The initial thrill from unlocking the system had long since faded.
Now, the silence of the hospital room felt heavier than any battle. As loneliness crept in, Kakashi pulled the covers over his head and curled into himself.
He missed home.
In his past life, no matter how hectic the work schedule got, he always called his parents each night—even if only for a minute.
If I had filed for leave on time… I'd probably be on the train home right now.
A bitter thought slithered in.
So, am I… actually dead in that world?
He didn't want to consider what that would do to his family. As their only child, the idea of his elderly parents waiting by a silent phone was a punch to the gut.
Before he could spiral further, a soft voice called out:
"Kakashi~"
A small hand gently nudged him through the blanket.
Kakashi wiped away his tears quickly and peeked out. In front of him stood a young girl with short brown hair, large warm eyes, and a worried expression painted on her round face—marked with faint purple triangle patterns.
"...Rin?"
The name came naturally, merging memory and recognition.
"The Hokage sent word to excuse you from class. I heard and… I snuck over. I just wanted to check on you. Are you… okay?"
Kakashi nodded quietly. A strange warmth settled in his chest.
Rin didn't ask any more questions. She simply sat by the bed, pulled out a shiny apple, peeled it with care, and sliced it into neat pieces.
"Ah~"
She mimicked an adult feeding a child, voice high and coaxing.
Kakashi was momentarily stunned—then smirked softly. "You practice that on puppies or what?"
But he still opened his mouth obediently.
A gentle crunch, sweet and tangy. The flavor helped ground him a bit more in this new reality.
"Not bad. You should eat some too."
Rin shook her head and smiled, continuing to feed him one piece at a time.
Kakashi didn't argue. The sincerity in her actions wrapped around his cold heart like a blanket. It was the first genuine comfort he'd felt since waking up here.
Suddenly—
Bang!
The door burst open.
Two more kids crashed into the room.
One wore large goggles over his eyes and the Uchiha crest on the back of his outfit. The other wore green tights, had a bowl haircut that could cut glass, and eyebrows that could carry a conversation of their own.
Great. Obito Uchiha and Might Guy. The chaotic duo arrives.
Before Kakashi could react, Guy launched himself forward and trapped him in a tear-soaked bear hug.
"KAKASHIIII!"
"G-Guy—air, please—my ribs are forming a rebellion…"
Hearing that, Guy loosened his grip—but only slightly. Kakashi let out a breath and patted him on the back.
"I'm good. Not dead. Please don't snap me in half while confirming that."
Guy sniffled and stepped back. Obito, meanwhile, stood a bit awkwardly nearby, his usual bluster absent.
"Well, uh... Kakashi. Even if your dad's gone... you've still got us," Obito muttered. "I mean, I lost my parents too and I'm doing just fine, so… you can count on us. Or me. Or... whatever."
Kakashi smiled lightly. "You trying to make me cry or apply for therapy, Obito?"
Obito blinked, then huffed and looked away.
Kakashi continued, this time more sincerely. "Thank you. Really. I mean it."
Guy brightened up instantly. "That's the spirit! You're still my eternal rival, Kakashi!"
Rin, sitting nearby, quietly wiped her eyes while pretending to look away.
A nurse finally entered after hearing the commotion.
"The patient needs rest. You three—out. Especially you two noisy ones," she added, pointing to Obito and Guy.
"But—!"
"No buts. He needs peace."
Guy and Obito reluctantly shuffled out, leaving Rin behind.
"I can stay quiet," she said, holding the nurse's gaze with firm eyes. "I just want to take care of him."
The nurse paused, clearly moved by her sincerity. "Alright. But only if he rests."
Rin beamed and nodded.
Before leaving, Obito promised to let her parents know she'd be home late.
By 8 p.m., her parents came looking, slightly panicked. Rin left only after whispering a soft goodbye, still worried about Kakashi's state.
Once alone, Kakashi lay back on the bed.
Strangely, he felt calmer.
I'm not alone here, he thought. There are people who care. That's something.
Physically, Kakashi was fine. But mentally, he just didn't want to go back to the Hatake house yet.
Lying in bed, he stared at the ceiling and began to think—really think—about what came next.
In his previous life, he'd been stuck in the endless grind of adult life. His dream? Honestly, just to laze around, earn decent money, maybe marry a sweet woman, have a kid or two, and sleep under a warm blanket.
A peaceful life.
But this world didn't offer that to anyone—especially not ninja.
Third Shinobi World War, Kyūbi attack, Pain's invasion, Fourth Great War... in this world, ordinary shinobi were cannon fodder with fancy headbands.
Yes, original Kakashi survived it all.
But with his arrival as a butterfly in the timeline? Everything might change.
And if he slacked off now? That "Elite Jōnin" badge might come with a "Deceased" stamp.
Elite ninja had far higher survival rates, that much was obvious. Most who died were reckless, stubborn, or victims of extreme ideology. Being strong wasn't just cool—it was insurance.
Back in his old life, Kakashi always had backup plans. Contingencies. Flowcharts for flowcharts.
Now? His life depended on it.
So... power. That's the only answer.
His first step was to build a growth path.
In the original timeline, his chakra reserves weren't small—but after receiving Obito's Sharingan, the transplant rejection drained him constantly. Hence the constant tired look and the meme-worthy kidney-deficiency aura.
Now that he had a system that let him learn jutsu directly, the Sharingan's main advantage—copying techniques—was obsolete.
Sure, Kamui from the Mangekyō was useful... but the cost?
Slow activation, two-shot energy tank, and a risk of complete blindness unless he played organ donor bingo with Hashirama cells.
Hard pass.
And the reason he'd been so "meh" during the Zabuza arc?
He'd lost his father, his best friend, and his teacher in short order. He'd basically hit rock bottom emotionally and coasted.
But Kakashi at age five? Graduated the Academy.
Six? Became a Chūnin.
Twelve? Already a Jōnin.
With that kind of talent and no transplant burden? He could easily match the White Fang's Kage-level might—maybe even surpass it.
So what should his new path be?
He outlined the most viable options:
Hatake-ryū Kenjutsu (Hatake Sword Style) – inherited and highly underrated.
Raikiri (Lightning Cutter) – his own original ninjutsu, though it needed a stronger chakra core.
Flying Thunder God Technique – insanely useful but guarded by Minato.
Eight Inner Gates – high risk, high reward. Physical conditioning required.
Senjutsu (Sage Mode) – long-term goal; needs access to sacred places and animal contracts.
Currently? Only Hatake Sword Style and Eight Gates were within reach.
Flying Thunder God was locked behind future interactions with Minato.
Sage Mode? He wasn't about to go frog-hunting in the wilderness yet.
Raikiri needed more raw chakra and control. A Jōnin-level feat.
And Eight Gates? Well, Might Duy might not have passed it down to Guy yet. And even if he had, Kakashi's current body probably couldn't handle even Gate One.
So the conclusion?
He needed to start with physical conditioning—build the engine before installing rocket launchers.
Push-ups today, world domination tomorrow, Kakashi thought dryly, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
Outside, the moon had already risen.
Inside, a boy once called Kakashi closed his eyes—not to sleep, but to plan.