"Rei has made remarkable progress."
Shisui found himself even happier than Rei, the very one who had achieved that progress.
And yet, at the same time, an inexplicable sense of melancholy welled up in his heart.
The stronger Rei became, the nearer she seemed to draw to the shinobi world—closer to bloodshed and death, closer to despair and sorrow.
From beginning to end, all Shisui had ever wished for was that Rei could remain a girl both innocent and kind, blessed with happiness and peace.
For the sake of protecting Rei's happiness, Shisui was willing to give everything.
Yet after watching Rei's training today, he could not help but feel a quiet worry rising within him—a fear of the distant, uncertain future.
For the first time, he felt a faint regret about bringing Rei into Konoha.
It was a dangerous thought.
It was absolutely not the kind of thought a qualified shinobi should ever allow themselves to have.
He shook the idea from his mind, forcing it away.
As his eyes fell on Rei, who was once again lifting the empty bento box she had earlier set on the ground, he recalled her words not long ago—how she intended to prepare breakfast for Kakashi-senpai every day.
Making sure his expression and manner appeared perfectly natural, Shisui spoke as though offhandedly, his tone laced with the faintest trace of probing tension:
"Rei... are you getting along well with Kakashi-senpai?"
The question carried a subtle edge, a thread of nervousness carefully hidden.
Rei, sharp as ever, sensed it immediately.
Her brows arched ever so slightly, and pretending as if she had not noticed anything unusual, she nodded toward Shisui. "Mm!"
As if that were not enough, Rei added with a cheerful smile, "Although Kakashi-senpai may seem cold and unwilling to say even a single word, I can actually feel that he's a very gentle person!"
Gentle, his ass!
Someday, Rei swore, he would pin Kakashi down and grind his face into the dirt.
He would make Kakashi understand who the real father was!
The smile on Rei's lips stood in complete opposition to the thoughts running in his heart.
No one could guess his inner turmoil—no one, except the system: "..."
Glancing at Shisui, who already looked uneasy after hearing her speak with such warmth about Kakashi, Rei twisted the blade deeper into his heart:
"Kakashi-senpai's instruction is earnest. I can feel that he truly wants me to become strong enough to protect myself."
"He's not good at expressing himself, but his subtle feelings can definitely be sensed."
The words themselves made Rei's own teeth ache.
Once he had fattened Kakashi up, he was going to gorge himself on a few extra bites of meat to soothe the pain of all these barefaced lies.
Kakashi, with that arrogant attitude of his—who on earth could sense his "subtle feelings"?
Perhaps only his dear companion Obito!
Walking shoulder to shoulder with Shisui out of the forest, Rei recalled the whispers he had heard while working in the hospital treating shinobi.
"When I was working at the hospital, I often heard many patients talk about Kakashi-senpai," Rei said.
"They said Kakashi-senpai was the kind of person who would ruthlessly sacrifice his comrades just to complete a mission..."
This was not something Rei fabricated—it was fact.
During his breaks at the hospital, Rei had often overheard injured shinobi sneering about Kakashi.
Their voices had dripped with scorn and disdain, painting him as a ruthless executioner—someone who would slaughter his own comrades with his own hands in the name of a mission.
They said things like, "Someone like that isn't even worth being in the same squad with."
Rei's words made Shisui's eyes narrow.
Clearly, he had heard those same rumors himself.
Shisui was someone who valued his comrades deeply.
When he had first heard such gossip, he had stopped those around him from continuing the discussion, but the name "Kakashi" had still sparked his curiosity.
Later, during the few occasions he came into contact with Kakashi-senpai, he sensed a subtle dissonance—something in Kakashi that did not entirely align with those rumors. Doubt about their truth had begun to take shape.
Now, Shisui turned his gaze toward Rei, eager to know what she truly thought in her heart.
Compared to him, Rei had been under Kakashi's guidance all along. Surely, she understood him more.
"I don't believe what they say is true."
Sensing Shisui's gaze, Rei shook her head firmly, answering with unwavering conviction: "One can never truly understand a person through rumors."
Within the range of Rei's perception, the forest around them held more than just her and Shisui.
"I am someone who has genuinely interacted with Kakashi-senpai."
"I know that he is not the man they describe."
With a sigh, Rei explained softly, "Kakashi-senpai is simply too quiet. He hides himself behind his mask, unwilling to explain, unwilling to express."
In other words—a silent blockhead who couldn't be forced to spit out even half a sentence!
Spending an entire morning with Kakashi—unable to eat meat, unable to communicate—had nearly driven Rei mad with pent-up frustration.
Yet Shisui only looked at her in awe.
Not just for her growing strength, but for the growth of her heart.
Rei was becoming ever stronger, ever more mature.
A bittersweet joy surged through Shisui's chest.
"Through this time of training, I've come to realize that becoming a shinobi is an arduous path," Rei said, halting her steps and gazing at Shisui with admiration and reverence.
"Whether it is Kakashi-senpai or you, Shisui, to have become such outstanding shinobi at so young an age—you must have endured unimaginable hardship and countless trials."
At her words, Shisui's heart felt as though it had been submerged in warm water, swollen and aching all at once.
Her voice echoed in his ears, mingling with the rapid pounding of his own heartbeat.
"Despite the malicious rumors, Kakashi-senpai has continued to walk his own path," Rei continued, her voice gentle yet resolute.
"When I imagine myself in his place, I cannot help but want to cry for him."
"To carry the weight of his comrades' misunderstanding, and the agony of their loss... Kakashi-senpai must be the one suffering most of all."
"He has helped me so much already. I want, in turn, to help him."
"I cannot say I understand his pain, for I have never truly experienced it myself. But with my own strength, I wish to guide Kakashi-senpai out of the shadows."
Rei smiled softly at Shisui, her eyes alight with calm sincerity.
"Although I have yet to think of any real way to help, the only idea I have is to prepare bentos for Kakashi-senpai, to remind him to take care of his health... It may be a foolish method, but it is all I can do for now."
Seeing Rei like this, Shisui couldn't help but feel a twinge of shame.
He had underestimated her.
Rei's heart was that of a shinobi who carried great love.
How could he have reduced her kindness and compassion to something as simple as childish affection?
Together, Rei and Shisui stepped beyond the forest.
And there, behind the trunk of a towering tree that pierced the sky, sat Kakashi.
He slowly pulled down the mask from his face.
A single ray of sunlight slipped through the canopy, illuminating his dim, weary eyes.
***