Kakashi instantly recognized Shisui's figure, but the person being carried on his back had his face obscured, so Kakashi couldn't identify him.
"Shisui, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, senpai. Who's this you're carrying?"
Before Shisui could respond, Terumi Mei had already rushed forward.
"Put him down now!"
Caught off guard, Shisui instinctively paused, and before he could react, the unconscious figure had already been taken from his shoulders by Terumi Mei.
"This…"
Shisui was about to act, but Kakashi quickly intervened. "Don't. What's going on? That person is he from Kirigakure?"
"Yes. I was searching for you and ran into him. He attacked without warning, so I didn't hold back."
Kakashi gave a helpless smile. This guy was really unlucky; with Shisui's current skill level, any Mist ninja would be overwhelmed before long.
Terumi Mei examined Ao with a look of concern. Confirming that he was merely unconscious with no serious injuries, she let out a quiet breath of relief.
Just then, Ao's eyes fluttered open.
Terumi Mei lit up and said, "Ao! You're awake!"
At the sound of her voice, Ao stirred and quickly sat up. "Lady Terumi Mei? You're safe?"
"I'm fine. How do you feel?"
"I'm okay. Lady Terumi… what are you doing here? I remember I was fighting a Konoha shinobi."
Shisui replied calmly, "Your memory serves you well it was me."
Ao's expression hardened. He instinctively moved in front of Terumi Mei, eyes narrowed. "Be careful, Lady Terumi Mei. He's an Uchiha dangerous and highly skilled."
"That's enough, Ao."
Terumi Mei stopped him with a firm tone. "Kakashi Hatake, let's call it even. I'll consider this matter settled."
"No objections here."
"Good. Then we're leaving. Ao, let's go."
"Lady Terumi Mei, aren't we here to confront Kakashi Hatake?"
"No. I've changed my mind. We're leaving."
"Understood, Lady Terumi Mei."
As always, Ao followed her orders without hesitation. Despite his earlier intent to settle scores, Terumi Mei had clearly made peace with Kakashi.
Considering what had just happened and their earlier teamwork it was clear even to Terumi Mei that taking on Kakashi now would be reckless.
Not to mention, Ao couldn't hope to defeat someone from the Uchiha clan.
Going up against them now would only lead to disaster.
Kakashi watched them go without resistance. Shisui glanced his way and asked, "Senpai… you're really just going to let them walk away?"
"Yeah. We're not in wartime. Striking down foreign shinobi without absolute necessity would cause serious diplomatic problems. Last time was unavoidable. This isn't."
"Understood."
Shisui had initially planned to retrieve his Sharingan from Ao, but with Kakashi's decision, he silently let it go.
After all, the Uchiha had no shortage of powerful eyes.
"Senpai, about the three-headed dog…"
Shisui gestured toward the massive beast collapsed nearby.
"I've already subdued it."
"What's the plan? Isn't it supposed to return to its realm?"
"It said its territory was destroyed. It has nowhere left to go."
"So what now?"
Kakashi rubbed his chin, frowning. "That's the problem."
Just then, Pakkun ran over and said, "Kakashi, the three-headed dog wants to speak to you."
"Huh?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Me?"
"Yeah, and it sounds important."
Kakashi followed Pakkun and stood before the injured beast. This time, its gaze wasn't fierce, but calm.
"Human… that small one explained everything. Seems I misjudged you."
"I'm glad to hear it. I had no intention of harming you but your presence was causing unrest on the island. I accepted a mission to remove the threat. I hoped we could resolve it peacefully."
The three-headed dog sighed. "But with my home gone… where am I supposed to go?"
Kakashi nodded slowly. It wasn't an easy issue.
The beast's intense gaze made Kakashi shift uncomfortably.
Before he could reply, the creature spoke again. "You said earlier the ones in black cloaks with red clouds… they're your enemies?"
Kakashi froze, then nodded. "Yes. I haven't fought them directly yet, but history will bring us together."
He remembered he had died once because of them.
The three-headed dog narrowed its eyes, then nodded solemnly. "If we share a common enemy, then I, Seven Prisons, will become your summoned beast. Together, we'll face those six!"
Kakashi was stunned.
He hadn't expected this at all.
But his shock quickly turned to excitement.
The power of this creature rivaled Jiraiya's Gamabunta or Orochimaru's Manda.
If not for its prior injuries, even Kakashi wouldn't have been able to subdue it so easily.
As a summoning partner, it would fill a huge gap in his arsenal.
"What's the matter, human? Don't want me anymore?"
Seven Prisons sounded a bit offended.
Pakkun nudged him. "Kakashi, just agree. He can return with me for now."
"All right then. Seven Prisons, I'm Hatake Kakashi. Let's make it official."
Seven Prisons stood tall and declared, "I am Seven Prisons."
With that, it spat out a scroll from its mouth.
"This is the summoning contract of my clan. But our territory is gone. I don't know how many of my brethren are still alive."
Seven Prisons looked solemn.
"Go ahead, human. Sign it."
Without hesitation, Kakashi bit his thumb, wrote his name, and pressed his bloody hand to the parchment.
He glanced at the scroll only one name was on it but before he could make it out, Seven Prisons retracted it.
"Now try summoning. Let's see if you can reach any of my kin."
Kakashi nodded and performed the summoning seals.
Chakra surged, and he slammed his hand into the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
Boom!
Nine smaller hellhounds, each about Pakkun's size, appeared before Kakashi!
Seven Prisons' eyes lit up there were survivors!
"Master Seven Prisons! You're alive! Thank goodness!"
The nine canines swarmed him joyfully, unaware it was Kakashi who had summoned them.
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