As I was heading towards Guy's home, an ANBU appeared before me.
"Hokage-sama has called you for an urgent mission."
I nodded, and changed my route towards the Hokage Office.
Damn... I didn't have the opportunity to have a spar to make sure that I can actually fight.
Shaking my head, I entered the office, while Orochimaru was coming out of the office.
I nodded to him respectfully.
I don't know the exact timing, but Orochimaru will defect in some time. It can be within this year, or maybe later?
Kakashi's age is really hard to determine from the Anime.
While Orochimaru is dangerous, I doubt that he will be interested in killing me right now. Or even using me as a vessel. Since my body is strained as it is due to Sharingan, I may even die from the curse Mark's effects, since it isn't even developed perfectly yet.
And well, I guess I can ask some advice from Orochimaru on how to seal the Sharingan to reduce wastage of Chakra.
I looked at Hiruzen, who started explaining our mission.
"Kiri and Kumo has started making moves.
Though Suna is too weak, and Iwa and Kiri has lost a lot of their strength, it is Kumo that we have to be most careful against.
Kakashi, you will lead a Chunin squad to the Land of Water and intercept the Kiri ninjas.
While Kiri is currently in the situation of a civil war for the position of the Mizukage, we have received information that he position of the Fourth Mizukage will be decided by who gains the most merits on the battlefield to prevent a civil war.
You will have to be careful of these three people.
Ao, Yagura, and Utaka, along with the one alive Samehada wielder, and the new wielders of the remaining six swords.
It will be good if you can either destroy or reclaim the Byakugan that Ao has stolen.
Your Chunin squad will consist of Guy, Shisui, and Genma.
You will leave the village tomorrow and report to Fugaku there."
"Understood."
I took the mission scroll that had further details, and left the Hokage Office.
It has been barely a day since Minato-sensei and a lot of jonins were killed in the Kurama attack, and war is already brewing.
Kumo can be understood. Right now, it has the best military condition. Both A and Killer Bee are kage level ninjas, and while there isn't any information about the new jinchuriki of two-tails given to me, Yugito Nii should not have much age difference from me.
Moreover, the Third Raikage protected a huge number of his Shinobi near the end of the Third Shinobi War, when Iwa and Kumo were going for an all out assault on Konoha but Iwa betrayed their alliance and attacked Kumo instead.
But Kiri? Third Kazekage, Three-tails, and six out of seven swordsmen were killed in the Third Ninja War.
The only Kage level ninja right now are probably Yagura and Utaka. And that's not even considering that Kiri has very less population, and even lesser ninja population due to Blood Mist Era.
It must be Obito's doing. Orochimaru and Jiraiya were not in Konoha during the attack yesterday precisely because of Kiri causing trouble.
And now, pulling Orochimaru out of Kiri to go to Kumo is a necessity to counter A-Bee. Jiraiya must have been deployed there too.
But, wouldn't deploying Hyuga clan head as the commander in Kiri be a better choice?
Byakugan can see through Kiri's infamous Hiding in the Mist Technique. Sharingan can too, but to very little degree unless it is a 3 tomoe Sharingan. And it can only do so when the ninja comes too close.
Moreover, most Uchihas are adept at Fire Style. Which is inherently weaker against Water.
Making Fugaku the commander there must be a way of suppression.
Sigh... These guys play with the lives of the children for their political games.
"It seems that you have realized something, haven't you? Kakashi?"
A chill ran down my spine as I turned around. Orochimaru was looking at me with interest.
"Orochimaru-sama!?"
"Follow me."
Saying that, he started going somewhere. And well, it didn't look like I have any choice.
Orochimaru can kill me right now anytime he wants. Making any moves right now will make him more suspicious, and decrease my chances of surviving.
So I just followed him.
Well, might as well get some advice from him regarding my Sharingan while he is still in the village.
We went to a restaurant, where confidential things can be discussed. Though I doubt that Hiruzen wouldn't be spying on us.
Well, that's a good thing. Orochimaru wouldn't try anything if Hiruzen is spying on us so openly.
"Now, I heard that you retired from ANBU, that Minato brought you in. You don't trust Third Hokage, do you?"
He asked me this directly, on my face.
"Before answering that, can I get your advice on something, Orochimaru-sama?"
"Hmm, ask."
"Is there a way to reduce the chakra consumption of my Sharingan? Maybe, seal it when I don't need to use it, and unseal it when I need it?"
Orochimaru thought for a second, before shaking his head.
"Since that will mean that your Sharingan will not receive chakra for a long time, it will inevitably result in it getting damaged and rendered useless.
And maintaining the seal will need your chakra anyway. Unlike sealing a bijuu, which is made of enormous chakra and can't die unless the host dies, your Sharingan will die.
Instead, it's better to keep it covered like you do right now. Minato must have not done anything because of this reason too."
Oh. I see... I guess the only way is to increase my chakra itself.
"Sharingan is holding you back, Kakashi. It is better to remove it."
"No. It's a responsibility from Obito. I can't remove it."
"Then I guess you will not easily surpass your father. Or Minato. Though, you are more talented than both of them, so I am curious about your future. Who knows, you might surpass them even before turning 20.
Anyway, now that I have answered your question, how about you answer mine?"
I hesitated for a moment, and then looked around.
I need to give an answer that will satisfy both Orochimaru and Hiruzen. And probably, Obito as well, who might be spying with a White Zetsu.
"In the Third Ninja War, every Kage, except for Third Hokage participated.
Minato-sensei was clearly overworked, and he couldn't oversee his team, which led to..."
I didn't say anything else. It was clear what I wanted to say.
"And since you lost your other teammate in Kiri, you must also understand that Sharingan isn't that effective, unlike Byakugan. So, you must be questioning why Fugaku was sent there."
Orochimaru said as a matter of fact, but I neither agreed not denied it.
"Kuku! I guess you have atleast surpassed Minato in one thing. That naive kid didn't have trust issues. Just like your father.
Well, if you have any question about any ninjutsu, come to me. We will meet after a long time though."
Saying that, he left.
The 'long time' probably wasn't because of the current confrontation with Kumo and Kiri. It seems that there isn't much time before Orochimaru will defect.
I drank my tea, and after paying for it, left for my home to pack up.
And Danzo was standing in front of my house.
One headache after another...