The two caravans wound through the dense forest, their wooden wheels creaking as they rolled over uneven ground. Six guards surrounded the convoy, each one alert, hands never straying far from their weapons. Walking alongside them were a boy and a girl, both bearing expressions of calm readiness. Yet it was the presence of a small child—no more than five years old—that drew the attention of anyone who happened to pass.
This was Team 5, a group that had departed from the village four hours earlier. The journey had been calm so far, the silence of the forest wrapping around them like a heavy shroud. But despite the peace, an unspoken tension lingered in the air, as if the forest itself held its breath. The travelers moved forward with quiet determination, aware that while their path had been uneventful thus far, the road ahead held its own uncertainties.
[Kiri: 18%]
Kakashi's gaze flickered to his assimilation rate—now showing 18%. It had only been two days, and already the integration was nearly a fifth complete. While no drastic changes had surfaced yet, he felt a new steadiness creeping into his movements, a fluidity that came naturally. The shift was subtle but unmistakable, a sign that the template's integration, especially with this world's physical nuances, was progressing smoothly.
In addition, his chakra control had become sharper. Medical ninjas often possessed superior chakra control compared to others, he recalled. Typically, they stayed away from the front lines, focusing on support rather than direct combat. However, there were exceptions, such as Tsunade and her student, Sakura, who had mastered the Ninja Art Creation Rebirth—Strength of a Hundred Technique. It was a jutsu so complex and rare that only those who had completely mastered it were said to possess the privilege of defying convention.
Kakashi still couldn't fully understand why Tsunade had chosen Sakura as her disciple. She hadn't started as a prodigy, not by any means. Plenty of others had shown more obvious potential, yet Tsunade had chosen her. Perhaps she'd seen something hidden, something most had overlooked. Kakashi respected Sakura's hard work, but from his perspective, her achievements seemed like a rare exception rather than a blueprint he intended to follow himself. After all, the impulsive power she had displayed—such as recklessly punching Kaguya—struck him as more plot-driven than practical. He couldn't allow himself to follow a similar path; he had to ensure his own growth was built on logical, calculated steps.
Kakashi's eyes shifted, scanning every visible detail around them. Finally, his gaze settled on a man with a scar running along his left cheek. This man appeared more alert than the others—perhaps a result of experience, Kakashi reasoned. Still, there was an uneasy quality to him, something that didn't quite sit right.
A sudden rustling broke the quiet. Instinctively, Kakashi's hand flew to his kunai, his senses heightened. The others turned their attention to the grass ahead, bodies tensing. Slowly, two small ears emerged, followed by a tiny, furry body. Realizing it was just a rabbit, they all relaxed, tension easing from their shoulders.
As the group settled after the harmless encounter, Kakashi took a moment to survey his surroundings. There was still no sign of Mikoto. Shortly after leaving the village, she had disappeared from their immediate company, saying only, "I will be watching." Yasu and Kazuki hadn't seemed bothered by her absence, accepting her as a reliable presence even if unseen. The merchant, however, had grumbled, but ultimately held his tongue—likely realizing that questioning a shinobi methods would do little good.
The Uchiha clan—another anomaly within the Naruto world, Kakashi mused. Known for producing prodigies like Shisui, Itachi, and Obito, their legacy was one of genius and unpredictability. Yes, Obito, despite often being overlooked, was far stronger than most realized. Kakashi knew firsthand that anyone sorted into his section was among the finest—handpicked from each clan, even including commoners whose abilities surpassed the average . For Obito to be present there shows his potential.
Yet Kakashi's interest lay less in the clan's legendary geniuses and more in the Uchiha clan as a whole. His observations of them had taken on a sharper edge recently. The Uzumaki had already been destroyed, their village wiped out; the Senju, too, had dwindled to nearly nothing after the Second War. The next to face a similar fate, would be the Uchiha. The idea of their eventual genocide felt as inevitable as the tides, and he felt no personal urge to intervene. The Uchiha's power and potential were undeniable, but what use were they to him if they couldn't serve his ambitions?
In truth, Kakashi hadn't fully decided which path he should take, but two options stood out. One was to rise within the village itself—to become Hokage. With his gacha ability, he was confident he could eventually surpass Hiruzen, remove Danzo, and claim the title. As Hokage, he could turn Konoha into a force that would eclipse the other nations, conquering beyond the village's borders to dominate the rest of the world.
The alternative was to forge his own path in the shadows, working from the dark to influence the shinobi world according to his will. This approach would require creating an underground network—a loyal faction that could bend the system from within. Whatever he chose, one thing was certain: he needed to be strong, far stronger than any shinobi alive today. The Ōtsutsuki would eventually arrive, and when they did, his survival would depend on his power alone.
But raw strength wouldn't be enough. He needed people—loyal allies willing to follow him. Only with a network of dedicated followers could he hope to secure his ambitions. Unless he somehow became a force unto himself, an unmatched, untouchable shinobi, he would need those he could trust to stand by his side.
The gacha can provide loyal summons but given its unpredictability he can't depend on it only.
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Author's pov
Should Kakashi take Itachi and shisui as subordinate ?