Konoha Village.
By late afternoon, the training ground was badly damaged after the bell test.
Kakashi stood in the middle of the mess, slowly spinning a three-pronged kunai in his hand. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura lay on the ground in front of him, all too tired to keep fighting.
"Well..." Kakashi looked at them. "After two years of training, this is all you can do?"
Naruto opened his eyes and glared at him.
"You used the Flying Thunder God and the Yin Seal! That's not fair!"
He dropped his head back down before Kakashi could reply.
"I can't move anymore..."
Sasuke sat against a broken rock nearby, breathing hard. His Sharingan had already disappeared. Sakura was beside him, holding herself up with both hands.
"When did you get this strong, Kakashi-sensei?" she asked after catching her breath. "The three of us fought you all afternoon, and we still couldn't get even one bell."
Sakura and Sasuke were both jōnin now, and Naruto had also grown stronger after training with Jiraiya for two years. Even so, the three of them could not take a single bell from Kakashi.
Kakashi stopped spinning the kunai and put it back in his pouch.
"You are still my students," he said. "It would be embarrassing if I lost to you so easily."
Kakashi looked toward the setting sun. "Still, that isn't the only reason I've become stronger. I finally know what I want to do."
Sasuke looked up. "What?"
"For a long time, I had no idea what I was living for. I simply carried on because I didn't know what else to do." Kakashi paused. "But that has changed."
"There is someone I have to bring back. It doesn't matter what he has become or what he has done. Even if he no longer considers me a friend, I will bring him back myself."
Sasuke stared at him. The words, the determination, even the situation itself felt painfully familiar. It was almost the same story he had once lived through.
At the edge of the training ground, Minato stood beneath a large tree and watched them in silence.
"Kakashi..." he murmured. "After all this time, you've finally found your way again."
"You're not going to see them?"
Shinichi's voice came from behind him, but Minato kept his eyes on the training ground.
"No. I'm already dead, so there's no point disturbing their lives now." After a brief pause, he added, "Besides, I have a feeling we'll meet again before long. I can wait until then."
Shinichi came to stand beside him. "You seem certain."
"Not certain," Minato replied with a faint smile. "It's just a feeling."
Shinichi was quiet for a moment before asking, "You know you didn't have to die that night, don't you?"
Minato looked at him.
"During the Nine-Tails' attack, you still chose to sacrifice yourself. I've never understood why."
Minato gave a small, awkward smile. "I wasn't thinking that far ahead. At the time, I only knew that I was the Hokage and had to protect the village."
He looked back toward the training ground.
"Thinking about it now... perhaps it was a little foolish."
Minato shook his head. "Forget it. There's no point talking about it now."
Shinichi did not press the matter. "Orochimaru is still in the sealed chamber beneath the mountain. Go to him when you want to end the Edo Tensei."
He turned to leave. "I'm heading home. Dinner should be ready by now."
With that, Shinichi left the training ground.
Minato watched Shinichi leave, then looked back at Naruto, who was still lying on the ground.
"Home for dinner..."
He smiled as he watched his son. He did not envy Shinichi's strength or his position. He only envied the fact that Shinichi had a home to return to and family waiting for him.
By the time Shinichi reached home, it was already dark. Smoke rose from the houses along the street, carrying the smell of dinner through the evening air.
Warm light shone through his windows. Before opening the gate, Shinichi could already hear his father laughing, his mother talking inside, and Sena's childish voice between them.
He entered the house and opened the door.
"I'm back."
A small figure came running down the entryway.
"Big brother!"
Sena was only two years old, and she stumbled slightly on her short legs as she ran. Her hair was tied into two small buns that bounced with every step.
Shinichi changed his shoes and bent down in time to catch her. Sena laughed as he lifted her into his arms, then placed both hands on his face.
"Big brother... welcome home!"
She spoke slowly, sounding out each word.
"I'm back," Shinichi replied.
Sena grinned and leaned against his shoulder before pointing toward the dining room.
"Dinner! We're eating!"
"Alright."
He carried her inside, where Kazuto was bringing the last dish out of the kitchen.
"You came back at the perfect time." His father placed the dish on the table and held out his arms. "Sena, come to Daddy."
Sena looked at him, then buried her face against Shinichi's neck.
Kazuto shook his head. "Your brother comes home, and suddenly you don't want me anymore."
Chie looked out from the kitchen and smiled when she saw them.
"Shinichi, go wash your hands. Dinner is ready."
Shinichi carried Sena to the sink. Since she could not reach it, he held her with one arm and helped her wash her hands with the other. Sena spent most of the time splashing the water until he finally dried her hands and carried her back.
The food was already on the table. Kazuto and Chie took their seats while Shinichi placed Sena in her chair and sat beside her.
"Everyone's here," Kazuto said. "Let's eat."
Sena copied the others and pressed her hands together.
"Let's eat!"
She picked up her spoon and began clumsily shoveling rice into her mouth. Chie added more food to Sena's bowl while Kazuto pushed a dish toward Shinichi. They talked as they ate, with Chie occasionally reminding Sena not to spill anything.
Shinichi listened quietly, watching his father smile and his sister turn toward him between bites. For now, he had nothing else to worry about.
Then someone knocked at the front door... two knocks, then three, followed by one final tap.
Shinichi set down his chopsticks.
He knew that rhythm.