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It was winter, and heavy snow fell across the northern lands of the Fire Country.
In the snow-covered forest, Tsunade, Kakashi, and Tokuma dashed across the white expanse, their footsteps kicking up flurries of snowflakes.
"Hokage-sama," Tokuma suddenly halted.
"Hm?" Tsunade stopped and turned. "Again?"
"Yes. Thirty-six enemies, five hundred meters ahead," Tokuma reported the ambush with precision.
"Well, guess it's my turn this time."
Kakashi pushed up his forehead protector, revealing his left eye, and prepared to charge forward.
"Wait."
Tsunade raised a hand to stop him.
"Hokage-sama?"
Kakashi looked at her helplessly.
"Hmph!"
Tsunade clenched her fists, the knuckles cracking audibly, her face darkening with anger once more.
"Don't interfere this time either! I told you—I'm going to make those bastards understand the true weight of a Hokage!"
With that, she flashed forward.
BOOM!!!
Soon, earth-shaking tremors erupted in the distance. Kakashi lowered his forehead protector again, his visible eye drooping in exasperation.
"Tokuma, how many has Tsunade-sama taken out on this trip so far?"
"Probably over a hundred and fifty," Tokuma's lips twitched. "Ever since those guys ranked her fifth on that list, the Hokage's been holding a grudge."
"So, including this batch, that makes around a hundred and eighty, huh?" Kakashi muttered as he jogged forward at a leisurely pace.
Tokuma kept pace beside him, sighing. "I just hope those idiots get the message soon and stop throwing their lives away like this."
"Who knows?"
As they crested a small hill, Kakashi's gaze fell upon the scene ahead, and he suddenly froze.
"Ah… somehow, I get the feeling that from now on… the Hokage's reputation as the 'Legendary Medic'… might take a slightly different turn."
Tokuma swallowed hard. "V-Very likely."
Before them, the distant forest was a horrifying sight.
Giant trees lay shattered, the thick blanket of snow completely obliterated, revealing a blackened earth split apart in jagged fissures. The enemies' corpses were strewn everywhere, blood splattered so violently that even the snow on the treetops had been dyed crimson.
And in the center of it all, Tsunade stood tall, casually shaking out her still-delicate-looking fist.
"What are you two standing around for? Let's go."
She glanced back at them before striding forward, stepping over the corpses and leaving a trail of bloody footprints in the snow behind her.
"You go ahead and follow the Hokage," Kakashi said, snapping out of his daze and moving to the edge of the battlefield.
"I need to clean this up."
"Hurry up." Tokuma passed him, chasing after Tsunade's retreating figure.
"Yeah, yeah, it'll be quick."
Kakashi swiftly formed hand seals.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style River!"
The ground churned, a surging river of mud swallowing all traces of the carnage and burying it deep beneath the earth.
"That should do it."
Kakashi lowered his hands and dashed forward in an instant.
"Hm?"
A faint whistling sound reached his ears. Mid-air, Kakashi twisted his body with fluid grace, narrowly avoiding several shuriken that had been aimed at his back. He landed smoothly.
"Who's there? Even Tokuma's detection missed you."
Then, he quickly pieced it together.
"Ah, hiding deep underground, huh?" he mused aloud. "Tokuma usually doesn't scan too far down to conserve chakra."
Pushing up his forehead protector to reveal his Sharingan, Kakashi's expression turned serious.
"You're not on the same level as the previous bunch. There must be more ambushes ahead—trying to split the three of us up?"
Silence. No response.
"Tch. Fine, I'll just leave then."
Kakashi turned and sprinted in the direction Tsunade and Tokuma had gone.
"After all, my job right now is to guard the Hokage."
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Flames roared, fanned by the wind, a blazing inferno swallowing Kakashi in an instant.
Two hooded figures in long cloaks and animal masks materialized.
"I said…"
A hand burst from the ground, seizing one ninja's ankle.
"Your outfits and tactics are awfully familiar… Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
Just as the ninja was about to be dragged underground, the other reacted swiftly, drawing a kunai from his back and stabbing downward.
"Tch."
Kakashi burst from the earth, dodging the blade.
"You're remnants of Root, aren't you?" His gaze sharpened. "Attacking the Hokage now—are you betraying the village?"
The two former Root operatives remained silent, swiftly flanking Kakashi from both sides.
Kakashi blocked their kunai and tanto with his own, still talking.
"Trying to avenge Danzō, that criminal?"
"Shut up!!"
One of them finally snapped.
"You—and Tsunade—are the real traitors to Konoha!"
"And why's that?"
Kakashi kicked one away, then drove a fist into the other's chest.
"Don't think we don't know! You've already sold the village to Uchiha!"
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!"
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"
The two launched a perfectly synchronized combination attack—razor-sharp wind bullets and searing fireballs raining down on Kakashi.
"Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Walls!"
Three layered barriers of earth rose to block the assault.
At the same time, a piercing crackle of electricity filled the air. A dazzling chain of lightning, wielded by two identical figures, sliced through the former Root members in an instant.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Cutter."
As the two collapsed, Kakashi's shadow clones dispersed.
Stepping out from behind the earthen walls, he looked down at their bisected bodies.
"Whatever your reasons, attacking the Hokage is inexcusable."
Without waiting for them to fully expire, Kakashi turned and dashed away.
After crossing another stretch of snowy forest, the sounds of battle reached him once more.
Tokuma was locked in combat with two more Root survivors, evenly matched.
Kakashi immediately slipped into stealth, silently closing in. The crackle of lightning returned as his right hand pierced through one enemy's chest.
Already aware of Kakashi's approach thanks to his Byakugan, Tokuma expertly kept the other occupied.
Kakashi withdrew his bloodied hand as the corpse fell.
Dismissing the lightning, he drew a kunai and blurred forward, overwhelming the remaining Root ninja.
"Let's finish this quick," Tokuma said, the veins around his eyes bulging. "The Hokage might need backup."
"Got it."
Kakashi intensified his assault, forcing the enemy to falter.
"Eight Trigrams: Mountain Crusher!"
Seizing the opening, Tokuma slammed a palm into the ninja's chest.
"Agh!!"
Blood sprayed from behind the mask as the man was sent flying, crashing through a tree.
"Go!"
Kakashi hurled his kunai, embedding it straight into the ninja's heart.
Without a backward glance, he and Tokuma raced toward Tsunade's location.