The Land of Fire, Konoha Village
Hatake Kakashi, Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, and Might Guy stood at the gates of Konoha, positioned like a welcoming committee—but their expressions betrayed the truth. They weren't here to welcome a guest. They were here to monitor one.
Anbu operatives were also stationed nearby, cleverly disguised as civilians. Hidden in shadows, they waited to intervene should things spiral out of control.
It was a level of preparation that would seem absurd—if the target weren't Logan.
Just a day earlier, Jiraiya had received a messenger pigeon. The message was short, but explosive: Logan claimed he had killed Orochimaru and was now on his way to Konoha. He'd arrive within a day.
Since then, Jiraiya hadn't moved from Sasuke's side. He remained stationed before the chakra containment orb, ensuring Sasuke's condition remained stable. The Third Hokage, weighing Logan's turbulent record since his departure from the village, had decided not to take any chances. He dispatched Kakashi and his team, not only as a show of force but as a layer of defense between Logan and Konoha.
They called it a "reception detail," but everyone knew better. It was surveillance.
"Is all this really necessary?" Asuma asked, annoyance in his voice. He knocked out a cigarette, flicked open his lighter, and exhaled a long plume of smoke.
"It's just one guy. Do we really need all of this?"
Asuma had seen Logan fight once. An unusual fighting style, sure—but nothing that justified sending four elite jōnin to greet him.
"It's not like he transformed into some mythical being in a few months," Asuma added with a scoff.
Kurenai, on the other hand, seemed intrigued.
"Kakashi, you've fought Logan before, haven't you? What was he like?"
Kakashi, leaning casually against the gate with a familiar orange book in hand, paused. His visible eye drifted into thought as he recalled their brief clash.
"He's… interesting," Kakashi said finally. "If things had gone differently, if certain events hadn't happened in the village… Logan would've made an excellent ninja."
At the mention of "certain events," the mood among the group shifted subtly. Everyone knew what Kakashi meant: the massacre of the Uchiha clan, the village politics, the betrayals.
Of the four, only Asuma represented a noble family—he was the son of the Third Hokage. That connection was likely why he was here at all. But it also made him uneasy.
He didn't mind dangerous assignments. What he couldn't stomach was being used as a political symbol.
Kakashi sighed silently. The people were the same. The uniforms were the same. But something in the air of Konoha felt… different.
"Hey ha! Hey ha!"
Might Guy was still doing one-armed push-ups beside them. In that sense, some things never changed.
Then, abruptly, Guy stopped mid-push-up and looked toward the horizon.
"You hear that?" he asked, squinting toward the distance.
"Hear what?" Asuma asked.
A low rumble echoed in the sky. The others turned to look. The weather had grown heavy—thick gray clouds hung low in the sky, the air sticky and charged with the threat of rain.
Then, from the distant horizon, a crack tore through the clouds as though the sky itself had been split by a blade. A golden ray of sunlight spilled through, cutting across the gloom like a divine spotlight.
Kurenai stared, lips parting. "What… is that?"
The rumble intensified.
Through the gap in the clouds came a figure—Logan.
He stood tall atop a great broken blade, the Destruction Sword, his body wreathed in golden lightning. A powerful wind howled behind him, clearing a path through the clouds. The sun caught him perfectly, wrapping him in a halo of light as he flew forward with divine speed and grace.
Asuma's cigarette fell from his mouth.
"No way… has he really become a god?"
Humans have always longed for the sky. Some ninja soar with the help of jutsu or summon creatures—but what Logan was doing now was something else entirely. It wasn't just flight. It was command of the heavens.
The sound of wind and thunder shook the village. All across Konoha, people stopped in their tracks to look up.
Some gasped. Others whispered. One by one, villagers clasped their hands together and began to pray to the golden figure descending from the clouds.
Kakashi watched the scene unfold, mouth slightly agape.
"This… this is a bit much, isn't it?"
As Logan drew closer, they noticed something else—a woman suspended beneath the Destruction Sword, bound by purple vines.
Even over the roar of the wind, her furious voice rang out:
"Logan—you bastard!"
The storm swallowed most of her words, but her tone was unmistakable: rage, humiliation, and a hint of disbelief.
"Wait… is that—?" Kakashi narrowed his eye.
As Logan and his "passenger" descended, the details became clearer. The red clouds on her black cloak—the unmistakable uniform of the Akatsuki.
"Konan?" Kakashi muttered. "He brought someone from Akatsuki?"
He exchanged uneasy glances with the others. Whatever they'd expected from Logan's return, this wasn't it.
With a gust of wind, Logan touched down at the village gate. The sword vanished in a flash, and Konan landed beside him, coughing violently. She opened her mouth to curse him again, but Logan calmly tossed her a warm bottle of tea.
"Drink it before you catch a cold," he said, unconcerned. "I haven't fully mastered flying yet. That was the best I could manage. Thanks for putting up with it."
Konan stared at him, utterly exasperated, but took the tea anyway. Her kind nature ultimately got the better of her. She sipped slowly, letting the warmth spread through her freezing body.
Logan slung the Destruction Sword across his back and turned as Kakashi approached.
He gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Long time no see."
Kakashi sighed. "Did you have to make such a big entrance?"
"I wasn't trying to be dramatic," Logan said with a shrug. "Just wanted to get back quickly."
"Jiraiya's with Sasuke," Kakashi said. "He's been watching over him nonstop for twelve days. I'll take you there."
"Good."
Kakashi walked ahead, leading the way. The others fell in beside them, forming a protective V-shaped formation. Logan and Konan walked in the center.
"They're watching us," Konan whispered.
"They're not just watching," Logan replied. "They're guarding against us—and protecting us."
Kakashi's team was on high alert, prepared not only to suppress Logan and Konan if necessary but also to defend them from any rogue actions by Danzo or Root.
Logan looked up at the familiar plaque above the village gate, bearing Konoha's symbol. It was strange to see it again.
Who would've thought he'd return here like this?
But this was no longer his home.
He stepped forward and crossed the threshold.
---
Meanwhile, at the Root Organization's secret base...
A masked ninja knelt before Danzo, who sat in shadow.
"Sir," the operative reported. "Our men are in position. We can strike on your command."
Danzo opened his eyes slowly.
"No rush. Let him rescue the Uchiha boy first. Once he does, then it's worth moving."
He reached up and adjusted the bandages around his arm, his voice calm, but laced with malice.
On the monitor before him, Logan was seen walking through the streets of Konoha.
"You've returned," Danzo muttered. "But don't expect to leave again."
pàtreøn (Gk31)