The unexpected encounter with Kakuzu reminded Lin Cheng that the troublesome Akatsuki were still lurking in the shadows.
Considering the fanatical views of some of its members, Lin Cheng decided to avoid them for the time being!
So the disguise technique he hadn't used in ages came in handy once again!
After all this time, and with the disguise techniques he'd learned while studying medicine under Shennong, Lin Cheng had managed, more or less, to evade certain people who were secretly tracking him.
At the same time, to be safe, Lin Cheng made a point of avoiding Amegakure as he continued traveling.
He knew it was the Akatsuki's hideout!
Time flew by, and before they knew it, the year was 57 of Konoha.
The sounds of battle in the distance once again drew the curiosity of the two brothers, Lin Cheng and Kimimaro.
They approached and watched from the shadows. Lin Cheng and Kimimaro exchanged a glance and couldn't help laughing silently.
"I can't believe it's Kakashi! As expected of the Copy Ninja! He always ends up looking this battered!"
"Heh! He's just living up to his reputation!"
"Who's there?!"
Kakashi had just finished off his mission target. Startled, he immediately took a defensive stance!
"Long time no see, Kakashi! You're as battered as ever! When are you going to take down an enemy quickly and cleanly?"
Stepping out of the shadows, Lin Cheng removed his disguise mask and taunted him.
"No! No! That wouldn't live up to your reputation! You can't change it! You can't!"
Kimimaro, now completely cheerful by nature, immediately joined in with Lin Cheng's teasing.
"Lin Cheng?! Kimimaro?! It's you two!"
At the sight of them, Kakashi first looked startled, then broke into a delighted smile.
Though the two had changed a great deal, Kakashi still recognized them at a glance!
"Well? Happy to see us brothers again?"
Coming closer, Lin Cheng put his hands on his hips and asked with a grin.
"Of course! By the way, what are you doing here?"
Once his excitement had settled, Kakashi couldn't help asking.
"That's a strange question! We're always traveling around the world!
How many years has it been? We've only run into each other once!
Is that really so surprising?"
With his hands on his hips, Lin Cheng pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow, a look of scorn on his face.
"...You're right!"
After Lin Cheng had given him a thorough dressing-down, Kakashi wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant.
"Haha! Haha!"
"Haha! Haha!"
Seeing Kakashi like that, the two brothers burst out laughing without restraint!
It took a while, but at last Lin Cheng and Kimimaro—laughing so hard they could barely catch their breath—managed to stop, all while Kakashi looked at them reproachfully.
Then the three of them left the area and found a quiet place to catch up on what they'd been doing over the past few years.
Since Kakashi spent most of his time on missions with Konoha's Anbu, all he had to share were a few interesting stories from his assignments.
Lin Cheng and Kimimaro had it easier.
Aside from a few personal matters of Lin Cheng's, there was hardly anything the two couldn't talk about!
So the brothers told Kakashi about some of what had happened since they left the Land of Snow.
The Mist Village's continued pursuit, then the Iwagakure pursuit after they beat up the Tsuchikage's disciple.
They went to the Land of Lightning, where Cloud Village ninjas coveted their bloodlines, and then the Cloud Village pursued them too.
They found Princess Tsunade and asked her to treat them, but she refused.
Later, they went to study medicine under the legendary Shennong, only to run into Orochimaru.
And so on, and so on.
After listening to the brothers recount everything between them, Kakashi was utterly dumbfounded!
Before you continue