Konoha Cemetery was silent, with only a gentle breeze stirring the grass and trees beside the graves.
In this peaceful place, several bouquets lay before the gravestones of Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha. The petals trembled slightly in the wind, as if expressing endless longing.
But not far away, the grave marked "Uchiha Shisui" had been dug up. The earth was churned, making the scene stand out starkly.
Kakashi knelt on one knee, both hands buried deep in the soil. Damp earth coated his hands, and dirt filled the creases beneath his fingernails.
Kakashi slowly rose, his gaze fixed on the excavated grave as thoughts surged through his mind like a tide.
They had both been geniuses, and he had once walked side by side with Uchiha Shisui.
He had become a jōnin at a young age and thought he had reached a new level in his ninjutsu training and growth in strength. But he had never expected Uchiha Shisui to leave him so far behind.
He looked at the empty grave, his heart filled with helplessness and disappointment.
He couldn't understand how the close friend who had grown up with him could suddenly become so unreachable—not even leaving him a chance to catch sight of his departing figure.
The gulf between them left him feeling utterly defeated and pained.
Now, Rin and Obito were long gone, and Shisui had embarked on a path Kakashi couldn't understand.
He hated his own helplessness. At the most crucial moment, he hadn't been able to protect Rin and Obito. Now, he was powerless to bring Shisui back, too.
Kakashi clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms and leaving streaks of blood.
He swore to himself that no matter the cost, he would find Shisui and learn why he had turned out this way.
"Talking about peace in the Shinobi World... He could have pursued that in Konoha. That was just an excuse to defect from the village."
Kakashi furrowed his brow, his eyes clouded with conflicting emotions as he stared intently at the dug-up grave. His memories involuntarily drifted back to the battle at the Valley of the End.
His former comrade now stood on the opposing side. The fierce clashes played over and over in his mind, each one like a blade stabbing painfully into his heart.
Suppressing the turmoil within him, Kakashi slowly turned and walked with heavy steps to Rin's gravestone.
He crouched down and gently touched Rin's name carved into the stone, as if reaching out to the wonderful days they had shared.
Then he spoke softly, telling Rin one by one about what had happened in the village lately. His voice carried a hint of nostalgia:
"Rin, you know what? Minato-sensei made me join the Anbu. And it looks like my master's wife, Kushina, will have her baby in a few months. Minato-sensei assigned me to protect her..."
His words flowed like a gentle stream through the silent cemetery, sharing the little things that had happened in the village.
Before he knew it, the sun had climbed overhead, its glaring light falling across the cemetery. Work forced Kakashi to leave, and at last he stopped talking.
He slowly stood and took a long look at Rin's gravestone. Then he turned and walked toward the village, one step at a time. His shadow stretched long in the sunlight, his figure seeming somewhat forlorn.
Not long after Kakashi left, Obito emerged quietly from the nearby woods, dressed in a black robe and wearing a tiger-striped mask.
His gaze remained fixed on Kakashi as he walked away, his expression inscrutable. He had heard every word Kakashi had said to Rin.
Then he went to Rin Nohara's gravestone and looked at her name. Suddenly, he reached out and swept the bouquets beside the stone off to one side.
The flowers scattered through the air, their petals swaying gently in the breeze as if weeping silently.
"What meaning does this power have if I can't protect the people I'm supposed to protect?"
Obito murmured, his voice full of pain. He looked utterly alone before the gravestone, as if the whole world had abandoned him.
Sunlight streamed through the windows of the Hokage Building office, casting patches of light and shadow across the wooden floor.
Namikaze Minato sat at the broad desk in his Hokage Haori, his pen moving ceaselessly across the documents with a soft scratching sound.
Kakashi stood ramrod straight nearby. His posture was still perfect, but his eyes beneath his mask wandered, occasionally gazing out the window.
Between documents, Namikaze Minato glanced up, his sharp gaze briefly falling on Kakashi.
He set down his pen and leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest before speaking:
"Kakashi, you seem a little distracted today. Are you still troubled by what happened?"
Minato's voice was warm and steady, carrying a note of concern that rang clearly through the quiet office.
Kakashi gave a slight start, as if dragged from a haze of thoughts back to reality. He raised his head, his gaze full of complicated emotions, and spoke slowly:
"Minato-sensei, I feel like a failure. I'm not suited to having comrades."
Minato looked at the young man consumed by self-doubt, understanding filling his eyes.
He stood, walked around the desk, and came to Kakashi's side. Gently patting him on the shoulder, he spoke in a warm but firm tone:
"Kakashi, don't dwell on it. After your master's wife gives birth, I could ask my teacher, Jiraiya—one of the legendary Sannin—to take you on a journey through the Shinobi World. How does that sound?"
Minato hoped that witnessing the birth of a new life would help Kakashi emerge from the shadow of losing his comrades one after another. He also wanted Jiraiya to take him traveling, so Kakashi could find himself again—and perhaps find the friend who had lost his way.
Kakashi nodded, a hint of relief passing through his lowered eyes.
Minato-sensei was always like that, as if he could see the most deeply hidden thoughts in Kakashi's heart. Around him, Kakashi couldn't hide a thing.
When Minato saw Kakashi nod, he nodded too. A trace of relief appeared on his face as he gazed out the window, seeming to envision Konoha's bright future, and said slowly:
"The village is thriving now, and we've made great progress with the Uchiha as well."
"Minato-sensei, has his defection had a major impact on the Uchiha Clan?"
Kakashi furrowed his brow, concern showing in his eyes as he asked.
Though he still harbored misgivings about Uchiha Shisui's defection, he couldn't help wondering how it had affected the Uchiha Clan.
"Yes. His defection sped up my plans with Fugaku, so in a way, it's helped the village make progress."
Minato gave a slight nod, his gaze deep as if he were considering something.
"The Uchiha Clan has always been powerful. This incident also pushed us to deal with certain potential problems sooner. In the long run, it may prove to be an opportunity for the village."
"I see. That really is good news, then."
Kakashi tilted his head slightly and looked into the distance through the window.
He naturally hoped the village would continue to improve and grow ever more prosperous and peaceful in this world of shinobi.
"By the way, Kakashi, there haven't been many missions in the village lately. You should take a few days to rest.
"Constantly working at such an intense pace is bound to wear you down, both physically and mentally. Take this opportunity to sort through your thoughts."
With that, Minato returned to his seat and bent over the remaining documents.
Kakashi nodded, left the Hokage Building, and headed down the streets of Konoha.