"How is it? Pretty cool, right?"
Seeing Itachi slightly stunned, Kakashi spoke proudly, squinting his eyes as an air of mischief radiated from him.
Itachi took a small step back as Kakashi moved closer, waving his hand in front of his nose.
"Talking is fine, but don't stand so close. The smell is quite strong... You do look cool, but there's definitely a touch of creepiness."
After scrutinizing Kakashi for a moment, Itachi turned his head to gaze into the distance.
Kakashi observed Itachi, who seemed lost in thought, staring far into the horizon with a lonely air about him.
"What are you looking at?"
Kakashi asked as he followed Itachi's line of sight, noticing the white clouds and a solitary crane soaring through the sky.
"I'm looking at a lonely landscape," Itachi replied, somewhat exasperated by Kakashi's suddenly animated demeanor.
It was understandable, though—after lying dormant for half a year, Kakashi's emotions were running high, and his newfound talkativeness wasn't entirely unexpected.
Before his deep sleep, Kakashi had always been a solitary figure.
With his past experiences, the only time he had conversations was during visits to the Hero Memorial. Even then, his words were few and far between.
"You look like a lonely landscape yourself..."
…
A gentle breeze tousled Itachi's hair as Kakashi's gaze shifted back to him.
This encounter with Itachi—and discovering that he wasn't as cold-hearted as he seemed—put Kakashi in a good mood.
Coupled with his newfound strength, the sunshine seemed brighter than ever.
"You're pretty cheeky," Itachi remarked, cutting off Kakashi's chatter as he sensed the man preparing to speak again. The constant rambling was giving Itachi a headache.
"People are always in high spirits when good things happen," Kakashi said, finally steering the conversation toward serious matters. "What brings you to Konoha this time? Do you have any plans for me?"
Kakashi decided not to press Itachi for news about Obito. He had a feeling that sticking by Itachi would eventually lead to Obito's reappearance.
It was better to stay close to Itachi, gather information along the way, and serve as a repository of knowledge.
After all, Obito was alive but hadn't sought him out in all these years, which meant something must have happened.
The truth was, Kakashi wasn't sure how to face Obito when the time came.
Perhaps, if Itachi really could revive Rin and bring her to Obito, the look on Obito's face would be priceless…
…
As Itachi looked at the somewhat erratic and unpredictable Kakashi in front of him, he was momentarily speechless.
Kakashi's behavior made him seem like a complete joker.
Was this a façade hidden too deeply, or was his eccentricity ingrained in his very core?
Itachi pondered for a moment, but then recalled that Kakashi had once used the absurd "Thousand Years of Death" technique on Naruto. Clearly, seriousness wasn't exactly Kakashi's strong suit.
"What are you staring at me for? I can't wait to test my current strength," Kakashi said eagerly when he noticed Itachi silently looking at him.
As a disciple of Minato, Kakashi had gained access to the inner circles during Minato's time as Hokage and knew many hidden truths. He was considered a perceptive person.
He speculated that Itachi, despite appearing to lack any intent to kill, was undoubtedly in Konoha to investigate something.
If Itachi had only come to see Sasuke, he would have done so much earlier.
Moreover, with Itachi's strength, he could have taken Sasuke with him long ago.
The fact that Itachi didn't take Sasuke indicated that he believed Sasuke had a good environment in Konoha—friends of the same age and a chance for a happy childhood. Compared to wandering aimlessly with Itachi, this was likely a much better life for Sasuke.
What Kakashi didn't realize was that Itachi had already dealt with most of his enemies in Konoha.
If there were any loose ends, they were just minor figures, like a few old councilors or clans with grudges against the Uchiha, trying to stir up trouble.
"This time, I'm not here to fight—just to relax and enjoy life," Itachi said, gradually withdrawing his gaze.
Kakashi, who had been buzzing around him like an annoying fly, seemed visibly confused.
"Huh? No fighting?" Kakashi asked, clearly taken aback.
"What's the point?" Itachi replied, looking at Kakashi with mild irritation. "Your strength has already reached the pinnacle of the ninja world. Broaden your horizons a bit."
Now, both of them stood at the peak of the shinobi world. To move any further would be to reach a godlike level.
Engaging with petty enemies or rabid dogs—what sense did that make?
Even if some foolish individual dared to provoke them, they could easily erase them with as little effort as crushing an ant.
In the face of absolute power, schemes and conspiracies amounted to nothing more than trivial games.
Itachi's mindset had evolved beyond that of a mere human; it had ascended to something almost saintly.
Not that he had become a saint himself, but his perspective had reached a transcendent level. He saw the world differently now, standing at an entirely different height.
However, even with his transcendence, provoking him now would lead to a worse outcome than when he was weaker.
In his weaker days, he might have let someone off after a satisfying fight.
But now, his immense power left no room for such opportunities.
Whether through strategy, battle, or eradication, the underlying goal remained the same: eliminating obstacles, clearing the path, and defeating enemies.
It was all a matter of perspective, intent, and strength.
"I feel like the things you say are getting more and more profound... If you weren't a ninja, you could've been a philosopher," Kakashi said earnestly, looking at Itachi.
The moment words like "broaden your horizons" were spoken, the conversation's tone instantly elevated.
"There's too much helplessness in the life of a ninja. Philosophers may see through the truth, but they can't change anything. Their influence is limited. Only by becoming strong can you carve a path forward. In this world, strength defines the rules. If you're strong enough, you are the rule. The world will align with your vision."
Shaking his head, Itachi turned and walked away.
His words, like a thunderclap, echoed in Kakashi's heart.
"Yes… If I were strong enough, those things wouldn't have happened..." Kakashi murmured to himself.
When he snapped out of his thoughts, Itachi was already gone.
However, Kakashi's sensory perception was so sharp that he could locate Itachi with pinpoint accuracy in an instant.
"All that talk, and he still didn't tell me what I should do next. What a troublesome guy, always beating around the bush," Kakashi muttered with a hint of exasperation.
He pulled a small book from his pouch and started reading it with an almost reverent expression.
Ever since learning that Itachi had returned to Konoha, Kakashi had been so anxious that he rushed over without much rest.
"Hm... He says strength is the only way forward, but all I want is to finish reading the entire 'Make-Out' series in my lifetime..."
As Kakashi donned his mask and immersed himself in his book, he absentmindedly made his way home.
His hair, untrimmed for six months, had grown uneven and long. His mask, a common item sold in street stalls, ensured he wouldn't be recognized.
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