The wind swept across heaven and earth, curling the fallen leaves beneath the trees high into the sky.
A white-haired man, bare to the waist, sat cross-legged in mid-air upon a wooden stake. His balance relied on a single point beneath him, yet no matter how the wind fluctuated, he did not waver in the slightest.
After two months, through repeated cycles of entering and exiting Sage Mode, Kakashi had completely mastered the trick to it.
No matter the situation, he could now enter Sage Mode steadily and calmly.
It was less about training to balance the Natural Energy within his body, and more about training his state of mind.
Because no matter what situation one encountered, one needed to calm one's heart to perceive Natural Energy and thereby enter Sage Mode.
"Yo, not bad."
Hashirama Senju held his hand over his brow to block the slightly glaring sunlight, watching Kakashi, who was under his tutelage, with a heart full of accomplishment.
What do you know?
I'm clearly very suited to teaching disciples, too.
Back then, when Tobirama snatched Monkey away from me, it was purely because Monkey was too dull and couldn't understand anything I said.
Look at this Fifth Generation; he is obviously much wittier than Monkey, that Third Generation.
"No need to practice anymore, hurry on down," Hashirama Senju shouted toward Kakashi on the wooden stake.
Hearing Hashirama's words, Kakashi opened his eyes. With a nimble flip, he landed steadily on the ground from the stake.
"What is it?"
"Ending so early today?"
Kakashi bent down to pick up his clothes from the ground, speaking calmly.
"It's been two months already," Hashirama remarked with a touch of emotion.
Hearing this, Kakashi paused slightly, straightening up to look at the man before him.
Two months.
That was the limit of this clone of Hashirama Senju.
It seemed that now...
" roughly when will you go?" Kakashi asked calmly.
Whether Kakashi admitted it or not, although he and Hashirama Senju did not have the formal title of master and apprentice, they already had the reality of it.
"Could be anytime, I suppose?" Hashirama laughed loudly, scratching his head.
"In that case, go spend some time with Tsunade," Kakashi sighed.
In these final moments, if Tsunade were to keep him company, it might make her feel a little better.
"Compared to Little Tsuna, right now I need to confirm one thing."
Hashirama shook his head, his gaze burning as he looked at this junior who had previously said he would bring five hundred years of peace to the ninja world.
Staring into the gaze Hashirama projected, Kakashi lowered his eyelids.
"If we do this, Lady Tsunade will probably cry. And for her, it would be quite a regret."
Facing Kakashi's gaze, Hashirama walked step by step toward the center of the lake and said, "Life is full of regrets, isn't it?"
In the final moments of this clone, Hashirama intended to test the strength of the current Hokage.
He wanted to see the results of his two months of work.
Although the chakra in this clone was becoming increasingly scarce.
If he fought with full power, he feared he couldn't maintain it for even ten seconds.
But even if it was just for a few seconds, if he could clearly see the excellence of his successor...
Then he would endure it gladly.
"Since you have decided, I won't hold back."
Kakashi picked up the White Fang blade from the shore and walked step by step toward the center of the lake with Hashirama.
"Hold back?"
"It has been a long time since anyone said those words to me."
Hashirama spoke with a light chuckle.
The two stood in the center of the lake. Hashirama looked at the White Fang in Kakashi's hand, thought for a moment, and then with a flip of his wrist and a puff of light smoke, a giant sword comparable to a door panel appeared in his hand.
This was the weapon he had used back then to counter Madara Uchiha's Gunbai.
Although it didn't have the effect of reflecting ninjutsu like the Uchiha Gunbai, its main feature was being sturdy and durable.
Kakashi watched all this calmly, holding his blade in one hand and forming a seal with the other, held upright before his chest.
Hashirama did the same, holding his sword in one hand and forming a seal upright before his chest.
This was the Seal of Confrontation.
It was a sparring ritual unique to Konoha shinobi.
It meant deciding who was superior without deciding life or death.
The wind stirred ripples on the lake surface between them. Both men looked directly at each other, neither planning to make the first move.
But the moment a fish in the lake between them leaped out of the water and fell back in...
The two moved!
Sage Mode!
Black markings surfaced on Hashirama's face, and golden eyes replaced his dark ones.
Hashirama Senju and Kakashi entered Sage Mode simultaneously!
The next second!
The two abruptly vanished from their spots. The lake surface beneath their feet churned into turbulent waves under their extreme speed!
The sound of violent metal friction rang out the moment the blade and sword collided. Sparks flew, illuminating their faces.
Hashirama felt the force transmitting from the giant sword in his hand, his eyes filled with satisfaction and excitement.
Kakashi, however, looked at his opponent coldly.
Since the other party wanted to spar with him in these final moments, it meant he had absolutely no intention of going to see Tsunade one last time.
This meant that Kakashi had to kill him right here, taking advantage of his final moments, to satisfy his last wish.
To this, Kakashi's answer was...
Fine!
Neither Kakashi nor Hashirama chose to use ninjutsu; there was only pure taijutsu and the clash of blades.
Every one of their movements, under the exaggerated amplification of Sage Mode, displayed terrifying power.
Blade light flickered; sword shadows danced wildly!
Violent air currents exploded continuously between the two!
Within a short three seconds, Kakashi and Hashirama had already engaged in over a dozen clashes!
Every clash was accompanied by intense sparks. The surrounding airwaves surged, waves rose on all sides, and the blades cut through the water, spraying cold light. It was hard to imagine this was a battle between ninja.
Every swing of the blade meant Hashirama's remaining time was drastically shortening.
Remaining...
Three seconds!
Hashirama had completely forgotten his remaining time, simply displaying the power of his taijutsu to the young man before him to his heart's content.
The powerful physical strength brought by the Senju lineage was displayed by him vividly and thoroughly.
Two seconds!
Withstanding the opponent's extraordinary force, the White Fang in Kakashi's hand seemed connected to his flesh. The Senjutsu chakra in his body erupted to the limit, and the entire lake surface trembled, roared, and bellowed because of their massive chakra!
One second!
The sword light followed like a shadow, slicing off a lock of Kakashi's white hair. But with the waves obscuring his vision, his golden eyes gleaming, the White Fang utilized the cover of the waves under the sunlight to stab straight toward Hashirama's vital point!
Zero!
Wood chips flew, and the arm holding the sword, along with that door-sized giant sword, flew into the high sky!
The body of the man before him was turning into wood at a rapid speed, but Hashirama didn't care in the slightest. His other, intact hand clenched tightly into a fist. In this final moment, accompanied by his last bit of chakra, the fist punched through the waves and smashed onto Kakashi's chest!
In the final moment, Hashirama looked at Kakashi before him with a gaze that was fervent and full of expectation. Countless words in his heart wanted to be spoken, yet he didn't know what to say. He could only turn his final will into this one punch!
This is the junior to whom Konoha's future is entrusted.
The mistakes of the predecessors should have been borne by the predecessors.
But the me of this moment is powerless to make amends; it can only be completed by those who come after.
So...
No matter what, this unworthy senior entrusts everything to you.
The wooden fist stopped in front of Kakashi's face.
This was Hashirama Senju's final swan song!
Looking at the wooden statue with a severed arm before him, Kakashi calmly extended his fist and gently bumped fists with the statue.
The moment the fists touched, accompanied by the dissipation of chakra, the wooden statue slowly sank into the water.
Seven seconds.
Their confrontation had ended. Kakashi didn't know if he had won or lost, but the only thing he knew was that since Hashirama Senju had acknowledged his philosophy...
That meant there was one more fellow traveler on his path.
The waves that had been swept into the sky by their battle turned into heavy rain and fell. Kakashi watched the rain, feeling the traces of coolness on his body, his gaze becoming increasingly firm.
The path he walked was undoubtedly correct.
Thinking of this, Kakashi walked step by step toward the shore, only to discover that at some point, a figure had appeared there.
Tsunade stared blankly at Kakashi walking toward her.
The tears in her eyes could no longer be held back and flowed down.
From now on...
She was alone again.
Hashirama Senju's company had been like a dream—so memorable and warm.
"Tsunade."
Kakashi came before her, whispering her name.
"You inherited Grandfather's will."
"So... don't let him down, Kakashi."
The woman with cream-colored hair looked at Kakashi through tear-filled eyes.
"I will."
Kakashi spoke calmly.
At that moment, as Tsunade stood on her tiptoes, a warm softness pressed against Kakashi's forehead.
The kiss parted as soon as it touched. Kakashi looked at the woman before him with a complex expression.
"You will definitely become an excellent Hokage."
Tsunade wiped away her tears, looking at Kakashi with teary eyes, and then departed alone under Kakashi's gaze.
Kakashi watched the departing Tsunade.
Tsunade herself hadn't realized that the moment Hashirama left, her lip had been bitten broken, and crimson blood was soaking her lips...
Three days had passed since Hashirama Senju's departure.
His reappearance hadn't alarmed too many people, and his departure was equally silent.
Kakashi sat in his office at this moment, frowning as he looked at the message in his hand sent by Asuma, who was at the Daimyō's Palace.
Previously, because Kakashi planned to have the Daimyō provide funds to build a fleet of battleships, he had dispatched Hayate Gekkō to the Daimyō's Palace to deliver the letter.
But after Hayate Gekkō delivered the message, he was forcibly detained by the Guardian Twelve Ninja without explanation. At the same time, they blocked the Daimyō's intention to allocate funds.
If Asuma hadn't protected Hayate Gekkō with his life, the protagonist of the Hurricane Chronicles might have perished before the chronicles even began.
In the eyes of Kazuma, the leader of the Guardian Twelve Ninja, the Land of Fire could have only one leader: the Daimyō. The so-called Hokage, or even Konoha itself, should not exist at all.
Looking at the intelligence sent by Asuma, Kakashi revealed a cold sneer.
Because I haven't shown my face in the outside world for three years, has everyone forgotten about Kakashi Hatake?
The Guardian Twelve Ninja?
What kind of things are they?
How many Jōnin do they even have?
"Attendant."
Kakashi slammed the letter onto the desk.
"Lord Hokage."
Kurenai Yuhi quickly appeared before Kakashi.
"Issue an order to Itachi Uchiha and Hayama Shirakumo to report to me immediately. At the same time, select three thousand ninja to gather at the village entrance and proceed with me to the Daimyō's Palace!"
Facing this kind of trash that obstructed his path, Kakashi didn't have a single shred of tolerance.
"Yes!"
Kurenai looked at Kakashi before her, her heart trembling. She left quickly to immediately relay Kakashi's orders to the village armory and military command.
In front of the stone monument that had been gifted by the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of Both Scales, back in the day, Kakashi looked with a frosty expression at the three thousand ninja troops who were already geared up and waiting.
"Everyone, the Land of Fire has always been ruled by the Daimyō."
"But now, the Daimyō has been bewitched by villains, and good advice is hard to accept. How can we allow such evil people to remain?"
"Konoha is the core strength protecting the Land of Fire. As the Hokage, how can I stand by and watch all this while doing nothing?"
"And now, a Special Jōnin of the village delivered my orders, only to be detained by the so-called Guardian Twelve Ninja."
"What were these Guardian Twelve Ninja doing when we were bathing in blood on the front lines?"
"What were these people doing when we were bathed in war and fire on the front lines?"
"The war has just ended, and they dare to detain our ninja, our comrade!"
"It is simply lawless!"
"Is it because there is no war now, that these people feel we are no longer necessary?"
Kakashi's face revealed a cold glint. His voice, carried by chakra, entered everyone's ears, filling their hearts with indignation.
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
The anger in everyone's hearts had been ignited by Kakashi. Pair after pair of eyes were filled with killing intent and fury.
The war had only ended three years ago. These were all elite troops who had survived the battlefield; their characters were the most unyielding and fierce. How could they endure this treatment of "casting aside the bow once the birds are gone"?
"Since that is the case, we shall purge the court of traitors!"
"Move out with me!"
Seeing this, Kakashi waved his hand and gave the order. Three thousand ninja troops immediately set off, rushing toward the direction of the Daimyō's Palace!
The Guardian Twelve Ninja?
Do they even have the guts to detain the Hokage's people?
In Kakashi's view, this wasn't just the will of the Guardian Twelve Ninja, but a probe by the so-called Daimyō.
After all, the Guardian Twelve Ninja were loyal to the Fire Daimyō, not him, the Hokage of Konoha.
For Kazuma, a ninja so hostile to Konoha, to be arranged by the Daimyō as the leader of the Guardian Twelve Ninja showed that although the Daimyō met all of Konoha's requests...
In his heart, dissatisfaction had long risen regarding a power that was outside his control.
The detention of Hayate Gekkō this time was a signal from the Daimyō testing the current Hokage.
If Kakashi held his nose and accepted it, things like this would only happen more and more in the future.
If Kakashi protested, the Daimyō could push all the blame onto Kazuma.
Then he could peacefully pay the money to settle the matter and distance himself from it.
The worst outcome would be nothing more than the death of one Kazuma.
One could only say he was worthy of being the Lord of the Land of Fire, cultivated from childhood; these methods were at least more than a star and a half higher than Danzō Shimura's.
But...
Kakashi wouldn't play these games of snake and deceit with this Daimyō. So what should he do?
In this world, the so-called nobility placed themselves above everything.
And this "everything" naturally included ninja.
Kakashi didn't understand it, but he didn't need to understand it.
Kakashi only needed to know that he had power, and in this country, what he said went.
Money and authority could solve many things, but in the face of someone who possessed power, money and authority appeared particularly laughable.
Especially when the core power of the entire country was in his hands.
Just like that, although the so-called Daimyō had some brains, his mind had been blinded by thousands of years of money, power, and class solidification.
If it were any random male from his previous life, would they dare to do this?
There was no difference between this and seeking death.
Daimyō's Palace
In a luxurious palace, a man dressed in opulent clothing with rouge smeared on his face looked at the message delivered to his hand, his expression becoming stiff involuntarily.
Just as Kakashi had thought, this was merely a test.
At most, it was just a Hayate Gekkō, a Special Jōnin at best.
He hadn't expected Kakashi Hatake, the Fifth Hokage, to react so intensely, actually leading three thousand troops straight toward the Daimyō's Palace under the banner of "Purging the Court."
"What should be done about this?"
The Daimyō looked gloomily at the two men half-kneeling on the ground before his seat.
One was the biological son of the previous Hokage, Asuma Sarutobi.
The other was the current leader of the Guardian Twelve Ninja, Kazuma.
"This..."
Kazuma half-knelt before the Daimyō, lowering his head, daring not to speak.
Detaining Hayate Gekkō was something he had proactively suggested based on the Daimyō's intentions.
The current Hokage was unlike any previous Hokage who was obedient to the Daimyō; even he was powerless.
If he were to fight that Hokage one-on-one, he was confident that even if he couldn't defeat the son of Sakumo Hatake, he could at least fight him to a draw.
But this Hokage had come directly with three thousand ninja. Even if all the Guardian Twelve Ninja went out together, they would just be sent to their deaths.
"Asuma, you and that Hokage are close friends, and you grew up together. What do you think should be done?"
Seeing that Kazuma couldn't say a word for a long time, the Daimyō turned to look at Asuma Sarutobi on the other side.
"We should immediately release Hayate Gekkō. Then, the Daimyō must personally meet the Hokage, speak kind words of persuasion, admit fault and apologize, and subsequently hand Kazuma over to the Hokage for disposal, agreeing to all of the Hokage's conditions."
Asuma spoke in a deep voice at this moment.
"What did you say?"
Kazuma immediately looked at Asuma in disbelief.
Releasing Hayate Gekkō was one thing, but what was this about making the Daimyō admit fault and apologize, and handing him over to the Hokage?!
"If we do that, wouldn't the Daimyō's dignity be swept to the ground!"
"Who exactly is the heaven of this Land of Fire?!"
Kazuma shouted angrily at Asuma.
The Daimyō kept a dark face and did not speak, just as Kazuma had said.
If he really followed Asuma's suggestion, then what did he, the Daimyō, count for?
"I grew up with Kakashi, so I understand him somewhat."
"But after the Night of the Nine-Tails, he has no family left. His character is unyielding. No matter who it is, he dares to offend superiors..."
"Enough!"
Asuma spoke calmly but was interrupted by an angry shout.
The Daimyō looked at Asuma with fury.
What did he mean by "no matter who it is, he dares to offend superiors"?!
In the eyes of Kakashi Hatake, did he, the Daimyō, even exist?!
————
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