During Tsunade's treatment, Rin dazedly scanned her surroundings.
A girl with short brown hair and big brown eyes.
Her face youthful, she seemed the cheerful, smiley type.
Now…
Rin noticed Kakashi staring at her, stunned.
Same outfit, same hair.
So… this uncle idolized Kakashi?
Kakashi's so cool, even old fans like this!
But she clearly remembered…
She'd rammed into Kakashi's Chidori. She should be dead.
"All good, perfectly healthy," Tsunade said, check done, grinning excitedly, eyes even reddening.
She'd believed.
But seeing revival's miracle shook her heart.
"Lady Tsunade," Rin said, shy, standing with effort, bowing. "Thank you. Did you save me? My team—Kakashi—how's he?"
Asking about Kakashi, Rin's face tensed slightly.
If he was safe…
He'd be here, waiting for her to wake.
And this place didn't look like a Konoha base.
Was the war still on?
"Kakashi, huh…" Tsunade glanced at him, her look clear.
"Rin," Kakashi croaked, throat bobbing, voice hoarse, meeting her gaze, helpless.
"I… you… Obito…"
"Ugh, let me," Tsunade said, grabbing Rin's shoulders, staring into her eyes. "Hard to swallow, Rin, but straight up: you died. Kakashi and I revived you. It's now fourteen years after your sacrifice."
Blunt as hell.
Rin's face froze, shocked.
As Kakashi seemed to want to add something…
Rin's gaze snapped to him, brown eyes wide.
"So… uncle's Kakashi?"
"Uncle…" Kakashi stiffened, faintly graying.
"They can even revive people," Rin said, a big smile blooming. She stepped to Kakashi, accepting it all effortlessly, then asked, tense, "Kakashi, what about Obito? If I'm back, is he?"
That close, familiar smile…
Kakashi's nerves eased, his tone lightening.
"Obito… probably isn't dead," he said, shaking his head. "But I don't know where he is. For years, I thought he was gone."
"Oh…" A flicker of disappointment crossed Rin's eyes, then vanished. Looking at Kakashi, she jumped, smacking his shoulder, grinning. "You're so tall now! Fourteen years—twenty-six? Wow, are you married? Kids?"
"Nope!" Kakashi shot back fast. "Never even had a girlfriend."
"…"
Silence hit.
Then…
Pfft.
Sakura couldn't hold it, covering her mouth.
What? This Kakashi-sensei's too cute.
Kakashi's face blazed red, even through his mask. He grabbed Rin, fleeing. "I'll catch you up on these years—over here."
Rin glanced at Tsunade.
Then followed, smiling.
"Really a good girl," Tsunade said softly, chuckling.
"Yep," Shen Mo nodded. "She hasn't fully accepted her revival. She's smiling to keep everyone from worrying."
"Hm, a girl who thinks of others first…" Tsunade's voice softened, watching Kakashi and Rin, her gaze pensive.
Shen Mo stayed quiet.
Just stroked Hiju, sleepy in his arms.
The night was calm.
After a while, Kakashi and Rin returned. Rin had accepted everything, confirming Kakashi's identity.
Kakashi…
His eyes brimmed with joy.
Probably his happiest day in years.
"Lady Tsunade, Lord Shen Mo," Kakashi said. "I'm taking Rin to see the Hokage to restore her identity."
"Go," Tsunade waved. "I owe you today. Since Obito's alive, keep your remaining trades for your own cans."
Kakashi had aimed to revive comrades.
But…
Most of the haul went to Tsunade.
Kakashi nodded.
As he turned to leave…
"Kakashi," Shen Mo called, stepping closer, smiling. "Think hard about what cans you want."
Glancing at Rin, his smile under the moonlight held mystery. His lips moved, voice like a faint breeze, reaching only Kakashi.
"I see in this girl endless pain, inescapable war, deep-world conspiracies… Your and her fates may need more cans to shift."
Nohara Rin, the woman who sparked a war.
She's back.
What'll Obito think? Black Zetsu?
Kakashi's life's about to get wild.
Kakashi stood, baffled.
What the hell?
By now…
Shen Mo's power and mystique were ingrained. His words felt like fate's prophecy.
But Rin's just a normal girl.
"Kakashi?" Rin caught his sudden stiffness.
"It's fine," Kakashi said, exhaling, looking at the small girl, his gaze firming.
Rin's back.
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