No Choice but to Yield!

Sunlight fell across Shikaku's face, making his usually languid eyes look unusually clear.

Shikamaru gripped the Senbon tighter. His knuckles stood out, and its point pressed into his palm, leaving a faint white mark.

His throat bobbed.

A fear so intense it nearly suffocated him surged through his chest.

It was not fear of death. It was dread of absolute violence—violence that ignored reason and rules and left him no room to scheme.

It countered his greatest strength completely!

He swallowed.

"I understand."

Shikaku nodded, stepped off the veranda, and headed for the courtyard gate.

Konoha, Kakashi's home.

Kakashi sat on the steps by the door, one hand in his trouser pocket and the other hanging at his side.

His Forehead Protector sat at an angle, covering his left eye. The exposed eye stared at the ground, unfocused and still as stagnant water.

He wore casual clothes, his collar open and its ties undone, the fabric hanging loose around his shoulders. Silver-white hair fell over half his face.

Sunlight cast his short, squat shadow on the wall behind him.

He had been sitting there for hours. From morning until noon, then from noon until the sun began to sink. He had not moved, drunk water, or eaten a thing.

Footsteps sounded from the mouth of the alley.

More than one person was coming.

Kakashi raised his eye.

Uchiha Yongye walked in front, hands in his pockets, his pace unhurried.

Might Guy followed him in his green Bodysuit, hands on his hips, eyes wide beneath his thick eyebrows.

Behind them walked Inoichi Yamanaka and Shikaku Nara, side by side and equally grave.

Last came Zhan Zhao's group of five, striding proudly.

Kakashi rose slowly. He pulled his hand from his pocket and let it hang at his side. His fingers