Border Defense Base

Team Three once again set out for the border, but unlike when they had first departed, one person was missing from the group.

"Naiquan sacrificed himself just like that, yet we couldn't avenge him. We couldn't even bury him..." Sakura Hashimoto sobbed softly.

Kenpei Aburame's expression was also grim, but he knew Kakashi's decision at the time had been the right one. Otherwise, all three of them might have died as unknown figures in that nameless place.

Seeing Sakura Hashimoto overwhelmed with grief, Kakashi thought for a moment before placing a hand on her head and rubbing it twice.

"There was no other way. They might have set an ambush beside Naiquan's body, just waiting for us to walk into their trap," Kakashi explained.

"Mhm..."

It was not that Sakura Hashimoto did not understand the reasoning. It was simply that her emotions made it difficult for her to accept everything that had just happened.

Kakashi sighed. Death could come at any moment; that was the fate of ANBU members.

The atmosphere within the team became extremely heavy, but after fighting side by side, the three had grown much closer.

They encountered no further danger along the way and arrived safely at Konoha's border defense base.

Konoha's border defense base looked very well concealed. From the outside, it appeared to be several inconspicuous little houses, but there was far more to it inside.

"Who goes there?"

Several figures instantly appeared at the entrance to the base, assuming defensive stances.

Kakashi was unsurprised. It seemed the base's sensory ninja had detected their presence.

"ANBU Team Three."

With a wave of Kakashi's hand, the three removed their masks.

Kakashi slowly took a scroll from his clothes, opened it, and showed both sides to the ninja ahead, indicating that there was nothing suspicious about it.

He then rolled the scroll back up and tossed it to the ninja opposite him.

The leader raised a hand to catch the scroll, then opened it and examined it carefully.

Taking the opportunity, Kakashi studied the other man as well.

He was a middle-aged man around forty. His flawless white eyes indicated that he was likely a member of the Hyuga clan, and most likely from the Hyuga Branch Family.

As for how Kakashi could tell...

How could someone from the main family possibly come to a place like the border and suffer?

After finishing the scroll Kakashi had thrown over, the man took out another scroll from his clothes.

Holding up the scroll and scrutinizing Kakashi's group, the middle-aged man nodded.

"You are the combat team the Third Lord mentioned. But the scroll says there were four of you. How come..."

Seeing the silence from Kakashi and the others, the man seemed to understand something and sighed.

"My condolences. I'll take you into the base first."

They headed toward the base, with the middle-aged man walking alongside Kakashi as the two chatted.

"My name is Hyuga Gensaku. I'm more or less the person in charge here. If you need anything, you can come directly to me."

Kakashi nodded. "I'm Kakashi Hatake, captain of Team Three."

Hyuga Gensaku nodded. "I know you. You look exactly like your father."

Kakashi was somewhat surprised. "Lord Gensaku, did you know my father?"

Hyuga Gensaku nodded. "Yes. When I was younger, I was fortunate enough to go on several missions with Sakumo."

He turned and looked seriously at Kakashi. "Your father was a great man. He was a true hero."

"Thank you," Kakashi said sincerely.

"No need to thank me..." Hyuga Gensaku turned his face away. "When rumors were spreading throughout the village, I was thousands of miles away and couldn't help your father either."

The atmosphere abruptly became heavy, and the subordinates chatting behind them also fell silent.

After passing through a long, narrow corridor, the space before them suddenly opened up.

Within the base, ninja with different duties each carried out their work in an orderly fashion.

Seeing three unfamiliar faces, many ninja paused their work and let their gazes wander over the trio.

Kakashi nodded to Sakura Hashimoto behind him. "Sakura, we're here. Take out the supplies."

At his words, Sakura Hashimoto took several sealing scrolls from her clothes and tossed them toward the ninja seated at the desk ahead.

"These are this period's living supplies, including some items you requested separately."

"Oh! Oh!"

The entire base erupted in cheers. Whenever supplies arrived, it was the happiest day for these border personnel.

"Kakashi, let's talk in my office," Hyuga Gensaku said.

"Alright, Lord Gensaku."

What they needed to discuss might be classified information to the others, so it was naturally best discussed in private.

Hyuga Gensaku's office was not large, but it was warmly furnished. There was even a photograph of a little girl on his desk.

Noticing Kakashi's gaze, Hyuga Gensaku smiled. "Ah, that's my daughter. We haven't seen each other in years."

"For the safety of the nation, you have worked hard, Lord Gensaku."

Kakashi had always deeply admired people like Hyuga Gensaku, who devoted their youth to their country and ninja village.

"Haha, let's get to business. Things haven't been peaceful around here lately. Ninja from other countries have repeatedly tried to infiltrate the Fire Country."

Kakashi nodded. "We were attacked on the way here as well. The attackers seemed to be an ANBU squad from another ninja village. They were extremely strong, and we lost a companion."

Hyuga Gensaku frowned. "Could you tell which village's ANBU they were?"

Kakashi shook his head. "We only know that they were highly skilled with blades and Wind Release, but that may have been deliberately revealed to us. We have no conclusive evidence proving their identities."

"The closer we get to the border, the more people of unknown identity appear." Hyuga Gensaku spoke with some self-reproach. "To be honest, we are severely understaffed right now. We simply cannot stop everyone determined to get in."

"You needn't blame yourself, Lord Gensaku. This is not your fault," Kakashi comforted him. "As Konoha's first line of defense, you have already done very well."

"Ah..." Hyuga Gensaku let out a long breath. "This damned world..."

After finishing his conversation with Hyuga Gensaku, Kakashi left the office and found his two teammates.

"Kenpei, Sakura, Lord Gensaku has arranged accommodations for us. Here are the keys to your rooms."

"Go rest first. Once we've recovered, we'll begin carrying out our mission," Kakashi instructed.

"Yes, Lord Kakashi!" the two replied.

Because of Kakashi's earlier performance, even Kenpei Aburame had been won over by him and sincerely regarded Kakashi as his captain.

"Alright. Kenpei, head back first. I have a few words I want to say to Sakura alone," Kakashi said.