Funeral

Half a month later.

Minato Namikaze stood atop the Hokage Building and took office as the Fourth Hokage before the eyes of every Konoha villager.

At that moment.

All of Konoha erupted in cheers.

Not everyone believed Minato Namikaze was the best choice.

Some had hoped one of Hiruzen Sarutobi's students—Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, or Kazan—would become the Fourth Hokage and carry on the Third Hokage's policies.

But most people were pleased with the outcome.

Orochimaru did not attend. After obtaining the First Hokage's Cells from Danzo, he had begun his own experiments and research.

Hokage?

The Strongest?

What use were those? A hundred years later, he would still grow old.

He had watched his own teacher go from the Shinobi Hero to what he was now, like a leaf on the verge of rotting away.

Eternal life.

That was Orochimaru's only wish now.

Forest of Death.

Two figures clashed at high speed among the trees.

One was wreathed in lightning and wielded a short blade. The other swung a massive sword.

Kurenai, Guy, and Itachi watched from the sidelines.

"Zehahahahaha!"

"Kakashi, you've improved a lot lately!"

Kazan laughed as he swung the Kubikiribōchō against Kakashi.

Kakashi said nothing.

He had come to challenge Kazan of his own accord.

It had started a few days earlier.

After another passionate showdown with Guy, Kakashi had brought up how his skills still fell short.

His swordsmanship, in particular, was nowhere near his father's.

That had reminded Guy of the time Kazan sent the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist flying with a single slash.

So he suggested, "Kazan's swordsmanship is incredible. You could ask him for pointers."

Kazan?

Swordsmanship?

What did that word have to do with that terrifying man in a cloak?

Kakashi had never seen Kazan fight with a sword—or