Chapter 59: The Fourth Hokage’s Legacy

After receiving the order, the jonin squads gathered as fast as possible, but it still took the messenger ANBU twenty minutes to assemble less than forty people.

That was unavoidable. Though there were about 150 jonin in the village, after subtracting those on missions and those from the Ino-Shika-Cho, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans, only about 60 remained. Of those, except for the Sarutobi, Koharu, and Homura families, most were from minor clans like the Hayate clan.

Of those present, only ninjas from the Sarutobi, Koharu, and Homura families actually showed up; the rest had plenty of excuses—"the village is under curfew, we can't go out."

"If the others won't come, let's just go," a Sarutobi jonin said.

The others nodded, heading out into the village.

But as soon as they left, they were blocked by a group of nearly a hundred ninja.

At the front, a slouching man with a senbon in his mouth stood under a streetlamp, its tip glinting coldly.

"Genma Shiranui?" With Nara Shikaku promoted, the acting jonin squad leader was Sarutobi Koji. Frowning, he said, "Perfect timing, we're short on people. Join us in suppressing the police department's rebellion."

"Is that so?" Genma raised an eyebrow lazily. "Funny, I heard the police were suppressing those spreading rumors about a village hero and trying to use violence to pressure the police. Are you here to help those rioters?"

"Genma Shiranui! Watch your tone! You're just a special jonin!" snapped Mitokado Tsukiyomi from the jonin squad.

"Heh, what a big shot, Lord Mitokado," Genma spat out his senbon, which shot like a bullet and stabbed into the ground just in front of them, quivering. The jonin squad's faces darkened.

At that moment, a scarred man beside Genma laughed. "Genma, if we'd known jonin had such authority, we should have tested for it years ago!"

"Are you planning to rebel with the Uchiha?" snapped Koharu's clan member.

"Cut the crap. All I know is, the village is under curfew. No one is allowed to roam around," Genma replied coldly.

"That's the Hokage's order!" Sarutobi Koji growled.

"Hokage's order?" Genma's eyes went icy cold. "If the Fourth were alive, would he let a nobody who's done nothing use the Hokage's name to boss us around?"

"The Fourth…" Sarutobi Koji looked their group over and realized many were the Fourth's former bodyguards or veterans from the last war grateful to Minato.

"Genma, enough talk. If it's a fight, it's a fight. Even if it costs us our lives, we won't let you pass. The Lord Fourth's only disciple can't be bullied like this anymore," growled the short-tempered Raido, drawing his weapon.

"You're looking for death!" Koharu clan's man drew his weapon, ready to attack.

Genma took a deep breath. He knew things would get ugly. Though they had numbers, only he and the Fourth's old bodyguard squad were up to jonin level. Holding them off would be costly.

Just as the two sides were about to clash, a piercing sound like a thousand birds rang out, and a flash of lightning illuminated the street. A white-haired man, hand crackling with lightning, appeared between them, stopping the fight. A man in a green jumpsuit followed.

"Kakashi?" Sarutobi Koji's face fell. If it was just Genma's group, their 30-odd jonin could have taken them. But with Kakashi and Might Guy here, the tables turned instantly. Both were elite jonin, and with the support of nearly a hundred special jonin, could wipe them out.

Genma grinned at the sight of Kakashi—someone he hadn't spoken to in years. "Finally showing yourself? I thought you'd hide forever."

"Thank you," Kakashi turned to the old squad, feeling a surge of emotion.

"How's that kid doing?" Raido asked.

"He's doing well. Just a bit mischievous at his age," Kakashi smiled. "Come visit sometime if you can."

Kakashi realized it was probably his recent adoption of Naruto that gave them the courage to support him now.

"Enough talking, Kakashi. Now that you're here, take charge. Just give the order," Genma said.

Kakashi nodded, then turned to the jonin squad. He removed his mask, now showing the dignity of a leader. "This ends here. I'll explain to Lord Third myself. Agreed?"

"Kakashi, you—" Koji wanted to object, but as soon as he spoke, Kakashi's hand sparked with lightning.

Koji's face twisted. Though he and Kakashi were both jonin, countless jonin had died to Kakashi's S-rank Lightning Blade. He didn't want to try it firsthand.

"Then you go explain to Lord Third yourself." Koji snorted and left, the others following.

"Guy, could you guard here? I'll go to the Hokage building." Kakashi put out his Lightning Blade.

"Leave it to me!" Guy grinned, giving a thumbs-up. He still didn't know what was going on, but he knew one thing: if someone was clearing Kakashi's name tonight, then as his lifelong friend, he had to help too.