Faced with Yujiro’s invitation, neither Itachi nor Kakashi refused.
As the three walked through Konoha’s streets, Yujiro suddenly asked casually, “Kakashi, aren’t you supposed to be on a mission?” At this point in time, Kakashi should have been assigned to secretly protect Kushina.
“Ahem… about that…” Kakashi scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“I recommended someone else to handle it for me.” Yujiro glanced at him.
“Who?” “…Guy.” Yujiro stopped walking for half a second.
“Might Guy?” Kakashi gave a helpless shrug.
He really did not have much choice.
Minato had specifically asked him to spend more time around Yujiro and observe him closely.
So Kakashi could only push the mission onto someone else from the same generation who was strong enough to handle it.
And unfortunately for Guy… He was the perfect victim.
Ten minutes later.
Kurenai’s home.
“Ara?
I’m honestly surprised,” Kurenai said with a teasing smile after opening the door.
“I never thought someone as antisocial as you would actually make friends.” “Itachi-kun, Kakashi-san, welcome.” “Sorry for the trouble, Kurenai-san,” Itachi greeted politely.
“Yo,” Kakashi added lazily while raising a hand.
Yujiro walked straight past them.
“I’m starving.” Kurenai immediately sighed.
“You really only think about food…” Still, there was obvious warmth in her eyes as she looked at him.
The three entered the house together.
Kurenai quietly glanced toward Kakashi for a moment.
They belonged to the same generation.
And although Kakashi always acted calm on the outside, everyone knew how much he had lost over the years.
Seeing him slowly becoming closer to others again… Honestly, that was not a bad thing.
Before long, the smell of food filled the room.
Kurenai’s cooking was genuinely good.
Even Kakashi visibly relaxed after eating a few bites.
Yujiro sat there quietly while eating, though inwardly he clicked his tongue.
If he had never come to this world, then maybe things would have continued normally.
But now?
Kurenai was his sister.
Which meant one thing.
Asuma Sarutobi could forget about getting anywhere near her in the future.
Yujiro had never liked Asuma’s character.
In his eyes, Asuma was irresponsible in all the worst ways.
And in the end, he left Kurenai alone to raise their child after dying halfway through life.
Yujiro looked down on that kind of man the most.
Of course, if Asuma stayed out of his way, Yujiro would not bother with him.
But if he provoked him… Then even the Third Hokage would get the experience of burying a son.
The atmosphere during the meal gradually became more relaxed.
Even Kakashi, who normally looked detached from everything, seemed quieter than usual.
As if he had unconsciously begun lowering the walls around himself.
And yet— The moment silence settled in… Those memories returned again.
Rain.
Rin collapsing in front of him.
Obito’s furious voice.
Kakashi!
Why didn’t you protect Rin?!
Kakashi… this eye is my gift to you.
Look at the future for me… Kakashi… Kakashi’s expression unconsciously darkened.
Then suddenly— A pair of hands rested on his shoulders.
“Kakashi,” Yujiro said casually, “want another bowl?” Kakashi’s body trembled violently.
Cold sweat instantly soaked his clothes.
His exposed eye contracted sharply.
When he raised his head and saw Yujiro standing there with a faint smile, something inside his chest shook slightly.
“You really are just like Itachi,” Yujiro said while calmly filling another bowl of fish soup for himself.
“Thinking about depressing things all day long.” Neither Kakashi nor Itachi spoke.
Yujiro continued eating casually.
“People always obsess over what they’ve lost.” “But instead of staring at the past…” He glanced at Kakashi from the corner of his eye.
“Why not look at what’s still around you?” “Cherish the people who are still here.” As he said that, Yujiro’s gaze shifted toward Kurenai.
His eyes were clear and straightforward.
There was not the slightest trace of anything inappropriate inside them.
Only familial affection.
But being stared at so directly still caused Kurenai’s face to redden slightly.
After all… They were not related by blood.
And although Yujiro was only five years old… That face of his was already ridiculously handsome.
In a few more years, she could already imagine the chaos he would cause among girls in Konoha.
“Sis,” Yujiro suddenly said, “you’re blushing.” “Eh?!” Kurenai immediately panicked.
“T-that’s not—” She stood up too quickly, nearly knocking something over.
“I-I’ll go check the soup!” Then she hurriedly escaped into the kitchen.
Yujiro watched her leave before glancing down at the fish soup in front of him.
“Hm.” Meanwhile, Kakashi slowly lowered his head.
The people still around me… Of course, it was impossible for him to escape those shadows overnight.
That kind of wound needed time.
Still… Since Kakashi was his sparring partner, Yujiro did not mind helping him a little.
Suddenly, Yujiro spoke again.
“Do you know how many times a person dies?” Kakashi and Itachi both froze.
Yujiro rarely asked meaningless questions.
Which meant there was definitely more behind those words.
“…Once?” Itachi answered uncertainly.
Kakashi frowned slightly.
Instinctively, he felt the answer was not that simple.
Yujiro calmly raised one finger.
“A person dies three times.” “Three?” Itachi repeated in confusion.
Even Kakashi looked stunned.
Yujiro continued calmly.
“The first death is when your body dies.” “When your heart stops beating.” “When your breathing ends.” He raised a second finger.
“The second death is when people acknowledge your death.” “Your funeral.” “Your grave.” “The moment people accept that you’re gone.” “Like the countless shinobi who died during the war.” Then— Yujiro slowly raised a third finger.
“But that still isn’t true death.” “The real death…” “…is when the last person who remembers you disappears.” The room suddenly became quiet.
“When nobody in this world remembers your name anymore…” “When nobody recalls your existence…” “That is the moment you truly die.” Silence.
Complete silence.
Cold sweat slowly appeared on Itachi’s back.
As for Kakashi— His eye trembled violently.
Because unlike Itachi… He understood exactly how heavy those words were.
At that moment, Kakashi looked at Yujiro differently.
For the first time— He felt genuine respect toward this five-year-old monster sitting in front of him.
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