The arrival of the Kumogakure peace delegation marked the official end of the Third Ninja World War.
At least, that was how it appeared on the surface.
Though scattered skirmishes between Konoha and Kumogakure had persisted for three years after Minato Namikaze's death, they were mere footnotes for two titanic powers.
Only now was the war truly declared over.
Kakashi strolled through Konoha's bustling streets, observing villagers whose faces glowed with relief at the prospect of peace.
They weren't just celebrating the war's end—they were reveling in Konoha's triumph once more.
As the only village to emerge victorious in all three Ninja World Wars over the decades, the people of the Hidden Leaf carried an unshakable pride in their home.
At the mission assignment office, Kakashi completed the routine paperwork and nodded in quiet satisfaction as an extra 1.5 million ryō appeared in his account.
A rare solo S-rank mission, with the full reward all his own.
He planned to pick up a few things on the way back for the recluse waiting at home.
Over the past three years, beyond feeding the dogs each day, his greatest joy had become reading—devouring every kind of book he could find.
Of course, how could a great-grandmother from five centuries ago stomach dense, serious literature? Hikari preferred manga, light novels, and collections of folktales.
She also loved movies and the like.
He grabbed the latest volume from the bookstore owner and glanced at the cover.
Jehovah, Odin, and Hera's Love Triangle.
Would Hikari rot her brain reading this garbage all day?
Kakashi grumbled under his breath, then tossed it into his bag.
He picked up a few more new releases and turned to leave.
"Boss, I wanna buy this one."
A familiar voice stopped him cold.
He glanced over with his dark eye and spotted a small figure clutching a manga, standing on tiptoes, straining to reach the counter.
"One hundred ryō."
The owner, usually all smiles for customers, was icy now.
"Uh… could it be fifty?"
"I don't have that much left…"
The blond boy's voice was small, almost apologetic.
The owner stared at him without a flicker of warmth.
Kakashi stepped forward, set his own stack on the counter, and pointed to the boy's book.
"How much for everything?"
At the sound of his voice, the little blond finally noticed him.
"Kakashi-nii!"
As Minato's student, Kakashi had checked in on Naruto regularly over the past three years.
He couldn't shift the villagers' hatred, but with Kakashi in his corner, Naruto's life had improved—marginally.
Inevitably, Kakashi caught flak for it.
Some villagers despised him by proxy.
They couldn't fathom why the village's prodigy wasted his time on the "demon fox brat."
After all, that thing had killed his sensei.
Kakashi didn't care.
"Been listening to the old man lately?"
He ruffled Naruto's hair as he paid.
"I've been super good!"
Naruto nodded vigorously.
Sure you have.
Kakashi knew the kid too well. The pranks were cries for attention, but at his core, Naruto was a whirlwind of energy.
"Come on. I'll get you something to eat."
After settling the bill, Kakashi patted Naruto's head again and led him to a snack stand. He bought enough for Hikari, too.
By the time they started walking, Kakashi's arms were full of bags.
But as they passed a small diner, he paused.
At a window table inside sat four shinobi—bearing forehead protectors emblazoned with Kumogakure's symbol.
The peace delegation.
"Kakashi-nii?"
Naruto tilted his head, confused.
"Let's go."
Kakashi averted his gaze and kept walking.
Only after they'd passed did one of the Cloud nin glance up at the silver-haired figure's retreating back.
"Konoha's famous Kakashi."
"Didn't expect him to be close with the Nine-Tails jinchūriki. The Third Hokage must value him highly."
Naruto's status as the Nine-Tails' vessel was no secret. With half the village treating him like a monster, even a fool could connect the dots.
Let alone the elite handpicked by the Raikage for this "peace" mission.
"Boss… should we…?"
The shinobi across from him let a cold gleam slip into his eyes—meaning clear.
"No unnecessary moves."
The leader frowned, shutting it down.
"The Uchiha patrol cycles every thirty minutes. Our goal here is already secured."
"Tomorrow night. During the Hyūga clan banquet."
In hushed tones, they mapped their plan.
Kumogakure's "peace delegation" was a sham.
Their true target: the Byakugan of the Hyūga main family.
They aimed to repeat Kirigakure's success.
To steal the Byakugan.
If possible, kidnap a main-branch Hyūga and spirit them back to the Hidden Cloud.
Soon, another Byakugan-wielding clan would rise in Kumogakure.
Scouting Uchiha patrol intervals, huh…
Kakashi's mind churned.
If he hadn't known their objective, he'd never have suspected.
But with full knowledge, he assumed the worst.
In the original timeline, the Uchiha Military Police—Konoha's strongest clan—not being first on scene the night the Hyūga heiress was taken?
That alone screamed conspiracy.
The delegation had mapped patrol routes down to the minute.
For foreign shinobi to waltz into the village and know its rhythms so intimately—it was absurd.
Especially when those foreigners had been enemies mere days ago.
"We're here…"
The little blond stared at his apartment building, voice tinged with reluctance.
Naruto, starved for affection his whole life, clung to every moment with someone who didn't hate him.
"Go on home, Naruto."
"Tomorrow night—I'm taking you to Ichiraku Ramen."
Kakashi crouched, smiling as he ruffled the boy's hair.
"Eh?"
"Really?!"
"Pinky swear!"
Naruto's eyes lit up as he thrust out his pinky.
Kakashi chuckled, hooked his own pinky with the boy's, and sealed the promise.
After waving Naruto off, Kakashi turned toward the distant Hokage Tower.
A cold glint flashed in his eye.
A storm was coming.
The Hokage's fire had dimmed with age.
Would he remain the village's "famous Kakashi"…
…or become something else?