After receiving their mission, the village's Jonin squad took nearly 20 minutes to gather due to the need for a temporary assembly. The Anbu messenger who delivered the order could only watch as fewer than forty Jonin arrived.
This was unavoidable; while the village had around 150 Jonin stationed, there were many who were away on missions.
Additionally, members of the Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi, Aburame, and Inuzuka Clans were absent, leaving only about 60 Jonin available.
Among them, aside from the members of the Mitokado, Utatane, and Sarutobi clans, most hailed from smaller clans like the Gekko Clan.
At this moment, the only ones who responded to the call were those from the Mitokado, Utatane, and Sarutobi clans, while the civilian-born Jonin and those from minor clans dragged their feet, using the village's lockdown as an excuse not to report in.
"If the others aren't coming, then let's go."
A Jonin from the Sarutobi clan said.
The others nodded in agreement and set off towards the village.
However, the moment they stepped outside, they were stopped by a group of nearly a hundred ninjas.
At the front of the opposing group stood a man with a casual, almost roguish stance, a senbon clenched between his teeth that gleamed under the streetlight.
"Genma Shiranui?"
Koji Sarutobi, the temporary leader of the Jonin squad, frowned upon recognizing the man.
Since Shikaku Nara had been promoted, Koji had taken over command. Though he was displeased, he maintained his patience and said: "Good, you're here. We're short on manpower; join us in suppressing the rebellion at the Konoha Military Police Force."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Genma Shiranui raised an eyebrow lazily. "Funny, because what I heard was that the Konoha Military Police Force were cracking down on rioters who were spreading false rumors to slander a village hero and attempting to overthrow the Konoha Military Police Force with violence. Are you Jonin here to help those rioters?"
"Watch your tone, Genma Shiranui! You're just a Special Jonin!" Tsukiyo Mitokado from the Jonin squad shouted, clearly angered.
Genma scoffed. "Oh, my apologies. Such an imposing presence for someone of your status."
Suddenly, he spat out the senbon in his mouth like a bullet. It shot out in an instant, embedding itself deep into the ground just inches from the Jonin squad's feet. The needle quivered slightly, which made Tsukiyo Mitokado's expressions darken.
A heavily scarred man beside Genma smirked. "Genma, if we'd known being a Jonin came with this much authority, we should've taken the promotion exams years ago."
"Are you siding with the Uchiha in their rebellion?" Mokki Utatane from the Jonin squad at the side roared.
"Cut the nonsense."
Genma replied coldly. "I only know that the village is under lockdown tonight. No one is allowed to wander around."
"This is the Hokage's order!" Koji Sarutobi growled in anger.
"The Hokage's order?"
Genma's gaze turned icy." If the fourth Hokage were still alive, do you think a worthless hack like you, who has never achieved anything, would dare throw around the Hokage's authority to pressure us?"
At the mention of the fourth Hokage, Koji Sarutobi scrutinized the opposing group. He realized that nearly all of them had once been Minato Namikaze's direct subordinates or people who had benefited from his leadership during the Third Shinobi World War.
"Genma, why waste your breath on them?"
Raido Namiashi growled impatiently as he drew his weapon. "Even if it costs us our lives tonight, we won't let them pass. The fourth Hokage only had one student left; we won't let them keep pushing him around."
"You're asking for death!"
Mokki Utatane scowled and drew his weapon in preparation for battle.
Genma took a deep breath. He knew a fight was inevitable. Despite their numbers, only a few of his comrades were at the Jonin level. If they were to hold the enemy here, it would come at a steep cost.
The air was tense, moments away from an all-out clash, until a piercing sound, like a thousand birds chirping, shattered the silence.
A blinding flash of lightning streaked through the air, and a white-haired ninja, with his hand crackling with lightning, appeared between the two groups, halting the confrontation.
Hot on his heels came a man in a green jumpsuit with a distinctive bowl-cut hairstyle.
"Kakashi?"
Koji Sarutobi's face twisted in frustration. If it had just been Genma's group, the thirty-plus Jonin here could have subdued them. But with the arrival of Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy, the situation flipped completely. Both were considered elite Jonin and with nearly a hundred Special Jonin supporting them, they had more than enough power to wipe out Koji's group.
Genma, on the other hand, smiled upon seeing Kakashi, someone he hadn't properly spoken to in years.
"Finally showing your face, huh?"
Genma chuckled. "I thought you were planning to hide forever."
"Thanks."
Kakashi said, turning back to look at the former subordinates of his late sensei, feeling a wave of emotions.
"How's the kid doing these days?" Raido Namiashi asked.
"He's doing well."
Kakashi replied with a small smile. "A bit too mischievous for his own good now that he's older, but he's getting by. You should come visit sometime."
Kakashi understood that his decision to take in Naruto had likely given these people the resolve to stand by him now.
"Enough talking, Kakashi. Now that you're here, we'll leave the rest to you. Just give the orders." Genma said.
Kakashi nodded, then turned his gaze toward the assembled Jonin squad. After removing his mask, his sharp yet slightly androgynous features now carried the commanding presence of a true leader.
"Jonin of the village."
Kakashi said firmly: "This ends here. I will explain everything to Hokage-sama."
"Kakashi, you—"
Koji Sarutobi started to protest, but before he could finish, Kakashi's hand ignited with lightning once again.
Koji's expression soured immediately. Though he held the same Jonin rank as Kakashi, the number of Jonin who had died to Kakashi's self-created S-rank technique, Lightning Blade, was nearly triple digits. He had no desire to experience its power firsthand.
"Tch! Fine. Explain it to the third Hokage yourself."
Koji scoffed, turning to leave. The rest of the Jonin had no choice but to retreat alongside him.
"Guy, keep watch here."
Kakashi said while deactivating his Lightning Blade, then he turned to Might Guy. "I need to go to the Third Hokage's office."
"Leave it to me!"
Might Guy give a thumbs-up, his grin shining even in the dim streetlight. While he still didn't fully understand what was going on, one thing was clear, if people were stepping up to clear Kakashi's name, then as Kakashi's lifelong rival, he had to help too.