The war was nearly over

"All right! Guy, let's go together!"

Kakashi struggled to stand, his face alight with excitement.

But Guy slowly shook his head and pressed a hand against his shoulder.

"I'll go with you, but not now."

Kakashi wanted to protest, urgency written all over his face.

Guy continued calmly.

"I don't know the details of what happened to you and Rin."

"But in those circumstances, if they chose to capture Rin alive instead of killing you both on the spot, they must have had another objective."

"For now, Rin's life probably isn't in danger."

Conflict and hesitation crossed Kakashi's face.

He admitted that Guy was right. His reasoning was perfectly sound.

But his worry for Rin's safety and his guilt over Obito's death...

Made it impossible for him to stay calm.

Guy looked Kakashi in the eyes and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"What we need most right now is to heal and recover our strength."

"Then we need to find out exactly what they want. Only then can we put together the most effective rescue plan."

Guy's voice grew stern.

"Kakashi, if you don't want your recklessness and impulsiveness to put Rin in real danger, or even get her killed..."

"You need to calm down right now!"

Those last words instantly cooled Kakashi's feverish mind.

He took several deep breaths, forcing down the urge to rush straight to Kirigakure.

Then he turned to Minato Namikaze, who had been listening silently, and spoke with determination.

"Sensei, I'd like to request a transfer to the Kirigakure front to investigate Rin's whereabouts."

A complicated expression crossed Minato Namikaze's face.

He understood how Kakashi felt.

As his teacher, his heart ached for his student.

But he also had to consider the bigger picture and take responsibility for his student's safety.

He glanced at White Fang