Chapter 19: The Peace Celebration! Time to Start Persuading Kakashi!
The square in front of the Hokage Building, the surrounding streets, and nearly every corner of the village were filled with cheers and laughter.
It was a celebration of peace.
"Peace has finally come!"
"Konoha! Konoha! Konoha!"
"Hokage-sama!!!"
"Look at those Kumogakure ninjas walking away with their tails between their legs!"
"Haha! That Kumogakure leader is so ugly, nowhere near as cool as Jiraiya-sama!"
As the citizens of Konoha reveled in their victory, the Kumogakure delegation left with dejected expressions.
Leading them was a middle-aged ninja, his appearance quite unfortunate, with his headband sloppily covering his right eye. His style was similar to Kakashi's, but the difference in their looks was night and day.
Hearing the villagers' mocking cheers, the leader of the Kumogakure group flashed a malicious smile. "Konoha... Don't be so sure of your victory just yet."
This man was the same Kumogakure Head Ninja who, in the original storyline, attempted to kidnap Hinata Hyuga and ended up killed by her father, Hiashi.
While this leader's departure was filled with bitterness, he didn't notice that he was being watched—Shikaku Nara's sharp gaze was locked on him the entire time.
"Could Kazuya's suspicions... be right?" Shikaku mused quietly, his expression thoughtful.
At that moment, Konoha had laid out an intricate trap, waiting for the Kumogakure delegation to make their move.
Meanwhile, throughout the village, the air was alive with celebration. Fireworks burst in the sky, casting vibrant colors, and the cheers of the villagers echoed joyfully.
Many of the older ninjas, who had endured the horrors of war, had tears welling up in their eyes.
"This peace... is hard-earned."
"Let's celebrate it!"
Amidst the cheering crowd, Kurenai Yuhi's bright eyes scanned the throng, searching for a familiar face. But no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't find him.
"Where's Kazuya-kun? Why hasn't he come?" Kurenai muttered, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
In moments like these, without Kazuya by her side, everything felt a little... incomplete.
"My daughter!" Beside her, her father, Shinku Yuhi, chuckled. "You're here with me instead of your friends—could it be because Kazuya didn't show up?"
"Father!" Kurenai huffed, her usual gentle demeanor giving way to a rare pout as she shot him a glare.
Of all the things to say...
In truth, Kurenai had deliberately avoided joining her usual group of friends today.
If she had gone, she'd inevitably run into Asuma Sarutobi.
The thought of that irritating guy ruined her mood.
He always strutted around, showing off because he was the Hokage's son, bragging nonstop. And on top of that, he often said the most baffling things.
It was exhausting!
Why couldn't he be more like Kazuya—low-key, reliable, and genuine?
Asuma liked to flaunt every minor accomplishment, but it was infuriating.
Kazuya, on the other hand, had singlehandedly driven off the Fourth Raikage, yet he remained humble and kept living his life quietly.
Calm, composed, mature...
And to top it off, incredibly handsome!
That was a real man.
Asuma? Just a child by comparison!
While the village celebrated, Kazuya had distanced himself from the noise and excitement.
He had made his way to the village cemetery.
After watering the flowers and tidying up the grave, Kazuya placed a lily bouquet beside the headstone.
"Sigh..."
"You were my only relative, after all."
"Here's hoping your next life takes you somewhere far more peaceful."
Kazuya let out a soft sigh, his tone wistful but without much sadness.
After all, he had never actually met the person buried here.
In truth, Kazuya had a full name—Yahara Kazuya.
Sadly, it wasn't from the Yahara family of "Shin-chan" fame, but rather the one linked to Rin Nohara.
Yes, the same Rin Nohara whose tragic fate had set much of the ninja world's disasters in motion.
She was his sister.
Unfortunately, Rin had died before the Nine-Tails attack, so the two had never met.
"What a twist of fate," Kazuya chuckled inwardly. "Had I arrived a few years earlier, I could've been starting this life with no parents but a sister and a house! The dream starts!"
"Maybe if I'd been around, Obito would've gone off the deep end even earlier..."
Just as Kazuya was lost in thought, a figure quietly approached.
The newcomer knelt, placing a bouquet beside the grave.
Kazuya glanced at the person.
A silver-haired, masked youth knelt there solemnly, his face filled with guilt as he whispered, "It's been a while... How are you, Kazuya-senpai?"
"Kakashi."
Kazuya nodded.
Standing beside him was none other than the future Sixth Hokage, Kakashi Hatake.
At seventeen, Kakashi was still cold and distant, carrying a somber aura.
Both remained silent.
Kakashi seemed slightly uneasy around Kazuya. He knelt there, quietly cleaning the grave in front of him, his gaze empty, as though lost in thoughts of what he had lost.
After a while, Kakashi stood up. He turned to Kazuya, his expression resolute, and bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry!"
"Kazuya-senpai, I'll do my best to make amends!"
"In the future…"
"If you ever need me, Kazuya-senpai, just say the word. I'll give it my all!"
"Give it your all?" Kazuya thought with an inward smirk. "If I asked you to assassinate the Third Hokage again, would you? You'd probably turn me in the second my back was turned."
Despite his internal mocking, Kazuya's expression remained calm and unreadable. "There's nothing for you to make amends for, Kakashi. Rin made her choice."
"Even if it all happened again, she wouldn't regret it."
"Where the leaves dance, fire will never cease to burn."
"Both Rin and Obito sacrificed themselves for their comrades, for the village. Their lives had meaning."
Kazuya patted Kakashi on the shoulder, his voice steady. "Kakashi, the darkness may have given us black eyes, but we must search for the light."
His expression was solemn, but internally, Kazuya didn't believe a word of what he was saying.
However…
Kakashi was utterly shaken. He stared at Kazuya in stunned silence, his pupils dilating.
"Search for the light… with black eyes?"
It didn't fully make sense to him, but something about those words resonated deeply within his soul.
Kakashi's entire being seemed to tremble as he gazed at Kazuya with newfound admiration.
Shock. Awe. Gratitude. Reverence.
"Searching for the light with black eyes… Isn't that exactly my situation?" Kakashi thought, feeling like Kazuya's words had struck at the core of his existence.
"Kazuya-senpai…"
Kakashi felt like his entire worldview had been shattered and reassembled. This was no ordinary ninja—Kazuya was a sage of profound wisdom!
Kazuya smiled inwardly, already thinking ahead. "Should I challenge Kakashi to a spar soon? If I can get him to use the Chidori, maybe I can 'collect' it too. Then this conversation won't have been a waste of time!"