It's Over

Chapter 27: It's Over

The process of catching cats was always tedious and boring.

Until that incident happened, Kagami had no good impression of these days spent catching cats; he didn't want to waste his limited time on such trivial matters. But after that incident, Kagami suddenly realized that although the process of catching cats was boring, it was also heartwarming.

Konoha Year 55, November.

After struggling through September and October, Kagami and his teammates had finally temporarily halted their cat-catching journey.

"Alright, after doing D-rank missions for so long, I know you must all be extremely frustrated."

Kakashi looked at the three in front of him with a hint of amusement.

Saito Daisuke said listlessly.

"Teacher Kakashi, just say it. Who are we helping catch a cat today, and where did the cat run off to?"

Suzuki Genji's signature smile had also disappeared. She turned her head and sighed softly.

As for Kagami, he had been aloof and dismissive since Kakashi appeared, even rolling his eyes occasionally. His dissatisfaction was the most obvious.

Kakashi clapped his hands, signaling the three to pull themselves together.

"Yes, yes, I know you're tired of it, so what I'm going to say is that our squad has received a C-rank mission today."

Kagami's spirits immediately lifted. C-rank missions, at this level, carried the possibility of injury during execution. While not overly dangerous, C-rank missions had a high probability of involving combat, unlike D-rank missions which were all about chores.

"Teacher Kakashi, what kind of C-rank mission is it?"

C-rank missions usually involved escorting, exterminating fierce beasts, or investigations.

Kakashi took out a piece of paper and held it up.

"This mission is to exterminate a fierce beast outside the village."

Kagami and Saito Daisuke exchanged glances, and then both jumped up excitedly.

Exterminating a fierce beast was considered one of the more difficult C-rank missions under normal circumstances. Most importantly, this type of mission guaranteed combat.

For Kagami and his teammates, who had been catching cats for nearly two months, this was indeed cause for celebration.

"Alright, don't get too excited. Let's get ready to go."

The beast they were to eliminate this time was a fierce tiger not far from the main gate of Konoha. Because it threatened passersby, someone had issued a mission to get rid of this dangerous creature.

A moment later, as they approached the gate of Konoha, a person suddenly walked towards Kakashi and his group.

"Yo, Kakashi, where are you off to?"

Long bangs covered his right eye, and he wore standard Konoha attire.

Looking at the person before him, Kagami frowned slightly. He seemed to have some impression of him. He thought his name was Kotetsu Hagane?

"Ah, yes. I recently became a Jonin instructor, and I'm taking them on their first C-rank mission now."

Kakashi gestured to Kagami and the other two behind him.

Kotetsu Hagane's gaze followed Kakashi's hand to Kagami and his teammates.

"I remember, among your students, there's one who's quite famous. What's his name again? Hmm, I think it's Uchiha Kagato."

Kakashi walked over to Kagami and patted his shoulder.

"This is the kid."

Kotetsu Hagane smiled slightly, as expected.

"It is him. Of the three, you can tell at a glance he's the youngest. A Genin this young, there's probably only one like him in all of Konoha right now."

Kakashi scratched his head and thought.

"Uh, I guess that's true."

Kotetsu Hagane chuckled.

"Alright then, go on and take your students on their first C-rank mission. Remember to protect them well."

Kotetsu Hagane's remark was originally a teasing joke, but Kakashi instantly became serious and said word by word.

"I will!"

After leaving the gate and walking on the road, Saito Daisuke couldn't help but lean over to Kagami and whisper.

"Sigh, Kagami, do you think Teacher Kakashi has been through something? Every time the topic of comrades comes up, Teacher Kakashi gets serious."

Kagami glanced sideways at Saito Daisuke.

"How would I know? But I hope you don't have to go through the same experience as Teacher Kakashi."

Saito Daisuke rolled his eyes.

"Didn't you just say you didn't know? How can you hope I don't have the same experience, as if you know something? Do you actually know or not?"

Kagami turned his head and looked in another direction, speaking lazily as they walked.

"I. Don't. Know."

"Tch."

Slowly, as time passed, Kagato and the others drew closer to their destination. They had veted off the main road outside Konoha and were now entering a deserted, dense forest.

Kakashi held a map in his hand.

"Hmm, it seems the target's activity area is just a little ahead."

Saito Daisuke was very excited.

"Heh, Teacher Kakashi, are we finally there? Alright, Kagato, Genji, don't make a move when the time comes. Leave that fierce beast to me!"

Kakashi glanced back at them and teased.

"Don't regret it when the time comes."

Saito Daisuke said carelessly.

"Of course not! I, Saito Daisuke, will personally defeat this fierce tiger that's been disturbing travelers!"

Suddenly, a huge roar echoed, reaching Kagato and the others quite clearly.

Saito Daisuke was overjoyed and charged towards the source of the sound without hesitation.

Suzuki Genji hesitated for a moment before also rushing after Saito Daisuke.

Only Kagato and Kakashi frowned.

Kagato couldn't help but speak.

"Teacher Kakashi, that roar..."

Kakashi shook his head.

"They've already charged ahead, we can't abandon them. Didn't I teach you? Never abandon your comrades."

Kagato could only nod and chase after Saito Daisuke and the others.

That roar should have been a tiger's roar, but Kagato distinctly heard a hint of sorrow in its immense volume.

Was the fierce tiger in danger?

It was likely that something more than just a fierce tiger awaited Kagato and the others ahead.

Most importantly, ever since that roar, Kagato had felt uneasy. He had a nagging feeling that he had forgotten something or someone extremely important for this period.

Kagato felt an extreme sense of danger. He couldn't understand it; this was just a normal C-rank mission. In his past life, he wouldn't have dared to confront a tiger alone, but in this ninja world, such beasts were nothing.

Especially with Kakashi, a Jonin who was considered a master even in the ninja world, accompanying them. This mission should have been, at most, a scare.

Kagato tried to reassure himself, but in reality, the inexplicable sense of danger in his heart grew stronger! It was almost making him bristle.

If he were alone, Kagato would have turned and fled without a second thought. But he wasn't alone, and for his comrades, he had to steel himself and chase after them.

When Kakashi and Kagato finally caught up to Saito Daisuke.

Saito Daisuke, Suzuki Genji, and Kakashi all looked ahead with caution.

As for Kagato, he was completely stunned. He made no defensive moves. As a transmigrator, only one thought ran through his mind.

It's over, it's completely over.

Ahead of them, a fierce tiger lay in a pool of blood, clearly having died recently. Standing beside the tiger's corpse was a person dressed in black, wearing a red-patterned single-eyed mask, with a sword at their waist.

Kagato's breath nearly stopped. He knew very well who the person in the red-patterned mask was. During the Nine-Tails' Rampage, he wore a yellow-patterned mask. After the Akatsuki was fully established, he wore a red spiral mask. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, he wore a white three-tomoe mask.

And during the Uchiha clan extermination, he wore the red-patterned mask.

Uchiha Obito, or rather, Uchiha Madara.