"Hello, here's the information about Iwagakure Village."
Kaitan handed a scroll to Kakashi, who stood in front of him.
"Um."
Without another word, Kakashi took the scroll and walked away. No unnecessary chatter, no pleasantries.
"Well, it's true. He's really cold. It seems Brother Obito and Sister Rin haven't had much influence on him yet!"
Kaitan watched Kakashi's retreating back and shook his head.
Delivering this information had been assigned to him by Yamanako. It wasn't a particularly challenging task, but after successfully completing a memory-reading mission, Kaitan's mental state had been stretched thin. Yamanako believed further memory-reading would confuse Kaitan's own mind. Yet during wartime, manpower couldn't be wasted, so Kaitan was sent to deliver information to Yellow Flash's disciple.
At this time, Kakashi had already been promoted to Jōnin, capable of carrying out solo missions on the battlefield.
"The exchanges between the front line and the analysis team are becoming more frequent. It seems the Battle of Kannabi Bridge is about to begin," Kaitan speculated as he observed the state of affairs.
His prediction proved correct. Half a month later, news came from the front lines. The surprise attack force led by Yellow Flash had successfully destroyed Iwagakure's supply line at Kannabi Bridge.
Yellow Flash's name became even more renowned, and Konoha began its counteroffensive, pushing back Iwagakure's troops.
Even analysis team ninjas like Kaitan were forced onto the battlefield, using their excellent perception skills to track enemy movements.
---
Phew!
"Ahhhh! The pain!"
Kaitan's hands flashed through seals, casting Genjutsu on the Chūnin team across from him. Their faces twisted in agony as they screamed, paralyzed by the illusion.
Shenu seized the opportunity, driving kunai into their chests. The enemy ninjas collapsed from the tree trunks onto the ground.
"Haha, Kaitan! Your Genjutsu is getting more and more terrifying!" Shenu exclaimed, wiping the sweat off his brow.
"Stop wasting time," Kaitan replied curtly. "Another enemy team is approaching from three o'clock."
"Got it."
Even though these skirmishes were just the aftermath of the main battle, Kaitan was physically and mentally exhausted. His primary job was as an analysis team ninja, not a combatant. Still, the chaos of war left him no choice but to fight when necessary.
---
Back in the analysis unit, Kaitan's contributions had not gone unnoticed.
"Kaitan is incredibly talented," Dunko reported to Yamanako. "At such a young age, his skills in memory-reading and combat are outstanding."
Yamanako nodded thoughtfully before smiling. "This is the will of the Third Hokage. Wherever the leaves fly, the fire will continue to grow. I've recommended him for a promotion. His recent performance has been exceptional, and I believe he deserves to be a Chūnin."
"That's excellent news," Dunko replied, clearly pleased.
---
"What? I've been promoted to Chūnin?" Kaitan's voice was filled with disbelief when Dunko informed him.
"Yes," Dunko confirmed. "Your performance has been exemplary. The Third Hokage has decided to make an exception and promote you."
Kaitan blinked. Was it really that easy?
"Oh, by the way," Dunko added, "the battle with Iwagakure is over. In a few days, we'll return to the village."
"Finally!" Kaitan sighed in relief. "Those damn memory-reading missions almost killed me."
Despite his exceptional talent, the constant strain of diving into others' minds during war had pushed Kaitan to his limits. Unlike the glorified depiction of ninjas in stories, every task was grueling, especially in wartime.
For the analysis team, there was no such thing as free time. Reading memories, interpreting data, and patrolling—there was always work to be done.
As the team packed up to return to Konoha, Kaitan found himself thinking about the larger events unfolding around him. By his calculations, Minato and Kushina were likely expecting a child by now, and Obito was well on his way to becoming a major antagonist under Madara's influence.
---
Click.
Carriages rolled down Loess Avenue, escorted by Konoha ninjas. Groups of ninjas patrolled nearby, ensuring the convoy's safety.
"Thanks to Yellow Flash, the Iwagakure threat was resolved so quickly!"
"Indeed. His team includes White Fang's son, Kakashi. I heard he's already a Jōnin and has developed his own Ninjutsu."
"It's a shame, though. One of his teammates reportedly died."
"Well, that's war. People die. I've lost a few teammates myself."
Kaitan walked along with the group, listening to the chatter around him. So it was true—Obito had died. That meant Kakashi must have received his Sharingan by now.
The thought made Kaitan pause. What would he do if presented with a ready-made Sharingan?
Probably turn it in and focus on mastering Genjutsu techniques inspired by the Second Hokage. Bloodline abilities like Sharingan were more trouble than they were worth, in his opinion.
Knowing the general timeline of events, Kaitan resolved to stick to his work in the analysis team, allowing the main protagonists to take center stage. Still, he couldn't shake the thought of the final battle against the Ten-Tails, where a Tailed Beast Bomb destroyed the command center. He didn't want to meet such an end.
---
"Captain Kaitan, what are you thinking about?"
Shenu's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Please call me Kaitan, or just Dragonfly. Don't call me Captain," Kaitan replied, irritation evident in his tone.
"Why not? I think it sounds smooth," Shenu teased.
Kaitan frowned, a black line forming on his face. The nickname reminded him of something juvenile and embarrassing.
"Focus on the patrol. Don't get distracted," he said curtly.
"What are you so worried about? The battle with Iwagakure is over. Orochimaru-sama has probably wrapped things up as well," Shenu replied nonchalantly.
---
As Kaitan and his team continued their patrol, he couldn't help but feel a small sense of relief. The war with Iwagakure had ended, and they were finally returning home. Yet, he knew the peace would be short-lived.
Ninja life was never easy, but Kaitan was determined to survive and grow stronger. The future held many challenges, but with his promotion to Chūnin, he was ready to face them head-on.