Failure is life's main theme (part two)

Xia Yan's words left Kakashi stunned. He had never imagined anyone would say something like that.

Failure is life's main theme?

Was it really all right to say that?

Yet what Kakashi could not refute was that, once he gave it some serious thought, he did indeed find that success was only temporary.

Even if the glory brought by that brief success was enough to illuminate someone's entire life, perhaps only they themselves knew how many failures lay hidden beneath it.

Leaving everything else aside, take Kakashi himself. Everyone called him a genius who had developed an incredibly powerful assault ninjutsu like Lightning Blade at such a young age.

But while developing that ninjutsu, even Kakashi himself had lost count of how many times he had failed.

Even when he eventually succeeded, it was still only half-finished. He still lacked the most important thing needed to complete it.

That was the Sharingan.

The true completion of Kakashi's Lightning Blade had actually depended on Obito's death. That was nothing short of a devastating blow to him.

It was also one of his greatest failures as a captain.

"Failure... is life's main theme?" Kakashi murmured before falling silent.

"Yes, failure is life's main theme."

Xia Yan sighed softly, but soon a gentle smile appeared on his face again.

"But Kakashi, how people face failure is what makes them different."

Kakashi said nothing. He remained silent.

His gaze merely shifted slightly toward Xia Yan. He somewhat understood what Xia Yan meant, yet it also seemed he could not understand at all.

But Xia Yan paid no mind to what Kakashi thought. He knew perfectly well that this was his chance to perform, and he was not about to botch it.

"You know, Kakashi, failure is actually a test of a person.

"Some people are crushed by failure. From then on, they never recover and can never get back up. We call those people failures.

"But some people can keep getting back up and moving forward. No matter how many times they fail, they draw on their experience, learn their lessons, and then use the experience of those failures to seek a path toward success.

"Those are the people we call successful, and the glory of their success often overshadows all their failures."

At this point, Xia Yan paused. His gaze lingered on Kakashi for a moment before he continued gently.

"In truth, whether it's us or anyone else, we all keep moving forward as we waver between success and failure.

"The difference lies in the choices we make.

"Kakashi, past failure doesn't mean future failure. Dwelling on failure and being unable to pull yourself out is what truly dishonors the people who made your success possible.

"I think true maturity isn't about pursuing perfection or avoiding failure.

"It's about facing your own shortcomings. That's the essence of life."

As Kakashi heard this, the bewilderment within him seemed to waver. He knew what Xia Yan meant, and he knew even better that Xia Yan was actually comforting him.

But this unusual approach to comforting him, which never addressed whether he was right or wrong and instead discussed success and failure, seemed a little easier for Kakashi to accept.

With just a slight shift in perspective, Kakashi could find more of the answers he wanted.

Taking a deep breath, Kakashi looked at Xia Yan. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but when the words reached his lips, he found that he did not know how to begin.

He could only close his mouth, then lower his head and silently look at the two gravestones. Yet something in his eyes seemed to have changed.

The guilt, inner conflict, and even that particular willingness to die had begun to fade somewhat. There was more contemplation now, and more confusion.

Xia Yan knew that he had said about enough. He put his mask back on, then turned to leave.

But as he left, he still spoke. "There's a saying I really like: there is only one true heroism in this world-to recognize the truth of life and still love it.

"I'll leave those words with you too, Kakashi.

"What happened to Rin and Obito was tragic, but people can't lose themselves in past failures.

"If you truly want to live up to their sacrifices and make up for your failures completely.

"Then live on with their will. Though it will be difficult and painful, at least when we enter the Pure Land and see them, we can happily tell them we didn't let them down."

"And another thing..."

Xia Yan's voice suddenly became extraordinarily quiet, as though it would be impossible to hear without listening closely.

"You can ask Lord Fourth Hokage about those people."

With those words, Xia Yan did not linger at all. He vanished completely into the night, leaving only Kakashi standing there in the moonlight and the gentle breeze.

Standing quietly in place, Kakashi kept his gaze fixed on the two gravestones before him, but Xia Yan's last few words kept echoing through his mind.

Kakashi did not think he was a true hero. He never had. But Xia Yan's words had made him realize that even if he was not a hero, it seemed he still needed to love his own life.

So I won't let down the people who gave their lives for me?

So I can carry their will and keep moving forward?

So that after I enter the Pure Land, I can proudly tell them I carried their will and didn't let their sacrifices go to waste?

At that thought, Kakashi's eyes seemed to grow much clearer.

Looking at the gravestones before him, he seemed to see a boy in a blue-and-black jacket, wearing goggles, giving him a thumbs-up.

He also seemed to see a girl with short brown hair and purple markings on her face smiling at him.

"Obito, Rin..."

Kakashi murmured quietly, his gaze seeming to grow ever firmer and clearer.

"I won't let your sacrifices go to waste. I'll carry your will and live on bravely!"

Rin and Obito's will was to stand for Konoha, to protect their home, and to protect everyone they cherished.

Obito had given his life for that, and Rin had given hers too. Though Kakashi, who carried both their wills, was still alive, he too had to put his life on the line for Konoha!

He absolutely could not let any of it go to waste. He would never allow what he cherished to be destroyed again.

"You can do it, jerk!"

"You can do it, Kakashi!"

Once Kakashi's resolve was fully set, the two people before him seemed to speak to him in soft whispers.

Under Kakashi's unwavering gaze, they slowly drifted toward the sky, their encouraging smiles slowly disappearing into his starry sky...