As the words fell, each ninja silently formed a hand sign in sequence.
Kirigakure Anbu protocol. Identity confirmation. No errors are allowed.
Slip up—and you die.
Zabuza crouched next to Kaguya Kaito, inspecting every sign with sharp eyes. Only after confirming them all did he speak, stiffly.
"Lord Kaito. Everyone's in."
Kaito gave a slight nod but didn't move toward the target.
He activated his Byakugan, scanning beneath the masks.
All looked like Kirigakure shinobi. No obvious flaws.
But White Zetsu didn't leave flaws. Their disguises were perfect.
Even the Byakugan couldn't expose them.
Only Naruto's Sage Mode ever sensed them by their malice—and he wasn't here.
Kaito didn't push further. He knew the risks.
This mission should've cost them half their team. But they got in clean. No resistance. Even the Konoha decoys hadn't drawn attention.
That only meant one thing.
They were being let in.
White Zetsu were out there—buried in trees, terrain, maybe among them.
He clenched his fists. Expected this. Still hated it.
White Zetsu were Madara's eyes. And when he took Rin, those eyes would turn on him.
Let's hope the measures I set up can fool them.
He forced the thought away and gave the order.
"Move carefully. Avoid strong enemies. Disperse. Advance."
The team vanished into the forest.
Leaves rustled.
The target was clear.
Rin Nohara.
Days passed.
No resistance.
Even Zabuza grew uneasy.
Konoha wouldn't just roll over. What the hell's going on?
Then—
"Stop," Kaito said, spotting smoke rising in the distance.
He unrolled a scroll, "Two Jonin, mostly fodder otherwise," Kaito murmured, tracing the map. "I take Hatake. You split the rest."
The squad paused. A beat of hesitation.
"One Jonin hadn't seen a real fight in years. The other was Kakashi Hatake."
Kaito wanted him alone?
Bloodlust or arrogance—hard to tell with a Kaguya.
No one argued.
Zabuza tensed behind him, hand gripping his sword.
This bastard better not blow it. But if he does... I'll be close enough to clean it up.
Kaito didn't notice. His eyes were locked ahead.
Campfire smoke.
He pulled a sharpened bone from his back.
"Prepare."
"Move."
***
"Kakashi?"
He turned. Hid his tired eyes in the dark.
"Rin."
"I figured you'd be out here," she said, sitting beside him. "Checked on the others—couldn't find you."
She gathered her hair behind her ears, looking at the woods.
"Thinking about Obito again?"
Kakashi didn't answer. Just pulled his headband down over his Sharingan.
"Every moment I'm not fighting," he said quietly. "I think of him."
Rin exhaled, voice soft.
"Before the war, you used to push him and Guy away. But they always came back."
She smiled briefly, then looked down.
"Those were good times."
"Yeah," he said flatly.
She leaned closer.
"Back then you were just distant. Now... you seem gone."
"When the war ends," she said, "will it get better?"
He didn't answer.
She saw the flicker of doubt on his face and bit her lip.
"Kakashi."
"Obito gave you his eye. He wouldn't want you to be like this."
"If you stay like this... how can he rest?"
"He said—"
Kakashi closed his eyes.
She turned to the stars, trying to say something—anything—to lift him.
"I'll be your eye," she whispered.
Kakashi finished the thought in his head.
Helping me see the future.
It echoed inside him. Sharp. Familiar.
He opened his eyes, a new edge in them.
Everyone else was dead.
Only Rin remained.
Whatever it took—he'd protect her.
Then—
"Kakashi, doesn't the sky look strange?"
He turned. The stars blurred.
A white mist crept through the trees.
His instincts screamed.
Kirigakure.
He was on his feet in a flash, kunai in hand, Sharingan scanning.
"Enemy attack!" Rin shouted. Her voice rang across the quiet camp.
Only a few scattered replies came back.
Kakashi's heart dropped.
When did the camp get so empty?
He didn't wait.
"Come with me," he said, pulling Rin into cover.
But they were too slow.
Too late.
Whoosh.
A figure ripped through the air, landing in front of them like a hammer falling.
Too fast.
Kakashi's eyes widened.
And the real fight began.