Escape From Konoha

Chapter 197: 193: Kakashi, Not a Spy

The morning mist hadn't entirely cleared, yet the battlefield was already ablaze. The sound of weapons slicing through the air, the explosions caused by explosive tags, ninjutsu, and the hoarse cries of ninjas filled the air.

Kunai, shurikens, and swords littered the ground, both in the ground and piercing through human corpses. The pungent scent of blood was nauseating, and the ground was stained red.

The battle stretched from morning into the afternoon. Dark clouds rolled in from the distant sky, bringing cold rain that added to the desolation.

The merciless rain drenched the four-year-old Itachi. His young and immature body seemed out of place on the battlefield, his innocent heart was shocked by the gruesome scene before him.

Standing in the cold rain, he stared blankly at the unfolding horrors. Countless potholes in the battlefields still emitted hot black smoke even as the rain poured, curling up into the sky.

The brutal images, the gore, and severed limbs, were etched vividly in Itachi's young eyes.

Upon closer inspection, the fallen corpses, whether they belonged to Konoha or Kumo, shared one thing - none had a peaceful expression. They expressions were all contorted in pain and their bodies cold

Beside Itachi stood his father, Fugaku. His father's face had lost its warmth and tenderness, replaced by an unwavering seriousness.

Itachi hoped to throw himself into his father's arms, seeking solace in the comforting embrace of family, a respite from the tragedies before him. However, Fugaku didn't respond as Itachi had hoped. Instead, he uttered coldly, "This is war. The war of ninjas."

War...

Itachi had never truly understood what war was like until now. He'd gained a glimpse of the horrors.

The fight between Konoha and Kumo had nothing to do with the will of the ninjas. They all died in pain and misery, struggling on the edge of hell. The pain and despair of death knew no allegiance. Itachi felt every fallen body on the ground shared the same fate, unwilling to meet their end in agony.

'Why had it come to this?' Itachi found himself regretting his decision to follow his father to the battlefield, to experience the real world.

He was instinctually repulsed, he didn't want to see such scenes. Clenching his fists, he struggled with a surge of indescribable emotions. He didn't understand the source of this disgust, but it felt like an overwhelming sense of suffocation in his chest, making him so stuffy he couldn't breathe.

"War..."

Itachi's trembling and weak murmur seemed to have reached his father's ears. His voice cut through the howling wind and pouring rain, resonating in Itachi's ears.

"All sorts of senseless fighting and bloodshed occur among people. This is the ninja world, a world cursed by war. You will live in this world. I brought you here to make you witness the true nature of this reality."

These words struck Itachi's heart like a heavy hammer. The "truth" that Fugaku spoke of, the reality of ninjas, and the world plagued by war, remained entirely beyond the comprehension of the four-year-old Itachi.

Although Fugaku urged him to see the reality, Itachi didn't want to bear witness to it. He fought to suppress his fear and tears.

"Remember this well. Ninjas survive to fight, and you aren't just a member of Konoha; you also bear the name of Uchiha, signifying your excellence. Itachi, you're a smart child, and you will understand."

'No, I don't understand' Itachi struggled to breathe, wanting to voice his thoughts to his father. Yet, he feared his father's reprimand and the disappointment in his eyes, compelling him to hold himself backm

The wordless horror left Itachi afraid of closing his eyes, as if wanting to erase everything he had seen. Paradoxically, the more he tried to forget, the clearer the images remained etched in his mind.

Blood, twisted corpses, and expressions of despair.

When he reopened his eyes, the scene remained unchanged. Itachi was still trapped in the living hell he couldn't forget.

And he Uchiha Itachi was destined to live in such a hellish world.

But in his heart, Itachi refused to accept this world. He believed that solving problems through conflict and violence was fundamentally wrong. He couldn't silently bear such a world.

His future self would never want to exist in such a world. There was only one path forwardto change everything.

This world had to change.

...

Kumo's offensive was relentless, but Konoha had a ninja like the Yellow Flash, which meant that no matter how fierce Kumo's assault was, they couldn't breach the defenses of the Land of Fire.

This standoff persisted until June when things took an unexpected turn.

Kumo retreated without engaging in a battle, and their forces pulled back from the Land of Tea, returning to the Land of Lightning. This move caught the Konoha ninjas guarding the border of the Land of Fire by surprise.

Kumo's retreat was very strange. There was no advance notice, no attempts to negotiate an armistice. While the Yellow Flash restricted Kumo's actions, it also left Konoha feeling uncomfortable.

The outcome of the stalemate remained uncertain.

However, with Kumo's sudden retreat, Konoha found it confusing whether this was a genuine intent to end the war or a strategic retreat.

However, there were interesting rumors coming from Kumo. Many ninjas in Kumo were supposedly afraid of the Yellow Flash's power, leading to a significant drop in morale. Kumo's high-ranking officials held numerous meetings daily, all related to the retreat.

Eventually, they made the decision to retreat. To not be embarrassed, they adopted the strategy of retreating without a fight, not openly admitting their fear of Konoha or the Yellow Flash. As long as the battle didn't yield a clear victor, Kumo wouldn't be considered as losers.

Despite their somewhat rogue approach, it was evident that Kumo was wary of the Yellow Flash's abilities. In the Land of Earth, rumors circulated that Kumo withdrew to maintain their dignity, unwilling to sign an armistice agreement.

These rumors gained traction due to the Yellow Flash's remarkable performance on the battlefield in the past two years, while Kumo remained silent on the matter. Many believed the rumors, and even Konoha, who fought Kumo on the front lines, found them plausible.

Whether the battle against Iwa or Kumo, defeating a large number of Kumo's elite ninjas, including the Fourth Raikage, helped Konoha recover from their initial disadvantage and gain the upper hand. The Yellow Flash played a significant role in these victories, almost single-handedly turning the tide and silencing the opposition.

Kumo's retreat due to the Yellow Flash would provide a reasonable explanation and be an acceptable reason for Konoha. After all, the Yellow Flash's record was undeniably outstanding, and he had emerged as the hero who brought an end to the war.

Minato received news of Kumo's retreat in the camp. There was curiosity, respect, admiration, and praise from all around, but no matter the sentiment, people didn't rush forward. While he had close relationships with many, there were few with whom he shared deep connections.

Regardless of his impressive record, Minato recognized his own limitations and boundaries. He composed himself and left the camp, as he needed to confirm the authenticity of Kumo's movements, given his speed.

Following Minato was his only trusted subordinate, Hatake Kakashi. Their partnership as geniuses was a topic of conversation among others.

Since this was mission was for inspection, not combat, Kakashi was also chosen due to his proficiency in Kenjitsu and lightning release, making him well-suited for confronting the Kumo ninjas. If a battle with Kumo erupted, Kakashi's performance was bound to outshine many Konoha jonin, and his future looked promising.

As he followed Minato, Kakashi observed their surroundings and noticed a familiar young figure among them - Uchiha Itachi .

In the camp, Itachi, the youngest participant, was only four years old and not even a ninja yet. Bringing such a young child raised questions about the Uchiha clan's intentions.

The innocence and curiosity in Itachi's eyes had given way to something more profound, as if he was chasing a deeper purpose.

Kakashi withdrew his gaze, continuing to follow Minato as they went outside to track Kumo's movements and determine their true intentions, whether they truly wanted peace or there was a hidden agenda.

...

The exploration mission was carried out for three whole days.

Minato and Kakashi made a confirming discovery: Kumo indeed intended to retreat.

Within the Land of Tea, there were no Kumo ninjas to be found. To confirm their findings, Minato and Kakashi even secretly infiltrated the border of the Land of Lightning for inspections. What they uncovered was a landscape primarily guarded by regular border units. Most of Kumo's ninjas had unmistakably returned to their village.

This crucial information was relayed to Commander Tokukaze for further action, while every Konoha ninja in the camp received the news. At the same time, a letter was dispatched to Konoha to convey Minato and Kakashi's findings smoothly.

Nevertheless, the ultimate decision remained in the hands of the high level.

However, Kumo's inclination to withdraw without engaging in combat suggested that they might not be willing to fight further.

As for Kumo's genuine intent to end the war, it remained a mystery, leaving no room for complete relaxation of their guard.

The news of Kumo's retreat quickly reached Konoha. The senior management of Konoha, under the leadership of the Third Hokage swiftly convened a meeting to engage in a reasonable discussion on this matter.

After all, Kumo was different from the other ninja villages. Due to having two Jinchuri having mastery of controlling their tailed beasts. The strategic use of tailed beasts in the war created a huge pressure on Konoha, far exceeding other ninja villages.

As a result, the Third Hokage selected two Jonin and five Chunin from his immediate subordinates to form a mission. Their primary mission was to ascertain Kumo's intention behind the sudden retreat, whether it was to pursue peace talks or to continue the war.

However, upon their return from Kumo, the mission received vague responses. Kumo provided no clear answer, refraining from engaging in negotiations for peace or hostilities. This left Konoha's senior management perplexed.

The radical faction led by Danzo put forward a proposal for a direct attack on the Land of Lightning. Their proposal suggested subduing Kumo without concern for any potential conspiracies, ensuring that Kumo wouldn't make a comeback later.

However, this proposal was rejected by Hiruzen. Rashly confronting Kumo without a clear understanding of the situation would only escalate the battle damage.

Konoha had already suffered huge losses in successive battles against Suna, Iwa, and Kumo since the beginning of the Third Ninja World War. The casualty count extended to thousands of fallen Konoha ninjas on the battlefield.

Continuing to increase the battle damage could lead to new issues. The focus should shift towards recovery and the nurturing of a new generation of ninjas, rather than prolonging the war.

Regardless, the current stable situation aligned with Hiruzen's wishes and mirrored the desires of most Konoha ninjas. Many were tired from the ongoing warfare, and Konoha's fighting morale wasn't significantly higher than Kumo's.

However, due to Kumo's vague "truce." Hiruzen didn't let his guard down completely. He instructed Tokukaze to lead two thousand Konoha ninjas to maintain their position at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Tea. This would serve as a deterrent against Kumo's potential return, preventing them from catching Konoha off guard.

Additionally, several ninjas were discreetly relocated from the front lines back to Konoha, including Minato and Kakashi.

...

The unusual developments involving Konoha and Kumo did not go unnoticed by other countries.

Regarding Kumo's sudden retreat, the ninja villages in various countries expressed their confusion and doubts.

As third-party observers, they naturally hoped that the conflict between Konoha and Kumo to continue as a stalemate, leading to further increase to their casualties.

Especially Konoha, They hoped that Konoha would suffer more losses than Kumo. Because the emergence of the Yellow Flash had put them under significant pressure, even if many had not witnessed his abilities in person. The reports of his exceptional achievements were irrefutable.

In addition to Konoha's Sannin, the newer generation of Konoha ninjas had established their own formidable reputation, with a deterrent factor even surpassing that of the Sannin.

Facing the Yellow Flash during a mission meant that the mission could be aborted without consequences. This unique privilege was exclusive to a single ninja in the world.

Once the Yellow Flash targeted an opponent, escape was deemed impossible.

Rumors about the Yellow Flash were spreading throughout the world, gaining momentum. Konoha refrained from commenting on the matter, leaving many Konoha ninjas feeling a sense of honor that such a remarkable ninja hailed from their village.

"What exactly is Kumo trying to do?"

Shiraishi, situated in the Land of Demons, had naturally received updates about the ongoing war between Konoha and Kumo. He found Kumo's abnormal and unreasonable behavior quite puzzling.

The suddenness of Kumo's retreat, with no prior warning or preamble, left people with the impression that the situation had no clear beginning or end.

Much like the other ninja villages, Shiraishi wished for the conflict between Kumo and Konoha to last indefinitely, regardless of the ultimate victor. The goal was to maximize the overall casualties. This approach would alleviate the Land of Demons' future pressures within the world.

The Purple Rose operatives in Kumogakure had failed to acquire any valuable information, as everything remained tightly sealed.

The term "speculation" typically referred to analysis based on intelligence. However, with no useful information currently available, Shiraishi remained in the dark regarding Kumo's senior management's true motives.

Kumo's withdrawal from the battlefield without signing an armistice agreement seemed to imply a strategic move, possibly involving secret service power accumulation for a follow up surprise attack on Konoha. Or, it could have been motivated by genuine concerns about the Yellow Flash's reputation, with Kumo exiting the battlefield without being embarrassed

Regardless of the motive, Konoha was now entirely freed from the burden of war, and Shiraishi knew the necessary steps to take.

The election of the Fourth Hokage would serve to maintain a stable balance between the ninja and civilian factions and address the issue of rogue ninjas threatening the village's safety.

According to Shiraishi's estimation, by October of the current year, Konoha would be sufficiently recovered from the war to take formal action against the three defected Uchiha and Hyuga members.

Their collective defection was an unprecedented crisis for Konoha and demanded a serious response. It was only the sudden outbreak of war that had previously allowed this issue to be temporarily set aside.

"No, I need to find a way to keep Konoha preoccupied." Shiraishi contemplated.

While Konoha was dragged down by the war, he had felt relatively at ease. Now that Konoha was free from the war, he sensed that the burden on his shoulders was heavier than he had imagined.

...

Kakashi, on the other hand, remained blissfully unaware of Shiraishi's troubles. Even if he had been aware, he likely wouldn't have cared. He was confident that everything would unfold as it should, and his primary focus was on promoting to the top.

While the rank of Chunin wasn't insignificant, there existed a considerable gap between Chunin and Jonin.

Kakashi understood that while he was essentially a Jonin in name only, with modest strength, not much different from most Chunin. His age, natural talent, and his recently renowned mentor-student relationship with the Yellow Flash set him apart. So, he hoped for Minato to become the Fourth Hokage.

Minato presented the fastest route for Kakashi to access the core of Konoha. He was not only Minato's student and subordinate but also held the Third Hokage's trust. Additionally, he served as a spy for Root leader Danzo and was entagled with three S-rank rogue ninjas.

The conventional labels of "double agent" or "triple agent" failed to describe his intricate role; it was more apt to describe him as a four-way agent.

Kakashi chose to ignore for now

It had been a week since his return to Konoha from the war. Today was a special occasion - a memorial service. As a dedicated Konoha member, he naturally attended the ceremony at the cemetery, honoring the thousands of ninjas who had died in the war.

Konoha had suffered heavy losses in this war. Although Kakashi hadn't done a detailed calculation, he could estimate that Konoha's ninja population was unlikely to exceed 10,000. On the battlefield, nearly one-third of the ninjas had been sacrificed.

The scale of casualties was even more horrifying than during the Second Ninja World War.

As Kakashi reached the cemetery, he observed the meticulously arranged rows of graves. All of Konoha's fallen ninjas, including his father, Hatake Sakumo, had found his final resting place here.

But, numerous graves wete empty, housing incomplete remains, making it impossible to identify the fallen completely as their whole body couldn't be found.

The Third Hokage and other officials had attended the memorial service, and Danzo and the two advisors were also present.

During a fleeting gaze, Danzo and Kakashi exchanged glances, confirming their mutual affiliation.

Kakashi swiftly moved to blend into the crowd, maintaining a blank expression, as though nothing had happened. He joined his fellow mourners in honoring the fallen heroes of Konoha.

The service concluded after about an hour, and many attendees began to disperse.

After offering his respects, Kakashi approached the grave of his father, and stood in silent contemplation for a moment. As he was about to leave, he noticed two people who had yet to leave the cemetery.

Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, and Uchiha Itachi, whom Kakashi had met a few times on the battlefield, stood there.

One was a renowned, powerful ninja known throughout the world, while the other was an unfamiliar child, not even a ninja.

"What is the meaning of life?" Itachi pondered aloud, prompting curiosity in Kakashi.

"There's no point in lamenting the dead. Life holds value only while alive."

Orochimaru found the four-year-old's thoughts of such profound questions rather amusing.

"Alive?"

As Orochimaru shared his perspective, he noticed Itachi's earnest curiosity and realized that this child was unique. Most children would have been frightened and hidden away when he confronted them. Engaging in a discussion about the meaning of life with a four-year-old was a rare experience.

In response to Orochimaru's explanation, Itachi cast a puzzled glance in his direction.

This man exuded a chilling aura, with his pale skin and snake-like vertical pupils. Itachi met his gaze without fear, his eyes filled with inquisitiveness.

Orochimaru regarded Itachi thoughtfully. 'This child was different,' he thought.

Ordinary children would have been terrified and perhaps reduced to tears when stared at by someone like him, hiding away in fear.

And discussing the meaning of life with a four-year-old struck Orochimaru as an odd scenario.

However, witnessing Itachi's sincere and curious gaze, Orochimaru's expression softened, and he said with a smile, "Yes, to me, if life has meaning, it's in attaining eternal life."

With that, Orochimaru left without further delay, briefly exchanging a secretive glance with Kakashi before departing.

Itachi remained deep in thought, wearing a serious expression, pondering Orochimaru's answer.

On the other side, Kakashi noticed the look Orochimaru gave to him. It seemed like an invitation for Kakashi to join him.

"Does this mean I'll be five-way agent?"

Kakashi mused to himself, with a hint of irony. As long as one was a genius, everyone wanted to have a share of their brilliance.

-----

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