Naruto: Konoha's Traitor

Blood-Eyed Shura

Jiraiya asked Chi Yu to remain behind for a private conversation.

Chi Yu followed him into a quieter room.

"What is it you wish to discuss, Jiraiya-sama?" he asked flatly.

Chi Yu wasn't interested in small talk. He had already guessed the topic — Kakashi.

Jiraiya didn't waste time. "Chi Yu... how is Kakashi holding up? Do you think we should let him rest for a while?"

Chi Yu replied calmly, "Jiraiya-sama, Kakashi is my student. I understand his condition better than anyone. He's in good shape and fully capable of carrying out this mission."

Jiraiya's expression grew serious. "Kakashi wasn't always like this. He's colder now... withdrawn. He might be suffering psychologically. As his teacher, you need to take that seriously."

Chi Yu stared at him, his voice flat but firm. "Jiraiya-sama, I'll say it again — I know Kakashi's condition. He's simply accepted a truth."

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. "And what truth is that?"

Chi Yu spoke slowly and deliberately. "That, as a shinobi, the mission always comes first. Comrades... can be sacrificed. As long as the mission is completed, nothing else matters. That's the lesson Hatake Sakumo left his son — with his death."

Jiraiya's frown deepened.

He didn't agree with Chi Yu's belief — not at all. But... he had no rebuttal.

Because Sakumo's suicide, following disgrace for prioritizing comrades over the mission, proved Chi Yu's words in a twisted way.

"If that's all, I'll be taking Kakashi to begin our assignment," Chi Yu said, turning toward the door.

But just as he reached it, he looked back over his shoulder.

"If you see Minato-sensei," he said, "tell him something for me."

Jiraiya blinked. "What?"

"His ideal — 'those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum' — was wrong. That's already been proven."

Without another word, Chi Yu exited the room.

Jiraiya stood in silence, his gaze lingering on the door.

His expression darkened.

He couldn't understand how the tragedy of Hatake Sakumo had spiraled so far. Maybe Sakumo was wrong, by shinobi law... but according to the Will of Fire, he wasn't.

He shouldn't have been condemned the way he was.

"How did it come to this…? It wasn't supposed to end like this, old man," Jiraiya muttered.

But more than Sakumo, what truly worried him was Kakashi.

If Kakashi remained under Chi Yu's wing for too long, he might grow up just like him — cold, unfeeling… like Orochimaru.

Jiraiya sighed.

All he could do now… was leave a warning. Nothing more.

---

Chi Yu and Kakashi began their mission in Kusagakure.

Day by day, rumors spread across the region.

On the battlefield, a blood-eyed demon and a masked white-haired boy were said to be cutting down enemies without mercy.

They became known as the Blood-Eyed Shura and the White-Haired Child.

The demon was none other than Chi Yu.

And the boy was, of course, Kakashi.

Although their mission was officially to scout the movements of Iwagakure forces, whenever they encountered small enemy units, they didn't hesitate.

They eliminated them — swiftly and mercilessly.

Kakashi grew stronger with each battle.

He adopted Chi Yu's methods: quick, efficient, and brutal. Either decapitate the enemy or slit their throat — always ensure the kill.

Over time, Kakashi's fighting style began to mirror Chi Yu's.

Their actions didn't shake the war's larger tides, but for Iwagakure's smaller squads, they became a nightmare.

Eventually, Iwagakure issued new orders:

> "If a squad consists of seven or fewer shinobi, and only one jōnin, they may retreat without penalty if they encounter the Blood-Eyed Shura and the masked boy."

There was simply no hope of survival against the duo.

Back in the Land of Hot Water, Chi Yu was already known for his past encounter with Kuroiwa Tatsuji, the leader of Yugakure.

Now, in Kusagakure, his new moniker was spreading fast.

Blood-Eyed Shura.

"…What a ridiculous title," Chi Yu muttered, curling his lip in disdain.

Both he and Kakashi yanked their swords from the necks of fallen Iwa-nin, blood dripping onto the grass.

Kakashi cleaned his short blade and grumbled, "Sensei, your nickname's not bad, actually. I got stuck with 'White-Haired Child.' It's embarrassing. If my Shisō finds out, she'll never let me hear the end of it."

He meant Kushina Uzumaki, who often teased him in her letters.

Every time Chi Yu wrote to her, Kakashi would include a letter too — and she'd always ask about him.

When Kakashi first heard the nickname, his first thought was: Kushina's going to laugh.

Chi Yu sheathed his sword. "What did you expect? You're still just a kid. Be glad they didn't call you the White-Haired Brat. If they did, I'd be the first to laugh — even before Kushina."

Kakashi stiffened. The thought of that nickname was mortifying.

"…Please no," he whispered.

Trying to shift the subject, he asked, "Chi Yu-sensei, where do we search next?"

Chi Yu unfolded the mission map. It was already littered with marks and notes.

He scratched his head, clearly annoyed. "We've combed every known location. It's strange… are we sure they're even in Kusagakure?"

Kakashi thought for a moment. "Maybe we should search Kusagakure Village itself? It's the most populated area around here."

Chi Yu shook his head. "Kushina's clan… they're in hiding. They wouldn't choose a crowded village."

"But sometimes," Kakashi countered, "the best way to hide is in plain sight."

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