Unresolved Regret

Shortly after the Sensory Division sounded the alarm, Kakashi received eyewitness reports of the intruders.

The iconic black cloaks patterned with red clouds left no doubt: Akatsuki had invaded Konoha.

Kakashi immediately flashed to the rooftop. Looking at the village already plunged into chaos, that familiar feeling of helplessness surged up within him again.

Ever since becoming director, that feeling had plagued Kakashi almost every day.

Reviving Konoha required money, but where was he supposed to get it?

The Daimyo cut Konoha's funding every year. The little money they earned from mission commissions was barely a drop in the bucket. Then there was Konoha's declining population, Akatsuki's designs on the Nine-Tails, the need to suppress Danzo's ambitions, and the two advisors occasionally telling him what to do.

All of it had worn Kakashi down to utter exhaustion.

And now Akatsuki had finally made their move against Konoha, but Konoha in its current state was truly a mess beyond words.

There was no other way. He could only do his utmost.

After ordering the Anbu to guide civilians to safety, requesting reinforcements from the Daimyo, and arranging for someone to summon Naruto back from Mount Myoboku, Kakashi raced around the village handling emergencies—until he finally stood before the Deva Path of Pain.

Root.

Danzo hid in Base Camp with his subordinates. As reports continued to arrive, the cold smile on his face deepened, while his men grew increasingly restless.

"Lord Danzo, even if you become the one leading the village, wouldn't everything be meaningless if the village and its people were gone?"

Danzo answered expressionlessly, "Kakashi is still the leader, after all. I trust he will find a way to deal with Pain. It will not come to total annihilation. Besides, this is a necessary sacrifice for me. Everything is