When Kakashi awoke, it had already been three days later.
"Where am I?" Kakashi groaned, holding his aching head as he opened his eyes and stared at the stark white ceiling.
"This is Konoha Hospital!" smiled the nurse beside him. "You've been on the battlefield too long—you've even forgotten what Konoha looks like?"
"Oh right... Konoha Hospital? Wait, Konoha Hospital?" Kakashi repeated slowly, suddenly a lightning bolt flashing through his mind. He shot up from the bed excitedly. "Rin! Where's Rin? How is she?"
"Rin? You mean that little girl who was with you?" The nurse hesitated, shaking her head with a sigh. "I'm sorry."
Though her words weren't explicit, her reaction already said everything.
Kakashi looked like someone had stolen his soul, leaning back against the hospital bed and slowly sliding downward lifelessly.
"There are many people who care about you. They'll be so happy when they hear you're awake. Should I go notify them now?"
Kakashi remained silent, just staring blankly at the ceiling.
Sighing again, the nurse shook her head but didn't press further.
She'd seen things like this far too often to know that persuasion wouldn't help.
Only time could truly soothe wounds this deep!
No one knew how much time had passed when familiar voices came from outside the door.
"Kakashi, can we come in?"
There was no response from inside the room, however.
"Huh? Could he still be asleep?"
The nurse muttered, "You guys can just come in. Judging by his condition earlier, I was actually worried he might hurt himself."
"What? Self-harm?" Several figures hurriedly pushed open the door and entered, immediately seeing Kakashi lying stiffly on the hospital bed like a corpse.
"Kakashi, are you okay?" Captain Asuma cautiously asked.
"We already know what happened. It's not your fault!" Kurenai comforted him.
"Yeah, you did all you could!" Shizune added.
"Everyone says you and Rin are real heroes for protecting the village!" Guy encouraged energetically.
As if something snapped in him at those words, Kakashi rasped bitterly, "Hero? Am I even worthy of that title—a useless wretch like me?"
"And what about Rin? Will you deny her sacrifice too?" Mizuki coldly questioned.
Kakashi shook his head. "Of course Rin was a hero!"
"We found a Cursed Seal on Rin. She couldn't harm herself, so she chose to die by your hand." Mizuki spoke emotionlessly. "At least your Teuchi wasn't meaningless! Her becoming a hero was thanks to you!"
Kakashi became agitated. "What did you say?"
Mizuki smirked. "What? Not pretending to be dead anymore?"
Kakashi's eye twitched violently. He suddenly felt a strong urge to punch someone out of nowhere.
However, given his current state, he'd most likely end up being the one beaten.
Everyone looked at each other awkwardly—only Mizuki could get under Kakashi's skin like that.
Kakashi murmured despondently, "Obito died protecting me while Rin gave me the chance to survive, choosing death by my hands. I'm nothing but a bringer of misfortune and doom!"
"So then—are you planning to kill yourself?"
"Mizuki said coldly, 'Wasting this life they exchanged with their own?'
Kakashi was momentarily at a loss for words. Indeed, in a way, his life no longer belonged solely to himself.
If he continued sinking deeper, it would actually be a desecration of what Obito and Rin had done for him.
The problem, however, remained—what exactly should he do?
Noticing Kakashi's emotions shifting slightly, everyone felt a sudden realization. So this was the method required to heal Kakashi—shock therapy through emotional collapse?
'I don't know!' Kakashi touched his left eye, speaking woefully. 'Obito left me this eye because he hoped I could protect Rin well, but in order to keep this eye, I allowed Rin to suffer misfortune instead! What can someone like me even do now?'
At that moment, Seiki's voice suddenly came from outside the door. 'The root cause of your pain and confusion is simply that you're too weak!'
'Seiki!'
'Senior!'
Shaking his head slightly, Seiki said, 'Everyone, please step out for a bit. Let me speak with him alone.'
Naturally, no one objected. They each gave him an encouraging nod before turning to leave.
Once only the two of them were left in the room, Seiki finally spoke. 'You must feel puzzled, wondering why I would say such cold words to you, right?'
Kakashi replied dejectedly, 'No, it's really because I was too weak that caused both Obito and Rin to die for my sake. If only I were just a little stronger, maybe none of those things would've happened!'
'Yes! All human suffering, at its core, is anger towards one's own powerlessness!' Seiki sighed. 'If you never want this pain to visit you again, then keep advancing relentlessly toward being "the strongest"!'
'I see,' Kakashi murmured, his eyes full of uncertainty. 'I'm furious at my own helplessness. If I had even half the strength you possess, sir, what would schemes and traps matter?'
He certainly knew how Mist, Cloud, and Stone had repeatedly plotted against his mentor. Yet time and again, those three ended up losing men and resources—and often made his mentor even stronger!
Same experiences—yet such utterly different outcomes!
The reason behind it? Because his mentor possessed overwhelming strength, powerful enough to dismantle any conspiracy!
Thinking thus, the haze in Kakashi's eyes gradually lifted. 'Senior, I understand now. I'll make myself strong enough. I will never allow myself to experience such pain again!'
'Excellent spirit!' Seiki smiled lightly. 'As a reward, visit my home tonight after midnight!'
Kakashi's face immediately turned puzzled, as if filled with questions. He wasn't Kurenai or Shizune Senior who might receive private invitations—so what kind of reward was this meant for him?
Yet immediately afterward, his expression changed drastically, as he hesitantly asked with a trembling voice, 'Could it possibly be...Rin?'
Kakashi dared not continue questioning further. He couldn't even bring himself to meet Seiki's gaze directly.
After a brief silence, Seiki replied slowly, 'How should I put it? The situation involved is somewhat complicated. It may not be quite what you imagine...Anyway, if you wish to know everything, come. Remember, tell nobody else about this!'
Even though he hadn't received clear confirmation, the fact that his mentor didn't deny it already filled him with ecstatic joy.
Kakashi bobbed his head like a chick pecking for seeds. "I totally knowww! I swear, I won't tell anyone!"
"And don't look so thrilled about it either!"
Since his upperclassman was being so serious, Kakashi didn't dare take it lightly. He slapped both hands over his cheeks, fighting back his grin until his lips puffed out in a childish pout.
"Don't overdo it!" Seiki sighed helplessly, pressing his fingertips against his brow bridge. He shook his head and walked toward the door. "Anyway, just be careful yourself."
Kakashi gave an eager nod. "I'll keep it together! Stay calm… calm… Puhahaha—nope, nope, I'm done!"
Without hesitation, Kakashi flipped up the bedsheet and buried himself completely under the covers, laughing so hard he wiggled like a worm in a cartoon.
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