Betrayal to Konoha

In the iconic hospital of Konoha, the scent of disinfectant permeated every inch of the air.

The lights were pale and harsh, illuminating a quiet ward. Namikaze Minato and Hiruzen Sarutobi stood silently by the bedside, their expressions grave.

Namikaze Minato's brows were slightly furrowed, his signature golden hair lacking its usual luster. He stared intently at Kakashi on the bed, his eyes filled with worry and concern.

Kakashi lay on the bed, his face as pale as paper, cold sweat continuously beading on his forehead until it was drenched.

His brows were tightly knitted into a "chuan" shape, his hands unconsciously gripping the corner of the quilt, his knuckles turning white from the force.

In his dreams, the gruesome sight of Rin's death was like an inescapable black shadow, suffocating him.

His lips trembled slightly, and incoherent murmurs spilled from his throat, as if he were desperately screaming Rin's name or suffering in the agony of his own helplessness.

"Rin!"

Kakashi jolted awake and bolted into the bathroom. Once inside, he frantically twisted the faucet, and water cascaded out with a loud splash.

He shoved his right hand deep into the water and began to scrub it madly, as if his hand were stained with indelible sins and blood.

His movements were mechanical and hurried, his nails scraping hard against his skin until red welts appeared on the back of his hand, yet he remained oblivious, muttering incessantly: "Can't wash it off... why can't I wash it off..."

"Kakashi! Are you alright!"

Hearing the commotion, Namikaze Minato was burning with anxiety and crossed to the bathroom door in a few strides.

Seeing Kakashi in such a distraught state, he quickly stepped forward, grabbed Kakashi, and shook his shoulders firmly, trying to bring him back to his senses, his voice full of urgency and concern: "Kakashi, pull yourself together!"

"Minato-sensei... I... I'm sorry."

Kakashi scanned his surroundings and spoke to Namikaze Minato before him.

Namikaze Minato shook his head slightly, comforting him: "It's alright, Kakashi. You've already done your best."

Bang! As the door was pushed open, a Special Jonin ran in, panicked.

"It's bad! Lord Third, Lord Fourth! Someone has defected from the village!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils constricted as he looked at Namikaze Minato beside him. After all, he had already handed over power and now only served in an advisory role; he could not bypass the new Hokage to handle such matters.

After calming Kakashi down, Namikaze Minato rose slowly and said: "Anbu! Appear!"

"Lord Fourth Hokage!"

As soon as Namikaze Minato finished speaking, three figures sprang from the treetops outside the hospital and knelt, saying.

"Who is the defecting ninja?"

Hearing the Hokage's inquiry, the Anbu did not dare to hide anything and quickly replied: "It is a former Anbu ninja from the squad formed by Lord Third, codenamed 06. After the war ended, he resumed his identity as a member of the Uchiha clan. His name is Uchiha Shisui!"

"Shisui! How can this be!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi could not believe it. He had assumed it would be Orochimaru, who had failed his bid for Hokage, but he never expected it to be Uchiha Shisui, who had inherited the Will of Fire.

"What are you talking about? Uchiha Shisui? Isn't he already dead!"

Kakashi suddenly raised his head and demanded.

Facing Kakashi's question, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and replied: "He was indeed missing for a year, but after returning to the village, he remained in the Anbu. Anbu information is top secret, so it was not made public."

"I will bring him back! I don't believe he would defect from Konoha! I must find out the reason, Minato-sensei!"

Kakashi quickly dressed. His best friend, who had vanished for years, had suddenly defected—he didn't believe it! He needed to ask for the reason himself.

Seeing Kakashi suddenly snap out of the incident involving Rin, Namikaze Minato nodded and said: "The village is in ruins and needs rebuilding. The mission to retrieve Uchiha Shisui is entrusted to Lord Third and you, Kakashi!"

"Understood, Lord Fourth, rest assured. Since this is my issue, I will handle it properly."

With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi flipped his robe, revealing his dark green armor. He loosened his wrists and continued:

"Move out!"

Uchiha Shisui successfully escaped through the gates of Konoha. Just as he let out a sigh of relief, he keenly sensed a faint movement behind him.

Looking back, several Anbu appeared like ghosts. They wore black tight-fitting suits, their white masks exuding a chilling aura.

Shisui's heart tightened. He tapped his toes against a branch and used the momentum to dash forward at high speed. He pushed his Body Flicker Technique to its limit, his figure turning into a blur as he flashed through the forest.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" Sharp whistling sounds suddenly erupted. Shuriken and kunai, wrapped in biting cold, attacked Uchiha Shisui from all directions.

His eyes sharpened. Daring not to show the slightest slack, he leaped high into the air. The moment his feet left the branch, several cold glints grazed past his soles.

Before he could catch his breath, a massive fireball appeared in front of him without warning. Roaring flames surged, the heat wave rushing toward him, distorting the surrounding air.

Shisui realized instantly that the previous kunai and shuriken were meant to seal his movement, coordinating with this powerful ninjutsu to finish him off in one blow.

"You underestimate me!"

Before the words faded, Uchiha Shisui quickly drew the ninja blade from his back, the steel flashing with a cold light.

His figure moved like lightning. Utilizing the momentum of his leap, he tensed his arm muscles and slashed forward with all his might.

In an instant, a fierce sword beam wrapped in surging chakra whistled out like a bolt of white lightning, precisely cleaving the incoming massive fireball.

With a deafening "boom," the fireball was instantly torn apart by the sword beam. The raging flames splashed outward, sparks flying everywhere as a scorching heat wave swept in all directions.

As the fireball was split, the Anbu who had released the ninjutsu was exposed before Shisui's eyes.

The Anbu clearly hadn't expected their coordinated killing blow to be broken so easily, and a flicker of panic flashed in his eyes.

Uchiha Shisui did not hesitate; he tapped his feet lightly and surged forward instantly, like a swift hunting leopard.

A cold glint flashed from the ninja blade in his hand as he struck toward the Anbu with lightning speed. The Anbu had no time to mount an effective defense and could only instinctively raise his arm to block.

However, Uchiha Shisui's strike was full of power, and the sharp blade pierced straight through the Anbu's arm, driving deep into his chest.

The Anbu spat out a mouthful of blood, his body went limp, and he collapsed, breathing his last.

"Stop! Uchiha Shisui, do you know what you are doing!"

Kakashi arrived from the distance, just in time to see Uchiha Shisui's blade strike down a ninja of the village, and he shouted loudly in haste.

Having just finished off the Anbu, Uchiha Shisui, his blade still dripping with blood, slowly turned his head upon hearing the voice.

"Oh? So the reinforcements are Kakashi?" His expression was calm, and there was not a ripple of emotion in his tone, as if everything happening before him had nothing to do with him.

After a brief exchange of glances, he did not linger. He tapped the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, and used the momentum to leap backward like an arrow released from a bow, instantly widening the distance between himself and Kakashi.

Upon landing, he turned and sprinted toward the Land of Rain with astonishing speed, his figure flashing through the woods as every step made the branches creak.

"Kakashi! Stop dazing off, we must pursue him; he must not be allowed to escape the Land of Fire!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi leaped over from behind, patted Kakashi on the shoulder, and spoke.