Everyday life in Konoha was rapidly returning to normal. More shinobi gathered before the mission board, and the cries of shopkeepers rang ever louder through the streets, as though releasing all the vitality suppressed during the war. Yet for the members of the Hatake Squad, who had just emerged from a baptism of blood and fire, an indefinable sadness always lingered beneath that bustle.
They carried memories ordinary people could scarcely imagine, and each now faced a new crossroads in life.
At dusk, the setting sun bathed Konoha in a warm orange glow.
As agreed, Shinji headed toward the familiar Ichiraku Ramen stand on the edge of the village.
From a distance, he spotted that unmistakable figure-Hatake Sakumo-and the little boy standing beside him, wearing a simple mask beneath a head of brilliant silver hair.
"Shinji." Little Kakashi spoke first. His voice still held a child's softness, but his tone was unusually calm, even precocious.
His exposed eyes, their whites and dark irises sharply defined, studied the approaching Shinji with curiosity and a hint of scrutiny that was easy to miss.
"Kakashi." Shinji nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Sakumo. "Sakumo-sensei."
A gentle smile rested on Sakumo's face as he ruffled Kakashi's hair.
"I brought him out for a walk. It isn't good for him to stay cooped up at home training all the time." He looked at Shinji with his usual trust, mingled with a few complicated emotions. "Hizashi and Miwako should be here soon."
Before long, Hizashi Hyuga and Miwa Kato appeared at the street corner.
Miwako's eyes lit up when she saw Kakashi. She immediately trotted over, bent down, and smilingly pinched the part of his cheek his mask left uncovered. "Oh, little Kakashi's here too! It's been so long. You've grown a little taller!"
Kakashi