Yahiko's words snapped Kakashi back to his senses.
That was right.
That man was still alive. For some reason, he had been forced to leave the village. But what exactly lay behind it all?
Had a single failed mission reduced the loved one he once knew to this state?
Why had all of this happened?
He drew a sharp, deep breath and raced toward the small house.
The door stood open. His teacher sat cross-legged inside, his side facing Kakashi, while steam rose from the kettle on the tea table.
The evening light fell across his face. To Kakashi, the man before him looked unusually cold and stern.
"Kakashi!"
Xia Le turned his head and spoke quietly.
"Why?"
Kakashi trembled as he shouted the question.
"Why did he have to leave?"
Xia Le frowned slightly, then sighed. "Before you can find the answer to that question, there is still so much you need to learn."
"Huh?"
Kakashi froze.
"There were too many reasons for Sakumo's departure!"
"This was already the best possible outcome."
"Originally, he intended to take his own life at home. He had already decided to entrust you to me."
Xia Le sighed softly.
Kakashi's pupils quivered violently, and his entire body shook. He simply could not believe those words.
"I won't tell you the reasons outright!"
"Because you will need a long time to understand what lies behind this and reach your own conclusions."
"But before then!"
Xia Le paused and sighed.
"I will teach you and raise you."
"I will give you the strength to face everything and accept everything in the future!"
Crack!
Kakashi clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth.
No answer?
He had gotten no answers from his teacher.
"There are some things that would do you no good to know right