Namikaze Minato sometimes liked to speak in riddles, but once the conversation moved on, he returned to normal.
Since Haori had brought up wanting to learn Sealing Jutsu, Minato was more than willing to discuss it.
He also wanted to find out whether Haori had a talent for it, because Sealing Jutsu was no simple matter.
Even the Flying Thunder God Technique, besides having extremely strict physical requirements, demanded an exceptional understanding of Sealing Jutsu.
After all, the Flying Thunder God's Cursed Seal was essentially a variation of Sealing Jutsu.
With the most basic form of Flying Thunder God, you could inscribe the Cursed Seal on a Kunai ahead of time. But advanced Flying Thunder God required you to place the Cursed Seal whenever needed.
Minato's rescue of Kakashi had been so swift and silent that he seemed to appear and disappear without a trace. But his encounter with Obito had been his most exemplary feat.
He had quietly marked Obito, then used that mark to land a surprise attack and ultimately sever the connection between Obito and the Nine-Tails.
It was fair to say Minato had mastered Sealing Jutsu.
"Haori, you have a very solid foundation in Sealing Jutsu."
After talking for a while, Minato couldn't help expressing his admiration once again.
He'd originally thought Haori was just dabbling, but now it seemed the boy really did have a talent for it.
And his fundamentals were exceptionally solid.
"You're too kind, Minato-sensei."
Haori seemed calm. He did know Sealing Jutsu, though he hadn't learned it himself.
But whatever the case, it was an ability he'd obtained after risking his life to complete a mission, and it now belonged to him completely.
That was one reason he'd dared to make the request to Minato. He really did know how to use it!
Since he already knew it, wasn't it perfectly natural to want to improve?
"Minato-sensei, Kakashi's awake!"
While Haori and Minato were chatting, Nohara Rin suddenly cried out.
They turned to look. Kakashi, who'd been unconscious, had opened his eyes.
He still looked dazed, as if he hadn't fully come around yet.
But once he took in his surroundings, his memories came rushing back.
Obito had died saving him. Just as Kakashi had been fighting desperately to cover Rin's escape, Haori and the others had arrived as reinforcements.
And before Kakashi had lost consciousness, Captain Minato had finally reached the battlefield and ended the fight.
Surviving something like that behind enemy lines was nothing short of miraculous.
But Kakashi felt no joy at having made it through alive. More than anything, he was grieving Obito's death.
He lowered his head without saying a word, tears welling in his eyes.
"Kakashi..."
Rin spoke anxiously from beside him. Haori and Minato came over as well.
Might Guy and Aoba heard the commotion outside and followed them in.
"You're awake, Kakashi."
Seeing him like this, Minato couldn't help sighing.
"I've heard what happened from Rin. I'm sorry I didn't make it in time."
"Sensei..."
Only then did Kakashi look up at Minato's voice, but his spirits remained low.
Seeing Rin unharmed had eased his heart a little. At least he hadn't broken his promise to Obito.
But Obito was gone for good...
Minato could tell what Kakashi was thinking, and he sighed again.
As his teacher and his superior, he had a responsibility to help his student through this.
But before he could speak, Haori spoke up.
"Kakashi, is this all you can do?"
Haori tilted his head, looking at the lifeless Kakashi with what seemed like disappointment.
"You still have a more important mission. How are you supposed to carry it out in this state?"
"Haori..."
Guy and Aoba were taken aback by Haori's words, and Rin couldn't help speaking up.
But Haori didn't stop. He shook his head and continued.
"Besides, do you think this is fair to Uchiha Obito? To the eye he gave you?"
It sounded like encouragement, but saying it at a time like this felt somewhat inappropriate.
Minato furrowed his brow. Rin bit her lip, and Kakashi lifted his head.
His Sharingan fixed on Haori, and some emotion stirred in his eyes.
Haori sighed and looked down at Kakashi.
"I know you're hurting. Losing a teammate is truly hard to bear.
"But are you the only one who's been through something like this?
"I've lost teammates too, and Guy even lost his father."
Kakashi's lips parted, but he didn't know what to say.
Even though he hadn't been on the Land of Whirlpools battlefield, he'd heard something about what had happened there.
Guy fell silent. Even after Haori had tried to comfort him, he still thought of his father.
"We've all suffered this kind of pain, but we've never given up on ourselves."
Kakashi remained silent, but Haori continued.
"Life is full of pain. But the way we face that pain is what makes us different.
"Some people are crushed by it and never recover.
"But others face it head-on, because they understand one thing.
"They understand that this isn't just pain. It's also a hope placed in us, a will passed on.
"Because from this moment on, they're no longer living for themselves alone."
Haori paused briefly. Everyone present fell silent.
As an adult, Minato kept his emotions in check, so it was hard to tell what he was feeling.
But he gave a slight nod, clearly agreeing with Haori.
Rin, Guy, and Aoba were lost in their own feelings, each sad, moved, or thoughtful.
Kakashi's gaze flickered. What did Haori mean by all this? He was a classmate, just like Obito, and he was an Uchiha too.
Kakashi said nothing. His thoughts were still a mess, but Haori reached out and patted his shoulder.
Then Haori's voice softened as he spoke slowly, alluding to Obito.
"We all carry the hopes placed in us, and the will of the teammates we've lost.
"So we have to carry their will with us, live well, and work hard to do what we're meant to do.
"I think that when we enter the Pure Land, we can proudly tell them that it was because of their sacrifice that such a wonderful future came to pass.
"I think Obito would feel the same. You wouldn't want to meet him again someday only to tell him what a failure you'd been—and then end up fighting, would you?"
Haori's words left Kakashi speechless. Rin and the others looked at him differently now.
Aoba and Guy had always trusted Haori completely, and now they admired him all the more.
Guy's eyes were especially red. He hadn't forgotten what Haori had said earlier, and these words struck even deeper.
Rin gazed at Haori with tears in her eyes, but soon a faint smile appeared on her lips.
It was wonderful to have a friend like Haori.
"What a dependable friend—and a truly unique Uchiha."
Minato smiled too. Now he understood everything Rin had said earlier.
Kakashi sat motionless, staring at Haori. At that moment, he suddenly felt as though something inside him had been filled.
It took him a long while before he murmured:
"Thank you, Haori. Thank you."