Chapter 132: Temptation and Regret
Somewhere in Konoha Village lay an open expanse of land, dotted with tombstones, marking the village's cemetery. At the forefront stood a towering stone monument adorned with the names of fallen ninjas—the memorial monument, honoring those who had made ultimate sacrifices for the village.
Only ninjas who had made remarkable contributions were granted the privilege of having their names etched onto this monument—those who perished on critical missions, defended the village, or played pivotal roles in the ninja world's wars.
Standing before the solemn monument were two figures, side by side. One, slightly elevated due to his distinctive white hair and tall, exaggerated hairstyle, was Kakashi. Beside him stood Uzumaki Naruto, towering at a full 1.8 meters, with short yellow hair.
After encountering Kakashi on the road, the two had veered from their group to this sacred ground.
"You know who your parents are now. After all these years, I thought it's time to introduce you to them," Kakashi remarked.
By the time Naruto left the village, the secret of his true lineage was no longer a secret, known to most Jonin and qualified individuals. He was the son of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and Uzumaki Kushina—a hero's orphan, left behind after their sacrifice to protect the village.
Despite standing before the memorial, Naruto couldn't shake the complexity of his emotions. As a time-traveler, he understood that his very existence was owed to the sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage and his wife.
Despite any grievances or injustices he faced, Naruto harbored no ill will toward Konoha Village. "Do you know where they were laid to rest?" he asked, a mix of curiosity and sentiment in his voice.
In Naruto's grand scheme, there was a plan to resurrect his parents—a task he knew was within his capabilities. However, it hinged on two crucial pieces of the puzzle.
One aspect to consider is that in preparation for the Impure World Reincarnation Technique, the DNA tissue of the target must be acquired beforehand. This means that Uzumaki Naruto might have to delve into his own "ancestral grave," so to speak.
Another factor is that Namikaze Minato's soul is sealed within the belly of the Shinigami, which is further encased by ghouls, and must be released prior to any attempt at reincarnation.
However, Kakashi shook his head. Even if he knew the truth, he couldn't divulge it.
Turning to Uzumaki Naruto, Kakashi's heart swelled with emotion. "You've grown up into someone almost unrecognizable to me," Kakashi remarked, deeply moved.
Naruto didn't press for more information. Hearing Kakashi's sigh, he couldn't help but chuckle. "You didn't recognize me before. Why should you start now?" Naruto quipped, prompting Kakashi to reflect.
After a moment of silence, Kakashi posed a hypothetical question, "If circumstances had allowed you to live openly, without hiding your identity from the village, and if I had insisted on adopting you from the start, do you think things would have turned out differently?"
Naruto was taken aback by Kakashi's question. Had Kakashi really considered such a scenario?
Serious now, Naruto turned to study Kakashi's expression. There were subtle differences in this Kakashi compared to the one from the original timeline. He seemed thinner, even beneath his mask, and there was a hint of sadness in his exposed right eye.
"Yes, but now it's too late," Naruto answered decisively, dispelling any illusions. He knew himself too well. A happy childhood would have made him complacent, unable to endure the struggles he faced.
Having experienced life and death situations, Naruto understood the gravity of the threats he would face in the future. It was this awareness that fueled his determination to persevere.
If Naruto were to become Kakashi's adopted son, everything would undoubtedly change. The path of revenge wouldn't be as clear-cut as it is now. But Naruto wouldn't allow that to happen.
Kakashi, lost in his own thoughts, had a tragic past himself. His father's suicide, blamed by the village for a failed mission, and the subsequent condemnation of the White Fang weighed heavily on him. The deaths of Obito and Rin further plunged him into darkness. Even Minato, in an attempt to guide him, entrusted Kakashi with guarding Kushina during her pregnancy.
But despite all this, Kakashi found solace in Might Guy's friendship. Without him, Kakashi might have succumbed to despair.
As Naruto declared his disconnection from Konoha Village, Kakashi remained silent, lost in contemplation. Only when Naruto was about to leave did Kakashi inquire about his plans with Rain Shinobi Village and Akatsuki. But Naruto brushed him off, refusing to divulge any information.
As Naruto departed, Kakashi was left alone, until Konoha's special Jōnin and the torturer captain, Morino Ibuki, appeared behind him. "Looks like he didn't spill anything. Perhaps we'll need to resort to more... direct methods," Ibuki suggested ominously.
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