Mikoto, for her part, was happy to see it happen.
Experiencing the kindness of those around him would be beneficial for Naraku as he emerged from his gloom.
However, she remained cautious, often secretly observing his state.
If she sensed any problem, she would immediately take him back home.
Fortunately, Naraku's performance was exactly what Mikoto had hoped for, and he seemed to be gradually recovering.
When they were out for a walk, if familiar clan members came to talk to her, or if Uchiha children whispered nearby with curiosity, Naraku would simply stand by, waiting quietly.
Even when many people watched him, his expression remained calm and serene.
He no longer showed the helplessness and vulnerability he had displayed on his first day home.
Even though everything about Naraku was slowly improving, Mikoto still felt uneasy.
The recovery process was too smooth, so perfect that it almost seemed like a rehearsed performance.
She wanted to believe that the emotional rift was truly healing, allowing Naraku to return to normal.
But it was also possible that he had simply become skilled at hiding it.
Perhaps the smile on his face was so well-practiced that it was impossible to distinguish it from a real one.
Was Naraku really better?
Were his current actions all just an illusion?
If Black Zetsu, who had been lurking by Naraku's side, could read minds and knew the doubts in Mikoto's heart, it would surely laugh in triumph.
It would answer her with the cold facts it had observed.
No!
This brat had long since fallen into the abyss!
After observing in the shadows of Konoha for so long, Zetsu was certain that while Uchiha Naraku looked normal on the outside, his emotions were completely broken.
He knew exactly what expression to show and what words to say at certain times, but these did not stem from emotion.
It was simply because he knew he was expected to act that way.
Every night, when Mikoto fell into a deep sleep due to the fatigue of her pregnancy, Naraku remained awake.
Driven by excessive pain, he could not easily fall asleep and would spend hours staring blankly at the night sky.
Almost every night, he avoided those who cared about him and ran to the small river to salvage the necklace Kakashi Hatake had discarded.
He searched inch by inch along the riverbed, piously turning over every stone, but he never found it.
Black Zetsu had actually thought about finding the necklace itself to completely extinguish Naraku's hope.
However, the current had been too swift that night, and even Zetsu didn't know where it had been washed away.
If a creature like Zetsu couldn't find it, how could Uchiha Naraku?
Thinking of this, Black Zetsu relaxed, tossing aside the matter of the broken necklace and focusing on the right moment to abduct the boy.
But what was Naraku actually doing while Black Zetsu believed he was staring at the moon in despair?
He was reading the most tragic, heart-wrenching fanfictions on the forum.
Regardless, he had to pretend to be awake in front of Zetsu; an all-nighter would be far too boring without something to read.
His unfocused eyes read the text reflected in the void.
He occasionally showed a hint of sadness from being affected by the stories, while exclaiming in his heart how impressive the writing was.
He even had the system take notes, thinking the drama might come in handy later.
Interspersed among the fanfiction posts were a few short video clips that were also very popular.
One in particular used a trending song, and the comments were filled with cries of despair.
"[Kakashi] The Tragedy of a Dove and a Crow"
1L (OP): I heard this song while scrolling and felt it was especially fitting for Kakashi and Naraku, so I stayed up all night to edit it. [Video].
PS: I also posted it on Bilibili and TikTok. [Link], [Link].
2L: I... I'll fight you editors! You're trying to kill us with these knives! (ง ᵒ ̌ dish ᵒ ̌ )ง
3L: This is a masterpiece! But it's just glass shards stir-fried with sugar!
4L: Boss, doesn't your conscience hurt?
5L: It's really similar; Kakashi is the white dove, and Naraku is the crow watching him from afar...
6L: There's an even more painful take. "The dove in the church won't kiss the crow, just as I'm unworthy of him under the starry sky... How did we reach the sunset? We smiled and said there was nothing we could do..."
7L: Are you trying to kill me, 6L?
8L (OP): Replying to 6L: That's really good; I'll edit another one using those lyrics!
9L: No! 6L, look what you've done! ( ' -' )
10L: I can't take it anymore. I'm going to read some "sugar" to fix my mood... I've been stabbed too many times lately...
Although he knew the video was incredibly sad, Naraku clicked on it without hesitation.
It was just another "knife" to the heart; he had eaten plenty of them over the past few nights, watching them as soon as he opened his eyes.
The video was short, and the music was already reaching its climax when the visuals began.
[Busy signal, tick-tock, you hung up the phone]
Kakashi picked out the braided string of the necklace and threw the pendant into the river.
[Raindrops, tick-tock, as if mocking me]
Naraku stood alone in the rain, letting the downpour choke the breath out of him.
[The story diverges, you left me behind]
Kakashi walked into the night without looking back, leaving only a blurry silhouette.
[Feigned elegance, I pretended to let go]
In the hospital, Naraku forced a smile while talking to Kana.
[May you meet someone better than him]
The screen split in two; one side showed Kakashi, the other Naraku, both with dejected expressions.
[Just as a wave cannot kiss the sunset]
[I am already powerless to struggle]
Lightning flashed across the night sky, illuminating Naraku's desolate face and Kakashi's empty palm.
[Once, we cherished each other]
[Later, only deviation remained]
When they first returned to the clan territory together, Kakashi walked close to Naraku's shoulder, but in the hospital, they stood on opposite sides.
[Just as a wildflower cannot touch the crescent moon]
[It can only be broken by the evening wind]
In a flashback, Naraku gave Kakashi a pendant in the sunlight.
Later, lying in a hospital bed, he picked it up again, saying it would protect him, and Kakashi's gaze melted.
[The drama of a dove and a crow in love]
[Only happens in fairy tales]
The screen rapidly flashed through scenes of the family happily together in the past: New Year's fireworks, a steaming dinner table, and the glint of blades as the three of them trained together.
Naraku understood why everyone in the comment section was crying so miserably.
The technical skill and emotional weight were the work of a master.
Just as he was admiring the editor's superb skill, a system notification sounded.
[Friendly reminder: The animation has been updated with two new episodes.]
He had been wondering how to pass the next hour.
This was like being handed a pillow just as he was starting to feel sleepy.