Kakashi's heart felt as if it was tightly grasped by a big invisible hand, and it hurt so much that he couldn't breathe.
He understood everything now!
It's not that she doesn't want to come back, it's that she can't come back.
In order not to become the trigger that detonated the village, she chose "death".
In order not to bring the risk of war to the village, she chose to continue wandering.
This girl who always followed him and never gave up no matter how indifferent he was, her kindness and gentleness never changed.
But he misunderstood her, and deep down in his heart, he might even have had a trace of resentment.
"I'm sorry... Lin... I'm really... sorry..." Kakashi's voice was full of tears. He couldn't control it anymore. He leaned down and buried his head between his arms, his shoulders shaking violently.
"Kakashi, don't be like this." Seeing this, Rin Nohara quickly stood up, sat next to him, patted his back gently, and comforted him softly, "You don't need to apologize. Besides, I have lived a good life these years, and I haven't suffered at all, really."
On the side, Kisame Hoshigaki, who had been silent all this time, heard a subtle change in the expression on the shark's face.
The past of my "sister"... is this what it turns out to be?
It was also the first time that he knew that his kind-hearted "sister" who was a little silly actually had such a past.
Forced to become Jinchūriki, planted with a vicious spell, and used as a tool to attack his own village...
Kisame Hoshigaki In Kirigakure, he was used to seeing bloodshed and betrayal, and he thought he had already become hard-hearted. But at this moment, when he heard what happened to Lin, the cold sea of blood in his heart actually felt a little rippled.
When he looked at the white-haired boy who could only say "I'm sorry", the unkindness in his eyes was a bit more contemptuous.
"Hmph!"
This white-haired loser... apart from apologizing, what else will you do? Why did you go there a long time ago!
Rin Nohara glanced at Kisame Hoshigaki not far away, with a warm smile on his face.
"Kakashi, Chen-kun took good care of me. He found me a new companion and taught me how to control the power of Tailed Beast, making me strong enough to protect myself and... protect the people I care about."
"So, ka... ka... west."
Lin spoke every word and looked at him seriously, the tenderness in her eyes was enough to melt ice and snow.
"You don't have to carry anything anymore. The eyes Obito gave you are to let you see the future clearly, not to keep you living in the past."
Boom!
This sentence, like a drum in the evening and a bell in the morning, struck Kakashi's heart heavily.
He raised his head suddenly, and among the Sharingan, three Tomoe slowly rotated, reflecting Lin's gentle but firm face.
Yeah...
The future...
All this time, he has been living in the shadow of losing his father, Obito, his teacher, and Lin. He has wrapped himself up in layers of indifference and rules, thinking that it is atonement.
But now, Lin is back.
She didn't die, she became stronger and stronger.
An unprecedented sense of relief came from the depths of my soul, as if the shackles that had weighed on me for more than ten years had been removed.
"Thank you... Lin." Kakashi's voice finally regained its composure.
On the side, Kisame Hoshigaki watched his "sister" comfort the white-haired boy, and felt even worse.
Humph, this guy is so cheap.
However, when he heard Lin say, "Chen-kun takes good care of me," his ferocious shark face showed a rare hint of recognition.
Indeed, BOSS gave them strength, gave them trust, and also gave them all a chance to start over.
Thinking of this, the way he looked at Kakashi became more and more like he was looking at a stinky loser who fucked his "good sister".
Kisame Hoshigaki's hand unconsciously clenched the Samehada behind him that was about to move.
At this moment, Kakashi took a deep breath, looked at Lin, his eyes lit up again, and asked the most critical question.
"Then... Lin... will you go back to Konoha with us this time?"
The atmosphere of the room solidified again due to this question Kakashi.
Kakashi's eyes, which had just regained some sparkle, were now full of tension and expectation, staring at Rin Nohara, like a prisoner waiting for the final trial.
Kisame Hoshigaki on the side also became nervous instantly because of Kakashi's question. The muscles of his arm that were holding Samehada were twitching. In those small eyes looking at Kakashi, the unkindness almost turned into reality.
Rin Nohara looked at the light in Kakashi's eyes. The light was too hot and too heavy. She was silent for a moment, and then slowly shook her head.
The light in Kakashi's eyes dimmed instantly.
"Why?" His voice was hard, with a tremor that he didn't even notice.
"Because I am not strong enough now, Kakashi. I am no longer the little girl I used to be. I know that if I return to Konoha at this time, I will only become a drag on the village and be protected forever in the village. Here, just like my master Kushina back then." Rin Nohara looked at Kakashi's dim eyes, and felt a little unbearable, but still expressed his thoughts.
"Kakashi, don't underestimate me. I have worked very hard over the years. When one day I am strong enough, when I can use my own power to protect the village and the people I cherish, I will definitely answer Konoha in an honest manner, not as a burden."
"Don't worry, it won't be long." Rin Nohara comforted Kakashi and said.
When he said these words, Rin Nohara stared at Kakashi with unusual determination.
Kakashi discovered at this time that the Rin Nohara in front of her was no longer the Rin Nohara she was ten years ago. She was now strong, independent, and even... found her way to the future earlier than herself.
And what about yourself?
For so many years, I have been holding on to the ghost of the past, refusing to let go and stagnating.
It turns out that the person who needs to change has always been yourself.
"I understand." Kakashi took a deep breath. In the eyes outside the mask, all the pain, struggle, and unwillingness faded away at this moment, leaving only a sense of relief and clarity.
He stood up, faced Rin Nohara, and bowed down solemnly.
"I'm sorry, Lin. And... thank you."
This "I'm sorry" was for his years of misunderstanding and evasion.
This "thank you" is for the redemption and new life she brought.
Rin Nohara's eyes turned red and he quickly supported him, "Kakashi, there is no need to talk about this between us."
"No, it's necessary." Kakashi straightened up, with a long-lost, heartfelt smile on his face. Although it was still a little stiff, it dispelled the haze that had shrouded him for many years, "Then... Senior Lin, please give me more advice in the future."
Hearing what Kakashi said, Rin Nohara also breathed a sigh of relief. Kakashi said that senior "Lin" recognized her new identity and also recognized the path she chose in disguise.
Kisame Hoshigaki on the side looked at this harmonious scene and curled his lips, the awkward feeling in his heart finally dissipated.
The hand holding the handle of the knife loosened unconsciously.
Humph, even if this white-haired boy knows his way around him, if he continues to pester his "sister" without knowing his skills, he won't mind giving her a good beating!