Chapter 70: Kakashi of the Akatsuki

Konoha.

"Kakashi-sensei! You're late again!" Naruto complained loudly, his arms flailing in frustration. Beside him, Sasuke and Sakura didn't say anything, but their faces made it clear they were thinking the same thing.

Kakashi scratched the back of his head with a sheepish laugh, unfazed.

"Ah, well, you see... I got lost on the path of life."

Naruto's eyes twitched at hearing the same excuse yet again. "Kakashi-sensei! If you're going to lie, at least put some effort into it! Even Konohamaru wouldn't fall for that!"

Normally, students their age would still be in the Academy, as graduation was traditionally at 12. But due to Konoha's current tensions, Danzo had lowered the graduation age to 10. As a result, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura found themselves thrust into the world of shinobi earlier than expected.

Danzo, ever the strategist, had assigned Kakashi—a formidable combatant sitting idle in the village—to train them. While he'd have preferred sending Kakashi to the frontlines, he couldn't risk it. After all, if Kakashi felt betrayed, defection was always a possibility.

Instead, Danzo had put Kakashi in charge of Team 7. With Naruto as the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails and Sasuke as the last Uchiha, they were invaluable to Konoha. They needed the best guidance to reach their potential, and Kakashi was undeniably among the strongest in the village—aside from Danzo himself.

Of course, Danzo didn't trust Kakashi completely. To ensure compliance, Team 7 was under 24/7 surveillance by the Root.

At the training ground, Naruto practically bounced with energy.

"Kakashi-sensei! What are we doing today? And don't say it's more tree-climbing or water-walking—I want to learn some awesome jutsu!"

Kakashi pressed a hand to the hyperactive boy's shoulder, gently but firmly.

"Naruto, if you want to master powerful jutsu, you need a strong foundation. Patience is key."

Naruto, of course, paid no mind. "Patience? I don't have time for that! Teach me something cool!"

Sasuke, though silent, was no less eager. His thoughts burned with urgency.

As long as that man walked the earth, every day felt like torment.

"Fine, fine," Kakashi relented, exhaling. "I'll teach you a basic jutsu today."

Before the day could proceed, however, a Root operative arrived, shattering the casual atmosphere.

"Kakashi," the man said, voice devoid of warmth. "The Hokage has an assignment for you." He handed over a scroll.

Kakashi's brow furrowed as he unrolled it, scanning its contents. The more he read, the more suspicion gnawed at him.

Danzo is assigning me a solo mission?

The Root ninja confirmed with a curt nod before vanishing.

"What kind of mission, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked, practically vibrating with curiosity.

Kakashi smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Naruto. It's a solo mission, and it'll take about a week. I won't be able to train you during that time."

"A whole week?!" Naruto groaned, crossing his arms in frustration.

Though Team 7 hadn't been together long, a bond had already formed. Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi shared similar wounds—ones only they truly understood. As for Sakura, being close to Sasuke was all she needed.

Back in his room, Kakashi packed light. A seasoned shinobi, he didn't need much for what was supposedly a simple reconnaissance mission to Amegakure.

At the village's outskirts, a small Root squad waited for him. While they were ostensibly there for support, Kakashi knew their true purpose: to keep an eye on him.

"Let's move," the squad leader said brusquely.

For over a day, they traveled in silence, Kakashi keeping his thoughts to himself. As they neared the outskirts of Amegakure, the leader handed him a map.

"You'll proceed along this route. Your objective is to gather intelligence on this sector of Amegakure. We'll be stationed here to provide backup if necessary."

"Understood," Kakashi replied before setting off.

As he advanced alone, a sense of unease began to creep in.

Why is Danzo suddenly trusting me with this?

His musings were cut short by the sound of a weapon slicing through the air. Reflexes honed by years of experience, Kakashi executed a Body Flicker Technique, evading the attack. The tree he had stood beside was cleaved in two.

Turning, he spotted his assailant—a man with shark-like features, draped in a black cloak adorned with red clouds, hefting a massive, grotesque sword.

"So, this is my future teammate? The infamous Copy Ninja, Hatake Kakashi," the man mused, lips curling into a grin.

"You're with Akatsuki... Hoshigaki Kisame, S-rank rogue ninja from Kirigakure," Kakashi said, lifting his headband to reveal his Sharingan.

"That's right," Kisame replied, his grip tightening on Samehada. "Until Itachi's back to full strength, you're filling in as my partner."

"Ridiculous! I'm a shinobi of Konoha!" Kakashi snapped, though the odds were stacked against him. Kisame wasn't alone—Deidara and Sasori emerged from the shadows, boxing him in.

"Konoha?" Sasori sneered. "You still don't get it, do you?"

Deidara smirked, tossing a black cloak and a ring toward Kakashi.

"Danzo sold you to us, Kakashi. That 'mission route' you followed? It was our handoff point."

The words hit like a kunai to the chest.

Danzo... betrayed me?

"It's hard to believe, isn't it?" Deidara continued. "But think about it. You and your father gave everything to Konoha. What did you get in return? Scorn? Betrayal?"

"You're lying!" Kakashi roared, blood dripping from his left eye as his Sharingan began to distort.

A vortex of space-time energy formed. His Mangekyō Sharingan had awakened.

Deidara's expression didn't change. He simply held out the cloak again.

"Enough struggling. Join us, Kakashi. Together, we'll bring vengeance to Konoha."

Kakashi's anguished cry echoed through the forest as he grasped the cloak.

From that moment, he was no longer a shinobi of Konoha.

He was Akatsuki's Kakashi of the Void.

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