This chameleon-style camouflage is naturally useless against sensory-type shinobi, but once you suppress your chakra fluctuations, it's a different story.
Kageyama Kokugetsu meant to slack off until the fighting ended, but after finishing his own opponents, Shisui came looking.
A talent like Shisui wouldn't be allowed to operate alone in a battle this large; Uchiha Fugaku had him assigned to a platoon.
With no choice, Kageyama showed himself at a suitable spot so Shisui wouldn't think he'd died.
Once visible, he had to pull his weight. The people around him overflowed with the Will of Fire and had no concept of slacking—only of going all out.
The battle raged into the afternoon. Though Kirigakure took heavy losses, they barely held their line, and their follow-up forces arrived on time.
Seeing the moment slip, Konoha withdrew without hesitation.
Back in camp, medics treated the wounded, others rested or ate; the place buzzed with activity.
From then on Konoha and the Mist settled into stalemate—no more large engagements, just frequent high-intensity skirmishes.
Kageyama wanted to slack but had little time. Fugaku himself seldom moved, yet Shisui fought often. Even running support was exhausting.
It went on like this until Mitokado Homura summoned him back.
"Elder Homura." Kageyama entered the tent and bowed.
"Kokugetsu, you've done well. I wasn't wrong about you," Homura said with a smile.
"I only did what I should," Kageyama answered with a grave face that didn't quite match his true feelings. "Elder, is there an important mission?"
"There is a mission, but I wouldn't call it crucial," Homura said. "Hiruzen asked me to keep an eye on Minato's squad. They're one of the teams probing Kirigakure's supply routes. Four squads work the rear, three more cover each flank. Minato's team is one of the three on the right rear. It's not as dangerous as going deep behind enemy lines, but it's not safe either. Since Hiruzen spoke up, Minato's team is short a hand, you have the Byakugan, and you were classmates. If you join temporarily, they won't push back, and you'll have some built-in rapport. What do you say?"
"I'll follow Elder Homura's orders," Kageyama said solemnly.
He'd been wondering how to excuse himself from Shisui's side for a while. This saved him the trouble—and conveniently needled Obito.
Space-time techniques were great, but they guzzled chakra. He still needed time to grow.
"Good," Homura said, pleased. He hesitated, then added, "If things truly become untenable, preserve yourself first. You matter more than this mission."
So Homura valued him that highly—more than the task itself. For shinobi in this era, the mission came before all else. The Byakugan was the main reason, but saying it aloud meant Homura also valued the person.
"Thank you for your trust, Elder. I'll remember it," Kageyama said, face full of grateful restraint.
"Go on. Stay safe."
"Yes."
Back at his tent, Kakashi and Nohara Rin were waiting.
"Well, we meet again," Kageyama said, laughing.
"Kokugetsu," Rin smiled.
Expression blank, Kakashi gave a small nod. "We're all here. Let's go."
"Is it nearly time to move out?" Kageyama asked.
"No. Half an hour until assembly," Rin said.
"Then what's the rush? Come rest in my tent. I brought snacks from the village."
Without waiting for an answer, Kageyama ducked inside. Rin and Kakashi exchanged a look and followed.
"Wow, you brought so many treats?" Rin's eyes lit up.
Kakashi snorted. "Unprofessional. You think this is a picnic?"
"You wouldn't understand, mission maniac. This relieves stress and helps both completion rate and survival. If you're not eating, Rin and I will."
Kageyama rolled his eye and handed Rin a selection he figured girls liked.
"Thanks," Rin said sweetly, eyes curving.
"Look at Rin. Now look at you," Kageyama teased as he tossed a handful of snacks at Kakashi.
Kakashi caught them, hesitated, then ate.
"As squad leader, I need to know your capabilities," Kakashi said a few minutes later.
"Besides Byakugan scouting, I'm good at taijutsu and assassination, and my ninjutsu isn't bad."
"I'm a medical-ninjutsu specialist. My taijutsu and ninjutsu are average," Rin said.
"I specialize in the Hatake sword style, ninjutsu, and assassination," Kakashi said.
After a quick exchange, they went back to their rare battlefield indulgence. A few minutes later, they packed the trash and headed for the rally point.
Three squads met up, each led by a jonin. Together they advanced, looping through Konoha-held ground in a wide arc to the Mist's right rear.
To cover the deep-strike teams, the front line launched a diversion. The trip went smoothly.
That night the three squads reached the right rear of the Mist's zone and split up, each taking a sector.
Far beneath the southeastern border of the Land of Fire, in an underground chamber, an ancient white-haired man sat slumped in a stone chair, white roots burrowed into his back. Darkness pooled behind him, and by guttering candlelight one could barely make out a huge, hideous silhouette that chilled the bone.
A moment later a black-and-white humanoid wrapped in a pitcher-plant rose from the floor before him.
"Lord Madara, the target has entered the zone. There's a small complication," Black Zetsu rasped.
"What complication?" The old man slowly lifted his head, revealing a scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan.
"A new member in the target's squad. A classmate, name Kageyama Kokugetsu."
"And such a trifling matter merits a report?" Uchiha Madara's tone was sour.
A mere classmate at best would be jonin level—if that. In this generation there was only one jonin, and even that was wartime promotion with caveats.
"Heh. We just didn't want you to be bored, so we brought you something to pass the time," White Zetsu said, slyly amused.
"Get out," Madara snapped.
"Okay!"
White Zetsu, in perfect deadpan, literally rolled across the floor, leaving Madara and Black Zetsu speechless.