Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow

Konoha's White Fang's death had always been an unsolved mystery.

Not only did Kakashi not understand why; perhaps there were not many people in all of Konoha who truly understood it.

"I understand. Please tell me."

"White Fang might have died because his faith collapsed."

Not quite understanding, Kakashi looked at him with a confused expression, signaling for him to continue.

"True powerhouses all possess powerful, indestructible convictions. Once a belief as solid as rock is destroyed, the heart is almost dead as well. Even if they continue living, they become nothing more than useless shells, like walking corpses."

By the terms of his previous life, it was called, "When one's Dao heart shattered, both body and soul perished."

"White Fang's faith should have been the [Will of Fire]. In other words, the lives of comrades were more important than anything."

"That's right. He truly was that kind of person. Put that way, I can understand."

Kakashi nodded, acknowledging his assessment.

"But the Konoha of that time showed him things that ran contrary to his faith. His beliefs were denied by everyone and were even used by others as grounds to attack him. Yet those who constantly preached the [Will of Fire] chose to turn a blind eye to it."

"So he died. He wanted to make his convictions clear through death. He used his own life to admonish those who had strayed onto the wrong path, hoping they would return to the right one."

By then, Kakashi understood how his father had felt. Tears streamed uncontrollably down his face, and his warm, damp mask soaked his entire face in grief.

Kakashi was certain. This had to have been what his father thought. He knew this was why his father had committed suicide. There could be no mistake.

What a pity! His father's death seemed not to have brought them back to the true [Will of Fire].

Kakashi's feelings were complicated. He felt that his father's death had been completely meaningless.

After so many years in the ANBU, he had seen far too much regret, darkness, and hypocrisy.

If it weren't for Obito and Might Guy, perhaps I would have become like them too? When I go to the Pure Land someday, Father will surely hate me, won't he?

Kakashi sighed inwardly.

"Personally, I believe this was why White Fang chose suicide. He used his life to launch the most violent counterattack against those who did not value their comrades."

"It was foolish, but worthy of admiration."

In any case, I couldn't do it, and I wouldn't do it. Because I have more choices.

Dao Yi thought to himself.

"...Thank you, Dao Yi..."

Having resolved an important burden in his heart, Kakashi felt much lighter. He lowered his head and thanked him sincerely.

"You're too polite, Senior."

"I'm sorry for disturbing you for so long."

Kakashi left, his back ramrod straight.

You who have been toyed with by fate, I hope you can break free from your shackles soon!

Dao Yi thought.

It was a dark and windy night!

As time passed, it was already the latter half of the night. Four shadows entered the depths of Death Forest one after another.

"We will use Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow as our codenames. These are voice-changing pills. One for each person; they will last for half an hour."

Itachi Uchiha's voice came from behind his mask as he held out his palm.

After swallowing the pills, the four of them wrote the characters [Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow] on their masks.

"Earth" was Itachi Uchiha, and "Heaven" was most likely Uchiha Fugaku. Then was the blond "Yellow" Kakashi? It truly was fated, worthy of being a "child favored by destiny"; an inheritor of the "Yellow" line and a loyal fan of Make-Out Paradise.

Behind the mask marked "Black," the blue-haired Dao Yi was quietly gloating.

Other than Itachi Uchiha, whose appearance had not changed, the other three had red, yellow, and blue hair respectively.

I can't tell who these two are at all. That's good too. Even if we fail, it won't implicate anyone else.

"Heaven" thought.

"First, we go up the mountain from four directions and eliminate the sentries. Once we're done, regroup here. Move out!"

"Earth" put away the map, and the four scattered.

After dealing with the sentries, the four arrived before a stone wall.

"Yellow" stepped forward from the group and rapidly formed hand seals. After pushing open the stone wall, the four filed inside.

"Yellow" was an old ANBU operative. Root had few secrets from him.

After eliminating several checkpoints along the way, the four headed downward. They crossed an underground river, dealt with several more checkpoints, and entered a massive cavern.

"Earth" made several hand signals, and the four split into two teams before leaving.

"Yellow" led the way, with Dao Yi following behind him. After winding through several turns, the two slipped into a room.

After knocking out several guards, the two began searching everywhere.

After searching for several minutes, Dao Yi put away several scrolls.

"Yellow" stood before a bookshelf, trembling all over. He clutched one end of a scroll in his hand while the other had rolled onto the floor.

Dao Yi walked over and saw only the final passage written on the scroll:

A fool who abandoned his mission for useless tools. Cowardly, utterly lacking in the spirit of sacrifice, unworthy of being a ninja. A piece of trash who should have died on the battlefield. Future generations must take this as a warning.

After that was the evaluator's name: Danzo!

Dao Yi put away the scroll, placed a hand on the other's shoulder, and said:

"Yellow, we should go. The mission isn't over yet."

The two quickly left and continued searching the other rooms.

After some effort, the two entered an extremely well-hidden lower level.

After knocking out the guards, they looked down below.

Ahead were dozens of experimental instruments, and behind them were more than a hundred cylindrical incubation chambers.

More than a dozen people in white coats looked at the two. One of them quickly pressed a button.

The alarm immediately sounded and soon spread throughout Root.

The two rushed forward and knocked out the group.

"Yellow" gathered up the various experimental record scrolls and came to the incubation chambers. Inside, he saw people submerged in liquid, with several tubes inserted all over their bodies.

When he arrived at the records room, "Black" happened to come out and nodded at him.

"Who are you people?"

Before Ryoma Aburame could finish speaking, several Root ninja had already rapidly formed hand seals.

The exit had been blocked, and all kinds of ninjutsu and ninja tools came flying toward the two.

"Yellow" rapidly formed hand seals and slapped the ground:

Earth Style: Earth-Flow Wall!

Lightning Style: Earth Walk!

The enemy reacted quickly, unleashing two Lightning Release techniques.

"Yellow" continued forming hand seals:

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

"Black" formed hand seals and opened his mouth:

Great Fireball Technique!

The two techniques worked together, blowing away the Lightning Release! Empowered by Wind Release, the Great Fireball became even stronger, and a swarm of Kikaichū rained onto the ground!

"Yellow" attacked again:

Earth Style: Earth Flow River!

Several Root ninja were swept away and slammed directly into the stone wall!

Dao Yi charged out at full speed, leaving a trail of afterimages as he drove a fist into Ryoma Aburame's chest.

Ryoma Aburame exploded, leaving behind a patch of dead insects!

Insect Clone!

Insect Sphere!

Dense Kikaichū wrapped around Dao Yi, and he immediately lost the ability to resist.

I've dealt with one!

Ryoma Aburame thought.

Right afterward, Ryoma Aburame's vision rose higher and higher before rapidly plummeting down. Is this what death feels like?

Dao Yi stood behind Ryoma Aburame and sheathed his sword.

"Yellow" had also finished his battle.

Dao Yi did not want to leave behind any future trouble, so he used a fire to scatter the ashes of the group.

"Yellow" glanced at him several times but said nothing.

"Danzo! Die!"

With an angry roar, a several-meter-long yellow chakra blade split Danzo in two.

The moment "Yellow" arrived at the main battlefield, he witnessed this explosive scene.

On the other side, an orange giant was fighting a group of Root ninja.

What was this? Kakashi stared at the two chakra giants in disbelief.

Danzo appeared behind the yellow Susanoo and pulled out a kunai, stabbing forward.

Huh?

The kunai snapped, and Danzo was greatly alarmed.

"Izanagi? Danzo, I will kill you."

The two exchanged several rounds. Susanoo grabbed Danzo in one hand.

"Heaven" tightened Susanoo's giant hand, gritting his teeth. The Uchiha Clan's pride, the [Sharingan], was being so wantonly insulted by an outsider!

"I never expected that, aside from Shisui Uchiha, the Uchiha Clan had hidden two more pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan. Evil Uchiha, I should have wiped you out long ago."

Susanoo exerted force and crushed Danzo.

"Yellow" joined "Earth" in battle. Working together, the two quickly cleared out the remaining Root ninja, then landed nearby to watch.

Summoning: Baku!

A massive elephant-trunked beast appeared and opened its mouth, sucking in the yellow Susanoo.

"Heaven" staggered, and Susanoo was bent over by the suction.

Great Fireball Technique!

"Earth" rapidly formed hand seals, and the massive fireball followed the suction into Baku's mouth.

Baku let out a miserable cry and dispelled the summoning.

"Heaven" turned Susanoo around and sent Shimura Danzō flying with a slap.

Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!

Danzo steadied himself, formed hand seals, and shouted.

Thick branches split from his right arm and attacked the three of them.

"Heaven" increased his chakra output, and Susanoo was forced back several steps by the assault.

"Are you all right!?"

"Earth" opened Susanoo and pulled "Yellow" inside.

"I'm fine!"

"Yellow" answered.

Murdering comrades, conducting human experiments... what a fine elder Danzo you are, so full of the spirit of self-sacrifice. Is your self-sacrifice merely sacrificing your comrades to achieve your own goals?! How ugly. How shameless.

Kakashi stared at Danzo's right arm and cursed inwardly.