Third Shinobi World War, Eve

Konoha Year 44.

After the Second Shinobi World War, following years of recuperation, the borders had been plagued by constant, minor skirmishes.

But this time, things were a little different.

A large number of ninjas from Sunagakure had left their village and invaded the Konoha border, causing a significant number of civilian and shinobi casualties.

Konoha border.

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

His silver-white hair was highly conspicuous; he was none other than Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo.

Although he had left Konohagakure, the frequent chaos at the border led him to silently assist the Konoha ninjas.

The Konoha ninjas he rescued also understood the situation implicitly and did not report his presence to their superiors.

In fact, the current border commander, Orochimaru, had long since sensed Hatake Sakumo's presence, and a tacit understanding existed between the two.

Whoosh!!

Suddenly, a sharp sound of wind being pierced rang out. Hatake Sakumo stopped and dodged the unknown attack.

He cast his gaze forward to see several senbon embedded in the trees, emitting wisps of corrosive smoke.

Poisoned Senbon. Is it a Puppet Master from Sunagakure?

Senbon are needle-shaped weapons; if used with poison, a ninja could easily poison themselves if they were not careful.

Therefore, highly toxic senbon are generally only installed on the puppets of Sunagakure.

Hatake Sakumo placed his hand on his short sword, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings for suitable hiding spots.

When footsteps echoed, a red-haired youth appeared before him just like that.

"White Fang, I've finally found you..." The delicate-looking red-haired youth was expressionless, his tone devoid of any fluctuation.

It was as if... he were a doll.

"Sasori of the Red Sands... the genius Puppet Master of Sunagakure..."

Hatake Sakumo frowned slightly; he knew this youth.

He was hailed as the most gifted Puppet Master in the history of Sunagakure and was the grandson of the Sunagakure advisor, Chiyo.

Most importantly...

His parents had died by his own hand.

"You've come to take your revenge, haven't you?"

Sasori nodded, then shook his head.

"I just... want to turn you into an eternal work of art."

"I am no longer a Konoha ninja. Letting you leave here alive is the greatest mercy I can offer," Hatake Sakumo said in a deep voice.

If he were still a Konoha ninja, a genius like Sasori of the Red Sands would certainly have to be killed without hesitation, or ideally, captured alive and brought back to the village.

Hatake Sakumo was not the type to simply offer his neck to the blade just because someone came seeking revenge.

He was only willing to let Sasori go because he pitied him for having lost his parents.

"Konoha's White Fang, you really are arrogant."

Sasori thrust his hands forward, and the ground shattered.

A massive crater appeared, and dozens of puppets flew out at high speed!

Poisoned Senbon filled the sky like a torrential rain, shooting toward him!

To think he could control so many puppets!

You have already surpassed your parents...

A flash of silver light erupted. Wherever the blade passed, the Chakra Threads were severed!

With a series of clanging sounds, all the senbon were shattered and deflected.

Hatake Sakumo's gaze was cold, his blade pointed toward Sasori of the Red Sands.

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

"A Puppet Master can never defeat me!"

Hatake Sakumo lacked wide-range ninjutsu, and his chakra reserves did not match those of individuals with exceptional innate talent.

However...

As long as the opponent was human, Hatake Sakumo had a way to kill them!

Especially a Puppet Master, whose true body was fragile; to him, they were even more vulnerable.

Dozens of puppets were destroyed, but Sasori of the Red Sands was not surprised.

It was only natural that Konoha's White Fang, a man who had shaken the ninja world, would possess such strength.

"Chiyo told me everything."

"So... I am no longer just a simple Puppet Master."

Sasori of the Red Sands' outer robe was torn open by the kusarigama, revealing his puppet body, the hinges on his abdomen writhing like snakes.

Hatake Sakumo's pupils constricted, his voice dropping low: "This is truly... madness..."

"No matter how many times it is broken, it can be repaired. It is not limited by a lifespan. This immortal art..."

"It's beautiful, isn't it!!"

"You have fallen into the path of evil!" Hatake Sakumo moved to raise his blade, only to find that his short sword, which usually moved as an extension of his own arm, felt noticeably sluggish.

This feeling... could it be!

Sss--

That momentary lapse in focus allowed an iron spear to slice through his arm.

BOOM!!

A massive cylindrical metal pillar descended from above, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

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

No... it would be more accurate to call it a human puppet.

"The Third Kazekage!!"

Why would the Third Kazekage appear here!

Why was the Third Kazekage turned into a puppet!

"Konoha's White Fang, in order to kill you, I assassinated the Third Kazekage..."

A hint of crazed laughter appeared on the delicate face of Sasori of the Red Sands.

"Come! Let us be immortal together!!"

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method"

The black iron spread like roots, shrouding the entire sky.

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

This is... truly troublesome...

Konoha Border Command Headquarters.

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

"So Jiraiya sent you all... that is quite the powerful reinforcement."

He had long black hair, vertical golden slit pupils, purple eyeshadow extending to the sides of his nose, and pale skin.

At this time, Orochimaru had not yet fallen into the path of evil; his temperament was merely cold and detached.

Namikaze Minato scratched the back of his head and laughed, "My apologies, Lord Orochimaru. The situation on the other border lines is also very tense, so our teacher could only send us."

Orochimaru shook his head. "Minato-kun, I am not being sarcastic. The strength of the three of you truly qualifies as powerful reinforcement."

"You, the youngest Jonin, possessor of the Flying Thunder God Technique..."

He shifted his gaze to the two people following behind Minato and smiled. "The most talented youth of the Uchiha Clan, who was promoted to Chunin the very day he became a ninja."

"And the son of Konoha's White Fang, Kakashi-kun, who is known alongside Jing-kun as the Twin Stars of Konoha."

"Such enviable talent..."

After another year of Medicinal Baths, Kagami Uchiha's height had reached nearly 1.6 meters. Having shed his childishness, one could easily believe he was a boy of fourteen or fifteen.

Kakashi, eight years old and of the same age, was a head shorter and had yet to hit his growth spurt.

"Twin Stars or whatever... that's so cliché," Kagami Uchiha said indifferently. "Does Kakashi even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as me?"

"Ah, yes, yes. Of course, I cannot compare to Lord Jing. I'll go beat up whoever said that as soon as I get back."

Kakashi wore a dead-fish eye expression.

Kagami Uchiha did not understand. Back in those years at the Ninja Academy, every time he provoked Kakashi with a few words, the boy would fly into a rage.

When did he start becoming so sarcastic?

Namikaze Minato turned around and patted both of them on the shoulders. "That's rude! First, show some respect to Lord Orochimaru!"

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

The three of them were now Senior Brothers, a relationship even closer than the standard squad model.

It was just like the bond between Hiruzen and Danzo.

Kakashi had effectively jumped a generation; he was supposed to be Namikaze Minato's student, but now he had become a Junior Brother.

"It is quite alright, Minato-kun."

Orochimaru waved his hand to signal them. "The situation is urgent. I should arrange your mission first."

"Twelve miles to the west, a squad of Sand Hidden Ninjas has been spotted. There is one individual among them who is quite troublesome."

"Pakura of the Sand is a rare Kekkei Genkai User..." As he spoke, Orochimaru's gaze landed on Kagami Uchiha.

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

There are differences even among Kekkei Genkai. Those that can be acquired through training are generally inferior to those passed down through bloodlines.

And among hereditary Kekkei Genkai, those with ocular jutsu are special.

Simply put, Kekkei Genkai Users look down on ordinary ninjas, and ocular jutsu users look down on ordinary Kekkei Genkai Users.

Those eyes...

An ocular Kekkei Genkai that could never be obtained no matter how much training one underwent...

Before he realized it, a hint of greed appeared in Orochimaru's eyes.

"For the sake of Master Jiraiya..." Kagami Uchiha suddenly spoke up.

Within his eyes, the scarlet Sharingan manifested.

"If you look at me with that gaze again, I will gouge your eyes out."