"..."
Hatake Kakashi remained indifferent to the Third Hokage's words.
His life had been nothing but loss and disappointnt, turning him into a man with a heart of ashes. It was hard for him to care about anything anymore.
From Kakashi's perspective, the Uchiha clan's massacre was a shock, not because of the event itself but because the murderer was his forr subordinate, Uchiha Itachi. His only reaction was a mont of surprise. Once he finished handling the Uchiha clan's remains, he had no further thoughts on the matter—only that his life had beco even more difficult to bear.
Storm Release Kekkei Genkai?
Just another tool for battle.
Back when Kakashi primarily used Lightning Release, he had awakened the Storm Release within himself, a bloodline trait inherited from his father. He even attempted to develop new combat techniques that combined it with his signature Chidori.
But now...
None of that mattered.
Even if the Third Hokage called it a gift from a "great man" who had once taught his father, it stirred nothing in Kakashi's heart.
So what?
How great could this person be?
Would they change anything about his life?
Could they bring back the friends he had lost?
Kakashi simply listened to Hiruzen's lecture in silence, then walked away to continue handling ANBU affairs. His deanor remained as apathetic as ever.
"Kakashi-senpai!"
A broad-shouldered man with a square jaw approached, lowering his voice as he asked, "Are the Root mbers really joining the ANBU?"
"Tenzo, huh..."
Kakashi finally lifted his gaze, slowly nodding. "Root has been disbanded. From now on, they're just ANBU."
This man...
Was one of the few Kakashi was willing to speak to.
Back when Kakashi was listless and aimless, he had discovered Tenzo—a ninja from Root who possessed the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai. Kakashi had also uncovered the harsh control that Danzo Shimura had imposed upon him.
So, he had taken Tenzo away from Root and into the ANBU.
In a way, Kakashi felt a certain responsibility for him.
"..."
Tenzo hesitated, unsure whether to speak his mind.
He knew the forr Root mbers still bore Danzo's cursed seals. Their loyalty to him had likely not wavered in the slightest.
But should he say that aloud?
"What is it?"
Kakashi sensed his hesitation.
"No... nothing."
Tenzo shook his head but ultimately decided to tell Kakashi the truth. "Lord Danzo was skilled in cursed seals. They still have ones binding them to his will."
"And what does that change?"
Kakashi placed a hand on Tenzo's shoulder, his eyes devoid of emotion.
"Even if we remove the cursed seals from their bodies...
The ones in their hearts will never be erased."
Unlike Tenzo, those forr Root mbers had been fully conditioned by Danzo. They were soulless killing machines, devoid of emotion, caring for nothing but completing their assigned missions.
This...
Wasn't even sothing worth reporting to the Third Hokage.
After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was skilled in sealing techniques as well.
He would have already noticed the cursed seals on them—he just chose not to say anything.
"If you need , I'll be at the morial stone."
Kakashi let his arm fall limply to his side. He changed out of his ANBU uniform and prepared to visit the morial stone.
He felt he should at least inform his fallen comrades about the Uchiha clan's fate.
After all...
One of them had once been proud to be an Uchiha.
Kakashi absentmindedly reached up to touch his covered left eye.
The Sharingan... and Storm Release.
Kakashi had always carried both Kekkei Genkai.
Yet even with these gifts, he still couldn't find a purpose for his existence.
anwhile, at the Fire Country border.
By the ti the masked man and Uchiha Itachi arrived, a White Zetsu clone was already waiting for them.
"Lord Shigen wants to see you both."
After delivering this ssage, the clone added, "Oh, and make sure to show proper respect. My main body is worried you might not be respectful enough to Lord Shigen..."
This...
Was actually quite important.
White Zetsu liked Obito as a pawn, and while Black Zetsu found him irritating, neither wanted him to offend Shigen.
However...
They all knew...
Obito was exactly the type to act disrespectfully.
Even back when he inherited Madara's will, he had treated the old man with a hint of arrogance. To Obito, the only thing that mattered was Infinite Tsukuyomi—creating a new world.
Nothing else.
"Lord Shigen?"
Itachi furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Hmph..."
"This is the 'great man' I was telling you about."
The masked man sounded utterly indifferent as he revealed Shigen's identity, his voice tinged with displeasure.
"The dical ninja who ended the First Shinobi War—the one from all those bedti stories you must've heard as a child. Emiya Shigen."
The masked man's hair swayed slightly in the wind. His tone made it clear he had no respect for Shigen.
"I only just received the news before we left—Orochimaru used Edo Tensei to summon him back from the Pure Land."
"!!!"
Itachi's expression shifted.
Was this so kind of joke?
How could Akatsuki possibly be connected to soone like him?!
Itachi had anticipated that this so-called "great man" would be soone important—perhaps a forr Kage or a powerful rogue ninja.
But this...
This was Emiya Shigen!
The legendary healer whose na had been sung across the shinobi world for over a thousand years!
A dead saint...
There was no na more shocking.
"You must show proper respect to Lord Shigen!"
The White Zetsu clone pleaded helplessly, still worried about Obito's attitude.
"I get it."
The masked man shot the clone a displeased glare. "As long as he doesn't interfere with my plans, I'll grant him the respect due to a senior."
These pointless warnings...
Why keep repeating them?!
Obito was already irritated that Shigen had stolen his thunder.
Hearing White Zetsu go on and on only deepened his frustration.
"Good, good..."
The clone chuckled nervously before vanishing into the earth.
"What is that thing?"
Itachi narrowed his eyes, intrigued by the clone's ability.
Even with his Sharingan, he couldn't detect it at all.
"Just an idiot,"
The masked man scoffed dismissively.
"Its only real purpose is scouting for intelligence."
"Hmm... Sounds like it's not really your organization anymore."
Itachi casually twisted the knife, using White Zetsu's words to sow discord.
"Are you sure this 'Lord Shigen' will even accept my mbership? I always thought of him as a great dical ninja who devoted himself to saving lives.
I doubt he'd welco killers like us."
"Hmph..."
"Enough nonsense."
"He won't have ti to concern himself with Akatsuki."
The masked man sneered, recalling Madara's old tales.
"If anything, he'll probably do what he did the first ti he was resurrected—wander the world healing people and stopping wars while we carry out real peace."
But...
Sothing had changed.
At the very least, Obito knew so within Akatsuki would be more willing to follow Shigen.
After all, he had used Shigen's na to recruit Nagato and Konan in the first place.
"A second path to peace?"
Itachi's curiosity deepened.
Surprisingly, Obito was unusually candid with his fellow Uchiha, openly revealing the truth of Shigen's role in the First Shinobi War.
"That's right."
"Even Shigen knew that war in the shinobi world was unavoidable.
He created an alternate plan for achieving peace... but never acted on it, believing it to be a last resort."
"But now..."
"He must have finally realized this world is beyond saving.
A new world must be built."
"..."
Itachi's heart pounded.
This was...
Far more shocking than he had anticipated.
And then...
Before Obito could even et Shigen, his path was blocked.
Black Zetsu—once his loyal ally—now regarded him with barely concealed disdain.
"We just captured a Konoha spy."
Black Zetsu's eerie grin widened as its gaze shifted to Itachi.
"Obito, can you guarantee he's not one too?"
"..."
Obito's heart sank.
Because...
He couldn't.
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Powerstones?
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates
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