The sun was beginning to set over the Wave Country, casting long shadows across the land. Team 7 was finishing their training session, though their instructor had already made up his mind. Kakashi had been deep in thought for hours now, his gaze distant as he weighed the decision in his mind. It was time. Time to leave the team and take matters into his own hands.
He turned to face his students, who were still on the water, struggling to master the technique he had shown them. It had been a quiet few days, and they had made progress, but there was something far more pressing on Kakashi's mind. The toll system was in place. His plans were moving forward. But there was one last thing he needed to do—something that would help him secure more control, more power.
"I'm leaving," Kakashi suddenly announced, his voice calm but firm. His three students turned to him, surprised.
"What?!" Naruto exclaimed, blinking in confusion. "You can't leave now! What about the mission? What about us?"
Kakashi looked at him with a cold, distant gaze. "The mission will continue, but I need to take care of something on my own. There's no time to waste."
"But what about us?" Sakura asked, her voice strained with concern. "Are we ready for the rest of the mission?"
Kakashi's lips curled slightly in what might have been a smile, but it was gone too quickly for anyone to be sure. "You'll manage. Besides, I trust that you've learned enough to carry on. Work together. It's all you need to do."
Sasuke said nothing, though his sharp eyes watched Kakashi closely. The young Uchiha had always been wary of his sensei, and this sudden departure didn't sit well with him, but he said nothing. He understood that Kakashi's strength was unmatched, and the mission wasn't the issue. It was the fact that Kakashi was leaving them, alone, to deal with the next phase of their task.
"I'll return when I'm needed," Kakashi added before disappearing in a blur of speed, leaving Team 7 to stand there, confused and uncertain. They would have to figure things out on their own for now.
Later that night, under the cover of darkness, Kakashi made his way to the heart of the Wave Country's underworld. He had already made the necessary arrangements with Tazuna, securing his toll system. Now, he had business to finish. A man named Gato, the corrupt businessman responsible for controlling much of the country's trade, had to be dealt with.
Kakashi's steps were silent as he approached Gato's luxurious estate, tucked away from the prying eyes of the public. It was a massive compound, guarded by armed thugs who had long since been paid to protect the criminal. But Kakashi wasn't here for a fight. He was here to take what he was owed—and more.
This money will help me build my organization, Kakashi thought coldly, as he slipped into the shadows. I'll need it to support the future I'm planning. The future that will reshape this world.
He moved with purpose, his thoughts focused. He could hear the muffled sounds of guards patrolling nearby, their footsteps heavy but predictable. He waited for the perfect moment, allowing the guards to pass before silently making his way into the compound.
Inside, the estate was opulent. Expensive furniture, extravagant decor, and a lavish lifestyle that contrasted sharply with the suffering outside the walls of this fortress. Gato, a small, portly man with a cruel, calculating face, was seated in his lavish office, surrounded by a handful of his bodyguards. The smell of expensive cigars filled the room, and the clink of glassware could be heard in the background.
Kakashi entered the room unnoticed, blending into the shadows like a phantom. He had already used his Sharingan to map out the movements of the guards. His next move was simple.
Without a sound, Kakashi placed a single kunai on the ground behind Gato's chair. The kunai was coated in a special seal, a genjutsu trap. It wouldn't kill the man directly—it would trap him in a world of illusion, where he would suffer until Kakashi saw fit to end the charade.
Gato, completely oblivious to the presence of the shinobi in the room, leaned back in his chair, enjoying his drink. Kakashi activated the genjutsu with a single thought.
The man's world shifted instantly. The sharp, expensive lines of his office blurred into the chaotic, harsh landscape of his own mind. The sounds of his guards and the comfort of his room melted away as Gato found himself trapped in a false reality, completely at the mercy of the genjutsu.
In the illusion, Gato would be reliving his worst fears—being trapped, betrayed, and alone. Kakashi didn't need to explain anything. Gato was already overwhelmed by the emotions of the genjutsu. In reality, Kakashi would be free to ransack Gato's office for what he needed. Money. Information. Power.
Kakashi walked to the desk and methodically began to search through the drawers. He found the ledger containing Gato's accounts, his dealings with various corrupt businesses, and most importantly, the sum of money that Gato had been siphoning off for himself.
With a flick of his wrist, Kakashi tore the ledger from the desk and flipped through the pages. He memorized the locations of Gato's hidden assets, but his eyes narrowed as he focused on the sheer amount of wealth the man had accumulated—unethically, of course. Kakashi had no interest in letting that wealth go to waste.
Grabbing a large sack from the nearby storage closet, Kakashi began filling it with stacks of cash, carefully tucked away in the corners of the office. It was a fortune. And Kakashi knew exactly how to use it.
After what felt like hours, Kakashi stepped back and surveyed the room. Gato's mind was still trapped in the illusion, reliving his worst nightmares, and Kakashi wasn't going to release him anytime soon. There was no need.
The final touch was simple. Kakashi poured a small amount of his chakra into a sealing scroll and attached it to the sack of money he'd gathered. It was just the beginning—this was only the first step toward his greater plans.
"Goodbye, Gato," Kakashi muttered quietly as he disappeared back into the shadows, his mind already planning the next phase of his operation.
Outside the estate, Kakashi stood for a moment, looking at the darkening sky. This is just the start. More will come. More money. More power. And eventually, everything will be mine.
With a quiet sigh, Kakashi disappeared into the night, the sounds of the world around him distant as he began to lay the foundation for what was to come.