Three days later.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Deep in the dense forest, a figure sprinted frantically.
The animal mask and silver hair confirmed the identity of this figure.
Konoha's ANBU, Kakashi Hatake.
Not long ago, Kakashi who originally served under the Fourth Hokage had been absorbed into the Root after the Fourth's death in battle.
Until that assassination attempt targeting the reinstated Hokage.
Faced with the choice between rules and conscience, Kakashi chose the latter and joined the ANBU.
His transition from Root to ANBU hadn't been smooth. To protect him, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only assign him missions outside Konoha to avoid Root's surveillance.
The current ninja world remained turbulent.
Though large-scale wars had ceased, localized conflicts and provocations continued endlessly.
Assassinations, infiltrations, intelligence gathering.
These were what ninja truly excelled at.
After losing Obito, Rin, and the Fourth Hokage couple, Kakashi had regressed to his emotionless state.
Now pursued by Kiri ninja.
Carrying forged intelligence in his arms.
Outnumbered, Kakashi could only lure enemies through this method.
Swish!
A whistling sound came from behind.
Combat instincts made Kakashi tilt his head, catching a glimpse of a kunai with explosive tag in his peripheral vision.
His pupils contracted!
Dodging and flipping mid-air, he barely escaped the explosion's radius.
Before landing, his Sharingan beneath the mask had already locked onto enemy positions and numbers.
"Seven enemies. Encircling formation. No escape routes."
Short sword unsheathed.
Within milliseconds, Kakashi entered combat mode.
This would be a grueling battle.
Even with Sharingan and unparalleled speed/explosive power.
1 vs 7 remained challenging.
These weren't battlefield cannon fodder.
But genuine Kiri ANBU operatives.
Knowing he couldn't prolong the fight, Kakashi held nothing back!
Screams immediately filled the small battlefield!
"Only one left."
The former genius, after enduring endless darkness, though physically immature, possessed mental fortitude surpassing steel.
"Commit suicide. 1v1, you stand no chance."
Gritting teeth.
Pulling the shuriken from his shoulder.
Kakashi's voice chilled to the bone.
The Kiri ANBU's expression twisted through various stages before settling on deranged denial.
"Die! Arrogant Konoha brat!"
The Kiri operative charged with longsword at the seemingly unsteady Kakashi.
"Chidori!"
Final chakra condensed in his palm.
Electric arcs crackled and screeched like a thousand birds.
The agonizing Sharingan predicted every muscle movement. Kakashi crouched, thrusting Chidori straight into the enemy's chest!
Yet...
That familiar position, scene, and face reappeared before Kakashi in the生死瞬间.
"Rin!"
The most painful memory resurfaced.
The lightning that should have killed the enemy dissipated. In that millisecond, the enemy's blade reached Kakashi's neck.
At death's door.
Kakashi indeed contemplated surrender.
Father gone.
Obito and Rin gone.
Sensei and his wife gone...
What meaning did his survival hold?
Kakashi slowly closed his eyes.
"Outmatched. Life and death are fated. I showed no mercy."
"Rin, Obito... I'm coming..."
Next instant.
Zzzzt——
Thud!
Lightning flashed again. Chidori screeched anew!
Days earlier, that accidental glimpse of a smiling face had reignited Kakashi's chakra!
In that split second.
The生死逆转.
The Kiri ANBU never understood what happened.
Pupils dilating, he collapsed lifeless.
"Captain!"
Konoha reinforcements arrived later.
Seeing the corpses and blood-drenched Kakashi.
Their concern gradually turned to fear.
"Don't approach!" An ANBU grabbed his comrade. "Have you forgotten who he is?"
"A monster who kills comrades for missions. Seeking death?"
"His kind should solo missions."
"Better for everyone."
The restrained ANBU looked bewildered.
But when glancing at Kakashi again, fear tinged his gaze...
The comrades' whispers didn't escape Kakashi's ears.
He could distinguish insect species from 50 meters. This distance posed no barrier.
But he didn't care.
Or rather...
He now cared about something else.
That smiling face.
A sweet smile.
Emerging at death's door, inexplicably giving him reason to live.
"Though I don't know your name."
"Thanks to you... I'm saved..."
Looking up.
Kakashi gazed at the sky, breathing deeply with complex emotions...
......
"Aaaaaa... ACHOO!"
Meanwhile.
In distant Konoha.
Qingchuan preparing for school sneezed violently!
"Who the hell's cursing me?!"
[Author's Note: Personally think Rin has the sweetest smile in Naruto.]