The sun sank slowly behind the horizon.
In front of Konoha's Memorial Stone stood a lone figure—so still it seemed as though he had taken root there.
Under the fading light, his shadow stretched longer and longer… until the sun disappeared completely and the moon rose high into the sky.
Yet he did not move.
Hatake Kakashi kept his gaze fixed on one name carved into the stone—
Uchiha Obito.
Guilt coiled around his heart like iron chains.
He had promised Obito.
Promised to protect Rin.
Obito had died saving him… entrusting Rin to his care with his final breath.
And he had failed.
As for Rin…
Even now, Kakashi didn't have the courage to visit her name.
Why?
Because she had died by his own hand.
"Obito… I'll come again tomorrow… or in a few days…"
It was nearly midnight when Kakashi finally spoke.
He didn't want to leave.
He had to.
In a few hours, dawn would break. More shinobi would return from the front lines. The memorial would grow crowded again.
Kakashi didn't want to see anyone.
Didn't want to be seen.
Watching comrades die one by one had hollowed him out. Somewhere deep inside, he had already begun retreating from the world.
He only wanted solitude.
The Hatake estate was large—multiple courtyards, silent and cold.
Though the Hatake clan had declined, its wealth remained.
Kakashi didn't bother eating.
He changed clothes, laid out bedding, and lay down.
He had barely closed his eyes when—
He jolted upright.
His breathing came in ragged gasps.
The three tomoe in his transplanted Sharingan glowed blood-red in the darkness.
Fear gripped his face.
Without thinking, he staggered into the kitchen and turned on the faucet, scrubbing his hands under running water.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Ten minutes.
Still he scrubbed.
To anyone else, his hands were clean.
But in his eyes—
They were drenched in blood that would never wash away.
The Sharingan that wouldn't close.
The hands that wouldn't clean.
These had become his nightmares.
Every time he shut his eyes—
Rin's blood-stained face appeared.
She hadn't accused him.
Hadn't blamed him.
She had only whispered his name softly.
And that was enough to shatter him.
"Kakashi…"
The voice drifted through the air.
He froze.
No… impossible… my eyes are open…
"Kakashi…"
This time he was certain.
It wasn't in his head.
The voice came from behind him.
Slowly—terrified—he turned.
And there she stood.
Nohara Rin.
Blood at the corner of her lips.
A gaping wound through her chest.
Exactly as she had died.
"Rin…!"
Kakashi's pupils shrank violently.
His knees buckled, and he barely stayed upright by gripping the sink.
Then—
Click.
A bright flash burst in the darkness.
"Click! Hahaha! Hatake 'Fifty-Fifty,' I never thought I'd see that expression on your face!"
Uchiha Jin stood there, holding a camera, snapping photos from every possible angle.
The only regret?
Kakashi still wore his mask.
Otherwise, the full range of his panic could've been immortalized properly.
Still—
The trembling body and horrified eyes were priceless.
Obito would definitely pay good money for these.
"Jin… sensei… Genjutsu?!" Kakashi sputtered, fury igniting through the shock.
"Damn it! Uchiha Jin, you bastard!" he exploded, all composure shattered. "What are you trying to do?! How dare you use Rin to—"
He stopped.
Because from behind Jin…
Another head peeked out.
Rin.
"Kakashi, were you calling me?"
Her lips still stained red.
But her eyes?
Curious.
And oddly… excited.
At first, Rin had resisted this plan.
But seeing Kakashi's rare meltdown?
It was… kind of funny.
"Still trapped in genjutsu? Release!"
Kakashi formed hand seals desperately.
Nothing changed.
Rin remained.
Perfectly real.
Sweat beaded down his forehead.
He glared at Jin.
"What did you do to me?!"
Jin continued snapping pictures leisurely.
"So rude. I'm technically your elder. You could show a little respect."
"Elder?!" Kakashi snapped. "What kind of elder does this?! Using the dead for jokes—have you no respect for Rin?! Release this illusion!"
He refused to look directly at Rin—even if she was fake.
He wouldn't direct anger at her.
All of it poured onto Jin instead.
"Fine, if you insist…"
Jin raised two fingers dramatically.
"Release!"
Kakashi exhaled in relief—
Then looked again.
Rin was still there.
"Oh. Am I supposed to disappear now?" Rin tilted her head, then stepped fully into view again. "Kakashi… can you still see me?"
Kakashi:
"..."
His brain stalled completely.
Because for the first time—
Somewhere beneath the panic—
Hope began to tremble.
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/warewolvesTL