Natsuhiko's words left Kakashi stunned. He had never imagined someone would say something like that.
Failure is the main theme of life?
Was it really appropriate to say such a thing?
And yet, what Kakashi couldn't refute was that once he seriously thought about it, he realized success truly was only temporary.
Even if a moment of success cast a glow bright enough to illuminate a person's entire life, how many failures lay hidden beneath that halo?
Only the person themselves would know.
Take Kakashi, for example.
Others called him a genius—someone who, at a young age, had developed a powerful thrust-type technique like Raikiri.
But during the development of that technique, even Kakashi himself couldn't remember how many times he had failed.
And even after he finally succeeded, it was still incomplete.
He was missing the most crucial element to make it whole—
The Sharingan.
In truth, Kakashi's Raikiri was only perfected because of Obito's death.
To him, that was nothing short of a devastating blow.
At the same time, it was one of his greatest failures as a team leader.
"Failure… is the main theme of life?" Kakashi murmured, then fell silent.
"Yes. Failure is the main theme of life."
Natsuhiko sighed softly, but soon a gentle smile appeared on his face.
"But Kakashi—how one faces failure is what shapes a person into different kinds of people."
Kakashi didn't respond. He remained silent.
But his gaze shifted slightly toward Natsuhiko.
He felt like he understood what Natsuhiko meant—
And yet, he couldn't fully grasp it.
Natsuhiko, however, didn't mind.
He knew this was an opportunity—an opportunity to solidify their trust.
And he had no intention of ruining it.
"Do you know, Kakashi? Failure is actually a test.
Some people are crushed by failure. From that moment on, they never recover. They can never stand back up. Those people—we call them failures.
But others rise again and keep moving forward. No matter how many times they fail, they reflect, they learn, and they carry the lessons of failure with them as they search for the path to success.
Those people—we call them successful.
And the success they eventually achieve often shines so brightly that it hides all the failures that came before it."
At this point, Natsuhiko paused.
His eyes lingered briefly on Kakashi before he continued in a warm tone.
"In truth, whether it's us or anyone else, we all move forward while wavering between success and failure.
The difference lies in the choices we make.
Kakashi—past failure does not determine future failure.
To remain trapped in failure, unable to let go—that is the true betrayal of the people who entrusted you with success.
I think true maturity isn't about pursuing perfection.
Nor is it about avoiding failure.
It's about facing your own imperfections.
That—that is the essence of life."
When Kakashi heard those words, the confusion in his heart seemed to waver.
He understood what Natsuhiko meant.
He also knew that Natsuhiko was comforting him.
But this unusual approach—avoiding talk of right and wrong, and instead discussing success and failure—
Somehow made it easier for Kakashi to accept.
With just a slight shift in perspective, Kakashi could find many of the answers he had been searching for.
Taking a deep breath, Kakashi looked at Natsuhiko. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something—but when the words reached his lips, he realized he didn't know how to begin.
In the end, he closed his mouth again and lowered his head, silently staring at the two gravestones.
But something in his eyes had changed.
The guilt, the anguish, even that faint death wish that had lingered within him—
All of it began to fade.
In its place was contemplation.
And confusion.
Natsuhiko knew he had said enough.
He placed his mask back over his face and turned to leave.
But as he walked away, he spoke once more:
"There's a saying I really like—
'In this world, there is only one true kind of heroism: to see life as it truly is, and yet still love it.'
I'll give that to you, Kakashi.
What happened to Rin and Obito is tragic.
But a person cannot remain trapped in past failures.
If you truly don't want to betray their sacrifice—if you truly want to atone for your failure—
Then live on carrying their will.
It will be hard. It will be painful.
But at least when we enter the Pure Land and see them again, we'll be able to smile and tell them we did not let them down."
"And one more thing…"
Natsuhiko's voice suddenly grew extremely low, so low that one might miss it without listening carefully.
"As for those people… you can ask the Fourth Hokage about them."
After saying that, Natsuhiko did not pause.
He vanished completely into the night, leaving only the moonlight and the gentle breeze around Kakashi.
Kakashi stood there quietly.
His gaze remained fixed on the two gravestones before him.
But in his mind, Natsuhiko's final words echoed again and again.
Kakashi had never thought of himself as a true hero.
Not once.
Yet Natsuhiko's words made him realize—
Even if he wasn't a hero, perhaps he still needed to love his life.
To avoid betraying those who had given their lives for him?
To carry their will and keep moving forward?
So that when he eventually entered the Pure Land, he could proudly tell them—
He had borne their will.
He had not betrayed their sacrifice.
As these thoughts settled, Kakashi's eyes seemed to clear.
Looking at the gravestones, he almost saw—
A boy in a blue-and-black jacket, wearing goggles, giving him a thumbs-up.
He also seemed to see—
A girl with short brown hair and purple markings on her cheeks, smiling gently at him.
"Obito… Rin…"
Kakashi murmured softly.
His gaze grew steadier.
Clearer.
"I won't betray your sacrifice.
I will carry your will and live on bravely!"
Obito and Rin's will—
Was to protect Konoha.
To protect their home.
To protect the people they cherished.
Obito had given his life for that.
Rin had given her life for that.
Kakashi, who now carried both of their wills, was still alive—
And so he too would fight desperately for Konoha.
He would never allow what he cherished to be destroyed again.
"Hang in there, you idiot!"
"Do your best, Kakashi!"
When Kakashi's heart finally settled into firm resolve, it felt as though the two of them whispered softly to him.
Under his steady gaze, they seemed to drift upward into the sky—
Their encouraging smiles fading gently into the starlit night.