Glancing at the clock, Kakashi pushed the wheelchair to the bedside.
"Let's go, didn't we agree to visit Father together today?"
Naraku didn't insist on walking himself as he used to, knowing Kakashi would definitely not agree, so he simply didn't bother.
Sitting in the wheelchair, he asked the father and son, "Are Senior Dai and Might Guy coming too?"
Might Duy nodded, "That's good! I want to thoroughly explain the Ninjutsu of Youth to Sakumo! Last time I didn't get to say much, which was truly a pity...!"
The four of them went upstairs to Sakumo's private room. As soon as Naraku entered and saw him, his eyes involuntarily reddened. He blinked twice to hold back the tears.
He might have missed Sakumo too much.
Kakashi was busy changing his father's clothes and sheets, and washing his hands and feet.
Might Duy continued from where he was interrupted last time while talking about his Ninjutsu, but this time his voice was softer, so as not to annoy the nurse and get them kicked out.
Naraku, on the other hand, stood up from the wheelchair and carefully examined his master's brain with Medical Ninjutsu to see if there were any changes from before.
Unfortunately, it was still the same as before, with no improvement.
Naraku withdrew his disappointed gaze and silently pulled Sakumo's arm to massage it, while simultaneously using Medical Ninjutsu to nourish the muscles, preventing atrophy from lying down for too long.
At this moment, Might Guy noticed that Naraku was not as familiar with physical training as he was. He leaned over, took Sakumo's arm, and while kneading certain spots, he spoke.
"Naraku, look here, here, and here too."
"Father once taught me that these few spots are very important. Massaging them can relieve fatigue, and long-term persistence can also promote muscle growth and blood circulation."
"In this way, with Medical Ninjutsu to compensate, Uncle Sakumo can maintain a certain amount of muscle even if he doesn't move for a long time."
Naraku sighed, realizing that indeed, in a group of three, there must be a teacher.
As expected of a father and son who had cultivated Taijutsu to its peak.
Over time, they had an unparalleled depth of knowledge in physical training, and their familiarity with the human body was higher than that of ordinary Medical Ninja.
For example, those little tricks just now were not in any books.
He quickly followed Might Guy's movements and practiced, "Is it like this?"
"Yes, yes!" Might Guy gave a thumbs-up, his white teeth sparkling, "Naraku! You truly are the genius Father often talks about! I'm fired up!"
"Huh?" Naraku's eyes turned into dots, wondering what was so exciting about that.
"Watch closely, I'm going to teach you all my knowledge!!"
"Okay!"
--Who cares why, today I must extract everything Might Guy knows!
Fighting spirit burst forth in Naraku's eyes.
Kakashi was speechless, watching Naraku, who was inexplicably infected by Might Guy, with one teaching and one learning, both busy and enthusiastic. Beside them, Might Duy was shedding tears of emotion, shouting, "This is youth!" Kakashi felt like he was the only normal person left in the room.
--But... it's been a long time since Father's side was this lively, hasn't it?
He smiled relaxedly, feeling for the first time that there was still hope for his father to wake up.
Soon, Might Duy, who was too loud, was politely asked to leave by the nurse, and the three children were busy for over an hour.
It wasn't until Might Guy's limited knowledge was exhausted that Naraku wiped the sweat from his face with satisfaction, breathing heavily as he collapsed back into the wheelchair.
Kakashi asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"
Naraku's health was already poor. Not only had he learned from Might Guy for so long, but he had also used Medical Ninjutsu to maintain his father's entire body muscles. What if his condition worsened?
Midway, seeing the sweat on Naraku's forehead, he wanted to say several times that they could continue learning next time, but the other party's serious expression always made him unable to speak.
"I'm fine, Kakashi, a good night's sleep will fix it."
Naraku then took Might Guy's bandaged hands and thanked him solemnly, "Thank you, Might Guy, for letting me learn so much."
Might Guy put his hands on his hips, smiling so widely his eyes disappeared, "Companions should help each other! Don't be so polite with me!"
Seeing the familiar smile on his face, Naraku felt a little dazed.
In the original timeline, only Might Guy accompanied Kakashi until the end. So now, could he perhaps make their relationship even better?
If "Uchiha Naraku" had to disappear later, Kakashi, with his friends by his side, would surely feel much better, wouldn't he?
--Yes, even without me... Kakashi must always be happy.
Naraku lowered his head, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"What's wrong, Naraku?" Kakashi bent down, wanting to see his face, "Are you tired after all?"
"Seems like it."
Naraku met Kakashi's gaze, showing no unusual expression on his face, but his mind was still racing.
--What's wrong with me?
--Am I... regretting something?
--Regretting what?
After the Matsukata mission, Naraku realized he was too deeply involved and couldn't let Sakumo and Kakashi follow their original paths, wanting to try and change destiny.
So, was he regretting not being able to save Sakumo?
Although he tried his best, sacrificing many years of his life only barely saved half of Sakumo's life, but at least he could wake up someday, couldn't he?
He also wouldn't let Sakumo weaken because of this. On the day he woke up, Sakumo would definitely be stronger than before.
So, was he regretting not being able to protect Kakashi?
Back then, Black Zetsu wanted to force him to activate his Mangekyo and chose to target Kakashi. He was indeed furious, wishing he could immediately chop this black mud into pieces and feed it to dogs.
But to protect Kakashi from further harm, he had already given Black Zetsu exactly what he wanted, and used himself as bait, gaining the trust of Black Zetsu and Madara with his dual personality. Kakashi was safe now, wasn't he?
Even if he had to leave Konoha later and operate as Ash, he could still maximize the guarantee that Kakashi would not be harmed by the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan.
--So, what am I regretting?
The wheels of the wheelchair rolled in the corridor, making a low, faint friction sound.
Naraku looked up at Kakashi, who was pushing the wheelchair behind him with a calm expression, and suddenly remembered that deep night when he had heard a call.
An extremely faint cry, as if from far away, so weak it was like tinnitus.
But he knew—as if by some telepathy—that it was Kakashi calling him.
His body reacted even before his consciousness, wanting to grasp the hand extended towards him.
Later, Kakashi appeared before him, covered in dirt and looking distraught, sobbing on the ground, looking utterly pitiful.
At that moment, even the excruciating pain on his body, as if being burned by fire or hacked by an axe and knife, couldn't compare to the feeling of an invisible hand squeezing a part of his heart, wringing out a bitter, aching sorrow.
So he couldn't control himself, and reached out a finger to touch the back of the other's hand, which was covered in mud and black ash.
Enduring the agony each word brought, he still had to say a few words to comfort him.
"Ka... Kakashi..."
[Kakashi.]
"It's okay... Don't... be sad..."
[I'm back, don't cry.]
Since then, every time he saw Kakashi's tears, Naraku became increasingly unable to bear it, even wanting to break his current persona to smile at him and say that everything was fine.
He didn't want to see Kakashi cry, didn't want to see Kakashi so sad, didn't want Kakashi to suffer because of his departure.
He wanted Kakashi to find happiness, joy, and all the best things in the world—because Kakashi deserved all the best things in the world.
--So, what am I regretting?
Naraku buried his head, asking himself, then realized that drops of water were falling into his palm.
--Ah, so that's it.
He pursed his trembling lips, knowing the answer to that question.
--I regret only realizing it after deciding to leave.
--It turns out I'm so afraid of leaving Kakashi alone.