Published at 17th of September 2024 12:54 am

Chapter 56 Kakashi, Shadows of the Past 1: The Lost Village

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The rain poured in relentless sheets over the village of Konohagakure, turning the streets into a network of shimmering rivulets. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but inside the Hokage’s office, there was only tense silence. Kakashi Hatake, young but already a seasoned shinobi, stood before the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. His silver hair was slightly damp from the rain, his single exposed eye sharp and focused beneath the headband tilted over his left eye, concealing the Sharingan he had inherited from his fallen friend.

“Kakashi,” Hiruzen began, his tone grave, “I have a mission for you, and it will not be an easy one.”

Kakashi didn’t flinch. He was used to difficult missions, especially in the wake of the Third Shinobi War. But there was something about the Hokage’s demeanor today that set him on edge. The older man rarely looked this serious unless the situation was dire.

Hiruzen slid a scroll across the desk toward Kakashi. The silver-haired ninja took it without a word, unrolling it to scan the details. The mission was an escort and reconnaissance assignment—a small village in the Land of Frost, deep in the mountains, had gone silent. No communications had come in or out for weeks, and the last shinobi team sent to investigate had vanished without a trace.

“The village is called Aokigahara,” Hiruzen explained, leaning back in his chair. “It’s isolated and has long been considered neutral in the conflicts between shinobi nations. But now, there are rumors… whispers of something darker at play. Our intelligence suggests that Aokigahara may have become a target for rogue shinobi, or perhaps something more sinister.”

Kakashi’s brow furrowed beneath his mask. “What do you mean by ‘more sinister,’ Lord Third?”

Hiruzen sighed, lighting his pipe and taking a slow drag before responding. “There have been reports of strange disappearances, unnatural occurrences. It’s possible this could be linked to a group of rogue ninja—or worse, some kind of ancient curse or forbidden technique being used within the village. We need answers, and we need to know what happened to the last team.”

Kakashi remained silent for a moment, contemplating the task ahead. He was no stranger to danger or dark secrets, but this mission had the weight of something more personal—something that felt wrong at its core.

“Who will I be working with?” he asked finally, his voice steady despite the unease creeping into his thoughts.

Hiruzen smiled faintly. “You’ll be leading a small team. Two Chunin will accompany you—one from the Hyuga Clan, Yukari Hyuga, and one from the Aburame Clan, Shinji Aburame. Both are capable shinobi, and their particular skills in sensory and tracking will be invaluable in this mission.”

Kakashi nodded, though he rarely worked well with others. His reputation for being a lone wolf was well-earned, but he understood the importance of teamwork. “Understood. When do we leave?”

“Immediately,” Hiruzen said. “The longer we wait, the greater the risk. Aokigahara is a week’s journey from here. I’m counting on you, Kakashi. Find out what happened, and if there’s any truth to these rumors… deal with it swiftly.”

Kakashi gave a curt bow. “I won’t fail.”

As he turned to leave, Hiruzen’s voice called out once more. “And Kakashi… be careful. There are shadows in this world even you haven’t faced yet.”

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The rain had eased into a steady drizzle by the time Kakashi met with his new teammates at the village gates. Yukari Hyuga, a petite but fierce kunoichi with the pale eyes of the Byakugan, stood with arms crossed, her expression cool and calm. Shinji Aburame, cloaked in the signature hood and sunglasses of his clan, was as stoic as ever, his kikaichu insects barely visible as they hovered silently around him.

“Ready?” Kakashi asked, his tone clipped and professional.

Yukari nodded, her voice soft but firm. “We’ve been briefed. Let’s move quickly. The sooner we reach the village, the better.”

Shinji merely gave a quiet hum of agreement, his insects already buzzing with anticipation.

Without further delay, the trio set off, moving swiftly through the rain-soaked forests and rocky terrain that separated them from their destination. The journey was uneventful at first, though Kakashi couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. His senses, honed from years of war and countless missions, were on high alert.

It wasn’t until the third night of their journey, as they camped near the edge of the Land of Frost, that things began to feel truly off.

The air was colder here, unnaturally so, and the silence of the night was oppressive. No animals stirred, no wind rustled the trees. It was as if the entire world was holding its breath.

Kakashi sat by the fire, his single eye scanning the darkness beyond their camp. Yukari and Shinji were resting, though both remained alert in their own ways. Yukari’s Byakugan occasionally flared, scanning the area for threats, while Shinji’s insects formed a silent perimeter around them, their tiny wings vibrating in sync with his thoughts.

But it wasn’t enough to quell the feeling of unease that gnawed at Kakashi’s mind.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes nearby. Kakashi was on his feet in an instant, kunai in hand, his gaze sharp and focused. Yukari activated her Byakugan, and Shinji’s insects buzzed in formation, ready to defend.

From the shadows, a figure stumbled into the clearing—a man, his clothes tattered and his face pale with fear. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days, and his eyes were wide with terror.

“Help me… please…” the man gasped, collapsing to his knees.

Kakashi was at his side in a flash, kneeling down to examine him. The man’s body was trembling uncontrollably, and his skin was ice cold to the touch.

“Who are you? What happened?” Kakashi demanded, his voice calm but urgent.

The man looked up at him, his eyes wild with panic. “Aokigahara… the village… it’s gone. All of them… gone. They… they came in the night… shadows… everywhere…”

Kakashi’s heart sank. Shadows? Could this be related to the rumors the Hokage had mentioned?

Before he could ask more, the man’s body went limp, his breathing shallow and uneven. Kakashi laid him gently on the ground, his mind racing. This was no ordinary mission.

Yukari approached, her Byakugan scanning the man’s body. “He’s suffering from extreme chakra exhaustion. Whatever he’s been through, it’s drained him almost completely.”

Shinji knelt beside her, his insects crawling across the man’s skin. “There are traces of foreign chakra on him, something dark and… wrong. It’s faint, but it’s there.”

Kakashi stood, his expression grim. “We’re moving out. Now.”

They packed up the camp quickly and continued their journey through the night, the man’s warning echoing in Kakashi’s mind. As they neared the outskirts of Aokigahara, the village came into view.

Or rather, what was left of it.

The once-thriving village was now a desolate ruin, shrouded in an eerie mist. The houses were crumbling, the streets empty. There was no sign of life—no villagers, no shinobi. Just silence.

Kakashi’s hand tightened around the hilt of his kunai as he took in the scene. “Stay alert. We don’t know what we’re dealing with yet.”

Yukari activated her Byakugan, her pale eyes scanning the area with a sharp intensity. “I don’t see anyone… but there’s something here. Something moving just out of sight, in the shadows.”

Shinji’s insects buzzed nervously, reflecting his own unease. “I can feel it too. Something is watching us.”

Kakashi took a deep breath, his instincts screaming at him to be ready for anything. Whatever had happened here, it wasn’t over.

“Let’s find out what we’re dealing with.”

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