Chapter 12: The Retreat of the Hidden Mist

Only about ten minutes had passed since the assault began. In that brief span, dozens of ninjas had fallen to Kakashi’s blade. Though they were only genin and chunin, the devastation left the Cloud ninjas trembling with fear.

“That’s the White Fang of the Leaf—is it really him?” an older chunin exclaimed in terror. “But the White Fang has been dead for over a decade! How could he appear here?”

The other Cloud ninjas shrank back, staring in horror at the white figure standing silently at the center of the carnage. None dared provoke him. Even the elite jonin of the Hidden Cloud, who had yet to make a move, hesitated, uncertain if this really was the White Fang returned from the dead. At the very least, the strength he now displayed surpassed even the White Fang of old.

“Kakashi, you truly are a genius,” Orochimaru murmured, jotting down notes at a furious pace, punctuated with diagrams and charts. Watching Kakashi, he whispered to himself, “How long has it been since you mastered spirit machinery? Yet you can already wield it to such a degree.”

Kakashi knew nothing of Orochimaru’s musings, nor the thoughts swirling in the minds of his foes. He simply calculated his remaining chakra and considered how best to proceed.

There was still plenty left. In the past, achieving such results would have consumed at least half his chakra. But the spirit machinery and the daggers crafted by Naruto had broadened his arsenal and sharply reduced his energy expenditure. If future battles allowed for such minimal chakra use and so many techniques, perhaps he could even take on Kage-level opponents head-on.

“Thank you, sensei. Thank you, Father,” Kakashi thought, the words suddenly surfacing in his mind. “And most of all… thank you, Naruto. You gave me new life.”

“You won’t have your way any longer!”

Suddenly, a Cloud jonin appeared before Kakashi, his eyes flashing with challenge. In a blur, he darted forward like a phantom, hurling several shuriken wreathed in lightning. They struck from four cunning angles, aimed at Kakashi’s vital points.

But Kakashi paid the attack no heed. The shuriken passed through his figure—nothing but an afterimage.

When Kakashi reappeared, he was at the jonin’s flank. His short blade flashed toward the man’s throat. The Cloud jonin reacted instantly, his longsword trailing arcs of lightning as he countered, the air crackling at each swing.

Unfazed, Kakashi spun his spirit dagger, transforming it into a shield to absorb the lightning strike. In the next instant, his form split into several afterimages, deftly evading the storm of kunai and shuriken that followed.

The jonin’s eyes flickered with surprise, but he quickly formed hand seals. “Shadow Clone Jutsu!”

A duplicate appeared behind Kakashi.

“Lightning Release: Extreme Bull Lariat!”

The two forms, both wreathed in lightning, charged Kakashi from front and rear. Kakashi made the first move, shattering the shadow clone, then shifted his shield into a short spear and thrust at his true opponent’s abdomen.

But—bang!—this, too, was a shadow clone.

As it dissipated, four kunai connected by special steel wires appeared at Kakashi’s feet. The real jonin had already withdrawn to a distance.

“Now! Lightning Release: Summon Lightning!”

With a low shout, the jonin unleashed his jutsu. Thunderclouds roiled above, and a dragon-like bolt of lightning plunged toward Kakashi.

Kakashi’s eyes gleamed. His spirit dagger morphed again, erupting with scalding steam that billowed outward, shrouding the battlefield.

From within the mist, a steel wire tied to a kunai whipped out, slicing through the haze toward the Cloud jonin. The surging lightning, in turn, raced along the wire.

“Tch, what a troublesome opponent,” the jonin muttered.

The two exchanged blows in a relentless rhythm, each clash sending shockwaves through the air. Kakashi’s taijutsu, in concert with the spirit machinery, was endlessly unpredictable; the jonin’s lightning-style jutsu, meanwhile, was formidable, every attack laced with destructive force.

Yet as the battle wore on, a faint smile began to play at Kakashi’s lips. With the addition of spirit machinery, his stamina far outstripped his opponent’s.

At last, the opening appeared.

With a crisp sound, Kakashi spun his spirit dagger, transforming it into a longsword, its tip aimed unerringly at the jonin’s vital point.

The jonin’s heart lurched, and he hurried to parry. But Kakashi’s swordsmanship carried the essence of the Hatake family’s blade arts—each strike faster and more lethal than the last. In the end, a masterful maneuver knocked the longsword from his opponent’s grip. Kakashi’s blade traced a line across the man’s throat.

The jonin’s face went pale as his strength drained away, and finally, he slipped into unconsciousness.

Kakashi sheathed his weapon and stood unmoving. Now, not a single Cloud ninja dared approach him. All were cowed by his presence.

But Kakashi’s gaze drifted past them, fixing on a figure at the rear of their formation.

The Fourth Raikage—A.

“A” was the name, or rather the title, passed down by the Raikages. Every generation bore the same name.

“So, this is the answer from your Leaf Village, is it? Kakashi of the Sharingan,” the Fourth Raikage intoned, his voice heavy. “You’re the one who killed our envoy. Konoha has handed you over for us to deal with as we see fit, is that it? Very well. The head of the White Fang’s successor will serve as a satisfactory explanation.”

“No, no, Lord Raikage, that’s not our intention at all.”

At that moment, Orochimaru stepped forward. “Our meaning is simple… Save your tricks; everyone here knows the true situation. Whether to fight, and to what extent, is entirely your choice. Whatever you decide, we will see it through to the end.” He licked his lips. “As for how much loss you’re prepared to suffer—that’s not our concern.”

As his words faded, the ground began to tremble. Enormous serpentine heads parted the dense forest, forcing their way forward. Towering above the Cloud ninjas, the giant snakes behind Orochimaru gazed down, their eyes cold and brimming with bloodlust.

Orochimaru stood quietly to the side, making no move to attack, but his presence alone was a threat.

The Fourth Raikage fell silent for a long time. He could sense the overwhelming strength of both Kakashi and Orochimaru, and saw that his own forces were wavering—any further resistance might break them completely. This was not the time to act rashly.

“Retreat,” the Raikage ordered.

The Cloud army withdrew, leaving the two Leaf shinobi standing alone on the borderland.