The next morning Raftra woke before sunrise. The air was still cold, and the room was filled with the faint light of a waking sky. He startled when his eyes opened wide.
Near the door he saw a figure—himself, but older. A future version of himself sat motionless, staring straight at him with no expression. "W-What!?"
Raftra jumped in shock and tumbled out of bed. His body hit the floor with a loud thud. He scrambled to his feet and looked toward the door—only to find the figure gone. Silence filled the room. 'Now he's gone… after appearing like that,' he thought.
Breathing hard, Raftra sat on the edge of the bed. His head bowed, hands resting on his thighs. 'This is the third time I've seen an adult version of myself… Is this just a trauma hallucination? Or is there some reason I keep seeing him?'
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. "Raftra, may I come in?" Kakashi's voice sounded flat as always.
"Come in," Raftra answered quickly.
The door opened and Kakashi stepped inside. He scanned the room toward the source of the noise. "What was that sound?" he asked.
Raftra took a breath, trying to steady himself. "I fell out of bed."
Kakashi leaned against the wall, arms folded, eyes narrowing. "Another nightmare?"
Raftra shook his head quickly. "Not that."
"Then what?"
The question made Raftra pause. He lowered his head again, weighing the words he would say. 'This might be a good chance to manipulate—I'll be honest to build deeper trust,' he reasoned.
After a moment he spoke softly, "Kakashi… have you ever seen your own shadow?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "You mean… some jutsu?"
Raftra shook his head. "No. I mean… a shadow of yourself, but darker. Because when I woke up earlier, I saw myself—the worst version of me. When I was tortured by Danzo."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed, his gaze guarded. His fingers tapped lightly on his folded arm. Inwardly he thought, 'Is Raftra's trauma so severe that he's hallucinating?'
'But this is strange… he's not seeing Danzo, the clear source of his trauma. Instead, he hallucinates himself. I've never heard of that before.'
Kakashi finally spoke, his voice calm. "To be honest, I've never heard of that kind of hallucination."
Raftra looked at him. "So you think it's a hallucination… But to me, it felt very real."
Kakashi nodded slowly. "I understand. In the early days of my own trauma, I hallucinated often. It felt real. But…I never saw myself."
Raftra drew a long breath and stood. He stretched as if to shake off the lingering fear. "Maybe you're right. It's only a hallucination. Then how do I stop it?"
Kakashi shook his head. "I don't know. One day it just stopped. That was it."
Raftra gave a small, bitter chuckle. "Hah… your answer is typical. Consistent with everything you've told me about trauma."
Kakashi sighed, narrowing his eyes at Raftra. "I'm sure you already knew how I would answer. Yet somehow you keep asking questions about your trauma."
"As if you meant to prompt them… for some reason."
Raftra smiled faintly. "I knew your answer would be the same. But I asked not for a new answer. I just needed an answer… even if unsatisfying."
"And the only person I can ask… is you. The one closest to me and trustworthy."
Kakashi held his gaze for a few seconds before replying. "So you admit you know my answer, but still ask?"
Raftra chuckled softly, shrugged, and edged toward the door. "The question came out on its own… repeated without me realizing. But for now, I won't ask you anything more about my trauma."
Kakashi watched him, then said flatly, "Anyway, I'm no expert on trauma. I'm just another victim… like you."
Raftra was silent for a moment. "You're right—we're both victims here. Sometimes I forget because you act so casual."
He bowed his head briefly and then let out a small laugh. It wasn't joy so much as a release. Silence returned, filling the room.
'It's been a month since I've stayed with Kakashi,' he thought. 'But our relationship's progress feels slow… far slower than with Naruto, or even Hiruzen.'
He looked at Kakashi leaning nonchalantly against the wall, then at the floor. 'Should I tell him? About who I really am? That I came from another world?'
Raftra clenched his fist, then slowly shook his head.
'No. Revealing that won't change anything. Kakashi won't immediately believe me just because I'm honest. That's not his nature. Better to stay focused on the plan I built.'
He straightened and drew a deep breath.
'No rush. Kakashi's heart is guarded. Don't let the visions in your dreams make you reckless. Time is a more valuable weapon than a premature truth.'
A faint smile ghosted across his lips, hidden before Kakashi could notice. 'Remove all feeling, focus on the goal.'
….
Hours passed; the sun climbed high and the restaurant was warm with the smell of cooking. In the kitchen Raftra busied himself frying fried rice, while Yuria stood beside him, carefully stirring sauce for the spaghetti. Kimkanji was on the other side, frying chicken with focused energy; oil hissed in the large pan.
From behind the counter Kakashi sat quietly, watching the scene with half-closed eyes that would occasionally sharpen when Raftra interacted with the two employees.
As the aroma of fried rice grew stronger, Raftra glanced at Yuria.
"How do you find working here after almost a month?" he asked lightly, as if making small talk amid the busyness.
Yuria turned briefly, expression still composed. "I like it. It's much better than I expected," she replied curtly, then returned to the nearly done spaghetti.
Raftra nodded, a small smile on his face. He looked to Kimkanji. "And you? Are you enjoying the job?"
Kimkanji turned quickly, eyes bright with enthusiasm. "Of course, I'm enjoying it. I've learned a lot from you," he said eagerly.
"I'm glad to see you running the business and negotiating with others. It feels like watching a future successful man grow."
He paused and chuckled, shrugging. "Honestly, at first I didn't expect much from this temporary task. But after doing it… I want to make the most of these three months."
Raftra smiled at that. "I'm glad," he said, adding spices into the fried rice. "If you're comfortable, I'd be happy to take you both in if you ever decide to leave ANBU."
Kimkanji laughed, thinking it a joke. Yuria smiled faintly, glancing at Raftra as if to say it was impossible.
But Raftra's mind was different. 'They think I'm joking… but I'm serious. I really want to get them out of ANBU,' he thought.
'I know it's almost impossible, but I'll try. They fit well working under me, and I like their work.'
His hands kept stirring the rice while his thoughts drifted, drafting possibilities, plans and near-impossible paths.
When the fried rice was ready, its savory steam rose as Raftra plated it with skilled movements. Wiping a bead of sweat from his brow, he turned to deliver it to a table.
He paused briefly, glancing at Yuria who was still watching the spaghetti. A thin smile appeared before he spoke.
"You used to be so stiff at work," Raftra said casually. "Your face was always blank, your tone always formal. Now… I'm glad to see you smile and be more relaxed."
Yuria looked up, startled he'd noticed. She inhaled slowly before replying, her voice still flat though with a slight change. "I'm just adapting to the workplace. I realized a cold, expressionless attitude doesn't suit here… so I adjusted."
"And also, I know you prefer it when I'm friendlier. That way you can ask me to serve customers too."
Raftra was surprised by her frankness, then laughed softly, shoulders trembling. "So you realize I use your change in attitude to benefit the shop and improve staffing efficiency?"
Yuria didn't reply, only stole a glance and returned to the pot. Her eyes, however, betrayed that she understood.
Kimkanji, overhearing, snickered while wagging his spatula. "Of course we noticed. We're ANBU—we're trained to be sensitive to small things. Don't think we don't pay attention to how you manage things, Boss."
Raftra glanced at Kimkanji, met his gaze and nodded as if acknowledging the truth. "True enough," he said softly, taking the plate of fried rice calmly.
"But honestly, it still feels weird when you call me boss."
Yuria glanced up. "You don't like being called that?"
Raftra shook his head. "Not dislike—just… not used to it. Especially since you two are older than me. Yuria's nineteen, Kimkanji seventeen, and I'm only fifteen. It feels odd to be called boss by people older than me."
"But… it's nice, too."
After saying that, he stepped out of the kitchen to deliver the dish.
The kitchen grew quiet. Kimkanji looked at Yuria and whispered, "Do you think we've succeeded in making Raftra trust us?"
Yuria stared at the steaming spaghetti for a moment. "I don't know. Raftra's expressions and words are unpredictable. Sometimes I feel he trusts us, other times I doubt it. So the Hokage's secret mission to gain his trust… we still have to keep working on it."
She drew a thin breath and added seriously, "Don't let your guard down. What we've seen might have been just his act."
Kimkanji swallowed and nodded firmly. "You're right. We must stay vigilant. As long as Raftra trusts us, the mission goes on."
Outside the kitchen Raftra set the plate of fried rice on the customer's table, wearing his usual thin smile while other thoughts turned in his head.
'Yuria and Kimkanji… I'm sure they're trying to make me trust them. At first their behavior seemed normal, but over time I felt something different. Like there's another intention behind their actions,' he thought.
'I can't prove it, so I don't know how to respond. But whatever their goals, one thing's certain… they're Hiruzen's picks.'
'So whatever they do is probably on the old man's orders. If so, I needn't worry too much about ulterior motives.'
….
Days passed. Before he knew it, two months had gone by since Raftra Kitchen opened in Konoha.
The little restaurant grew busier, became better known, and Raftra and those around him found themselves increasingly occupied.
One night, after closing and when the shop had quieted, everyone gathered in the front room.
Raftra sat with Kakashi, Yuria, and Kimkanji, who lounged at the customer tables.
With a serious tone Raftra began, "I've decided. I'm going to expand this small restaurant. I want to make it a large establishment."
The three who heard him exchanged glances without immediate response. Kakashi skimmed the plan; Yuria and Kimkanji waited for more details.
Raftra spread a large sheet of paper across the table. Hand-drawn sketches filled it—construction plans, staffing recruitment, and a sales system different from the norm.
Kakashi, after reading, let out a soft sigh. "Two months ago your dream about this business seemed overconfident. But now… it makes sense, and I think you can do it."
Raftra smiled with satisfaction. "Of course. I'm a man who keeps his word. Don't be surprised if one day you have to address me properly."
Kakashi snorted, unwilling to entertain the teasing. Raftra patted his shoulder and chuckled.
"Come on, I'm joking. There's no way I'd make my adoptive brother call me 'Raftra-sama' one day."
Kakashi actually looked amused now, a mixture of annoyance and mirth on his face. Yuria covered her mouth to hide a laugh while Kimkanji could barely contain himself at Raftra's relentless teasing.
The evening passed warmly, filled with light conversation about the business's future. The table was covered with sketches, warm tea glasses and leftover snacks.
Occasional soft laughter from Kimkanji, brief comments from Yuria. Even usually cold Kakashi seemed more relaxed, though he kept his stony expression.
Amid that warmth, Raftra's gaze froze. In the dim corner table he once again saw the adult version of himself.
That apparition had appeared so many times it no longer drew an exaggerated reaction. He remained calm, even daring to return the stare with a sharp look, as if challenging it. 'You're here again…' he thought.
The adult Raftra sat casually, arms folded. Slowly he smiled—not a warm, friendly smile, but a sly one; the smile of someone watching everything go according to plan.
Raftra murmured inwardly, 'And now you smile, huh? Are you pleased to see me doing all this? Or are you just laughing at me, still struggling?'
'While you—the one who's dead—just sit and watch your other self try so hard to avert fate…'
His heart beat a little faster, but he controlled his breath. He didn't want others to catch his unease. As usual, the adult figure vanished again, dispersing like wind-blown dust.
Kakashi, sitting beside him, noticed the small change in Raftra's expression and tapped his shoulder lightly. "What are you looking at?" he asked flatly, though his eyes held a hint of curiosity.
Raftra turned quickly and forced a faint smile. "Oh, nothing. I was just imagining what style this building would have in the future."
Kakashi studied him a while longer, trying to read his thoughts. Finally he merely snorted, unwilling to prolong the moment.
"Hm. Then don't get too lost in daydreams. There's work tomorrow morning."
Raftra chuckled softly. 'And Kakashi… I'm not entirely sure, but I think I've gotten a little closer to him,' he imagined.
'His behavior toward me now is similar to how he treats Team Seven. That's a good sign.'
'My plan to make him my adoptive brother probably only needs a few more months to work.'
….
Half an hour later Raftra and Kakashi left together. They didn't speak much, footsteps matching along Konoha's empty streets. The night air was cold, but it wasn't that which made Raftra's chest tight.
Near their home they saw three figures standing under the moonlight. The sight made Raftra stop—Danzo stood there, flanked by two loyal subordinates.
Raftra tensed instantly. He kept his expression neutral but his trembling hands slipped into his pockets. His heart pounded like it might burst.
Kakashi glanced over and tapped his shoulder gently. "You okay?" he asked briefly.
Raftra forced a smile, though his eyes were clearly anxious. He exhaled softly and whispered, "I'm a bit nervous… but it's fine."
Danzo stepped forward slowly, his manner calm and grimly authoritative.
Raftra and Kakashi bowed their heads in respect.
"I didn't expect we'd meet again after two months," Danzo said flatly, words that sounded polite on the surface but carried hidden meaning. "Quite the interesting coincidence."
'Coincidence, huh? No. I'm sure this old man meant to show himself,' Raftra thought, keeping a thin smile.
Danzo came closer and whispered words meant to twist the knife. "How are you? Is your body healed?"
Raftra shot a sharp glance. His jaw tightened. "Are you provoking me?"
A thin smile crossed Danzo's face. "I'm only asking. No particular meaning."
Raftra felt a torrent of emotions—anger, fear, hatred. His pocketed hand clenched so tightly it trembled; cold sweat beaded at his temples.
Danzo continued with lines aimed squarely at old wounds.
"Your business seems to be doing well. The villagers enjoy your foreign food. Quite remarkable."
"Because normally… someone who suffered at my hands… would not be able to live a normal life."
Raftra felt as if his heart had been cut. He almost lunged forward to strike the old man's face. Before he could, a hand landed on his shoulder.
It was Kakashi. He didn't speak, only looked straight ahead with cold, meaningful eyes: Don't be provoked, not now.
Raftra glanced at him, eyes aflame, and inhaled a long breath. Slowly he forced himself calm.
"Your words are dangerous, Lord Danzo," he said in a low, measured tone. "I almost lost control and struck your old face."
Then he bowed briefly. "If you have nothing important to discuss, I will take my leave. Perhaps we can speak under better circumstances in the future."
He walked away with composed steps though his heart still burned. Kakashi bowed his head briefly in return and followed Raftra's side.
A few meters from Danzo, Kakashi finally whispered, "You almost did it back there."
Raftra didn't look back. A thin, bitter smile curled his lips. "I know."
Kakashi exhaled and stared at the empty road ahead. "If you had really done it… your life would never have been the same."
Raftra fell silent; only their footsteps were heard. The faint smile faded, replaced by a cold expression.
His gaze hardened, radiating a deep-seated hatred. The atmosphere around them felt heavier.
Kakashi glanced at him. His lips moved as if about to say something, but Raftra spoke first.
"Sorry if I'm rude, Kakashi… but please don't say anything. Let me be silent." His tone was calm but tense.
Kakashi closed his mouth. He walked beside Raftra in silence, letting the night's hush take over. Yet inside him, something felt different.
'Usually I only felt pity when he crumbled. But this time… it's different,' he thought.
'That cold face, that look full of hate… he nearly lost control. That is far more frightening.'
'I hope Raftra doesn't stay this way long. I prefer the warm, talkative version—with odd ideas and sarcastic jokes that aren't even funny.'
'Yes… I prefer that Raftra. At least then there's a small, visible spark. Now I only see a suffocating shadow.'
'He even calls me Kakashi—no "-san." That shows how messed up he is.'