Chapter 3: Might Guy, the Emotional Value Provider
A clean, clear, and bright eye, like a black gemstone, was set in the socket.
Kakashi stared at his eyes in the mirror. They were a perfect match.
If one had to point out a single difference, it was that Rin's eye seemed to carry a hint of 'cheerfulness'?
Perhaps it was an illusion. How could an eye carry an emotion like cheerfulness?
"How does it feel?" Shizune-san, who had finished packing her things, smiled as she watched Kakashi study his eye in the mirror.
"It feels just like my own eye," Kakashi replied honestly.
"That's good. I'm relieved. I'll be going now."
Shizune was very busy. As Tsunade-sama's head apprentice, she had been thrown into the hospital by Tsunade-sama since the first day she returned to Konoha. Every day, she rushed between various wounded patients.
"When can I be discharged?"
After several days of rest, Kakashi felt that if he wasn't fully recovered, he was at least 70-80% of the way there. Rather than staying in the hospital room, it was better to go home early.
"This..." Shizune-san, who had been about to leave, stopped and looked at the white-haired boy with some hesitation. "Kakashi-kun, will you be alright on your own?"
"No problem," Kakashi nodded.
"In that case, Kakashi-kun can be discharged at any time."
Shizune-san nodded. Kakashi could have actually been discharged three days ago. She had been considering Kakashi's past experiences, and now the pain of losing his sensei, and she was afraid Kakashi might do something rash.
Now that Rin's eye had restored Kakashi's sight... there was no way Kakashi would do anything irrational with this eye.
"Thank you very much," Kakashi said sincerely.
Although it had only been a few days, Kakashi truly disliked being in the hospital.
"It seems Kakashi-kun doesn't like it here. I suppose so. After all, this is a place filled with death and sorrow."
Perhaps Kakashi's expression was too obvious. Shizune-san gave a helpless smile.
[Emotional Fluctuation from Shizune +1]
[Chakra +1%]
"It's not that. The hospital is a place of salvation."
"It is the first line of defense—and the only line of defense—where the living battle against death."
"And as a medical-nin, Shizune-san, you are a hero fighting against the Shinigami."
[Emotional Fluctuation from Shizune +1]
[Chakra +1%]
"Is that so? I'll take that as a good omen, then." Shizune-san smiled faintly, waved, and left the room.
But the prompt in Kakashi's mind indicated that she was not as calm as she appeared on the surface.
After Shizune-san left, Kakashi efficiently completed his discharge procedures. Carrying his few belongings, he left the hospital room alone.
"Kakashi-kun, take care of yourself~!"
"He's so handsome!"
"Is Kakashi-kun being discharged?"
Some nurses greeted Kakashi enthusiastically along the way, but before they could say much, they were dragged back by the ear by an irritable head nurse.
"We still have so many wounded, and you have time to stand here and swoon?"
"I guess you think you don't have enough work to do!"
Kakashi, who had been about to respond to the nurses, wore a helpless expression at this sight.
[Emotional Fluctuation from Ayako +1]
[Chakra +1%]
Hai, hai... I get it.
Kakashi glanced at the poor nurse and completely ignored the "buff-triggering" prompt in his mind.
Leaving the hospital, Kakashi walked alone through the streets of Konoha.
A scene of utter devastation.
Although the Nine-Tails' Bijūdama had been teleported away by the Yondaime Hokage, Minato Namikaze, its destructive path had still obliterated many buildings. Before the Nine-Tails was teleported, Konoha's shinobi had been fighting it with their lives on the line. This had resulted in massive casualties.
The post-war reconstruction efforts were now in full swing. Workers and shinobi were everywhere, participating in the rebuilding.
"Who's that?"
"Never seen his face before."
"I think that's... Kakashi?"
"Is that what he really looks like under the mask?"
"So handsome."
"Stop swooning and get back to work."
[...Emotional Fluctuation +1]
[Chakra +1%]
Obviously, few people really cared if you were handsome or not. The way Sasuke was chased around by all the fawning girls in his class in the original story... that kind of thing only happens with kids who don't know the world and haven't been beaten down by life yet.
"KAKASHI!" A familiar voice, accompanied by a trail of dust, came rushing toward him.
[Emotional Fluctuation from Might Guy +1]
[Chakra +1%]
Guy, you magnificent... you're surprisingly good at providing this 'emotional value'.
His voice arrives before he does.
Even before seeing him, Might Guy had already provided Kakashi with plenty of emotional value.
"Guy." His eyes curved into crescents as he prepared to turn and greet him.
The moment Kakashi turned, his body instinctively ducked.
There was no other reason: if he hadn't ducked, his head would have been clocked by a huge bundle of long timber planks Guy was carrying on his shoulder.
"KAKASHI!"
"You're finally out of the hospital!"
"As expected of my eternal rival!"
"Let's have our duel!"
"THIS IS YOUTH!"
Might Guy, balancing the huge bundle of timber with one hand, flashed Kakashi his signature pearly-white smile and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Sorry, Guy. Next time."
Wiping away the non-existent cold sweat from his brow, Kakashi looked at the bowl-cut-wearing shinobi with exasperation.
He had just gotten out of the hospital; how could he be in any condition to duel Guy?
Besides, he really should go and pay his respects to Minato Namikaze. He had been unconscious for ten days. Minato-sensei had already been buried. As his student, he absolutely had to go pay his respects.
"What a shame! I wanted to have a true man's duel with you, Kakashi!"
"To celebrate you getting out of the hospital!"
Hearing Guy's regretful words, Kakashi felt a bead of cold sweat form.
Your way of celebrating is a duel...?
But, considering it was Guy, Kakashi let it go. He didn't dislike this part of his personality.
"Maa, next time. I'll treat you to a meal next time, Guy."
"In that case, it's a promise!"
"This is a hot-blooded, youthful promise between men!"
"SING YOUR PRAISES!"
"WORK HARD!"
"THE YOUTH OF KONOHA'S BLUE BEAST, MIGHT GUY!"
[Emotional Fluctuation from Might Guy +1]
[Chakra +1%]
With a final roar, Guy charged toward the end of the street, still carrying the huge bundle of timber.
That was where the construction site was.
Apparently, while singing the praises of his youth, Might Guy was also doing his part to help.
"That guy..." Kakashi smiled helplessly at the retreating, energetic figure.
He didn't even notice my Sharingan is gone.
I guess that's Guy for you, huh?