Naruto: Rise of the Fallen Princess

From Kakashi Hatake's point of view, the quiet after the ceremony didn't last long. He now walked beside the infamous Iron Princess, though she hardly looked the part—still wearing her formal kimono from the tea ceremony, elegant and unbothered by the pace they maintained through the winding Konoha paths. If anything, she moved with a swiftness and fluidity that forced Kakashi to stay alert. What surprised him more was that the samurai behind her—Kenshiro, Masaru, Souta, and Ayaka—kept up effortlessly while holding casual conversation.

Kenshiro leaned toward Souta, murmuring, "I don't want to know why Emi isn't here."

Souta shrugged. "Well… it's the full moon, and Ino invited him to dinner with her parents."

Masaru grunted. "At this rate, he's going to end up living in Konoha. Konoha Kunoichi are terrifying."

They exited the village via the mountain pass behind the Hokage Monument, Hinata never breaking her silent tracking. Her hand occasionally brushed the air, as if feeling a thread only she could perceive. Kakashi realized quickly—she wasn't guessing. She was following something… or someone.

That someone turned out to be a one eye black dog.

They found them in a wide valley: Pakkun, cornered, while Kuro barked and mimicked exaggerated jaw movements, trying to force the summon to demonstrate human speech. It was… surreal.

Pakkun saw them and scrambled behind Kakashi in a blur of dusty paws. "Finally! This wolf is insane!"

Kakashi blinked. "She… doesn't know how to talk?"

"She never did," Hinata replied, her head tilting. "Apparently she's interested in learning."

From her expression, Kakashi could see she hadn't known about this incident either.

His tone sharpened. "Then let's address what else she's been doing. The Hyūga complex—multiple disturbances, pranks, objects moved. I assumed this was coordinated."

Hinata turned toward Kuro. Her voice stayed even, but each question cut like a kunai.

"Did you do something at the Hyūga complex?" ... "Once?" … "Twice?" … "More?"

Each question from Hinata felt heavier, as if her words didn't just probe but pierced through layers of spirit. Kakashi caught it—her gaze didn't shift, her tone didn't change, but somehow she knew. Her questions weren't guesses. It was as if Kuro answered before her body could react.

Pakkun let out a huff and flopped behind Kakashi again, clearly still wounded in pride. But Kakashi was no longer focused on him.

He narrowed his gaze. There was something deeply unsettling in the way Hinata understood Kuro—as if she saw or felt truths that others couldn't. He didn't know how.

And that made him trust her a little less.

"She didn't tell me," Hinata said. "I didn't know."

Kakashi narrowed his eye. He didn't respond to Hinata's words. Instead, he let her continue, quietly filing every detail away. Tsunade had asked him to investigate her, and now, more than ever, he understood why. There was more beneath the surface of the so-called Iron Princess—something he needed to uncover. And this time, he would find a way to do it.

Hinata knelt and gently pulled Kuro into her arms. "Kakashi-san… the relationship between Kuro and the Hyūga clan is complicated. I can promise you: her antics will end. But if there's a way I can mend that bridge… I want to try."

There was truth in her voice. Kakashi could feel it, clear and sincere. And it gave him pause.

"Still," he said slowly, "this is a serious matter. I'll have to report what happened. And once the Hyūga know—well, they won't be pleased. Especially after poor Pakkun's trauma."

The little dog let out a theatrical whimper.

Masaru and the others took a step forward at Kakashi's tone. There was a flicker of tension in the air.

Kakashi crossed his arms. "So. Let's settle this another way. A match—you versus me. If you win, I'll report that the issue has been resolved. If I win, you'll accept that I'm doing my job."

Hinata rose, her arms still around Kuro. "Then I accept." 

In her eyes he could see determination, that determination would allow him to observe the capabilities of this new Iron Princess.

Kakashi's single eye crinkled. He didn't smile. But inside, he knew—

This would be a fight worth remembering.

<<<< o >>>>

The idea of fighting Kakashi Hatake didn't please me… but the idea of him reporting badly and ruining the progress I'd made with Hanabi—maybe even Hiashi—this bothered me more than I wanted to admit. If I had to win to protect that fragile hope, I would.

Kenshiro, Masaru, Souta, and Ayaka spread out to secure the area, keeping watch in case anyone intruded. Kuro lingered behind, her tail drooping. I'd never spoken to her that way before—and I didn't like how it felt. Thankfully, Mitsue stayed beside her, offering soft comfort.

Kakashi sensed my resolve. He raised a hand and slid his forehead protector up, revealing the famous Sharingan. I closed my eyes.

My breath deepened—Mirage Breath—and the world compressed around me, intent folding like silk. My hand settled on Shinsei's hilt, posture low, focused, iaidō.

"When do you propose we start?" I asked.

The ripple in his chakra told me my tone had affected him. I felt the tension stir in his soul.

"How about now?" he replied casually—but the way his chakra flickered said otherwise.

His hands moved fast. In a blink, he created a clone at his side, then immediately conjured another to remain in position while he himself slipped underground—the layered deception nearly imperceptible—only my World of Intent caught the shift. One clone surged toward me with a kunai; the other launched a Genjutsu overlaying mild disorientation.

While he did that, the ground cracked beneath my feet as I reacted—not with Jutsu, but with pure physical strength, enhanced by Mirage Breath with its help illusions bloomed one behind, one ahead, two flanking. All of us drew Shinsei as we moved.

His Genjutsu was quickly dispelled, and was met with a gentle response from me—one of similar design, subtly warping his perception. Of course, his Sharingan shattered the illusion in moments.

The charging clone aimed to clash directly. I used a Microboost and swapped with my left illusion—Kakashi's eye flicked—his Sharingan catching only the shift in soil where my real body had moved. The illusions left no trace, no disturbance in the dust, unlike my true form. That difference alone let him glimpse the truth.

Then I struck.

Shinsei drew free, Mirage and Boost guiding it in true synchrony—motivated by the need for victory. The Kakashi clone tried to parry—but underestimated the impact. The force hurled it into a tree, dispelling it.

The second clone prepared a Jutsu. I launched a spiritual thread, solidified it at the last instant, and pierced through it. The illusion shattered before he even realized how.

Then I focused all my chakra through my feet and slammed Shinsei into the ground. The explosion ruptured the terrain—forcing the real Kakashi from hiding, along with two fresh new clones.

All of us—myself and my illusions—resheathed our swords and adjusted our stances.

I made no sound as I moved. Not even the soil betrayed me—because I had learned from my earlier mistake. I couldn't make my illusions disturb the ground without great effort, but I could adjust the chakra flow in my own feet, allowing me to glide like one of them. To appear as weightless and untouchable as a mirage.

"Shall we continue?" I asked. All four voices echoed.

Kakashi looked at us.

Then his two clones dispersed into mist. The real one, far from the others, placed his hands in his pockets.

"I think I've seen enough. I'll report the issue resolved."

He walked over to Pakkun and gave Kuro a long look.

"He won't be able to teach you to speak. But if what I suspect about you is true… the Inuzuka might."

Kuro's soul shined like dawn. Her joy was explosive, her tail wagging so hard the ground rustled. Oddly, Mitsue's posture dimmed. She tried to hide it.

That's when I saw the truth. Kakashi's real intent hadn't been about punishment—it was to evaluate me. And I'd fallen into the test, too focused on my fragile peace to see it.

He turned to leave.

As my illusions vanished with the end of Mirage Breath, Pakkun paused beside Kuro.

"If you do learn to talk, come find me. Not many of us can. But you'll see."

Then they were gone.

And the field was silent again.

The night continued and tomorrow would be a new day.