Mikoto, for her part, was happy to see it happen; experiencing more of the kindness of those around him would be very beneficial for Naraku to emerge from the gloom.
However, she was also very cautious, often secretly observing Naraku's state, and if there was any problem, she would immediately take him back.
Fortunately, Naraku's performance was indeed as Mikoto had hoped, and he began to gradually recover from his pain.
When they were out for a walk, if familiar Clan Member came over to talk to her, or if a few Uchiha children whispered nearby, looking over with curiosity, Naraku would silently stand by, quietly waiting and watching.
Even when many people watched him, his expression was always calm and serene, allowing the Clan Member to fix their gaze on him; he no longer showed the helplessness and vulnerability he had on his first day home.
Even though everything about Naraku was slowly getting better, Mikoto always felt uneasy.
This recovery process was too smooth, so perfect it seemed like a gradual performance.
She wanted to believe that perhaps the emotional rift was healing, allowing Naraku to gradually return to normal;
But it was also possible that... he had already become skilled at it, and the feigned smile on his face was so natural that it was impossible to distinguish its authenticity.
Was Naraku really better?
Were his current actions all 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 wildly and triumphantly, and answer her with the facts it had observed:
No!
This brat had long since completely fallen into the abyss!
After observing in the shadows of Konoha for so long, it was almost 100% certain that this brat named "Uchiha Naraku" looked normal on the outside, but his emotions were completely broken.
He knew what kind of expression to show and what kind of words to say at certain times, but these were not from emotion; it was simply because he knew he should do so.
Every night, when Mikoto, tired from pregnancy, fell into a deep sleep, Uchiha Naraku, due to excessive pain, could not easily fall asleep, always staring blankly at the night sky, lost in thought.
He almost every night avoided everyone who cared about him, running to that small river to salvage the necklace discarded by Kakashi Hatake.
He searched inch by inch along the riverbed, piously turning over every stone, but he couldn't find it.
Actually, Black Zetsu had also thought about salvaging that necklace to completely extinguish Uchiha Naraku's hope, but perhaps the current was too swift that night, and even it didn't know where the item had been washed away.
If it couldn't find it, how could Uchiha Naraku?
Thinking of this, Black Zetsu relaxed again, tossing aside that broken necklace and focusing on waiting for the right moment to quietly abduct him.
But what was Naraku, whom Black Zetsu believed to be staring at the moon, unable to sleep, and beyond saving, actually doing at this moment?
He was reading those fanfictions in the forum, the highly angsty kind.
Anyway, he had to pretend to be awake in front of Black Zetsu; this all-nighter would be so boring without something to read.
His unfocused, blurry eyes read the text reflected in the void, showing a hint of sadness from being infected, and from time to time he would exclaim in his heart, "Damn, that's so awesome, holy crap," while having the system take notes.
Who knows when it might come in handy.
Interspersed within the fanfiction posts were also a few short video clips, which were also very popular, especially one that used a trending song from Douyin, with comments filled with cries of despair.
—
"[kakashi] The Drama of a White Dove and a Crow in Love"
1L (OP): I heard it while scrolling on Douyin and felt it was especially fitting for kakashi, so I stayed up all night to edit it. [Video].
PS: I also posted it on Bilibili and Douyin, [Link], [Link].
2L: I... I'll fight you knife-wielding experts! (ง ᵒ ̌ dish ᵒ ̌ )ง ⁼ ³ ₌ ₃
3L: A national banquet! But it's knives 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 angsty one. "The white dove in the church won't kiss the crow, just like I'm unworthy of him under the starry sky... How did time reach the sunset, we smiled and said there was nothing we could do..."
7L: Are you trying to kill me, upstairs?
8L (OP): Reply to 6L: That's really good, I'll edit another one!
9L: No! 6L, look what you've done! ( ' -' )
10L: I can't take it anymore, I'm going to read some sweet stories to ease my mood... I've had too many knives lately...
—
Although he knew the video posted by the OP was very angsty, Naraku still clicked on it without repentance.
It's just a knife; he had eaten plenty of them these past few nights, watching them as soon as he opened his eyes.
—
The video was very short overall, so it was already the latter half of the song when it 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 make him gasp for breath;
[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 showing Kakashi, the other Naraku, both with lost and dejected expressions;
[Just like 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's territory together, Kakashi was close beside Naraku's shoulder, but in the Hospital, they stood opposite each other;
[Just like a wild flower 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 melting gaze;
[The drama of a white 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, the flashing glint of blades around the three of them in the training ground...
—
Naraku understood why everyone in the comment section was crying so miserably.
This technical skill, this emotional expression, what a master.
Just as he was admiring the editor's superb skill, the system notification sounded.
[Friendly reminder: The animation has been updated with 2 episodes]
He was just wondering how to pass the next hour; wasn't this like getting a pillow just as he was about to doze off?
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