"Theoretically, it's possible!" Shiraishi said after a brief pause.
Kakashi's face lit up with excitement. "Then..."
"I can help you try to summon the other two deceased, but before that, I have a task I'd like to entrust to you." Shiraishi didn't agree outright.
"What task?" Kakashi asked without hesitation.
Shiraishi looked at Kakashi, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Do you know about the Land of Rain?"
"I do. It's the country where Demigod Hanzo lives, situated between three great nations. It often becomes a battlefield when those nations go to war." Kakashi told him everything he knew.
Shiraishi smiled and nodded, then continued, "A ninja organization called the Akatsuki has appeared in the Land of Rain. Its founder, Yahiko, proposed abandoning violence and bringing all sides together through communication and cooperation, in the hope of achieving peace."
When he finished, Shiraishi looked at Sakumo and asked, "Doesn't it sound naive, Senior Sakumo?"
Sakumo gave a wry smile, but still offered a tactful assessment. "It's a... kind-hearted ideal, but in today's Shinobi World, those ninjas will only become victims of schemes."
"Indeed! What a naive ideal, and what naive ninjas." Shiraishi sighed. Then the smile faded from his face, replaced by a serious expression. Looking Sakumo in the eye with utter sincerity, he said firmly, "But I don't think such naivety should be sacrificed so easily."
Sakumo froze. From Shiraishi's expression and words, he understood what Shiraishi meant.
"You want to help them?"
Shiraishi nodded frankly, then continued, "Not only to help them, but also for Konoha."
"For Konoha?" Sakumo didn't quite understand, and Kakashi beside him fell into deep thought.
"The Land of Rain borders three great nations, making its strategic position extremely important.
"If an organization like the Akatsuki, whose ninjas are willing to abandon violence and pursue peace through communication and cooperation, could become the Land of Rain's new military leadership, I think the benefits for Konoha would outweigh the drawbacks." Shiraishi explained his view to the two of them.
Of course, that was only the view Shiraishi presented on the surface. One reason he wanted Kakashi to help the Akatsuki was that it seemed interesting; another was that he had his eye on the organization's manpower.
Using batches of low-grade Soul-Calling Banners to collect souls was only a stopgap measure, a temporary solution Shiraishi had adopted while his injuries were still healing.
In the future, if he wanted to absorb every soul that died in this world efficiently, Shiraishi would need to set up a formation covering the entire continent.
Setting up such a formation would require an enormous amount of materials and effort.
And maintaining it after it was in place would require plenty of manpower as well.
If Shiraishi handled all of this alone, it would undoubtedly waste a great deal of his time and energy.
Therefore, in the future, Shiraishi would need an organization under his direct control to help maintain the formation.
In Shiraishi's eyes, the Akatsuki 1.0, led by Yahiko, was a suitable choice.
All Shiraishi needed to do was give them hope, so they would see him—and the formation he would eventually establish—as the hope that would bring peace and protect it.
"You're right." Sakumo considered what Shiraishi had just said and agreed.
"Senior Shiraishi, you want me to go to the Land of Rain and help the Akatsuki grow?" Kakashi had more or less understood Shiraishi's intention.
Shiraishi nodded and looked at Kakashi, deliberately speaking in a meaningful tone. "This is a private mission. Any ninja heading to the Land of Rain must keep their identity hidden. Otherwise, it could provoke a conflict between the village and Amegakure."
"I understand. I'm willing to take on the mission," Kakashi said firmly. Misled by Shiraishi, he had come to believe this was a top-secret mission that could never be exposed. To see Obito and Rin again, he was willing to take the considerable risk.
"Kakashi, go ahead and do what you need to do!" Sakumo looked at his son and didn't try to stop him. As an irresponsible father, he had no right to stand in the way of his son's decision.
The only thing he could do for Kakashi was help him complete the mission with everything he had.
"Given your age, I wouldn't normally assign you such a dangerous mission. But with Senior Sakumo's help, I think you'll be much safer," Shiraishi told Kakashi.
"Senior Shiraishi, what do you mean?" Kakashi glanced at his father, then looked back at Shiraishi, confused.
"Did you think the Summoning Technique would only let you meet the dead again?" Shiraishi asked with a smile.
Kakashi looked astonished. "You mean...?"
"Spirit Channelers are a powerful profession. They can borrow the strength of the dead to fight," Shiraishi said, astonishingly.
At his words, both Kakashi and Hatake Sakumo looked stunned.
"Borrow the strength of the dead to fight?" Kakashi's eyes widened.
"I'll let you experience it." Shiraishi stepped forward and grabbed Kakashi.
Endless darkness swallowed them both. In the blink of an eye, Shiraishi and Kakashi's consciousness had returned to reality.
"We're back?" Kakashi, coming to, stared blankly at the Ninja Blade in his hand, then quickly looked up at Shiraishi.
Shiraishi nodded, then pointed at the Ninja Blade in Kakashi's hand. A wisp of black energy flew from his fingertip and entered the blade.
At Shiraishi's guidance, Hatake Sakumo's soul emerged from the Broken Blade, taking the form of a semi-transparent spirit beside Kakashi.
"Senior Sakumo, try entering Kakashi's body," Shiraishi said to Sakumo.
"Will that hurt Kakashi?" Hatake Sakumo asked with concern.
"As long as you don't possess him too often or for too long, it won't hurt Kakashi," Shiraishi explained.
Hearing this, Sakumo felt somewhat reassured. With Shiraishi's help, he took control of his body and transformed into a streak of spiritual light that flew into Kakashi.
"Kakashi, calm down and focus on your father's soul," Shiraishi told him.
Kakashi nodded quickly and closed his eyes.
"Kakashi, don't resist. Let me control your body," Sakumo's voice sounded in Kakashi's mind.
"Okay!" Kakashi replied mentally. He felt a powerful spirit begin to struggle with him for control of his body, so he drew his own consciousness inward and stopped resisting.
A few seconds later, Kakashi opened his visible right eye. His gaze had grown sharper, and there was a hint of weariness in it.
"The Sharingan puts too much strain on Kakashi's body." After gaining control, Sakumo's first concern was his son's condition.
"The Uchiha Sharingan is certainly powerful, but for those outside the clan, it's a tremendous burden," Shiraishi commented.
Sakumo continued getting used to Kakashi's body. He raised the Broken Blade in one hand, a trace of nostalgia passing through his eyes.
This Chakra Ninja Blade had cost Sakumo a great deal of money and merit. The village had helped him have it made.
The entire blade had been forged from Chakra Metal. It conducted and channeled Chakra in battle, making it incredibly sharp and capable of easily cutting through anything.
Unfortunately, it had now become a Broken Blade.
Sakumo didn't want to blame Kakashi, but he couldn't help wondering how, exactly, the Chakra Ninja Blade had broken in Kakashi's hands.
Before you continue