Rooster Talisman

Kakashi Hatake sat alone before the Memorial Stone, his Forehead Protector still tilted over his left eye.

Through the Canopy Screen, he had just glimpsed his future self as the Sixth Hokage, giving the order to use children from an orphanage on a spy mission.

Use children?

He closed his eyes, but what came to mind was not the future Hokage's Office. It was the Third Shinobi World War.

Beneath Kannabi Bridge, rocks had collapsed with a deafening roar. He saw the trust still in Obito's eyes as half his body was crushed, the warm blood spraying from Rin's chest, and his father, White Fang, lying in a pool of blood, alone and without hope.

The cruelty of war coiled around his heart like an icy snake.

How he had longed for each generation's efforts to build a world of true peace, where children would never again have to set foot on a battlefield or be stained by darkness.

Yet his future self, holding the Hokage Position, seemed to be defiling that hope with his own hands.

"Does peace have to be sustained by sacrificing the innocence of the next generation after all?"

He spoke softly, his voice full of exhaustion and deep disappointment.

Then a thunderous shout tore through the silence. "Konoha Whirlwind!"

A green figure swept toward him like a gale, a powerful spinning kick aimed straight at Kakashi's face.

Kakashi Hatake leaped back almost on instinct, narrowly avoiding it. The force of Guy's kick gouged a shallow trench in the ground beneath him.

"Guy!" Kakashi steadied himself, his deadpan eye full of resignation. "What's gotten into you this time?"

Might Guy held his magnificent finishing pose, his teeth flashing brightly. He pointed at Kakashi with righteous conviction.

"Kakashi! I saw it! Your future self was the Hokage,