Crossing Over

Chapter 32: Crossing Over

"Kagami!"

While walking down the street, Sasuke happened to run into Kagami. He ran over excitedly and eagerly began speaking.

"Kagami, you're amazing! You graduated early and became a Genin, just like my brother. So, what does it feel like to become a Genin? It must be wonderful, right? After all, you're a real ninja now!"

Looking at Sasuke's excited face, Kagami realized that he probably didn't know what had happened to him. That made sense. Sasuke was still under Itachi's protection, so he wouldn't come into contact with anything excessively cruel.

The ninja in Sasuke's heart was still the bright, righteous figure that existed in the minds of many children. Thinking of this, Kagami smiled faintly.

"Of course. Becoming a Genin is a wonderful thing."

He wouldn't destroy Sasuke's innocence. Sasuke didn't have much time left to remain this innocent. If he could preserve it a little longer, then he would preserve it a little longer.

Sasuke beamed.

"I'm so envious of you, Kagami. A lot of people at school treat you like an idol now. Oh, right, right—the Naruto Uzumaki guy actually said he was going to defeat you. How arrogant. With him? He'll never defeat you in his entire life. Forget you—even I'm someone he can't defeat."

"Who can say for sure?"

"It's definitely true! I don't know why you keep thinking so highly of that guy, Kagami, but as far as I'm concerned, he's just a dead last."

"Well, you're not wrong. He really is a dead last right now."

Hearing Kagami admit that Naruto was a dead last, Sasuke smiled as though it were only natural. Then, as if he had remembered something, he hurriedly asked, "Hey, Kagami, now that you've become a Genin, you must have gotten much stronger, right? Teach me some ninjutsu!"

Kagami froze, then shook his head.

"Sasuke, I still have something to do. Maybe next time."

Sasuke puffed up his cheeks.

"Why have you become just like my brother?"

Kagami smiled.

"Ninjas are very busy, you know."

With that, Kagami said goodbye to Sasuke and continued walking forward.

He really did have something to do. In a while, he was going to meet Shisui at the training ground. Shisui had been getting busier and busier lately and no longer had time in the afternoon, so Kagami's lessons had been moved to the evening.

Kagami wandered around the streets for a while longer before heading toward the training ground he knew better than anywhere else.

Before long, Kagami arrived.

Shisui was waiting for him there as usual.

"You've been busier lately, Shisui."

"Are you still concerned about that matter?"

Looking at Kagami's calm eyes, Shisui spoke with some reluctance.

Ever since the incident involving Saito Daisuke and Suzuki Genji, Kagami had changed. The childishness he once possessed had faded far too much. What remained now was steadiness and calm.

Whenever Shisui saw Kagami like this, he couldn't help but feel heartache. This composure was certainly a good thing—but what had it cost him?

It had been bought with two lives. If they had a choice, neither Shisui nor Kagami would have wanted to make that exchange.

"I can't forget."

Kagami spoke calmly, showing little emotion. He knew very well that anger was useless. He had to remember that incident firmly and use it to spur himself onward.

He had to become stronger! Stronger!

The title of "genius" he had once possessed had made Kagami somewhat complacent. Obito's appearance had harshly taught him that he was nothing more than an insignificant insect in the ninja world, not worth mentioning.

"Let's begin training, Shisui."

Shisui seemed to want to say something else, but Kagami spoke decisively, cutting off whatever he had intended to say. Shisui had no choice but to nod.

"Okay."

That night, after Kagami returned home, Uchiha Takashi came to his room.

"You awakened the Sharingan?"

Kagami nodded.

"Yes, Father."

While Kagami had been hospitalized, Uchiha Takashi and Yuko Uchiha had often visited him, but they had only exchanged words of concern and never discussed anything serious.

Kagami had expected that after he was discharged, Uchiha Takashi might come to him solemnly to discuss this matter.

"Awakening the Sharingan at seven years old means you're exceptionally talented. But to be honest, I didn't really want you to awaken those eyes."

As Uchiha Takashi spoke, his eyes slowly turned red, eventually becoming blood-red eyes with three tomoe.

Most Uchiha who survived the war would develop eyes like these. But I know exactly what these eyes must be exchanged for. If you want to cry, then cry. I know how painful it is to keep everything bottled up.

Kagami smiled faintly.

"No, Father. I'm fine."

Uchiha Takashi looked at Kagami as though he had seen through everything.

"Isn't it painful?"

Kagami shook his head.

"I've already gotten through it."

"Is that so? Good."

With that, Uchiha Takashi rose and left the room.

After Uchiha Takashi closed the door, Kagami sat blankly on the tatami.

Isn't it painful?

Tears slid down his face.

How could that possibly be?!

But in this era of conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha, did Kagami have time to drown in his pain? No, he didn't. He had to face the deaths of his companions like a heartless person and continue forward without showing any concern.

He didn't have much time left.

The tears grew heavier. Perhaps only when he was alone like this could he allow himself to grieve for those two people.

Uchiha Takashi stood outside the door and had not gone far. Hearing the faint sobs from inside, he silently shook his head and walked away.

Back then, when they had been on the battlefield, hadn't they been the same? Even when a companion died before their eyes, even when the overwhelming pain caused them to awaken the Sharingan, could they stop to mourn their companion? No. The moment he stopped, a ninja from an enemy country would certainly slash viciously at his neck.

He could only secretly sob at night, when he was alone.

Back then, Uchiha Takashi had been on the battlefield between Konoha and other countries. Now, Kagami was on the battlefield between Konoha and the Uchiha. Neither of them had the right to stop and cry.

The next day, Kakashi came looking for Kagami, but Uchiha Takashi cursed him viciously and sent him away.

After learning about it, Kagami said nothing. Once he left the house, he silently walked toward Konoha's training ground.

That was where he, Daisuke, and Genji had snatched the bells. He still remembered.

When he arrived, Kakashi was indeed waiting for him there.

They both noticed each other immediately, but neither said a word.

In the end, Kagami spoke first.

"Teacher Kakashi, why did you come looking for me?"

Kakashi lowered his eyes.

"I... I'm not worthy of being called your teacher."

Kagami shook his head.

"Teacher Kakashi, I don't think that's what you came here to talk about."

Kakashi gave Kagami a complicated look, then handed him the item in his hands.

"Take this."

It was a photograph. In the center, Saito Daisuke wore a foolish grin. Suzuki Genji stood on the left, smiling gently, while Kagami stood on the right, staring expressionlessly at the camera.

It was a photograph taken after they had formed their team. They simply hadn't had the chance to give it to them before that incident occurred.

Kagami froze. After a long while, he pushed the photograph back toward Kakashi.

"Teacher Kakashi, keep this photograph for now. I don't have the courage to face it yet. At least, not now."