Third Shinobi World War, Eve

Konoha Year 44.

After the Second Shinobi World War, following years of recuperation, there had always been minor skirmishes along the border.

But this time was a little different.

A large number of Sunagakure ninja had left their village and invaded Konoha's border, already causing countless civilian and ninja casualties.

Konoha's border.

A man dressed as a Ronin walked through the mountain forest.

His silver-white hair was strikingly conspicuous. He was none other than the Konoha White Fang, Hatake Sakumo.

Although he had left Konoha, the frequent turmoil at the border still led him to secretly aid Konoha's ninja.

The Konoha ninja he saved tacitly understood and never mentioned his existence to their superiors.

In truth, Orochimaru, the current Border Commander, had long noticed Hatake Sakumo's presence. The two shared an unspoken understanding.

Whoosh!!

A sharp whistle split the air. Hatake Sakumo stopped and dodged the unknown attack.

Looking over, he saw several senbon nailed into the trees, giving off wisps of corrosive smoke.

Poison senbon. A Sunagakure puppeteer?

Senbon were needle-shaped weapons. If they were poisoned, a ninja could easily poison themselves by accident.

Thus, highly toxic senbon were generally only installed on Sunagakure puppets.

Hatake Sakumo rested a hand on his short blade, his gaze swiftly sweeping over several suitable hiding places.

Then, as footsteps sounded, a red-haired boy appeared before him.

"White Fang, I've finally found you..." The handsome red-haired youth was expressionless, and no emotion could be heard in his voice.

Just like... a puppet.

"Sasori of the Red Sands... Sunagakure's genius puppeteer..."

Hatake Sakumo frowned slightly. He knew this boy.

He was hailed as the most gifted puppeteer in Sunagakure's history, the grandson of Sunagakure advisor Chiyo.

Most importantly...

His parents had died by Hatake Sakumo's hand.

"You came to take revenge on me."

Sasori nodded, then shook his head.

"I only... want to turn you into Eternal Art."

"I am no longer a Konoha ninja. Letting you leave alive is the greatest mercy I can offer." Hatake Sakumo's voice was deep.

If he were still a Konoha ninja, a genius like Sasori of the Red Sands would certainly have to be killed on sight—or better yet, captured alive and brought back to the village.

Hatake Sakumo could not simply stretch out his neck and await death because someone had come seeking revenge.

The only reason he was willing to spare Sasori was because he pitied the boy for having lost his parents.

"Konoha White Fang, you really are arrogant."

Sasori extended both hands, and the ground shattered.

A massive pit appeared as dozens of puppets shot out at high speed!

Poison senbon filled the sky, firing down like a storm of pear blossoms!

He could actually control so many puppets!

You've already surpassed your parents...

A flash of silver-white light burst forth. Wherever the blade-light passed, every chakra thread was severed!

A series of clanging sounds rang out as all the senbon were shattered and cleaved apart.

Hatake Sakumo's gaze turned icy as he leveled his blade at Sasori of the Red Sands.

"If Chiyo had been a little more responsible, she should have told you..."

"A puppeteer can never defeat me!"

Hatake Sakumo lacked wide-area ninjutsu, and his chakra reserves did not compare to those of certain exceptionally gifted individuals.

However...

So long as his opponent was human, Hatake Sakumo had a way to kill them!

Puppeteers, with their frail true bodies, were especially vulnerable before him.

Sasori of the Red Sands was not surprised when dozens of puppets were destroyed.

The Konoha White Fang was renowned throughout the ninja world. It was only natural that he possessed such strength.

"Granny Chiyo told me that."

"So... I'm no longer merely a puppeteer."

Sasori of the Red Sands's cloak was ripped apart by a kusarigama, revealing a puppet body. The chain mechanism in his abdomen writhed like a serpent.

Hatake Sakumo's pupils contracted slightly, his voice low. "You truly are... insane..."

"No matter how many times it breaks, it can be repaired. It is not bound by the limits of lifespan. This undying art..."

"Isn't it beautiful?!"

"You've fallen onto an evil path!" Hatake Sakumo was about to raise his blade when he discovered that his usually obedient short blade had become noticeably sluggish.

This feeling... could it be?!

Screech—

That instant of distraction allowed an iron spear to slice across his arm.

Boom!!

A huge cylindrical mass of metal crashed down from above, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Hatake Sakumo saw clearly the person standing atop the metal pillar...

No... it should be called a Human Puppet.

"Third Kazekage!!"

Why was the Third Kazekage here?!

Why had the Third Kazekage been turned into a puppet?!

"Konoha White Fang, to kill you, I even assassinated the Third Kazekage..."

A trace of madness surfaced on Sasori of the Red Sands's handsome face.

"Come! Let us become undying together!!"

"Magnet Release - Iron Sand World Method."

Black iron spread like roots, blanketing the entire sky.

A bead of cold sweat slid down Hatake Sakumo's forehead.

This really... was troublesome...

Konoha Border Command.

Inside the temporary quarters of Commander-in-Chief Orochimaru.

"Jiraiya sent you here... You really are powerful reinforcements."

Long black hair, golden vertical pupils, purple eyeshadow extending to the bridge of his nose, and pale skin.

Orochimaru had not yet fallen onto an evil path. His temperament was merely somewhat cold.

Minato Namikaze scratched the back of his head and smiled. "My apologies, Lord Orochimaru. The other border lines are also under great pressure, so Sensei could only send us."

Orochimaru shook his head. "Minato-kun, I wasn't being sarcastic. The three of you truly count as powerful reinforcements."

"The youngest Jonin, and you possess the Flying Thunder God..."

His gaze shifted to the two standing behind Minato, and he smiled. "The Uchiha Clan's most gifted youth, promoted to Chunin on the very day he became a ninja."

"And Kakashi-kun, son of the Konoha White Fang, known alongside Kagami-kun as the Konoha Twin Stars."

"Such enviable talent..."

After another year of Medicinal Baths, Kagami Uchiha had grown to nearly one meter sixty. His childishness had faded, and people would believe he was fourteen or fifteen.

Kakashi, who was eight and the same age as him, was a full head shorter and had yet to grow into his frame.

"Twin Stars and all that... isn't it terribly cliché?" Kagami Uchiha said indifferently. "With Kakashi's abilities, is he even worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as me?"

"Ah, yes, yes. Of course I can't compare to Kagami-sama. I'll go beat up whoever said that when I get back."

Kakashi stared at him with dead fish eyes.

Kagami Uchiha did not understand. Back in their years at the Ninja Academy, Kakashi would bristle whenever Kagami provoked him a little.

When had his words become so sarcastic?

Minato Namikaze turned and patted both their shoulders. "That was very rude! Apologize to Lord Orochimaru first!"

After Kagami Uchiha, Kakashi had also passed Jiraiya's test.

The three of them were now fellow disciples, a relationship even closer than the usual squad structure.

Just like Hiruzen and Danzo.

Kakashi had effectively moved up a generation too. He should have been Minato Namikaze's student, but now he had become his junior disciple.

"It's fine, Minato-kun."

Orochimaru waved a hand. "The situation is urgent. Let me assign you a mission first."

"Twelve li west of here, a team of Sand Ninja has been discovered. One of them is quite troublesome."

"Sunagakure Yekura is a rare Kekkei Genkai ninja..." As he spoke, Orochimaru's gaze fell on Kagami Uchiha.

Of those present, only Kagami Uchiha was a Kekkei Genkai ninja.

There were differences even among Kekkei Genkai. Kekkei Genkai that could be acquired through training were generally inferior to those inherited through bloodlines.

And among inherited Kekkei Genkai, ocular jutsu users were especially exceptional.

Put simply, Kekkei Genkai ninja looked down on ordinary ninja, while ocular jutsu ninja looked down on ordinary Kekkei Genkai ninja.

Those eyes...

An ocular Kekkei Genkai that could never be gained, no matter how much one trained...

Without realizing it, a glint of greed appeared in Orochimaru's eyes.

"For Jiraiya-sensei's sake..." Kagami Uchiha suddenly spoke.

His scarlet Sharingan appeared in his eyes.

"The next time you look at me with those eyes, I'll gouge them out."