The Beginning of the Great Chaos (1)

Because of a decline in national power, the reign of the Five Great Shinobi Countries was crumbling. Along their borders, skirmishes with smaller nations broke out all the time.

People realized that those smaller conflicts could gradually spread their flames far and wide until at last, they could develop into an all-out war between the great countries.

That coupled with the obvious shortage of the war potential great countries had after the previous conflict, the Second Ninja World War, painted an even more horrifying picture.

This next great war could realistically be turned into an unprecedented war of attrition, tormenting all nations.

Even very young children, some of whom were barely out of the Academy could be thrown onto the battlefield in this next war, eventually losing their young lives for their home nations in the process.

Even though the next world war could be very frightening, it was still very much inevitable.

The five-year-old peace agreement great nations signed before was now dissolved.

Other than the previous reasons mentioned, there was one more important reason. One more reason for making this war pretty much unavoidable at this point,

It was Land of Fire's hidden village's, Konohagakure's, current unprecedented and enormous strength!

Their current strength was so substantial, that even the Land of Fire's Daimyo openly expressed his intention to contend for the hegemony with other great nations, wanting to complete the most important aspiration of his predecessors, unifying the whole world under the Land of Fire.

Nonetheless, even without his wild ambitions, the other four great countries grew so afraid and envious of their strength, that they would still start this war, just for keeping the centuries-old balance, regardless...

The Land of Fire was always the richest country in the whole world, as long as most people in this world can remember, it was like that,

It's unique position at the center of the whole world, and its superior fertile soil earned them this position convincingly.

With increased funding from the Daimyo for this next war, Konoha's probably won't face the same financial troubles that awaited the other big hidden villages.

They won't have the lack of the elites either with their somewhat successful integration of various shinobi clans and ethnic groups into their village.

What they lacked for this war was only the pure size of their manpower forces. They still couldn't compare with the other big shinobi villages combined, in this department.

So, it still remains to be seen, just who will be the winner of this coming great war, and what will the world look like after it is finished!

- - -

In the Hatake's clan residence, in the patriarch's, Sakumo Hatake's, personal room.

Two people were seated in the traditional Seiza position, directly kneeling on the wooden floor.

These two people both had the same colored hair, the distinctive silver hair,

The younger one of them had a black mask covering half of his face and was wearing the standard Konoha's green flak jacket, while the older one of them was wearing some kind of gray kimono robe, covering his whole body.

In between their sitting places, laid some kind of unusual small white blade.

The whole atmosphere in the room was solemn and silent.

"From this day onwards, I'm no longer Sakumo Hatake, the Konoha's jonin. From this day onwards, I'm Sakumo Hatake, the Hatake's clan patriarch!"

The man called Sakumo Hatake excluded a totally different atmosphere than five years ago. He now appeared to be more apathetic, but at the same time, more decisive than ever before.

"Kakashi, you'll carry the name of my "White Fang" from today onwards onto the battlefield!"

Sakumo stated loudly to his son, his face very resolute and decisive.

"Father..."The younger boy called Kakashi looked at his father seriously. He was now nearly fourteen-years-old, no more a mere young boy, he's now a full-fledged young adult.

Sakumo picked the "White Light Chakra Sabre" from the ground, quickly and resolutely, and held it in his hands towards Kakashi's direction, "Since you already made your decision of wanting to protect your friends well into the future, this blade is now fully yours!"

Kakashi looked at the blade in his father's hands, full of emotions and even choking a bit.

"Pick it up now, son! I have nothing left to teach you! Where will you go in the future from this point on, remains in your own hands. Pick this blade up and treasure it well, this is the best gift I could give to you right now..."

Kakashi looked at the blade in his father's hands, knowing that if he picks it up right now, his strength will immediately soar up by a few points, enabling him to protect his friends more competently during the upcoming war,

However, he still didn't pick it up and just looked at his father solemnly.

"No need to worry about me, Kakashi. I have already made my decision a long time ago. I won't fight for Konoha's interests ever again in this life. Instead of allowing it to just rot away here, you continue to carry on this sword and protect your friends and comrades well in the future!"

Sakumo just smiled and patiently explained to him everything.

Hearing this, Kakashi just looked blankly at the blade for a few more moments, then swiftly picked it up from his father's hands.

He kowtowed on the ground quickly, while holding the sword in his hands passionately, "Father, I, Kakashi Hatake, promise you that I will never disappoint you in the future!"

"I'll continue to carry on this blade onto the battlefield, I'll carry on the name of the famous "White Fang" proudly, and I won't put you to shame ever, that I promise!"

"I will protect my friends with all my strength and heart. I assure you that no harm will ever come towards their way with me being alive!"

"And, finally, I'll make sure to come back alive after this war is over and see you again father!"

Kakashi made his vows vigorously and firmly.

Sakumo just looked at him warmly and peacefully, "From the moment you were born, you never betrayed my expectations of you once, Kakashi, and I believe you won't do it this time again as well."

"You're truly the best son, one could hope for!"

"Father... You're the best father in the whole world, too!" Kakashi got back onto his original position and said sincerely and affectionately.

"Alright, Kakashi, your friends are waiting for you outside. Hurry up, you all have an important mission awaiting you," Sakumo said lightly, he already talked to Yoshi and Anko before, asking them to stay outside for a bit while he talked to Kakashi about something important inside.

"Okay, goodbye, for now, father!" Kakashi stood up and said decisively.

Sakumo watched his back contentedly, full of confidence and happiness towards his son.

Outside the Hatake Clan's residence gate, stood two teens, one boy, and one girl,

They both wore Konoha's famous green shinobi uniforms, the boy had long red hair tied in a small ponytail, while the girl had long purple hair tied in a little longer ponytail.

But, the red-haired boy was noticeably taller than the girl beside him. He grew quite taller during these years thanks to his amazing Uzumaki vitality and proper training and nutrition. He looked like a little adult now.

They both had their eyes closed in harmony as if waiting for someone to appear.

Suddenly the gate of the residence opened, and they opened their eyes at the same time.

Kakashi resolutely opened the gate and silently took a step forward.

Once his back was only visible to them, he said, "Let's go!"

Looking at the sword on his back, Yoshi started thinking seriously.

'Uncle, so this was your decision all along?'

'Is that the uncle Sakumo's legendary sword?'

Anko also thought curiously before hearing something from the teen beside her.

"Let's go, Anko," Yoshi smiled to her, and took a step forward too.

Anko looked at the two of them smiling, before taking a step forward herself.

Soon they disappeared in the direction outside of their village.

- - -

The mission this time around was to gather some important piece of information and report it back to the village immediately. This mission was classified as an A-rank and it involved espionage.

This was their first mission without their sensei and even the first mission for them after becoming Konoha's jonins. Due to the upcoming war, Konoha made the process of becoming a jonin a lot easier, attempting to give more motivations to its shinobi in this way.

This mission involved something that only the three of them could accomplish. It involved good sensory ability, swiftness, and good teamwork. Something only the three of them had in combination, and in such proficiency as well.

The Konoha noticed some strange movements happening in their small neighboring village Kusagakure.

That village was famous for being at the crossroads between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth.

And now after the strange movements being detected there, it appeared quite suspicious.

Upcoming war, a crossroad between the Konoha and Iwagakure, and strange movements there don't mean anything good when all added together!

So that's why the three of them were tasked to investigate what was happening there, more precisely if the Iwagakrue already invaded that small village, and report it back swiftly.

However, what the Third Hokage didn't realize, is that with Yoshi's special Mind Eye's ability, they don't even have to enter that village or get close to it to realize what was happening in there.

His sensory ability and perception range now grew to a very considerable level!

Somewhere in the forest, three shadows were seen running fast, almost appearing to be teleporting. They were the Kakashi, Yoshi, and Anko on their mission.

It took them around a day and a half to reach here with their speed.

Suddenly, Yoshi moved his hand up, gesturing them to stop.

"This distance should be fine," He said confidently, referring to his sensory ability range and Kusagakure distances.

Kakashi and Anko just nodded, while Yoshi continued speaking,

"Be ready to run as soon as I finish with my sensing. Once I interlock my perception with the enemy's sensory specialists, they will be sure to alert the rest of the village's shinobi, and the whole village alongside the potential Iwa shinobi might start chasing us down then!"

They nodded seriously after hearing that.

"Okay, then I'm going to start now!" He said and closed his eyes promptly, then started concentrating hard, his hands shut together.

He first did some warmups with his mindscape, and then after a while, gradually started going forward with his perception, 'Is this their village?'

He thought while entering that village visually with his Mind's Eye.

'Hmm, the safeguarding sure appears to be a little heightened.'

'Bad! I was already spotted by someone, let's try and go faster then!'

He passed the village's entrance gate and started going further into their village.

After sensing those patrolling Kusa shinobi first, he started sensing ordinary villagers next.

'They are really here!' He thought after sensing the facility at the back of their village, at the point farthest from him.

Looking at the numerous group of people in that facility, judging by the size of their chakra auras he noticed that they are all probably shinobi.

But, their chakra auras felt completely different from those of the patroling shinobi he sensed before.

Their chakra auras were seemingly pretty solid and tight in type, so he deduced that the majority of them had a natural earth chakra affinity,

And who is more famous for their earth chakra affinity than the Iwagakure?

'They already started moving towards here, alright...'

He opened his eyes after exiting his mindscape.

"Let's go back quickly now, they are coming towards us fast. Iwa shinobi are there too!"

Anko and Kakashi looked shocked but soon nodded readily to run, realizing the seriousness of this matter.

"Wait, stop!" Yoshi suddenly shouted a little and they stopped quickly after hearing him and started looking at him inquiringly.

"Anko, I'm afraid your speed will fall a little short here. After all, there are real elites running towards us, at this very moment, amongst them..." Yoshi said seriously and added directly.

"Let's jump on my back right now, I'll carry you. I can't allow you to risk getting captured here!"

Anko looked a little stunned for a second, but looking at his serious and handsome face, she just sighed.

Yoshi squatted down a little and waited for her to climb on his back.

She did so swiftly, and they all finally started running.

"Don't worry, I can carry you for days thanks to my amazing Uzumaki vitality."

"Uhm."

She just nodded, buried in his neck, and long red hair once he and Kakashi already started running.

'His hair is so silky, and his back is already so well-defined...'

She suddenly felt inexplainable tranquility and calmness at this very moment.

She felt as if Yoshi would protect her against any danger imaginable in the future.

After running through the whole night, they finally entered the lush and green territory of the Land of Fire once the morning came and the sun rose up in the sky.

After sighing a little, Kakashi suddenly asked.

"Did they finally stop chasing us?"

"Yes, just a while back," Yoshi also sighed a little.

"Did you really see them? Does that mean...?"

Kakashi asked a little expectingly and fearfully at the same time.

"Yes, they really invaded the Kusagakure!"

"The war has already begun!"

Yoshi exclaimed with his eyes shinning in an unknown light.

Was it ambition, or something else?

No one knew at this time, not even himself!

"Remember to report it back to the Hokage as I told you before. No mentioning of my ability, we just did the usual infiltration, got it?" He suddenly said seriously.

"Yes," Anko from his back nodded.

"Oh, I forgot about you, Anko," Yoshi suddenly said and laughed a little.

"Was the journey comfortable?" He decided to ask teasingly.

"Hmh, a little..." She answered quietly while blushing.

"Okay, then you don't need to get up yet. But just so you know, we will start going rather slowly now so that old monkey doesn't realize something is wrong with our story..."

She blushed even harder now, realizing that she still didn't get off Yoshi's back.

Seeing her jump off his back quickly, Yoshi sighed, "Alas, why do I feel a little lost now?"

Anko continued going forward with her face turned around, but she still muttered something embarrassingly in a really low pitch of voice, "M-me too, fool..."

- - -

Sunagakure is the hidden village of the Land of Wind.

As the village of one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, Sunagakure has a Kage as its leader known as the Kazekage, of which there have been three in its history so far.

Being surrounded by desert offers the village a natural deterrent against invasion, as few foreign powers would be willing to endure the sandstorms and water scarcity common to Suna.

Sunagakure itself lies in a fortified valley behind cliffs of rock, with the passage in and out of the village restricted to a single cleft between two cliff faces, making the area very hard to attack from the ground.

The buildings inside seem to be made of clay or stucco, which would help to keep the buildings cool.

The standard attire for Suna shinobi consists of blue or black uniforms underneath flak jackets of various shades of beige to better blend with their natural environment and include shoulders guards.

Headpieces consisting of a head-wrap and cloth neck-covers to protect against the harsh weather are popular with Suna shinobi.

Many Sunagakure shinobi use Wind Release techniques, which they may or may not perform with fans.

This whole great ninja village was now in a state of utter confusion and dismay,

The Third Kazekage, the famed strongest Kazekage in history, mysteriously disappeared from his residence!

Suna went to great lengths to find him, spreading its forces thin in the search and leaving the village under-defended, but there was still no sight of him to be seen.

The middle-aged woman was currently pacing through her residence while being visibly shaken about something and all the while panicking as well.

She had black eyes and lavender-colored hair tied in a bun. She sore the traditional Sunagakure outfit which consists of a dark-colored, loose-fitting outfit with a poncho-like top.

Her name was Chiyo, often called Honoured Grandmother Chiyo by the Sunagakure villagers, she was the village's poison, and puppet expert. She and her brother Ebizo were highly revered in Sunagakure and were known as the Honoured Siblings.

Chiyo was very knowledgeable when it came to handling poisons and used her skills often during the Second Shinobi World War, only to be countered numerous times by Tsunade's medical expertise later on.

'The Third Kazekage and my own grandson Sasori disappeared at the same time...?'

'Just what could all of this mean?'

'And just when the time for revenge finally came!?'

'Why now!?'

Chiyo expressed a strong desire to take revenge on Konoha, and kill the notorious Sakumo Hatake.

She wanted to avenge the killing of her son and daughter-in-law, which left her grandson Sasori orphaned, by that man on Konoha's orders.

And just when the right time came and they recovered their strength a little from the previous war, the most powerful and the leading figure of their whole village suddenly mysteriously disappeared.

"Still no news about my grandson's or the Third's whereabouts?"

"No, Ma'am," The masked Suna shinobi replied while kneeling in front of her.

"Okay, go and continue looking now!"

With the Third Kazekage missing now, she had the highest say in this village, both due to respect she has in the village and her actual strength.

'I'm afraid if you don't show up soon, Third, we'll have to install a new Kazekage.'

'We must show confidence and stability to the outsiders now that the war is about to finally start.

I can't afford to waste this amazing godsend opportunity for taking my revenge on Konoha, after the five long years of waiting...'

'Sasori, I just hope that you will be fine...'