Calm Before the Storm

"Using your usual methods to torment your juniors again, Guy?" A teasing voice came from behind Might Guy.

"Hey! Don't talk nonsense! What tormenting? This is the full-blown burning of youth!" Without even turning around, Might Guy began arguing with the young man who had suddenly appeared behind him.

The newcomer wore a neat combat uniform, and his striking silver hair made his identity obvious—the future-famous Copy Ninja, the standard unit of measure in the shinobi world, Kakashi Hatake.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're burning so brightly I can barely breathe." Kakashi replied as he patted the sturdy arms locking him in place.

His dead-fish eyes rolled helplessly as he raised both hands in surrender.

"Hahahaha! Why are you back in the village, Kakashi? Did you finish your mission?" Might Guy asked.

"Yeah. The Sand Ninja's surprise attack has completely failed. Our main opponents from here on will be the Stone Ninja. I came back to rest and wait for further orders."

"Man, you really are something, Kakashi. But is it really okay to casually say something like that?" Might Guy scratched his head and exchanged a glance with Uchiha Kai beside him.

Kakashi smiled indifferently. "Ah, it's fine. This was a victory for the entire front line. The battle report will be sent back to the village soon, and everyone here will know then."

"Ahaha... I see. You scared me. I thought all those missions had muddled your head and you were just blurting things out!" Might Guy gave a dry laugh and slapped Kakashi on the shoulder twice.

"You think I'm a hot-blooded idiot like you...?" Kakashi's eye twitched.

"By the way, did anything interesting happen on this mission, Kakashi? Doing a mission alone must've been pretty tough, right?" Guy asked with a look of longing.

"Well—if I had to say something? Does saving a wayward girl count?"

"Huh? Huh?! Kakashi!!" Might Guy's voice suddenly rose several pitches, his face full of shock.

"Does Rin know about this?!"

"What are you even talking about?! I just saved someone!"

Might Guy suddenly narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low voice.

"Kakashi, you know this, right? Men who can't stay faithful usually meet a very miserable end..."

"I'm telling you, I really—" Just as the two kept trading barbs, Uchiha Kai, who had been listening in for quite a while, finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"Um, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first, Senior Guy, Senior Kakashi." Uchiha Kai raised a hand and waved.

"Ah, sorry about that, Kai. Having to deal with a guy like Guy every day..."

"Haha, it's not that bad. You two keep talking—I'll get going." Before Might Guy could say anything else, Uchiha Kai quickly fled the scene.

Putting that little interruption aside, Uchiha Kai began his usual morning training and started jogging at a steady pace around Konoha.

Along the way, he learned quite a bit from the villagers.

"Hey, did you hear? The Sand Ninja have been completely beaten into submission by the village."

"Really? Didn't they say the situation was critical just a few days ago? They said the fighting had reached Mount Kikyo—it was practically on our doorstep..."

"That may be true, but it all depends on who's in charge. Lord Orochimaru was the commander this time! Isn't winning only natural?"

"That's true. That's Orochimaru, one of the Konoha Sannin—a powerful figure who made his name back in the Second Shinobi World War. I heard he'll be returning to the village soon."

"Really? If I could just see him once, it'd be worth dying for!"

Talk like this spread through the streets of Konoha, undoubtedly giving the villagers, who had been gripped by fear of the war, a much-needed boost of confidence.

"Hmm—the battle led by Orochimaru. If I remember correctly, it should be the Battle of Mount Kikyo. The original story didn't mention much about it, only that it happened during the Third Shinobi World War."

After finishing his morning training, the boy returned home. As he considered the information he had just gathered, he fell into deep thought.

"Based on what I know now, that event should be happening soon. An event that could practically be called an anchor point of the Hokage World..."

"The Battle of Kannabi Bridge..."

"Sigh, there's no point thinking so much about it. Even if I know more information right now, it won't do me any good. I might as well find a way to take on some missions and get stronger first." For no reason, the boy felt a wave of irritation.

"For now, I'll deal with the wolf pelt I skinned yesterday and restock on ninja tools."

"And get myself into shape for tomorrow's graduation exam..."

Having set his goals, Uchiha Kai immediately got to work. This time, however, his destination was not Konoha's shopping district.

In an empty district, outside a plainly decorated ninja tool shop.

Uchiha Kai pushed open the door and greeted the owner with practiced familiarity.

"Is Grandma Cat here? Sorry to disturb you."

Behind the counter, a kind-looking elderly woman spoke in delighted surprise.

"Kai! Come in, quickly."

"It's me. Sorry to trouble you, Grandma Cat."

"You child, why are you being so polite with me? I heard your class is graduating tomorrow?" the old woman asked warmly.

"Yeah, the graduation test is tomorrow. I thought I'd come by and restock on some ninja tools."

"Haha, so if you don't have business, you won't come visit this old woman, is that it?" Grandma Cat feigned anger, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.

"How could that be? I just had a minor physical issue and had no choice but to rest at home for two days." Uchiha Kai scratched his head as he replied.

"Alright, I know it hasn't been easy for you. Training so hard every day, it'd be strange if your body didn't have problems."

"Take it out. That bag of yours is stuffed to the brim—what have you brought this time?" the old woman asked, glancing over.

"Nothing gets past your sharp eyes. I ran into a few wolves while training yesterday. It took quite some trouble, but I managed to skin them and brought the pelts over to see what price they might fetch."

As he spoke, the boy opened his backpack, took out the three enormous wolf pelts inside, and handed them to the old woman.

"Oh? Wolf pelts..." The old woman took them, rubbed the fur between her fingers twice, then spread one out in full, marveling as she inspected it.

"This size, this toughness... Tsk, tsk, tsk..." The old woman turned to look at the boy.

"How strange. Are there really wolves this fierce within Konoha?"

"Haha, it was my first time encountering wolves that fierce too." The boy gave an awkward laugh. Just as he was considering how to explain, the old woman spoke again.

"Enough, enough. Three pelts, one hundred thousand ryo. Good goods are all that matter; I won't ask about anything else." The old woman counted out one hundred thousand ryo in banknotes onto the counter, then took out a small basket of brand-new ninja tools and pushed it toward the boy.

"This..."

"Take them and don't refuse. You know what kind of temper this old woman has. Consider them a bonus for this deal."

There was an unquestionable firmness in the old woman's voice as she forcefully pressed the ninja tools into the boy's hands.

"Thank you, Grandma Cat. Then I'll gladly accept."

With that, the boy put away the ninja tools and banknotes, said his farewells, and headed for the door.

"Make sure you do your best tomorrow. After working so hard for so long, you have to make their eyes pop out!" The moment he stepped outside, the old woman's heartfelt voice sounded from behind him.

The boy did not stop walking, merely answering calmly.

"I will."

On the way back, Uchiha Kai deliberately slowed his pace, walking through Konoha's streets and taking in the steadily rising bustle.

"Is that Kai-kun?!" A sweet girl's voice suddenly called out from behind him.

Uchiha Kai turned around in surprise. Before his eyes stood a short-haired girl with snow-white skin and delicate features—Hyuga Rei, his classmate.

"Eh~ It really is you! Kai-kun, did you come to restock on ninja tools for tomorrow?" The girl quickly approached, clasping her hands behind her back and tilting her head as she asked.

"Yeah. What about you, Rei?" Uchiha Kai replied.

"I came out to clear my head. I prepared all my ninja tools ages ago, but mentally, I'm not really prepared..." The girl poked her cheek, looking rather troubled.

"It's okay. If it's you, Rei, you'll definitely be fine. After all, everyone has seen how hard you've worked." Uchiha Kai spoke with a serious expression, completely unaware that anything was off.