In the Hokage's office, Tsunade stared blankly at the report handed over by Kakashi, lost in thought.
"I have confirmed that in seven locations across five neighboring countries, the same three-man cell has been instigating conflict."
"While we cannot yet confirm an infiltration into the Land of Fire, it is only a matter of time."
That was the intelligence provided. Tsunade stood up and looked out the window, her expression grim.
"Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked, sensing her hesitation.
"Have they finally begun their move... the Akatsuki?" Tsunade murmured.
…
"This is the second to last one," Kakuzu stated flatly.
"Yeah. Get ready to make your move, Hidan-nii," Kanon said, giving Hidan a playful pat on the backside.
"Wait a second..."
As he spoke, Hidan pulled out his Jashin amulet.
"Before that, I have to offer a proper prayer to Lord Jashin. You join in too, Kanon."
"Me too?!" Kanon's face flushed slightly; after all, this ritual was always a bit embarrassing to perform in public.
"Hurry up!" Hidan nudged her with his hip.
"Fine, fine..." Kanon sighed helplessly. Watching the final target, now cornered in a dead-end alley, she closed her eyes and began to pray alongside Hidan.
Seeing the two of them with their eyes shut, Kakuzu spoke up with clear impatience. "You're always such a pain with this."
Once the two finished their prayers, Hidan replied with a shrug. "I think it's a pain, too."
"But the commandments are strict. I don't have a choice."
Ultimately, the target died under Hidan's scythe. After Kakuzu stuffed the body into a burlap sack, he turned to Kanon.
"There's only one left to deal with. Let's head to the counting station first."
"Let's go," Kanon nodded slightly.
…
At the Konoha Hospital, Kakashi nodded as he finished listening to the account of what Naruto, Sakura, and the others had experienced.
"So, you all did quite a lot while I was away."
"What about you, Kakashi-sensei? Where exactly did you go?"
"Just had a little business to attend to," Kakashi said. Just then, the door opened and Asuma walked in.
"Asuma-sensei?" Sakura looked up, surprised.
"I figured you'd be here... Kakashi, can I have a word?" Asuma asked.
"Hmm?" Kakashi looked curious.
"There's something I need to talk to you about."
As he spoke, Asuma handed some gifts to Naruto and Sai.
"Naruto, Sai, here, some get-well gifts."
As Kakashi and Asuma stepped outside, Naruto and Sakura exchanged curious glances, wondering what Asuma could possibly need to discuss.
…
"Kakashi, did you go outside the village to scout the situation?" Asuma inquired.
"Something like that."
The two fell into silence. Asuma watched Kakashi gaze out the window and sighed.
"The weather is quite nice today."
"Yeah..."
"Naruto and Sakura have both grown a lot," Asuma said softly.
"Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino are the same."
"The younger generation is constantly growing. They'll surpass us in the blink of an eye," Kakashi mused, still looking outside.
"Hey, hey! They're still far from beating me," Asuma countered.
Hearing Asuma's stubbornness, Kakashi smiled and teased him.
"Then why don't you go try picking a fight with Kanon?"
"That kid..." Asuma shook his head helplessly. Even one of the Legendary Sannin and current Hokage, Tsunade, might not be able to win against her. Could he really do it?
"I have to say, those three Uchiha kids... every single one of them is a monster," Asuma remarked.
"Tell me about it. Kanon is a year younger than Naruto and the rest, and yet she's already surpassed us."
"Kanon Uchiha... Sigh. If she hadn't left Konoha, she'd probably be standing on equal footing with us by now."
"Yeah, most likely," Kakashi leaned back against a chair, looking at the blue sky.
"The juniors growing up so fast is a good thing for Konoha," Asuma nodded. "Anyway, what I wanted to say was..."
Asuma scratched his head, but at that moment, Kurenai Yuhi arrived.
"Found you, found you. I finally found you."
"Kurenai? Is something wrong?" Kakashi frowned. This couple appearing one after the other... they weren't here to mock him for being single, were they? Asuma wasn't that bored, right?
"I heard Asuma had come here."
"Oh? So, Asuma, what did you want to say?"
Asuma glanced at Kurenai.
"Forget it. I'll tell you properly next time. Sorry..."
With that, Asuma and Kurenai departed together.
Kakashi frowned. What on earth did he want to say? Was he really just here with Kurenai to flaunt his relationship?
"I'm actually quite curious now..." Kakashi murmured, watching their retreating figures.
…
Sitting on his hospital bed, Naruto had already begun unwrapping his bandages.
"Naruto, what are you doing?" Sakura asked, concerned.
"I'm still too weak."
"That's why... that's why I had to stand there and watch Kanon and Sasuke walk away from me again."
"I need the strength to protect everyone from being hurt."
"Even if it's just for that, I have to get stronger."
Naruto's expression was resolute, and Kakashi, standing just outside, heard every word.
"Alright, no need to be in such a rush."
"Your current 'training' is to recover from your injuries," Kakashi said softly as he walked in.
"Especially you, Naruto. I have a warning for you."
"The training that follows will be brutal, the kind that will have you back in the hospital more often than out of it. You need to be mentally prepared."
Hearing Kakashi's cold tone, a cold sweat broke out on Naruto's face.
"I got it, dattebayo!"
"Sakura, I still have things to do. I'll leave the task of watching these two to you," Kakashi said as he turned to leave.
"Remember, don't overdo it. See ya."
As Kakashi left, Sakura puffed out her cheeks.
"Honestly, he just loves bossing people around."
…
That evening.
Hokage's Office
"I've read the report. How confident are you in Naruto's new technique?" Tsunade asked.
Kakashi met her gaze with a silent, contemplative expression.
"What is it?"
"I don't know," Kakashi lowered his head.
"How can you not know..." Shizune said nervously.
"I don't know for sure, but if it's him, he should be able to succeed."
"His previous training methods have already yielded results."
"Most importantly, he has a clear goal."
"Sasuke and Kanon?" Tsunade's expression turned heavy at Kakashi's words.
"Exactly. Kanon has already mastered the nature transformation of the Rasengan. She is a total genius; her Rasengan Fire Dance can already be classified as an S-rank jutsu," Kakashi praised.
"But she is currently an enemy."
"Yet she achieved something even the Fourth Hokage couldn't complete," Kakashi said solemnly.
"That's exactly why this is so troublesome!" Tsunade sighed.
…
In the middle of a devastated village, Kakuzu frowned as he hurried Hidan along.
"It's been thirty minutes. Aren't you done yet, Hidan?"
Beside Kakuzu, the final target, a ninja worth 13 million Ryo, was pinned to the ground, clearly lifeless. Kanon sat atop the highest point of the ruins with her legs crossed, keeping watch.
"Shut up! Don't interfere with my ritual."
"It hurts..."
Kakuzu didn't get angry; he simply continued looking through his bounty ledger.
"Do you have to do those distasteful prayers every time? Can't you skip some of it?"
"We need to set a plan and find the next target quickly!"
As he spoke, Kakuzu looked up at Kanon, who was using her sensory abilities on the ruins.
"Kanon-chan, is anyone coming?"
"Not for now."
"Good. Keep sensing. Tell us the moment someone arrives." As Kakuzu spoke, Hidan pushed himself up from the ground.
"I think it's a pain too!"
"But the commandments are written this way. I don't have a choice."
"And what do you mean 'skip'? Skipping is a profanity against Lord Jashin!"
Kakuzu looked at the map. The bounty targets Kanon had specified were mostly dealt with. The trio had traversed many countries, and now, Kakuzu set his sights on the Land of Fire.
"We have one target left."
"It's been quite a lot of trouble."
"Next... we head to the Land of Fire."
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