Kakashi Hatake!

Konoha.

Over the next few days.

Konoha's power structure underwent an unprecedented reshuffle.

The Four Great Clans were left in misery.

Shikaku Nara was like a cold-blooded viper.

Leading the elite forces of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans, he sank his teeth into the assets of the Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans.

Any hidden ledgers or transferred funds were dug up and exposed.

The four clan heads dared to rage, but not to speak.

They understood perfectly well.

The moment they dared resist, that hundreds-of-meters-tall Wood Golem would descend upon them.

Senju Compound.

Chiba lay on a rattan lounge chair in the courtyard.

Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves and fell across his cheek.

In a corner of the courtyard, Uzumaki Naruto was hugging a huge bowl of Ichiraku Ramen and wolfing it down.

The little guy's mouth was slick with grease.

Every now and then, he looked up at Chiba, his blue eyes brimming with excitement.

Ever since coming here.

No one had called him the Demon Fox.

There was endless meat and ramen to eat every day.

This was practically heaven.

Just then.

A figure appeared before Chiba.

Aburame Shibi wore dark glasses and was wrapped from head to toe in a voluminous trench coat.

"Lord Chiba."

The next moment.

Aburame Shibi dropped to one knee, adopting a humble posture.

"The Anbu intelligence network has been fully taken over."

"The Four Great Clans have handed over nearly ten billion ryo in funds, along with countless Explosive Tags and ninja tools."

"..."

Aburame Shibi's tone was calm.

Yet his heart had long since been swept by raging waves.

This was the entire fortune of the Four Great Clans.

Yet before this young lord, they were as fragile as paper toys.

"Only this much?"

Chiba did not even raise his eyelids.

At that.

Aburame Shibi hurriedly pulled a sealed Scroll from his coat.

Holding it in both hands, he presented it to Chiba.

"This is what you requested."

"The top-secret files concerning Hatake Sakumo."

Chiba sat up.

He picked up the Scroll and casually tore off its seal.

The densely packed words upon it seemed to carry the stench of rot and blood.

Danzo's framing.

Root's manipulation from behind the scenes.

And Sarutobi Hiruzen's tacit approval.

"How filthy."

Chiba sneered.

The Will of Fire?

It was nothing more than a fig leaf the higher-ups used to brainwash people.

On the morning of the fifth day.

Chiba pushed open the gates of the Senju Compound and headed for the Hokage Building.

As he walked.

The street vendors, patrolling ninja, villagers who had risen early...

Everyone seemed to have been hit by a paralysis jutsu.

They immediately stopped what they were doing and moved aside, opening a wide path from afar.

Not a single person dared lift their head and meet Chiba's gaze.

Even the ninja who had once been fiercely loyal to Sarutobi Hiruzen now kept their heads bowed low.

Before absolute violence.

All unwillingness was futile.

Hokage Building.

The two Anbu guards at the entrance saw Chiba approaching.

Their muscles instinctively tensed, and even their hands trembled uncontrollably.

Chiba did not spare them a glance.

He pushed open the doors and headed straight up the stairs.

The Hokage Office that had once belonged to Sarutobi Hiruzen was now empty.

That old man who always smoked a pipe had not dared set foot in the place for five straight days.

Chiba pulled out the chair and sat down with an imposing air.

He lifted his eyes and looked toward an empty corner.

"Bring Kakashi here."

The shadows in the corner twisted slightly.

An Anbu vanished in response.

A few minutes later.

The door to the Hokage Office was pushed open.

Kakashi, with silver hair and an animal mask, walked in.

He stopped three meters from the desk and dropped to one knee.

"You summoned me."

Kakashi's voice was somewhat hoarse.

He had suffered immensely during this time.

Konoha had changed too quickly.

As an Anbu squad captain, he could not make sense of the future at all.

He understood only one thing.

The absurdly young man before him could easily raze Konoha to the ground.

Chiba leaned back in his chair.

His fingers interlocked, his elbows resting on the desk.

"Take off your mask."

Kakashi's body stiffened slightly.

He raised a hand and slowly removed the mask.

That perpetually half-lidded dead-fish eye now held unmistakable exhaustion.

"I'll be leaving the village for a few days."

"I'm going to the Capital of Land of Fire."

"While I'm gone, take care of Uzumaki Naruto for me."

Chiba's tone was calm.

But Kakashi abruptly raised his head, his pupils contracting violently.

Naruto?

That child everyone despised, the child the higher-ups had designated a taboo?

"You..."

Kakashi instinctively wanted to ask.

Chiba cut him off directly.

"He is a distant relative of my Senju Clan, and the flesh and blood of the Fourth Hokage."

"Since you were Minato Namikaze's disciple."

"Protecting him is only natural."

Kakashi's breathing suddenly grew rapid.

How could he not know Naruto's true identity?

That was the only bloodline his teacher had left in this world!

But.

The Third generation had issued a strict order.

No one was to approach Naruto, nor reveal his identity.

Kakashi could only hide in the shadows.

Watching villagers throw stones at him.

Watching that child drink expired milk and eat moldy bread.

That tearing agony had nearly driven Kakashi mad.

"What?"

"Are you still afraid of Sarutobi Hiruzen's order?"

"You don't need to worry."

"On the day I formally succeed as the Fifth Hokage."

"I will announce Naruto's identity to the entire village."

"He is the Child of a Hero. He should not be living in the sewers."

Kakashi clenched his fists tightly.

His nails dug deep into his palms, and blood seeped out.

His heart, dead for so many years, suddenly began to pound violently.

This new ruler actually intended to rip away the higher-ups' hypocritical facade.

"I understand."

"I will protect him with my life."

Kakashi lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly.

Just as he thought the conversation was over.

Smack!

A thick Scroll slammed onto the floor before Kakashi.

"Take a look."

There was not a trace of warmth in Chiba's voice.

Kakashi picked up the Scroll in confusion.

The instant he saw its cover, his hands began to shake violently.

It was an Anbu top-secret file.

A line was written across it: Hatake Sakumo Suicide Incident Investigation Report.

Kakashi tore open the Scroll like a madman, his eyes rapidly scanning every line.

The source of the rumors.

Root's hidden hand.

Anbu's indulgence.

The cold decision made at the high-level meeting.

Everything was laid out before his eyes with perfect clarity.

His father had not been driven to death by the villagers' accusations.

He had been strangled by Konoha's higher-ups using the filthiest political methods!

To suppress Konoha's White Fang, whose prestige had been at its peak.

They had forcibly snapped the sharpest blade they possessed!

"Ah..."

A despairing growl escaped Kakashi's throat.

The world spun around him.

What had he been doing all these years?

He had served like a dog for the enemies who had driven his father to death!

He had even held the Will of Fire as his guiding principle!

Looking at Kakashi, who stood on the verge of collapse.

A flicker of pity crossed Chiba's eyes.

All these years.

Kakashi had lived within the lies woven by Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Now.

The lies had shattered.

"Does it hurt?"

"Sarutobi Hiruzen is a hypocrite."

"He indulged Danzo in doing every kind of dirty deed while he himself hid in the light and basked in the applause."

"Your father was merely a sacrifice in their power struggle."

Chiba's voice was like a blade, stabbing straight into Kakashi's heart.

Kakashi abruptly raised his head.

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his left eye spun wildly, and the whites of his eye were bloodshot.

Killing intent erupted uncontrollably from within him.

He wanted to rush out.

He wanted to storm into the Sarutobi Clan compound and tear that old bastard to pieces.

"Put away your killing intent."

Chiba snorted coldly.

An incomparably terrifying Chakra instantly filled the entire office.

Kakashi felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

His entire body was pinned hard to the ground, unable to move.

Chiba rose to his feet and looked down at Kakashi from above.

"Kakashi."

"On the very day I take office."

"I will carve Hatake Sakumo's name at the very top of the Memorial Stone!"

At those words.

Kakashi stopped struggling.

He panted heavily, his chest heaving violently.

He stared fixedly at Chiba, then dropped to both knees and slammed his forehead heavily against the floor.

"Hatake Kakashi..."

"Will die in your service!"