Everyone finally said their goodbyes and left. Night had grown late, and Raftra Kitchen was quiet now, with only Raftra and Kakashi remaining.
Raftra sat casually on one of the long benches, his body slumped. His eyes were vacant as he stared out the window, watching the house lights and the silhouettes of people still moving along the streets.
Outside, life buzzed on—but inside him it felt otherwise.
Thoughts he'd kept from everyone began to haunt him. 'Tomorrow I'll open this shop...'
'I told them I was confident, that I believed in myself, that I would succeed. But… can I really do it?'
His hand clenched on the table, then slowly relaxed. He breathed heavily.
He looked down at the empty floor beneath his feet. His expression was different from usual—not the sly, scheming teenager, nor the self-assured shop owner, but a young man gnawed by doubt and fear.
'What if I fail? What if it all turns into a joke? What if they see me not as someone special, but as a foolish boy who was too overconfident?'
Kakashi was still in the kitchen, busy wiping plates. From time to time his eyes drifted toward Raftra, who sat alone by the window, barely moving.
Just by the way he sat, it was clear the boy carried a heavy weight on his mind.
When Kakashi finished drying the last plate, he set everything on the shelf, exhaled quietly, and came out. He pulled a chair up directly across from Raftra and sat down, folding his arms.
Raftra raised his head slightly, aware that Kakashi had taken a seat. They stared at each other for a moment, but neither spoke.
Kakashi finally broke the silence. "You're afraid of failing tomorrow, aren't you?"
Raftra gave a thin smile. "You noticed..."
"I suppose so," Kakashi said.
Raftra continued, "I've been trying to convince myself that everything's fine, but the truth is I'm doubtful."
"I look confident in front of others, but inside I worry that it will all fall apart."
Kakashi glanced toward the window and spoke in a flat tone.
"That's normal. Everyone who starts something feels that fear. If you're too certain—without any doubt—you usually fall faster."
Raftra leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. "It sounds easy when you say it, but the burden still feels heavy."
"I even wonder if I made a huge mistake by starting this business."
Kakashi turned his head briefly. "If you never try, you'll never know. Even if you fail, you can still get back up. What matters is that you endure. Stand up, even when you feel like giving up."
Raftra looked at Kakashi seriously. "You speak like you know a lot about falling and rising."
"Because I do," Kakashi replied curtly, his voice as even as ever.
A few seconds of quiet followed. Raftra then gave a small smile. "You do have a way of calming people, Kakashi-san."
"You've seemed calm these past two days and appear not to care much, but apparently I was wrong... you care more than you let on."
Kakashi glanced back. "I'm not trying to reassure you. I'm merely stating the facts. If that makes you calmer, then you needed to hear it."
"Thank you—maybe I did need that," Raftra said.
He sighed softly and decided to change the subject. He regarded Kakashi with curiosity, feeling the moment was right to draw closer.
"Kakashi-san, may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead," Kakashi said.
"Since you showed your face last night, I've been wondering… what are those red eyes exactly? And why are they always hidden?"
Kakashi fell silent for a moment, watching Raftra warily. Eventually he answered.
"That's the Sharingan. A special eye belonging to the Uchiha clan. I didn't get it by birthright—I received it because a teammate died."
Raftra frowned. "Died?"
Kakashi nodded slowly. "He gave it to me before he passed. He said that way the eye wouldn't be lost. He wanted me to use it to continue our mission."
A hush settled. Raftra didn't reply immediately—he simply looked at Kakashi, slightly stiff. From the way Kakashi spoke, the old wound was far from healed.
Kakashi continued in the same level tone. "I keep it well to this day. I rarely show it. Only when absolutely necessary."
Raftra finally spoke, careful with his words. "Then… how did the Uchiha clan react?"
"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked.
"I mean… did they accept it? A non-Uchiha possessing the Sharingan—surely that would cause trouble."
Kakashi lowered his head a little. "Some of them weren't happy. Some looked at me with disdain, others openly opposed it."
"But Fugaku, the clan head, stopped it. He said it was my teammate's wish, and no one should interfere."
Raftra leaned back, folding his arms while muttering softly. "So without Fugaku's protection, your position would have been very difficult."
Kakashi only nodded.
Silence stretched again. Raftra watched Kakashi, his expression curious, though inside he already knew more about this world than most.
"I'm curious," Raftra finally said. "How exactly does that eye work?"
Kakashi looked back and reclined in his chair. He didn't answer at once, as if weighing whether to tell a teenager who had only been in Konoha a week.
But he spoke.
"When the Sharingan activates, I can read an opponent's movements much more clearly. Not just see, but understand patterns, speed, and direction."
"In other words, I can move to anticipate—sometimes even copy an opponent's technique. That's why I'm called the 'Copy Ninja'."
"Also, the eye can create very dangerous genjutsu."
Raftra nodded slowly. "It sounds simple if it's only that. But from how you explain it, there's something much bigger behind it."
Kakashi took a deep breath and continued in a low voice.
"That's right. If the Sharingan keeps evolving, it can reach the Mangekyo. At that point, each user gains a unique ability."
"And believe me… such abilities can change the course of battle in an instant."
Raftra feigned ignorance and tilted his head, pretending confusion.
"Mangekyo? What do you mean, Kakashi-san?"
"It's an evolution of the Sharingan," Kakashi replied shortly.
"Not just reading movements or copying techniques. Each person who awakens it… has a special jutsu, something no one else has."
Raftra narrowed his eyes slightly. He already suspected the answer, but he wanted to hear it from Kakashi's mouth.
"Then," he said slowly, "what is your Mangekyo ability?"
Kakashi hesitated, reluctant to reveal it. But finally he answered heavily.
"Kamui," he said.
Raftra didn't understand. "Kamui?"
"Yes. With this eye, I can make something… disappear without a trace."
Raftra leaned forward. "Disappear? Anything?"
Kakashi nodded. "Anything. People, objects, even attacks."
"If I target it with Kamui… it can be erased from this space. Gone without exception."
Raftra folded his arms and pretended to ponder, as if analysing something complex. He looked at Kakashi with keen interest.
"Then, Kakashi-san," he said softly, "where does what you make vanish go? Is it truly gone? Or does it… move somewhere else?"
Kakashi stared blankly at the table, trying to weigh Raftra's question.
"I've never had a definitive answer. But I once thought… perhaps it doesn't merely vanish."
"There's a possibility it moves to another dimension. But I have no way to confirm it."
Raftra's eyes narrowed slightly—feigned awe and curiosity mingled.
"If so… have you ever experimented with it? For example, not only making things disappear but… bringing them back?"
Kakashi fell silent. His expression shifted, clearly the question had never truly occurred to him. He was quiet for several seconds before exhaling.
"No. I've never tried. My ability so far only removes something from existence."
"I'm not even sure whether the thing still exists somewhere or is truly destroyed."
Raftra nodded slowly, his face analytical.
"In that case, I think you should try it sometime. If it merely transfers objects to another dimension, then perhaps they can be retrieved."
"And if that works… then your ability would be more than destruction, it could be mastery over space."
Kakashi turned to look at Raftra deeply. He didn't answer immediately, only remained silent a moment, then spoke seriously.
"Your idea is... unique, Raftra. If others in the village heard that, they'd likely force me to test it. And believe me, the results wouldn't always bring good."
Raftra gave a faint smile and leaned back in his chair.
"I'm only speculating. But isn't it intriguing? An ability you might not fully understand… could become the village's most dangerous trump card."
"And you… are the only one who has it."
Kakashi fell quiet again, his thoughts drifting far away.
Raftra realized continuing the conversation about the Mangekyo might be dangerous, so he quickly steered it elsewhere.
"Kakashi-san," he said suddenly, looking straight at the other, "you're planning something with me, aren't you?"
Kakashi's hand moved slightly, he hadn't expected such a question out of the blue.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Raftra crossed his arms and leaned on the table, resting his chin casually.
"Look," he said calmly.
"You showed your face to me and to Naruto, but not to the Hokage, Lady Tsunade, or Shizune-san."
"That… wasn't a coincidence, was it? From the start I felt there was something deliberate about it."
Kakashi was silent for a moment. His eyes narrowed, his gaze grew more serious.
"If your guess is right… what will you do?" he asked.
Raftra showed no tension. He smiled faintly.
"I won't do anything," he answered simply.
"In fact, it's fine if you opened up to me intentionally. Frankly, from my assessment, you're hard to approach."
"So if you suddenly open up—even for reasons of your own—I don't mind at all."
He exhaled lightly and added with a hint of sarcasm, "Besides, aren't we similar, Kakashi-san?"
"Similar?" Kakashi asked.
Raftra nodded. "Every action you take has intent. Mine do too. So if we use each other… I don't see the problem."
Kakashi studied Raftra for a long while without speaking. From his eyes it was clear he was assessing how much the teenager understood of his surroundings.
He finally spoke, his gaze sharp—this time he wanted to test him.
"Then I'll ask in return."
"Raftra. You said every action of yours has intent. So what do you actually want to do in Konoha right now?"
The question landed flatly, changing the atmosphere. It wasn't small talk, it was an examination.
Raftra paused briefly, staring at Kakashi without blinking. Then he smiled thinly.
"If I answer that I'm here to make money, that's too general. If I say I'm here to seek power, that's nonsense—I don't have chakra."
"If I say I'm here for protection, that sounds pitiful."
He paused again, making Kakashi wait. Then he added casually:
"So maybe the answer is simple… I'm in Konoha to do business and to observe."
"To run a business until it succeeds and to study the people, the system, and how it all endures."
Kakashi squinted. "And after you've finished doing business and observing… what then?"
Raftra leaned his back and looked up at the ceiling for a moment. Then he turned to Kakashi with an impassive expression.
"That depends on what I find," he answered.
"If Konoha is worthy, maybe I'll help build it. If not… maybe I'll leave."
"Or… I might stay just to see how the village fares."
"Perhaps… I'll start a family, marry a beautiful woman when I hit my twenties."
"Whatever I do next, I'm not certain yet."
Kakashi was silent. The answer was too simple, too slippery—one couldn't tell whether he was serious or provoking.
'Raftra is too hard to bait, or perhaps that really is the truth,' Kakashi thought.
Raftra gave a faint smile and added one last line.
"For now, Kakashi-san… I have no reason to hate Konoha. And at this moment, I have no reason to love it either."
"I only want to survive, and to live in peace."
Kakashi watched Raftra for a long time, taking in his every move.
"So… were your earlier doubts genuine?" Kakashi asked once more, this time with a sharper tone.
"Or was that a trick to lull others into complacency?"
Raftra lifted both hands and laughed softly. "That one's genuine."
"I am doubtful. I'm a stranger in this village—no family, no status—and all I'm doing is opening an eatery."
He smiled wryly and continued in a lower voice.
"There's no hidden agenda behind it. I'm just a normal person who gets nervous when tomorrow is important. It's that simple."
Kakashi did not look away. This time his eyes softened slightly, as if Raftra's words made sense.
"Interesting," he murmured. "You can give long answers to abstract questions, but when it comes to yourself… your answer is the simplest."
Raftra leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment. "That's because I am simple. I hate complications when it comes to myself."
Kakashi was quiet for several seconds, then finally sighed. "Very well. For now, I'll believe your doubt is genuine."
"Thank you. Rarely do I get an admission like that."
After a brief silence he spoke jokingly. "Maybe I should make you my adoptive brother, Kakashi-san."
"Adoptive brother?" he replied flatly, feigning indifference but secretly curious.
Raftra nodded with a smile. "Yes. You're calm, calculating, suspicious of everything, yet rational."
"Talking to you feels like having an older brother who thinks too much. Honestly… I've never had someone like that before."
Kakashi sighed and turned his gaze back to the window. "If I truly became your brother, I doubt your life would be peaceful. You know the people around me… few last long."
His voice was calm, but a bitter edge was clear.
Raftra glanced over and tapped the table lightly. "That's because they're in the ninja circle—the dangerous field that never ends."
"I'm not a ninja, so even if you were my brother, I'd still be busy with kitchen matters, not going on death missions."
Kakashi looked at him again, this time a little more relaxed. "…You're not wrong."
Raftra added with a sly grin, "Besides, being close to the famous Copy Ninja could be free promotion for my business."
Kakashi was silent for a moment, then shook his head with a soft exhale. "Ha… So in the end there's intent in your words."
Raftra stifled a laugh and raised his hands as if surrendering. "Caught me. But seriously, even if it's a joke… I'd enjoy thinking of you as a brother."
Kakashi didn't answer immediately. He only leaned back and closed his eyes. Yet from his face, there was a hint of relief at the remark.
After that Raftra stood from his chair. He stretched briefly and glanced at Kakashi.
"I'll be busy tomorrow," he said with a small smile.
"So… let's go home and rest well for the day ahead."
Kakashi rose slowly without comment. Raftra walked to the kitchen to check that the stove and lights were off.
Once everything was safe, he turned off the main light. Darkness swallowed the room, only the streetlamp's glow filtered through the glass.
They left together. Raftra turned the key until it clicked. He patted his pockets to ensure the key was secure.
They walked leisurely down the now-quiet street. The night air was cool and peaceful.
Their conversation flowed again. "If no one buys anything tomorrow, I'll craft a marketing tactic. If it's okay, I'll be happy. But if it's crowded… I'll ask for your help, Kakashi-san."
Kakashi glanced slightly and then looked ahead. "You're talkative tonight," he said flatly.
Raftra chuckled softly. "Just put up with my chatter. I've felt lonely since I suddenly appeared in this village. Rarely do I get to speak freely with someone."
His tone turned a touch serious. "Not to mention… after being tortured last week and locked in a cell for days."
"That moment still lingers."
He exhaled and looked at Kakashi with a faint smile. "So don't complain if I'm loquacious. I don't usually talk this much. Consider it a rare bonus."
Kakashi remained silent, but his expression showed he was listening.
Raftra looked back at the road ahead. "Besides, if I don't talk… this walk home would be too quiet."
"You're the type who can tolerate silence, right? But I can't."
"Sometimes I need sound so my head won't overflow with thoughts."
"I don't hate thinking, my thoughts are just wild and sometimes strange. I've even imagined the world being destroyed by an invasion of alien creatures."
Kakashi didn't answer right away. After a few steps, he said softly, "You're weird."
"I've heard that a lot," Raftra replied with a small laugh.