Three days after the Hidden Mist fleet sailed out—
In the guesthouse, Kakashi sat staring at a blood-red pill on the table, his eyes clouded with doubt and dread.
Tomorrow was the final deadline Koharu Utatane had given him.
On one side: the village's orders.
On the other: Rin, the teammate he'd grown up with.
Confusion, hesitation, guilt, and the agony of choosing between duty and friendship—all these emotions tangled in his chest, bitter as poison.
He sighed.
Unable to decide, Kakashi set the pill down.
Suddenly, a hand darted out, snatching the pill and hurling it out the window.
"You—!" Kakashi shot to his feet, glaring at the culprit.
"You idiot!" Obito snapped.
"Says the real idiot!" Kakashi fired back, locking eyes with Obito Uchiha.
"If you hadn't sighed just now, you'd already be a ghost under my blade!"
Obito's words broke the tension—Kakashi couldn't help but laugh. The air between them lightened.
"How much do you know?" Kakashi's cold mask slipped back into place.
Obito puffed up, proud. "Everything."
Kakashi wasn't surprised. He just exhaled, voice flat. "Apologize."
"Apologize? For what? You want to hurt Rin and you expect me to say sorry?" Obito barked, genuinely angry, kunai flashing in his hand.
Kakashi glanced out the window, then back at Obito. His voice was slow, almost bored. "That was a fake—cheap candy I picked up at the store. The real thing's right here."
He reached into his pouch and produced a clear vial containing a real red pill.
Obito froze, stunned. At this point, he was nowhere near the calculating six-paths guardian he'd become—just a kid with enough sense to tail Kakashi.
"So, what now?" Obito asked, uncertain.
"What do you think?" Kakashi shot back. "It's late—where am I supposed to find another identical one?"
Obito scratched his head, embarrassed. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Your uncle's been watching me like a hawk. If I'd told you, he'd have been the one slipping the drugs."
Obito clenched his teeth. "I'll go outside and find it."
He moved toward the window, but Kakashi grabbed his arm. "Forget it. I brought a backup."
He pulled out another strawberry-flavored candy, handing it to Obito.
Obito sniffed it—definitely strawberry.
Without hesitation, Kakashi opened the real vial, took out the genuine genjutsu pill, and tossed it out the window.
"Hand it over," Kakashi said.
Obito quickly offered the candy with both hands.
"If you lose this one too, I'll make you a ghost under my blade," Kakashi said, calm as ever.
Obito hesitated. "So… what are you going to tell Elder Utatane?"
Kakashi shrugged. "Her real goal is just to get Rin back to the village. I've already talked to Rin—when the time comes, she'll release the Three-Tails and stir up some chaos. We'll use the confusion to get her out of Hidden Mist."
"Then what's the pill for?"
Kakashi rolled his eyes. "Don't overthink it. Your brain's not built for this."
Obito didn't press the issue.
"So… what do I do tomorrow?"
"Whatever you want. Just don't make things worse."
Kakashi set the vial on the table and shooed Obito toward the door.
Neither of them noticed the shadow lurking just outside the window, fingers caressing a blood-red pill.
"Heh… good stuff."
"Master Genshi! Emergency!"
Ao burst through the doors of Genshi's residence, panic etched across his face.
It was midnight. Genshi, old and light-sleeping, was already up and dressed by the time Ao arrived.
"What's happened?" Genshi demanded.
"A group of unidentified armed men landed at Shūsen Harbor. They've taken the port."
Genshi's brow furrowed.
"Do we know who they are?"
"Survivors say it's the Kaguya clan," Ao replied, voice grim.
Genshi's eyes widened. The Kaguya—born warriors, bloodthirsty and half-crazed. With the Mist's elite forces deployed, the village's defenses were paper-thin. Even Shūsen Harbor only had five hundred ninja. The village itself could muster maybe two thousand more, with the rest scattered across the islands. One wrong move, and the Mist could fall.
"How many rebels?" Genshi asked, voice tight.
"Over a thousand."
Genshi sucked in a breath.
On paper, the Mist had numbers, but Genshi knew the truth—the best fighters were gone. Yagura had taken all the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, three of the Four Young Masters, five of the Eight Guardians, and most of the top jōnin and chūnin. The leftovers were old, weak, sick, or just plain mediocre. Only Young Master Áo Péng and ANBU Captain Ao were worth much in a fight.
The Kaguya clan? Every member was a warrior, and their Shikotsumyaku kekkei genkai was terrifying. Whether the remaining Mist ninja could handle these lunatics was anyone's guess.
Genshi thought for a moment, then made his call.
"Sound the alarm. Gather every ninja in the village. Áo Péng, Shōshō, Rihara Tarō, and Sankyō will lead the defense teams. Also…"
He hesitated, then said, "Release the fish hawks. Get word to Utakata on Bubble Island—he's to bring his four hundred ninja here, now."
Ao's face paled. "You're calling in the Six-Tails? He's still unstable!"
Genshi shook his head. "We have no choice. You know how dangerous the Kaguya are. Maybe this time, we wipe them out for good."
A flicker of killing intent flashed in Genshi's tired eyes.
"Should we notify the Konoha delegation?" Ao asked.
"No. In fact, I want at least twenty ANBU tailing them. Koharu Utatane is anything but harmless."
Genshi stood, determination hardening his features.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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