The Village and Identity!

The Grass Village!

"It must be that carriage!"

"Find them! Bring them back! The village can't lose that brat!"

"Send everyone out! Bring them back at all costs!"

The Grass Village leader roared at the village's senior officials in his brightly lit office.

They'd only discovered the woman from the Uzumaki Clan was dead when someone went to deliver her food that night. The younger one had also disappeared. They immediately launched an investigation and soon found that the two guards had been caught in a genjutsu. They also located the two people in the alley, which was how they identified their prime suspect: the carriage that had left at dusk.

"Yes!"*N

One Grass Ninja after another left the village and began pursuing them.

Several hours later, in the dead of night, they found the carriage parked in a secluded spot.

"Damn it, we've been tricked!"

The Grass Ninja in charge swore under his breath.

It was obvious the other side had used the carriage to draw their attention, then escaped in another direction.

All they could do now was hope the Grass Ninja searching in other directions would find something.

Unfortunately, no good news came, even days later. Little Karin and the three mysterious targets had vanished from the Land of Grass without a trace.

The Grass Ninja were furious, but they couldn't continue their search.

The Uzumaki Clan carried considerable influence, after all. They'd be in trouble if anyone learned what they'd done, so they could only pretend nothing had happened and swallow their anger for now. However, they had placed bounties at the Bounty Station on the people who'd been in disguise.

Meanwhile!

Only after White Dove and the others found the basic Sealing Jutsu materials in the Land of Grass did they meet up with Inabi and slowly make their way back to Konoha. The extended return trip also gave White Dove time to adjust to his newly transplanted Mangekyō Sharingan (Kamui).

There was still one lingering issue to deal with.

"Lord White Dove, what exactly happened earlier? How did I end up unconscious for so long?"

After Kakashi came to, he asked with a frown.

Nearly a week had passed since he'd lost consciousness at the mission site, so naturally he wanted to know why.

Of course, he also felt a faint ache in his left eye. An examination revealed nothing wrong, and his body even felt much lighter, as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from it.

Well, going from a Mangekyō to a three-Tomoe Sharingan would naturally make things feel a lot easier on his body.

"We ran into Killer B's team. They ambushed us, and you lost consciousness. You only woke up today."

White Dove gave him an explanation.

Whether the other side believed it was up to them. He believed it, and that was enough.

As for whether the F4 would wonder why he hadn't taken back Kakashi's three-Tomoe Sharingan, or suspect there was a plot behind it...

They could think whatever they liked.

If they suspected Kakashi had been bought off because his three-Tomoe Sharingan hadn't been taken back, all the better.

He'd already gotten what he really wanted—Kamui—and there was no need to keep targeting Kakashi. It might even be possible to turn him to their side.

Kakashi was a direct subordinate of the Hokage Faction. If White Dove could really win him over, he'd be a crucial piece on the board.

In the original story, Kakashi had even managed to become Hokage. That showed just how much influence he held within the Hokage Faction. So it was no wonder White Dove had set his sights on him after reclaiming the Mangekyō.

"I see..."

Kakashi didn't ask anything further.

White Dove outranked him in both status and strength. Kakashi had no right to press him for answers.

As for Samui, she was currently sealed inside a box, which Inabi and Tekka took turns carrying. From the outside, there was no way to tell what was inside.

Only little Karin was openly at their side, with nothing to hide.

After all, if they wanted her to grow up in Konoha, they couldn't keep her hidden. It was important that she have an identity she could live openly under.

For example, they could say they'd found her among the refugees they'd encountered on the way back, and that White Dove planned to have Aunt Yezue adopt her as his younger sister.

Yes, that excuse was airtight.

With his current status, he was certainly in a position to pull something like that off.

Of course, Karin's hair was black now.

Red hair... They might as well just say she was from the Uzumaki Clan.

Though with his current status, he could protect an Uzumaki orphan, it would be troublesome, and countless people would covet her.

That was why White Dove had her "dye" her hair. It would make the adoption process easy.

And once she was adopted by him—or rather, by Aunt Yezue—her surname could become Uchiha. That way, she'd be Uchiha Karin instead of Karin Uzumaki, and no one could uncover anything from her name.

In a few years, even if someone uncovered the truth, it would be too late.

Under those circumstances, the group returned to Konoha.

"Ah!"

"We're finally back!"

"Karin, we'll be home soon. Mom will definitely like you. After that, you can go to the Ninja Academy and make friends!"

Izumi led little Karin along, comforting her.

It was Karin's first time in Konoha, so she was bound to feel out of place. That made Izumi's reassurance especially important.

Aside from anything involving White Dove, Izumi was practically perfect in every way.

Gentle, thoughtful, calm, strong, beautiful... She could be described with every wonderful word imaginable.

Unfortunately, she was a pervert and a yandere!

So after only a few days on the road, Karin had already grown very attached to Izumi.

Inabi was currently handling their registration, while Tekka had already taken the box containing Samui back to the clan compound.

Normally, they would have inspected it, but White Dove's status was what it was. Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki simply pretended not to notice.

It wasn't as if there was no precedent for this. People from the Hokage Faction didn't need to be inspected when they came and went.

The Uchiha were watching the village closely anyway. The village leaders would find out even if Kotetsu and Izumo didn't report it, so there was no point in needlessly offending anyone.

The two "gatekeepers" had really mastered the art of handling people. No wonder they'd held on to their positions for so many years. They practically had the position locked down.

"All right, Inabi, you and Izumi take little Karin home first. Kakashi and I will go to the Hokage Building to turn in the mission!"

After completing their registration, White Dove gave the others their instructions.

They'd naturally have to split up now.

All he needed was Kakashi to turn in the mission with him.

"Yes, Dove!"*2

"Yes, sir!"

The others quickly left.

White Dove and Kakashi headed for the Hokage Building.

While they were still on their way, the F4 had already assembled in the Hokage Building.

After hearing the Anbu report, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, puzzled,

"What happened? Kakashi still has his Sharingan?"

He didn't believe that White Dove, who'd defeated Uchiha Fugaku and had struck first, wouldn't have been able to reclaim the Sharingan.

"Hmph. Maybe Kakashi defected to the Uchiha, which is why the other side didn't take his Sharingan back!"

Danzo gave his sinister guess.

He didn't like Kakashi. After all, he'd been involved in White Fang's downfall. And in the past, Kakashi had caused him to lose his only Wood Release test subject, Yamato. How could he possibly like him?

"Kakashi would never betray us!"

Mitokado Homura shook his head, refuting Danzo's claim.

After all, they'd watched Kakashi grow up and knew what kind of person he was. They couldn't let Danzo destroy him.

"Exactly. Danzo, you can't target him!"

Utatane Koharu warned Danzo as well. She knew his ways all too well. If no one stood up for Kakashi, Danzo might make a move against him at any moment.

Seeing their reaction, along with Sarutobi Hiruzen's obvious stance, Danzo gave up on trying to smear Kakashi while he had the chance and said directly,

"No matter the reason, we gave him the opportunity. If he couldn't take the Sharingan back, that's his problem. It means we've fulfilled our end of the agreement!"

He was implying that the deal was done and that he could now reveal the Sharingan in his eye.

As expected of his good friend, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in agreement.

"Exactly. We can't let him make another move. Kakashi is one of ours!"

Well, now he remembered Kakashi was one of their own.

Danzo was naturally satisfied with that answer, and he stopped targeting Kakashi. At the same time, he felt frustrated and curious about how this arrangement had failed.

After all, in his mind, both Kumogakure and Orochimaru should have been able to deal with Uchiha White Dove easily. Yet somehow, the other side had managed to complete the mission and return. How could he not be curious?

Amid that atmosphere, White Dove and Kakashi arrived at the Hokage's office.