The Other Side
Kakashi, sent ahead by Yagami to request reinforcements from Kikyō Castle, finally arrived after pushing himself to the limit.
At this moment, Kikyō Castle was already under strict guard when he arrived.
Just yesterday, Konoha's intelligence operatives had passed through this place, carrying urgent reports about the outbreak of war. That information had been delivered immediately to the Konoha defenders stationed here.
As a result, every available shinobi had been mobilized.
The castle had entered first-level combat readiness.
"Stop right there!!"
Just as Kakashi approached the outer perimeter of Kikyō Castle, a sharp flash cut through the air.
A kunai shot down from the wall and struck the ground directly in front of him, blocking his path.
Kakashi stopped and raised his head.
On top of the tower stood a middle-aged man with sharp, crimson-tinged eyes, staring down at him with undisguised vigilance.
"I am Hatake Kakashi," Kakashi called out calmly, "son of Hatake Sakumo!"
Although he hated invoking the name of his late father—
Time didn't allow for hesitation.
This was the fastest way to prove his identity.
"Hatake Kakashi…?"
The man on the tower—Yūhi Shinku—froze for a brief moment, genuine surprise flashing across his face.
He knew that name.
It belonged to the son of his fallen comrade… Sakumo's child.
"Captain, it really is Kakashi," a shinobi beside him spoke up quickly.
"I've been on missions with him before. I recognize him."
"That's right. It's Kakashi," another Konoha shinobi nodded. "I know him too."
Kakashi's infamous mission-first attitude was well known throughout Konoha.
At times like this, that reputation worked in his favor.
"…Open the gate!!"
After hearing the confirmations, Yūhi Shinku finally raised his hand and gave the signal.
Whoosh—!
The moment permission was granted, Kakashi burst forward.
He sprinted toward the tower, leapt upward, and used the wall itself as a foothold.
After several rapid vertical jumps, he reached the top.
Standing before Yūhi Shinku, Kakashi snapped into a sharp salute, then spoke without wasting a second.
"A Sand Shinobi unit is advancing toward this area!"
The words came out fast.
So did his breath—his chest rising and falling heavily after the long sprint.
"They're already here?"
"How many?"
Yūhi Shinku's expression hardened instantly.
They had only received the intelligence yesterday—and Sand Shinobi were already on the move?
"A force of two hundred," Kakashi answered.
Then, frowning slightly, he asked, "You… already knew?"
Because no one looked shocked.
If anything, they looked prepared.
"We received confirmation yesterday," one of the shinobi replied grimly.
"Sunagakure has formally declared war on Konoha."
The words hit like a weight.
Just as Kakashi was processing that—
Yūhi Shinku's voice cut in again.
"Then why did you come from that direction alone?"
That snapped Kakashi fully back to himself.
"There's no time!" he said urgently.
"There are thousands of civilians ahead of me that need immediate support!"
"…Thousands?"
Yūhi Shinku frowned deeply.
As far as he knew, there were no major villages or towns further ahead.
And Kikyō Castle was already Konoha's outermost defensive settlement.
Seeing his confusion, Kakashi quickly explained everything—
The mission.
The escort.
The evacuation of the people of Rōran.
When he finished—
"What!?"
"To protect civilians… three shinobi stayed behind to block two hundred Sand Shinobi?!"
Shock rippled across the walls.
Three against two hundred?
That wasn't a stand.
That was suicide.
"Move!! Gather everyone—now!!"
Yūhi Shinku roared without hesitation.
He understood immediately.
Those three had gone in with the resolve to die.
And the time they were buying… could not be wasted.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
An urgent alarm rang out from atop Kikyō Castle.
From every direction, Konoha shinobi rushed toward the tower.
Within moments, nearly a hundred shinobi had assembled below.
Yūhi Shinku scanned their number quickly.
This was the full defensive force of Kikyō Castle.
"The First and Second Squads—follow me! We're rescuing civilians!"
He immediately split the forces in half.
The remaining shinobi were ordered to stay behind and guard the castle under his deputy's command.
Without another word, Yūhi Shinku led the team out through the gates.
Kakashi took point.
They moved at full speed toward Rōran.
Across the battlefield, where Yagami and Kushina stood facing the Sand Shinobi—
The moment Yagami reported his name, the Sand shinobi exchanged looks.
With that level of strength, someone like him shouldn't have been unknown.
And yet—
None of them recognized the name at all.
Kushina rushed to Yagami's side, leaning in close as she lowered her voice.
"Heh~ you sure sounded impressive when you called out your name."
"That slash just now… seriously, that was cool."
She wasn't exaggerating.
One strike—forcing an enemy force several times larger to halt.
Her blood was still boiling from it.
At this moment, Yagami's eyes burned with an unyielding calm.
That presence alone made Kushina's heart beat faster than she cared to admit.
"What I told you earlier," Yagami said evenly,
"As long as I'm here, I won't let anything happen to you."
"This isn't empty bravado."
If he didn't have absolute confidence—
He would've knocked her out and carried her away already.
"Hey," Kushina suddenly straightened, regaining her usual fire.
"You gave your name already… so it's my turn."
Yagami blinked.
Before he could react—
Kushina stepped forward.
She cleared her throat.
"Ahem!"
"Listen up!"
"My name is Uzumaki Kushina! I'm a Konoha jōnin—and I'm going to be the first female Hokage!!"
She jabbed her thumb into her chest proudly, standing tall and confident.
Behind her...
Yagami's eye twitched.
Sweat slid down the side of his face.
…Is this really the Kushina I know?
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