Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Fallout 2
The file trembled in Kakashi’s hands as he read the title:
Operative 03: "Petal"
The entry was detailed, clinical, and utterly devoid of humanity. He forced himself to read, the words slicing through his composure like a blade.
Profile of Operative: 03 "Petal"
Origin:
Subject was taken from civilians who were eliminated by ROOT agents. No evidence of the incident was left for the village to uncover.
Skills:
Demonstrates exceptional proficiency in medical ninjutsu. Operative is to be utilized in all procedures related to Project Chimera and DNA transfer.
Control Measures:
If operative refuses or hesitates during assignments, administer controlled electrical shocks to ensure compliance.
Mission Reports:
Completed: 350 successful missions.
Failed: 2 missions. Disciplinary measures pending. Danzo-sama has ordered punishment to ensure compliance and further advancement of Project Takeover.
DNA Composition:
Subject’s genetic profile has been modified with Uchiha, SEnju and Hatake DNA to enhance abilities.
Personality Assessment:
Despite applied seals, Operative 03 frequently exhibits defiance and rebellion. Additional conditioning is required to mold her into a more efficient tool. Emotional responses must be eradicated to ensure loyalty to Danzo-sama.
Kakashi clenched his teeth as he read the next section, feeling his chest tighten with every line.
Final Mission Report:
Operative 03, "Petal," has perished during her last assignment. The codename will be passed on to a reserve operative who will continue Project Chimera and DNA transfer.
His Sharingan burned as he stared at the words. "Petal" wasn’t just another victim; she had been someone extraordinary. Someone who, despite Danzo’s seals and conditioning, had fought to retain her humanity. Kakashi flipped back through the file, searching for scraps of her identity hidden between the lines.
The descriptions painted a picture of a girl forced into an impossible existence. A girl who had been punished for her defiance but had still resisted. She wasn’t just an operative; she was someone who had tried to shield others from Danzo’s cruelty, someone who had probably known nothing but pain.
His father, Sakumo, rolled his wheelchair closer, his hands tightening on the file Kakashi handed him. The warmth of the small home they shared did nothing to soften the icy feeling that gripped them both.
“This poor child…” Sakumo’s voice cracked, and his hands trembled. “Hatake DNA… What kind of monster would…?” He trailed off, his silver hair catching the dim light as he lowered his head.
Kakashi didn’t respond. His face remained stoic, but his heart was in turmoil. He didn’t cry; he never cried anymore. Instead, his mind spun with questions.
Who was she?
What had her life been like?
Would she have found peace here, with him and his father, if she’d had the chance?
For a moment, he allowed himself to imagine it: a girl with medical ninja skills, bright and determined despite everything. He imagined her sitting at their table, smiling faintly as Sakumo encouraged her to eat another bowl of rice. Maybe she’d have teased Kakashi about his perpetual lateness or scolded him for not taking better care of himself.
But the reality was stark and unyielding. “Petal” was gone, her life erased and her name recycled for another child condemned to the same fate.
Kakashi closed the file gently, his fingers lingering on the cover.
“Sakumo-Oto-san,” he finally said, his voice low. “We have to do something about this. All of it. Danzo’s victims… the children... they deserve better.”
Sakumo nodded, though the weight of their shared grief was palpable. “We will. Somehow, we’ll make this right.”
As Kakashi stepped out into the cold night air, his gaze fell on the sky. The stars seemed impossibly far away, cold pinpricks of light in a vast, uncaring void.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, the words lost to the wind.
Somewhere, he hoped “Petal” could hear him. And that she knew, in her final moments, she hadn’t been forgotten.