Chapter 191: Lies
Kitahara Kaede carried the unconscious Kakashi back to the surface.
He didn't leave immediately. First, he set Kakashi aside and began weaving hand seals. The earth churned beneath them. With a surge of Earth Style, he collapsed the entrance and the tunnels below, burying the traces of the Wood Release beneath layers of soil.
Only after securing the area did he hoist Kakashi onto his back once more.
A moment later, a flash of gold appeared before him. Minato Namikaze had returned.
Minato looked at Kakashi—unconscious and stained with blood. Then, he realized someone was missing. His expression shifted instantly.
"Where is Rin?"
Kitahara Kaede remained silent for a moment before answering, "Kirigakure sealed the Three-Tails inside Rin. They wanted her to lose control and rampage once she returned to Konoha."
Minato didn't speak.
"Rin found out," Kaede continued. "She refused to return to the village, but she couldn't bring herself to commit suicide. She asked me to do it for her." He paused. "Then, the Kirigakure forces caught up. I used Chidori."
As those final words fell, Minato froze. A long silence stretched between them before he asked in a low voice, "While I was clearing the perimeter?"
Kitahara Kaede nodded.
Minato's emotions were a chaotic storm. Obito had died not long ago, and now Rin had passed away in a place where he couldn't reach her. For the second time, he had been too late as a teacher.
He looked at the unconscious Kakashi. "How is he?"
"He suffered a mental shock and passed out. His physical injuries aren't severe."
Minato stepped forward and took Kakashi from Kaede's back. As he adjusted Kakashi's arm, he paused for a long time. Kitahara Kaede didn't rush him.
Finally, Minato looked up. "Let's head back to the village."
Kitahara Kaede nodded, and the two began their journey home. Neither spoke for the entire trip. As Minato led the way, Kaede watched his back.
'Sorry, Minato. I can't tell you everything yet.'
***
Several days later, at the Konoha Hospital.
Kakashi woke up. He stared at the ceiling of the ward, motionless for a long time. A single image played on a loop in his mind: the flash of lightning, Rin, and the way she looked as she fell.
Kakashi bolted upright, his chest feeling tight and suffocated. He looked down at his hands. These hands had grasped nothing. It was the same with Obito. It was the same with Rin.
The door to the ward slid open. Kakashi looked up to see Kitahara Kaede standing in the doorway. In an instant, he threw off his covers, lunged from the bed, and grabbed Kaede by the collar.
"Why!"
Kitahara Kaede didn't dodge. "The Three-Tails was inside her. If she had returned to Konoha, the village would have been in danger."
Kakashi glared at him with desperate intensity.
"It was the only way," Kaede said calmly.
The strength in Kakashi's grip slowly faded. He stepped back, colliding with the edge of the bed, and sank onto it. Silence reclaimed the room.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and Minato walked in. He glanced at Kitahara Kaede, then turned to Kakashi.
"Kakashi."
Kakashi didn't look up. Minato walked over and knelt before him.
"This... is my responsibility."
Kakashi's shoulders trembled.
"If I hadn't left, if I had stayed with you both," Minato whispered, "perhaps things would have been different."
Kakashi remained silent. Minato's voice dropped even lower.
"I wasn't there for Obito. And I wasn't there for Rin. I am not a qualified teacher."
Knowing they needed space, Kitahara Kaede turned and left the ward. The door clicked shut softly behind him. In the hallway, he paused for a moment.
'I'm sorry.'
Then, he left the hospital.
***
Inside the underground base of Root.
Several pieces of intelligence lay spread out before Danzo. The movements of Kirigakure, the shifts in various nations... the Third Shinobi World War was nearing its end.
However, none of these achievements had anything to do with him. Danzo thought of Hiruzen Sarutobi's resignation to take responsibility, and how Minato Namikaze had been nominated as the Fourth Hokage.
Danzo's expression grew increasingly sour. It was happening again. Hiruzen had always stood in the light, and now even a junior like Minato Namikaze was stepping ahead of him.
He suppressed the anger simmering in his heart. "What has Orochimaru been doing lately?"
A Root ninja emerged from the shadows and knelt on one knee. "Reporting to Lord Danzo: Orochimaru's recent movements have been erratic. He has rejected all funding and experimental materials we sent."
Danzo looked up. "Rejected?"
"Yes," the ninja replied, bowing lower. "He stated that he does not currently require the support of Root."
Danzo clicked his tongue. Even Orochimaru was starting to stray from his path. The world was truly turning upside down.
But now was not the time to deal with Orochimaru. Before Minato officially ascended to power, Danzo needed to secure enough leverage. The war could not end too quickly. If peace arrived too smoothly, all the credit would go to Minato.
Danzo looked at the kneeling ninja. "Prepare three teams."
"Yes, sir."
"Disguise them as shinobi from other villages and send them out in batches."
The Root ninja looked up. "The target?"
Danzo stood up. "The borders of the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Rain." He walked to the map, his single eye scanning the border zones. "The war is almost over, but it cannot end like this. Minato wants to secure his position as Hokage through military merit? I'll let him know that peace in the shinobi world isn't that easy to achieve."
The Root ninja bowed. "Understood."
Danzo turned and walked deeper into the tunnels. The underground base fell silent once more.
***
Land of Wind.
Yellow sands swirled across the border. Pakura was traveling toward the Land of Water, followed by two Sunagakure ANBU.
The mission scroll was explicit: travel to the Land of Water as a peace envoy to negotiate a ceasefire with Kirigakure.
Pakura looked at the words, her face devoid of emotion. It was the same. Exactly as it was in her memories. This proved it wasn't a dream. Her village really was going to hand her over to Kirigakure in exchange for a so-called peace.
The ANBU behind her urged, "Lady Pakura, we must reach the border outpost before dark."
Pakura stopped. The two ANBU stopped as well. "Lady Pakura?"
Pakura turned around. She looked at these two fellow villagers. They probably didn't know the truth—just as she hadn't known in her past life.
Suddenly, Pakura moved.
Before the first ANBU could react, a strike hit the back of his neck, and he collapsed into the sand. The second one barely managed to draw a kunai before his vision blurred; a heavy blow struck his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him as he slumped to the ground.
The sound of the wind quickly masked the commotion. Pakura knelt to check them. They were both still alive.
She stood up and ripped the Sunagakure forehead protector from her head. The hourglass symbol looked particularly mocking. She stared at it for a moment, then drew a kunai and carved a deep gash across the metal.
The piercing sound of metal on metal vanished into the wind. Pakura tossed the protector onto the ground.
From this moment on, she was no longer a hero of Sunagakure. She was simply Pakura.
Standing at the border of the Land of Wind, she looked toward the Land of Fire.
'Kitahara Kaede. I'm coming.'
In the next instant, Pakura vanished into the swirling sands.
***
That afternoon.
Kitahara Kaede arrived at Tsunade's door and knocked. A moment later, the door opened. Tsunade, now dressed in casual clothes, looked at him and said simply, "Let's go."
Kitahara Kaede followed her out.
The two of them walked through several quiet streets of Konoha. The further they went, the sparser the crowds became.
Kitahara Kaede quickly recognized the direction. They were heading toward the grand estate of the Senju clan.
In his simulations, he had visited this place often. Back then, it had been lively. Nawaki would come sprinting out of the courtyard, and Tsunade would complain about how noisy he was, only to end up joining in on the mischief herself.
Standing before the gate now, however, the feeling was entirely different. The gates and walls were well-maintained, yet the place lacked any sense of living warmth.
Tsunade paused for a moment before pushing the door open. Kitahara Kaede followed close behind. He finally understood why Tsunade had moved out. There were too many memories here; the sight of the estate served only as a painful reminder of those who were gone.
As they crossed the front courtyard, Tsunade spoke. "Rin has been settled in the Shikkotsu Forest. Katsuyu will be watching over her constantly."
Kitahara Kaede nodded. "That is the safest place; it won't be easily discovered."
Tsunade gave a small grunt of agreement.
They walked through the corridor and entered the study. A few old scrolls resting high on the bookshelves bore the visible marks of passing years. Tsunade walked to the furthest corner, retrieved a wooden box from a secret compartment, and placed it on the table.
She opened the lid.
Inside lay three yellowed scrolls, their seals stamped with the Senju clan crest.
"These are the Wood Release secret techniques my grandfather left behind," Tsunade said, looking at him. "Since you already know Wood Release, there is no point in letting these things gather dust here."
Kitahara Kaede looked at the three scrolls. These were items left by Hashirama Senju. The fact that Tsunade was handing them over spoke volumes about her trust and her current stance toward him.
Kitahara Kaede reached out to take the top scroll, his hand pausing for a brief second. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade crossed her arms and huffed. "Don't thank me too soon."
Kitahara Kaede looked up. Tsunade gazed at him, her tone flat.
"You may study them. But from now on, you better not keep anything hidden from me."
Kitahara Kaede looked into her eyes. After a moment, he nodded.
"Alright."