In the blink of an eye, Kakashi had already spent a month in Konoha. This was the first time in years he had taken such an extended rest.
He had nearly forgotten that he lived in a world where even a moment of peace was a rare luxury.
Despite the suppression seal that the Third Hokage had arranged for him, the curse mark implanted by Orochimaru still flared up intermittently throughout the month, making daily life quite difficult. If something went wrong during a fight, it could lead to disastrous consequences.
Kakashi noticed a troubling pattern: whenever he pushed his chakra reserves too far during solo training, the curse mark would activate, causing full-body spasms and intense pain.
As for Jiraiya's return, Kakashi had been genuinely looking forward to it.
But soon, that quiet month came to an abrupt end.
"Who's there?!"
While walking through the village, Kakashi suddenly turned and shouted.
"Kakashi, the Third Hokage has summoned you."
An Anbu wearing a hawk mask emerged from the shadows.
"Understood."
With that, Kakashi vanished with a flicker of the Body Flicker Technique.
"…Such sharp perception. I didn't expect to be noticed that quickly," the Anbu murmured before disappearing as well.
---
Hokage's Office
"You called for me, Lord Third?"
"Oh, Kakashi, thank you for coming. I regret to inform you that Jiraiya ran into complications during his travels. He won't be able to return for a while. In the meantime, I have an urgent mission that needs someone of your caliber."
Kakashi was momentarily stunned. That was unfortunate news—he had hoped Jiraiya could help him further suppress the curse mark. It seemed the cursed seal would remain a burden for a while longer.
"I understand. What's the nature of the mission?"
"This mission is rather delicate. The details are sealed in this scroll. You are authorized to select one Anbu operative to accompany you."
The Hokage passed the scroll across the desk.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
The old man gave Kakashi a long look. "I heard you've been keeping an eye on Naruto?"
"Yes. He's Sensei's son. It's only right."
The Hokage exhaled a sigh. "You've done well."
"It's my duty."
"I'll also keep an eye on Naruto while you're gone, so rest easy."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
"Heh, no need for thanks. After all, Minato was my student too."
---
Leaving the Hokage's office, Kakashi immediately headed to the Anbu headquarters.
He had already reviewed the scroll's contents: reports mentioned unusual phenomena on an island at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water.
According to the locals, a "monster" had been sighted. With no other villages offering aid, they turned to Konoha.
"A monster, huh? Whatever it is, it's better to have someone quick on their feet."
Under normal circumstances, Kakashi would've tackled the mission alone. But given the unpredictable effects of the curse mark, it was too dangerous to go solo. A swift and reliable partner would be the safest choice.
Only one Anbu could match his speed—Uchiha Shisui.
---
When Kakashi arrived at Anbu HQ, the familiar stillness of the underground base welcomed him like a long-lost friend.
As he stepped into the Room of Team Six, all eyes turned to him.
"Captain!"
"Yo, Captain Kakashi!"
"Kakashi-senpai? Aren't you still on medical leave?" Tenzo asked, raising a brow.
"An urgent mission came down from the Hokage. I need someone to accompany me."
He scanned the room once and locked eyes with his intended teammate.
"Shisui, are you available?"
Shisui blinked in surprise. "Yes, sir!"
"Good. We'll be leaving the village. It may take some time."
"No problem, senpai."
"Then let's go."
"Yes!"
The pair departed in a blur, leaving Team Six exchanging glances.
"When did Kakashi-senpai and Shisui get so close?" one of them whispered.
---
"Where exactly are we headed this time, senpai?"
"There's an island off the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water. The locals reported sightings of a giant creature. We're going to investigate and protect them."
"Hm… Between two nations? That could get complicated. Especially if it leans closer to the Land of Water…"
Shisui's expression turned uneasy. After all, their last covert mission involving Kirigakure hadn't gone smoothly.
Kakashi noticed and gave him a reassuring glance. "Don't worry. The islanders specifically requested Konoha's help. That means they aren't dealing with Kirigakure anymore. It's unlikely we'll encounter Mist-nin."
"You're right, senpai."
"As usual, we'll use codenames during the mission."
"Yes, Silver."
With Kakashi's Body Flicker and Shisui's Teleportation Jutsu, the journey was swift.
They now stood aboard a boat, gazing at the misty outline of the island ahead.
It was hardly a tiny islet. The island spanned a wide area, though sparsely populated due to its remoteness.
Upon docking, several villagers were already gathered, awaiting their arrival.
"You must be the shinobi from Konoha?" an elderly man asked, likely the village head.
"Yes," Kakashi replied. "We're here to resolve the issue."
"Wonderful. Please, come with me to my home. I'll brief you."
"No problem."
---
Inside the old man's house, Kakashi wasted no time.
"Let's get straight to it. What exactly have you seen?"
The old man sighed heavily. "Truthfully, no one has seen the creature clearly. But we've found massive clawed footprints—far larger than a man. A few villagers caught glimpses of it in the distance… It's said to be more than ten meters tall."
"What kind of footprints?" Kakashi asked, frowning. "Can you show us?"
"Of course. They're in the mountains outside the village. Please, follow me."
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