Nine Hellhounds lined up in front of Seven Prisons. Compared to the immense size of Seven Prisons, they appeared small and significantly different in form.
They each had only one head, likely due to being too young.
"It's a relief that you're all safe. What's the status of Hell Valley?"
"Lord Seven, Hell Valley is now in ruins. Only the nine of us managed to survive," the smallest black Hellhound said sorrowfully.
The other eight mirrored the same somber expressions.
"Damn it…"
"Lord Seven, how did you manage to escape?"
"Qicha and I were confronting those six figures together. We didn't anticipate just how terrifyingly strong they were. We were no match for them. Before long, both Qicha and I were gravely wounded. In the end, one of them unleashed a jutsu that tore the very land apart. Qicha forced open the Summoning Rift in Hell Valley and shoved me through it. The last thing I saw was Hell Valley being engulfed by a blinding white light."
The nine younger Hellhounds fell silent, consumed by grief.
"How did the rest of you manage to survive that devastation?"
"Lord Seven, we had been hiding deep within Hell Valley. That jutsu didn't reach us. By the time we emerged… everyone was already gone."
All ten Hellhounds sank into a heavy silence.
Shisui stepped up beside Kakashi and whispered, "Senpai, who exactly are these six they're talking about? They must be unbelievably powerful one of these Hellhounds was already strong enough, and it sounds like just two of them were easily overpowered."
"This isn't something for you to concern yourself with yet. When your strength is ready, I'll explain."
Kakashi had no intention of revealing the truth about Pain. Fewer people knowing meant fewer liabilities.
"…Understood, Senpai."
Shisui nodded, choosing not to press further.
"Well then," Seven Prisons said, standing tall, "if Hell Valley has fallen, then we must rebuild it. The Hellhound clan will not perish!"
"Yes, Lord Seven!" the nine young hounds responded resolutely. Seven Prisons was their anchor of hope.
"This man is now our contractor. From now on, we will fight beside him and confront our shared enemies together!" Seven Prisons declared, gesturing toward Kakashi.
The nine Hellhounds turned to look at Kakashi with wary eyes.
Kakashi smiled gently. "Hello, I'm Hatake Kakashi."
"Lord Seven Prisons, was it you who summoned us just now?"
"No. This man has signed our clan's summoning contract."
"We understand, Lord Seven."
The authority of the Seven Prisons and the late Qicha in Hell Valley was absolute. With Qicha gone, Seven Prisons was the undisputed leader. Their word was law.
Given the respect they had for their leader, the nine Hellhounds accepted Kakashi without question.
"Kakashi, I'll return with them for now. If you need me, just call."
"Alright. But aren't you concerned about encountering those six again on your way back?"
"…That's a concern," Seven Prisons admitted. In their current state, facing those six again would mean certain death. Its own demise was acceptable but if the Hellhound clan perished, that would be an unforgivable failure.
"I think you should stay at my clan's mountain for now, with Parker," Kakashi suggested.
The Hatake family maintained a special training area in the mountains, where Kakashi's summoned ninja dogs including Parker usually resided.
Parker jumped in. "Right. Come with me, Seven Prisons. You can recover there before returning to Hell Valley."
Seven Prisons paused, then nodded. "Very well. I'll go with you."
"I'll return first," Parker said. "Kakashi, I'll have Brue reverse summon you in a minute."
"Got it."
With a poof, Parker vanished.
A minute later, Kakashi performed the summoning technique again. With the help of Brue, he was transported to Inu Tingshan, the Hatake Clan's ninja dog preserve.
Wasting no time, he summoned the Hellhounds once more.
Poof!
Ten Hellhounds appeared before him.
"Seven Prisons, stay here for now. Once you're healed, I'll go with you to Hell Valley."
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks."
Kakashi relayed a few more instructions before being reverse-summoned by Parker.
"Parker, I'm counting on you to take care of Seven Prisons and the others."
"Don't worry, Kakashi. I've got it."
With Parker's reassurance, the incident on the island finally came to an end.
"Senpai," Shisui said, "congratulations on forming a contract with such a powerful summoning beast."
Kakashi smiled, clearly pleased. He hadn't expected such a windfall he'd resolved a situation with Kirigakure and gained a new formidable ally in the process.
All in all, a mission well worth it.
"The mission's wrapped. Let's return and file our report."
"Yes, Senpai."
As they prepared to leave the island, Terumi Mei and Ao were already aboard a ship sailing away.
"Lady Terumi, why did you abandon the original plan?"
"Ao, weren't you the one against the plan from the beginning?"
"Well…" Ao had no rebuttal he had voiced opposition.
"Besides," Terumi continued, "after seeing Kakashi Hatake's strength and that mysterious Uchiha I realized I had no certainty of victory. If we fought, would you really be confident?"
Ao winced. He had just been bested by what looked like a 13-year-old boy.
"Also," she added, narrowing her eyes, "Kakashi confirmed it Yagura was indeed under a genjutsu."
"Really? Lady Terumi, is the intel reliable?"
"Very. I think it's time we start considering how to sway the other clans."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Terumi gazed back at the island fading in the distance.
Hatake Kakashi… what a remarkable man. If only he were born in Kirigakure instead of Konoha… how perfect that would be.
The thought was fleeting, but the flutter in her heart lingered.
---
Somewhere in the Land of Rain…
A woman with long light-blue hair tinged with violet, adorned with a lavender paper flower above her right ear, stood silently. Her golden eyes were cool and distant Konan.
"Pain, how's the beast for the Animal Path coming along?"
"Almost ready," Pain replied, gesturing toward a monstrous form nearby.
A massive three-headed dog lay motionless, a black chakra receiver pierced through its head. Its eyes opened slowly, revealing concentric ripples the Rinnegan.
Suddenly, space distorted.
A swirling spiral appeared, and Tobi wearing his iconic orange mask materialized.
"Pain, congratulations on capturing such a potent summoning beast."
"What do you want, 'Madara'?" Pain asked, coldly indifferent.
Tobi shrugged off the cold reception.
"Danzo has returned to the Land of Rain. When will you strike?"
Pain's gaze sharpened. "Tomorrow."
"Good."
Then, unexpectedly, Konan asked, "Mr. Madara… what's wrong with your butt? It looks swollen."
Tobi's chakra flared. Though his mask hid his face, his aura darkened.
Seriously? Why bring that up?!
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