NARUTO: Kakashi’s Story

by Masashi Kishimoto

  If there were such a thing as a stairway to heaven… The thought came unbidden to Kakashi’s mind as he watched the airship sliding downward, rumbling and roaring. It would definitely be something like this.

  Bluish-white ice crystals drifted soundlessly, filling the sky.

  “Looks like he’s awake.” He heard a voice near his ear. “What should I do, Pops?”

  Kakashi was being carried on Kurotsuchi’s shoulders.

  “That boy was pretty serious about dying, it seems,” the Tsuchikage said. “Got his reasons, I suppose. And that troublesome ship’s not falling into our land, it seems. So we’ve got no business here now.”

  “Ah!” Akatsuchi cried out, wildly. “Something’s flying up from Hozuki Castle.”

  Sai silently brought his large bird up alongside Kurotsuchi.

  When the Tsuchikage nodded, Kurotsuchi tossed Kakashi over to the bird’s back with a “Hup!”

  “Tell Princess Tsunade not to grow complacent in her victory. It’s getting to be time for us to hand things over to the next generation, after all.” Leaving these words behind, Ohnoki flew off.

  At that moment, for the first time, Kakashi realized they were getting quite close to the ground. He could see people squirming around like ants in the courtyard of Hozuki Castle, plumes of white smoke snaking up around them.

  The Tobishachimaru slid down into the broad grassy plains surrounding the castle. In the field, the season for ground cherries past, thick clouds of dust danced up. The ship skidded across the grass, pitched forward, and stopped.

  There was a commotion from the direction of the castle, and soon enough, a small figure came flying out of the gates and raced toward the Tobishachimaru. It was Sakura!

  A pitched battle on the south side of the castle caught his attention. A whirlwind sprang to life and pulled the fleeing prisoners into it. It had to be Lee’s Konoha Whirlwind. Meanwhile, the shadows stretching out and shrinking back in the courtyard told him that Shikamaru was holding firm there. A large ball beyond the courtyard mowed prisoners down—Choji’s Human Juggernaut. And the two figures he spied tearing along the straight path from the castle were definitely Tsunade and Shizune.

  Shino’s insects, Tenten’s ninja tools, Kiba and Akamaru—looking out at his comrades, Kakashi could do nothing to stop the heat that welled up in his heart.

  Just like the Tsuchikage said. It’s our time to start on this path.

  It was then that a decisive change came over Kakashi.

  Haven’t I just been using the loss of the sharingan as an excuse to run away from the position of Hokage? he thought, abruptly.

  Becoming Hokage means there are more people I need to protect. Which means I don’t know when or where I’ll have to face the same sadness as when I lost Obito. I was so convinced I wasn’t ready to carry the burden of that sadness.

  The people of this land, right now, even in this very moment, say nothing and support each other. They act like it’s the most natural thing in the world, the same way they wake up when morning comes. Naruto, Lady Tsunade, Shikamaru, Ino, Guy, Lee, Tenten, Choji, Sakura, Sai, Hinata, Shizune, Iruka, Shino, Kiba—all of their faces came to life in Kakashi’s heart one after another.

  And from the bottom of that heart, he was proud of Konohagakure, of these comrades.

  If those guys need me to, Kakashi thought, I’ll gather up all of their sadness and take it into myself. Right, like it’s the most natural thing. And I’ll struggle together with them and that sadness.

  That’s what it means to be Hokage.

  The rain finally stopped, and the dark clouds were swept away on the wind.

  The chaos at Hozuki Castle began to settle, for the moment at least. The fires inside the castle were extinguished, and the prisoners who continued to try to escape with admirable persistence were gradually rounded up by the Anbu.

  The wind gusted through the dry winter field, and the ninja of Konoha cautiously, carefully surrounded the remains of the Tobishachimaru, now on its side on the ground.

  The air bladder envelope had been completely burned away. The skeletal frame supporting it had been smashed and scattered in the impact of the landing. Wood chips scattered and fell whenever a gust blew through the passenger gondola, which looked as though it had been ripped apart by a giant hand.

  When the first human figure staggered out from the broken side, Tsunade’s roar echoed across the plain. “Put both hands up and come out slowly!”

  Taking that as their signal, Kiba, Choji, Shino, Lee, and Tenten carefully approached the ship. They couldn’t say with certainty that the enemy wasn’t mixed in with the passengers.

  Sai was standing by in the sky above.

  “Are you all right?” Sakura alone raced around among the passengers to check if they had sustained any injuries. “Is anyone injured?”

  One after another, exhausted and haggard, the passengers came out of the ship. Many of them looked up at the sky in amazement, walking slowly, as if confirming that they were no longer trapped in that deadly sky with every step they took. Some of them collapsed the moment they set foot on solid ground.

  When Tsunade nodded, the shinobi wrapped the passengers in blankets and gave them water. Sakura went around to treat those people who had broken bones or who were bleeding after the fall.

  “Don’t move!” Tsunade’s eyes were squarely upon Kahyo. The ninja of Konoha immediately took up battle postures.

  But Kahyo simply stood silently, motionless next to the damaged ship. Her large, bewildered eyes seemed to be searching for something as the wind played with her long, curly hair.

  “You are Kahyo of the Ryuha Armed Alliance?”

  Named by Tsunade, Kahyo nodded slightly.

  “Do any of your comrades remain on board the ship?”

  Kahyo slowly shook her head. No one could say whether that was an answer to Tsunade’s question, whether it meant she didn’t know, or if she was giving up and saying that none of that mattered anymore.

  “You’ve done something quite outrageous. Because of you and your group, trust in Konoha has plummeted.”

  Kahyo maintained her silence.

  “The Land of Waves has also completely abandoned the development of airships,” Tsunade said, a barely contained hiss. “Did you think you could simply walk away from this?”

  A gleam rose up in Kahyo’s eyes, a readiness to fight, and she nodded.

  “Get her out of here!” Tsunade waved an arm and loosed her command. “Seize her and lock her up in prison until we get answers!”

  “Please wait a moment, Lady Tsunade.”

  At the sound of this voice, Tsunade and all the other shinobi turned around together. An expression mixing surprise and relief colored Kahyo’s face red.

  There, leaning heavily on Shikamaru’s shoulder, was Kakashi.

  “Kakashi!” Tsunade cried. “Are you all right?”

  “Lady Tsunade.” He pulled himself away from Shikamaru and stood upright. “She—will you leave dealing with Kahyo to me, please?”

  “What?”

  Tsunade met his eyes briefly. “Do you have an idea?”

  But rather than replying, Kakashi turned to face Kahyo. A breeze blew between them, kicking up an indescribable bittersweet sadness in him.

  “Until just a minute ago, we were up there, huh?” he said, turning his head back up to the open and infinite sky. From between the remaining clouds painting the sky, a weak light had begun to shine through. “It’s amazing we made it out alive.” He brought his gaze back to Kahyo. “But not everyone was as lucky as we are.”

  Kahyo lowered her eyes.

  “Eighteen of the fifty-seven passengers are dead,” Kakashi continued. “And your comrades as well, other than you and the pair I locked up in the pantry, they’re all dead. Do you have anything to say about that?”

  Kahyo bit
her lip and shook her head.

  “Kahyo.”

  “…Yes.”

  “I’ll announce your punishment, then. As a ringleader in the attack on Tobishachimaru, you—”

  “Er.” A voice from behind interrupted Kakashi. “Can I say something?”

  When he looked back, a woman was standing there holding a child’s hand. He narrowed his eyes.

  “I…I’m the one you saved then.” The woman bowed her head at Kahyo. “You released myself and my son, who was having an asthma attack, from that ship. Thanks to you, he was able to recover from the attack. I don’t forgive you and your group for what you have done.” She glanced over at Kakashi. “But I wanted to at least say a word of thanks. Thank you, thank you so much.”

  Kahyo lowered her eyes; her face was twisted in anguish.

  The boy, now quite well, let go of his mother’s hand and started running. Racing over to Kahyo, he looked up at her and smiled. “Thanks, Auntie.”

  Surprise flitted across her face.

  “I was really scared.” And then he added suddenly in a small voice, “But…it was kinda fun too.”

  As she watched the boy jog back over to his mother, Kahyo’s eyes filled with tears.

  “Kahyo,” Kakashi called. “As the ringleader of the attack on Tobishachimaru, you must die. So many were sacrificed. This is the only fitting punishment.”

  “…Yes.” Kahyo’s voice was shaking, but it held a note of readiness to accept whatever came at her. “I humbly accept…any punishment.”

  “However, if you can prove that you are a person who could be useful to the five great ninja nations, I will reduce the sentence you face and make it life in prison.”

  “…What do you mean?”

  “From where I sit, your Earth Chain Ice looks pretty useful.”

  She stared at him.

  “What are you talking about, Kakashi?” Tsunade. “What on earth could you use her ninjutsu for?”

  “Lady Tsunade.” Kakashi looked over at her. “When it is cast on ordinary people, her Earth Chain Ice freezes them instantly. But ninja who can mold chakra can send that chakra around their bodies to generate heat and prevent their bodies from freezing. So if you’re hit with Earth Chain Ice, you have to always be molding your chakra. In other words, the prisoners wouldn’t be able to use it to escape. What do you think? Right now, there’s no castle master at Hozuki Castle really guarding the prisoners. I think she’s ideally suited to the role.”

  “I see.” It was Shikamaru who replied. “The previous master Mui did use his Celestial Prison to ensure that prisoners would spontaneously combust if they molded their chakra. This woman’s Earth Chain Ice would be as effective, but in the opposite way. Lady Tsunade, I think she might work. All the villages are exhausted from the Fourth Great Ninja War. Labor is short everywhere, so if we released everyone from this infinitely tiresome job of supervising the prison, maybe the esteem Konoha is held in would rise. And it would make a good example.”

  “Example?” Tsunade said. “What sort of example?”

  “Well, it’s the ultimate justice for Garyo. You know how he advocates controlling personal freedom?” Shikamaru shrugged lightly. “In that case, we’ll just have this woman who believed in his way of thinking being in control of his freedom.”

  Tsunade carefully thought the idea through before nodding slightly. “I leave this matter to you, Kakashi.”

  “Thank you, Lady Tsunade.”

  “But do the inauguration ceremony.”

  He stared down at his feet.

  “This is your first job as the sixth Hokage.” Tsunade grinned. “You can’t possibly intend to refuse?”

  Kakashi met her eyes squarely and nodded firmly. He then turned back to Kahyo.

  “You said on the ship that the side with power is always the side that’s right. If you become the master of Hozuki Castle, you’ll be the one who’s right. Show me your justice.”

  She merely looked at him, stunned.

  “You will do it, right?”

  “…Yes.” Tears streamed from Kahyo’s eyes. Hot tears that most certainly did not turn to ice as they rolled down her cheeks. “Th-thank you… Thank you…”

  “Well then, I declare it as the sixth Hokage.” His voice rang out. “Kahyo, you are now in custody of Hozuki Castle. The term is indefinite. At the same time as you reflect on your own actions, you will supervise the prisoners and work each day to ensure that not a single one escapes!”

  Tsunade nodded, while the ninja looked at their new Hokage with pride.

  “I’m not worried.” Kakashi’s gaze softened abruptly. “You are someone who understands the pain of others.”

  “I will devote myself…to meeting your expectations.” Kahyo wiped away her tears. “If I can be of some use to you, Lord Kakashi…I will do whatever I can.”

  “Kakashi.” Tsunade slipped a haori coat over his shoulders. “Mm, looks very good on you.”

  Kakashi twisted his neck to look at his own back.

  Sixth Hokage

  He pulled the profoundly weighty haori shut. Behind him, gentle smiles popped up on the faces of his fellow villagers.

  A soft breeze blew through the burnt-out husk of the Tobishachimaru.

  In the forest west of the village, Kakashi sat down at the base of an enormous maple tree. It was warm for March, and the sunlight pouring down from the leafy treetops above his head was enough to make him sweat.

  He pulled a letter from his breast pocket. The instant he opened the envelope a faint, lovely scent wafted up to his nose, calling to mind that incident four months earlier—the day the Ryuha Armed Alliance attacked the Tobishachimaru.

  He was a little amused by the coincidence. Only the day before, the five Kages had concluded a formal agreement regarding the management of Hozuki Castle.

  After the crash landing and prisoner roundup, the Tsuchikage, Mizukage, Kazekage, and Raikage had gone to observe the castle. The Raikage said he wanted to see Kahyo’s true power with his own eyes and had gone so far as to challenge her.

  According to the people there to witness the scene, not only did the Raikage’s iron fists dig out several new holes in the wall of the castle, but in a display unsuited to his age, he had even launched his Lariat. Naturally, no one thought the Raikage was putting his full strength into the fight. But even assuming he was only using half his strength, everyone to a person said that no ordinary ninja could fight as gracefully as Kahyo had.

  She dodged the Raikage’s attacks and dove at her opponent. And then, before the Raikage’s face, she snapped her fingers.

  That was all.

  The Raikage’s beard froze.

  “Whawhawhat, when did you…”

  “Excuse me, Lord Raikage.” Kahyo smiled brightly before the Raikage’s wide-open eyes. “I’ve ruined your wonderful beard.”

  The contest ended with no injury to either, although Raikage did lose the beard he was so proud of and was mercilessly laughed at behind closed doors by the people of Kumogakure.

  The other Kages were entertained by the incident.

  “I can just see the face of that spoiled brat, like a pigeon taking a shot from a peashooter,” the Tsuchikage said. Or perhaps he didn’t.

  At any rate, after close scrutiny with their own eyes, the other Kages reached their conclusion. Kahyo’s abilities were on par with those of her predecessor, Mui of Kusagakure, and given that there was no one as suited to becoming the new master of Hozuki Castle, they all supported the Sixth Hokage’s command.

  Kakashi opened the letter folded in four.

  Dear Sixth Hokage,

  I hope you have been well. I—

  “All right!” Echoing out from within the woods was Guy’s loud, stifling voice. “Today, we go again full throttle with youth power, Lee!”

  “Yes, Master Guy!”
>
  And then, pushed in his wheelchair by Lee—fwsh fwsh—he went back and forth several times.

  “What’s this?” Guy made a show of his surprise. “Why, if it isn’t the sixth Hokage Hatake Kakashi sitting there.”

  Kakashi cringed.

  “And that letter…” Guy pressed toward Lee’s ear with a stage whisper. “That Kakashi, while I was off fighting to save the lives of the passengers during that thing on the Tobishachimaru, he was shamelessly carrying on with an enemy ninja woman.”

  “So what everyone in the village is saying is true then,” Lee whispered, equally dramatic. “I won’t grow up to be an adult like that, Master Guy.”

  “You two…” Kakashi folded the letter and slipped it into his pocket. “How many times do I have to tell you it’s not like that with me and Kahyo?”

  But Guy and Lee ignored Kakashi and began doing single-leg squats.

  “I often said, my student!” Guy continued easy squats with his one leg. “Even if a man like that ends up Hokage, I still intend to properly advise him! Alllll right! Today is five thousand single-leg squats!”

  “Yes, Master Guy!”

  Kakashi stood up and quietly departed the scene.

  The next time he tried to read the letter was in the storefront of the tea shop. He ordered a cup of matcha, and while he waited for it to be brought to him, he opened up the letter from Kahyo.

  Dear Sixth Hokage,

  I hope you have been well. I—

  “Oh, Master Kakashi!”

  Shifting his gaze, he saw Shikamaru and Choji make their way leisurely into the tea shop.

  “What are you reading, Master Kakashi?” Choji asked, crunching away on potato chips. “Oh! Is it maybe a letter from that woman you abused your authority to make yours?”

  “Make mine? Hold on a minute!” Kakashi hurriedly stuffed the letter into his pocket. “You still seem to have the wrong impression. That was my first job as Hokage. I definitely would not abuse my authority—”

  “C’mon, don’t go saying that, Choji,” Shikamaru jumped in. “I mean, Master Kakashi’s long past thirty. No big deal if he has a woman or two.”