Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

That night, after dinner, everyone settled into the routine they'd gradually become accustomed to during their travels and prepared to rest in the wilderness.

Of course, Naruto still made a trip to deliver food to Pakkun as part of his assigned duty.

Afterward, Sasuke rose from the campsite.

Ignoring the pair chatting nearby, he walked straight toward Kakashi, who was keeping watch, and stood silently in front of him.

"You've met him."

Kakashi glanced up.

"Mm."

"We fought once. It happened not far from the Land of Water."

"He joined the Akatsuki."

Sasuke's expression tightened.

"...And who won?"

Straight to the point.

Kakashi thought for a moment.

"I ambushed him."

"He nearly died and escaped."

"As for the rest... his taijutsu wasn't on my level. I never gave him a chance to use much ninjutsu or genjutsu."

"Of course, he may still have hidden cards I never saw."

Taijutsu...

Sasuke's eyes unconsciously drifted toward the two swords strapped to Kakashi's back.

His strongest memory of Kakashi fighting was still their earlier test with Naruto.

That lightning-fast swordsmanship wrapped in crackling chakra had left a deep impression on him.

"Want to learn?"

Kakashi immediately understood the look in his eyes.

"Anything."

Sasuke's answer came without hesitation.

"I don't care if it's enough to defeat him."

"Even if it's only enough to kill him."

"I want to learn it."

Kakashi studied him carefully.

The hatred was still there.

But it wasn't consuming him.

His gaze was determined.

Focused.

Driven.

Yet free of the madness Kakashi had once feared.

"Looks like Naruto's influence on you is even greater than I thought."

Sasuke frowned immediately.

"That idiot has nothing to do with it—"

His protest was cut short.

Kakashi had already extended something toward him.

"My father's blade."

Sasuke froze.

"It was broken years ago."

"I had it reforged."

Kakashi held it out.

"It's yours."

"Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you how to use it."

The casual tone couldn't hide the significance of the gesture.

Slowly, Sasuke accepted the weapon.

He wrapped his fingers around the hilt and carefully drew the blade.

A chill ran through his hand.

The sword was astonishingly light.

Almost weightless.

Like holding a sheet of paper.

"...Does it have a name?"

"White Fang."

Kakashi shrugged.

"If you don't like it, you can give it a new one."

Sasuke experimentally swung the blade through the air a few times before carefully sheathing it again.

"Thank you."

The words were almost inaudible.

Yet they carried genuine sincerity.

A faint smile appeared beneath Kakashi's mask.

A moment later, Sasuke returned to camp.

The night grew deeper.

"What's with everyone tonight?"

Kakashi poked at the campfire with a stick.

"Are you all worried I'll get lonely during my watch?"

Without turning around, he had already heard the approaching footsteps.

Mei walked over and sat beside him.

For a while, neither spoke.

Eventually, Kakashi sighed.

"I thought you'd already decided to return to Kirigakure."

Mei's eyes flickered.

"So you know."

"Mm."

"Then you should also know what will happen if I go back."

"I do."

Kakashi stared into the fire.

"Which is why I thought you'd already decided to leave with us."

Mei picked up a stick and began absentmindedly stirring the fire alongside him.

After a long silence, she finally spoke.

"Help me, Kakashi."

"Konoha and Kirigakure are allies."

Kakashi's voice remained calm.

"If you're asking me to interfere in Kirigakure's internal affairs, I can't do that."

"That's not what I mean!"

Mei immediately turned toward him.

Then she froze.

From this angle she couldn't even see his face.

His forehead protector covered the upper half.

His mask covered the lower half.

All she could see was fabric.

The carefully prepared speech in her mind instantly derailed.

A moment later she stood up, walked around the fire, and sat on the opposite side.

Only then did she continue.

"That's not what I mean."

"..."

Kakashi looked at her speechlessly.

A few seconds later, Mei covered her face.

"Sorry."

"My thoughts are a mess right now."

"It's fine."

Kakashi nodded.

"I understand."

Mei took a deep breath.

Then finally stopped avoiding the subject.

"Help me."

This time, Kakashi hesitated before answering.

"If you truly need assistance, you can submit a mission request to Konoha."

"If I receive it, I won't refuse."

Mei shook her head.

"You're missing the point."

"Even as allies, Konoha benefits more from a weaker Kirigakure."

"If you're a Konoha shinobi, you can never truly help me."

She looked directly at him.

"Kakashi."

"Leave Konoha."

"Come with me."

"Return to Kirigakure."

"With your strength, we could change the village together."

Her voice grew heavier.

"If things continue like this, Kirigakure will return to the days of the Bloody Mist."

"No."

"It'll become something even darker."

Kakashi's expression remained unchanged.

"So what are you planning to do?"

"Assassinate the Fourth Mizukage?"

"I have to stop him."

Mei clenched her fists.

"Kakashi, please."

"And I've already investigated."

"You're the last member of your family."

"In truth, Konoha and Kirigakure shouldn't be that different for you."

"If you're willing to come, I can offer you—"

"Then why don't you leave Kirigakure and join Konoha?"

Kakashi interrupted calmly.

The prepared arguments died instantly.

"Right now, you're not much different from a wandering shinobi without a village."

"With your strength, Konoha would gladly accept you."

Mei laughed bitterly.

"Don't joke around."

"The people I care about are still in Kirigakure."

Kakashi stared into the fire.

"My everything is in Konoha."

The answer was simple.

Quiet.

Yet absolute.

The people he had lost.

The people he still had.

All of it was there.

Mei immediately understood.

There was no point continuing.

Slowly, she stood.

Disappointment filled her eyes.

Without another word, she turned and walked away.

After several moments of silence, Kakashi suddenly sighed.

"Alright."

"You can stop hiding now."

"There's no more conversation left to overhear."

A long pause followed.

Then—

A head of bright blond hair slowly emerged from a nearby bush.

Naruto scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"...As expected of Kakashi-sensei."

"When did you figure it out?"

Kakashi stared at him.

Then blinked.

"...I was bluffing."

"Wait."

"You were actually there?"

For the first time that night, even Kakashi felt utterly speechless.

Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> [email protected]/AiraTales7 (replace @ with a)