IN NARUTO AS KURAMA

Perched high on a tree branch, White Zetsu, the enigmatic figure with a pitcher plant-like growth around his head, slowly melded into the bark, disappearing without a trace.

Shiro watched the scene unfold from the shadows, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "A naughty child running errands for Obito. And as expected, even the pitcher plant can be deceived."

With a loud pop, Shiro's figure vanished.

At Konoha's Cemetery, Kakashi Hatake knelt in front of a tombstone, placing a bouquet of fresh flowers at its base. The name engraved on the stone read Nohara Rin.

Sitting down beside the grave, Kakashi spoke softly. "Rin… why am I the only one left? Obito's gone. You're gone. Minato-sensei is gone. It's just me now, stuck in this village with nothing but ghosts for company."

He exhaled deeply, staring at the clouds drifting by. "I don't even know how much longer I can keep doing this."

Above him, Shiro lay lazily on a tree branch, watching Kakashi with disinterest. "How pitiful. The infamous Copy Ninja reduced to a lonely, brooding mess. Honestly, it'd be better if you just keeled over."

Kakashi's eyes narrowed. With a flash of movement, he was on the branch, a shuriken in hand, hurtling it toward Shiro. "Who's there?!"

Shiro sighed, effortlessly catching the shuriken. "Tsk, why are you young shinobi always so irritable? Is it a requirement to throw weapons first and ask questions later?"

He hopped down from the branch, tossing the shuriken back at Kakashi's feet.

Kakashi's voice was cold. "Who are you?"

"Who am I? What a cliché question. I'm your uncle, obviously," Shiro replied sarcastically, his patience thinning.

With a burst of speed, Shiro appeared behind Kakashi, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him into the ground. Boom! A massive crater formed where Kakashi had been, but instead of blood, the figure dissolved into a block of wood.

From the distance, Kakashi stood, panting heavily, his heart racing. "What… what speed! I barely survived that!" His hands crackled as he summoned his signature technique.

"Lightning Release: Chidori!"

The alley filled with the high-pitched screech of chirping birds as Kakashi charged toward Shiro. "You're finished!"

But the moment his Chidori met its mark, it stopped dead. Shiro stood unfazed, holding the electrified hand with ease. "That's it? Son of the White Fang, is this really the best you've got?"

Realizing he couldn't overpower him, Kakashi leaped back, preparing to strike again. His hands moved rapidly to form new seals. "Who are you?"

Shiro didn't answer. Instead, his aura shifted, and behind him, a massive nine-tailed fox phantom emerged, its fiery orange form filling the sky.

Kakashi stumbled backward, his Sharingan spinning in disbelief. "The… Nine-Tails? But you're supposed to be sealed inside Naruto!"

Shiro's figure blurred as he reappeared in front of Kakashi, grabbing his collar with inhuman strength. His fox-like eyes glared into Kakashi's. "Do I look sealed to you? I've broken free, and now I stand before you. What are you going to do about it?"

Kakashi tried to pull away, but Shiro's grip was unrelenting. "If you're really the Nine-Tails, why haven't you destroyed the village yet?"

Shiro smirked, releasing him. "You're sharper than you look. The truth is, I'm not interested in pointless destruction anymore." He sat down casually on the edge of the crater, pulling a flask from his storage and taking a sip.

"Don't you hate me for killing your teacher?" Shiro asked, his tone almost mocking.

Kakashi crossed his arms, eyeing him warily. "It wasn't you who killed Minato-sensei. That much is clear."

"And how can you be so sure?"

Kakashi shrugged. "Call it intuition. You're powerful, but you're not the kind to hide behind tricks. If you'd wanted Minato-sensei dead, you would've done it yourself."

Shiro chuckled. "You're not wrong. Still, for someone with nothing to fight for, you seem awfully curious."

Kakashi's gaze turned serious. "Maybe I don't have much left. But I owe it to Minato-sensei to keep his legacy alive."

Shiro's smirk widened. "Good. Then let me ask you—do you know about Naruto?"

Kakashi stiffened. "Naruto? What about him?"

"Your teacher's son," Shiro said pointedly. "The Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki. He's living alone in this village, hated and ostracized. While you've been sitting here brooding, that boy's been enduring the kind of loneliness you can't even fathom."

Kakashi's eyes widened, realization dawning on him. "You're saying… Naruto…"

"Yes," Shiro interrupted. "And I'm training him. But we need time. I need you to cover for us."

"Why should I trust you?" Kakashi asked, his voice hard.

Shiro's eyes glinted dangerously. "Because if you don't, you'll have nothing left to redeem. Sneak into Naruto's apartment tomorrow. See the life he's living, and then decide if you want to keep wallowing in your pity or actually do something worthwhile."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "But remember this—if you say a word of this to anyone, the only consequence will be death."

With that, Shiro vanished in a puff of white smoke, leaving Kakashi standing alone in the crater.

Kakashi clenched his fists, his mind racing. "Naruto… Sensei's son…"

For the first time in years, a spark of purpose ignited in his chest.