The next morning.
At the second platoon's camp, the shinobi crawled out of their sleeping bags one after another, yawning as they began preparing for morning training.
Ever since Uchiha Naka's outburst yesterday, the atmosphere in the unit had become even more delicate—so tense no one dared breathe too loudly. Then a set of hurried footsteps suddenly shattered that walking-on-thin-ice quiet.
Uchiha Shisui appeared in the camp and called out, "Kakashi-senpai, urgent mission."
Hatake Kakashi immediately set down what he was holding and used Body Flicker to rush over.
"All members of Second Platoon present. Please issue the mission."
At the same time, the surrounding team members quickly gathered in.
Shisui observed them briefly, then said, "Intelligence suggests Kumogakure may be making large-scale movements. Tsunade-sama orders you to lead your squad into the Land of Hot Water immediately and investigate the situation along the border between the Land of Moon and the Land of Lightning."
Between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning lay two smaller countries: the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Moon. The Land of Moon was especially important—it was the only land route into the Land of Lightning. If Kumogakure intended to go to war, they would usually seize the Land of Moon first, choke the corridor, and make their homeland easy to defend and hard to invade.
"Understood," Kakashi nodded.
"But one point must be emphasized," Shisui's tone turned serious. "This mission's priority is reconnaissance. Avoid exposing your presence as much as possible."
"Understood."
"I'm counting on you." Shisui nodded to Kakashi, then turned and left.
Kakashi turned back to his team and swept them with his gaze. "We move out in ten minutes. Prepare."
"Yes!"
The Land of Hot Water wasn't very wide from east to west. In less than an hour, they had already penetrated deep into its interior, reached the designated area, and split into three squads to begin operations.
At the front was the squad led by the chūnin Taguchi. The second platoon's only Hyuga ninja was in that squad—giving them the scouting role was ideal. Kakashi's own squad moved in the middle, while Uchiha Naka's squad took the rear, ready to support either of the two squads ahead at any time.
Just then, the Hyuga ninja suddenly flashed a hand sign for stop. "About one thousand meters ahead, there's a chakra presence—and it's approaching us."
"How many?" Taguchi asked.
"Three. Based on chakra volume, they're about our level."
Taguchi thought for a moment and decided to pull back and report. Kakashi immediately issued an order.
"Hide in place. Let them pass."
The shinobi erased traces, clinging to treetops or flattening behind low shrubs, completely disappearing into the dense foliage, holding their breath.
Taguchi seemed to want to say something, but after hesitating, he still followed Kakashi into concealment.
Only a few minutes later, a trio of Kumogakure ninja passed by right in front of them, completely unguarded. They looked like a scouting unit sent to probe Konoha's movements and defensive deployments.
Just as the Cloud ninja were about to vanish from view, Taguchi—crouched beside Kakashi—couldn't hold back anymore.
A sharp light flashed in his eyes, and excitement surged through him. "Kakashi, we should move and capture them."
"First, we make their mission fail and protect the village's information. Second, we can get intelligence off them. That helps the village seize the initiative and gain an advantage in the coming war!"
"No," Kakashi rejected immediately. "That's not our mission, and the mission requires us to avoid exposure."
Taguchi refused to give up and tried again. "So what if we're exposed?"
"We have nine people and they have three. We can finish it fast. We get intel and weaken Kumogakure. This is a perfect chance to earn merit!"
Clearly, what occupied his mind now wasn't the mission at all—it was how to seize this "opportunity" to win glory and rewards for himself.
Kakashi withdrew his gaze from the distance. His expression darkened.
"I said, no."
"Kakashi!" Taguchi raised his voice, the impatience obvious now. "If we just let them go and they leak the village's information, what then? You'll be Konoha's sinner—"
"Shut up."
Kakashi didn't even look at him. He simply signaled the others to continue the mission.
Taguchi choked on the dismissal. The resentment he'd been bottling up for days—along with his hunger for credit—ignited instantly and exploded.
"I get it!" he snarled through clenched teeth. "You just can't stand seeing us do well, can you?!"
"What are you talking about?"
This time, Kakashi finally looked at him—brows tightly drawn. And that was not a good sign.
His "intolerance for stupidity" was about to flare.
"I hit the mark, didn't I?!" Taguchi's voice grew louder and louder.
"Everyone knows the name 'Cold-Blooded Kakashi'! You'd kill your own comrades for a mission—no flexibility at all. And now, if we just complete a reconnaissance mission, you as captain get the biggest credit."
Before the words even finished, Taguchi turned toward the others.
"This man doesn't treat us like comrades at all. He only thinks about his own interests. He's not fit to be our captain! I propose we act together and stop listening to him!"
The other team members looked at each other. They did have complaints about Kakashi—but Taguchi's words felt too extreme.
After a short hesitation, the young genin tried to speak. "Captain… Taguchi does have a point. If they really manage to scout out our information…"
Before he could finish, a terrifying killing intent erupted without warning.
In that instant, everyone's bodies went rigid, as if frozen. Pure instinctive fear seized them—like prey trembling under the gaze of a natural predator.
Kakashi slowly lifted his head.
His eyes had changed.
The eye that usually looked lazy was now fully open. His pupil tightened into a dangerous thin line. His gaze held no human emotion at all—like he was looking at a corpse.
"If you refuse to obey orders…"
Kakashi's right hand moved slowly to the hilt of the short blade at his waist.
"I'll kill you."
Sching! The sound of the blade leaving its sheath cut through the silent forest like a scream. The steel reflected a cold glint that stabbed painfully into Taguchi's eyes.
Taguchi's face went paper-white. His legs trembled uncontrollably, his throat letting out a swallowed "gk."
Kakashi… he's serious… he really will kill me…
That killing intent was too real. Taguchi didn't doubt that if he said one more word, the blade would slice his throat open.
"I… I…"
His lips shook. He wanted to say something, but his mind had gone completely blank. After a few seconds, he finally gave up resisting.
"…Yes, Captain."