Kakashi, Will You Help Akatsuki?

"Theoretically, it is possible!" Shiraishi said after a brief pause.

Kakashi looked excited. "Then..."

"I can help you attempt to summon the other two deceased, but before that, I have a mission I would like to entrust to you." Shiraishi did not agree immediately.

"What mission?" Kakashi asked without hesitation.

Shiraishi looked at Kakashi, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. "Do you know of the Land of Rain?"

"I do. It is the country where the demigod Hanzo resides, located between three great nations, and it frequently becomes a battlefield for their conflicts." Kakashi recounted everything he knew.

Shiraishi nodded with a smile and continued, "A ninja organization called the Akatsuki has appeared in the Land of Rain. Their founder, Yahiko, has proposed a philosophy of abandoning violence and achieving peace through communication, dialogue, and unity among all parties."

After speaking, Shiraishi looked at Hatake Sakumo and asked, "Does it seem naive to you, Senior Sakumo?"

Sakumo gave a wry smile and offered a tactful assessment: "It is a... kind philosophy, but in the current ninja world, these ninjas will only end up as sacrifices to conspiracies."

"Indeed! What a naive philosophy, what naive ninjas." After sighing, the smile on Shiraishi's face faded, replaced by a serious expression. He looked at Sakumo with sincere eyes and said firmly, "But I do not think such naivety should be sacrificed so easily."

Sakumo was stunned; he understood the meaning behind Shiraishi's expression and words.

"You want to help them?"

Shiraishi nodded candidly and continued, "Not just to help them, but for the sake of Konoha as well."

"For the sake of Konoha?" Sakumo did not quite understand, and Kakashi, standing to the side, fell into deep thought.

"The Land of Rain borders three great nations simultaneously, making its strategic position extremely important.

If an organization like the Akatsuki—which is willing to abandon violence and attempt to achieve peace through communication and cooperation—could become the new military leadership of the Land of Rain, then I believe the benefits to Konoha would outweigh the risks." Shiraishi explained his perspective to the two of them.

Of course, this was only Shiraishi's superficial reasoning. Aside from finding it interesting, he wanted Kakashi to help the Akatsuki because he had his eye on their manpower.

Using mass-produced low-level Soul-Calling Banners to collect souls was merely a stopgap measure, a temporary tactic employed while Shiraishi's injuries had yet to heal.

In the future, if he wanted to efficiently absorb every soul that died in this world, Shiraishi would need to set up a formation that enveloped the entire continent.

The materials and energy required to set up such a formation would be immense.

Not to mention that the maintenance required after the formation was established would demand a significant amount of labor.

If Shiraishi were to complete all this work alone, it would undoubtedly waste a vast amount of his time and energy.

Therefore, Shiraishi would eventually need an organization directly under his command to help him maintain the operation of the formation.

The Akatsuki 1.0, currently led by Yahiko, seemed like a suitable candidate in Shiraishi's eyes.

He only needed to bring them some hope, leading them to view him—and the formation he would eventually construct—as the harbinger of peace and the hope for its protection.

"You are right." Sakumo pondered Shiraishi's explanation and agreed.

"Senior Shiraishi, do you want me to go to the Land of Rain and help the Akatsuki develop?" Kakashi also began to grasp Shiraishi's intent.

Shiraishi nodded. Looking at Kakashi, he deliberately used a meaningful tone: "This is a private mission. The ninja who goes to the Land of Rain cannot reveal their identity publicly; otherwise, it will trigger a conflict between the village and Amegakure."

"I understand. I am willing to accept this mission." Kakashi said with a firm tone. Under Shiraishi's misdirection, he had interpreted this as a classified mission that could not be exposed. To see Obito and Rin again, he was willing to take the huge risk.

"Kakashi, go ahead and do it!" Sakumo looked at his child without stopping him. As an irresponsible father, he had no standing to block his son's ideas.

The only thing he could do for Kakashi was to help him complete the mission with all his might.

"Normally, at your age, you shouldn't be assigned such a dangerous mission, but now with Senior Sakumo's help, I think it will be much safer." Shiraishi said to Kakashi.

"Senior Shiraishi, what do you mean by that?" Kakashi looked at his father, then back at Shiraishi, feeling confused.

"You don't think the Summoning Jutsu is only for meeting the deceased again, do you?" Shiraishi asked with a smile.

Kakashi looked surprised. "What do you mean?"

"A Spirit Medium is a powerful profession capable of fighting by borrowing the power of the dead." Shiraishi said, dropping a bombshell.

As soon as his words left his lips, both Kakashi and Hatake Sakumo wore expressions of astonishment.

"Fighting by borrowing the power of the dead?" Kakashi's eyes widened.

"Let me give you a demonstration!" Shiraishi stepped forward and grabbed Kakashi.

Endless darkness instantly swallowed them both, and in the blink of an eye, the consciousness of Shiraishi and Kakashi returned to reality.

"We're back?" Kakashi, his consciousness restored, stared blankly at the ninja blade in his hand, then quickly looked up at Shiraishi.

Shiraishi nodded, then reached out and pointed at the blade in Kakashi's hand. A wisp of black energy flew from his fingertip into the steel.

Under Shiraishi's guidance, the soul of Hatake Sakumo emerged from the broken blade, standing beside Kakashi as a translucent spirit.

"Senior Sakumo, try entering Kakashi's body." Shiraishi said to Sakumo.

"Will this harm Kakashi?" Hatake Sakumo asked with concern.

"As long as it is not frequent or prolonged possession, it will not cause harm to Kakashi." Shiraishi explained.

Hearing this, Sakumo felt slightly relieved. Controlling his spirit, he transformed into a ray of light and flew into Kakashi's body with Shiraishi's help.

"Kakashi, calm your mind and truly feel your father's soul." Shiraishi said to Kakashi.

Kakashi nodded quickly and closed his eyes.

"Kakashi, do not resist. Let me take control of your body." Sakumo's voice echoed in Kakashi's mind.

"Mn!" Kakashi replied with his consciousness. He felt a powerful spirit begin to vie with him for control of his body, so he retracted his consciousness and surrendered the struggle.

Seconds later, Kakashi opened his exposed right eye, his gaze now carrying a hint of sharpness and the weight of years.

"The Sharingan places too great a burden on Kakashi's body." Upon gaining control of the body, Sakumo's first concern was his son's physical state.

"The Uchiha's Sharingan is indeed powerful, but for those outside the clan, it is an immense strain," Shiraishi remarked.

Sakumo continued to acclimate to Kakashi's body, raising the broken blade in his hand with one arm as a flicker of nostalgia crossed his eyes.

This Chakra Ninja Blade had been forged with the village's assistance only after Sakumo had expended a vast amount of funds and merit.

The entire blade was forged from chakra metal; when infused with chakra during combat, it was incomparably sharp, capable of slicing through anything with ease.

Regrettably, it had now become a broken blade.

Sakumo did not wish to reproach Kakashi, yet he was truly perplexed: how exactly had this Chakra Ninja Blade ended up broken in Kakashi's hands?