I Can Dance Again

Kakashi's short blade danced in his hand as his figure merged into the hazy mist...

The path traced by the blade gradually became filled with confusion and hesitation.

Kakashi's thoughts slowly drifted.

Many familiar faces, people who had once brought warmth into his life, appeared before his eyes one after another.

Hatake Sakumo, Konoha's White Fang—the powerful shinobi Kakashi had admired—had been driven to suicide by the village over a mission and his comrades...

His teacher, the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, had given everything for the village and ultimately died during the Nine-Tails incident.

And Rin...

Everyone he had cherished had left him one by one, leaving behind nothing but inescapable regret and longing.

The only thing that brought him comfort was that Obito was somehow still alive.

Although Obito had become extreme and insane, even wanting to erase the entire Shinobi World to soothe the wounds in his heart, Kakashi could not truly regard him as an enemy.

When all was said and done, Obito was still his closest friend.

They had fought side by side and endured the cruelest years of the Third Shinobi World War together. They were vital comrades who had entrusted their backs to one another.

For Kakashi, the softest part of his heart had always reserved a place for Obito.

He did not approve of Obito's actions, yet he could not bring himself to ruthlessly stop him. Deep down, he even had a faint desire to stay by Obito's side.

But when he thought of that, a powerful sense of guilt rose in Kakashi's heart...

If the Shinobi World is truly destroyed because of Obito's madness, wouldn't I be an accomplice—perhaps even the chief culprit?

At that moment, Kakashi's blade work grew increasingly chaotic...

So chaotic that even Obito sensed something was wrong...

What's wrong with Kakashi...

The blade reflected the scattered icy mist, appearing even colder and more lost.

The instant he landed, Kakashi let out a soft sigh...

His gaze gradually dimmed. "Teacher... have I disappointed you?"

"But I need to protect Obito..."

Protect Obito...

As soon as those words left his mouth, Obito's gaze in the darkness became even more complicated...

Why is this bastard saying something so mushy...

Sigh...

But then, Kakashi seemed to remember something...

His teacher, Namikaze Minato, had once had a child.

A child born on the night of the Nine-Tails attack: Naruto Uzumaki.

He was a child destined, from the moment of his birth, to bear the fate of a Jinchuriki.

All these years, after his teacher and teacher's wife had died, how had that child been doing...

Why had he never spared him any concern?

Perhaps...

The Kakashi of the past had been unwilling to face those things...

Kakashi had deliberately ignored that fact all along because he did not want to touch those painful memories.

But at this moment, when he remembered Naruto's existence again, an intense and uncontrollable yearning suddenly surged within him.

In the past...

He had completely neglected Naruto...

He truly needed to learn about that child's life.

Kakashi wanted to know how the child who carried all his teacher's hopes was living now.

Had Naruto inherited his teacher's optimistic and positive nature, or had he become gloomy and despondent beneath the village's misunderstanding and isolation?

Once that powerful desire arose, it spread like wildfire, leaving Kakashi unable to restrain the impulse in his heart any longer.

Very quickly, he made his decision...

He would personally look after Naruto and observe and understand everything about him from up close.

"Naruto..."

He slowly sheathed his short blade and stood at the edge of the waterfall, letting the mist gently strike his cheeks.

"Kakashi, I didn't expect you to use a blade again."

A low, slightly hoarse voice suddenly sounded behind him, interrupting Kakashi's tangled thoughts.

"Obito..."

Obito stood quietly where he was. The mask on his face concealed most of his expression, but the single exposed eye held a depth and conflict entirely unlike before.

He watched Kakashi holding the short blade, and a trace of nostalgia and guilt faintly surfaced in his gaze.

Obito had already silently hidden in the shadows when Kakashi began practicing swordsmanship, observing him for a long time.

Watching Kakashi's skilled and fluid blade work, his memories instantly returned to their youth.

Back then, Kakashi had been young and proud, Konoha's genius, highly accomplished with the blade and incredibly precise in his chakra control.

To Obito, the Kakashi from moments ago had seemed to regain the spirited vigor of those days.

But soon afterward, deep self-reproach and guilt filled his heart again.

Kakashi's earlier words about protecting him, spoken as though talking to himself...

Had deeply pierced Obito's heart.

After a long silence, Obito finally spoke with difficulty. "Kakashi, actually... there's something else I've never told you."

"What is it?"

"On the night of the Nine-Tails attack, I was the one who caused it all."

Kakashi's pupils violently contracted upon hearing this, and the short blade in his hand trembled slightly.

"Obito, you..."

Kakashi's voice caught in his throat, and indescribable emotions churned within him.

In truth, when Obito had reappeared before him after returning to life, Kakashi had already vaguely suspected it...

He simply had not expected Obito to admit it himself this time.

Obito's voice became even hoarser, filled with deep self-blame and heaviness. "Teacher, and teacher's wife... they both died because of my foolishness."

"They could have lived happy, peaceful lives. Naruto should have grown up with his parents by his side... I caused all of this. Would you blame me, Kakashi?"

Only after a long silence did Kakashi softly sigh, a faint bitterness and relief appearing on his face.

Kakashi walked before Obito and looked steadily at the friend of his childhood.

"Obito, since you never blamed me for Rin's death, how could I blame you over our teacher?"

"Just as you said, the source of every tragedy lies in this Shinobi World, shrouded in hatred and distortion."

"This blade... has been silent for too long... but now, for your sake, it can dance again..."

As Kakashi spoke, the power of their Sharingan began to resonate intensely...

The Sharingan...

Had become stronger because of their powerful emotions...

"Kakashi, you..."

Obito looked at his closest friend in astonishment, overwhelmed by powerful gratitude and guilt.

He had thought Kakashi would hate him for this, perhaps even despise him...

He had never expected such an answer. His heart was filled with a warmth he had not felt in a long time.

Kakashi slowly slid his short blade back into its sheath, his gaze resting gently on Obito.

"Obito, we can no longer undo everything that happened in the past. But we can choose what to do next."

"I've decided to see Naruto, our teacher's child, and look at the boy in whom he placed all his hopes. Obito, are you willing to come with me?"

Obito's heart suddenly shook. He had not expected that hearing such a promise again after so many years would move him so deeply.

No matter how obsessive or insane he became, in Kakashi's eyes, he would always be the close friend who had once fought beside him.

"Thank you, Kakashi."

In the end, Obito only spoke those few words, but they contained endless emotion and remorse.

"However... leave teacher's child to you."

Compared to Naruto, Obito still cared most about Sasuke...