A battlefield resembling the end of the Ninja World.
Countless shattered rocks floated in the air, as if defying gravity.
This was the anomaly caused by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path evolving into the Ten-Tails.
The battle continued.
Golden Naruto, Kakashi, Killer Bee, and Might Guy were all trying to stop this evolution.
But the prerequisite for stopping it was to first eliminate the White Masked Man before them.
"I want to conduct an experiment. I'd appreciate your help."
Kakashi stared at the scratch on the Masked Man's mask and uttered these words.
"Let's go!"
"Alright!!"
Three figures were thrown by the Eight-Tails transformed Killer Bee.
This was followed by a series of dense attacks, one after another.
Not allowing the Masked Man any respite.
Of course,
for the Masked Man, it made no difference how many came.
"Rasengan!"
A sky-blue spiraling energy orb was wielded by Golden Naruto in an attack.
"It's useless. Don't you understand yet?"
Again, it passed straight through his body.
But,
the Masked Man seemed to be hit directly by an explosion.
His entire body was sent flying to the ground.
The Masked Man's faint voice came from where he lay.
"Is that so? Naruto didn't cancel the Rasengan."
"It was Kakashi."
"You used Kamui to transfer the Rasengan."
Seeing the Rasengan's attack was effective, Kakashi's heart settled.
He then explained the principle of the Masked Man's intangibility to Naruto and Might Guy beside him.
However,
"Where did you get that eye from?!"
Not all space-time Ninjutsu spaces are the same place!
Kakashi could feel this when he released Kamui!
But whether it was the previous Lightning Release Kunai or the current Rasengan...
He could attack his body through the Kamui dimension!
The only answer was...
The Masked Man's Mangekyo and his Mangekyo originated from the same person!
"Where from?"
The Masked Man snorted, "If I had to say, it would be the last great war."
"The Kannabi Bridge Battle, the war where you earned the title of Sharingan Hero."
Cold sweat seeped from beneath Kakashi's forehead protector, "You..."
The Masked Man suddenly pointed at Kakashi, "I told you, don't just open your mouth!"
As if enraged, his voice carried a hint of hoarseness.
"You have degenerated into a person who only talks big."
"Whatever you say has no value or meaning whatsoever!"
"It's too late for regret."
"Reality will only advance cruelly."
"You've seen too much reality, you should understand."
"All wishes in this world are impossible to achieve."
"That's why I want to lead the world into the dream of the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
"I want to create a world where heroes don't have to pathetically explain themselves at graves."
Hearing these words,
Kakashi's breathing quickened involuntarily.
He recalled his past.
The person opposite him seemed to be speaking about him.
At the grave, pathetically explaining...
Naruto stepped forward a few paces, "Hey, you're still spouting nonsense here."
"I also said that I would never give up my dream of becoming Hokage."
"Too many things have been entrusted to me."
The Masked Man let out a soft snort, finding it somewhat amusing.
"Things entrusted to you, you say?"
"But Naruto, if you slighted the things Jiraiya and the Fourth Hokage entrusted to you,"
"What would they think?"
These words were not merely the Masked Man's questioning of Naruto.
They were also a questioning of Kakashi.
He possessed that eye, accepted the entrustment.
Why did his comrade ultimately die by his own hand?
Did Kakashi truly have the resolve...
"Naruto, if you betray their trust,"
"How will you view yourself?"
The Masked Man's two eyes gazed profoundly through his mask.
"Postponing problems, deceiving yourself with the word 'hope',"
"Only an empty reality awaits you."
"Whether it's the one who entrusts or the one who is entrusted,"
"There is only emptiness."
...Outside Hidden Rain Village.
Cave entrance.
The orange Masked Man calmly watched the screen with one eye.
So real, so logical.
The thoughts of the White Masked Man on the screen.
They were entirely his own thoughts.
If he had always had doubts before,
whether the content of the screen was fake.
Then by now,
he completely believed.
The White Masked Man on the screen was himself.
Who else but himself could have such insight?
Who could directly point to Kakashi's inner thoughts, revealing his most unbearable past?
Before the Nine-Tails Attack,
he saw that guy at the Konoha memorial stone.
Pathetically whispering something.
Disregard? More than just disregard.
Betrayal would not be an exaggeration.
Being able to confess these words on the screen.
The Masked Man felt nothing out of the ordinary.
Kakashi was probably also watching this scene at this moment.
Would he recall the true identity of the Masked Man on the screen?
Thinking of Kakashi guessing this truth,
the Masked Man was somewhat eager to see that guy's expression at this moment.
Hmph, let it be exposed.
This teacher, the protagonist of the screen,
is actually the least worthy of uttering the word "comrade"...
Nagato silently observed the Masked Man's state through Pain.
Seeing his unusually calm reaction,
Nagato couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
This guy is very strong.
With his objective exposed, he didn't know if he would do anything crazy.
Fortunately, not for now.
It seemed the Masked Man was indifferent to such exposure.
Only...
'Postponing problems, deceiving yourself with the word 'hope''
Nagato's Rinnegan also returned to calm.
He was also a person who didn't believe in hope.
Perhaps even a pitiful person...
Konoha.
Ninja Academy.
Observation Deck.
Kakashi's entire body was trembling slightly.
The screen merely showed a few ordinary sentences.
But they directly made him think of countless things.
Kannabi Bridge Battle!
Sharingan Hero!
Explaining at the grave!
Betraying their trust!
Only emptiness.
These words, one by one, struck him deep inside.
Making him think.
There was once a warm-hearted, simple-minded person who wanted to become Hokage.
When he first became a Jonin, he forgot to prepare a gift.
But in the end, he gave an eye.
Entrusting him to take good care of Rin—
Thinking of that scene again,
Kakashi's forehead was uncontrollably drenched in sweat.
If it really was him!
Why did it turn out like this?
The Pain of guilt tormented him for over a decade; this feeling had even become a part of him.
What he wanted to know even more was,
Why did things turn out this way?
After he successfully survived, why didn't he return to Konoha?
Even if he had made a serious mistake, he could have been punished directly.
Obito...
Naruto felt his body swaying slightly.
Clearly, the bench on the Observation Deck was moving.
He couldn't help but turn to find the source.
Suddenly seeing Kakashi's abnormal state, Naruto's expression changed drastically.
How could this be?
From the first time he met Kakashi-sensei,
he felt he was a reliable, mature senior.
His entire demeanor was also very laid-back.
Rarely showing strong emotions.
Now...
"Kakashi-sensei!!"
Hearing the sound,
everyone looked over in unison.
Suddenly seeing Kakashi's abnormality,
everyone was startled again.
Might Guy knew Kakashi very well.
He guessed that Kakashi might have figured something out.
But precisely because of this, he found it difficult to offer advice.
Such a matter could not be explained in just a few words.
Jiraiya: "Let Kakashi calm down by himself first."
"Everyone, let's continue watching the screen for now. You might understand the reason later..."