CHAPTER 261: CHAPTER 261: ONE SETUP AFTER ANOTHER... A MATRYOSHKA SCHEME?!

Faking an incident to stir up conflict — that’s an art.

If you’re too clever, it just doesn’t work. Take guys like Kakashi — too sharp, too self-aware. Ask them to play dumb and bait someone? It’s painfully obvious they’re faking it.

But Obito and Might Guy?

They don’t need acting skills.

Just being themselves is already an Oscar-level performance.

Of course...

There’s a risk.

With those two? Who knows — they might not just fake the incident; they might actually get smashed to pieces before anything even starts.

They’d need a backup team.

For support ops, Minato would normally be a top pick — after all, he has the Flying Thunder God. But given how he handled things in the anime, Kyoichi felt that Minato’s supposed "support ability" deserved a giant question mark.

It’s not all his fault. The war was brutal. Every ninja gave it their all.

Minato rushing to support a team that was surrounded by hundreds of Iwagakure units — what else could he do? The most he could manage was supporting simpler missions. No way he had the bandwidth to watch everyone.

Death on the battlefield is inevitable.

But... that situation with Kakashi and Rin...

He still showed up late?

And that was after Rin had already become the Three-Tails’ jinchūriki. As her teacher, and someone who had Flying Thunder God, how could he still be late?

That kind of "support" wouldn’t do.

Better to go himself.

Kyoichi mulled it over for a moment — his mind was already piecing together the squad configuration and plan.

As for Guy and Obito? No instructions necessary. Just send them in as-is — their raw presence alone was the biggest contribution to Konoha.

Leaving the academy, Kyoichi released his sensory perception, searching for his target.

Before long, he found Kakashi.

In the Forest of Death, Kakashi was silently tucked away, observing something in the distance.

He wasn’t intentionally spying.

He had come here to work on his taijutsu — only to stumble upon Kurenai, Shisui, and Asuma training together. Normally, if it was just basic ninjutsu drills, he’d back off without interfering.

But this?

The three of them were sitting cross-legged beneath three trees, looking almost like they’d fallen asleep. But on closer inspection, it clearly wasn’t sleep — it was some sort of strange meditative training state.

Weird...

What kind of jutsu is this?

Kakashi watched intently but still couldn’t figure it out.

Just as he was debating whether to keep watching or go train by himself, he felt a light tap on his shoulder.

Shing!

White Fang’s short sword shot out of its sheath.

But the next second... it was gently pressed back down.

The person’s strength was overwhelming.

"Yo, Kakashi. Haven’t seen you in a bit. That draw speed’s improved — feel like testing it against me again?"

"N-No, thank you."

Kakashi immediately recognized the voice.

It was Kyoichi.

And that one line brought back that memory...

"Faster."

He used to hear it in his dreams, over and over.

His draw speed had improved.

But no matter how fast he got, he’d never forget — someone out there could draw a blade several times faster than him.

Compared to a real expert... he still had a long way to go.

"Kyoichi-sensei, I didn’t mean to pry. I just happened to pass by and got curious."

"It’s fine. They’re undergoing a special kind of training. Actually, since you’re already here, saves me the trip. Asuma’s heading to the Land of Fire capital next week to serve as a Guardian Ninja. I’ve decided to have you and Rin temporarily join Shisui and Kurenai to form a four-man team."

Kakashi, behind his mask, tilted his head — visibly confused.

A beat passed before he asked, "...What about Obito?"

"He’ll be in a separate squad with Might Guy. They’ve been training together lately — seems to be going well. Let’s try them out as a unit."

"Uh..."

Kakashi scratched his head, unsure what to say.

"What’s wrong?"

"Well... Obito’s usually okay. Bit impulsive, kind of stubborn, but manageable. But pairing him with Guy? Their unpredictability... I worry Guy might not be able to keep things under control."

Kakashi hesitated but chose honesty.

Guy wasn’t weak.

Kakashi had always respected his long-time rival. But he and Obito... they were too similar. Two halves of the same reckless brain.

Put them together, and they’d probably derail the whole mission.

"Exactly. That’s exactly what I want."

Kyoichi grinned.

Then he put a hand on Kakashi’s shoulder.

In the blink of an eye, the world around Kakashi shifted.

Flying Thunder God?

Wait, so Kyoichi-sensei can use it too...?

No — more importantly...

How had he gotten close to Kakashi just now?

Kakashi hadn’t sensed a thing.

Now that he thought about it...

He couldn’t feel any chakra from Kyoichi. It was as if Kyoichi had fused with nature itself — completely undetectable.

How...?

Kakashi’s eyes widened in realization.

"Sensei..."

"Sit. Since you’re here, perfect timing. Let’s brief everyone on the new mission."

Kyoichi motioned for them to gather.

Kakashi sat, a bit awkward, like he’d just defected from a faction — though thankfully, no one could see his expression under the mask.

Shisui, Kurenai, and Asuma looked confused.

Mission?

"Asuma will be heading to the capital next week to serve a one-year term as a Guardian Ninja. In the meantime, this group will carry out a mission. Kakashi, you’ll lead as acting team captain."

"Huh?"

Shisui and Kurenai nodded — no objections. Kakashi looked stunned.

Captain? Him?

"Is there a problem?"

"...No problem."

Shisui and Kurenai remained calm. They’d already seen the writing on the wall.

The whole "one jonin leads three genin" model was being phased out. They were already chunin — it was only natural for teams to be reshuffled.

Kakashi had graduated earlier, was stronger, more talented, and good at leadership...

He was the obvious choice.

Asuma, however, was visibly annoyed.

He might also be a captain — but it felt like he was being assigned some cushy, meaningless gig. Meanwhile, Kakashi was leading a real squad.

Shisui, Rin, and Kurenai?

Come on!

"Sensei, what exactly is the mission?"

Kakashi raised his hand.

"Officially? You’re tasked with tracking Konoha’s missing-nin Hiruko. But in reality, you’ll be shadowing Guy and Obito’s team and providing backup when needed."

"’When needed’?"

"Yup. They’re heading to the Land of Waves."

Kyoichi said casually.

Kakashi blinked, then immediately caught on.

The Land of Waves — that small island nation situated between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire — had traditionally been under Kirigakure’s mission jurisdiction.

Sending those two in?

With Guy and Obito’s personalities, there was no way they’d avoid clashing with Kirigakure ninjas.

The more Kakashi thought about it...

The more convinced he was that Kyoichi was absolutely up to something.

Shisui and Kurenai didn’t know the region as well, and they also didn’t realize Obito and Guy would be teamed up — so they didn’t overthink it.

Until—

"You’re right," Kyoichi said bluntly. "With their temperaments — and the current state of the Land of Waves — it’s guaranteed they’ll clash with Kiri-nin. Your job is to stir things up, create conflict if there isn’t any, or step in to break things up at just the right moment."

That made everything crystal clear.

Instigating!

If a real incident happens, great. If not — make it happen.

Besides...

Hiruko did abduct Chūkichi, and one of Konoha’s Anbu squads really had been killed. No shortage of legitimate excuses.

"But what if they send jōnin?"

Kakashi was nervous.

He was very self-aware — he knew his own limits. Against a jōnin, he wasn’t confident.

"It’s fine. I’ll be trailing behind you."

"...What?"

Is this a matryoshka mission?!

Kakashi didn’t even know how to respond.

One nested layer after another, like a Russian doll — just in case the bait doesn’t take, here comes another.

Now he understood.

Kyoichi’s chakra concealment — that perfect invisibility — meant he could follow them undetected, intervening at just the right time.

Totally plausible.

"Kurenai, would you like to sign a summoning contract with the Shikkotsu Forest?"

"Absolutely!"

Kurenai was ecstatic.

She’d had her eye on the Slug Technique for ages.

The others finally understood the final piece — the timing for intervention would involve Katsuyu.

Their teacher was dead set on this collision course.

No doubt about it now:

Kyoichi-sensei was going all in on this setup.

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