Kakashi as Bait?
Uchiha Kai frowned. This was indeed a good idea.
Kakashi's name carried weight, and his strength was undeniable. It wouldn't be difficult for him to attract the attention of enemy forces with his chakra alone. As bait, he could lure the Iwagakure troops away, allowing the rest of the team to find a breakthrough point. With the support of Aya Hyūga, they could infiltrate the Kannabi Bridge before Kakashi was captured or killed, ensuring the mission's success.
But the risk was enormous. The mortality rate of such a strategy was extremely high—it was a mission with no guarantee of survival.
Kai looked at Kakashi seriously. Compared to him, Kai couldn't help but feel inadequate. Kakashi possessed a kind of strength—one that transcended mere physical prowess.
At first, Uchiha Kai didn't fully understand the concept of "resolve" (chikara 力) in this world. It was often mentioned in the early chapters of Naruto, yet rarely emphasized later. But now, he was beginning to grasp its meaning. It was more than just strength; it was a kind of indomitable will.
The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, had sealed the Nine-Tails into his own son, Naruto. Did Minato not foresee the suffering his child would endure? Or was it a calculated decision—one that ensured Naruto's survival while also shaping him into the future's savior? Perhaps, in his final moments, Minato had set the pieces of a grand plan in motion.
If so, Naruto had been burdened with a destiny far greater than himself. And if Minato, who was hailed as one of the greatest Hokage, could make such a ruthless decision, was it any wonder that Jiraiya had once called him the most brilliant among them?
Of course, this was all speculation—a conspiracy theory. But Kai had grown accustomed to such calculations in this world. After all, wasn't Uchiha Itachi the ultimate example of resolve?
For Konoha's sake, Itachi had worked with Danzō and even the shadowy Akatsuki, whose members straddled the line between life and death.
For the sake of his younger brother, he had abandoned his own clan, slaughtering his kin, including his own parents, with tears in his eyes. He bore the weight of their deaths, willingly becoming a villain in the eyes of history.
To push Sasuke forward, he had inflicted countless psychological wounds upon him, molding him into someone consumed by hatred. He had orchestrated events so that Sasuke would one day awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
He had allowed his brother to seek power under Orochimaru, despite knowing the dangers, because it was the only path for Sasuke to grow stronger.
Even as he neared death, he ensured that Sasuke would return to Konoha with honor, manipulating events so that his own demise would serve as the final push for his brother's evolution.
He had even planted Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan within Naruto, programming the Kotoamatsukami to activate upon seeing Sasuke. A final safeguard—ensuring that if Sasuke ever lost his way, he could still be guided back.
Had it not been for unexpected events—Obito's interference, the war—it would have been a perfect plan.
Though Uchiha Kai despised Itachi as a fellow Uchiha, he couldn't deny his sheer brilliance.
And now, here was Kakashi, demonstrating the same kind of terrifying resolve. Willing to sacrifice himself without hesitation—for the village, for redemption.
Kai fell silent, calculating the feasibility of the plan. Meanwhile, Kakashi handed him a kunai marked with Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God seal.
"The sensei said to use it at the most critical moment," Kakashi said calmly, placing the kunai in Kai's hand. "And… Rin is in your care."
"Kakashi! No!" Rin had snapped out of her initial shock, her voice shaking with emotion.
"Sorry, Rin. I have a mission to complete." Kakashi's voice was eerily composed. "I might not be able to protect you, but you must survive. That is my final wish."
"I understand, Kakashi-kun." Kai sheathed the kunai and nodded. "I'll do everything I can to protect her. And if it comes down to it, I'll use Minato-sensei's jutsu to get her out."
Perhaps reassured by Kai's promise, Kakashi's eyes softened. Without another word, he turned and left the cave.
Aya Hyūga had already scouted the enemy formations. Kakashi knew where the Iwa forces were sparsest—even if it was a trap, he had no choice but to take that path.
Kai watched Kakashi disappear into the night. Then, he glanced down at the kunai in his hand, his grip tightening.
Kakashi was walking to his death. If the plan succeeded, it would be a major victory.
Kai liked Kakashi as a character. But that didn't mean his admiration outweighed his own survival. If Kakashi had to die for the mission, so be it.
Still, something felt wrong.
Would Iwa really not anticipate this plan?
Or worse—was Iwa expecting them to think this way? Was there something even more dangerous lying in wait?
Kai unrolled the map, studying it carefully. As someone who had studied geography in his previous life, he could analyze terrain.
A frown creased his brow. The layout was... off. Certain small paths and forks weren't marked properly. The topography was misleading.
His expression darkened as a terrible realization hit him.
"Everyone, get ready. We're following Kakashi."
Aya Hyūga and Kenta Imai stared at him in shock.
"Are you crazy?! He chose to be the bait! You're saying we should charge in after him?"
Kai sneered. "Do you think Iwa Shinobi are stupid? You think they won't anticipate this strategy? Their flawed positioning isn't due to incompetence—it's a trap. We're walking right into it."
"So what's your plan?" Aya asked hesitantly.
"A plan that won't get us all killed." Kai's voice was cold. "You have two choices. Follow my orders, or report to your dead ancestors right now."