration now faces unrest from Konoha's middle and lower tiers. Danzo's Root Organization has become a scapegoat to shift the blame. And Danzo is the only weapon the Third Hokage still has control over."
Naruto's fingers tapped against the table as he continued:
> "Unlike Danzo, the other powerful Jonin have ties to major clans—the Nara, Akimichi, Hyuga, and Aburame. The Sarutobi clan is far weaker in comparison. The old man is clinging to his political power, unwilling to let his family's influence fade."
Minato sighed, his gaze softening.
> "Hiruzen isn't as selfish as you think. He truly loves Konoha, and he upholds the Will of Fire. He doesn't want to forsake his comrades, even when they've made grave mistakes."
Naruto let out a dry chuckle.
> "It's precisely because of his blind faith in the Will of Fire that Konoha is crumbling."
Locking eyes with Minato's chakra manifestation, Naruto spoke plainly:
> "Had he dealt with Danzo when the Uchiha Massacre was first exposed, we wouldn't be in this mess. His hesitation cost him Tsunade's trust, and now even Jiraiya has abandoned him."
Minato watched his son in silence.
He had always been proud of Naruto's incredible insight, but now he found himself speechless—his son had outmaneuvered him in debate.
After the heated discussion, Naruto's demeanor relaxed. A playful grin spread across his face.
> "Sensei Fourth, I'm writing back to Kakashi. Do you have any words for him? Imagine his reaction when he receives a letter from a dead man—hilarious, right?"
Minato, who had always been opposed to the interference of the dead in the living world, hesitated. Yet after a long silence, he nodded slightly.
Despite his beliefs, he couldn't ignore the future. Even as a spiritual remnant, he still wished to protect those he loved.
Thus, Naruto transcribed Minato's words into the letter, before using the Flying Thunder God Technique to send it directly to Kakashi in Konoha.
Elsewhere, within Konoha's inner district, Kakashi Hatake sat in restless anticipation.
When the letter materialized, he wasted no time in opening it.
The contents were simple, yet devastatingly effective—a strategy utilizing public opinion warfare to dismantle Danzo.
The approach was painfully ironic: to destroy Danzo, all they needed to do was expose his actual crimes.
With Danzo's credibility in tatters, the Third Hokage would naturally be dragged down as well.
Kakashi exhaled sharply, unease creeping in. Was this method too cruel?
Despite Hiruzen's failures, he had served Konoha for decades. Would Jiraiya agree to such tactics?
Yet, as Kakashi pondered, memories of his father, Sakumo Hatake, resurfaced.
The legendary Konoha's White Fang had chosen honor over duty, saving his comrades at the cost of an important mission. The village repaid him with scorn, and in the end, public pressure drove him to suicide.
And yet, Kakashi had discovered something disturbing in his personal investigation:
The details of his father's failed mission had been classified, yet somehow leaked to the public. How? By whom?
The higher-ups who orchestrated his father's downfall were the same ones Naruto now sought to overthrow.
Kakashi clenched his fist.
If they weaponized public opinion to eliminate Danzo and the Third Hokage, wouldn't it simply be history repeating itself?
Perhaps that was poetic justice.
As he read further, Naruto's words mentioned an even bolder plan—securing the support of the Nara, Akimichi, and Hyuga clans. With their combined strength, they could counter Konoha's leadership and force the Third Hokage's hand.
The radical nature of these ideas unsettled Kakashi, and a thought crossed his mind:
> Thank God Naruto left Konoha.
Had Naruto remained, those who currently led the rebellion—including Kakashi himself—would have become the village conservatives, while Naruto would have pushed for a complete systemic overhaul.
Yet, as Kakashi's eyes reached the letter's final paragraph, his breath hitched.
The tone shifted—it no longer felt like Naruto's words, but rather… Minato-sensei's.
A chill ran down his spine.
> Minato-sensei…?
His rational mind dismissed the thought—Minato had died protecting the village. Kakashi had personally witnessed his funeral.
The only explanation was that Naruto carried Minato's lingering chakra imprint, capable of preserving his thoughts.
A heavy silence filled the room as Kakashi's grip on the letter tightened.
At that moment, beyond the window, a figure observed him from the shadows.
A man with a spiraling mask and crimson Sharingan.
Uchiha Obito had come to Konoha, searching for Naruto's trail.
His gaze flickered to the Flying Thunder God Kunai in Kakashi's hand—his suspicions confirmed.
After a long, scrutinizing stare, Obito disappeared into the void, heading deeper into Konoha.
Subscribe to Patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters