Kitahara Kaede quickly began carrying out his duties as squad leader. In truth, he was already quite accustomed to it.
Ever since he had been promoted to Chunin, he had led the team on several missions. And since missions during peacetime were not particularly dangerous, their teacher, Akai Akimoto, had long since become a hands-off manager. Today merely confirmed that authority had been fully delegated.
"Today's mission is picking up trash. Sigh, another boring mission."
Soten Genryu sighed.
"When will we get a proper ninja mission?"
"Then you'll be so scared you can't move again," Hyuga Keiko mocked mercilessly.
That reminded everyone of a previous mission. The first time Soten Genryu had experienced a real ninja battle, the killing intent of the enemy Chunin had scared him so badly that he could not move.
Yes, even an Elite Chunin who had barely any presence in the original story still held an overwhelming advantage over ordinary Genin.
"That was ages ago, all right? Teacher said I already have Chunin-level strength. I'll definitely pass the next Chunin Ninja Exams," Soten Genryu said indignantly.
Kitahara Kaede nodded at that. His two teammates had also begun to possess Chunin-level strength. Under ordinary circumstances, being promoted to Chunin would not be difficult for them, but the next Chunin Ninja Exams would be hell mode.
They would run into the major incident where Otogakure and Sunagakure joined forces to attack Konoha. In the end, only Shikamaru would be recognized for his exceptional mind and talent for commanding a squad, allowing him to become a Chunin. Everyone else would become cannon fodder.
Yes, early Naruto still had such a rule: to become a Chunin, one had to possess the intelligence and ability to command Genin.
Unlike later on, when everything completely went off the rails.
"Come on. Let's hurry up and finish today's mission."
Kitahara Kaede waved a hand as he spoke.
--
After a busy day—more precisely, after spending most of the day picking up trash—Kitahara Kaede returned home with the ten thousand ryo reward for completing the mission. After finishing the dinner prepared by his mother, Kitahara Yoshiko, he entered his study, opened the Sealing Scroll he carried with him, and undid the seal. An exquisite Diary appeared before him.
As usual, he began writing today's entry.
May 11, Sunny
[Teacher Akai had actually been promoted to Tokubetsu Jonin. While that was good news, being transferred into the Anbu was not. The Konoha Crush Plan was about to begin, and being near the Third Hokage at that time would be anything but safe. Orochimaru might casually kill him.
This was Shippuden, not an era where Kage Level ninja were a dime a dozen. In this era, even if the early Hatake the 50/50 went all out against Orochimaru, he probably could not even achieve mutual destruction. Orochimaru's oppressive presence was still terrifying, though later he became Snake Lady, and it seemed like anyone and everyone could beat him up.
But as always, the times were different.]
At the same time, in the Hatake Clan ancestral estate, Hatake Kakashi sensed the notification that the Diary had updated. He hurriedly put down the towel he had been using to dry his hair, ran to the table, and opened the Diary. He immediately saw the entry inside.
He read through the contents of the entry at an astonishing speed.
At the same time, he opened a dossier beside him containing information on Kitahara Kaede. It recorded every traceable detail of Kitahara Kaede's life since birth.
Kitahara Kaede. His father had only been an ordinary Chunin and had already died on a mission. He now depended on each other with his mother, Kitahara Yoshiko.
The Kitahara Family had been native residents when the First Hokage established Konoha. Though they did not come from a ninja clan and Kaede himself was not some especially gifted genius, his background was still entirely respectable.
His teacher was Akai Akimoto, an ordinary Elite Chunin.
However, Kakashi immediately crossed out the words "Elite Chunin" with his pen and replaced them with "Tokubetsu Jonin."
"He's already been promoted to Tokubetsu Jonin?"
Hatake Kakashi frowned. Although this did not entirely match the intelligence report, he did not care too much.
Apparently, it had happened only today. It was only natural that he had not received the latest intelligence.
He had asked colleagues in the Anbu to gather this information. It was not classified in the first place, since the Kitahara Family's information did not have any confidentiality rating.
But that was not the point. Soon, several words made his pupils contract slightly.
The Konoha Crush Plan!
Those words instantly put the war-hardened Hatake Kakashi on alert.
And they still said this Kitahara Kaede was not a spy?
He even knew the name of this invasion plan.
Hatake Kakashi thought again of what Kaede's dossier stated: he was merely an ordinary Chunin with mediocre talent. He trained diligently, but had only been promoted to Chunin half a year ago and possessed only the strength of a typical Chunin.
Being promoted to Chunin was something that had happened far too long ago for Hatake Kakashi—nearly twenty years ago.
With his talent and ability, becoming a Chunin had been effortless. Even becoming a Jonin had not been difficult.
But after he became a Jonin, the price he paid for the gift Obito had given him was simply too great.
Thinking of that, Hatake Kakashi touched the Sharingan in his left eye. It was the relic left behind by his old friend Obito. He had carried Obito's eye with him as he watched the world for all these years, and before he knew it, many years had passed.
He had lost everything as well: his father, his mother, his teacher, Master's Wife, his close friend Obito Uchiha, and Rin.
Even now, despite having tempered his heart into stone, he still felt a faint ache in his chest.
His thoughts drifted for a moment, but Hatake Kakashi quickly pulled himself back and focused once more on the Diary's contents.
Konoha. Crush. Plan?
And Orochimaru!
He was someone whose existence alone could make those in Konoha who knew of him stop breathing.
A terrifying existence hailed as someone who could stand on equal footing with the Kage of every village.
When Orochimaru defected from Konoha, Hatake Kakashi had once pursued him and nearly died at his hands.
But Kitahara Kaede's Diary said that even if Kakashi went all out against Orochimaru, he would be unable to achieve mutual destruction?
That had been back then. Now, he should at least be able to guarantee mutual destruction, right?
Hatake Kakashi was not so confident. After all, Orochimaru was an existence on the same level as his father. The Diary was not wrong at all to call him a Kage Level expert.
But what did it mean by Orochimaru becoming Snake Lady?
What was that supposed to mean?
Hatake Kakashi did not understand it at all.
Still, even if Orochimaru became some so-called Snake Lady, there was no way just anyone could beat him up, was there?
Hatake Kakashi could not imagine such a scene.
Before you continue