"Ah… I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."
Kakashi scratched his head, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"What do you want to eat? I'll get it for you right now."
"Sushi, ramen, takoyaki, grilled meat…" Obito rattled off a list of food without hesitation, each one different from the last.
He was so focused on naming dishes that he failed to notice Kakashi discreetly making a move. Slowly, Kakashi pushed up his forehead protector, revealing the Sharingan—the one Obito had given him all those years ago.
The three magatama in his scarlet eye rotated, shifting into a more complex shape—Mangekyō Sharingan!
"Alright, go quickly! I'll be waiting right here," Obito said with a grin, signaling Kakashi to leave.
But Kakashi didn't move.
His Mangekyō Sharingan locked onto Obito and Rin, his expression darkening.
"Hey, Kakashi, what's wrong? Don't just stand there—move already," Obito urged.
At that moment, Kakashi suddenly attacked!
His hand shot forward, aiming straight at Uchiha Obito.
The move caught Obito off guard.
For a brief second, his eyes widened in surprise—he had been found out!
Without thinking, Kamui automatically activated, shifting his body into an intangible state.
Kakashi's hand passed straight through him.
"Huh?"
Kakashi reacted instantly, leaping backward and putting distance between them.
His cold eyes stayed locked on Obito, kunai in hand, ready for battle.
No matter how slow he had been at first, he understood now. His mind was clear—this wasn't an illusion.
Which meant…
Obito and Rin were real.
But that was impossible.
They had died twelve years ago.
There was only one explanation—someone was impersonating them.
Someone dared to pretend to be his dead best friend?
Fury ignited in Kakashi's chest. His grip on his kunai tightened.
"Who the hell are you?" Kakashi demanded coldly.
Obito sighed and facepalmed.
"Well, that didn't take long," he muttered. "This guy is way too sharp."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Alright, alright. Let's not make a big deal out of this. Calm down, will you?"
He chuckled, though his tone had a hint of helplessness.
"We just came to see you, and this is how you treat us? That hurts, man."
Kakashi's grip on his kunai tightened.
"What are you talking about?"
At that moment, Obito said something that completely shattered Kakashi's expectations.
"Minato-sensei! Come here—we've been found out."
Kakashi froze.
"Minato-sensei…?"
That name pierced his heart like a dagger.
And then—two figures appeared.
A flash of golden hair. A warm smile.
Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina.
"…What?"
Kakashi couldn't believe his eyes.
"Hey, Kakashi."
Minato raised a hand in greeting.
But what greeted him in return was a lightning-fast attack!
"Raikiri!"
Kakashi lunged.
Pure instinct took over—his heart screamed that this was a trick.
No one could imitate Minato-sensei and get away with it!
But before Kakashi's strike could land—Minato vanished.
The next moment, Kakashi's arm was caught mid-air.
Then—a palm strike to the chest!
Boom!
Kakashi flew backward, his body skidding across the ground.
But his reflexes kicked in—he caught himself, hands digging into the earth to steady his body.
Just as he tried to stand—
A shadow loomed over him.
A blue sphere of chakra spun violently in front of his face.
Kakashi's eyes widened in shock.
Rasengan!
His breath caught in his throat.
If that had landed…
His cold sweat dripped onto the ground.
He looked up.
Minato smiled, his Rasengan vanishing from his palm.
"Kakashi, have you calmed down now?"
The gentle voice brought back too many memories.
He reached out a hand.
Kakashi hesitated.
Then, he grabbed it.
Minato effortlessly pulled him to his feet.
"…Are you okay?" Minato asked.
Kakashi swallowed. "I'm… I'm fine."
Then—
"Arrogant Kakashi, how dare you try to fight Minato-sensei!"
Obito smirked, crossing his arms.
"Did you see the gap between you two? What have you even been doing all these years?"
Kakashi's eyes flickered between Obito, Rin, Kushina, and Minato.
"Obito… Rin… Minato-sensei… Kushina-sensei…"
His voice trembled slightly.
"…Is it really you?"
"Nonsense," Obito scoffed. "Give me my eye back! You're wasting it."
"Obito, don't be rude." Rin sighed.
That one small exchange shattered something in Kakashi.
A lump formed in his throat.
Before Obito could react—
Kakashi pulled him into a tight embrace.
"…Obito…"
Obito stiffened.
"…The hell?"
Then—he heard it.
Kakashi was crying.
"…Hey," Obito muttered, "if you really wanna cry, don't drench my clothes, alright?"
His voice softened.
"Fine, I'll let you hug me for a bit."
After a while, Kakashi let go.
Then, he turned to Minato.
"…Teacher…"
He hugged him too.
Minato patted his back, the way he always did when Kakashi was younger.
Finally, Kakashi turned to Rin.
But—
Obito suddenly stepped in front of her, arms crossed smugly.
"Hold on, buddy," he said. "This one's off-limits."
"…What?"
"You heard me." Obito smirked. "Find your own."
Rin's face turned bright red.
Minato and Kushina burst into laughter.
Kakashi chuckled.
…This was real.
This was them.
As they talked, Kakashi slowly began to understand.
Minato explained their arrival, the time-space anomaly, and their alternate reality.
As Kakashi listened, he sighed in relief.
"So that's it…"
He had been worried.
Resurrection? No way.
But a parallel timeline? That… made sense.
Minato smiled. "It's kind of like the Dragon Vein situation, isn't it?"
Kakashi's mind flashed back to their old mission in Loulan, when he had met Naruto and Sakura from the future.
"…You're right," he admitted. "It's strange, but… not impossible."
The group relaxed.
They found a barbecue restaurant, sat in a private room, and ate while catching up.
Soon—
"Hey! That was my meat!"
"Mine now."
"Lin made it for me!"
"…Did she say that?"
"…You—!"
As Kakashi and Obito bickered over grilled meat, Minato and Kushina watched fondly.
After the meal—
Kakashi suddenly asked, "Do you want to see Naruto?"
Minato and Kushina froze.
"…Our son?"
Minato turned to Kushina, eyes full of emotion.
"I… I want to see him," she whispered.
"Then let's go."
"…Wait, Kakashi, you pay."
"Why me?"
"Do you see money in my pockets?"
"…Then you wash the dishes."
"…Tch. Fine."
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