To Be Honest, My Name Is Tenzō

After returning home, Kakashi quickly packed a small bag and left the village.

Along the way, Kakashi never stopped thinking.

"An A-rank escort mission... Heh, B-rank escort missions already involve hostile ninja. It looks like this one won't be easy."

The Kishimoto clan was wealthy, so they surely employed ninja to guard their estate.

For someone to keep watch over the Kishimoto clan head despite that meant the person lurking in the shadows was also a ninja, and not a weak one—at the very least, Chunin-level.

"Whew, I'll have to stay on high alert for this mission. I can't afford to trip in the gutter."

What made Kakashi wary was that, according to his memories, this mission should never have been assigned to him in the first place!

Could it be that, because of his butterfly effect, the plot had already begun heading in an unknown direction?

If he lost his foreknowledge of the plot, Kakashi could not be sure he would survive until the final battle.

"From now on, I need to be even more careful. I should try to keep the plot developing as it did in my memories. That's the only way to preserve my advantage."

The Kishimoto clan estate was located in the central region of the Fire Country. Even with Kakashi traveling at full speed, it took him several days to get there.

Avoiding attention, Kakashi simply disguised himself and changed his clothes before entering the bustling city district.

Kakashi chose an inn not far from the Kishimoto estate and settled in to rest, hoping to return his body to peak condition.

When night fell, Kakashi suddenly opened his eyes.

"It's time."

Kakashi leaped out the window and landed soundlessly on the roof across the street.

With light taps of his toes, Kakashi continuously vaulted over one rooftop after another.

Dressed in black beneath the moonlight, he moved like a phantom and soon arrived at the Kishimoto clan estate.

He easily cleared the tall courtyard wall, then slipped past the servants standing night watch in a flash.

The estate's defenses were practically nonexistent to Kakashi, and he quickly inspected the entire compound.

"Just as I thought. There are two Chunin and six Genin on guard in the estate. An ordinary Jōnin wouldn't be able to infiltrate such security so easily."

Though it sounded a little like he was bragging, this was not good news for Kakashi.

It meant that if someone truly had been secretly watching the Kishimoto clan head, that person had to be at least Jōnin-level.

Kakashi frowned. Jōnin were rare even within ninja villages, yet he had encountered one here. This mission was going to be troublesome.

"On one of my rare missions, I run into a ninja at my own level. Could my fifty-fifty buff be kicking in?" Kakashi could not help complaining.

At the center of the estate stood the residence of the Kishimoto clan head, Shinichi Kishimoto.

Shinichi Kishimoto's room was large, but its furnishings were simple.

On the eastern side stood neatly arranged bookcases and wardrobes with glass doors. A desk sat in the middle, with a small tea table in front of it, while tatami for resting lay on the western side.

Shinichi Kishimoto sat upright at his desk, frowning as he reviewed clan documents, completely unaware that a short figure had appeared behind him.

"Ahem."

After confirming that Shinichi Kishimoto matched the portrait on the scroll and that no one else was in the room, Kakashi cleared his throat.

Shinichi Kishimoto jolted in fright and nearly fell flat on his backside.

Watching the terrified Shinichi Kishimoto, Kakashi scratched his head helplessly.

He had only coughed so he would not frighten Shinichi Kishimoto. Unexpectedly, he still had...

Poor kid. He didn't even know how to say "what the hell."

Hmm... What does "what the hell" mean? Why did I think that?

Shaking his head and suppressing the thought, Kakashi spoke in a low voice.

"You are Shinichi Kishimoto, head of the Kishimoto clan, correct? I am a ninja sent by Konoha. You may call me... Tenzō."

Shinichi Kishimoto did not underestimate Kakashi because of his youth. This young man had silently entered his residence, which was enough to prove his ability.

And the more capable a person was, the more respect he deserved. That was Shinichi Kishimoto's belief, and it was also why he had been able to become clan head.

He respectfully extended his right hand toward Kakashi. "That's right, I am Shinichi Kishimoto. Lord Tenzō, you've finally arrived."

Kakashi gave a soft sound of surprise as he looked at Shinichi Kishimoto's outstretched hand.

A handshake was a highly formal greeting for two people meeting for the first time. It seemed Shinichi Kishimoto had been scared badly lately.

Kakashi did not take Shinichi Kishimoto's hand and instead said directly, "There is no need for such politeness, Mr. Kishimoto. I came to solve your problem. Tell me the details."

Shinichi Kishimoto was not embarrassed. He naturally withdrew his hand and began to recall the events.

"Since last month, I have felt as though someone has been watching me."

"The feeling is strange. It is as if someone is always standing somewhere just beyond the edge of my vision, staring at me."

"But whenever I turn to look, I find nothing."

"At first, I thought it was merely my imagination. But one day, when I woke up, I suddenly discovered that my usually messy desk had become perfectly tidy, as if someone had cleaned it while I was asleep."

"After that, I became terrified. Since that person could do such a thing without a sound, then he..."

Shinichi Kishimoto did not say the rest, but Kakashi understood. If that person wanted to kill Shinichi Kishimoto, it would be absurdly easy.

Shinichi Kishimoto continued, "After that, I spent a great deal of money hiring many ninja, but the feeling of being watched did not disappear. It remained constantly, and even grew stronger!"

"So I could only spend even more money to hire Konoha's finest ninja—namely, you!" Shinichi Kishimoto subtly flattered him.

Kakashi stroked his forehead protector, ignoring Shinichi Kishimoto's praise. After thinking for a moment, he asked,

"Those documents you mentioned being moved—were any missing, or was any of the information in them exposed?"

Shinichi Kishimoto shook his head. "I am certain there was nothing wrong with the documents. Some confidential information in them was not leaked either."

Well, that was rather strange.

They were not after the documents, nor were they after Shinichi Kishimoto's head.

After causing trouble for more than a month, were they just trying to make Kishimoto think he had gone insane?

What village's Jōnin would even take on a mission like this?

Did they have nothing better to do?

This was truly baffling.

Kakashi continued, "Mr. Kishimoto, do you have anyone you suspect?"

"For instance, a hostile faction, or discordant voices within the clan?"

Shinichi Kishimoto shook his head. "Not for now. Do you have any thoughts, Lord Tenzō?"

Kakashi pondered for a moment. "Hmm... Perhaps it's a Jōnin with obsessive-compulsive disorder who thinks you're too messy to bear looking at, so he comes by every day to tidy up for you."

Shinichi Kishimoto: "???"