The Celestial Copy - Chapter 22

Replaying the night’s events in my head, I lay in bed with my arms crossed behind my head, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Last night was… Shit, I don’t even know. Should I just forget about what happened? Play it off like nothing happened when we meet again? No… I can’t do that.

In the back of my mind, I already knew Anko’s invitation wasn’t a drunken whim. She’d always been overtly flirtatious, but that was something that could be spun as her just messing around as a means to test people’s reactions or amuse herself. However, there were slight changes to her behavior after I had her probation lifted. I didn’t have a large frame of reference. We immediately went on the mission to shadow the Daimyo after I delivered the news, but during the travel, I noticed how she kept looking at me and how she tried to stay closer than usual.

Then the question became what I felt about it. 

The two of us got along well. Her chaotic energy balanced with my calm nature, letting me feel grounded when she was around. There were no problems with physical attraction, either. She was, by any objective measure, a beautiful woman. Overall, I wasn’t opposed to the idea of a romantic relationship.

The only argument against it was the potential for a conflict of interests within a professional setting. A captain and a subordinate. In that situation, the logical move would be to suggest a transfer for her to another team to maintain impartiality. But I wouldn’t do that. Team Ro wasn’t a standard ANBU squad. Our cohesion was built on a foundation of absolute trust within each other. There was no official rule, and I wouldn’t create one either.

So, if I am not opposed, and the professional obstacles are negligible, why did I deflect?

The answer came immediately. It had to be her vulnerability. And my instinct to protect her from a decision she might regret later.

When she invited me over, I needed more time to process what was happening. I activated my Legacy, slowing the world to a crawl. In that fraction of a second, I analyzed her. It was difficult to be certain, but what I saw in her eyes was not just simple attraction. It was something closer to adoration.

It wasn’t difficult to figure out why that was the case. After Orochimaru’s defection, the village ostracized her, and I was the one who pulled her out of that, giving her a place where she belonged. That had to have a significant impact on her. Was it possible that her feelings of gratitude for the newfound stability got mixed up with attraction? If that was the case, pursuing a relationship with her would feel more like taking advantage of her.

No. Wait. I’m making a mistake here too.

Going along this path of reasoning, I wasn’t considering her as my equal. By seeing her as a victim I had saved, I was assuming she couldn’t make decisions for herself. Through trying to “protect” her, I failed to respect her agency.

Whether it was for an appropriate reason or not, her emotions still existed. That didn’t mean I had to rush into it and make a snap decision either, that was one of my bigger problems with it in the first place. This was a complicated situation that I needed to take more time to think about before making a decision. 

At the very least, it was able to open my eyes to a larger problem I’d been unconsciously facing.

Ever since I got the Celestial Grimoire, I put myself in a position where I felt that I had to be the savior. Preventing tragedies, neutralizing threats, protecting the village and even the world. I kept acting like my life, my own happiness didn’t matter. Currently, they were irrelevant variables that only distracted me, something that could be considered only after I was done.

That needed to change. I would have to start putting more effort into considering my own happiness.

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

Meeting up with Team Ro for our daily training didn’t go according to plan. 

It was a little awkward between me and Anko, which was understandable. We went through warm-ups and a spar while avoiding each other’s eyes. Over the course of the training session, that distance gradually dissipated, but by then it didn’t feel right to address what happened.

Since my romantic life was put on hold, I decided to visit Naruto again. Even though I’d never received Celestial Points for any of my interactions with him, excluding the first time we met, this was something I enjoyed doing for myself. Seeing his development, and knowing my role within it, was a source of pride. 

I observed him from his window, finding him staring intently at a beginner’s book on Fuinjutsu I’d given him not too long ago. I’d thought he deserved to know it was another art his Uzumaki clan was renowned for, a piece of his heritage. Now, watching him force his way through the dense text, I saw my good intentions had backfired. This wasn’t like the chakra control exercises, which he found boring but understood the purpose of. It was obvious he had no interest in it, yet he was forcing himself, all so he could live up to the image I’d painted for him.

“You’ve had your nose in that book for a while now, haven’t you?” I asked, stepping in through the window.

He jumped, running over to me. “Big bro Kakashi! I—uh—I’m just trying to get it! It’s what my clan was good at, right? So I should be too!”

I ruffled his hair and led him back to the table, closing the book gently. “They were. But that doesn’t mean you have to be the same.”

He blinked. “Huh?”

“It’s not good to idolize someone, Naruto. Not even your own family.”

“But they were all so amazing!” he protested. “And what about you, or the Hokages? You’re all perfect!”

I was glad he had such a high opinion of me, but that didn’t stop me from letting out a sigh. “Far from it. Flaws are what make us human.”

He tilted his head.

“The First Hokage,” I continued, “was the most powerful shinobi of his time, maybe of all time even, but he was too forgiving to his enemies. The Second was a genius and built much of what holds the village together today, yet he was too strict with his own allies. The Third led the village longer than anyone, but even he can be indecisive. As for me, there are many things I wish I had done differently.”

“What about the Fourth Hokage?” he asked, his blue eyes fixed on me.

I looked at Naruto, at those eyes and hair that were just like sensei’s.

“He made a difficult choice,” I said after a moment. “Not necessarily the wrong one, but not entirely the right one, either. His decision fixed a terrible problem, but it also created new ones for someone else.”

“Huh? I don’t really get it,” he complained. “Give me a real answer!”

I chuckled. “Well, he wasn’t Hokage for long enough for people to know what his weaknesses were. But if I had to name another… it’s that he could be really embarrassing. Did you know he used to call himself ‘The Yellow Flash of the Setting Sun Riding the Lightning Over the Wind and Waves’?”

“I still don’t get it,” Naruto said, completely serious. “That’s such a cool name.”

“Well, people can have different opinions.”

A knock at the door interrupted us. Naruto scrambled to open it, revealing Hiruzen standing there with an envelope with an envelope in his hand.

“Hey, Old Man Hokage!” Naruto grinned. “You brought my money, right? Oh, oh, have you met Big Bro Kakashi?”

Hiruzen chuckled, handing the envelope over. “Indeed, we know each other. Kakashi, a word, if you please.”

I followed him out into the hallway. Naruto tried to join us, but I stopped him with a finger to his forehead, and he understood the message. 

“What is it, Lord Hokage?”

“I wanted to ask your thoughts about becoming a Jōnin-sensei.”

“I’ll do it in a few years,” I answered firmly. “When Naruto graduates.”

The corners of his mouth lifted. “My, my. Showing such blatant bias in front of your Hokage, are we?”

“No more than you showed when you chose the First Hokage’s granddaughter for your own team.”

Hiruzen let out a hearty laugh.  “A fair point. But I am not talking about a permanent team. Itachi Uchiha’s current sensei has been deemed unsuited for the role, and I want you to act as his temporary Jōnin-sensei until the next Chūnin Exam is over. They will be held in the Hidden Cloud in a month. Your mission is to oversee him and ensure no incidents occur.”

I ran the logic through my mind. I knew Itachi would end up in Team Ro eventually. Teaching him was no different from what I did for my current squad, and this position gave me the perfect platform to begin steering him away from the path that led to the massacre. 

“I accept the mission,” I said.

“Excellent,” Hiruzen replied. “Itachi is a generational talent, much like you once were. I’ve been considering his future, and I believe he would be an asset to ANBU. Use this time to evaluate whether he’d be a good fit for your team. If not, I’ll find a different place for him.”

I nodded. “Understood.” 

Hiruzen turned and left.

That was exactly what I had just been thinking. In this case, getting to choose whether I want him on my team or not was much more agency than other captains would get, but I was far from a regular captain at this point.

[FEAT ACHIEVED: BECOME A “JONIN-SENSEI”]

[25 CP GRANTED - 150 TOTAL]

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO ROLL?]

Sure. 

Since I didn’t have many points saved, I might as well see if I could lock something worthwhile in advance.

[ROLLING…]

Possessed​ - 600 CP

Source: The Gods Are Bastards, Chapter: Transformation

You’re possessed by an archdemon, a powerful creature born from hell and a daughter of it’s queen. By allowing it to take over, it can cover itself in a sheath of infernal power, taking on a powerful combat form that’s capable of flying into orbit with an opponent in hand without issue, then dropping at maximum velocity in order to hit them with the planet. You may choose if it retained its memories or not. If it did, this will be more of a give-and-take, as it will have its own agenda but similarly have far more knowledge. If it did not, then you will almost entirely be in charge, and the Archdemon will come to adore you if treated with kindness... but in return, you won’t have access to it’s thousands of years worth of memories.

Fantastic Minds - 200 CP

Source: Invincible, Chapter: Lore

You have a fantastic mind. One could even say it is like a steel trap. You have a perfect memory and mind, with limitless capacity and instant recall of anything you have ever thought or perceived. In addition to this you have an innate ability to dull unwanted memories and no-sell any outside attempts of altering your memories in any way.

Critical Blood - 200 CP

Source: Super Dragon Sword , Chapter: Destruction

You are capable of calling upon a deeper and more primal form of your bloodlust rite, sacrificing almost all of your life to enter a Critical state, with your vitality draining out till you pass out. During your Critical state, the sheer amount of magical damage your unarmed attacks deal is improved, almost triple the amount for a normal adventurer in this world. Your defense is similarly high.

[INSUFFICIENT CP DETECTED.]

[DO YOU WISH TO LOCK A PERK? Y/N]

Exactly what I thought was going to happen.

I read through the pages, thinking carefully as I did so. The options this time were decent.

Possessed could be a trump card of incredible power, an answer to the biggest threats down the line. The option to have the archdemon start with no memories was particularly tempting. It would be like having a custom-made Tailed Beast, but one that would immediately be on my side so long as I showed it kindness. That said, the idea of handing my body over to any entity, even a loyal one, rubbed me the wrong way. There were too many uncertainties. What if the “adoration” became dangerously possessive? Plus, it was overkill for the problems I was currently facing, and six hundred CP was a massive investment.

Up next was Fantastic Minds. 

It offered no direct increase to my combat power, but it had no downsides to it either. It would act as a force multiplier for everything I already was. Perfect memory would be immediately useful in the political arena and as a commander. The immunity to memory alteration was a nice bonus, not that I was particularly concerned about it. Kotoamatsukami came to mind, but Danzo didn’t have Shisui’s eye yet, and I wasn’t going to let him either.

The most appealing part was the ability to dull unwanted memories. Even if I had accepted what happened with Obito, and knew what I had to do, there was that slight uncertainty. I wouldn’t erase them, they were foundational experiences that defined me, but taking the sharp edge off the memories of Obito would allow me to function with greater clarity when we inevitably met.

And the final option, Critical Blood, was also worth considering. A high-risk, high-reward ability for dire situations. Still, it felt reckless and redundant. The Eight Gates already filled the last-resort power-up niche but in a more controlled, incremental way. Sage Mode was also a massive physical enhancement. I saw the potential benefits, but it didn’t appeal to me.

Fantastic Minds it is.

[LOCKED PERK: FANTASTIC MINDS]

[PURCHASE WILL BE AUTOMATIC UPON SUFFICIENT CP.]

That shouldn't take too long. I only needed fifty more points.

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

[Fugaku Uchiha]

He was sitting at his desk in the Military Police Force Headquarters, staring down at the budget report. His Sharingan had memorized the black ink of the final allocation number, burning the figure into his mind. Behind him, the great Uchiha fan crest emblazoned on the wall bore witness to this humiliation.

“They gave us a twenty-five percent reduction, Lord Fugaku! This has to be part of an effort to undermine us!”

Fugaku did not disagree. The counciliors’ official reasoning wasn’t enough for him. It had clearly been a pretext. Koharu Utatane had spoken of expanding the Academy now that early graduation was abolished. Homura Mitokado had added that widening roads and building new facilities was a greater priority now that the village had mostly completed its reconstruction after the Nine-Tails attack. They had assured him that it wasn’t a dismissal of the Military Police’s importance.

He couldn’t even pretend to believe them. For years, it had become customary for the ANBU to handle any truly serious crime within the village. The line of jurisdiction had been deliberately blurred, allowing the Hokage’s direct forces to encroach further and further into the Uchiha clan’s domain. Their role was being systematically diminished.

“We are the Uchiha! The elite shinobi who have the duty of monitoring our fellow shinobi and maintaining the law! We are essential for the village’s internal security, and this is the treatment we receive?! Lord Fugaku, we must show them this will not be tolerated!”

Fugaku finally looked up, his eyes locking onto his subordinate. Yashiro was always quick to stoke the embers of the clan’s resentment. At every secret meeting in the Naka Shrine, he would highlight every slight, every whispered rumor of discrimination. Yet he never offered a solution. Only the demand for action, conveniently placing the full weight of that responsibility onto Fugaku’s shoulders.

“Of course it will not,” he stated. “I already have plans for Itachi to join ANBU.”

“The ANBU?” Yashiro spat out with animosity. “They are the Hokage’s personal dogs! Our Military Police Force have clashed with those masked puppets a number of times in pursuit of public order in the village—”

“I know that better than anyone,” Fugaku snapped. “Yashiro, you are the one who discovered that they have been secretly watching our compound. Now, it is our turn to return the favor. This time, we will be the ones watching the village.”

“And you’re saying that job should be trusted to a ten-year-old Genin?”

Fugaku folded his hands on his desk. “Most of our clansmen are part of the Police Force; they have no hope of catching the village leadership’s attention. However, Itachi is the most talented prodigy of his generation. He recently went on a mission to escort the Daimyo and his performance eclipsed that of his own Jōnin-sensei. It is only a matter of time before he earns a promotion, and with it, an invitation to join the ANBU.”

Seeing the grey-haired man go silent, Fugaku continued. “We must not be impatient, Yashiro. Do not mistake my lack of overt action for inaction.”

With a final nod to his subordinate, he turned and left the office, heading for home.

This is all so exhausting. Everything changed so fast. 

After the Third Shinobi World War, many within the clan believed he should become the Fourth Hokage. He made many accomplishments during the war, but they were largely ignored. His supporters were outraged by the decision to make Minato Namikaze the Fourth Hokage, yet he resisted their calls to protest. Then, when the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked, he immediately made plans for the Military Police Force to join the village’s defense, the Sharingan’s ability to control the Nine-Tails would be indispensable in protecting the village, but before they could lend aid, they received instructions from Danzo Shimura to focus their efforts solely on protecting the villagers. Despite them doing exactly as ordered, some villagers used that as reasoning to believe they caused the attack.

He didn’t want to go down this path. He truly didn’t. But what choice did he have when the village itself kept cornering them? How dare they treat the Uchiha with such skepticism despite their years of service to the village?

Fugaku arrived at his home and slid the door open, his mind still churning. He was met with an unexpected sight. His wife, Mikoto, was pouring tea for a guest in their main room. A guest with unruly silver hair and a mask covering half his face.

Mikoto rose and met him at the entrance, a warm smile on her face. “Welcome home, dear. We have a guest. Kakashi has just informed me of some wonderful news. Itachi has been selected to participate in the upcoming Chūnin Exams, and Kakashi will be acting as his temporary Jōnin-sensei.”

Kakashi Hatake. A man closely affiliated with the Third Hokage. Him becoming Itachi’s sensei was both an opportunity and a risk.

He gave Kakashi a curt nod and took the seat opposite him. “Kakashi Hatake, The Copy Ninja. An unexpected honor.”

“Lord Fugaku,” Kakashi greeted. “I felt it was only proper to introduce myself before training your son.”

“It seems the Hokage holds Itachi in high regard.”

“The village has always paid attention to prodigies. Itachi is no exception.” Kakashi paused, setting his teacup down. “However, my reasons for being here are personal. For a long time, I have felt that I owe a debt to the Uchiha clan. And to you, specifically.”

Fugaku’s eyebrows rose slightly. “A debt?”

“For allowing me to keep Obito’s eye. You could have demanded its return, yet you chose not to.”

He remembered the clan’s push for it. The Third Shinobi War had just ended. They finally had peace and it was the Uchiha’s duty to maintain that peace. Forcibly taking the dying gift of a shinobi who died for the village and one of the Fourth Hokage’s students from his grieving teammate would have only sown seeds of discord. 

We upheld our duty. However, the village did not do the same for us.

“Obito Uchiha was a hero of the Leaf,” Fugaku said aloud. “I merely chose to respect his final wish.”

Kakashi nodded. “In any case, I intend to repay that kindness. And I assure you, Lord Fugaku, I’m more than capable of teaching your son.”

Fugaku could hardly deny that. The man in front of him was already an S-rank shinobi. There were few in the village better suited for the task, himself excluded.

Before he could respond, a wave of suffocating pressure filled the room. Mikoto froze mid-motion, the teapot trembling in her hands. He watched Kakashi reach up and slowly push his forehead protector aside. Blood began to trickle from the corner of his left eye as the three tomoe of his Sharingan spun, stretching and curving into three blades connected at the pupil, forming a shape similar to a three-bladed pinwheel.

Is that really…?

Just as quickly as it had appeared, the pattern reverted back to the standard Sharingan. Kakashi pulled his headband down, and the oppressive aura as if it had never been there. The only evidence was the thin trail of blood running down his cheek.

Kakashi stood and gave a respectful bow. “I only wanted to meet the parents of my new student. Thank you for your time, Lord Fugaku, Lady Mikoto.”

Then he vanished with a shunshin, leaving them in silence.

“Fugaku,” Mikoto said quietly, her voice uncertain. “Was that...?”

Fugaku stared at the spot where Kakashi had been sitting, his mind racing. “Yes. The Mangekyou Sharingan.”

A legendary power that only a handful of Uchiha in history had ever awakened. Among the current members, only Fugaku himself possessed it. For Kakashi to have it, and to reveal it to him, meant he understood the true power and the terrible burden of the Uchiha clan.

If he is the one most likely to become the next Hokage, and he holds our clan in such high regard… then perhaps there is no need for such an extreme conflict.

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

Walking toward where I sensed Itachi, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

My actions today were a step in the right direction. Without a notification from the Grimoire like “prevent the Uchiha Coup,” I couldn’t say for sure, but I still felt the meeting went well.

Before Fugaku had arrived, I had tea with Mikoto and had even seen Sasuke peeking at us from around the corner. The image of that innocent little boy was far different from what I knew he would become. Then again, I’d make sure he’d have no reason to become an avenger this time.

The discussion with Fugaku hadn’t lasted long, but it was probably effective since I had used Mephistopheles to subtly guide it. I made sure to emphasize my gratitude to the Uchiha clan to let him know there were people in the village who didn’t hate them. One of the reasons Fugaku was confident in his clan’s ability to launch a successful coup was because of his Mangekyou Sharingan being powerful enough to control the Nine-Tails. By revealing my own, and using Absolute Power in conjunction with it, I planted the idea in his head that trying such an approach would result in failure.

Anyway, there’s still another three years before things reach their breaking point. It’s better to take this the slow and steady route rather than brute forcing it.

Arriving at the edge of the training field, I heard the sound of two shuriken clashing against each other. From the shadows, I watched as two figures leaped at each other, their bodies colliding in mid-air before crashing to the ground.

Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha. How ironic. The Uchiha clan’s revolution would ultimately fail because their two most powerful shinobi were more loyal to the other side. 

I decided to observe their spar for now.

Shisui got back to his feet first and launched a kick at the other Uchiha, who was still propped up on one knee. Itachi thrust his right arm out, blocking the blow with a grunt.

Shisui immediately started weaving through hand signs. “Alright, Itachi, let’s see how you handle this one! Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!” he shouted. A massive sphere of flame shot out from his mouth, far larger than the usual technique. 

The fire engulfed Itachi, and his form dissolved into a murder of crows that attacked Shisui all at once. 

Ah, a substitution. Unlike Shisui, he’s not saying his jutsu out loud. Though that could be a handicap since Shisui’s already a Jōnin.

The real Itachi was already running, circling around behind his friend and had a kunai to the older Uchiha’s throat before he could react.

Shisui laughed. “Alright, you got me! Good job, Itachi. That makes eleven wins for you!”

Itachi lowered the kunai. “You’re at twenty-four.”

They walked over to a nearby log, grabbing their canteens. Shisui sat down first, taking a long drink of water before glancing at his younger friend. “You’re already way beyond Genin level. Are they putting off your Chūnin Exams again this year?”

“Yes,” Itachi replied. “Minazuki-sensei didn’t believe we were ready, and now that my team is disbanded, I have no hope of taking them.”

Seeing as the conversation was drifting toward my reason for being here, I stepped out of the treeline, making enough noise for them to notice. Shisui spun around with a kunai pointed at me, but he lowered it once he realized who I was.

“What brings a guy like the Copy Ninja here?” he asked.

“Shisui of the Body Flicker,” I said, acknowledging his title. “I see the rumors of your speed aren’t exaggerated. I’m actually here for your sparring partner.”

I turned to Itachi, who had been watching us silently. “Good news, Itachi. The Hokage believes you would represent our village well in the upcoming Chūnin Exams. Your previous sensei has been deemed unsuitable for properly training you, so I’ll be your new Jōnin-sensei. Of course, you still have the right to decide if you wish to accept.”

“I accept,” he answered without hesitation.

“Glad to hear that. Since we’ll be working together for the next month, how about you give me a proper introduction? Tell me about the things you like, things you hate. A dream for the future works, too.”

He stood straighter. “My name is Itachi Uchiha. I don’t have many likes or dislikes. My dream is to become a shinobi strong enough to erase all conflict from this world.”

I smiled with my eye. “That’s a good dream. I hope you achieve it. We can start working on the strong enough part tomorrow.”

“That’s great news, Itachi!” Shisui exclaimed, slapping Itachi on the back. “This is your chance to finally show everyone what you’re capable of.”

I watched Shisui celebrate while Itachi acted unfazed.

If I’m getting one of them, I might as well try to get the other. Both of them were loyal to the village above all else. Letting scum like Danzo get his hands on Shisui would be a stupid move. Keeping him close to me is the easiest preventative measure.

“This is quite an unusual arrangement.” I mused aloud, drawing their attention. “There’s only two of us on the team. It feels a little unbalanced, wouldn’t you agree?” I turned my full attention to the older Uchiha. “How about you join us, Shisui?”

He blinked. “Me? I’m not a Genin though. Are you even allowed to do that?”

“True,” I conceded with a shrug. “But the two of you already seem quite close. Having you as a third member for our training sessions would be beneficial for everyone involved.” I let my eye curve again. “And I can’t imagine Lord Third would have any problems with it.”

Shisui grinned, folding his arm behind his head. “I’m in. I wouldn’t miss the chance to see how the famous Copy Ninja trains his students.”