"No such person?"
Sweat beaded on Kakashi's forehead.
He gripped the precious Revival Token, tied to his comrades' lives, trying again and again.
Always the same.
No trace of Obito's soul.
Why?
Sasuke and the others saw Kakashi's issue—his face screamed anxiety.
"What's wrong, Kakashi?" Tsunade asked, tensing.
Could it not revive? Were there conditions?
Nawaki died earlier than Kakashi's comrades.
Either way…
Seeing Kakashi like this was maddening.
"Why?" Kakashi snapped his head up, staring at Shen Mo. "Why's it saying it can't find Obito?"
His hand shook, eyes fearful, as if dreading a fall back into darkness.
Hope shattered hurts worse than no hope.
"It says it can't find him?" Shen Mo frowned, but inwardly sighed.
He'd thought Kakashi would pick Rin first.
She died by his hand for the village—a girl, too.
No wonder Kakashi's still single…
"If the target's too strong, it'd say the token's level's too low. But 'can't find' means only one thing—" Shen Mo looked at Kakashi, firm. "The person you want to revive isn't dead!"
"Impossible!" Kakashi exclaimed. "I saw it myself, I saw—"
He stopped.
He hadn't seen it. Hadn't confirmed Obito's death.
In that situation…
Obito should've been doomed.
"Can goods never fail," Shen Mo said, his smile fading, gaze sweeping Tsunade and the others. "No one claims omnipotence—not even gods. But compared to our reach, cans are omnipotent in your world! Kakashi, by the Omni-Potent Chamber's multiversal reputation, I swear: the person you want to revive is absolutely alive!"
The Revival Token wasn't pricey, but its power level was high.
Ordinary deaths? Easy.
Even souls sealed by the Reaper Death Seal—it could retrieve and revive them.
Great value.
"…"
Kakashi fell silent.
His mind a mess.
He'd just tested.
His father? Token level too low.
Rin? Activated fine.
So…
Obito was really alive?
But why, after all these years, never return…?
Hiss—
Kakashi gasped, eyes wide, wanting to slap himself.
Obito loved Rin, who'd died.
If he knew, he'd likely avoid Konoha.
Maybe…
He'd hate Kakashi for failing to protect her.
"You've got more than one to revive, right?" Shen Mo sighed. "One's alive—that's good news. Paladin Level 3 cans boost revival odds, but they're costly."
"Yeah, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said, stepping forward, comforting. "Alive's good."
She and Sasuke felt they'd rediscovered Kakashi today. That laid-back guy cared this much for comrades.
Kakashi…
Slowly buried his tangled emotions.
He'd failed Rin—no right to judge Obito's absence. But if he could bring Rin back…
If Obito knew…
He'd return, right?
Kakashi gripped the Revival Token, closed his eyes, picturing Rin's fading smile.
"Please, bring Rin back."
Revival Target: Nohara Rin. Confirm?
"Confirm!" Kakashi roared, his firmest voice ever.
The token flared into searing white light.
It surged.
In the glow, a vague figure began to form.
Feet, hands, limbs…
Then—
"Turn around, you idiots!" Tsunade grabbed Kakashi and Sasuke's heads like chicks, twisting them away, glaring at Shen Mo.
The forming figure…
Was clearly naked.
Shen Mo shrugged, turning.
What's to see in a kid?
Though… Naruto world kids develop fast…
Moments later…
A slender girl, eyes closed, spotless, appeared under the moonlight. Soft white light lingered, her pale skin glowing like a lunar sprite.
Tsunade shed her coat.
With a flick, she wrapped the girl tightly.
The light faded.
Steady breathing.
Like waking from a dream, the girl slowly opened dazed eyes. After a moment, she saw the woman smiling gently, blinked, and gasped, "Lady Tsunade?"
Rin knew Tsunade. As a kid, she'd idolized the famed medical ninja, seeing her distantly in the village once or twice.
Over a decade, Tsunade's face barely changed.
But…
"I'm not, not…" Rin stammered, confused, panicked, trying to move. Her body weak, she fell into Tsunade's arms.
"Good girl, don't move," Tsunade said, stopping her. "Let me check."
Chakra glowed in her palm as she examined Rin.
Aside from an empty stomach—slight hunger—she was healthy.
Kakashi…
Hearing Rin's voice, he turned, tense.
Seeing that youthful face, memories and unspoken emotions flooded like a tide, crashing in his mind.
Rin's smile.
Her helpless tone when he and Obito bickered.
And the very end.
"Kill me."
The most despairing words Kakashi ever heard.
Now…
He barely felt what he was doing, just staring at the girl.
In his last memory, Rin smiled, resolute to protect comrades and village.
Leaving him with endless longing.
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