"Minato-sensei, is there a new mission?"
Kakashi appeared in the Hokage's office in a flash of yellow light using the Flying Thunder God Technique, his expression curious.
Minato looked up and sighed apologetically. "I'm sorry to disturb your rest, Kakashi. But I'm seriously short on manpower, and this mission is extremely important. I had no choice."
"Please don't apologize, sensei. It's my duty to serve Konoha," Kakashi replied with a slight bow. "But may I ask, what kind of mission requires me personally?"
If the Hokage couldn't assign it to anyone else and needed him specifically, then it had to be a mission requiring considerable strength.
Minato handed him a scroll. "This morning, we received an urgent request from the King of the Snow Country. He believes his life is in danger and has asked Konoha to send a ninja to escort his daughter to a trusted friend in the Land of Iron."
Kakashi's eye twitched with recognition as he opened the scroll. The King of the Snow Country's daughter? Could it be... Fūn Hōu Yuki?
Wasn't that the girl who later became a famous actress in the ninja world—Princess Gale, the future Fenghua Xiaoxue?
Kakashi still remembered how his younger self had suffered a defeat at the hands of Snow Ninja while trying to escort her to safety. And now, here it was again. The same mission. Fate, it seemed, had given him a second chance.
Looks like I get to settle an old score... he thought, smirking. But beyond personal revenge, this mission presented another golden opportunity.
This could be the perfect bait...
Kakashi quickly composed himself. "Minato-sensei, I have a suggestion. Assign this mission to Obito, and let word spread throughout the village that he's leaving for a solo mission in a foreign land."
Minato raised an eyebrow, instantly reading between the lines. "You're setting a trap."
"Yes," Kakashi nodded. "I want to use this opportunity to lure out a certain rat who's been hiding in the shadows for too long."
"It's dangerous," Minato said grimly. "The man you're referring to… he was once as renowned as another legendary figure. And he still commands many elite operatives."
"What if Obito can't handle it? What if we lose him along with the target? That would be disastrous."
Minato's eyes darkened as he thought about Danzo. He detested what Danzo had done—especially what he'd nearly done to Rin and Obito. If not for the Third Hokage's protection, Danzo would already be in prison.
But even so, the man was formidable and difficult to catch.
"Don't worry, sensei," Kakashi said confidently. "Shisui and I will each leave behind a clone in the village. Our real bodies will be hidden inside the Kamui dimension."
"If the enemy doesn't show, then we've only lost some time. But if he does... we'll strike. We'll catch him red-handed—and if necessary, eliminate him on the spot."
He looked deadly serious. With two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan and Sage Mode, Kakashi was confident. If they couldn't take down Danzo now, they never would.
Minato considered the plan in silence before nodding. "All right. But if anything goes wrong, I want Obito brought back immediately. I'll deal with the situation personally."
"Understood," Kakashi replied.
With a quick flash, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport to the Uchiha Clan's training ground, where he sensed Obito's chakra.
"Kakashi (senpai), what are you doing here?" Obito and Shisui asked in surprise.
Kakashi glanced around. The two were teaching young Itachi some basic ninjutsu.
"Hello, Kakashi-nii," Itachi greeted with wide eyes, freezing up when he saw him.
Kakashi chuckled to himself. He hadn't forgotten that incident when Itachi was just two years old—the one that left the boy instinctively wary of him ever since.
Still traumatized, huh? Kakashi thought with amusement. The Uchiha really are something. That kid's memory is sharp.
Itachi instinctively pressed his legs together and took a step back. Despite knowing Kakashi was harmless, a part of him still flinched.
Suppressing his laugh, Kakashi turned serious. "Obito, Shisui, take Itachi home first. I need to talk to both of you. Privately."
"No need," Itachi interjected quickly. "You three go ahead. I can walk back myself."
Kakashi smiled. "That's impressive, Itachi. Then go home quickly, and don't keep your parents waiting."
He ruffled the boy's hair, purposely messing up his neat bangs. Itachi winced but didn't resist, remembering the trauma of the "evil hand."
"Let's go," Kakashi said, signaling to Obito and Shisui.
They followed him into the dense forest, and once Itachi was out of sight, Kakashi activated his teleportation seal again. In a blink, they were in the Hokage's office.
After laying out the full plan, Obito clenched his fists. "This time, we'll definitely bring him down!"
He hadn't forgotten how Danzo tried to recruit him back then—or how that plot involved the possible death of Rin. Obito had nearly been forced into the Root.
There was no forgiveness for that.
"I agree," Shisui said seriously. "After consulting with Kakashi-senpai and Minato-sensei, I spoke to Clan Head Fugaku. With all the facts laid out, I've reached a conclusion..."
"Danzo has been targeting the Uchiha for years. And I believe he stole my grandfather's Sharingan after his death. It's even possible... he murdered him."
His fists clenched at the thought.
Unlike the Shisui from the original timeline, this version had not been corrupted by misplaced loyalty or twisted ideology. His "Will of Fire" was inherited directly from Minato—pure, noble, and uncompromising.
Not like the Third Hokage's diluted version, which cloaked the village in bright light while hiding deep shadows.
With both Obito and Shisui in agreement, the plan moved forward.
Each left behind a Shadow Clone in the village. The clones escorted Obito to the village gates and then returned home to give the impression of normalcy. Meanwhile, the real Obito was safely hidden in the Kamui dimension with the others.
The bait had been cast.
And as expected, the news spread like wildfire among the Jōnin. Whispers of Obito heading alone on a dangerous mission abroad reached every corner of the village.
It wasn't long before Root got wind of it—and the information quickly made its way to Danzo.
Exactly as planned.
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