The Celestial Copy - Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I don't own the original setting

We were in the middle of a training exercise called “Retrieve the Scroll” at Team Ro's private training ground. 

My team consisted of me, Yugao, and Akito. Our goal was to snatch the scroll from a pedestal in the center of the field before fifteen minutes were up. Defending it were Daisuke, Tenzo, Anko, and Okami. 

This exercise was perfect for demonstrating how a team thought together.

My team set up the opening feint just as planned. Akito was the centerpiece, weaving a wide-area genjutsu to create the illusion of a full-frontal assault from multiple angles. Yugao and I supported from a distance, launching a few shuriken and kunai to sell the attack. The point was to make them commit a little too much on one end, and we’d strike from the other.

Daisuke and Tenzo didn’t take the bait. They were sharp enough to know better. Daisuke slammed an earth wall into place, and Tenzo followed up with Wood Style, making thick roots wrap around the stone to reinforce it even further. 

But not everyone was content to sit behind defenses.

Anko and Okami broke from the defensive line, moving to outflank our feint. Anko was following closely behind Okami, the Inuzuka’s senses allowing her to ignore the illusion.

This was good; the two of them were working together.

“Advance to the wall and try to capture the scroll,” I told my partners. “I’ll handle these two.”

I let chakra pool at my feet, using the Shunshin Jutsu to appear directly in their path. I stood at ease with my hands in my pockets as they came to a halt before me.

Anko made the first move, going through a series of hand signs. She spat out a massive dragon of flame that rushed straight for me. At the same time, Okami activated her All Fours Jutsu, darting to the other side of the flames, aiming to attack me from my blind spot. A classic pincer movement.

While the fire dragon prevented them from seeing me, I formed a single seal and created a perfect copy of myself. This clone variant contained lightning chakra. Then I sank into the earth below as the lightning clone jumped out in the same direction Okami was headed.

She did what a good ninja would do: attack when she saw a clear opening. Her claws slashed at the clone’s chest, and it popped in a shock of electricity, enough to paralyze her for a few seconds. At the same time, I rose from the ground behind Anko and delivered a spinning kick to her back, sending her stumbling into Okami. 

I could have ended it there, but this was a test. I wanted to see more from them.

They recovered quickly, exchanging a glance. Anko changed tactics, taking a supportive role. She hurled a volley of senbon in a wide arc. They embedded themselves into the ground around me, each releasing a small puff of purple mist, creating a toxic cage. 

Okami charged through the mist, unaffected. I guess she’d been dosed with the antidote beforehand. Clever. While I would need to avoid the haze, she could move freely.

Still, I wasn’t content to be a spectator. 

I went through a short series of hand signs for Wind Style: Great Breakthrough, and pushed out a wall of wind. The gust scattered the gas in an instant and then slammed into Okami. She rolled, quickly coming back up with a snarl.

Anko slammed her hands on the ground, and several large snakes erupted from the earth, forming a constricting wall around me. Okami launched herself over the serpents, her body spinning in a tight spiral. I assumed that was her version of Fang Over Fang without a ninken partner.

I was actually impressed. Against any other Jōnin, this combination attack probably would’ve been the end. When Anko first joined, I thought Okami would be the one she'd clash with the most. One is chaotic aggression, the other is feral instinct. But they’ve found a dangerous synergy.

And it might have worked if I hadn’t decided to push myself.

Just as her attack was about to connect, I activated my Lightning Chakra Mode. While my version of the jutsu still wasn’t completed, it gave me the burst of speed I needed. I slipped out of the trap, landing on the head of the largest snake, looking down as Okami’s attack smashed into the empty dirt where I had been standing a second earlier.

And then the sharp ring of the timer echoed across the field.

The exercise was over.

I stepped off the snake, jogging toward the pedestal. The scroll was still there.

Yugao lowered her head as I approached. “Sorry, sir. Their defense was too much.”

“It’s fine. I should’ve ended my fight sooner to support you.”

Then I turned to Anko and Okami as they rejoined the group, both of them breathing heavily. “Your teamwork has improved significantly. You’re learning to cover each other's weaknesses.” I looked at the others. “Since I was otherwise occupied, you four will provide a peer review. Kuma, Tanuki, tell me what Neko and Tori did right, and what they did wrong. Then Tori and Neko will tell me their assessment of the defenses.”

Daisuke went first, his deep voice carrying easily. “You guys had a good initial feint. Tori’s genjutsu rattled us enough that we turtled up fast, which I guess was your goal. But once the wall was in place, you didn’t have the hammer to break it down. Still, I have to give props to Neko. Her slashes were strong enough that if it was just my earth wall, she might’ve broken through. Overall, you two did well to keep up the pressure. You just needed more punch at the decisive moment.”

“The illusion was clever. But you spread them too wide, Tori. You sacrificed potency for more range. I was able to see the flaws in the chakra once I focused,” Tenzo added without judgment. “And Neko, your adaptation was impressive. When you realized you couldn't break the wall, you shifted to ranged attacks. Those wind-infused slashes you sent over the top gave Tori the opening he needed to get over.”

“Yeah, that defense was a damn fortress,” Akito responded, leaning back with a shrug. “Kuma’s wall is already strong on its own, but adding Tanuki patching the gaps with wood makes a direct assault almost impossible. We tried to find a weak point, but they gave us nothing. Neko and I figured if the captain dropped his fight quick enough, we’d use that opening to punch through.”

Yugao’s mask tilted in a rueful nod. “They did great at preventing us from working together. Even when Tori managed to get over the wall, I failed to back him up, causing him to lose the two-on-one.”

Satisfied by the feedback on both sides, I continued. “Exactly. Both sides performed well based on the assets they had. Neko and Tori, you were right to stall for time instead of battering against their wall. If I’d finished my match faster, it might have been a different outcome. Defenders, you did everything you should have and won the match. Good work, everyone.”

“Now, for our mission. We’ll rotate with Team Ha in fifteen minutes. You can change into a fresh uniform until then.” Before they began to move, I let a teasing note enter my voice. “And you can celebrate because I got us the best mission.”

Akito perked up instantly. “Oh yeah, we’re on Jinchuriki detail! Free money for standing around and doing nothing. My favorite.”

Yugao let out a sigh of relief. “I might actually get to go home without bruises for once.”

Even the ever-present tension in Okami’s shoulders eased. A barely noticeable change, but for her, it might as well have been a cheer.

Anko tilted her head. “Babysitting duty? That’s the grand prize?”

“Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it, Mumei.” Daisuke gently rested a hand on her shoulder. “A mission like this is a comfort after you’ve been on a few high-stakes runs. You learn to appreciate the boring days.” 

“The standard observation posts will be maintained,” I said. “Kuma, you take point. Tanuki, with Okami. Neko, you have the outside perimeter. Mumei, you’re with Tori. He’ll walk you through how this goes.”

She flicked me a two-finger salute. “I can behave, Captain. Promise.”

“I’ll be taking a different approach and stay with the boy directly,” I added.

I saw the slight confusion among the members. I had already prepared a justification in case someone would oppose it.

“The Jinchuriki’s psychological and emotional stability is as vital as the seal containing the Bijuu. An unstable host is a liability that could compromise the entire village's security. Part of this mission is ensuring that asset remains stable. I will be handling that aspect of the operation personally.”

The team accepted the order without question. It was a logical argument, and it had the benefit of being completely true.

But it wasn’t the reason why I chose the mission.

This is my duty. For my sensei and the legacy he left behind.

------------------------------

I stood outside Naruto’s apartment door, back in my standard Jōnin flak jacket. It was slightly heavier than ANBU armor, yet I felt at ease, knowing I could be present. My team was scattered across rooftops and alleys, maintaining their observation posts. To anyone else, it looked like I was here alone.

I raised my hand and knocked.

I heard the sound of feet stumbling over something from inside before the door swung open with more force than necessary.

“It’s you, big bro Kakashi! It’s been so long!”

I let my eye curve into a smile. “Sorry, Naruto. I was on a long mission out of the village. It took about a month, and I had some more business to deal with when I got back.”

“That’s okay. You’re here now! Come in, I gotta show you my place!” He tugged at my sleeve like I needed dragging and led me into the apartment.

It was messy, but much better than my worst assumptions. No instant ramen cups in sight. The trash bin wasn’t overflowing. A broom leaned in the corner, actually used. A sheet of paper with uneven boxes was taped crooked to the wall with a list of chores on it and half the squares filled in with checkmarks. On the table was a bowl with three apples and an orange in it.

Naruto pointed at the bowl. “See? I’ve been eating good stuff, just like I promised! Old Man Teuchi gives me my ramen every day, so I use my allowance on other things now.”

“I can see that. You’ve been doing well.”

It was a small thing, but I felt proud of him. All Naruto needed was a nudge in the right direction. Sometimes that’s all it takes to begin a different life.

“Here, you can have it!” Naruto grabbed the orange from the bowl and pushed it into my hands.

We sat at his small table as I began to peel the orange. “So, what else have you been up to?”

“Old Man Hokage said I can go to the Academy when the new classes start next year!”

“That’s great news, Naruto. The Academy is the first step,” I said, separating a slice and handing it to him. He tossed it into his mouth immediately. “How about I teach you a little trick? A secret that all the best Leaf shinobi learn to get ahead.”

It was something I thought about teaching him, something that would help give him a better foundation.

“A secret? Like a super-secret jutsu?!”

“Hm, not quite.” I replied, taking out a small bundle of leaves from the inner pocket of my flak jacket. I pressed one to an uncovered part of my face, focusing chakra into it to keep it there. “This is called the Leaf Concentration Exercise. You keep the leaf stuck using chakra alone.”

“That’s it?”

“It might look simple, but it’s not easy. Just try it.”

He grabbed a leaf and slapped it to his forehead. It fell off. He tried again. It only took a few more failed attempts for his enthusiasm to fade into a frustrated scowl.

“This is boring,” he grumbled. “I wanna learn a cool jutsu that goes BOOM!”

I shook my head. “You have to learn to crawl before you walk. And walk before you run. Controlling your chakra is what lets you do those awesome jutsu later, without wasting all your chakra.”

And this exercise had an additional benefit. It teaches an individual to hone their concentration and keep their mind from becoming distracted.

All I received from him was a look that said he wasn’t impressed.

To give the lesson more weight, I reached up and took off my forehead protector and set it on the table.

Naruto’s eyes went wide, but not for the reason I intended. “Your eye! It’s red and looks different from your other one. What is that?”

“Ah. That’s called the Sharingan. It's a special eye that helps shinobi see things very clearly. A gift from... someone. But that’s a story for another time.”

I tapped the metal plate of my forehead protector, drawing his attention away from my eye. “What’s important is this. For generations, every Leaf shinobi has started with this exact exercise.” I held it out so he could see the engraved leaf. “They say this very symbol, the pride of our village, came from this training. It’s a reminder of where we all begin.”

Naruto’s expression went unusually still. He looked down at the leaf in his hand with a kind of new reverence.

I smiled with my eye as I put the protector back on. “But once you master the basics…” I trailed off, picking up five fresh leaves from the table. “You can do some pretty cool stuff.”

I balanced a leaf on the tip of each finger on my right hand.

“Watch closely.”

The leaf on my thumb crumpled into a tight ball from a lightning charge. The one on my index finger hardened, then crumbled into fine dust as I applied earth chakra. The leaf on my middle finger soaked through, a tiny drop of water fell onto the table. The one on my ring finger burst into a flame that incinerated it. And last, the one on my pinky split down the middle, the two halves falling in separate directions.

I exhaled slowly and dropped my hand to my side.

Truthfully, it was difficult. Channeling the five elements simultaneously left no margin for error. A fraction too much chakra in one finger could throw the others off entirely. The only reason I could manage it was because Skilled Development allowed me to raise my elemental affinities at an accelerated pace.

And there was also my most recent acquisition, the Twin Sacred Flasks. I could drain my reserves practicing chakra-intensive techniques, restore them instantly with the Cerulean Tears, and push my body to the absolute brink, knowing the Crimson Tears would erase the strain at the end of the day. It was a perfect engine for growth.

Still, the look on Naruto’s face made it worth it.

“Wooooah!” he gasped, practically vibrating. “I wanna do that too! Teach me, teach me, teach me!”

“You’ll get there eventually. The first step is keeping the leaf on your forehead.”

“But yours did, like, five things at once!”

I placed a hand on his head. “Which is why you start small. Control leads to everything else” 

He groaned loudly but grabbed another leaf, slapping it to his forehead with renewed determination.

I leaned back against the wall, watching as he continued his attempts. The apartment was quiet except for his grunts of effort.

“Hey, Kakashi?” he piped up suddenly, the leaf falling off his forehead again. 

“Hm?”

“Are you older than the Hokage?”

I blinked. “What?”

“I mean, you’ve got white hair. So maybe you’re older than him!”

From the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of movement. Anko was at the window, pressed up against the glass with one hand pointing directly at me and the other clutching her stomach, her shoulders trembling with silent laughter.

Where’s Akito, he was supposed to—

He appeared beside her a moment later, mirroring her exact posture.

Maybe I should’ve put her with Daisuke. At least then she’d be too busy drinking tea to cause trouble.

I turned back to Naruto, who was still waiting, eyes bright. “I’m eighteen. The Hokage’s a lot older than me. Don’t let the hair fool you.”

He looked like he wanted to ask something else, but I picked up a fresh leaf from the table and offered it to him. “Come on, let’s try that leaf again. You’re getting closer.”

“Right!” Naruto clenched his fist. “I’m gonna make that thing stick if it’s the last thing I do!”

He slapped the leaf to his forehead. It slid off a second later.

“Eventually,” I said, ruffling his hair.

He just grinned and grabbed another.

------------------------------

An hour after the end of my mission, I received a summons to meet at the ANBU Council Chamber. 

I entered the windowless room deep within the headquarters that was reserved for matters of the highest security. 

Two of the other captains had already claimed their seats.

At the seat closest to the entrance was Captain Ushi of Team Ni. He wore a bull mask and was the senior-most captain here, somewhere in his late forties. His back had a slight hunch from a wound that never healed right, and his right glove had a notch missing where a finger used to be. It was said that he’d cut it off himself mid-mission to escape chakra restraints.

Across from him sat Captain Karasu. She wore a crow mask and had a reputation for ice-cold efficiency, one I knew firsthand. She’d been captain of Team Ha for four years, and I had served under her when I first joined ANBU, before my reassignment to guarding Kushina when she was pregnant.

I took the seat next to her, the other four seats around the table remaining empty. I was the youngest captain in the room by a decade. I gave a nod to my former captain, and waited.

The door opened again and the Hokage stepped in without the usual contingent of guards. He moved to the head of the table and lowered himself into the chair, lacing his fingers together in front of him.

“I have summoned you here because our village is at a critical juncture,” he began, his voice leaving no room for preamble. “After months of tense conflict, the Hidden Cloud has agreed to send a formal delegation to our village. They will arrive in three days to sign a formal peace treaty.”

He let his gaze sweep over us before continuing. “This isn’t just a ceasefire. This could be the treaty that ends the bloodshed between our villages. It is a peace that generations of Leaf shinobi have fought and died to make possible. We cannot squander it.”

Ushi thumped his hand against the table. “With respect, Lord Hokage, the Cloud’s word has never been worth the ink it’s written with. You know even better than I do what happened the last time we signed a formal alliance. The Gold and Silver brothers ambushed Lord Tobirama during the ceremony itself.”

“And we also remember that they attacked the Second Raikage during that same incident,” Hiruzen countered. “Those brothers were declared traitors by their own village, hunted and cast out. Their actions were not sanctioned by the Cloud.”

Ushi shook his head. “It was the Kinkaku Force that finally killed Lord Tobirama. If you ask me, that was the will of their whole village.”

I stayed silent, listening to his argument. Ushi’s cynicism was born from the bitter lessons of the past. Mine came from future knowledge. He was right to suspect a trap, but he was looking in the wrong direction.

Before Hiruzen could respond, Karasu interjected. “History is history. What matters now is operational clarity. What are the rules of engagement for our security details? What provocation, if any, are we authorized to respond to? What leeway do we have to act if the peace is a falsehood? One misstep could shatter this treaty and send us all back to war.”

“Your caution is warranted,” Hiruzen acknowledged, his gaze meeting each of ours in turn. “Which is why this operation must be flawless. Every ANBU team not currently on a critical long-term mission will be assigned to unseen surveillance of the Cloud delegation. Their safety within our walls is our responsibility. There will be no incidents. The future of this village depends on the success of this treaty.”

The order was absolute.

I cleared my throat, breaking the silence. “With three teams available, how will we be handling the division of labor for continuous surveillance?”

The Hokage considered it for a moment. “One team will be assigned to shadow the delegation from the moment they cross into the Land of Fire. Once they arrive in the village, the other two teams will take rotating shifts so there is continuous coverage.”

“I request Team Ro be assigned the night watch once the delegation is in the village,” I said, before either of the others could speak.

It was also convenient, because I already knew when the Cloud would make their move.

“I’d rather be the one to keep eyes on them inside the village.” Ushi turned his mask slightly toward Hiruzen, but I could feel his focus on me. “With all due respect, Team Ro isn’t ready for that responsibility.”

“On what basis, Ushi?” Hiruzen asked.

“Experience,” Ushi answered, turning back to me to talk to me directly. “You have two members with less than a year of ANBU experience, one of which is a probationary member that was recruited not even a week ago. Your most seasoned operatives don’t have ten years of experience. And to top it all off, you have a former Foundation agent whose loyalties are unproven in a crisis. You’re talented, Kitsune, no one denies that. But talent is not the same as experience, especially on a matter this sensitive.”

It wasn’t hostility so much as a blunt assessment from a man who’d seen too much. But that didn’t mean I was going to let it slide.

“I don’t appreciate what you’re insinuating about my squad.”

A palpable pressure suddenly filled the room as I let Absolute Power slip through. Just enough to remind him. Ushi shifted slightly in his chair, and both Karasu and the Hokage’s gaze flicked toward me, assessing.

“I was given command of that team, and I accepted full responsibility for every member I brought in,” I continued. “They may be young, but they’ve already proven more adaptable and loyal than most veterans. I stand by them completely.”

I wasn’t one to put much stock in measuring people solely by strength. But I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that there wasn’t another captain who could match me. Not in the present ANBU, and maybe not ever. And they knew it, too.

Hiruzen broke the tension. “I trust Captain Kitsune’s judgment. His request stands, Team Ro will take the night shift. No more objections.”

Karasu inclined her head, approving the distribution. “Team Ha can handle the escort detail once they enter the Land of Fire.” 

“Then the rotation is settled. Ushi’s Team Ni will cover the day shift,” Hiruzen finished. “All teams are to begin preparation immediately. You are dismissed.”

Ushi let out a breath, giving me one last, measuring look. But he bowed his head in grudging acceptance.

As I walked out into the corridor, I allowed myself a moment of satisfaction. I got what I wanted. Now, all I had to do was stop an international incident that no one else knew was coming—a peace treaty being used as a front for their real objective. They wanted the Byakugan, and I knew exactly how they would try to get it.

The Cloud’s Head Ninja would target Hinata Hyuga. They would try to kidnap a child in the middle of our own village. And yet, it didn’t make sense.

If their goal was to breed the Byakugan into their village, then a male would have been the more efficient choice. A single man could father dozens of children and establish a clan within a generation. A female could only carry one at a time.

Unless it was about the Caged Bird Seal. 

But even that made little sense. There were infants in the branch family who had not yet received it. 

Whatever the reason, this operation had to be perfect. For the sake of peace. For the village. And for a child in the Hyuga clan who would go to sleep tonight, not knowing how close she came to becoming a prize in a war that was never truly over.