Kakashi's Coldness, Obito's Self-Blame

Night fell, enveloping the earth like a thick black veil, tightly shrouding the entire world.

The corridors of Konoha Hospital appeared exceptionally tranquil under the soft lighting, yet they could not dispel the heavy gloom in the wards.

In a secluded corner deep within the hospital, Koki lay quietly on a spacious hospital bed.

The room was pitch black, but no lights were on; only a small, dim nightlight burned silently in the corner, emitting a faint, warm glow.

It gently fell on Koki's pale face, as if offering him a sliver of comfort.

Koki's face had become gaunt, and her former radiance had vanished, replaced by a pale, paper-like complexion.

His eyes were tightly closed, and his long eyelashes, like twinkling stars in the night sky, trembled slightly, revealing his inner unease and pain.

His arm hung limply outside the sheet, the veins clearly visible, the bluish blood vessels barely visible beneath his pale skin, as if they might burst at any moment.

The IV bottle hung alone to the side, the clear liquid dripping silently, slowly flowing into his body through the slender tube, as if infusing him with life-giving rain.

However, all of this seemed so insignificant, unable to change his haggard appearance.

At this moment, only endless darkness and loneliness remained in Koki's world, with no ray of light able to penetrate this mist.

Koki's breathing was soft and even, like a delicate butterfly gently fluttering its wings.

Each breath was so faint, as if it might dissipate into the air at any moment.

His chest barely rose and fell, making one worry about his every breath, as if he might stop breathing at any moment.

Various monitoring devices were placed beside the bed, with ripples and numbers jumping on the screen, recording every beat of Koki's life.

These cold instruments became his only link to the outside world, silently reminding people that he was still struggling on the edge of life and death.

Koki's situation is heartbreaking; his existence is like a flower about to wither, needing the most careful nurturing.

Whenever a nurse enters the ward, they unconsciously slow their footsteps, afraid of breaking his fragile tranquility.

Even the nurses on their rounds felt immense heartache upon seeing Koki's condition, let alone the three people in the ward, whose eyes were filled with deep sorrow as they looked at Koki.

In the corridor, nurses moved busily, their footsteps light, as if afraid of breaking the rare tranquility.

However, whenever they passed by Koki's ward, their steps would unconsciously slow down, and through the half-open door, they could glimpse three young figures inside— Kakashi, Obito, and Shisui.

The atmosphere in the ward was so heavy it seemed to freeze the air, and all three faces were etched with gloom.

They stood quietly by Koki's bedside, their unspoken understanding evident even without words.

Koki seemed to still be fast asleep, his pale face as fragile as a porcelain doll.

Kakashi, Obito, and Shisui, like guardian angels, surrounded Koki's bedside, demonstrating through their actions what meticulous care truly means.

Shisui quietly brought over a basin of warm water, the surface of which rippled slightly. Kakashi took the warm towel and felt the warmth it emanated from him.

His movements were gentle; he carefully unfolded the towel and gently wiped Koki's forehead, cheeks, and arms, each wipe filled with endless care, as if afraid of hurting him.

Obito then took a soft cotton swab, dipped it in water, and gently applied it to Koki's chapped lips.

Obito's eyes revealed an indescribable tenderness as he carefully moistened Koki's lips, hoping to bring him some comfort.

Shisui adjusted the pillow under Koki's head from time to time to keep it at the most comfortable angle. His fingers gently stroked the pillow, searching for the perfect height and softness.

When he finally found the perfect spot, he nodded with relief, looking at Koki's peaceful sleeping face with satisfaction.

In the quiet hospital room, Kakashi stood beside Koki's bedside, his gaze fixed on her pale and fragile face.

Koki's breathing was shallow and light, as if a gentle breeze could dissipate it. Every rise and fall tugged at Kakashi's heartstrings, for he was afraid that this faint breath would suddenly disappear.

This indescribable heartache was like an invisible giant wave surging within him, constantly crashing against Kakashi's heart, and finally rising to his throat, making it almost impossible for him to utter a sound.

Kakashi clenched his fists involuntarily, his knuckles turning white from the force. He longed to touch that warmth so close yet feared that his every move would shatter the tranquility.

The atmosphere in the room was so heavy it was suffocating, and even Kakashi's mood seemed to freeze.

He wanted to shout Koki's name loudly, to tell him that he was right there and would always be with him.

But the heartache was too intense, like an invisible hand tightly gripping his throat, turning all his words into a silent roar.

Kakashi's eyes welled up with tears, and his vision blurred, but he forced himself not to look away, unwilling to miss any change in Koki.

His gaze lingered on Koki's sickbed for a moment before returning to Koki's pale face. Kakashi's heart was like a sea raging in a storm, turbulent and restless.

The thought of Danzo ignited a fire in Kakashi's heart, and his anger spread rapidly. Kakashi's eyes turned cold and ruthless, as chilling as the north wind in winter, carrying an undeniable resolve.

He turned around abruptly, his steps firm, as if an irresistible force was propelling him forward.

His goal was clear, his determination was firm, and he did not hesitate or waver at all.

However, just as Kakashi was about to step out of the ward, Obito's voice, like a sharp sword, shattered the silence in the air.

"Kakashi!"

Obito's voice was filled with anxiety and worry. He saw through Kakashi's intentions at a glance and knew exactly where he was going and what he was going to do.

Kakashi paused, but instead of turning around, he turned sideways and looked back at Obito with an extremely cold gaze.

There was not a trace of emotion in his eyes, like a dead, still lake, making it impossible to fathom its depths.

Obito was stunned by this sudden indifference. His lips moved, but he found himself unable to utter a single word.

He stared wide-eyed, trying to find something familiar in Kakashi's eyes, but all he saw was endless indifference.

Already feeling guilty because of Koki's injury, he was now further pierced by Kakashi's gaze. The guilt and helplessness in his heart were like a raging flood, engulfing him.

He felt as if he were in a cold world, surrounded by endless darkness.

"I..." Obito murmured, his voice low and hoarse. He wanted to explain something, but didn't know where to begin.

He's so useless. If only he could...

Obito clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh, drawing blood. He lowered his head, looking at the ground, tears glistening in his eyes.

The two faced each other, one with his back to the other, the other face to face, a tense and oppressive atmosphere filling the air.

The distance between them seemed to be growing ever wider, as if it could never be crossed.

In the end, Kakashi didn't say another word, nor did he linger. He took that step, and his figure gradually disappeared outside the ward.

Obito stood alone, staring blankly at the empty doorway, his complex emotions tangled and difficult to describe.

Seeing this, a fleeting worry crossed Shisui's eyes. He quietly watched Obito's stiff figure, and an urge to go forward and comfort him welled up inside him.

However, when he opened his lips to say something comforting, he found that his throat felt blocked by something, and he couldn't make a sound.

Shisui couldn't help but feel a little resentful. Although he understood that Koki's rescue of Obito was not Obito's intention, reason often becomes weak and powerless in the face of emotions.

Seeing Koki's pale face lying on the hospital bed, how could he not feel resentment?

But when Shisui saw Obito's remorseful expression, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. This complex mix of emotions made it difficult for him to find peace, and he could only silently endure the torment in his heart.